Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Say,... do you know what happened to Julia?”

“I imagine that when her mind-control unit caught fire, it took half of her cerebral cortex with it. Leaving her no more intelligent than a field mouse. How unfortunate. Together we really could have been something.”

Something in Pinky’s mind broke.

Wait. What? He looked at Brain, still sprinkling salt into the coffee. That was what Brain was doing to-?... HUH?? He squinted, realizing little by little, or rather trying not to realize what they had lived tonight. He kept sprinkling the salt, not even caring where it was going to.

No. No! That’s not what happened! NO!! A shrilling voice screamed inside.

He kept salting the coffee.

Leave me alone, logical thoughts!!

“Come Pinky. We must prepare for tomorrow night.”

“Why? What are we gonna do tomorrow night?”

“Same thing we do every night Pinky.

Try to take over the world!”

Try to take over the world. I love hearing you say that, Brain! Pinky shifted his mood and smiled.

Yes. Tonight just was another silly-willy, funny failure of my best friend’s plans. That’s all.

That’s all.

That’s all.

That’s all !

Now in bed, Pinky had no more escape from his swarming, crowded, loud thoughts. Maybe he was slow-thinking but his thoughts rarely led him to a dead end, or to silence.

Dead?

Silence? 

Oh no. Was Julia-?

“I imagine that when her mind-control unit caught fire, it took half of her cerebral cortex with it.”

Her mind-control unit caught fire.

Mind-control unit.

Caught fire.

Mind- control .

Fire .

Control .

FIRE!

Pinky gasped in horror and covered his mouth so Brain wouldn’t hear him.

“P-P-P-P-P-Poit.” He squeaked, one tear running out. 

Brain, his Brain would never do that! Never!

But… But…

Why am I doubting Brain now? He’s a nice guy, he…

“Troz.”

Bad feelings, bad thoughts tried to creep, crawl into his mind again. He didn’t want them! He didn’t want them!!

Was he… was he in denial? Like… how did Brain once say? Un-crunchusly? No. Un…conscienly? Did he… Was he trusting Brain so much he didn’t even wonder or question what he was doing with Julia?

No! I know I can be… slow but… I’m not stupid! I’m not stupid!! But…

Mind-control?

Fire?

Brain… what have you done to Julia?

No. Too many thoughts. Too many questions! Too many feelings!! Horrible, painful feelings!!

“Z-zort! Narf! Troz! Narf!!” He twitched and wriggled.

“Pinky, if you won’t sleep, at least soliloquize elsewhere.” Brain grumbled, trying to rest on his side of the sponge.

Pinky took his tail, started to frill it and munch it.

“B-B-B-Brain.” Pinky moaned.

“What??” Brain snapped.

“W-what you did to Julia…it wasn’t… very nice. Was it?” Pinky tried to hold his tears, chafing his tail.

“What? What kind of a stupid question is that?” Brain hissed.

Pinky started to huff out in relief.

Phew. I knew you weren’t a horrible monster, Brain. He smiled.

“Of course it wasn’t nice! Since when installing a micro-chip into someone’s brain to control them from their nerves to the depths of their mind is nice??” Brain growled. “What a stupid, senseless question.”

More things broke and shattered in Pinky’s mind.

This time, he didn’t hold in his gasp.

“B-but… bu-but…” He trembled in fear.

In fear of what he should believe.

Brain’s words?

His own memories?

Logic?

Or his blinding, fogging, lying affection for Brain?

Facts spoke against it all, didn’t it?

Pinky started to cry. 

“Pinky? What is it? What is it now?” Brain enquired in a suddenly soft and concerned voice.

But it was too late. Pinky’s heart was already broken.

“Y-you… Julia, you… Sh-she…” He stuttered.

You hurt her!

Horribly!

You… no, no ! don’t say it! don’t think it!.… maybe you killed her. 

“Sh-she… she must be lost,... in… i-i-in danger,... she must be… in pain somewhere!” He whined, his back turned on Brain.

Having her brain literally fried… running, screaming and smashing walls on her way out… It was so obvious, yet I-! Brain… my sweet Brain who used to cry in front of Disnee movies, have remorse when selling cigs to kids, cry when reading my Christmas letters,... used to have a bit of… kindness in him… what have you done?

Brain sighed. Like someone irritated who didn’t want to talk.

“You woke me up for this??” Brain dryly dismissed him. “The TV said she only disappeared , right? That means Julia’s fine!” He asserted. “And despite the fact she’s not intelligent like me anymore, she’s still smart enough to get through on her own like a big girl, alright??” 

Pinky sniffled.

I want to believe you, Brain. I really want to.

But tonight,... I can’t.

Despite his assertions, Brain admitted to himself, now he had time to think about it, he had been a little harsh on Julia. Yes, she had tried to steal his lifelong goal but… 

She was smart, maybe too smart.

She was… perfect.

Something twinged near his heart.

No. No! It had to be done! Brain tried to convince himself. 

He had to put this control chip in her brain! Or else she would have ruined it all. She would have taken everything from him! This everything he had given to her! They had to control the world together! Him and her. Not just her!

