“Well
you could have it….. you’d just have a upset stomach and a farting
episode for a few hours…….. please don’t… put noses suffered greatly
last time.”
Kraglin smacked him (lightly) on the back of his head. “Okay, that’s enough outta you,” he muttered.
“Well…at least you know who you are. That’s a good start,” Joseph returned, releasing a light sigh that revealed just how optimistic he was. Reaching up, the detective shifted his glasses upwards in order to gently rub his eyes – a momentary feeling of weariness creeping up to him. There was no time to sleep, however; there never was in this place. Knowing that the next moment may well be his last did wonders to keep him awake, and the constant adrenaline really got the heart pumping. It was dangerous to stay still for more than a minute, because his body was ready to drop. The moment he let the silence lull him, the less prepared he was for a sudden attack, and he needed to be on high alert at all times.
“I know it’s confusing right now, Carlos,” it was constantly so, and it never stopped, “but I’m afraid it’s going to be like this for a while. This place has the habit of…making you doubt a lot of things.” He knew what it was like first-hand, not knowing whether something was real or not. An hallucination or reality – it was becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference. “I found you wandering down the hallway, speaking to…well, nobody. You asked me where the biology laboratory was, before part of the ceiling fell and knocked you unconscious.” It was clear that the gentleman had lost time, convinced that he was still back home. Some people were more sensitive to the affects of STEM, and refused to transition swiftly – not that they had a choice in the matter.
“I fixed your wound the best I could, so that shouldn’t be too much of a problem now.” Joseph continued in an attempt to reassure his companion. “However, we should keep moving. This building is highly unstable, and the longer we stay here, the higher the risk of getting trapped – or killed.” There was still the possibility of Haunted roaming around, and they needed to find the exit quickly. “I’ll explain more on the way. Are you able to stand up?”
What? What was he talking about? This man seemed high-strung
about something and he was talking about life and getting killed.
“Uh – buh, what?” Carlos asked intelligently. But he quickly
took on a more alert manner. “No, no, wait, what?”
What the hell did he mean by ‘making you doubt things’? And
what place did he mean – the hotel? And Carlos didn’t remember seeing him at
all. He was meeting with some technicians and he was asking a nurse for
directions… Was he on drugs? Was Carlos
on drugs? He didn’t remember taking anything that would cause psychosis.
Something was obviously very wrong.
When asked about it Carlos immediately got up to his feet –
not just to show this other man that he could stand, but he was taking a
defensive stance. “What’s going on?” he asked. “Why did you bring me into a
broken building? What – who are you?”
Was this man a danger? Something had him rattled, clearly, and Carlos wondered
if it was because something was happening or if this man was disturbed in some
way.
“Why not you?” He tilted his head a little with a soft frown.
Was Mr Stark really asking that?
“I… uh, b-because you’re… I mean, I’m just me. And uh… I haven’t been on a date in ages – real or otherwise.”
Tony just shrugged a little and smiled softly to him. “Then I guess you’re over due and no one is just them.”
Carlos laughed nervously. “Compared to you, Mr Stark, I absolutely am ‘just me’.” Carlos still wasn’t convinced that Mr Stark was being serious – at least not about bringing him in on this scheme.
Tony chuckled softly and shook his head a little. “Everyone seems to think I’m this great person. I’m not always.” He replied before he lay a hand on his shoulder. “Come on, have some fun.”
That was because Tony Stark was a great person – especially in Carlos’ book. But he could sense that there might be an argument to be had if Carlos insisted that point so for now he was willing to let it drop.
“What… what is this even about, Mr Stark? What’s the reason for the… pretense?”
“Because I wanted someone to be my ‘partner’ for an event and everyone knows Pep is just my CEO at that point.” He replied and chuckled softly when he watched the other trying to think through his answer. “Just come with me for one night, will be a great time I promise you.”
“I… I don’t doubt it’d be,” Carlos said, which was a lie – he did doubt that he’d get over himself just enough to relax and have a good time. “I guess I just… don’t get it.” He knew he was being difficult, but Carlos couldn’t help it.
“Why not you?” He tilted his head a little with a soft frown.
Was Mr Stark really asking that?
“I… uh, b-because you’re… I mean, I’m just me. And uh… I haven’t been on a date in ages – real or otherwise.”
Tony just shrugged a little and smiled softly to him. “Then I guess you’re over due and no one is just them.”
Carlos laughed nervously. “Compared to you, Mr Stark, I absolutely am ‘just me’.” Carlos still wasn’t convinced that Mr Stark was being serious – at least not about bringing him in on this scheme.
Tony chuckled softly and shook his head a little. “Everyone seems to think I’m this great person. I’m not always.” He replied before he lay a hand on his shoulder. “Come on, have some fun.”
