Chapter Text
Fan pulls the bag over his shoulder, the door shutting behind him as he leaves work. He sighs, finally able to close his shift and go home. He rubbed the exhaustion out of his eyes, reaching his hands out to stretch, slightly folding up as he did.
The golden leaves fell from the trees gently, a gust of wind rushing past and throwing Fan off his feet for a moment. The laptop in his bag served as a weight to help ground him while on the path downtown. He smiled brightly as he walked, plugging his headphones in and scrolling through his playlist.
He hummed happily, excited to get back to his home- his comfort. Even though it wasn't the best first apartment, it was his first taste of independence after having stayed in his family home for so long. While it was frightening, he felt like he had finally adapted to it. With the internet always by his side, every change was something he could always escape from- so, it was alright in the end.
That's what he did. Get up, go to work, return to the wonderful world of the internet, then sleep. It was a cycle he was used to now, and comforted by as he trailed the familiar path to his bus stop. He could surround himself with what he loved and felt safe with, and that's all he needed. The repetition and the familiarity. He took in a breath, the smell of autumn filling his lungs. His favorite season would come shortly, as it always did.
The bus was late, as it always was. Fan already accounted for that. His predictions were mostly right, but when it came to things in reality- he'd feel a little more scared, admittedly.
Have you all seen the new episode? I know I have! More times than I can count...
The bus was calm, as it is around this time. Fan was thankful, it gave him less reminders of how many people existed around him in the world. His fingers would type away on his phone screen like they always did as he updated his blog. The newest episode of Inanimate Insanity was released a bit ago, and he was still living on the excitement of it- letting it drive him through the days.
He almost missed his bus stop again today. He rushed out as fast as he could, going right back to typing on his phone. His steps carried him down the familiar path, mind completely absorbed in his phone. He walked into the familiar tunnel, heading up a small elevation in the path. A familiar road crossed the route in front of him. An unfamiliar object stood on the other side of the road when he looked up- wait. What?
Fan snapped out of his trance of simplicity. Who was that? He'd never seen this person before, but her gaze was glued shut on him. Glances from strangers always left him assuming he was being mocked, and he’d feel terrified and threatened- but there was no worry in his soul from that shocked stare. It felt completely different to him, like he was seen. Did she know him?
Before he could theorize on that question, the green tube leaped across the small road. Fan glanced around awkwardly at first, not sure how to react- was the tube about to tackle him? Beat him up? Kill him?!
He felt arms wrap around him. He jolted at the touch, body tense and uncomfortable- but strangely, it felt... familiar? He was stunned at the contact, still not able to piece together who she was or what she wanted. She must've mistaken me for somebody else , he convinced himself.
"Fan!"
His jaw dropped as she spoke his name. How did she know him?
She pulled away, staring at him with such a warm and comforting smile. Fan felt awkward. He wasn't used to being seen like this. Her eyes were on him, and her eyes were soft and grateful. It was unfamiliar to him. He shouldn't be acknowledged like this.
"I'm so glad I finally found you! I've been searching almost every town near the contestant grounds- I wasn't sure which one you lived in."
The words 'contestant grounds' rang a bell in him. His interest- his passion. He felt himself bloom in familiarity.
"Oh! Do you know me from my blog? Why, I'm flattered you'd come and try to find lil old me! Heh, I didn't know my dedication was so recognized!"
That explains it. Relief flooded him to a point where he could act more naturally and like himself. This was a follower of his that was way too touchy. That's fine. At least it was comfort territory for him.
"Huh. Wait, Fan- do you not..." The tube averted her eyes as if thinking of something. Fan couldn't decipher her. He didn't know her.
A car rushed by, sending him stumbling a bit. As if on instinct, the stranger had grabbed his arms and steadied him, like she'd done it a thousand times.
"...Okay, this might take some explaining. You don't know who I am, correct?"
"No... am I supposed to? I've never seen you in my entire life. I might recognize your username, though!" He grinned awkwardly, not sure how to act. His eyes averted to her arms, which had now let go of him. He pulled his hands to clutch the bag’s strap. The confusion of the situation was making him nervous. Part of him wished she'd never shown up, so his routine of familiarity would have continued.
"Alright, that confirms that." Fan takes note of her mumbling something. "This might seem confusing, and I don't mean to freak you out at all , but… this world isn't real."
Fan didn't react much to those words. He looked back up at her, face blank.
"...Isn't real?"
His eyes then glanced at the leaves flying past them, letting the wind take them across the road. It felt very real to him, but he never paid attention to it. He didn't like paying attention to it, in fact. Part of him was intrigued by her words.
"How so? Like a simulation? Or- or, like a- like a dream? Well, that's kind of cliché, but a cliché I could roll with! It feels like a pretty huge thing though so, I dunno- I mean-"
The stranger grabbed his shoulders, staring straight at him.
"Fan, you're trapped in a simulated reality you accidentally created. I'm trying to get you out of it."
Fan blinked at her.
He then let out an awkward laugh.
"Hold up- you're not- you're not serious, are you...? I mean, that's- that's not something you hear every day, though, hah."
"I'm Test Tube. You met me on Inanimate Insanity season two."
Fan opened his mouth to respond, but his breath caught in his throat as he took in her words. He furrowed his eyebrows, pulling her arms away from his shoulders and taking a step back.
"Wait... season two? There's no- There's no season two. You know that, right? And- I'm not... we're not on Inanimate Insanity, either. That's just factual!"
"What's factual is that you're stuck here until I figure out how to get you out, okay? You need to accept that, first of all."
"Nope- every knowledgeable Inanimate Insanity fan knows there's no season two, and yes- I did miss the first chance to debut, but just watch me- uhh... Test Tube! I'll get it on the second one, okay?!" Fan squinted his eyes at her, crossing his arms.
Test Tube let out a sigh, pulling up a strange device along with her phone. Fan peeked an eye at it curiously.
"Here-" She pulled up a photo on her phone, showing... both of them? Fan's eyes widened as he saw it, also taking note of the strange egg in between them, "-This is a picture we took together on season two. If you want more evidence, I could recite things you've told me."
Wow. They looked like good friends.
Fan glanced up at her expression, pausing for a bit.
"I- Well... this could've been- no... there's no way you could... this is photoshopped, right? Wow, the effort you go through is really impressive, honestly-!"
"Fan, I need to get you to collaborate with me here, or else you'll be stuck here- okay?"
She put her arm back on his shoulder. His body jolted.
"No!" He shouted. Test Tube flinched- but he didn’t take much note of it. He felt uncomfortable prickles across his body. His confusion over the situation rang in his head, making him feel foggy- and he hated it. "I'm going to my apartment- you go- you go do whatever, alright?!”
Fan then rushed past her while clutching his bag, sprinting across the road without looking. He didn't glance back, determined to escape.
Test Tube's footsteps were heard behind him. His heart pounded in his chest as he hurried. He wished she'd just go away, for things to be like they always were. He continued to run the familiar path to his home, aiming for the security of his apartment to guide him.
"Fan, wait!"
He heard her voice behind him as he fumbled with his keys. He glared at her as he put it into the lock, trying desperately to return inside his home- his familiarity.
He went inside, closing the door on her and locking it. He panted, bag sliding down to land beside his feet.
The familiar sight and smell of his messy apartment filled his senses. It comforted him. He was safe. It was okay.
He pulled out his phone, the light of the screen making him sigh in relief. Everything is as it should be.