Archive of Our Own

“I don’t know why I even agreed to that.”

Their dad’s words were accented with one of his deep, heavy sighs. Partially to communicate the astounding disappointment, though directed solely on himself. Both Tommy and Johnny knew that sound too well.

As another one of the Atlas staff members went around Tommy’s podium and tried (keyword tried) to take his measurements, Johnny snickered. He exchanged a look with Tommy, all knowing how ridiculous it was. Though Tommy only raised his singular brow. Of course, Johnny knew the signal too well. It was his cue to take up the action.

“Because you love us and we’re the best?” He flashed him a huge grin, one he was sure commercials went bananas for. If only he wasn’t allergic to bananas.

“Terrible motivation,” dad deadpanned, shaking his head while doing so. All throughout the chamber the quick clicks of his heels sounded ever so deafening.

“C’mon, buttercup,” before Johnny could’ve delivered another of his one-liners, their papa stood up from the nearby couch and approached dad. His hand landed on dad’s waist pulling him closer. “Boys need some enrichment! They can’t stay in the crimson tower all the time, right?”

“I wouldn’t mind,” said Tommy, once more making Johnny almost burst out laughing.

“No, you would,” dad crossed his arms in the middle of his chest, pouting both to them and to papa. Seemed as if a heavy caliber was needed sooner than they had realized. “Without your aircrafts? I know you too well, Tommy.” Then he turned around to papa and struck him down with his finger, as if ready to unleash finger guns, “And you.”

To which papa took his hands up in the air. The whole picture would’ve been endlessly amusing to Johnny if not for the scanner driving by his face. Damn rays always messed up his already terrible vision.

“What? You let me go there, so what’s the holdup with them, huh?” Papa tried to gain the upper cybernetic hand.

“Well, I have paid off our mortgage.”

The knowing smile on dad’s face only made papa play into it more, “Yeah. As if the richest guy on Promethea had a mortgage to begin with, uh huh.”

“Tim, you’re making my parenting methods look… Abysmal,” though dad’s tone of voice was serious, Johnny could’ve easily noticed that crack of a smile on his face. If neither him nor Tommy could’ve broken him, papa was their only hope. “You think I wasn’t scared shitless when I sent you there? Trust me, I was! A-And you’re the Lanceman captain, you have way more experience!”

“Mmm… Don’tcha think it’s time for them to learn the world too?”

Johnny’s eyes doubled in size. His sight went to his right to share a look with Tommy, equally as flabbergasted. That was the trap card they needed but which seemed beyond their reach. Miracles truly sometimes wore a cozy red sweater.

Next time his sight focused on their parents, dad leaned to papa drawing into the curve of his frame. Papa’s hand then stroked against his back in a delicate, controlled motion. As much as Johnny had heard his friends complain about their parents being affectionate with his own, he found it endlessly endearing. Their affection showed in the smallest of motions, casual yet so devoted. Even as a little kid, Johnny wished for this kind of love to find him one day.

“Why do you always gotta be right,” this time, dad’s heavy sigh was much more heartfelt than just a moment before.

“I mean, pfft, always? I mean yeah, totally always, mhm,” papa agreed immediately under dad’s skeptical, yet amused look. “Buuut if I’m not, I sure as hell can be thankful to be married to the richest, smartest and hottest guy on the planet who will put things right, huh, Rhys?”

“Damn right on the money,” dad took his chin in his hand and pressed a quick kiss against his lips. Johnny couldn’t have fought off his smile.

In any other similar situation, Tommy would’ve had his eyes roll to the back of his skull. But with their parents, even he couldn’t have helped but to smile a little. To then be pinched by another machine.

“What was that for!?”

“You wanna get to the past, ya gotta suffer a little,” explained dad with a certain sense of authority.

“Orrr a lot. Can’t win ‘em all if you wanna see how it was,” papa shrugged a little, with that undeniable wickedness in his voice. Afterall, he had been through just the same procedures.

Who weren’t Johnny and Tommy if not their papa’s sons. As well as the dad’s, since he was the one who invented the whole machine. Though not the first one to test it (entle Zer0 was way too insistent to try), he was eventually granted his go. With them already finishing their test run, Johnny and Tommy immediately got the bright idea to try as well. It was Team Lawrence or nothing, after all.

Though it took way too much pleading than either of them truly wanted to admit (as well as an endless list of chores they both agreed to tend to), finally dad did give them permission to enter the program and see it for themselves. Both of them were boundlessly happy, counting days until they could marvel at the technological achievement.

Sooner or later, the day had come. Right then, Johnny and Tommy were just a few steps away from the past. To say either of them had even a smidge of sleep the night before would’ve been an understatement.

Even if both of them were completely aware of the machine’s operational cycle, they still had to sit through the boring lectures about the ins and outs of its time travelling capabilities. The machine could’ve only sent them to the past but not any kind. Nobody stepping in was aware which time the machine would’ve deemed suitable for them to go to. Especially since the kind of past they could’ve ended up in was rarely one the participant personally lived through. Which was one of the liabilities the volunteer had to be aware of.

Despite the pleas, neither Johnny nor Tommy have convinced dad and papa to reveal to them which past events they had visited during their trips. The only thing Johnny could’ve read from their faces was the bitterness of dad and surprisingly, relief from papa. His mind was already spinning the wildest ideas possible but this got him even more curious. What if he would’ve been transported to the birth of Hyperion? Or maybe the Dahl times on Pandora?

Whatever the time ended up as, of course the last night, Johnny had to go to Tommy’s room like they were kids again. By the dimmed nightlight, they shared their ideas and speculations, laughing until the crack of dawn.

TIMM-E and Rhysball weren’t too thrilled about their lack of discipline. But they themselves didn’t care as much.

Not when they were mere seconds away from the journey within. Johnny felt another huge smile growing on his face; The anticipation in his chest ready to burst out with probably too much viscera thrown around and possibly an alien lifeform. Despite the damn pinching of the preparing machines.

“Owh!” Cried Johnny, as the pincher got him where his vision hit the blind spot. Massaging the spot, he once more turned to his parents. “Daaad, how long is this gonna take? I’m getting bored.”

“Hmm, I don’t know… How long will it take to get this idea out of your head for once?” Dad disparaged, with his boundless tone of authority.

“If me and Tommy combine forced theeen,” Johnny stopped, making a deeply thoughtful expression. From the side he heard Tommy’s low snicker. Victory was almost at their hands.

“…Fiiine. Tim, no need to say anything, alright? ‘m hearing ya I’ll leave them alone,” for once dad admitted the defeat.  

“Atta boy, mother hen,” to which papa smiled knowingly before pressing a kiss against his temple. All was well again.

Not that it was truly comprehensible in Johnny’s and Tommy’s perimeter. As if nothing else, the test continued, analyzing their coordination and taking all the various measurements Johnny had no idea was needed. Of course, having been through countless auditions he was aware of all those practices. Though it seemed as if time travel had been much more involved in its checkups.

Finally, after those three grueling hours, the process had reached its conclusion. Left alone by the Atlas science team and surprisingly, their parents, Johnny and Tommy engaged in the well-deserved downtime. Such little time was left till the launch, only normalcy could’ve eased their minds. Hence Johnny sat down and needing to do something with his hands, he shuffled his trusty deck of holocards. Meanwhile, forced to stay still for so long, Tommy started to stretch and follow it with several of those learnt in exercise techniques.

“Y’think the past will allow a giant like you? They can be like in rollercoasters and say eh,” Johnny imitated the incorrect buzzer noise. “You are too tall to enter.”

“Asshole,” said Tommy but in reality, their quarrels always put a smile on his face. “Good thing they don’t test their brain power beforehand. I don’t think your weak brainwaves would’ve qualified.”

Theatrically, Johnny placed his hand in the middle of his chest, “I am wounded! I am wounded by my own brother!”

“Stop being a baby. I’m younger than you,” Tommy stuck out his tongue. Though in the more professional circumstances he remained focused and unyielding, it always felt like a point of pride for Johnny that around him, it didn’t have to be the case. What was better than to see his genuine silly side?

“Alriiiight, alright, I getchu. Just tryin’ to lighten up the mood but I see you’re doing well by yourself.”

His statement was followed by an unusual beat of silence. Though in Tommy’s case it was completely natural to expect a solemn reaction, in a time like this Johnny couldn’t have shaken off the feeling of trouble. In their talkbacks, Tommy always replied precisely and quickly. Right then it seemed the tension settled between them like thick fog.

“Yo, are you…” Johnny started carefully, putting his cards down.

“Scared shitless now, yes,” admitted Tommy, massaging the spot where his prosthetic neck connected to his skin. “You’ve heard what dad said…”

“Dad is just scared for us, not for the whole shebang. And that’s because he cares too much, alright? Even papa can get his talking to if he’s on a scouting mission for too long,” trying to approach it from differently, Johnny hopped off the bench and came closer.

“Yeaahhh I know he’s all like that but, uh…” Tommy paused, pondering over his own choice of words. “If it’s dad who’s saying this then what do I know?”

“A spacecraft pilot who can’t comprehend lifting off, no shit dude,” knowing the nice guy act wouldn’t have cut it, Johnny crossed his arms on his chest. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Come on, now,” Tommy looked at him, while raising his eyebrow high up. At least Johnny was sure he was close to knocking some sense to that skull. “I’m not like you, I wouldn’t know how to act! You know things and how people work – I’ll just stand there and blink if anyone asks if I like chocolate milk.”

“You do though.”

“Hell yeah. But that’s not the point now.”

Truly that was one part Johnny knew about too well. The only drawback which halted Tommy’s infinite courage and sense of adventure. Whenever it came to talking to anyone besides his circle of trust, his words twisted in his throat. Unable to show himself off to the others which demanded a concise introduction and a natural flow. The way he had wanted was never the way it went.

Thankfully, Johnny knew just the remedy.

“It just so happens that you have me who will carry out even the dullest small talks the world has seen! A gem amidst the verbal communication!” Johnny gave him a nudge, though with their height difference it looked most definitely as a pinch. Nevertheless, he persisted, “While you know your stuff about the history and you can sucker punch anyone who comes too close. Whatever time we land in, we’re totally set!”

“You think we can manage it like this? You do this, I do that?” Tommy asked, genuinely curious.

“Obviously it’s the key to play to our strengths. And you said it yourself, brain activity here isn’t as frequent,” he accented it with a slight poke at his head.

“I was just joking, you know that,” though it was always loud and clear, Tommy usually preferred to accent his meanings. No matter what it was, Johnny didn’t stop those habits and let him do so. “That is the best course of action, gotta hand it to you. See? Sometimes your brain works.”

“Thanks! Dusting helps!” Johnny puffed his chest.

Suddenly, the waiting space was filled with their shared laughter. Purely, completely from the heart, as if the situation at hand was just another one of their weekend getaways. In part, it truly was. Which only made Johnny more excited to face the past.

“We’ve got this, dude. Gonna be a pretty cool day ahead of us,” he took out his hand turned into fist.

Promptly, Tommy bumped it, cracking a smile, “Let’s see where we land first.”

“As papa says – something, something stars.”

With that, they were all set to go. Their parents and the science team once more took their posts and checked all the needed equipment. In no time at all, every worker has confirmed they were ready to start the operation.

Not without the final goodbye from their parents that was. Before Johnny and Tommy could’ve said anything, dad pulled them both into a hug. Of course, it couldn’t have been completed without papa also joining in. The warmest embrace all of them could’ve had imagined, the needed farewell.

“You guys know what to do,” said dad, looking at them both for the last confirmation.

“Sure thing! Snoop around and after 24 hours that device,” Johnny then pointed at a small cube in Tommy’s hand. Surely, he was the better one to hold onto it. “Will tell us where the portal is. Easy like constructing Atlas brand tanks.”

“Atlas don’t have tanks, Johnny.”

“Damn. EchoTubePoop lied to me.”

“Anywhooze, all of this is in your hands now. No pressure, you’re gonna do great!” Papa leaned in to ruffle both of their heads.

“Thanks, papa,” this time, Tommy nodded with a small smile. “We should be off now, right?”

“Yep. Be on your best behavior, guys,” dad sounded as serious as the situation demanded him. Hence not that much.

Already taking a step forward, Johnny turned around and waved in their direction, “No worries! You know us!”

“Yeah, that-that’s what worrying me,” dad’s muffled voice barely reached them. Though then they could’ve also heard papa giving him a bigger nudge. Afterall, they had to learn from somewhere. “You can do it!”

“Don’t land on Elpis!” Echoed papa.

Their metric steps steadily approached the opening of the portal. One last look between each other was all they needed to brace themselves forward. A flash of Johnny’s smile and that firm nod of Tommy’s was all it took.

With one step ahead, they went back in time.

The past was… More yellow than they had anticipated.

As if in one of the cheap Pandoran sci-fi movies which Tommy arguably watched too much of growing up, the doors of the machine slid open, milky clouds dispersing as they did so. No matter how impractical it was clear as day it was infinitely cool. At least there was enough room for both him and Johnny to step out and take a look around, as Limp Bizkit once sang.

