#antimarvel

After Chase dismisses them they get back to Jackie's apartment - a little bit theirs, now, even if none of them have discussed the subject of moving in together. The atmosphere is heavy and there is no escaping it - Chase made damn sure of that, Marvin thinks bitterly. They're not looking at Jackie - not out of anger, but because they don't want to face the resentment and anger waiting for them there. 

Jackie on his end is moving too much, too fast - clearly aching to talk but knowing that once he does the shitstorm will truly start and he's tired, okay, he's been up for just as long as Chase but he refuses to go to bed angry.

(And this is why Jackie is there, he knows, even as he stubbornly paces. This is why they work but Marvin and Anti does not, too busy being cool and detached to realize that they need each other's trust.)

But he's not going to be the one to start it, not when he's hurt like this. He will yell and shout and accuse and so they're locked, status quo, catch 22, whatever you want to call it.

(And Anti sighs and knows this is why he's here, this is why the three of them work but Jackie and Marvin doesn't. They are too stubborn and set in their ways, and Anti… Anti doesn't have any belief he's willing to die for, except the three of them.)

"Alright," he says, breaking the silence. "Since yall won't talk, I will. I got no idea what the story is here, not really, but the kid is alright, right? She's healthy and with her mom and she's gonna come back. So it's all good, in the end, right? No matter how angry you two are it's just. technicalities."

Jackie wants to snap, wants to argue, but he takes a deep breath and holds it while the anger wells and then he breathes out, slowly, and it settles down into a simmer again. He takes a few more breaths and then he speaks. 

"I thought she was dead." Those words seem to take most of the fight out of him, and he slumps down to sit on the couch. 

"I thought she was dead, or gone, and I ran around there for hours…"He chokes, and Anti sits down beside him and pulls him closer, offering wordless comfort because he's never been good at saying nice things. Jackie accepts it, and it's a few minutes before he looks up, looks between his partners, and ask one final question: 

"Why?"

And Marvin. Beautiful, stubborn, detached Marvin sinks to the floor in front of the two of them, face bare, and gathers their thoughts. 

"I needed to protect you." They say, finally, voice quiet. "I had to get her to Chase, but… I knew it could go wrong so, so easily. Chase, I -" They swallow. "He loves me, but he's killed people he loved before. I couldn't risk you getting involved as well. Anti, you were there already,but you, Jackie… I couldn't bear it if you got hurt as well." 

Silence fills the room, shocked and raw, and Marvin closes their eyes with a small huff. 

(This is why they're there, they know, why they work when Jackie and Anti don’t. They are too rash and brave. Marvin makes them slow down, makes them think, makes them survive.)

They are different, but they are what each other need.

And then, because Marvin has learnt from Jackie:

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you out."

And Anti, hesitantly, because he's learnt from Marvin:

"We should make sure we're ready for this in the future."

And finally Jackie, smiling, because he's learnt from Anti:

"Its okay. It all worked out in the end."

The three of them fall into an embrace, right there on the living room floor, tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces between whispers of "I love you" and "sorry" and "we're okay" 

Anti threw the bloodied baseball bat into a corner. He’d clean it up later. Right now, all he wanted was a shower. Taking care of those thugs was exactly what he’d needed after the fiasco with Connor - a way to vent his frustration without doing damage to anything actually important. His shoulders felt loose, his arms swinging at his sides, as he stepped into the small decontamination shower that had been here since before he moved in.

He’d upgraded it a bit since, of course, even though the heat was still wonky. As the water turned red in the drain, Anti pondered just staying there for the rest of the day. Maybe the rest of the week.

Then he remembered that Marvin had specifically texted him to hurry home, and he sighed. The moment they had seen the kid, they'd gone all weird. Was it someone they knew? Anti didn't know Marvin knew anyone with kids.

He hoped they were okay.

Anti got out of the shower and pulled on something more comfortable than his gear, leaving it to be cleaned and stored properly later. For now, he just replaced the pistol in its holster and slung it over his shoulder. He was home, with all his traps and warning systems set up, but one was always better safe than sorry.

Anti headed deeper into the abandoned factory, following familiar twists and turns until he came to what had been a secondary work room, where he had set up his gear. Thats where Marvin would wait, usually.

He turned the corner and sure enough found Marvin - but not only him.

