[fanfic] [generator rex] Half-Full

[bromantic.livejournal.com]

“Remember, Rex. Everything can be taken from you”

He doesn’t forget that. He doesn’t believe it, but he doesn’t forget. And it throbs at the back of his mind like an ominous fortune he never wanted. The problem with Six was Rex couldn’t let him go, struggled with the fact that Six was a constant and he needed something constant.

But when Six says it himself… what’s constant anymore?

Ben says, “You’re thinking about this too hard. You’re here, aren ‘t you?”

Rex doesn’t know what to say to that.

Remember, Rex. Everything can be taken from you.

---

Ben didn’t like sharing the spotlight. One hero was enough, two was just overkill. He was competent, strong, backed by a good team but there’s no denying he was the important one. And he didn’t like being replaced.

He didn’t feel that way with Rex.

Maybe it’s because Rex himself was upset and lost at the time, maybe it was because Rex offered to help, even when it was within his rights to refuse. Tentative, but strong-hearted,

Rex gave him a chance. Ben was slightly impressed.

He was never going to admit it though. And well, Rex needed someone to keep an eye on him. That much was clear.

---

Everything hurt, but they were alive, the world was safe. He couldn’t help it, he was cheering, Six was wrong and he had never been so happy to know that. Ben came up to him, and Rex didn’t have to say anything, Ben just nodded and grinned.

He has to go home, Rex, he thought, giving him the bro-fist, He can’t stay with you.

Ben smiled and thought, No way. We’re definitely gonna meet again. Count on it.

Rex smiled and waved him off. A hero made a promise. What more could he ask for?

---

Rex hums the tune, Ben sings, they make a great team if it weren’t for the parallel world thing.

Rex thinks that it’s only fitting that every person he has ever loved should be star-crossed. Ben says that’s stupid, if you want something, grab it and keep it. Rex looks at his hands, gloved and sometimes giant, too big to hold onto anything but enough to fight with.

Ben kisses him to make him shut up. Rex lets him.

---

Ben keeps Rex’s coat under his bed. He never forgets about it, remembers it before he goes to sleep. It’s a comfort, a part of Rex he’s allowed to keep, because he’s not allowed anything else. He thinks about Julie, brings her into his dreams, but she fades into Rex, Rex’s smile, Rex’s eyes as they take him in, Rex who thinks Ben is the best thing that ever happened to him.

Ben didn’t have the heart to tell him that he was the worst.

---

“Do you always know it’s gonna work out?”

“Always? Nah.”

“Same here.”

“Are you okay with that? With things not working out?”

“I’m used to it.”

“Thaaat’s not a good thing.”

“I know, but it’s cool. I’m a hero, right? I’ll just keep going.”

Ben shifts to look at him, and Rex’s breath is caught by his eyes, “You have to.”

“I have to….?”

“It’s what we do.”

---

Rex has nothing of Ben, except his smile in his memory. Nothing he writes does Ben justice and nothing he can say can come close to how he feels. But it’s what he does, that makes him feel closer to him.

He’s a hero. Just like Ben.