Chapter Text
Marcus was six months into dating Wrench when he finally noticed it.
Wrench tended to disappear to various places as frequently as the sun rose and fell, which wasn’t odd by any means, and Marcus felt he was like a cat in that way. He had lots of different hiding places he would go whenever he felt like it, and Marcus never stopped him. Most of the time, he knew where Wrench would be. He had a series of different roofs he would camp out on, he’d go to his garage, and sometimes he’d hang around Naomi’s shop to keep her company.
Usually, Marcus could track him down. He never hunted him out of jealousy, or concern, but it wasn’t as if he’d been asked not to follow. Wrench never seemed to mind when Marcus strolled in, his mask betraying his happiness the second he saw him. Marcus’ heart lit on fire every time he saw that elation, but he did Naomi the favour of not trying to fuck Wrench into a booth when he showed up.
That isn’t to say they hadn’t taken it to the shop’s bathroom before, but Naomi wasn’t in charge of cleaning the men’s room anyway, so she didn’t care. If Marcus was remembering correctly, it had been her suggestion when the desperation got obvious, and Marcus’ hand had found its way into the back of Wrench’s shredded jeans.
But sometimes, rarely, Marcus couldn’t find Wrench. This also didn’t bother Marcus because, like with a cat, sometimes you just couldn’t find every hiding spot.
What was strange is that it wasn’t randomly that Marcus would lose track of him. Wrench disappeared without a trace every third Friday night of every month. As much as Marcus was trying not to be nosey, he couldn’t help but be curious about where his boyfriend was going.
He tried to cross-reference the Fridays with clubs they frequented for any events that Wrench would be interested in attending, but nothing panned out. Anywhere that did have events around that time never recalled seeing Wrench there on the nights in question.
When he realised that there was a pattern to Wrench’s disappearances, Marcus let himself have one night of worry that Wrench could be seeing someone else. It was only for a night, as he woke the next day with his gaze on Wrench’s sleeping face so close to his own that he knew that absolutely was not what was happening.
If anything, the day immediately following his excursions was filled with more love from Wrench than he was used to receiving. He supposed that this was why he hadn’t noticed that something was weird until now. Wrench would return that night, or in the wee hours of the morning and tangle their limbs together like he wanted them to become one. He’d writhe slowly against Marcus until he was finally convinced that he couldn’t get any closer, and only then, after minutes of kissing his sleepy, soft mouth, would he let sleep take him.
Wrench returned from wherever the heck he was seemingly even more in love with Marcus than ever. If Marcus was awake enough, Wrench wouldn’t stop at kissing; His hips would gain an eager motion and rock against Marcus’ own until they were both hard. These nights, he’d let Marcus stay lying on the bed and would ride him until his legs were twitching from the ecstasy and the effort. He would duck down after they were both spent and hot and would whisper tiny declarations of love into his ear until they caught their breath.
It had occurred to Marcus that, though Wrench had said it before, he’d never heard Wrench say that he loved him so freely except on these nights. It made Marcus wonder where on Earth Wrench was going that he was so open with him afterwards. Was he going to some therapist? The thought made Marcus laugh. For one thing, Wrench would never. For another, the hours he was missing were way too late for any standard therapist, and there would be a record of his visit somewhere (and there wasn’t; Marcus had checked).
Marcus didn’t want to be this curious. Wrench was incredibly open about the things that he did, and Marcus was just as open in return— So Wrench having a secret upset him. But he was also a very logical human being, and he didn’t have to know absolutely everything about Wrench to be in this relationship with him. He knew plenty.
He knew that Wrench liked rooftops because they reminded him of a time when he wanted to jump and how he had pulled himself out of those feelings and kept on anyway. He knew that most of Wrench’s tattoos were unprofessionally done because the pain of getting scratchers would let him know better what it felt like to be touched by someone who actually cared about him. Wrench had told him that on a night when he’d felt vulnerable, and Marcus’ fingers were tracing the lines of his ink.
