Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Two women walk along the pier. The light from the city not bright enough to block out the stars.

They hold hands.

Amanda's hand is warm, strong. Angela feels safe holding that hand. She glances up.

"I saw one today."

"No! Oh my god, really? How did you know?"

Angela stops in her tracks and Amanda gets tugged back and stumbles a bit. She dons her Amanda grin.

"It was like... uncanny valley, you know? Something just wasn't quite right." Angela scrunches her face at the memory.

"Did you report it?"

"Of course! You know who it was molded after?"

"Who?"

"Courtney!"

"WHAT?"

"Yeah, I know it's pretty scary."

Amanda squints and frowns for a second. But then she relaxes.

"Nah. You're definitely real."

They laugh.

"How do you know, though?"

"They couldn't replicate someone so goofy, so cute so... you."

Amanda's eyes soften as she bends down and rubs her nose against Angela's. Angela snorts, a bit shy.

They continue their walk. They are supposed to be at this YouTuber party. Ian invited them but gave minimal information, as per usual. They aren't in a hurry and frolic about in the light of the city and the glimmer of the stars. Amanda's hair is bouncy and shines with a silky quality Angela always notices. Because it's so nice. Amanda is so nice. They pass some sports fields on the beach.

"Did you know Arnold Swarzenegger used to work out here?"

Amanda laughs. "How come you know these dumb facts."

"I just really love this city."

"Me too."

Chapter Text

Everyone's there except for Anthony. That is what it's been like for years now.

Ian feels sorry for him. It's a bittersweet feeling. They have Smosh, but it isn't the same as it once was.

Anthony is happy enough, but not as happy, maybe, as he could be. He's been giving in to his agoraphobia more and more, he's accepted it even, as he knows his mom has it. It's in his genes. He figures it's his destiny to be by himself in his house where the walls keep him safe from the Great Outdoors.

"I was wondering if you two'd show up," Ian says to Amanda and Angela who arrive together, giggly, like they've been drinking already. They complete the crowd. Everyone's there, except for Anthony.

Ian sighs. But then he smiles proudly and puts his drink up. "Smosh is in the hizzeyyyyy!" He exclaims. Everyone cheers. There's YouTubers old and new, kids from Insta, TikTok, Snapchat even. Good times. There's drinks and LA-approved healthy snacks handed out, and goodies as well.

Ian knows that Anthony is here in spirit also. He went by his place just yesterday. Anthony's been getting into setting tattoos, rather than getting them. His 'canvas' is kind of crowded nowadays anyway, so Ian figures it's a good transition. But he isn't going to let Anthony set any tattoo on him, hell no, even if his best friend's been hinting that he wants to do just that.

"He's not going to brand me," Ian scoffs inwardly. 

"Court! Angela saw a fake version of you today!"

Around them, people go silent to listen to this salacious story.

"Oh my god." Courtney looks kind of flattered and weirded out at the same time. Shayne does his best not to look too much like he'd be into a threesome with two Courts.

"Yeah, it was so weird. She was digging."

"Did she get anything?"

"No, of course not, I got away as fast as I could."

"I still think you should have reported it," Amanda says with her arms crossed. "It's getting so out of hand."

"I know. Next time I will definitely do it." It is an eerie feeling, the realization that this will indeed happen again.

Amanda, Angela and Courtney get some more drinks. They exchange some pictures of their pets on their phones.

"Bones is the best," Angela coos, looking at a picture of a very round cat, chilling lazily in Shayne's arms.

"Bones knows how to live!" Amanda mimics the cat all sprawled and purring. She's so cute. Amanda, that is. Angela blushes when she realizes she's been staring.

Courtney knows.

Courtney knows about Angela's big crush on Smosh's big girl. And how infuriatingly oblivious Amanda is to Angela's feelings. As a married woman, Amanda just doesn't figure in that she's still incredibly attractive. Hell, Angela's hardly the only one infatuated. Amanda's got Ian, Spencer, Trevor, most of the crew... all drooling over her.

But for Angela, it's different. Ever since they met, there's just been... this thing. This vibe, this tension between them. Angela feels like she's home, but also like she's alive for the first time in her life, every time Amanda laughs. The feeling is overwhelming and intense, especially because they've become best friends and Amanda laughs generously.

