Mismatched eyes slowly opened before sliding shut due to the obnoxiously bright lighting beaming from above. Hearing the faintest noise of a liquid dripping, Evren cracked his eyes open bit by bit to allow them some time to adjust. When that didn't help by much, he closed his eyes, exhaling slowly before feeling the slightest of scratches as glass shards rained down. As it ended, he stared up at the ceiling, observing the sparks being emitted from the broken fuses with a blank expression on his face. And tilting his head to the side, he stared at the beeping machines and flashing computers before looking over at the thin tube containing an IV.
"You're awake."
Looking in the other direction, the officer's gaze locked onto a man sitting several feet away with a newspaper in his hands. Amber eyes then drifted up leisurely, watching as the one on the bed averted his gaze quickly. Returning to his paper, the other, turned a page before setting it aside altogether.
"Evren." Aforementioned flinched before looking at his employer. "Do you know why you're here today?" Lowering his gaze for a moment to think, the white-haired male slowly shook his head in an unsure manner. "I do hope you're not playing around, Evren."
"I do apologize but I am not playing around, sir."
"Well, this is a bit unsettling I suppose. What do you remember then?" he asked.
Furrowing his brow, Evren closed his eyes to concentrate before trying to sit up. His attempt was thwarted, however, making him look down at his chest to see a band stretching across to keep him pinned down to the table. "Sir…?"
"You can be a bit of a handful when you're out." The officer just stared in confusion. "Evren."
"Sir."
"Think."
Leaning his head back against the cold table, the man stared up at the ceiling once more. "I…don't remember."
"Think."
Sighing to himself, Evren closed his eyes as he tried to recall all that had happened. Blocking out tainted memories of his time in his bedroom with such an unwelcomed guest, the man held in his distaste in favor of looking for something different; more important. Hearing his name being called, he cracked his eyes open to stare at the empty socket above him.
"I…I remember meeting someone."
"Meeting someone?"
The other nodded once. "Yes, sir."
"Name."
"N…name?"
His employer nodded. "What was their name, Evren?"
"His name…"
"Yes, his name, Evren. Tell me what it is."
Mismatched eyes looked towards the tawny pair, seeing the expectant look in his eye. "I don't remember."
"…call me Cal."
"Think."
"Mr. Lefay-"
"Don't call me by my last name."
"I don't remember.
"Think harder, Evren."
"I can't, sir."
"Ren…"
"Why not?" The officer lowered his gaze. "You usually do have a keen eye for detail, Evren. Think."
"Sir, it's giving me a headache." He looked up as he heard the man sigh heavily. "I do apologize."
"It can't be helped I suppose," came the reply. "Whatever the case may be, once you're released, go meet with Tyson so you can be briefed on this evening's tasks. Is that understood?"
"Yes."
- † -
Fixing his collar as he walked into his room, Evren slowly came to a halt when he picked up on another's presence. Scanning the area once, he felt around for a light switch prior to deciding to head to his bathroom to deal with the residual aftereffects of his migraine and whatever else they had pumped into his system when he had been unconscious.
He had asked of course, but the doctor was easily flustered in his more awakened state for some reason.
Perhaps the officer had injured him somehow, what with the way the man kept favoring one side of his body.
Then again, he wouldn't tell the younger male so Evren didn't care.
He didn't have it in him to and it wasn't in his objective anyway, leaving him to wonder why he was curious to start with.
Once in his bathroom, Evren went through his pocket. Retrieving the new container of aspirins, he stared at them, observing the new color and what appeared to be a number on the small capsules. He soon went tense as a pair of arms wrapped themselves along his waist, pulling him into a warm body.
"Ty-"
"Are you ok?" Red eyes watched as the other tightened his hand around the small container. "Ev-"
"I'm fine, Tyson." Said person rested his chin in the crook of the other's neck. "There has to be a reason for you coming to my room."
"Yeah," Ty replied.
