(( Pt. 3 - continued from this thread - @officialcryingchildfnafā with M!A: Mike & Ollie are teenagers ))
āāāāāā
Hey, I can take it - but Iād be happy to have you along, just the same. Ā Cassidy should be safe here for now, and I asked the staff to contact us when she wakes up in case she would consider living with either of us. Ā ā¦ Goodness, I canāt wait to see Mikeās reaction when he sees you like this!!! Ā
*She grabs Oliverās hand, pulls him out into the hall and into a dark open broom closet- vanishing through a shadow portal together. Ā It takes a little longer than she expects to find the right exit portal, but she finally zeroes in on one that gives off Mikeās distinct mix of complex emotions - telling her that heās nearby. With a leap theyāre out of the shadow realm and back on more familiar ground. Ā Jack-O quickly looks around-*
*He put his hand on the wall.* Hes in the bathroom.
*Jack-O looks at him curiously and almost asks him how he knows, but ā¦ given itās the bathroom, she decides sheād prefer to keep it a mystery.Ā She quietly knocks on the door-*Ā Mike, little one, are you alright?Ā I trust you got back without incident?
Go away.
*She almost doesnāt recognize his voice.Ā She looks over to Ollie with a befuddled expression, and lets out a gasp as it finally dawns on her that Ollie may not have been the only one transformed by the anonās magic.*
Mike!!!Ā Please, sweetheart, we came back to check on you.Ā We need to know that youāre ok.Ā If itās the anon magic ā¦ I already know about it.Ā Ollieās here with me and I- I think youāll want to at least come out here and see himā¦ itāll be a good many years before you see him like this again!
*He opened the door, one arm across his chest, and some tears in his eyes.* Im alright, ok?
Oh my goodness, look at you!!! *Despite the distress heās clearly experiencing, Jack-O canāt help beaming with a smile upon seeing him, impulsively pulling teen Mike into a hug* Iām so relieved that youāre alright- *she eases the hug to look at him, her voice yet again breaking with emotion* -and I- I canāt tell you how happy I am to get to see you g-grown up like this- the only thing that could make it better is seeing joy on your face as well ā¦ whatās wrong, my dear?
You dont need to know.
*She tilts her head in a silent āoh reeeeally?ā and lets him free of the hug*Ā Did that anonās magic come with a side of amnesia?Ā Because Iām sure you know me well enough to understand that Iām not letting you deal with something thatās upsetting you this much on your own.Ā You canāt hide the kind of emotions your experiencing from a Nightmare.
You dont need to know! *He punched the wall, putting a decently sized dent in it.* Im gonna go see if theres any baggy sweaters in this house.
*She steps aside- mildly confused at such a jarring, violent reaction.*Ā I can help if you need me to reach - er, then again I guess you can reach tall shelves just fine now ā¦ *She taps her claws together nervously, doing a poor job hiding her concern* Is ā¦ is your hand alright?
Im alright, ok?! You dont need to be worrying about me! Im not a child! *He stormed off, going into Williams room, and slamming the door.*
*Going up to the closed door, Jack-O quietly calls through the seam-* Mike, just because youāre not a child doesnāt mean Iām going to stop caring about you.Ā Youāre my friend ā¦ my family ā¦ and even if you push me away I ā¦ I wonāt love you any less.Ā I wish you understood that.Ā ā¦ Iāll let you have your space but ā¦ I hope youāll tell us whatās upsetting you.Ā Ā Ā
*She leaves the door and returns to Oliver*Ā He doesnāt lash out at you, does he?Ā
Not at all. Hes always kind, and he lets me talk about anything im scared, or nervous about. Its like we have a little conversation group, with just the two of us.
*Jack-O sighs in relief*Ā Good.Ā I couldnāt imagine that he would ever do anything to hurt you, but I had to make sure.Ā *She looks back at the door, staring at it in thought.*Ā
You know, I donāt think Iāve seen him happy since I got back.Ā And I just ā¦ I donāt know, he wonāt talk to me- it is like he doesnāt trust me or want me around anymore.Ā I know heās struggling with something truly dark and terrible in his reawakened memories -which, again, he wonāt talk about- but am I just making things worse? Ā Ā
Of course its not your fault. You.. you havenāt seen hisā¦ his chest?
No ā¦ but he was guarding it with his arm this entire time. *She gets alarmed* Why? W-what did you see? Is he hurt?!?!?! Oh gods, did I hurt him more by hugging him???Ā
Its not that. Jacko, I think Mike is trans.