Antis eyes almost bugged out of his head at the sight of the girl from the alley, chatting with Bing and Marvin while wrapped in a blanket on the couch.

What.

Anti hurried over, ready to ask what I'm the everloving fuck some random kid was doing in his workshop.

Marvin caught sight of him first, though, and said something to the girl before getting up to meet him halfway.

“What the fuck, Marvin?” Anti hissed out, gesturing towards the girl. “Please explain the Actual Child sitting and talking with the super secret experimental android in my workshop.”

Marvin held up their hands.

“Alright, I know this looks bad but. Trust me. This is an extreme situation.” They took a deep breath, running their hands through their already frazzled hair. Anti’s eyes softened a bit, and he pulled Marvin close in a one-sided hug.

“Alright, talk to me, kitten. What’s happening?”

Marvin smiled at him, slightly less shaky now.

“That girl… I haven’t seen her in ages. Her name is Sarah Brody. She’s Chase’s oldest daughter.”

Anti’s mind blanked. Just. entirely. After a few seconds of gaping he found his voice, all pretense of secrecy forgotten.

“He has a DAU-” Before he could more than begin talking, Marvin covered his mouth. Anti immediately licked their hand, and Marvin let him go with a disgusted sound.

“Gross.”

“You love it,” Anti grinned. “Seriously though. A daughter?” He asked, turning to face Marvin more fully. Marvin nodded, and sighed with a small smile.

“Yep. And a son, but he’s not here apparently. Look - she’s here to see Chase. She wants to - connect with him.”

Anti frowned.

“Yeah, and? How does that affect us?”

Marvin gave him an exasperated look.

“Do you think she knows? Chase would never risk his kids’ life like that. She thinks he runs a restaurant chain. Jackie apparently tried to take her to the train and send her back, but she ran away.”

Anti stared, and then laughed, because honestly, what else could he do? His whole perception of Brody was falling over itself in his head. A kid? No, wait, two kids? That meant a wife, probably. And two kids he had lied to? His world was shifting too fast to keep up with.

“Stars… so she just showed up? To go talk to him?” he asked, helplessly amused. Marvin smiled too, a hint of pride in their expression.

“Yup. Wouldn’t take no for an answer, apparently.”

“She’s her father’s kid, alright,” Anti laughed, finding no other proper way to react. “No wonder Jackie couldn’t keep her contained, she sounds like a firecracker.”

At that moment, Marvin’s phone buzzed. They fumbled it out, and Anti caught a glimpse of the screen: It was Jackie calling.

“Speak of the devil,” Marvin muttered before responding, voice light and airy.

“Hi, darling! Is everything good?”

A moment of silence.

“Did something happen?” Marvin’s voice sounded very innocent - Anti furrowed his brow. Something was going on. Suddenly, Marvin’s voice shifted into abject horror.

“She did what? no! Jackie, you’ve got to find her!”

Wait, what?

“Yeah, I’ll keep an eye out. Good luck, I love you!”

The phone clicked, and Anti was gaping.

“Did you just - “

“Yeah,” Marvin cut in, fiddling with their phone and pulling their fingers through their hair. “Yeah, I did.”

“Why?” Anti asked.

“Because Chase deserves it!” Marvin snapped, suddenly fierce. “She’s safe, and he’s been holding out on her. I’m not just gonna send her home with a pat on the back, that won’t do anything!” Despite the fervor, Anti could still see the desperation - this was a dangerous move, if not handled well. If Anti didn’t handle it well.

He stepped forward and pulled Marvin into a proper hug.

“I’ve got your back, kitten,” He murmured. A second later, he grinned evilly. “Besides, Chase did steal Connor right from under our noses. He can sweat for a bit.”

Marvin’s shoulders lowered under his arms.

“I knew I could trust you, honey.”

Anti shrugged.

“Fuckery and treason, it’s what I’m here for. So what do we do now?”

Marvin stepped back, determination and trepidation obvious on their face.

The very first time Anti had seen them do magic, he had been terrified.

The magician had let the green sparks play over their fingers as Schneeps cooed and took notes. The sparks were small, delicate, playful.

Anti hated them.

Up until now, Jackie had been the only one to really be able to challenge him. and even so, Jackie was tied to the rules of this world. slow. boring. predictable.

This ego… Anti could feel the potential for power inside them. The potential to stop Anti completely, hold him prisoner, make him weak. helpless.

Anti would not let that happen.

