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It was episode 21 of the show, Two had just gotten their limbs back into place and was looking out the window of their hotel room. They sighed.
Even after hearing her voice, they still believed that everything was their fault.
Everything with Gaty.. the time rift, the death of a majority of the contestants, Four being in.. wherever One put him. They caused this.
Didn’t they?
They glanced at the crumpled photo from earlier, trying to flatten it out before looking at the photo of what used to be them and Gaty.
They knew it was One, and they still weren’t sure WHY she was back, but..
They still pushed her into the kitchen. They were the one that still remembered her. They were the one who stole Fours show. The show being the only reason they even started talking in the first place!
Tears flowed into Twos eyes the longer they thought about it.
They should’ve just stuck with the planet that had the smaller aliens. Then maybe none of this would’ve happened.
Yet.. they got what they wanted, didn’t they? To get rid of their power like candy and use the show as an excuse to do so.
Two wiped their eyes before sitting down on their hotel room bed, staring at the ceiling.
They reached their hand out towards a light. Pretending that they were reaching out for Gaty, even if they knew that they weren’t and that she’d never come back, especially if she saw what they’ve been doing for the past year.
They shut their eyes and put their hand back towards their chest for a moment. I miss her. They thought, a part of them still wishing that none of this happened.
They wished that they did something besides whine and cry about an obvious favorite contestant (understandably) leaving the kitchen she was basically bound to, unlock Clock, who they sent to the actual elimination area after a few episodes pass.
“I’m sorry.” They quietly let out, wiping their tears.
“I’m sorry all of this happened. I’m sorry I didn’t stay with you. I-“ They squeezed their eyes shut again, moving their body into a ball.
Two slowly opened their eyes and wiped them when the atmosphere changed from the yellows of their hotel room to.. blue? Odd.
“Two, there you are, old friend. Finally!“
Two froze, their hands trapped against the armrests and their legs stuck to their spot close to the ground.
“You out of your spiral yet?”
“Where-“
One cut them off. “You’re in my pocket dimension! Pretty cool, right?”
~
Back at the hotel, Notepad was twisting the door knob to get their attention after some of the bushes started to move around and run after her when she attempted to look for Four and X.
“Why is this locked??” She bumped her elbow against the door, not wanting to kick it down though.
“Two??” She tried. “You okay?”
She began digging through her pockets for the key to their room that they gave her in between the rest of Battle For BFDI and the start of The Power Of Two. “Fuck me.” She murmured when she couldn’t find it.
She banged her elbow against the door again. “TWO!”
“Fuck.” She tried again, still not getting a response, usually she’d get a ‘what?’ from one of her old fellow contestants who were standing at a white board trying to figure out why a lot of contestants were disappearing, or Four, but at least she’d get some sort of response.
She sighed. “I’ll just go look for the contestants then.” If any of them are alive anyway.. especially after last challenge, I wouldn’t be too surprised.
~
“Why am I here?”
“Oh, no reason.” One replied, a contract spawning on the table in between her and Two.
“What?..” Two tilted their head.
One laughed “Sign this little contract of mine, and you can have all of the missing contestants back!”
“Even-“
“Yes, even Gaty.” One cut them off, seemingly knowing what they’d say.
“What’s the catch?”
“The catch?” One teased, tilting her head mockingly, laughing. “Well, I get to keep this precious power of yours.”
Two sighed, glancing around the room for a moment.
They didn’t mind the change of color, staring at a yellow-orange-ish colored ceiling with flickering lights and photos reminding them how pathetically annoying they were for not posting over the disappearance of one contestant everywhere gave them more of a headache than trying to move when their limbs reached the ground did.
“So,” One broke the silence, “What’ll it be?”
Two turned back towards One before trying to look for a pen.
“Do you have a-“
How could I have forgotten that? “Right. Here.” One snapped her fingers to spawn in a pen in front of Two.
Two smiled slightly at One before hesitating. Trying to read the fine print won’t do much, it just looked like scribbles, but.. all of this, just for a chance to get rid of their power?
Was it THIS worth it?
It felt like it wasn’t, but.. if they DID sign it, they’d get to see Gaty again, there just.. wouldn’t be a show. No show, no worries, just.. something, they supposed.
“Don’t keep me waiting!” One tore up their though process when she spoke.
Two sighed, hesitating again but this time, they signed it. “Uh.. Thanks.”
“Of course.” One smirked at them before snapping her fingers.
~
Two stumbled slightly forward before regaining their balance and looking around. They were back at the hotel! Well.. the FRONT of the hotel but tomato tomato.
They looked around for a moment, then down at the hand that once held power worth hosting a show to get rid of.
“Two!” They could hear, causing them to look around.
Gaty was running towards them, causing them to run towards her.
“I’m so glad that you’re okay!” Two hugged her tightly with tears in their eyes, scared that she might disappear again if they let go.
Gaty was surprised by the hug, but she reached up to them instinctively when she noticed they were crying, “Hey..” she began, “what happened?”
Two hugged onto her tighter, trying to wipe their eyes.
They wanted to tell her, they did, but their throat felt tighter than a tied up rope whenever they tried to.
Gaty gave them a worried look, returning the hug, “It’s okay.. I’m here now.”
“I missed you.” Two was eventually able to let out, leaning closer to her in the hug.
Gaty smiled, “I missed you too.”
Two smiled back at her, running a hand through her hair gently, even after a year, her hair was still as soft as it was before she was gone. “Do you..” They began, “want to sit down somewhere?”
“Sure.” Gaty smiled, grabbing Two’s hand gently before the both of them began walking to the same spot they started talking at.
They fell into a step-like rhythm beside each other without thinking. The same way that they always had.
Two glanced over at Gaty every few seconds, they found her absolutely gorgeous, even after everything.
~
When they got to the spot, they both lied down, intending to stare at the stars, but ended up leaning close to and staring at each other.
Gaty ran a hand through their hair, leaning closer to them. “You look tired.” She began, “Have you.. been sleeping at all?”
Two looked away for a moment before shaking their head.
She gave them a worried look again, rubbing circles against their back with one hand and interlocking their fingers with another.
Two leaned their head against her shoulder. “I thought I’d never see you again..” they said quietly, squeezing the hand interlocked with hers. “I thought that all of this even happening was my fault a-and-“ they sniffled.
Gaty wiped their eyes. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“But I was the one who-“
Gaty leaned closer to them, still rubbing circles on their back. “Two.” She began, “I’m here now, aren’t I?”
Two leaned closer to her, resting their head against her shoulder again as they used their free hand to wipe their eyes. “Can we stay like this a little longer?”
Gaty smiled. “Of course. I’m not going anywhere.”
Two believed her this time. For tonight at least.