Chapter Text
They found Cesar.
Mark remembers Thatcher running into his room, telling him that they’ve found Cesar. Thatcher was sweating bullets, very clearly out of breath, with the phone in his hand. Mark didn’t have time to react. He immediately got into the car with Thatcher, panicked and terrified.
“Is he okay?” Was the first thing Mark asked.
“He’s in the hospital— I don’t know the details.” Thatcher responded, clearly just as panicked and terrified. This could be a huge breakthrough with the #00432 case. “He just walked into the station, all beaten. Ruth was the first one to find him.”
Mark couldn’t wait. He needed to see his best friend. It’s been a month and a half since he was under the impression that Cesar was dead. Everyone thought Cesar was dead. There was no way he could’ve survived an alternate attack. At least so they thought.
Thatcher eventually made it to the Mandela Hospital. Mark slammed the door a lot harder than he usually does, which made Thatcher nearly scold him, but he decided this wasn’t the time. Mark doesn’t need to be scolded right now. The two quickly left the car, scurried into the hospital and to the front.
The receptionist at the front was an old woman, who looked like she hadn’t slept since yesterday. “Name?” Her voice matched her description almost perfectly.
“Thatcher Davis and Mark Heathcliff.”
The receptionist looked at Thatcher with an unamused look. Mark could feel the anxiety boiling in his stomach. I fucking swear, if this lady doesn’t–
“Sorry, immediate family only.” The receptionist responded. Mark’s heart dropped. He opened his mouth to retort something, maybe also call her a bitch in the process, but Thatcher interrupted.
“Mr. Torres is under investigation for an alternate attack.” Thatcher reached into his jacket and pulled out his police badge, showing it off to the woman. “Thatcher Davis, police lieutenant of the MCPD.”
“Ah,” The receptionist took a close look at the badge. “You can go ahead.” The receptionist somehow looked even more unamused, but instead looked back at the book on her table. “Room three three three.”
Mark smiled in relief. “Thank you so much.” He turned to Thatcher. “Come on, Mr. Davis—“
“Excuse me. Only he can go.” The receptionist said. Mark wanted to punch her in the face.
“He’s my partner.” Thatcher motioned to Mark. “He’s with me.”
The receptionist thought for a moment, but instead sighed. “Fine. Go ahead.” She somehow seemed even more tired than before.
Mark and Thatcher both jogged down the long hallway of the hospital, almost sprinting. Some people gave the duo weird looks, mostly visitors, but they didn’t care. Mark just wanted to see his best friend.
As they ran down the hall, a woman in a police uniform came into view. She was leaning against the wall, a nurse speaking to her. It was inaudible, but her face lit up, which made Mark feel slightly less queasy. Just as the nurse finally left, she turned her head.
“Ruth!” Thatcher called out. The police officer looked over and smiled when her eyes met Thatcher’s.
“Thatcher. Finally.” Ruth approached Thatcher. She looked at Mark and placed a hand on his head, ruffling his hair. “Hey, Markie.”
Mark wanted to yell at Ruth for using that shitty nickname again, but he just swallowed his words and instead said, “Is he inside? Can I speak to him?”
Ruth chuckled at Mark’s restlessness and nodded. “He just woke up. Go ahead.” She motioned to the door.
Mark quickly said a thank you and immediately ran towards the door, almost running into it. He didn't even hesitate to open the door.
Once Mark entered the hospital room, Thatcher turned to Ruth with a concerned look on his face. “What happened?”
Ruth sighed and crossed her arms. She thought for a moment, trying to figure out how she would explain what happened to Cesar. “He walked into the station a few hours ago, all beaten up. I tried to call you, but you wouldn’t pick up. We asked him what happened, but he doesn’t remember.” Ruth explained. She crossed her arms and thought about Cesar. “He doesn’t seem to be an alternate, either.”
Thatcher was intensely confused, to say the least. “Then where has he been these last two months?”
“That’s the thing, Thatch. He doesn’t remember.”
-
Mark took a step inside of the room, and closed the door behind himself. There, Cesar sat in the hospital bed, looking out of the window. Cesar looked almost perfect, with his scruffy black hair falling just above his eyes and a bandage wrapped around his head. The sound caught his attention and he looked over to the creaking door. As soon as his eyes locked with Mark’s, his heart dropped. He felt like he completely forgot how to breathe in that one moment.
