Chapter Text
“Please, Mr. Bean, calm down.”
Joel Bean, or rather, the Joel Bean from wherever in the multiverse he had come from, tugged at the straps holding his wrists down, panicked, “What- what the hell!? Where am I- wh- what-”
Elizabeth Shadow touched her hand to Joel’s knuckles, “Mr. Bean, look at me. I know this is scary, but if you’ll let us explain, then it’ll be-”
“Less scary!” Mumbo Jumbo called from the supercomputer.
Elizabeth nodded her head off into her coworker’s direction, shooting a glare at him, “Yeah, yeah, that.” She turned her attention back to Joel and squeezed his fist gently, “Now, Mr. Bean, how about we just breathe, okay?”
Joel didn’t appear to be listening to her. At all. Instead, his big, brown eyes were examining her every feature – her hair, once dyed, now bleach blond as her roots grew in, her attire, everything about her, every single detail.
“Lizzie?” He breathed, almost in disbelief.
Ah, so it was of those universes.
“Not yours, I’m sorry Mr. Bean.” Elizabeth said.
“I-I don’t understand, you… you’re so human. Where are your…”
“How about you tell me about your home?”
Whatever Joel was going to say next died on his lips and he started, “I’m the King of Mezalea. My kingdom is large and I live by the sea, where my- my wife…”
Joel’s description of his home was beautiful. He described the seaside, where his kingdom of terracotta, clay, and lively plants grew bountiful, home to many citizens. How he ruled, though while not the most humble of leaders, he loved his people. And he described the sea, where towers of prismarine and quartz rose into the sky, home of his beloved wife, the Axolotl Queen, who by all means, was very much Elizabeth.
Just as Joel was to continue on with some other far off land, Mumbo cut in.
“Found him! Universe-89021.”
Elizabeth stood up immediately, “Have you locked in on him?”
Mumbo gave her a thumbs up, “But be careful, there’s apparently some kind of demon in there tormenting the residents.”
Elizabeth nodded, heading towards the door, “Thank you Mumbo. Watch over Mr. Bean for me, please?”
Before Mumbo could respond, Elizabeth had slammed the door shut, picking up her pace. She was going to need to grab her supplies before she jumped right into the next universe, but she was itching to catch him this time. He had evaded her one too many times.
Joel Bean was not escaping this time.