Really? Why would that cause him to- *Realization hits her and she turns back to the door* Ohhh- and heās ā¦ heās suddenly found himself in a maturing body with- *she gestures to her own flat chest* a-and everything else teenhood brings ā¦ I canāt imagine what is going through his head right now-
*She walks back to the door, almost knocks, and instead speaks softly through the seam* Mike, are you decent? Could I please come in?
*Mike peeked his head through the door, wearing a very baggy hoodie.* Yeah?
Lad, you know you can tell me anything.Ā Anything.Ā I love you and Ollie with all my heart and nothing can ever change that.Ā You have been holding so many things in and Iām terrified of what thatās doing to you.Ā Just talk to me.Ā Please.Ā
*He teared up a lot.* I.. dont even know where to start.
Then letās start with what is weighing most heavily on your mind right now.Ā Maybe the changes that the anonās magic brought on? Ā
Iā¦. im, uhā¦ iā¦. iā¦. *He was shaking, tears ran down his face, and his words became shooken up, and stuttery.*
*Chica takes his hand* Come on dear, deep breaths. Itās alright. Everythingās alright. Is the word youāre searching for ātrans?ā *She immediately regrets blurting it out like that- overstepping as it is, but she couldnāt bear watching him struggling overs word for another moment like that.*
*His eyes filled up with tears, turning into a full on sob.*
*She envelopes him in her arms-* I- I should have let you talk. Iām sorry- but ā¦ is that what this is all about?
*He nods, sobbing even more.*
Itās ok- youāre alright- take your time and let it out. Iām not going anywhere- thereās nowhere I want to be more than right here with my boys. *She rubs his back, hoping to calm him.*
*He wiped his tears away, resting his head on her.*
*With a smile she gives him a gentle extra squeeze.* Ā See, everything is fine, Mike. Ā I canāt know what you went through suddenly finding your body like this -just becoming a teen out of the blue would have been disorienting enough on itās own- but if it really bothers you and the magic persists we can ask some of the Officialverseās trans men for advice. Ā Probably wouldnāt be a bad idea to do anyway - just to be prepared as you grow up naturally. Ā
Thank you. *He gave a gentle smile.*
Youāre welcome- *Her voice catches when he finally smiles. To keep from becoming an emotional spectacle, she looks over at Oliver with a grin and reaches out to him, pulling him into the hug* And d-donāt you dare think Iām leaving you out of this, Ollie!!! You boys are the light of my afterlife and nothing can change that. I never want either of you to be afraid of telling me anything, alright?
*They both nodded.*
Good, thank you.Ā Now- *she chuckles mischievously and lifts both Mike and Ollie off their feet while still hugging them, carrying them into the kitchen and setting them down there.Ā She immediately goes to the fridge and starts pulling sandwich fixings out and placing them on the counter-* Iām fixing you lads something to eat- if youāre going to be teens for a while, youāre going to need more fuel than you did when you were little.Ā And if thereās anything you need to get off your chest or just talk about, nowās as good a time as any!
Well, ive been having more dreams.
What sort of dreams?
Its always me, just me, nobody else around. I would have a knife in hand, and would always end with the knife implanted in my chest. It makes sense, since my arm- *He covered his mouth suddenly, like he said something that wasnt supposed to.*
*Jack-O freezes in the middle of making one of the sandwiches.Ā After a few seconds, her voice comes out soft and hushed-* ā¦ g-go on.Ā You know itās safe to tell us.Ā What about your arm, dear? Ā
*He uncovered his mouth, and guided his hand to his left arm. His hand was shaking as he rolled up his sleeve, with caution. His arm was lined with cut wounds, some new, with blood splotches around them, and some old, looking a bit infected.*
*With a gasp, Chica sets the sandwich down and turns to Mike, curling around him with one arm on his shoulder and the other gently lifting his arm to get a good look at the wounds.Ā Her voice breaks-* Oh M-Mike, h-honey, did- did these j-just appear when the M!A changed you, or ā¦ or were you hurting yourself knowingly as a ch-chhild or just now?Ā
Ive been cutting myself for a few months now.
Mike - w-why?Ā What ā¦ what can we do to help?
Why are you trying to help me?! Why are you saying it like its a problem?! I dont wanna be fixed!
