Part two.
Title: A Means to an Escape, part II
Fandom: Speed Racer
Verse: The Schizo!verse
Pairing: X/Inspector, Rex/Inspector, X/Speed
Rating: 15 for nothing too awful.
Length: 599 words.
Notes: For a full explanation of the schizo verse and companion parts, check here.
part I
As much as X sympathises with Rex’s problems with Detector - he did induce most of them, after all - he has his own problems.
With Speed.
Rex hates him the most for this, he reckons.
But X isn’t Rex - even if X was born out of Rex, they’re not the same, not anymore - and X isn’t Speed’s big brother, and as much as Rex is sickened by the idea of Speed X really isn’t. Really isn’t at all.
It’s partway through the Detector catastrophe that everything comes to a head.
Speed’s spending the night at their flat. It’s quite common for him to do this, but Rex always polices the events unfailingly, a hot, broody presence in the back of X’s mind that makes him uncomfortable whenever he even so much as tries to get closer to Speed. Speed probably thinks he’s playing hard to get, what with all the creeping closer and suddenly springing apart.
This time, it’s the night after X slept with Detector, and his back’s still swollen and sore. He doesn’t regret it, not for a heartbeat, but Rex is so fucked-up in the back of his head he’s having trouble concentrating on Speed. He hates it when Rex does this. He deserves to have time with Speed, even if Rex is too much of a coward to even come near the front of his mind when Speed’s around. Speed’s perched on the end of the sofa, eyes scanning across the telescreen, watching something X has forgotten about. He’s tried to be diplomatic to Rex, suggest some form of treaty, but he’s not got any response.
It’s not surprising. For all Rex knows, he’s been a total asshole.
Speed’s sat quite close to him. X moves closer, focusing on the tiniest swell and dip in the side of Speed’s neck, extending his tongue -
A wave of hatred pours into his mind from Rex and he closes his eyes, grimacing.
Speed’s looking worried when he opens them again, his hand resting on X’s lap. “Is there something wrong?”
X smiles. “I think it’s just a pressure headache, Speed. Don’t worry, I just get bad migraines.”
Speed nods and stands up, reaching for his jacket, and X’s fingers snag in his pocket, trying to seat him, but Speed shrugs free. “No, X, if you’re ill, I’ll come back tomorrow.” X wants to say he’ll just take some aspirin and it’ll go away but he knows it’s not true and although he feels his face fall he nods begrudgingly, standing up to walk him to the door. “I’ll call you later, okay? Go get some rest.”
Rex can try and sabotage this all he likes, but he can’t predict Speed’s moves, and so Speed gets the chance to dart in and kiss X softly before he smiles alluringly and slinks out of the door.
X’s stomach is doing happy backflips when he closes the door and smiles.
And you like to claim you love him.
X walks over to the sofa, scooping up dirty glasses and plates and carrying them into the kitchen. I do.
Who’re you talking about, X? Speed or Detector? ‘Cause either way you’re cheating on one of them.
Holy shit, X realises. He thinks I’m in love with Detector. And he thinks I’m cheating on Speed with him -
Well, that explains a lot.
You always say you want what’s best for Speedy and you’re stabbing him in the back. You’re a fucking monster, X, you really are.
X wants to explain. He stares at the door Speed left by.
But he can’t break a promise.
part III