Work Text:
He had been employee of the month for six months straight. He had only been working six months, so this was an achievement to be sure. Then again, all the other employees had died, so maybe he wasn’t all that special.
He watched as another of his neighbours approached the booth door, slipping in their ID and papers. Everything checked out, except that their eyes were missing. He sighed, dialled 3312, and watched with boredom as the government came to take away the doppelganger. Leaning on a closed fist he scanned over his neighbours, based on his knowledge only 20 were still alive. Many had been caught and killed whilst they were out of the building.
He leant back and stared at the ceiling. It made his job harder when they died outside, he could protect them when they were inside, keep all the doppelgangers out. But if they died out there? It was so much harder when a doppelganger dressed as them arrived. Luckily, he knew them all well. Well enough to know they would never take this amount of care to assure his safety as he did for them.
It was a loveless job, no care for the one protecting them, just annoyance at the inconvenience of being checked.
“Hello.” He glanced back to the window, spying one of the most obvious doppelgangers he had ever seen. (Well, other than when they straight up didn’t have features or had long necks.) It was the milkman from floor three, only it definitely wasn’t. He was grinning with sharp teeth and creased eyes, delighted by the presence of the resident doorman. He also wasn’t wearing his hat.
Whyan rose a brow at the creature before him, the confident aura it released was incredibly misplaced. “Hi.” He greeted, knowing this was the last one of the night. That meant one of his neighbours had either died and not come home, or simply were staying at a friend's house. He hoped it was the latter.
The doppelganger's eyes shut as it grinned even wider. “Everything in order?” The voice, that voice was also a dead giveaway. It wasn’t anything like the milkmans, but it was familiar. In fact, he swore he had heard that same voice on a different doppelganger. But that can’t be right, that could potentially mean the same doppelganger was out again. But the D.D.D took care of them. Right? Yeah. Yeah it was fine.
“SIr?” Ah right, the doppelganger had asked a question. He may as well humour it, since it was his last one of the night and he only really got to see people during work hours.
“Yes, yes, sorry.” He made a show of checking the ID and comparing it with the files, knowledge he had memorised aeons ago. He placed down the files and straightened out his shirt. “Well, sir, everything seems to be in order.”
The doppelganger preened from those words alone, straightening up with glances to the still shut door. “Excellent.”
“Just kidding.” Whyan declared, dialling the number as he sent a cheeky smirk the doppelgangers way. “Nice try though.”
The grin slipped into a menacing frown, a growl emitting from the creature as the alarms began to blare and his window was covered by the metal shutter.
He was cleared away, and Whyan methodically packed his things as he headed into the apartment complex.
He headed up the stairs as enclosed spaces like the elevator worried him. He needed escape paths, at least his workstation had ways to call for help. He didn’t trust any firefighters that would have to come if the elevator malfunctioned. They weren’t recorded, they were unknown. Unknowns were doppelgangers.
Maybe he had grown a bit paranoid; but if that trait kept him alive so be it.
His apartment was a dreary sight, the cosy carpet and nice warm yellow lights did nothing to offset the dread that greeted him as he entered. His apartment had a large floor to ceiling window that directly faced a billboard outside. Said billboard kept count on how citizens were left, how many doppelgangers had taken over. Day by day, the numbers for citizens went down, and numbers of doppelganger induced deaths went up.
He dropped his bag by his couch and collapsed, shutting the blinds and turning on the TV. Only reruns were airing now, the threat of a doppelganger take-over scared new programs out of production. He didn’t blame them.
He checked his phone as a notification went through and sighed, pulling out a red marker and crossing out the name of one of his neighbours in his file.
19 Remained.
-
“Hurry up!” Mia Stone said, impatient and frustrated.
Whyan didn’t like Mia, she was always rude. She didn’t seem to understand the gravity of the situation at hand. No Mia, I will not hurry up, if I hurried we would die. Didn’t she get that?
Annoyingly, he couldn’t lock her up because she was unfortunately human. “One moment.” Whyan muttered, rubbing his forehead with exhaustion. She was a real piece of work.
“One moment? How many more moments do you need? While I stand here those stupid mimic things could be creeping up and killing me while you sit on your ass and do nothing!”
“I’m just ensuring you’re not one of those ‘stupid mimic things’.” Whyan explained, calling her apartment just to double check and breathing a sigh of relief when no one picked up. “Which, in this case, you aren’t! Go ahead.” He opened the door and watched her huff and mutter as she stomped past.
The door slid shut as did Whyans head against the desk. Letting himself rest for just a moment…
“Yikes. She’s being bratty today, huh?”
That voice, dammit… He looked up and groaned, already reaching for the phone and emergency button.
