⍟ Broken Strings {A Chaos Theory x Male Reader Story - Yasmina}

𝟸. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙼𝚊𝚣𝚎

Lewis, still typing on his tablet, leads Y/N, Sammy and Kenji into a room with an automatic sliding door. Sammy gives Kenji a concerned glance, but he doesn't look back at her.

Y/N unzips Sammy's backpack quickly as they walk, checking up on Smoothie and giving him a light, one-fingered per before zipping him back inside.

Dodgson stands, uninterested, in front of some kind of track, seemingly waiting for something. Kenji walks past him, looking out into the dark tunnel.

He folds his arms, "How much more waiting are you gonna have us do?"

"Don't worry. You'll have a proper convocation with your prized Ankylosaurus in no time." Dodgson doesn't look up at him, "These things just... zip!" He refers to the train.

"I guess we'll see." Kenji scoffs.

"Mr. Kon, I wouldn't be where I am if things didn't go as I intended." Dodgson assures.

"From where I'm standing, we wouldn't be here at all if things were going the way you intended." Kenji steps towards him, "Lewis."

Mr. Dodgson finally looks up, his brow furrowing, "The work I'm doing here will save countless lives, increase life expectancy, improve quality of life. We're talking the scientific fountain of youth. And it's not just the big stuff."

"Slow Wi-Fi? I upgrade it. Need more organic options in the commissary? I make a deal with Gutierrez Ranch."

Y/N's eyes flicker over to Sammy, "Did you know?" He whispers. She just sighs, turning around to look at the vending machine.

"But no matter how big or small, it's never enough." Dodgson continues, "Myopic punks like you rip me apart for the few mistakes I've made on the road to greatness, simply because I have the audacity to have vision."

"So, that's what we're calling murder now? Vision?" Kenji narrows his gaze.

Before Dodgson can get another word out, the Hyper Loop train pulls in with a squeak, "See?" He smirks, "No time at all."

Sammy and Y/N walk past, lingering for a moment before boarding the Hyper Loop. Kenji pauses for a moment when he notices Dodgson not following.

"You're not coming with us, Lew?" He questions.

"I have a more important meeting to tend to." The man gives a simple explanation, "Have a safe trip to your... asset."

The door snaps shut, and the Hyper Loop starts up, leaving Lewis Dodgson and whatever comes with him behind.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

The trio sits back in the seats of the Hyper Loop as it zips along the track. Kenji stares down at his hands, stewing in his own emotions.

"Hey, man..." Y/N grins, holding Smoothie out to him, "I think I know someone who'll cheer you up." He wiggles the baby dinosaur.

Kenji sighs, hesitating.

"Come on," Sammy coaxes, "I know someone needs a visit from the huggy-wuggy monsterrr!" She does a baby voice, flipping the ears on Smoothie's hood around.

Kenji finally breaks into a smile, grabbing the baby and nuzzling him up to his cheek, "One cuddle from my boy and it's like today never even happened."

"Who's a cutesy-wootsey, cuddly-wuddly dino?" He tickles Smoothie's belly, "You are! Yeah, you are!"

He glances over, noticing Y/N and Sammy staring and quickly clears his throat, "So, uhm, Sammy, how come you didn't mention your fam is working with BioSyn?"

Sammy's expression fades, "Listen... I told them not to." She admits, "That BioSyn's shady. But after everything fell through with Masrani and Mantah Corp... the money was too good to pass up."

"Then, they got all weird, and now..."

"That's why your family doesn't talk to you anymore?" Y/N frowns when Sammy nods, "Sammy, I'm... so sorry."

"It's fine..." She waves it off, locking eyes with Kenji, "I know I'm lucky my family's even around."

Kenji just smile when she turns away, possibly regretting her words, "Sure." He shrugs, "But, you know, if anyone can relate to their family working on shady business deals they don't align with, it's me."

"Oo!" Sammy suddenly perks up, looking through the small, slitted windows, "Looks like we're slowing down!"

The Hyper Loop squeals to a stop and the door flies open. Sammy's the first to stand up, taking a look at the room outside which is identical to the one they came from.

"Dodgson was right about one thing." She smiles, "These pods really... zip!"

"I can't wait to find Bumpy and get out of here!" She declares, stepping out as Y/N slots Smoothie into his pocket and joins her.

"Really looking forward to it!" Y/N chuckles, slinging his arm around her shoulder playfully.

"Yeah... me too..." Kenji slowly emerges behind them.

The three of them hop into the elevator in front of them, hitting the only available button, down.

Sammy squirms excitedly, holding the tablet to her chest, "You excited to meet your mama, Smoothie?" She leans over, doting on the baby in Y/N's pocket.

"Just don't forget about us, champ." Kenji reminds.

"How could he?" Y/N grins, "We've taken care of him this long."

The elevator rattles to the bottom and the trio straightens up, not sure what to expect on the other side.

Kenji reaches over, covering Smoothie's eyes, "I don't want him to see his mama locked up inside some sad cell." He whispers like the dinosaur can understand.

With a dull beep, the doors open up to reveal some kind of forest biome. The bright sun momentarily blinding the three. They step out, the doors closing behind them, when all of a sudden, they get that gut feeling.

The kind of feeling you get used to when you've been dealing with killer dinosaurs since you were 14. The kind that tells you you're definitely not safe.

Kenji lets out a shallow gasp, realization painting his face, "This was never about getting us to Bumpy!" He rushes for the door, tapping on the keypad, which proves pointless, "It was about trapping us in here."

"With them." Y/N swallows hard as the bushes rustle.