Chapter Text
The ghost grabbed Arthur by his shirt and hoisted him upward, high enough that his feet couldn't touch the floor of the Cave. Kicking like his life depended on it—it did, if he knew this particular spirit—Arthur whimpered and tried to escape his captor. The ghost's fiery gaze narrowed and it floated forward until Arthur was dangling over the ledge of the Cave. Over where he last saw Lewis. Over his own, very probable, death.
Arthur fought the broken machinery in his prosthetic and grabbed at the ghost's arm, the one that held him aloft, in an attempt to get it to let him go. As cold metal met with spectral form, a ripple of electricity tore through the ghost and revealed—
"Lewis?"
Oh god. Oh god oh god oh god. The ghost was Lewis. An angry, vengeful, very dead, Lewis.
A Lewis that Arthur probably killed.
And Lewis, skull set in grim malice, returned the favor.
It's amazing how long it takes to fall to your death. Time had no meaning in that void between alive and not and it was a punishment in and of itself, to fall for eternity with fear of death but no release. The world was a blur of green and brown and purple and red and red and red and red and—
(He had time to ruminate on past events. The possession that was so easy because of his own pathetic feelings. Shoving Lewis off the cliff. The compulsion to follow him. Mystery—a fucking demon fox for shit's sake—tearing the possession at the source and saving him. Only him. Not Lewis. And Vivi didn't remember so...the burden was his and his alone.)
(Forgetting the details because his shitfuck brain decided that trauma wasn't worth it so that whole Cave? A blur of terror and pain and his arm is gone good luck figuring that one out! And he can live with the sense that he's the reason Lewis left but left isn't dead and he didn't kill him and the Peppers held a funeral after a month and he felt like he was gonna vomit but why would that bother him so much and the drum in his heart beat out guilty guilty guilty!)
(He should've jumped, even after Mystery saved him. Fucking disgusting. Bled out on the Cave floor. Died. Anything to atone for his cowardice. For his mistake.)
As guilt reared its ugly head, his fall ended with something horrifically soft. Despite the amount of give in his landing, Arthur had the air knocked clean out of him, leaving him wheezing on whatever surface he was on. Above him was a soft nothingness, a shroud around his face and body that carried a weight and warmth to it. Sweat soaked through his clothes and he scrabbled to sit up, heart hammering allegro in his ribs. He shucked off the thing over his face and threw it aside, too afraid to look at whatever had been smothering him.
Air flowed in and out of his lungs, chest clenched vice-like over his fear, a caged bird with talons and a razor beak. Sunlight filtered in through slatted blinds and cast soft green shadows across the carpeted floor beneath his feet. His feet dangled off a raised surface. A bed. His bed.
Okay. So falling to his death had been a bad dream. Since the hospital, those had been his constant companion. The nights Arthur didn't sleep poorly, he worried. Casting a glance aside, he let a weak laugh slip when he realized the thing over his face had been his sheets. His sheets from his bed in his apartment at home.
Not on the road. Home. Safe.
Arthur wondered how he was gonna talk Vivi out of investigating that mansion she'd been talking about. After a nightmare like that? He wasn't taking any chances. No siree! Not this coward!
Speaking of—as soon as his heart settled back in his chest, Arthur's phone alarm went off and scared the shit right back out of him. Whoop. There it goes. All his shit. Out the window. The floor. The fan.
He leaned over the bed and reached for his phone, blinking sleepy (and possibly fear-induced) tears from his eyes, but froze mid-way through the action.
Left hand extended, Arthur should have seen the shiny metal of his prosthetic but—
Pale, sweaty flesh covered in soft blonde hair with a black wristband on it. That arm was made of flesh.
"Okay Arthur," he took a breath to steady himself and snagged his phone off the nightstand, "think about this logically. You have your arm back. You had a bad dream. Maybe they're one and the same?" Idly glancing down at his phone to silence it, Arthur squeaked in surprise. "Or maybe this is more Final Destination than the Grudge..." The date was wrong. Or maybe his recollection of the date was wrong. Either way, it should be October of 2015.