Angela had a mini-breakdown a couple of months ago, and Courtney consoled her. She told them everything that day. Court is actually the best person she could have confided in. They're all too familiar with the stress and dynamics of a secret love.

Suddenly, Angela snaps out of her daydreaming. "Who the fuck is that?" Already on edge, Angela is hyper-aware of anything out of the ordinary. She gestures towards a woman talking to Ian. It seems like she's trying to flirt with him.

"I don't know, maybe she's from the bar?" Courtney looks unsure.

"Listen, Ian is a handsome guy, or maybe she's just a fan?" Amanda tries to excuse the behavior.

"No way. It's one of them."

"How did she pass the dna-gate?"

"I don't know! Maybe they've evolved or something!"

The three women make their way towards Ian.

"Ian! Don't give her any info!"

Ian looks up, a tipsy glint in his eyes. "What?"

The woman tries to sneak away but Angela grabs her hand. And then it happens. She's hurled what seems like yards across the bar. She smashes against a wall, immediately unconscious. The imposter has run away.

Chapter Text

"Fuck!"

Anthony paces around his apartment, slowly picking up speed. He knows what he has to do, and he feels guilty.

He wasn't there, he didn't guard Ian, he couldn't protect Angela, he wasn't there, wasn't there, wasn't fucking there.

And now he is struggling to even show up.

He looks at Ian's text message again.

"Angela got attacked by one of those freaks, we're at the hospital right now. I'll keep you updated."

Ian hasn't asked Anthony to come, because he knows how hard it is for him.

As he passes it, Anthony catches a glance of himself in the dirty mirror in his living room. His mind automatically notices all the imperfections. Bags under his eyes that weren't there before. Fine lines gracing his forehead. His unfortunate new face tattoo. But weirdly, it calms him to see himself aging, not as perfectly doll-like as he used to be, not as marketable. He's his own man. He's okay.

But then he sees his door, dooming up on him like a dolly zoom. He knows it's bullshit but that door triggers him so much. It feels like getting sucked into a black hole. He knows he can just open it, but even just the thought of it stresses him the fuck out.

His breath is picking up again, against his will, and he collapses in on himself. Angrily, he squeezes his eyes shut, tears streaming down.

"Fuck, Anthony! Come on! Slowly inhale, slowly- fuck!" He breaks down crying but doesn't give up. Fighting against the invisible iron hand pushing him down, nearly passing out, he makes it out the door and into his car.

"Anthony!"

Anthony loves that voice. It works like a pacifier. Ian is a little piece of home he happily clings on to amidst the vast and perilous wilderness.

He gives Ian a tight hug.

Ian smiles solemnly. "I'm really proud of you, buddy. Come on, she's awake."

They walk down the corridor. Court, Shayne and Damien sit in various awkward positions on the rickety chairs. But they jump up as they see Anthony. They all hug and compliment him. He smiles and thanks them, but grabs Ian's arm and squeezes.

His mind is briefly distracted by what he feels.

"Ian, have you been lifting?"

Ian laughs at this out of left field remark.

"I have, actually. I mean, like we saw yesterday, you can't compete with them. But I do want to be as strong and able as possible, if they ever really attack, you know?"

The thought is truly horrifying. Anthony squeezes some more, though. He feels like he's earned some self-indulgence.

Ian's proximity not only makes Anthony feel safe, it also makes his heart race - in a good way - and his cheeks turn their signature pink.

He affords himself a good stare at Ian. His best friend does look stronger. And he's shaven his beard and is wearing contacts. But somehow that makes him look older. And... Anthony's eyes soften and a small smile curls the corners of his mouth.

Ian opens the door to Angela's hospital room.

Amanda is already there, but she's sleeping in her chair, snoring softly while passed out leaning on the bed.

"Look at this one," Angela grins and she gestures with her bandaged arms, but her eyes betray the great love she holds for Amanda.

Ian comments to Anthony, "see this is what happens when Angela tells jokes."

Anthony laughs loudly, like he hasn't done in a long time. Ian's eyes light up at the sound.

"How are you, Ang?" Anthony asks now. She's looked better, even when she broke her arm before.

"Well, as good as can be after a close encounter with a wall. The docs say I don't have a concussion, though."