What awaited them was… Ugly as sin. Or ratch vomit. Or sinning ratch’s vomit. Glancing over to Johnny’s side, Tommy noticed they had the same brand of disgusted expression. Suffice to say, their expectations dropped pretty damn low.

“What a dump,” of course Johnny had to be the first with feedback. Striking one at that.

“Yeah…” Nodded Tommy, gathering the dark corridor in front of him. “What even is this place?”

It definitely must’ve been a back corridor to some kind of less than stellar organization. Darkness overwhelmed their figures, when their time machine poofed out of existence. Right then it was just the two of them and the slimy, wet and uninviting place to be in. Maybe it was hell and they had to live with the consequences. Something told Tommy it could’ve been hell, judging by the fragment of a yellow neon.

Wait a second…

“I have no idea! Ugh, we got transported to the past cave where they kick puppies and destroy dreams and we can die here!!!” Taking his head in his hands, Johnny started his award winning monologue.

“Stop whining,” deadpanned Tommy, then walked to the neon sign. His eyes doubled in size at his recognition, “I think I know where we are.”

“Yeah? And where that might be?”

Wordlessly, Tommy snapped his fingers to get Johnny’s attention. Then barely moving at all, he pointed towards the neon showing off a huge yellow HYPERION. Or once it must’ve shown so as in this passage forgotten by Eridians, the sign must’ve not been maintained regularly. As right then it had shown HYPE ION.

“Ooooh,” Johnny shook his head in acknowledgement. “So I was right, right? Right.”

“Right. Let’s get outta here.”

Wandering some around the place, they checked all the possible exits and doors. Thankfully after a while they pushed a specific spot on the wall and it teleported them to the loading screen. Rather ugly and unimaginative one at that. With another location, the room was even smaller than the one before. Though right in front of them a high up ladder climbed up to the ceiling and beyond.

Johnny groaned, “This is definitely hell.”

“Guess we’ll have to climb up to find out,” answered Tommy, not too phased with the perspective. Seeing his brother’s concern, his perspective changed. His brows drew together with a warmer concern, “You can go first. I’ll watch over and if anything I’ll catch you.”

A sense of relief washed upon Johnny’s face. His alarmed frame relaxed in a moment, a comfortable exhale leaving his mouth, “Thanks, Tommy. You’re the best.”

“You owe me one.”

“Aaaand you’re not the best anymore.”

Holding onto their Lawrence branded pouts for a moment, both of them suddenly burst into sincere laughter. Togetherness was the greatest value of all.

Next up, Johnny started to climb up the flimsy ladder, one step at a time. His agility left some things to be desired but Tommy decided to cut him some slack. Still, with his Lanceman training, he felt every prolonged minute downright in his bones. All while the sticky rail reeked with something akin to piss.

“Any other ideas about where we are? Or when are we?” Johnny asked, all puzzled. “Maybe you’ve read like a book or something on this exact architecture style or whatever. Just spitballing.”

No matter what the situation was, Tommy always could’ve counted on Johnny’s abilities to speak up a lingering question. Though some people found it counterintuitive or unnecessary, he appreciated the honesty in his approach. Especially for his literal mind, it was nice for someone not to speak in riddles but give it to him straight. Or bisexual in his case. Academic texts or even basic human interactions could’ve learnt a thing or two from him.

Which would’ve shot Johnny’s ego to Elpis and back. Hence silent appreciation was the way.

“I know it is a trash chute but we both already figured that out,” started Tommy and from the corner of his eye he saw Johnny nodding. “This style of buildings looks so old. Definitely waaay before our time.”

“Any guesses on the planet?”

“Pandora was Hyperion’s most occupied station,” Tommy shrugged, leading to the only conclusion he was able to. “I don’t think it can be anywhere but Pandora.”

“Greeaatt,” scoffed Johnny, fixing up a strand falling into his eye. “So we’re here on the interplanetary inter-time-ish adventure and we just had to land on Pandora.”

“There must be a reason for it. I think.”

“Whatever it might be. Oh, Tommy, look!” Though starting uncharacteristically apathetic, Johnny’s pep returned to his voice. Vigorously, he pointed upwards, “Time to verify it. Don’t hold your breath.”

“You know, I’d rather because it smells like–“

The chute door opened with the bright light flashing in Tommy’s face. In case it was a game over screen with Dark Souls’ “YOU DIED”, he closed his eyes to lean into his untimely ending. But he was in fact in Borderlands and the only thing awaiting would’ve been the “fight for your life” screen. Which surprisingly summed up the world above better than he could’ve expressed.

“Tommy,” after a second of climbing, Johnny’s astounded voice rang in his ears. As if he was on The X-Files he said, “You’re not gonna believe this.”

“What? Where are w–“

He didn’t manage to answer the question, as the reality at his cybernetic hand unraveled rather unceremoniously. If the past they had visited just mere minutes before had that tint of yellow, right then as Johnny would’ve put it. No, wait, I’ll better make him say it.

“Eridians help me,” Johnny’s voice got weaker. “We’re in the sea of piss.”

Which was about the right to showcase their fate. The reality before Tommy’s eyes seemed to be submerged in a thick mustard sauce. One full of flashy billboards, strong lighting and thumping noise. Mere seconds spent there made his head spin from the sheer volume of this extravaganza. Settling his sight on one thing at a time, Tommy got struck down with the clearcut message.

Helios. This was Helios.

Not stalling himself any further, Tommy emerged from the chute but he did so almost like writing in the dark. Maybe that’s not the best comparison but that’s definitely the first one I thought about going with this. Though he knew he was there, each movement of his was done without much thought put into it.His mouth opened ever so slightly, when he took the spot right next to Johnny.

Since he seemed even more distracted than Tommy, there must’ve been a reason why his sight focused on that specific place. Hence Tommy followed his suit and looked up. The exact spot was reserved for the LCD screen of the Handsome Jack billboard. Whatever he was saying, it didn’t make sense to either of them. 

“Feels like he’s even uglier on the big screen,” commented Johnny, his mouth turning into a disgusted frown.

“No matter how much we’re told, then you see the real thing and it's a thousand times worse,” Tommy agreed, for some reason still staring. Quickly, he changed his stance, groaning heavily and then rubbing his eyes. “Seriously? We had to land on Helios?”

The past was a huge mystery in of itself, there was no denying it. In Tommy’s mind the possibilities were endless of places, people or times they could've visited. He had always wondered about Promethea before dad arrived there or if Menoetius was ever that dull or did Chet Smith burn all the books on its past. There was this unquenched need for knowledge of what was undiscovered for him. In their speculations, Johnny also confessed he would’ve preferred something like the golden age of Wam Bam Island or any of the Edens. But no, out of everything they were to survive a full day on Helios.

“It’s bleak,” Johnny shook his head and let immerse himself in the torn thoughts. “A total tragedy of engineering error and. I dunno, like you wanted to shoot yourself in the arm but shot yourself in the dick instead.”

“You’ve said it,” in return, Tommy agreed with a slow movement of his head to the side. “I have no idea what we are even supposed to do.”

“Wellll, dad and papa said that we’ve gotta have some observations and all, right? C’mon, use that brain of yours, together we can think of something!”

Tommy succumbed into a deeper thought, “I guess that’s true.”

“Exactly!” Trying to flip the mood around, Johnny flashed a bigger smile at him. “Look, there might not be a great big reason for us to be here and it was just a random idea the author had.”

“The… Author?”

“Don’t bother yourself,” He patted his shoulder, as if he himself wasn’t too convinced. “Anyways, the machine spit us out there so we’ve gotta make the best out of it, right? I mean with your history knowledge and my natural charm, we’re gonna ace it!”

The kind of enthusiasm Johnny had for life never ceased to amaze Tommy. His flamboyancy shined through even the smallest things with this deep sincerity. Honestly in a way, Tommy found it endlessly refreshing. When his own thoughts oftentimes wanted to give up on him and weave the worst scenario, Johnny chimed in with his excitement towards life. He was the one to rally him, always believe in him. He always believed in the future. Who would’ve Tommy been if he didn’t believe in his brother just as much?

“You know what… You’re right,” finally, Tommy looked back at him with a shadow of a smile. “There doesn't have to be a divine reason for us to be there but screw divinity. We’ve got a mission and we’ll make the best observations out of it.”

“Yeah! That’s the spirit!” Johnny said with a harsher pat on his back. Of course Tommy hadn’t felt it too much. “Sooo whaddaya suggest we start with, hm?”

From all the older books, testimonies and his dad’s own words, the idea of Helios for him was a rather weird and dog eat dog kind of place. Right then as he tried to take it all into consideration, Tommy focused on the specifics. The architecture, the people, the messages currently shoved in his face. At least it gave him an idea.

“We’re in the Hub of Heroism…”

In response, Johnny made a disgusted face, “Ough. And I thought aunt ‘Thena was terrible at names.”

“Meh, don’t give her much credit,” Tommy let out a small, amused exhale. “What I’m saying is that we’re in the hub. We can see the normal employees and how they carry themselves. Conclusion – we neither look nor act the part yet.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“To fool Hyperions we’re one of them, we gotta be Hyperions. Transform into them in every way,” mused Tommy, tapping his finger on the edge of his chin,  “You know what I mean.”

“Like that?” Johnny tried to imitate the sound of Transformers’ transformation.

“I wish. But nope, not this time.”

It took him a moment. Thought flew all around him, as if they were close to launching at the passersby. Maybe he used all of his brain power but that wasn’t what mattered. Because when he got it, it was just like fireworks.

Johnny’s eye shone brightly, “Shopping montage!”

They emerged from the Hyperion Chic store two completely new people.

For Johnny the change was quite a natural feat. With so many different scripts and projects, he was ready to play any given role. Especially since he had some handsome experience as well. The unforgettable gig of playing Handsome Jack for some commercial… For some reason dad couldn’t stop laughing at his character creation. Apparently it reminded him of a time long ago.

In any case, it wasn’t hard to blend in the environment and see himself as a lowlife Helios citizen. As much as he hated yellow, Johnny couldn’t deny the new suit fit him perfectly. Maybe the almost neon color was way too eye-catching to blend in but that was part of the mission. To become one with Hyperion, he had to understand Hyperion. And nothing yelled it more for him than plain old “obnoxious”.

All from the perspective of a professional actor, it couldn’t have gone better. From the perspective of his newbie brother however… Not so much.

Waiting for his presentation of sorts, Johnny caught himself being quite excited for it. Several heavy dragging steps later, the answer was a bit more dubious than he had realized. Tommy was never a guy who found himself within the high corporate landscape. As the man of the risk and adventure, he took to the streets, rather than to roam around the business capitals.

He emerged from the shop with his figure slanted, precarious step and a downright embarrassed expression. His casual green sweater was replaced with a fitted shirt and yellow tie. Along with the pants with yellow stripes that definitely obscured some of his movements, he barely held himself together. Even his hair, usually in a loose ponytail was then much closer to his scalp, taming those ginger curls.

Johnny looked at him with a mixture of concern and that awful entertainment. Hey, he was only human.

“Don’t say a word or you’ll be turned into a cube and transported to Skywell,” Tommy threatened, firmly pointing a finger at him.

So Johnny didn’t say a thing. The test of his will, almost broken by a salve of held back laughter.

At least both of them understood the assignment. Both “obnoxious” and “miserable” were the perfect words to describe Hyperion.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Tommy sighed heavily and readjusted himself, “Okay, you can talk again.”

Johnny answered with a smile and MLP squee sound effect.

“…But talk specifics. What should we be doing here?”

When Johnny first lol’d, at the sound of those words he serioused. Pressing his thumb at the edge of his lips, he let his thoughts wander off, “Well, there are a lot of things to do around here, right? We can try to break into Jackass’ tower and trash the place. Or see if he really owns a glass desk. Maybe we can kick around some Claptraps while we’re at it?”

“Hate to break it to you,” Tommy crossed his arms on his chest. “But there are no Claptraps around here.”

“Ah. Hmm, I thought they should be here…” Suspiciously, he looked around himself, only then realizing what exactly were their circumstances. There were maybe some cleaning Roombas or loader bots but not exactly Claptraps.

Tommy followed his suit, looking around him. The brushstrokes of realization painted his features in an unmistakable way, “There are no Claptraps.”

“Yeah?”

“Think about all the things that dad and papa said about Helios and its past… Since Claptraps aren’t here anymore…” Hoping his words carried the meaning, he buried one of his hands into his hair. Not that he succeeded, since the obscured curls didn’t want to cooperate. “Holy shit, Johnny, do you know what that means?”

Within a moment, Johnny’s eyes widened in realization, “We gotta find dad.”

“Exactly,” nodded Tommy, still disbelieving their circumstances. “Dude, that’s it, that’s the reason.”

