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Dragon wondered if this was punishment for not listening to Purpled and logging off the game.
All he wanted to find was his best friend. Instead, he’s ended up in a random fuckin place, looking partially like the avatar he made and wondering how something like this could happen.
Couldn’t he just have his friend back? Why does he have to deal with all of this?
He couldn't have even told Purpled or Sixty, they'll never know what happened. They’ll guess what happened to Ace, happened to him. Missing another friend with no answers. Even if they had fought last time they had seen each other, he didn't want them to deal with that even more.
A part of him wished what happened, whatever it really was, to Ace happened to him. Maybe then he'd finally find him.
Dragon shook his head, frowning as he tried to remove the thought from his head. Instead of focusing on that, he tried to get his bearings of the area.
Obviously it wasn't a place he really recognized. A clearing in the middle of a forest, that felt off with barely any sounds other than the moving leaves. The sun seemed so distant like there were constant clouds and like it was going to snow any moment. Dragon really hoped that if it did, he couldn't feel it. The forest didn't seem to have any landmarks or defining features, just countless trees upon trees. The clearing really seemed to be the only part that strayed from it, and if it had nothing of great interest, just twigs and fallen branches.
Dragon let out a groan. What was he meant to do? Lost somewhere with not even a clue of where to go!
Okay! Okay. He’ll just…pick a direction! It can’t just be endless forests right?
Dragon turned to the left and started moving through the trees, moving branches out of his way and watching out for things on the ground. As he walked he couldn't help but get lost in his thoughts.
What if he was alone?
What if there was nothing here and he was trapped forever?
He didn't want to be alone.
Dragon’s breathing started to pick up.
He just wanted to see Ace again. He wanted to see Purple and Sixty.
He wanted to go back to making videos and building stuff with his friends.
He wants to go home and see his parents.
Dragon’s hands moved up to his head. Distantly he could hear his quick breathing and feel the shakiest of his hands. His legs shook, causing him to collapse to the ground. Vaguely he felt a sharp pain bloom across his knee, but currently it didn't feel as important.
‘I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want-’
Dragon’s hands reached further up his hair, going to grip at his hair but instead found something solid. Dragon didn’t give much thought to it amidst the panic, gripping onto it and pulling. His hand slipped as he pulled and a sharp pain erupted across his hand.
The panic seemed to pause for a minute, as the pain was all he could focus on. He slowly moved his hand down in front of him, staring at it. A cut went across his palm, blood running down from the wound and down his wrist.
It hurt a lot.
The warm and sticky feeling going down his arm seemed almost morbidly calming.
Vaguely Dragon knew it wasn't good. He didn't have anything to cover it with and it really did hurt. His other hand dropped next to him as he slowly sat up, still staring at the cut on his hand. He could feel the same sticky feeling on his head too.
He closed his palm, the cut stinging violently as he did, as he looked around. The forest remained empty as far as he could tell. He felt stupid. How could he have gotten so panicked to forget he was still lost! That he doesn't know if there was something else or not.
Between his self berating and the still hard breathing, Dragon didn’t hear as steps entered from between the trees.
“Ja,cob?”
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Deivy decided he wanted to go out, he had hoped it was alone.
But nope!
When he had told Sean, Sean had told him to bring someone else with him. Apparently after the last few times, he didn’t trust any of them to go out alone. So Deivy sucked it up and went to ask Jacob, because if those stupid weird stone things came back he wanted someone that could actually deal with it. Not that he didn't think he couldn't on his own….
Jacob shut the door behind them, as Deivy stood at the edge of the porch. He watched as Jacob adjusted the gun over his shoulder.
“You know,” Deivy dragged out, “You don't have to come with me.”
“Im not getting in trouble with Sean again.” Jacob quickly replied.
Deivy let out a groan and Jacob let out a small laugh as he walked next to him.
“So why do you want to go out anyways?” Jacob asked.
“Can’t I just want to be outside?”
“You could just stay in the yard if that was the case.” Jacob replied.
Deivy shrugged in return.
“Guess I want to explore. Investigate you know?”
“...Investigate what?”
“Those stone guys! This place! How we ended up here. Anything and everything, because it's frickin 'weird!” Deivy explained.
