#dream variant

It’s not like he couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment when everything had changed; the day they’d first met Him. XGaster. The one person Witness felt comfortable squarely laying all of the blame on, even if perhaps that wasn’t fair; it was still nothing short of what He deserved. For everything He ever did to them, put them through. It only felt right to blame Him for where they ended up; the hell He damned them to.

They’d been so terribly young back then, naive even; though both of them would have vehemently denied it at the time. Thinking that they knew so much better than they did but they didn’t even know yet what they didn’t know. Something which quickly changed under His so-called tutalege. Tired eyelight flicked to look over his brother, light still caught out by the changes. The traces of His powers and influence left over in him; the things which still screamed wrongness to his senses. The proof, plain as day, that he was no longer the same brother he’d grown up with; of just how much everything had changed…

He couldn’t help the sigh that escaped him; the wave of pain which he knew his twin would pick up on in a soulbeat. They always had been so attuned to each other's emotions, even beyond the usual for their empathy; so was the bond of twins. Perhaps that was why it still stung so badly? That Eminence ever thought Witness wouldn’t choose him; that his own twin had thought he’d reject him, pick everything else over him. Never.

“Are you quite alright, my light? You seem distressed.” The use of that name snapped him fully back into reality. It was one of those little things he could never quite explain? Why it hurt him so that Eminence couldn’t even do him the decency of using his name any of them. He knew it was supposed to be a cute nickname but honestly? He sort of hated it. Not simply because it wasn’t his name but also for what it meant, the pressure it brought. Being the last bastion of his brother’s humanity and kindness took its toll. It was a thankless job and one he was frankly starting to doubt he was capable of, yet one he still had none the less.

Empty reassurances fell from his lips, as easily as the tears that now permanently dripped from his remaining socket. “No need to worry brother, I’m fine. Just a touch tired perhaps?” It was a lie and they both knew it. Nothing about any of this was fine. Witness was quite sure half of everything they said these days were lies; pretty words simply meant to dress up the situation they found themselves in. Yet that fact went unspoken, that they were both letting it happen.

“Perhaps you should rest then? I would dearly hate to be keeping you up after all, I am aware that you need your rest.” Despite the concern in Eminence’s tone, Witness knew it was less of a question and more of a command. Em was telling him that their tea was over, that he was done with Witness for the time being. “You’re always so thoughtful, it’s appreciated. I do think a nap may be in order for me. I’m terribly sorry if I’ve spoilt our tea?” While he likely wouldn’t be sleeping, some more rest may just be in order; he was, as always, feeling awfully fatigued. His twin simply waved off his concerns, “I doubt you could ruin anything even if you tried. Go, rest.”

With the far more obvious dismissal, Witness slowly rose to his feet. Needing to hold onto his chair for balance as he was struck with a wave of dizziness, vision tingeing black for a brief moment. Once he was certain he wouldn’t fall the moment he moved, he started back to his rooms. Leaving his brother and all their complications behind, at least for the time being.

Not that it was any great surprise but Foil still remembered that day, crystal clear. When all of this mess became his problem. He had been trying to relax. Laying back in a hammock he’d woven, sunglasses on and mocktail in hand. Was there any sun to bask under in the anti-void? Of course not! That wasn’t the point. He’s been enjoying the fact he had nothing better to do than laze around. Casually sipping his drink and imagining all the things he no longer had to do. When, out of nowhere, Aphorism came into his peripheries. He looked nervous, rightly so for daring to interrupt. Foil debated pretending to be asleep, so that he’d be left alone, before discarding the idea. There was no way he was risking the other trying anything. Or calling him weak. Once Aphorism was as close it seemed like he was going to get, Foil groaned. Loudly. Making sure he knew how unappreciated this interruption to his nothing time was. He jumped at the unexpected noise, making Foil grin. Truthfully? Foil hadn’t realised the guardian even knew how to get in up until this point; he might have to do something about that.

Aphorism cleared his non-existent throat. “Foil. Good,” he paused a beat looking around, “afternoon. I do so hate to interrupt-” “Th3n d0n't.” He interrupted, fully aware of the irony; it amused him. “Trust me, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t feel like I had to be.” Foil wasn’t sure if he should be offended by the sentiment or smug about his reputation. “Wh4t d0 y0u w4nt.” It was less of a question and more a demand for answers, roughly pushing his sunglasses up so he could properly glare. “I was just wondering if you had perhaps seen Caesura around? I know you don’t get along particularly well but-” “Why th3 h3ll w0uld 1 kn0w wh3r3 y0ur t34mm4t3 15?” He cut him off again, baffled at what he was hearing. He was seriously being interrupted for this? Because Caesura had gone off on another one of his little creation binges and forgotten (how very him) to warn his team beforehand? Typical. It was always something when it came to Caesura, always. Aphorism simply sighed in response, wringing his hands. He was wearing a guilty expression, like this was the last place he wanted to be.

