Chapter Text
For 12 years - 4 382.90639 days - Chase had been living in the same room. Sharing his space with the same people. This whole time they would either sleep, eat, train, or annoy each other like any siblings would do. It was only a year prior when Mr. Davenport brought them some magazines from the outside world and allowed them to watch movies.
At first, Chase wouldn't mind. He understood more than his siblings that the way they lived served a higher purpose. They would train to go on missions, and there they would save lives. They were special because of their bionics and they were supposed to use their special abilities to help those who were in danger. Mr. Davenport designed them that way and Chase couldn't imagine a different life.
But anyone could get sick of residing in such conditions, especially a kid with superior intelligence and a computer-powered brain. All the puzzles he had, he solved. All the riddles there would be - were no match for his intelligence. All the books he had been interested in so far, he finished.
Needless to say, he was bored out of his mind. Chase didn't want to be stuck with Bree reading fashion magazines and gossiping about Selena Gomez or other latest dramas. Neither did he want to listen to Taylor Swift with Adam. What he needed was a new hobby. Which was not exactly the easiest thing to do, considering his situation.
One day Mr. Davenport came down to the lab and the kids were expecting to start their training session, per usual. He was dressed up in a suit and even had a tie. Chase didn't think he ever saw their creator wearing such formal clothes.
His quick steps on the stone floor filled the space as Mr. Davenport walked over to the main desk where Adam, Bree, and Chase were seated in various spots. “Guys, good news,” he started, practically beaming. “Today's no training day. Your genius father has been invited to attend a very serious business meeting that could make me so much money. And it's all because of me.” He gestured to himself with his hands, grinning like an idiot.
Chase grimaced slightly at the display of his father's enormous ego, it was suffocating. “It's fine Mr. Davenport. We'll be back to training tomorrow as good as new.” He plastered a forced smile. Next to him, Bree stood up.
“Well then, I'm off to read the newest issue of my Pop Tiger magazine. Don't bother me, meatheads,” she declared, eyeing her brothers right before speeding off and locking herself into her soundproof capsule.
Mr. Davenport seemed unbothered, his mind already on the future meeting. He kept smiling as his gaze became unfocused. Chase cleared his throat lightly which shook his father back to reality.
“I wouldn't expect it the other way,” he replied, already making his way to the elevator. He was almost at the door when he stopped mid-track. “Oh, and I probably won't be home till like very late at night. In case of an emergency, Chase, you know what to do," he added, glancing at his youngest. The boy in question nodded at him as he watched him step into the elevator.
And just like that, they were left alone in the lab for the whole day. Chase looked to his right, only to see Adam gone already. He heard the spinning sound of their wheel along with a faint melody of “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift playing from earphones. He sighed.
Chase sat there alone for a moment, thinking about how he could spend the day. He had complete freedom (as much as he could in the confined space) and Mr. Davenport wouldn't bother them at all. That chain of thought sparked a memory in Chase's brain. An image of a video game commercial in one of Bree's magazines. Not that he would read them, obviously. The ad was just conveniently sitting there on the back cover.
Chase found it interesting but didn't have a way to actually play at that moment. Now, though, he could easily hack into Mr. Davenport's computer without worrying about being caught, and try playing it.
Little did Chase know that this one seemingly minor decision would be the starting point leading up to one of the best things that ever happened to him.
~ A Year Later ~
2nd February, 6:57 pm.
FireManiac98 to all: gg guys
2nd February, 6:57 pm.
FireManiac98 to Leader_guy1212:
F: cool tactic mr leader
F: you smashed them
Leader_guy1212: Thank you.
L: You too played very well.
F: ur just saying that but thanks
F: im fr impressed
F: wanna be friends?
L: Why?
F: dunno man
F: u seem cool
F: could be my yoda and teach me some stuff
F: how old are u anyway
F: your texting weird
L: you're*, weirdly* I just use proper grammar rules.
L: I can’t say the same thing about you.
F: pfff
F: ur lucky i'm to lazy to care
F: didn't answer my question
L: too*
L: I'm 13
F: no way dude!! we're the same age
F: though you don't sound like it
F: u sure you're not lying?
L: Why would I lie about being 13?
F: fair point tbh
F: sorry lol
L: It's fine. I'm used to it.
Chase could’ve said no to being friends with this kid. Maybe he should've even. After all, at the time he was living locked up in a basement, pretty much not existing in the real world. He should've just straight-out ignored him.
He didn’t. The other boy annoyed the shit out of Chase, but he was also the first person that wanted to be his friend from the outside world. He actually wanted to hang out with him and never called him boring, unlike his siblings.
He had been playing those online games for quite some time and nobody ever asked him to become friends.
It mattered to Chase in ways no one else could understand. Even Chase himself, at the time.
3rd February, 5:41 pm.
FireManiac98 to Leader_guy1212:
F: soo
F: u up for another round of awesome skills and perfect scores?
L: Sure.
3rd February, 6:05 pm.
F: yeah there was no awesome, skills or perfect in that round
F: only scores that were terrible
L: It wasn't that bad. And we did go for the ranked mode.
F: but we were wiped by those people
L: That just means we have to practice more.