“What? What is it this time?”
This time? So it WAS the same doppelganger as before! Either that or it’s pretending to know him.
“You’re not on today's list.” Whyan said, and watched as the doppelganger turned from concerned to furious.
“Fuck.” It muttered, “I didn’t take that into account.” Its human features started melting, a grotesque display of the pure power of a doppelganger. A creature was beneath it, body shifting as if yawning and stretching as it filled out the shape of a new person.
It had horns tinged with pink and yellow tones that parted medium length black hair. The eyes were much like other angered doppelgangers, this off yellow-pink shade that was so off-puttingly inhuman. The teeth were sharp and large, the grin a touch too wide. It had a narrowed waist with thicker legs, Whyan couldn’t see much past the waist and did not bother straining his neck to see more. He had a feeling his feet would not have been human. Its chest was odd, it was open, rib cage entirely visible and tangled with pulsing veins that didn’t appear to have any purpose.
Whyan surveyed the new doppelganger, marking down the appearance in a journal as it watched him right back. They were studying each other.
“You’re not easy to fool.” It hummed, delight and intrigue coating its words. “That makes me want to devour you even more.” He stuck out his tongue and laughed at Whyans' disgusted expression.
“Well you’re not gonna get the chance, mate.” Whyan said, slamming the button. The doppelganger waved happily, lowering its head so he was looking at Whyan the entire time the door shut.
The rest of the day was uneventful, leaving Whyan to retreat to his apartment in defeat.
15 Neighbours remained, the billboard outside was a hopeless sight. He shut the blinds again.
-
“They will never be able to finish us off, in the end we will achieve our goal.”
“Sure, sure, just leave our building out of it.” Whyan sighed, dialling the D.D.D with a grumble.
They were gone within a few minutes. Whyan could feel himself being drained, he smiled when he saw someone he recognised come up. All details correct, ID and list… Perfect, just perfect.
“Have a good day, Angus.” He waved, letting him in once he had double checked everything.
“Oh, uh, thanks… you.” The man said, and Whyan deflated the moment he was out of sight.
‘You’? They saw him everyday, surely they’d learn his name by now. How little did they really care, seriously, it was insane. This was an apocalypse for pete sake! He was the barrier between them and death!
They didn’t even care to know his name.
An ID slipped in front of him, Steven. He looked up, and was surprised. He was stone faced as always, he always worried eyes of yellow would be hidden under those glasses. But everything looked in order, “Hmm…” He drawled, looking over his files. Ah, there it was.
“You have a mole on your left cheek.” Whyan pointed out, and “Steven” straightened up.
“Yes, I do. Is there a problem?” Whyan jolted in his seat. The voice! It was that same fucking voice again! He gripped his file tighter and refused to comment on it.
Okay, so, the same doppelganger has been coming back. This meant there was a leak in wherever D.D.D restrained the doppelgangers, did they even restrain them? Did they kill them? What did they do with them? Well, whatever they did, it wasn’t working.
He had to let them know one was coming back, and he also had to ensure he NEVER told this doppelganger that his voice was giving him away- Wait, not him, IT. Dammit, he never had ones come back, it made it a lot easier to personalise them when he saw it more then once.
They’re not a human Whyan, do not give them any human traits, like pronouns. He reminded himself, before taking a deep breath.
“Steven doesn’t have a mole.”
It cracked a smile, and leaned forward, dragging a hand over the window. “You caught me~” It sang, “But come on, is there really any point to locking us out anymore? You’ve seen the statistics, surely. We’re winning.”
“Don’t care, I have a job to do.” Whyan retorted, hand reaching for the button.
“Do you want to see my real form?” The creature said, and Whyan let his hand hover over the button as he locked eyes with the doppelganger. “Open the door and I’ll show it to you.”
“I already saw it.” Whyan admitted, the doppelganger smiled even more.
“So you DO recognise me!”
He slammed the button down before it could try for more conversation. Maybe that was the wrong call, speaking of call…
The D.D.D did not care for his explanation that he was seeing the same one, supposedly no doppelgangers had escaped at all. He urged them to at the very least keep a close eye on this one in particular; Which is hard to do when it can change its form whenever it wants. Still, he begged for their consideration.
They agreed to watch it, but he doubted they were telling the truth.
He buzzed in three more neighbours that day, all human, all unimpressed by his dedication. Whyan gripped his files a bit tighter at each clipped and impatient reply to his hard work.
10 Neighbours remained. He didn’t bother shutting his blinds, the billboard shone light into his room, horrific statistics just a head tilt away.
-
The doppelgangers were relentless, and he didn’t want to admit it, but they were definitely wearing him down. He hated when they tried, he had to try too, check everything, compare, and recently, ask them to say something, just to be sure.
