Chapter Text
Wrench didn't age. Wrench was an idea, a thought, a concept. The man under the mask was a mortal, but Wrench? Wrench was immortal. He was a superhero in his own way, and everyone knows superheroes never really die, be it in movies or comics and shit. Either they live or they resurrect with some bullshit reason we're supposed to believe (and we do, because people are dumb).
Wrench didn't have a name, nor did he have a birthday. Why would he celebrate the day his stupid ass was born?
So it came as a surprise when he opened the door to his garage and found all of his friends- literally all of them- regrouped around a nice little cake with (too many) candles on it. They had brought all the things you can find at a kid's birthday party: the hats, the confetti, the noisy things, with bright pastel colors. The place had never looked so ugly to him.
"Happy birthday Reginald!"
He groaned. "My name is not- what the fuck are you doing?"
Marcus answered first, wrapping an arm on his best friend's shoulder. "We're celebrating you becoming an old man."
The two O that he got as a reaction made him chuckle, and the huff than followed was just as funny. "I don't like birthdays. I don't have a birthday. Why are you throwing me a birthday party?"
Sitara chimed in. "It was Marcus' idea. And we liked it. Come on, gimme a smile!" she said as she forcefully put a pointy hat over his hooded head.
"Alright. Ok. Just cause I love you guys." he said, his mask putting back a happy mode.
"Great! Let's get to the presents already!"
"Wha- there are presents?"
"Well, there's one. But we all think this is the greatest present you will ever get from anyone."
"Actually" Josh started, "I remember saying it w-" and stopped when he saw the look on the others' faces.
Without saying anything else, they all took a big box from behind them and put it in front of him. It was massive, and full of little holes, almost like it was containing a living being, and it was moving a bit. It was moving.
Wrench slowly lifted his head to face his best friend.
"Marcus Holloway, you did not." but he was rewarded with an enormous grin.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the box, revealing, just as he feared, a puppy. The evil thing started barking as soon as it saw the light, looking at him with big brown eyes and shaking its tail at a speed words could not define. It was all round and fluffy with a light golden fur. It was cute. Therefore, it was evil. Already the thing was planning world domination, along with the next street's cats it hadn't even met yet. Yet?
"Marcus I am not holding that thing."
"Yes you are." to mark his word, his friend took the puppy thing in his hands and put it, without question, on Wrench's torso.
And because he had instinct, he didn't let it fall on the ground but took it in his arms instead. Confused for a second as to why he didn't have a face like humans usually did, the dog finally decided it didn't matter and started licking his neck, still waving its tail.
Refraining the need to laugh (because it tickled), Wrench extended his arms and was left standing there awkardly, holding in mid-air a puppy who didn't seem to be too comfortable that way. Since he was not either, the hacker put it back in the box.
"I don't want it. Take it back."
"But she likes you!"
"She? Oh my god. What were you guys thinking? What's next, you're gonna tell me her name and tell me I have to keep her and feed her and walk her and all that shit? You know I hate animals!"
"Well this is the opportunity to change your mind cuz I ain't taking her back. Now you give her a name and everyone will be happy to see you with a companion!"
"But I don't want her." at this point, he was whining.
He looked back at the puppy, who was now sitting down and looking at him expectantly, like she understood he was the one supposed to take care or her. She really was cute. And with a little black leather with spikes she'd look great.
Wait, what was he thinking?! He didn't want this. This thing would ruin his life and be a bother and take all of his time and interfere with about all of his plans and-
But she was cute.
But evil.
His mind was racing so fast he didn't realize the emotes on his mask were constantly changing, and the room had gone silent. Puppy, however, still looked very happy and hadn't moved from her box yet.
"I have the feeling I'm gonna regret this. Why did you have to pick a cute one? I wanna put spikes all over her body."
"Well that's good since she's gonna stay with you at all times!" And they were all smiling.
He was definitely going to regret this.
He was regretting this. The puppy (he had decided to call her Chainsaw, until a better name came to his mind) (which would probably not happen) was intelligent, and soon enough she'd come to understand he was the one she belonged with.
So, she followed him. Everywhere. Every time. He didn't have a moment of peace because she was always there.
Sometimes he tried to shoo her off and she'd obey, for a moment. She'd go lie down a few feet from him and watch him work from afar, before coming back and asking for... whatever she was asking for, because he never understood.
She probably needed love or something, and he pet her from time to time, only because he had a heart. He didn't like animals. He never did.
She turned out to be afraid of the sledgehammers, and he felt bad but used it to his advantage. Whenever he was in his garage (and she was bothering him, again) he'd use them as much as possible and Chainsaw would go hiding in a corner.
She always took a lot of time to come out, time during which he had peace.
Sleeping turned out to be the only thing he could do without his puppy ever bothering him, since apparently she had respect when it came to that. Too bad he didn't sleep much.
Everyone loved her. Everyone. Sitara smiled every time she saw her. Marcus would pet her. Even Josh, who usually always sat in his bubble, in front of his triple screen, would stop for a bit if she came to see him.
