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“Ace, when did Zadavia say the others are supposed to get here? I’ve just helped Rev get settled in and it’d be good to know so I can get their rooms ready beforehand.”
Ace panted as he tried to hold Slam back from the fridge. They’d just had a new delivery, and unless the forces of the universe demanded otherwise, it seemed they’d need another tomorrow with the Australian living amongst them.
“I tink she said someting about la’er today for the next one? Nodda clue for da las’ one though.”
Lexi nodded, turning to go back to the halls in order to show the newest member around, hesitating only slightly before committing energy to the movement.
„You need any help with Slam?”
„Nah, I got it.” Ironically enough, Slam tore the door to the refrigerator open as Ace was forming that short sentence and started shovelling its contents into his gaping maw, letting out a pleased but unintelligible sound as he did.
Lexi rolled her eyes. „I’m sure you do…”
Rev looked up as the bunny from earlier walked back into his room. He’d already spiffily unpacked everything and set it up how he wanted it, although there was a good chance he’d change the entire layout before he went to bed that night.
„Hey-Lexi-is-it? I’m-pretty-sure-that’s-what-you-introduced-yourself-as-although-it-could-be-Ace-and-I’m-just-mixing-up-names-again-what-on-the-account-of-meeting-a-buncha-new-people-but-I-kinda-doubt-that-as-that-would-mean-the-other-one-is-called-Lexi-and-that-just-doesn’t-really-make-sense-for-a-guy-although-who-am-I-to-judge-if-that-is-his-name-or-if-he’s-genderqueer-and-he-choose-to-go-by-Lexi-and-oh-shit-have-I-been-misgendering-your-sibling-this-whole-time? I-promise-I-didn’t-do-it-on-purpose-or-anything—"
Lexi cut the rambling bird off. „Uh, no, I’m Lexi, and as far as I know Ace is a guy. I’ll let you know if that changes though…”
„Great!” Rev nodded enthusiastically, „I’m-so-glad-I’d-hate-to-screw-up-any-interpersonal-relations-on-my-first-day-on-the-job. I-mean-that-would-just-suck-right? Don’t-you-agree-that-would-suck-Lexi? Because-personally-I-think-it-would-although-other-people-have-different-opinions-and-metrics-on-the-matter—"
Lexi smiled through gritted teeth. This bird’s incessant talking was going to drive her looney. He was possibly the most annoying fowl she’d ever met, even if he was just trying to be nice.
„I can take you on a tour of the place if you like?”
„Oh-yes-please-that-would-be-great-so-I-can-get-to-know-my-way-around-and-all!”
„Um, could you maybe cut back a bit on the machine gun style talking? No offense or anything, it’s just that my ears are really sensitive.”
Rev blinked a bit before nodding. „Sorry about that.”
„Aaand here’s the lab!” Lexi finished, unlocking the heavy iron door with her keypass. They’d circled around the building so that even though the lab was right next to Rev‘s room, it was the last stop on their tour.
Rev’s eyes widened as he looked around. „Oh my god… this-is-amazing!”
Rev dashed around the room, fiddling with anything and everything that he could reach, flicking switches, toggling lights, starting machines before quickly turning them off again after working out their purpose.
“So…” Lexi started awkwardly, “you like with machines then? And um, science?” Even if he was somewhat annoying with how he talked, Lexi was still going to make an effort with him. After all, Zadavia obviously thought he was good enough to be a superhero, so he must have some merits.
“Oh, well my-dad-owns-a-gadget-business, plus, y’know, I’m pretty sure-my-brain-also goes a lot faster now, not-just-my-body, so even though it’s not necessarily-easier-to-understand I-can-still-do-it-faster, so in a way I-guess-you-could-call it easier?” Rev was trying to remember to talk slower for Lexi, but his excitement was stronger.
Okay, yep. Superspeed explained the speedy mind, which explained the speedy mouth.
Ace got up as he heard a knock on the door, leaving Slam to devour the rest of the food. There was no point in trying to contain his appetite.
He opened the door to see a coyote standing there like a stiff mannequin or doll. “Um, hello,” he said awkwardly, “some lady on a holograph told me to come here?” He had a small red suitcase resting beside him and a duffel bag strapped to his side.
