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"Hey Stan..?"
"Yeah?"
"You said that you'll always protect me right? That you'll dedicate your life making me happy?"
"Mmhmm."
”What can I do to make you happy then?"
The blonde boy paused, before smiling. " Live ."
He remembered the word "Live" the moment the revival fluid trickled down his cheeks. Hot against stone-cold skin. The last thing he remembered was that the battle between him and the Kingdom of Science came to an end when they were petrified once again.
And they lost.
"I assume you have a job for me." He says, getting straight to the point. His eyes roaming around, scanning his surroundings, looking for someone.
"We're building a rocket. You're the only NASA scientist who can make it." Senku says simply, snickering already. "I'm 10 billion percent sure that you'll want to know more about Medusa." Senku adds, goading him. Xeno's eyes shot up, brows furrowing with interest.
"Very well then." He mutters. His eyes roaming still, before settling to Senku's. It was an elegant trade off. He shares his knowledge with them regarding rockets, while Senku discusses to him the facts about Medusa.
Senku digs a pinky inside his ear. The night sky above them enveloping their surroundings. “The Medusa can cure most injuries.” Senku starts. “We can reassemble people as long as the cracks didn’t wither.”
Xeno mentally took notes, humming at every beat. “And.. it can revive the dead. You know what this means, right Dr. Xeno?”
Senku paused, eyeing him carefully. The gears inside his mind churned, putting information together.
Surely.. this isn’t what I think it is….
"The.. The light of immortality, how truly.. Truly elegant!" Xeno sputters, a light burst behind his eyes, pupils dilating with manic delight. His grin unfurled slowly—like a scientist on the brink of divinity "Defeating natural order with nefarious science! Elegant!" He says. The Medusa was pushing boundaries of Science! Boundaries that he couldn’t cross! And now.. Now it's all real.
"We can’t run tests on the device though." Xeno points out. While the hypothesis of the device reviving the dead is marvelous, would it work if the human being has already withered away? Would it restore the vitality of a person? How about their psyche? Would the device…
He sighs softly. "Only way we can answer our questions is asking the maker himself." Senku says, grinning. "Just thinking about it gives me chills."
Xeno just smiled. He wanted to push this boundaries himself too. And he knows he should feel euphoric about this but something felt missing-- someone
Before he can even finish his thought, he schools himself. But He isn't here. Not anymore.
Xeno is aware of the dynamic there is between him, and the Kingdom of Science. He had killed them—literally. He’d unleashed modern warfare against children and dreamers. Even if they desperately needed his genius, they wouldn’t be an idiot to not have leverage:
Stanley.
He shoved those fickle thoughts away, preventing his chest from twisting as he focused on the matter at hand. Science. Rockets. Defeating Why-Man
While Senku was off discussing the roadmap for their rocket building, he turned his gaze to the stars above them. He felt another tug in his chest. Bile rising from his throat. In truth, he didn't want to ask. It pains him that he wants to ask Senku about this.
"Have you.. Destroyed him?" He asked, quieter than he intended to. 'How illogical.' He sneers at himself. Senku is an ambitiously sentimental man. Like his father. Surely he wouldn't destroy that statue for unlike him, his protégé had heart.
Yet, the inkling sense of unease washed over Xeno. His chest seemed to compress further, nausea running up on him. Is this acid reflux? I should take some ginger tea later.
"Nah we didn't." Senku said simply.
It's laughable to Xeno how mere words assured him. That was all the answer he needed.
"Please test out this rail gu-"
"No."
“B-But why? Oh! Right, I brought offerings!” Xeno said, brightening. “I analyzed your preferences and acquired high-sucrose snacks!” He held up the cloying sweets he’d waited in line for-- ones he noticed the other children liked. “And war games! You enjoy war games, correct? I’m letting you borrow my Game Boy! If only you would just-”
"Still no."
"But you're perfect! Uhm y-your physical strength, your psyche and-"
Before Xeno can finish, the blonde boy in front of him closes the door at his face.
Xeno slumped. Hot tears welled in his eyes, spilling fast and unfamiliar. He sniffled, babbling through the hiccups: “W-Why…?” “Do you dislike m-me…?” He couldn’t understand. And what he couldn’t understand made him feel lost and defeated.
Opening the door, the blonde boy sighed, taking the rail gun from Xeno’s hands. "Fine. I’ll test this out."
When Xeno opened his eyes, he wasn’t sure if he was dreaming still. He thought he saw the faint silhouettes of himself and Stanley, running all over his quarters. Such an odd dream. One from memory too. He couldn't believe he begged Stanley to be his companion. Ridiculous.
He pushed the thoughts aside, and a knock came on his room’s door. “Yo Dr. Xeno.” Senku started. “The mentalist suggested that to increase your work efficiency, we lead you to him.”
Xeno stilled. Knowing exactly who Senku was pertaining to. He followed immediately, as the Kingdom of Science led him to Stanley’s location–and Xeno stood in awe, like a deer caught in the headlights.
More than the joy he felt that Stanley was in one piece, the lump on his throat felt like it would asphyxiate him. Reminding him that because he failed, Stanley was turned to this. An unmoving reminder of how Stanley always cleaned up his messes and took the brunt of his failures.
"All of Stanley's assaults on us were: A.) Justifiable acts of warfare or B.) Attempted murder." Xeno hears Ryusui in the background. He also caught Gen and Ukyo discussing but in truth, he was too fixated on the statue right in front of him.
