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[kickem]

Ray. Leave a message.

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[hairlocked]

[ Not a chance.

Leoben is glancing back, because it's oddly strange. He's lived among thousands of other twos, but they'd all been the same, they'd all been him. This is like meeting a stranger with the same face, and it's a novelty, bizarrely.

So he keeps looking over, and smiles every time it coincides with Ray looking back at him. ]

Hey.

[ He reaches up and steadies Ray's hand with his own, gripping it firmly, turning both hands with uncanny strength--steady. Then the door's open, and he steps inside first, spinning on the spot to look at Ray because he's the new thing in this apartment, not Leoben. He's never been inside when Ray was home. ]

[kickem]

[He's less entertained by their eyes meeting, instead dropping his gaze when he gets caught. At least he's got something to stare at when that hand wraps around his and twists the door open. Why does he feel like that could have been a crushed hand if Leoben had wanted?]

Oh, hey, come in. At least I know now you're not a vampire, huh.

[Damn robots inviting themselves in.]

[hairlocked]

No, but all stories come from somewhere.

[ Totally could be legit.

He watches Ray step inside, leaving him to it, his eyes bright with interest. He takes several steps back, carefully avoiding stepping into anything as though he mysteriously knows the layout of the room. Hmm. ]

Just--do what you normally do.

[kickem]

[Ray trails in, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it onto the sofa as he moves towards the bedroom.]

I'm gettin' changed. Touch anythin' and I swear my fist will go straight through your head.

[hairlocked]

[ Leoben follow quietly, scooting up into Ray's heels, staying close behind him as he strips off his jacket, as he heads for the bedroom. ]

I promise not to touch. But can I watch?

[ Eager puppy is eager. ]

[kickem]

[Being followed into his own room by a same faced guy who claims to be a robot from the past is kind of weird. Or very weird. Either way, Ray's left just standing in his room staring back.]

Why would you wanna?

[Seriously weird. Dudes don't ask to watch other dudes get changed.]

[hairlocked]

[ Leoben cocks his head over to the right. ]

I should have thought that would be obvious. I want to know if we really are genetically identical, or if the face is just a fluke.

[ He shifts on his feet, rolling his shoulders, then brings his hand up to his mouth and chews on his knuckle, watching Ray still. ]

[kickem]

[Just staring right back for a drawn out few seconds before conceding with an eye roll.]

Freak.

[But ugh fine, it's not like he's getting his dick out and he's changed in public a million times before with an audience, if they are usually less interested in watching.

He's pretty methodical about what comes off first; holster, t-shirt, jeans, socks, perched on the edge of the bed by the end of it as he grumbles.]

Must just be a freak magnet. S'all I seem to get.

[hairlocked]

[ Leoben waits in the doorway for most of the stripping, but as Ray sits on the edge of the bed he peels away from the decent distance and patters closer, raising a finger and pointing it at Ray's right shoulder. ]

What's that?

[ Because ooh tattoo, and also defacing his lovely body. ]

[kickem]

[Don't mind Ray, just sat on the bed, considering wrestling into a fresh set of clothing or whether a shower is probably a good idea. Pulling all nighters should really be followed by a good shower and a change of clothing.

Still distracted by the curious puppy face stealing robot though.]

Uh?

[Glancing at his shoulder as if he's forgotten what's there.]

A tattoo. [Mr. Obvious.]

[hairlocked]

[ Just sat there being curiously touched by strangers. Creepy weird robot strangers.

Poke poke. ]

I can see that. But it's not very... [ Leoben glances up and grins. ] What does it mean?

[ Eager cheerful happy robot face. Please explain it to him? ]

[kickem]

[Surprisingly accepting of the poking, perhaps if only because he's still contemplating whether smashing this guys teeth in would be worth it or not. Probably not. Also not a great idea to assault guys in your own home, especially not when you're a cop.

Plus it's hard to punch such an eager and happy face, especially when it's his own face looking back at him. God, it's even weirder close up.]

Champion. Y'know like the uh, the sparkplugs? Dad was always about Champions. I guess it seemed like a cool idea when I was a teen.

[hairlocked]

I've heard of it. I didn't imagine I'd ever see this body of ours permanently inked.

