Ice Nanuk, PhD computer science scholar, looked up at the alert sound he knew all too well. Hiding awkward trepidation, he wheeled his arm chair towards the array of Rosa’s old devices, to this day hidden from the owner of said devices and his boyfriend River. Screen showing him moving into his camera’s inset frame, it also showed Donnie tiredly leaning over his purple rgb keyboard.
“Damn, when’s da last time ya had any sleep? Ya look like shit.”
“Thank you for the unsolicited criticism of my countenance,” the purple clad genius deadpanned, “I was going to transfer Rosa's medical files over to your system except it appears you already helped yourself.” The mutant turtle’s tone turned cold, “Did you have a good look around while you’re at it? Never thought to ask me before stomping all over my digital privacy??”
“I’m sorry, Donnie.”
“No, fuck y-... what?” the self-proclaimed genius did not expect an apology from the white-haired four-eyes. Don wasn't sure if the serious pale blue eyes staring back at him was sincere because it's unusually out of character for the huge loudmouth the polar bear Yokai actually was.
“I wasn't sure how ta ask ya since our last… exchange,” the scowl was a more familiar sight on his visage. The contrition was not, “And naw, I didn't snoop anywhere beyond her medical records. Don't wanna stumble on whateva nasty shit ya could be into,” he ended with a teasing grin.
Ah, now that’s the buffoon Donnie knew. “Huh. Okay…” the turtle rubbed his eyes after draining his mug of coffee. A refill was in order. “Then at this point the least you can do for me is the favor of keeping us abreast of her condition and your research for her cure.”
“Aight. I created a share folder and updating da files as we speak,” the taller teen announced as he dragged the documents from his computer to the cloud. “...I saw your experimental formula using mystic components. Ya got ‘em from uh… Hidden City?”
Don glared at the human-disguised yokai on his screen, “Yes. I got it from Gentry, that witch Rosa saw me with. Does that answer your unasked question?”
Ice leaned forward, matching the turtle’s intense gaze. “Oh ya want questions? How’s dis: why didn’t ya explain ta her what yer actually doin’? It pains her thinkin’ ya cheated… when the strangest thing is: ya didn't!”
“That’s none of your concern.”
“It is when ya let her dump ya and move in with us.”
“Oh ho ho~ afraid your boyfriend’s going to steal her from me again?” Don sneered, “Now that she’s free he doesn't have to settle for you anymor-...”
“This isn't about me!” Ice snarled, “Y’know what? Fuck you!” fist pounding the desk, he stood up and stormed out of the isolated device array. Surprised at how affected he was, he regretted letting Don get under his skin like that. “I try an’ help da guy an’ dis is da thanks I get,” he muttered, pacing to calm himself when the night guard knocked on the lab door.
“Everything ok?” the security officer asked, “I heard a noise…”
“Sorry sir... just me bein’ a klutz. An’ yeah I know: 10pm. I’ll close up.”
10:20 PM · Apr 5, 2021 Hidden City
Ice quietly opened the door as he sneaked into their home, having stayed in the lab until the campus guards drove him out as usual at 10pm.
“Two weeks, Ice.”
The polarbear jumped in surprise at River's voice breaking the silence, the turtle’s golden eyes glinting in the dark, “Geez, gimme a heart attack why don’tcha?”
“You’ve been working late in the lab every night since she moved in.”
He didn’t wanna deal with this, “Why’re ya still up?”
“Why are you avoiding me?”
“She… she’s free. She wants ya, ya want her…”
Anger flashed in the turtle's golden eyes and he surged forward, “I love you.”
“Ya can’t lie ta me. Scents never lie. You want it official? I’m lettin’ ya go.”
River gritted his teeth, fighting to stay calm, “I was never your prisoner.”
“How can ya want me anymore when ya can have her??”
He gripped Ice in frustration, fingers tangling on white fur, “I have you.”
“But do ya want me?” the bear pushed him against the table, “Ya want dis?”
River’s breath hitched as fangs bit his shoulder, “N-not here… Rosa might-”
Ice pushed him up onto the table, “She’s asleep,” grinding to make him moan.
Rosa stifled a gasp. Pale blue eyes glittered in the dark, staring right at her.
“Let's let the stars watch, let them stare Let the wind eavesdrop, I don't care For all that we've got, don't let it go” Eavesdrop by The Civil Wars