“The stone guys…?”
“Yeah! Like the one you shot!”
Jacob stopped walking, staring at Deivy. Deivy turned to look at him, a confused look appearing on his face. Jacob seemed to have a sense of urgency on his face as he approached Deivy, placing his hands on his shoulders.
“Dont.”
“What?” Deivy grew nervous. He hadn't seen Jacob like this.
“Don’t look into them. Don't investigate them. Stay far away from them. If you do see one you tell me or Sean immediately.” Jacob paused for a moment. “Actually if that’s what you’re doing, we’re going back.”
Jacob started pulling Deivy back to the house.
“Wha- Hey! You don’t get to decide that!”
"Yes I do!”
“How!?”
“Im older than you!”
“That doesn't mean anything!” Deivy yelled.
Deivy pulled free from Jacob’s firm grip, moving a few steps back. Jacob looked at him, not moving. He looked stressed out, scared almost, but he didn't move to grab Deivy again.
“I don't have to listen to you and I don't have to listen to Sean. He’s not my dad and you are some random kid I don't know!” Deivy was agitated and yelling. “And if you're too scared to come with, then I'll just go by myself!”
Deivy stormed off, leaving Jacob behind and ignoring any calls of his name. Who cares if Jacob is too scared to come with him. Who cares about Sean’s stupid rules? He can take care of himself! He's done it before…
He dealt with the Remains, he can deal with stupid stone creatures and this weird place.
Deivy stomped through the trees, grumbling under his breath the whole way. It was stupid! He was a big kid and the fact the others didn't trust him to know what he was doing was stupid. He kicked a rock, watching it fly ahead of him, landing on the dirt. He stared at it like it personally offended him.
Deivy walked over to a trunk of one of the trees and plopped down onto the ground, pulling his knees up to his chest.
This was all so stupid.
Tears seemed to well up in the corners of his eyes and it made him even more upset. Big kids don't cry, especially over stupid arguments. Deivy hated this place.
He hated Sean.
He hated Jacob.
He wanted to go back home and keep playing WTD. To go see Geo, even if he hadn't in a while, or 7, or even….
He just wanted to see his friends. He didn't want to be stuck with people he didn’t know. He didn't want to be stuck with people who thought they knew better than him. Even if they did.
He rubbed at his eyes, trying to get the tears to stop, digging his nails into his other arm. Deivy sniffled, before getting up.
He was out here for a reason, not to cry like a baby.
He continued to move through the trees, keeping an eye out for any of those creatures or for anything out of place. For a sign of what caused them to be here.
He'd kick the occasional rock, his hands kept in his pockets. As he walked, Deivy hadn't seen a thing but trees and more trees.
It did start to snow a little bit ago, but Deivy hadn't paid it any mind. According to Sean and Brandon, that happened often with no reason.
Maybe it had been a weird fluke that day Ace and him showed up. Maybe there was no reason for Jacob to be so scared.
Deivy grew a little smug at that thought. Of course he had been right! There wasn't a reason to be scared in the first place-
“LEAVE ME ALONEE!!!”
Okay maybe, just maybe, he takes that back.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dragon thought things couldn't have gotten worse. First stuck in a place he didn't know, not a single sign of a person or anything, and now this!
Something stood behind him. It was tall, way taller than him, maybe even taller than his dad had been. It had no face, not really, all it looked like was glass with a crack running across it and moving out towards the edges. Large antlers came from the sides of its head, a cracked cd around one of them. It wore an odd robe with a scarf. Its arms were long and its claws even longer.
It scared him.
“Y, ou are n,ot Ja,cob”
It spoke weirdly and Dragon didn't like it.
“Yo,u ar,e ano,ther ch,ild.”
It approached him, getting closer and closer, and Dragon shuffled backwards. It started to snow and Dragon felt a shiver run through him. His hand dragged across the ground, dirt and small twigs agitating his cut. He hissed as it stung.
“In,jured? Le,t me se,e it.” It lowered itself closer.
“Uhm! N-No, thank you! I’m alright.” Dragon nervously responded, trying to move further away.
