Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

March 8th 201M2020 BC

Fang and I walk through the nearly empty hallway in no rush to get to our next class. Since we had our talk on the roof 2 weeks ago we’ve been spending much more time together. Much to the dismay of the ‘trigga’.

“The wha?” Fang asks in an uninterested tone.

“Nothing!”

She scoffs. “Jeez Anon, I’m surprised she hasn’t gored you yet. I don’t know if I should be proud of her, or pissed at you. I don’t wanna have my emotional stress reliever impaled by 3 smooth arcs of ivory.”

“Hehe it's all a part of the Anon rizz” I say, trying my hardest to do a good Zoolander impression.

She cringes as she looks at me. “Dweeb”.

“I have my moments” I say, still trying to drag out the accent.

She snickers as we continue walking lazily down the hall.

“MR. MOUS. FANG AARON!” The distinct sound of the caveman can be heard thundering down the hall.

We know It's useless to run. In almost an instant we hear him behind us. Speaking in a more mellow tone, but still as loud.

“You two are 15 minutes late to class. Do you mind telling me why instead you’re both here strolling through the halls”

“Can-it spears were getting there. Not like there’s much to learn in this jail anyway.”

He sighs “Let me give you a piece of advice Fang Aaron. If you keep going down this path of disinterest and disrespect for not only the faculty of this school, but more importantly your future, you are going to come face to face with something you won't want to see. Yourself. And it won't be pretty”

“The hell is that supposed to mean you walking talking museum exhibit. I don’t need some caveman bigot ragging on how I look. If I wanna dress enby it’s my fucking choice!”

“That isn’t the point here Fang Aaron. Soon you’ll have graduated. You’ll be an adult. And let me tell you now. In the real world you won't get by putting in the minimum effort like you are here.”

Fang scoffs “Whatever you old skin bag. Come on Anon, let's get out of here.”. She says as she begins quickly sauntering away.

Spears sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Everyone is fighting their own battles, right principal Spears” I say with a strange sense of reassuring conviction. Huh, wonder were all that came from.

Spears looks down at me. The corners of his lips tugging into a proud smile for just a moment.

“Go to class Anon, now.”

I begin walking quickly down the hallway.

Fang was out of sight. Clearly she had some respect for Spears if she was going this quick. Or fear... Probably fear.

As I walk down the halls, I can't help but notice a strange ringing in my ears. Pangs of anxiety ripple through my chest as I realize the ringing is getting louder.

I groan and cover my ears. It was so loud now. It's like someone was dropping active microphones on top of each other. A pile of active microphones feedback looping onto one another in a hellish analog cacophony. I crash sideways into the lockers groaning in agony.

The ringing slowly subsides. I try and drag myself up along the locker. I open my eyes. The outlines of every object were waving, like the diagram of a radio signal. The worlds colours phased between different pastel hues. Pinks, and yellows. The colour distortion being most pronounced near the waving outlines of the world.

I lean there. Hyperventilating. Trying my best to calm down. “Oh God. Shit. Shit! Shit! Shit! What hah what was that”.

Oh, God!... Am I brain-damaged? Did I in-hail too much second hand carfe? Was Trish poisoning my food?

Sound slowly begins to come back to me. The distant sounds of groans from my classmates. Their shuffling. ‘heh, well. At least it wasn’t just me... Whatever that’s worth’ I mumble to myself.

Rumble Rumble.

I feel it before I hear it. A stampede of students. But from where? And why?

I hear it before I see it. Screams coming from above. ‘Above? But we’re on the 3rd floor’.

And I see it before...

Hundreds of students, rushing right at me. I press myself as flat as I can against the lockers. But with the torrent of my students rushing past I don’t have to try very hard.

“Fang” I shout audibly. ‘Damn it Anon. How could you have been so careless’. If she's caught up in all of this. And if she was in the halls when that... Ringing came, who knows what state she’s in now.

I push my way through the crowd. “Fang? Fang!?” I shout, but the screams of the hysterical crowd drown out any of my attempts to find her.

“Fang!? Has anyone seen Fang!?”

“Please! Someone tell me where is Fa-” Thwack, a stray elbow sends me flying backwards into the rushing crowd. I curl up and cover my face as I am stampeded. Just as my vision fades to black I see her. ‘heh, at least she's safe. If I didn’t have brain damage before I do now. Elbow must’ve hit me so hard, since fang's hair is all purple n’ stuff.’ Is the last thought I have before everything fades to black.

I groan as I come too. Sitting upright in a bed in the schools nurses room, but its dark outside. Police lights?

“Ahem. E-excuse me”

‘Oh great, exactly who I want to hear right after being trampled’

I turn to her with an exasperated expression “Hi Naomi” I say with a sigh.

“O-oh... you already know me?”

I raise an eyebrow. ‘Huh, guess I’m not the only one with brain damage at least’.

She looks a little dejected as she takes a seat. Oh, shit did I say that out loud?

“Well, I just wanted to thank you for your concern for Fang. Besides myself, Naser, and our friends Fang... Well.” She trails off. “Anyway I just wanted to thank you for being so concerned about someone you don’t even know.”

“Hah? What's that supposed to mean?” I say dejectedly.

Naomi blinks a few times. “W-well I don’t know about Fang. But I’ve never seen you before... In fact, I’ve never seen someone like you before. I hope you won't find this rude of me, but may I ask what species you are? I’m a parasaur, and my pronouns are she, her.”

Whatever joke she's trying to pull here isn’t working, and I’m starting to get annoyed. “Listen Naomi I’m really not in the mood for your games right now. Infa-”. Wait... Naomi’s crest. It's bent in the back. “Naomi? What happened to your...” I gesture to behind my head.

“M-my crest? I don’t understand, what's wrong with it?” She sounds self-conscious about it. Maybe it's a taboo subject for parasaurs. ‘Stupid Anon’.

I sigh. Defeated and exhausted I ask Naomi “Look. I just need to know... Where is Fa-”

“Where is Lucy” A voice booms from behind Naomi. Standing menacingly behind her is a dark brown, and maroon pterosaur. He looks like a larger, meaner version of Naser. Must be their dad, and from the uniform, a cop. How’d he even get in here without me seeing him.

