just_hex | PMC1 - Hex and Maxwell

PMC1 - Hex and Maxwell

It was after midnight and outside there was a miserable rain, too hot to be refreshing. Hex sat inside the People's Med Center 1, a free clinic for folks without credits, or perhaps some legal reason they couldn't go to the actual Hospital, and once in a while a genuine emergency. Tonight he'd seen a woman who's baby had a bad cough and a man whose implant had gotten infected. It was black market, of course.

Hex had helped them both, then settled into his chair behind the desk to wait and watch the old CRT TV hooked to an ancient VCR. The phone was a corded landline. Even the computer they kept records on was a dinosaur.

The Center was set up that wa in purpose. Most people, the ones that knew it existed at all, assumed they lacked funding. The funding wasn't the issue. Security was the issue.

They'd been thrilled to have Hex come aboard. The field medic knew how to do most anything with the lowest tech possible. And he liked doing it. Helping people without options was something he could do in a world where he saw so much wrong in the system.

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"Aw, mate...touch anything you like," Hex chuckled as he rolled over and settled in.

In just a little more than a minute and he was already asleep. Hard asleep.

Max watched him for a while, studying his breathing, the sounds he made. Part of him wanted to sleep as well, but he knew he wouldn't. He'd had a few hours at the clinic, and he rarely got more than that.

Eventually he did get up, wandering around the man's home and taking it all in. True to his word, he touched nothing, only observing.

Picking up the bag of food he'd been given, he picked through, finding a small bag of protein chips and deciding to open them. Sitting on the floor he jacked in and started to catch up with the day's news. It wasn't sleep, but it could have been, the way he shut down completely.

At 4 in the afternoon, an ancient alarm clock went off. The clacker beat against two bells, shattering any thought of more sleep.

Hex reached for it and shut it off. He carefully sat it down, then got up to go to the loo. Next he hit the kitchen to grab an energy drink.

He'd assumed Max had gotten some sleep and left when he didn't see him, and so was not expecting to find him there, jacked in.

Hex shrieked.

Max slowly registered a noise outside his little virtual world, eyes opening slowly as he returned to reality.

"Sorry. I'll go," he said, getting to his feet and reaching for his shirt. Such a dramatic reaction to such a normal thing surely meant he was no longer welcome.

"Nah, mate. You're fine. I thought you already had, is all. Didn't expect you there," he said, laughing off the rest of the shock.

"I've got to hit the gym, then I've got a fight tonight. You're welcome to hang about. You'll be alone, but there's a connection and food," he offered.

"Are you sure? I don't... I should probably leave," he decided. "Maybe I'll see you again sometime."

He gathered his things, then hesitated. "I work here," he said, pulling out a flyer for the club. "Come after your fight, I can give you a free drink," he offered.

Hex read it, then gave a nod.

"I'll see you then," he agreed.

He got ready to work out and walked Max down to the street where he said his goodbyes.

When he walked into the club, it was a different story. He'd lost the fight, and good. But he'd made a mint betting it all. He'd known he was going to lose, and figgered he may as well get paid.

He'd given it his all.

Hex walked in with his eye swollen shut and a bloody gash in a puffed up lip above a livid purple jaw. He scanned the room to see if he could spot Max.

Input was quiet tonight, and Max noticed Hex the moment he walked in. He could see, Rivet starting to head his way, but Max gently caught her arm to stop her, leaning in and explaining he was a friend.

Input wasn't nice, not really, but it offered a service few places were brave enough to anymore. Live human companions who'd sit with you and drink. The rules said no sex, but that was for the law, not the customers. Everyone knew that if you slipped your companion a few credits there was a place in the back...

Grabbing two beers, he intercepted Hex and guided him to a table.

"Not your night, looks like. Unless the other man looks worse," he said, handing Hex a beer.

"I gave as good as I got. Until I couldn't anymore," he said, in good cheer despite his wounds.

Hex gladly took the beer and settled into the seat, leaning back and spreading his legs wide.

"I made a killing, though. Sometimes it's worth it, taking a beating."

"Sometimes," Max agreed. "Do you want some ice? I might have a med inhaler. Would take the swelling down."

"Nah, nanos will have me sorted by the time me shift in the clinic ends in the morning. I could eat something, though. Is there food here?" he asked.

Hex scanned the room, slowly realizing exactly what sort of club this was.

"Nothing you'd want to eat," Max assured him. "Oh, there might be nuts, boiled ones."

Hex made a face.

"I know you're working, but can you leave? I saw a place down the way with noodles," he said, unwilling to admit he was a little uncomfortable with what was going on in that booth over there.

"Oh," Max said, slowly registering Hex's discomfort. "No. I owe money, and I work to pay it back. I can't go, but you don't have to stay. I understand," he assured him.

"What if I, ah, paid for you to come with me? Maybe me fantasy is eating a burger, yeah?" he offered. "I'm flush. How much?"

"Eighty," Max said, looking a bit surprised. "It's a lot... I could just see you another night. You shouldn't spend money on a service you won't use."

"I...might..." he weakly insisted, not wanting to seem like some sort of prude.

"I'm just really hungry. And I like you. You're dead interesting," he said, pulling out his creds.

Max took his hand and stopped him.

"The fact that you think you'd be paying me directly tells me all I need to know. ...Go eat, Hex. Rest well and look after yourself. We can meet one night when I'm off the clock. ...Do you work Sunday? I'm always free Sunday."

"I always have Sunday off, too," he said as he awkwardly put it away. "I wake up at 4. We could get breakfast?"

He knew he was hungry, but that didn't explain the way his stomach squirmed inside as he asked.

"Okay," Max nodded, sure he could save a few credits for a little meal. "I'd like that."

Hex brightened at that.

"Alright. Yeah," he smiled. "Is there a place you like?"

he paused and though he nearly wanted to vomit rather than say it, he added-

"Or...I could cook..."

"You don't want to be cooking for me. We can go wherever you want," Max promised, hesitating, then reaching to touch his hand.

Hex looked at their hands, then back up at Max.

"Can I have your number?" he asked, sounding much more bold than he felt.

Max hesitated, thinking it might be best not to. He didn't want Hex connected to him, wanted to keep the man safe. Hex was sweet. Hex had kindness.

But after a beat he lifted his hand, gesturing for Hex to turn his over as well so he could transfer him his number.

Hex smiled and gave Max a nod. He immediately sent his public profile to share.

As if Max couldn't easily find his private details.

He drained his beer.

"I'll see you Sunday, then, yeah?" he said, rising and trying terribly hard to play it cool, though he was buzzing with excitement. It had been some time since he'd asked for someone's number. That Max had given it to him had him ready to burst.

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511v3r_h4mm3r - 2023-06-15 00:19 (UTC) - Expand

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