#does this now count as a HLVRAI x Pacific Rim crossover?

[newtafterdark]

With you peeps leaving wonderful motivating tags & comments on my “Benrey learning about Human Music feat. Metal Gordon” fanfic AND drawing fanart for it too (seriously, i am SO happy that my silly writing inspires you to make things)... I was really tempted to write more on the topic. SO COME ON, GET YA JUICE!

 - - -

Human "Metal" Music came with more than just the tunes, it turned out. Benrey wasn't quite ready to just be like "yo Gordon, what's all this loud noise about?"... so once again he found himself doing what he did best. Research. And with research, he meant going through Gordon's belongings.

The scientist had become aware by now of how curious Benrey was in general. The cluelessness and perceived obliviousness during their time at Black Mesa had been replaced with careful but persistent curiosity, once there was no outside threat to keep them on constant high alert. 

Gordon watched with relaxed amusement from his bed as Benrey was going through the overly stuffed closet. The former guard was running his hands through stacks of soft old band t-shirts on the bottom of it... and the few that were hanging somewhat sorted on the pole in the middle of it.

"bro... I can't even read... w-what does half of this shit even say?"

Benrey had pulled out two pretty worn-looking shirts, motioning at the prints and poking a finger through one of the many holes in one of them. Gordon let out a snort. 

"It's calligraphy... kind of. In the same way graffiti is."

Benrey blinked at Gordon. Then looked back at the prints of the shirts again.

"like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 background textures? sweet."

He put the shirts back in the closet - semi-folded, he wasn't a complete asshole - and squatted down, squinting at a box in the far back. 

Hidden Content. Jackpot.

The box had seen better days. A shoebox, as far as Benrey could tell. Tilting his head he could slightly make out the faded "Dr. Martens" print on the lid... which was a feat, as the box was almost entirely covered in marker scribbles and self-made stickers. 

He gently lifted it out and sat down cross-legged on the floor, his head tilting to the other side, eyes now completely focused on this Rarest of Drops in his hands.

"Aw man, I haven't seen that in ages!"

Benrey tore his gaze away from the box & over to Gordon, who had scooted up the end of the bed, his chin resting on his crossed arms, eyes looking at the box with a fond look on his face.

"Open it up! I think you might even like some of it."

Who was Benrey to deny such a casual Okay to snoop around? 

Carefully opening the lid, a bunch of old polaroids and concert tickets fell out. Gordon must have absolutely over-stuffed this thing with... stuff. Benrey nodded to himself, eyes wide as he carefully picked up the photos & glanced into the box for a moment. Another... band T-Shirt? This time he could even make out the print - "Black Velvet Rabbits". 

He looked at the photos in his hands. Those were from concerts. A few of them a tad blurry. He could make out a stage in some, a dimly lit backstage area there, people smiling, drinking, playing & tuning their instruments-

... 

Benrey stopped and stared. 

He lifted one photo closer to his face. Yeah, the photo was losing colour, but he there was no way he could mistake the person that was on it. 

Standing on a small stage beside a slightly smaller person singing, tightly gripping a microphone stand & singing into it, while also leaning over the crowd where the photographer must have been as well, was a man in his... maybe early 20s? 

A lot that wasn't complete in focus was blurry as fuck but Benrey could still make out the shine of a leather jacket, tartan pants, heavy boots, rings on the fingers of the hand holding onto the stand... and oh FUCK- okay, he was absolutely staring at this photo like a cat high on catnip now but he could not give two shits - the hair. Long and curly and 100% a sidecut that had been dyed an obnoxious orange. And he wished he didn't see the shine of snake-bite piercings... and the hint of more on the visible ear. 

Gordon shifted slightly beside him, smiling at the photo.

"I think I still have most of the piercings... somewhere. Black Mesa didn't like seeing me wearing them to work, but you know... we are not going back there anytime, so..."

Benrey needed to say something. Anything. 

He had no idea what, but this was worth so many words-

"awooga."

...

Gordon dropped straight off the bed into a pile of old shirts, laughing & holding his sides.