#noiren

But the time comes when Aoba and beau take it to the next level and... Ren isn’t quite confident in watching over that. He knows that he should be looking after Aoba’s well-being all the time but.. seeing him like that with another person is... it doesn’t feel right for Ren to intrude on that. So he finds some solace in his own little Rhyme Space; Sly had worked that into his system years back when they actively participated in the game and had to train.

It’s quiet in here, Ren muses, wandering around in his ‘human’ form.

There are no moans, nor sounds of bodies moving over the sheets.

It’s too quiet.

~

In some fancy Midorijima penthouse, Noiz is hellbent on reverse engineering the same virtual space. Platinum Jail’s collapse cost them most of Rhyme’s features including Usui but even the unlicensed Drive-By systems aren’t working anymore which is a surprise since those weren’t entirely connected to the original gameplay in the fist place. Rhymers are clamoring for the game to get back online and it will be a lucrative business if he (and Ruff Rabbit) can take over that.

First, he’d need a proper physical establishment to host the game. Noiz already has his sight set on Platinum Jail now that people have evacuated the fallen city and he has already covered the means to obtain it. Instead of waiting for Usui to pop up at random places, Noiz will set a permanent stage for competition.

Now he just needs to get the actual game working.

A rabbit cube lights up from a corner of the room, hopping over to the bed to get Noiz’ attention. Thinking it to be an update from one of the Ruff Rabbit guys, he keeps his eyes on his current screen and curtly tells the cube, “Report.”

“Rhyme field activation detected!” comes the rabbit cube’s digital voice, far from the puberty-pitched tone Noiz expected. Moreover...

“An active field?” Noiz’ fingers have stilled over the holographic keyboard, brows furrowed as he looks down on the tiny cube. “Where?”

The rabbit face blinks on and off as it pins down the exact coordinates. “Pi! Location confirmed!” Another screen pops up, showing a map of the island and zooming in until a bright green square highlights the place.

Noiz’ strict mien is broken by a quirk of the lips, green eyes narrowed at the familiar structure. “How long has the field been open?”

“Activation time is two minutes, fourteen seconds. Pi!”

“Heh.” Noiz swats at the other screens in front of him and they disappear, leaving only the map of the Seragaki residence floating before him. “Looks like it’s time to pay our old friend a visit.”

~

Ren starts at the unusual sound, cloak whipping in the static air as he turns towards the source of it. 

Dark, rectangular glitches have appeared at a far corner of the field and they’re growing.

Ren gets on the defensive, cautiously approaching the aberration but not getting too close in case something shoots out.

“Well color me surprised...” drawls a familiar voice, though its been such a long time since Ren has heard it in person.

“Noiz,” he acknowledges, watching the young man step through the glitches as though they were some form of doorway... Ren pauses, realizing that’s exactly what they were. “What are you doing here?”

“I think the better question is, what are you doing here?” Noiz returns. There’s the faint feel of static on his skin, mental pathways bridging faux sensation and Noiz has to breathe in deep to keep himself in check. “Where’s Aoba?”

Ren’s jaw tightens, something that Noiz’ sharp gaze doesn’t miss.

“Please leave,” Ren says instead.

Noiz cocks his head, smirking. “No need to be so touchy. I’m not here to fight.” He gestures to the empty space behind him, showing not a trace of his rabbit Allmates. Noiz walks up to Ren, willfully ignoring the combative stance.

“Then why are you here?”