GreySkylight

Ryland knew now what had happened. Court didn't have the Mark Of Eden on the back of his neck. In his short passing he knew he'd seen it, most people, but especially those closer to Father were eager and willing to be branded to remind them they were Edens. That they were the Fathers. You couldn't just remove a brand like that, Court had never had it in the first place.

He probably was their brother here, which makes him wonder if he had brothers back on Eden he didn't know of. Was the man he'd seen his brother? Had he had a twin he'd never seen? Eden didn't have a large population and everyone knew almost everyone, though Ryland had only seen Court once. Barely. With limited resources people really weren't allowed to have more than one kid, with very very few exceptions. Twins would've been a blessing and a curse. He'd seen excess kids taken from their parents and usually put into their army, or on multiple occasions if not healthy enough, fed to the tree.

If Court was his older brother it was a wonder he hadn't been given to the tree, not having had the best health as a kid. What of Colt too? Had he even been a twin? If so was Colt given to the tree? Put into the army's nursery?

He shook himself out of these thought. There was likely no way he'd ever get an answer now.

So what to do here?

He glanced down at the table by the bed, suddenly remembering Court had put something there. A soft bundle greeted him. Pulling it off the table, trying his best not to dirty the pristine cloth, he separated them and looked them over. They had given him underwear, jeans, a sweat shirt, and a shirt with something printed on it. Holding up the black shirt he involuntarily huffed in amusement. It had the periodic table with the title 'Can I lick it?' in bold above, and a color coded chart below indicating which you could and which would kill you. It was quite accurate aside from a few missing elements. Ryland almost despised that he'd found it humorous.

Shaking his head he put the shirt back down with the rest on the table. He stood, taking stock of himself. Prior to being captured by the COI he'd been wearing his Lab gear. The blue jumpsuit with extra pockets scattered about and sewn on, a longer thick jacket for safety with a shoddily sewn on patch indicating he was one of his team, a toolbelt that extended on one side down to clip just above the knee that housed a lot of the smaller equipment and safety gear he'd need, and of course shoes, almost all of which had been confiscated. He felt naked in just the worn jumpsuit.

The real problem was that he was dirty. He noticed the bed, blankets streaked with dirt. He was glad they hadn't touched him beyond moving him, and likely checking his pockets. He had two choices: Either find a way to clean himself up and wear the new clothes, or stay in the filthy jumpsuit. He was used to the filth sure, but if they were going to give him the option to be clean for once he'd damn well take it.

He was going to try for the door when Edens ingrained hospitality dragged him back to the state of the bed. As much as he despised anything and everything Eden had taught him, besides science, he loved science, he couldn't deny the guilt that tugged at him. He'd been treated well all things considering.

He heard Court, he knew it was Court as his footsteps never retreated from the door, enter the room as he was pulling the sheets off the bed. There was silence as he meticulously folded and placed the dirtied items next to the bed. His skin crawled leaving someone dangerous behind him for so long but he wasn't going to let the man think he was afraid of him.

Turning finally, when he was done, he met Courts eyes in challenge. "You making sure I'm not taking off again?"

Court nodded unashamedly. "Why would someone who's upbringing turned them into," He simply motioned at Ryland to get his point across, "Be unmaking their dirty bed? That's more polite than you've been."

Ryland had noticed the distinct military stance, hadn't thought anything of it until he realized the other wasn't from Eden or the COI. "Probably a similar enough upbringing to you." He knew he was pushing, Court knew he was too. Testing boundaries. "You accepted I'm not the same person?"

The slightest sadness could be found in Courts eyes, but he nodded. "You can't be. Much as we wanted you to be, you can't be. Not from this universe at least." Oh, so Court had figured it out. Maybe he was more than just military, or maybe military on this world was smarter. "I went over that garage 20 times, there was no way you broke in, no footprints or drag marks leading to you outside of our scuffle, and no way you knew the codes to get in. There's not a lot of options for that. There's also the brand itself, its far too old. You would've gotten it in your early teens, maybe younger, I knew Ryland until he left as an adult. He never had it."

Ryland didn't wait for more banter, not liking where the conversation was going and how almost on the mark Court was getting. He cut to the chase, "What do we do now?"

"You can't really run wild out there. Our Ryland is gone and you showing up would raise a world wide meltdown. We already had one neighbor come to ask about the spectacle you put on, and I've had to doctor the security footage of no less than 12 houses, including this one." He looked only mildly annoyed.

Ryland considered this. "World-wide?"

"Ryland we shot you into space years ago to save the planet, you did, and in the footage sent back to us you knew you weren't coming home" Court obviously wasn't bothering with distinguishing between them when Ryland could figure out who he was talking about easily.

Shaking his head he said, "We will get into that later. So were on earth," he smartly deduced from Court saying it out loud, all previous theories so far out the airlock it wasn't funny, "I'm alive by miracle of theoretical physics. You're my... brothers?" he gets a nod, "I have to assume I can't go back, not that I'd particularly like to, and I can't go anywhere."

