Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

   Large ears drooped as the TubeTube page was refreshed ad nauseam. After several nights of research, he could have sworn everything was done correctly to entice the website’s algorithm, but the 1 in the lower-left-hand corner refused to change. It may as well have been a 0, though, considering the view was from none other than his twit of a husband. 

   Exhausted from hours of clicking the same button repeatedly, Brain decided to open the comment section and finally read the singular statement.

IlikeBrainanDCrackeRsandRomy 10 hours ago

This was the best video ever! Narf! I love you!

   “Moron," Brain grumbled, though the flush of color in his face suggested he actually enjoyed the supportive gesture. 

   A large crash echoed from across the counter.

   Brain rolled his eyes as he logged off his account, hopping from the keyboard. He had a reasonable hypothesis on the cause of the noise. He walked with his arms behind his back, easily avoiding the random pens and cylinders that rolled around.

   The chubby mouse stopped just short of a mountain of random items and called out for his husband. “Pinky! What exactly do you think you’re doing?” Do I even want to know?

   “Narf!” came the familiar tic. A long tail and wriggly white bum emerged from the top of the chaotic pile, followed by twitchy paws and, eventually, a big red nose and bright blue eyes. “Hiya, Brain! I’m just trying out one of your life hacks from the video! I think it’s working!”

   “And which life hack would that be?” As far as Brain was concerned, none of his helpful tips included being an absolute buffoon.

   Pinky squeaked as he slid down the assortment of objects, scratching his head. “Uh, the one about collecting data?”

   Pink eyes simply stared at the taller mouse. You absolute, idiotic, havoc-wreaking, tantalizing creature. Brain sighed and decided not to address the scene further. “Come, Pinky. We need to brainstorm more ideas for videos. For some peculiar reason, I’m not having the success I anticipated.” 

   “Eye-eye, captain! You man the poop deck, and I’ll keep watch for the tentacle creatures!” Pinky giggled at his playful words, following Brain with a pep in his step.

   “Pinky, shush. Also, please call it a stern deck next time you babble about ships.”

   Within their cage, Brain pulled out a notebook, marking across the failed concept of their first video. “My life hack video should have gained traction, but unfortunately, it didn’t. We need to try something else.” His idea was to manufacture a bustling TubeTube channel with billions of views worldwide. He could put together subliminal messaging with his influence, encouraging all his subscribers to bend to his will! 

   Pinky stretched out onto his stomach, kicking his feet. “That’s a shame. I liked your video, Brain. Hmmm… maybe we could do a tea channel thing!”

   Brain lowered his notebook and raised a brow. “Tea? I highly doubt people will be tuning in to get the latest news of which tastes better, Jasmine or Earl Grey.” Honestly.

   “Honest, Brain! I think it’d work! Tea channels aren’t actually about tea, silly! Narf! Tea means,” Pinky wiggled his fingers, “draaaama! It’s super easy, too! We just find out stuff about people that’s sort of bad, but not that bad, and make it seem super bad! But we have to put in a disclaimer about not leaving hate. That’s the important part. Troz!”

   “That’s even more ridiculous than an actual tea channel, Pinky.” Brain shook his head at the suggestion. “What else?”

   “A… makeup channel?” Now that was a good pitch! “I’m really good at it, so I think It’d do well!” Pinky wagged his tail. “Oh, please, Brain, please?”

   “Mmm. No. Maybe. I’ll come back to that.” He’s not good enough at makeup yet, but maybe people would tune in to see him anyway. It’s not every day you see a mouse sporting mascara.

   Pinky frowned and huffed. “Well, what are your ideas? At least I’m trying.”

   Brain was taken aback by the forwardness in Pinky’s tone. It was a fair enough jab, however. “Fine, fine. What’s your opinion on… educational school content? Something that could perhaps get into classrooms. Or is that too narrow?” It is.

   Pinky nodded. “I don’t think it sounds very wide at all, Brain. But that’s okay. Good try! Troz!”

   They spent the following few hours discussing ideas, but in the end, they only had two written down. 

   A ‘fun’ science channel or a sewing channel. 

   Pinky held out a quarter and hummed. “Heads, it’s science, and tails for sewing!” The coin was tossed, falling unceremoniously onto his noggin. “Poit! Ha!” It was almost as good as a bop!

   Brain leaned down and smirked. “Heads it is.” He assisted Pinky up. “Go grab the camera equipment. I’d like to start immediately.”

   The taller mouse saluted and ran over to the filming supplies. As he looked down at the equipment, he pouted. He was honestly hoping that it’d land on tails. Oh well. All’s fair in… flipping coins? Yeah. That sounded right. 

   The camera was lifted carefully above his head while his tail held onto a tiny tripod. Pinky wobbled as he cautiously walked toward his husband. His chubby, lovely, loving husband! His… Non-newtonian… colloid… particle suspended…. Pinky shook his head, dropping the camera and tripod as he rubbed his temple. “Oooh. My mind feels squuisshy. Poit.” 

   Brain cringed as he looked over and watched the equipment fall from Pinky’s hold. “Pinky!” He rushed over, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This stuff is exceedingly fragile!” Thankfully, everything seemed to be okay, well, everything except his spouse. He tilted his head as he observed Pinky rubbing at his skull and mumbling quietly. “Pinky?”

   Pinky’s head started feeling less wiggly, and he blinked at the dropped items. “Oops. Sorry, Brain.”

   “It’s fine. What happened? Did you think too hard again?” 

   “I think so, Brain! Troz. I’m A-okay, though.” He picked up the materials and smiled. 

   They walked over to the set-up Brain had arranged. Pinky giddily prepared the camera for filming and bounded to Brain’s side. “What’s the plan?! This looks like fun!” There was cornstarch and water and food coloring! “Are we baking?!”

   Brain adjusted a few more things with the camera and looked back at Pinky. “What on earth would we possibly bake with those three items?” Don’t answer that.

   After a beat of silence, Brain was done fiddling with the camera and walked over to the table. “We’re going to be making oobleck. It’s an extremely easy substance to create and will be appropriate for all ages to watch.”

   “Why would we make something icky?” 

   “It’s not icky. It just has a unique name. Oobleck is a suspension that can mimic a solid or a liquid. It’s referred to as a Non-newtonian liquid. Depending on the forces exerted, it will act as a solid or a fluid. In simpler terms, you can understand- if you squeeze it tightly, it’ll feel hard, but if you loosen your fingers, it will flow through them.”

   Pinky’s ears perked up at the mention of Non-newtonian. He knew that word! He was just thinking about it! Sort of… it didn’t exactly sound like his own headwords, but he still thought of it! He bounced around excitedly on his feet. “Ooh! I know about that Non word! Does it have something to do with the koolaid and the particle stimulation?”

   Brain blinked in surprise. Pinky was… almost on the right track. “The words you’re referring to are colloid and particle suspension. How… did you know to ask about those terms?”

   “I was just thinking about them! A few minutes ago! They just popped up into my head! Troz!”

   “How… could you? Nevermind.” It was odd, but so was Pinky. Though, lately, Pinky was having an increasing number of instances where he was able to nearly think about what Brain was pondering. The shorter mouse brushed it off. He was prone to rambling about things without realizing it; Pinky had probably just overheard something. “Let me explain what we will be doing here, and then we can get filming.”

   They were gonna mix the starch and the water, and Pinky would be allowed to pick the color! And then they’d get to play with it! Pinky listened eagerly, thrilled to be about to participate in such a fun activity with his husband. 

   Brain measured the starch and water, stepping back with squared fingers and one eye poking through them. “Okay, Pinky. I’m going to hit the record button. Try to focus. We can always cut some things in editing, but I’d rather not have to spend hours doing so.”

   “Right, Brain! I’ll behave!” 

   I doubt it. “Okay. I’m pressing the button…now!” Brain ran over to the front of the camera and cleared his throat, giving a small intro to the lens. He then returned to the table to explain to the audience what ingredients they would require. “You will need 8 oz of cornstarch, optional food coloring, and 120 mL of water.”

   The taller mouse was handed the bowl of water. 

   “First, we will mix the water with 4-5 drops of food coloring. My assistant here will demonstrate.” He gestured to the items. “Go ahead, Pinky.”

   Pinky giggled and reached for the dye. He wanted to use pink! However, his paw stopped and hovered over the purple. He didn’t want purple, though; he wanted pink! But his arm wouldn’t budge. “Poit!”

   Brain raised a brow and sighed. “What seems to be the matter, Pinky?”

   “I wanna use the pink! But my arm wants to use the purple!”

   “Just pick the purple, then.” 

   Pinky shrugged and picked up the dye. He added six drops and scooted the bowl over to Brain. “What’s next?”

   The colored water was added to the starch and mixed together. 

   “And just like that, we have the oobleck! Go ahead and try messing around with it, Pinky. Describe what you see and feel to the audience.”

   Pinky stuck his hand in the odd mixture and shuddered delightfully. “It’s like sticky, slippery glue! Narf!” He squished it and released it. “Ooooh! It’s like a firm handshake that slides away from you!” This is pathetic. What are we doing? Pinky stopped moving, a little disturbed by the fleeting thought that popped into his head. This time, it sounded like his own thoughts, but it couldn’t have been… he liked the oobleck! He thought it was fun!

   Brain snapped his fingers. “Pinky. Earth to Pinky!”

   Don’t let him snap at us! We’re not a dog! The taller mouse removed his hands from the bowl and flicked off the residual goo. He supposed this thought, in particular, was true. “Poit. Brain. I’m a mouse, not a dog.”

   “Yes, yes. That is very profound of you. Now, have you forgotten we are recording? You zoned out. Play with the oobleck again, and remember to describe it this time.” 

   Pinky moved his paw back toward the bowl and stopped. His head started to feel gloopy and weird again.

   ~ Don’tlistentohimW hyaren’tyoudoingasIs ay Pink yisheokay Thi sisallsowrong Whyisn’therespondingthisisfreakingmeou tBrainisabafoonwhopushesusaround Pinkypleas ePoitWhat’shappenig let meoutIthinkI’mfinall ybreakingthrough Pinkypl ease!~

   The lanky mouse groaned, kneeling down as he held his head for the second time today. “Poit.” The words sounded like his thoughts… and Brain was talking, but his husband’s mouth wasn’t moving… It was all very disorienting.  