It was currently October of 2012.
Three years too early.
Lewis Pepper rubbed sleep out of his eyes and blearily made his way to the coffee machine in the kitchen. The smell of a strong roast filled the air and he was pleasantly surprised to see Arthur already pouring a large mug for himself.
"Morning Art!" Lewis raised one hand in greeting, moving to pour himself some morning elixir. His Sailor Senshi mug shifted colors as the warm brew settled in the bottom.
Arthur jumped almost a foot in the air and let out a sound similar to a strangled animal. He turned a shaky and hollow gaze to Lewis and returned his gesture with a sweaty right hand. "M-morning Lewis! Glad to—to see you're up!"
"More of a morning person than you and Viv. If you're up early, you didn't sleep. At least there's coffee!" Lewis added a metric ton of sugar to his cup and stirred, attempting to supersaturate the drink. He took a deep drink of his now-sugary sludge and sighed, content. "Dish, nerd."
"Wh-what?! Why would you assume I didn't sleep? I-I-I-I could be trying something new!" Arthur tried to hide the way his hands rattled and shook.
Lewis raised an eyebrow in skeptic disapproval. Arthur wilted under his gaze. He whined for a brief moment, then nodded, refusing to make eye contact. "Yeah, okay. I-I didn't sleep much...some, sure! But not much..."
Arthur kept his head down and sipped at his black coffee, not making eye-contact. Lewis sighed. "I don't know why you don't just talk to us. Viv and I won't hate you for something you can't control. It's not like you're going off and, I dunno, murdering people while we rest, right?" He laughed and took a sip of his own coffee. Arthur paled substantially, heart catching and skipping a third.
"It-it's not that I don't trust you...," Arthur started, the coffee in his hands sloshing with each anxious movement he made. (I don't, his traitorous brain supplied, wholly without his goddamn say-so.) "I just don't want you guys to—" (hate me because I'm not worth a damn) "—worry. You and Vi already have the whole 'two adults in a consenting relationship' thing going on, never mind Pepper Paradiso and the Tome Tomb. You don't need to babysit your-your literal adult roommate while you're at it." He tried his best to keep the self-loathing out of his voice but—
Lewis stopped drinking and peered at Arthur. "You sure you're okay?" He didn't miss how Arthur leaned away from him, nor did he miss the way he let his left hand lay at his side, limp.
(Of course he notices. Why would you think he wouldn't notice?! He's your friend right now! You haven't killed him yet! He doesn't know he should be afraid of you. Hate you. Want to kill you.)
(He cares too much. Loves you too much.)
(Less than Vivi, though. You're just second-best. Second-best for both of them. Never good enough.)
"Yeah," Arthur rolled his head in a weak imitation of nonchalant embarrassment, neck cracking, "I'm fine. Just need some more bean juice in me and I'll be ready to tear through today's problems."
Lewis didn't seem convinced.
(He doesn't know. Won't know. Lucky little Lewis, to get to forget the feeling of dying. He'll never know. Never ever, if Arthur has a say in things.)
(Fuck fuck fuck fuck.)
"If you say so," he sipped at his coffee again. The creaking sound of a door opening signified Vivi getting up, Mystery padding in behind her. She placed a kiss on Lewis's head and Arthur's as well, stepping by them both to get herself coffee. "Morning Vi."
"Morning!" She yawned, jaw cracking, "how's my favorite boys?" Her coffee was mostly cream with no sugar, her mug a jack-o-lantern with a crooked smile.
"Art didn't sleep much."
Arthur jolted upward and shot Lewis a scandalized look. "Snitch!"
Lewis laughed into his drink, "sleep more or talk to us about your issues and I won't have to snitch."
Arthur laughed, genuine, and shook his head. Vivi just snorted. "I leave you alone for five minutes and you're already tattling on each other. Such loyalty can't be bought!" Mystery curled up at her feet as she sat down with the two of them at their dining room table. Arthur allowed himself a moment of relief, just a second to breathe, before he bit back down on bitter fear.