“It’s gotta be!” Joining in the surge of happiness, Johnny smiled widely at the first base of success. There it was, the actual meaning of their trip. He clasped his hands together, “Ooohhh Atlas machinery I will never doubt you, ever again! Do you know where he can be?”

“Hmm, knowing the hour and the date I think… Maybe it’ll soon be his break time?”

The coincidence of such could’ve been only the result of impeccable timing of the machine or musings of the fanfiction writer. Maybe in the end it was both. Rather than to dwell on the circumstances, Johnny started musing their chances. Helios was massive and even with knowing dad’s profession there were still so many variables to consider.

Yet Johnny knew his dad. No matter if it was an odd 30 years ago before their current time, some things had to stay the same for him. As well as some habits he had been cultivating for the longest time.

A sudden idea crossed his mind, “Tommy, does Helios have like an open lounge section? You know, kinda like balconies in the vacuum of space but with a little less cosmic suffocation?”

“Yes,” he answered without a hint of hesitation. “Very little but there were definitely some.”

“Then I know where dad’s gonna be. C’mon, let’s go find him,” Johnny motioned with his head, feeling another dose of good energy flowing through him.

Of course Tommy followed his suit. There didn’t have to be that long of a walk, just several skips on the stairs moving downwards. By then the scale of Helios seemed much less intimidating as before. Sure, it was still downright ugly and insufferable but it did seem more manageable. Focusing on the sparse positives, he tried to determine what made Helios the environment it was. During their descent, he saw a fever dream of advertisements for new Hyperion positions, the city of Opportunity and a fast food place which definitely sold toxic sludge disguised as neon burgers.

Truly, maybe the future was a brighter spot.

Still, Johnny couldn’t help but to wonder about their most imminent encounter. He turned at Tommy to judge anything from him. Though stoic nature prevailed, there was this unbound curiosity shining through. Giving him a small smile, Johnny asked, “Sooo what do you think dad’s gonna be like?”

Tommy looked at him with that special kind of confusion in his eyes, “Like our dad?”

“Yeah but it’s such a long time ago! I mean he’s just a bit older than us now, right?” He tried to paint a picture with some more details. Safe to say that he definitely forgot to bring the easel, “Though I guess some things never change. Bet he’s still as inventive and caring as he is in our times.”

“Forward thinking, charismatic, knows what he wants… I’m sure he’s just like that,” Tommy nodded firmly, as they almost made their way on the giant stairway.

All when suddenly they heard a voice. Not necessarily one which shouted so that the whole Helios was able to hear but definitely one powerful enough. Then again being wrapped in the narrative structures and protection of this fanfic, they were sure to hear everything which the author deemed important.

“You’d think that those sales reports were done well but I have looked through them and saw it for my very own eyes,” a certain squeaky voice rang in their ears. Though it was the next words which made its recipient clearly identifiable. “You’re washed, Strongfork. Finished. Old news.”

Both Johnny and Tommy’s heads perked up. Immediately, they rushed down the remaining stairs towards that voice.

“All because I forgot a stupid comma?”

Undeniably, it was their dad who answered. With his usual sharper voice that hated all kinds of disagreements over his methods. Though he sounded much younger, he still sounded like… Himself. Which was to say thankfully, he didn’t sound as he was voiced by fucking tbakes but as the only Rhys ever as in Ray Chase.

Locating the source of their dad’s whereabouts, they found a very convenient place to hide behind a pillar and still see everything. Like kids in a cartoon, they looked intensely at the scene, seemingly placed on the axis.

There he was. Their dad, right in front of them. Everything about him seemed so familiar and yet so foreign in the details.

The first thing which caught their attention was the fact that, well, he had both of his arms. In his mind Johnny quickly tried to calculate at what time it roughly situated them. Dad’s stance albeit trying to remain confident and proud, definitely had this edge of uncertainty. Maybe even anxiety, which was definitely his opponent’s doing. The style of clothing too, though reminiscent of the days he was aware of, seemed way too obsolete. 

As if sensing someone was watching him, dad turned his head to the left, checking the area. Zipping away, Johnny and Tommy were already sweating bullets. Yet that one flash revealed to them the most damning details – dad didn’t have his mustache. Moreover, both of his eyes were brown.

Such realization made Johnny let out a muffled gasp, “What kind of ancient times are we in!?” 

“Prehistoric,” responded Tommy, before their attention shifted back to the conversation.

“Excuse me, am I boring you? Or is your attention span this short?” The opponent snarled with disgust.

“I, uh… Nothing,” dad focused back on the man. The tension in his body was visible even from their spot. “Not to be exact, Vasquez but, uh I know if there’s someone with a short fuse, it’s gotta be you. Ekhem, all fronts.”

Vasquez? That name certainly didn’t ring a bell to Johnny and he doubted it ever had any importance. Especially since that guy carried the aura of the average r/alphamale redditor.

“Oho, right, I see how it is. You don’t know that the conquerors never spend too much time in the place of their conquest but move to another,” Vasquez fixed his jacket, trying to appear taller than he already was. “And that was situated one from the other.”

“Makes sense. I mean seeing how I can exist on my own but you would most definitely stick your dick in a wringer because you’re bored,” dad shrugged. “At least the wringer would tolerate doing all the work.”

“I have no idea what that means,” Tommy said dryly.

“Yeah, don’t worry about it,” Johnny shifted his eyes. Then a lightbulb appeared at the top of Johnny’s head. “Okay. We gotta help dad and I have just the idea.”

“Owh,” Tommy rubbed his eyes. “Next time, can you get that lightbulb not in my eyes?”

“Oh, yeah, sorry. C’mon let’s go.”

At the sound of that literally bright idea, they stepped out of their shared corner. First was Johnny, putting on the role of the most casual Hyperion employee around. Which meant being miserable and stressed as all hell. He slouched his shoulders and started dragging his feet on the ground. Barely, he caught Tommy trying to imitate his stride however was possible for him. It wasn’t really effective but Johnny still felt proud.

Not really following the talk between dad and Vasquez anymore, Johnny tried to find the perfect moment to butt in. Seeing how Vasquez finished another tirade, he cha-cha slid to dad’s left arm and started his ingenious plan.

“D– Rhys!” Aura points definitely went down. “There you are, buddy, we were looking for you.”

Dad drew his brows together, “Ehm… I’m sorry, it must be a misunderstanding, what? And who are you?”

“C’mon, don’t you recognize your own pal from Hera? We studied robotics together!” Johnny pleaded not to be asked any technical questions or he was dead, dead, dead. Well, at least he actually remembered where dad studied so points for Team Lawrence.

“Ooohhh,” he nodded a little, not exactly buying it. “Of course! Hi, uh, em…”

“Johnny! And here’s my brother Tommy, also from robotics, say hi,” Johnny motioned in his direction, firmly grasping at dad’s back.

All three heads turned in Tommy’s direction. He stood idly, as if his game sprite froze. Which was definitely superimposing as he towered above everyone gathered, dead seriousness in his eyes. Not to mention, he was damn right huge with arms which easily could’ve snapped anyone involved in half. In all this commotion, he pressed his lips together.

“Uh, yes.”

“Isn’t he smart? He can greet others and all.”

Though not exactly sure what was happening, dad seemed happy at the impromptu rescue. Especially since even Vasquez was weirded tf out.

“Things sure are happening,” finally Vasquez commented on the shebang, though already pleading to be out of there. No worries, Vasquez, your wish is my command. “I’m gonna be out now. Probably to talk to Henderson about your humiliation. Oh, yes.”

From the brief sensation from beneath his hand, Johnny could’ve felt the anger coming off of dad. As if his muscles tensed at this one word and every bolt in his head started turning. In reality, Johnny couldn’t have imagined the outcome. Physical stuff was usually papa’s forte, shielding dad with his build. Or dad summoned his army of robots to fend off the enemies. A part of him was almost interested to see how it would’ve gone.

His wish probably would’ve come true if it wasn’t for a certain voice.

“Do you take feedback, Vasquez?” Tommy asked, crossing his arms on his chest.

“Sure?”

“Can you bash your head on the way down the stairs and bleed out so Hyperion becomes red?”

Vasquez blinked several times, “No, I don’t think I will.”

“Well, I can make that happen,” taking several thumping steps forward, Tommy leaned in. Not even a shadow of interest on his face remained. “Scram.”

“What the hell are y–“

Tommy didn’t seem to want to repeat himself but alas it wasn’t a concert of wishes (this term makes more sense in Polish). All bored, he picked Vasquez up as if holding a ragdoll, “Scram.”

His teeth clenched, his eyes looked as if they were ready to pop out. Or that Tommy would’ve squeezed so hard, just to make Vasquez let out a funny sound. Or maybe soak him in milk to then splash him on a wall. Either or, Vasquez finally realized what was going on.

“Ok,” he said and went away like in cartoons, leaving a dust smoke behind.

“Duuude,” Johnny started, blinking several times. “Nice one! Up top!” Taking his hand out, he grinned from ear to ear.

“Down below,” as always, Tommy leaned downwards a little to meet his brother better and high five him. Even his face lit up with a satisfied smile of the victory at hand.

“Uuuuuuh,” amidst their ever so brief celebration, they heard the most confused voice possible. Turning around, they were welcomed by a dad-shaped elephant, “Can you… Can you address me?”

Right. They finally had to deal with this.

With one look between each other, Johnny tried to flash him a bigger smile which definitely looked painful. From the corner of his eye, he could’ve seen Tommy not even trying to mask himself. A sudden sense of duty overwhelmed Johnny. If Tommy just saved their asses, it was time for him to do the same. Both of their strengths working together, just as they were set out to do.

Fixing his ginger locks and then his glasses, Johnny tried to put on his best advertiser voice, “Why you’re here for a bargain because we can tell you all about what happened for a low, low price of sparing us a moment! Care to join us with the talk and gain clarity like no other?”

Once more, dad seemed too distracted to answer upfront, “Well I’d be damned not to try… Guess I am on my break, so you guys want to go out for a cig?”

“Yeah,” this time Tommy answered. Well, that all seemed easy.

“Then let’s go.”

Dad motioned with his head and went forward into the unknown that was Helios. The walk might’ve not been the longest, yet Johnny tried to make the most out of it while looking at all the new and unfamiliar details. Ceilings which seemed to touch the stars themselves spread out above their heads. Business of the center dimmed down ever so slightly, as they wandered deeper into the depths of more employee limited places. No matter how obscure the corner was, the space buzzed with noise – from roaming robots, through executives’ talks to the deafening vacuum of space. Advertisements, announcements, annotations. Corporate pollution at its finest.

In his head, Johnny almost longed to get back home. Where the neon yellow was used only in sporadic signs and crimson roamed the streets. No matter how little time had passed, he already missed the crunchy plants and the high tech skyscrapers dad helped to build. Through the lens of his brief nostalgia, he looked back at the man who would’ve given him the life as he knew it in the future. No matter how unaware of it he was, right at that moment. And yet Johnny smiled. There were traces of the visionary within him.

Soon enough, treading through the concrete jungle they got to a sizable employee lounge of sorts. Those were definitely too big of words to describe it, as Johnny was certain it was more or less a reclaimed space, not specifically created for employee affairs. Barely working lamps lit a small corner of the universe with a view enough to swallow someone whole. With just one step the vacuum of space was ready to claim one’s body.

Of course, it was an amazing place for Johnny. The only thing missing was to send him to motherfucking Veins of Helios, god I hate that map. Or that one Genshin map in Fontaine, hate this bullshit too. Whatever motion sickness inducing game level you have in mind.

Unaware of the author's turmoil, dad leaned over a prepared, possibly stolen rail and took out the pack of cigarettes. As if it was the most normal thing to do.

Red alerts already blasted in Johnny’s head. Tilting his head like a cat, he asked all confused, “Don’t you also have a fear of heights?”

“You do?” Dad asked and when Johnny nodded promptly, his eyes widened a little in embarrassment. “Ah, crap… If you wanna we can go further? Would that be alright?”

“Nooo, no, it’s fine, haha,” Johnny put his hands in the air. At least Tommy remained in place, giving him enough space to work it out on his own. “I’ll just look the other way and try not to think about dying horribly!”

“Are you sure about it? Because I-I, uh… Look, you might be weird as hell–“

“Thank you! I try :)”

Dad furrowed his brow, “How did you do that?”

“Do what?” Johnny didn’t seem to follow.

“The way you just–! Okay! Okay, okay, never mind,” almost as if resetting himself, dad breathed in deeper with both his hands up and closing his eyes. “All I’m saying is that you might be weird as hell but, uh… I don’t know what’s with me. I just feel that weird sense, a want to protect you. Eridians, now I’m the weird one.”

His words and that confused, yet such deep concern present in all of his smallest actions made Johnny’s expression soften. No matter how much time and space was between them, it was and always would be their dad. The one who always cared for them and did the best to keep them happy. He exchanged a quick look with Tommy, seeing his small yet poignant smile. They both knew. And it sure made the whole trip already worth it.