“Honestly, I wish we could just swipe a keycard and let ourselves in.”
“We can’t do that Anastacha, what if a doppelganger stole the keycard and let itself in? Hm? Yeah.” Whyan explained, leaning back as he stared at her ID.
“You know it’s me, come on man, we’ve been talking like ten minutes or whatever.”
“It’s been two minutes, and I need to double check. I’ve had conversations with doppelgangers before.”
“Seriously? What do they say?”
Whyan waved his hand around wildly, “Just about wanting to devour me, eat my flesh, all that good stuff.” He said sarcastically.
“Ew, why can’t they just eat cows or whatever?” Anastacha grumbled, crossing her arms and tapping her foot.
“I don’t know, they’re weirdos.” Whyan said, he nodded and ticked off her card, “Alright, you’re all clear kid. Any idea where your mum is? I haven’t let her in today.”
Anastacha went quiet, for once a worried look crossing her features, “W-What do you mean? She came in before me.”
Whyan slumped in his seat, “No, no she didn’t.”
“Did you fucking buzz her in as a monster and get her killed then?!” Anastacha accused with a shout, stomping her feet and tugging at her pigtails.
“No! I haven’t even seen a doppelganger impersonating her today!” Whyan said, worried about the crowd she’d draw with her loud noises. “Look, why don’t you go inside and just wait for her. Maybe she’s okay and will come in after you.” That was a definite lie, but at least the kid would live.
The young girl glared at Whyan with all the fury a prepubescent teenager could. “Fine, but if she’s not back tonight, I’m going out looking for her. You can’t stop me.”
Whyan looked at the kid with pity, “I can’t. But I can advise you to not, unless you want to get killed.”
“I’d rather be killed than just stuck with you to talk to.”
Whyan winced, “Wow, kids sure are harsh these days.” He chuckled nervously, buzzing her in and watching her go.
She paused in the doorway, “You know everyone here hates you, right?” She hissed, Whyan shut the door and watched her jump to enter.
“I know.” He responded, watching her glare through the door that let him into the common area of the apartment.
He didn’t buzz anyone else in that day, he crossed Nacha Mikaelys name off his list. When he passed Anastacha in the halls later that night, he crossed her name off too.
10 Neighbours remained. The billboard didn’t fit the numbers anymore.
-
“Missing an entry request.”
“Papers, papers and more papers… I can put an end to that, you just have to open the door.”
“You lot are more chatty recently.” Whyan commented, sipping on some coffee he had brought in a thermos, he pressed the button and wiggled his fingers as a goodbye to the doppelganger. He didn’t even need to speak on the phone at this point, they knew him well enough to just come over.
The shutters pulled up, the D.D.D agent wished him well, not staying to chat even though Whyan desperately wished he could just talk to someone who understood his situation.
He sighed and sipped on his coffee more, looking up as a new person walked in. He froze, eyes locked on the person before him with horror.
It was a perfect replication, the same hazel eyes, the same short hair swept away from the face but still falling back in… The clothes were identical, a rumpled button up shirt and slacks. The tie was discarded. Everything about this person matched, the ID slotted through, and Whyan stared at horror as that too, was a perfect replication.
Everything was perfect, if he didn’t know any better, he’d say this was a human.
Of course, he knew it was a doppelganger, because the person was a walking reflection of himself.
“Hi again.” They grinned with his teeth, and Whyan shuddered as he noted the voice.
“You.” He greeted with a glare.
The doppelganger posed, hip jutting out and arm going behind his head. “It’s gorgeous right? I did a pretty bang-up job. I mean look, I even got the chest size right! And! No moles, not a single one!” He made a show of unbuttoning the shirt to show off the stolen pecs, which yes, were accurate in size.
“Actually, I do have some moles. Or beauty marks, rather.” Whyan corrected, he sipped his coffee more aggressively.
“Ooo~” The doppelganger said, leaning closer and smushing his face up against the window as he looked over Whyans body. “Where is it?” He stuck his tongue out, teeth turning sharp, “I wanna lick it…”
Whyan flushed, “That isn’t as much of a threat as it sounds if you knew where it was.”
Fake-Whyan smirked, “Who said it was a threat?” His eyes roamed over Whyan’s body again who suddenly felt very self-conscious. “You know, out of all the humans I’ve impersonated, your body is by FAR the greatest.”
“Thanks, I think…” He said, “Though, it’s very uncomfortable looking at myself.”
“Imagine how the other humans feel when we eat them!” It said giddily, hands cupping its face, “They get so freaked out! I mean, I’d get a bit freaked if someone looked like me I suppose…”
“Yeah, it’s fucking terrifying.” Whyan grunted, he crossed his arms and glared, “How do you keep getting out, anyway?”
