Loonatics: United

Compromised System

Episode 153: Drops and waves

Rev, Tech and Slam sat on a large underwater bench, with a cascade falling just before them, inside some sort of room conformed by two walls and a ceiling. "Oh man we should put a waterfall in the HQ." Rev said.

"Why for?" Tech asked.

"Because they are cool don't you see?" Rev replied.

Slam grunted, stating he was enjoying the brief mandatory vacation they were taking.

"Same here, I didn't know how much tension I had on my muscles before I got in this pool, it's all fading away right now." Tech let out a sigh of satisfaction while getting his hands behind his neck.

"How are things with Peyton, big guy?" Rev inquired. "You know, Peyton Pussycat."

Slam grunted, first telling Rev that of course he knew who he was referring to, and secondly saying that things were fine but that he felt he wasn't spending much time with her and that she deserved that.

"She has to understand, you both have demanding jobs to do." Tech opined. "I mean, my Susan does."

Rev sighed. "Rebecca, I'm always thinking on her, she's like so tough yet so sweet at the same time, I could be a better boyfriend, honestly, sometimes I have the chance to call her but I´d rather do something else, other times I do call her though."

"We all need our own space from time to time, girls have to understand that." Tech reassured. "You're doing just fine, both of you guys."

"How does it feel to date someone who's basically you?" Rev asked Tech.

"Basically me? What are you talking about?" Tech inquired.

"I mean both of you are geniuses, and…well…that's the only similarity I can think of right now." Rev said. "But still, isn't that a bit boring?"

"That's not the only trait she has, Rev. We complement each other, as every couple should do." Tech argued. "As unbelievable as it sounds, there are many things I don't know that she does and well, she teaches me and I teach her." He sighed lovingly. "She's fantastic."

Duck and Randy were swimming casually in a labyrinth shaped space, curved and with many turns, with water falling in small drops from the ceiling. "Man this place is rad as heck." Duck expressed.

"Mhm." Randy replied, studying and enjoying the looks of the place.

"Are you okay?" Duck inquired.

"What?" Randy looked at him. "Uhm, yes."

"Okay." Duck replied. As they kept swimming and exploring, Duck gave Randy a look of apology. "Boy, I think I haven't been the best teammate for you guys."

Randy raised an eyebrow. "Sorry?"

"Well, I just…I wanted all the fame and glory for me, well, for me and my friends and I didn't want anyone to change that." Duck sighed. "Being in the spotlight has always been my obsession."

Randy wasn't sure on how to reply. "I understand."

"Do you?" Duck inquired with doubt.

"Mhm." Randy responded, switching his look to the moving water. "I've also craved for, uhm, attention, not the way you do maybe but like…" He sighed with frustration. "…I've always felt like a nobody, invisible to the world, or even to my own friends." He managed to fight the lump in his throat.

Duck looked at him with great empathy and understanding. "You're not invisible." Randy looked at him. "I'm talking to you now, right?"

"Yes." Randy smirked briefly at him.

Duck smiled back while patting his head gently. "You see? You are not invisible."

Randy let out a chuckle of joy and thankfulness. "Thanks."

"No problem." Duck replied amicably.

"Uhm…do you know about, well…" Randy just stopped talking.

"What?" Duck inquired.

"Nothing, it's dumb." Randy responded while stroking the water a bit faster to avoid the conversation.

"Hey, no you can tell me man." Duck kept up with him on his swimming.

Randy returned to his previous rhythm, calmer, letting out a sigh and looking at Duck. "I…I need to know how to, well…impress girls."

"Ohh…" Duck chuckled. "…you are asking the expert, boy!"

"Really?" Randy expressed with excitement.

"Come on, I would have a doctorate in girls if it existed." Duck boasted.

"So, what's the first lesson?" Randy asked.

Duck chuckled as they passed between the small waterfalls that fell from the walls. "Well, my first advice would be to dress like you mean it."

"What does that mean?" Randy inquired.

"Fancy, elegant, attractive." Duck explained. "You know, show your masculinity, black shirts can do wonders for that." He thought for a moment. "And hair gel, tons of it."

"I don't think I have any of that." Randy said. "I just have T-Shirts and well, I do use deodorant, does that help?"

"I mean it would be gross if you didn't, but it's not enough, ladies love men that smell nice." Duck replied. "I have a lot of shirts that I don't use anymore, I could give you some."

"W…would you do that for me?" Randy was very grateful and a bit incredulous.

"Of course! Anything for a member of the team." Duck winked at him. "We'll deal with that when we get back home." He got thoughtful again for a long moment. "Let's see, what other thing…hmmm…oh, you have to compliment them for almost everything they say or do."

"Really? Why?" Randy raised an eyebrow.

"Just do it, it will work believe me." Duck and Randy kept swimming in the labyrinth.

"Okay, I will try." Randy said with some doubt. "Thanks."

"Anytime, pal." Duck replied with a smirk.

On the meantime, Ace and Lexi were having their drinks, sitting on the underwater benches before the bar. "This feels very strange, even bad in my opinion."

"Why?" Lexi placed a hand on his shoulder.

Ace sighed. "Rojus is suffering and we're here having drinks and relaxing."

"Ace, Edison and Vale needed to rest anyway, you don't have to feel guilty." Lexi reassured.

"I know but…" Ace sighed again. "…maybe it's just my mind being a jerk, as it always is."

"Aw, baby." Lexi hugged him. "Sometimes you have to help yourself if you want to help others ."

Ace hugged her back. "Yes." He smirked and closed his eyes, resting his head on her shoulder, enjoying the warmth of their embrace.

Lexi broke the hug after a couple of seconds, then took a sip from her drink. "We have to enjoy these moments." She took his hand while smiling at him. "Away from the noise, the worries." Lexi squeezed his hand lovingly, same as him.

-AUTHOR'S NOTE-

I'm very sorry that I delivered the chapter A WHOLE WEEK late! I have no excuses, you are all wonderful and you deserve the best. Maybe it feels that nothing is happening in these chapters, but these kind of slice of life moments are like small breaks for both the characters and the reader and I try to write them as vividly as possible to give you all a great experience, but believe me, soon we'll have those action packed chapters you know and love ;) May God bless you!