So it all just was a matter of self-importance and control, then? A fear of losing control. Again.

No! I…

You created Julia to serve you but she quickly slipped away from your control. Like that pathetic Dr Frankenstein and his runaway creature! 

I’m nothing like this irresponsible, delusional, B-tiered literature quack! Nothing! 

Really? Give us one difference. Only one!

Well,... my Julia was far more clever and far prettier!

If she was so perfect, why did you treat her the way you did? Your egotistical control obsession matters more than the most perfect female you’ve ever met, is that it? More than decency. The minimum of decency you’re supposed to show to a fellow lab mouse.

Shut up, depression! Shut up!

You treated her the way humans treat you. The exact same way!

Shut up!!

A means to an end. And when she stopped doing what you wanted, you coerced her. Hurt her. Surely she’s somewhere agonizing, or dying because of you. 

No.

You can never keep anything or anyone in good shape for long, can you?

Please, shut up.

“What… what you did to Julia was not nice, Brain. It was cruel.” Pinky whined, snapping Brain out of his inner monologue. “And unethical.”

He was still unsure of the situation. And scared. Scared by Brain’s reaction.

By Brain’s reply.

Please, tell me I’m wrong! Show me I’m wrong!! He begged internally.

“First, how do you know that word?” Brain snapped back. “Second, I am aiming to take over the world , Pinky!” He barked. “Of course I am cruel and unethical!! Did you think world domination was gentle, lawful and lovey-dovey??” He roared, though Pinky was sure he heard some tears in that scream.

“B-but… you do have a few principles, Brain! Zort!” Pinky protested, finally turning to face his friend. “I know for a fact you have at least a tiny, teensy weeny bit of niceness in you!” He pressed his forefinger on his thumb.

“Then check your facts again , Pinky.” Brain darkly, somberly replied.

Pinky’s lips trembled. 

No. No no no. I have to prove him wrong. To prove me wrong! Hum,... let’s see, let’s see… come on, thoughts! Don’t desert me now! Not now I really need you! Huuuh… What… what?... Ah!

“Narf! I know! When you helped me to become president, and when I refused to help you take over the world, you’ve never put a control chip in my brain, Brain!” He gladly remembered.

Chapter Text

“I didn’t put any kind of control chip in your brain because I didn’t need to! Because you don’t have one!” Brain retorted.

Pinky gasped again. For the first time, he felt really, really hurt by his friend’s belittling words.

“And to be fair with you,” Brain crossed his arms behind his back. “I didn’t think about that back then.” His glower turned darker.

If Pinky’s heart was in glass, it would have shattered in a thousand pieces. But then, he didn’t know what his heart was made of. And then, another memory came back to him. 

No. No no no. Anything but that! Stop that, brain! My brain! But I don’t have a brain! So where are these memories coming from?? Arghh! No!!!

Too late.

“Wh… what about… Romy, Brain?” He whined.

His friend’s eyes widened in shock. Then Brain answered:

“Who?”

Pinky then felt something he had never ever felt before. Dashing, thundering, flooding his whole mind. Hate. Pure, rageful hate. Directed at his best friend. Suddenly all of his blurry, foggy memories came crystal clear, back to the surface.

“Your son , Brain!! Roman!! Our son!!” He roared out, so much he quickly got breathless. “He… he didn’t want to help you take over the world. Despite the fact you… you created him for that.” He pitifully looked away, still fearing Brain’s reaction.

Just like Julia.

“How… dare you?” Brain scolded, in a threatening voice. “Are you implying what I think you’re implying?” He stepped closer.

“Mm!” Pinky covered his head with his arms, expecting a punch.

“Roman is my son , Pinky!” Brain exclaimed.

“And Julia was your wife ! Poit!” Pinky snapped back in a hurt, shrilling voice. Surprised by his own assertiveness.

Brain glared at him with an irritated look. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

“Look, she wasn’t my real wife and you know it. She knew it!” He explained. 

“You gave her a ring!! Doesn’t the sacred nature of marriage mean anything to you Brain?” Pinky deplored.

“NO! Absolutely NOTHING!” Brain asserted in his friend’s shocked face. “It’s a stupid, human societal construction that enacts the ownership of females!” He claimed.

Before realizing… he had precisely followed these instructions.

He looked at Pinky. Whose arms were crossed in anger. He had realized it too. And hated Brain a lot for it.

Brain shook these unbearable feelings of discomfort and self-hate away.

“Anyway, neither you nor Roman were intelligent enough to help me take over the world!” He added. “So a mind-control unit would have been useless anyway! Julia had a mind of her own! She was clever! She was cunning, talented and sharp-witted! She was able to think!” He poked his temple. “Maybe too much.” He added.

Pinky’s arms dropped. 

“Now… now you insult Romy, Brain?” He asked in a blank voice. “I never minded you doing that with me, but Romy?”

Brain’s features slightly softened.

“Why…why were you so mean to Julia if she was so perfect? Because she was perfect, Brain!!” Pinky exploded. “She… sh-she was nice! She never did anything wrong to you!!” He screeched out. “Then why , Brain??”

“Pinky…” Brain stepped forward, in a kind, worried voice.

