Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Give it to me!” Isaac screamed, clawing at the box Max had locked his Gaia Memories in.

“If you’re yelling like that then you aren’t ready,” Max replied, typing away on his typewriter.

“Please,” Isaac begged, giving puppy dog eyes.

Max sighed and got up from his chair, plopping himself down on the floor next to Isaac. He wrapped the man in a hug as he pried the box out of Isaac’s hands, setting it to the side. It hurt to see Isaac automatically reaching for the box, but Max knew it was for his own good.

“Max, I need him,” Isaac pleaded, squirming around to face him, “Or at least Lucifer or Flipflop or-”

“No, no you don’t need King C. You just want his power.”

Max hated himself as Isaac eyes gleamed with the hope that Max was somehow building up to opening the box. When it became clear that was all Max had to say Isaac pushed him away, screaming that everybody was against him, rushing out the newly opened door. Isabel and Ed poked their heads in from the side, asking without speaking. Max just shook his head. There were enough friendly faces wandering around Fuuto that someone would find Isaac and take him in.

“Have you figured out any way to help him?” Isabel asked, setting her bag of groceries down.

“No,” Max had to laugh a little, “Normally he’s my source for Gaia Memory related stuff, but with him like this I can’t get any information.”

“He’ll get through this,” Ed held out his hand to Max, “He’s strong.”

“I can only hope so,” Max whispered.

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Max awoke to screaming and the cold floor. He must have rolled out of bed at some point. Then he caught the scent of smoke. Max was on his feet in a second, grabbing the cup of water off his desk and throwing it onto Isaac, who’s blanket was on fire. At some point in his sleep Isaac must have used lightning. That only served to worry Max. He had known Isaac and King C. had an affinity together even before they fused, but it had been almost a month. The connection should have withered down to simple addiction, not a connection strong enough for Isaac to accidentally use King C.’s powers.

“Max?” Isaac muttered, shifting under his now wet blanket.

“I’m here,” Max whispered, shifting to hold his hand.

“Cold.”

Max couldn’t help but smile, “That’s because I threw water on you to stop the fire.”

“I was on fire?”

“Don’t worry, I put it out.”

“Come cuddle.”

Max nodded, although Isaac couldn’t see it, and snuggled up to his slightly wet side. Isaac was skinnier than a man his size was supposed to be, and constantly cold. The addiction was taking its toll. What scared Max the most was that he could feel his will to keep King C. away declining every day. If he had to choose between losing Isaac or giving him the memory, Max already knew his choice.

“Don’t leave me,” Isaac said all of a sudden, gripping Max’s arm like there was no tomorrow.

Max opened his mouth to reply when he noticed Isaac’s eyes. They were unfocused. Isaac wasn’t actually asking him for an answer, he was just going to try to guilt trip Max. That technique hadn’t worked the first hundred times he’d tried.

“You’re going to leave me, of course you are,” Isaac continued, startling Max.

That wasn’t how the conversations normally went.

“I’m a horrible partner. I got too worked up and fused with King C. instead of trying to talk it out or waiting for Eightfold’s help. Now I’m hopelessly addicted, just like every Dopant we’ve fought.”

Isaac was physically shaking now, nails scratching on his arms. He was stronger than Max, even without King C.’s power. It took all of Max’s strength to hold the man’s hands down, which only caused Isaac to scream about being abandoned.

“You’re wrong!” Max interrupted, “I’m not going to leave you. You’re my partner, bad decisions and all. Everyone makes mistakes, and people are able to overcome them because of friends. I’m going to help you through this, ok?”

Max was rewarded with a calmer Isaac, who was only breathing heavily.

“Really?”

“Really,” Max replied, “Now we should really get to sleep.”

Isaac nodded, staying calm as Max released his wrists. Then he latched onto Max, filling in all the little crevices between their bodies, and fell asleep. It felt safe. The next day Max awoke to find the bed empty, the lockbox open, and no Isaac.

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All of Isaac hurt. Ever since he had fused with King C. his body felt wrong. Like being a Dopant was his true form. And he hated it. There were days on end when all he could think about was opening the locked box his Memories were in. At first King C. was the only Memory kept in there, then Isaac went and ruined that by trying to fuse with Lucifer. He craved power. Isaac craved the electric current running under his skin and the wind current above it. 

