Good Cop Bad Cop: Chapter Two

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Ellie watched Shane suspiciously. Was he trying to teach her things again? Hmm.

Ethan snickered. "Seriously?" He thought back, trying to remember if he'd ever learned Mattias's age in the mirror universe. Nope, he really couldn't remember that. Stellan's age, he knew. But that was all. Stupid mirror universe and their lame record-keeping. "Esk seems okay. I don't mind being like him," he said, still amused.

Kay smiled softly and nodded. [I know. He's technically the awkward middle child, but only by a few minutes. I'm not entire sure how many minutes older Web actually IS. ] He shrugged. [Esk is... a damaged and difficult person but i'm fairly certain he means well ultimately. Just don't tell him I told you that, he'll go out of his way to try to convince me otherwise. ]

"He really doesn't act mature at all. Not even in the other universe," Ethan said. "Brain damage, maybe." He shrugged, "We're all fucked up and not as awful as we first seem, it's becoming a bit of a trend around here."

Kay shrugged [Who knows, that's just HIM. He's quite capable of being responsible, just doesn't want to be and honestly I can't say I blame him. We didn't exactly have an easy childhood. ] He smiled softly at the last remark. [Vestia seems to attract all the outcasts and rejects, I guess that common ground is what binds us all. Like a big dysfunctional family, we might not always get along and like one another, but we're all we have so we stick together and look out for one another anyway. ]

"Whatever makes him happy I guess," Ethan said. "Good for us, we're rejects together."

"The nice thing is that we're not outcasts here," Asher said with a humorous half smile, "Since we're all from a common background of rejection. Yay?"

Ethan snickered. "Always looking on the bright side, aren't you?" He would have said that misery loved company himself, but hey, he guessed it was the same idea phrased differently.

Kay smiled softly [Someone has to I guess.] He nodded to Asher.

Ethan eyed his duplicate's still logged in computer thoughtfully. He still wanted to know what Asher had been writing.

Asher smiled and logged out.

Ethan rolled his eyes. "I guess I probably don't want to know what you were writing earlier anyway."

Kay smiled serenely. [Oh very boring things] He lied [Shall we leave you to your nice quiet library then? ]

Ethan looked slightly amused. "Oh yes, and that's why my duplicate was laughing like an idiot. For absolutely no reason."

"I wasn't laughing like an idiot! Also before you ask, I wasn't writing about you until you shushed me," Asher told Ethan, "Don't worry."

Ethan snorted. "Yes, you guys should get out of here. I have a book to read."

Asher smiled softly and stood.

Kay shook his head. He found Asher's laughing like an idiot adorable, though he wasnt' going to admit this right now.

[Enjoy your book] He told Ethan.

Ethan smiled oddly at Kay and wandered off, socially graceless as usual.

Asher smiled fondly at Ethan, then headed out of the library with Kay.

Kay actually smiled back, walking with Asher and remarking [He really reminds me of Esk, just.. a little less violently minded.]

Asher nodded in agreement, and waited until they were well out of earshot of the library to say, "I had assumed that he'd be more violent and mean spirited, after his time on the other Vestia, but he doesn't really seem to be at all. He just wants to be left alone with his books, I think."

Kay nodded. [Well it wasn't as if he could really disobey the orders to hurt others then was it? I expect a great deal of his malice back there was more a reflection of my mirror self's bloodthirsty nature than yours. ] He looked solemn. [I hope he finds peace in his new life here. Maybe just not being treated like dirt will help.] He shook his head. [I keep expecting him to throw something at me or try to get away from me, but the worst I get is a momentary flinch. I really don't think he has any intention of hurting anyone, even back in the other universe he wasn't really overly hostile unless directed to be. ] He remembered talking to him a few times with remarkable civility, it was fascinating in a way, much like Asher, Ethan seemed to have a fairly even temper that cooled rapidly. He smiled softly [We should replace my tablet so you don't have to use the library computer, give him a little peace and quiet maybe. Without having to deal with us.] Yeah, that couldn't be easy.

