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Chapter 5

Noah chased after Rex. It wasn't difficult to track where he had gone. It helped that Noah had several years of experience following Rex's exploits when he accompanied him on missions for Providence, but honestly, Rex didn't appear to be all that concerned about hiding his path. The startled shouts and the indignant responses of the medical staff clearly marked Rex's course.

Noah was nearing the end of the hall when he heard the telltale clap of a heavy safety door being opened. With a burst of speed, he raced towards it. He barely paused to push through the doorway before it clicked closed.

"Rex!" he choked out. When Rex continued down to the next level, Noah sucked in as much air as he could. "MY DAD SAIDS 'HI!'"

Rex stumbled mid-step and froze when he recovered. He looked over his shoulder at Noah, his face twisting in a grimace. The grimace transformed into a displeased frown as he turned and stalked back up the stairs toward Noah.

"Hey," Noah breathed, a spike of panic flooding through him as Rex zeroed in on him.

Rex had grown while Noah was away. He always had been taller than Noah, but even though it hadn't been by much before; an inch or two, their difference in stature became abundantly clear when Rex climbed the stairs and entered Noah's personal space. Now, he was at least a head taller than Noah.

"Tell me," Rex started with a low growl. "Why're you here?" he asked, bracing his hands on either side of Noah, boxing him in.

Noah expected the cold reception from Rex, but that didn't mean his sharp tone hadn't cut him any less.

"Why do you think?" Noah challenged. "I heard what happened to Six. I wanted to check and see how he's doing. Thanks, by the way, for letting me know about it."

Although seeing Six was not the main reason Bobo had called him, Noah's current frustration at Rex was clouding his judgement and his petty side, the side that was pissed at and longed for Rex, was starting to show itself. This was not how he wanted their reunion to go, but Noah was having a hard time not reacting to Rex's indignancy with his own annoyance.

Noah shifted, regretting his previous tone as he watched sadness fill Rex's eyes. Rex closed them and bowed his head in shame.

"Plus, I wanted to see you," Noah confessed.

Rex's eyes opened and focused on him. His brows knitted together as disbelief flicked over his features.

Noah's fingers flexed as he resisted the urge to reach out to him. The need to comfort and reassure him that he hadn't meant to hurt him, even if it wasn't entirely true. They were both so good at hurting each other. They knew each other's weaknesses and what things to say to cause the most damage. But Noah hadn't dropped everything and traveled across the country to punch down on Rex. He was here to support him and if there was time, repair their estranged relationship. "I wanted to see you," he repeated.

"Noe..."

It should have been confusing when Rex used his nickname, after all, it sounded exactly like answering in the negative. Oddly, it was easy to tell the difference when Rex said it. There was something soft and pleading in his voice that made Noah's heart squeeze with affection.

"Yeah?" He asked softly. His earlier frustration drained away and was replaced with the fear that he would scare away whatever thought Rex wanted to express. He pressed his lips together. Anticipation squirmed around in his insides. As the silence progressed it became harder to maintain eye contact so Noah broke it by looking down.

He noticed that Rex's goggles were hanging around his neck. He must have rushed over here, Noah thought. Pulling his goggles down around his neck was something Rex tended to do when he touched down quickly after a hover-copter flight. Rex clocked Noah's change in attention and chuckled.

"Bobo said there was a surprise at the hospital. I thought it had something to do with Six's condition, and not...well." His gaze shifted away from Noah as he shrugged.

"Me." Noah finished for him. "That monkey seems hell-bent on getting us back together."

"What do you mean?" Rex asked just as his eyes lit up in understanding. "He was the one who called you."

"Yeah," was all Noah said.

"Shit, sorry. I should have called..." Rex stopped himself from explaining why he hadn't. There was no need to say more.

"It's alright. I'm here now." Noah caved into his desire to hold him and pulled Rex into a hug.

That was all it took to break through to Rex.

With a small whimper, he clutched Noah tightly, resting his head on Noah's shoulder. Noah's left hand instinctively went up to cradle Rex's head, wishing desperately that this simple gesture would somehow be enough to ease all of Rex's pain.

Noah was relieved Rex allowed the embrace. It seemed Rex needed this as much as Noah did. Noah sighed heavily before breathing in deeply. The scents of Rex surrounded him and a ping of longing went through him. He was here. With Rex. Holding him. "I hope you are doing as well as you can, under the circumstances."

"Thank you," Rex whispered, his lips brushing over Noah's neck as he spoke, sending pleasant shivers over his back.

"You're welcome," Noah said, his voice hoarse and weak sounding. He cleared his throat and Rex pulled back, mistaking Noah's gesture as a signal to end the hug. Noah silently corrected him by moving closer and refusing to let him go, squeezing him until Rex's arms returned to their place around Noah.

"That's a really good thing to say," Rex observed. "Most people ask how I'm doing and hope I don't say anything else but 'I'm fine'. I know it's not because they don't care. Most of 'em do. They just don't know what else to say. So, it's nice to hear something that sounds...sincere."

"If it helps, I was - am being sincere," Noah added, placing a hand on the back of Rex's neck. "How are you holding up?"