Xeno couldn't tear his gaze away. Stupidly gawking at the statue. Smooth planes of a soldier's torso and the pose of a smoker. He looked just like how he was seven years ago. Still his knight.
"And what I can offer you.." Xeno started, his eyes glued on the statue. Even as his mind screamed at him to look away, he couldn't. His eyes devouring the image of the boy who was the only constant in his life.
"Is my full and willing cooperation as one of NASA's rocketry experts, right? Truly an elegant exchange." He mutters.
His whole body relaxed, eyes gazing up at Stanley's. His lips twitching into a smile. Xeno couldn't hold it in, unfamiliar warmth invading his body.
“Nicotine binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors,” Xeno muttered as he lit a poorly rolled cigar, “which triggers dopamine release and—” he coughed, wincing. “Tch. What a stupid habit. Seriously, Stanley. You enjoyed this junk?”
Placing the cigar on Stanley's cold stone lips, he walks away— not sparing the statue yet another glance. Xeno felt that if he looked back, he would be glued to place once again.
“Ah ah Dear Xeno.Is that a tear on your eye I’m seeing?” Gen said, an upturned smile on his lips. Xeno looked at him blankly. His eyes a bottomless pit.
“Weeping.. Is for people who have shallow attachments. There are far more pressing matters we must address.”
“I have to ask.. Dear Xeno..” Xeno raised a brow as the mentalist approached him. He didn’t spare him a glance, focusing on the machine he was tinkering with. “What on Earth is this uper-say suspicious machine?” Apprehension evident on the young man.
“It cools air to collect Argon.” Xeno says simply. He didn’t bother debunking Taiju’s notion that it was an air conditioner. Ridiculous
“Once the Argon is trapped in this glass tube, I’ll simply apply a high voltage of energy in order to make a Geiger counter that will detect-“
“Okay I got it Xeno. Get to the point”
Xeno stilled, the familiar jab stilling him from his ramble. Suika and the rest looked at him with anticipation, waiting for him to finish.
He knew that this voice, both masculine and comforting is a figment of his imagination. A hallucination. Nothing more than his mind playing tricks on him. Yet.. Yet
His head turned around. Just to check. Xeno's eyes immediately scanning the expanse of the area. There was no blonde man. No purple glossed lips. No tobacco smoke invading his lungs.
No Stanley.
The brain likes patterns. Routine. Once a routine is broken, the brain will seek ways to either adapt, or cope the loss.
He was just so used to Stanley. Stanley’s presence, voice and just the man himself that his brain was making auditory illusions to cope.
Xeno buried his fickle thoughts away, as well as the sinking feeling in his stomach. “Hmm. Maybe a demonstration is in order.” He says to the audience. Guiding them to an ore deposit, while his mind raced.
He watched as the Kingdom of Science awed at the radiation detector, temporarily forgetting the thought of a blonde man who is always at the backroom of his thoughts.
“That was commonly used to locate ore deposits and..” Xeno didn’t bother explaining, the excavation team already working. Collecting ores necessary for rocketry.
As the excavation team well.. Excavated they have managed to harvest ores necessary: Illeminite ore, molybdenite, chrome.. Nickel!
“The ores we seriously need for the rocket! Not bad excavation team.” Senku said, a maniacal look on his face, his fingers grasping the rocks. Xeno “Truly elegant no?! It’s a true stone sanctuary!” Xeno exclaims, drinking in the variety of rocks.
Titanium, lubricant, aerospace parts?! Stainless steel! Xeno grinned, unable to hide his excitement. Building a rocket wouldn’t be a mere project on a blueprint anymore!
More than the weapons he mass-produced and the gun powder he had back in Corn City, he had wanted to build an aerospace vehicle. Of course, the engineer would be Mr. Brody, and him. The astronauts Maya, Charlotte.. Oh and the nurse would be Luna. The pilot would undoubtedly be Stanley.
There isn’t a more elegant, more fit choice for a pilot than Stan after all.
'Maybe the Kingdom of Science will see Stanley’s usefulness in maneuvering the rocket. Then maybe they’ll revive him. I’m sure of that.'
“Dr. Xeno, why do they call you Doctor?” He heard Suika ask, whilst he was finishing up calculation of materials needed for the rocket’s engine. 'The superalloy we have isn't strong enough. I doubt that it can even withstand Earth’s atmosphere upon…'
He sighed, taking the blueprints away from him. He needed a short distraction. A brain filled with troubles and fog will not resolve the issue they have right now. Xeno looked at the little girl, acknowledging Suika. “Because I have a PhD.”
“What’s a p..hd?”
“Doctor of Philosophy.”
“Who’s philosophy and why do they need doctors? That's baad!” Chrome butted in, interested in the topic as well.
Xeno supposes that these people had little knowledge of how universities and studies worked in the 21st century. Not that he can blame them.
“It just means that he’s 10 billion percent an expert in rocketry.” Senku replied. At his protégé’s response, he scoffed. “You are severely downplaying my expertise! For your information, I have studied rigorously about…”
“Aha that is enough dear Xeno.” Gen intervened, Senku snickering while he seethed. “Oh if Stanley was here he would have-“
'Would have what, Xeno? A stone cannot do anything.'
At his statement, most of the Kingdom of Science— Chrome, Suika, Gen and Senku looked at him. “It’s a slip of tongue. Apologies.” He said quickly.