*Her shoulders slump slightly and she lets out a shakey sigh* Because in the old days, some of my targets used to do this sort of thing to themselves because of me- because of the horrible things I did to them as a Nightmare. In my experience, the living usually donāt hurt themselves unless there is a greater pain that theyāre suffering from. I wish to Scott that you never had to know this sort of pain, butā¦
M-Mike, I ā¦ I know youāre hurting inside. I know youāve been hurting for a long time, but since you were given a second chance at life, I know it has gotten worse. I donāt want you to hurt, and I truly donāt believe you want to hurt, either- but you do need help. Yet you barely tell anyone a damned thing! You build up wall after wall like this, but you canāt hide that there is something seriously wrong! I thought you understood just now that doing that doesnāt help anyone, but ā¦ but I see itās difficult to break the old habit.
Mike, you are my friend.Ā More than that, you are my family.Ā I love both you and Ollie with everything I have left, and I traded- would trade anything to give both of you the chance to grow up and live the lives that were stolen from you before they barely even had the chance to start. And I will do everything I can to try to make that life a happy one for as long as Iām able. Mike, my dear friend, there is a problem, and the cutting is only a small part of it. Just tell us whatās wrong. I know somethingās wrong.
*He took a long breath, and sat down.* I honestly dont know whats wrong. It just kinda feels wrong.
Then weāll figure this out and make it better. I wonāt accept any other alternative. *Jack-O crouches down, taking Mikeās hand in hers and giving him a peck of a kiss on the forehead - secretly grateful that she doesnāt have eyes to betray how her attention keeps wandering to his wounds - or how poorly sheās holding herself together seeing him in pain. She looks back at Oliver-* Ollie dear, could you please get the first aid kit from the restroom?
Sure thing. *Ollie then went to go find the kit.*
*She turns her attention back to Mike*Ā Weāll get you to a human doctor- if Cassidyās hospital doesnāt have a psychologist on hand when we go back, I have a dear friend who may be able to give us a recommendation.Ā And it certainly wouldnāt hurt to get you and Ollie out of this blasted house a little more- have some fun for a change rather than staying behind these fear-drenched walls ā¦ especially with dangerous people like that cult lurking nearby.Ā I think it would be good for the both of you - a-and maybe for me, too.
Yeah, sure, i just need to step outside for a bit. *He went to the door, and left.*
I- erm, o-okay ā¦ be safe, my dear- *Jack-O stands up slowly and stares at the door for a few moments, feeling like thereās a knot in her gut even though she knows thatās physically impossible.Ā Strange how the sensations of a living body still haunt the dead sometimes.Ā She tries to shake off the nerves and heads over to the bathroom and peaks in-* Ollie?
I dont think the bandages are in here. Theyre probably dow- *There was a scream. A watered down scream.*
Where did - OH GODS- *Jack-Oās fire erupts and sheās already out the door in an orange blur-*
MIKE?!?!?!
*There, was Mike, a decently large branch impaled through his stomach. He was coughing up blood, and crying.*
NO-NO-NO- *Sheās at his side inhumanly fast-* MIKE!!!Ā Mike, sweetheart, Iām here- I- I- Iām right here- *She looks over the branch in a panic*Ā Hold on- *She grips the branch and begins digging her claws into the wood in an attempt to burn it and break it apart just beyond where it pierces his stomach*Ā OLLIE!!!Ā HELP!!!
Jacko, I want to sleep. I feel tired.
*She stops her frantic clawing at the branch to cup his face in her hands, her voice dripping with panic-* No, baby, I need you to- to- ā¦ *a shift in tone, though no less desperate* Mike, I- I need you to listen.Ā J-just hold on a little longer.Ā I need you to agree to what Iām about to say.Ā If this doesnāt work - weāll find you.Ā I will always love you.
*She takes his hand and strains out a few hurried hummed notes- almost the same melody as the lullaby she sang to Ollie long ago -and begins singing softly-*
Soil may hunger yet
for thyne earthly end,
as I, demon, pledge
to make thyne body mend.
By free will I offer ye
part of mine soul, with which to rend
thee free from deathās cold embrace
and in our loving arms defend.
Give me answer- yay or nay-
Before thine spark of life expend.