Rex's shoulders sagged and he exhaled before he answered. "I'm okay, I guess."

Noah chuckled causing Rex to look at him. "I don't know why I asked. Of course, you're not doing okay." Noah's fingers curled at the softness of Rex's hair before realizing he most definitely didn't have the right to touch him this casually anymore. "Sorry," he murmured, removing his hand and finally releasing Rex. "I just... you've grown it out." Noah bit his lip and looked away guiltily. He was probably just imagining the way the tips of his fingers tingled with longing.

"No, it's...yeah. I just haven't gotten around to getting it cut." Rex ran his hand through his hair. He seemed just as lost as Noah was on how to interact any more.

It was a big part of what Noah was dreading. The urge to act as they once had, the way that had come so easily to them mere months ago, was off-limits now.

"Are you gonna cut it?"

"You think I should?"

Noah blinked. He hadn't expected Rex to care about his opinion enough to ask for it. He took a moment to study Rex before he answered. He's gotten bulkier, too, he mused randomly. "No, you look good."

It wasn't until Noah noticed the blush over Rex's cheeks that he realized how revealing his answer was. At least it was nice to know that Rex enjoyed hearing how attractive Noah still found him.

"But you should do whatever makes you comfortable."

"I think I'll leave it until it becomes a pain to take care of," Rex declared. He moved away from Noah and leaned against the wall next to him.

"Sounds good," Noah agreed lamely.

Imaginary alarm bells started to blare in Noah's head. Now that Rex had given him some space to breathe and recover from being so close to him, he could get a better look at Rex, and what he saw worried him. It wasn't unexpected that Rex wouldn't be in the best mood after Six's accident, and yet, Noah was surprised at how run down Rex looked.

He's probably slept less than I have, and it's not like I'm going on missions or anything.

Noah now understood that Bobo-Haha had been right to contact him. Things were bad if there were clear signs of Rex's fatigue. Fortunately, Noah had become quite the expert on getting Rex to take care of himself while he wasn't wholly aware of it. And while his previous go-to method of convincing him to sneak off for a quick make-out session was off the table, Noah doubted all of his knowledge of helping Rex would have become obsolete after a few months. It helped that step one was always the same. Ask him a yes or no question.

"So, hey, I know I'm not the surprise you were expecting today. So, I gotta ask, it okay that I'm here?"

Rex blew out a breath while Noah held his. If he wasn't welcomed then Noah wasn't entirely sure what else he would be able to do. He could only help Rex as much and as far as Rex would allow him to.

"How long are you here for?"

Noah wasn't prepared for Rex to ask him a question in return. "Oh, uh, just a few days. I go back on Monday."

Rex nodded with a quick hum as he processed Noah's answer.

Noah itched to ask how knowing the length of his visit would impact Rex's answer, but he remained quiet, giving Rex the time he needed to think things through.

"Yeah. I know things are all kinds of messed up between us and we haven't talked since, in a while. And after what happened to Six, I've been me about everything...but, yeah, it's okay that you're here." Rex said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Thanks for saying that. It means a lot." Noah's returning smile was more pronounced and full of hope that what he had to do next would succeed. There was a lot he needed to address in Rex's simple statement, but hearing that he was in some small way pleased to see him made his chest swell with relief and joy.

Rex cleared his throat and looked away from him. "Yeah. Of course. No problem."

"Hey, do you want to go back and see Six? We kinda owe Rebecca an apology after our dramatics."

Rex's face squinched up in surprised disgust.

"What?"

"Does Doc know you're calling her that?"

"Oh, yeah. She just asked me to call her Rebecca," Noah laughed and rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed. "I guess it did seem to come out of the blue. Maybe she only did it because she was pleased to see me and focused on something nice, even if for a moment." Noah knew he was rambling, but he couldn't help it.

"Huh, okay." Rex agreed but he seemed to be holding back. He clearly had thoughts on it but he stopped himself from sharing them.

Noah wanted to call him out on it, but knew that he had to be careful about prying too deeply just yet. But it turned out, that he didn't need to worry about it.

"I don't think she said it by mistake, or whatever. I mean, she's right. It's nice to see you," Rex said awkwardly. A blush stained his cheeks.

Warmth filled Noah. He didn't think he would hear those words from Rex at all let alone so soon. He tried his best to cover up how pleased he was to hear Rex admit he was pleased Noah was there by replying in a way that his friend Sebastian would. "I know, right?"

Rex snorted and in a smooth motion, he moved away from the wall and reached past Noah to the door. " Yeah, alright. After you, Nixon," he said holding the door open for him.

Is there anyone still in this fandom?

I have spent so much time rewriting and editing this story and this chapter in particular that it barely resembles my original idea for it. But along with the images that I wanted to bring to life have been turned into something better, I hope this story has become is in fact better overall. I'd like to think I've really grown as a writer since my original idea for the reunion was Rex and Noah making out. It wasn't long ago that I would have left it in for the immediate payoff of Noah's visit, but I now know that it would ring false as a way for them to reunite and remain true to the situation and headspace I've placed the guys in. Besides, a little tension is good, yeah?