“Why are you so mean tonight?” Pinky whimpered. “And… and what do we have to…to be to make y-you happy? I… I-I’m too stupid, Romy is stupid, and… a-and Julia, she… she was too… t-too clev-” Pinky covered his mouth trying not to burst into loud tears. 

Brain was shocked. He had never seen Pinky like this before.

On his side, Pinky had lost all control over his emotions. Not that he had ever much control over them before. But again, he had never felt so angry, so hating before.

“Why, Brain?” He screeched again. “Tell me why!!”

“Pinky…” His confused friend tried to touch him.

“Oh right! Because Mister Brain must always have control! Control! Control! Control!!” He screeched. “Not just over the world, but over everyone’s brain!” He shrieked. “You’ve always loved to control people’s brains anyway! That’s what you are! Why your name’s Brain! You’re a brain vampire!!” He screamed. “And… and you’ve never worn your name better than now!” He spat.

Brain lost all breath.

“I… I s’pose… I must be lucky to have no brain to be sucked off!!” Pinky wailed. And sobbed.

“Pinky,... I…”

“I… I really… I weally bewieved…” Pinky stammered through his tears.

Brain’s ears miserably flopped down.

“I… I…” He vainly tried to explain, to justify himself. But found nothing to say.

As a reply, Pinky rushed sobbing to the cage’s door, smashed it open with his bare hands and ran away in a corner of the lab.

Brain didn’t try to stop or even call him.

His tearful friend was right.

He had been horrible this time.

With Pinky.

And with Julia.

But… would he repeat what he did to her in order to take over the world?

The answer was revolting. But obvious:

Yes.

Now more than ever, he was ready to do anything, absolutely anything to control the world. Even playing with people’s minds. Even hurting people. Even… even acting like a human. Like a lab scientist, a testing-on-live-mice human. These humans who… who just had made him what he was.

He looked beyond his cage. And pictured himself. As a human. A human scientist with a white lab coat. A short, ugly-looking human. Testing on an unwilling mouse. A mouse that looked like Julia.

“I give Pinky’s life meaning! Like I gave your life meaning.” The short, ugly human said. 

“You’ll never control me!” The mouse replied.

“I already do.”

“You monster!” 

“Ah-ah. Genius.” The ugly human corrected her before fiddling with her brain, in the vivisection way.

“Get out of my head!” The mouse implored.

Then he turned her into a monstrous, indescribable creature.

“EAT THE CHILDREN!!”

Then… the human lit her on fire.

The mouse horribly shrieked.

“No!” Brain looked away, covering his eyes.

Then reopened them. There was no one.

Except a repeated, loud banging noise against… metal?

He rushed to the edge of the table. And saw what he dreaded to see:   

Pinky sharply banging, smashing his head against one of the steeled sides of the lab counters.

“Ha ha!” BANG “Narf!” BANG “Zort!” BANG “Ha ha ha!” BANG “Fun!” BANG

The tiny vampire’s heart broke.

He tried to hold in, or at least catch, his tears.

It’s your fault! It’s your fault!!

I know. I know it’s mine!

At least this is voluntary! What about Julia? Do you think she wanted to suffer like that??

No. No! But…

Then take your fucking responsiblities! For once!

Brain agreed with the voice in his head. A voice that sounded exactly like his own. He hopped down the table in search of a tool. A big, blunt tool.

On his side, Pinky tried to smash away today’s memories, the horrible things Brain had just told him, the horrible things he had told Brain, bang, smack away the painful, really painful feelings presently rotting his heart and clogging his mind. Driving him slowly crazier and crazier. Physical pain was so much more pleasant than… than… this.

He banged his head against the steeled wall.

“Ha ha! Narf!” This blow really hurt and damaged his head. Then the unbearable, horrible feelings quickly came back.

He banged his head harder against the steel.

Ugh. This blow really fogged his mind this time. 

“Troz! Ha ha ha!” What’s my name? I dunno but it looks fun here!

Cage… Big-headed mouse… Feelings… Hurtful feelings… A pretty female mouse… Julia… Brain… Nasty feelings coming up again.

He banged his head twice in a row. Two loud, resonating blows.

Whoa. Dizzy. Wha’ am I? What’s meaning of life? 42!  

“Ha ha! Narf!”

One more bang.

Brain.

“Ha ha!”

BANG

“Narf!”

Julia.

BANG

“Zort!”

Hurt her.

BANG

Me did nothing!

BANG

Hate Brain!

“Ha ha ha!”

BANG

“Fun!”

But don’t want to.

BANG

“Troz!”

Him friend.

BANG BANG

“Ha ha!”

Me was mean to him.

BANG BANG

“Uuurgh…”

Him monster.

BANG BANG

“ Eeeeh…”

Me stupid.

BANG BANG

Julia… hurt.

BANG BANG BANG

Pinky felt so dizzy and disoriented he didn’t immediately notice the big white figure scrolling towards him.

Hm? Cloud? 

Brain raised the monkey wrench up his head.

“I’m sorry, Pinky.” He murmured. “I’m truly… sorry.” He creaked before whacking him off.