A REAL HEADBANGER

“my love.” deep breaths.

“please do not eat the nuke.”

“If you want to get high, then go do something else! I bought really good chocolate to make these!”

“oh i see”

Ah, fuck. He hears his name called out, but the rest doesn’t make it past the processing stage. Probably that virus he heard someone freaking out about.

Or maybe he’s just got anxiety. One of the two. Maybe both. 

The one that had initially piqued his interest holds out a jacket and a mug toward him. It’d be rude to ignore it. Which isn’t something he’d consider too much before, but with his double out there somewhere and a fatal virus supposedly ravaging his body, he can’t afford to turn away an ally.

He tries to look casual as he makes his way over, reaching out to cup the mug but ignoring the jacket for now. Now that he’s being addressed directly, it’s a little easier to understand what’s being said.

Still doesn’t really know how to answer that question, though.

“I-’m the one without powers,” he says haltingly, gritting his teeth to keep them from chattering.

“the virus is really screwing with you, huh?” the human jyuzo comments. he’s looking rather pale himself, his knuckles white around his mug, but there’s an intensity in his gaze that proves he’s fighting the mental deterioration. “we can help you find your other self, if you want.”

the GSU nods at that, taking his jacket back and slinging it over his shoulder instead.

“he’s gonna be looking for you, y’know. there’s an app on his phone that--” his double jabs an elbow into his ribs, and he coughs awkwardly before surrendering to allow the other to explain.

He’s trying to be subtle about his approach. But one thing both versions of him have in common is a lack of stealthiness. 

He can see when he’s spotted. He goes still, breath fogging out in front of him as he tries not to shudder – the t-shirt he’s wearing is clearly not warm enough.

Maybe they’ll stop looking at him and he can walk away without incident?

“that’s yuan!”

“yuan?”

"i nearly beat the shit out of him once.”

“jyuzo...”

“don’t jyuzo me. you’re me! you probably would’ve done the same.” the GSU sighs and rubs his jaw. “i don’t know if that’s the yuan i met, though.”

“does it matter? he looks like he’s about to freeze to death.”

“hn. it’s been hard for you, too.” jyuzo shrugs the pity away. “i guess that’s the multiverse for you.”

the two jyuzos sit side by side, both cradling a mug of coffee. the human version is dressed for the cold, a scarf wrapped around his neck and fingerless gloves adorning his hands. his GSU twin has adopted an almost protective stance; he knows just how crucial keeping his double safe is, up to the point where he must be sealed away.

the jyuzo that was never experimented upon by beruhren or experienced any canon event is... very different, to no surprise! firstly, he’s human. a short, stocky japanese man with dark grey eyes and mid-length black hair typically swept back from his face. he still has a scar across the bridge of his nose. he doesn’t remember where he got it.

a former criminal and wanted man, he’s since redeemed himself and now works as a private detective. he is in a relationship with @coluberfoxii and has cared for @volitionisms and @extendengineer since they were tiny; he regards the latter as his son and daughter despite the fact they’re not biologically related. in his spare time, he reads and writes books.

when the clock ticks forwards into the new year and the fireworks light up the night sky, he remains alone. when the people surrounding him cheer and embrace each other, he flicks through the most recent messages on his phone and feels his heart sink. where are you?