“Wh,y fig,ht? Wh,en a chi,ld is inj,ured, th,ey go to th,ere pa,re,nts.” It spoke with a surety.
“Right, uhm, but you…arent my parents? So I'll be okay!” Dragon replied as he slowly stood up, trying to put even more distance between them. He held his injured hand in his other.
It didn't respond, but its head tilted. Dragon took that as it accepted the fact, going to move around it.
“Uhm if you dont mind, im….im just going to go-”
As Dragon went to walk away, a clawed hand gripped onto his hoodie. He flailed for a bit as it moved him backwards.
“Y,ou will le,t me s,ee the cu,t” The creature spoke with a firm voice, definitely not taking no for an answer.
But Dragon really didn't care.
“LET GO OF ME!” He started kicking out his legs and moving his arms, trying to get the creature to drop him.
It didn't of course and it seemed to become upset at his attempts.
‘Dis,obeying is us,eless. Sh,ow Father yo,ur inj,uries.” It was demanding.
Dragon kept kicking and eventually, he landed a hit on the creature's knee. It dropped him in surprise and he scrambled away. He stared up at it as it looked, well he assumed it was looking, at its knee. He checked his pockets for something, anything, to help him. His hand landed up a familiar metal feeling, and when he pulled it out, his hammer laid in his hand.
It would probably make it more angry, but it would also maybe give him time to get out of there. Dragon scrambled up and gripped the hammer. He drew his arm back aiming it at the creature in front of him. It had just looked up at him as he threw it, the air filling with a loud crack as the hammer landed at its head. The glass cracked even more, and a few shattered pieces fell to the ground.
It was quiet for a moment, before Dragon broke out into a sprint into the tree line.
“G,ET BA,CK HER,E” It yelled after him, which only caused him to try to run faster.
He knew it was chasing after him, the yells and heavy footsteps following after him told him that much. He kept glancing around looking for anyone and anything. A person to help him or even a place to hide. He’s never had to deal with this before, and he's even surprised the hammer even did anything to it. With that stupid tower, all he had to do was unplug his computer, he couldn't do that now.
This was something that could actually touch him, could actually hurt him.
And that made it worse.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jacob stared off at the treeline that he watched Deivy stormed off towards. He still hadn’t moved, just staring ahead like Deivy would return any second now. They were just far enough from the house that their argument wouldn't have carried over, and Jacob was happy for that.
He doesn't want Sean to know they argued and he had just let Deivy run off like that. Let him run off into danger that was surely out there.
He’d probably be so disappointed. So upset with him.
Jacob’s hands tightened around the strap his gun was connected to.
He really didn’t want to disappoint Sean.
He didn't want to disappoint Father-
He rapidly shook his head. No.
NO.
He was not here. He wasn't a problem anymore. Jacob didn't have to worry about him anymore.
He turned to glance at the house, no one seemed to be leaving or looking out any of the windows. No one tried to trail after the two, that as far as they knew, would have been long gone by now.
He started to move to the path Deivy took, taking notice of the dropping temperature. He needed to get Deivy back home. He needed to make sure he was safe, even if Deivy didn’t want to speak or see him ever again.
He made his way through the trees, trying to keep track of the way he's gone so he could bring Deivy and himself back later. The cold was getting even worse, and Jacob was never more glad he wore overly warm clothes to begin with.
But Deivy….
He picked up his pace, looking around for any sign of the other boy. He started to get more stressed, looking in every direction, calling out for Deivy.
‘Where could he be…”
Jacob stopped and took a deep breath.
“Okay…Okay what would Sean do in this moment?” He spoke aloud.
He…wasnt really sure actually.
When he was found by Brandon, Sean had just appeared from his point of view. Seemingly having known where Brandon was.
Jacob couldn't say he knew the same for Deivy. So he couldn't just appear out of the blue wherever Deivy was.
With….With Father….the stonemen usually found him. Father rarely appeared himself back then.
And he couldn’t do that either.
While he thought, snow had started to fall, causing him to frown.
Jacob had grown to dislike the snow and fog for that matter. It always meant he was there, and while Sean and Brandon had said it was normal to snow here, Jacob still didn't like it or trust it.