Gen was the first one to recover. “You sure have a lot of faith on him don’t you Dear Xeno?” Xeno couldn’t help but look at him deadpanned.
“Naturally. He’s a skilled soldier, marksman and pilot.” If someone was as skilled as such, who wouldn’t put their faith on that person?
Xeno scrutinized Gen. watching him. Why was the mentalist asking the nature of their relationship now? Was this another one of his tricks?
“There is a lot to do, calculations to run.” Xeno says. “It is inelegant to keep this line of conversation.” He adds, turning his back against the group, focusing himself on the scribbled numbers and symbols on his papers.
“Uwah Dear Xeno’s running away.” Gen adds. Xeno was tempted to say he wasn’t. To tell him that he wasn’t running, but redirecting his focus on somethings more logical.
More logical than a ghost— a statue.
“Oi Mentalist. the people of alloy city is asking for more compensation for their labor. Handle it.” Senku said, breaking the tension. One pinky in his ear. “You know that I have no millimeter of social skills to handle that peacefully.”
Taking it as a sign to leave the lab, Gen excused himself. The rest followed suit, leaving Xeno alone with Senku. The two scientists were on the far end of the laboratory, having each corner to themselves.
Numbers and calculations was far better than conversation after all.
“Dr. Xeno can you check these? It’s for the new Perseus.” Senku says, giving him a paper of calculations. As Xeno’s eyes ran through the countless numbers, measurements and estimates, his mind felt more at ease.
Despite the comfort of his brain, Xeno couldn't help but look at Senku, then back at the paper. Itching to ask questions.
Did he even have the right to ask? He unleashed machine guns and submarines on children. That truth alone should disqualify him from asking them anything.
“If you have something to ask, do it.” Senku huffs. His eyes still glued at the blueprints.
“Senku.” Xeno started “Will.. Will this kingdom of science revive him?”
“Stan I need money.” Xeno said, grimacing as he looked at the equipment needed. Stanley barely paid him attention, playing on his gameboy still.
Xeno scrolled through the internet. The cheapest (and low quality, very inelegant) CNC lathe machine was 5,000 dollars. He’s only in high school, and he sure cannot save up to that amount.
He knows he can still make a pistol by part, but a rifle is harder, and it needs to be more consistent. “For this?” Stanley asks, eyeing the desktop of Xeno, pointing at the machine.
“Yeah. It’ll be easier to use a CNC lathe machine so that the bolt carrier group, aluminum lock and—“
“Okay okay, I get it. So you need shit ton of money?”
“Precisely.”
Stanley scrutinized the machine, thinking deeply. “You really want it Xeno?” The blonde asks. His voice a decibel softer for Xeno’s ear. The pitch melodic.
He always had Stanley when he needed to look for materials. He couldn’t carry metal with his own strength, nor get the heavy duty items on his own. Without Stanley, making pistols wouldn’t be possible at all.
“I’ll handle it. Can you wait for a week?” Stanley asks, making Xeno furrow. “How could you possibly- what, are you leaving me in the dark again?”
“I’m not leaving you in the dark. It’s better if I do it alone. Trust me yeah?”
How could Xeno possibly refuse that?
The cave was humid, the crashing of the waterfall obscuring the place was too loud for Xeno’s ears. The entrance was dark, closed off with overgrown vines and moss. Xeno has somehow found himself here, his feet bringing him here.
He was stuck on thinking for alternatives materials for their rocket. The engine needed modern materials that weren’t readily available to them. Xeno needed to find a suitable replacement and as much as he’s a genius, he still gets stuck. Much to his annoyance.
Xeno lingered on the cave entrance. His mind wandering back to the question he had asked Senku the night prior.
'What does silence mean? Yes? A no? Perhaps avoidance to answer? Xeno racked his mind, thinking of what Senku’s silence, as a response to his question would have meant.;
“Will the Kingdom of Science revive him?”
“….”
Senku’s face became apathetic. His eyes distant, as he looked at Xeno. His lips were a thin line and Xeno couldn’t pinpoint what this heaviness he was feeling on his chest cavity was.
Before he can press further, Senku was dragged away by Kaseki, asking about the progress of the new Perseus. Leaving Xeno alone in his thoughts.
Now, dwelling on what-ifs was illogical. What if’s meant uncertainty and uncertainty clouds the brain. Something he did not need.
He sat by the edge of the cave’s entrance. Not going in, nor leaving. He couldn’t bring himself to go inside.
Xeno closed his eyes. His eyes becoming sore. How long has he been awake? He lost track. He always loses sleep, but somehow he manages to, as someone was always reminding him.
Now, he’s alone to remind himself. Which was something he should naturally be able to do but, it proved to be difficult.
Xeno took a deep breath, his eyes downcast. He could have easily revived Stanley. The revival fluid was easy to make. He had access to nitric acid, and distilled alcohol. He could have easily stolen some.
Yet he couldn’t bring himself to.
The Kingdom of Science, while some were welcoming distrusts him. Losing what little trust they had on him, will put a wall between him and knowing more about Why-man.
It’s strategical retreat. The perfect reason why he couldn’t. But the bitter, tight voice in his gut, says otherwise.
I don’t deserve him.
His body shuddered involuntary, perhaps it was chills from the cold. The fleeting thought was immediately chased away as he refocused on thinking about alternative materials.
But his mind always brought Xeno back to him. To Stanley. “Oi, rest already Xe. Lack of sleep will make you an idiot.”
