Chapter Text
"And why can't I stay? You haven't let me be in here for days—no, weeks. Besides, the lab belongs to everyone, not just you. Why should it be a problem if I want to be here? Also, since when do you demand to be completely alone without even letting me say hello? I need to say hello, you know. I'm a polite guy," the Road Runner protested, whipping his arms across his chest to emphasize his rapid-fire words. "I know I'm not as clever with machines as you are, but I can—"
The coyote turned his back on him, shaking his head and interrupting his complaints, keeping his back to his companion.
“I already told you no, Rev, I... prefer to be alone. I don't want any distractions.”
The bird, clenching his hands trying to contain his anger and making a superhuman effort not to fully show his frustration, huffed in annoyance and headed for the door.
"You know what? Do whatever you want, I don't care anymore." Just as he was about to walk out of the lab, he stopped. "But don’t complain when nobody wants to keep you company anymore and you're alone all the time."
When he was just a few steps away from the laboratory, the bird felt a pang of guilt. He stopped and turned his gaze toward the laboratory.
It had been days, no, weeks, since Tech had started isolating himself. He didn't socialize with the others in the common room, he didn't have those deep conversations with Ace or his silly arguments with Duck, nor did he socialize with the road runner, leaving the place as soon as the speedster entered the lab or surprised him alone in the room.
On one occasion, when everyone had gathered for a meal in the living room, the coyote explicitly decided that his company made him uncomfortable. As Rev passed by him, he noticed the canine, covering his nose and apologizing, went to lock himself in his room.
As if the mere presence of the bird disgusted him.
Because of that situation, Rev felt... strange.
Angry, even humiliated.
It was no secret that he and the coyote shared an above-average friendship. Rev liked to think that their minds clicked in a way that no one else ever could; he knew he was the closest one to genius.
Not Ace, not Lexi, not anyone, only him.
He couldn't help but feel proud of that. Even when it wasn't all camaraderie, like when they had those playful arguments.
He loved having the canine's attention all to himself, that the coyote only saw and heard him and none else.
He would never admit it out loud, of course. He knew it was childish and inappropriate for heroes like them. He didn't even know how Tech would feel about it. Would he find it funny? Would he be embarrassed? Or would he find it strange enough to avoid him?
In any case, he wasn't supposed to find out. Because he will never tell him.
He enjoyed being alone with the genius so much; those were his favorite moments of the day, perhaps on par with running on some mission, however, those instances were behind him.
Tech had ostracized him, just like he had done with the others, or even more so. The coyote had decided that the roadrunner's presence disgusted him. Rev felt despised; it seemed he had no special privileges over the coyote among his companions. Tech discarded him just like the rest, as if their special connection didn't exist.
No, he despised him even more than the others.
What had happened? Had those old-fashioned ideas that coyotes and roadrunners couldn't be friends finally taken root in his mind? Had he decided that Rev and all the Loonatics were’nt worth more than just work colleagues? Or maybe... had he gotten a girlfriend?
That last thought made his feathers tremble.
He frowned and continued his way straight to his room.
If Tech decided that Rev didn't deserve a second of his time, then the coyote could stay alone with his stupid machines.
He wasn't going to get sad about something like that.
A few days later, Ace approached him.
"What’s up, Rev," the rabbit called. "Is everything alright with Doc?"
Rev crossed his arms, immediately sensing that this was going to be an awkward conversation for him.
"Why are you asking me? I'm not his caretaker, his mother, his brother, or anyone responsible for him. He's an adult coyote; he knows what he's doing," he replied with his characteristic speed, crossing his arms and feigning indifference. "Nothing's wrong with him that I know of."
The leader sighed.
“I've felt for a few weeks now that Tech is drifting away from us, don't you think?
Us. As if he were on the same level as everyone else for Tech, as if the Road Runner wasn't special.
His logical side knew that Ace's words didn't mean that, but his more emotional side felt like it was rubbing in his face how little his best friend cared.
Irrational but inevitable.
Stupid Tech that had him feeling like a hurt hormonal teenager.
“You know how Tech is, his mind always in a place that not everyone can reach. Planes, cars, weapons, even the smallest machines” he shrugged, looking away to avoid meeting the rabbit's eyes “he must be focused on a new project”
Ace's face made a strange grimace, like worry mixed with surprise, but with eyes that showed curiosity.
“Nothing happened between you two, right? I know that the most intimate relationships in a team of heroes can be complicated.”
Rev felt blushing beneath the feathers of his face, taking a step back and opening his eyes in surprise.
Ace isn't implying that something "inappropriate" happened between the two of them, is he?
"What?! Of course not! Why do you assume that? Why do you think something like that could happen?" he exclaimed, speaking rapidly and waving his arms in front of him. "He and I don't get along like that. Not at all!"
The rabbit seemed genuinely surprised by what was said, as if he hadn't expected a denial of that implication, but he quickly returned to his usual serene expression.
