[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. ]

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[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?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric does still need sleep, even if his is disturbed in different ways; he especially needs it when he's curled up in Jon's arms like this, profoundly un-Lonely. (How strange being simultaneously more and less human.)

As such, he's dozing lightly when the question gently tugs him back towards wakefulness. He doesn't jolt, though, only shifting gently as he realises Jon's asked a question. ]

You - you mean kill him?

[eyediot]

[Jon is finding he really doesn't like thinking about it in that way soecifically... but it isn't incorrect ]

Yes.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ God. What does he think of that? A roiling mess passes through Algric. Some part of him desperately wants the man dead for everything he's done - for what he's done to Martin - for what he might yet do to both of them. Months of low key torment, interrupted by brief moments of horror. Or, in Martin's case, all horror. He would relish Peter's death, and that scares him a little.

But Peter is tangled with Elias somehow, he's sure of it. And that danger makes him pause, despite the quiet agony pouring through him. ]

Yes. I - I want you to. More than - well, a lot of things. He's hurt me, a-and he's hurt this timeline's version of Martin too ...

[ A deep breath. ]

B-but if you kill him, Elias will know.

[eyediot]

[Jon is at least patient while Algric sorts through his thoughts. But.. ah. That is the problem, isn't it?

He sort of nods, face against Algric with a soft exhale.]

All right. I'll leave it be for now.

[curriculum_fictae]

Thank you.

[ His voice softens a little. ]

I'm - grateful. Desperately. That man has ... has caused so much pain.

[ It bubbles beneath the surface of Algric, a festering wound still unlanced even by his positive experiences. ]

[eyediot]

I know...

[No Eye assisted knowledge needed there. He remembers how the Institute was when Peter was running it. He remembers Martin's voice in the Lonely before he disappeared. That was all he needed to know about how much damage Peter had done to everyone around him.

Jon rubs his back softly, as if trying to bring him back down from that.]

I'm sorry. Go.. go back to sleep.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He appreciates it, Jon. And he relaxes obediently, eyes drifting shut again.

But he doesn't sleep just yet. The ache is too profound now that his attention has been drawn to it. ]

No, don't be. I ... avoid it with them. Talking about it, I mean. I'm afraid to hurt them.

[eyediot]

... You don't have to with me. If it would help you, I mean.

[There's the thread there, the hint of a meal. Jon holds his breath, fighting it down. He won't try to pull it out of him or influence him that way. But it's an open offer if Algric ever does want to talk about it.


He lowers his voice, clearly fighting himself.] Not... right now though. I wouldn't recommend it.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ It would be delicious. Fresh and ripe, fragrant with misery. All the more pleasant for being familiar.

Algric looks at him, questioning.]

Why not?

[eyediot]

[Jon, meanwhile, keeps his eyes down. He can't bring himself to look at Algric.]

The trip to this timeline.. took lot out of me. And Looking at you earlier. I... don't want to feed off you.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. Oh. Algric's eyes go wide for a moment as he realises what Jon must be going through. He immediately opens his mouth to offer, to insist --

But Jon's downcast expression makes him pause, at least. ]

And ... and if offer anyway? If I want to? Knowing what the effect will be?

[eyediot]

[The hunger is pulling at him. An outright offer. It would be better than letting it go on until he tracks down some random on the street.

But he doesn't want to do that to Algric.]

I.. i really would rather not... [It isn't a hard 'no'.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ No, it isn't. Algric can sense that, but he can sense Jon's hesitation too. It's not an easy choice to make. ]

What if - what if I tried just one small thing? One encounter, not - not my whole life story. Just enough to. To take the edge off.

[eyediot]

[His hands tighten their clutch against Algrc's back, holding him tighter. There's clearly something he's fighting.]

Are you sure?

[curriculum_fictae]

Completely sure, Jon.

[ He sees that fighting, though, and he hesitates. ]

If - if you're comfortable with it. I don't want to talk you into something you don't want.