He hummed. The familiar voice echoing in his mind, as his eyelid drooped low, and his body relaxed, sleep claiming him softly on the entrance of the cave.
“Stan! This is elegant- VERY ELEGANT!! Do you see this?! Are you seeing this elegant piece of art?!” Xeno gushed, eyeing his brand new CNC lathe machine.
“It’s got a 4-axis controller, integrated coolant system, 12-tool turret.. Oh I could easily machine a gun barre down to microns! Microns Stan!!”
“Yes Xeno I get it.” Stanley said, a small, fond smile on his face. “You happy?”
“Of course I’m happy! I can finally make you a rifle sniper you’ve eyed at the television. You can practice your shots. It’ll be elegant Stan!”
Xeno stilled, realizing that Stan was looking at him, strange. “What? Is something the matter Stan?” Xeno frowned. Stanley remained silent. “You wanted that expensive thing, for me?” Stanley asked slowly.
Xeno’s brows furrowed further. “Well, not entirely but yes. I cannot make an accurate, and elegant sniper without the machine.”
Stanley remained quiet. Much to Xeno’s dismay. Stan looked almost stoic and distant. His mind deep in thought.
After a heavy silence, Stan gave him a soft, smile. Xeno has always thought that Stan was someone objectively good looking. His face was proportionate, and balanced. Not masculine, not entirely feminine. Smiling makes him more easy on the eyes.
Xeno felt his heart leap. His chest burning as blood pumped through him. Was he getting a fever? Why was he reacting to Stan?
That he couldn’t know.
Xeno has found himself back at the cave entrance. He couldn't fathom how he can sleep more comfortably here compared to his chambers. Bringing only a sleeping mat with him, and his blueprints, he camped outside of the cavern. Not minding the loud crash of the waterfalls, the cicadas and the weather.
If he could focus here more, then he'll stay here.
That didn't mean his frequent visits went unnoticed. With him was Gen. The mentalist. If he were honest, Xeno would have preferred Tsukasa, Hyoga or anyone else except this man. Quietly, he worked, a pen and paper on hand while he jot down the formulas he needed to have by tomorrow.
"Say Dear Xeno."
Xeno didn't bother looking, or responding to Gen. He knows it'll be one of the mentalist's party tricks. One of those word games that distracts him.
"You seem fond of this spot." Gen says, his cloying voice sticky in Xeno's ears. "I find it izarre-bay how much you like it out here. You didn't strike me as someone who enjoys nature Xeno-chan." Xeno remained quiet, not answering again.
Making Gen push further.
"Or.. Hmm correct me if I'm wrong but is it perhaps.. Dear Stanley's inside- oh?"
Xeno stilled, and Gen smirked. Bingo.
He scrutinized Gen. What was the mentalist getting out of this? Probing about his personal life and relationships would not help advance the Kingdom of Science. He was already an ally of the Kingdom. What more could this insufferable man possibly want from him?
"Then, perhaps I should suggest to Dear Senku and Tsukasa change their minds~" At his words, Xeno stilled. Finally looking at the mentalist. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Oh? I suppose Dear Senku hasn't told you but.." Gen trails off. Xeno felt something in his chest coil. What was this sense of dread and unease? Indigestion? Sense of foreboding is illogical so it could not be that. Xeno also long thrown away his trust for his gut.
"Out of 8 billion people that the Kingdom of Science is reviving, we have one, special person ." Xeno felt the tingly, uncomfortable warmth. His breath came in shallow as his mind race. Is it.. Is it truly- will they revive him?
"One person we’ve all agreed not to revive." Xeno saw how Gen's smirk became wider, almost sadistic. "Wanna guess who~?"
Xeno got his calculations wrong.
It was a mistake he never did, before he even got petrified but, Xeno got a minor error in calculations for the rocket engine. His mind was clear, but why does it seem so difficult to conjure basic physics?
He was back at the laboratory. Multiple ores, beakers and hundreds of paper, filled to the brim with equations were scattered all over. It was a mess but Xeno's focus wasn't on his surroundings but on his equations. He was wondering why the answer was too farfetched. It was all because he made a basic mistake.
He should be ashamed he was a NASA scientist.
One special person.
Xeno laughed at himself internally. Hope. Faith. Such inelegant, revolting things to feel—especially because of Gen. A fatal mistake on his part. It was perfectly logical to not revive Stanley. He was a criminal. A murderer. A weapon Xeno can wield to rule the world with an iron fist.
It was perfectly logical but why did every neuron on his brain screamed otherwise?
Xeno knew, knew that he would never see Stanley as a living being again. One that breathes, has warmth, talks, jabs him. Saves him. He knows that Stanley is leverage. A hostage in fact. But God forbid he felt his very being twist at the mere thought that their last interaction was the moment of failure. His failure.
He was too proud to beg, too egotistical and he would be shameful to request Stanley's revival. He didn't have the right. He ordered the Kingdom of Science to be murdered, Stanley's hands were dirtied because he asked him too, and the progress of humanity stilled because he did not expect the youngsters would dig a tunnel to have his neck.
Xeno should have seen it coming. He should have been more cautious. A genius? How can a genius fail to plan and have multiple contingency plans?
Ridiculous.
And utterly inelegant.
Xeno looked at Stanley, frowning. He enjoyed dressing up, and designing his own space. Stan on the other hand…
“How inelegant Stan! You just put on whatever there is.” Xeno says, grimacing at the outfit the blonde has put on. The colors clashing together. “You look like a traffic sign.”
