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Wonder was curious just how much of an effect he had on his own psyche. After all, he knew for a fact he didn’t have a Palace at this time, at least not for his first few tries.
And for it to be an amusement park too, when Wonder certainly wasn’t amused by the bulk of his circumstances. Still, it was comforting to know that others were allowed on the rides. It made Wonder question if he could find all the friends he hadn’t met yet if he went looking.
Alas, Wonder had a job to do. He couldn’t risk the Phantom Thieves forming too late this time around, and forming friendships with Motoha and Tomoko would be invaluable, if only for the friendship itself.
All Wonder needed to do was to steal the desires of one Nagisa Kamishiro. To cultivate a true lust for life one must first have nothing at all, absence makes the heart grow fonder and all.
Thankfully it was no trouble at all getting around the place. Snooping around in his own Palace had some benefits, and the shadows treated him as one of their own, though it was definitely more complicated than that.
It took quite more will power than expected to get to where he needed to go, the management areas. The rides did look awfully fun, but alas, the park would be closing down today.
Eventually Wonder found it, on the lowest level, as so many treasures were. It hadn’t materialised yet but Wonder could easily force it to. Idly he thought about what the treasure would turn into once it left the Palace, what could have possibly caused such distortion in his own self? Nagisa was such a kind soul, even now with this Palace.
Maybe he could send a Calling Card! Just like good old times, it had been a while since Wonder had even contributed to one, let alone make it. Alas, that’d probably interfere a little too much, especially if Riko or Kira joined the team, they’d be on that so fast. Shame, it would have been fun.
Wonder held out his hand over the formless object and focused, reflex catching the treasure just as it formed. It was a button, the base all black but the button itself being a vibrant red, like the type one could see on cartoons used by the dastardly villain types. Wonder simply had to laugh, how childish to think a single button could control the whole park.
The tell tale sound of cracks and screams could be heard, telegraphing that it was time for Wonder to leave.
Calmly, Wonder walked out the Palace and into mementos.
He looked down at the treasure and almost immediately scowled.
It was his phone.
He dropped it and watched the screen shatter on impact. Wonder didn’t bother dealing with the pieces, the twisting maw of Mementos would devour it eventually.
Wonder couldn’t help but laugh as Nagisa left the Velvet Room, the glamour of Igor shattering with it. “Isn’t he just so cute?”
Merope didn’t deign Wonder with a reply, staring at him with an expression that wasn’t quite disdain. But Wonder knew her true feelings, she could never hate anyone wearing Nagisa’s face, though Wonder felt the need to mention that it was his face first.
“I’m going to stalk the team for a bit, you don’t mind, do you?” Wonder knew she wouldn’t, she often preferred it when he left the sanctity of the Velvet Room.
Maybe one day he’d get Merope to smile at him again, what a day that would be.
It was easy to find Nagisa and the other Thieves, they hadn’t strayed very far from the Velvet Room.
Wonder had to place a little more care in concealing himself recently as Riko had joined the party, but keeping up with the Cattle-Mobile always tested his ability to do so.
But Wonder managed to catch up just fine as the Phantom Thieves reached their destination, everyone getting out of the Cattle-Mobile and Lufel de-transforming.
Wonder was interested as to who may join the Phantom Thieves next, the Thieves were pretty close to finishing with Akashi, they’d likely change his heart before finding out about the Kiga plan. So maybe someone from there, Aran or Shoki. Maybe even Daichi, wouldn’t that be funny. Adults joining the team almost always were.
Unfortunately, in his musing Wonder missed what Nagisa was telling his friends. Leaving Wonder confused when the rest of the Thieves went ahead of him.
There was something shining on the ground. Wonder scowled as he realised what it was.
The phone.
Nagisa picked it up and turned it on.
Curiosity tore at Wonder, making him inch far closer than he should in order to catch a glimpse of what Nagisa was seeing.
Wonder recognised the lock screen but he knew that Nagisa wouldn’t.
It was a selfie of Wonder… of Nagisa, Motoha and Tomoko. They had just completed another Palace, the last Palace before everything well and truly went to shit. They were tired and sweaty, but smiling. And it had to be the first time. It just had to be, the selfie habit was something that Wonder had only developed once.
Nagisa swiped up, hesitantly pressing numbers into the code.