"Anyway...what's the plan? For today? I mean."
Vivi ran her hands through her hair. "Well Duet wants me to run a few more stocking and shelving instances before we head out. They say that Chloe isn't the best at keeping the Tomb organized and I'm inclined to believe them." She took a long drink of coffee. "So a nine to five for me, with lunch, then I'm good to go check that place out! The premise is interesting and the pay is nice too."
(You won't ever escape that place. It cycles right back again, time and time again. You'll always be there, always lose him, always hurt hurt hurt.)
(Even if they deserve better, you earned this.)
"Lew?" Arthur heard his voice crack but he pretended it was nothing. No one else seemed to notice anyway. It didn't matter.
"Mama and Papa want me to help prep the long courses for the weekend since Belle doesn't do mincing too well and they won't let Cayenne near knives. Then maybe trimming some meat—same reasons—and grinding up some of the herbs and spices for easy use. Papa doesn't like the peppers anyway and onions always make him cry. So after that I'm free to pack up! You?" Lewis gestured to Arthur, who blinked rapidly.
"I, uh, mostly just, um, making sure Lance has Galahad's food and so on, put the final touches on a car for a customer who wants a mod Lance isn't sure about, and then just a tune up on the van." That's what he did last time, right? All of it? Fuck. "Maybe tinker around with this prosthetic blueprint I'm noodling round with. I don't know."
(Don't look them in the eyes. Don't let them see that you're lying. Don't let them see the fear, the sleeplessness. Don't let them see the truth.)
(Lie to them. It's better.)
"Seems solid enough! I know she'll run perfectly! You always do the best on that kinda thing, Arty." Arthur tried to not visibly flinch as Vivi slugged her coffee back and slammed her mug back down on the table. "Well! Time to face the music!"
"Tell Duet I have some of the baklava they like!"
"Will do!" Before Vivi could walk off though, Arthur sat forward and grabbed her hand. She stiffened and stared at him. "Hm?"
"Can you—I know that Duet usually doesn't bother much with pets and all but...can...d'you mind if Mystery stays with me? I wanna...test some of Galahad's things to make sure they're durable and..." Arthur fumbled for words. Thankfully—or not—Vivi was far more observant than many people take her for. She just laughed and nudged the dog in the ribs with her feet.
"Take him. More than likely, he'll just try and chase Chloe around the shop again. Duet tolerates him, they won't object to him not being there." Vivi laughed again and patted Arthur's hand. "If you wanna borrow him, just ask. Just coz he's my dog doesn't mean I won't share, goofus."
Arthur smiled back, weak and pathetic. He pulled his hand back and gripped his other arm reflexively. "Thanks Vi."
"Don't sweat it Arty! Now lemme go get my people-face on before my undead look scares off customers!" She ruffled Arthur's hair, smooched Lewis's forehead, and wandered to the bathroom with a cheeky finger-waggle of a wave.
Despite his trepidation, Arthur was sad to see Lewis go to work. The bit of his brain that seemed to never shut the fuck up screamed and railed against his silence but it was easier to shut up than speak out.
When it was just him and Mystery, Arthur started doing dishes, reflexively pulling a rubber glove over his left hand only. He barely seemed alive as he rinsed food off of plates and started a sinkful of soapy water. When he slipped the tableware in to soak, he let out a long breath.
"It's funny, really. I mean, not this whole situation I'm in or anything. That's some bullshit, but like...more broad than that? Wider scope, yanno?" Arthur shrugged and shucked off the glove, suddenly aware of how silly one glove on fleshy hands is. Tossing it aside, he continued, "Ghosts? Sure. I'll buy that. Someone wants to kill me? Fine. Amnesia? Okay. Time travel??? Sure, that I can take. But like...the thing that just floors me is this: how the fuck did we never notice you weren't a dog?"
Mystery stiffened, fur bristling. Still, he kept up pretenses.