Marcus had asked Wrench if he ever felt the need to hurt himself. Wrench, instead of answering outright, promised him that if he was ever so upset that he found himself there again, he would go to Marcus first. Wrench would tell Marcus if something was wrong.
So why did this systematic absence bother him so much?
~
As the third Friday of March arrived, Marcus stuck close to Wrench. They flirted through the morning in bed, and then Wrench begrudgingly got up to start coffee. Marcus had followed once the smell of coffee drifted through the apartment. Usually, these Friday’s, Wrench would just disappear without explanation, but they had never made any plans. Marcus wondered if maybe the only reason he didn’t know where Wrench was going was because he never asked.
He watched Wrench’s Adams apple bob as he took a few swallows of his water. Marcus realised that he rarely saw Wrench hydrate like this. If Wrench was in mid-hangover, Marcus could understand, but Wrench was fine. In fact, Wrench hadn’t had a drink for a few days, which Marcus only noticed because he was subconsciously looking for clues. He racked his brain to try and remember if this was common, and sure enough, he couldn’t recall Wrench ever drinking alcohol the days before he left. But what could that mean? It seemed more and more like Wrench was preparing for something that needed his body to be clear of toxins. Was he going to some doctor? Was something wrong with him? If that was true, then why wouldn’t he just tell Marcus what was going on?
About three months into their relationship, they’d gotten their own place. As much fun as it was fucking in the garage or on the couch at HQ during the rare moments they were alone, they really wanted to have control over their time and space. So seeing Wrench, maskless, hovering over the kitchen sink and staring out at the city through the window made Marcus smile despite his concern. It was so domestic in a way that he’d never thought Wrench could be, and all he wanted to do was curl around him and never let go. Marcus watched him from the door frame of the kitchen, unable to make the dopey smile go away. “Fucking shit you’re gorgeous…”
Wrench jumped and spun to look at him. “Jesus Christ, M! Warn a guy!” Still, a smile took over his bare face. He set his water down in time for Marcus to cross the kitchen and swallow him with his arms. Wrench threw a leg around Marcus’ waist with a grin, curling his arms around his neck. “You know I think I’m getting used to this whole ‘living together’ thing.”
Marcus beamed at him. “Yeah? That why you’re so eager?” He ran a hand up the looped leg, dragging his fingers along his thigh and ending on his backside, giving it a squeeze.
Wrench laughed and let his head drop back. “Ha, not that eager, casanova.” He removed his leg and planted a hand on Marcus’ face, pushing him away. “It’s too early for you to fuck me on the counter. Plus I gotta make lunch on that.”
Marcus snorted as he turned to lean back against the counter. “And the fact that we ate dinner last week at a table we’d christened two hours earlier didn’t bother you because…?”
Wrench’s mouth gaped like a fish for a second as he tried to think of a defense.
Marcus laughed. “Dude, just say you’re not in the mood.”
“I’m not in the mood.” Wrench said, like it was his idea.
“Fair.” Marcus watched Wrench turn away and pick up his water again to finish the glass, and he tried to formulate a way to ask him about what he was doing without actually asking. “I don’t know about you, but tonight feels like a date night. You wanna go see if we can get our hands on that horror movie that’s coming out next month?”
Wrench tilted the glass down again and swallowed. He winced.
Marcus’ face fell, but not enough to be upset. This was what he planned after all. “You got plans?”
“Sorta? I’ve got this… thing.”
“A thing.” Marcus’ grin returned. “This a, uh… small thing?”
Wrench flapped his hand at him. “Yeah, it’s- it’s no big deal, it’s just a thing I gotta do, that’s all. But I’ll be back tonight.”
“Yeah, I know.” The concern was boiling again. “You’re okay though, right? You’re not like, seeing an oncologist or something.”
“Depends, are they hot? You wanna share?”
Marcus snorted again. “Wrench.”
Wrench laughed again. “Sorry, sorry. No, no oncologists. Or doctors.” He grinned at him. “Despite all the shit I do to this body, I am somehow perfectly healthy.” He paused and glanced at a nearby wall. “Uh, physically.”