“Oh, that’s easy. They never capture me.” It shrugged, “I just make myself look like a D.D.D member, kill the real one, report myself dead, and tell you we caught them.” It grinned, eyes creasing, “And you’ve bought it everytime.”
Whyan gaped, eyes wide and terror in his veins. He hadn’t even considered that a possibility, he didn’t think they COULD impersonate a D.D.D member.
“It’s funny, because you seem to be under the impression that I’m bad at this.” It shrugged, then winked, “I mean, I know my voice gives me away.” His voice was now Whyans. Oh my god. He had been playing him a fool from the start. “But you’re just SO much fun Whyan!” It knew his name. Of course it did, it had it on the ID. “You’re the best at this, all the other doormen are dead, but we talk about how good you are all the time!”
They TALKED about him???
“But seriously…” The eyes shifted, yellow and pink, monstrous, “How much do you care about your neighbours?”
Whyan took a shaky breath, “A lot. They’re my neighbours.”
“They probably don’t even know your name, and you risk your life for them every day.” The doppelganger put a palm to his chest with a glare, “But I know your name, Whyan, and I appreciate what you do.”
He hated how those words melted his heart a tiny bit, he was being manipulated, and he knew it. But damn, it did feel nice to hear the words, even if they were likely as hollow as the doppelganger's chest.
“Allow me in. You want that.” It continued, hands against the window now. “If you let me in, I won’t hurt any of your neighbours, despite my hatred towards them.”
Whyan rolled his eyes, “Sure, so you’ll eat me, and leave them, yeah right.”
The doppelganger frowned, head tilting as it pouted, “I won’t eat you, despite how delicious you may look…”
“Not convincing,” He raised his hand to hit the button before pausing and looking at the doppelganger, “If I press this… You’ll just kill the D.D.D, won’t you?”
It grinned with sharp teeth, “Yep! Looks like you’re stuck with me!” It rocked on its heels.
“Or, considering I’m not expecting anymore neighbours, I can go inside and leave you out here.” He grabbed his files, tapping them on the desk to straighten them out.
“Oh come on Whyan! Why don’t you stay and chat? I can tell you’re lonely, I’m lonely too!” It followed his movements, bouncing around and watching how he did everything, Whyan was growing irritated, “Why don’t you tell me where that beauty mark of yours is, or better yet, show me?”
Whyan pulled up the bottom of his shirt in a swoop, glaring at the doppelganger. “There. Go away now.” It was just below his belly button and above his happy trail. An imperfect triangle of three dots.
The doppelganger melted into his true form, staring with awe and stepping closer. “Oh wow,” He said, “That’s real pretty…”
“Whatever. I mean, thanks…” Whyan mumbled, dropping his shirt, suddenly embarrassed. He started screwing the lid of his thermos back on. “Nice… Rib…Cage?”
The doppelganger turned pink in the face and cupped its cheeks joyfully, “Thanks! I’m so glad you like it, I’m rather fond of it myself. I always did wonder why humans never showed off such a beautiful part of their body…” He caught Whyans’ worried expression, “Don’t worry! I know now.”
He left the doppelganger cackling behind the glass, and went to his apartment.
5 Neighbours remained.
The billboard was broken.
-
He had fallen asleep at his desk, there was no point of even being there. But he was still being paid, surprisingly, so he sat. Sleeping the day away as his neighbours stayed locked up safe inside.
A hand carded through his hair, briefly comforting him until he realised how improbable a hand being in his office would be. He shot up, the hand slunk away, past him, and then through the fucking slot in his office that let papers in.
He shoved himself away from the slot and window, wheelie chair slamming harshly against the wall. He stared with horror at the window, hand gripping his head where the hand had touched.
It was a doppelganger of someone inside, a perfect replica, but he knew they were inside.
“It’s you again, isn’t it?” He asked, and the doppelganger smiled sweetly.
“Yes.” Same voice, dammit.
“H-How long have you been able to do that?” A hand could reach in, that means a hand could hit the button and let itself in at any point. Could all of them do that, or just this one?
It smiled even more, which was an answer in itself.
“Fuck.” Whyan said, panic building in his chest.
“Don’t worry.” It purred, “I told all the others that you’re mine, none of them are going to touch you.”
“Y-You don’t- You can just… You.” He slapped his hands over his face, “Fuck!” He said again.
“Well, obviously I can go in whenever I want. But I want you to let me in.” It explained, “You’re a tough one to wear down though, even though I said I wouldn’t hurt you.”