Ace stepped to the side to let him pass. “That would be Zadavia. Come in, my name’s Ace Bunny.” Ace held out his hand as an offering.
The coyote took it in his own and shook. “Tech E. Coyote. Nice to meet you.” Ace helped him bring his bags inside.
“Just leave them by the hall for now, I’ll help you sort out your room later. This here is Slam Tasmanian,” Ace gestured to the marsupial, who stopped eating just long enough to greet Tech with a slobbery grin and a grunt. „We’ve also got Rev Runner around somewhere,“ Ace spun around as he heard the door from the lab open, “And this is my sister, Lexi.”
Tech crossed the room over to her. “Hi, I’m Tech.” He offered her a handshake, but awkwardly withdrew after she glared at him for a few moments without moving. “Uhm, okay…”
He noticed Ace and Lexi exchange a look between themselves. Clearly there was some sort of history between them that had something to do with coyotes, or predators in general. It stung a bit, but he was used to other Toons taking a look at him and deciding what boxes he fit into. He couldn’t really blame them anyway with all the history between the different Toon species.
Ace eventually gave Tech a tour that was identical to the one Lexi had given Rev, finishing once again in the lab. Ace gave a sort of half chuckle when he saw the look on Tech‘s face as all the machines came into view.
„I’ll leave you to it then?“ Ace took Tech‘s awestruck silence as a yes, stepping out and closing the door behind him.
Unlike Rev, Tech spent as much time as possible with each machine before moving onto the next, trying not only to work out their purpose, but how they’d been made or manufactured as well. Eventually though, he did bump into the bird.
Both were startled that there was another person in here, and quickly turned around to face one another. Tech easily and correctly guessed that he must be the other member that Ace had mentioned.
„You must be Rev? Ace mentioned you. I’m Tech, nice to meet you.“ He started to raise his paw for a handshake, but hesitated. The ‚Runner‘ part of Rev‘s name evidentially stood for roadrunner, and considering the history between their species in particular, Tech wouldn’t be surprised if Rev and a more severe reaction to him than Lexi did.
Rev surprised both of them by grabbing Tech’s paw and shaking it anyway. „Nice-to-meet-you-too! Do-you-also-like-gadgets-and-stuff? I’m-guessing-you-do-otherwise-you-probably-wouldn’t-be-in-here-since-you’re-in-this-room-voluntarily-and-most-people-don’t-usually-choose-to-be-in-places-unless-they-have-an-interest-in-them.“
That’s going to get old fast. „Of course I do, I’m a qualified genius – what sort of genius doesn’t like gadgets and inventing them?“
„A… a-qualified-genius? How-do-you-get-qualified-to-be-a-genius?“ That didn’t really seem like the sort of thing you could get qualified for to Rev, but maybe you could? It wasn’t like he had any qualifications to know how you got them.
„I graduated from Acmetropilis University with honors in the the Mad Genius program… or at least I would‘ve if my examiner hadn’t been so impatient and kicked me out for ‚being mad‘.“
„…so-you-didn’t-graduate?“
Tech paused for a moment. „Well, not technically, no, but I was top of all my classes and would’ve graduated.“
„So-you’re-a-self-proclaimed-genius-not-a-qualified-one?“
„I guess.“ Tech grumbled under his breath. „What sort of qualifications do you have then?“ If this annoyingly hyperactive bird was going to criticize him, he wanted there to at least be a good reason for it.
„Well-no-more-than-you-do-I-suppose. Maybe-even-less-since-I-only-really-tinker-with-inventions-and-haven’t-done-anything-professionally-with-them-even-though-Pa-wants-me-to-I-feel-like-I-wasn’t-really-smart-enough-for-it-before-the-meteor-and-now-I’m-a-superhero-and-don’t-really-have-time-to-make-gadgets-for-Pa‘s-business.“ Yep, Rev’s speech pattern was already getting on his nerves.
„What do you mean by ‚not smart enough before the meteor‘? Did you get some sort of augmented intelligence from it‘s radiation path?“
Rev restated what he had previously said to Lexi. Tech nodded in interest.
