"Okay, so what's the plan, pretty boy?" Ax asked, crossing two of xir arms while hanging off the doorway. "We can't just wander into Empire territory an' not expect ta'be captured."

"I managed to slap a tracker on the ship that took Virgil." Roman said distractedly. He twisted together two wires and jumped as he got shocked. "We follow the signal and, hopefully, get Virgil back."

"Hold up," Ax dropped down from the doorway, "ya managed ta bug an Empire ship?"

Roman nodded.

"How?!"

"You learn things like that in the Resistance." Roman grabbed a sliver of shield-glass and pressed it into the wires. "How to make trackers, shields, camo belts, things like that. Mostly without tools so I'm pretty damn useless besides that."

Ax stared at him. "I so want ta kiss ya right now." Xe said candidly.

"Maybe later." Roman said. "Kinda busy right now."

"Ya'd better hold ta'that promise, pretty boy." Ax said. Roman glanced up at xem quickly and looked down again, slightly pink. "Anyway, what're ya makin' now?"

"A camo belt." Roman said. "Wire it into the ship and it should hide the ship from the naked eye."

"Only'that?" Ax asked. "Ya know the Empire has scanners and thin's like'that, right?" Xe rolled xir eyes. "Give it here."

"What, no."

"I can upgrade it." Ax said. Roman hugged the camo belt to his chest.

"It's not done yet."

"Fine." Ax grabbed the doorway and pulled xemself up again. "Tell me when ya finished, I'll upgrade it."

"You know, you're almost as insufferable as Virge." Roman said. Ax laughed.

"Thanks. Must be in our blood." Xe grinned.

"Yeah, where are you two even from?" Roman asked. "You don't look alike but you sound almost the same and you talk like you've known each other for ages."

Roman looked up as Ax dropped to the floor again. Xe looked different, more closed off. Roman backtracked immediately.

"Of course, you don't have to say anything if I've overstepped." He said quickly. "Sorry."

"Nah, it's fine." Ax scratched the back of xir head and shrugged. "Our planet's more o' a... refugee planet. Anyone who don't have nothin' comes there. Everyone an' anyone's there. I think..." Xe said slowly. "I think I were born there, cause there's more people like me than anyone. But I dunno. Anyway," xe shrugged again, "the Empire blew it up. Gives us a pretty good reason to hate them, huh?"

"Ax, I'm so sorry." Roman said. Xe shrugged.

"Eh, deeds over word, righ'?" Xe said. "Ya joined the Resistance, that'must mean ya hate the Empire like us. An' we get Virgil back, it'll be like a little 'fuck ya' ta the Empire. So come on, pretty boy," and xe was back with that infuriating small smirk, "hand over the camo belt an' I'll see what I can do."

Virgil didn't bother looking up as the door open.

"My answer hasn't changed." He said.

"I knew that's what you'd say." Incus said and did he have to sound so like Janus? It made it so much more difficult to hate him. "So I've come to talk to you."

Virgil looked up at him slowly, letting his hands fall from his head. "I see you've made yourself comfortable."

"Well, since I'm guessin' ya gonna keep me here til I break," Virgil swivelled around on the table to face Incus, "thought as well I might."

Incus placed his hands on the table and faced Virgil. "Why won't you just listen?" He asked quietly.

"Because I don't think it's a good idea to listen to someone with an addled mind." Virgil snarled. Incus laughed under his breath. A dangerous sound, not one of humour.

"I'm not the one with a messed-about mind, Vee." He said quietly. "I see everything clear as crystal. I'm here for you. So why aren't you here for me?"

"Because ya destroyed my home!" Virgil snapped. "My home and my life and everythin' I ever loved! So ya're insane if ya ever think I'm joinin' yar side." Virgil turned away from Incus and crossed his arms. "So ya can bugger right off."

There was no noise for a few seconds and then footsteps. Then, Virgil felt a hand under his chin, lifting his face up. He tried to turn away but there was something stopping him.

Now he was looking up into Incus' masked face. Incus seemed to be studying him.

"What're ya doin'?" Virgil asked sharply. Incus ignored him.

"So pretty..." He muttered. "And yet so misguided." Incus' hand shot out from under Virgil's chin as if he'd been burned. He took a small step back, as if coming back to himself. "Think on it." He said, his voice a little shaky, before sweeping from the room.

Am I going to make a relationship between Roman and Ax? That's completely up to you peoples cause God knows I've got off script.
Bye,
Blaize