Petri Dish (Gene x Higgs)
I haven’t written anything about these two in a while. Missed my kiddos <3
“Higgs, can I ask you something?” Gene asked as the two of them climbed over a large boulder together. Higgs could feel his boots lose their grip as he lost balance. Gene luckily caught his arm at the last second. He murmured a sincere thank you before pressing on.
“What’s on your mind?” Higgs grunted when he got to the other side, extending a hand to Gene which she took as he helped her to the bottom. The two continued their trek. Gene adjusted the straps on her porter pack and ran to catch up with Higgs. He could powerwalk like no tomorrow. Something she struggled with even with her years of working at Brisk Harpy.
“You never told me what the deal was. Between you and Fragile.” Gene said as Higgs furrowed his brows.
“Not really something I like talkin’ about darlin’,” Higgs said in his defense. He swung the AK47 he confiscated from a MULE over his shoulder, taking some of the weight off his right arm. He held the weapon now like a traveler would their bindle. “Not really a good conversation piece for a long haul delivery run either.”
“Then why did you bring it up the other day when we camped? It obviously needed to come out cause you seemed relieved to talk about it.” Gene countered. It was enough to get Higgs to pause. He honestly didn’t have a good comeback. Nor was he in the mood to bicker with Gene. Not after the last few days where they had been sweet on one another--as friends, to his subconscious disappointment.
“Well, we were drinkin’ that night last I checked,” Higgs snorted. His eyes peered over to Gene who also laughed while reminiscing. Nonetheless, Higgs sighed and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. Bracing himself more or less. It was hard hiding things from Gene. She had a way of getting him to spill the beans. Her presence alone was a weapon Higgs was more than aware of. Something that could be used against him. It both flattered and scared the shit out of his being. He’d never tell her that though.
“I knew Fragile’s mama. She went by Coffin. Her and I worked together for a time. She was a military woman. A lot of my fightin’ abilities I owe to her. Anyway, that woman sought me out for my DOOMs to help with a cause. You see, Bridges were doing something horrible with little pipsqueaks, kiddos. Using BB’s for heinous means. Seeing it for myself was enough to get me on board. Even before I became a terrorist myself, I never liked Bridges for that alone. Them and the UCA, kept so much shit hidden from folks.”
Higgs paused for a moment, composing his thoughts. At the rate things were going, he knew he was about to go into a tirade of how much he hated the UCA. Something Gene and himself fought about quite often. Higgs was happy nonetheless the last few weeks, Gene was beginning to open up more to the idea that Bridges wasn’t unsullied.
“Fragile’s Mama in the end made me promise to take care of her little girl. A big brother of sorts,” Higgs went quiet.
Gene could tell from the way he looked, that Higgs’ was reminiscing as a thoughtful smile came and left quickly on his lips. It was sad seeing how fast the memories and gone. Gene assumed it was too painful.
“You obviously know how things turned out,” Higgs murmured. “It ain’t pretty darlin’.”
Gene thought to herself, imagining what sort of things Higgs witnessed. He was pretty vague when it came to sensitive topics regarding the past, but his words were enough to paint a picture.
“How old were you when you started fighting Bridges?” Gene asked.
Higgs shrugged. “Honestly, I can’t remember much. PTSD and all that horseshit. I was young. Still went by Peter---I mean--fuck me,” Higgs stopped walking, murmuring curses at himself as Gene paused her walking and started to laugh while turning to face Higgs.
“Hold up, what were you gonna say?” Gene smiled like a kid catching their parent in a lie. Higgs could feel his face rush with heat as he shook his head firmly, glaring at Gene as she laughed.
“Don’t tell me that Peter Englert shtick back at your place wasn’t an act. That was your actual name? Not Higgs?”
Higgs stared Gene down like a predatory animal. Most folks would have pissed themselves seeing Higgs like this, but not Gene. The crows feet near his right eye twitched and it was enough of a confession as any.
Gene covered her mouth, trying to hide her laughs as Higgs tossed the AK47 down and folded his arms over his chest. Much like a kid would having been caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to do. He rolled his eyes as embarrassment took over, keeping his head down.
“Shut up,” Higgs muttered bitterly.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to I just---wow, you’re a Peter! All this time I could have been calling you Petey or Pete! Hell, even Petri Dish!” Gene’s smile was huge. So much so that Higgs for a moment almost mirrored her action until he looked away from her. He growled before speaking again.
“No one was gonna take a terrorist or freedom fighter seriously with a name like Peter. So I went by Higgs as a code name and it stuck. You can quit pissin’ yourself laughin’, Gene. Not like you’re name is any better. Vindictive parents much?”
“I’m sorry--I truly am.” Gene wiped some stray tears from her eyes as she settled her laughter. A sincere look of appreciation crossed her features as Higgs briefly made eye contact with her before turning his head away. To say he was put in the spotlight was an understatement.
Gene briefly scrunched her brows, shaking her head as she walked a bit closer to Higgs.
“I actually think your real name is quite cute.”
“You bullshitting me?” Higgs snapped his head towards her, assuming Gene was kidding around. Her features indicated that wasn’t the case as she smiled. Higgs swallowed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Why do you--um, think the name is cute?” His voice was sheepish, getting Gene to grin for a moment.
“It sounds friendly. Like someone you can count on. I know you don’t like it, so I’ll keep calling you Higgs. But just know I’ll hold a special place in my heart for Pete Englert. He sounds adorable.”
Higgs didn’t know, but he was staring at Gene. His smile growing as he looked at her sincerely. There was no malice in her words. Something he wasn’t accustomed too especially regarding his true name. His daddy made sure of that, that the name was tarnished even before Higgs threw his lot in with Coffin.
Higgs was so caught up in his thoughts he was shocked when he felt Gene’s lips press to the side of his cheek. Catching a bit of the scruff on his face. She shrugged, her face red as she smiled and carried on.
Higgs watched Gene walk ahead for a bit. A deep sigh escaping through his nose as he bent down and picked up the AK and swung it over once again. Maybe those soft parts of himself from the past weren’t so horrible. Not if it got him this kind of attention.
“You did good, Pete. Somehow you did good with this one.” Higgs murmured to himself, then power walked to catch up with Gene.