“You want to eat me! You admitted that!” Whyan shouted, arm swinging out wildly as he tried to get himself under control.
“Yes, but I don’t want to hurt you. I like you, you’re fun, you’re different.” A clawed hand reached up to the glass, and stuck into it, it cracked all around it like a web, but didn’t break. “Also, this glass is damn thin.” It said with a scoff, like the weakness of the glass offended him. “Seriously, how are you still alive? You need me, let’s be honest, you don’t have any protection other than me right now. I’m the one keeping you safe from the others, so just give in.” He demanded, voice lowering with each sentence.
Whyan could feel how his chest rose and fell, he had never seen the monster look so cold. A single brow raised, much like he often did to it, mouth a thin disapproving line and eyes watching him calculatingly. This doppelganger often acted preppy, bubbly, a creepy positive thing that was a touch obsessive. But now it was truly more scary.
“I know where you live. You saw that when I faked your documents.” It said coolly, “I know where all your living neighbours are too, but don’t worry, I won’t touch them. If you let me have you.”
He rested a fist against the glass, pushing against it ever so slightly so it continued to crack, “I just.” Whyan watched how the glass continued to fracture, “Want.” It would break, any moment now, “You.”
Whyan scrambled back, standing on his chair precariously to avoid what he was sure would shatter, it didn’t, and the doppelganger backed off. It stood with hands behind his back.
“I’ll even cover the rib cage if you want, make it all nice smooth skin like yours. That’ll make me more palatable for you, right?”
Whyan shook his head, “Your appearance doesn’t bother me, your intentions and what you are, do. Y-You can’t have me. I’m not a thing.”
The doppelganger grew frustrated, “I know you’re not a thing! That’s why I want you!” He threw his hands up with each shout. “Look, your damn neighbours are gonna die because they’re too stupid to stay indoors. You’re not stupid, I like that, you’re smart. I want you, because you’re an equal, you understand? I want you because unlike those bumbling idiots you know what you’re doing.”
“I’m not just going to give in and let myself be killed by you!”
A hand shot through the glass, which shattered all over the desk, it grabbed Whyan’s shirt and dragged him forward. He stared with horror as the creature glared into his eyes with a scowl, “Don’t you think, if I wanted you dead, I’d have killed you already? Don’t start being stupid now.”
Whyan stared at the doppelganger's face, hating how he actually thought it was quite a nice face all things considered. “Well then what the fuck do you want from me?! If you don’t want to eat or kill me, what is it?”
He was lowered, placed gently on the floor, the doppelganger frowned at him, “What? I want you romantically, come on, I’ve been obvious about it.”
Whyan did a double take, “Excuse the fuck?”
“Your body is so nice, and so is your mind, it’d be a shame to kill you. Though I wouldn’t mind tasting your skin a bit, if you wouldn’t mind either…”
“So-Wha, so why do you want to be let in? You don’t need to be in here to fu- to fucking romance me.” Whyan flushed, gripping his chest as his heart beat quickly for once not out of fear.
“To bed you? Eat you?” The creature said with a head tilt.
Whyan turned bright red, “THAT’S WHAT YOU MEAN BY EATING ME?!” He squeaked.
“Yeah, obviously. I’m not going to literally eat you, then you wouldn’t be alive and I’d be sad.”
“I am NOT going to sleep with you, I barely know you!” Whyan nodded to himself, setting his boundaries before realising this was fucking insane.
“If you get to know me, will you?”
“Wh-I- M-Maybe…” What?! No! He would not sleep with a doppelganger! That’s insane! He covered his mouth with a hand and glanced away, “Wait- No, I shouldn’t. We’re not even the same species and you kill people. I can't do that…”
“You’re one of the last surviving humans, you can choose what you do. There’s no one left to judge you.” It coaxed him, leaning in through the window. “Come on, I can be whatever you want me to be, any body you like, any face, anything.”
“I don’t want you when you’re not yourself, that’s messed up.” Whyan chastised, and the doppelganger's attempt at a seductive smile turned warm and full of love.
“This is why I like you.” He then grinned, “Also, you just admitted you want me too, to an extent.”
“You murder people.” Whyan hissed.
“You still like talking to me, humouring me. Besides, you murder my people, we’re not too different. I still like you, despite how many of mine you’ve killed.”
“I-Th- They were trying to kill us! And succeeded!” Whyan defended, turning away sharply. “This is why it could never work, we don’t have the same political views.”
“OH I’m so sorry Mr high and mighty, I didn’t think the fact we’re both murderers was a political debate!” The doppelganger laughed loudly.
“I am not a murderer!” Whyan hissed, leaning through the window to jab a finger at the doppelganger, who grinned and nipped at it teasingly. He hastily pulled his finger back with yelp.