„Yeah, that makes sense. I’m not really sure I‘d define it as ‚intelligence‘ though, as you still know what you did before the meteor and have the same thinking patterns, just exponentially faster, allowing you to reach conclusions faster and understand discussions that either previously taken you a day to unpack.“
Rev made a face of mock offense. „So-you‘re-saying-you-don’t-think-I’m-smart?“
Tech tried backtracking. „No, I just said I wouldn’t call it traditional intelligence, not that you’re dumb.“
„I-didn’t-say-you-thought-I-was-dumb-just-that-you-said-I-was-unintelligent. There’s-quite-a-difference-being-not-being-smart-and being-stupid-so-the-fact-that-you’d-assume-that…“
The pair of them kept talking and bouncing off each other. Despite Rev‘s initial cultivated wariness towards the coyote, he was enjoying teasing him. The way he rambled as he tried to get out of the hole he thought he’d dug was honestly adorable.
Eventually, the two of them parted ways and went to their respective rooms as it got further into the night.
Tech woke up to the sound of people arguing in the hall. He groaned as he rolled over, then groaned again when he saw that his alarm clock only read 0314. The room felt too hot – ironic considering his predecessors had lived in the desert mesa until only a few generations ago – and the voices outside that were growing increasingly tense weren’t helping either.
“He’s a predator.” Tech froze when he heard those words get hissed in Lexi’s voice. Were they talking about him?
“I know Lex, but give him a chance, alrigh’?” Ace. Tech felt a pang of gratefulness towards him – he was defending him to his own sister.
“He hasn’t done anything. We can’t just kick him out because of what he is. Besides, you’re fine with Slam, aintcha?”
“That’s different and you know it. Slam doesn't look anything like a wolf. I- I know that Tech hasn’t done anything, it’s just…” On one paw, Tech could understand Lexi being uncomfortable around him if she’d had a run in with another canine beforehand, and it also explained the way she’d behaved around him earlier. But on the other, he wasn’t a dog and it was insulting to be likened to one.
Ace sighed. “I know. I’m sorry I wasn’t there then, but I am here now. Don’ worry – if he tries anything, den he’s out o’ here, no matter what Zadavia says.” And just like that, whatever gratefulness Tech held towards Ace was gone.
Tech got up once he was sure Ace and Lexi were gone and slunk along the dim corridor to the lab. It was right beside the roadrunner‘s room, but it had soundproof padding, meaning that neither Rev, nor Lexi with her super hearing, should be able to hear the machinery, or the ugly sobs building in Tech‘s chest.
He buried himself in the clanking and hissing metal, building more of his beauties. He was purposefully using louder machines where quieter ones would’ve worked – he didn’t want to hear his crying either.
He jumped as the doors peeled open, causing the laser wielder he was using to redirect its beam to him, vaporizing him.
Rev shrieked. He’d opened the door only to see Tech get turned to ashes because of it. Fuck-you’ve-done-it-now-Rev. You-killed-someone-on-your-first-day-of-being-a-‚hero‘-and-your-own-teammate-at-that. They’re-all-going-to-hate-you-and-they’ll-kick-you-out-and-you’ll-have-to-go-back-to-Ma-and-Pa-and-that’ll-prove-them-right-that-being-a-superhero-is-a-deadend-job—
„Holy shit, knock next time. You scared me.“
Now it was Rev‘s turn to get a fright from an unexpected sound. „B-b-but you were dead! I-saw-you-die-right-in-front-of-me!“ It took Rev‘s brain a while to adjust to seeing Tech standing again, in one piece no less, but once it did his rapid-fire speech came back as well. „How-are-you-still-alive?“
„Molecular regeneration.“ Tech briefly explained as he brushed some soot off the bench. Thankfully, his eyes were dry now due to being deconstructed and remade, leaving no evidence that Tech had been crying.