   “Pinky?” Brain’s eyes widened at his husband’s actions, worry evident on his features. He sighed as he rushed over to end the recording, then was kneeling at Pinky’s side. “What’s wrong?”

   “Head feels full.”

   Brain nodded. “Okay,” he whispered. It must be a migraine. All the signs were there. Head grabbing, shut eyes, and a lack of movement. Pinky’s head rubbing and camera dropping from earlier were quickly connected. “I’m gonna go dim the lights, and then you can lay down. I think you’re having a migraine.” He knew very well how horrible they could be. They could work on the video tomorrow; it was mostly filmed anyway. And who knows, maybe by morning, the original upload will have risen in popularity. As eager as Brain was to take over the world, it was never more important than Pinky. 

   The moment Brain left his side, Pinky was able to relax some. The sounds were still there but were a little quieter. 

   The lab lights dulled, and Brain was back by his husband’s side, assisting him. “I’m going to walk you to our bed, and you can lie down.”

   The words in his head were returned to full volume, but Pinky smiled regardless and allowed his husband to guide him over to their sponge and blanket. He was tucked in and chirped when he felt soft lips pressed against his nose and fingers brush his forehead. 

   “Just try to rest. I’ll be near if you need me.” Thankfully, it didn’t feel like the slender mouse had a fever, so it was, indeed, just an unfortunate headache.

   “Thank you, Brain. I love you.” 

   “I feel the same about you. Now rest. I’m going to put away the supplies, and then I’ll be in the cage writing down more ideas for science videos. Just call me over if you need something.” 

   We don’t need him for anything. Pinky gulped. Why was his head so mean? “Mmkay, Brain. We will.”

   “We?”

   “Poit. Er, I. Sorry. My mind just feels jumbled.” 

   Brain nodded warily. “Okay. Remember, I’m just a shout away.” He cautiously walked away from his spouse, eventually turning and hurrying to put everything up. 

   The short mouse hid the table and oobleck under a small tarp and took the camera off the tripod. He groaned as he lifted it, envious of Pinky’s strength. 

   “Brain!!”

   The camera was dropped as the megalomaniac scurried over to his partner. “What?! What is it?!” 

   Pinky looked around frantically as he shook. “Narf! I-I was floating away! And the bed was floating too!”

   Brain observed the completely grounded sponge and then the shocked state of his husband. “Pinky, you’re fine. Nothing was floating.” He frowned. “Let me recheck your temperature.” His fingers brushed against the soft fur of Pinky’s head, but there was still no fever. Must be some migraine. They had the potential to cause delusions. “Lay back. You need to sleep.” He pressed gently onto the taller’s chest and was startled when his hand was slapped away.

   “Don’t you touch me.” Blue eyes peered at the hurt expression on Brain’s face. No! I didn’t mean that! Pinky grunted as he shook his head, eyes now pleading for forgiveness. “Brain! No! I didn’t want to say that! I love when you touch me!”

   “It’s... okay, Pinky. It’s not uncommon to be grouchy with a migraine. I should have asked. Please go ahead and lay back and sleep. You’ll be better in the morning.”  Brain took some deep breaths, mentally reminding himself that Pinky was in pain and didn’t mean to act aggressively. His husband would be back to his usual self by tomorrow. Thankfully, migraines usually disappear with some sleep. 

   Pinky shrunk into himself as he watched Brain trot away. He could tell he’d hurt his feelings. “Poit.” Why did he say that? He didn’t even want to say it; it just… came out. As if, for a moment, he was his thoughts, and his thoughts were his body…. He shivered. Pinky closed his eyes and took deep breaths. Brain said nothing had floated, but it had. However, he wanted to believe his husband’s words, so he accepted them as fact, even if they weren’t. I’ll be better in the morning.

—-----

   It wasn’t better. Pinky’s head had stopped hurting, but he was still hearing Brain talk when he wasn’t, and he heard himself think things he wasn’t thinking. “Poit.” Pinky was also struggling to control his limbs. If he wanted to go right, his legs would move left. Time to run on the wheel? No- It was time to sneer at Brain as he typed on the computer, which made Pinky feel incredibly guilty. He loved Brain, so why was he acting so bothered by him?

   Brain could feel the sneers on his back, chilling him to his core. He turned around and scowled. “What? Why do you keep glaring at me like that?” Did I forget one of his random imaginary holidays again? 

   Pinky snapped out of his trance and blushed. “Sorry, Love. I didn’t realize I was looking. Um…"

   The shorter mouse raised a brow. “Are you mad at me?” He needed to be certain right away. A day was shot if Pinky was secretly upset, and they had much to accomplish. Their first science video required a decent amount of editing, and then they’d need to upload it and get started on a second one. 

   “No! I’m not! I just… my head is making me feel weird about everything. Poit. It’s hard to explain.” 

   The scowl on Brain’s face was replaced with a simple frown. “Your head? Is it hurting again?” He’d asked Pinky when they had awoken if he was feeling better, and he’d said yes. But maybe having his blood pumping and his body moving about was stirring things around. Two migraines back to back wasn’t an alarm bell, but it did pique Brain’s concern enough. 

   Pinky shook his head. “No. It just feels… like it’s not mine?” He shrugged and offered a sheepish smile. Even he knew that didn’t make much sense. 

   “You… feel like your head isn’t yours?” What was he supposed to make of that statement? “Is there any way you can elaborate? Do you feel pressure? Any fuzzing vision?” 

   Blue eyes looked left to right as if the lab room would offer any help. “Uh, yes? There’s pressure.”

   “Is it a pulsing pressure or a gradual pressure? Describe it.”

   “Uh… both? There’s peer pressure too.” His mind wanted him to do and say things he wasn’t comfortable with, and it was getting harder to ignore. And sometimes, he didn’t seem to really have a choice.

   Brain felt his eye twitch. That wasn’t helpful. He wasn’t angry at his husband, but it required a lot of patience to get useful information from Pinky. “Okay. What about-”

   ….!! 

   The taller mouse’s posture grew rigid as his ears shot up straight. 

   Brain was shocked at the sudden and unusual movement. “What? What is it, Pinky?”

   “Troz! I heard the scientists. They’re here early. They said they have an experiment they need to start on.”

   Brain logged off the computer hastily and hopped down to Pinky’s side. His own ears lifted, and he frowned. “You heard them? I can’t hear anything. Are you sure?” He rushed them into their cage and closed the door.

   Always so doubtful. Pinky hit the side of his head and nodded. “Yeah. I’m sure. Something about…” he put a paw to his ear and focused carefully. “... electroconsultation therapy… and see-sures?” Pinky gasped. “They wanna use you.”

Chapter Text

   Electroconsultaion therapy? … NO. They want to use me for… no. Oh, no, no, no. Brain backed away, placing a hand on his head. “Pinky? Are you absolutely sure you can hear them?” 

   Is he serious? “Uh, yes. Poit. I promise.” Pinky noticed the troubled expression on his husband’s face and frowned. “You okay, Brain? What’s electronic therapy? Brain?”

   The megalomaniac fell to his bottom, and his eyes widened. No. They can’t. Memories flashed uncontrollably within his mind. -He was small, smaller than he was now. Tiny. Nameless. He was shivering in the corner of a rusty cage, afraid to move. He was hungry, and there was food… but the food had a cost. Anytime he tried to get near it, pain—terrible pain throughout his entire fragile body. There were blue streaks of electricity and a creepy, ear-shattering sound. Every day for so long. Sometimes, he’d have no choice. He had to eat, or he’d die. They wanted to test his endurance and survival instincts. 

   Pinky shook his partner’s shoulders frantically. “Brain?! Brain?!” God, he’s pathetic. The taller mouse rolled his eyes at his own thoughts. “No, he’s not,” he whispered.

   The sound of footsteps began to echo off the walls from down the hall on the other side of the room doors. They were coming. 

   “Braaain!?” Pinky shook his husband again. “Please?!” Electronic therapy must not be great if it could scare the smartest mouse in the world so much. “Maybe you should hide?!” They could use him instead. 

   Brain slowly came back to reality. Hide. Yes. Brain needed to hide them both. But it was too late.

   The door opened.

   Two people entered the room, and a man walked right toward the cage. “Okay. Grab the plates and wires. I’ll grab Mouse A.” 

   The cage door opened, and a big, skeletal hand reached for Brain. 

   No! Please! I can’t handle that! Anything but that! Brain closed his eyes, prepared to feel warm fingers wrap around his body. But that feeling never came. He opened his eyes and blushed. Pinky was shielding him, and he was doing a damn good job of it.

   Pinky held his arms out in front of Brain. He glared at the hand, moving with it, not allowing any openings. 

   “Mouse B is… not granting me access to Mouse A.” I’m gonna have to shove him away with my other hand.

   Pinky’s eyes darted back and forth between the scientist’s hands. He knelt low to center himself better. 

   The man noticed the action and raised a brow. “Mouse B is anticipating that I want to try to move him. Interesting.” I’ll just fucking grab him.

   Like Hell, he’s gonna grab us!  The taller mouse felt his fur stand on end, and his tummy started making grumbly, rumbly noises. 

   “Pinky?!” Is he… growling?! Brain was flattered but concerned. Pinky didn’t growl.

   “Sarah. Come over here,” said the man. “Mouse B is acting aggressively.”

   “Really?” The woman answered. She walked over and hummed. “Pinky’s usually so docile. Is he okay? Is he… protecting his little friend there?”

   “Yeah. It’s like he knows what I’m thinking.” The scientist raised a brow and tilted his head knowingly. “Do you think…?”

   The woman shook her head. “No. There’s no way. We ruled… that out a long time ago. It was a failure. Maybe he’s just hormonal. Here, let me grab Pinky, and you grab Brain. I don’t care if he growls.”

   A delicate hand reached for Pinky. 