Naomi meekly stands before the giant. “I-I’m sorry. Who’s Lucy?”

Nasers evolved form leans down straight into Naomi’s face. From behind her head I can see him glaring menacingly.

“I’m not in the mood for your games right now Mrs. Morietti. Lucy’s mother is hysterical right now, and Nasers going to give himself a heart attack running around trying to find her.”

“Sir. I don’t know who Lucy is.”

The giant man glares down at her as he pinches the bridge of his beak. He sighs.

“Were is Fang” He spits the last word out as if it tasted foul in his mouth.

Naomi’s face brightens up. “Oh! Fang told me she's going back to her place sir.”

The giant mans expression becomes a little more relaxed. I, too, breathe a sigh of relief.

The officer pulls out his phone, dialing a number. He holds it to his ear hole. However, the grimace slowly begins to return to his face as the phone continues to ring.

Calling a second time his eyes meet Naomi’s again. She shrinks back into herself, trying to sidestep around him to the door.

Just as her hand is about to contact the handle, the door is flung open.

“Anon!”

“Oh, Fang! I thought you had already gone home. This is the person I was telling you about who sav-”

“Fuck off Naomi.” Fang says in an urgent, exasperated tone as she pushes her off to the side.

Naomi’s hands shoot towards her snout, covering it. ‘Huh, she seemed really hurt by that’. Sure as hell isn’t the worst thing Fang has said to her.

“Lucy? Why haven’t you been returning my calls? Your mother is worried sick!”

Fang just ignores who I now know is most ‘definitely her father... Great’.

Fang quickly kneels by the side of my bed, hugging me. Huh, bet this would feel great if officer Death Murder wasn’t trying to burn a hole through my forehead with that stare of his.

Quite sobs can be heard as the door to the nurses office slams shut. “What's up her ass?” Fang says, both amused and annoyed.

“Maybe her crest isn’t the only thing that got bent off” I say with a shit eating grin.

Fang cackles.

“So what happened? Why was everyone on the roof? Did you get hurt?”

She scoffs, but smiles and looks away. “Dweeb... Check your phone, Some kind of interdimensional rift”

“like from Half-Life”

“What?”

“What...” ‘Stupid Anon.’

She sighs“Look. I don’t want you going back to skin row tonight. The entire city is in chaos right now. You're going to come stay at my place tonight, okay?”

‘Huh... Fang can be really caring and sweet when she wants to be’

She smirks, and gives me the finger. “I’ll let that one slide, bigot. But only ‘cuz you’re one of the good ones.”

Oh, right... She.

Fangs dad picks up on that little detail. “Lucy, I’m not letting some hooligan from skin row into my house. Especially while I’ll have to be out on patrol.”

Fangs glaring. Not at me, but towards me. When suddenly her expression changes from anger, and indigence, to a wry cunning smirk.

She pulls out her phone, waggling her finger at her dad.

He gives her a stern, menacing look. “Don’t you dare, young lady” He says, gritting his teeth.

With a snarky, smirk, as if she had just outwitted him in a game of chess, she pulls out her phone. Placing it to her ear, the line is almost instantly picked up.

“Hey mom... Yeah, I’m alright, but one of my friends is in real bad shape... Yeah, they got nowhere to go tonight... They’re really sad, and poor... Yeah, and down trodden, and miserable... Oh, yeah definitely unloved... Ok?.. Yes, very poor. Only thing he has to eat is cardboard and stale water... Okay. Great... Yup, see you soon. Bye.”

I look at her with one of those faux-disappointed looks where you press your lips together to the sides of your cheeks.

She just smirks and shrugs. “Gotta sell yourself Anon.”

Fang’s dad is furiously tapping at his phone, before placing it next to his own ear.

“Samantha listen... Samantha!.. I don’t want some ski-”

“RIPLEY AARON YOU WILL MAKE YOURSELF AS WELCOMING AS SAURIANLY POSSIBLE FOR OUR GUEST, DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!” I shudder, she's so loud you can hear her through the receiver this far away. ‘Remind me not to get on Fangs moms bad side’.

Fangs dad grumbles and grits his teeth. “Yes dear” He says defeatedly before hanging up.

Chapter Text

Fang, myself, and Fangs dad all exit the school. Its total pandemonium outside. People, and officers running every which way.

“Hey! Over here”

I look over to the source of the familiar voice, recognizing the gaudy outfit before the face.

Naser and reed were standing next the Nascar. I can see Nasers face scrunch up in stress, and apprehension as he lays eyes on his dad. Reeds expression remains the same. Dopey, and out-of-it. Yet always preceptive.

“Naser, take Lucy home.” Naser is already braced for the shit fit Fang is about to throw, but it never comes. Clearly, that small victory she has won over her father is keeping her indignation at bay.

I go to follow Fang into the Nascar before the door is forcibly shut tight by Fangs Dad. “You’ll be riding with me.”

I gulp as I am led away to his squad car. As I crane my neck back to the Nascar I can see Fang glaring viciously through the front window.

I get into the back of the cop car like I was being arrested. I watch in agony as the Nascar worms its way through the overcrowded parking lot. ‘Gah, what I wouldn't give to be there right now.’

I hear a snort from Fangs Dad. Dammit, me and my big mouth.

We idle there, Fangs dad clearly in no rush to get home. The more we wait, the more anxious I get. Must be some kind of police interrogation tactic... Swell.

“Your name?”

I'm jolted back to reality by Fangs dads sudden question. “Uhhm-uhh Anon. Y. Mous.”

Another grunt.

“My name is Ripley. You will call me Mr. Aaron.”

“Y-yes, Mr. Aaron.” I say, trying my best to stop my shaking knees from starting a fire in between my crotch.

We slowly begin driving out of the parking lot.

‘Fangs house sure must be far away’ I think to myself. ‘Wait, didn't we pass by that house 6 minutes ago?’

We eventually arrive. Man... ‘Their house is huge!’ Two whole stories, and a garage?

Mr. Aaron approaches the door. His strides are powerful, and commanding, but as soon as the door opens he tenses up, like a child who just got caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

Oh, no. Oh, no! From what I heard screeched through the phone, and from how Mr. Aaron had immediately become so tense and meek... I shut my eyes tight, and accept my fate. Ready to be eaten alive by the demon of the Aaron household.