Sean had said that maybe it pulled some pieces from things they knew, snow could be something to do with himself, and Jacob had believed him. After all his gun was here, and while they hadn't found anything yet, Brandon sure had to have something around.
He just wanted to find Deivy, go back home, and maybe cling to Sean as quietly as he could. Because he trusted him and right now he needed that.
Jacob let out a deep breath before continuing to walk, Deivy has to be around here somewhere.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“LEAVE ME ALONEE!!!”
Deivy turned to the loud yell that seemed to fill the forest, seeing a boy older than him but unrecognizable, run towards him. He couldn't see what this kid was telling to leave him alone too but, there had to be something.
Deivy’s lantern appeared, moving out in front of him. The kid seemed to spot the lantern, almost coming to a stop before whatever was behind him kept him moving. As he got closer, Deivy could make out more of the other boy.
There was curly brown hair and bright green horns that faded into yellow. An orange band sat around one of them. He had slightly tan skin and Deivy really couldn't tell what eye color. He had on a black hoodie and baggy jeans with sneakers. Blood dripped from the other’s hand and he seemed to have dirt on him.
The other boy nearly tripped as he got closer to Deivy, reaching his arm out. Deivy was confused as to why, because honestly he didn't want to touch a bloody hand, when it suddenly grabbed onto his arm and pulled him along.
What was with everyone pulling him today!?
He fought to get his balance and pull from the other’s grip, but unlike Jacob, the other didn't budge.
“What's wrong with you!? Let go of me!” He yelled.
“And deal with that thing!???" The other yelled back.
Deivy furrowed his brow in confusion, he hadn't seen anything earlier. He turned his head to look behind them.
The creature that was chasing the other boy was certainly still following, or at least that was what Deivy assumed to be chasing him. Pieces of glass seemed to trail after it off of its face.
“What happened to it?” He asked.
“I threw a hammer at it!”
Deivy turned to the other boy with the most “Why would you do that look”.
“Dont you think that maybe that was a bad idea?”
“IVE REALIZED THANK YOU.”
Deivy’s lantern moved to spin around them, but Deivy was wondering if it’d even work on it. It barely even worked on those stone things.
“So what is that?”
“How would I know!?”
“YOURE THE ONE RUNNING FROM IT???”
“THAT DOESN'T MEAN I KNOW WHAT IT IS!”
“G,ET BAC,K HER,E!” It interrupted their conversation, it was certainly getting closer and Deivy was getting a heavy sense of deja vu.
“Why does this keep happening!?”
The other boy looked at him confused but kept running.
Deivy was really starting to regret leaving Jacob behind at this point.
“Do you have another hammer?”
“Why would I have more than one hammer??”
“You seem like the type to have more than one.”
“What does that mean???”
“CO,ME BA,CK”
Deivy turned his head again, staring the creature down. HIt seemed to be keeping up with no sign of stopping. While Deivy was already feeling his chest start to tighten from all the running.
“We need somewhere to hide.” the other boy spoke hurriedly.
“Oh yea a great plan. Where exactly do you think we should hide?” Deivy started sarcastically. “The tree? The other tree? Or maybbee the branch on the ground? I'm sure that’ll work!”
The other boy glared at him, seemingly annoyed at his response.
“I could leave you right there.” He said.
“Will you? What if that freak thing kills me?”
The other didn't respond but his grip didn’t change.
Deivy thought for a moment. He really shouldn't bring this thing , whatever it was, back to the house. But Jacob and Sean were there and if anyone could deal with this, it'd be them.
The only problem was finding the way back home.
“I have an idea,” He started.
“Okay..?”
“I know a place we can go,” Deivy thought it over more. “and someone who can help.”
The other didn't say anything back but he did nod his head. Deivy moved ahead of him, pulling him along now. He tried to remember the way he came but between the growing panic of the situation and the snow starting to get worse, it was difficult.
He got a really stupid idea. He hadn’t actually tried to use his lantern on it yet, it could work.
He stopped moving, pushing the other behind him. The lantern swung to be in front of him and as the creature got closer, a zap let out and hit it. It was quiet and no one moved.
It tilted its head, staring at the lantern. It clearly hadn't done anything and Deivy was growing more nervous by the second.