“I don’t think you’re weird,” Johnny waved off dad’s comment, trying to appear casual. “You do you, man, I’m just here to tag along.”

“If you say so…” At his explanation, dad THREW IN THE SPONGE what the hell is that I just googled it bc I couldn’t remember the translation of that phrase and this is what I get?? And it’s REAL? English is not a real language, jesus christ, ok back to narration. Suddenly though, his eyes shone with something inexplicable, “Wait a minute… How did you know I’m afraid of heights?”

As if with a high speed switch towards their faces, Johnny appeared all blank and horribly pale. Right, another one fuck up from his side. Even Tommy appeared nervous, starting to tap his fingers against the edge of his arm. 

What else was there to do than take the danger head on?

Head On. Apply directly to the forehead.

Johnny lowered his eyelids in the form of the weirdest supremacy, “Aren’t you though?”

Head On. Apply directly to the forehead.

“Well… Yeah, I am,” agreed dad, even if still apprehensive. At best.

Head On. Apply directly to the forehead.

With the bait taken, Johnny grinned and nudged Tommy’s side, “Y’see? I’m getting better at reading minds by the day.” Tommy didn’t say anything but silently agreed.

“Then what am I thinking of now?” Dad persisted in finding the truth. Ah, just like finding the stashed dirty laundry or TIMM-E’s loose bolts.

“The Head On ad,” Johnny didn’t hesitate.

If it was an anime there would’ve been three dots appearing above his head. Dad smacked his lips, “Damn. He really is good.” Trying not to dwell on this for too long, instead he finally opened the cigarette pack. Ever considerate, he pushed two out in their direction. “Care for one? On me.”

Staring down at the pack, Johnny felt as small as he could’ve possibly been. While Tommy took the handed out cigarette and thanked dad. If dad in their time was ever aware of this happening, his disappointment would’ve known no bounds. Though apprehensive, Johnny was quite aware of the situation. It was one in a million, right? Before dad asked any other questions, he took the cigarette and spun it around in his fingers.

Then dad took out the lighter and motioned it across the three cigarettes. In no time at all, both dad and Tommy took their whiffs but Johnny remained still. It sure was in his hands.

“Soooo,” flicking off the ashes onto the Helios’ floor, dad started. “What are you guys doing here? Because, uh, I don’t really buy that story about Hera and all. No offense.”

His eye drilled onto the cigarette, burning away while Johnny didn’t do a single thing. Offhandedly, he stated, “Welp, busted. We haven’t studied in Hera, sure but we are scientists! Of sorts. We’re here to study the average Hyperion employees’ behavior. Johnny Lawrence, hi and this is my brother Tommy Lawrence.”

“Hello,” Tommy waved his hand.

“Study Hyperion employees’ behavior? They really funded something like this?”

“They fund a bunch of useless shit, you’d be surprised,” shrugged Tommy, this time taking the mantle. Atta boy, Johnny thought to himself.

Dad looked wistfully to the side, as if remembering something not from his times, “Nah, I can believe that. I’ve never heard about you two… Lawrence… Why does that sound familiar…”

Maybe in part Johnny should’ve felt guilty over constantly reminding dad of the future. Yet his and Tommy’s whole existences were based on the choices of his, not in the telltale game sense. One thing was for sure – traces of who he was to become hid inside, clinging to him in any way, shape or form. Fate truly was a twisted trickster. Now I need to terrorize my BFF with “She Keeps Me Up” by Nickelback again, brb

Cigarette still burnt away without his involvement.

“I wouldn’t worry about it. You never know what’s in store in the future,” with that determined spark in his eye, he looked at dad. As the role model he had always been to them, “So… What about you? What can you tell us about the conditions here at Helios?”

Giving dad the space to think it through, Johnny finally gave in and took a substantial whiff of the cigarette.

In the history of Johnny’s terrible ideas this one was definitely out there in the hazard of himself and the others.

Yes, he wanted to give it a try. Yes, he was aware of how he would’ve reacted to such. But he still did it. What commenced after a puff of smoke left his mouth was the most visceral and deep coughs one could’ve imagined. Terrible, awful sounds coming right from his lungs, just begging to be spat out. Even if it was just one small inhale, Johnny felt as if he had smoked 1 trillion of them. And he coughed and wheezed and coughed again, barely holding himself together.

Concerned looks from Tommy and dad completely escaped him. He bent his frame, holding his stomach and continued coughing for a solid minute. Suddenly, the screen got pierced by words flowing before their faces and “My Silver Lining” by First Aid Kit played. Side note, I don’t even like this song that much tbh.

ORIGINAL CHARACTERS – RYZ @RyzSELO

CANON CHARACTERS – GEARBOX

FANFIC WRITER – ED @rhysothy

MORAL SUPPORT – SPOK @spookyrat11

As the sentences dashed by, Johnny felt the biggest smack at his back. One which rearranged his lungs to the correct position and made his coughing stop. Looking up, he saw Tommy.

“Dude, quit it. I was sure you were gonna die, I mean even the end credits appeared and we’re still not done here,” Tommy took him by the scruff like an unruly kitten.

“My bad,” sniffling the damage away, Johnny got put back on his feet. With one motion, he adjusted his jacket to be more presentable, “Hm? So do you have stories or extravaganzas to share?”

Blank stare directed to both Johnny and Tommy made them fear that dad short-circuited. Though it couldn’t have been possible, not without his cybernetics. Thankfully, he put the cigarette to his mouth and took another hopefully non-life-threatening inhale, “I, eh… No, not really? I mean, I am working on a promotion right now, I really wanna rise to the challenge and become the new executive and ehm… Yeah. That’s what it’s been for me.”

“I see… Does sound like a big deal,” Johnny agreed and of course didn’t smoke any more of the treacherous nicotine. “Go on, everything you wanna share.”

“Lifechanging deal, lemme be clear,” dad turned see-through, as he reassured them both in a tone of voice more akin to the future. All starry and determined, inspired to no end, “Once I am the executive, my life as it is will finally head in the right direction. One promotion, then the next one and soon I’ll make it out there between the greats. Where I always should’ve been.”

At that moment, Johnny seemed to know the crucial difference between this dad and the dad he knew and loved so much. Everything about this dad felt primal, as a prototype to the correct model. Still so bright-eyed and at the edge of his own greatness. Of course, in the following time his spirit would’ve been crushed in 20 different ways but there was still something so unstoppable he couldn’t help but to appreciate it.

“What then, huh?” Johnny asked, pressing his palm on his cheek. 

“There’s never really any way to know you’re on top – there’s always something greater than you,” dad shrugged ever so slightly and leaned over the rail again. “I dunno. Guess I’ll go on a vacation? Haven’t been on one for the longest time.  At least Vasquez would’ve popped a vein or something.”

The magic name appeared again. All curious, Johnny kept drilling, “Vasquez? That guy from before? The heck is his deal?”

“Yyyeah, he wants my dream position too. All while he never gave me any dream positions, ugh,” dad rolled his eyes and his lips bent in total disgust. “He’s my ex.”

To say that Johnny’s and Tommy’s eyes doubled in size would’ve been an understatement of the century. More accurately it would’ve been to say that their skeletons escaped their bodies in a cartoonish manner while the skin sacs were about to be sucked by Hyperion roombas.

“Your what?” Johnny asked without any certainty in his voice.

“My… Ex,” Having to say so again, dad didn’t seem too thrilled. Instead he put two fingers on his forehead and took a deep breath, “Look. We’re all sometimes young and make mistakes.”

“Oh yeah, I make a ton of ‘em,” confirmed Johnny while Tommy nodded in agreement. Whether it was about him or Johnny neither confirmed. “But this one… Yeah, I don’t think the court can defend this one.”

“Okay but in another lifetime, I could,” dad accented with a motion of his head, as the Ray Chase nation all around saluted him. Though it wasn’t long until he had realized just how terrible of a situation he put himself in. Clicking his tongue in an exasperated manner he said, “I know, it was horrible. For everyone included, for me, for you, for the readers as well. And now he wants to use it to get that position. He thinks it’s about destiny but you know what? Destiny is bullshit, in every way possible.”

Hearing so, at that time it was Tommy who echoed, “The man made path…”

“Yeah! Or woman made, we’re feminists here,” clarified dad and Johnny and Tommy agreed vigorously. “Still I don’t wanna have my fate in the hands of some asshole. If there’s something to do, oh you better believe I’ll try it.”

“Within reason?” Johnny raised his brow.

“No.”

Once more, Johnny and Tommy just silently agreed. Sure was their dad alright.

“I think we know what we need about the corporate stuff and all,” Johnny spun the words and himself around, as everyone looked at him with giant question marks on what the hell was he even doing. I don’t know either. “From what I and my brother have gathered you sure are a busy guy. Done anything fun lately?”

“Uhh, I’m not sure… Last Friday I went to a party with my friend Yvette, does that count? Also don’t forget her, she’ll be important in the next scene,” recounted dad and tapped his cigarette in deep thought, “This Tuesday I got my business cards so there’s also that.”

Amidst the answer, Tommy looked at him with his huge sparkless eyes, being the aroace friend you’re trying to ignore, “Have you seen Project Hail Mary?”

“Not yet. Haven’t finished the book, sorry,” dad admitted solemnly.

“Damn…” Commented Tommy, though they both knew papa would’ve been very happy to know he picked up the book first.

“That’s beside the point,” Johnny took a step forward and shook his head in disbelief. “You can’t just go on like this! Listen, I…” Pausing for a moment, he pursed his lips, so that his treacherous serpent tongue wouldn’t have slipped out any spoilers for the future. “I can see you can’t be confined to this corporate doo-doo. You should be out there, man. Live a little!”

A shadow of doubt appeared on dad’s face. Those changes, no matter how microscopic, had always spoken volumes to Johnny. As an actor he knew just the power the slightest change in demeanor had. As his father’s son he could’ve sensed whenever his dad was in the crossroads of what to say.

“I have responsibilities,” dad started anew, his sight uncharacteristically pinned to the ground. “To my friends, to Hyperion… To myself too! Hey, I’m here and I have a say in this too!”

“Do you?” Suddenly, Tommy took the subject into his sturdy hands. “Or do you have an illusion of free choice?”

“Oh c’mon now,” though trying to act annoyed, both of them knew dad was close to cracking that protective façade. It was about time too, “Don’t think I’m some sort of a cow.”

Johnny tilted his head, “What are cows?”

“Huh. No idea actually,” dad stopped for a moment but then shrugged helplessly. “T-That doesn't matter! I know what I’m about and I know how to achieve it. And if I do, everyone will get what they want, right? That’s the dream to achieve, no questions asked.”

Every word of his seemed to hit harder than Johnny’s head when he once fell down the stairs. Okay, maybe twice. Three times? Well, whatever. What mattered was that with every reassurance, dad wanted to present them the point of view of a pathological people pleasing workaholic. Johnny knew it, he knew it from his dad, he knew it from papa’s stories of how dad used to be in the past.

Little did dad know, Johnny never backed out from a fight. Some called it persistence, some called it being goddamn annoying or stubborn as hell. Between all this, Johnny had a special word for his disease and it was called being a fucking genius.

“If you wanna keep on living like this, be my guest,” Johnny waved his arms around. If he paid more attention to the surroundings he could’ve seen terror already forming on Tommy’s face. If anyone knew what was about to happen, it surely was him. “Buuut you could follow us. Spend time like nothing else could’ve ever matched it. Remind you of the college nights you definitely want to forget. Live on your own terms, full tits in. I know promotion has been the goal but what about the different side of life? What about debauchery, indulgence and whatever other difficult words!?”

One sentence in particular caught dad’s attention, “My own terms?”

“Yes! Doing things you’ve always been afraid to try!” Even the silent half-agreement was enough for Johnny to get railed up. Pure energy started flowing through his veins, as his words became bigger and actions more frantic. “For once going with the flow, however the wind blows! Mixing substances into a Molotov inside of you! Telling your ex kys cwelu!”

“Yes, hahah yes!!” Finally a smile appeared on dad’s face, as he was ready to wear a sickos tee. Each word seemed to hit him with the power of every cringy moment of Borderlands movie, full commitment to world’s worst ideas. “And you seriously can do it all?”

“Of course we can!” Johnny’s pearly white smile almost blinged with a cartoon sound effect. “No side effects!”

“No witnesses,” added Tommy, jumping on that frankly idiotic board. Whenever one did something incredibly stupid at least the other was sure to follow, “No stains.”

Johnny leaned in to seal the deal, “No ragrets.”

It was their last chance. If that failed they could’ve lost their whole experiment and come back to their current time dad, with no data collected and no discoveries made. Johnny felt sweat on his neck, thinking of how he was supposed to carry it on. Being a true gambler, he put it all on his last card, waiting for a miracle to happen.

Thankfully, Johnny always had more luck than brains.

“I’m in,” without much more stalling, dad agreed to their wonderfully crafted terms. Truly, courts be damned, they were thousand times more supreme. “But! I need your confirmation. You’ll be the ones who will handle the potential damages… Won’t you?”

