"So what are we going to do next?" Phineas asked happily, beginning to cheer up after all that had happened.
He looked up at Perry, the pair carrying several bags of groceries in each of their hands, their shopping fruitful.
Accompanying them was Ferb and Isabella, the pair also carrying groceries as well, though not as much as the former platypus.
"Once we drop these off back home, I was going to head out and try to find this place that teaches cooking. Can't rely on Seri to do all the cooking forever," the teal haired man answered with a smile.
"That's so cool! Remember when Ferb and I made Chez Platypus?"
"Yeah, I remember, it was really ingenious that you and Ferb pulled it off so well, and without your parents finding out."
"We didn't care if Mom and Dad found out what we did. I'm sure they would've been proud of us having so much fun," the redhead chirped happily.
He was almost skipping at the thought of his parents getting to see their past exploits, barely containing his bursting energy.
"Maybe, then again, some of the stunts you pulled were enough to cause heart failure, like that crazy rollercoaster. What were you two thinking?"
"How to make summer great?"
"Why does that not surprise me?"
Just as he said that, the other two broke out laughing, or more the young girl was in a fit of giggles, the other trying to hold back his laughter.
Just as the foursome were starting to cross the bridge leading back home, Phineas stopped, staring into the water.
"What the hell?" Perry muttered softly as he stared as did the others.
"Could it be some sort of fish?" Isabella asked, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end.
"None that are indigenous here," Ferb spoke up, adding a strange chill.
The water below them swirled, as if caught in a small storm of its own, forming into a whirlpool, as if something was pushing it down.
"Stand back!" Perry shouted as the water suddenly stopped without warning, the liquid crashing into itself violently before stilling.
It wasn't that, that made the agent react, pushing the kids behind him, backing from the side, it was the light forming several feet in the air.
Immediately the water went back to its previous actions, clearly caught in what whatever was pulling it.
"I'm scared…" Phineas whimpered, hugging onto Ferb and Isabella as they did the same.
"What on earth is going on?" Perry growled softly, red eyes narrowed to try and see through the blinding light.
He could hear people nearby, having seen what was happening, some alarmed by how they began to back away. Others who didn't were either in awe of the show or too afraid to move.
The light died down, replaced by a black vortex, the air around it ripping open wider and wider. Sounds of thunder crashing could be heard, making the former platypus' knees grow weak with fear.
He was about to yell at the kids to run, ready to grab them up and run like hell back home, ready to lock the house down if this was some sort of invasion.
His mind raced, terrified of what could be happening, recalling a similar experience when he went through that transporter.
Did they find him?
Are they going to take him back?
Would they threaten, no would they butcher his family to take him back?
What would they do if they discovered the diclonii?
Would they be used if successfully captured?
As the questions bombarded his head, they all froze; practically feeling like it was a highway pile up as he stared into the vortex, what fell from it.
It was almost like time froze, Perry staring at the white form that fell into the waters below them. He saw the blue eyes, recognizing them anywhere, ignoring the shouts and screams as the vortex vanished without warning.
Before he could stop himself, he dropped the bags, climbing onto the railing, leaping into the freezing water.
He didn't care how his body stung from making contact, hearing Phineas and the others scream at him.
All he could focus on was the man who had fallen into these waters, desperate to save him, instincts as an agent kicking in.
He swam, kicking and pushing through the water, thankful that the river wasn't tremendously deep.
Spotting the sinking form, he swam harder, grabbing the white sleeve, pulling him against his chest just before either hit the bottom.
Having the limp body in his arms, he focused on getting to the surface, dragging themselves upwards, aiming for the shore.
The former platypus could feel his lungs tightening, beginning to burn for oxygen, forcing him to kick harder.
He couldn't believe what he saw, unsure what to think.
He was positive that it wasn't a dream or some hallucination.
It was real, all of it. He had him in his arms right now; he didn't care how different he looked…
He had him back…
Reaching the surface, gasping for air, Perry swam to the shore, using all his strength to keep the other's head above the water.