"This is gonna be fun for all of us."

"You have an interesting definition of fun."

"And I get the feeling you have no definition of fun. You gonna leave?" He considered, and then shook his head. "Great. Shower is left down the hall, last door. I'm going to talk to Colt. Later we can all talk." Court turned heel and left, leaving the door open behind him.

_____

"That's not Ryland. At least not ours."

Colt groaned. "I know. It doesn't make sense but I know."

They stood looking at each other in silence, contemplating what had happened and the fact that their brother was still gone, until Court spoke, "You know this isn't your fault?"

Colt turned away, fresh hot tears stinging his eyes like they did anytime someone said it. "Court what are we going to do with him?"

He wasn't getting out of it that easy. Forcing Colt to face him with a strength he knew he had no chance of fighting, Court said it again. "This isn't your fault." He closed his eyes in a desperate attempt not to cry. "This isn't your fault. None of this. Not then, not now." Even with his eyes closed he felt the tears begin to run down his cheeks. "Colt this isn't your fault." He started shaking. "This isn't either of our faults." Court himself started to sound rough. As much as he tried every now and then his training as Six waned in the emotions department, and Colt could see it now.

He coughed out a sob, "It's not our fault." He slumped his head on Courts shoulder and they quietly cried together.

They held each other comfortingly until Colt had jolted and began to wiggle out of his grip as he remembered something. "Shit!"

"What?" Court had let him go when he started struggling.

"I already called Simon."

_________

The link for the shirt was miles long, so if you want to see what I'm talking about you can look up "Can I lick it periodic table" and you'll find it.

Since Ryland will never get to know what happened to the others on the other side I'll make a 4.5 for this AU if anyone's interested telling you what happened in general. Please let me know if that's something you'd like to see!

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It would be a futile attempt at this point to pretend so he sat up and looked at them. "What do you want?"

Court was looking at him curious and stern. Colt looked angry and sad.

They all stared at each other for a few minuets. Ryland was about to lay back down to make a point when Colt asked, "What happened to you?"

It was his turn to be confused. "The fuck do you mean, 'What happened?' You knocked me out and dragged me here."

Both of their eyes widened and they shared a look. "Well uh- Grace what happened after you left? How are you here?"

Grace? was that a prayer? "I just told you, I ran, you pursued. Or did someone else follow me and knock me out?" He knew he was getting frustrated and raising his voice. He knew it had gotten him in a lot of trouble in the past, leniency of him being one of few scientists aside. He dug his nails into his palms to ground himself. "If you mean how I got here in general I would have to assume that a man and woman fucked and I popped out."

_____

There was no way this was their brother. But he had to be. Besides a little added scruff, more than normally unusual clothes, and being dirty and unkempt that was Colts twin. His brother was back but he shouldn't be, and he was acting like a wild fucking animal. Grace never cursed, not much as a child, and especially not after he became a teacher.

Worst of all Grace didn't recognize him or Court. Court He would maybe understand, he had only reconnected with Colt after Ry had been shot into space, the last time either of them had seen him being when they were kids. But Colt. They were twins. Had been inseparable even after they were adopted by their Uncle, and well into adulthood. Even through Colts accident Ryland was the only one who wouldn't let him push them away.

"For sake of being specific," Court put emphasis on specific, "We mean after Ava forced you onto the Hail Mary? Or do you not remember and the amnesiac she gave you hasn't worn off?" Colt could only hope that was the case.

"I don't have amnesia." Was the only response they got.

"Then do you know who we are?"

Grace squinted at Court. "Turn around."

Court raised an eyebrow at him. Colt didn't begrudge him this, Grace had only an hour or so earlier bit the ever-loving shit out of him. He glanced at Colt as if to say 'watch my back' and obliged. He only stayed turned for a few moments, facing Ryland again quickly. Colt didn't like that it was like Court was on alert because of their brother.

Grace hummed and stared off into the distance in thought. His concentration was broken by Court. "I showed you mine, you show me yours?" Ry immediately bristled, baring his teeth, and hunching down. "No. It's only fair. You turn around." Courts voice reminded Colt of when he was being a parent to his brothers and had to be strict for their own good. When Grace made no move to comply Court shrugged. "Or if you prefer I can come over there and look for myself. Your choice." Colt shivered. Sure he was an adult but Court had raised him and he was damn well conditioned.

"Court." Colt tried to interject, calm the situation. Something was obviously wrong and Court agitating The other wouldn't help.

But it worked. Ryland, still tense, turned his head and upper body as far as he could without getting up, and pulled his longer than normal hair up off the back of his neck. Court sucked in a breath and Colts hands started shaking with rage.

There was a painful looking brand on the back of Rylands neck. It was simple but brutal, and it made a point. It marked property.

_____

Twin beef even through alternate dimensions lets go.

Notre Dame reference anyone?

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teehee