The room grew dark, lights stuttering and blinking out as Anti’s aura filled the space. He shoved Henrik away, not caring as he sputtered out curses, and turned his eyes to the magician.

Their magic had disappeared, and they looked pale and terrified in the green light. Powerless. pathetic. Anti smirked and shoved them into the wall, a knife materializing in his hand. He pushed it up against their neck, delighting in the tiny, scared noise that escaped them.

“You think you're so great, huh? the magnificent magician,” he taunted. “You have nothing against me. You are nothing.”

He laughed, voice warped and glitched. The magician gasped for air, voice thin and reedy as they replied.

“Wh-Why? I - haven't done anything to you!”

An ugly feeling rose in Anti’s chest. He assumed it was rage and threw the magician to the ground.

“Make sure you don't or I will make you pay.” He sneered and disappeared in a shower of static, leaving the magician and the doctor on the floor, blinking in the sudden light.

“What… was that?” the magician said, voice slowly growing stronger. Henrik sat up and sighed.

“Anti… he's a mess. Stay away from him, little one.”

The magician nodded mutely, but their eyes lingered on the basement door.

After that, the magician kept their magic quiet. Subtle.They weren’t very good with it anyway - and card tricks never hurt anyone. Whatever real magic they could do they practiced in secret, hidden in their bedroom late at night.

But they didn’t stay away from Anti.

Or well… they did at first. Anti was terrifying, there was no denying that. But he was also… strangely intriguing. Hard to read. But as the magician watched, quietly, patiently, they began to be able to read him.

He wasn't… entirely senseless in his violence. Defensive, almost - reacting to every perceived slight and threat with blows and shoves . Most of the others avoided him, or just dealt with it. Jackie was a notable exception. He seemed to be able to match Anti, assert his and the other egos space in this whole mess.

The magician couldn't do that. They were unknown, still - weak, both magically and physically. Anti was far too strong for them - far too dangerous. They kept their distance. But they couldn't stop watching. Anti was like a car crash in slow motion - horrible and terrifying, but impossible to look away from.

Anti noticed, of course, which led to another bout of getting pushed up against a wall and threatened. The magician covered, unwilling to make him more mad, but also frustrated. They hadn't done anything! Why was the damn glitch like this?

“Why are you here?” Anti growled, claws biting into their shoulders. The magician hissed in pain, answering with the first thing that came to their mind.

“I live here too, you know,” they spat, struggling a little against the hold. “I'm allowed to be where I want.”

Curse the community for making them a sassy shit.

“You were following me,” Anti hissed back. the magician looked at him, heat spreading across their cheeks.

“Yeah, so what?”

“Why? What are you planning? You can't hurt me, you know that, you pathetic fuck.”

The magician looked incredulously at Anti. He hadn't….

“Nothing, you self-absorbed prick. You're interesting, is all.”

Anti didn't respond for a second. He looked like he couldn't believe what was going on.

“Interesting?” He croaked out and boy, this was a fun reaction.

“Very,” The magician purred. They continued when Anti stayed silent. “What is it? Cat got your tongue?” The glitch snarled and shoved away, disappearing in his usual cloud of static.

The Magician picked themself up slowly and brushed away the dust from their cape. That had been… odd. Odd, scary, but very, very intriguing.

They kept happening after that. Anti had the most delightful reaction to flirting, so of course the Magician kept doing it. Carefully, of course - they were quite done with being shoved around, thank you very much.

“Magician?”

“Yeah, pretty boy?”

“What did you do with- what.” Anti interrupted himself, giving the Magician a flat look. They fluttered their eyelashes, looking as innocent as could be.

“What, Anti?”

Anti glared at him, but didn’t say anything more - just left the room, grumbling to himself. The magician grinned. Who needed magic when flirting was just as effective?

This went on for a while, the Magician pushing and flirting and Anti shying away. Then… Well. Then he started flirting back.

“Ouch, fucking - “ The magician swore, waving his hand around as if that would make the burn on it less painful. They glared balefully at the cup of tea sitting innocently on the table.

“Fuck you and your shitty parents, you -”

“Didn’t expect such ugly words from such pretty lips, Magician.”

Anti was suddenly there, and the magician very nearly fell off their chair in shock.

“Jesus fuck my ass, what?!” They yelled, almost knocking the damn cup of tea over again. Anti just cackled and disappeared, leaving the Magician blinking and wondering what the fuck had just happened.