“I guess I was just worried what with all this water you’re drinking. You haven’t been drinking enough booze the last few days to need it. Like any booze. At all.” Marcus said, hoping to eke more answers out of him.
Wrench shrugged. “Eh, I just want a clear head for it. I promise I’m okay.”
Marcus shook his head and leaned over, throwing an arm around Wrench and pressing his lips to the birthmark. “As long as you ain’t dying, you do you, man.”
Wrench shut the eye closest to the kiss and snickered. “This is probably a bad time to remind you that you can lose limbs and keep living.”
“Yeah don’t do that either.”
Wrench smiled at him, but there was a twitch it, and Marcus let his eyes drift to the floor. Wrench had reached his comfort limit.
The perks of living with Wrench was how frequently he got to see his face now. It was only for a little while, and it depended on how Wrench felt, but he still got to see it every day. He’d see it when Wrench groggily ate cereal when he woke up, and he’d see it when they went to bed at night. Honestly, he didn’t mind if he couldn’t see it more.
He paced out of the kitchen and into their room down the hall, retrieving the mask. He walked back into the kitchen and handed it to him. “Can I get one more kiss before the only affection I can show you is semi-public hand jobs?” He asked, trying to keep his disappointment hidden.
Wrench snickered at him. “Well since you asked so nicely.” He brought one hand to Marcus’ collar and yanked him forward. Marcus closed his eyes before their lips found each other. Wrench reacted better if Marcus wasn’t watching him.
The kiss was slow and practiced. Wrench’s lips left Marcus’ only to press in again at a new angle. His thin hands set the mask on the counter and held the sides of Marcus’ head. As much as Marcus loved their deep kisses at night, there was something peaceful about the morning ones. There were no desperate tongues or clicking teeth, no expectations or demands; There was only lazy lips and calm breaths.
Wrench pulled away, and Marcus opened his eyes long enough for Wrench to give him one last look at his face before the mask replaced it. He usual face lit up and calibrated, and Marcus smirked when the emotive state landed on hearts. “You sure you’re not in the mood?” He teased.
Wrench hunched his shoulders in embarrassment and playfully punched Marcus in the shoulder. “Shut up.”
~
None of the reassurances were making Marcus feel any less frustrated. He absolutely did not need to know where Wrench was going, but it hurt that Wrench wouldn’t tell him. After a few hours alone after Wrench stepped out, Marcus’ head made the worst of what it could mean. Wrench didn’t trust him. Wrench wanted to be away from him. Those thoughts stewed in him and threatened to bubble over.
It was hard for SItara not to notice. She wandered to where Marcus was sitting on the couch messing with the playlist on his phone. “Why do you look like someone kicked your dog?” She paused. “You… didn’t get a dog, did you, because Wrench will kick it.”
Marcus smirked and tugged out a headphone. “Nah, no dogs. Wrench is busy today.”
Sitara winced. “Damn, you’ve got it bad.” She grinned at him and put her hand on Marcus’ hat, rubbing it into his head. “I’m happy for you though.”
Marcus flailed her hand away and laughed. He ducked his head again and sighed, looking back at his phone. “Thanks…”
Sitara swung her legs over the back of the couch and sat beside him. “…That wasn’t a very convincing thanks. Is everything okay?”
“Oh yeah, we’re fine! No, don’t worry. Nothing’s happened, we’re good.” Marcus sighed. “I wanted to do something with him today, but he’s busy. I’m honestly just pouting, I promise.”
Sitara took it in and looked unconvinced. But she still made a face. “Ew, you guys are gross,” She teased. She stood up again and made for her corner where a few cases were sitting open full of spray paint, stencils, and markers.
Marcus turned to regard them. “What’s that for?”
Sitara smiled at him. “Oh, Ray and I are working on an art installation. He’s finishing welding it right now, and I’m gonna deck it out. We’ll send you pictures when it’s done.”
