Chapter Text
It was hard to ignore the sheer differences between his best friend and the virus that took over his mind and body. The ideals that swapped out, the horrors that the superhero had committed during this multiple-month-long period. The gruff laugh that arrived from technically robotic vocal cords, did not match his own. Even The Captain, who’s the one that gave Ropo his voice, couldn’t make that sound.
Jack had him try, communicating with him more and more, on the days he’d missed his best friend the most. The Captain tried his hardest to be a good support, but it was a function of the current war, he couldn’t be more than a Soldier.
Jack couldn’t keep track of how long he’d been fighting anymore, it was truly a blur running from abandoned area to abandoned area, playing keep away with actual people, himself, and valuable items needed to either make a cure or worsen the virus.
He hadn’t had any concrete sleep in months, he couldn’t!! Not when the stinking EXEs don’t sleep either, not when RoPo could show up at his new safe house whenever he felt like it. When was it a safe time to sleep?! To eat? To get medical attention for all the endless rubber bullets that injure his skin?!
At this point, he had a direct supplier of coffee and energy drinks, numbly sipping as he kept on guard for his current yoinked scientist of the week. A fella that his intel had been losing their mind over, in case RoPo managed to turn him over to the EXE side. A man with multiple PhD.s! Solved cancer!! Foolishly made his way over to the city to help Jack with a cure.
Jack mused softly, his eyebags wrinkling his skincare by the second, that he had truly become a babysitter. What happened to his life? Of doing miraculously cool adventures with his friends? Of getting to flirt with pretty people just for the fun and banter of it?
Why on earth did he follow Ropo into the Minevengers again?
He should have never gone into the neighbor's house.
Everyone calls it RoPo’s fault that the EXEs are so vibrant, but Jack was the one who went into the basement, allowing The Neighbour to do his little experiments. He was the first, he was the 1st patient. It was all his fault.
He furiously blinked away tears, he had no time for emotions! RoPo would exploit them, and the rest of the city needs him to be in tip-top shape! The military was giving him so many weapons in the universe, that the Minevengers were keeping him in the loop of RoPo’s whereabouts. The city was constantly on high alert, pleading for him to help RoPo and the other infected individuals.
He is just a kid, with the humor of a kid, with the thoughts of a kid, with the outfit of a kid, without even a high school degree.
Yet here he is, on the front lines of war because he’s the only one with enough experience to avoid getting bitten by his best friend. Because he is the only one who can act like he isn’t terrified of the superhero turned villain daily. Why is he caught up in so much chaos? Why is he helpless watching friends get turned into the dark side? To watch life quickly drain out of their eyes?
He’s almost forgotten the distinct color of blue that is Ropo’s eyes, the genuine smile of his friend, the giggly laugh that spun from his throat. The endless ribbing he can perform with his friend, instead of watching the husk of his soul slowly get angrier. It’s been so long since he’s watched RoPo excitedly show off a new power, or be able to wear his suit, or simply be . . . heroic!
He... He misses him.
“Mhm. . . hiding a renowned scientist from me, Huh Jack?” The grumbly voice picked up from the nearby setup cameras/microphone. Ropo.EXE and his ability to mumble to himself and give away his location every single time! It works like an absolute charm. The whole resistance would probably be ruined if it wasn’t for the guy's ability to yap away.
Glancing at those cameras to make sure he wasn’t simply hallucinating proved his theory, yup! There’s Ropo! With a bloody smile and probably stinky. He softly sighed, picking his head up from the wall, examining his ole and trusty gun, full up on rubber bullets. Thank God.
“You got 30 minutes, start packing for the helicopter,” Jack grumbled toward the scientist, shuffling toward the edge of the roof. At least all this cardio has helped his heart health!
“I think I'll personally pay for your therapy, kid.” The scientist grimaced, glancing toward the kid with too much weight on his shoulders. He gently dropped a bit of purple liquid into the concoction, causing the glass to change to an entirely different shade of blue, hopefully that meant Great things!!
“Not to worry!” Jack turned his head towards the man in a lab coat, the gray-haired man raised his eyebrow in small concern.
“Ropo’s got that covered, he always does.” The man’s ability to feel guilt is the only thing that keeps Jack mentally stable after these accidents, rich people are good for something!!!
Throwing a peace sign to the bewildered scientist, a grin immediately back on his face, his tongue stuck out of his face a minor amount. An immediate facade back on his facial features. You almost couldn't tell that he'd been at war against his best friend for the last 4 months. Before dropping out of the broken window, another day, another reminder to himself to get his repulsors from his suit permanently placed onto his feet.
“Keep your walkie on standby, Doc!”