Chapter Text
Cross stood in the doorway, still watching him sideways before his gaze went back to his fiancée. Khimaera kept the pokerface he hoped wasn’t too bad. Ada was obviously confused – she didn’t expect him before a few hours.
He was behaving strange, Khimaera decided. Seemed lost. He didn’t think he would ever see this emotion on his face. Not control, not satisfaction, not anger nor annoyance.
Cross straightened himself and spoke carefully – too carefully. What was he hiding?
“Amiada. I was told this was going well.”
“My lord, I am pleased to tell...”
“Of course. I think it is enough for today, you can go.”
Ada was way too happy about it. Khimaera was perplex. This kindess would be followed by something else. This was how Cross worked. But he only smiled at Ada, almost painfully.
“Ada, my... dear, you can do whatever you want today. But I must borrow your bodyguard. Khimaera, come on.”
“Yes sir”
He followed his boss silently. Cross seemed more and more restless, looking left and right. He entered his office, Khimaera behind him, and leaned against his desk.
Khimaera placed himself near the door and waited patiently. He would not give him the satisfaction of annoying him to death. After a while, Cross opened his mouth.
“So... I guess you’re not Cross then.”
Anger left Khimaera for the first time in days, just a instant, and his eyebrows shot up.
“Yeah, definitely not him.”
“I don’t understand, sir.”
“Of course.”
The Merwynian had his arms crossed, thinking hard. Khimaera could not hold back a gesture of impatience. Cross looked up.
“I’m sorry. I try to find a good way to explain to you. For you to believe me. And not frighten you.”
There – this was too much, so unlike him. And he was serious about it.
“Sir?”
Cross rubbed his neck.
“Please don’t call me that.”
“And call you what, then, [red-haired ass]?”
Khimaera suddenly thought, maybe this was why he acted like that, maybe this was to fire him over something petty, maybe this... until Cross laughed. It was not loud, not long, even a little bit dry, but a laugh nonetheless. Khimaera felt his cheeks burn and clenched his teeth.
"No, wait, don't be mad." Cross's smile was lost already "[Maybe it's better if I explain like this.]"
Khimaera felt his heart fell to the bottom of his boots.
"[You speak Daer.]"
This was too much. He just insulted the one who payed him, in a language he was sure he didn't know. Khimaera laughed this time, a bit desperate. Cross's eyes widened and he took a step towards him.
"[Okay, don't need to freak out, I am not Cross.]"
"[That makes even less sense ! You are Cross Thederin and if you really understand me, do not take another step]"
Cross obeyed, lifted his hands in surrender, then pinched his nose.
"[If you react like this at that, you won't like the following. Sit, please.]" He gestured towards a chair. Khimaera obeyed, a wary eye still on his boss.
"[Let's get this over with. I am not Cross. I am you. Not the you you, but... well close enough, yesterday I was still me - you - and the next morning I am in this bastard body with no idea how I got here. Does that make any sense? I can prove it to you.]"
Khimaera's throat let out a weak noise. After a silence, he tried to process what he just heard.
"[H- how?]"
Cross - or the other him - raised his shoulders.
"[Why tell me then?]"
"[Isn't that obvious? You're me, you are the only one I can prove my story to, and... one of the only one I trust here. I need to go back from where I come from.]"
Khimaera watched his hands. Were they really his? This didn't seem a dream, but it sure sounded like one. A bad dream. One of those that did not _make sense_. He buried his face in those hands. Trying not to sound too shaky, he asked:
"[So then, what do we do?]"