Johnny looked to Tommy from the side. Unfortunately, he was currently on his left side, so he couldn’t have seen shit. Eh, fair enough.

“Or your money back guarantee!” He beamed so hard there were probably sparkles and flowers next to him.

“Okay… You do swear, right?” Suspiciously, dad raised his eyebrow.

“Nope, I don’t,” said Johnny, popping his p.

“Uhh, shit, fuck, suka blyat, your mom?” A bit unsure, Tommy tried whatever stuck on the wall.

“Alright, yeah, that’ll do,” dad nodded a few times to then push his hand through his hair. “Then – what are we waiting for?”

Just that simple confirmation was enough for Johnny to want to start cheering on their success. No matter what went wrong before they did it, they achieved the one thing the damn Atlas time machine had wanted them to do. Everything else would’ve been as easy as giving into the night and party with their dad like there was no tomorrow. Though more accurately each of them already had thousands of tomorrows.

He turned to look at Tommy, happy to share their victory in the one night only special. And he did just that, their Team Lawrence shout at the ready. The only problem was that life couldn’t have been all sunshine and rainbows for them.

“Ah, that’s what we’ve been waiting for!” Dad pushed them to the side with a cartoon slide and waved to the figures in the distance. “Hi there! Perfect timing!”

Instantly, Johnny and Tommy turned around in a dramatic motion, accented with just as dramatic music. One look was enough for them to let out an understanding “ooh”.

Since in the distance they saw a woman. I know right, a woman in a fanfic, I told you we’re all feminists here. Said woman had a confident walk with heels so high Johnny already imagined himself dying three times on them. But she worked them perfectly, not breaking a sweat, not even looking where she walked, she simply did. She had that aura of someone who knew everything about everyone, yet cool enough to let you join in her espionage.

Question marks appeared above their heads, trying to decipher who she was.

“Really? I told you to remember Yvette cause she’s gonna be important,” dad scoffed at them, as anime-esque sweat drops appeared at the top of their heads.

“I’m sorry women,” admitted Johnny, while Tommy pressed his lips together in boundless shame.

“Hey, Rhys,” she greeted dad with a relaxed smile. Then stopping in her tracks, Yvette looked around the gathering, “You two look like you were designed much later than us. Borderlands 3 maybe?”

“More or less,” Johnny tried to take the stage again. At least he did what he loved, “Why is the color of your speech blue-ish and you’re dressed in orange?”

“Gearbox doesn’t wanna think about me, so they threw something at the last second,” Yvette explained to another wave of understanding from the boys. In all honesty, she probably has more screentime here than Burch ever wanted to give her because he’s an idiot. “So? Are we going?”

This time dad joined her side and started to share her powerwalk, “You know where we’re going?”

“Obviously. It’d be annoying to repeat the same information twice, don’t you think?” She explained but looked at Johnny and Tommy from the corner of her eye. “That means you two as well.”

Joining in their catwalk, they were ready to take on another part of their journey. Happily, Johnny took a step towards his imminent future, with a frolicking skip. As he went forward happy and with a well-earned W to his name, he didn’t exactly look at the road before him. That was until he hit a roadblock. One so sturdy and annoying, Johnny’s balance instantly crumbled. Before he knew it he splatted his face onto the yellow floor. The roadblock went somewhere down. All Johnny was thinking of was that he hoped his ass looked good.

“Johnny!” He heard Tommy’s voice getting closer to then join it with a heavy fall to his knees. Without any problems he picked him up and cradled him in his arms pieta-style, frantically checking if he was alright. “Dude, are you alright?”

“I know you wanted to know, dude. Narration already told me.”

“Well, sorry for just making damn sure!”

“I’m good, don’t worry,” he confirmed with a small cough. All confused, he tried to detect the cause of his mighty fall. “The heck was that?”

“Uhhh…” Started Tommy but without any solid comments, he simply pointed downwards on the shitshow that was happening.

It turned out that the roadblock was actually some guy. As he ragdolled down from the platform, he started hitting things left and right. Honestly, Johnny forgot how he would’ve totally gotten a high score in human pinball. Only looked at the lifeless body of some guy tumbling around the yellow sphere and hitting what have you.

At the end, the guy crashed the hot dog stand. It wouldn’t have been anything out of the ordinary if all the condiments hadn’t spilled out onto the nearby Handsome Jack statue. Some even managed to spell out

Thankfully, nearby was another hot dog stand so it wasn’t weird or anything.

“Who was that? Is he dead??” Johnny’s eyes got bigger, trying to get any confirmation from his dad’s reaction.

Rushing to the scene, dad took half a step backwards. His assessment came quickly, “Oh, that? That was Vaughn. The author hates him so yeah, I’d say he’s dead.”

“Darn,” Johnny clicked his tongue. “So I’m good?”

“You’d be. If you didn’t defame the Handsome Jack statue, in which case you’re probably going to jail.”

Johnny ended up in jail. Tommy regarded such as a huge inconvenience for everyone involved.

The Hyperion troops handled the arrest surprisingly swiftly. Possibly even more effectively than actual harder offenses happening on Helios’ daily. It didn’t help how that Vasquez guy was leading that exact force. He looked at dad with lowered, confident eyes and pursed lips. Of course, dad answered with just the same. Somewhere out there vid swayed their hair. What Tommy had seen was impossible to un-see.

All he was able to do was to helplessly hide his face in those huge hands. In every bit of the word, trouble reached its maximum. Stranded in the past, without his brother, having to handle this mess. Tommy was damn right this was a bad idea. Dad was certainly right, as he had always been.

His head titled in, well, dad’s direction. Even without knowing their identities, he couldn’t have hidden his concern. He was trying to tell Yvette something but all three of them knew his efforts were completely futile.

For a split second, their stares met. When inside a surge of uncomfortableness overtook Tommy, outside he tried to appear unphased. Not that it was ever possible with those big chubby cheeks of his.

At least dad shared a very comparable level of discomfort, “Shit sucks.”

Tommy spared him a questioning look, before sinking his shoulders deeper, “Sure does.”

“Buuut, uh. I don’t wanna leave you alone with this. Neither of us do,” dad tried to reassure him, pointing to Yvette to join in.

Quickly, she confirmed, “Of course. You might not know Helios but we can navigate it with our eyes closed.”

Suddenly more curious, Tommy focused his attention back on them. His hand propped his cheek as he looked thoroughly over their reactions and any of the cues. Something was definitely… Off. Not that Tommy could have put his finger on it.

“Why do you wanna help me, hm? I’m just a random, weird guy to you, nothing else,” he asked, though a ping of guilt poked his side. Afterall, it was his dad he was talking to. Younger and with terrible fashion sense but it was still the man he knew and loved.

Dad and Yvette exchanged another look. Maybe it was their form of mutual understanding. Like the smallest testimony of such, one he often exchanged with Johnny. In part, this simple motion made the dread of his fate even stronger.

First, Yvette took the stage, “To be honest, I have no idea who you are.”

Tommy nodded. Nothing better than honesty. Except reading yuri before breakfast.

“Is that it?” He wanted to make sure.

“Yeah, pretty much. I’m just out of my mind bored so why not, I’ll help.”

Something about her surely spoke to him in a manner only they could’ve understood. Like the weirdest brain wave activity, invisible to the naked eye. Whatever it was, Tommy started to really like her.

Hopefully nothing bad happened to her, he mused, having temporary amnesia that Gearbox is a bitch and cannot be trusted. But hey, reality can be whatever I want so she’s fine, chat.

“What about you?” He turned to dad’s direction.

Deep inside the dread of what was to come swallowed him whole. Afterall, the man before him had always had the undisputable status of both power and compassion. No matter if within the family or company. The version before him was so detached from any of his memories, the book seemed close shut.

However then, he did something completely connected to his future version. The way it was kept in his idle animations for this long astounded Tommy. Meaning dad’s lips pursed so familiarly he could’ve made a whole collage of his memories of such.

“We might not know each other for this long but, uh… I-I don’t know what it is. Just that feeling you know. Like there’s something so familiar about you, I can’t for the life of me say what is it,” dad’s brown eyes pierced through him so strikingly, Tommy was sure he could’ve uncovered the secret right there and then. Thankfully, his dad’s painful obliviousness carried itself out to all the spheres of life. “Eh, it’s probably not important. The bottom line is, I’m in.”

As if a thousand of tomatoes stopped being thrown at him, Tommy’s head perked up a little bit, “You are?”

“Hell yeah, I am. You might be weird and oh Eridians, how weird you are,” his words got accented with probably triple underline. Tommy silently nodded, hoping it wasn’t the only one of his powers he was aware of or should he be even more annoying. “And who isn’t, am I right? You and your brother looked at me and wanted to give me a chance to go out there and do what I wanna do. Why shouldn’t I give it back? Especially since helping you out is what I wanna do.”

Inside, Tommy felt another tug. Memories of his dad always promising both him and Johnny that whatever path they take he would’ve been there for him filled his mind. Nostalgia was often a bitch but just right then, it tasted like a confirmation he truly needed. That his dad had always been his dad – no matter the circumstances.

A soft smile graced his features. He then stood up and approached the two rather awkwardly, “Yeah… Yeah, I… Thank you, uhm. Rhys. Thanks, Rhys.”

“No problem, Tommy. You’re gonna go far, kid.”

“Can you believe this isn’t on my character playlist?” Asked Tommy after the author took a quick look around it.

Confusion once more overwhelmed his features, as he tapped his fingers against his arms in deep thought, “Wait really? It’s definitely on mine though.”

“Crazy work, man.”

“Yeah.”

“Are you guys done?” Asked Yvette slightly annoyed at the concert of throwing around confused “yeah”s. When they both assured her with some more “yeah”s, she settled herself by shifting her weight from one foot to another. Seriously, how the hell was she still standing in those heels, Tommy couldn’t believe. Part of it had to be jealousy. “Anyways, if you want someone who will plan out even the smallest thing that can go wrong – he’s your guy.”

“Nice,” Tommy approved, collecting data in his head. He spared Yvette a curious look, “What about you? What does it say on your character card?”

“I work in requisitions. Whatever you want, I can handle it, no questions asked,” confirmed Yvette with a sure stance.

“Ooh. How legal or illegal are we talking?”

Reading his mind, the corner of Yvette’s mouth twitched upwards, “Yes. 10 thousand tons of gummy bears included.”

“You are a miracle worker,” Tommy blurted out  in complete awe. “Okay, team, let’s get this.”

“Don’t we need another person for this?” Dad stopped him in his tracks.

“No, that was a bullshit rule from Tales From The Borderlands. No idea who thought of it.”

“Burch most likely,” Yvette chimed in.

“Always at the scene of the crime,” sighed Tommy, thankful he wasn’t there to witness the story.

“W-Wait-wait,” with a surprisingly sturdy grab, dad once more halted his move forward. Truly, he had always been able to do it to Tommy, no matter the strength level. Damn cat mom logic. “What about your stats, huh?”

With all the attention focused on him, Tommy missed how his brother always went out of his way to get into the spotlight. As the merciless troupers started shining down on him, he tried not to panic. Drifting from left to right, he tried to spot the director of the play. Knowledge that there was none hit him like a space shuttle at full speed.

In that TCG he sure as hell wasn’t ready to give them his own character card. Revealing the crucial information was out of the question. Especially since Johnny wasn’t around. Not to mention… His skills felt severely lacking.

Tommy sighed heavily, his frame trying to decrease further. Which was impossible for a man 200m+ of height because I’m not goddamn American and I’m not playing your foot games, “I sure maxed out on strength, hah.”

“That’s good! That’s very good, we’ve got the cat in the bag!” Dad’s face lit up, as he motioned enthusiastically. “What’s the holdup, champ?”

“Yeah, why are you so troubled all of the sudden? Even I can see your stats are a good carry and I’m not as dorky as he is,” commented Yvette, not too subtly pointing at dad.

“Hey!”

“What, I’m just telling the truth. What are Bunkers & Badasses anyway…”

“A very sophisticated game for smart people!”

“Yeah, right.”

“My speech is at 0, you know,” between their bickering, Tommy chimed in. His eyes became all glassy, the signature pout was at full display. If the worry about Johnny wasn’t enough, of course dad had to seal the deal with the way too familiar nickname.

Both dad and Yvette turned in his direction. When their words failed, surprise took the front stage. However, there was something Tommy didn’t expect to notice in their stares of two Hyperion executives – understanding.

“Hey… It’s quite alright, you know. Whatever you lack in speech, I’m sure there are other things that you have 100 at,” Yvette started, gently trying to get through to him.

Within that first spike of thoughtfulness, dad also approached him with kindness in those big brown eyes, “And even if you feel like a 0 at speech, we can help you carry that campaign. I mean you have strength and power! That’s enough to shut everyone up!”