It took them awhile to figure out that had been Anti’s attempts at flirting, and they didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

It just kept going, too. Rough and mean, at first, but with more and more subtlety and heat in his eyes and… well. They couldn't let him win, now could they?

“You’ve got such lovely eyes… I almost want to carve them out.” Anti would say, leaning back against the table. They would stop, drag their eyes over Anti’s body, slowly, leisurely,

holding the reply until Anti was just about to say something -

“Oh no, I think you’d look much better in other outfits. Or perhaps without one at all.”

And you couldn't watch someone, compliment them, flirt with them, without developing some sort of feelings. The magician found themself watching Anti with intent - letting their gaze travel across Anti's body slowly, fully aware that he was watching them. The glances became more and more heated, the touches more lingering, the innuendos blatant enough that each family dinner was an exercise in ignorance for the other egos.

But something was still wrong.

The magician was pacing. This was all in good fun, wasn’t it? This thing with Anti. They flirted, and made fun, and it was all good. It was just how they were. It was certainly better than Anti sneering at him at every opportunity - certainly better than having to tip-toe around him.

So why did they feel so bad? Why was the squirming along their back still there?

A knock sounded on the trapdoor leading up to his room, and they almost jumped out of their skin.

“Come up,” they wheezed, sitting down on the bed with a loud thump. Jackie poked his head in through the gap and then climbed up, closing the door after him.

“Don’t scare me like that,” The magician muttered, scooting over to make room for Jackie to flop down on the bed.

“You scare pretty easily nowadays,” Jackie said casually, looking up at the slanted roof. “And you’ve been hanging out with Anti a lot. What’s up with that?”

The magician almost choked.

“The fuck, Jackie,” They coughed. Jackie patted them on the back, entirely unsympathetic to their plight. How dare he be all… open and willing to talk about emotions. Ew.

“It’s nothing, don’t worry about it,” the magician replied. Jackie shook his head. Damnit.

“Look, I’m just… He’s dangerous, Magic. And I’m not saying you’re weak!” He quickly defended himself, seeing the magician turn and glare at him. “I’m not saying that. But you look tense around him. You don’t use your magic. You go all quiet when he gets too loud.” He counted them off on his fingers, and the magician felt themself curl up.

“I don’t,” they hissed in defense. Jackie threw up his arms.

“It’s just what I’ve seen, friend. I’m not the most perceptive,” they both breathed out a laugh at that, before Jackie grew serious again. “But I do know fear, Magic. You’re scared. And just… I just. Man. Does he hurt you? Are you ok?”

The magician opened their mouth to argue, already feeling the defensive anger build, but… they closed their mouth.

They know they weren’t being hurt. Anti hadn’t laid a finger on them since they began… flirting or whatever. But apparently, it didn’t look like that.

And maybe…

“I… think I’m a little worried,” they said, testing out the words. It was against everything they knew to admit to being scared, but - “Maybe - he’s - I don’t think he would do anything. Not… now. But…” They swallowed, unable to find words.

“But maybe you’re worried anyway?” Jackie tried, and they nodded.

“I don’t want to,” they said. “He’s - I shouldn’t.” Jackie nodded.

“You really shouldn’t, you could probably kick his ass,” He assured, a small smile. “But you still hide when he’s around.”

The magician nodded distractedly. They did, didn’t they? Whenever Anti showed up they stopped doing magic, gave him all their focus. If they teased, it was always with a carefully blunted edge - desperate not to make him angry. To make him hurt them.

It was like they were at the edge of a cliff - standing safely away from the edge, but longing to get closer. Longing to throw themself over. Unsure if they would carry through.

“I know he won’t - he can’t.” They said, once the silence had stretched long enough. “I know that here,” they knocked against their head. “But not here,” they said and splayed their other hand over their chest.

Jackie nodded thoughtfully.

“It sucks,” he proclaimed. “You’re just as powerful as he is. You shouldn’t be scared of him.”

The magician couldn’t help but agree. Jackie nodded decisively, and that, it seemed, was all he wanted to know.

“Hey, can you teach me that coin trick?”

They spent the rest of the evening talking about anything but Anti, and the magician felt something uncurl in their chest. They were ok. They would be ok.

The next day, The magician brought up a tiny ball of magic to play with while they were reading in the living room. When Anti finally stumbled in after noon, grumbling about coffee, they didn’t put it down.