“Oh like you didn’t think I was dying each time you sent those D.D.D guys after me.” He rolled his eyes.
“Well I didn’t after you kept coming back.”
“You didn’t realise it was me for so long, it was SO CUTE. You look so serious when looking at your cute documents.” The doppelganger squirmed excitedly.
“Oh shut up! Just- Just go away!” Whyan hissed, he crouched in his office to find something to block off the window which now left him exposed to the threats outside. He knew he had some supplies in his apartment.
“You can’t send me away and you know it!” The creature called, and Whyan swatted his hand in his direction before opening his door to go to his apartment. “Don’t let anyone in while I’m away.” He shouted as he ran towards the stairs.
“Oh so you trust me to keep you alive but not enough to go to bed with?! RUDE!”
“BIG DIFFERENCE!” Whyan shouted back, ignoring how the doppelganger was actively crawling through the window. He was sort of right, if he wanted him dead he’d have done it already.
He came back moments later with some wood and metal sheets he intended to use to cover the window. Unlocking his office door he was greeted by the doppelganger wearing his tie he had discarded very early into his career.
He was sitting on his chair with legs propped up on the desk, the glass had been cleared away and placed in his bin under said desk.
“Thanks for not letting anyone in.” Whyan said as a courtesy, leaning over the doppelganger to start hammering away at the window.
“Oh yeah no worries, ignore the bodies out the window, it was a piece of cake.”
Whyan looked down from his position and sure enough, out the window were three doppelganger bodies. Well, the D.D.D probably did that too… Not that bad, right?
Whyan tried to ignore how the doppelganger stared up at him from his position beneath him. Something was buzzing in the back of his head, a fear that should really be more present. This creature had only recently shown off its pure strength and yet he was existing within its presence with only a dull feeling of fear.
Perhaps he had gone mad. Maybe he was mad to begin with, you’d have to be mad to take this job.
“Oh so the corpses of MY people don’t bother you but the corpses of YOUR people do. You know what I think it is? Racism.”
That startled a laugh out of him, jostling his tools as he hammered the thin metal sheet. “We’re not the same race, so it can’t be racism.”
“Speciesism then!” The creature nodded to himself, leaning his head back so he was staring directly into Whyan’s shirt-covered stomach.
“You’re the one who has the hots for me mate, I think if you had a problem with speciesism you wouldn’t be gunning to bed me.” Whyan snorted, hammering again.
“I’m just saying! Hypocritical of you to not want to romance with me just because I kill people, when you kill my people.”
Whyan sighed, putting his tools down as he finished and looking down at the doppelganger. “If I say that murdering isn’t the problem, will you stop?” The murdering was definitely the main issue, but he could see this debate would just go in circles.
“Then what is it?” The doppelganger groaned, spinning the office chair so he faced Whyan as he started packing things up.
“My neighbours would judge me.” Whyan said shortly, grabbing the files he had to take home and opening his office door as he left. The doppelganger stood up and followed him out with a loud groan.
“Who cares what they think? They’re all losers anyway…”
“They’re not.” Whyan lied, gritting his teeth, “They’re just… a bit self-obsessed. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t care about their safety. It’s my job. I need to take it seriously.” He said as the creature followed him to his apartment.
“They shouldn’t be self obsessed, they should be obsessed with you! Which I AM!” The doppelganger said proudly, a thumb jutting towards his gaping chest.
“Don’t I know that…” Whyan grunted, unlocked his door before pausing and turning to look at the doppelganger with new found clarity. “Wait…”
He looked down the hall, and only then registered he had not only let the doppelganger into his office but also just let him into the apartment complex.
“What?” The doppelganger asked, leaning against the hallway wall casually.
“I let you in.” Whyan said, paling quickly.
“Well, yeah, you blocked off the window while I was still in the office. How am I meant to get out now?”
“Oh my GOD!” Whyan shouted, slapping a hand over his face, “Jesus chr- I am entirely fucking up today. Shit. Oh my god.”
“I’m wearing you down~” The doppelganger cooed, poking his cheek with a laugh.
It was right, and Whyan hated it. Was he so starved for social attention that this thing had already won him over? He was being manipulated! He KNEW that! It was working.
“Okay, come on, we’re kicking you out.” Whyan sighed, unlocking his door to throw his files in before shutting it again.
“What! No fair, I want to see your apartment.”
“No chance.” Whyan laughed with disbelief, grabbing the doppelganger's shoulders as he pushed it back to where they came.
“Mighty brave of you to touch a doppelganger.” The creature mumbled, looking over his shoulder at Whyan with curiosity.