“Sure as hell would be enough to shut up Vasquez. He definitely feels squeamish with men who have a higher position. Literally,” Yvette tried to draw the point home.

“Exactly!” Dad agreed but immediately did a double take at her, “I feel like it’s a jab at me.”

Yvette shrugged, “If the shoe fits.”

With the words of great encouragement, Tommy felt more at ease with what was to come. Even if it was just a little. But he was perfectly aware how a little oftentimes came a long way. Hence he tried to be brave. For his brother, for the mission. For the possibility to kick Johnny’s ass later that he got himself in this situation and left him to handle the mess. What else was new.

“Alright… Okay, you’re right, I get it,” promptly Tommy nodded, trying to stand right back up. Enough of that dad I frew up bullshit, it was time to go to work. “Let’s do this. How do we do this?”

”Great thing that you’re asking!”

Before Tommy could’ve assessed the situation dad’s voice quickly turned into a familiar narration. Things started feeling even more recognizable, as Tommy saw the literal drawing of him, dad and Yvette. The dots have been connected with a white pen striking two exclamation marks at the doodle of him. The plan had been in motion.

“Because this is our area to make that plan work out a-okay,” continued dad, as other bits and pieces of the drawing board filled with all kinds of doodles.

“Visualization?” Asked Yvette, when question marks flew by her head.

“Best way to handle things! Possibly. I dunno, i-it’s definitely more visual than just thinking it through,” dad jumped into the corner which was supposed to be the first step of the plan.

“We’re not exactly in the visual medium right now… The audience has no idea what we’re doing,” Tommy questioned the validity. Which one made dad’s doodle get two dot eyes of embarrassment.

“Ah. Right. Well, if that’s supposed to be a callback I’m sure the readers will get it just fine!” Waving his hand, dad immediately turned his back and started to draw out the first point.

Just so we’re clear this is a callback to Timothy’s plan from Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot.

“Thanks, narrator. Didn’t wanna mention papa to him,” Tommy sighed with great relief.

You’re welcome, Tommy. Now back to the story.

Soon enough step 1 got filled with doodles of varying quality showcasing… Something Tommy couldn’t have exactly deciphered himself. Seeing his confusion, dad immediately hopped off the bar to join him.

“A-ha, here it comes! Part 1 of the plan is the disguise. Sure Vasquez has seen you before but, uh… Well, he definitely won’t get you if you’re pretending to be someone else!”

Dad explained with general glee in his eyes looking at the man he had no idea was his son. Said man being again, tall and big as hell, very much so a characteristic one. Not to mention even in the outskirts of Helios everyone knew each other. The chances were, well…

“Ooh,” Tommy’s eyes widened, as this approach seemed completely innovative. “That will definitely work, you’re a genius! But who will I dress up as?”

“I told you I’m the master of requisitions,” Yvette’s doodle popped up between them. “Let me handle this for you.”

From the little doodle cartoony world, Tommy found himself back in the real world. As real as it could’ve been in this situation. He noticed a huge wardrobe, one which was enough for him to do a step-in-step out to emerge a new man. On the other side Yvette encouraged him to go forward. Tommy puffed his round cheeks.

“But it won’t be a montage, right? I wanna get this done quickly.”

“No worries, I already picked out the best outfit for you. Go on, give it a try,” she reassured him and unveiled a bit of the curtain to make his access easier.

What else could Tommy do than to just go forward and see for himself? Not much since that’s what I’m writing now. A firm step in and the wardrobe seemed to work its magic. Within a blink of an eye, Tommy was able to step out and see himself in the huge mirror. The suit wasn’t as glamorous as the one Johnny had picked out but it would’ve definitely made do for the mission.

His outfit was in a mint green shade, one that felt so revealing Tommy wasn’t sure how it would’ve helped him to blend in with the surroundings. Still, it fit rather nicely. The weirdest thing by far was the fact that one of his arms was in a cast, encapsulating half of it. He looked at it with questions at the tip of his tongue before Yvette said, not too phased.

“That’s for Vasquez to feel better about himself,” she said with the same kind of detachment Vasquez kept appearing in their speech. “He’ll see you as weaker. That’s just part of the gameplan.”

“I see, I see,” not too convinced, Tommy agreed. To then as his hand brushed off his face he felt a very peculiar additive to his getup. One right above his lip.

Right. He was also given a fake mustache, of course. What was with his sudden need to smoke a cigarette… Everyone would’ve thought he was just cosplaying his dad but Tommy put the two and two together.

“Why the hell do I look like Holland March from the hit movie Nice Guys from 2016, starring Ryan Gosling and Russel Crowe?” He looked at Yvette, demanding an explanation.

“Well…” Thinking of it for a second, Yvette knew a visual would’ve been more telling to him. She stepped into the wardrobe and then went out in an appropriate outfit of a looser suit and black sunglasses, of course with prescription. “Because I’m gonna dress up as Jackson Healy.”

“Ooh, that makes sense,” stroking the tip of his chin, Tommy nodded. “Fuck Angry Birds.”

“Oh yeah, fuck it.”

“Step 2!” Dad’s narration put them all back in the realm of the blueprint. “We need the clearance to the bottom of the pit that is the Helios prison. Luckily for you, I have all the codes necessary to hack into Vasquez’ laptop and get them.”

“Why is Vasquez the one guarding the Helios prison? Didn’t think that is his job,” back on the board, drawn in his stylish outfit Tommy strove to understand the Helios structures a bit more. Afterall, it was still their job to learn what had been going on in the past.

“Actually, it’s not,” explained dad, though busy drawing skibidi Vasquez because if Backrooms movie is in cinemas right as this fic is being written then why not.

“What?”

“Not his division, not in the slightest,” Yvette chimed in and Tommy felt inner dread realizing what she was referencing. “He had been given limited access to the prison, just to handle Johnny’s arrival. Actually, he had been asked to guard it today too.”

“The reason being…?” Tommy raised his brow.

“The plot of this fic!” Suddenly, Yvette snapped her finger right before his face, dragging him away from his hazed judgment. “Get it together, Tommy.”

“Sorry! You’re right, you are right.”

“A-ha!”

With those words from dad, the reality before them shifted again. All three of them got transported into his apartment back in the Helios suites. Though describing it as his apartment was more generous than this scenery deserved. What had been presented to Tommy wasn’t a nicely decorated and put together place he’d think his dad would’ve had back then. It was simplified, small, almost claustrophobic.

Truth be told, it wasn’t even a full apartment, just a room without walls shrouded in complete darkness. The only furnishing was a desk in the middle with a laptop on it, acting as the sole light source. The area had only one chair, which dad already occupied. Tommy and Yvette took places on both his sides, looking intensely at the screen.

“That’s your apartment…?” Asked Tommy, making damn sure he didn’t hallucinate it. Though this whole situation already seemed like a fever dream.

“Only what’s necessary for the purpose of the scene,” once more, dad didn’t seem phased. “You don’t need to see it in full, not at that point in my life hah.”

“He means his whole wall of Handsome Jack funko pops,” Yvette remained nonchalant.

“Hey!” Dad’s head snapped up. “Don’t disrespect the Handsome Jack rubber ducks too!”

“Why would I? I even bought you some,” then within her voice they all could’ve told she was in fact a little chalant.

“I know. Because you are the best,” dad smiled at her and she smiled back. They were friends and everything was fine, this is my fic and I can say that. Then he turned back to the screen and the style shifted to have sharper lines and more details on his face. It was about time they locked in. “I got Vasquez’ laptop. All we need is to get in and take the access codes to ourselves.”

Tommy’s sole green eyes in the room focused on what was in front of him. The password bar blinked, empty and awaiting whatever they were about to type in. Like a merciless morse code of infinity.

“How are we gonna do it?” He came a little closer, pressing the back of his hand to his mouth in deep thought.

“Easy!” Dad’s voice almost beamed as he started to type something in the bracket. “If there’s something Vasquez left me in the breakup it’s the password. Also his picture so I can play darts on his face.”

“Are you winning, son?” This time it was Yvette who asked.

“I never lose.”

Saying so, dad punched in the password and hit enter. Then the screen lit up with a welcoming message while the Windows XP startup sound played through the room. Next thing they saw was the most pixelated picture of shirtless Vasquez they had anticipated. Immediately, all their faces were filled with immense regret and disgust. You win some, you lose some, despite what dad said.

Oh, right, Vasquez’ password. That one is my engagement bait actually. What do you think was Vasquez’ password? I’m awaiting all the best and worst ideas.

Dad groaned underneath his voice, as they all had to witness that picture. Swiftly, he moved to the browser and searched up Hyperion employees’ hub of all the company related documents. Hacking into Vasquez’ account was just as easy, though it was probably shot like an impossible action in a heist movie.

In no time at all, he managed to get into the section of all the clearances and licenses connected to a specific Hyperion employee. The list kept elongating at snail speed. So much so, Tommy started getting impatient.

“Please, come on, we have to get him out,” he pleaded, almost leaning that enormous frame at dad.

“Oh c’mon, champ, we’re almost there. I, we, know those lists very well and they don’t take more than 5 minutes to show all.”

5 hours later it finally stopped buffering. Thankfully, in their places, all three of them put fake skeletons so that someone was supervising the whole process. As the ding! of a job done sounded out, all three of them rushed to the positions.

Among the items of the list, the desired clearance showed itself to them like it was shining so brightly the angels’ choir accompanied it. In the right corner the text box said “Allowed to be accessed by: Hugo Vasquez”. Dad selected the place and started writing.

Allowed to be accessed by: Hugo Vasquez, Rhys Strongfork, Yvette (fuck what can be her last name) Rosario, Thomas Lawrence

The system rebutted with, “Who the hell is Thomas Lawrence.”

Reaching behind himself, dad looked at Tommy. And Tommy looked at him. Dad turned back to type in another command.

“Tommy Lawrence. He’s a guy.”

“Ah, ok :)” said the system. The clearances have been obtained and all three cheered in an 80’s freeze frame. Though the work wasn’t over.

“Step 3! Last one, folks!”

This time around the blueprint only flashed before all of them in a cutoff sequence. Several words written in dad’s handwriting showcased themselves against the all too familiar background. Yet Tommy didn’t manage to read them as they were already standing before the entrance.

“Yvette will come by to manage the door and fend off any of the uninvited guests,” dad explained, pointing his finger up and walking in circles.

“Got it,” confirmed Yvette and took out her ECHObook with a fluorescent display. “Before you ask how – one word in the database and they’ll ship me a loader, no questions asked. Magic of requisitions.”

“Woah,” Tommy’s eyes focused on the shining device. Who was even responsible for requisitions at Atlas? Whoever they were, he knew getting to know them was not a need, it was a must. “Can I–“

Before he got to finish the question, Yvette already typed out the request onto her pad. A large claw appeared from the ceiling, carrying the bounty. Without hesitation it chucked a giant lollipop and a propeller hat in Tommy’s direction.

She brushed off her shoulder, “No need to thank me.”

“I’d say the h word but it’s banned in blandsverse, I think,” next time the screen cut to Tommy he already wore the hand and dove into the lollipop. 

“A lot of h words are banned here,” Yvette succumbed to thought, her finger pressing her finger against her cheek. “Any idea about those which aren’t? Maybe hyacinths.”

“Hemorrhage,” said Tommy.

“Hemorrhoids,” chimed in dad.

Yvette tilted her head a little and pressed her lips together weighing the answers, “Yeah, that’ll do. Okay, that’s me, what about you guys?”

“Excellent question!” Dad took his cue and went back to musing the plans. “I’ll be the one to handle the technical stuff. Whenever closer, I have made it possible so that my ECHO will pick up Johnny’s signal. He’ll walk me through the cables and bam! Your brother will be free.”

Letting out a lower hum, Tommy tried to piece the picture together. Only to realize he had thrown the instructions a long time ago, “What about me, then?”

“You? Why will you be the one to stall Vasquez as long as it’s possible? I am sure you’ll have an idea how to occupy him with a talk for uuhhh a bit of time. All clear?” Turning around, dad tried to rally them up for the final boss fight. Keyword “tried”.

Cause suddenly, Tommy felt like drawn in a background shot of a cartoon. As if his face was turning into cubic art and his eyes melted away from his face. In all this, he blinked. Though Tommy’s blinks were so mighty they became audible.

“The what now.”

“You,” dad’s voice was calm. His pointing finger almost drilled into his pudgy cheek. “Talk.”

“N,” managed to say Tommy.

“What do you mean “n”.”

“I can’t do this. That’s just… Nuh-uh, no,” all of the color faded from his face. In a moment, at least the upper part of his body was literally black and white. “That is like… Sick. Twisted. Limp wristed.”

“C’mon, Tommy, it can’t be that bad,” Yvette tried to console him, taking a step in his direction. Still in the appropriate distance from his area.

“One day I tried to order a ratch taco and I started playing BnB with the seller instead.”

“Oh,” a quiet noise escaped Yvette’s mouth. “Were they at least good?”