Wonder swore as panic shot through him, the passcode was almost certainly the same. Quickly he reached for his gun and shot it out of Nagisa’s hands, completely ruining the phone as an added bonus.
If there was one thing Wonder loved about the Metaverse, it was just how much confidence could do for his aim. After all, if Nagisa got his way into his notes app, that would be a disaster waiting to happen.
Nagisa flinched and whipped around to face Wonder, his fingers twitching towards where Wonder knew Nagisa kept his dagger and gun.
Yet there was recognition in Nagisa’s eyes, more than what Wonder would expect, even with their identical features. Wonder was certain that Nagisa had never seen his face before so how…? Perhaps there were more consequences to messing with time than Wonder thought.
The two stared at each other as moments passed. Wonder could barely keep himself from cooing at how cute Nagisa could be, the way he tried to disguise his confusion with a scowl. Simply adorable.
But neither wanted to turn their back on the other in order to leave which was a problem, Nagisa had a job to do, friends to catch up with. And Wonder wanted to get the scolding he was inevitably going to get from Merope for showing his face done sooner rather than later.
Then again… Wonder hadn't had a good fight since Joker in that casino. He made a sort of ‘come at me’ gesture, causing Nagisa’s scowl to deepen but he didn’t immediately take the bait.
Wonder grinned and turned around, a different tactic was needed it seemed.
“Wait!”
Wonder continued forward, as if he didn’t hear Nagisa at all.
“I said wait!”
Before Wonder knew it he was pulled back and slammed onto one of the walls of Mementos.
“How forward.” Wonder stated. Nagisa still seemed confused but the scowl was definitely real now. Wonder would be lying if he said he didn’t like it. Nagisa was stronger than anticipated, not enough to cause problems but enough for Wonder to admire the effort, enough for Wonder to want to see the muscles hidden by the phantom thief costume.
“Was that you? In the picture?”
“If I’m not mistaken, that looked an awful lot more like you Nagisa.” There was a slight purr in Wonder’s voice as he delighted in Nagisa’s reaction.
“You have my face, I never took that picture with them.”
Wonder hummed. “I couldn’t help myself, you look so pretty.”
Nagisa faltered just enough for Wonder to flip their positions, him now pinning Nagisa to the wall. Was that a blush growing on Nagisa’s face? How cute.
“You don’t mind, do you? I promise I won’t do anything bad with it.”
“…Who are you?”
“Call me Wonder.” He grinned, “You should hurry along now, I’m sure your friends will be worried. Any longer and the Reaper might come too.”
“The Reaper?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Right, Nagisa hasn’t met it yet. “I’ll protect you from the horrors of Mementos, all I ask is that you keep this little meeting a secret.”
Wonder then let Nagisa go, he fell a little at suddenly being forced to support himself, or maybe Wonder made him go weak at the knees, who knew.
After one last look, the last good and up close look Wonder would likely have for a bit, he turned around and started walking away. It took a second but he did hear Nagisa pull himself up and leave for Akashi’s Palace.
Hopefully Nagisa would keep silent about it but Wonder would continue his protection whether Nagisa told or not.
“Wonder!” His team cried as he finally entered Akashi’s Palace.
“We were getting worried.” Closer exclaimed, quickly looking over every inch of him but paid no mind to Wonder’s burning face.
“I’m fine!” Wonder said hurriedly, not even knowing where to begin with what he just experienced. “Um, Cattle, I have a question?”
“Hoom, what is it?”
“Do you know what the Reaper is?”
Cattle’s face darkened as the rest of the Thieves stared curiously. “The Reaper is a monster of immense power. Probably the strongest thing in Mementos, I only encountered it once and scarcely made it out with my life, even now I do not think we have the strength to defeat it. I have heard the sound of its chains before with you all but they never last and I haven’t seen it since.”
And yet the other Wonder seemed so confident when speaking of it. He said he would protect Wonder against it, the horrors of Mementos.
“How did you know about it?”
Wonder cringed as he searched his mind for an excuse. “I just… it was mentioned in a Vision once, I was curious.”
“I’ll be sure to keep tabs on powerful signals with my Persona.” Wind stated, Closer, Soy and Cattle all made various noises of agreement.
But Wonder’s mind was elsewhere. Focussing instead on the White Mask on the other him’s face.