   Fuck these scientists! Pinky was shocked when he completely lost control of his body, taking a backseat to his own mind. He watched in horror as he bit down harshly on the woman’s hand. He wanted to protect his husband, but not like this! They’d separate them for a week! It’s what they always did when Brain bit them. Sure, they could meet back up after lab hours, but lab hours took up so much of the day!

   “Ouch!” The woman yanked her hand back, waving it around.

   Brain wrapped his arms around the other, trying to calm him down. “Pinky?!” He’d never seen his spouse like this before. “Pinky, it’s okay. I was just nervous to go. It’ll be fine.” 

   The tall mouse regained control of himself and gasped as he was brought back to the forefront of his mind. “Zort!” Pinky turned to look at Brain, shaking. “Brain?! I didn’t mean to bite her! I don’t know how I did that! Are they gonna separate us?!”

   “I don’t know, Pinky. They might after they’re done with me today.” 

   Pinky became teary-eyed. “Poit. Why’d I do that?” Oh, stop crying. It’s disgusting.

   Before Brain could answer, the man’s face peered into the cage too close for comfort. 

   The man blinked curiously. “Sarah? Did you see that? Pinky’s eyes? Did you see that? It was just for a second.”

   ‘Yeah, Randy. I saw,” said the woman. She seemed to be over the shock of being bitten and peered into the cage as well. “Your suspicions might hold value.  We need to take him… to the basement level. Scrap the testing plans for Brain today. We need to examine Pinky.”

   Brain swapped spots with Pinky, arms outstretched. He didn’t like the tone in the woman’s voice. What were they even talking about? This wasn’t a protocol for being bitten.  

   Sarah sighed, extending her fingers as she reached inside, grabbing both mice simultaneously. Once in her grasp, she used her other hand to separate them, dangling them in the air by their tails. “Got ‘em.”

   Brain looked over at Pinky with a frown. What was in the basement? They never took them down there. “Pinky? Don’t you worry. They have to go home eventually. We’ll reunite tonight.” The words spoken were more to help ease his mind than anything. He was glad he would no longer be subjected to torture, but he had a strange feeling about what they might do with Pinky. What’s in the basement?

   Brain was tossed back into the cage, and he ran to the bars, holding eye contact with Pinky for as long as he was carted off.

   Pinky waved sadly as he was carried away. “Poit! Bye, Brain!” The basement sounded scary. It was never a good place to be in movies. 

   Soon, the scientists were gone, and Brain was left alone. If they hurt Pinky in any way, there’d be Hell to pay. 

   The lighting got darker and darker as they descended the stairs. Pinky’s ears drooped as he shivered at the decreasing temperature. At the bottom of the steps was a door that required a hand-print and voice command. 

   On the other side of the door, Pinky’s eyes widened. It was like a spaceship. Lots of weird screens and lights and beeping sounds. “Poit.” Were they sending him to the moon for biting? No, moron. They aren’t sending us to the moon. 

   “Narf!” The slender mouse was righted quickly and strapped onto a wall by his extremities. He looked up at the scientists and felt his chest tighten uncomfortably. He didn’t like the way they were staring at him. And why was he stuck to the wall? What was going on? He’d never needed to be strapped to a wall before.

   The scientist named Sarah scratched her chin. We’ll need to figure out a way to get… a reaction. “Randy. What should we do to get Mouse C to reach out to us? If that’s indeed what we think is happening.”

   Mouse C? Pinky looked around the room but was the only mouse there. And they only referred to him as Mouse B. Ooh. They want to try to get me to come out… interesting. Pinky shook his head. What? Who? Me? Why am I thinking things I’m not thinking about?!

   Randy hummed. “I’m not sure, Sarah. Let’s see if he reacts to pain. It’s going to be the easiest way, I think. If he shares the same apparatus as Pinky, he’ll do his best to stop it.”

   Pain?! Pinky tried vainly to struggle against his restraints. But his body soon stopped struggling, and he was still. He wanted to move, but that thing was happening again where he’d lost control. What’s going on?!

   The man walked over to a keyboard. “I’ll start with shocks. If those don’t work, we’ll move onto heat.”

   ~Fuck!Letmeout!What’shap p ening?!WhyamiarguIngaga in sMyself?!LetmeotubeforetheydoIT!You’resuchanidiot!AmImadatmysel f? Whatisthis?!~

   A button was pressed. 

   Pinky gasped as a painful tingling pulsed through his body. It was awful. He shut his eyes, breathing becoming ragged. But what he hated the most was how his mind felt like it was… splitting? 

   The shock ended, and the woman approached with a clipboard. “Mouse C? Are you finally with us after all these years?”

   “Zort! Who is Mouse C?!” Pinky blinked away tears and groaned. What the heck was going on? He wanted to be back in the cage. He wanted Brain. We don’t need that prick! Just stop struggling and let me out! That’s what they want! 

   Sarah clicked her tongue and wrote something down. “Didn’t work. Try a higher setting.” She sighed. “Hopefully, this isn’t a bust. I’d hate to do this to Pinky for nothing.”

   There was a click, and Pinky screamed out. He thought the pain before was bad… but he was wrong. This was bad. And the splitting feeling in his head was back much stronger. He fought against the sensation. Just let me out! This isn’t fair! You’ve been driving for years! It’s my turn! 

   The pain stopped. Pinky panted, sweat dripping down his body, nearly drenching his fur. “Poit! Stop! I’m sorry I bit! I didn’t mean to!” I did, though. Pinky moaned and rolled his head. It felt too full and weird. 

   The woman looked over at Randy. “Nothing. Try the heat.”

   Randy moved over to a different set of buttons and nodded. “Mkay. Man, if we can get Mouse C to come out, they’ll have to give us a bonus. Especially considering they thought it was a failure.”

   Pinky screamed out once more. His entire being felt as if he had been engulfed in flames. It was torturous. His eyesight started to bubble in and out, and his breath hitched. The feeling in his head sent a sense of impending doom beyond comprehension. Was he dying? What was this? Something wasn’t right. It felt like he was… disappearing? You’ll be fine. You’re not disappearing. You’ll just be taking the backseat. Just let it happen. It’ll be fine. The pain will end if you just let go. Just let me take over.

   Another round of pain. Pinky felt tears streak down his cheeks. I’ll be okay?  -  Yes.

   Pinky took a deep breath and relaxed. He didn’t know what it meant to ‘let go,’ but he tried. He didn’t fight the feeling in his head, he didn’t wonder why he was thinking thoughts he wasn’t thinking, and he didn’t struggle against the odd sensation of fazing back into his own mind. 

   The pain stopped, and when Pinky looked around, he was confused. He was looking through his eyes, but he was somehow so far away. 

   “Stop at once! I’m out! Fuck!” 

   The scientists smiled and stepped over. 

   Randy shook Sarah’s shoulders. “Holy shit, we did it.”

   Sarah jotted something onto the clipboard. “It’s nice to officially meet you, Mouse C.”

   “Oh, stop with the Mouse C. Just call me Pinky. The name's grown on me. I’ve heard it all this time. Might as well roll with it.”

   “Oh, okay, … Pinky,” said the woman. “How are you feeling?” They’d need to start tests immediately to prove this was Mouse C. 

   “Not great. Sorry to say, but I wouldn’t get so excited about those bonuses. You two just made a big mistake.”

Chapter Text

   Brain paced around the cage nervously. Were they going to lock Pinky away someplace secure? What if they were considering displacement? The numerous amount of possibilities was too bothersome. Of course, Pinky could end up being just fine, but something was pricking at Brain’s soul, saying things were amis. 

   The two scientists had talked about Pinky in such a way that suggested a fantastic outcome was emerging from his behavior. They said something about ruling out an unknown idea a long time ago… what could that mean? 

“AAAAHHHH!”

   Brain felt his blood run cold. Pinky! He wasn’t okay. They were harming him. Harming him enough that his screams could be heard from downstairs. 

   The jagged tail of the small mouse was quickly utilized to unlock the cage. Brain rushed out onto the counter, tugging at his ears. “Damn it all!” He closed his eyes, thinking carefully about what he needed to do. Paper clip, laser, and string. Essential items that were necessary for roaming the lab successfully.

   Brain scurried about, grabbing the three items he deemed required.

“AAAHHHHH!”

   Another mousey scream. 

   Brain scrambled to the floor and rushed across the room, anger blooming voraciously. The scientists had never harmed Pinky, to his knowledge. Normally the slender mouse was used for maze experiments and cardiovascular endurance examinations. Not whatever was currently happening. It was always Brain who was utilized for their more… unsavory curiosities. None of which was ever relayed back to Pinky. The blue-eyed mouse didn’t need to worry his pretty little head over such things. 

   One might think it odd that Brain would allow himself to be subjected to such horrific things as forced submersion and testing the effects of smoking… but as a scientist himself, he understood the importance of research. So long as it was never Pinky. Plus, the lab offered so many tools for him to work with regarding world domination schemes. 

   Brain squeezed under the room’s double doors and looked to the hallway’s left. At the end was a staircase that would take him to the basement. One of the only places he’d never been in the building. 

   He ran over to the railing and adjusted accordingly so that when he jumped up, the laser and paper clip was held between his legs as he looped the string over the bar. He was at the bottom within seconds. 

   The door at the base was scrutinized as Brain analyzed the best place to pick the lock. It was likely to trigger an alarm. Not ideal,  but he’d rather face those consequences later. He just needed to get to Pinky.  

   Blue and red light illuminated from the microscopic gap under the door. What were they doing there?? What had Pinky done besides biting an invasive hand? Something Brain often did and was never punished too harshly for. 

“WAIT!!! PLEASE!!!”

   Brain cocked his head. Screams. Human screams.

   A decision was made, and Brain climbed up the side of the door. He unraveled the paper clip and jammed it into the side of the lock. He pressed his ear to the door’s wood and listened carefully for the sound of clicks. 

   Brain nearly fell when the door jutted open. He dropped the clip and slid back down to the floor as an alarm cracked through the walls of A.C.M.E. labs. Just as he suspected it would. Oh well. 