“No. They tripped and fell into spilled gasoline,” Tommy’s whole frame folded like fresh laundry. All the times he passed by Pilates class and several he joined in finally paid off.

Her brows drew together in a sorrow and understanding only the author could’ve given her because again Burch wouldn’t have ever cared to give Yvette appropriate emotions, “Rhys. C’mon, we can’t just have him suffer like this. Especially with Vasquez, that guy has zero skills in BnB.”

The sudden ache overwhelmed Tommy’s body in a way which even the silence couldn’t have expressed. All of the doubts he carried from the start and plain worry for his brother wanted to swallow him whole. To forget who he was in the past. To not be able to continue on in the future.

That was when he felt a hand pressed against his arm. Though usually it’d startle Tommy yet this time around, the touch was weirdly familiar. 

His forest green eyes looked up. Dad’s face, although younger and almost uncharacteristic, was still as kind as ever. With a spark of support and pride present throughout all his life. Somehow in his current features, Tommy saw the outlines of a much older face.

“You know what you and Johnny told me before?” When Tommy focused on him, dad started.

“Yeah,” sniffled Tommy. “It wasn’t that long ago, of course I know. Bunch of bullshit I guess. No offense but you did look pretty miserable out there.”

“And I was. Just as you are right now,” even if dad’s finger gun wasn’t loaded, Tommy sure felt like struck by a truth nuke. “But, uh. I still believed whatever you two thought of me. I know it’s asking for a lot but please, now you gotta believe me. Cause I see you can make a difference even if it’s scary for you to do it.”

Within another set of those damn yellow walls, Tommy couldn’t have shaken off the feeling of being pressed in. As if the walls were crushing down on him and he was trapped in the ending of Saw 5 by the way, one of my fave endings in the franchise. The route to escape was nowhere to be found. It was him who had become the cow with the illusion of free choice.

Whatever the hell a cow was.

“I can’t do it, man,” Tommy breathed heavily, feeling smaller and smaller by the second. “I don’t have your planning skills, Yvette’s assertiveness nor Johnny’s fast talking. Don’t know what I’m left with.”

“For starters, you’re very smart,” Yvette joined in, leaning closer to them. “And you think fast.”

“Exactly! You’re the one who sees through all the bullshit, right? You know how to handle what doesn’t feel right! And you’re stubborn to get what you want, that’s a total W in talking with that dickhead!” Dad agreed, the pep in his voice returning to more familiar levels. “You’ve said I should try something else. I know you can too cause you might not be from around here but you still try. And if everything fails, well… You’d take that chance for someone. Is there a better someone for this than your brother?”

Tommy’s expression softened, “Well…”

“Nah, I’m genuine, I’m an only child and I have no damn clue,” dad admitted with utmost seriousness.

Yvette shrugged, “Beats me.”

A small sigh escaped Tommy’s mouth, “No. There really isn’t a better person.”

“Then you might have the answer at your hand,” settling himself, dad smiled gently. “I think you’re destined for greatness, champ. And if greatness demands doing something a little different then, well… All it takes is to beat the shit out of it in your style. No one else’s.”

With his heart pounding in his chest, Tommy looked upwards at dad. There was no description of it before I think so just know he was squatting this entire dialogue bit. Yet right then he shakily stood up. Just to see the world from his own perspective again. To see both dad and Yvette at their least doubtful.

That exact moment Tommy was also certain.

Hence he went forward and scooped dad into his arms. Burying his face into his shoulder, taking in the moment just for his own needs. In his head he counted seconds which would’ve always belonged to them. Then dad’s arms hugged him back. And right then, Tommy felt small. Or rather the same as he was back as a child, curled up in his dad’s embrace.

“Thanks… Just thanks. Thank you,” Tommy said to him, not even wanting to say his name. His calling was left back into the future. “If Johnny needs that sacrifice then what the hell. At least he’ll owe me big time.”

“That’s the spirit!” Dad cheered, patting him on the back. Another surge of memories washed upon him with pleasant warmth. “So whaddaya say – we’re doing this or what?”

There was no going back from that decision. He settled dad back on the ground and nodded, “Yeah. We do.” But before he was ready to go forward, he glanced to Yvette’s side. “Is it fine by you or do you, ekhm. Do you not wanna be left out?”

With a dash of concern on her face, she admitted, “Nah, I’m good.”

“You sure?”

Another moment of hesitation, as Yvette looked from side to side. Finally, she admitted defeat with a deflated balloon sound, “No.”

“Oh. C’mere then.”

He spread his arms which could’ve probably held like 50 more people. But all needed right then was Yvette, hence all surprised, she got right in. Maybe it was a little awkward for all parties involved but Tommy couldn’t have denied her. Not to mention, Yvette seemed genuinely happy. Dad in all his sentimental side took a picture. No idea with what.

Damn, Tommy thought to himself, I’m sure as hell gonna get a good grade at giving hugs. Which was a normal thing for anyone to think about, obviously.

Having put her down on the ground, a new stream of determination overcame Tommy. One last chance to save Johnny from that wretched fate. Oh, he owed him big time.

Just like so, all that was needed from the door was the scan of dad’s ID and the cheerful Hyperion lady already welcomed them into that particular ring of hell. With a firm step both Tommy and dad went inside. Of course, Tommy’s sprite being too big for the regular sized door had to clip through. At least dad managed to exploit that glitch beforehand and he managed to pass right through.

From the top of the stairs, Yvette took her position, clicking in the sunglasses setting on her prescriptions. As the doors slid closing, she looked at them and gave them the one last thumbs down. Tommy smiled profoundly. At least she had watched it already.

When the ground beneath Tommy had gained back its dimmed, yellowish tone, he tried his hardest to notice anything familiar within the décor. Surely, Atlas’ prisons were a little bit different. Mostly since there were tons of ratch waiting to squirm and probably kill someone before they got to the cell.

Hyperion prisons however looked so… Familiar in a way. Long corridors of closed off spaces. No windows, nothing on the wall. Just the merciless tint of yellow all throughout. A comparison was at the tip of Tommy’s tongue, he just couldn’t find it yet.

Finally, they managed to walk enough of a distance for an entrance to the bigger area to reveal itself. A spike of anticipation buzzed against Tommy’s skin. It was time go.

Yes, another reference because as I’m writing it now, I’ve rewatched it yesterday and kinda sorta can’t stop thinking abt it alright? Alright, let’s continue.

Dad’s hand pressed against his shoulder again. Wordlessly, he prepared himself for the words of wisdom sent from the heavens against this barren prison. Memories of his childhood flooded his brain. When everything which dad said could’ve been classified as the same level of importance as stories from the old corporations, the bibble or even Bunkers and Badasses rulebook.

Hence as he felt the grip getting tighter, all his focus remained on his dad.

“You got this, Tommy Juan. You’re our only ho.”

Tommy blinked two times, “I thought you’re more of a Star Trek person.”

“I am, yeah,” dad said ever so casually.

“Alright. That’s it?”

“Yeah, I mean. Do you want something else to be added?” Dad’s brown eyes inspected him throughout.

Another deep breath filled Tommy's lungs. All he could’ve thought about were the nightmare scenarios of what happened to Johnny. Also there was the sucking nicotine hunger making him feel like a dehydrated orange.

“No. No need,” admitted Tommy, his sight once more dropping onto the ground. Only then he was able to notice just how hideous dad’s boots were. “Okay. Go, I’ll cover.”

“Sure,” he agreed, straightening himself up but since it’s almost Pride Month [editing author here but it’s already Pride Month as I’m adding it], I guess he was bisexualying himself up. Good for him! As Tommy took the position and his large frame almost covered the whole doorframe, dad stopped for a moment. “By the way if you don’t respond in time, he will kill you. Trust me, I know he sucks with the gun but don’t take too long with him or else it’s game over. I’ve been there.”

Tommy’s brows drew together in utmost confusion, “The what now.”

“Good luck!” One last time, dad waved his hand and moved to the other side of the corridor. All while Tommy couldn’t have stopped dissecting the warning.

With a quiet ooh, he understood the happening way too well. Right, the reference. The one that would’ve happened in dad’s future but in Tommy’s past. That surely made sense, if he was to squint his eyes and then hop on one leg around the Helios smoking central.

Seeing as his dad in the peak twink years was able to move undetected away from Vasquez’ sight, Tommy pulled his arms backwards and puffed his chest. Unsure how the prison system was laid out, he looked towards the darker area in front of him. A desk which sadly wasn’t made out of glass mounted itself up at the very end of the horizontal line. Seated by it was a figure turned around to Tommy’s direction. With a painfully long spin, Vasquez revealed himself to him.

“I’ve been expecting this,” his voice sounded across the room, as the time stopped for a second. Not in any magical way, only to show his splash card.

VASQUEZ
nigdy nie przypuszczałem, że mogę mieć problemy z prostatą

“I have no idea what the hell does that mean,” Tommy snarled as he started to make his alpha male walk towards that comically small desk. “And you don’t even know who I am.”

To which Vasquez stopped. His lips pressed together, weighing the correct response to give him, “Actually, yeah, I don’t. Who are you?”

Ah dammit, Tommy didn’t prepare for this one either.

“Uhhh… Vengeance?”

“Noo, try harder. C’mon, I know you have something up your sleeve,” Vasquez leaned closer, shiteating grin spreading all across his face. If it was just a bit larger it’d probably unhook from his jaw so he’d look like people from that NRJ mobile ad. Side note, if you can’t handle body horror, even comedic then you don’t have to get that reference fr bc it is cursed as hell.

Gathering all of his ideas, Tommy noticed a random mirror to the side. One which reflected his whole body, giving him a final look at the person the past had demanded. A throwback mixtape in the terrible times when somehow cassettes went out of style. Awful, just awful.

The camera went to the ground, capturing Tommy at the correct angle which would’ve been a perspective bending nightmare to the artist. Fortunately, this medium was of the written word.

“My name right then can be…”

THE SPACECRAFTER
I craft. Through space.

Vasquez pursed his lips, “At least you don’t mine. Anyways, what brings you here to my… Office.”

Several crickets for some reason appeared in the room and started giving them a piece of their mind. Tommy looked around, “That’s not your office.”

“It is.”

Damn, he was good. Though it was time for Tommy to show him the limits of his own conversational prowess. Which also meant the whole mission was absolutely doomed and Helios was about to explode. Just another day in the realm of the Hyperion, he supposed.

“Why exactly is it that we needed to introduce ourselves, huh, Spacecrafter?”

His breath dug in the shallow matters of his chest, as Tommy still remained in the realm of a very sexy perspective shot from below. Last ditch attempt to save the world as he knew it.

Well, Johnny to be exact but he was a crucial part of his own world. And despite the annoyances and dramas, Tommy wouldn’t have wanted to think about a world without him.

“I want to make a deal with you,” another set of alpha male steps forward carried him to Vasquez’ desk. Both of his hands slammed against the desk. “The terms are yours, I don’t care. But if I win, you will let my brother go.”

All curious, Vasquez drew closer, “And if I do?”

“Uhm. Shit, alright.”

Tommy smoothed his shirt and took out a little device from his front pocket. One slide against the desk gave it enough momentum to ram against the glass with his water. Soon enough it tumbled down and crashed right onto the ground. Their view got filled with weird visages of early 00’s CGI akin to the olden bowling alleys. Some flowers with faces, annoying music, caterpillars holding hands and dancing, all that jazz.

“We’re gonna go… Bowling?” Asked Vasquez, his bushy eyebrows drawing together.

Looking from side to side, Tommy smacked his lips, “Would you want to?”

“Of course. I once rained the streets of the bowling fame. All until… The accident.”

“Damn,” he nodded almost understandably. “Sounds rough.”

“Sure was, kid. One time you’re the King of Balls and then what? Nothin’ but shattered dreams,” the pensiveness of Vasquez’ face looked almost like an emoji. Though in his thoughtfulness he focused on the window, staring into space.

It was enough for Tommy to soundlessly wheeze at that loser. He glanced right into the camera, pointing at him, as the “get a loud of this guy” message crawled through the screen. Oh, for times like these the world was worth it.

“I accept,” Vasquez gave into the idea, standing up to match Tommy’s height. All to forget that Tommy was probably grown on nothing but radioactive produce and straight up steroids. Still, he never knew until he had tried. “As for the terms of our deal…”

When those exact words dropped from his tongue, the whole world around them had spun around in an increasingly fast manner. It wasn’t anything even remotely pleasant to experience. The last bits of consciousness made Tommy hang onto that desk for his dear life. Then it finally stopped. The centrifugal force swayed his whole frame to the point of Tommy falling right onto the ground. Even his physique had nothing on the laws of physics.

His eyes opened, unsurely adjusting to the light. Or lack therefore of. The damn desk was gone and in its place two podiums had emerged up from the ground. The room still seemed dead empty with the barren walls crashing upon his frame from both sides. In the middle, there was the light from up above, without any clue of its source.

There was also Vasquez. Standing turned back around him, the devil of the hour. Hours. Days definitely.