He feared the worse by the lack of response, seeing those glazed eyes, watching as they were pulled out of the water by other people.
He couldn't stop watching as he ignored the shouting going on, the sounds of sirens going off.
All he could do was dumbly watch as people checked for a pulse on the still brunette, holding his breath as he waited for any news. He finally released it in relief when hearing there was a pulse.
He could see the chest rising and falling, but worried why he didn't react to the cold water in the first place. He didn't even react when the ambulance arrived, as the paramedics practically threw him onto a gurney to take him away.
Perry barely registered the police arriving, taking statements from people, finding the kids, taking them home as they took him to the hospital as well.
The entire time, he felt helpless, wanting to do something for the other, but couldn't, only stare at him during the ambulance ride.
He had so many questions to ask him, numbly answering a couple questions doctors gave him; police gave him when they showed up.
"Heinz…" he whimpered softly, tears forcing themselves to his eyes.
All this time, having been torn between finding the man and Peter, or staying with his family. Even if he did choose to go search for them and other possible survivors, where could he even look?
He wasn't even sure if others fell into this world as his family had done as well as himself or were in another. Therefore, he was forced to constantly search for anything that might relate to the Shadow Queen and her Alchemy Knight.
Every day he prayed that he would find something on them, something to connect them to either.
Perry was barely aware when he was finally released; having been given dried clothes, family members having brought them.
"Excuse me, could I see him? The man I pulled from the river I mean," he asked almost timidly, the doctor giving him a confused look before allowing it.
When shown the room, seeing him lying in that bed, dressed in proper clothing the hospital provided, he almost broke.
The man was a complete mess, worse than he could ever have imagined, fearing what could've led to this.
He had deep bags under his eyes, tanned skin a sickly pale color, knowing it couldn't have been illness that did it.
The once short messy hair now went past his shoulders, having been fixed up likely by a nurse or doctor when they were taking care of him.
He looked so thin, his body almost melting into the bedding, scared to know how he really looked.
But it was the eyes that nearly did him in, while they were closed now, he could remember how they looked.
Those vibrant blue eyes that were filled with so much fire and determination to beat his nemesis and rule the Tri-State Area, it was gone.
It practically destroyed the agent, realizing that the man lying before him might be lost forever, unsure if he could ever be retrieved.
Just as he was about to walk over, to touch him, hoping to grab his attention, the door opened behind him, arms wrapping around his waist.
He knew without a doubt that it was Phineas, confirming when he glance down, seeing his face buried into his side, tears soaking through his shirt.
"What were you thinking jumping into the river like that?" Seri half shouted as she walked inside.
"I'm…I'm sorry but this man, I know him. He's…he's a friend of mine. I couldn't let him drown," Perry answered, a few tears trickling down his face.
"Wait, a friend of yours?" she asked, eyes widening as she looked at the limp figure lying in bed. "I'm so sorry Perry. I didn't know. I just heard from Phineas and the others that you dove into the water off the bridge and I panicked."
Before she could say anything else, a doctor walked in, holding a clipboard, a visible frown on his face.
Taking note of the people in the room, he raised a brow, "Do you know who this gentleman is?"
"Yes," the teal haired man nearly cried out. "His name is Heinz Doofenshmirtz. Is he okay? He hasn't moved or spoken at all…"
"We don't know just yet, from what we can see, it appears that his entire nervous system has been disabled. We would've thought it was a birth defect until we saw some scarring around his throat and did further examination. At key points throughout his entire body are surgical scars. They're faded, just about invisible, easy to miss to the untrained eye."
"What did you say?" Seri gasped, placing a hand on Perry's arm as he swayed a little, looking ill.
"I'm saying is that somehow, someone severed his nervous system. He can't feel anything, nor can he talk. Strange thing is he still has mobility, capable of blinking when lights are flashed in his eyes for example. We've even seen some twitching as normal with any reflex. Whoever did this is a psychotic genius…" the doctor explained, sounding disgusted as he is amazed by what was done to the broken man.