Being nuzzled, Evren bristled before putting the aspirin away. When the other had yet to let go, he lowered his head prior to pushing the other away. Turning around, he kept his gaze down at his feet as he backed into the counter. Feeling the other's gaze, he kept his focused on his feet until the other took a step closer.
"Stay away from me."
"Excuse me?"
Hearing another step come forward, Evren held a hand up before bringing it back quickly. "…away. Stay away from…me, Tyson."
"Ev-"
"Stay away from me!" Covering his mouth with his hand, mismatched eyes studied the limb once he pulled it away to look at the bandages wrapped there. He then sidestepped the man, only to have his arm seized. "Let go!" The light bulb in the room shattered, although it went unnoticed as the white-haired officer was pulled into the main part of his quarters. "Tyson, let g-"
"Be quiet." Red eyes narrowed at the man pinned to the wall. Having the other's free hand punch him in the chest, he grabbed it before holding it against the wall, the bandaged one following suit soon after. "I'm ordering you to shut up."
"T-"
"Be quiet."
Evren looked up at his captured hands before trying to pull them from the wall. "Let go!"
"Evren, be quiet."
"Let go, Tyson! Let go, let go, let g-"
Wincing when his injured hand hit the wall, Evren held in a startled sound before sinking to his knees. Muttering incoherently, he brought his hand to his chest before curling in on himself once he had been released. Resting his brow on the cold tile, he squeezed his eyes shut as he listened to the raven walk away. As he heard his leader return shortly after, Evren pulled himself into an upright position, holding his hand to his chest.
"Evren." Aforementioned looked up slowly, managing to hold in any sign of pain. "Does it hurt?"
"I'm fine," came the reply.
"You're lying," Tyson stated as he knelt down to be at level with his teammate.
"I'm fine."
"Then let go of your hand." Mismatched eyes slowly focused on the darker pair. "That was an order, Evren." Looking down at his hand, said person slowly lowered it onto his lap before having it grabbed. "It hurts, doesn't it?"
Biting his cheek, the man shook his head. "It's fine."
"You're lying."
"I'm…" Bowing his head, Evren let out a shaky breath when his leader gave a small squeeze. "Tys…on, please, let g-go." The other hummed in question. "It hurts."
"What was that?"
"Let go!" he hissed, trying to pry the hand off his. "It hurts!"
Being released suddenly, he backed into the wall, pulling his hand to his chest. Squeezing his eyes shut, he lowered his head to hide behind the longer strands of hair before having his chin tilted upwards. Hearing a command to open his eyes, he did so bit by bit until he came face to face with the carmine-colored ones. Shaking subtly when the other leaned in, Evren pulled away quickly in favor of staring at something else in the room. And having his hand seized again, he curled in on himself, hoping that the man would just break it instead on playing around with him. However, when he felt something warm being pressed against it, Evren watched as the dark-haired man pulled away gradually after placing a kiss to the back of his hand.
Looking down at his hand when it was released, Evren looked up in time to see the other leaning forward. Turning away, he flinched when an arm barred his way. Too on edge to even face the other at that point, he closed his eyes, hoping Tyson would just hurry up and leave.
He figured that the raven had let his power go to his head and, with Ty now in his chain of command, it wasn't like he could actually tell on his leader.
But tell the Director what exactly?
Evren would never speak of it.
The man was too prideful.
"-ren." Said person lowered his head, simply to have his chin tilted back up. "Evren."
The paler man flinched when his head was slowly turned towards the other. When nothing else happened, the jade-colored eye cracked open followed by the turquoise one. Dragging his gaze over, he slowly backed away when he saw how the red eyes were watching him intently. Catching a glimpse of the other moving his hand, Evren backed into the wall again, squeezing his eyes shut when fingers stretched towards him.
When nothing but a touch ghosted across his cheek, he opened his eyes gradually when the heat from the other's hand had yet to let up on his face. Glancing at the appendage there, Evren looked towards his leader to see a frustrated expression watching him. Pushing his hand against the taller male's chest, Evren pulled it back to hold against his chest as it started to throb. Looking up when the other's hand left his cheek, the paler man tensed when his injured hand was grabbed though not like before.