*She grips his hand tighter, hoping for any sign that he agrees to the deal- be it verbal or a nod or a hand shake- even a conscious squeeze of her hand will satisfy demon rules for the semi-possession*
*And at that moment, Mikes eyes shut, as his heart slowed to a stop.*
No- no-no-NO-NO- *She squeezes his hand repeatedly, trying for any reaction - stopping only when she admits to herself that there wonāt be one.Ā In some attempt to save him the last few moments of pain she places a shaking claw to the base of his skullĀ and concentrates hard, placing him a deep, unfeeling sleep - sparing him from the sensation of his body fully shutting down.*Ā
*Working fast, she pulls out a small object from her suit- a strange otherworldly dagger - and sets it on the ground, then takes hold of the branch and eases it as gently as she can from his body- finally tying the remains of the hoodie tight around his stomach in a futile attempt to keep things in place.Ā She lifts Mike up and cradles him close in one arm, picks up the dagger with the other, then turns back to look for Oliver-*
O-OLLIE?!?!?!Ā Weāre al-most o-out of time- h-help ā¦
I got the bandag-OH MY LORD!
*He ran over, tears already welling up in his eyes.*
What the hell happened?!
*She rushes up to him and forces the handle of the dagger into Ollieās hand - which begins to glow as soon as it comes into contact with his skin*Ā
A-a branch m-must have- fallen, a-and he was in the wrong p-place and- it went through-*She tenses trying to keep it together* No time- We only have until his spirit leaves his body and breaks the bond- can be minutes - can be seconds- stab my suit with this- itās the only way to free me from this vessel so I can fix his- Iām sure I can still save him- I-I know it- just not like this-Ā
A-alright. *He shakingly forced the knife into her torso.*
*She grinds her jaws with a metallic screech as the knife goes in, and the suit begins to dissolve from the back- spreading toward the blade-*
Just in case I donāt ā¦ physically come back- *She pulls Ollie into a tight hug and gives him a peck of a kiss on the forehead* I love you, lad- I love you and Mike so much-
I love you too.
*Chica gives him as hopeful a smile as she can manage, and gently lays Mike down on the ground just as her form loses substance. As the last of the vessel The Child had created for her dissolves around the dagger, it falls to the ground- leaving a towering, vaguely-humanoid-shape of flame behind. It looks up at Ollie- and he can barely make out two shadowy silhouettes flickering back and forth in the flames- one matching her human body, and the other a tracing of something incomprehensibly terrifying and Lovecraftian - and both of them smile at him before phasing into Mikeās body.*
*As soon as āJack-Oā disappears into the body, small twitches -eyelids, fingers, stomach, chest- indicate the possession has taken hold and sheās doing ā¦ something. It doesnāt look like much, but inside sheās desperately trying to juggle tasks simultaneously. She consciously forces lungs and heart to begin their rhythmic pumping. The remains of the damaged tissues are willed into rapidly rebuilding themselves as re-routed oxygenated blood begins coarsing to them again. That which is too far gone to rebuild is remade from manipulated surrounding materials. The only life-sustaining processes that arenāt revived are those of Mikeās nervous system - for that she has to determine if Mike is still there and bonded to his body- otherwise itās too late. She thinks she can still sense his presence, but with such a fresh death it could merely be lingering traces. She calls out to him through the mindspace-*
MĢ¶ĢĢĢÆĢ„ikĢ“ĶĶĢ¢eĢ“ĶĶĢĢ? SĢµĶĶĢwĢ¶ĢĢ©Ģ„eĢ¶ĢĶĢeĢ¶ĢĢ”ĶtĢøĢĢ¦ĢhĢøĢĢĢĢ¼eĢ·ĢĢĶaĢ¶ĶĢrĢ·ĢĢĢtĢ¶ĶĢĢ«Ģ, aĢ·ĢĢæĶrĢ“ĢĢŗeĢ¶Ģ¾ĢĢ¬Ķ yĢøĶĢ½ĢŗĢ±oĢµĶĢĢ§uĢµĢ½Ģ»Ģ£ sĢøĢĢĢ”tĢ¶ĶĢ£ĶiĢøĢĢĢ³Ģ²lĢ·ĢĶĢ¬ĶlĢ·ĢĶ heĢ“ĶĢĢ¦ĢrĢµĶĢĢ¼eĢµĶĶ?
*Mike turned to her, gray tears dripping fown his face.* What are you doing here?
MĢ¶ĢĢ„ikĢµĢĢ¼eĢ“Ģ¾Ģ¤!!!Ā *She warps to him, and does her best to project the image of the Chica-inspired vessel heās known her for ā¦ rather than the truly nightmarish form of writhing flame and shadow that she really is.* Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
I prĢµĢĢ¼omĢµĢĢÆised thaĢµĢĢ±t Iād findĢ·Ķ you.Ā BĢ·ĶĢ§ecaĢ“ĢĢ°uĢ“Ķse I loĢ¶veĢ¶Ģ Ģ youĢ“.Ā DoĢ“ĢĢ¢ youĢ·ĶĢ ā¦ dĢ“Ģ½Ģ¬o you reĢ“ĶĢ¼memĢµĢĢÆbeĢ¶ĢĢÆr wĢ·ĢĶhoĢ¶ĢæĢ® I amĢ¶Ģ?