Stanley shrugged. “Clothes are clothes. It doesn’t matter.”
“It does matter!”
Xeno sighed. Stanley was a man of convenience. The perfect example of a utilitarian. From food, clothes, the man doesn’t have preferences.
“Surely you have favorite colors?” Xeno inquired. He absolutely cannot be seen with a man who does not have an eye for aesthetics.
“What’s your favorite color Xeno?”
Xeno raised a brow. “How is that relevant? I asked YOU.”
“Just answer it.”
“While not considered a color, I enjoy black, and deep purples.”
“Hm. Then my favorite color is black and violet too.”
"What are you doing here?" Senku asked. Xeno didn't respond. As he sat at the inside of the cave. He only managed to linger at the entrance the past few days but now, against his will his feet dragged him inside. His back turned against a familiar stone statue. Xeno wonders too what was he doing inside of here. "I was simply double checking calculations" He replied.
"Haah?" Senku raised a brow. "You could have done that at the lab."
"I'm more comfortable here." Senku didn't respond further. Red eyes landing on Stanley's statue. Xeno saw his gaze and followed suit. His eyes drilling the image of the stone statue before shifting back to the mounds of paper. "Who is going to pilot this?" Xeno asks.
Perhaps if Xeno can convince Senku that Stanley was the best option they had, they will change their minds regarding his petrification. Then maybe he'll see Stan again. Stanley deserved as much. It was only fair since Stan was only a man who followed his orders. It was Xeno's commanding that led Stanley to kill.
"Ryusui would." Xeno frowned. "A captain on the ship? Piloting a rocket? That is ridi-" "He qualifies enough. I'm 10 billion percent sure that Ryusui can follow through the training regimen."
Xeno tapped his fingers, his stomach churning into knots. "And if he fails? Risking a life is against your principles. A more experienced pilo-"
"Do you have any recommendations then?"
"Of course! It will be…" Xeno's voice faltered, before he responded. His eyes glued to the floor. "Mr. Wakata. A former JAXA pilot."
Senku remained quiet, scrutinizing Xeno before chuckling humorlessly. "I thought you'll pick out that guy right there." Xeno thought so too. Stanley was the best man for the job. He was perfect. A man built for danger, a man that has precision and calm.
"I don't want to associate myself with past mistakes. If I have requested him, the other members of your kingdom would think I'm biased and observe me closer." Xeno laid the blue prints in front of him, busying himself with the calculating. "That is distracting. It would affect my efficiency"
Humanity moved forward. The rocket was built, launched and they have met and negotiated with the Why-Men. Watching how humanity awarded the three, four people who risked their lives for the sake of science, Xeno couldn't help but smile. Three people-- no, four people. Senku, Kohaku, Wakata and Ryusui confronted Why-Man.
It almost felt like they truly were back at the 21st century. Yet Xeno couldn't help but feel hollow. Celebrations were in order. It was the perfect time to celebrate yet why couldn't he bring himself to?
"How inelegant." He cursed himself, excusing himself from the lavish party the others partook in. His legs bringing him back to the 'office' he made himself home to.
The cave.
Entering the cave, he sat down at the edge of it. Not bothering to light a lamp. "Stanley, would you believe it?" He asked softly. "The brats made it to the moon." He mumbled. His eyes fixated on the cavern's floor. "I engineered it, and I was their operator."
"And here I thought my job would be limited to calculating the trajectories of rockets." He added. Xeno couldn’t help himself but talk about the wins, the losses to the air, and to a stone statue. Xeno felt his chest burn. His hands curling into a tight fist.
"Stan.. I have gone insane. Talking to you like you might answer back. Clearly, petrification has damaged my cerebral cortex." Xeno said. A big lump stuck on his throat. Xeno felt himself cringe at the heated emotions he was feeling, that he felt nauseous. "Yet I want you to. To say something. Anything."
Xeno closed his eyes. He should have unpetrified Stanley. Requested it to Senku, and his team. But would that be alright? He killed them mercilessly. No, Stanley killed them. But who ordered him to? Who planned it? Who made the weapons? Him.
How could he request that when Suika flinches at the sight of guns, and Senku trembles slightly at the sound of it? How shameless can he be? Perhaps if I beg…
But Stanley, would Stan ever forgive him?
Stanley dirtied his hands for him. Did all the bloody work so that Xeno's hands would remain clean. And what would happen if Stanley would not want his company anymore? That is something he could do and Xeno would not blame him.
If Xeno hadn't been so adamant for power, for freedom; perhaps Stanley would still be living today. If he had joined hands with Senku and admitted defeat before Stanley could snipe him, perhaps all of this could have been avoided.
Xeno was exhausted.
Another of his projects, Helium-3 was blatantly rejected. "How stupidly inelegant! These idiotic people. Stanley I tell you!" Xeno groaned, extremely pissed off. Why were capitalistic men seated at the board of directors anyways? What qualifications did they have? Money?
"I despise them Stanley." He cursed, settling down the sofa. Despite having his own apartment complex, Xeno always found himself at Stan's when he had the chance too. His best friend was elusive as well due to the covert mission he takes. "I apologize for rambling. I just feel suffocated."
"Nah it's alright." The blonde said, placing down a cup of bitter coffee in front of Xeno. "What would you do then?"
"Well, nothing." Xeno replied. "It is not like I can push my ideas to them.." Xeno trailed off a bitter tang in his tongue. "They keep me on a noose, running all over NASA just for a superior to read my thesis."