“RIPLEY AARON!” A shrill, shriek echos through the night.

“DINNER WAS READY 5 MINUTES AGO. I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO BE NICE TO OUR GUEST, INSTEAD YOU’RE DRAGGING HIM AROUND IN YOUR POLICE CAR!? INTERROGATING HIM, LIKE SOME KIND OF CRIMINAL!?”

“I-im sorry my love... I got lost on my way here. Honest!”

Oh God its terrible. Ripley is getting ripped to shreds. I didn't know you for that long old man... All of maybe 15 minutes. But you didn't deserve this fate.

I dare to open one eye, peering behind Ripley I see... An almost miniature version of Fang. Sure her hair was blonde, and she was shorter, and much older, and not dressed like someone who gets their fashion tips from my idiot cousin. But still the resemblance was there. ‘Huh, just like Naser, and Naser max.’ The most striking thing about her were her eyes though. And they were wide open, filled with rage. If Mr. Aarons gaze could burn a whole through me, The glare of Mrs. Aaron would instantly atomize me.

Ripley is looking down, pathetically. Eventually, Mrs. Aaron notices me staring. I snap my eye back shut. Praying she won't lay into me next. ‘Please God, if you’re out there. Please don't let me die here. I still have so much to do! Please, please, please, please, please, please!’

“Oh. You must be Anon. It's a pleasure to have you as our guest here at our humble home.” said ‘the most sweet, and caring voice I had ever heard.’

I open my eyes back up, looking around for who just said that. I look down. ‘Mrs. Aaron?’

“Ohoho, you’re such a sweet boy. Please, just call me Samantha. Now come, come, or dinner will get cold.”

She beams up at me with the sweetest motherly smile you could think of. She was smiling so much she was squinting.

Just a few short moments ago she was ripping cadet Aaron a new one at basic, now she's acting like a sweet old grandma.

“Hey, Anon what's up man?”

I go to dap up Naser. “Eh, a little shell shocked is all”

Naser rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. “Yeah, Well... I mean W-we got Xrox.” He suggests

A cocky grin plasters over my face.

“Now, now dears, that will have to wait. Dinner was ready 5 minutes ago.”

“Hey mom, how about we have dinner in the living room. I want to catch what's on the news for... Whatever this all is”

Samantha puts her hands together in an approving way. “Oh that sounds like a great idea Nassey-poo.” Naser immediately becomes flushed with embarrassment. “Go call your sister down for supper, will you.”

“Yes mom” Naser heads upstairs.

“Anything i can help you with Mrs. A- S-samantha?”

Samantha chuckles brightly “Oh no dear, you just make yourself at home. I'll have supper ready for you all soon.”

I head to the living room. I lay there on the couch, closing my eyes and recanting what's happened so far.

‘Bitched out by spears, trampled, Naomi having brain damage, now I'm at Fangs house and I don't know who to be more afraid of. Mr. Aaron, or Mrs. Aaron.’

Thwack Right on my shin“Ahhgh!”

“Earth to dweeb!”

I look at her annoyed.

She simply smirks, and plops down next to me on the couch. We sit there in silence for a moment.

“So... Did you hear that ringing as well?” I ask her.

She groans. “Ugh, don't even get me started on that. I nearly threw up.”

I grimace.

“Once... Whatever that was subsided, I heard everyone rushing from the roof. I hid in one of the bathrooms. Rushing past was nearly everyone. I felt light-headed, my brain trying to wrap around what I was seeing. I thought I saw Trish and Reed in there, I thought I saw Rosa and Stella. But I know for a fact they were down in the gardens at that time.”

Fang clenches the sides of her head as she hunches over on the couch.

“Then I realized you were in the halls too. What if you got caught up in all of that? And you did...”

Tentatively, I put a hand on her shoulder, saying a silent prayer the grim reaper of the Aaron household doesn't see me doing something so immodest.

Fang lets out a long, exasperated sigh. “I don't think I even wanna see what's on the news right now.”

‘Shit I really wanted to see what was on the news right now.’

Fang looks over at me, clearly annoyed.

Suddenly we hear a loud pounding on the front door.

‘Oh shit! Is it muggers taking advantage of the chaos? Ripley's enemies? Our doppelgängers?.. Naomi???’

I hear the front door open.

“Ayyyyyy, Ol’ Rip-o.” I hear from down the hallway. The loud thumping of oversized saurian shoes starts getting closer, and closer.

‘Oh God, this is even worse. Ripley’s friend is here to kill me! I bet he's even more terrifying than Ripley himself! He sounds Italian. What if he’s mafia? Is he's gonna make me disappear?

Thump Thump Thump Down the hall to the living room. And then...

Out of every possibility of who this could have been, a stubby armed T. rex in an apron was the last thing on my mind.

“M-moe?” I hear Fang blurt out beside me. She has the expression like she’d just seen a ghost.

“Ayyyyy Lil’ Luce. C’mere n’ give ya uncle Moe a hug uh?”

Moe waddles over to Fang. She stands up awkwardly, but the two share a long happy hug.

“Huh, A human!? N’ who mite dis be?”

“That's the one I asked you to wa-.” “This is Anon. He’s Lucys new friend” Samantha interjects from behind the couch, trying to mask her agitation with her husband with her cheeriness. I can see Fang clenching her teeth. Weather at Ripley, or Samantha, I don't know.

“Well its good to meet ya Anon. N’ hey, any friend a lil’ Luce ‘ere s’ a friend a mine!” He says, reaching out one of his stubby arms. I awkwardly, half prop myself off the couch, my back bent at an odd angle as I shake his hand.

“I've been away from work for too long, especially considering the cities current circumstances Moe’s going to be staying here tonight. So if there's any trouble...” Ripley pauses to glare at me for dramatic effect. All i can do is avert my eyes, and shrink back into the couch. Much to the amusement of Fang. “I’ll. Know.”

After Ripley leaves, Naser returns with some TV dinner tables, and then with some plates of casserole.

Moe sets down a very long briefcase, and takes the remote and flicks on the TV

“This is the Cambrian News Network, bringing you your evening report with Ian B Anderson, and Barbra Chamberlin”

“Good evening, I’m Ian Anderson.”

“And I'm Barbra Chamberlin”

“We bring you breaking news tonight on the current state of the ongoing global upheaval. According to the state department our dimension has merged with another causing the near instant doubling of the population. Members of the public have reported doppelgängers of themselves in or around their homes and workplaces. Authorities advise not to interact with these doppelgängers as they can be unpredictable. Many in a state of hysteria, some members of the public report to be the result of an imminent meteor impact, or extinction level event.”

The man’s Colleague chimes in after him.

“We now bring you an emergency address from the president.”

An old, greying parasaur appears on-screen. Standing behind a podium, and Illuminated with high beam lights, and surrounded by armed guards.

“Good evening. At 9:17 AM today, continental time, a catastrophic failure at the Mesa Grey research facility in the central desert region has resulted in what is known as a Resolution Cascade, causing our dimension to fuse with its near identical sister dimension. Due to this, Around 70-85% of the population now has a near identical doppelgänger from our sister dimension. Due to the near doubling of the population, I am declaring martial law for the time being until my administration can formulate an effective response to this upheaval. Curfew will start at 9:00PM every night, and will last until 5:00AM in the morning. The national guard will be deployed to all major cities. Finally, it is not recommended to interact with your doppelgänger should you encounter them. Most are in a state of mania, are confused about where they are, and may be under the presumption that the world is about to end due to a ‘meteor.’ That is all, thank you for your time, and God bless Pangea... I will now hand the podium to Dr. Reklein for more specifics, and best practices when dealing with our current situation.”

The president steps down for an even older, balding Compy in a white lab coat to take his place at the podium. He begins rattling off technical details on what has happened at ‘Mesa Grey.’

Everyone is silent in the room. I don't even think anyone's eating their food anymore. All their attention focused entirely on the TV.

‘Doppelgängers, huh? I wonder what my doppelgängers like. Probably another lanky shit poster.’

“SHHH!” Oh crap, that was Samantha.

We sit there for what seemed like hours, completely engrossed in the ramblings of Dr. Reklein. Though his high-pitched, fast-paced scientist voice did nothing to calm our nerves.

Suddenly, we hear a knock at the door.

It certainly can't be Ripley, the knocks are too delicate, and he should be at work.

It couldn't be Trish or Reed. Fang would have received a message.

Same goes for Naomi. Naser would have heard something.

A cold sweat begins to form on my face as I look over at Fang.

She has the same expression as me... Dread. I know we’re both thinking the same thing. Our doppelgängers.

Slowly, with a menacing expression on his massive snout, Moe stands up and begins lumbering towards the door. Unlatching the briefcase in hand as he walks. I can't see it, but I can definitely hear it. The sounds of a gun.

We sit in silence as the door creeks open slightly.

“Who iz it?” Moe says gruffly

...

“I dunno anyone name Sava, or Saiyee or whateva. Now get lost befo i get angry.”

...

“Listen ‘Ere pal, I already told ya, Get Lost!”

“Please you don’t understand, we live here!”

My head snaps in the direction of the voices' owner.

Naser.

Naser is looked at the door, and then back at his mom. A mix of fear, and intrigue swirling across his face. Samantha simply sat in silence. Her mouth pursed, and her eyes shut tight. Fang was clenching her jaw intermittently.

Cllllllick

The distinct sound of a hammer action being cocked back echos throughout the house

...

Its barely audible, but i can just make out the last thing Nasers potential doppelgänger said.

“C’mon, sib. Lets go see if we can get a hold of cousin Abdul.”

‘Sib.’ Like sibling. Non gendered language... Fang must be with him.

We sit there in silence, not moving, not saying anything until we hear Moe creak the door back shut.

He reenters the living room, packaging the gun back up into the briefcase before sitting down on the couch.

“Was it?..” Samantha question hangs in the air.

“I’ waz” Moe confirms. A serious underlying tone betraying his typically excentric, and friendly demeanour.

“Doesn't it seem a bit cruel leaving them out there, all on their own? I mean, they are technically our clones.” Naser adds.

Fang only scoffs. “I already have one fucked wing retard to deal with, I don't need another.” She says dismissively

“Lucy, watch your language please.”

Fang goes to open her mouth, but stops once she realizes her mom is staring at her between her perpetual squint. She only averts her eyes, and shrinks into the couch slightly.

Huh, wonder what their universes Samantha is like... Wait, where is the other Samantha?

“Wait, wait, wait, wait.” I pump my hands forward in front of me with each wait. “If Naser has a double, and if Fang has a double, then where is other-Samantha?”

I look around the room, only to realize the Aarons all have the same quizzical expression as me.

“Don’ fink dey do, kid.” Moe says, a bit of his usual colour returning to his voice.

“Dey wuz askin for a Say-heed, or Sava, or sumfin. I don’ no.”

“Those dont sound like North Easter names. Sound more central Pangean to me.” Naser adds

“No shit, dumbass.” Fang mutters under her breath.

I interject again. “Wait, but that makes no sense. If Fang, and Naser both have doubles, then where are Ripley, and Samanthas, Where is yours for that matter Moe?”

Moe slaps his knee, laughing to himself. “Jeez kid, im a pizza chef. Im nodda docta on inta-dimesional whatevas. I think you’s askin da wrong dino.”

I slump back in my seat, my cheek resting on my fist. “So... You dont think theres another Mr. Aaron out there, do you?” I ask, a pang of worry in my voice.

More Harty laughs from Moe, and some snickers from the Aaron children.

Eventually the news, and conversation peters off. We all head to bed.

Samantha, Naser, and Fang all head upstairs. I offer to take the couch, but Moe sends me to the guest bedroom.

...

I’m awoken by a kick to my makeshift bed

“Groan ‘morning to you too, Fang...” I say groggily.

“Get up” A gruff voice, which isn’t Fangs responds

‘Oh God.’ My eyes shoot open, pupils shrinking in terror... Its Ripley.

I shoot straight up. I quickly glance up at his face. Even past the exhaustion in his eyes, he looks livid.

I quickly shuffle out of the living room to the kitchen.

“Now I'm gonna have to get these things washed.” I hear him mutter as I speed shuffle past.

“Outside!” I hear him shout.

Embarrassed, I shuffle back past him, outside to his squad car.

We both climb into his squad car, and pull out of the driveway. Ripleys driving like he wants to get this over with as soon as he can. But from what i see outside, i don't think that I'm entirely the reason.

Outside litter the remains of a riot. Glass broken, stores looted, police tape on every corner, trash and garbage across every road. From the most overpriced coffee shop in downtown Volcaldera, all the way down to my shithole in Skin Row. Though obviously, nothing much changed in Skin Row, it still looked terrible.

We pull up to my dingy, grimy, old apartment complex. “Get out.” He commands.

I nearly trip as I scramble to get out of the squad car.

As soon as my feet hit the ground, Ripley peels out of there as fast as he could. I wipe my brow, watching the cop car fade into the distance.

Remembering the world is currently experiencing a multidimensional crisis, I quickly sprint to my apartment.

I rush though the decapitated halls, noticing a few faces I've seen before, mulling around the complex.

‘Why aren't they in their apartments. They of all people should know how dangerous it is outside.’

I find my door, force the key in, yank the handle down, barge inside, and...

Nothing.

No, mirror Anon.

No intruder.

Everything's... Just as i left it.

Even my shmexy doujinshi ‘hehehe.’

Man i gotta clean soon.

I lay down on my bed, bringing my phone above my face.

1 text from Fang.

“Fang: Sorry dad kicked u out >:>

Fang: School will be out for today and tommorow btw. So wish you stuck around :>”

I let my arm down limply onto the bed, and let out a sigh. “Greeeeeaaaat.”

Chapter Text

I lay on my bed, pondering what to do. With school out for the next 2 days, my options for entertainment are limited.

Fang has completely gone silent. Last text she sent me was “brb dad is screaming at me >:v.”

‘Hmmmm. I could post on Le Chan? No, don't have the effort too right now. I could read my shmexy animoo comics? No, too gay. I could do homework? No, don't have the effort, and too gay.

I lay there trying to think of something to do. I roll off my bed with a thunk to the floor, when I look over at the clock, an hour has passed. With nothing else to do I get up, and walk over to my apartments dingy window between my bed and desk.

I wonder what Fang and Naser are doing all cooped up in that mansion of theirs. Probably are close to tearing each other apart, if they haven't done that already. But after what Fang told me on the roof 2 weeks ago, maybe there's a chance for them to reconcile.

As I look down to the streets below, I begin to imagine how that conversation would go.

Naser and Fang, talking, laughing, Fang jabbing Naser in the side with her elbow. I chuckle at the thought. Walking down the street, sun shining, reminiscing about all the fun times they’ve had together. Fang rubbing her elbow, Naser looking around like he's been through a war zone, their clothes looking like they pulled them from a burning building… In skin row.

‘Wait a minute.’

What the hell? What are Fang and Naser doing in Skin Row? They looked terrible, even from two stories up I could see. Naser doesnt have his iconic floral jacket on, and his white pants were covered in dirt. Fang's hair was tattered, and had faded lavender blotches. Although I couldn't make out any damage to her typical black attire.

I grab my phone, and pocket knife and quickly sprint through the hall, and down the stairs out of my apartment building. By now Fang, and Naser had already passed by the front door.

“Naser! Fang!”

I call out, trying to be loud enough to get their attention, but hopefully not loud enough to get the attention of those around us.

They don't seem to notice, it's like they're zombies, the way they’re moving. Lazily swaying in their steps like they’re exhausted.

I catch up behind them, grabbing Naser on the shoulder. “Hey, What are you guys doing he-”

He spins around, using his forearm to forcefully push my hand off his shoulder as he spins.

I look at him, bewildered.

“L-look man, we don’t want any trouble alright.”

What is he talking about? Fangs acting weird too, standing behind him like some kind of scared puppy.

“Look we're just passing though, we're tired, and hungry, and the world's about to end, okay, whatever you are.”

My eyes go wide as they turn to walk away. This must be the other Naser, and Fang. Shit, what should i do? The news was right, they do think the world is gonna end. They could be manic, and violent. I could get killed... Or they could get killed. Especially in Skin Row. I gotta do something, I can't just let them go off like this, Naser’s a bro... My bro. But this Naser isn't.

“Everyone's fighting their own battles.” Spear's words ring in my head. ‘Haaaaaah, I'm gonna regret this.’

“Naser, Fang wait!” He turns his head to me, exhausted, but with a glimmer of hope in his eye.

“You don’t know me, but I know you, at least kinda. I know you from this universe, you too, Fang.” She perks up as well at the mention of her name. I take a few steps towards them to say the next part more quiet. “I don't know how you got here, but this is a really dangerous part of town. I know you don't know me, but you two still are my friends. I have an apartment here, you can come inside and rest.”

Naser, with a tired smile on his face, slowly nods as he turns back to me.

He sighs, clearly exhausted. “Alright, whoever you are. What's... What's your name, by the way.”

‘Oh shit fuck, stupid Anon.’ “R-right. Mous, Anon. Y. Mous.” I grin stupidly as I extend my hand.

He shakes it. Weird. Far more limp than my Naser.

I lead them back to my apartment.

I creak open the beat up door, and usher them inside.

“Welcome to casa del anon.” I say sarcastically.

Naser chuckles a bit. “Fang... You take the bed, alright. I'm going to take the floor.”

I scratch the back of my head. ‘Really making yourselves at home, huh?’

Fang plops down on my bed without a word. Wish I cleaned the sheets before all this, oh well.

Naser chuckles before leaning his head on my bed, and slumping to the side.

“Naser?” They’re both fast asleep.

They must have been walking since... Since they came to the Aarons house... Their house. And now they're in my apartment.

Shit. Who can I call to get them out of here. I need a place to sleep too. Moe? No, he just kicked them out. The Aarons ‘I already have one fucked wing retard to deal with, I don't need another one.’ Maybe Fang will agree. After all, this Nasers wing doesn't look fucked up at all. Trish? No. Could call Rosa, but I only know her as my warden for when I get detention, so it probably wouldn't be appropriate...

“Ah!” I snap my fingers when the thought finally crosses my mind.

I’ll ask Reed. He’d probably be too doped up to realize it wasn’t the actual Fang and Naser. And he's rich! I think.

Snickering to myself at my genius plan, I pull out my phone, and go to Reeds contact.

“Hey man, it's Anon. Fang and Naser are crashing at my place, and need to stay somewhere for a while, but I only have one bed. Can they stay at your place?”

Chapter Text

I roll, and groan. God, why does my bed feel worse than usual, then I realize I'm not in my bed. In my groggy stupor, my eyes slowly peel open. Same old room. Same water stains on the roof, same chip bags on the floor, same tissues next to the desk, same beat up old PC, Fang, is in my bed, and Naser is curled up on the rug, Same ramen cups on the table. Guess nothing much has changed, might as well go back to sleep.

“Snoreeee.” Huh, that's odd. I don't think I snore...

My eyes shoot open.

‘What the hell, why are Fang, and Naser in my room? Oh shit, Ripley is going to kill me.’

My hands clutch the sides of my head as I begin to nervously pace back and forth.

What's going on. Why are they both in my room. In Skin Row! Slowly, the memories of the last 24 hours begin funnelling back into my conscious mind. Dimensional rift, no school, Fang getting chewed out by her dad. Now Naser, and Fang both show up at my place, but It's not actually Naser and Fang. I try and call Reed, but I could never get through to him, probably because he was high on carfe again. Nighttime comes, and not Fang, and Naser are still asleep in my apartment. And then I fell asleep on this chair, which up until now has been more of a dump for dirty laundry.

As I pace back and forth, I notice the form of one of my guests stirring. I stop and turn to the side. 

Slowly arching herself up off the bed, warping the sheets around her form. She brushes the long strands of greyish silver hair out of her face, and locks eyes with me.

Even in the pale morning light of my room, I can still make her out, yet she looks different. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but it's like seeing an old movie you’d watch as a kid, or walking through a place you would visit a lot after years. She looks the same, yet different.

‘I wonder if I should say something.’

“Uhhh, H-hi Fa-”

“Skreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

The palms of my hands shoot to my ears to block out the migraine inducing screech.

Ugh, it's so loud. It's like screaming into an old microphone, where a high pitch gets digitizes and garbled. I think the windows are even vibrating, It's so loud.

Naser too rolls out of sleep, standing up hurriedly.

“Sib, sib, relax. We’re okay!”

“Naser, what is that thing!”

‘Ouch.’

Naser looks back at me. His expression changing between weather to be offended at Fang's comment towards me, to afraid, then to sympathetic.

“Fang, it's alright. He’s a friend. Remember yesterday, when we were walking? He’s giving us to sleep until mom and dad get back.”

“Naser! The meteor, We’re never going to see them again!” Fang shouts back in indignant defence. She sounds both sad and angry, almost like she doesn't want to believe the world isn't going to end.

“Fang, we’re alright. I'm alive, you’re alive, mom and dad are alive.”

Fang slowly wraps her wings around herself, cutting herself off from the outside world. Naser wraps an arm around her winged enclosure, stroking her back. I can hear her sniffling from within.

Naser slowly begins mumbling a soft tune. 

“lla tnam Rima Yalla yjeeha el nawm yalla theb essala yalla theb essawm yalla tjeeha el a” 

I can't hear all of it, his voice is so low. But it doesn't sound like English. It sounds central Pangaean.

As I ponder why Naser would be speaking in another language, I realize how awkward I look just standing there.

I exit my room onto the open air hallway of the inner part of my apartment complex. 

Resting my arms on the ledge, I peer down into the dilapidated courtyard, straight out of city 17.

Before the sight of the first floor's broken windows, the rusted 201m1970 BC children's playground, and the miscellaneous trash strewn about, I pull out my phone.

‘Four new texts from Reed, huh? Better late than never, I guess.’

>Hey man srry i dnt gt ur txt lol

>I ws lk bsy w sm stff rn so icl was knda fkd up X3

>N e way wsp u need lk a hkup r sum i gt sm extra frm m plug ts week so u can stop by tho

>But i gt lk a frnd ovr rn so don mnd hm rn lol cuz he a noob lk u knda spaced out ngl

...

“What the fuck did any of that mean.”

I sigh and drag my arm holding the phone off the coarse top of the ledge, letting it swing back and forth between my door and the ledge.

I exhale, exhausted already. “Well, Reeds not gonna be any help.”

“Reed?”

I turn back towards my door. Nasers standing in the frame. His arms crossed, and his side leaning against it.

Seeing him in the light now, there actually is some notable difference. While he still looks like my Naser, this Nasers features are different enough to warrant observation. His eyes are longer, and his crest wraps around the length of his face instead of terminating at the bridge of his snout. The tip of his snout is also much rounder, and it looks like he has Cheeto dust at the ends of his fingers.

“We have a Reed as well, he plays in-”

“Fangs band. I know.”

He brightens up at that. Despite not knowing me at all, some normality in all this mess, I think, is exactly what he needs.

He coughs into his fist. “Right, well, my sibling here. They would like to say something to you.”

It was odd hearing him say that. It's not like something my Naser wouldn't say, but the way he said it seemed so natural for him. Like he wasn't trying to force it out, or walk on eggshells for his siblings' sake.

Fang emerges from the dark apartment.

Once again, Fang is similar to, well, Fang. Yet at the same time is different enough to warrant a closer look.

She was a whole foot taller than my Fang. Her wings had far greater plumage, and extended down all the way to her calves, instead of just to her upper hips. Her face was also different, more squarish, with smaller eyes compared to my Fang. Not only that, but her snout was also closer to her face, and taller than my Fang.

... And she has no tits.

She clutches her arm, not making eye contact with me. Almost the same way I found my Fang on the rooftop two weeks ago.

“I'm... I'm sorry for screaming, and for calling you a thing. It was desaurianizing of me. I'm just... So scared right now.”

I chuckle a bit. Her ignorance on the word desaurianizing, and how it is often used to describe human immigration, will make for an excellent le greentext later.

“It's alright Fang. We're all fighting our own battles, and it looks like you just landed on Normandunga beach.”

She doesn't seem to get it.

“I-I think he means Mandunga beach, y’know, from the second world war.” Naser interjects.

‘Second world war, don't these tourists know it's called the Great Human Rebellion? No, of course they don't, idiot. They’re not even from this dimension.’

I look up from my thoughts. Both of them are staring at me. My face flushes red.

Fang and Naser both back up. Scared of something.

‘Oh come on, I didn't say anything that stupid!’

“A-anon. What's happening to your face?” Naser asks.

“Huh?”

“It's all red! How are you doing that!”

My hand touches my face. “Blushing?”

They both continue to stare.

“Like when you’re embarrassed?” I ask like the answer to them was obvious.

They continue to stare.

I put my hands on my hips, and shake my head. Looking back up at them. “You really haven’t seen someone like me before, have you?”

They both shake their heads.

I exhale. Looks like school really isn't out, and I’ve just been hired. ‘Professor Mous. Doctor of human history.’

“Come on back inside. I’ll try my best to tell you everything I know about what's going on.”

We all reenter the apartment, locking the door behind us.

This is going to be a long rest of the year.

Chapter Text

Fang, Naser, and I reenter the apartment. I shut, and deadbolt the door behind us. Fang looks over at me, a timid expression on her face as she rubs her arm. “Safety, Y’know.” I chuckle nervously. Trying not to upset the already agitated Ptero. “Besides, doubt you have much to worry about with Naser here if he's anything like my Naser.”

That makes her smile a bit.

Naser, and Fang, take a seat at my small and crummy kitchen table.

I fumble around in my cabinets, and my fridge, looking for something edible besides cheap candy bars, or instant noodles. As I rummage, some of my pantries limited contents clatter onto the ground. “Ahehe, d-dont mind that. Just looking to be a good host, or something.” ‘Damn, I should really leave this stuff to Naomi.’

“N-Naomi?” I hear from behind me.

‘Oh God, please don't tell me they have a Naomi as well.’

“Have you seen here?” Fang asks me, a pang of desperation in her voice.

“I guess, what do you care?” I say filling a plastic cup a few times before taking a sip of it.

Fang's hand returns to her arm as she squeezes. Naser puts a hand reassuringly on her shoulder.

Fang turns her head, eyes clenched. “It's okay, Fang, You don't have to tell him if you don't want to. But he’s proven to be a good friend so far.”

‘Jumping the gun on that one a little, Naser, all I'm letting you do is crash at my shithole apartment.’

Fang clears her thoat. “Naomi’s...”

I take another drink of water.

“Naomi’s my girlfriend.”

Pfffffffft! A haze of mist shoots out of my mouth, like at the bottom of a water fall. I immediately Fall backwards, leaning on the small kitchen table as I hack and cough.

Fang lets out a pained yelp as her hand shoot to her face in embarrassment.

Naser slams his hands down onto the table as he rises from his chair. “Anon! Not cool man!”

I raise my hand apologetically as I cough, and hack up my drink.

“I'm sorry.” I plead in-between raspy coughs.

After my coughing and wheezing dies down, I cautiously approach the table and sit down, with 2 other drinks in hand. I pass them to Fang and Naser.

I sigh. ‘Seems like I even screw things up with Fang from a different dimension.’

I can see her perk up a little. I almost hope I said that out loud.

I have to say something now, something to defuse this mess I’ve created. She looks like Fang, she must act somewhat similar to her. Think Anon, think... Honesty is the best policy.

I clear my throat. “I'm sorry for my out burst, Fang.” I say in the most diplomatic tone I can manage. “It's obvious the two of us come from very different worlds. From what I’ve heard, the memory of yours may not be what you want to think about right now, so how about I tell you about mine?” I ask, trying my best to give her the most compassionate smile I can manage.

She side eyes me, and gives me a melancholic nod.

I grin, knowing I said successfully defused my screw-up.

“So... You don't have any people like me in your world. Humans, Neanderthals, or Cetaceans?”

They both shake their heads.

“We’re warm-blooded . Unlike you, you’re both cold-blooded .”

They both look over at each other. “I remember Naomi saying something about that, some theoretical concept.” Naser mumbles.

“I think our worlds must have diverged one million years ago. Are you familiar with the Sauria Tribus era of history?”

They both nod. Huh, my hypothesis seems to be correct. Maybe I should become a history professor or something.

“Can you remember anything you were taught of that era?”

Naser perks up. “Ancient tribal era for most of us. Raptors eventually formed an early democracy till they were destroyed, I think.”

I nod my head. My heart starts racing like I'm on the verge of discovering something buried for thousands of years.

“The Suaria Tribus era ended after the formation of the Rapterran empire.”

“In 99M4793 BC, the Raptor empire, on the verge of collapse, conquered the Sapiens Cradle region in central Pangaea. This area of the world was home to us.” I say, gesturing to myself.

“The Raptors eventually conquered us, using us as slave labour.”

Fang looks down in shame, odd. My Fang would have just scoffed, or teased me for it. But this Fang looks ashamed. Of a species she's not even part of, from a dimension she's not even from, from a time ages in the past. What gives?

“Buuuut.” I say, trying to pull Fang out of her hole. “It's okay since humans were recognized for their ingenuity, and determination. Eventually, we were completely absorbed into Raptor society. That's where the name Rapterran comes from. Incanus the blind, the first human emperor, I think.”

For the next two hours, I take the opportunity to indulge in a historically accurate sperg out.

“... And that's why the Parasaurs did 9/11 because they control all the banks, and the military industrial complex, and...”

I look around at the table, Fang and Naser had completely glazed over, resembling Reed after a nasty carfe binge.

“uhhh, hehe. That sound familiar at all?” I ask, shrugging.

They both shake their heads. ‘Well, at least I know my hypothesis was correct, our worlds must be different.’

“Our worlds are vastly different.” Fang says. The tang of some passive-aggressive tone eminent on her words.

“For one.” She continues. “Parasaurs aren't some evil cabal bent on world domination.” ‘Oh God, here we go.’ “My girlfriend... She's a Parasaur. And she is in no way manipulative, or possessive, or unstable!”

Fang says, her voice raised. It clearly hasn't been a totally joyful day for Fang, she's completely lost her smile.

We sit in awkward silence. Till suddenly, Fang perks up.

Naser snaps his fingers. “Hey I know. How about you show us around, Anon. See what's so different about this world, compared to ours. We might even be able to make some new friends!”

I look at him sarcastically. “With the riots going around? It's like the end of the world out there, don't you think there’d be some looting, or shooting?”

He looks to the side, scratching his head sheepishly. “Well, no. I mean, the world... Our world I guess kinda ended or something...” Fang shrinks back into her chair at that. “But no one was rioting. We all came together in love and solidarity.”

‘Gay.’

Fang lets out a sigh. “Cant believe everything is gone. Our home, our parents. The only people we have now are our friends, and Naomi.”

“And Anon now!” Naser says. Fang just gives him an annoyed look.

He puts a hand on her shoulder. “It's alright Fang. We’ll get through this. We’ll see our parents again.”

“How can you say that? How can you know?”

Naser just lowers his head. They sit there, solemnly.

...

“Why don't you just call them?”

Fang and Naser both look up at me, like I was speaking a different language to them.

“You have cell phones, right? Just call them.”

They both scramble to pull out their phones.

Naser shakes his head. “Dead.”

“Mine too.” Fang sighs.

Slowly, I reach into my pocket and pull mine out.

“You’ll have to contact them on mine then.”

Chapter Text

I check the time. Looking at my apartments clock, it reads 10:57 PM. I can't check my phones time because Fang is still using it. Pacing back and forth, back and forth.

To occupy my time without my shit posting device, I fill Naser in on more of the intricacies of this world.

“... And that's why I live in this dump. It was the only part of the city with a human majority my dad could afford.”

“He really doesn't like us, does he.”

“Hated Saurians since he was in Mid-pan back in ‘82. I guess seeing all your friends get killed by one specific species will do that too you, though.”

Naser shakes his head in disbelief. “It's incomprehensible to me. Worst thing my families ever had to go through was the protests my parents took part in. It was awful, my ‘Ab got pepper sprayed. He was in therapy for it for years after.”

“’Ab?”

“Father. In Arabic.”

“Why are you speaking Arabic?”

Naser looks at me confused. “Because our parents are from Dinarabia? Aren't your Fang, and Naser the same way?”

I scoff. “No. You guys go to the Lutheran church every Sunday.”

“... So, were not immigrants?”

I chuckle a bit. “Now that would be a conundrum. Ripley Aaron, the immigrant.”

“Who?”

“... Your dad?”

“My dads name is Saeed.”

My eyebrows furrow. ‘How is it that Naser, and Fang can exist, but their parents can't.’

“So your dad isn’t Ripley Aaron the police commissioner for Volcaldera?”

“No? He's a real estate developer.”

I hear my phone clatter onto the table. Fang slumps down onto the couch across the room.

She lets out a sigh. “Nothing... And we got nowhere to stay. Not with that T-Rex living in our house.”

“What are you talking about, Fang? Anons letting us stay at his place.”

She lets out an exasperated yawn. “Anon, don't take this personally. This place looks like something out of Reeds legends and lore books. We gotta find somewhere else to stay, this Isn’t fair to you.”

“No offence taken, I hate it here just as much as you do.”

‘Isn’t that, that faggy game Stella yaps about sometimes? Why would Reed be playing that shit?’

Speaking of Reed, let me see if I’ve gotten any messages from him.

...

Nothing.

Just as I go to put the phone down, it starts buzzing. Low and behold, it's from Reed. Convenient.

I answer the phone call. “Yoooo man. Whassup. Sorry I couldn't answer your texts and stuff, I was like, doing stuff y’know.”

I sigh and shake my head. Fang and Naser both come closer to me to see Reed.

“But now that were, like, calling and stuff. I gotta show you something really cool, like you’ll think its really cool man.”

“Okay Reed, let's see it.”

“Okay just lemme flip the camera around bro.”

Reed bites down on his tongue as he tries to flip the camera around. By the long look I get at his eyes, its clear he's high on carfe.

“Look Reed, its getting late.”

“Nah nah nah wait bro, trust, trust.”

I sit there watching Reed fiddle with his phone for the next minute while Fang and Naser watch me expectantly.

Finally, Reed manages to flip his camera around. “What? Reed is that?”

Reed points the camera at himself. Only it's not himself, it's a smaller, redder looking version of himself passed out on the couch with a flask in his hand. It's his doppelgänger, his mirror double.

“Pretty cool right, I found him wandering outside my place right? And since he's, like, me, I'm letting him crash at like my place. So we’re, like, in the spare living room right now.”

Spare living room, huh? “Is he awake at all?”

“Nah dude, look at him. He's passed out, man.”

I sigh, and gesture for Fang and Naser to get behind me.

“Reed, flip your camera back around.”

Fang and Naser get behind me just as Reeds camera switches.

“Woooaah, Fang, Naser, why are, like, you guys doing at Anons house. That place is a dump.”

“Reed you’ve never been to my house.” I say

“I can just tell these things dude”

“Aha, Hi, Reed.” Fang says waving awkwardly from behind me.

“Woahhhh, Anon, man. Now you got, like, two Fangs dude.”

I chortle to myself stupidly. “Hehe, yeah. Two Fangs.” Before my mind can slip into thoughts of the two Fangs in bikinis my thoughts are abruptly halted.

“Wait, Reed. How can you tell these aren't our Fang, or Naser?”

“I already told you man. I just know these things.”

I let out an exhausted sigh. “Listen, Reed. I got a big favour to ask.”

“Its all good man, Fang and Naser can crash at my house. Other-Reed is gonna be like, crashing here in the spare living rooms couch, so like, Naser and Fang can stay at, like, one of the guest bedrooms.”

I'm too exhausted to say anything, I just lean my head back across the back of my chair. “Thank you, Reed. You are a lifesaver.”

“Yeah man, you got, like, a sexy neck and stuff.”

I jolt back up, glaring back at him. Reed gives me a dopey, self-satisfied grin. “I’ll, like, come get you guys tomorrow. Just text me your address, bro.”

“Yeah. Good night Reed.” I say flatly. “Night ma-.” I hang up the call, cutting him off abruptly.