Watching carefully, he flinched when it was raised gently. Seeing how the darker pair of eyes was watching him again, Evren averted his gaze prior to redirecting him towards the other officer once he felt something warm being placed against the back of it. Receiving another kiss on the bandaged hand, Evren pulled it to his chest the minute it was let go. Bowing his head, he exhaled slowly, quietly. Sensing that the other had moved again, he went rigid as a finger tilted his chin up and his eyes widened marginally when he realized how close the other had gotten.
With his head already against the wall, he couldn't really get far. He figured that Tyson knew that much and that the man was fully aware of his current predicament, hence him being there now.
"Ty-"
Receiving a peck, Evren blinked once then twice prior to receiving another. When a third didn't come, the shorter male fidgeted in his spot, causing the other to chuckle. Having enough nerve to glare at him, Evren opened his mouth to counter though it was cut off entirely. Trying to pull away didn't quite help either, what with Tyson holding onto his shoulders.
Moments turned to seconds.
Seconds slowly started to mesh together before the paler man managed to inhale much needed air. Wincing as he pushed at the man's chest, a startled sound escaped him when he was shoved onto his back. Looking up at the man looming over him, Evren chewed the inside of his cheek when the situation started to seem like something from his past.
He'd admit that it was somewhat unnerving.
It was actually terrifying.
Jumping at a kiss to his neck, he pushed his hand against Ty's chest. Feeling a kiss to cheek, he punched the man in the jaw before kneeing him in the stomach. When the predicted reactions happened, Evren scrambled to get to his feet.
Having his injured ankle grabbed, he nearly buckled onto the floor though it was the raven that had emitted something similar to a low growl.
"Evren."
Feeling his leg get pulled from beneath him, it took Evren a few seconds for him to figure out that he was already on the floor. A twinge in the side of his head confirmed that he had hit it against the floor but the raven had to take top priority at the moment.
Rolling over, mismatched eyes blinked several times before focusing on the flickering lights above. Sitting up, Evren held the side of his head before swatting at the hand that had reached towards him. When it had tried again, the officer opted in grabbing it. The blinking lights soon went out altogether prior to a large spark as well as a minor flame being emitted in the darkness.
That was soon followed but a pained hiss before the lights came back on.
Bringing his hand back to his side, Tyson stared at the singed markings on his hand. Letting it hang at its side, Ty grimaced through the residual aftereffects of the shock before looking at his teammate holding his left hand to his chest. Red eyes then noticed the thin wisps of smoke emanating from the pale hand being grasped ever so tightly.
"Evren."
"Brief me."
"Evren, are you ok?"
"Brief me," Evren muttered.
"Ev-"
"No, I'm not!"
"I'm-"
"You're what? Don't say you're sorry. Don't apologize to me!" Taking a step back, he lowered his head. "I don't know what you from me, what you're trying to do, but stop it! You're just supposed to brief me and the others, lead, coordinate, and execute tactics but, please, Tyson, leave me alone!"
"E-"
Bandages rustled as the paler man pulled down his collar to show a hickey. "All this has to stop! Stop kissing me, marking me, and trying to grope me!" he snapped, one of the lights shattering soon after. He soon pointed an accusing finger at him. "Don't let all that power go to your head. I will go to the Director and-"
"And tell him what?" Tyson asked, seizing the hand entirely. "What would you possibly say? I kissed you? You didn't seem to mind it so much the last time. So what if it's a hickey. It was just one-" Evren pulled down the other side of his collar. "Ok, fine!"
"Don't touch me either!" Evren ordered. "If you would've asked, then maybe I'd say yes b-"
"Well can I?"
"No, you're dangerous!" he snapped, yanking his hand back to show the blistering red mark on his palm and the back of his hand. "You've pointed a gun at my head. You're constantly squeezing my hand! You know it doesn't work properly as is!"
