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Newton looked like he hadn’t slept in a year. He mostly hadn’t and the look wasn’t so uncommon but today’s apperance was probably because of the hangover from the New Year's party.
“What are you doing up this early?” Hermann had come to the lower pier at six in the morning on January 1st to be alone. Not an easy task apparently.
“Never slept.”
“Humn.”
“I looked for you yesterday. You were gone”.
“You were drunk,” he said accusingly.
Not that getting drunk at a party was a crime, but for some reason it bothered him. And Hermann, for some reason, was bothered by a lot of things when it came to Newton. And for other reasons, Hermann didn't mind expressing these annoyances at all when it came to Newton.
Deep, deep down, Hermann knew he wasn't being very fair to the other scientist. But Newton didn't seem to mind that much.
So they carried on like that.
“So? It was a New Year’s party.”
“Exactly. I doubt you had time to be looking for me.”
“I drunkly looked for you last night, Herms dear. I did.”
“We wished for a happy new year. What else did you want?”
“Don’t know,” he shrugged. “It was a party. Company?”
Hermann took a cigarette out of his jacket pocket and stared at Newton.
“I’m not good company.”
So what if he was feeling a little sorry for himself? It was the holidays, everyone was allowed to feel a bit sorry for themselves.
“I’m not good company.”
Newton looked at him with a funny expression, as if he wanted to say something but was holding back. That wasn't really like Newton, so Hermann had to give the scientist some credit.
Before Newton could shake off any remnants of social decorum or, more likely, actually wake up from the hangover that had overtaken him, his cell phone began to ring.
That was exactly why he had gone to the pier at six-something in the morning. He didn't even need to look at his watch to know that it was already a few minutes past seven.
Midnight and a few minutes in the German time zone.
He stared at Newton again, smoking the cigarette he hadn't offered him. Hermann wasn't going to make him leave; that would be too humiliating. But he continued to stare at Newt intensely as he picked up the phone, daring him to say something.
If Newt was really the genius he claimed to be, he’d be quiet and pretend this was not happening.
He didn’t need to look to know who was calling. Nor he needed to think before immediately switching to German.
“Happy New Year, father.”
[...]
“Yes, yes. How’s everyone?”
[...]
“That’s good.”
[...]
“Really? Is it very cold?”
[...]
[...]
“Yes, it’s morning here.”
[...]
“No, father. No, that’s not —”
[...]
“Well, that doesn’t mean that we —-”
[...]
“I understand that but —”
[...]
“Father—”
[…]
“Ok, ok. Can we not do this today?”
[...]
“I’m not —”
[...]
“No, that’s what you’re saying —”
[...]
“For you too. Please, tell everyone that I—”
His father hung up before he could end the call in a decent manner. Not that this was anything new, but Hermann was tired. So tired of everything that he couldn't even get angry.
Newton seemed more alert now, and although he hadn't read his mind and left so that Hermann could have this ridiculous conversation alone, he didn't seem to be enjoying the situation.
“I thought you guys weren’t speaking to each other.”
“It’s the New Year,” Hermann said, finishing his cigarette. He was smoking less and less, but today it was already his third.
Newton rubbed his eyes with his hands and yawned long and hard.
“‘e gave you a hard time?”
“It wasn’t too bad,” he shrugged. Hermann didn't talk about his troubled relationship with his father to anyone. Or almost anyone.
Only to Newton. The scientist had a way of getting things out of him that he would never tell anyone else. It was as equally annoying as it was fascinating.
Newton smiled at him slightly and fished his phone out of his pocket. The cell phone lit up when he touched it, and Newton stared at the screen for a few seconds before looking back at Hermann, laughing a little without humor.
“Half past midnight in Berlin,” he said, as if that were something new.
“Yes. My father calls me religiously every year a few minutes after midnight.”
“Even when you are fighting like mortal enemies,” he stated.
“Right. Is that… weird?”
Newton looked at him funny again.
“Nah. It’s kinda sweet. Little fucked up, but slightly sweet.”
“Right.”
Newton didn't seem to believe 100% in what he was saying, but he didn't seem to discredit it either. In fact, he seemed a little confused.
And hungover. Whatever they were drinking yesterday, it was strong.
Newton stared at his phone screen again, frowning now.
“My mother is also in Germany.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Maybe I should call her?”
Hermann usually did not feel comfortable being asked about personal matters of any kind.This wasn’t an exception. Although Newton had helped him many times, he had never asked for anything.. Newton, as always, meddled in everything.
But that did not mean that Hermann did not feel compelled to return the favor he’d never asked for.
“Do you think I should call her, Hermann?”
He didn't know why Newton wanted his advice. Wasn't it obvious that he was the last person to give family advice?
“Call her. What’s the worst that could happen? Her not picking up?”
“Yep,” he said, already fiddling with his phone to get to his contacts. “Or maybe finding out she’s been eaten by a Kaiju.”
