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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.
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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"Nothing you'd want to eat," Max assured him. "Oh, there might be nuts, boiled ones."
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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.
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"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.
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"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?"
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"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."
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"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.
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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."
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"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.
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"Okay," Max nodded, sure he could save a few credits for a little meal. "I'd like that."
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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..."
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"You don't want to be cooking for me. We can go wherever you want," Max promised, hesitating, then reaching to touch his hand.
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Hex looked at their hands, then back up at Max.
"Can I have your number?" he asked, sounding much more bold than he felt.
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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.
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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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"I will see you then," Max smiled, nodding slightly.
This felt like a bad idea, but... He liked Hex. He liked how genuine he seemed, how warm. Max had been lacking warmth in his life for so long.