The Beast - 4

Everything was set. The yellow and green-haired boy carried his belongings towards the door of the house. He had agreed to spend a few months at the Xenma Research Institute, so they could learn more about the condition in his arm and what Dr. Xenma called “Nemesis”.

Dr. Xenma waited by his car as the boy exited the house. His parents waited at the end of the porch while Becky and Elliot met him at the doorway.

“Don’t stay too long.” The overweight boy told Rex “I don’t think I can handle all the punks, around here, by myself”.

“Yeah right” Rex chuckled and pointed to Elliot’s stomach “Lay off the burritos, and you might be able to”.

A tug on the back of his shirt made Rex turn to face his other friend. She was looking at her feet, trying to think of something to say.

“Keep Elliot out of trouble” He instructed, while putting his hands on her shoulders.

“Sure” She mumbled while trying to smile as she looked up at him.

“Aww” Elliot joked “Do I feel a group hug coming on?”.

The looks received from both Rex and Becky told him he had done his job, as he closed in to make his word true, only to be held at arm’s length by both the other two.

“I really should go.” Rex said as he glanced toward Dr. Xenma, who appeared to be getting impatient. He then proceeded to say his goodbyes to his parents. After numerous tear-filled hugs from his mother, Rex started down the walkway to the awaiting car.

“Do you have everything you need?” Xenma asked him when he was within a few feet.

“I think so” Rex answered as he checked over his belongings.

“Then, let’s get going.” the doctor entered the vehicle and started the engine.

“Don’t forget to write!” Elliot called out in a motherly voice.

“Goodbye, Elliot.” Rex waved to his family and friends as he entered the vehicle and Xenma pulled out of the driveway.

The drive, that covered almost two hours, was spent in almost complete silence. Xenma listened to classical music on the radio, and Rex tried to calm his nerves as he thought about what awaited him at the Research Institute.

“We’re here” Xenma announced as they pulled into what looked more like a small college than a Medical Institute. “Welcome to the Xenma Research Institute”.

Rex noticed that there were around 20 teens roaming around the yard as they pulled into a parking spot. Xenma exited the vehicle and motioned for Rex to follow. The young boy gathered his things and did so, still trying to absorb all he could from his surroundings.

“Hi” a perky little voice knocked Rex out of this thoughts as a girl, who was only a few inches shorter than Rex, stepped out in front of him, making him jump back. The first thing Rex noticed was her hair. Dyed a very bright blue, it was short in the back, and the top was spiked, but was a little longer in the front as it hung over her forehead and stopped an inch or so above her eyes. Her eyes were closed because of the extremely large grin she was displaying, but as she opened them, momentarily, he noticed they were a darker green.

“Hi…” He replied, slowly.

“I’m Ami” she said, with the same enthusiasm as before, as she stepped towards him “You can call me Levia”.

“Oh” Rex stumbled through his words “Okay”.

“This is Reginald” Dr. Xenma introduced the still stunned boy.

“Reginald?” Ami gave a look of disgust.

“My friends call me Rex” The yellow-haired boy told her.

“Rex” She repeated, while smiling again “I like that”.

“Thanks” Rex said, nervously, as he brought his hand up and rubbed the back of his neck.

“You’re cute” Ami stated, perkily, as she resumed her ear-to-ear smile “I like you”.

Rex was knocked speechless by the blue-haired girl’s forwardness. He just stood there, wide-eyed, contemplating the statements she had just made, until she took a few more steps toward him.

“Well” Ami began talking again when she was within a foot of the shocked boy “Aren’t you going to say anything?” she giggled and poked his cheek, making Rex jump backward, again.

“I- I’m-… Uh…” Rex tried to form words, but nothing came out, making any sense.

“Levia!” Another female voice, a few hundred feet to Rex’s left, interrupted his embarrassing mesh of words, and directed the spunky girl’s attention away from him.

“Aww” Ami looked disappointed “I have to go”.

Rex let out a sigh of relief, that was quickly ended when a pair of lips connected with his cheek. He looked to find that Ami had, once again, gotten uncomfortably close to him.

“See you around” She flashed another smile before she ran off towards the other girl, who was waving to her.

Rex stood, not moving, for what seemed like an hour, watching the strange girl talk to her friends.

“Shall we continue?” Dr. Xenma motioned towards the building in front of them, once he got tired of waiting.

“Oh” Rex jerked back into reality and grabbed his belongings “Yeah, let’s go”.

In the next building was a few long hallways, with a bunch of offices. At the end of the central hallway, there was a large office with an older man sitting at the desk.

“This is my father Leroy Xenma” the doctor explained “He founded this facility”.

“So, this is the boy that holds Nemesis?” Leroy offered his left hand to Rex “I have heard much about you, my boy”.

“Pleased to meet you, sir” Rex, who had regained his composure, on the way over, shook the older Xenma‘s hand “My name is Reginald”.

“I know” Leroy sat back in his chair “But, you prefer Rex, correct?”.

“Yes, sir” Rex looked at the older man, confused “But how did you-”.

“I have a Beast connected to my brain, much like you have on your arm” He explained “It allows me to read brain waves, in the immediate area”.

“Wow” was all Rex could say, as he looked at the man, in astonishment.

“I get that a lot” Leroy looked satisfied “I have all the information I need. You may go”.

“Gather your things” the younger Xenma told Rex “I’ll show you around the facility”.

“I believe, someone has already volunteered to do that” Leroy told him, as he glanced toward the door “Come in”.

The door slowly swung open as a cheery, blue-haired girl stepped in and looked at Rex “Hi, there”.