PMC1 - Hex and Maxwell

[just_hex]

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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[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max looked at the seats in the lobby, assessing them, wondering if he could truly rest there. Three hours was all he needed really, by then it would be early still, but not so much he couldn't start his day. A shower at the local gym, breakfast at the one cafe in town where surveillance was low... Yes, the lobby would be fine, he decided, nodding his head slightly.

"Thank you," he said, returning his gaze to Hex. Bright green eyes studied the man, as though analyzing every inch of him. Max was tall, just over six foot, his skin pale and features sharp. He was lean, and his hair dark, ear length, but never messy even when it hung like curtains around his face.

[just_hex]

Hex settled himself in his seat and went back to his tapes, waiting for the next patient.

There was no next patient.

At 5 am on the dot a person walked in with a box of donuts and a thermos of coffee. She took note of Max resting, then flashed a smile at Hex.

"Breakfast enough for three," she said.

The secure door chunked loudly and Hex let her in, then went to see if Max was ready to wake up.

"Oi, mate," he said softly to rouse him.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max was startled out of his sleep at the clunk of the door, and he looked nervous as he looked up at Hex.

"I'll go, I'm sorry," he said awkwardly.

[just_hex]

"You don't need to go. Sally brought breakfast. Come have a bite before you go, yeah?" Hex invited warmly.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max seemed unsure, but he hadn't eaten since... He couldn't recall, actually.

"Alright," he said softly, pausing a beat before adding a quiet, "Thanks."

He seemed on high alert as he followed Hex, as though expecting an attack at any moment.

[just_hex]

There were no threats, though. Just a quiet clinic, a bit of breakfast, and a pair of people who could easily have better jobs.

"Sit down, Max," Hex offered. "Eat all you like."

"I have some protein pouches you can take, too," Sally offered, then wandered off to find them.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max's gaze flicked between the pair, and he took a single doughnut, eating slowly. He ate like someone who was used to going long stretches without a meal, not shoveling it in, but eating with care to be sure he didn't upset his stomach.

"Thank you," he said again, still speaking softly.

In the light of day Max didn't quite fit the profile of someone living rough. His clothes weren't new, but they were in good shape, well cared for. His hair was a bit long, but groomed and clean. His voice was soft, but quite crisp and posh really.

Everything else about him fit though. He was thin, too thin really. He had dark circles that suggested few restful nights. He was nervous, as though accustom to keeping his guard up, and the tech upgrades he sported were eclectic to say the least. All at different price points from different years.

[just_hex]

"Sally always brings a bite to perk me up at the end of the shift," he explained as he poured some coffee.

"We can leave together if you like?" Hex offered then.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max considered him for a long moment. He supposed if the man was planning to hurt him, he could have done so last night.

"Thanks," he said again. "Don't really know where I'm going though. ...Boyfriend chucked me out last week."

A lie, but he couldn't exactly tell a stranger that what had actually happened was that his boyfriend had beat the shit out of him- And so Maxwell had lodged a hammer in his skull.

[just_hex]

"Yeah? I've got a sofa you can use until something better comes along," he offered.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Shouldn't invite a stranger into your home. Dangerous," Max said, frowning slightly. Hex seemed nice, a decent man- A rare thing. Max didn't like the idea of him opening his door to a thief.

Or worse. ...A killer.

[just_hex]

Hex chuckled softly, his smile bright.

"I'm not scared," he assured him.

He lifted his cup to take a sip. Hex’s own mods weren't obvious, but he had upgrades. Military nano augmentation for speed and agility, skeletal reinforcements, obvious only to those who knew to look.

His most obvious oddity was how new and soft the skin the knuckles of both hands was. Barely healed and still pink.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max had clocked the implants, but he knew first hand that those sorts of things could be overridden, disabled, shorted... He'd done it. All these men who thought they could treat others like shit- Because they were rich, because they were strong...

He pushed those thoughts away, reminded himself he was done with revenge.

His gaze flicked back to Hex. "I'm not a whore," he said softly. "In case that's what you're hoping for. I don't- I don't do it for pay."

[just_hex]

"I'll keep that in mind,” he smiled.

"You don't have to if you don't want to. But I have a shower, food, and locks on the doors. You could get some real sleep. You look like you could use it."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max wanted to say no, knew he shouldn't get near anyone. Not now, never again. ...But he didn't have many options. He'd thought after the last man he might take his own life, but it seemed he wasn't so bold.

"...If you're sure," he said finally.

[just_hex]

”Bang-gon,” he smiled.

”Alright, Hex. I'm all set,” Sally said as she returned with a small bag with some food and supplies for Max. She set it in front of him, but was looking at Hex.

”That means get out,” he smiled at Max. "Let's go. It isn't far."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max nodded a little, thanking her and taking the bag. He was in no position to turn down food.

Following Hex outside, he struggled with the glaring sunlight, even through the smog.

"You're a medic then? A nurse or something?" he asked as his eyes slowly adjusted.

[just_hex]

"Yeah," he said. "Got me training in the water wars, and now I'm doing something good with it."

There was so much there in such a short statement. The front lines were brutal, the wounds that veterans survived were horrifying. A medic there was enhanced for speed and strength to grab the wounded and run them to safety if necessary.

And doing some good now spoke volumes about how he viewed his role in violence.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Gruesome," Max said, before realizing that wasn't the appropriate response.

"War, I mean," he clarifide, looking annoyed with himself. This was why he didn't say much.

[just_hex]

"You're not wrong, mate. Don't be sorry," he said.

They crossed the street to a chip shop. Hex didn't go in, though. He opened the door past the window to a stairway.

"Mine's on the top," he said. "A bit of a climb. Come on."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max followed along, and it was hard not to admire Hex as they climbed the steps. He was fit and broad, a handsome face to match.

The thought made him look away. Watching his feet as he climbed the steps instead. Hex seemed too gentle a soul, Max only danced with monsters.

[just_hex]

On the third floor, Hex opened the door blocking the stairway.

Inside was a museum. Old tech from bicycles to fans to ancient stereos were all around. The whole floor was his, clearly.

"Make yourself at home. I'm going to wash up, yeah?" he said. "The bed is through there if you want to lie down..."

He vanished into the loo.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

It was a bit overstimulating, and Max wandered to the bedroom in hopes it was a bit more empty in there. It was all fascinating, but Max struggled when there was too much going on.

Sitting on the bed, he put the bag on the floor and touched the bed and it's linens.

[just_hex]

Hex was our of the loo in five minutes, almost on the dot. He came out with a towel wrapped around his waist and headed straight to the kitchen to grab a protein shake.

He listened carefully, sure when he didn't hear anything that Max had taken his offer to sleep.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max was awake though, not sure what to do with himself. Eventually he emerged, taking in the space again, then looking at Hex himself.

"Why are you so nice?" He asked bluntly.