"Well-"
"That's the only reason you even got the position of leader to start with! You know this, I know this, we all kn-"
Grabbing hold of his subordinate's injured hand, Tyson pulled him over. "This position would've been mine soon enough."
"Let go of me, Tyson!"
"Shut up-"Feeling zapped, he pushed the white-haired man into the wall. "You know what?" Barring the man's way, Tyson narrowed his eyes. "Believe what you want, but you were going to get demoted sooner or later. Why? Well, one, when you get hurt, your dwell time is way too long. Two, you're the only one that requires a health check every few months and your vitals are always in question. And three, those debilitating headaches of yours are a hazard to mission capability if you ever got one during an assignment. You're more of a risk than I a-"
Stepping off when the former leader threw a punch, Tyson threw one of his own though it connected with the other's stomach. When he pulled his hand back, he watched as his teammate dropped down to his knees, head down as he inhaled sharply, coughing soon after.
"Bastard…"
"I may be a bastard, but you're the one who's defective," Ty stated as he looked at the singe mark on his hand. He then looked at the clock mounted on the wall. "As for that briefing-"
"Get out."
"We had been informed that there was a party-"
"Get out!" Evren shouted before being pulled up by the collar of his shirt. "Let go and get out," he warned.
Being released, the white-haired officer kept his attention set on the floor, keeping eye on the shadow falling over him. A minute or two passed but Tyson soon left him alone in his room. A few more minutes passed before he touched the blistering part of his hand, wincing as he did so.
"…you're the one who's defective."
Pulling himself to his feet, he walked over to his restroom to tend to his hand. Once done, he stared at the small container containing his aspirins.
"…those debilitating headaches of yours are a hazard to mission capability…"
Looking back down at bindings covering both hands, Evren stared at them in question. "…Am I…defective…?"
- † -
"Do you have to go now?!"
"You're acting like a child, Anthony."
"I told you not to call me by my first name, woman!"
"Guys, I'll be right back," Calix said as he ascended the ladder.
"Hey, while you're up there, check on the area!" Will called.
Kicking the sewer covering back into place, Cal stretched his arms above his head prior to shoving his hands into his pockets. Searching for several seconds, he pulled out his sunglasses prior to feeling something moving around beneath his fingertips.
"SHU?"
Small lights flickered to imitate that of blinking before the little robo pet bobbed its head to and fro, chirping. Scurrying up the teen's sleeve, it popped up beneath the lapel before working its way up to his shoulders. From there, it hopped onto the head of black hair before finally settling down.
Rolling his eyes, Cal went back to rummaging through his pockets, withdrawing a pair of gloves as he began to traverse the abandoned roads. Looking to his left, he observed the dented trailer of a freighter. Coming around the back of it, he climbed up onto its ledge before jumping up to grab the top of it. Rocking to and fro to gain momentum, he flipped onto the roof before looking up at the darkening sky.
"CL."
Bringing a hand up, said person tapped the side of his frames. "Sup?"
"You there yet?"
"Renyx, I just left."
"You're movin' like an old woman."
Shaking his head, Calix hopped up, grabbing hold of a low streetlight. Swinging up and over, he crouched on the top before leaping over to grab a power line. It took a moment for the cable to stop wobbling but once it did, the raven was already preparing to stick the landing on a nearby fire escape.
"CL!"
Foot slipping, Calix flailed as he started to fall. Feeling a pull on his hair, he guessed that it was SHU trying to keep him from hurting himself though its attempts were quite unsuccessful when he still managed to miss even the ladder.
"CL!?"
Picking himself up from off the ground, the teen cracked then rubbed his back before looking at the dumpster he had landed on. Spotting SHU sitting on the lid, its head cocked at angle, Cal huffed a sigh before touching the side of the frames.
"What?" he groused as he got to his feet, wincing in the process.
"What was that sound?"
"Me falling off a damn fire escape."
"You f-how ya managed to do that?" Renyx asked as he propped his feet up on a table.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe some yelling in my ear made me lose concentration!"
