Who: Jean Kirschtein and Marco Bodt Where: Marco's room When: Right after this Status:complete
It shouldn’t have been possible, but what about this strange place made any sense? The weird glass thing people talked with, the way the lights worked, the scientists. None of this made sense and had to be some sort of weird dream. Of course Jean would dream about Marco being alive. He dreamed about it so many times since the last time he saw him.
But what if it wasn’t some sort of strange dream. And everything here was real? Jean… had to know. Had to see the other boy and hear his voice and make sure.
He ran around until he managed to find the block Marco told him he was in. Room 407. That should be easy enough to find. “Marco?” He called out as he knocked on the door. He could feel his throat getting tight and tears start to prick at his eyes, fully prepared to wake up now the way he always did. ...Of course the strange world was a new part of the dream.
****
Marco had thought about going to look and try to find Jean, but the other boy had said he was coming to see him so in the end he just waited in the area outside his room, trying to make himself comfortable on the couch but it was difficult when every sound made him jump up to check the door. He needed to know what Jean wasn't willing to tell him he'd seen. It was one thing for him to avoid answering him from different rooms but he knew that Jean wouldn't be able to with him looking him in the eye. They knew each other too well for that.
He heard Jean calling his name from the other side of the door and moved to open it, one brow raising as he saw him standing there in all that orange. “That...is not your color.” He said, realizing how bad it sounded as soon as he'd said it.
***
Jean’s breath caught in his throat when the other boy opened the door. Marco’s comment caught him off guard and he laughed despite the situation. “Shut up.” he murmmered fondly. “...actually, scratch that. Keep talking.” He missed his voice.
He reached out to touch Marco’s right cheek and then his arm, his eyes following his hand down. He never thought he was going to be able to touch him again.
“What do you remember last?” He whispered to him. “From back home, before waking up here.”
***
Marco leaned slightly into that touch, needing that little bit of comforting normalcy in the face of all the weird shit that had happened in the last 24 hours. He turned his hand so that he could hold Jean’s as he led him into the room. “Before waking up in that cage? We were defending Trost.”
***
Jean bit his lip as Marco leaned into his hand. He thought he was never going to get to touch that cheek this way again. He took his eyes off of the other boy’s right side and looked back up as he spoke. Trost. Of course it would be Trost. “I was asking because I’ve seen several people say that they’re from different times from ...wherever their homes are. And because Trost was a while ago for me.”
***
Marco pulled on Jean’s hand gently as he reached the couch and sat down, trying to get him to sit beside him. “Jean...what are you talking about it was a while ago? We were just there…” He asked, confusion obvious on his face.
***
Jean took a deep breath as he allowed himself to be pulled down on the couch next to Marco, his fingers squeezing Marco’s back gently. “How much have you read on the thing they gave us all to communicate? Most people aren’t from the same place as us, ...we might be the only ones actually. And those from the same places as each other ...sometimes they’re from years apart.
***
Marco thought for a moment before answering. “To be completely honest - I haven’t really read much of what other people have been saying on there. I saw you were here and just kind of stopped thinking about it because of how distressed you seemed.” He confessed.
***
Jean nodded. “I was. I am… It was bad enough suddenly waking up here and everything that went with it, but. Then I saw you were here and I…” Felt like I was punched in the gut? He’d lost him back home. Had been the one to find him back home. How do you put that in words to someone that was sitting right beside you and very much alive. He let out a long sigh. “It’s been a really long couple of months.”
****
“Jean...why won’t you tell me what had you so upset?” Marco asked quietly, an almost pained look on his face at having to push that way for an answer. He wasn’t used to the other boy being evasive that way. Not with him at least.
***
“It’s not that I won’t.” Jean said, letting out a huge sigh. “It’s just.. I don’t know how.” That expression on Marco’s face broke his heart. How was he supposed to tell him that he died? And that he was the one that found and identified him. “I don’t know how they got us from different points in time. But Trost happened a while ago for me. As well as the funeral for everyone that died. We… lost a lot of people. After the funeral is when we officially picked where we wanted to go. Would you believe me if I told you I wound up joining the idiots in the Survey Corps after all? I wanted you to be proud of me.”
***
“Jean...I was always proud of you. Except for when you were deliberately picking fights with people. Then I was more amused.” Marco said, biting down on his lower lip as he watched his face. “At least I know you made it through that battle.” He said, trying to make Jean smile.
***
Jean let out a soft laugh at Marco’s exception. “You were the only thing keeping me from going at the supply team, you know. I mean, literally. I don’t know how you were able to hold me back that way when I was running on pure adrenaline.” He nodded and shifted closer to the freckled boy. “I did make it through that one. I just wish… that you had too.”
***
Marco gave him a soft smile. “I knew you wouldn’t hurt me that’s all.” He said with a shrug. He froze, swallowing as Jean’s admission sank in. “I...God Jean I’m...I’m sorry.” He whispered, eyes wide as he stared at him.
***
Jean let out a deep, slow breath. “That’s… that’s what I couldn’t tell you. Because I just. I didn’t know how. And when I saw you on the thing they gave us… I didn’t know if it was real or my mind was just playing tricks on me.”
***
Marco couldn’t let himself focus on what Jean had just told him, he had to shove it down and worry about the blonde. He reached out with one hand to gently touch his cheek again. “And now?”
***
Jean leaned into the other boy’s touch. “Strangely glad that I was kidnapped into this insanity. Since it means that you’re here.” He replied. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you before. I was still processing it. That you’re here. And I’m sorry I had to tell you, too. But I couldn’t keep it from you either.”
***
Marco slowly stroked his thumb over Jean’s cheek. “You needed to tell me. I needed to know what happened. I was...I was worried that I’d done something to upset you.” He whispered.
***
Jean opened his eyes to look at Marco and shook his head. “You didn’t, Freckles, I promise. Honestly, have you ever known me to be quiet about anyone doing anything to upset me? I’ve just. I’ve had too many dreams to count about seeing you again since the day that…” he trailed off, unsure if he should tell him he was the one that found him or not. “Since then.”
***
“No. But then I’d also never known you not to answer me directly so…” Marco let his voice trail off as he looked at him. “I promise you this isn’t a dream. I’m here.”
***
“Fair enough.” Jean conceded. “I wasn’t trying to hide it, but I can get that it felt like I was to you.” He reached out with his free hand to touch Marco’s face again. “I know. I never got to do this in the dreams.”
***
“That’s exactly how it felt Jean.” Marco said, leaning into his touch. “Your dreams don’t sound very good to me then.”
***
“I’m sorry, Marco.” Jean gave him a small, sad smile at that comment. “They are and aren’t at the same time. They are because you’re there. And not because you aren’t when I wake back up.”
***
Marco turned his head to nuzzle into Jean’s palm. “I can be here though? At least you know you’ll be able to see me?”
***
“I guess getting kidnapped here isn’t so bad.” Especially if he knows that whatever happens will continue happening with him there, even when he’s here. His mind couldn’t wrap around how it was possible. But.. that’s okay. “Sorry they didn’t put us together. We’ll just have to make time, I guess?”