Warden had been stuck in the future for weeks, probably months now. His future self kept refusing to help him get back to his own time. It probably didn't help that he kept saying he would run the place better or that he swore to change some things when he got back.
But really, was it so hard to fix a measly time travel bracelet...thing? If the Good Doctor made it then it couldn't be too hard to fix. Yet his future self refused to cooperate, claiming he fired the doctor some time ago...and he refused to let Warden use his scientists. Why on earth did he not trust himself of all people?
Warden was beyond frustrated and was very close to hating himself. Trying one last time, he approached his future self in his office, slamming his fists loudly on the desk to take the dictator's mind off of his work. "When are we getting this fixed? I can't stay here forever! I have a jail to run!" He was pouting, probably not helping his case at all, but he frankly didn't care.
His future self stopped looking at the report, lowering it slowly on his desk after being interrupted. He gave Warden a very unimpressed glance through his darker lenses. "I thought I told you not to disturb me. Ever," he said, his tone unpleasant and darker than it used to be.
Warden swallowed, nervous, but he kept his ground. Sort of. "Well, this is important and you never listen!"
"Warden," his future self began, folding his hands together and leaning forward. "Tell me a little more about that bracelet you have." Warden stared, confused. What was his future self trying to start?
"Uh, other than the fact it should let me travel back to my time period?"
His future self looked frustrated for a moment before he forced a smile. "Actually, I want to know why it is that when we're in contact, we don't rupture time and space…and the fact I don't remember this encounter at all."
Warden scratched his head. The doctor had explained it to him in detail before he experimented with it- but he couldn't remember it all. "I think it pretty much blocks all possibilities of time paradoxes?"
"So anything that happens to you won't affect anything here," his future self mused, rubbing his chin.
"I...guess...but what does that have to do with anything?" Warden frowned, crossing his arms. Why couldn't his future self just help him fix this?
The future warden sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, Warden, you really weren't so bright back then, were you?" Warden's lip twitched. God, his future self was an ass. He watched the other stand up from his chair and walk around it, approaching him.
"I want to try something out," his older self said calmly, a little too close to Warden's comfort zone now.
"Like what?" Warden asked, hoping his nervousness wasn't obvious in his voice. His future self formed a sly smile, taking a hold of the other's wrist, thumb brushing across the strange device.
"You'll see."