Marcus huffed and rolled to lean into the back of the couch with a pout. “Aw man, you’re busy too? You and Ray?”
She winced at him. “Yeah, sorry! I’d say you could hang out with Josh, but-”
“I’m busy,” Came the almost immediate call from Josh’s wing of the hackerspace.
Sitara gave Marcus and apologetic smile. “He’s been working on that code all week… It’s probably best to leave him to it.” Marcus whined again and Sitara closed up her cases once they were packed. “It’s just one day, dude. We’ll be back tomorrow, Wrench will be back tomorrow… You only have to be bored today.”
Marcus groaned again and flopped back onto the couch. “You guys are killing me.”
Sitara snickered at him. “Cry harder, Marcus.”
~
Marcus wound up at 10Donuts. He’d tried playing around at the hackerspace for a while, but his mind was starting to wander to dark places again. When Josh tried to pause his work to make sure he was okay, that’s when Marcus decided he needed to take a walk. Josh didn’t deserve to have to stop just to help Marcus.
That didn’t stop him from looking mopey in the corner booth.
Noami set his coffee on the table, but kept a claw-like grip on it when Marcus went to pick it up. “That face had better not because you and Wrench broke up, because I swear to god-”
Marcus arched an eyebrow at her. “No. Now you better let go of my coffee.”
Noami released her prisoner and sat across from Marcus. “Okay, danger mode disengaged. What’s up then? Should I have added scotch to that coffee?”
Marcus smirked. “No, I’m just… I guess I’m overreacting.”
“With Wrench? I think that’s just called ‘reacting’.” She tried to smile at him with encouragement, but Marcus wasn’t lifting his head. She rolled her eyes. “Okay… Do you think he’s cheating on you? Because you’re wrong. Like really wrong. He fucking nuts about you.”
Marcus smiled despite his gloom. “Yeah, he makes that pretty clear… No, I don’t think he’s cheating.” He sighed. “You know he goes off on his own sometimes, and that’s not weird, but he’s-…” He tapped his fingers on the table. “He’s got all these places he goes, and I thought I knew them all, but I don’t. And I shouldn’t care, because I don’t gotta know everything, but I just… I’m worried about him.”
It was Naomi’s turn to lift an eyebrow. “Okay, that last bit is just being a good boyfriend. Everything else? You were right, totally overreacting.”
Marcus laughed at her and finally lifted his head. “Harsh, man!” He leaned on the table. “I just… I dunno where he’s going today, and he made a point to not tell me. He hasn’t been drinking anything but water, and I think I saw his ass with apple juice. Can you picture him with a damn Motts in his hand? Because I couldn’t until yesterday.”
Naomi cackled behind her hand. “Jesus. Wrench is drinking juice, call the coast guard!”
Marcus could have pouted. “Come on, I’m serious. You only fast from booze if you’re seeing a doctor or some shit.”
“Or if you’re about to undergo strenuous activity?” Naomi offered. Then she paused and stared at the table. “Oh wait, shit. What day is it?”
“March 16th?” Marcus answered.
Naomi slapped her forehead. “Oh duh. Withershins.”
Marcus squinted at her. “Wither-what?”
“Withershins. It’s like this ‘black magic night market’ or whatever, it’s full of performers and art stalls. He’ll be there.” She stole Marcus’ coffee from in front of him and took a sip.
Marcus didn’t even register that she’d done it. He was too busy being confused. “Okay, I have never heard of that. How the hell could I have missed something like that?”
“They don’t really advertise. It’s like some cult-y word of mouth sort of thing.” She gave him back his coffee and smirked at him again. “Ya know, for a guy who goes to an equally unadvertised gathering in the middle of the desert, you sure are surprised that something could slip under your radar.” She stood up and patted his shoulder. “Go check it out. It’s pretty bomb.”
Marcus watched her wander to another table to check on them, and he sighed. He stared at his coffee and looked out at the street in the setting sun. “…Withershins, huh…?” If anything, he looked more concerned than before. If that was where Wrench was going, why wouldn’t he just invite him along? Why would he keep it from him?