"Hey, hey! Why you yellin' at me?" he asked. "Anway, do you-"
Cal heard the blue-streaked female yelling at the redhead about his feet going on the floor before saying, "I'll let you know when I get there. Damn, be patient, old man."
"Old-!"
Tucking the glasses away, Cal slowly made his way out of the alleyway. Feeling SHU scamper up his pant leg, he reached down to let the robot scurry up his arm to take its place at his shoulder. Once it was on his head, the teen opted to stay on the ground, though it'd take longer to get to his destination. Humming a tune, he turned his attention to the starless sky sometime after. It then donned on him that it did become rather dark much soon in the old district, what with the lack of lighting like the more modern areas.
"Dammit..."
Pulling out his glasses when it started to become rather impossible to continue on, Calix tapped the left side twice before doing the same to the right. Waiting several seconds, he took a good look around to get his bearings straight as he continued on his way.
He lost track of how many times he had thanked Will for coming up with such multifunctional gear but he was sure he had enough to annoy the living hell out of her.
"Hey, SHU, you still there?" he asked, receiving a low chirp in reply. "Well, let's get this over with then, yea?"
Hearing another chirp, Calix rounded the corner before breaking into a light jog. Picking up the pace as he spotted a fence coming up, he pushed off the nearby wall to get to the adjacent one. Grabbing hold of the railing before gravity started to kick in, he swung his leg up and over before coming down in a crouch. Picking himself up, he winced before focusing on the number of meters being flashed in the bottom right. Hearing a click come from the bot on his head, Cal started off again before slowing as his back began to ache once more.
Rubbing his backside, he groaned mentally before reaching the end of the alley.
"CL."
Sighing, said person tapped the side of his glasses. "I'm almost there, jeez."
"You can drop the attitude."
"Oh, uh, sorry. I thought you were Renyx."
"Yeah…I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear you say something like that," Will stated as she glanced at the napping redhead in the longue room. "Anyway, I heard you fell off a fire escape. Are you ok?"
"What are you, my mother?"
"Forget I asked-"
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry. I'm ok so what's up?"
"Is SHU with you?" Said thing chirped. "SHU, dear, ya gotta stop sneaking out." It chirped again. "Well, because I need to keep-"
"Hey, hey, hey! Fight on your own time, ok?"
"Well-"
"Your own time, W-" Hearing something fall around the corner, Cal slowly pulled out the extendable staff he carried in his sleeve. "Will…I'm gonna call you back."
"What? N-"
Hanging up, Calix crept around the corner, swinging out the collapsible metal rod to half length. Feeling the bot curl in his hair, brown eyes glanced up before focusing on the enhanced images shown by the glasses on his face.
Opting to hang back as he saw movement, he crept closer, steadily, prior to stopping as he saw a spark. Seeing it again, he removed the glasses, looking them over though his vision was quite limited in the dark surroundings. When a small light came again, the raven stepped closer as he slid the spectacles back onto his face. Making out a face, he nearly dropped the staff.
"You."
"Why are you here?"
The other merely shifted in the direction of the voice, stance leaning more towards that of attack, making Calix hold his own weapon in defense, end pointed up at the other's chin. Stepping forward again, the raven then lowered the pole slowly when he noticed the things on the other's hands.
"Are…you ok?" he asked when the other took a step back. The teen then lowered his weapon altogether when he caught sight of sparks as well as a low hum of what could've been electricity. "…Ren?"
"Stay away from me," he said, bringing his hand slowly to his side then out of sight, "and stop calling me that!"
"…Ren?" Putting the staff away, Calix made his way over to the paler man, finding it rather easy to see him even without his glasses. "Hey, are you ok?" Brown eyes then noticed his clothes. "You're…not on duty, are you?"
"What are you doing out here?"
"Are you?"
Evren balled up his hands, wincing subtly. "No."
"Then why are you here?"
"I asked you first," the officer countered.
"Let's talk about more important things first." Mismatched eyes stayed guarded. "Are you ok? What happened to you?"