“Mark…?” Cesar thought his eyes were playing tricks on him for a moment. Maybe the doctors pumped too much pain medication into his system? But that wasn’t the case. This was real, and Mark was standing a few feet away from him.
Mark didn’t say anything. He just stared at Cesar with wide eyes. Mark’s entire body felt so very heavy, and he wanted to collapse onto the floor. Everything in that moment felt so unbelievable.
He took a few steps forward, before running up to Cesar and immediately engulfing him into a hug. It completely caught Cesar off guard, and he jumped at the sudden affection. Mark buried his head into Cesar’s shoulder, fighting back tears that threatened to escape.
“Careful! I have a broken rib.” Cesar said, hugging Mark back. “I missed you too, Mark.”
“I thought you were dead. I fucking thought you were dead.” Mark’s voice cracked and he hugged tighter. He felt like if he were to let go, Cesar would disappear. And Mark would be left alone once again. He couldn’t bare the thought.
“I thought I was dead too.” Cesar sighed and closed his eyes. He was trying to blink away tears.
Mark finally pushed away from Cesar and gently placed his forehead against his friend’s. “What happened? After I was trapped in that bedroom…”
“What? What are you talking about?” Cesar asked. Mark’s eyes widened and he pulled back from Cesar. He doesn’t know.
“You don’t… know?” Mark asked quietly.
Cesar hestiately shook his head. “I… I just remember seeing my mom passed out on the ground, and then I blanked. The nurse told me it's November.”
“You don’t…” Mark trailed off. His expression softened. “You called me. You told me you were bringing your mom to the ER because she passed out. You asked me to turn on your cameras. An alternate followed me home, Cesar,” He felt tears well up in his eyes. “He had your voice.”
“Oh,” Cesar’s eyes widened in shock as he slowly connected the dots together. “I…” He didn’t know what to say. What was he supposed to say in this situation?
“I was stuck in my room for days.” Mark swallowed thickly and looked away. “I was so close to—“
“Mark, I’m so sorry.” Cesar finally managed to say. He placed a hand on Mark’s shoulder, and Mark immediately collapsed into Cesar’s arms. He didn’t hold back and held Cesar closely.
“I thought one of them took you.” Mark said, muffled. His shaky voice made Cesar’s heart shatter.
“No, no, no— Mark, I’m right here. I’m alive. Nothing took me.” Cesar hushed and gently pet his hair, in an attempt to sooth him. “It’s okay. I’m here, Mark. I’m right here.”
Despite being in the arms of the boy he missed so much, Mark still missed him, and he didn’t know why. And yet, he couldn’t stop weeping.
-
Over the next few weeks, Mark came in to see Cesar everyday. Every time, right after school, he would drag Thatcher to the hospital, where he would talk with Cesar and bring him gifts. Thatcher couldn’t blame him either. He was grateful Cesar was alive, despite not knowing him. Thatcher would have to talk to the others about the #00432 case. It wouldn’t be good if something happened to Cesar under the guidance of Thatcher. He shutters, just at the thought. Mark would never forgive him.
Thatcher still wasn’t completely sure how Cesar was alive. Mark wasn’t sure either, but he doesn’t care. He just cared about how his friend was alive and well. Ruth told Thatcher multiple times that Cesar couldn’t be an alternate, but he still couldn’t believe it.
Once, Thatcher pulled Mark out of Cesar’s room and closed the door rather forcefully. “Are you sure that’s Cesar?” His voice was lowered, almost afraid as if someone would hear him.
“Are you saying that’s not Cesar?” Mark immediately retorted, clearly taking offence. He crossed his arms, showing more confidence than before. He finally had his best friend, and he wasn’t going to let someone ruin it.
“Look, Mark,” Thatcher cleared his throat. “From what we know about alternates, the survival rate for M.A.D is around three percent.”
“So? He’s a part of that three percent, then,” Mark stood his ground. “Don’t alternates immediately inflict M.A.D on their victims? So that they kill themselves? Cesar isn’t dead. Alternates don’t work like that, Mr. Davis.”
Thatcher looked at the small window on the door. Cesar was sitting on his bed, fiddling with his thumbs. He seemed anxious, for some reason, which made him feel more like an actual human being than an alternate. Thatcher tried to think of how Cesar could have survived, but nothing came to mind. How could he have survived something as dire as an alternate attack? And then arrived at a police station with multiple broken bones two months later? What happened in those two months, and how did Cesar manage to wind up back here?