“We haven’t seen him.” Seeing that Foil was about to interrupt for a third time he held up a finger, “In weeks. Epithet and I are aware of his tendency towards those creation marathons of his but he’s simply never been gone this long before. We’re starting to get worried. So I volunteered to ask if you had perhaps seen him?” Foil digested the information. So, Caesura was actually missing this time? Ugh. “N0.” “No?” For some reason Aphorism had the gall to sound perplexed by his answer. “N0 1 h4v3n't 533n h1m. Y0u 45k3d, 1 4n5w3r3d. N0w why th3 h3ll 4r3 y0u 5t1ll h3r3?” Foil was starting to get irritated by the other’s continual presence. Reaching with his spare hand to gather threads from his socket; feeling just about ready to string him up. The guardian took an instinctive step back, having been on the receiving end of such treatment more than once, holding up his hands placatingly. “Foil please.” He sounded upset; clearly the idiot was, for whatever stars-damned reason, genuinely worried. “We don’t know who else to turn to.”

Foil was aware the other was purposefully stroking his ego with the admission; didn’t mean it didn’t feel good. Seeing as he was correct, Foil was likely the only one with the skills to find the missing Protector. He emitted a harsh computerised grumble; dismissing his threads with a flick of his phalanges. Feeling quite amused when he heard the relieved sigh and saw the way Aphorism’s posture relaxed at the gesture; at least he had been taken seriously. “F1n3. 1'll h3lp y0u f1nd th4t 1d10t. H3'5 pr0b4bly ju5t 5tuck 1n 50m3 'g00d' 1d34 4nd d035n't 3v3n kn0w h0w l0ng 1t'5 b33n.” He swung his legs over the edge of his hammock, sandal clad feet hitting the ‘ground’ of the antivoid. This was so not what he wanted to be doing right now. “Ju5t t0 m4k3 5ur3, 4nd d0 k33p 1n m1nd 1'm n0t 1n th3 m00d t0 b3 l3n13nt 1f y0u 4n5w3r wr0ng, y0u h4v3 ch3ck3d th3 D00dl35ph3r3 4lr34dy r1ght?” He nodded somewhat frantically in response, very much wanting to assure Foil he hadn’t been bothered for no reason. “Oh but of course! That was our first port of call; we’re more than aware that’s where he tends to spend his time while apart from us. We’ve also checked a few of the other AUs we know he likes to spend time in” Foil simply hummed in response, that was what he had expected from them. While Caesura might be forgetful and have no idea what a boundary was? Aphorism and Epithet were the sensible types. Though maybe that was in debate considering just who they put up with on a regular basis. “L3t5 g0 th3n.” He opened a portal to the doodlesphere, knowing that it was the best place to start looking; beckoning the guardian to follow him through. The sooner he got this over with, the sooner he could go back to his retirement. So he wanted to hurry the hell up as fast as possible.

Foil was brought crashing back into the present by the sound of Epithet slamming a door open in the distance. Probably fetching Aphorism for whatever mission they were up to today; which means he was next. That whole thing had been… a while ago. A long long while ago. Years at this point. They’d ended up spending that whole first day searching; it had been fruitless. Pointless. A total waste of time. So had every day since they’d spent looking. All of it was for nothing. Caesura honestly was nowhere to be found. In a fit of begrudging desperation he’d even asked The Voices where he was, They’d had nothing to say of any more use than a “Eh, he’s gotta be around here somewhere bud.” Fat lot of help They were; as usual.

His earlier assessment of the situation was proven right when Epithet came crashing into his room, though with slightly less force than it sounded like he’d used before. The sensible choice really, seeing as Foil still wasn’t afraid to string up his ‘teammates’ if they truly irritated him; desensitised to their antics as he was becoming. Epithet paused seeing him actually ready to go (for once) before a bright expression overtook him, bouncing on his heels. “OH! YOU’RE READY, GOOD! SAVES ME THE TROUBLE. COME ON, WE’VE GOT TO GO!” The same as they’d learnt their lessons about Foil, Foil had learnt his lesson about Epithet. He had no intentions of ‘troubling’ him in that regard; once was enough. “5tup1d mult1v3r53 1n n33d 0f 54v1ng 4g41n, huh?” Despite himself, he can’t help the amused smile curling at his teeth.  He didn’t hate this as much as he used to, for whatever reason. “MWEHEHE YOU KNOW IT!” He laughs like they’re old friends. Maybe, in some ways, they are? Seeing as they’d been talking even before Foil had ‘joined.’ He motioned with his head for Foil to follow him, heading for the base’s exit point. “50 typ1c4l.” He quickly affixed his staff to his back with a few strings, “4nd 1t'5 4lw4y5 u5 n33d1ng t0 d0 50m3th1ng 4b0ut 1t 45 w3ll?”  ‘TOO TRUE! ALAS, THAT IS WHAT WE’RE HERE FOR. HEROES AND ALL!” The sound of his boisterous voice echoing off the walls. “Ugh. D0n't r3m1nd m3.”Epithet clapped his hands together, a no-contact imitation of a slap on the back. “YOU’LL GET USED TO IT EVENTUALLY FOIL!” He was only teasing but Foil feared that he might be right; he really might get used to this whole thing. Which would make it that much worse when it inevitably all came crashing down around him; when Caesura finally came back. When he… went back into retirement. The thing that he wanted. Totally. Shaking his skull slightly to clear that train of thought (put it on the backburner. Again), he instead focused on his teammates and the mission before them. They were gathered and ready to head out. Looking between each other they each nodded; the signal that they were all ready to head out. No time for negative thoughts when there was a multiverse to ‘save.’