Chapter Text
Day 87
Jade calls you Dave, just Dave, for the first time since she met you, and your heart thumps a bit harder at that. John’s still careful about what he calls you though, because, as far as he knows, you're not the Dave he knows, the Dave he needs.
You're too sad and battle worn, dealt a heavy burden back in your alternate timeline. You lost both of them, didn't hear from them for what you assume to be four months.
You grimly realize that you've been cautious too. You're still half expecting to wake up to Calsprite's vicious laughter in a sea of basilisks while Hephaestus grins at you.
It's a terrifying notion but on the bright side, you can now sleep.
You realized three days in that if you concentrate hard enough, you can honest to goodness sleep for hours on end. You can never remember your dreams, but just as well. Sprites aren't supposed to rest anyway.
You guess karma owes you big time, though.
*****
Day 137
You and John have been tiptoeing around each other. You, blatantly flirting with him; he, mostly ignoring yet sometimes acknowledging your advances. At one point, he actually says to you, “Hey why not, we’re both young.” Then proceeds to try and kiss you clumsily. He misses completely: gets your cheek and part of your nose. He pulls back, embarrassed, and you just face him completely.
The second try is better than the first. Your lips touch tentatively at first, but then plant themselves together properly.
When you first kiss John, it lights a fire deep down within you and with each press of lips, the fire grows and threatens to burn you up from the inside out.
When you press your ear to his chest, you hear the steady thump of his heartbeat — the reaffirmation that, yes, he is alive and well — and you swear, you could write a million songs to this beat.
*****
Day 198
You and John break it off (it being a few goofy dates and lots of making out) when you and Jade start getting a little too close for comfort. He nudges your arm and winks at you, encouraging your infatuation for his ecto-sister.
You think the eyebrow waggle was a bit much but you'll take it all the same.
*****
Day 1095
You and Jade break up. You’re pretty sure it was all on you but you’re also too busy ignoring her to actually ask her opinion.
You guess it all started when you realized you can't sleep anymore.
The ship breaks through another pane of glass and hallelujah, you’re in a new session.
It’s different here. The land you’re on is mostly green with a few red structures dotting the landscape here and there.
Jade pops off as soon as you crash through.
John, being the dumbass he has always been, is asleep on a couch.
You sigh and crack your knuckles out of habit. You guess it’s time to go. There’s really no reason for you to stay here anymore. You guess you’ll just go off to help some denizen by throwing yourself at their mercy.
Although, you learned quite a while ago that you can't die so easily. It takes some pounding and grinding to end you.
Pills don't do it, although they hurt like a bitch. You don't bleed like humans do so that's out. And technically, you don't even need oxygen so you're hopeless as ever.
It's been a rough three years.
*****
Day ????
You've been fighting for as long as you can remember.
He's just so strong.
*****
Day 0
You're not really sure where you are.
One moment, you're surrounded by trolls and humans alike, everyone battle weary and ready to restore each species; the next, you're standing, not floating, standing in a meadow surrounded by poppies and dandelions, everyone an arms length apart from each other (makes a circle).
You're a bit scared and apprehensive. You see alpha-you standing across from you, and with a shock you realize you are mirroring his actions.
Your hands are still oil-stained-creamsicle-orange.
Some around you collapse sobbing. You'd have never pegged Kanaya for a crier but here she is, three trolls away from you, bawling her eyes out. Karkat tries to comfort her but he's no good at that; starts bawling too, and collapses on top of her. Their god-cloaks glow
Someone beside you mumbles a feverish "It's over. It's— It's finally over."
The stars are out on your new planet.
You look back up: back into the mirror, and feel yourself wasting away.
There's truly no reason for your existence now. The game is over, and your timeline is forgotten.
There is only room for gods now.
Mirror-you grimaces a little as your hands peel away, like burning paper. You feel a small part of your consciousness trickling into mirror-you's mind. Now he knows you.
You give those who are looking a weak smile and take a deep breath. The incredibly clean air burns your lungs.
Before anything, John and Jade break ranks and run to you. John reaches you first and you bury yourself into his neck, too afraid you'll leave pieces of your skin on his shirt.
"I'm sorry," he whispers into your hair. "I'm sorry, you are Dave. You are. You are the real Dave."
Jade barrels into the both of you and all the air gets sucked out of your lungs as you hit the ground hard. The dirt is hard packed and lovely on your back. There are hands underneath your shirt, and you feel them peel off more of your burning paper-skin.
It doesn't hurt, for now.
They kiss you wherever they can, and it makes you hyperaware that it this is not a private moment, regardless of the cover the poppies provide. You feel yourself slipping.
"The stars," you finally croak out.
They look up with you. Then they look at each other.
"The stars—" Jade says, desperate.
You feel John nodding furiously, only half aware of your surroundings.
Jade sits up and starts moving her hands in a gesture that seems almost clumsy.
As you fade away from their warmth, you hope vaguely that at least a third of the strength of your feelings for them survives in mirror-you.
You approach the stars.
The troll teacher points to the sky as they teach constellations to trollborns and humanborns alike. "That is the Knight constellation." They trace the shape vaguely with their index finger. "It is said that he helped the gods create this world, but upon their arrival onto the surface, he wasted away. Legend says that he was so loved by the gods that they decided to honor him in their heavens, to preserve his memory. Once a year, on every third of December, the gods bow to him. That is how great and powerful he was."
A child raises its hand. "Is that why we have the Amber and Fire celebration?"
The teacher nods. "Yes. Every year, like thousands of generations past, we celebrate the creation of this world and we pray to the Knight for guidance and support. He helped the gods with many things, and the gods listened to him intently."
Another student, this one a teenager, asks, "Did you also mention that the great Knight was also kind of a jerk?"
The girl next to him stifles a laugh.
The troll teacher looks less than amused.
"And you are?"
"John," the teenager grins.
"John, I really doubt the Knight was, as you say, a jerk. He was wise, loved, and commanding."
"If by commanding you mean bossy."
The girl next to him socks his arm lightly.
The troll teacher rolls their eyes and goes back to their lesson.
An arm slings itself around John's shoulder. "Yo."
"Dave!" Comes the girl's happy squeal.
"Hey there, Harley."
John turns his head and almost bumps the sunglasses off Dave's face.
"So," Dave starts. "What're we talking about?"
"Oh, nothing." John chirps. " Just some guy I used to know."
"Oh, yeah? Anyone I know?"
"I'd like to think so."
Dave raises an eyebrow, and John tries not to steal a kiss; fails.
"You guys want some dumplings?" Dave asks, smile growing. "I'm buying."
Jade's grin widens. "Yeah! Oh, I know great little troll place right off Royton street."
"Sweet. I'll ask Rose to meet us there."
"Where is she?" Jade looks around, half expecting her to pop up.
"Elsewhere. Probably messing up a continent's rain cycle." Dave shrugs. "Refused to come with me. Y'know how she hates poppies."
John hums and chances another look at the sky. He knows the shape of the constellation by heart. The lights blink back at him relentlessly, as if trying to impress the stargazers.
Showoff, John thinks.
As they make their way out of the poppy field and into the city, he kicks off the wind for the hell of it.
Some petals stir up in the gale, and he sends them up, up, up and off.
The stars somehow blink brighter.