#Wrench

Glitch in the schedule

Marcus was early for his meet with Sitara, so he swung by the bunker to catch her instead.

"Marcus?!" An anxious and increasingly agitated metallic-tinged voice sounded from inside the gloom. "Why are you here? You're not supposed to be here. You're supposed to be very not here!"

"Wrench? I'm meeting Sitara. Where are you?"

As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, Marcus saw Wrench splayed back against the wall, wrists and ankles thoroughly cuffed. "And uhm. Why are you being crucified?"

"Because I'm too clever," Wrench replied, emoting a frown.

Marcus blinked. "I - you what?"

"Clever. I did ask Sitara to do a cavity search, you know, just in case? But she's being disappointingly uncooperative."

"Uhh. Okay. Yes. Right? And how is that supposed to help?"

"Well, I don't know yet, but you should hurry before I figure it out."

Marcus shook his head. "What? Wrench, WHY are you stuck to the wall?!"

"Centrifugal force?"

While Marcus rubbed his eyes in exasperation, Sitara walked in. "Because he wants me to tell you something and he's terrified. He wants to bolt, he's not thinking straight."

Wrench fervently nodded his agreement.

"Wrench, it's going to be ok," Sitara said, gripping him by the hood so he was looking at her. "Hey. Trust me. Ok?" Wrench nodded. "Marcus, I'll wait outside."

Marcus turned back to Wrench, understanding dawning but clueless how to reassure him. "Maybe you should just stay here with me," Wrench said, looking about. "I'm sure I have another pair of handcuffs around here somewhere, look for the blue fur -"

"You don't have to do this. You know that, right?".

Wrench, took a deep breath in his effort to stay calm and looked at Marcus. "Yeah. Dude, I do. I planned it this way so I couldn't back out. You were supposed to be not here until later! Look, just distract me first, ok?"

Marcus crushed Wrench in a bear hug, spikes and all. "Everything is going to be ok" he insisted.

"Yes. I know. I just don't believe it. Marcus, this is very nice and perhaps a little suffocating, but not very distracting. Up your game, can you?"

Marcus complied, and within minutes Wrench was breathing erratically and writhing in futile attempts to make physical contact.. "Not... not... fair!" Wrench gasped, squirming.

Marcus stepped back. "Don't move," he commanded, and turned toward the exit, Wrench whimpering a protest.