[PSL-Adjacent] time travel side story

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Is this part of the other PSL? MAYBE ... tbd.

But - this is the Martin who went back in time to the second season, before everything really started going to hell. It hasn't been the most pleasant ride - seeing himself, accidentally triggering Not-Sasha's attack, the confrontation with Elias - but it's been better. He'd begged Michaelen not to take him back for multiple reasons. Yes, he thinks help more here, but ... he also doesn't want to go home to die. Not when there's a Jon here who's willing to love him, when Tim is blossoming into a new best friend, and even Martin is slowly moving towards self-acceptance in a literal sense.

For the first time in months, Martin - no, Algric - sees the shape of what a peaceful life could be. This could be a world where he lives in Jon's flat for the rest of his life, where he doesn't only have to be a helpful ghost. The Lonely is still too strong in him, but he feels it weakening in spots, where Tim and Jon and Martin have all helped him remember what it's like to have human connection.

That's why he's here at Hilltop Road. He dares to hope now; he dares to consider the possibility that he might get to keep all of this. And if he wants to keep this, he has to make sure there's no way back to the hell he left. Michaelen's appearance had scared him more deeply than he wants to let on.

As he mounts the steps to the rickety old house, Algric takes in a shivering breath. It's fine. It's fine, this is fine, he's just - just going to look. And if there's a creepy basement with a crack in the world, he's not going to go through it! He's just going to. See if it's there or not. If he thinks his timeline is on the other side or not. ]

Comments

[eyediot]

You did nothing wrong. [It's whispered into his jumper, Jon trembling against him.]

Please don't apologize.

[It's about all he can manage to get out before a wet gasp, trying to get his breath steady again. And instead, he turns more into Algric, clutching at his back. He can't tell him. Jon can't ever bring himself to tell him the things he saw, the things he Knew happening. It was overflowing and...


There's a tape recorder here somewhere.

He'll deal with that. At some point. Probably if Algric falls asleep.]

[curriculum_fictae]

It's okay, Jon. It's okay. I'm here.

[ He just holds Jon closer, soothing his hands over his back. He doesn't want to be anywhere else right now; even with Jon weeping, this is all he's ever wanted. He can only guess at what Jon's seen, but if he can provide even a scrap of comfort ...

Yes. Yes, he can do that. He curls around Jon protectively, murmuring every soft thing he can think of. ]

[eyediot]

[He stays like that for a long while. Jon hasn't had any sense of time progression since the confrontation at the Panopticon, and he certainly doesn't have it here either. He only knows it's been a solid half hour before his breath finally starts to steady. He visibly relaxes, going slack in Algric's arms.]

I... [Sighs.] I made a mess of your jumper.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That's fine. Algric is here to hold him as long as necessary. The only concession to time he's made is to lay them both down on the couch, so Algric can cuddle him better. ]

That's - that's all right. I'll wash this one.

[eyediot]

[Between Knowing Algric earlier, the trip through the dimension, and letting himself break for a while, Jon knows he's going to need to eat soon. He thinks he still has a couple statements in his bag from... Before the. World breaking. That should hold him over for a little while, until they figure out something more permanent.

He keeps his face pressed against him.]

...I never deserved you, you know.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Something they can figure out later. Soon. Algric will help, of course.

For now, though, he just pets Jon's head. ]

What, me? I was - I was never worth anything, Jon.

[eyediot]

[Christ.

Maybe he's not in a good place to have this conversation, mentally or emotionally.]

...I don't think I ever said it be-before but. I'm.. I'm sorry. For all the times I was.... An arse to you. You were just. Trying to help and take care of us any way you could.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric manages a small, weak laugh. Those times seem nearly nostalgic, now. ]

Only took the end of the world to see it?

[eyediot]

...Took losing you.

[He's not laughing.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh.

That ... dries up his laugh pretty fast. He quiets instead, not hurt, just thinking. ]

How can I prove that - that you have me back now?