"You're unhinged enough as it is," Ian teases.

"Oh no, what if the blow 'hinged' her and she can't be funny anymore?" Anthony asks with fake concern.

"I mean, she'll still be loud and Italian," Ian fake-reasons.

"HEY! SHUT YOUR PIE-HOLES!"

That wakes Amanda up.

Even disheveled and exhausted, Amanda is still a smoke show. Everyone in the room feels it.

"Anthony! You came all by yourself?"

He looks at Amanda with a deadpan stare. "I mean, usually someone helps me out but my right arm works just fine as well, thank you," he jokes.

"Ew!" Amanda and Angela call in unison, to which Anthony and Ian laugh the exact same laugh. Which makes the women look at each other incredulously.

"These guys!" Amanda stage-whispers.

Angela takes Anthony's hand.

"Thank you for coming. Not cumming."

Chapter Text

Damien wraps up the stream. An eerie feeling has crept up on him, ever since he read something in the comments.

Damien gets lots of weird comments and it's fine. He's used to it. People are allowed to be a little weird. But this one keeps bugging him. 

"I saw you today" it said.

And then, "but you're streaming so I knew it was a fake."

Some other commenters reacted to this, but Damien chose to ignore it.

It continued, however. "Or are you fake yourself? What's the truth?!"

He stretches and yawns expressively as he gets up, his old bones aching from the long sit. Zelda and Freyja know this is their moment. Their tails curl around each other as they swagger and give Damien the ol' razzle dazzle. Damien can't resist the urge to make this a photoshoot. Then he gives them a treat and they play for a while, the three of them. The cats are lazy most of the day, except for their play-time. A few jumps after the toy later though, they go back to lazying around on the couch. Damien decides to follow their excellent example and lays down beside them, putting the newest episode of One Piece (the anime) on.

Damien: hey gurlll
Angela: you're so weird
Damien: actually I have kind of a serious question
Angela: what is it?
Damien: you have seen two of those fake people now. How do you... spot them?
Angela: how did you know I saw two?
Damien: you told all of us at the party
Angela: oh no I don't remember that! But well, I was drunk
Damien: oh yeah, you were lol
Angela: LOL! but yeah I saw one. It's really strange.

Damien's phone rings.

Angela pops up on Damien's phone screen.

"I can't explain it through text, so I video called you," she smiles. Damien can't help but blush.. "But yeah. It was so weird, like. You know? Someone's just talking to you, you would never expect it. But then they blurt something out that's like, straight out of a ChatGPT output. And then you just know. And you have to get out of there as fast as possible. You saw what that thing did. Hey, Amanda, I'm chatting with Damien!"

Amanda appears.

"Hi!"

Damien's eyes widen in delight. "Amanda! How are you?"

She looks a bit subdued. Not her Amanda self. Less grand.

"I'm fine. Just guarding my girl here."

"Amanda... Take care, will ya?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, bye," Damien tells Amangela.

"Bye, biiiitch."

All three of them laugh and hang up.

Damien hugs his cats just a little closer.

A couple of hours later he wakes up. It's those hours of the night where it's still before those elusive morning people get up and just after the partygoers call it a night. But Damien just had a nightmare. He's still sweaty. He can't recall what exactly he dreamt, until he looks in the mirror. He starts and immediately laughs.

"Scared of my own reflection, that's not like me," he thinks. But the eyes staring back at him, they look... uncanny?

"No, no! I'm just sleepy, tired, exhausted..." He recalls Amanda's story about a haunted mirror. He needs some fresh air.

He stands on his doorstep outside. It's always hot in LA. Damien inhales the dry, warm air. The hills loom, larger than during the day. Every shadow seems suspicious to him. Every sound alarms. He retreats inside. The eerie feeling he got during the stream has doubled or tripled.

"Damn..." He aggressively rewatches some Cowboy Bebop. It usually calms him down. But his mind keeps racing, like his heart.

Chapter Text

"Amanda? I think... I think I might be going crazy."

Amanda's big, beautiful doe eyes are staring right at her. It makes it hard for Angela to think or speak coherently. But she's determined to talk about this.

