Rex sat thinking to himself, can't help but feeling that something wasn't right.
The empty space in his head. His loss of time.
He knew something wasn't right about that, but nonetheless, he kept up his act.
Lucy didn't seem to have suspected anything.
Yeah, it did seem that way.
Geez. What was he doing before that? Where did his time go?
You think for a professional time traveler he'd keep track of it.
Rex held his head, feeling a slight headache.
"Babe, you okay?" Lucy asked.
Rex turned, "Uh, yeah. Of course." He smiled.
Lucy was positive that Rex was confused on what had happened, but the fact he didn't remember her finding out about him was good enough for her.
Lucy sighed, taking off her hoodie to let cold air hit her skin.
She wore a pretty black crop top.
Now with her skin more visible, Rex eyed her.
"Woah, Luce. How'd you get that?"
Lucy followed his eyes to a bruise on her skin, more than likely, left behind by his master breaker punch he used on her earlier.
"I'm fine. I just fell."
"Doesn't seem like a fall bruise." Rex frowned, "I can fix that up for ya."
"No, I'm okay." Lucy protested.
Rex himself had other things think about...but for some reason, seeing Lucy in a rough shape made his heart flutter.
He hadn't seen Lucy hurt like this yet.
What is this? This feeling…
Rex knew what it was, but he hadn't felt it in so long.
"Lucy, come on. I'm worried about you." Rex stepped forward.
Lucy looked at the clock, she had planned on heading out for Emmet when Rex had fallen asleep for the night.
She decided to play along.
"Okay. Fine, patch it up or...whatever you want."
Rex held Lucy's hand, the look in his eyes different from usual.
Lucy thought for a moment. Was it possible he actually felt bad? Did he feel bad when he punched her the first time and just not show it?
Rex lead her to his bedroom, there being where he patched her up.
Bandages soon on her, and believe it or not...she actually felt better.
Lucy knew that this had to be an act, though it was a really impressive one.
She shook off the thought, focusing on Emmet.
Emmet. She had to save Emmet.
Rex noticed Lucy wandering off into her own little world.
She was really pretty lost in thought.
Rex blushed.
He was so busy faking his attitude and thinking about his plans, that he didn't really get a moment to take her in.
He'd prefer her kisses and cuddles over a situation like this, of just staring, normally he wouldn't care...but this was Lucy.
He remembered an event that happened a long time ago…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Emmet happily watered Planty. He loved his plant friend, showing a smile as he watered him.
Lucy approached him, letting out a rough sigh.
"Hey, Emmet."
"Lucy! He-" Emmet stopped his words, nothing how roughed up Lucy looked, black eye and all.
"Woah, Lucy! You okay?!"
"Oh uh, I'm fine, Emmet. Just a fight with some jerks downtown. Apocalypseburg will do that to you." Lucy replied, dusting off her hoodie.
"Lucy, you look awful!" Emmet frowned, "Let me patch you up."
"I'm okay."
"Lucy, you're not...stop acting tough for a second and let's be real." Emmet replied, his tone serious.
Lucy was quiet, Emmet wasn't usually this serious unless he really meant something. He meant it.
"Okay, Okay. I guess I can't look cool brooding if nothing heals right."
Emmet smiled, taking Lucy's hand.
The two sat in Emmet's room, which at the time was just a small apartment room.
The house that Emmet dreamed about wasn't even an idea yet at that point.
He took out a first aid kit from his bedside drawer, starting to bandage her up. He smiled as he did so.
"Lucy, you need to be more careful, okay? I don't want anything happening to you. You're my entire world."
Lucy blushed, "Sorry, Ems."
"Just be careful next time, okay?"
Emmet finished cleaning her up, especially any blood left behind by cuts.
"Done!" He jumped up, "Oh...wait!"
Emmet kissed Lucy's cheek.
"And a kiss to make it all better."
Lucy showed a smile, "Thank you, Emmet."
"No, problem. Stay in here and rest if you'd like...I'll make hot chocolate! Perfect for winter, right?"
Emmet walked to the door, "...Love you, Lucy!"
"Love you too, Em."
Emmet smiled, exiting his room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Rex"
Rex looked up, snapping out of his flashback.
"Huh?"
"Can I ask you why you're doing this? You don't seem like the type of person to care."
"You're my girlfriend."
"Oh, that's it?" Lucy spoke, slightly annoyed
Rex said nothing, finishing up on Lucy.
He moved closer to her, kissing her cheek.
"And a kiss to make it all better."
Lucy shivered, suddenly remembering Emmet saying that.
"Hey uh...Luce."