"Nothing and I'm fine."
"Bullshit."
"Excuse m-"
"You heard me," Calix shot back. "You're not on duty, yet you're here. Are you undercover or something?" He narrowed his eyes. "Are you trying to spy on me?"
"First off, I didn't know you were even out here so get off your high horse and second, I don't handle undercover work."
"Then why are you here?"
"Why do you need to know?" Evren asked.
"Are…you hiding from the police?"
The older man raised an eyebrow at the somewhat excited tone. "No, I'm not and if you have forgotten, I'm part of-"
"Polaris task team," Cal finished with a bit of a sneer. "I haven't forgotten, but are you hiding? Did something happen?"
"I'm fine!" Evren snapped. "What's with the third-degree?! Stop questioning me every time you see me! What do you want from me?!"
"Evren…"Looking up at the lamppost as it flickered on, Cal then focused on the weary expression. "You look…you look terrible."
"I'm fine," he said as he looked the other way.
"That mark." The officer covered his neck instinctively. "No." Stepping forward, Calix tugged the man's high collar down to stare at a faded mark prior to noticing the fresher looking one. "Who did this?"
"No one of importance."
"Who. Did. It." Evren grimaced. "Was it…your girlfriend?"
"No."
"…boyfriend?"
"That's not really the word I'd use…" he muttered as he rubbed his neck.
Spotting the bandages, Cal grabbed hold of Evren's wrist, noting how the man flinched as well as the small shock-perhaps from static- that he had obtained. Eyes watching the man's face for disapproval, he slowly undid the binding until he got to the blistering red mark on his palm. Turning the hand over slowly, he saw the burned skin before touching it.
Pulling his hand away when something similar to a miniature lightning bolt jumped at him, Calix reeled back as he held his own hand to his chest. Noting the forlorn expression crossing the man's face, the raven stepped forward, startling the other.
"Evren." Aforementioned lowered his head as he held his burned hand. "No, Ren; hey, talk to me." Mismatched eyes peered from beneath white strands before looking up as the light flickered. "Ren, look at me." Cal took a step forward as the other took a step back. "Ren, look at me." Holding up his hands as the other looked at him, Cal frowned. "C'mon, talk to me."
"Stay away from me," Evren said as he turned away.
"Talk to me, Ren."
"No."
"Ren-"
"No!"
Flinching as the light bulb blinked then shattered, Calix lowered his arm before checking on the bot that was shaking on his head. Once SHU seemed to calm, Cal focused on the officer that appeared to be holding his unwrapped hand.
"Ren…"
"I'm…"
"You can tell me."
"…you're the one who's defective."
"I'm…defective."
"Defective?" Cal parroted. "What's that even mean, Ren?"
"…you're the one who's defective."
"Ren, talk to me, please?"
Balling his hand into a fist, Evren ignored the increasingly painful pressure he was applying to his blistered palm. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Why? I wanna help."
"Help?" Turning on his heels, he glared at the raven. "What could a bratty teen like you do to possibly help me?!"
"But-"
"No buts! You can't do anything! Stop trying to be so nice to me. I don't know you and you don't me!"
"I know you."
"You don't know me!" The raven looked around as the surrounding streetlamps flickered before having their bulbs shattered. Looking around at the damage done, Evren lowered his head. "Stay away from me."
"…you're the one who's defective."
The office took a look at his hands before clenching both into fists. "D…defective…"
"You're not defective, Ren." The teen straightened, brushing off the bits of glass that had fallen on his jacket. "You're just Ren," he said with a light smile. "You can talk to me if something is bothering you. You used to in the past."
"…those debilitating headaches of yours are a hazard to mission capability…"
"Ren-"
"Just leave me alone!"
Stepping forward, only to have the other run, Calix removed the small bot and set it down. "Will would have a fit if you got messed up. Go back to her."
The bot bobbed before scurrying off to get back to its creator, leaving its carrier to run off after the rather unstable, perhaps unpredictable, former leader of the XYZ series.
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