Chapter Text
"We could have done better."
"Mhm."
"Or we could have done. something."
"Mm."
"Anything." Marc stated, inspecting the fresh little cuts over their alternate's jaw, cheekbone, and neck. Other places were survivable, but they were lucky that the cut on the neck wasn't fatal. This is a sensitive body part, and it seemed like Steven understood he had to be alive to keep Marc and Jake alive. A knife's cut on the palm. Deep enough to tear some good amount of skin. "He might have taken this while protecting the neck." Marc nodded to himself, studying further. There was a peek of a faint bruise beneath Steven's collar, and it could be possible that this isn't the only one. "Why is it that only he's hurt here and none of us are?"
"This is our imaginary cluster. It's not real. Only the one who's experienced a happening receives its effect. When we take over the body we'll feel the hurt, but in here, only him."
"Then I think it's high time for it." Marc gave a strict look at Jake, finally taking his eyes off Steve.
"Taking over the body does not lessen or heal an alternate's wound. They stay there and take time to fade. Just like the real world."
"This is not the real world." Marc's voice rose, teeth clattering lightly in control. "This doesn't make sense!"
"Shhh." Jake warned slowly, gesturing his eyes at the bed, "He's sleeping." He put both of his hands on the shape of Steven's couch and settled his head back once again, eyes closing. Looking calm like he always does. Never a hint of emotion. And sometimes, it drives Marc crazy. Not that he wasn't before.
There were on this stupid C ranked mission, and it was supposed to be the safest mission they've ever had in their life but just like every time, something has to fuck up, and once again, they ended up with their lives on the question. Yes, they promised themselves that this time, there will be no kills but they didn't really know that Steven literally meant the promise. That fucking idiot wouldn't give them the body even though he's eaten enough punches for the day from this buff, bald, slimy-looking betrayer who tricked them in the middle of the mission. But somehow Steven saved himself, Lord knows how, and then let Marc take over the body. When Marc's consciousness reached his skin he could feel a lot more fractured than his own mind. And that is in actual sense damaging.
All of this just so another life wouldn't be sacrificed.
What a brilliant joke.
Comedy.
Steven should host a stand-up for that joke.
Marc roamed around to compose himself. He began to focus on other things besides whatever the hell happened to them minutes ago and checked out the room that belonged to that ridiculous idiot. Family Photos, mechanical toys, watches, restraints, and books. So many books. History Books. Biology Books. Science Books. Books on tables, shelves, sofas, chairs. This biblical nerd. He wondered what Steven found in them. A friend, maybe?
"Pathetic." he heard Jake say, staring at him with a slight smirk.
Marc smirked back. knowingly. As much as he hated this snarky bastard, he was a part of him. "Why do you think he's asleep?"
"Post effects. You injected the body with sedation for pain relief. He's sedated since he bore the pain. We aren't since we haven't."
"How do you know this much?"
"I don't," Jake smiled, snarky and languid, "I'm making stuff up."
Marc's eyes narrowed in scrutiny until realization came to him and his face twisted at the ridiculousness, "You fucking twa--"
"Unghh..."
The room went silent.
Steven's eyes fluttered for a few seconds, he wanted to rub them and clear the wax but his muscles seemed to have lost all the energy and he couldn't quite focus where he is. There these faint voices that buzzed at the back of his head, and sharp needles of pain ran over his body. He groaned helplessly, unable to process its cause, and felt the bed beneath him dip. Oh, he was on a bed. And there were...people. He guesses. Everything was like a mussy cloud fogging over consciousness and he couldn't help but let out a pained whine.
"Go back to sleep, Steven."
Words surfaced in his ears. They floated and mixed up, Steve couldn't understand them.
"Now's not the time."
And with that, Steven slipped into darkness again.
Marc looked at Jake, and found him already looking back. Their eyes darkened with an intention. Blank blacks sparkling.
"We exhaust him a lot, don't we?"