makingthisupasigo | And the stars look very different today...

It was a way out. But it wasn't home.

Truthfully, after Norfinbury, anything would be better than that place, but the cold truth was--there was no way to find his own universe out of the endless multiverse, even if Norfinbury's busted technology had worked properly. He was stuck, here, with a megalomaniac Flynn--granted, a Flynn that managed to open up a portal out of there. Maybe that's what it took to get out of Norfinbury.

Or, Peter thought sometimes on bad days, Norfinbury only released you once you became the twisted version of yourself it wanted you to be. A specially-designed virus inflicted on countless worlds.

Besides, he ought to know something about that.

He didn't stay long on earth, he couldn't. Maybe it had something to do with the mystery of how they were revived in Norfinbury, their bodies recreated or cloned or healed, or maybe it was something that was gonna happen to him anyway, but he could feel the Light burning inside him, inside his head almost as soon as he landed. A desperate need to take to the stars. He'd managed to create a ship and took off.

Time passes, and scientists notice something odd about several exoplanets they're monitoring, especially ones marked as 'earth-like' or other planets in zones that could make them potentially habitable. Bright bursts of light and changes in the composition of the atmosphere or surface, it was inexplicable. Possible evidence of intelligent life? If they didn't know any better, especially with the rocky planets that now somehow boasted extreme changes, it was like something was terraforming them.

There was cause for alarm when Mars suddenly turned blue and green a few months later.

Meanwhile, a small blue-and-orange ship that looked suspiciously like a slightly more organic-looking Milano was racing towards the earth.

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"We're gonna make sure he won't. There's enough magic in the Library to help me keep him contained."

But he's touched by what Jacob is suggesting. Keeping the pendant on to protect him. That's what he is, a protector. Looking out for Flynn. Looking out for Ezekiel. Fighting back even the will of his evil self to help his friends.

"I can't let you do that. That pendant has hurt you enough. You need to live your own life again."

He squats down so they're at eye-level. "You're a great friend. And you're one hell of a Librarian. It's time for you to get that back."

Jake stares, too overcome by emotion for a second, even though he does his best to keep his face impassive. It's not really working, though, he's been through too much, so much, and there's a part of him that's honestly afraid to take it off. It almost feels wrong to. It almost feels wrong not to have someone else in your head.

But even more than that, he's afraid for Flynn. He's can't lose him again, he refuses to. And as much as the pendant has hurt him, he's willing to sacrifice what he needs to, to keep Flynn safe.

It's amazing to hear those words come from Flynn. Especially after putting up with his evil self for so long.

His hand's shaking, as he reaches up to the pendant, and he clutches his hand around it.

"I'm offering it to you freely this time, man."

Flynn can still feel it, the fear and worry and the willingness to DO this for him and for a moment he can't speak. Back in Norfinbury he thought that – no, he was ready to come back here and be alone. To return to this is... it's amazing. It's breathtaking. It's so much more than he deserves, than he ever thought he'd have again.

"... I know. And it would be wrong for me to take it."

He gently reaches out, mindful not to startle him and briefly puts his hands on Jacob's. "I won't need it. Because I know that even without this? You're gonna be right here and look after me. And we're gonna be right here and look after you."

Because that's what families do.

He smiles but refrains from sending an encouraging nudge at Jacob. That's something he has to do by himself. "You won't be alone. You're brilliant and kind and strong and a genius and there's at least five bookstores in New York that I need to show you? They're kind of hidden and you wouldn't believe what they have, before I went to Norfinbury I found an edition of--" He trails off when he realizes he's babbling.

"... What you felt? I will never let that happen." He briefly squeezes the hand clutching the pendant. "I promise."

Jacob stares back, Flynn's words sink in and he really might lose it--his brows furrow, he trembles slightly as all that despair is slowly replaced by hope and friendship. Jake knows he's hard to get to know even without magical artifacts, he's grown up and lived his life always hiding, always lying, keeping everything close to the vest. Maybe that's why he wanted this crutch too, Flynn's already broken through--even though deep down it's still a horrifying mess, what his evil self did to him.

He's not used to people having his back, having people look out for him. Not used to having a family--a real proper family, not just trying to keep his dad afloat and washing his hands of him when he's had too much.

"I...I'd like that. Seein' the bookstores and all."

And having a real family.

Having Flynn of all people, say all those kind things...

Jake nods, his eyes still intense and shining.

And he tugs, ever so slightly, and the pendant string breaks off. There's the strangest feeling, an emptiness. But he's not lonely. And he's not alone. Not anymore.

Edited 2018-06-01 05:25 (UTC)

"Me too. There were almost no books in Norfinbury. It was awful."

Maybe the biggest torture of them all.

When the connection is cut Flynn feels a similar loss but also joyful relief. Controlling Jake like that had been wrong and horrible and the memory of all the things his evil self did to him cuts deep. A part of him did this. The worst version of himself, he realizes that, but a version of himself and that will take him a while to get over.

He's a little sad that he can't give Jake more positive, healing feelings in return, flood the connection with love, take away the pain – but that would be just as wrong as manipulating the negative emotions. Jake needs his autonomy back and Flynn has to show him these things through words and actions – the way it's supposed to be.

He starts by wrapping his arms around him, drawing him into a careful hug. "Welcome home."

"That...sounds pretty awful." A dearth of books? Of all the terrible things he's picked up about that place, that sinks in just as awfully as all the other terrible bits.

He's not sure he's gonna get used to that emptiness. At least, not for awhile. There's still a part of him that's come to need that easy, constant connection, even with the terrible cost, and he hates the fact that he does. It was so horrific being controlled, for a time he didn't know which thoughts were really his own and which were Flynn's, and his mind was so used to being desperately unsure that it's daunting to be at the opposite side--but a welcome challenge, to be sure. He was so resigned to living the rest of his life that way, where everything he was, was controlled by Flynn's evil self.

Who was he anymore? He was gonna have to re-discover that. Try and pry away evil Flynn's thoughts and feelings from his own. Daunting, yes, but welcome.

Jacob freezes for a moment, when Flynn hugs him, but after that moment he returns it.

"Thanks, man."

"Anytime."

He holds him for a long moment, closing his eyes against the onslaught of emotions and guilt, then draws in a deep breath.

"What do you say we go and get our thief back?" And kick some Celestial ass. "I think it's about time."

When he lets go, he nods and takes a step back. So much fear and hope and anger and pain and compassion. He doesn't blame him, not at all, but it's gonna be a long time before he can come to terms with this. If he ever does.

"I say let's go and get our thief back."

Sheer, confident determination in his voice, even if he's still afraid. Afraid for all of them.

"That's the spirit."

Flynn smiles and nods, glad he doesn't have to face Peter alone. "It's about time we end this once and for all, come on."

And he'll lead the way. There's quite a few things to prepare before they can mount the UFO.

And the stars look very different today...

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