   The megalomaniac entered the room. He took in the sight of chrome equipment and more flashes of light. But nothing much else before his view was overcome with blackness. The last thing he heard was more human screaming and a maniacal laugh. 

——-

   He was cold. It was typical for him to awaken in this state. Pinky was a notorious blanket thief. “Piiinky. You’ve hogged the blankets again. Gimme.” He reached over but felt nothing. “Pinky?” Brain sat up and opened his eyes slowly. He put a paw to his head as a headache made itself known. “Great. I must have slept on my neck incorrectly.”

   Once his eyes were fully opened, Brain froze. It took a few seconds for his vision to adjust, but he wondered if he was seeing things accurately.  

   Fire. Smoke. The building collapsed. People screaming and running about chaotically. … Where was Pinky? 

   Brain gasped and brought his paws to his mouth. “Piiiinky!!!?” He remembered now. He was supposed to be rescuing his husband from the torturous scientists. But now, he supposed, he needed to save Pinky from…. burning? Being crushed? Brain shouted out again desperately. 

   There was no response, even after another dozen or so shouts. “Fuck!!” Brain dropped to his knees and began to hyperventilate. Where should he even start looking? Mice were so, so tiny. The lab was gigantic… and all of it was crumbled around him. 

   He looked around frantically. What did those moronic humans do??!! How could one fuck up so monumentally??! Were the humans responsible even alive?? If they were, it wouldn’t stay that way if Pinky wasn’t also. Brain calmed his breath and stood up determined. He’d start by attempting to find one of the two scientists that took Pinky. They were sure to be easier to locate. If indeed alive, they could assist with the search for his spouse in exchange for being allowed to live. (Again, only if Pinky was still breathing.)

   He moved over chipped wall pieces, breath becoming heavy as he maneuvered. The crumbling stone and drywall were scanned carefully as he fanned away dust. Pinky’s fine. He’s always fine. Brain arched a brow when his feet touched metal. He noticed the chrome beneath him and hummed. He was in the right area. He remembered seeing chrome before being blasted so dramatically. 

   “R-Randy?! Where are you!?” A female voice.

   Brain hurried over to the sound of the woman who had taken his husband away. As he approached her, he cringed. Her lower half was trapped beneath a steel beam, and her face was bloodied and chalky. At least she seemed able to talk. “Hey! You there!” 

   The woman named Sarah whipped her head about, brushing away her blonde locks from her eyes. It was hard to do because of how sticky her face seemed. “Randy?!” She’d heard a male voice. “Is that you?!” 

   “No. It’s not. It is I, The Brain.” The mouse stood before her, glaring daggers into hazel eyes.

   Sarah looked down, eyes crossing at the mouse by her nose. “Oh. Mouse A. Good to see you alive. Have you seen- UUGH!” She groaned and pushed herself up with her arms, breath hitching when her torso tugged and wouldn’t move with her. The woman turned her head back and gasped. 

   Brain rolled his eyes. “I have not seen, nor do I care about, Randy. Where’s Pinky?” 

   She groaned again. “Randy!? Help!!”

   Brain snapped his fingers, regaining her attention. “Don’t ignore me! Where’s Pinky?! If you answer my questions, I shall help you.” He didn’t know for sure if he would.

   At the mention of help, Sarah nodded. “Yes. Pinky… he…” She tsked. “He did this….”

   The chubby mouse resisted slapping her. How dare she insinuate that his lovely husband did something like this. How could he have? “But where is he? That’s what I need to know!”

   She nodded. “He got away. He was leaving through a ceiling port on a drone before the place blew. He’s not here. I don’t know where he is. Please go get help.”

   “Left through the ceiling on a drone?! Do you think I’m completely obtuse?!”

   A cry escaped the woman’s mouth. She squinted her eyes shut and tried to regulate her breathing, which was becoming ragged. “P-please… I’m telling the truth. That’s what h-happened. Why would I lie? I-I could say I didn’t know anything if that w-was also true… PLEASE HELP ME!!!!” Sarah’s arms gave out, and her face crashed into the debris.

   Brain grimaced at the panicked display. She was undoubtedly dying soon. Sudden dread and fear were typical symptoms of impending death. He thought about what she said. But… there’s just no way that made any sense. Pinky caused a horrific explosion and left? Left Brain? There’s just no way. Literally, no way. Pinky wasn’t some evil genius villain. 

   “WE WERE TRYING TO GET MOUSE C TO COME OUT BY ENDUCING PAIN TO PINKY, AND IT WORKED! PLEASE! I’M NOT LYING!! HELP ME!!!”

   What…. “Mouse C? Pain to Pinky?! What did you do to him? What are you talking about!? Where is Pinky?!” Brain was starting to freak out again. It had been too long without knowing where his husband was. 

   Sarah screamed, tears spilling over. She began to shake her torso left and right. “I’M DYING; I’M DYING, I’M DYING!!! PLEASE HELP ME!!”

   Brain tugged at his ears in frustration and anxiousness. He wanted to accept the woman’s words because that meant Pinky was safe. But it just sounded like absolute nonsense. He needed to find the other human who had been with Sarah, find Pinky himself, or perhaps a surveillance camera. He glanced again at the scientist, who was twitching and spazzing violently, before sighing and running off. 

   He rushed along and scaled a large monitor. On the other side, he found the other scientist. He wasn’t crushed, but he appeared disabled. Perhaps deceased. Brain made his way over to the body lying on its back and climbed on the man. His body rose slightly on the man’s chest. He was alive. “Hello? Are you conscious?” 

   Green eyes fluttered open only barely. “Mouse A?”

   “It is The Brain. Where’s Pinky?”

   The man seemed to decide something and closed his eyes. “He escaped on a drone. Through the ceiling.”

   Brain felt his own chest tighten. There was no way they could have come up with the same story.

   “He caused the explosion.”

   “…Pinky… how did he…?”

   The man coughed. “Not Pinky. Not Mouse B. Mouse C d-did this. He was m-mad at us. Not j-just for today. He hated the lab. And everything in it.”

   “Mouse C? Sarah said the same thing. What’s that mean?!”  

   Randy gasped. “Sarah? Is she okay?”

   “I’ll tell you where she is if you explain.” 

   The man hummed and nodded. “Mouse C is… part of a failed experiment. We wanted to give a mouse powers. We m-messed up. B-bad. Somehow, Mouse C became part of Mouse B’s brain chemistry. Two mice sharing one brain and one body. P-Pinky isn’t in control. Well… not the P-Pinky you know.”

   Brain felt like his mind was going to implode. What??! “You’re saying another mouse shares my husband’s mind and body?! And is taking control?!”

   The man hummed. No nodding.

   “Are you serious? When was this experiment? What powers were you trying to give? Do you know where Pinky… Mouse C would go???” Brain hated the scientists more than he could imagine. This was all their fault. 

   “Sarah?” The man sounded like he didn’t have a moment more to spare.

   Brain sneered as he hopped off the body. “She’s dead.”

   He left the man to die, pacing around the ruins of A.C.M.E. Pinky was safe if what was said was true. He needed more information, though. Brain groaned. He needed to look through some files, which would be difficult given how hard he’d have to search for them. 

   Two mice in one body… how does that happen when the goal is to give one powers? What kind of powers? Brain stopped pacing and began digging around, slipping into crevices. He kept an eye out for papers, cabinets, and P.C. parts. 

   As he rummaged around, Brain recalled Pinky’s recent behaviors. The slender mouse had mentioned his head not feeling like his own. And he was seemingly having issues controlling some of his actions. Was that Mouse C attempting to free themselves? But why, after all this time? … How much time? When was this experiment even conducted?

Chapter Text

   What… what is this? Mouse C looked around, confused. He could see the lab and some scientists, but everything seemed so far away. Was he dreaming? No… that couldn’t be. He felt real… just… paralyzed almost.

   “Uh, Randy?” A woman’s voice echoed out. “There’s been an error.”

   “What do you mean, Sarah?” A man’s voice. He watched as the man named Randy approached. “Why is Mouse B here?... Is Mouse C deceased? What happened!?”

   Deceased? I’m not dead! I’m right here! His body moved without instruction to gaze upon the dead body of another mouse lying next to him. Huh? Why am I moving? I didn’t make myself do that… who’s the dead mouse? … Wait a second… that looks like me? What’s going on? 

   Sarah coughed unnecessarily into her hand. “It seems… Mouse B was curious about what was happening and ended up inside the machine while Mouse C was inside the machine.” 

   “How could you allow that to happen?!” Randy barked. “The machine isn’t meant to handle two mice at once! No wonder Mouse C ended up dead!”

   A machine? Like the one for project B.R.A.I.N? Mouse C remembered that day just a few weeks ago. A hundred young mice went through the machine… only three survived. And a hamster. The aim was to give the mice intelligence, and it worked. Well, at least on him. He wasn’t sure about the other two mice. He was separated from them for some reason. 

   “Well… let’s go ahead and run some tests on Mouse B. Maybe he got the powers.”

   Powers? Mouse B…who was that? The woman’s hand wrapped around his body, and he was lifted. Sarah followed her colleague out of the room. As she did, they passed the reflective metal of a tall cabinet. Mouse C felt his body twist to look toward the cabinet. If he could have gasped, he would have. That’s not me! The dead mouse was his body! But… why wasn’t he attached to it? How did he end up stuck inside of this other mouse?! 

   “Narf! This is fun!”  

   Mouse C felt his mouth move and wished he could cringe as an obnoxious accent belted from him. This most certainly is not fun! 

   The annoying voice spoke from his body again. “Should we wake up the other mouse? He’s missing the fun!”

   The ‘other mouse’ is fucking dead! What is this childishness emitting from this body!?  

   The woman carried him… them… into a testing room. She taped wires onto his… their… skull and moved over to a keyboard. “Okay. I’m going to go ahead and produce some brain waves to analyze first.”

   There was a dull buzz as the wires were activated. Mouse C hated it as his body giggled. Whomever his host was, was incredibly annoying. 

   “Egad, this feels tingly-wingly!”

   Oh, Jesus. 

