Chapter Text
Zug was missing.
Maybe it was White Hat’s fault. Maybe he should have kept closer tabs on what Zug did on his days off. Maybe he should have been more restrictive with what Zug could experiment with, but ‘maybes’ wouldn’t undo what had happened.
It had been part of their agreement from the start. Zug would have one day off a week where he’d be able to use the lab for whatever he wished, so long as it didn’t hurt others. That deal had left Zug content enough to work on projects for Heros and other do-gooders.
Had White Hat known Zug had been experimenting with interdimensional travel then he would have stopped him. It was all his fault really. Zug had asked for a genetic sample from White Hat and that’s what allowed his machine to work. If White had known that was what Zug needed a sample for, then he would have told him the truth. The truth being that dimension hopping was a tricky business. Unless you had the EXACT coordinates, you would be lost. Maybe forever.
White Hat let out a small whimper as he rubbed his forehead, looking down at the scorch mark where Zug and his machine had vanished from. It had been weeks since he had last seen his scientist. He refused to believe that Zug had died. Zug was too smart for that. However, as time went on, White began to lose hope more and more. He kept coming back to the lab, hoping the bag-wearing genius would have returned to him.
“You’re in here again?” came a soft voice. White didn’t have to turn around to know it was Lumencia. He didn’t want to see that sad expression on her face again. He didn’t want her to see him crying either.
When he didn’t say anything, Lum hugged White from behind tightly. She nuzzled her face against his back in silent comfort. She too was hurting. He turned around and hugged her properly, nuzzling the top of her fluffy hair to not just comfort her, but himself too.
“We have to find him,” Lumencia said after a few moments.
“Lum-”
“I know you can do it,” Lumencia said through gritted teeth. Her fists balled up, shaking. “I know you can travel to other dimensions! Zug knew too! We HAVE to go find him!”
“There’s no ‘we’, there can’t be.” White Hat said, pulling back. He quickly wiped his eye. “I can’t risk taking you with me. You could get hurt…”
“I can take care of myself-”
“NO!” White gripped her by the arms, shaking her with the movement. “I won’t risk losing you too!”
An uncomfortable silence spread between them for a moment. He slowly let go, knowing he hurt her. Humans were so easy to hurt and that’s what scared him more than anything.
“I have to come with you,” Lumencia said. “I promised myself I’d ALWAYS be by your side, even if it was through danger. And.. and if you don’t take me with you then I’ll… I’ll find a way to follow you myself!”
White Hat looked her in the eyes. Her eyes were wet with tears, but there was a steely strength behind that. Her hands were clenched, her knuckles white as she stood up to White Hat, refusing to back down. She wasn’t weak, and White Hat knew that regardless of his instincts to protect her were. She could hold her own, and her unusually straight and stiff back screamed defiance. He let out a soft sigh once again. “.. I have no choice do I?”
“Nope!” She said, almost cheerfully.
White Hat straightened. “We won’t be able to take 6.2.4 with us. I need him to be a good guard dog. Also, hopping dimensions is… draining. It’ll be hard taking you along. Whatever dimension we end up in we’ll have to stay in until I have enough energy to transport us again.”
Lum nodded, before stepping forwards and softly rubbing his arms. “We’ll find him. Even if it takes us a really, really, reaaaally long time.”
That made White Hat smile a little. “A really, really, really, reaaaallly long time?”
“A really, really, really, really, reaaaalllly long time.”
—
It took them a couple of days to get everything in order. White Hat had to make sure all of his business obligations were fulfilled. Lumencia worked hard in order to double check 6.2.4 would have everything they’d need while her and White were gone.
White Hat had hoped that Lumencia would change her mind and stay, but she seemed even more determined to come than before. So, it had come to the point where he was about to open the portal to the dimension Zug hopefully resided and she was right there by his side to make sure he couldn’t slip off without her.
Lum spoke with 6.2.4 behind him as he concentrated. He had to keep Zug’s image clear in his mind. His dark clothes, his bag, the way he would easily get annoyed. The smell, his favourite coffee. The way he spoke. Most of all: his name.
“Hey, you’re supposed to be sad we’re leaving you behind. Don’t look so smug.”
White Hat’s claws came down upon the wall, ripping not the wallpaper but the fabric of the universe. An ungodly screeching came from within the tear, spirits trapped between dimensions leaking out, wailing.
Looking at Lumencia, White could see she was a little unnerved. “You can stay-”
“I’m NOT staying behind!” She walked forwards and before White Hat could stop her, Lumencia jumped into the portal.
White didn’t hesitate to go after her. The portal closed up behind them, leaving 6.2.4 alone.
Catching up with Lumencia wasn’t too hard for White. After all, Lum was only able to fall. White was able to move better due to his Eldritch abilities.
“I feel like Alice falling through the Rabbit Hole!” Lum shouted over the rushing, incomprehensible sounds of the dimensional tunnel.
He chuckled a little at the comment. “I can see that.” White pulled her close, quickly dodging an angry looking spirit. “Our opening is coming up!”
Below them was a bright white light. Lum clung to White as he braced to exit the space between dimensions. They went through the rip and felt themselves thrown out the other side. The landing was rough, hitting stone paving instead of carpet like he expected.
He did not expect to be surrounded by humans.