Anti didn’t even notice.

Slowly, carefully, a smile spread over their face.

Another step towards the cliff.

After that, the Magician began testing boundaries. Playing around with strands of magic in their hand as they spoke to Anti, pushing just a bit further, snarking back and not just laughing and smiling.

“For fuck’s sake, M, where the fuck is the remote?”

The magician grinned and shrugged, eyes big and innocent.

“I wouldn’t know, Anti. Why would I ever hide something from you?”

Anti glared at them and turned around, grumbling as he lifted couch cushions and peered under the table. The Magician giggled and used their magic to tip him over, landing Anti on the floor with an undignified yelp.

“Whoops,,” they laughed before walking over to help him up. “Didn’t see you there.”

Anti took their hand. Their eyes caught, and there was a raging fury in them that almost had the Magician shying back. For a moment the fear was back, tearing through fragile trust - he’ll hurt me this was the last straw I’m -

They didn’t get further in their panic before Anti pulled them down, landing them on top of him with a soft thud. Anti still looks angry, but it was… mischievous. Burning, yes, but as Anti’s hands came to rest on their ass, they realized it’s not the way they thought it had. Then one of Anti’s hands crawled around to their front, and oh fuck.

“Is that the remote in your pocket,” Anti purred, and stars he had gotten too good at that, “Or are you just happy to see me?”

The magician groaned at the cheeziness. They pulled the remote out of their pocket, very carefully touching as much of Anti’s body as possible. They held it up between them.

“Looks like you found it,” They said, deadpan, and Anti laughed, hoarse and almost happy.

“Fucking great,” He said, shoving the magician off of him so that he could sit up properly. They rolled with it,leaving their legs draped over Anti’s lap as they found a comfortable way to lay on the carpeted floor.

“Time to kick your ass,” The magician said, picking out Luigi and his favorite car.

“You wish you could get your hands on this ass, kitten,” Anti drawled, the petname high-pitched and ironic. The magician giggled.  

“Don’t tempt me.”

Half an hour later, Anti was far from happy.

“You cocksucking son of a whore, if you drop another red shell on me - “ He cried out in anger as a blue shell descended on him with impeccable timing, sending him hurtling into the depths while the Magician cackled. His aura was big and dark, the wavering edges lapping along the TV and sending nervous frizzles of glitches across the screen. There was a ringing inside the magician’s head, setting their teeth on edge even as they concentrated on the game. Anti threw his controller in frustration, power pulsing in a way that would have knocked the magician over if they hadn’t thrown up their own magic as well, countering it immediately. “Watch it,” They snapped without thinking, freezing for a second before forcefully tearing themselves out of it, focusing back in on the game where Luigi had predictably driven himself into a wall. Anti snarled but went to fetch his controller. He slumped down on the floor, coming to rest halfway on top of the magician. They groaned and wriggled into a better position.

“Jesus fuck Anti, personal space?”

Anti shoved his elbow into the magician’s ribs, making Luigi drive right into a wall on-screen as the magician wheezed.

“You like it,” Anti preened.

“You wish,” The magician shot back, pushing Anti off of him with a bit of magic. Anti pushed back and before they knew what was happening there was a tiny wrestling match happening - nothing serious, Anti’s aura present but almost playful as he tried to push the magician over. The magician put up a good fight, though - they were learning how to use their magic, let it course through their body and make them stronger.

But - just as they were about to push Anti down, the memory from that first meeting blared into their mind.

“Wh-Why? I - haven't done anything to you!”

“Make sure you don't or I will make you pay.”

The magician hesitated for just a moment, and that was all the time Anti needed to get on top, pinning the Magician to the floor with a cackle.

“Got ya, magic man.” He leaned in, smile wide, and suddenly the magician had something completely different on their mind.

“Now… whatever should I do with you?”

The magician gulped and squirmed a bit, but nope. They were stuck. Normally, this would be fine, but they couldn’t help the uncomfortable feeling growing in their chest. Anti leaned closer, smug smile painted across his face, and the magician closed his eyes.

A second later, the weight on their chest was gone. The magician waited a second, just to make sure, then opened their eyes.

Anti was sitting a few feet away, fiddling with the controller to get the race restarted.

“A- Anti?” the Magician said before clearing their throat. They hated how questioning they sounded - how weak. Anti wasn’t looking at them.