~
It turned out that Withershins was nearly impossible to find unless you knew somebody who’d been there before and could tell you where to go. Marcus had clearly never been, so he turned to other Dedsec members instead. He tried Kailey at first, wondering if maybe she’d been before. She had heard of it but had never been because it wasn’t her scene. She led him to one of her friends outside of Dedsec who had. That girl had admitted that she was horrendously drunk when she went and couldn’t remember where it was, but directed him to the address of her brother.
Three more friends of friends later, Marcus found himself in the back of a dented jeep with a man named Needles who had a lime green mohawk and more metal in his face than there was in his entire car. “Dude, you’re gonna love this shit, I swear to god,” The man promised for the fifth time in the thirty minutes they’d been in the car.
“Yeah, you think so?” Marcus didn’t bother mentioning that he’d been told as much already. The man in the driver’s seat was too excited to care, and probably too high as well.
“Yeah, man. You got any tattoos? ‘Cause if you’re here, you oughtta get one.”
Marcus gave him a nervous laugh. “Nah, I think I’m good, dude. I’m just here with a friend, and he didn’t tell me where to go.”
Needles shrugged. “Suit yourself. Ah, here we go!” He gestured ahead. There was a long line of cars along a road that was built out of the side of a steep mountain, all empty and parked haphazardly. They were empty of people, and there was no sign of life out here other than those empty vehicles. There were a few scattered street lights, but one of them was out. The road was barren of life.
It was creepy.
Marcus tucked his hand behind him and closed it around his monkey fist. “You’re sure this is the place?”
“Yep!” Needles pulled into an empty spot between a tipped motorcycle and a rusted, trailer-less semi. “Come on, ladder’s over here!”
Needles’ eagerness to exit he car and lead the way made Marcus loosen his grip on his weapon. Something about the man’s buoyant personality told him that he wasn’t much of a threat and probably meant well. He also figured Kailey wasn’t still bitter enough to send him on a wild goose chase that ended in a psychotic killer driving him to the middle of nowhere and killing him.
He followed Needles as he climbed over the guardrail of the road and watched his booted foot find a ladder. “See ya at the bottom man!” He gripped the sides of the ladder with his hands, his boots leaving the rungs, and he slid to the all the way down with a whoop of joy.
Marcus shook his head with a smirk as he swung his legs over the guardrail as well. This guy was exactly the type Marcus would expect to see at a gig that Wrench would attend. Wrench had always been so gritty and real that this was shaping into the perfect place for him to be.
Marcus reached the bottom and turned to find that he was alone again. Needles had run off. “Uh… Needles?” He stepped away from the ladder and walked into the woods a ways, hand hovering by his weapon again. “Hey, where’d you go man, I dunno where this shit is!” He rounded a tree and squinted into the darkness ahead of him, prepared for anything.
Then, he saw a light. In the distance, there was a flickering of flame, and he followed it. The closer he grew, the more celebration he heard, and the more the area lit up. When he finally broke through the trees, he may as well have been in daylight.
The path to the Withershins festival with lit with torches and grew to spot lights and neon signs. Those different colours bounced off of metal spikes sticking out from shoulders and throats of the party goers. There were tattoos further than the eye could see, and twisted sculptures of metal and wire everywhere. There were a few RVs that were lit up with signs advertising the tattoos that Needles was talking about. There were artists with hand dyed scarves and clothing, there were henna artists, and Marcus was pretty sure some people were reading tarot cards out there.
In the distance, over the crowd and the tall tents, Marcus could see and massive metal octopus statue hanging from a crane above what looked to be the centre of everything. He made his way through the crowd towards it.
The closer he got to the sculpture, the more the word ‘massive’ really didn’t describe it well enough. He kept walking until he was standing directly under it. “Holy fuck that’s cool.”
“Marcus?”
Marcus turned to the speaker and narrowed his eyes. “…Ray?”