That was because Tony Stark was a great person – especially in Carlos’ book. But he could sense that there might be an argument to be had if Carlos insisted that point so for now he was willing to let it drop.
“What… what is this even about, Mr Stark? What’s the reason for the… pretense?”
“What used to be the Prestige Hotel,” Joseph answered honestly, watching as the gentleman slowly began waking up. He sounded groggy – rightly so. Anyone would after getting knocked out by falling debris whilst navigating the unstable building; it was a risk staying in this hotel room, but the detective had to bring the scientist somewhere…relatively safe. At least, until he regained consciousness and was fit enough to continue. Joseph could hear the walls shifting, and the floor below creaking, letting them know that they needed to leave as soon as possible. It wasn’t just the hotel that was falling apart – the whole world around them was, and every step could end up being fatal. The nightmare they found themselves in was constantly changing, the environment less secure than the last, and there was no way to stop it; they had to adapt to and over-come the obstacles that were thrown their way.
“Do you remember what happened?” The detective continued, hoping that the accident hadn’t left his companion with major damage to his head. This place was confusing enough without the added memory loss. “Your name, perhaps – do you still know it?”
Carlos gingerly touched a sore spot in his head and quickly
drew his hand away with a hiss. That was going to smart for a little while.
Damn.
“I, uh…” No, Carlos didn’t know what happened – at least he
didn’t remember anything that made sense. He was more than a little confused.
He started with his name:
“Carlos Ramon. I… I think I was going to a hospital to look
at some new medical equipment for a study.” The school insisted that Carlos go
because he was the most qualified in understanding the technology. “But… that’s
all I remember.” What could have possibly happened? Why didn’t he just remember anything? Nothing came up when he thought about it. It was like it was blank – no pictures or feelings or anything.
“Why not you?” He tilted his head a little with a soft frown.
Was Mr Stark really asking that?
“I… uh, b-because you’re… I mean, I’m just me. And uh… I haven’t been on a date in ages – real or otherwise.”
Tony just shrugged a little and smiled softly to him. “Then I guess you’re over due and no one is just them.”
Carlos laughed nervously. “Compared to you, Mr Stark, I absolutely am ‘just me’.” Carlos still wasn’t convinced that Mr Stark was being serious – at least not about bringing him in on this scheme.
Yondu nods and heads for the door stopping to listen.
Peter huffs. “I just……. I want a real family…… like carlos……”
Kraglin was struck silent for a moment. They… Peter didn’t think they were a real family?
Well of course not. Ravagers aren’t very good at making family units, so of course Peter wouldn’t think they were.
“Right…. okay,” Kraglin said flatly. “Iffin’ that’s what you think. Sorry, Pete… I wish things couldda turned out better for ya.”
“That came out wrong…I meant….. God’s I sounded like a ass hole. Your my bro Krags… I just what I meant was…. a family with non ravager things. You know…. go planet side… shop… have lunch… play around like idiots…..celebrate birthdays and holidays……”
Kraglin just shook his head. “Nah, Pete… you got a point. You have wants that the Ravagers… haven’t been able to give ya. I get it… as much as I can. You’re the one who actually had a taste of family life before, after all. I didn’t.”
Looks to him and felt even more like a ass. “Guess I’m greedy. I want more of what you never had. I mean at least I experienced it for a while…. you never did…..Krags….. I’m sorry I’m such a ass hole. A greedy one. I should be happy to even have a family… no matter how big of dicks it can be at times….” Smiles at him walking over and presses against him with a little whine that kraglins species would use at times.
Kraglin blinked at Peter, but sighed and hugged him. “You ain’t greedy, Pete. Just different. Yondu’s doin’ his best for you. And we’re here now, on Earth with Carlos and them… don’t have the other Ravagers to worry about here.”
Peter nods and just hugs him tighter. “I love you bro. I’m sorry what I said…. I didn’t mean it… I just…. You know…”
Kraglin nodded. “Yeah… I know.” Still didn’t mean there was anything Kraglin could do about it though. He hated that.
Kisses his cheek and snuggles. “Remember we have to avoid the dairy for you here.” But maybe we can get Carlos to take us for icecream and well just have you get a fruit one.”
“If it’s fruit where does the cream come in?” Kraglin asked. It didn’t make sense to him.
“No no… you’ll have a fruit smoothie. It’s cold like icecream but just frozen water and fruit with sugar. No cream. You’ll see you’ll love it. Promise.”
Yondu smiles listening. He knew the two loved each other and were very close.
“You better be right about that, Pete,” Kraglin teased. “There’s already one strike against this planet, since I can’t have their damn ice cream.”
The Perfect Scientist 