“Let’s keep playing, dude,” Anti replied, speaking fast. Then he sighed and pressed one hand to his eyes. The pressure in the room noticeably decreased - the magician could feel their ears pop.

The magician blinked, but when no more words were forthcoming, they slowly got up. If Anti didn’t want to talk about it, then they sure as shit weren’t gonna start that awkward conversation. They picked up their controller, thrown into a corner during the tussle, and hesitated for a moment. The couch was free, and there was a lot of unoccupied space on the floor… but.

Anti had retreated. They would Not.

The magician plonked down in Anti’s lap with a bit too much force, grinning when Anti swore in surprise and rearranged his legs so that it would hurt less. They wiggled a bit to get comfortable, (and to see the wide-eyed look on Anti’s face) before they joined the game and picked luigi once again. Anti linked his arm around their waist to get at the controller, put his chin down on their shoulder, and soon they were playing again, as if nothing had happened.

The cliff edge was tantalizingly close, now, toeing the edge.

But the jump would have to come later, when the thought of it didn’t send fear shooting down their spine. Right now, he had three red shells and Peach clear within his sights. A moment later, Anti was yelling again.

“Fuck you, you piece of shit cock-sucking - “

“Only if you ask nicely,” they cut in, and cackled as the ensuing moment of shock caused Peach to fly right off the track again.

“Oh fuck you!”

“Later.”

The magician was seated on the porch floor, meditating. They didn't often have time to do so, but it helped control their powers as they grew stronger by the day, fed by the fandoms interest. In one hand they balanced a small ball of swirling silver magic, tossing between their hands occasionally as the need to do something manifested itself. It was calm. peaceful.

Of course, that’s when Anti decided to show up.

A weak, crackling hum in the air heralded his appearance, sitting backwards on one of the porch chairs and leaning dangerously close.

“Whatcha doing?”

A shiver of magic shot through the magician at the disturbance. It ran through the air and split it, crackling with violet, distressed force.

There was a loud noise as Anti shot back and upturned the chair. The magicians eyes snapped open, sucking the magic back inside them with a sharp breath. The rift dissipated and they and turned to Anti with furrowed brows.

“What the hell was that for?”

Anti was on the floor in a pile of chair and limbs, but his hissed answer was still very audible.

“You opened a damn rift in my face, what did you expect me to do?”

“Get your fucking face out of my magic in an adult manner, jesus fuck!” The magician rolled their eyes and tried to gather their magic back into themself. They hadn’t as much shut the rift as they had scattered the magic around them, glittering in the low evening light. The Magician gestured with their hand tensed into a claw, pulling the sparks into a river of flowing magic to draw it back into himself.

“Wait.”

The magician froze, the magic immediately dissolving from its orderly river to flow freely again. Anti had a look of - almost curiosity on his face. He stretched out one hand, letting one of the escaping stars of magic crash into it. The magician knew how it would feel for him, a tiny pleasant shiver as the magic reintegrated into his system.

They had no idea how Anti would react. For now, however, it didn’t seem too bad. They slowly relaxed, watching as Anti looked at his hand, turned it over as if to see if the magic had left any marks. Another star hit his shoulder - he flinched, but not more.

“How does it feel?” The magician couldn’t help but ask. Anti looked up, as if he’d forgotten there was someone else there.

“‘S nothing,” he said. The magician didn’t believe that for a second, but Anti didn’t talk unless he wanted to. Instead, the magician gathered up the magic into a river once again, but instead of drawing it back in they directed it towards Anti. It moved slowly, carefully, like a cat looking for pets. Anti looked like he didn’t know whether to flee or fight.

“It’s ok,” The magician said, almost on reflex. “It won’t hurt.”

“How do you know?” Anti said, but he didn’t sound accusatory. It sounded like a genuine question, so the magician gave it a genuine answer.

“It’s… mostly linked to my emotions, I think. It will only hurt if I want it to. It’s calm now, because I’m calm.” As they talked, Anti reached out a careful hand, letting the magic touch it and slowly begin snaking up his arm. The Magician smiled. They didn’t think they’d ever seen Anti this… calm. The feeling reflected in their magic as it grew more inquisitive, jumping between Anti’s outstretched hands. After a few more moments of play the Magician called the magic back into themselves, feeling it settle along his spine, warm and squirming.