Arthur continued, "you've been in Vivi's family longer than anyone can remember. That's wild. Dogs don't live for like a hundred years. And also consider that dogs don't need glasses. Jokes about contacts and good insurance aside, Gramma Yukino probably knew but like...with everything Vivi's into I'm kinda not sure how she missed it. I mean, I'm not the most aware person in the world and Lewis wouldn't know what a ghost was until someone pointed it out or it possessed him or something, but still." He gritted his teeth, "a kitsune is a hard one to miss."
One tail unfolded into six and his nubby muzzle lengthened into a vulpine form. "How—?" He snarled. Arthur shrank in on himself and seemingly went boneless against the counter.
"Honestly? You wouldn't believe me." Arthur laughed, an unkind paradiddle, dry and rattling. "I barely believe me."
"Try me," Mystery urged.
Arthur drew back, right hand gripping left arm, eyes trained on the kitsune's fangs. Sweat beaded across his forehead and he swallowed heavily. "How's time travel sound?"
Mystery fell back on his haunches and tilted his head. Unconsciously he let out a soft whine of confusion. "I...don't know enough about that kind of magic to even—" he cut himself off and shook his head, "—who's to say I believe you?!"
Arthur swallowed visibly. "Fair. But consider I'm not lying? What then? Do ancient fox spirits have protocol for time paradoxes?" A crooked grin, a plea for normalcy, a weak chuckle.
Mystery bit the bait. A growl-like laugh escaped him and slowly slid into broken squeaky-toy territory. "Not really." He sat back down and compressed into his dog-form. "So what then?"
"I dunno...I was just trying to make sense of it all."
"Rubber duck me."
Arthur laughed, face falling soon after. "Okay so...I'm from about three or so years from now? So in the Cave, the one we're gonna check soon? There's a...demon I think? Some...thing...but like, it took over me. Easy target, I guess," Mystery grimaced but Arthur soldiered on, "and I-I...pushed Lewis. Off-off a cliff overlooking a field of fucking stalagmites that...and he..." Arthur shook violently, arms wrapped around himself.
Mystery suddenly understood part of why Arthur asked for him to stay. He snuggled against Arthur and sighed, hoping to incite a similar response.
(Why the fuck are you telling him this? Do you expect he'll forgive you?! Care?! He fucking tore your goddamn arm off! What are you on?!)
"Vivi saw but like...forgot? Maybe Lewis made her. You took my arm off and the shock just...censored the whole event. The demon wiggled off and we just...tried to live? I-I didn't know why I felt the way I did but I had to find Lewis. Vi...didn't remember a thing about him and you wouldn't talk so we...and..." He shook harder, hiccuping violently. Mystery sighed again and Arthur did the same, looking more relaxed. "There was this mansion and the ghost inside hated me. I didn't know but we ran and it chased us and ran us off the road. It was...it was Lewis. He died and he was so-so mad and like, I don't blame him but like—! He-he killed me and then I woke up here, now, confused." Arthur sagged and sighed, sniffling. "Talking to you about time travel."
Mystery rolled this information around in his mouth. Some of it could easily be written off as a nightmare but—
You couldn't fake that kind of trauma. Arthur was broken and didn't have time to heal. No, he was telling the truth.
"What do you plan to do here, in the past?"
"I...didn't think you'd believe me."
"Humor me."
"I mean...fix things? Obviously. Maybe keep that shit from going down in the Cave? Save Lewis for sure. Keep Vivi happy and alive. Aside from that?" He shrugged. "Flying by my pants."
Mystery frowned. "You said there's a demon?"
"I think?" Arthur's voice was slowing, anxiety seeping out as time continued. "It possessed me, anyway. Said the seal was weak coz we walked in but it needed a vessel. Told me my jealousy made me perfect. Told me killing Lewis would make me happy. Better. When I wouldn't, it did it for me. You snatched it out of me before I could do much more..."
"And you're certain that it's trapped there until we enter?"
"Pretty sure, yeah..."