Everyone loved Chainsaw, except for her own master.
Eventually he decided to make the most of it. If she was going to stay with him for as long as she could, she'd look just like him.
So yeah, he made it himself, the little harness in black leather with little shiny spikes all over her back, and damn if she didn't look great in it. He couldn't even describe the look of pure joy his puppy gave him when he picked her up to put her on the table, and how still she stood (all the while waving her tail) when he put it on her. Didn't even flinch.
How could this dog be so happy when he didn't even give her the love she deserved wanted?
She was also ruining his reputation. A dog was enough, but the fact that she was a puppy didn't make him look that good in the streets. He was not supposed to be that sweet of a potato.
In the end he started wondering why he even bothered going through with this. Marcus didn't want to take her back. Maybe he could sell her? Or even give her. To anyone, really.
To his own surprise, he found it impossible. All he could think about was how she looked at him with so much puppy love even though he didn't care enough about her. She didn't deserve to be sold to the first person who wanted her. So he kept her. He still regretted it, but he knew he couldn't get himself to give her away.
Chainsaw became officially his the moment he realized that.
Wrench tried. He found something she could consider a toy, kept sledgehammers at a good distance from her and gave her some affection when he could and wanted to. It turned out to be a good idea, because she happily left him alone more often to go sleep where she could (usually, one of the couches).
Slowly, he was getting used to having her by his side, and she started recognizing some of his words and orders, notably when he asked her to stop or to go away.
In a way, all was well.
Wrench was angry. Or sad. Or both.
The mask incident with the FBI was long gone and they all had managed to get over Horatio's too sudden death. So why was his mood so bad?
He was in his garage, the back door half opened to let in some air. Usually, getting important components out of technologic crap was nice and fun, and he loved it, especially when he got to use the sledgehammers (because these were love and life). But today, he just couldn't concentrate, and it was frustrating.
Life was a bitch at all times, anyways. His face was still the ugliest thing on earth. His feelings had been hiding for so long he felt like he could cry right here, right now. His mind was so full of thoughts at this moment he was probably going to explode, which would be for the best.
Wrench was in love with someone he could never have, and it was all trying to come out at once.
In his rage, he sent everything the table was carrying on the ground, with a loud cry. Fuck life.
He made himself a place against a wall, and sank down to the ground. Here he was, stupid 25+ years old boy, hiding behind a mask, hiding his feelings for this one amazing person who was never going to love him back. Even under his goggles, he closed his eyes
That's when he felt it.
It was wet and little, followed by a whole lot of fur, gently nudging him. He slowly lowered his head. Here was his puppy, who had been quiet since they arrived, trying to get on his lap for god-knew-why. Confused, he let her.
As soon as she was allowed access, she turned to face him and put a paw on his mask. This intelligent little shit.
"Yeah, you wouldn't judge me, right?"
For probably the first time since she was with him, he gently took off his mask and put it on the floor beside him.
The puppy seemed so surprised he actually had a real human face she almost stumbled backwards. Fortunately, she managed to stay on his lap and waved her tail furiously before trying to lick his whole face, expertly dodging the mouth and eyes while he giggled.
She stopped when he started crying, instead looking at him with a questioning look, and he gave up.
"Hey Chainsaw. Listen to me. I'm gonna tell you something and you must not repeat it, ok?" goddamnit, he was talking to a dog. "You see Marcus? You know Marcus. He always comes to pet you when he's there. He's the one who brought you here, you know. He bought you just for me." he said, with a half-hearted laugh. "Well he's my best friend. It's the kind of relationship you expect not to change, you see, because you're such good friends and you share all of these interests. We have the same references and love the same things and it's all great."
He made a pause, and his fucking pet was looking at him like she was waiting for the rest of the story, concentrated on his eyes and probably ready to comfort him if needed. He smiled at that.
"So, we're supposed to stay like that. He sees us like that, hell, everyone sees us as bffs. But there's the thing, Chainsaw, I don't just see him like that now. I want more. I think I love him. And I'm pretty sure he doesn't love me this way. That's why," he swallowed a sob, "we can never be more and I'm just hiding all of this inside me and it hurts, you know?" he passed a trembling hand on her head. "No, of course you can't."
And he broke into tears. Without realizing it, he approached her body from his torso and literally hugged her, while she returned the gesture by snuggling against him.
They stayed like that for a good half an hour, until he had no tears left. He took a shaky breath and released her from his grasp.
"You know, I think you were the best idea for a birthday present. I'm sorry I hated you." He dried his eyes with the back of his hand. "So what do I do now girl? Let him go?"
Wrench was probably imagining things, but he could swear he saw a scowl in her eyes. He let out a gentle laugh.
"Yeah. You're probably right. We're no cowards. You gonna help me, huh?" he said as she licked his cheek. "Luv ya too."
Here he was, the punk anarchist with the freaky mask, sitting on the cold ground of his garage, a Golden Retriever puppy on his lap. And he felt good about it all.