I'll Try To Step In Just In Time

That was Andrew’s voice. It was strained, and not mention his eyes seemed to be flickering back and forth. That mean he as fighting harder. That Kellin’s words really were having an effect. The Beast in Kellin had long since subsided, he was no match for the boy who was already in control and his emotions were running on high. He could focus his entire attention on helping Andrew break down that last wall that had been erected between them. “Don’t be.” Kellin said quickly. He took hold of Andrew’s hands, not bothered by the claws or what the beast Andrew might do to his hands when he touched him. Kellin held them anyway, “Don’t be scared. This is just a stupid curse, curses can be broken. I said it Neverland, I’m never letting you go, got it? This guy’s just a big bully. Remember your first day of high school? And how I did everything in my power to get back at the idiots that tried to hurt you? This beast is just another bully. And I’ll do everything in my power to help you fight him away. Even if I have to succumb to the curse myself and fight him, I’ll do it. I love you, and I’d do anything for you.”

There it was again. That flash. He could scarcely imagine the mental war that was going on inside Andrew’s head as Kellin’s words met his ears. But in all of it, it seemed he was having something of an effect on him. But not enough yet to break him out of the curse entirely. He meant every word of what he said, but they weren’t words he was used to saying often. It went against his nature to be so open, and it made his stomach lurch just thinking about having to express himself like that, but he was more than willing if it meant saving Andrew. He blew out a breath, “The fact that you had to hypnotize me to make me honest just makes me a horrible person who really, really doesn’t deserve you. I’m the most selfish person in the world to hold on to you and keep you away from someone who probably deserves you more than me.” He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to form words, “But, I meant exactly what I said in Neverland. I don’t care what happens, there’s no way in hell, heaven, or anywhere in between I’m going to let what we have break. You mean to much to me for that.”

Andrew came back. For the briefest of moments. Those deep brown eyes appeared, full of sorrow and pain. And fear. So much fear. Kellin reached out to him instinctively, wanting to yank him towards him and keep him away from the beast that was supressing him, “Andre—” He was cut off when the yellow eyes of the beast returned and he retracted his arms, not wanting to be caught by his claws. Kellin’s own anger was building up inside of him as he realized just how much this thing was scaring Andrew. It was forcing the beast in him to claw his way to the surface. And for a brief moment, his own eyes flashed, but as he had all this time he fought it back. Suddenly, he knew what he had to do. Emily came back because Kellin teased her to death, Evangeline came back because he used the right words to tap into her compassionate side. And to get Andrew? He had to target the part of him that was strong enough to beat this beast. And as much as didn’t want to admit to it, and as classicaly Disney cheesy it sounded, the strong part of Andrew was the love he had for Kellin. He swallowed hard, “You’re easy to beat. Because…Andrew loves me.” He laughed a little as the words left his mouth, “And no matter how scared he is or upset he is he’d take down anything that would get in between us. Especially if he knows that I love him too. More than anything in my life. And he does know that, you do know that, Andrew.”

Never thought I’d be happy to see this place again.

Kellin scoffed at the ‘improved’ part of his statement. He took a step back, words leaving him entirely for a moment. He was drained and tired from the world hopping, exhausted from the party, hurt by the hypnotism and scared for Evangeline’s life. But he also wanted his boyfriend back, “This probably won’t work, but I’ll say it anyway. The only reason you got into control was because I wasn’t there for Andrew…I was to pissed at him for the hypnotism. I felt like I couldn’t trust him, and then I left him alone and scared and subject to Reilly. And I feel horrible about that…I fucked up, this is my fault. But I want the real Andrew to know that I’m sorry, and that I trust him and I won’t leave his side again.” He crossed his arms over his chest, “And as a side not, you’re not an improvement on anything.”

Kellin had heard this line before from so many in the castle. And they could chose to believe they were still who they claimed to be, but he wasn’t buying it. As far as he was concerned, he’d met a different woman who was in Evangeline’s body. A different woman in Emily’s. And now someone else in Andrew, “You’re not Andrew. You look like him, you sound like him, but you’re not him.” What else could he say to him other than that? This wasn’t Andrew. It simply was not. No matter how he looked at him, this menacing creature wasn’t the Andrew he cared about. But at the same time, he was at a loss for how to get the real Andrew back and make this creature fade away.