"They'll say 'Oh it needs to be processed first' or 'It has to go through someone' and take not that someone is a human being that has little to no knowledge about these studies!" Stanley merely hummed. The blonde lighting another cigarette.
"Smoking poison again? Gah- get that away from me!" Xeno groaned. Stanley merely shrugged, smoking anyway. "What project were you working on again?"
"I was proposing that we can establish a base on the moon. It'll resolve most of the problems that required a huge amount of energy like a fusion reactor. It is extremely rare on Earth but the moon has abundance of it due to the elegant lack of atmosphe-"
"Alright I got it. No need for the nerd talk." Stanley cuts him off, as usual. "The project sounds good to me. Unlike the nuclear weapons you propose."
"It is a good project Stanley! And, it was not nuclear weapons. It is.. Upgraded weaponry we can utilize."
"uh-huh. So? Why did they reject it?"
"They used elegant words to hide inelegant truths. It won't bring profit." Xeno groans, slumping further in the couch. "The project is too expensive and has no tangible benefits, and they said that simply harvesting materials from the moon would mean conflict."
The bitter tang on his tongue spread through his throat, suffocating him with a lump.
"It would have been better if this world was reset Stanley. That way, I'd have more freedom to push Science and no one would suffocate me anymore." Stanley quietly listens, handing Xeno a mug of bitter coffee.
"Stan, would you still be with me if I led the world with an iron fist?"
"Naturally."
“What, you can create a Time Machine?” “Dr. Xeno, as the founder of this new world and a former NASA scientist, your words do hold weight but..” "It’s still a half baked fantasy.”
Hushed murmurs filled the conference room. Most were scandalized and looking at Xeno as if he has lost his mind. He took a deep breath, gently calming himself down. Arguing with these scientists would agitate both parties, making planning impossible.
“Your doubts are warranted, as at this moment, it really is a fantasy.” He started. Placing both hands on the table. His eyes locking with each scientist. “The primary bottle neck comes in the form of the energy costs.”
Xeno paused. Drawing down the blueprint he had made. “A single instance of traveling through time would require 1.21 exawatts.”
Silence casted heavy on the room. Before rampage occurred. “Absurd!!” “And where exactly would you source that energy?!”
“Floating in the sky above our very heads lies a natural repository of energy.. An elegant celestial body that churns our seas”
Before the other men could complain, Xeno raised his voice. “Our time machine will be installed on the Moon’s surface.”
“That is ridiculous!”
“Like we said, it’s a pie in the sky fantasy!!”
“Building a moon base?! How would you transport the materials?!”
“Betting the budget on such a gamble.. Which nation would have the rights?!”
Xeno pressed his lips into a thin line, his jaw tensing. He had all heard these lines in the past.
“As I thought, this new world ought to be ruled by an iron fist of weaponized science, not by the rule of you foolish masses” he mumbled, reaching out to the why-man capsule.
“Whoah steady there!! S T E A D Y!” Gen cried out, calming him down. Xeno swore that these people really is a pain in his arse.
Grumbling, he marched back to the familiar cave he has made himself home to.
“We revived Hyoga. Why can’t we revive Stanley? I desire all of us to be revived!”
“Hyoga had ideals. Stanley’s ideals is Xeno himself. Have you seen how Suika is scared of loud noises and how the rest is avoiding anything remotely similar to guns? uhn. Stanley is unfit in this new world.”
“That Stanley is baaadd!”
“I’m 10 billion percent sure that Stanley’s skills are unmatched. Especially for the battle team but loyalty that absolute? It’s a liability.”
“Senku, isn’t our goal to revive all humans? Then if we leave someone out, your goal isn’t going to be achieved.”
“Dear Ryusui and Ukyo, Hyoga was someone we could reason with. Dear Stanley on the other hand..”
Various discussions came from the conference room. It was late, the sun had long set. Xeno was going to bring the remainder of his belongings to the cave when he realized the light on the conference room was still on.
“We are reviving Stanley.” He heard Senku. “Just not now, the next few years or decades. We will once everything has settled down, and when Dr. Xeno doesn’t have a millimeter of strength left to him.”
“Stanley, biting your lips may cause ulcers and small wounds that heals slowly due to the moist environment of the mouth.” Xeno frowned, seeing as Stanley chew down on his lips.
“That is a bad habit of yours when your lips are dry and chapped. But, you are in luck! I have made you this!”
Stan glanced at the small containers Xeno had pulled out. “Lip balms! I’ve made quite a few. Flavored ones, scented ones.. Ones with color. To ensure a high probability you’ll use it.”
Xeno watched as Stanley took one of the containers, eyeing it. “It’s chapstick? You made ‘em?”
“I did. They are quite easy. Beeswax and shea butter soften the lips due to—“
“Okay, thank you Xeno.” Stanley said smiling, cutting him off. He sampled one of the colored balms. When Stanley applied it to his lips, it was purple.
Xeno furrowed. “Purple is such a lovely color. It’s my favorite. Albeit, it does look inelegant on the lips..”
“Mmm. I like this though.” Xeno gave Stanley a chuckle. “Then I shall make more balms for you. Just don’t bite your lips. They lessen your aesthetic by at least 20%”
“Aesthetics? Isn’t that looks?”
“Why yes. You are an elegant looking man Stanley. Objectively speaking. You receive an average of two confession letters a day, your face is symmetrical and proportionate and your body is-“
Xeno felt himself falter as he realized Stanley was looming closer to him. One of those, idiotic looking smirks on the blonde’s face.
