eyediot | that one time travel psl

Please?

[His plea is ragged, hand still trembling around his jaw. When he opens his eyes again, there's flickering green in them. Lowers his voice so he doesn't alarm anyone who could hear him.]

I don't know how much longer I can stay here.

[ Oh. Oh. Algric’s eyes widen with fresh horror as he realises (too late) what Jon must be going through. What Jon is still enduring now, being in a place so horrifically soaked in misery as this one ...

He pulls back just enough to take Jon’s hand tightly and all but drag the two of them towards the exit. ]

We’re - we’re going, okay? Just hold on, god, please —

Sorry-- I'm sorry.

[He keeps catching little snippets of every room they pass, particularly on this horrible, miserable wing. He can't help when his feet stop every other door, just for Algric to drag him along after a second, his cataloging the initial surface feelings of fear before moving on to the next.

He has to get his eyes out. He can't do this.]

I-i was trying to hold out until you were done.

You s-should have found me earlier, I - god, I wasn’t thinking.

[ Selfish, selfish, he’s so selfish. Guilt stabs through him every time Jon has to stop next to a door, has to take in more of that misery. All he can do is keep tugging his boyfriend along. He may be a miserable friend in this context, but at least he can be a firm anchor.

The entrance looms before them at last; Algric all but drags Jon along. ]

[At least once they get to the entrance doors, it eases a bit. He gulps the fresh air outside and tamps down that need and hunger.]

Y-you needed privacy. It's all right.

[Hard to have that with either of the Jons around and their abilities. Any time Algric asks for it, he tries to give it freely.]

I - yes, but - I was trying to spare you having to watch her - watch her be terrible to me. But I just pushed you into something worse.

[ Once they’re outside, Algric loops Jon into a firm hug. Here, he’s here. ]

[There's a quiet oof at being pulled into another hug just outside, but it's not unwelcome.]

No, I-- I rather think it was the better choice. I don't know how it would've gone if I'd watched that, but I don't think it would have been good.

[He'd been fighting down his anger for just those short few minutes for Algric's sake. But he still ended up compelling her and was horrified by it. Who knows how long he could have kept that anger in check.]

[ Yeah. Yeahhh. There’s ... no surprise from Algric. He just holds Jon a little more gently, letting him breathe. ]

I - I wouldn’t have blamed you. But. Yes. I thought it would be best if you had a bit of space.

[ A beat. ]

That’s ... also part of why I asked you to come and not Jonah.

[There's a question mark above his head that, after a beat, becomes an exclamation. He gets it, and... that's for the best. He still hasn't felt comfortable being in the same room as Jonah given the everything tied up in who they are, but he can at least predict how that would've gone.

God, he probably would've slurped this place up through a straw.

Jon rubs Algric's back before carefully pulling away, starting to nudge them along.]

I-i can understand that. ...I'm glad I was able to at least help you get here.

[Useless. Couldn't do anything to save Algric from the pain of the main conversation. Could barely hold himself together.]

[ At least Jonah would have been well fed, yes. But Algric isn’t sure that his mother would have survived the encounter intact. He’s ... not ready for that. Not sure if his mother deserves it, even after all of that.

He walks slowly, a hand on Jon’s shoulder in turn. ]

You helped a lot, Jon. It was - was good. Having someone to stick up for me this time. That’s never happened before.

I'd do it every time if you asked. Do more if I could.

[It's easy. So, so easy to say. Easier to focus on that than those words that dug their hooks deep into his own insecurity and ripped them up for all to see.

It's not about me.

He rests one hand over Algric's on his shoulder while they walk.]

What else can I do for you? R-right now, today?

[ Algric takes in a deep breath. It’s a beautiful morning, at least; the sun is bright and warm, despite the deepening autumn weather. ]

Just stay with me for a while? There’s - there’s a little cafe nearby that I usually go to after a bad visit.

Of course.

[At least this time he's prepared for it. He knows he'll have to order for them both, pay for them both. It's fine now that he knows.]

You-- You know none of what she said is true. Right?

[ You’re the best, Jon. Algric appreciates you.

He slows a bit at that, gaze sliding away from Jon’s. ]

I - I know that. Yes. But believing is ... different.

...I know.

[He takes Algric's hand from his shoulder to simply hold it between them while they walk.]

I, and I know Jonah, will always be here to remind you.

[ That’s good too. Algric clings to his hand as they go along. ]

I’m - I’m so grateful, Jon. Incredibly.

[ A deep breath. ]

You know that applies to you too, right?

Hm?

[He was distracted thumbing along Algric's knuckles, taking in that feeling of his skin.]

Oh, I'm all right. Once we got out of there, it-- I'm fine.

Are you sure? She said - she said awful things about you too.

[ His shoulders go taut. ]

That’s - that’s what got me to stand up to her a little, in the end. She dragged you into it.

Oh.

I...I-i didn't hear any of it.

[Not after that initial dig. He'd forcefully tuned his ears out, the pretense of giving Algric privacy (which he wanted to do, yes, but--). The idea that he was an alternative, a substitute for a woman for Algric, and even then he can't--

He closes his eyes for a breath, exhales slowly, then smiles gently (if a bit pained) up at him.]

I'm...grateful you stood up for me too.

[ Algric tugs him in a little closer as they walk, struggling to contain his own anger at the memory. She’d said worse after, but that ...

He thinks he knows where it might have hurt Jon specifically, given his own recent conversations with Jonah. ]

Of - of course. It was a horrible thing to say even if it was true, and it’s not true, Jon. You’re - you’re not a substitute for anything or anyone.

It's fine.

[A little too prickly. A little too open wound to be poking at. He ducks his head down as soon as the words leave his mouth, knowing how clipped his tone sounded, squeezing Algric's hand.

He forcibly eases his words a bit.]

Do.. C-can I ask. What else she said?

[ It is, and Algric flinches a little at that clipped tone. But. That just proves his point, doesn’t it? He was right: his mother had hurt Jon badly.

He shakes his head lightly. ]

Do you - do you really want to know? It wasn’t ... wasn’t pleasant at all.

[For once, he's glad for Algric's invisibility cloak. It means no one else hears any of this unpleasant conversation, even as they get to the cafe.]

...I-i do. I. [God. Fuck the Eye.] I need to know. Otherwise, it just-- You'll keep it to yourself and. It'll fester and...

[It's as much that honestly as it is he's selfishly curious and paranoid.]

[ Indeed. To everyone else, Jon just walked in alone.

Algric falls silent for a moment, gathering his own courage. He’s - he’s right, of course. And he can’t blame Jon for wanting to know. Better to ask than simply ... Know. ]

She - she asked me how I planned on having kids. How that plan was going to work out for me now.

...Ah.

[Somehow the thought that Martin or Algric might even want kids hadn't occurred to him. He swallows hard taking a seat and lets that fresh hurt roll over him.

God what if they do? There's no way either of them will stay with him.]

That's, um. I-i can see why she'd... [He can't. Any kind of polite response just validates her, and he's trying not to do that here.] What shit that is.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject