Chapter Text
In the wake of everything, there was silence.
Which made sense. There’s nothing in the Inbetween. No wind. But you’d hear the haggled pants, the shuffling of fabric, the slam as Kristine lets gravity take over and falls flat onto the floor, and the slight crunch of ‘gravel’ under Christian’s shoes as he shifts. Curt watched him. He was glancing back from Ivan when he met Curt's eye, and Curt could swear he froze slightly.
What? He asked wordlessly, with barely a tilt in his head and a slight frown of his brow.
Christian doesn’t react, looking past him at Den, then Kristine, staying weirdly still. Or was Curt just paranoid? Has he spent so long in the Inbetween that he forgot how to read his friends? Was he a bad friend- Curt sighed inaudibly and turned his attention back to the plushie that laid in a crater. He started towards the crater, and flinched when Christian suddenly moved like a pause button was pressed on a remote. The man had taken a step towards him, getting… too close for comfort, honestly. And Curt couldn’t tell if his tolerance had gotten lower after this whole… ordeal or was it Christian. Hell, Christian was normally the one keeping his distance, Curt didn’t care much. Or did he just not used to care? Did it change now? After- When he whipped his head towards Christian, too much panic in his eyes than he’d like a friend to ever see, he was surprised to find Christian almost sharing the same fright. Like a deer in headlights.
He decided to stare at Christian until he spoke this time, and he seemed to get the hint pretty quickly. But, he does so unblinkingly, staring into Curt’s eyes stiffly. “May I get the doll?”
“I’m sorry?!” Curt gawked.
“Christian?” Den piped in, as well as Ivan.
“Dude, are you possessed?!”
It wasn’t just the words. A large part of it was, because Christian never talked like that, but it was also the tone, the pacing. A calmness that, outside of his therapist persona, Christian would rarely, and dare Curt say, never possessed. The way every syllable was pronounced, and the way his speech lacked any noticeable emotion just screamed something wrong. He did exhibit some now, though, as he frowned. But it was quick, and gone before it left even a mark. He raised a hand to wipe, uncharacteristically gentle, with only the fingertips, away the charred blood dripping close to his eye from the scratch Ao had given him. “No,” He addressed Ivan, “She does not have the ability to possess in this state.”
“Seriously, you good, bro?” Curt lowered his voice, softening it, examining Christian. His eyes looked… weird. It was hard to place, but it was just… yeah, no way he was going to get ahold of the plush. Was this a ploy of Ao’s to try and escape? He shuffled positions, so he could stop Christian if he tried to make a break for the plush.
“Why would there be a problem with me, I am completely fine.” He, or whatever this was, was getting irritated, that much Curt could tell.
“‘You speak like you’re from a different [universe]’,” Den quoted, her tone light and humored, but the glance she exchanged with Curt was wary.
“What the heck- has this happened before?” Kristine whispered to an equally appalled Ivan, who shakes his head.
Curt took a step towards the edge and hopped off, into the crater. He drops in a swoop and picks up the doll, keeping his peripherals on Christian. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he closes his mouth and simply tracks Ao with his eyes. Curt gets a change to examine the doll. She looks… lifeless. It…? That doesn’t feel right. Despite the woolen eyes, she still looked as if she was staring at him. That smile like it promised- like she’d-… he should just stop thinking about it.
Curt turned her so she stared towards the floor.
“Could I hold her?” Christian spoke.
“Hell no, Christian, you’re acting so weird right now, dude!” Ivan blurted out before Curt could even think of something suitable. Well, he supposed no one was holding him to professionalism. It was just the way he spoke to her so maybe she’d like him more and she’d leave him alone-
“Yeah, man, not until you tell us the fuck’s wrong with ya’,” Curt clapped a hand on Christian’s shoulder as he passed him, keeping him at an arm’s length and Ao far from his grasp.
“There is nothing wrong with me,” he spoke harshly, frown back on his face. “I simply would like to inspect the doll.”
“Why did she turn into a doll? Is it like de-evolution?” Kristine pondered.
“Avatism?” Ivan supplied. ‘Christian’, somehow, ignored it all, still staring at the plush. Curt would not have resisted giving them each a smack on the head.
“You understand that no way in hell, or the Inbetween, would I ever let that happen, right? Not while you’re acting so strangely.” He could feel phantom pain sizzle across his skin just thinking of the prospect that she would ever return.
He stared back into Curt’s eyes. Moments later, amidst the other three’s discussion about evolution of bears and dogs, he spoke, still in that calm, slow tone. “Fine.”
What, Curt wanted to ask, but Christian had already turned away.
“Obviously Chow Chows came from Grizzlies.”
“What?!” Ivan huffed. Absolutely no acknowledgement of the fact that… whatever happened to Christian that seemed to have passed now. Curt relaxes the grip he had unconsciously tightened on Ao and silently prayed to whatever forces that existed — and could rule over her, which didn’t seem too much a possible feat — that she doesn’t feel this and wouldn’t take it out on him if she comes back. When she comes back? Will she come back? Will he ever be free?
…
He is, now, though.