"He took a disliking to me while we were prisoners on that ship," Asher said, "And he seemed way too happy to assert power over people. But I suppose that was probably because of the situation he was in, more than any actual cruelty in his personality." He smiled a bit, "Ethan seems very clear on the fact that you aren't the same person as Kaylr. I'd also guess he doesn't want to live his life controlled by that man any more either, which means not taking out his fear and rage on you."
He nodded in agreement. "Yes, I think it would be good to get a replacement tablet soon."

Kay nodded [Doesn't mean I wouldn't completely understand though. No matter how much you tell yourself it's not the same person, part of them is and it's difficult not to see that. Little expressions or movements, certain words and you forget for just a moment. ] He shook his head. [I never want to be like that other me, he was a monster, quite truly a monster and it is extremely hard to come to terms with seeing that controlling angry aspect of myself so exaggerated and so out of control but Asher, like I see you in Ethan, I see myself in Kaylr and it's horrifying. If I can see it, then so can others. So can he. I appreciate his restraint, but I also fully accept that being anywhere near me can't be easy or pleasant. ]

"That's very true. I guess he'll probably never be able to look at you without seeing Kaylr, and that has to be incredibly hard for him. I'm glad he tries though," Asher agreed sadly. He looked at Kay, and thought of the memories that Ethan had traded with him in the mirror universe. He hadn't mentioned that to Kay yet, he always felt like it seemed wrong to bring up, almost irrelevant when compared to how Starr had taken every moment of Kay's own life to look through. He hesitated, torn on how Kay would react if he was told.

Kay looked at him quizzically. Asher was doing his I need to be honest but don't want to bring it up face. [What is it?] He wasn't totally sure he wanted to know, but it would gnaw at him if he didn't ask.

Honesty. Why did honesty have to be so hard? Asher almost said 'oh don't worry, it's nothing', but that was always a stupid idea. Besides, Ethan might have mentioned this, Kay might find out somehow. Better for Asher to tell him than someone else, right?
"I think part of the reason why he seems to sort of want to not hurt you, is because he got some of my memories in the other universe," Asher said quietly. "He only looked through a handful of them, and he doesn't have the context memories for them to make much sense, but at least to some extent, he's experienced how I feel about you." He watched Kay nervously, not sure how he was going to react.

Kay frowned, tilted his head. Yep, that actually explained a lot. He averted his gaze, well that was embarrassing. [All the more reason to give him space then. That's bound to be extraordinarily confusing.] Ahem, damnit privacy, what was that?
He mused on it for a few agonizing minutes, then nodded and patted Asher on the arm reassuring. [I suppose we just have to make new private memories don't we?] He was trying hard not to look grim, Starr having everything up to that day in the mirror universe was still a sore point and something he preferred not to have to actually think about, it just made him feel violated again. Eugh.

Asher looked relieved when Kay didn't go into a rage or anything. How unstable he'd been in the week after they'd taken over the other Vestia was still very fresh in his mind. Ugh, he felt guilty for telling Kay this. As if he needed any less privacy! Not that telling him or not would change how much privacy he had, but it gave him something else to remember too.
He smiled weakly, "I guess we do."

Kay exhaled deeply and waved a hand dismissively. Nothing either of them could do about it right? [Maybe we can find a new tablet at this guild. I'm starting to think we should buy cheap ones in bulk the rate we go through them.] topic change distractions yay! he smiled softly.

Asher smiled a bit at the topic change. "Yes, if they have tablets, we should buy them out. We go through them so quickly, it's terrible."

Kay nodded. [Perhaps we should give a few to Matt to hide as well, just in case. ]

"The batteries might go flat in his pocket space if he leaves them too long, but if it works, the convenience will be wonderful," Asher said sagely.

[Chuck some chargers in there too?] Kay suggested with a shrug. [We definitely need to start bulk buying them though, or we're going to get through so much paper and so many pens.]

Asher nodded, looking suddenly amused. "Plug them into one of us androids to charge, that should work." More seriously he added, "Or get one of those portable solar chargers."