Summary: Tao needs M-21's very specific help with something.

Rubber Duck

By Dark Ice Dragon

"Oh, man, M-21, am I glad to see you!"

M-21 blinked, seeing Tao coming towards him, dark bags under his eyes, his hair looking mussed. "What's wrong?" he asked, frowning at the state Tao was in. What had happened that caused him to look like that?

"I need your help with something – it's really important!" Before M-21 could say anything, Tao had looped an arm around his and started tugging him towards his room. M-21 didn't try to pull himself out of Tao's grasp, concerned about what Tao needed, his mind racing about what it could possibly be; he had seemed fine the day before, but maybe he had discovered something since then.

Tao's computer was on when they got there, and Tao directed him towards a chair next to it.

"All right," Tao said, flopping down on the chair in front of his computer, "I'm just gonna explain what I'm doing and hopefully the solution'll come."

M-21 peered at the computer for a second before then glancing back at Tao, his eyebrows creased. "You want me to help you code?" He could try, but he didn't have anywhere near the same amount of experience or skill Tao had.

"What? No," Tao said, shaking his head. "You're my rubber duck."

…His what.

Tao saw his blank expression. "My rubber duck! You know – uh, maybe not." Tao expression turned sheepish as he scratched his cheek. "I just need to talk at someone, explain what I'm doing, what my problem is – that usually helps me sort out why it's not working." He waved towards the monitor, a shrug in his shoulders. "You don't have to pay attention to what I'm saying."

"So…you don't need me?" Because if Tao only needed to talk out loud…

"Of course I need you!" Tao said. He leaned forward, his eyes pleading. "Please? This has been bugging me for hours."

M-21 let out a breath, closing his eyes for a second. "All right." He couldn't refuse a comrade that needed his help.

"Thanks! Okay, so what I'm trying to do is…"

xOx

"Why are you…" Takeo trailed off when he saw what exactly was in M-21's hand, a pained expression flitting across his face. "Tao caught you last night?" There was only one reason why M-21 would buy that item.

M-21 nodded.

"Ah…" Takeo stared at the shelves for a second before picking up a bright yellow duck for himself. For the next time Tao tracked him down.

So I finally found the term of what I do on my dreamwidth and to Kaelin when writing fic is called Rubber Duck Debugging. Lucathia then imagined Tao doing this. Bam, plotbunny. How unsurprising. XD