"Is there any way to reverse this?" Perry asked, practically begged as he stared at the bedridden male, tears flowing from his eyes more freely.
"We don't even know how it was done so thoroughly, the years it could've taken to accomplish this. If we tried, we would be risking his life unnecessarily, it would be inhumane to make such an attempt."
"Then what can be done?" he asked as he walked over to the brunette, feeling the other two letting go.
When reaching the bed, he placed his hand over the other's squeezing it, wishing what he was hearing wasn't true.
"I'm afraid there isn't much that can be done," the doctor answered sadly, patting the teal haired man on the shoulder. "We could have him stay here and looked after. Does he have any family we could contact?"
"No…I'm afraid I don't know where they are. I don't even know how to contact them," Perry half lied, gritting his teeth as he tried not scream. "Oh god Heinz, what on earth happened to you?"
"Could he stay with us? I've taken nursing and aside myself, he and two others have jobs to pay for all he'll need," Seri suggested nervously.
She could see how distraught the other was; breaking her heart at the sight, seeing her dear friend obviously cared for this man.
She couldn't live with herself if they took him away, taking him to some unknown hospital, never to see him again.
"Are you positive?" he asked, having been shown the license by the woman, giving her a skeptical look at her given appearance. "Even if I did allow it, you're in no condition to take care of this man."
"I can teach Perry what I know until I've given birth," she replied with a determined look. "We have the money to pay for his expenses and he may be able to respond better if he's with someone he knows than strangers. Whether he's lost feeling or not because some monsters did it, he's surely gone through immense trauma. If he has any hopes to recover, it would be better for his mental health to be around people he knows and loves."
"I understand…" the doctor tried arguing before glancing at the kids in the room, giving a heavy sigh. "Let's talk about this at my office, alright?"
"Fine," she sighed as she followed him out.
The entire time everyone was talking, Heinz feigned sleep, listening to every word said regarding him.
When hearing that someone knew him, a man who called himself Perry…no, it couldn't be him.
It was impossible, just impossible…
Even if he was alive, he's a platypus, not a man, so it can't be him.
But if it isn't him, then who is he? How does he know who he is?
At some point he heard the woman returning, announcing that she was able to get him to come live with them at home.
"That's great news!" a boy's voice cried out happily.
"But he has to stay here a few days. They want to run some tests to see where exactly his health is at before they release him into our care."
"I guess that makes sense," another boy spoke softly.
"It'll also give us time to set up a room for him," the woman explained, sounding relieved of her accomplishment.
"Thank god," he heard the man he believed to be Perry sigh with relief.
After an unknown amount of time passed, the brunette could hear the woman speaking again, "We should get back home, it's getting late."
He could hear some shuffling, the sounds further, the one next to him making no noises to indicate he was moving.
"Perry, why don't you stay here a little longer? I'll take the kids back, okay?"
"Thanks," the other responded, hearing him get up briefly before returning to his spot, likely hugging her or some of the others.
When he was finally alone, he pulled a chair up, taking a seat next to the bed, reclaiming the hand once more.
It didn't matter the other couldn't feel anything; he got some strange comfort holding the appendage. It reminded him of the times he'd hold the other's hand when he was down and needed emotional support more than getting his ass handed to him.
Now, it felt like he needed it more than ever, feeling tears forming in his eyes once more, not resisting as they trickled down his face.
Why couldn't he stop crying so much?
He was never emotionless, but he was never this emotional before, so why?
No, he knew why, while he's got people he felt were most important in his life, there are still dozens others who don't have that.
His family is still without parents, unsure if they're alive, Jeremy and the other kids' families' status are unknown. Heinz may be here, but his condition isn't what he expected to see, nor does he know what to tell him about his family's status.
Then there's Peter, he has no clue if and when he'll ever find him, if he's alive or dead, how much he's suffering or he's gone numb as Dennis nearly had.