Ray was completely decked in biker gear and a look of confusion on his face. “I didn’t know you were hittin’ this place up too. Why didn’t you say somethin’? You coulda rode with us.”
Marcus held his hands up. “Whoa, whoa. Us?”
Ray gestured at the crowd. “Yeah! Sitara’s out there somewhere. Apparently she and Wrench come to this shindig every month.” He pointed up. “We been workin’ on that since the end o’ January.”
Marcus looked back up and did a double take back to Ray. “Wait, you made that!?”
“Yep. I welded it. Sitara designed it and painted it. She spent half that time upside down to paint them tentacles right. Michelangelo ain’t got shit on our girl.” Ray said, crossing his arms and looking proud. “Didn’t come to life until she got her paws on it.”
Marcus grinned up at the octopus as he stared at it. He realised that it had motion as he watched. The chilly breeze would blow, and the tentacles would shift and swing in response. They must have been balanced within the body of the beast, because it made it look so alive. Ray was right. “So this is what she meant…” His glee got the better of him, and he bounced on his feet, clapping a hand on Ray’s shoulder. “The shit is fucking tight, Ray, look at that! That’s bigger than HQ, holy shit!”
Ray laughed along with him and threw an arm over his shoulder. “Glad you like it! No idea what the hell we’re doin’ with it after this.”
Marcus smirked at him. “Oh, I think we can find a home for it. Looming over some asshole’s office.”
Ray’s grin spread. “I like the way you think, son.”
Marcus beamed. “So hey, where is Sitara? Or Wrench for that matter?”
Ray pointed to another path that led past more lights and stands. Someone down that way was swallowing a sword, and he was sure someone else was spitting fire. “Down the end of that way’s the Human Mobile. Actually, if we wanna see it, we better get down there.” He patted Marcus’ shoulder and began walking.
Marcus followed at his side. “The fuck’s a Human Mobile?”
Ray chuckled at him. “No idea. This is my first time here. I thought Wrench woulda told ya.”
Marcus’ smile was faltering. “No, he-… He didn’t tell me anything.” As cool as this place was, it was sinking in again why he was here. Wrench wasn’t telling him where he was going. Why wouldn’t he tell him about this? This place was amazing, and it looked like a place Wrench could be comfortable. If this was a safe space for him, why wouldn’t he invite Marcus?
Was he not giving him enough space? He knew he was touchy, but Wrench never told him he minded. Maybe he had followed him too often? Maybe not inviting him along was Wrench’s way of saying to back off a bit. Marcus was coming on too strong.
As they entered the crowd of people surrounding another apparatus hanging on a crane above an immaculate stage, Ray took his shoulder. “Hey, you all right? You look like someone slapped ya.”
“Yeah, I’m fine, I just… I think I might be fucking up somewhere man.” He turned to him with a concerned crease in his forehead. “I don’t think I should be here.”
“Marcus!?” There was a happy cry over the crowd, and when he turned, he had his arms full of Sitara. “You’re here! Hey!”
Marcus hugged her in return and brought his smile back. “Hey! I saw your octopus, man, that was some cool shit!”
She tugged back and beamed at him. Her septum piercing had been changed to a loop with spikes on it, and she was in garb similar to her old clothes, but dark, more shredded, and she fit right in with the sharp crowd. “Thanks. I’ve been working on that design for a while, they’ve been asking me for an installation for months.”
“And it is badass.” Marcus left his hand on her shoulder.
Sitara looked ecstatic. “I’m just so happy Wrench finally invited you here. He’s been so nervous about it.”
Marcus gave her an awkward smile. “Uh… No, he-…” He watched Sitara’s smile shrivel. He thumbed out to the crowd. “I got a ride with some guy named Needles.”
“Wrench didn’t invite you?” Sitara asked.
Marcus shook his head.
Sitara bit her lip. She glanced at the stage and then back again. “Marcus, you should probably go.”
Marcus narrowed his eyes at her. As much as he had agreed with the sentiment a moment ago, he felt annoyed now. Sitara knew why Wrench came to this place. Why would Wrench tell Sitara, but not him? Why would he be okay with Ray coming, but not Marcus? “Okay, I’ll bite. Why?”
Before Sitara could respond, cheering drowned out most of the sound from anyone else, and Marcus turned away to the ‘stage’. There was a hype man out near the front of the crowd, looking pleased with himself and toting around a megaphone. “Full Mobile tonight everybody!” Marcus heard before the crowd grew louder and muffled everything else he was saying. He moved his mouth closer to the megaphone to try and speak louder, but he grew more muffled, and Marcus couldn’t make out what he was saying over the cacophony. He gestured broadly to a line of a people— men and women and in between— who were half dressed or in something akin to underwear.
Somewhere in the middle of the pack, mask alight with excitement, was Wrench, shirtless and in his ratty shoes and a pair of loose shorts. He was wearing a black snood in the place of his usual hood to cover the top of his head. It looked like one of Sitara’s.
The announcer yelled louder, and Marcus could barely make out the words. “They can’t hear you!” The crowd somehow found a higher volume. Then, some speakers around the stage blared with a heavy guitar.
Sitara yanked his arm so he would turn to her. “Marcus, you have to go! Wrench isn’t ready for you to be here!” He had to read her lips along with the slight sounds he could barely here over the insanity.
Marcus pursed his lips and turned back to the show. He felt Sitara tug again, but he didn’t let himself be budged.
He heard Sitara groan, and she yanked his head down to talk into his ear. “Fine, but you need to not lose your shit, okay!?”
The massive mobile was lowered to the floor, and the first four people walked up to another man near it, who was wearing black latex gloves. He walked behind each of them, doing something behind their backs that Marcus couldn’t see, changing his gloves out between each person. Then, the hype man hit a button. The rig rose from the ground and took the people with it—
Hanging from hooks through the skin of their backs.
Marcus went rigid, and Sitara caught his arm again. Still, he watched as a second set of ropes were uncoiled, and Wrench and a few others strolled up for their turns. Marcus brought his hand to his mouth. “What the fuck…?” He was afraid to be loud.
Wrench got into position, and when he turned, Marcus could see that he already had hooks in his back, a bit of blood having trailed down from the wounds. An overprotective wave washed over him, but Sitara held him harder. “Marcus, he is fine. He’s fine.”
“How the hell is that fine!?” Marcus asked.
He watched the man rig the last person on that level, and the hype man lifted his hand. Before the rig even rose, Wrench had pulled his legs up, and the skin of his back stretched to take his weight. Then he was in the air.
Marcus didn’t even register the last group rigged. Instead, he watched Wrench and the others already in the air spinning and swinging about to the blaring music. Wrench’s expressions only cycled through happy ones as he had an unheard, nonverbal conversation with the others dangling on his level, reaching his hands out to them so they could help him spin.
The announcer was talking again, and he could hear Sitara trying to say something to him, but he couldn’t focus on them. All he could see were the hooks in Wrench’s back, stretching his skin to the limit and hanging him there like some piece of meat. He saw how red the skin was as he twisted his body around in glee rather than pain.
Wrench eventually stopped spinning, and the gloved man caught the ankle of a girl on the bottom level, tugging her and spinning the whole piece that they were attached to. The mobile began to turn to show off each performer, and every one of them looked just as ecstatic to be up there as Wrench.
The Mobile displayed them all for the duration of the rest of the song that was playing, and Wrench swung back into view and he lifted his head out to the crowd. With an expression of shock on that mask, he locked eyes with Marcus. His body language changed. His hands became fists, and his legs bent to pull up towards himself. He was closing himself off. Marcus’ own body tensed. Wrench’s visage meant precisely what he thought; Wrench didn’t want him here.
A girl dangling at Wrench's side noticed Wrench’s change in demeanour and reached out to take Wrench’s hand, mouth asking if he was okay. Wrench didn’t respond. Instead he watched as Marcus finally turned from stage, ignoring Sitara and Ray’s attempts to get him to stop, and walked away.
~