“Oops?”
“WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!?” The other yelled from behind him.
They both shut up as the creature’s voice boomed out.
“Yo,u- YO,U DAR,E TO AT,TACK Y,OUR FATHER?”
Deivy grew confused at that. This thing was definitely NOT his father.
It moved closer, its hand twitched like it was ready to attack them at any second.
“Y,OU INSO,LENT BR,ATS. YOU,R FATHER WISH,ES TO H,ELP.”
It, or well ‘Father’ Deivy guessed, rushed forward with its hand out reaching towards them. The two panicked, rushing backwards and tripping over the ground and each other.
Deivy fell and a sharp pain went up his leg, but he tried to get back up and run with the other boy. His breath quickened and his leg hurt so, so bad.
“That was a terrible idea!”
“I’ve realized!” He responded.
The other went quiet for a moment.
“Are you okay? You're limping.”
What?
Deivy hadn't noticed, but that would explain some things. He wasn't sure if it was sprained, cracked, or broken but his leg did hurt far too much.
“Ill be fine.”
The other looked unsure, but seemed to accept it.
“So what do we do now? Try to find that place.”
“Hopefully-” Deivy was cut off by falling.
The pain in his leg grew worse and moving it seemed to only make it worse. It felt like something was stabbing into it and twisting it.
A terrible distant thought made him wonder if this is how he died. Having argued with two people after practically demanding Sean let him go out to explore.
He didn't know how he felt about that. He knew accepting it wasn't a good idea, not really, but what was the point? Maybe this was all just a bad dream and he'd wake up if those claws just got a bit too close. He’d be back home to see his friends.
He knew the other boy was pulling at him, speaking to him, trying to get him to get up and move.
He just closed his eyes. Itll be okay.
As he did, a familiar sound rang out.
BANG!
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Jacob had heard yelling, he rushed over in the direction. The snow had certainly gotten worse, and he should get Sean, but yelling meant Deivy.
He wasn't going to leave Deivy out here.
As he reached the yelling, he spotted Deivy down on the ground, not moving. A boy was crouched near him, holding on to him and trying to move him back and-
And-
And-
no no no no No No No No NO NO NO NONONONONONONONONO-
Jacob froze, a petrified look stuck on his face as he stared at the one thing he never wanted to see again. A terribly, horrifyingly, familiar appearance.
His head was more cracked than when he last saw Father, he seemed different too. He clearly was angry, Jacob had seen that one too many times before, standing over the two other boys with his claws raised. He wasn’t sure what they did but clearly angered him.
Jacob was jostled out of his thoughts as he saw the clawed hand move downwards towards Deivy, and without thinking he raised his gun and fired.
BANG!
It was so loud and he felt his hands shake. Father had stumbled backward as the bullet hit his shoulder. It wasn't where Jacob had wanted to aim, but he couldn't bring himself to aim for his head. Said head raised and locked sight with him.
“JAC,OB!” Father spoke, the anger in his voice apparent.
Jacob flinched. He didn't want to see him again, he thought he'd be okay here. His grip tightened on his gun as he aimed it again.
“JA,COB THE,RE Y,OU ARE”
“Step away from them.” Jacob tried to keep his voice steady.
“JA,COB C,OME H,ERE. P,UT DOWN T,HE G,UN LET U,S GO H,OME.” Father reached his hand out towards him.
A while ago, Jacob would've done it within a heartbeat and a part of him still wanted to. At one time that was his Father, not really he knew that now, but that didn't change how he felt about it. He was the person, even if inside a stupid game on a stupid cd, that was there for him when his mother wasn't, when his father couldn't.
The ink pouring down beneath the bandages proved how much he trusted the creature in front of him.
A part of him had never regretted that. The only reason he did was because of Lucas, never himself.
But that wasn't important right now.
“I want you to leave them alone.”
Father tilted his head, looking down at the two before him on the ground.
“Th,ey hu,rt me Ja,cob.” That explained the anger. “Puni,shment ha,ppens when a chi,ld misbe,haves.”
Jacob knew that, but he couldn't let anything happen to them.
“But I don't want you too.” He tried to sound like how he did before, before he pulled that trigger, when he first put that cd in.