Mystery's tail whipped back and forth in a decidedly not-dog manner. "Hm...that's...concerning..."
"I just...do you think we could not?! Like, not go at all?!" Hysteria crept back in, taking over the calm allegretto of his breathing. "I don't—there has to be a better way! That's why I'm here, isn't it?!"
"Calm down, Arthur. We'll figure it out. Whether stopping this trip in its entirety or just changing the outcome, something new will occur." Mystery slapped his paw on Arthur's head, startling him enough to stop his panic in its tracks.
"And if we don't?"
"We will. I'm sure of it."
Of course Vivi couldn't be dissuaded from checking out the Cave. Of course Arthur couldn't convince her that maybe it was too strong for their investigative crew to check out. Of course Mystery, still holding the guise of a simple dog, couldn't stop them.
Of course he couldn't let events happen the same.
(I don't care if this time I die. Lewis won't. Vivi won't. I'm gonna fix this. I'm gonna make sure they're all okay.)
When they entered the Cave, Mystery met Arthur's eyes and nodded. He could feel the malevolent entity whirl around them but, so long as Mystery was near, the thing wouldn't touch them. It was only when they came to the fork in the trail that Arthur's panic kicked into high gear.
"Art, why don't you and I check the upper path while Vi and Mystery do the lower?" Lewis suggested.
(No. No no no no no fuck no.)
"H-how about me 'n Viv check out the top and you and Mystery hang out below instead? I have to...um...ask her something anyway."
(Weak argument, Arthur Kingsman. Pathetic. No one would believe that.)
Lewis nodded and Mystery let out a warning yip. "Fair. C'mon Mystery! Let's go explore!"
The green mist began to coalesce as they ascended, Arthur behind Vivi, eyes wide and heart racing.
"What did you wanna talk about anyway?" Vivi asked, craning her neck to look at the stalactites above them. "That didn't have to do with Lewis, that is?"
"Um, well, his...birthday is coming up...," (like she'll believe that) "what do you wanna do then?"
The familiar numbness of possession gripped his left arm and he shuddered. Oh, a sickening sibilant voice cooed, this one is just perfect, aren't you?
Fuck off. Not this time.
This time? The entity hummed in thought, cold creeping farther across his face. I suppose that's why you feel like a worn-in shoe. Possession must be old hat for you, with your bright and tattered soul.
Whatever you want, it doesn't involve them. Arthur fought for control as Vivi set to peer over the Edge. Anything else. Anything!
You're accommodating for a host. First one I've had negotiate for others. It chuckled. Pity I need their blood to escape.
Arthur fought to speak, to warn Vivi of the danger she was in. All he could manage was a soft gurgling noise, the entity having possessed deep within and then without.
Three sacrifices to break the seal and then I'll waltz out of here in whatever body I like best. Yours seems appropriate, considering. Do you think she'll feel it, when the spikes push through her?
No! Not her! He watched himself step forward, jerkily like a broken marionette, aware of what was happening but unable to stop it. He gurgled again.
Your guilt is so delicious, you know. What you have to feel guilty of? Not sure, but a meal this good shan't be overlooked. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. Now go ahead and push her. It snickered, like you have a choice.
"Vi!" Arthur managed to gasp out, defying the entity's hold on him. Vivi turned to look just as his body lunged forward and her adjustment was just enough. Arthur plunged off the cliff, towards the spikes below.
Behind Vivi, who screamed in fear, Arthur caught a glimpse of a terrified Mystery, all six tails whipping about. He smiled softly. That's much better.
Oh, but you think you're so smart, don't you, mister clever-clogs?! Arthur felt the entity shift and writhe inside of him. It started to panic. Let me go!
No, I don't think so. Arthur exhaled and reveled in the feeling of falling to his death again. If I go, you're coming with me. That's how possession works, asshole. What's mine is yours.
And besides, he closed his eyes, I think I did much better this time. The ground rushed up to meet him.
Arthur woke up, with a start, in a soft, warm bed.