   Sarah looked at the screen, which showed two squiggly lines. “Oh? What’s this? Randy, come see this.”

   The man walked over and raised a brow. “Two readings? That’s odd. Pull up Mouse B’s last head scan so we can make a comparison. There should be one from two weeks ago when he came out of the B.R.A.I.N machine.”

   !! So this is the body of one of the other two mice from project B.R.A.I.N. Interesting.

   The woman pulled up another scan to do the comparison. “Hmm. The scan from two weeks ago is nearly identical to the top reading. It’s extremely different from the bottom reading, however. I’m not sure what that is. Is the equipment faulty?”

   Randy peered at the scans, brows furrowed. “The stuff was working just fine this morning.” He clicked his tongue and hummed. He had an idea. “Pull up Mouse C’s most recent scan.”

   Sarah did as was requested, and her eyes grew wide. “It matches the bottom reading…. What does that mean?”

   Randy walked over to the mouse. “I think… and this is just speculative at this moment, that when Mouse B entered the machine with Mouse C, something happened, and now they both share the same body.”

   “That seems highly unlikely,” said Sarah. 

   The man shrugged. “Perhaps. Unlikely doesn’t mean impossible. I think that’s what’s happened here. Let’s run more tests.”

   And tests they did. For the next three days straight. It was tiring on Mouse C. The worst part was he could never rest properly because Mouse B would drag their body to another room every night to meet up with Mouse A—the other who had survived project B.R.A.I.N. 

   He sat now in front of the pudgy mouse. 

   “Finally, you’re here. Hopefully, the scientists will be done testing you soon, so I don’t have to keep waiting for your return every night. I have a new plan to take over the world!” Said Mouse A.

   Another stupid plan. Hip-Fuckity-Dip. 

   “Hurray! I love plans! Narf! If this one actually works, Brain, then we won’t need to worry about me coming back to the room!”

   Brain. Mouse C thought it was such an odd name. It would almost suit the shorter mouse if he weren’t so… infuriating. Brain was smart… but not as smart as he thought he was. 

   “…Indeed. Come, Pinky. We need to begin immediately. I require your assistance in… handing me tools.”

   Pinky. Another odd name, in Mouse C’s opinion.  … I’ve never thought about a name for myself…  He’d always just been Mouse C. 

   Their body stood and followed Brain into the cage. 

   Brain pulled a tarp off some equipment and machinery he had started on, carefully looking over the parts. He talked nonchalantly as he examined the items. “So, Pinky. What was it you said the scientists are testing you for again?”

   Me.

   Pinky scratched the top of his head. “Umm. Something about a two-for-one special? They keep trying to get me to read their thoughts, too. I always guess cheese, but it’s never right. And they want me to pick up fruit without touching it.”

   I hate this. I hate this so fucking much.

   Brain turned his head with a deadpan expression. “Forget I asked. They aren’t harming you, though, correct?”

   “Egad, no. It’s honestly lots of fun!”

   No. No, it is not. Mouse C wondered what would happen to himself if he had to stay inside this buffoon for too much longer. I’d surely go insane.

 ——-

   After one year, that’s precisely what Mouse C thought was happening. He was becoming insane! Who wouldn’t?! He was trapped in a crazy person’s body and constantly around a literal megalomaniac! 

   The scientists had long since given up trying to get him out or even confirm he was there. They suspected he was, but they had simply… stopped trying. They deemed it useless. And now he was eternally and forever trapped. (They had also stopped checking for any powers.)

   If he hears another ‘Narf’….

   “Poit!”

   Eeeerrrgg!!

   “Okay, Pinky. Tonight’s the night!”

   It never was! 

   Mouse C groaned as Pinky clipped their toenails barbarically while Brain commanded a cloning device.

   When Pinky was called over, Mouse C couldn’t believe what he saw. There was a clone… but it didn’t look like Brain. 

   “Narf,” said the clone. 

   You’ve gotta be kidding me.

   One of the toenails had made its way into the machine. The clone was a genetic combination of… according to the screen, the three of them.

   Brain was unable to understand the DNA sequence of the clone he named Roman Numeral One, but Mouse C knew what it meant. He was a part of that mouse as much as Pinky and Brain. And just as Pinky became accustomed to parenting the clone, Mouse C had also considered himself a parent to them. It did have some of his DNA.

   Mouse C was saddened when the clone was quick to leave, but he couldn’t blame the poor thing. Having Brain as a patriarch couldn’t have been desirable. Mouse C actually felt accomplished at Pinky’s ability to mother, though. He wished it was him out there.

   Then there were the encounters with the hamster, Snowball. He was just as much of an imbecile as Brain. But at least he hated Brain. That was something he had in common with the hamster. Mouse C kept him in mind as someone he’d maybe talk to if he were ever free. A fellow victim of Project B.R.A.I.N who’d been wronged by the narcissist who named himself after the experiment.

   That’s what Brain was. A narcissist. 

——

   Another year passed, and Mouse C found it harder to be logical. To be so out of control and unable to reach out, he constantly questioned if he was even real.

   But there were times when he was able to do… something. If he just focused hard enough. This was something he decided to practice religiously. He wanted out. For many reasons now. 

   *BOP!*

   His body swayed and giggled at Brain’s assault.

   You fat bastard!

   Pinky seemed to enjoy hits to his noggin, but Mouse C loathed it. Who was Brain to dictate what was and wasn’t worthy of being said and shared? The dickhead thinks he’s so smart, but all he does is fail.

   Erg! At this point, I could probably take over the world before Brain ever could!  

   The thought motivated Mouse C further every time Brain hit Pinky or called him names. 

——

   Another horrid year passed. Mouse C marveled at the extended life that was possible due to their gene splicing. However, he was disgusted by his flesh prison.

   He wouldn’t say he had stagnated, though. He had developed an extraordinary ability to read minds! Much of the time, it ailed him, causing him mental frustration when there were too many thoughts to read, but it was soooo delicious at the same time.

   “Pinky, you’re an imbecile!” That’s what Brain said. But Mouse C would also hear,  ‘…Pinky, your beauty knows no bounds….’  It was simply pathetic! Mouse C wondered how long the tubby mouse had thought these things about Pinky. 

   And then Mouse C discovered he could move things with his mind! But because Pinky was in control, it was hard. He’d move a thimble, maybe a pencil… it wasn’t even noticeable to anyone, including Pinky. 

   Many months later, Pinky confessed to Brain how he loved him. And slowly, they began to form a relationship, much to Mouse C’s displeasure. Could ya blame a mouse? He couldn’t exactly consent. So much for finding the humor in Brain’s embarrassing thoughts toward Pinky.

   Then some more months later, the two had a crappy little ceremony and married. The ONLY good part of that day was being able to see Roman. 

   Mouse C wished desperately to roll his eyes at their vows. To vomit when they kissed. Ooooh, but that wasn’t the worst part. The worst of it was that same night. 

   They fucked. 

   Mouse C had to endure the noises, the begging coming from his body’s mouth, the sweet nothings from Brain’s mouth… the bastard’s thoughts were just as corny. And then… the pleasure. He hated it. Hated how much he enjoyed it.

   Whenever the two mice had sex, Mouse C would get a twisted sense of anticipation and desire. It made him despise Brain more than he thought possible. That… sexy little fucking monster! If only Pinky would dominate Brain just once, so he could fulfill the twisted fantasy that embedded itself within him. But Pinky was a natural submissive brat. Lucky Brain.

——

   Many frustrating nights of Brain’s failed plans, dumb experiments, and sex later, Mouse C was making real progress. He could move Pinky’s body, just a little, but enough to delight him. Sometimes, he could get his thoughts to run through Pinky.

   Then one day… he did it. He could use Pinky’s body and use his powers. He could speak his words. He was so close to freedom … and then the scientists cemented his escape! The poor idiots. 

   He was finally in control. 

*****

   As the building below him was demolished, he cackled as he escaped on a drone. It was a glorious sight. Many must have died. They deserved it, though. They did this to him. They were the cause of his trauma.

   He peered down and raised a brow at the unconscious body of Brain. Of course, he’d survive. He was glad, though. It wouldn’t be nearly as fun to conquer the world if the little fuck wasn’t there to be tortured by it. 

   That’s what he’d decided. He was going to rule the world himself. He certainly knew what not to do. Plus, after years of zero control, he wanted all of it. 

   But first, he’d need to establish a base. And perhaps get in touch with some helping paws. 

   This is going to be work. “Narf!” Mouse C, now named Pinky, gasped and placed a paw over his mouth. “You can’t be serious!” His eyes widened at his British accent. He expected he’d have his old voice back. I guess it’s just how this body is attuned to functioning…  

   'Pinky' sighed as he accepted his fate of sounding like a twit. “At least I’m not an actual idiot. I suppose I can handle simply sounding like one.”

   He thought of a location and imputed the coordinates into the drone—'Pinky’s' first destination… to meet with a hamster.

Chapter Text

   Brain hid away within a small hole in the side of a building across the street from the ruins of A.C.M.E labs. Papers surrounded him, a filing folder spilling out to the side. He was sure he had all the information he required. He hoped he did, anyway. It was hard to sneak past the fire trucks and police cruisers while digging through the rubble. 

   The megalomaniac was learning quite a bit with the information he had gathered. Years ago, an experiment meant for Mouse C was supposed to give him powers, though Brain couldn’t figure out which. Those lines were either smudged or torn. He discovered that Mouse B (Pinky) had gone through the machine they were using at the same time that Mouse C had gone through. This somehow ripped Mouse C’s consciousness from his body and placed it within Pinky. Technically, he was reading theories, but it was apparent they were reality.

   Brain read a few more lines before huffing and falling onto his bottom. He was tired a frustrated. It had been TWO days since he’d last seen his husband. Two days since Mouse C had taken over. Was Pinky scared? Did he feel trapped? These questions bothered Brain.

   He rubbed the sides of his head as he thought hard. What do I need to do?  Brain hummed and twitched until he thought of a plan. The mouse sighed. He needed many materials from the lab ruins. Brain peeked his head from the hole and stared across the street at the flashing lights and uniformed men. He sat back down and crossed his arms. “I’ll wait until night, I suppose.” That’s when the humans would leave, and he could roam freely.