“A speech contest sounds sound… Don’tcha think?” He turned ever so slightly, the flash of his teeth repeated the uncanny glow from the ceiling.

“Yeah, it sounds,” not too convinced, Tommy agreed. As if trying to see if there’s anything to cling onto, his sight was everywhere but not on Vasquez. “It’s a word and you said it. It sounds.”

“No, I mean that it’s. Correct.”

“Sure as hell isn’t false.”

“OKAY! Gah, can the mysterious and unsettling Eridian stand-in please give me my topic?” On the verge of popping a vein on his forehead, Vasquez yelled right into the sky. What was the equivalent of it right there, anyway.

A pulse of surprise went through Tommy’s body, stopping him in his tracks. Was that what Johnny assumed to be that weaponized incompetence? Not that it was incompetence, Tommy tried to convince himself. But if it worked well enough to ragebait that damn Hyperion then he would’ve taken it. No questions asked.

At least that served as another reminder of the mission’s goal. Tommy breathed in heavily, taking a larger step upwards to the podium, right next to Vasquez. Their names shined on the game posts in flashy lettering.

Whatever Tommy was expecting it definitely wasn’t the actual splitting of the sky above him. Though there were no Eridians to bring the questions back to them. It was but a singular arm from the upwards area, handing him a piece of celestial paper. The choral music had flown across the space in a matter transcending the words. When it was done, Vasquez held onto the paper firmly. 

“Well… Sure is an interesting turn of events,” Vasquez shot him a smile from the side which was so horribly anime Tommy wanted to puke. Not that there was something wrong with it per se but it was that side smile which studio that does Avatar do. When it doesn’t let characters open their mouths but just kinda opens it to the side. Horrifying stuff.

Case and point, a droplet of cold sweat ran against Tommy’s forehead. The spotlight focused on Vasquez.

With the most dramatic of music overwhelming around the room, Vasquez’ face was focused. Lips pursed, eyebrows drawn together, face angled. In all honesty Tommy felt that sudden dread he was about to be cursed on by vine boom sounds, possibly ending with “yo”. Yet he remained; No matter what it entailed, he had to respect his opponent. Even if that opponent was a total dick.

And so Vasquez had started. Swelling music accompanied his voice which carried itself around the room with no walls and no escape. Tommy’s mouth opened a little. At first he simply listened to him with a smile on his face and utter fascination. It was only when the meaning of his words hit him with full force.

Those words couldn’t have been conveyed on the pages of this fic. Most since Vasquez chose for his bit to reenact the whole balcony scene as both Romeo and Juliet. And since I’m not gonna commit the most egregious act of copyright infringement (only sensible copyright infringement here), I will leave it up to the reader's imagination.

Needless to say, the performance filled Tommy’s heart with appreciation of arts beyond any worldly descriptions. It was beauty in its finest format, dwelling on the sacrum art bound by the heavens above. If Tommy’s atheism was ever to have been broken, Vasquez’ spell might’ve done exactly that.

Yet the spirit of the Lawrence clan (not a Genshin reference, fuck you Eula) was still strong within him. When Vasquez finished, Tommy tried to brush the dread away – even when it was the closest he had ever been to hearing the angels sing. And the angels sung in Patrick Warburton’s voice.

As the final words sounded from Vasquez’ lips, he bowed a little forward. The imaginary audience went wild, cheering and hollering at him, as the thrown roses and several boxer shorts entered the sphere of his podium. Once more he gave him that overconfident smile. Height be damned, suddenly Tommy felt incredibly small.

Then the spotlight cut itself, as dramatically as it possibly could’ve. Vasquez once more was shrouded in the dark, while the light aimed point blank at Tommy. The maybe Eridian voice from above had decided it was his time to perform. Tommy gulped loudly, when the huge hand from above gave him the paper with his own prompt. Quickly, he unveiled the message, preparing himself for the worst.

“Have fun and be yourself :)”

Tommy’s expression dropped. It was worse than the worst.

As the anticipation grew from everyone and the invisible audience looked specifically at him, Tommy had no choice but to begin his performance. If they wanted him to be himself then so be it. His eyes closed, as he drew a bigger breath. The search ended within. A story which needed to be told.

He tapped onto his microphone, as his voice drew deeply, “Ehm, when I was still in the cadet school, there was this Chet Smith and I was driving my hoverbike and I met up with him and then I also went to Fran’s to get some frogurt and then on my way I went home and then yeah, I went home.”

The room brightened up with the regular lighting. Both of the contestants were front and center after their performances. Tommy knew he gave it all, yet he still side eyed Vasquez, knowing the victory was up in the air. His heartbeat heightened, slamming against his aching ribcage. It was plain and clear why it was Johnny who had the gambler gene between them. But hell, wasn’t getting his brother back worth stepping into his role for once.

Then again it was also Johnny who had the actor gene. Well, maybe Tommy was fucked, who knew.

Minutes passed like hours and the Jeopardy final clue music was nowhere to be found. Taking in deeper breaths, Tommy tried to settle himself down. No matter how impossible the task was. However, something else was up in the air. This time, it wasn't love, gas leak nor ammonia.

“What the…” Muttered Vasquez, when his sight tried to locate the Eridian hand back in the room.

Such was a fruitless endeavor since the sounds weren’t of any divine intervention. It was human or as human as it could’ve been with dad’s mechanical legs stomping onto the ground. This was already enough for Tommy’s mind to sound the alarm.

For Tommy hadn’t heard just one person approaching – he finally heard two.

His cue couldn’t have been clearer. Whatever the Eridians were to say, as always Tommy couldn’t have given even half of rat’s ass about it. With the utmost precision, he jumped out of the podium from the top, parkour style. One last time, he turned back, trying to keep the confusion on Vasquez’ face forever in his mind. Surely it was better than a shot of frogurt.

Almost as if in slow motion, he took out a little device from one of his pockets. A small rectangular one with a button right in the middle of it. Before Vasquez could’ve asked any additional questions, Tommy scoffed with the tiniest bits of amusement.

“Tommy superior,” he drew, accenting every syllable. “Vasquez inferior.”

“Who are you calling inf–!?“

There was no time to spare for full references. Tommy’s thumb pressed the button on his little device. And everything went up, swallowed by flames.

Diligent readers probably picked up that Tommy rolled a device to Vasquez at the beginning of their quarrel. The small piece latched onto the surface of the podium. Little did Vasquez know, the team had one more surprise up their sleeves. One which combined Tommy’s knowledge, Yvette’s resourcefulness and Rhys’ engineering skills.

A small pipe bomb was enough to make his escape. Thus like the coolest guy around he was, Tommy got launched through the air by the sheer power of the flames carrying him. And he obviously didn’t look back.

Being forced away, he landed in the corridor, quite literally bumping into dad and falling right on Johnny. With a loud thud they hit the ground, grunting and growling at the discomfort. But when Tommy looked up and saw his brother safe and sound, his happiness truly knew no bounds. Though as the cool guy he couldn’t initiate the hug first; Thankfully, Johnny was the best lame guy around there.

“Ahhhh, Tommy! So good to be back!” He laughed with complete glee.

“Glad to see you too, buddy,” to which Tommy squeezed him harder. “Don’t ever play human pinball again, alright?”

“Awh. Even with your enemies?”

Tommy pursed his lips, “This one’s to be reconsidered.”

“Ehm, I truly hate to break the sweet family moment,” started dad, unaware he was also a part of it. Get Lawrence’d, idiot. “But, uh… I think we’re soon gonna be burnt away.”

“Oh, yeah! Lead the way then,” Johnny agreed, promptly pushing Tommy away from him and standing up.

Maybe it was a little time and maybe he got what he asked for but still, Tommy couldn’t have been happier to find Johnny back with them. Hence all three made their way out, running away from the flames almost reaching them from behind. If you know how the Shrek poster looks like, it was pretty much like this.

Among the hurried steps, something hit Tommy. Metaphorically, though it felt exactly like a physical pain.

“Fuck,” he muttered underneath his breath. “I just realized what those corridors remind me of.”

“What is it then?” Asked Johnny, concern and confusion painted on his face.

“Borderlands the movie.”

After all the turmoil, partying and awful decisions, their time in the past had almost ended. All that was left was to simply say goodbye.

The moments leading up to this felt like a complete blur which would’ve only been remembered by badly made pictures. In all honesty, Johnny almost regretted not taking a camera and doing them himself. Anything to keep those memories closer to him, etched on the surface of forever. Maybe what they’ve had was supposed to be with them for even longer.

Johnny wasn’t sure anymore. He simply saw Tommy and dad saying their last goodbyes. His mind got filled with his own memories of what had been, as a smile creeped up on his face. Even when some of the tape was filled with the images of Helios prison, he didn’t regret a thing. As dad from the future convinced them, it was all part of the experience.

When his sight focused on dad from the present past, weirdly enough a sudden understanding hit him. Their journey has had a lot of smaller goals to accomplish but what about the primary one? Deciphering so wasn’t as easy for neither Johnny nor Tommy. Yet when Johnny looked at their dad, he seemed to finally realize.

A little moment in the past, one which was so hard to catch within their hands was right there and then. Though it was their dad, it also… Wasn’t entirely. It was all a matter of perspective. Everyone loved to convince them that the past couldn’t have been undone. Yet at that moment, Johnny knew the past was just as fluid in how he’d come back to it. 

Right then, he saw a man who wasn't his father but it was alright. He was still an imaginative and kind man. Stuck in the past and present which weren’t perfect but it would’ve gotten there. All within the flick of his soon to be prosthetic hand.

“One more thing,” dad stopped himself from rummaging around his pockets once more. What he returned with was… More troublesome than they’d want to admit. “A-ha! Here ya go, champ. So the travel isn’t too bad.”

Taking one step to the side, Johnny looked curiously at the box in Tommy’s hand. Surely it was a cigarette pack but… The image on it was no less than disturbing. Decayed lungs barely holding their shape. Along with a warning that smoking can and will kill you, probably instantly.

Tommy’s lips turned into something that maybe was a smile but probably wasn’t, “Thanks. I’ll cherish ‘em forever.”

“And don’t you forget about it!” Dad beamed with completely unfound bits of pride. Oh well. With a spin, he turned around in Johnny’s direction. His brown eyes looked at him with some sort of understanding, “Sorry you landed in prison. I can think of only a few things which are worse.”

“Meh,” Johnny shrugged. “At least they had uno.”

“Oh shit, really?” When Johnny confirmed, dad seemed a bit more brightened up. “Huh. Then maybe it wasn’t too bad after all.”

“Nah. I’ve seen worse,” he laughed a little and then sighed. “It was great to meet you, dude. You don’t even know.”

“Haha, same here! You… You two actually, ehm. Seem really familiar. I-I can’t put my finger on why but. Yeah. You do.”

A wave of fondness hit Johnny, “Maybe you’ll meet us again. Who knows, right?”

“Hopefully I do,” nodded dad and after a moment of hesitation, he opened his arms. “C’mere. No need to be a stranger.”

Who would’ve Johnny been if he hadn’t taken that chance? Quickly, he fell into his dad’s embrace, cradling him away. That undeniable warmth spread all around him, dancing across his skin like a blanket dad tucked him underneath as a child. His mind wandered off to the future. Cause all he wanted was to continue so with his dad. In his times.

A third force appeared between them. Tommy’s big arms wrapped around them both, finally someone with a wingspan enough to hold them both. And Johnny had to let out a fond laugh. The only wish in his mind was that papa was also there.

After a moment he stepped away, him and Tommy feeling that time slip by between their fingers. Johnny clicked his tongue, “Alright… Welp, it’s our cue.”

“Gotcha,” dad nodded, albeit with a sad undertone. If it was my idea he’d do a Vulcan salute but hey, this is for Ryz. He did the Eridian goodbye.

Which Johnny and Tommy followed. Though if dad hadn’t seen the movie yet, how did he know it?

Regardless of continuity, Johnny and Tommy stepped back into the chamber, ready for their takeoff. Surprisingly enough, it was Tommy who started.

“Do you think we’ll make it safe?”

“Sure. If the author had more time we’d probably go to the Jackpot but nah. That’s enough of our adventures,” reassured him Johnny.

Of course, Tommy didn’t look convinced, “What the hell are you talking about.”

To which Johnny shrugged, “Maybe next year.”

With that, the chamber whirred its fan around and the particles around them buzzed. Johnny closed his eyes, readying himself for the departure. Probably not to look at dad anymore. After all, their dad was waiting for them both. Thus just like so, they disappeared without a trace.

Where did they go? Who knows. I don’t. Why are you asking me?

They stepped into the portal and disappeared in the style of the goddamn Tales From The Borderlands (2015) ending. Also “What I’ve Done” by Linkin Park plays, as if you were watching Transformers (2007).

WHAAAATTTTT IIII’VEEEEE DOOOONEEEEEEEE

I’LL FACE MYSELF

TO CROSS OUT-