Father seemed to think about it.
“The,n le,ts go ho,me Ja,cob”
With the conversation, the boy that Jacob didn’t know seemed to take it as an opportunity to move closer to him, bringing Deivy with him.
“No.”
“..N,o?”
Jacob glared, his hands shook but he still aimed his gun, raising it to be level with Father’s head.
“No. I want you to go away.”
“I A,M YO,UR FATHER JA,COB!” Father yelled.
Jacob flinched again and the shaking grew worse. He didn't want to deal with this, he wanted to be home with Sean and Brandon. Father approached him, anger showing through his posture.
“Stay back! Or…Or I’ll shoot!”
Father didn't listen, still moving towards him. He wasn't sure what he was gonna do and he didn't want to find out. Tears sprung up in his eye and his mouth quivered. The kid behind him didn't say anything, just as tense.
Jacob’s gun followed Father as he got close enough to fully tower over Jacob. As a clawed hand reached up and moved towards him, the gun went off without Jacob thinking. He stared wide-eyed at the smoking gun and the shattered glass in front of him.
He-
He hadn't meant to.
“I’m- I’m sorry I- I didn't mean to-” He stuttered out.
Other than the damaged head, Father seemed to be perfectly fine. It was utterly shattered, a large hole took up most of where the glass used to be and smaller pieces fell from it.
When Father didn't speak or react, Jacob grew nervous. What was he going to do? He was scared, but as long as it happened to him and the other two could get away that would be alright.
A hand gripped onto his shoulder and pulled him away from Father and into a sprint. The other boy was carrying Deivy and holding onto him. Father didn't follow, simply watching them run and that worried Jacob even more.
He wasn't safe anymore.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dragon pulled the other two boys along. Jacob, according to the creature, seemed to be in some weird state of shock while the other was out cold on his shoulder.
He decided he wouldn't question the weird creature, the kid with a gun, or the other with eyes that made no sense and a lantern that made no sense. At least not right now. Instead, he looked for the house that the boy on his shoulder mentioned. He assumed that's where Jacob had come from too.
“So…Wheres this house?” He asked.
Jacob didn't seem to hear him, still staring off behind them. Was he hoping that thing came back? He heard him apologize to it but he also told it to stay away. They clearly knew each other but how?
But with no response from Jacob and the only other person he knew not waking up anytime soon, Dragon just had to hope he found the house himself. The snow was hard to see and walk through and it was terribly cold. While Jacob was clearly dressed for the weather, the hoodie and baggy jeans Dragon was wearing certainly wasn't.
With a while of walking, he spotted lights in the distance. He hoped that it was the house and not another thing like the creature before trying to lure them over.
As he broke out of the treeline, he spotted a house in the distance. All the lights seemed to be on, and smoke came out of the chimney. He spotted someone on the porch, a boy around their age or younger most likely. Dragon walked closer and the boy seemed to spot him.
He heard a gasp as the kid ran over to them and that seemed to pull Jacob out of whatever weird state he was in. His head turned towards the house, spotting the other boy.
“Brandon..” Jacob spoke quietly as Brandon came to a stop before them.
“There you are! I was so worried and so was Ace and Sean! We've been waiting ages!” Brandon rapidly spoke, words almost stumbling over each other. He got closer before latching onto Jacob.
The younger hugged the older boy as Dragon watched, and that's when Brandon seemed to notice him carrying Deivy. His hands flew up to his mouth as his face turned concerned.
“What happened to Deivy?” Brandon asked.
“Im not sure.” Jacob responded.
Dragon didn't respond too caught up on a particular name Brandon had said.
‘Ace’
‘-I was so worried and so was Ace and Sean’
Ace was here? He was okay and here?
A hand shook his shoulder and he blinked out of his thoughts.
“Huh?”
“Brandon wanted to know what happened to Deivy.” Jacob explained.
“Oh. Uhm. He fell while we were running, I think he hurt his leg pretty badly.”
Jacob nodded.
“We should get inside…and prepare for a lecture.” Jacob said, moving towards the porch steps.
“Oh we had such a great dinner-” Brandon’s words became distant to Dragon as he approached the house after them.