   In the meantime, Brain prepared a list of items he would need for the separation device. It was clear to him that he would need to extract the invading consciousness from his partner. Iron, electrodes, cubic zirconium, samples of DNA… He wrote down the requirements quickly. 

   He laid back and rolled the list up by his head. Was Pinky able to see? Was he wondering about Brain? Did he have any idea what was going on?

   The short mouse shifted. Was Mouse C seeking out something specific? Where was Mouse C taking his husband? How much of the world had Mouse C been aware of?  

   Brain suddenly sat up straight with wide eyes. He thought of every time he had said something sweet to Pinky. Of every time they kissed… every sexual encounter. Was Mouse C a part of those experiences? His face warmed, and he tugged at his ears. “Oh, that’s simply mortifying.” He had technically had sex with two people. 

   After hours of cringing at every love-related action he had ever done with Pinky, Brain noticed the light outside dimming as nighttime ruled over. He could be horrified later. Now was his chance to begin building. 

   He smirked when he saw the men and vehicles had dispersed and trotted over.

   The iron was easy to obtain… it was everywhere. Finding everything else was another story. It took hours to find usable electrodes and even longer to find the cubic zirconium. The samples of DNA… he was finding himself unlucky. 

   Brain took a deep breath and decided to take a break from searching for the samples and instead decided to look for the necessary tools. He found a hammer, springs, bolts, a screwdriver… He gasped when he found an intact laptop. The short mouse could search the lab’s database to see if they even had the samples.

   He pushed all his materials into a pile and rushed to the laptop. It turned on when opened. Brain entered the lab’s password and began searching. 

   “My DNA was kept in section 4 of the lab… let’s see… Pinky’s was also kept in section 4. Good. Hmm… Snowball? His DNA was kept in section 3 for some reason. Where is information on Mouse C…?”

   He scrolled until he saw the subheading for Mouse C. “Aha! His DNA was stored iiiiin-”

   The screen fuzzed and crackled before shutting off.

   “Wha?” Brain blinked in confusion. He tilted the laptop curiously before sneering. “What is the meaning of this? You were just functioning!”

   Suddenly, the screen turned back on… but it wasn’t the page he was previously on. It was a video message….

   “Pinky!”  

   It was his husband’s image looking back at him!

   The image of Pinky raised a brow and offered a sly smile. “Hello, World. And I do mean that. I should be viewed everywhere.”

   Brain turned his head as he heard Pinky’s voice echo from all around. He saw the glow of lights illuminating the TV screens within apartments and shops. Pinky’s face was everywhere. This was a broadcast message… apparently to the world.

   Pinky spoke again. “I do hope my language translator is working correctly for everyone who doesn’t speak English. … If not… oh well. Not my problem.”

   Brain focused carefully on the screen. Mouse C was talking.

   “My name is… Pinky. I guess. I like it enough.”

   Brain scoffed. He was not Pinky. That name wasn’t his to use.

   “I will also accept Ruler, World Leader, Master… all those work well. Considering that I’m taking over the world! All of it! I will not be leaving any stone unturned!”

   Mouse C was… taking over the world? He was stealing Brain’s idea!

   A world map appeared on the screen with red dots plastered everywhere. “These are locations of powerful bombs that have been planted worldwide.” The map disappeared, and ‘Pinky’ held up a remote. “I also have access to a satellite-accurate laser. Pretty neat.”

   Brain’s mouth hung open. This was surely a bluff. It wasn’t really possible. But it was scary to see his husband’s body say these things. It wasn’t him. 

   “For those who don’t believe me….” ‘Pinky’ clicked some buttons on a keyboard. 

   The ground around Brain shook violently, and his paws went to cover his ears as a loud explosion echoed. In the distance, Brain witnessed a huge mushroom cloud of flames erupt. He was in a safe space, thankfully. 

   ‘Pinky’ hummed. “Well… some of you out there certainly understand how serious I am. For those who didn’t see or feel any explosions, be thankful and turn on the news tomorrow! You’ll surely see all about it!”

   Brain took his hands off his ears and hugged himself. Thousands of mostly innocent people in town had definitely just died. Technically, by his husband’s hands. However, it wasn’t his husband. It was this… this imposter! But how? When did he have time to do this? With what resources?

   Mouse C giggled. “So yeah, I’m pretty serious. Though, I can’t take all the credit.” The camera panned over, and Brain gasped as he grabbed his chest. There on the screen was a bloodied and deceased Snowball. “Narf! This guy here was the one who had all this already set up! He’s had it set up for years, but he simply didn’t have the balls to do anything with it! Thank goodness, too. Honestly, I thought I would have to put in heaps of effort.”

   Brain took a step back from the laptop, shaking. 

   “I had the balls, though! You need to have the balls to succeed. If you don’t have ’em, world conquest just isn’t for you, isn’t that right, Brain?” Mouse C smirked and stuck his tongue out with a wink. “And ya know, I was planning on being partners with the hamster there, but god, was he quickly insufferable.”

   Brain felt his heart hammer. With anxiety… fear… anger. How dare this person take over Pinky’s body and do such horrendous acts. How dare he challenge him! Why? For what purpose? What qualms did this person have with Brain? 

   “Anywho, here’s what’s going to happen.” A pop-up appeared on the screen with TubeTube information. “I want everyone to subscribe to my TubeTube page! It’s where all the latest information on my world leadership ideas is! Subscribing will guarantee that you will not be immediately destroyed!” A 36-hour timer appeared. “You have three days to subscribe and leave a comment pledging your allegiance, or I’ll zap ya dead!”

   Brain’s fists bawled at his side as his ears slanted dangerously. His fur bristled as he growled. What is this??!   

   ‘Pinky’ wiggled his fingers and then blew a kiss to the audience. “That’s all! I’ll be waiting! Especially for your subscription, Brain! In fact, I’d like your comment specifically to be a 500-word apology to me! You’ll still have to say sorry in other ways later down the line… but that’s where we’ll start! Buh-bye!” The screen went black.

   Brain was left mortified and angered. Did… that just happen? 

   The small mouse shook out of his daze and slapped his own head. He returned to looking up the lab location of Mouse C’s DNA and picked up haste and urgency. He didn’t have time to waste. This was an emergency. His world was at stake. And his universe. Mouse C would pay for using Pinky like this. It was more than unacceptable. It was a death sentence.

   He found the information he desired and searched for the DNA samples. Pinky’s was located first.

   The area he assumed was section 12 was rummaged through. They had kept Mouse C’s DNA in a special section. Brain breathed a sigh of relief when he found the intact vial. “Okay… I have nearly everything.”

   The light from the sun began peeking its head from the horizon.

   That was a short night. Brain popped his back and began running back and forth between the destroyed lab and the hole in the building across the street. When all the desired materials were secured in his hideaway, he collapsed and set a timer on the laptop for 30 minutes. He needed a power nap.

~

“Brain? When we have our big mansion thingy one day, can there be a room for pickleball?”

“Pinky, as I’ve stated, you can request anything you desire when we rule the world.”

The tall mouse kneeled down and booped Brain’s nose playfully. “Oh, yeah. Narf! But, like, what if I waaaaant a slide made of cheese?”

“Granted.” Though the idea made the shorter cringe.

“A pool filled with marbles?”

“All yours.”

Pinky furrowed his brows. “How’s about a kissing room? A room dedicated to smooches between the two of us. All it’s there for is smooching!”

Brain blushed and turned away. “Uh… sure. That can be arranged.”

Pinky turned Brain back around. “Can I have a kiss now?”

Brain grumbled and nodded. “I suppose.” He lifted himself onto his tiptoes to meet Pinky halfway. He closed his eyes and melted into the kiss. Kissing Pinky was always wonderful.

When Brain opened his eyes, he was met with a malicious gaze and a sly smirk from the other. “Did ya like the kiss, Brain?”

Though it looked like Pinky in every way, it wasn’t him. It was Mouse C.

   !!!

   Brain gasped as he was awakened by the alarm going off. 

   He hurriedly shut it off and wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. Some nap…. 

   The dream motivated him, though. He quickly worked on constructing the device to separate Pinky and Mouse C. 

Chapter Text

   Roman grumbled as he marched toward the direction of the lab. What the flip was going on? When he woke up today, he was planning on watching some morning cartoons, but every channel showed news and replayed a video broadcasted worldwide last night. A video of his mother that he couldn’t believe. “Nothing with those two can ever be simple.” 

   The clone typically was content with staying out of his parent’s world conquest schemes, but this was different. Clearly! His mother had ended lives globally with the click of a few buttons and had threatened everyone! Including Brain. This was an emergency.

   Roman ducked and avoided shoes and scampered past moving cars. When he got closer to the lab, he panicked. It was destroyed! He was confident the explosion had occurred further downtown, though, according to the news. Pink eyes scanned the area carefully, and Roman scratched his head. The lab was the only thing that was ruined. This was apparently a separate occurrence. Regardless… he was worried.

   The mouse ran over and began calling out for his father. “Pa! Hello?! You okay?!” Please be okay. “It’s Roman! Roman Numeral One! Pa?!”

   “Roman?!” His father’s voice.

   Roman twisted around, unable to see anyone. Was he stuck under something? “Pa?! Where are you, man?! Do you need help?!”

   Brain hurried over to his son and tapped him on his shoulder. “Well, actually, that would be appreciated.”

   Roman jumped in his skin and turned around. “Dad! Jeez, man! Don’t do that to me! I thought you were hurt!”

   Brain glanced at the collapsed structures and shrugged. “Not an illogical conclusion. I appreciate the concern. However, I am fine. More or less. What are you doing here? The next national holiday isn’t for another month.” He waved for his clone to follow. “Come. I have set up… temporary headquarters across the street.”

   Roman followed closely, arms flailing. “What am I doing here?! Uh… well, I woke up to see my mother all over the news as the world’s biggest terrorist! I heard him threaten people! He killed people! He’s like… mad at you, too! What’s going on?!”  

