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Falls had mentioned his father's earliest experiments were... violent. When the solution was simply to add more power rather than optimize. He had given Decay the year, but couldn't quite remember the day.
Decay had been plagued with worry this year, Falls's earliest jump through time... When he was barely a teenager.... What if they were alone? Hurt? Apprehended? Killed? It might be a bit stupid to think the younger version of a man he already knew could die, but this time travel stuff was beyond his knowledge. Couldn't be too careful.
Besides the point though, he didn't think he could miss the blazing red streak falling from the sky, like a lightning bolt, a falling star. It obliterated the small village he was standing in, and promptly buried him in rubble. At least he wasn't burned to a complete crisp like the bystanding peasants were. Still annoying.
Falls picked himself up from the crater he created. Looking around it... it really was a different time. It worked... It worked!!! He did it!!! And he didn't even need this stupid gun! Everyone was already dead! Now all he needed was a little proof he was here to bring back...
He walked through the rubble picking at scraps of metal among it... nothing whole... Nothing Useful. He frustratedly kicked some rubble and started to storm away, until he heard the stones shift and move... and realized the blood on his boots... too much blood for a person to live without surely...?
Falls aimed his gun at the shifting rocks. His grip turned his knuckles white as a hand rose from the rubble, clawing at the ash-covered stone.
Decay's hand felt air, and then a bullet.
He flinched a bit from the pain, he didn't expect Falls to be armed... that would have been something helpful to know. Nonetheless Decay kept standing. And the bullets kept coming, the first few shot directly through his heart, then he could feel the franticness and fear as the shots got less accurate, the last bullet missed completely before a strange click came from the gun. Out of ammo.
Decay got a good look at Falls now. Small.... Skinnier than he was used to despite their frame being quite wide. Couldn't be more than 13... Their hair was cut short and it... made him feel sick...
Falls's hand trembled around his gun. He pressed the trigger, despite there being no bullets left, despite this guy being Immune to bullets!!?? He kept a deathgrip on his useless weapon, paralyzed in fear. They were just staring at him!!! He couldn't read their expression at all! It didn't even seem like they Had an expression!
"Wh... Who the fuck are ya?? Are ya a time cop er somethin'?? This ain't my fault!! I didn't even wanna fuckin' be 'ere!!" Falls glanced around, everything was practically flattened, there was no rubble tall enough to hide within... nowhere to go...
"Falls... No, I'm not. I'm not a cop. I'm a friend." Decay stepped forward, Falls met him in the middle with a hard punch to the gut. Decay didn't even flinch, it didn't feel like anything. "I know you, I've met you before."
"H-how??? How th'fuck is that true huh??? I've never been 'ere!"
"How do you know that? You're a time traveler that's just traveled for the first time."
Falls... didn't have an answer for that. At first.... Then they took out a second gun and unloaded it point-blank into Decay's stomach. "SH-SHUT THE HELL UP AND DIE ALREADY!!!! FUCK YOU, I DUNNO!!! WHY DON'T YOU DIE????"
"Hm, that's the trick to this whole situation. I'm immortal. Why don't I take you home and explain everything? You can eat something there too, even though... middle-ages food sucks..." Decay offered a hand, Falls didn't take it. Decay tried not to take it to heart... He was a stranger right now... he had to remember that. At least the kid followed him.
"... so... Immortal? How... How old does that make ya?"
"hm... 4500 or so? I was... cursed in early Egyptian history, as it's known in your era."
"Kay... and... How long have you known me...?"
"That's a much harder question.... I met you... The day after the curse... and I've known you... Well, I've just met you now, but the oldest version of you I've met is a bit over 50. He came around about a century after the cursing, to tell me... tell me it's okay. So I feel like I've known you for 40 years."
Falls didn't really like people knowing more about himself than he did... This... random guy... who didn't ever change his damn face when he talked!!! He wanted to ask a question they didn't know the damn answer to!!
"Oh yeah?? Well... What's my favorite food then??"
"Pizza. Specifically with crushed red pepper and bacon."
"Th-Th'fuck dy'a know that fer??? Pizza don't even exist yet!!"
"You're very important to me, Falls."
At that moment they came across a tiny stone hut, far far away from the village Falls had just destroyed. Decay went inside, trusting Falls to follow. It wasn't like they had anywhere else to go.
Decay started making tea and taking out some dried meats he had around the place. He didn't need to eat, being immortal and all. So he only kept food around for Falls. He only kept food he knew Falls would like.
"Y'know I don't drink tea right? Tch, and here ya are actin' like ya know everythin'"
"The water isn't clean around this time. Would you rather drink uncomfortably warm, plain water? It'll taste like dirt without tea and sugar."
"Lame fuckin' excuse... Sugar would be nice..."
Decay hummed, allowing Falls to look around the place. He fully knew and saw them pocketing the few silver coins he had around. Decay really didn't care, money was replaceable. Falls was everything.
Falls finally sat down, pockets a bit heavier. He fidgeted, then seemed to remember something.
"Whaddya mean by important? Do I... fix yer curse er somethin? Ya gonna sacrifice me?"
"No, no. from what I've been told, the curse is.... never broken. It just gets lonely, living forever. You're the only consistent person in my life."