Anti looked calmer, but the slightly calculating edge in his eyes were back. “If you wanted to hurt someone, could you?”

The words made something else echo in the back of the Magician’s mind, but even as they hesitated the magic surged up inside them, wiping away the worry in the back of their mind. They weren’t a violent person - but if they needed to? If there was something they wanted, being kept from them?

“Yes.” They said, back straight. “I could.”

Anti grinned. “How interesting. I will leave you to it, Magician.”

With that, he was gone, leaving only a mess of static in the air. The Magician’s magic was dancing in him, excited and scared and turned on. They weren’t sure what had just happened - but they did know it was good.

Marvin.

The magician - no, Marvin, tasted the name, felt it settle over their - his? shoulders like a well-worn shirt. Yes. It fit him.

“Congrats, Marvin! Marv? Can I call you Marv?” Chase said, punching them - him - Lightly in the shoulder. Marvin laughed.

“I just got my name, you gonna go changing it already?”

Chase laughed at that, excited enough over the news that he was literally bouncing. “This is so great! I’m so happy for you, man. We should celebrate! You’re getting your favorite food tonight, Marvin!” Chase disappeared in the direction of the kitchen, and Marvin sighed fondly. Chase was a ball of energy at the best of times. Today, he’d been flying on clouds.

Not that Marvin hadn’t been, as well. A name! His name. He was a proper ego now. He could feel the change in his very bones, in the way his magic flowed through him - more settled, oozing out into every aspect of him. More grounded. More powerful.

He called up a ball of purple energy, formless and hazy, drawing it bigger, like a soap bubble of delicate swirling light and dots.

“Hey, M,” came from behind him. Marvin didn’t even flinch - Anti’s voice was calm under the spastic glitching, settled down - for now.

“Marvin, actually,” He said, delighting in how the name felt on his tongue.

“I heard. Proper ego and everything, now.” Anti stepped out in front of him, eyes darting as he tried to follow the kaleidoscope balanced on Marvin’s fingertips. “More powerful, too.” The last words were said with a bit of edge, and Marvin narrowed his eyes. Was he about to try something?

He let the bubble in his hands pop, sending a shower of sparks and glitter over the two of them.

“What about it?” He asked, squaring his shoulders and meeting Anti’s eyes.

Anti grinned, slowly, one eye turning black as he let his own aura swell just slightly to match the magic Marvin wasn’t even aware he’d been giving off. Matching. Equal.

“Oh, nothing,” He said. “I’m just glad that you’re on my side.”

His side. Not “ours”. Not the egos in general. Anti, specifically.

Marvin grinned as well, wider and darker than usually.

“Yes,” He said, throwing himself off that cliff, wings spread and ready for whatever waited. “Yes I am.”

Anti’s smile grew wider, inhuman and terrifying and so incredibly damn hot. He stepped closer, and Marvin didn’t waiver - matched the step, in fact, pushing them right up against each other in the empty living room. Anti’s face was only inches away - Anti’s lips, almost touching his.

“Good,” Anti purred, licking his lips. Marvin couldn’t help but watch - and then he did it once again, slower.

“I’d hate to have you run off again,” He said, and before Marvin could truly question what that meant there were lips pushed up against his own. Warm, hard, insistent - Marvin couldn’t even try and dredge up a smidge of the fear he would have felt only weeks ago. Instead he pushed back, kissing Anti with abandon as he wrapped his arms around him. Anti didn’t hold back, and neither did he - soon they were licking into each other’s mouths, exploring and twining together. Marvin found himself with one hand buried deep in Anti’s hair, the other one drawing up and down his back. He pushed closer, carefully rolling his hips -

A crash sounded from the kitchen and they tore away from each other, arms still wrapped around each other, breathing heavily as they searched the other’s eyes for the same heat burning inside them.

“I’m alright!” Chase shouted from the kitchen, and Marvin giggled. Adrenaline and joy and longing were playing along his nerves, making him twitchy and lingering as the two slowly drew apart.

Anti looked about as wrecked as Marvin felt - eyes blown and breath heavy, hands moving as if wishing to be wrapped in curly hair and soft fabric once again. As Marvin caught his breath Anti did the same, pulling himself back to some sort of composure to deliver his final line.

“I’ll see you around, Marvin.” With that, he disappeared, glitching out of existence in a shower of sparks that sent heat racing up Marvin’s spine.