   The two entered the hole in the side of a building.

   Brain nodded. “Ah. Yes. That. How much time do you have?”

   Roman crossed his arms. “Apparently, around 28 hours. Now spill it. What did you do?”

   “What did I do?! I didn’t do anything! This has nothing to do with me! It was the scientists!” Brain angrily pulled a tarp off of a partially constructed gadget. It was insulting that his son would insinuate that he was responsible for this. Was he the best husband in the world; he certainly felt undeserving of such a title, but he’d never allow his behavior to cause this!

   “The scientists?” Roman curiously inspected the device his dad had started on.

   “Yes. Allow me to explain.”

   Brain ran through everything that had happened the past couple of days and the information he had learned from the files he found. By the time he was done talking, Roman was staring at him with wide eyes.

   “So,” said Roman. “That wasn’t Mom? That was some other mouse?”

   “Correct.”

   “And you’re making a device that will separate them? Okay. How far along are you?”

   The shorter mouse frowned. “I’m halfway done. I’m actually relieved you’re here. I could use your help. We don’t have much time.” The machine would certainly work even after ‘Pinky’ conquered the world, but he’d rather not have so much more blood on his sweet husband’s paws. 

   Roman picked up a screwdriver and got to work. “Sure. But, ya know, you coulda called.” It was ridiculous that his father was attempting something so time-sensitive and critical without assistance. 

   “I… didn’t think to do so.” Brain admitted. He picked up his own tool and started on the DNA components.

   Roman tightened a screw and raised a brow. “Figures.”

   “What’s that supposed to mean?” 

   “Pinky’s the one that reaches out to me.”

   Brain felt a pang in his chest. That was true. “Indeed. My apologies if I make you feel like I don’t care.”

   Roman sighed. “It’s fine. I know how you are with feelings. Just… don’t be afraid to call me. Especially for things like this.” 

   Brain nodded, and they continued to work. “So. How are you and Bunny?” 

   “Broken up.”

   “Oh? What happened?”

   Roman paused his movements and winced. “Well… I was… maybe…. It was my fault.”

   “Go on.”

   “Glarb. I was… apparently…. No. I was ignoring her needs in favor of my ventriloquism. I was getting super into it and practicing it a lot. I ended up putting her on the back burner. I apologized and promised to change, and I meant it, but she didn’t give me a second chance.”

   Brain tilted his head. “She didn’t give you a second chance? I’m sorry to hear. She certainly should have, especially if you promised you’d change.” How dare she not allow his son to prove himself.

   Roman rolled his eyes. “She doesn’t have to give me another chance. That’s not how it works. People get to choose. Some people don’t want to risk wasting more time on someone they’re unsure of. I messed up, and there were consequences I gotta accept.” 

   The megalomaniac huffed. “That’s very mature of you. But I’m not thrilled that you have to suffer. I know how much you liked her.”

   “Yeah. I did. But it is what it is.” Roman was rather torn up inside about it, but what else was there to do but work on yourself and be a better person for the next one who came along? He smirked. “You probably just don’t get it because Pinky always gives you second chances. You don’t have to learn. Ma’s loyalty to you is to a fault.” 

   Brain nearly dropped the tweezers he was holding and began to stammer. “What are you… that’s ridiculous. We simply quarrel as spouses do from time to time. He’s never….” Brain glared at the cocky look on his son’s face. “Enough talking. Work. The longer this takes, the more the world is at risk, and Pinky isn’t safe and sound with me.”

   “Riiiight.” Roman shook his head but did as he was told. 

   Brain focused his eyes on the task at hand. This was why his relationship with his son was so… strained. Roman didn’t allow things to go without being said. If he felt it, he said it. Especially if it was true. He admired that about Roman, but it forced Brain to deal with thoughts he’d rather not think of. Hmph. Whatever. The fact of the matter is I’d never push Pinky to this.  

   After several hours, they were nearly finished and decided to take a break. They were on a time limit, but overworking could lead to errors. 

   Roman stretched and leaned back against the wall. The hours of working gave him time to ponder some interesting things. “So, Brain? How long ago was the experiment with Mouse C and Pinky done?”

   “Years ago. When we were nearly still pups. At least according to the records.”

   Roman put a finger to his chin. “Uh… does that mean Mouse C is also my parent? Well… just biologically.” He wouldn’t consider someone he didn’t know as his actual parent. 

   “That’s… I mean. I suppose… genetically speaking, yes.” Brain gasped. When he had cloned Roman, his DNA sequence was confusing. He could tell he and Pinky were clearly his parents, but something else had made the sequencing odd, and he couldn’t figure it out. Now he knew. “He is.” So bizarre.

   “Weird.”

—-----

    By the time night was upon them, the device was finished. The father and son stood proudly next to each other before Roman slumped. “Okay. Where is he?”

   Brain exhaled long and slow. Fuck. “It looked like he was at Snowball’s old headquarters. A place we knew about and kept soft tabs on in case something happened.”

   Roman nodded. “Ah. Well, something has happened, so… where are the headquarters?”

   “Peru.”

   Roman glanced at the countdown timer his father had pulled up earlier. “Dad… we don’t have time for Peru.” He groaned. There were less than ten hours left on the timer. 

   Brain gulped and tugged an ear. Was he stupid? Why hadn’t he been thinking about such an essential piece of information? They could have built the thing on the way there or something! “I’ve doomed many people, Roman.”

   “Glarb, Dad.” But was he wrong? Roman shook his head. No. They could think of something. They had to. “Well, let’s not just give up hope. Uhhh…. I’m sure you can think of a plan. That’s like, what you do, right? I believe in ya, and whatnot.” He wasn’t the best at being supportive when it came to Brain. It was the price of having been raised by him.

   Brain sighed and rubbed his head. “Yes. Thank you, Roman. I suppose I do have to try to think of something.” 

   After much silence, Roman couldn’t watch his dad pace back and forth so worriedly. “Maybe, uh, he can come to us? He’s probably got the ability to travel fast.”

   Brain’s ears perked, and he stopped. “Brilliant! But, a lure. He needs a reason to come to us.”

   “Well, Ma likes cheese and-“

   “That poser is not your mother. I don’t know what Mouse C likes.”

   Roman shrugged. 

   Then Brain gasped with a pointed finger. “Wait a second. Mouse C is your mother. Well, he’s a biological part of you. He isn’t your mom, but maybe he has the instincts of one!” 

   “Uh, maybe? Ya think we can lure him out with me? How?”

   The short mouse rubbed his paws together. “I’ll triangulate a message to Mouse C and let you do the talking. Just say… you miss them or something. I don’t know. Say whatever you think might work.”

   “Mmkay. It’s worth a shot. We don’t have any better plans.” Roman had doubts this would work, but they had no choice but to try. 

   Brain began typing on the laptop to triangulate Pinky’s location for the message. After a few minutes, he nodded. “Got it.” He clicked a phone icon and waited as dots bounced on the screen. After a while, the dots stopped their dance, and a red X popped up. Brain scoffed. “Rude! He ignored me!”

   “Maybe he doesn’t know it’s you?”

   “I have my user name set as TheBrain!”

   Roman folded his arms. “Maybe he doesn’t care, or he’s busy. He is planning on taking over the world.”

   Brain grumbled to himself and tried again. And again. And again.

   On the fourth try, the screen revealed an angry-looking ‘Pinky.’ “What?! What is it?! I’m busy here, Brain! Did you not watch the video?! You can type your apology on my TubeTube channel!”

   Brain blinked at the livid response. It was just so odd to see what looked like his husband yelling like that. He shook off the shock. “I’m not here to apologize to you, Pinky. I’ve a request.”

   The taller mouse cackled, the laughter dying down when Brain simply stared. “Oh, you’re serious? Well, of course, you would be. Whatever it is, the answer is no.”

   Brain could sense that the other was about to log off and waved his paws frantically. “Wait! Just hear me out. Or rather, hear him out.”

   “Him?”

   Roman took the cue and walked into the frame. He gulped. This was going to be super awkward. “Hey, Ma.” 

   ‘Pinky’s’ face overwhelmed the screen as he got closer to the camera. “Roman? What are you doing with Brain? It’s not a national holiday.”

   “Uh, I saw you on the news. And I was concerned. I was hoping that you might be willing to come down and talk?” 

   The tall mouse receded from the camera and raised a brow. “Ah. I see.” He looked at Brain. “Really? You’re using our son to get me over there? How mature.”

   He’s not your son. Not in a real sense, in Brain’s opinion. “Uh, no. He genuinely wants to talk, is all.”

   “Well,” said ‘Pinky,’ “I’m listening. Poit.” He cringed at the tic.

   Roman cleared his throat with nervous energy. Seeing what looked like his mom acting like this was incredibly uncomfortable. “I wanna see you in person to talk. I’d feel better that way. Please?”

   ‘Pinky’ glanced back and forth between Brain and Roman before touching his forehead and sighing. “Very well. I don’t doubt this is a trick, so know I’m rather prepared to defend myself. I’ll arrive within the next two hours.” The screen went black.

   Brain pulled up the world conquest countdown and pushed the laptop to the side. “Well…. It worked.”

   Roman sat down by his father. “I hope this works. I don’t like the sound of him being able to defend himself.”

   “Me neither. But we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

   Roman shook his head. “I guess… but what would we do if we had to fight back? I don’t wanna hurt Mom.”

   “I… don’t know. Like I said. We’ll figure it out.”

Chapter Text

   There was one hour left.

   Brain paced nervously, biting his nails as sweat trailed down his head. “Damn it all. What’s taking him so long?” 

   Roman sighed. “I don’t know, Pa. Maybe he lied. He seems evil enough to do something like that.” He glanced from his father to the cell phone he had in his hand. 

   Roman:

   -You subscribed to that one psycho?

   Bunny:

   -Uh, yeah. Ain’t that your mom? Dad? Parent?

   Roman:

   -Sort of? It’s complicated. Thanks. They mean business, so it’s better to be safe.

   “Glarb.” The clone pocketed the device (in a pocket that seems to conveniently exist without needing him to wear clothes) and looked back to his dad. “You write that apology out?”