"No one else time travels...? At all?"
"In my experience, none. Just you."
"Hah!!! gotcha on somethin'!! There IS someone else!!! Dumbass!!! Ya forgot about Crash!!!"
Huh? Who... someone he hadn't heard about? "Crash? Tell me about them then."
"They're a kid! My age, but they're from the future an' got stuck. Now they're an orphan... But they're real good with computers an' shit. An he's my bro!!"
"... Thank god... you weren't alone..." Decay didn't really mean to say that out loud.
"Huh?"
". . . You aren't alone, in your own time. You have Crash. It's not just you and... and that scientist."
"ugh... y'mean my old man? Yeah he... fuckin sucks."
"Don't worry, he dies in a few years."
"H-Wh- whadda hell??? How??? Who????"
"Hm... I don't know for sure. Unfortunately, it isn't me."
"Well... Why not make it ya??? I take whatever I touch in time with me! An that asshole told me I hadda hour 'ere... Yer immortal, so ya can kill anyone! easy!"
"... we tried that already. See, the thing is you can't move to a time you already exist. Because then there would be two of you. Since I exist forever, I can't move through time at all. At least not in any way that matters."
"well... Shit then!!! What good are ya then!!! Useless... Piece of shit!!!!"
"I'm good for keeping you fed, and safe, and protected." Decay placed some tea in front of Falls. They didn't even think before grabbing it. "Do you really think a small town gets leveled without someone noticing? Do you think the only boy left standing, in strange clothes at that, wouldn't be suspicious to these simple-minded people?"
Falls grumbled, and sipped his tea. He really didn't like this guy at all... Fuckin' sucked it seemed like he'd be stuck with em for... the rest of his life??? "An why th'fuck d'ya care anyway!?? Why not let me die in jail er some shit??"
There was a reaction!! Finally this freaky guy's face changed!!! ... he was blushing... "No... No don't fuckin' tell me..."
"You're... As of this year, my boyfriend. In the future, we're more."
"I AIN'T FUCKIN' GAY THOUGH!!!!!!"
Back to that blank stare... but something about it really pissed him off... "I AIN'T!!!!!"
"Sure, you might still be too young for that. Of course."
"I AIN'T GAY AN' I WON'T EVER BE!!!!"
"There's nothing wrong with it, Falls..."
"LIKE HELL THERE ISN'T??? Fags get fuckin tossed around 'n hit 'n killed... Get holes put inta their skulls."
"Falls. Only worthless, cruel people with nothing better to do with their miserable lives would do something like that to you. And if they try- ... hm... when they try, I won't lie to you, they will. I'll fucking destroy them."
"Tch? Will ya? Betcha can't even throw a decent punch..."
"You'd be surprised. I'm sure you'll learn soon enough. Right when you need to."
It was really hard to separate his soon-to-be husband from the preteen beside him. He missed Falls... They were right here but he missed them so much...
"... soo.... do you and me fuck?"
"Wh-?" Oh now That was a face!! Falls got em good!! hahaha! "uh- mm.... yeah."
"Gross!! You're way ta fuckin' old fer me!!!!"
"heh... suppose I am. Never stopped you though. It will stop me now, though. You're a baby right now."
"I'M NO BABY!!!! FUCKING ASSHOLE!!!!"
"hm.... so tiny and cute." Decay ruffled their hair. So short... Falls shoved their hand away and Decay allowed it.
"Shuddup... Ugh this whole fuckin thing is gonna be an even bigger hell than I thought ain't it...?"
"If I tell you you end up happy would you believe me?"
"Not one fuckin bit." He did... he wanted to... he wanted to believe things would get better...
"You end up very, Very happy Falls... Happy and safe..."
"Shut... shut the fuck up... I have to go back in a few minutes..."
"You do. Just remember, it all turns out okay in the end."
Falls fell silent... Decay knew him well enough, that slight quiver to his lip. The focus in his expression. Falls only went quiet when he was scared.
Decay wordlessly pulled them close against his side. Falls accepted the comfort, though tensely. Decay was simply relieved to earn their trust, to make sure they were safe at all... It was all he ever wanted anymore...
...
After some snacks the red light came back... sparking around Falls like static and burning away whatever skin it touched on Decay. It all grew back without a scar, good thing too because Falls immediately clung to him.
"Sh-shit... That can't be an hour!!! That can't be it!!! F-Fuck I don't wanna go back now!!!"
The thatch ceiling of his hut began to burn away, a pillar of energy enveloped Falls, Decay's arms smoked with ash as he was being continuously burned away. "I can't keep you here, Falls... But you'll be okay. I'll see you again, and you'll be okay."
"b-but... But I don't even know yer name!!! I dunno where ta find ya again!!!"
"Don't worry about that... I'll find you. Don't worry about a thing, Falls... and my name... is Decay."
"Decay... 'Cay, don't let go..."
"I wouldn't dream of it..." Decay hugged Falls close. It burned, it burned like nothing he had ever felt before, it felt like he didn't have skin, just billowing smoke in place of flesh. Whatever structure he had left, he hugged Falls tight with it, until his grip was around nothing but air...
...
His house was destroyed, but houses could be rebuilt. The important thing was... he knew Falls would be okay. That was the only thing that mattered to him.