[ Maybe it is weird, but Leoben hovers only for a moment longer before giving Ray back his space, sweeping across the room to look in Ray's closet. It's...eclectic; he'd thought so before, but this time he takes out Ray's Razorbacks shirt, and glances over his shoulder. ]

You don't have women up here often, do you?

[ Such a judgey robot. ]

[kickem]

[Ray keeps his eyes on the other, brows furrowing as the closet is approached.]

What's it to you? So what?

[Always on the defensive.]

[hairlocked]

Well it's...very masculine. And dirty.

[ He comes away from the closet slowly, this time approaching Ray straight. He tilts his head slightly to one side, stopping several feet in front of him.

Then it's a very careful, measuring look that Ray gets, dark, immensely focused eyes, unblinking. Leoben gestures with both hands. ]

Up.

[kickem]

Hey, I clean! ... Sometimes.

[Except pretty much never because Ray's barely ever at home anyway. But he doesn't argue the point much further because Leoben's approaching and there's something in that look.

There's the temptation to refuse, but Ray needs to get up if he ever wishes to actually continue not sitting around mostly naked. And so he does get up, but not before dragging his holster right beside him and making sure the weapon is in easy reach.]

[hairlocked]

You aren't going to shoot me in here. This is your home.

[ But he steps forward despite the open threat, reaching his hands to Ray's shoulders and patting them, then bringing his hands down to his elbows, tilting them up, forcing him to correct his posture. ]

Put some energy into it, some confidence. You can smoulder. [ He narrowed his eyes right back. ] Stand up straight.

[kickem]

[He's tensing up the moment he sees hands moving towards him, and doesn't relax even as the touching comes. Not at all comfortable with this right now, thank you very much.]

Hands off, asshole.

[On the plus side, his defence is to try and go alpha, straightening up anyway and chest puffing out. Stand tall, show 'em who's boss.]

[hairlocked]

Yeah. Yes, that's more like it.

[ Because Leoben is right there waiting for him when he straightens up, and they're eye to eye, and he breaks into a slow, confident smile, and lifts both his hands back up into the air in mock surrender. ]

I knew you could do it. Hands off, see?

[ And yet. And yet he leans in and pecks Ray's lips in a kiss, and then ducks back, putting his dukes up defensively, daring him with a quirk of his eyebrows. ]

So why did she leave you?

[kickem]

[Oh, the hands off was great. It's just a shame it had to be ruined by lips that have Ray jerking his head back defensively. Ew, gross, kisses. At least it's from a good looking guy...

He'd complain about it but then there's that question and Ray's not even thinking, doesn't even notice his fist suddenly hurtling towards Leoben's face.]

Fuck you!

[hairlocked]

[ Leoben is quick - very quick - and that means quick enough that he can see Ray coming and deliberately lower his defense, dropping his hands down from where he's protecting his face and letting him catch him hard across the jaw.

And down he goes, wham, staggering sidewards and catching himself on the closet door. Split lip, his blood up, that dangerous flicker of light in his eyes. He thrives on the violence in some ways. It means he touched a nerve, and he's died enough times to know. ]

I knew all that muscle wasn't just for show.

[kickem]

[Ray can't help but think Leoben practically walked into that punch. He's done enough boxing to spot when defences are lowered and that very much looked like the case. Freak.]

You don't get to talk about her.

[Trying to be somewhat intimidating while standing there in his underwear. So scurey.]

[hairlocked]

Or go near her. I know the deal.

[ He is very intimidating. Spry and young and human. Leoben admires him from the floor, admires all the power in that punch, nurses his jaw gently with his left hand, and then reaches it out toward Ray in the universal gesture of 'you hit me now you get to help me up, please?' ]

I wanted to know how much. Now I know.

[ How much what? ]

[kickem]

[Exactly the question Ray's wondering.]

How much what...?

[This guy makes basically no sense ever. But at least Ray's gentlemanly enough to grasp for that offered hand and tug with his body weight to try and get Leo back on his feet.]

[hairlocked]

[ He holds tight and pushes upward with his body weight, wrapping him up in another rough hug once he's on his feet and scratching his own stubble against Ray's as he answers right into his ear. ]

How much you love her. Hitting's the best way to find out. I used to care about someone like that. [ The briefest flicker of consideration. ] She died.