He needed that feeling more than he needed food or water. It was a horrible existence, and one Isaac would have ended if not for one thing. Max. Max was trying his hardest to help Isaac, and sometimes Isaac could banish the painful thoughts when they were together. His mind ate the words whenever he tried to express his gratitude, but Max somehow understood.

One night after a particularly lucid conversation Isaac felt the urge for power stronger than he ever had before. Suddenly he knew how to open the box. A quick turn right, left, right, and the lock was open. Of course it was the night the two of them met, the most important night in their lives. Isaac grabbed King C.’s Memory and ran out the door into the cold night air. He hated to betray Max’s trust, but Isaac needed this. Maybe this time Max would realize he should get a better partner.

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A gentle rain fell as Isaac shivered in the warehouse. He’d only been wearing an oversized shirt to bed, not the best choice to run away in. He would be warm as a Dopant though. Isaac pulled his shirt down, and slammed the Memory into his heart. A cry of “King Catnine” rang out across the barren walls. There was no longer a human there, but a Dopant of the storm. The gentle rain was its friend as it ran off into the night once more, searching for something to use its power on.

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“Isaac?” a voice called out to the Dopant.

It was from a human, but so familiar. There was something about the voice that made it sad. Maybe that was because the human was sad. His clothes were soaked through as he tried to get closer, despite the red-head holding them back.

“Johnny, you need to let me go. Isaac needs my help,” the familiar human pleaded.

“This Isaac isn’t worth it if he got addicted to a Memory,” the red-head said, bringing out a large sword from nowhere.

The Dopant couldn’t help but growl at the sword, and the man as well. Neither of them was familiar, and the only thing holding it back was the familiar human. The Dopant knew it should just kill both men, but it just couldn’t bring itself to. Just like it couldn’t bring itself to move away when the familiar man came to pet it. The motions and tone of voice were just so calming. Without a conscious thought the Dopant ejected its Memory, returning to being human. As a human it could get closer to the familiar man.

“Isaac,” Max said.

“Max,” Isaac replied, ignoring the screaming in his head.

As a human Isaac’s body screamed to be a Dopant, but as a Dopant his body screamed to protect Max. The urge to be closer to Max, to make sure no harm came to him, was stronger than the need to destroy. His heart felt like it was going to burst, but it was worth it when Max hugged him. Max was Isaac’s anchor, and Isaac would do anything to keep it that way.

“What the fuck is going on here?” the red-headed man asked.

“Shut up Johnny,” Max shot, holding a now growling Isaac.

“No, I am not going to shut up,” Johnny yelled, “You said you had a missing partner and then we go hunt this Dopant that has been hunting other Dopants and all of a sudden he’s your partner?”

“Sounds about right.”

Johnny opened his mouth to retort back when he was cut off by growls from Isaac and a mini rainstorm above his head. Instead he was left in awe. He knew Dopants could exhibit extra strength when human, but he had never seen one use much of the spirit’s powers. Either that meant Isaac was still a Dopant, or this was only a little of King Catnine’s power. Both were terrifying prospects.

“You should be nice to Johnny,” Max admonished, “He works with the police on Dopant related crime. It was about time they made a department for Dopants and spirit related crimes.”

Isaac seemed too busy trying to burrow his head in Max’s neck to pay much attention, but he nodded. A flash of movement brought Johnny’s attention to Max’s hand, which was pocketing a Memory.

Chapter Text

“Look,” Max said, matching Isaac’s gaze, “I trust you. I know it’s stupid, but you’re my partner, and I can’t help but want to trust you. So I’m going to give you King C.’s Memory and you are going to use it to transform with the driver, got it?”

Isaac wanted to nod and feel King C.’s power in his hands again, but as much as Max trusted him, he didn’t trust himself. He had said so many things that got flipped around because of his addiction, he didn’t want to disappoint Max anymore. His partner just sighed.

“Right now you’re being selfish. There are kids out there that need our help. In fact, they’re going through almost exactly what you are. If you can’t trust yourself, trust the fact the kids need some help.”

Isaac hadn’t even thought about that. Sure, he had been told that a bunch of kids were sharing a Gaia Memory, but he hadn’t connected it to the fact they would all be dealing with an addiction. Slowly, he nodded, and was rewarded by a smile from Max.

“Now come on, we have a Dopant to beat.”