“So you find me handsome Xe? I might think you like me.” Stanley says, smug.
Xeno frowned. “Oh, but I do like you? You are aware of that aren’t you? You’re my test subject, and my knight. Aren’t you?”
Stanley laughed. “Of course. Does that make you a princess then?”
Xeno frowned. “Princess? What gender roles are we pushing here? Well, I suppose it is alright. A princess or a prince. As long as I can make rockets and machinery and you are my knight.”
“Stanley, I’ve brought coffee.” Xeno says, sitting at the chair. He has repurposed the cave where Stanley was situated. The lab already established.
As he took a sip, his eyes wandered to the clear liquid he had on vial. The yellowish liquid screaming his name.
It was thanks to Senku that the he knows the miracle fluid recipe. It’s just Nital. 30% Nitric Acid and 70% Distilled alcohol. Anyone can do it. Suika had done it, so why can’t he?
Xeno closes his eyes. This was the most plausible scenario. He will revive Stanley, have both of them run away and disappear from the Kingdom of Science’s face.
Xeno stood up. Hands swiftly taking the bottle as he poised to pour it over Stanley. However, “Tsk.”
Before he can even pour a single drop on Stanley’s statue, he placed the Nital down. Heaviness on his shoulders.
‘If we run off from the Kingdom of Science, I cannot conduct experiments anymore.. No experiments, no weapons. If we are captured, we both would be petrified again. I have promised Stanley’
“Live”
Xeno stilled. His eyes closing. Breaths heavy. All that Stanley has wanted for him was to live. Can Xeno truly live if they were fugitives, and apart from Science?
‘Does Stanley even want to become someone hunted down?’
Xeno’s mind felt conflicted but ultimately, he threw away the Nital he has produced. The liquid discarded for good.
“You will miss.. Decades of technological advancement.” Xeno whispered softly. His gaze lingering on Stanley’s features. Even as a stone, he was still aesthetically pleasing to Xeno’s eye.
Xeno lit up a cigarette, coughing as he placed it in Stanley’s lips. The stone rough, and hard on his fingertips. “I’ll make sure that once they revive you, you will still see it with your own eyes.”
Silence hung heavy between him and Stanley. Unlike the usual, comfortable silence however, it was silence that was daunting.
Xeno didn’t dare asking what happened when Stanley came at his doorstep bruised up. It would happen, once in a while.
“Look over here.” He said, pressing a cotton ball on Stan’s split lip. He heard the blonde hiss at the contact. “Sorry. Did it hurt too much?”
“Nah.”
“I see.”
Xeno had a rough guess of Stanley’s home environment. As much as he wanted to know more, this was a boundary Xeno knew he shouldn’t push. Today however was different. While Stan would have a couple bruises and cuts, this was 47% worse. His skin had jagged lacerations, and swelling, suggesting blunt force trauma. To add to that, he had his bags packed as well.
“Where are you staying?” Xeno asks. Stanley shrugged, standing up from where he was seated and walk to a nearby window. “Mind if I smoke?” Xeno cringed, before nodding. His eyes watched as Stan took a cigarette, lighting it up before taking a deep hit. His eyes were pensive and dark.
It was foreign.
“Xeno.” At the mention of his name, he immediately looked up. “Yeah? What’s up Stan?” The blonde didn’t bother facing him.
“I’m gay.” Stanley said softly. Almost a hint of uncertainty in his voice. Xeno furrowed his brow, before he relaxed. “Is that so?”
“Yeah..”
“I see.”
Xeno saw Stanley’s cigarette tremble slightly. The fingers that were usually steady when holding a weapon now shook. “Does.. Fuck. Does that bother you Xeno?”
His lips downturned at the question. Does it bother him? Why would it bother him? Xeno didn’t know that having preferences would bother a person. “Why should I? That is illogical.”
Stanley, finally looked at him. The familiar look on his eyes, something tender and warm was back. The blonde sat beside him again, before relaxing.
“I see. Of course that’s what you’d say Xeno.”
Xeno chuckled. “What, you would compare me to those inelegant masses that condones preferences? I’m offended.”
Stanley merely chuckled, his head resting on Xeno’s shoulder. “Nah.” Xeno stilled, as he felt Stanley’s body temperature on his own. Yet it wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, Xeno was fine with it.
He tilted his head slightly, giving more space to Stanley. “I’m sure that you want some comfort.” Xeno mumbled. “But as you know— I..” Xeno schooled himself. “Would you want me to make you a bomb? For revenge?”
Stanley chuckled, pressing his face closer to Xeno’s neck, making him still. He could feel Stanley’s soft breathing, smell the tobacco on him, and his once warm skin felt more prickly. His heart rate is elevated, his stomach twisting into knots.
His mind was pulled out from dissecting his state when Stanley mumbled against his neck. His lips moving against Xeno’s neck. “More than a bomb, mind if I.. stay here tonight Xeno?”
The time machine’s production is underway. With the moon elevator production finished, building the base itself would be far easier.
At least that is what Xeno hopes.
“Stanley, do you know how many years we are supposed to build the moon base? Six decades! Lunar mapping alone would take roughly five years!”
Xeno sighed. As he took a sip of his coffee. The smell of cigarettes filling the lab. Somehow, Xeno has made it his routine to light a cigarette for Stan.
