Beck grins to himself, finally sneaky enough to get his revenge. Dozens of cycles, hundreds of millicycles of preparation. His target chats on, engrossed in carefully curated information tailored to his interests - Beck's proud to say he figured those out too.
He waits, patient, expression schooled into fascinated interest - hiding the anticipation with another, true feeling. Just a little longer-
Beck bops Tron gently in the back of the head with an empty tube, darting out of retaliation range before crowing with delight. Of course, Tron's bemused and affronted look drops quickly into amusement, the Monitor launching himself at Beck with a playful growl, but for just a few short moments Beck tastes sweet, sweet victory.
It's far fron the first time this has happened, but normally Tron's the one who strikes first. Training, he'd justified it as. Developing increased reaction speeds and situational awareness, teaching how to read body language and anticipate two, ten, a hundred steps ahead.
Beck's pretty sure it was just an excuse to play, without Tron admitting he likes to roughhouse and wrestle like a beta. The training it provides is a bonus.
Beck's distraction costs him, Tron's hands finding the sensitive patches near his ribs and tickling him until he wheezes with laughter. He recovers by getting Tron into a short-lived headlock, and then knocking the Monitor onto one of the couches so Beck can try to squash him into it. He fails, but while being turfed off manages to not only unlatch one of Tron's boots but slip it all the way off.
Knowing when discretion is the better part of valor by now, Beck runs off with the boot. He doesn't return it until he has to leave, spending the remaining time perched on top of one of the cabinets and giggling with Tron swearing retaliation at him from the floor.
...Beck realises two things approximately half a picocycle before his fist impacts Zed's shoulder that he probably shouldn't have listened to his instincts. Their discussion about Lightrunners and the various sub-models thereof had devolved into something of an argument over which was better, both of them fully engrossed in it, but then Zed had raised his hand and moved towards him (probably to clap him on the shoulder, Beck realises) and-
Yeah. Beck had taken it as an invitation to roughhouse, forgetting Mechanics don't typically do that and especially not on the clock. At least Beck had been able to redirect from Zed's face.
"Hey!" Zed yelps, and Beck makes sure to look appropriately frantic.
"Sorry!" He fusses over Zed's arm, despite knowing he didn't hit hard enough to do more than sting. "Sorry Zed. Are- did I hurt you? I'm so sorry- Mara can you grab the medkit, I hit Zed-"
"Beck- I'm fine!" Zed insists (Beck knows he is, but it's nice confirmation). "What was that?" He demands, and Beck puts together an appropriate half-truth.
"I... kinda made a new friend." Beck rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. "We, uh. If we disagree we settle it... physically. Wrestling an' stuff." He pulls big soulful eyes on Zed. "Forgot I can't do that here. Sorry Zed."
"What's their name?" Able calls from the doorway of his office, peering at Beck suspiciously. Beck winces - if anyone knows Tron, it'll be Able. Tron had said as much, even if he hasn't actually said anything. It's the fondness every time Beck mentions Able that cinches it.
"Quark." Beck supplies dutifully. "His name is Quark. He's really cool. Kinda... Security-adjacent? He helps Zuse out sometimes, with the unrulier patrons." Technically true - Tron has helped Zuse out with unruly patrons before. He just... happened to be still Head of Security at the time.
Able doesn't look convinced. Zed, at least, does.
"What's he like?" Zed asks, curious, and Beck grins.
"Well, he's been mistaken for Tron a few times." Beck laughs at Zed's scoff. "I know, right? Sure, they look similar from the back, but Tron's like. A giant. And Quark's not much taller than me. He's fun, a real nice guy. A little goofy, a lot sassy - similar sense of humour to mine. Sometimes quick to violence, but..." Beck shrugs. "Security-adjacent. He's only like that if he's scared. Grumpy if he's exhausted. Passionate, enthusiastic, supportive, caring. So, so kind. Just... generally nice to be around, you know?"
"And enjoys roughhousing." Zed adds drily. "Like you."
"Yeah." Beck enthuses, warm and fond and happy. "It's great to just... wrestle. And not have to worry about breaking someone or something."
Able relaxes then. Beck's still not convinced Able's convinced, but it's better than being interrogated. Maybe he can convince others it's a Security-adjacent thing, make it out like it's not just Tron and himself with a weird grasp of social interactions.
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