“Mighty brave of you to still be wearing my tie.” Whyan said, grabbing the tie and tugging it so it lightly choked the doppelganger, it wheezed and quickly trailed behind Whyan as he used it to lead him to his office.
“You ARE brave today!” The doppelganger laughed from behind him, “I like it!”
Whyan continued to drag the doppelganger by the tie until an apartment door opened and the pair froze.
It was Dr. W. Afton. And Whyan had to force himself not to scan for abnormalities.
The man froze, eyebrows raising in surprise, “Is- Is that a doppelganger?”
“No, I'm a normal human with an open ribcage-” The doppelganger snarked and Whyan gave the tie a sharp tug.
“Yes, but don’t worry. I’m taking care of him.”
“How did it get in?” Afton asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Whyan went red with embarrassment, he had no way to explain he had let the guy break and crawl through the window due to his own arrogance and insolence.
“The window is no longer of use.” Whyan said in lue of explaining the long of it.
“He likes ME better than YOU!” The doppel seethed behind him.
“Don’t listen to him, he’s insane.” Whyan sighed, “Thankfully, this one is mostly docile, I’m getting him out now. I think we may be in full lockdown now however. There is no point in leaving unless you have a death wish.”
“And you expect us to feel safe here when you’re letting THAT thing in?!” Afton shouted, pointing at the doppelganger with anger.
“I”m sorry, this is the first error I’ve made in six months and I truly should not have allowed it to get in. But I’m doing what I can now to amend that mistake.” Whyan said, trying his best to placate his neighbour.
“It’s no wonder no one trusts you here, that thing is practically draping off you, if I didn’t know any better I’d think you were one of them.”
Whyan gripped the end of his shirt tightly, and felt the doppelganger let out a low growl behind him which was definitely not a good sign.
How could he be so foolish to have let this thing follow him after he shattered his window? He’s not a friend, not something to even entertain the notion of talking to. Now his neighbours would hate him even more than they already do. He had failed. His first mistake, at such a vital time for survival.
“If this human wasn’t stopping me I’d kill you.” The doppelganger yowled from behind him, “The fact you look down on the only barrier of protection you have is disgusting.” He spat. “The second you step out of this building I’m going to rip out your throat.”
“You will NOT.” Whyan shouted, glaring over his shoulder, “NO killing my neighbours! No! This is why I’m not going to-” He cut himself off, because saying out loud that this doppelganger wanted to fuck him would be incredibly weird for his neighbour to witness. “-to… To be friends with you.”
The doppelganger stepped back from him, the low growling sound still emanating from somewhere in his chest. “Ffffine.” He choked out, clearly upset with the idea. “You're a lucky human, very lucky.”
Afton had taken to clutching his door frame and watching Whyan and the doppelganger with wide scared eyes.
“He’s right, you know.” Whyan said, gritting his teeth, “I don’t even care if you all hate me, I’m still going to protect you. At the very least you should be thankful.”
Afton didn’t bite back a response, but from his glare Whyan could tell he wanted to. Whyan walked past him, keeping a tighter grip on the tie as doppel started to growl louder as he passed by.
They made it back to the entrance with no further incidents. He went to his office, opened the door, and pushed the doppel towards it.
“Alright, off you go. I need to shut this door ASAP.”
The creature held the tie he had stolen close to his chest, and glared just beyond Whyan, eyes softening when they met his properly.
“They don’t deserve you.”
He went to his office and shut the door, “What, and you do?” He scoffed, and heard the creature scuffle just beyond the blocked off window.
“...No…” It admitted, “But you deserve to be loved.”
Whyan left for his apartment.
5 still remained.
The billboard was falling down.
-
He didn’t stay in his office for a few days. There was no point, no one was leaving and no one should be let in so… Why? He checked the next day if the D.D.D was even around, but for the first time he got no response. No robotic voice saying he had reached the hotline, no human voice saying someone was coming, no, nothing. They were gone. His paycheck stopped coming in, which only confirmed it for him.
There was no point doing anything.
He came down in the early morning to check if the door was shut, if everyone was safe in their apartments (which they didn’t appreciate). It was the same.
He caught his neighbours whispering to each other in the common spaces, conspiring about something then going quiet when he walked past. It felt like he was back in highschool, a subject of ridicule for a reason he could never place.
He was doing the right thing, he had been, what about him was so off putting?
He would never know. He may as well lean into his offputting nature at this point.
On the fourth day of not staying in his office he sat down next to the metal door and leant against it, listening for a sound outside.
“Any murderers out there?” He muttered, and held back his smile when a snort was heard on the other side.
“Just the one.”
He curled up onto his side as he felt the cool metal of the door against his cheek. He pulled his knees up and sighed. “What’s it like out there? The news cut out, nothing is showing anymore.”