“A bottleneck of ours is the radiation. The base will wear down before we can even construct a tine machine.”
He sighs softly. Looking at Stanley’s stone statue. “You’ve always told me that.. With my science, we can conquer the world.”
“It’s happening Stan.” Xeno looked away, his eyes glued on the floor. “But this time it’s not only my science, but everyone else’s.”
“Yet.. Yet you are the only one missing.”
Xeno has already come to terms that the kingdom of science would not revive Stanley. At least, in this lifetime. That was what they have talked about.
“You get it, don’t you Dear Xeno? That reviving him is..”
“I get it.” Xeno hisses. His voice sharper than intended. He was on edge, now that the mentalist was the only one confronting him.
Xeno took a shaky breath. Focusing on matters that mattered right now. “I get your line of thinking Gen. It is alright. Reviving him in my lifetime is risky for you and might disrupt the moral of the whole Kingdom.” Gen smiled, relieved. "I'm glad we are on the same page Dear Xeno, that saves both of our breaths, no?"
Gen clasped his hands together, giving Xeno those mischievous smiles of his. "The Kingdom of Science will revive him, I can make sure of that on Senku's behalf. Just not today, or the next years. In exchange, we still ask for your expertise Dear Xeno."
Xeno's jaw clenched, temperature rising in his ears. His breath heavy and his grip on the table becoming tighter. It all made sense. It was the perfect set up, both for him and thee Kingdom of Science but why? Why did it felt so inelegant? Why did it left a sour taste on his tongue?
"Very well then. Just.. Ensure that Stanley would be.." Xeno took a deep breath. Grounding himself on something, anything. If it was for Stanley's safety and possible happiness, Xeno would oblige. "Safe and happy once he is revived."
"Oh Dear Xeno, I'll ersonally-pay make sure of that. We have a deal then~"
Xeno shook his head. Dealing with the mentalist really left him on his toes. He'd rather not be alone with him. His eyes went back to Stanley's stone statue. "You should live elegantly once they bring you back Stanley." He says. His voice both strained and soft.
"Xeno." Xeno looks up from the aircraft he was building. Now that the world has reset, he had full reigns on everything. EVERYTHING! He can explore the topics he couldn't have before, there was no bureaucracy, no fools who stop him, no one. To add icing on the perfection the world already is, he had Stanley.
Stanley took a deep hit of his cigarette humming. "I've dealt with Senku. The junior Science club's leader" At his words, Xeno stilled for a moment, before looking up at Stanley. "I se- Stan?! What are you-" Xeno halted, feeling Stanley's arm wrap around his shoulders, pulling him in a warm embrace.
Xeno tensed. Unprepared for the sudden physical contact. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. His heart rate was erratic, and he felt like it would explode any moment now. He shuddered, before gulping. "Did you miss me that much, Stanley? Don't worry, your 'devoted' wife will always be here." Xeno spat, his eyes crinkling as he awkwardly reciprocated the hug.
"Yeah. Thought My Dear would have run off doing immoral shit again" Stanley bit back, nuzzling his face into Xeno's neck. It has been a habit of his ever since Stanley ran away from his home. However, Xeno was still unused to it. He closed his eyes, tilting his head.
"I know you're feelin' sad." Stanley murmurs, matter of factly. "I do not. Killing Senku was a means to an end."
Stanley hummed, strong arms loosening on his body. Xeno looked at him, before sighing. "He was my protégé and while I wanted to team up with him, but you know how it is." Stanley's gaze burrowed at Xeno's. His eyes unwavering.
"Say, Xeno" Stanley murmurs softly. Xeno saw Stanley's hands ball into a fist, before he pulled away. Was he holding back? What would have it been? "I'm telling you something once everything is settled." Stanley says, a tender smile on his face.
"Wait for me, yeah?"
How many years has it been? Xeno doesn't know. His hair that he can easily make into a pompadour has been thinning. His fingers that were once steady when holding chemicals now shook. Luna told him that it was essential tremors. One that came with age.
Despite his age, he wanted to continue contributing to the kingdom of science. The Lunar Base's construction is underway, and the time machine's construction as well. Xeno didn't know that he'll reach the age where standing, and doing the simplest task proved herculean.
He was laid down on the bed, his eyes blurry, yet his gaze was trailed on the familiar statue in the middle of his laboratory. Perhaps old age has made him more sentimental, and mellow.
Before he can stand up, Xeno heard his door click open. "Dr. Xeno?" A familiar voice. Who was it again..? Kohaku..? No, it's not. Then who--
"It's Suika." The figure said softly. He merely grunted. Ah he remembers now. Suika was just a kid but now, she seemed to have grown taller. Or maybe his eyes were just too fuzzy for him to see. He felt his bed dip, and warm hands placed above his own.
"Senku told me that, we are reviving someone."
Xeno eyes blinked open. He forced himself to stand. "Y-You.. You will-" Suika gently nodded. "Stanley Snyder." She says softly. "I was afraid of him. Everyone was killed because of him." Suika's voice wavered. Before she took a deep sigh. "But that's in the past already."
Xeno watched, with great awe as Suika stood up, pouring liquid on the statue. The stone that he was talking to everyday, the stone that he was so accustomed to, and the stone that was the closest to his heart.
He heard it crack. Stone pieces falling to the floor. Before a familiar voice called out to him. A voice so familiar to him that he felt his chest tighten. His eyes moistening at the mere baritone voice of the man who was once stone.
"Yo Xeno. You..lived?"