that one time travel psl

[eyediot]

sad bad end s5 jon and tim on a monster road trip



[Algric had given the trio a fair warning of what was happening. Not the specific details of what he was coming from, but he was from a little further along Algric's timeline, and came through Hilltop Road. Never pleasant, but he's here now. IT took a few days of settling, readjusting, and putting some firm self-imposed boundaries on himself before Jon felt comfortable enough to see the others.

After a few minutes of surprise and staring, Jon ends up sitting alone with Tim for a few minutes; the others having some things to take care of themselves. He sits there, fiddling a bit with his fingers, trying not to be self conscious. He can't do anything about the myriad of different, newer scars, nor about his black sclera or so many other things about himself now.

But god... Tim. Alive and not shouting at him right this second. How novel.]

Tim... I.. [Where does he even start.]

Comments

[eyediot]

[He could nearly cry hearing his name. He lets go of Algric's hand to cup his cheeks, pull him close forehead to forehead.]

So do I.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ And Algric leans over hesitantly, meeting Jonah with a kiss. The last of the mists fade away, leaving them standing back in the real world. ]

[eyediot]

[He meets it, relieved and trembling. Pulling away, his eyes are closed and he breathes out.]

Welcome home, Martin.

[curriculum_fictae]

God. I -

[ He clings to Jon now, more than a little desperate. ]

I-I didn't realise I was so vulnerable still. That place just - it - it wiped me out, Jon, I didn't even stand a chance without you.

[eyediot]

I... I told you I wouldn't let anything happen. That I'd always be able to find you.

[curriculum_fictae]

You did. You did. You - you found me, and you led me back out, and -

[ And he's just going to kiss you again, Jonah. ]

[eyediot]

[He leans into it desperately, holding Algric's jacket in both hands. It's fine, right here in front of the jeweler.]

We. May have to come back, I... [He lifts his head up his direction, the red having taken over.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric stares for a moment before the horror sinks in. ]

Your ... your eyes. Oh god. Can - can you see me at all?

[eyediot]

Not... Not now, no.

[He rests his face against Algric, the heat from them is unmistakable. He laughs mirthlessly.]

I think I may have left Peter stranded there.

[curriculum_fictae]

Well - well, good. I'm sure he'll find his own way out.

[ And if he doesn't, well. Fine by him. He puts an arm around Jonah's shoulders, drawing him along. ]

I'll get us home, okay?

[eyediot]

Pretty sure I promised you I'd do that.

[It's a weak argument as he walks with him like that.]

... I'm sorry. I. I had the chance to take him out before any of that happened and I didn't.

[curriculum_fictae]

I'm not going to blame you for trying to avoid murdering someone. He - he technically hadn't hurt me yet. O-or gaslit me for months on end. Or thrown me into the Lonely.

[ Now he has, so next time can be different. Algric just keeps walking ... and decides to call them a rideshare. Public transit while Jonah is blind and he's still shivering with cold is a bad idea. ]

[eyediot]

... But he hurt Martin.

[But he promised Algric. Next time he won't hesitate then. It doesn't take long for a ride to come, stopping next to them.]

We'll come back. Find the band you want.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Yes. He did.

[ No denying that. He helps Jonah get into the car, then, and clings close to him. ]

Don't - don't worry about that right now, Jon. The band doesn't mean anything if you're not alive to enjoy it too.

[eyediot]

[He sighs heavily, feeling a bit safer like this. He leans into Algric while the car moved them forward.]

Right. Need to get you warm again too.

[curriculum_fictae]

I'll - I'll get the electric blanket out. And I'll make tea, and - and we'll both cuddle under it the rest of the day, okay? You won't have to lift a finger.

[ He brushes Jonah's hair back from his face, trying to get a better look at those eyes. ]

[eyediot]

[He's keeping his eyes turned down, away, closed. He knows it's bad.]

Martin - you need to rest too. That was... Don't worry about only me. All right?

[curriculum_fictae]

You're hurt. You're - you're hurt because you rescued me, Jon. You have to be safe before I can relax, all right?

[eyediot]

So? So we'll get home and then I'm safe. I was.. I was scared for you. And I need to know you're safe too.

[He does finally turn his head the right direction, blinks because God they burn, and they are unmistakably red. All the way through. Having worn himself out saving Algric, sure, but he'd wanted to hurt Peter just as badly.]

[curriculum_fictae]

I will be. Once we're back inside.

[ He helps Jonah out of the car carefully and holds the door to Tim's house open for him. ]

[eyediot]

[Jonah walks slowly, trying to feel out his steps alongside Martin and keeping hands on him. Hates this. Hates that this is what happens now since he saved Tim. A fair trade sure, but he'll complain about it.]

Good. Then... Just rest with me. Don't worry about all the other stuff.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Okay. Okay, Jon. I'll rest with you. After I get us both some tea.

[ He carefully guides Jonah up the stairs, then, towards the bed. ]

[eyediot]

[He does feel some sympathy for Melanie having done this but permanently. One hand carefully on the bed to lower himself then sits. He starts to rub at his eyes and somewhere Tim's voice in his head scolds him so he doesn't. Just focused on feeling for his shoes to get them off.]

I. I promise I'll get better at managing this.

[curriculum_fictae]

Jon. I'm - I'm not mad. You saved me when I was - when I was lost in my own head.

[ He shivers a little, keeping a hand on Jonah's shoulder. ]

[eyediot]

[Anything he wants to say just... Fizzles under the weight of the ice block on his shoulder. It had stayed numb the whole way back, but Algric's hand on it has Jonah tensing, fresh pain jolting through.]

E-even so. You shouldn't have to, to be. Leading me around.