„Wait, like-self-healing-or-something? From-the-meteor-radiation-I-presume? That’s-a-pretty-nifty-ability-but-I-am-curious-about-the-extent-of-it-I-mean-it-also-recreated-your-clothes-so-the-regeneration-doesn’t-just-apply-to-your-body-but-in-that-case-how-come-you-don’t-regenerate-broken-items-around-you?“
„I don’t fully understand how it works, and as much as I’d like to, I’m not quite willing to experiment on myself to figure that one out. How’d you know I was in here anyway?“ This room was supposed to be sound proof. If it wasn’t, or it was defective in some way, he didn’t really want to explain what he’d been doing in here at 4 in the morning.
„I-got-up-to-grab-a-drink-of-water-and-saw-the-light-was-on. What-are-you-doing-in-here-anyway?“
Tech exhaled in relief. So Rev hadn’t heard him. „Just working on some bikes so the team can get around the city faster. …although I suppose you don’t really need one.“ Tech quietened down towards the end, musing over his thoughts in his own head.
„Not-practically-speaking-and-it’d-probably-be-more-work-for-you-anyway. Not-to-say-you’re-incapable-or-anything-just-don’t-want-to-put-anymore-stress-on-you-than-is-strictly-necessary.“
Tech raised an eyebrow. „I didn’t think you thought me incapable until you said that.“
Rev rapidly tried to back track. „I-didn’t-mean-anything-by-it-I-just-thought-it-possible-that-you-may-interpret-my-words-as-underestimation-of-you-although-I-know-now-that-you-didn’t-take-that-interpretation-and-I’m-sorry-for-assuming-that-you-would-that’s-my-bad-and-I-should’ve—“
Tech laughed against his closed lips that had pressed themselves into a smile without his express consent. It was somewhat amusing to see Rev now in the awkward position that he himself had been in when they first met of trying to fix a misinterpretation. „Rev, shut up. I was only having you on. Do you always talk so annoyingly fast?“
Rev was taken aback for a moment. „Well…“ he smiled as slyly as his beak allowed „Icanalwaystalklikethisifit‘sbetterandyoufeelIneedtotalkfasterafterallthat‘showI‘mchoosingtointerperetyoucomplainingaboutmyspeedasbeingnotfastenoughratherthantoofastasyouwouldn‘tbesillyenoughtocomplainaboutaroadrunnerbeingfast,wouldyou?“
Tech just shook his head and grinned as he continued work on the bikes.
The next morning, they received a holographic call when they were eating breakfast. The two carnivores were eating bacon and sausages whilst the others ate granola. Ace had mixed carrots in with his for some bizarre reason. Tech couldn’t imagine that it tasted good, but who was he to judge?
He didn’t even particularly like bacon — he often found it to be too salty — but he figured it would be insensitive to eat chicken around Rev, even if it was his preferred meat of choice.
“Loonatics, there is a villain on the loose near the park. Coincidentally, the last member of your group is also near that area. Your goal is to stop the villain and find the last member.” An image of a duck that somehow looked egotistical even through a hologram stream popped up next to her. “Zadavia out.”
“Ok team, let’s, uh…“ Ace trailed off as he saw that Slam was still trying to get into the fridge for more food despite having eaten the biggest breakfast out of all of them. He wasn’t having much luck at the moment since Tech had reinforced the doors, but Ace didn’t doubt that Slam would eventually get through them. He also knew that it’d be pretty hard to get Slam away from the fridge until he’d emptied it, and considering Ace didn’t want to have to explain to Zadavia that they’d ran out of food for the third day in a row, he figured it’d probably be best to leave him here. “How ‘bout Lex an’ I go out and stop this bad guy and grab the duck?”
“I know that area, I could come help if you need to set up a trap or anything?” Tech offered. Overhearing the siblings’ argument last night had just made him more determined to prove himself as a useful member of the team, no matter what prejudices the others held against him.
Ace was about to agree when he noticed the sour look on Lexi’s face. “Maybe another time? I tink ‘twould be better if ya stayed here and used your magnets to stop Slam from raiding the food…” God, the words sounded stupid to him, let alone Tech. “But, uh Rev, maybe we could use your GPS to keep track of the villain?” As much as he wanted to trust Tech and Slam and give them both a chance – and possibly a second if necessary – he wasn’t really comfortable about leaving Rev alone with two carnivorous predators that may or may not have an appetite for bird, especially after seeing how quickly both had eaten their respective meals.
Rev quickly deliberated – well, it was quick to anyone watching, not to him. Like Tech, he wanted to prove himself, but rather to his parents that this job was worthwhile instead of to the other Loonatics like Tech E. did. Who-picks-a-name-like-that-for-a-group-of-superheroes-anyway? Makes-us-sound-like-we-should-be-in-an-asylum-instead-of-saving-the-world-even-if-we-haven’t-saved-the-world-yet-on-a-technicality-and-we-do-all-have-some-sort-of-radiation-in-our-bodies-that-caused-the-mutation-induced-superpowers-and-usually-you-have-to-go-to-a-hospital-if-you-get-radiation-poisoning-and-an-asylum-is-similar-to-a-psych-ward-which-is-a-branch-in-the-hospital-and—
Shut-up-Rev. Stop-rambling-to-yourself. Rev had seen the way the light in Tech‘s eyes had disappeared when Ace had told him to stay behind. Of course, no one else had noticed because Rev was the only one gazing into Tech‘s eyes in a hopeless attempt to peer into his soul and thoroughly scour it for any trace of—
MALICE. Yep, malice was all-I-was-searching-for. SHUT UP brain.
„It’s-alright-Ace-I’m-fine-here-really. I-was-hoping-to-work-in-the-lab-today-anyway-if-that’s-okay-and-you-don’t-desperately-need-me-to-take-down-the-bad-guy-seeing-as-how-Zadavia-said-he‘ll-be-relatively-easy-to-take-out?“
„Alrigh‘ Rev, if ya sure.“
„Absolutely-positutely.“ he nodded rapidly as they walked out.
„…you know ‚positutely‘ isn’t a real word, right?“
Rev looked abashed as he heard Tech break the silence with a correction of Rev‘s personal dictionary. „Well-yeah-but-it-rolls-off-the-tongue-way-nicer-than-saying-positively-immediately-after-absolutely-does-on-account-of-the-rhythmic-sound.“
„Uh-huh.“ Tech sat there with a look that matched Ma‘s after Rip claimed to have cleaned his room – namely, disbelief. After a long moment, Tech spoke up again. Rev found this vaguely annoying as it meant that Tech‘s lips, which had previously been pressed together in a way that enticed Rev‘s overactive imagination, were now separated by a sharp row of teeth that could easily sink themselves into Rev.
„You said you were going to work in the lab today? Were you telling the truth, or just trying to cover up some ulterior motive of yours?“
„Actually-I-wanted-to-help-you-with-those-motorbikes-if-you’re-okay-with-that-and-want-my-help?“
Tech just sat there blinking at him. „I… you wanted to help me?“ Rev‘s head pinged up and down like a sideways metronome. „Why?“ the suspicion in Tech‘s tone made it obvious he didn’t necessarily trust Rev – ironic, considering it should’ve been the other way around.
Tech walked into the lab, still shell shocked, with a feathery, hyperactive menace following him.
He worked as Rev talked to him about anything that came to mind, interrupting occasionally to ask for a tool or part.
„So… how’d-you-figure-out-you-had-molecular-regeneration-abilities? I-can’t-really-imagine-a-scenario-where-you’d-casually-work-that-out-seeing-as-if-it-were-something-like-a-papercut-you-wouldn’t-even-notice-that-it-had-healed-quickly – actually-I-guess-you-and-I-are-kinda-alike-in-that-we-both-have-a-form-of-superspeed-and-are-quite-intelligent-although-of-course-you’re-better-in-the-brains-department-and-I’m-more-versatile-when-it-comes-to-speed – but-anyway-where-was-I?
„Oh-yeah-that’s-right. It-would-have-to-be-a-pretty-big-injury-for-you-to-notice-and-I-imagine-also-rather-severe-in-order-for-you-to-come-to-the-correct-conclusion-about-what-caused-you-to-heal-and-off-the-top-of-my-beak-the-only-things-that-come-to-mind-would-be-murder-traffic-accident-fire-or-suicide.“
Tech had been opening his mouth to reply until Rev listed the last option. The bird’s eyes slowly widened as the silence stretched.
