Just past 7 p.m., after a scorching summer day gave way to a heavy, humid night, Joe sat on the rooftop of Site-16 with a half-empty beer gone lukewarm. The skyline shimmered in the distance, stars barely visible through the haze.
The rooftop hatch creaked open behind him.
"Hey," Trevor said, easing onto the rooftop. "Figured you’d be up here."
Joe offered a tired glance. "Only quiet spot beside my windowless temp office. And that place smells like expired printer ink."
Trevor sat beside him, close enough for warmth but not quite touching. "Rough day?"
Joe took a sip. "Containment briefing. One of the anomalies got philosophical again. Then off to Site-16-1 tomorrow. I barely unpacked."
Trevor chuckled. "Always somewhere else, huh? Same old Joe. Always in motion until he burns out."
Joe smiled faintly. "You still talk like that. Like everything's poetry."
"You’re still drinking lukewarm beer on rooftops like everything's tragic." Trevor nudged him gently. "You okay?"
Joe hesitated. "It’s been five years since college. Deadlines, danger. I'm still waiting for something to feel different. I'm tired of waiting on everyone and everything"
"You waited on me."
That landed heavier than either of them expected. Joe didn't deny it.
"You could’ve called. Even once."
Joe looked away. "I thought you moved on."
"I never wanted to." Trevor paused, voice soft. "You mattered. You still do."
Silence hung between them, thick with memory.
Trevor scanned the perimeter, sharp eyes tracing the edge of the site. A guard on the ground spotted them and lifted his radio to his mouth.
Trevor called down casually, “It’s all good, Luke we’re fine!”
Joe arched a brow. “You know him?”
“Yeah. We used to date.”
“You used to?”
Trevor shrugged. “Dad wasn’t thrilled about me dating an MTF.”
“Ah.” Joe turned back toward the site, letting the silence fill in the rest.
"Do you remember the UTA rooftop?" Joe asked quietly.
Trevor smiled. "Of course. You wore that ridiculous hoodie. The city lights in your eyes made you look" He stopped himself.
Joe turned to him. "Made me look what?"
"Like I loved you. Because I did." Trevor’s voice barely rose above a whisper.
For a long moment, neither of them moved. Then, deliberately, Joe leaned his head against Trevor's shoulder.
"I still do," Joe murmured.
Trevor didn’t pull away. Instead, he reached over and linked their fingers together. “Then maybe… this time, we don’t run.”
And for once between secrets and silence, fear and flame the rooftop stayed quiet.
The elevator doors closed with a soft hiss, humming as it descended beneath Site-16. Trevor stared ahead, jaw tight. He hadn’t meant to pick this fight tonight but after the rooftop, it was inevitable.
His father, Keith, sat in his office, eyes locked on a tablet full of redacted damage reports. Trevor stepped through the door.
“Why didn’t you want me seeing Luke?” he asked, no preamble.
Keith didn’t look up. “Is this the time?”
“It’s well overdue.”
Keith sighed, set the tablet down, and leaned back in his chair. “Because he was MTF.”
Trevor’s lips parted, incredulous. “So what? That’s it? He chooses the wrong job?”
Keith stood. “It’s not just about the job. It’s about the fact that you already work one of the most dangerous jobs in this building. And Luke volunteered to walk into hell, weekly, with no hesitation. You think I wanted to see you attach your heart to a walking funeral?”
“I chose him, Dad. That was mine to decide.”
Keith’s voice tightened. “You’re right. But you’re my son. You think I can just stand by and watch you tie your life to someone with a half-life in breach zones?”
“You don’t get to protect me by wrecking what made me happy,” Trevor said. “You pushed us apart, and had him sent away.”
Keith looked genuinely pained. “Because I didn’t want to lose you twice first to this job, then to grief.”
Trevor hesitated.
“You didn’t trust me to handle the risk,” Trevor said. “You took away something good because you were scared.”
“I was,” Keith admitted, quiet and rough around the edges now. “Terrified. Of getting the call."
Trevor swallowed. “He made me feel alive, even in all this. And you made it feel like that wasn’t worth fighting for.”
Keith looked down like that hit somewhere deep. “I never stopped wanting you safe. I just forgot that safe and happy aren’t always the same.”
Trevor lingered at the doorway, torn between bitterness and love. Keith didn’t say anything just stood there, older than he looked a minute ago.
“I love you, Dad,” Trevor said softly. “But sometimes… you make that hard to do.”
Keith gave a small nod, eyes glassy. “I know, I love you too.”
And with that, Trevor turned and left grief and love trailing behind him in equal measure.
Good morning, Xavier. I'm writing today to request a transfer of a member of personnel by the name of Joe Thompson to Site-16, and to assign a permanent position suited for him for effective work. I believe that he would be a great addition to the staff, I remember you were having trouble looking for a new personnel replacement. I have known Dr. Thompson for a significant amount of time and can vouch for him and his skill along with his work ethic. If we could fast-track this, that would be much appreciated. We cannot allow another site or group to snatch him away to our detriment.