"How come?" Amanda wraps her long arms around Angela as they stand in front of their hotel window. It’s a beach view suite. Angela's face is red from all the sun, Amanda's got a gorgeous golden glow about her. They went sunbathing today and drank martinis while people-watching. They got quite a few ideas for new characters. But they've got a busy itinerary tomorrow, so they headed back early. The hotel is still quiet. That will surely change tonight.

Angela hesitates, but then leans into the embrace. She feels guilty.

"Ever since that... thing hurt me, I just feel so unsure of everything, you know?" Amanda's warm shoulder beckons, but Angela resists the urge to rest her head against it.

"Of course, I'd be so scared too. Right?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I'm even afraid of my own reflection sometimes. But I don't get it. Why aren't there laws against this? Why aren't the police tracking these things down? Am I really the only one freaking out about it all?"

A slight smile flickers around Amanda's mouth. "People are stupid," she proclaims. "They don't get the danger of these freak clone things or whatever they are. Or why they’re even here."

"I mean, it all started as a dumb experiment, remember," Angela answers. "They wanted to see if they could prank people, like an old school Punk'd episode. But some of them disappeared. The rest of the story is anyone's guess."

"Oh yeah, of course," Amanda says, but she isn’t paying attention. She traces circles around Angela's back, who shivers to the touch. "Isn't it extra weird for us, though?" she poses. "We're actors, we're supposed to impersonate people. And now there are things out there doing a better job of it than us."

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that," Angela argues. "They're usually very easy to figure out. But they do look eerily real. Like, identical."

"Yeah, it's scary. But you're not at all crazy for being frustrated with the situation, Ang. Do we really need an accident to happen in order for there to be any kinds of rules and regulations around this sort of thing?"

"That, and maybe they should at least find ANY of the impostors, which they haven’t at all, yet." Angela hugs Amanda a bit tighter.

"I'm glad we're on our girls only holiday," Amanda murmurs.

"Amanda?" Angela seems to plead. Her husky voice is small now, as she parts from the hug to look at Amanda directly. Maybe the alcohol has something to do with it. It tends to bring out the honesty in Angela. "I don't think I can hide this from you anymore. I know we just got here, this day has been great... But," Angela swallows hard, "there's something I have to tell you."

"What is it?" Amanda asks with a silky, yet concerned tone.

"The clone thing is only half of why I feel like I'm going crazy. The other thing, well... it has to do with you. With us." Angela furiously blushes. "Damn, I'm sweating," she jokes. Amanda looks at her without smiling, though.

"You know you can tell me anything, right?" Amanda says. She takes Angela's trembling hand in hers.

"I know. And you will probably just laugh at me and call me silly, but I am serious about this, okay?"

"Okay."

Angela squeezes her eyes shut, and just blurts it out. "Amanda, I... I love you. I love you so much."

Amanda smiles wide. "Why would I call you silly for that? I thought you were going to ask whether birds can have twins or something. Of course you love me, and I love you!"

"No, you don't understand, Mandy. I love you more than just friends, more than best friends. I am madly in love with you. There, I said it. You can laugh now."

"Angie..."

Angela finally dares to open her eyes. Those doe eyes are still on her. Damn, she doesn't know what to do now. What would Ian do in this situation? Probably burp. Or Damien? He'd probably start talking about some obscure nerd fact to distract Amanda from the love confession she just got. Angela desperately tries to think of Court's wise words: "just be yourself".

Amanda hasn't flinched, though. She hasn't made a joke, or done anything to discourage Angela's feelings for her. In fact, Amanda is closing in on her. What is happening?

"You're so cute when you blush," Amanda whispers.

The moment that should have been bliss, the moment their lips meet, Angela knows. Every second after that, she hates herself for indulging, for letting it last longer. She knows this isn't real. This isn't Amanda.

Their lips part.

"HELP!" Angela shouts, tears streaming down her face. Amanda's eyes turn big, and she jumps back. The hotel room door opens. Amanda ~ the real one ~ enters and sees herself. She screams. The imposter tries to shoot past her but she grabs it by the arm and presses on a point on the back of its head. It collapses and clunks heavily as it hits the ground.

"I can't believe that worked!" Amanda looks at Angela, who sits on the ground, crying. "Angie! What happened? What did she do?" She runs up to her.