“Okay, sorry if I made you uncomfortable. However, could you speak to Doc? I'm a little worried.”
Rev cleared his throat, trying to calm himself down, and then crossed his arms.
"I'm not his babysitter, Ace. If Tech wants to talk to us, he will. I'm not going to force him, not that I can do that."
The rabbit, somewhat bewildered by the words, nodded, not very convinced.
“I hope so, Rev.”
The situation continued for a couple more days, making the coyote the only thing that inhabited the bird's mind.
His insecurity and annoyance only increased; he had to distract himself with something, anything, and the situation arose one ordinary afternoon when his parents invited him to the graduation of Rip , his little brother.
Rev confirmed his attendance at the ceremony immediately, anything to get out of his mental torment in the lair for a moment.
"So, I really need to be with my family today, boss," he explained animatedly and at great speed to the rabbit, who looked at him with some doubt. "I'll only be gone for a few hours, nothing more, nothing less. You know how important it is to be present for these important moments. Besides, it's an important stage for Rip , almost going from a child to an adult. I need to be there to take embarrassing photos and capture emotional tears."
"Slam also has the day off today to support some of his friends in a tournament, but we won't let you miss important moments with your family," Ace smiled as he nodded. "The four of us will take care of it if anything happens today. Go and celebrate without worry."
“If anything happens, boss, don't hesitate to call me. I'll have my communicator with me at all times. Except for silly things, like "Duck ate the last slice of pizza" or "Duck broke the TV again" or "Duck..."
“Yes, we get it” Duck protested indignantly.
And with everyone saying their goodbyes and sending their congratulations to Rip —while the coyote just stood with his arms crossed, staring at the ground— Rev set off for his parents' home, ready to forget his unnecessary emotional torment for a few hours.
And so it went.
For a few hours, he simply spent time with his family, taking pictures, and eating and drinking, feigning happiness. His communicator never activated, and nothing appeared to have attacked Acmetropolis , at least not in the enclosure where he, his family, and many other birds were gathered.
When it was almost midnight, Rev decided it was time to return to the lair.
He couldn't shirk his responsibilities as a hero, no matter how much he wanted to. He said goodbye to his family and brought some snacks to share with the guys.
It had really helped to distract himself for a few hours; he felt he could think more clearly, and besides, that time made him realize how much he missed Tech.
He would talk to him, ask him what was going on, and face whatever was happening with hum. Rev had decided that things wouldn't stay like this, not without effort on his part.
He entered the lair quickly, holding up the bag of snacks.
“Guys, I brought snacks for you ...!”
But shouts from inside immediately stopped him speaking.
"Why did you do it, Ace?!" It was Lexi.
"Why are you yelling at him?!" That was Duck’s lisp. "He did it to defend you, you idiot! Besides, he can regenerate, what does it matter?"
Regenerate? Were they talking about Tech?
The roadrunner approached the voices in less than a second, coming face to face with their leader.
Ace had a dislocated expression on his face; large eyes, as if he were in shock, and his whole posture screamed guilt and regret, something that contrasted directly with his usual serenity and joviality.
Rev was about to ask what was going on but was interrupted again by Lexi.
“Did you really think Tech was activating his regenerative powers?!”
Feeling fear like never before, Rev activated his location tracking system to search for the coyote. He knew immediately he was in the lab.
Without waiting another moment, Rev was inside the lab, leaving the argument between the other Loonatics behind him.
It was dark, he could see some shapes thanks to the light filtering through the front door, but there was something there he hadn't seen before in one of the corners.
“A cage?” he asked, not understanding what was happening.
Also, why didn't the lights turn on? Tech had programmed them to turn on when it detected someone inside.
Suddenly, a sound, no, a canine whine, was heard inside the cage.
Rev headed towards that place.
“Tech? Are you okay? What happened? Why did Ace...?”
But when he tried to touch the cage, he felt a small electric shock that made him immediately pull his hand away as a reflex.
“What the hell...?”
Immediately, he remembered the time the coyote incorporated night vision goggles into his suit, which he activated at that moment.
“Tech!”
And there he was, the coyote sitting on the ground, his knees bent and his arms crossed, resting on them. His head was against one of the edges of the cage, his head down, his ears drooping and his gaze fixed on the ground, like a scolded dog, as if he didn't hear Rev standing there. However, that wasn't what shocked the roadrunner, no.
It was the large burn that crossed the left side of his face, covering much of his snout and eye.
His skin was visible—no, the flesh of his face and the burnt fur around it. A nauseating smell, like melted plastic, enveloped him. The pupil of his left eye seemed white.
“Tech...”
Rev felt like he was going to vomit.
Why wasn't Tech activating his regeneration? What was the cage doing there? Had Tech built it? Why had he built it? Why wasn't it responding to his calls? Why did the genius, always attentive and alert, seem to be nowhere to be found?
What the hell was going on?