F: i guess
F: another round? on casual this time lol
L: I can't, my father wants me to do some chores soon.
L: How about tomorrow at the same time?
F: sounds good
Ever since then, Chase and the boy (whose name he later found out was Kaz) would play or chat for a bit almost daily. Pretty early on in their friendship, they figured out by accident that Kaz was three hours ahead of Chase. From that time they tried to align their schedules better, and it worked. More or less.
Usually, it was Kaz who would talk more, spilling about his day or the comics he was interested in - nothing too personal. But Chase was happy to talk to him and listen about (or more like read) all the stories his first friend ever had to share. Chase knew, logically, that sooner or later Kaz might get bored of him. Adam and Bree had told him on multiple occasions how uninteresting he was. That was why when his friend disappeared with no word whatsoever for a whole week, Chase was sure he ditched him. He expected this, so he didn't understand why he would feel so upset about it. Bree noticed him moping but he would ignore her questioning looks.
1st May, 5:59 pm
FireManiac98 to Leader_guy1212:
F: HOLY SHIT CHASE IM SORRY
1st May, 6:23 pm
L: It's okay. I'm glad to see you're alive though.
L: What happened? You've been gone for a week.
F: ugh dont remind me how long I went on without a computer, my phone and going out
F: you'd think Id be able to sneak out but nooo
F: everyone has to be a snitch in this household
F: I got grounded for bad grades
F: barely passing IS STILL PASSING
L: What do you have problems with?
F: everything lol
F: but mostly maths and history
F: theyre like my mortal enemies
F: my parents say I need the school to assign me a tutor but I dont wanna be embarrassing in front of some stranger kid
L: Then maybe I could tutor you.
L: You've already embarrassed yourself in front of me multiple times.
F: thanks buddy
F: but u? I mean, dont get me wrong I can see ur smart
L: You're*
F: case in point, thanks again
F: but idk
L: Look.
L: I can't force you, obviously, but it just happens that maths is one of my strong suits.
L: And I could show you some useful memorization techniques for history.
F: I dont wanna waste ur time tho
F: dont u have school yourself?
L: I've been homeschooled my whole life so don't worry about it. I'd be happy to help, Kaz.
F: well... I guess it wouldnt hurt to try some online tutoring together
8th June, 5:37 pm.
FireManiac98 to Leader_guy1212:
F: pls come to my funeral
L: ?
F: there was a prank
F: and now im dead
F: ugh, Oliver got so lucky this time its not fair
L: I'm lost on so many levels and I don't say that often.
L: Actually, I've never said that before.
F: youre welcome
F: I feel honored
F: okay so me and Oliver pulled a prank on this girl named Jordan
F: and the thing is IT WASNT MEANT FOR HER
L: It's Oliver and I*
L: What do you mean?
F: we have this kinda friend Gus
F: you see *Oliver and I* have been best friends since like diapers and at school theres this weird kid Gus that basically just announced that he's our friend which is messing up our awesome duo dynamic
F: so we wanted to prank him
F: we went and filled his locker with tons of buttered popcorn that was meant to spill out at him the moment he opened the locker door
F: but we messed up the locker numbers and we broke into Jordan's locker instead
F: she was PISSED dude and shes scary
F: Oliver that bastard managed to run off but she saw me and now you have to come to my funeral
L: She's not going to kill you.
F: nah man you should've seen the look on her face while lying down on the floor covered in greasy popcorn
L: Oh God. No, I can imagine that.
L: It was nice knowing you, my friend.
L: Wait, does that mean I can take your account with all those cool skins?
F: my life is in DANGER and you already want to take advantage of that???
L: You're talking like you wouldn't do the same.
F: true that
15th August, 7:33 pm.
FireManiac98 to Leader_guy1212:
F: Chase
F: is it normal to wear two pairs of pants at the same time?
L: Well, according to the Internet... no.
L: Do I even want to know why?
F: im in the middle of an argument with my sister
F: she says its not
F: but I asked ur opinion
F: do you think its normal?
L: Nope, I think I agree with your sister.
L: You never mentioned you had any siblings.
F: yeah, 11 of them
F: dont change the subject you traitor
F: wearing two pairs of pants is completely reasonable
F: what if someone pulls down your pants? or makes a bet that you lose and have to give up your pants?
L: Kaz, nobody in their right mind would ever bet on a pair of pants.
L: And there is no way you have 11 siblings.
L: You are just messing with me.
F: its better to be safe then sorry
F: ohhh trust me
L: Than*
F: im not happy with it either but its true
L: I have two siblings and living with them is a nightmare.
F: well
F: u dont know anything before u walk into my house
F: Oliver can tell u that
F: he's kinda like the twelve child
L: twelfth*
F: whatever that doesnt look like a real word
L: It is.
F: nahhh
L: Kaz.
F: dont you use my name like that
F: i can hear the scolding tone from the screen
L: What makes you think it wasn't my intention?
F: *gasps* how dare u
L: Uhh, hold that thought.
L: Adam wants to play some games on the computer.
F: :((( yeah okay
F: go before he punches u
L: Yeah, talk to you later.
L: Kaz.
F: DUDEE
F: I feel bullied