realityshifted | 042: It's the Fear, Fear of the Dark

[Hei is here, wearing a lab coat and ridiculously dorky glasses. He looks tired and rather rumpled. He's also carrying what looks like a pile of iridescent, dark green putty.]

This is it, isn't it? How did I manage to make this thing?

[Hei's sheer genius and determination to help his family had led to a breakthrough. After years of trying and failing, years of long nights in the lab and painfully meticulous research, he had done it. He had created the ultimate tool for psychological therapy.]

Alright, alright, I get it. So it's a therapy thing...maybe that was why that Halliwell person was so interested.

[He turns the blob over. The blob shimmers and makes a sound almost like a purr.]

I wonder how I make it--

[The tool had of course been created with trigger phrases used to prompt transformation. For instance, the phrase Black Cat...]

[The blob shimmers again and suddenly transforms into a large brown monster that looks like a cross between a rat and a dog and an alligator. It's thin and spindly and has no eyes, only a long, heavy muzzle filled with lots and lots and lots of two-inch teeth.]

[Plane, meet the Gate monsters. Hei throws the thing several feet away before it's done transforming and stumbles backward before falling onto his butt. He reaches for his knife, but since he's a scientist for now, all his weapons are gone. Hei looks completely terrified.]

No, no, no, you can't be here, you're not supposed to be here...

[The Gate monster snarls and stalks closer. Hei scoots backward.]

No, you're not real. You can't be real. This can't...

[From out of nowhere comes some really creepy and intense background music.]

Voice...voice, how do I make it change back? How...

[No answer.]

Dammit...

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[The Gate monster shimmers and seems to flick back and forth between Gray and the monster before finally settling on Gray.]

Black cat, why did it transform for black cat?

[In the blink of an eye, Jack let's go of Hei and moves away. But instead of moving back, he takes a step towards 'Gray']

Gray. Gray I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry....

You don't deserve forgiveness!

Jack. Jack this isn't--he's not--

[Fuck it all.] How do you turn it off? Dammit. It was black cat, so...what? Black dog? Black, white, red, yellow...dog, cat, mouse...

[He's almost close enough to touch 'him' now, but goes no farther. 'Gray' smirks at him, cruel and condescending]

Even with eternal life, you're still a coward. You run away, Jack. That's what you did to me. That's what you did to mom when you joined the Agency, and that's what you did when you let your team die.

[Grits his teeth, walks up and grabs Jack by the back of his coat and pulls him backward until Hei is in front of him--and about six inches from a Gate monster, which snarls and bares its two-inch teeth.]

Proximity.

[Hei is definitely shaking now, but at least the monster isn't mind-fucking him.]

Black...black cat so...

[The monster opens its mouth, greenish saliva dripping from its jaws.]

Wh-white cat...?

[The monster shimmers and disappears, leaving a little girl who abruptly walks up and hugs Hei around the waist.]

Nii-chan, there you are!

[Hei goes as white as a sheet.]

[It's Jack's turn to stare, confused at the little girl who is currently clinging to Hei. He also knows that look.

Without really thinking, because if he thinks then he won't act, he grabs Hei's arm and jerks him back away from the thing, shoving him hard enough that he should fall a few feet away if he doesn't brace himself.

The monster shimmers again, and the little girl is a replaced by a boy not much younger than her, looking confused]

Have you seen my brother? He said he was supposed to take my to explore the sand dunes today. He's the best, so you should know him.

[Jack nods at this, seemingly unable to find it in himself to speak. The boy grins up at him]

Good, I knew you would. But I bet you don't love him as much as I do! Nobody does; he's told me so himself.

[He sinks to his knees and hugs the boy tightly, shoulders shaking silently]

I love you Gray. I'm so sorry. I love you....

[Hei does go down, rather hard since at this point he's completely out of it. He watches the exchange from the floor, starting to understand what's happening, though it's quite awhile before he speaks again.]

The same...it's the same...

...Was he your brother? [Like Jack, he knows that look.]

[Jack still hasn't let go, but his shoulders stop shaking now. 'Gray' seems to have fallen asleep, and he cradles the small body in his arm. It's sometime before he answers Hei, his voice devoid of emotion]

Is. He's still alive. Frozen down in the vaults, but he's still alive.

[Makes no effort to get back up. He stares at Jack for a long time, not saying anything.]

I'm sorry.

[Jack himself makes no move to get up from the floor, just closes his eyes]

Yeah, me too.

[Is silent for awhile longer, emotions warring within him.]

This needs to stop. There must be...a way to undo the...

[It happens instantly. Gray shimmers and dissolves back into an iridescent pile of goo.]

[Jack stares at the goo for a moment then stands, letting it slush back to the floor]

Simple as that, huh?

[Doesn't answer, staring rather incredulously at the blob because how could it be that easy?]

[Jack runs a hand through his hair, making a frustrated sound under his breath] ...Hei, can you do me a favor?

...Sure.

Don't tell anyone about what you saw, none of it. And don't tell them about Gray being alive, even if they know about him.

I won't.

[He gives him a slight smile, though it seems to be somewhat....off] Are you going to ask, about Gray?

No. I doubt you want to talk about him.

Not particularly, no. [Jack doesn't say it, but he is thankful to Hei for leaving it be] Not a lot of people would pass on the opportunity, you know.

I won't ask either.

[Nods.] Equal exchange.

042: It's the Fear, Fear of the Dark

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