Lucy turned to Rex, "Yeah?"
Rex sat next to her on his bed, looking down.
"You know I love you, right?"
"I uh, yeah. Of course." Lucy smiled nervously.
Rex pulled her closer by her waist.
"...I'm sorry for being such a jerk. Really. My anger just speaks for me, ya know?"
"Yeah." Lucy But her lip, knowing well this might be Rex trying to charm her. She kept her cool though.
"I just want to know one thing, Lucy."
Lucy raised an eyebrow, "Yeah?"
Rex leaned in close to her, seemingly going to kiss her, but Lucy felt something leave her back pocket.
Oh no.
Rex held the Neuralyzer on his hand now. He gave quite a look, a mix of slight anger, annoyance, and question.
"Why do you have this?"
Lucy was frozen, not sure what to say.
"Oh, I just...found it lying around."
"This would explain why my memory is a blur…" Rex eyed Lucy, "I know I'm not the brightest, Lucy. But I'm definitely not stupid."
Lucy shook.
No, she'd made it too far. Too close.
It's like the world was out to get her.
"I uh…"
"Hmm?" Rex leaned over her, him visibly more annoyed.
Lucy couldn't let Rex know she knew about him faking his sweet act. It would just go the same direction as before.
"I tried to escape...and you got mad at me." Lucy lied, trying her best to sound convincing.
"Look, I'm sorry but I fought back when I shouldn't have. I just grabbed whatever gadget I could and hoped for the best. I didn't know for sure what that one did, but...I kept things as they were."
Rex looked at her a moment, but in the end he seemed to believe her. He let out a sigh.
"I'm being nice to you, Lucy."
"I-I know but...I still can't drop the thought of Emmet."
She leaned on Rex.
"I am Emmet. Remember?"
Lucy nodded, saying nothing else.
Rex was also silent for a while, but eventually he spoke.
"I'm sorry, Lucy. You just have to realize that...all I have left is anger. I can't really help it."
Lucy looked at him.
"I lost my happiness, my joy, and apparently...that made me a monster. I feel like I shouldn't feel bad, but I do...why do I suddenly feel bad?"
"Well, Rex...maybe hearts change. You can plan for one thing, but then a small detail can change you. Something to finally soften your hardened heart."
"Lucy...I uh…" Rex paused, "I think I love you but...I kinda forgot how to show it. I have been without anyone for five years."
That was true. Rex could definitely have forgotten how to love someone, how affection works.
Like he said before...all he had left was anger.
An act of not, Lucy knew Rex wasn't as bad as he seemed.
He just didn't know how to do things anymore.
Undar brainwashed him, leaving him bitter.
Emmet in the past would never think of destroying the world...if he lost himself as Emmet then he definitely lost everything else.
Lucy hugged Rex.
"It's okay, Rex. I understand your mindset. It's definitely not a good one."
Rex sighed, "No matter what I'll still be angry. It just won't go away."
"It will."
"...How do you know?"
Lucy kissed his cheek, "Because you just need to become familiar with it again. Then, I'll see a part of my sweet Emmet again."
Lucy felt bad too, knowing that Rex was realizing his mistakes.
He actually felt bad about the lie she told him.
He remembered something, how things used to be, and realized he wasn't exactly like that anymore.
He was so caught up in being Rex Dangervest that he forgot why Lucy was able to love him as Emmet Brickowski in the first place.
He was a bit rough with her.
Rex realized that his anger, his wanting to succeed got in the way of so many things.
He was planning to rub this whole situation in Emmet's face, mocking him.
He wasn't so sure he wanted to do that anymore.
He loved Lucy.
Seeing her hurt, and patching her up. It felt like he was Emmet.
Something he never thought he would feel like again.
It would never be enough to change him though.
The damage was already done.
"Lucy...I..."
Lucy looked at Rex, looking in question.
"...Never mind."
"No, say it."
Rex sighed, "I kinda wish I was still Emmet. Just a...little bit."
Did he mean that?
Lucy's eyes widened slightly, "Uh well...you can be."
Rex shook his head, "Not anymore...not after what happened to me. I like who I am now, it's just...you were missing and Rex...me, well, I'm really not the one you fell in love with."
Lucy nodded, Rex was right about that.
"I get it. I just miss my version of Emmet Rex."
"...Right."
Lucy turned Rex to face her, she kissed his lips softly.
"Emmet, just work through it. Okay. I know you're not as bitter as you appear."
Rex smiled softly, "Okay, Luce. Whatever makes you happy."
Lucy knew for sure she charmed him, again, her thoughts about saving Emmet raced in her head.