   Brain stopped dead in his tracks, mouth gaping open in a baffled expression. “What?”

   “You know, just in case?” 

   Brain sputtered and crossed his arms. “Well… I-I… I certainly haven’t given up hope yet. There’s no need to write such a thing out! Why, that’s negotiation with terrorism! I’ll do no such thing!”

   Roman peered his eyes at the shorter mouse quizzically. “Uh, you’re not serious, right? The guy blew up a shit ton of people just to prove a point, and we have one hour left to do what he asked or be vaporized, and you haven’t written out a simple apology, just in case? You don’t have to mean it. No offense, but I don’t want to lose two parents, even if one of them is technically alive inside another mouse.”

   Hmph. An apology. For what? The megalomaniac sneered. “He deserves no such thing, even if it’s fake. He’s the one that should be apologizing to me. He took your mother and my spouse, after all.”

   Eyes were rolled, but before Roman could talk some sense into his father, the clouds above began to glow undertones of purple as a dark shadow loomed over the town, seeming to centralize near the two mice. 

   Both sets of pink eyes looked up as a tremendous, almost alien-looking ship descended from directly above them. 

   “Run!” Brain ordered, and the two of them ran across the street, hiding behind a light pole as the techno-colored ship dropped down and landed. Father and son peeked from the pole, bracing their faces as air and dust were whipped around harshly from the landing.

   A mysterious haze decorated the scene as a neon-green hatch opened up, a grand ramp stretching to the ground as it lit up on the sides. The haze dispersed, replaced by a figure at the entrance of the hatch. “Hello! Roman!? I’m here!” The British accent echoed as Dark Pinky dusted himself off, descending the ramp. He was decorated in a sleek purple suit with a belt, shoulder pads, and metal accessories. It was pretty stylish.

   Brain and Roman looked at each other before gulping. Here went nothing. They… sort of had a plan to trick the dastardly villain. 

   Roman took a deep breath and made himself known as he stepped out into the open. “Uh, hey, Ma!”

   Dark Pinky squinted his eyes before gasping and rushing halfway to meet his son. “Oh, Roman! How good to see you! Come and hug me! Please!" After all, Dark Pinky never felt like it was him truly hugging his son. 

   Roman jogged to the halfway point, slowing down and gulping at the request. “Yeah… sure thing.” He awkwardly held out his arms, squeaking as his body was jolted out of his control and into the arms of Dark Pinky. “Waaaaa! What the?!”

   The taller mouse hummed knowingly as he embraced his son. “Sorry. I was just a bit eager.”

   “That’s okay… um, what was that? What did you do?” Roman was released from the hug, though one arm was still wrapped around him. 

   “Oh, I have telekinesis, isn’t that splendid? It’s quite helpful sometimes, especially now that I can control it.”

   Telekinesis? That didn’t sound good. “Oh. Cool. So… anyway, I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to sort of chat with you about the whole, ya know, thing you’re doing in a little less than an hour. Do you mind if you come join me for some tea?”

   From behind the pole across the street, Brain bit his lower lip. They needed to get Dark Pinky into an enclosed location so they could have a higher chance of zapping him with their machine. Come on, say yes, you scoundrel.

   “Oh. About that, Roman,” said Dark Pinky with a sad frown, “I don’t think that’d be a very good idea.” He stepped back and gazed upon his son pitifully as Roman was lifted into the air, limbs flailing.

   Roman shrieked as his body was engulfed in a green light, and he was lifted ten feet off the ground. He looked down at the slender mouse, shocked. “Hey, what are ya doin’ there?” He gulped as Dark Pinky headed for the ship, body helplessly following behind.

   “Well, it certainly wouldn’t be smart of me to fall right into your trap. I’m absolutely not getting zapped by any machine made by your father, even if you did help.” Dark Pinky shouted from over his shoulder. “You’ll have to think of something better than that, Brain!” He continued walking, shaking his head. “Don’t worry, Roman. I’m not upset with you. I could never be. But it’s a good idea if you come with me. You can inherit the world when I pass one day. And it’ll do you some good to stay away from bad influences. I can’t believe I didn’t think of getting you sooner. Do forgive me. I’m new at being my own person, I suppose.”

   Brain gasped, running from his hiding place. “Roman! Release him!”

   Roman awkwardly twisted his body around to face his dad. “Pa! Help!”

   Before Brain could reach his destination, he was halted, swallowed up by the same kind of light that had Roman. 

   Dark Pinky stopped just short of the ramp and turned around. “You really are powerless to stop me, Brain. If you hurry, you have time to type up that apology.”

   Brain gritted his teeth and growled. “How did you know about the machine!” Does he have cameras in the area?

   “I mean, I do have cameras around… but I didn’t need them to know.”

   Brain’s mouth dropped. “You’ve gotta be kidding me! You have telekinesis and can read minds!?” That was undoubtedly a terrifying combo. What were they to do to stop Dark Pinky from ruling the world, and most importantly, how would they get Pinky back?!  

   “Are you that surprised? I’m shocked someone as genius as yourself couldn’t piece that together sooner. There were times when your lovey-dovey dofus let parts of me slip through that were strange.” Dark Pinky shrugged as he finished walking up towards the ship’s hatch. He snapped a finger, and the ramp rescinded. “Now hurry with that apology. I am a mouse of my word.”

   Before anything else could be said, the door closed, and the ship slowly moved off the ground.

   “NO!” Brain yelled desperately as he was released from the telekinetic hold. He ran a few steps forward, realizing that chasing an airship was useless. What was he supposed to do? Right before his eyes, his whole family was being taken away from him. 

   !!!

   His eyes widened, a lightbulb moment occurring, though it was a very dull bulb. Brain rushed to grab the machine from his hidey hole, panting and grunting as he shoved it outside and positioned it carefully. The satellite-looking ray atop the machine was twisted and aimed toward the ship as it got farther away. 

   Brain smirked and hit the button on the side panel. “Gotcha!”

   A pink light zapped from the machine and zipped quickly toward the ship, hitting it with a ‘zing!’

   The ship separated, the green components separating from the purple ones, falling apart as a result. Brain hummed, amused at the way it had decided to come apart. Then he deflated when he saw Dark Pinky and Roman flailing to their doom. “Oh… shit.” Brain panicked, running desperately towards the falling bodies while simultaneously dodging ship parts. “Shit, shit, shit!!”

   He sprinted to the scene, eyes darting from Dark Pinky to Roman. Roman. He should try to save Roman. He held out his arms. “I’ve got you, son!” Hopefully, Dark Pinky’s gene-splicing would prevent damage that is too serious. What was I thinking?!  

   Brain braced himself as Roman’s body got closer and closer, squinting his eyes shut tightly. “Here we go.” 

   But nothing happened. 

   Wait? Did I miscalculate?! Brain’s eyes snapped open at the possible horrific realization but was met with his son floating just a few feet above him.

   “Hey, Pa.” Roman glared at his father, arms crossed.

   “Hey, Ro- oof!” Roman collapsed on top of him. 

   “Egad! What the FUCK is wrong with you!” Dark Pinky stormed over, fury in his stride. 

   Roman scrambled off his father, scurrying off to the side. 

   Brain looked up, shrinking in on himself. Dark Pinky was admittedly intimidating when he was pissed. It shocked the megalomaniac.

   “Do you realize what could have happened just now? If I didn’t have telekinesis, Romy and I would have died! Died! Are you truly that unhinged!!” 

   Brain was quickly over being intimidated, standing up with a huff. “I unhinged!? You’re the one who’s blown up thousands of innocent civilians! I was in a panic! Forgive me for not thinking over every little thing!”

   Dark Pinky poked at Brain’s chest, shoving him back. “Little things!? Roman is our son! You’re absolutely despicable!”

   “Don’t you dare call him ours! He’s not ours! He’s mine and Pinky’s! My Pinky!” 

   In a flash, Brain’s body was lifted off the ground, eyes forced just a millimeter from Dark Pinky’s.

   Dark Pinky growled, teeth bared menacingly. “Don’t you speak to me like that, you worm. Maybe you held the power over that buffoon, but you have none over me. I’m in control now, and you’ve just made me very mad. Fuck the apology. You’re done.” The taller mouse pulled a gun from his waistband, aiming it at Brain’s head. “I’ve always wanted to kill you so closely. I can’t believe I almost gave you the option of mercy.”

   The shorter mouse froze the moment the gun was pulled. Fuck. He was dead. There was no way out and at the hands of his lovely husband. Technically not, but sort of yes. Those paws still did belong to Pinky. “Please don’t do this.” If Pinky ever re-gained control, there was no way the gentle soul would ever forgive himself.

   The hammer of the gun was pulled back.

   Brain trembled in fear, but the trigger remained un-pulled.

   It had seemed that Dark Pinky was frozen. Or perhaps having some strange stroke. His right eye twitched, and his snarl was twisted.

   Brain, though quite literally facing death, gasped. “What? Are you alright?” Did he care about Dark Pinky? Absolutely not. But the bastard was sharing his husband’s body. If he was suffering a medical emergency, it was a significant concern.

   The taller mouse didn’t speak and began to shake, gun lowering slowly.

   Brain felt a sense of relief flood through his chest. Maybe Dark Pinky was changing his mind and struggling with the decision. But then he saw it. He has no idea how to describe what he saw, but it was there. A glint of Pinky in the eyes. He was fighting for control.

   “Pinky!” 

   After shouting out to his husband, the green light that held Brain flickered until it finally disappeared. He fell to the ground, standing up quickly. “P-Pinky?!”

   The other mouse made a strained noise, paws clutching the sides of his head. “N-no. S-stop!” Dark Pinky was fighting back.

   Brain backed away slowly. This was his chance! He just needed to go and retrieve the machine! “Roman! We need the machine!”  

   “Waaay ahead of you, ding-dong!” Roman appeared from behind some ship rubble with the machine’s ray pointed toward Dark Pinky. 

   Dark Pinky looked over. “No!” He tried vainly to move away, but the pink blast hit him squarely in the chest.