He felt awkward as he stepped through the doorway and Jacob led him to the couch to lay Deivy down. Jacob seemed to pause at Deivy’s side, looking down the hall towards an opened bedroom door that had a vague sound coming from it.
Jacob let out a sigh before he headed down it, leaving Dragon alone.
Dragon sat on the floor awkwardly, waiting for Brandon or Jacob to come back.
When Jacob did come back, two people trailed after him. One he assumed was Sean and the other…
The other was Ace. A bit different than he knew him as but he had really known him as his avatar. But that bright orange helmet and that jacket was as recognizable as ever to him. Ace didn't seem to spot him, not at first, worriedly listening to Jacob continue to explain some of what happened.
He seemed to leave a lot out about Father, Dragon noticed.
It was only when both Sean and Ace turned to look at the couch for Deivy, that Ace noticed him sitting on the floor.
Ace’s eyes seemed to widen, his mouth going agape in shock. There was so much Dragon had wanted to say at that moment.
‘Is it really you?’ ‘Where were you?’ ‘What happened to you?’ ‘I never stopped looking for you.’ ‘I tried everything to find you.’
But nothing came out. He just stared at Ace as Ace stared at him. Sean and Jacob seemed to notice the endless staring, as Sean moved quietly to the couch to check on Deivy and Jacob moved to the couch where Brandon had gone earlier.
“Dragon?” Ace was the first to speak.
“Ace..”
“How-” “Is it-” They spoke at the same time, cutting each other off.
When they didn't continue, Sean spoke.
“Move to your room Ace if you're going to talk, I don't want Deivy to wake up right now like this.”
Ace nodded his head rapidly before staring at Dragon, a silent ‘come on’ and to follow him.
Dragon moved from his place on the floor, using his hand to push himself off it, wincing as the cut hurt. The bleeding had slowed as he looked at it, but it still hurt a lot.
He moved around the couch and followed Ace as he approached a door. The door was covered in stars, Sonic, a few stickers of waffles and a lot of things in the color orange. It certainly screamed Ace.
Ace opened the door and revealed a room that was definitely Ace’s. From the decoration to the coloring, all of it spoke of Ace. Ace flopped down on a comfy bed in the corner while Dragon looked around.
A lot of things were the color orange, which made sense, it was one of Ace’s favorites. Figurines sat on shelves, with a few comics and random other trinkets. The flooring was fluffy carpeting and the walls were an orange and black checkered pattern. There was a closet in the corner opposite of the bed.
The bed itself was covered in blankets and pillows. A blue one stood out of place, probably stolen from someone else and when he asked, all Ace said was that it was “soft and comfortable and helped him sleep.”
Dragon joined Ace on the bed and both laid next to each other staring at Ace’s star covered ceiling.
“I'm glad you're alright.” Dragon said quietly.
“I wasn't for a while.”
“I know, im sorry…”
“What are you saying sorry for?” Ace asked, turning his head towards him.
Dragon didn't look back.
“I couldn't be there I guess. I could've been there, maybe you wouldn't have been alone.”
“I wouldn't have wanted you too.”
“I know.”
“I'm happy you were safe, are safe.” Ace said, his hand moving to hold his.
“Am I?”
“Yea! We have Sean, so I think we’ll be okay.”
“We can’t go home.”
Ace didn't respond to that one and Dragon finally turned to look at him.
“Sorry..”
“No, it's okay. I wouldn't be able to go home either way. So I think I'm okay being here.”
‘What about Purple and Sixty?” Dragon asked.
“Id want them to stay safe. I want them to be okay and continue playing the game we love and make cool things. Even if we aren't there to see it.”
Dragon didn't respond to that. It made sense he guessed, Ace had already dealt with this. This probably was better than before. Dragon turned to hug Ace and Ace cheerfully returned it.
“Im glad I get to see you again.”
“Me too.”
Dragon and Ace talked about everything and anything, catching up. Dragon explaining everything that Ace had missed and Ace telling him about all sorts of things since he's been here.
Dragon smiled through it all, happy he just got to see his friend again. He didn't care if this ended up being a really weird long dream. He’d be okay with that.