„Wait, you… you tried to commit?“ Tech’s continued silence was heavy enough to answer. „I… sorry. I shouldn’t have brought that up.“ For once, Rev was talking at a normal speed.
„…can I give you a hug?“ Tech looked at him like he was speaking a foreign language, but eventually held out his arms for a hug. Rev immediately dove in, trying his best to comfort a predator that his parents had specifically warned him about.
„Um, I know we’ve only known each other for a few hours really, but if you ever want to talk about it or anything else, I’ll be here.“ Rev looked up through his plume of feathers at Tech, who avoided his gaze.
„There’s… not really much to tell. I got fired from the university after one of my students tried to fry everyone else’s brains, and they decided to blame me. I was homeless and had no job, and it put me in a stupid headspace. I had the materials needed to build a gun, so…“
Rev sat beside Tech in the quiet for a while, gently combing his beak through his fur. He wasn’t really sure if it was appropriate, but it was the only way he knew to comfort people.
„…you called it a ‚stupid‘ headspace?“
„Yeah?“
„Does that mean you’re not in that headspace anymore?“
Tech sighed. „Well, I’m not actively trying to kill myself if that’s what you mean. Not like it would do anything. But from the limited testing I’ve done, the molecular regeneration stops my cells from dying.“
„…meaning you can’t get older.“ Rev realized.
„Yeah. And that I likely won’t die. So even if I’m not actively looking for a way out, I still want one. I don’t really want to live forever. If there’s acting that has a chance of getting rid of me permanently, I’d take it. I figure a shorter live is better than an incredibly long one.“
„That’s kind sad. … do you… would you still be trying to kill yourself if you couldn’t regenerate?“
Tech was quiet for a long time, long enough that Rev had started thinking he’d fallen asleep. The coyote eventually proved that conclusion to be a misconception.
„I don’t know. If I didn’t have that ability, I wouldn’t be here now though, so it’s not really something I think about it.“
As far as Rev could tell, that was just a really fancy way of saying yes.
„Just talk to me, okay? I don’t want anything happening to you.“ Rev seemed to realize what he’d said as Tech looked down at him, an adorably dumbfounded expression on his face. „Like-so-that-the-team-doesn’t-fall-apart-from-someone-dying-dying-not-just-temporarily-dying.“ Rev quickly ‚corrected‘ himself.
„Yeah, right, for the team.“ Both dorks were blushing furiously and deliberately refusing to look at each other despite the fact that they were still partially hugging.
Finally, a crash from the kitchen pulled them apart as they remembered their assigned task – ensuring Slam didn’t get into the fridge. Rev had a feeling they’d failed.
As soon as the thick doors slid open, Rev dashed out, quickly picking up the food Slam had emptied out and placing the items back in their proper positions in the fridge – which happened to be missing a door. By the time Tech came out, the food was away and Slam was likely complaining. Rev still couldn’t really understand him.
Tech picked up the discarded door and strongly magnetized it to the frame. „Can you get the tools to give this a more permanent fix?“ The speedy bird grabbed the tools he believed to be required - and a few more for good measure – and helped Tech repair the fridge.
The others returned just over an hour later, with one additional waterfowl. Lexi looked like she wanted to murder it. Ace, on the hand, seemed to be enjoying himself.
„Guys, this is Duck. Duck, this is Tech, Rev, and Slam.“ Ace indicates to each respective individual as he said their names.
Lexi half stormed over to Tech. „Look, I’m sorry for being an arse to you before,“ …weird way to start an apology, Tech thought to himself, „but please, if you ever get hungry or whatever and want a snack, eat him.“ She indicated to Duck, who looked deeply offended.
Nevermind, that was not an apology. „You know I don’t actually eat anything sentient, right?“
„Y-you don’t?“
„No?? What would be the point to it?“
Lexi looked somewhat ashamed. „I… sorry for assuming you did.“ She said it quietly, but sincerely. Tech sighed.
„It’s alright Lexi.“ He held out his hand for her again, but this time, she shook it.