[eyediot]

You don't have to prove anything.

[If it's real? He'll happily soak up the attention, the affection. He'll pay Algric back for everything tenfold.

And if it's not real... If he wakes up in Helen's domain, having been dreaming... Well. It's just more of the same.]

[curriculum_fictae]

But - but I want to, Jon. You're hurting and ... and I want to make this better for you. Any way that I can.

[eyediot]

Wanting to help isn't the same as feeling like you have to prove anything to me, Algric.

I-i promise, I. I believe you that you're here.

[He shifts only so he can turn his head up to look at him.]

I... I don't know that I'll ever stop hurting. But you just... Being here makes it better.

[curriculum_fictae]

Less hurting, then.

[ He hesitates a moment, looking down at Jon with utter fondness. Then, being careful not to break contact with him, he stands. ]

Come with me?

[eyediot]

[Well. That's odd. Jon watches him move, keeps one hand on Algric's arm trailing down to his hand when the man stands. He pointedly doesn't let himself Know what Algric's doing and stands with him.]

All right... [It's clear on his face he'd go anywhere Algric asked him to, even if it was right to the Institute to Elias himself.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ And that trust is lovely, isn't it. Algric takes a moment to drink it in before slowly leading Jon back towards his own bedroom. ]

I'd - I'd like to lie down next to you for a while. If that's all right. Bit too cramped on the couch.

[eyediot]

[He sees his room and - god. It's a punch to the gut, seeing it all again. He was in here a little while ago to change, but he didn't linger. Jon squeezes Algric's hand, an affirmative response.]

Of course.

[But a thought occurs. Like a dark twisted little thorn in the back of his mind.]

...Do they need to know where you've run off to?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Sorry, Jon. He's hoping it will be normal? Pleasant. To just - lie in bed next to each other, curled around each other. ]

Oh, I'll send them a text. It'll be fine.

[eyediot]

All right... [He doesn't sound entirely convinced, but he's trying that new thing where he tries to trust the people around him.

He sits on the foot of the bed. Bounces once with a short, half-hearted laugh. Then carefully tugs Algric to stand in front of him, looking up at his face.]

...Thank you.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He will indeed quickly send a text to the group. Just something simple, letting him know he's sleeping in Jon's flat and will be back tomorrow. And then he sets it aside on the bedside table.

And then he's all Jon's again. He stands in front of the smaller man, smiling shyly down at him. ]

Of course, Jon. I - I love you.

[ How good it felt to say those words so simply. ]

[eyediot]

[Jon watches his face, eyes shining back up at him. All affection and trust.]

I love you too.

[It feels so easy to say, after everything that's happened. A few seconds of that before he tugs on Algric's hand, shifting to get where they can both lay down. A bed - his bed - is softer than he ever remembered.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric settles in next to him, the mattress dipping gently as he eases his full weight onto it. Then he tugs Jon in close to him, his large, soft arms surrounding him easily. ]

Then - then believe me. I'm here, Jon, and I'm not leaving.

[eyediot]

[He follows easily enough, tucking his head under Algric's chin.]

...I-i know. I...Thank you.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Good. Algric curls around him further, then, and closes his eyes. ]

Of course, Jon.

[eyediot]

[As they settle in together, Jon... listens. He listens to the sound of Algric's heartbeat, easy and rhythmic. The sound of his breathing, the soft sounds of the neighbors existing upstairs. A dog barking outside, people laughing. It's so different from the hell he left. He's fairly certain he wouldn't trade this for anything.

He doesn't sleep, simply because he can't anymore. Whether it's because he's an Avatar, or because every time he closes his eyes, he sees the unspeakable horrors playing behind his eyelids again and again. But laying here, curled up with Algric and holding him is just as nice.]

....I.. [A slow, unsure breath.] Do you.. want me to. To Stop Peter i-in this time? Before he can... do anything else?