“I’m pretty sure you’d know already if she’d been eaten by a Kaiju in a city with no ocean.”
“Right, right,” he said flippantly, phone already in his ear. “I’d totally know. It’s ringing.”
Hermann thought about lighting his fourth cigarette that morning but decided to leave it for later. Something told him he was going to need it.
“She’s probably partying,” Newton filled the silence, phone still ringing.
“Like mother, like son.”
“Yeah. I’ll try again?” He asked without really waiting for an answer and hitting the call button once again.
The shatterdome was starting to wake up. It was a late start of the day, sure but it was the first day of the year. New beginnings,
Same problems.
“Nothing. I mean, I don’t really know what I expected. She’s probably partying. Having fun, you know?” Newton said said quickly, a little maniacally. Hermann would find it strange if he didn't know him so well.
“Right,” He answered as slowly as he could. Sometimes he could get Newton to slow down a little by lowering his tone and calming his voice. It didn't always work, but it didn't hurt to try.
Newton took a deep breath.
“She’s fun.”
“Uhum.”
If a moment ago Newton couldn't stop looking him in the eyes, now his eyes darted around the pier and never stopped.
He knew he should say something, anything, but the thing was, Hermann was terrible at anything involving dealing with human beings. Even human beings named Newton.
“Well, that was stupid,” Newton laughed nervously, still not looking at him.
“Everything’s stupid, Newton. You’re not special.”
“Right. That’s comforting.”
“It’s the best I can give,” he said truthfully.
“I know, man. Don’t worry. You sound like my mother actually.”
He knew he had widened his eyes, but he couldn't help himself.
“I don’t know if that’ good or—”
“It’s well, not good. Not terrible. I don’t know. It’s German?”
“Humn.”
“You’re good man. I’m not looking for motherly love from you.”
“That’s – Newton. You have to start knowing when to be quiet.”
He hadn't noticed, but Newton had looked him in the eye again. He laughed genuinely too as the two began walking toward the mess hall for breakfast.
‘That’s exactly what my mom would say.”
“Newton, you insufferable man.”
“Are you my mom, dude?”
“I’m going to kill you and plead self-defence.”
“Mommy?”
“Newton!” He shouted, alerting some people who were passing by in the hallway.
“I’m kidding! And don’t try to beat me with that stick of yours, that’s like way too mommy-like.”
Before he could answer or really beat Newton with his cane for real, they heard a voice behind them.
“Freud would have a field day with you guys,” Tendo said, looking s hangover as Newton.
“That’s not – that’s not even. Ugh! Newton! Tell him!”
Newton looked serious but Hermann knew that man too deep to know when he was still taking a piss.
“Hermann’s trying to play my mom in a kind of sexy way I think? but I’m not into him like that. The mom part I mean. Well, you know—”
“Newton!”
“You’re going to burst a vein, Hermann. Relax. Newton, stop trying to make Hermann have a heart attack. We need you both, you know.”
“Right, right. I forget you’re no fun, Tendo.”
“You guys play nice, huh? See you around.”
They got to the mess hall and Tendo joined some other J-Techs while Newton and Hermann found an empty table to continue their bickering.
The rest of the day went by as usual which really meant no more talks about estranged family members. Hermann thought a few times about asking if Newton's mother had returned his call, but he decided not to bring it up again.
If Newton wanted to talk about it, he would have no problem starting a conversation.
“Forgot to ask, any new year’s resolutions?” Newton asked as they finished their workday.
“Not really. Getting rid of the Kaiju.”
“Boring. You had that one last year.”
“I’m boring, Newton. You should know that by now.” He cleared his table as Newton waited for him at the door already. They were both more tired than usual.
“My resolution,” Newton said as he held the door for Hermann to go through, “is to be less stupid.”
“Not possible.”
“A little less stupid.”
“Don’t aim too high.”
“You keep me on my toes man, I like that about you!”
They reached Hermann's quarters first and he suddenly felt like asking Newton to come in. After a whole day together, working. After a strange morning, with strange phone calls. After a party where he hadn't been able to relax. Hermann couldn't explain it scientifically, not at all but the words just came out of his mouth before he could examine them properly.
“Would you like to come in for a bit, Newton?”
Newton looked as stunned as he was.
“I– yeah, dude. I’d love to.”
“Maybe we can brainstorm better resolutions. For both of us.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me,”
“But Newton,” he said, braiding his cane in front of the other scientist before he could fully enter his room. “Just one thing,” he said seriously.
“Yeah, dude.”
“Don’t you ever – ever again, call me mommy.”
“Copied that, mo– I mean, dude. Hermann. man!”
“Insufferable,” he said, trying to hide the smile forming on his lips as he let his cane down.
“Oh, you love it! Now come on, let me in. Let’s get some ideas going. What are you thoughts on pole dancing classes?”