Of course I remember you!
OĢµĢĶh, thaĢµĶĢŖnkĢ·ĶĢ³ ScoĢ¶ĶĢ£tt!!!Ā MĢ“Ģy deĢ¶ĢĢ±arĢ¶ĢĢ¼, I neeĢµĢĶd to knowĢµĢĢ¬ if yĢ¶ĢĢ¹ou are still bonĢ“ĶdeĢ¶Ģd to your bĢ¶Ģ½ĢodĢ“ĢĢy - can you feĢ“ĢĶel or moĢ·Ģve anĢ“ĶĶy of your phyĢ·ĢĢsical formĢ¶ĢĢ ?Ā
N-no. Im too far gone.
*The projection falters and flickers out of existence as those words rip her concentration away from creating the illusion*Ā IāmĢµĶĢ ā¦ Iām soĢ“ĢĢrry I couldĢ“Ģnāt pĢ·Ģ¾ĶroĢ“ĶĶĢ©ĢteĢ¶ĢĶcĢ·ĢĢ½t you ā¦ couldnāt saĢµĶĢĢÆĶveĢ“Ģ½ you, little one.Ā Ā Ā
*The shadow-y silhouettes extend a unified hand out of the flame toward Mike-*Ā BuĢ¶ĢĢ¬t this vesĢ¶ĢĶseĢ“ĶĢl is no loĢ“ĢĢ¢nger you.Ā ArĢ·ĶĢ¹eĢ“Ģ¾ you reaĢ·ĢĶĶdy toĢ“ĢĢ¢ leaĢµĶĢĢÆĶve it yeĢ“Ģ¾t?
*He reached out, and grabbed the flame.* Will I go to heaven?
*She gently pulls his presence toward her and away from the core of his body.Ā With no reason to keep his body functioning for him, she releases her control and lets all the life-sustaining processes ease to a stop- and it begins to grow cold and numb around them.Ā Her ethereal fire wards off the chill as best it can-*
I ā¦ I woĢµĶuldnāt knowĢ·ĢĢ». Ā If thaĢµĢĢt reaĢ“Ģlly is wheĢ“Ģ½re āgoodā sĢµĢ¾ĢÆouls go oĢ“Ķnce theĢ“Ģ½y move on, then ā¦ y-yes, IāmĢ¶ sure that is wĢ·Ģhere you aĢ“ĢĢ reĢµĢ going. Ā But you are freĢµĢĶe from the mĢ¶Ķortal pĢ·Ģ¾Ķlane, that much I caĢµĶĢŖn tell.Ā *Chica sounds genuinely happy for him- even sheās on the verge of breaking.Ā She pauses to collect herself, and continues-*Ā
I donāt kĢµĶĶnow if OĢµĢllie wĢ·Ģill be aĢµĢble to seĢ¶ĢĶe or hearĢ·Ģ you like thisĢµĢ¾- is ā¦ is theĢµĢre aĢ“ĢĢ nything you waĢ“Ģnt meĢ¶ĢĶ toĢ¶ĢĶ tell hĢ¶imĢµĶĢ for yoĢ“Ķu?Ā Or do yoĢµĶu think you haĢ“Ģve theĢµĢ sĢµĢ¾ĢÆtrength left toĢµ try to comĢ¶ĶmunicateĢµĢĶ?
I want you to tell him, that ill always love him, no matter what.
I-I will.Ā And I know he feels the same.Ā We both do, sweetheart.Ā And Iām sure that ā¦ that one day, hopefully after heās had a long and happy life, youāll see him again.Ā I wish I-
*she cuts herself off- unable to bring herself to say she canāt follow him.Ā Instead, she pulls him into the spectral fire in an encradling funeral-pyre embrace- effectively freeing his soul of any remaining earthly ties.Ā Itās almost hot, but it doesnāt burn like real, normal fire.Ā If anything, itās comforting like a warm, toasty blanket around him.*Ā Iāll n-never forget you.Ā And Iāll love you, Mike- forever and ever. Ā Ā
I love you too. G-goodbye. *And with that, he was gone.*