Rench

Someone Else's Hoodie

At DedSec, personal boundaries were a matter of formality. Marcus would take someone's charger without asking, Sitara would regularly leave her belongings all over the safehouse, and Josh preferred to stay out of the chaos altogether.

But Rench deserved a special mention.

He thought it was perfectly normal to borrow other people's headphones, rearrange things, leave idiotic notes, and comment on literally everything he saw. Especially if it concerned you.

Your relationship was hardly friendly in the traditional sense. You were constantly picking on each other, arguing over trivial matters, and exchanging such caustic remarks that the rest of the team had long since ceased to be surprised. Wrench seemed to derive a special pleasure from your irritation.

And yet, something strange has appeared between you lately.

He began seeking your company more often, unceremoniously showing up at your work desk, sending completely meaningless messages, and periodically finding excuses to start yet another argument. Naturally, all of this was accompanied by the usual stream of sarcasm.

You didn't attach much importance to it.

Until this evening.

After another encounter with one of the DedSec members, you returned to the safehouse wearing someone else's hoodie. It was a typical situation: it had gotten chilly in the evening, and your friend offered to borrow his sweatshirt. Nothing special, no hidden meaning.

At least for you.

Marcus, Sitara, Josh, and Wrench were in the common room. The latter was sitting on the couch, engrossed in disassembling some electronic mechanism.

"Oh, look who's back!" Marcus said, noticing you.

Sitara looked up from her laptop and smiled.

— Nice sweater. Is it new?

Before you could answer, Rench stopped fiddling with the mechanism.

His mask slowly turned towards you.

He was silent for a few seconds, as if trying to discern something particularly interesting.

• So.

He put the instrument down.
(continued in the protocol)

He put the instrument down.

— I think I have a question.

Marcus had already begun to smile suspiciously.

• What other question?

"Not you, Howloway. Don't interrupt a serious journalistic investigation."

Rench stood up from the couch and came closer, stopping in front of you.

— What kind of clothes is this?

He pointed his finger at the hoodie.

• I don't remember you having anything like that.

Sitara chuckled softly.

• Maybe the man just bought a new sweater, Rench?

• No, there is clearly something more interesting here.

He bowed his head slightly.

• Wait a minute. This isn't yours, is it?

It was impossible to tell from his voice whether he was joking or genuinely interested. However, when you confirmed that the item had been lent to you, Wrench fell silent for some reason.

• Ah-ah-ah. I see.

He nodded as if he had just received extremely important information.

Rench turned and returned to the couch. However, instead of continuing his work, he pulled out his phone and began typing quickly.

A few seconds later, your own phone vibrated.

Wrench: question

Wrench: Don't you have your own wardrobe anymore?

Wrench: or are we now practicing clothing exchange within dedsec?

You looked up. Rench was sitting across from you, pointedly staring at his phone.

After a while, Marcus announced he was going to order food and asked everyone to pick something. Sitara went to help him, Josh went into the next room, and Wrench suddenly appeared next to you at the kitchen counter.

• Listen.

He opened the refrigerator, took out a can of energy drink and leaned his hip against the countertop.

— Does this mysterious owner of your new blouse mind?

He took a sip.

"I'm just curious. Maybe he now thinks you have some kind of special arrangement."

"Although, you know, I don't care at all. I just don't want him to start coming here tomorrow for his blouse."

Rench looked at you, then looked down at the hoodie.

• And anyway, the color doesn't suit you.