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It was obvious how similar Pyke and Rex looked, but they couldn't be any more different from each other. They were like fire and water, one quenches the other, but one can burn things. If Pyke was water, then Rex came in with the heat. If they argued it was like a pot boiled over. And Rex loved to rile up Pyke, no matter what they were doing even if it was something so small. Pyke always tried to stay level headed, but this time the fire was just too hot and he blew up in Rex's face.
“You always do this, Rex! Every time I beat you in a race, you have to say something snarky and condescending, and it's not funny, ever! You're just a bully and I'm sick of your shit! And if you don't shut up I'm gonna make you hurt worse than you've hurt me.” There was a noticeable change in Rex's expression, no longer smug and smirking, but a small frown and furrowed eyebrows. Before another word was uttered, Pyke dashed off outside to cool down.
As the door closed behind Pyke, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette, one of the last ones in the pack. He held it between two fingers and brought it up to his lips, leaning against the wall. The stars above him shined bright as he snapped his fingers and a tiny magenta flame danced between his thumb and index finger. Pyke thought for a second before lighting his cigarette, it was ironic he wasn't the fiery one between him and Rex, but was still able to produce light.
Just then, the door swung open and a dispirited Rex stepped out. Pyke barely looked in his direction and finally lit his cig, taking a long first drag. He kept his gaze forward, not wanting to deal with Rex anymore. Maybe if Pyke ignored him he'd go away, but Rex was Rex, and he would never ignore Pyke.
“Stars are beautiful tonight, aren't they?” Rex slowly made his way to Pyke, who still didn't want to care for him. He didn't bother to look at Rex as he stood against the wall next to him. His ear twitched as he heard Rex pat at his pockets, presumably looking for his own cigarette. Rex sighed and asked, “Got anymore on yuh?”
Pyke paused for a second, contemplating giving his last cigarette to the person he hated most at this very second, and took another drag. He looked up to the stars and blew out the smoke, heavily obscuring the view of space. Pyke let out a deep breath before fishing out the near empty box of cigs. He held it out to his side and let Rex take the last one.
“Hate to ask, but yuh got a light?” Rex chuckled lightly, Pyke didn't know if he was joking or serious. He didn't want to give Rex the satisfaction, but he reluctantly gave in. Pyke held his cigarette in his mouth and transferred the empty box to his other hand, snapping with his now free hand and holding the flame out to the other. He shoved the box back into a pocket as Rex gently grabbed Pyke's wrist, moving the flame to the cigarette in his mouth.
Pyke side eyed Rex as he held his hand, one of Rex's shielded the flame as the end of the cigarette lit up. The second Pyke saw smoke billow out of Rex's mouth, he drew back his hand and ashed his own cig, looking back up to the stars. He breathed out and let the smoke linger in front of him instead of up into the sky. The stars really were beautiful.
Pyke sighed, feeling worlds better now. “Yeah, they are.”
“Hm?” Rex turned his head and slowly let out his own smoke.
“The stars,” Pyke started, keeping his eyes to space. “Sometimes I forget how pretty they are. I get too caught up in the shit I do, I forget to look up.” He took another drag and really savored it this time, trying not to cover the stars in more smoke.
“Heh, yeah. If that ain't the truth.” Rex lifted his cigarette in the air slightly as if to agree then took another drag.
The two continued smoking in silence. They didn't argue for a change, and it felt nice. It was nice just existing together, sharing a space and doing something they both enjoy. But eventually Pyke's cigarette ran out, he looked at it for a second before letting it fall to the ground and languidly stamping it out.
Pyke sighed deeply, turned his head to Rex, and hesitated to speak. He wanted to apologize, but he shouldn't be the one to do that, Rex should given all the hurt he's caused. Just as Pyke was about to speak up, Rex finished his cigarette then looked back at the other puzzled, “What?”
Another sigh, and Pyke faced Rex fully, “I'm sorry I blew up at you. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that, but I still stand by what I said. I just… I'm sorry.”
“Thank you, Pyke.” Rex genuinely smiled for once, but then his usual smirk came back. “And thanks for the cig, I really needed it.” He pushed himself off the wall and turned to go back inside.
Pyke stood there frustrated and perplexed, watching Rex for a second. He just erased all the work the cigarette did for his mood. “Seriously? That's all you're gonna say? I apologized for calling you out on your bullshit, and you won't even apologize to me…”
Rex twisted the handle to the door and held it open as he stood there, head unmoving. “You'll learn sooner or later, Pyke.” He then walked through the doorway, an unsettling silence followed the click of the door.
Pyke was left baffled and frustrated under the shine of the stars. He wanted to scream, to punch something, to strangle Rex for all the pain he's inflicted. But most of all he wanted another cigarette.