“Gorey.” His doppelganger informed him. “D.D.D are all gone.”
“Yeah, I figured as much.” Whyan responded dully.
“I haven’t seen you in a while. Aren’t you lonely?”
“No.” Yes.
He heard shuffling and a dull clang from the other side. “Well, I am.”
Whyan felt caught in his lie as he continued to chat with the doppelganger for a few hours, idle conversation turning to deep discussion on life and death and misery.
He felt more heard than he ever did with his neighbours, and he let himself lean into the feeling. What was the point of being paranoid anymore?
-
The billboard had fallen down entirely, crashing onto the street below. The large sound woke Whyan, and since he had woken up already he groggily ventured to the entrance.
He was glad for the billboard crash, because the door was open.
He stared at it with shock, his office door window had been smashed, and opened through the broken window. The button to the door had been pressed, and thus the large metal shield between all of his neighbours and himself was open.
It had been broken from the inside which meant there was only one way this had happened.
His neighbours had opened the door.
He felt his hands tighten into fists as rage flooded his body.
Why? Why would they do this? He’d have let them out, if they had a deathwish he’d help them fulfil it, but why the fuck would they leave the door open so he could die?
They wanted him dead. They didn’t care how he had been protecting them for months. They didn’t care that he was a human, like them. They didn’t care. They wanted him dead.
He approached the open door on shaky feet, and as he did his movements stilted.
His doppel was standing just outside the door, claws extended and chest heaving before a pile of bodies. He turned and stared at Whyan dead on from just beyond the threshold of the door.
Whyan continued his approach, legs shaky and heart in his throat. His brain was a whirlwind of why? Why? What had he done to deserve this? How had he done so badly as to convince others to wish death upon him?
He stopped just in front of the open doorway, staring at the doppel with wet eyes.
“They left a few hours ago.” The doppel explained, “They opened the door. Got killed almost instantly, the idiots.”
Whyan could feel tears pricking at his eyes, his legs suddenly felt too weak to hold his weight and he let himself collapse onto his knees with a sob. His doppel reached for him before freezing.
“I-I didn’t come in. I didn’t. I won’t. I promise, I won’t come in unless you let me.” It sounded nervous, voice warbling as he watched Whyan sob and curl into himself.
Why? Why?
“I’ve been keeping the others out, some didn’t want to listen, but they were easy to take care of. Don’t worry, you won’t be hurt, I promise. You’re gonna be fine, I swear.”
If this random doppelganger hadn’t taken interest in him, he’d have been killed by his neighbours' actions. And he knew damn well they were intentional.
“Please stop crying, you don’t need to protect anyone anymore, it’s okay, you can be safe for real now. They can’t get you.”
Wait, that’s right. He looked up slowly, as doppel’s words sunk in. He didn’t need to protect anyone anymore. The only reason he kept himself alive was for their sake, and now, he didn’t need to do that.
The doppel was on his knees, hands wavering before him as they struggled not to reach out and touch him. He was still wearing his tie, it had bloodstains. He’d have to wash that out.
Or maybe he didn’t, he didn’t need to think about tomorrow anymore.
Might as well do the formalities, one last time.
Whyan stood on weak legs and went to his office, he shut the door. “Everything seems to be in order.” He recited as per usual, “Come on in.” He muttered with a wet laugh as he hit the open button.
He walked out, expecting to be bombarded by the doppel but instead saw him still on the threshold, looking at him with wide eyes.
Whyan sucked in a breath and clenched his jaw, “Just do it already.” He muttered, he tilted his head to the side, giving easy access for a quick kill.
His doppel quickly rose to his feet and scampered over the gap, launching himself at Whyan with extended arms.
Whyan squeezed his eyes shut, he felt arms wrap around him. A hand tangled itself in his hair and another snaked around to his back, they tumbled to the ground and Whyan wheezed from beneath the doppel.
His grip grew a touch tighter, and Whyan blinked his eyes to clear his vision of the ceiling.
“I got here late, I was so, so worried someone had gotten to you before me.” He whispered into his neck where he had tucked himself.
Whyan expected the doppel to break character and kill him, but instead felt relief fill him as he finally let himself accept he wasn’t going to murder him anytime soon. He rested his hand on his upper back, he would have put his hand on his lower back but seeing as that was just a spine with weird pulsing veins he’d rather not.
A weird texture hit his neck, “Did you just lick me?”
“‘Tastes good.” His doppel mumbled and Whyan just laughed at the absurdity.
Whyan shut his eyes, the warmth of another body a comfort.
0 Neighbours remained. And no, he was never counting himself.
-