Mark waited for a response from Thatcher, but it never came. He looked at Thatcher and noticed where he was staring off into. He sighed and uncrossed his arms. “If anything happens, I’ll tell you.” Mark said, coming from an understanding of where Thatcher was. “If Cesar is somehow an alternate, I’ll tell you. So don’t worry.”
Mark was confident. Maybe a little too confident.
-
Finally, it was time for Cesar to leave the hospital. His home was still under investigation, and it was advised for someone to take care of him. He was eighteen, so he didn’t need a legal guardian. What was he meant to do?
Mark and Cesar were talking about where Cesar could stay. Cesar decided he could maybe find a motel to stay in, try to get back on his feet and get back to school. Maybe find a job again. Before he realized his wallet wasn’t at his home, despite Thatcher looking everywhere. It wasn’t in any of Cesar’s old clothes. He practically had nothing. As soon as he was released from the hospital, he would probably be on the streets. Mark was intensely against the idea.
So the two bickered. For a good ten minutes, as Thatcher thought about what to do. It nearly drove him mad.
“You can’t just live out on the streets!”
“Mark, I don’t have a choice–”
“Maybe rob a–”
“We’re not robbing anything. Jesus— Fine. You can stay at my house.” Thatcher finally said. “You two are giving me a headache.” He placed his thumb and pointer finger onto his head and rubbed his temple.
Mark whipped his head towards Thatcher, surprised. “Really?”
“Excuse me, young man. There will be rules.” Thatcher turned to Cesar. “You have to do your fair share of chores, help with paying for the necessities, and sleep in Mark’s room.”
“What? Why my room?” Mark rolled his eyes. In all honesty, he wouldn’t mind sharing a bedroom with Cesar.
“Because Cesar is not sleeping in my room or on the couch. You two will be fine, I just have to find a mattress for Cesar to sleep on.” Thatcher thought for a moment. Did he even have a spare mattress? Maybe he could ask Ruth if she had one. “Yeah, that’ll work.” He muttered to himself.
After signing Cesar out of the hospital, Thatcher left the hospital with a new houseguest and roommate. The three all loaded into the car, this time Cesar and Mark sitting in the backseat. Thatcher put Cesar’s crutches into the trunk, while Mark tried to figure out Cesar’s pain medication. His dyslexia didn’t help either.
Mark and Cesar talked for almost the entire car ride. It seemed like they could never run out of things to talk about. Thatcher looked through the rearview mirror and saw Mark happily talking about whatever was on his mind. He felt his heart soften when he noticed how upbeat Mark was with Cesar. Thatcher thought this was the most happy he’s ever seen Mark. They really do bring the best out of each other.
“Is anyone hungry?” Thatcher asked. “We could grab burgers at Mark’s favourite joint.”
Mark’s face lit up. “Yes! Oh my gosh, Cesar, you’re going to love it.” Mark immediately turned to his friend and shook his arm. Thatcher couldn’t help but smile either.
-
They had given Cesar a week to rest, before they made sure he could get back to school. Mark seemed so much more lively around the house. Thatcher didn’t blame him though. He finally had his best friend back. His best friend was everything to him. The only reason why he got out of bed in the first place.
Mark and Cesar both woke up in the cold mornings. The cold November nights were finally catching up with them, but Mark didn’t mind. He was excited to finally have someone at school with him. Maybe Cesar would finally defend him from the bullies. Especially Adam. No one likes Adam. Mark decided not to say anything to Cesar about the situation with Adam back in September. It would have made Cesar flip, and Mark was already content with the small teasing and backhanded comments Adam would make. He didn’t mind it, and he certainly didn’t want to make it worse.
The two had to share a bathroom and bedroom together, which was fun when it was two teenagers quickly rushing to get ready for school. Cesar took longer, considering he still had the cast around his leg.
The first day of Cesar being back shocked almost everybody. Even Adam didn’t say anything, which was fairly shocking to Mark at least. That’s not to say there weren’t rumours and whispers going around the school. The rumour that Mark had killed his family finally died down, but Cesar coming back suddenly revived it.
“Oh fuck, is that Torres?”
“What, Heathcliff’s boyfriend?”
“I’m surprised that fag is back in town already.”
“Apparently his mom also died. No one knows what happened to her.”
“What if Torres and Heathcliff killed her?”
“Maybe an alternate took her!”
Cesar really, really wanted to punch them, but he instead held his head high and went to class.
-