All those horrible thoughts surfaced, making the tears flow faster, dropping down his face, his nose beginning to run.
Will he ever find the Shadow Queen?
Does she even exist?
Was it all a lie from the very beginning to break him, to break the other prisoners?
"G-god…" he half sobbed, sounding choked as his breath hitched.
He heard the sobbing grow louder despite how hard the other tried controlling himself, hearing a small thud as he collapsed into his chest, muffling his crying.
"I'm so sorry I couldn't help you sooner, if I knew where you were, I would've come save you, I would have. Maybe…maybe then you wouldn't be like this."
Most of his words were difficult to hear between his sobs and having his face still buried in the cheap blankets, but the other caught every word.
Funny thing about not feeling a thing, you find yourself more aware of your surroundings to make up for it.
Perry turned his head, facing the supposed sleeping face, not caring how much of a mess he looked.
"I know you may not recognize me, but no matter what, I'm going to everything in my power to take care of you. I don't care about the past anymore, I just don't want to lose anyone else."
Closing his eyes, he sniffled, not wanting to take his eyes off the other, but felt himself growing tired.
How long has he been here?
He knew before he started talking, he must've been staring at the sleeping man for hours, knowing visiting hours would be over soon.
The thought alone brought more tears, squeezing the bloodshot eyes shut, gritting his teeth as he tried to control himself.
"Please forgive me, Heinz, please," he sobbed softly, afraid if he spoke any louder, his nemesis, his friend may disappear. "I'm begging you, please forgive me."
The brunette's eyes opened, blue eyes staring mystified at the mop of teal hair with black peppering the locks.
It couldn't be him, but it was, he just knew it without having to ask complicated questions. The emotion he was displaying, it was all real, the kind of emotion he saw the platypus show only through his eyes, trying to put up a strong front.
"Perry…" he whispered in his thoughts, staring in awe at what he saw.
He remembered during the agonizing surgeries about humanization projects going on, that they were using lab animals.
Perry the Platypus was among those, it explained why he looked like this, why he was so much more expressive. He looked so young, unsure if his aging had been altered somehow or if this is how he looks based on platypus years.
The scientist could only imagine the stress he must've put himself through, protecting himself, protecting whoever those people are that were here before.
Were they his family or people he met?
If he met them, where? Here, wherever they are, or wherever he came from?
Pushing the thoughts behind his head, focusing on the distressed man crying away still, he could tell that whatever he went through, it's left him vulnerable.
He could see signs of insomnia looking at that tear streaked face, signs that nightmares kept him awake than late hours working.
Seeing the once platypus looking so broken, looking completely lost, not able to put up a strong front as he's known for, it tore the brunette up.
He couldn't bear to see him like this, wanting to find a reason to stop those tears from falling, to stop his sorrow.
Perry felt something land on his head, gently rubbing his head, the hand running through his soft hair.
Opening his eyes, he stared in shock, wondering how the other could move without feeling a thing.
The brunette on the other hand found himself lost in the other's face, surprised how gorgeous his nemesis looked as a human.
As if instincts pushed him, having done so once to pet what he could guess is soft hair, now went to the side of the face.
With tender movements, a thumb began wiping the tears away, giving him a comforting look, not sure if he was smiling or not.
Perry felt the hand, doing everything in his power not to flinch in shock, not even to nuzzle into that warm hand.
Eventually his old animal instincts kicked in, leaning into the hand, a small purring noise escaping him.
His eyes fluttered closed briefly, a relieved smile on his face, seeing the other giving him a small smile in return.
While the eyes were still dull, he could see the faintest of the man's spirit beginning to burn again. The embers never died, they were merely hidden amongst the ash and now they're reigniting.
It was those same eyes that told him he had been forgiven, that he had never been blamed, pulling a huge weight off his chest.
"I promise you, I won't ever let anyone take you away from me," Perry vowed, eyes shining with tears, determination shining brighter. "I'm going to protect you as I am with my family."
Hearing of family brought a wave of tears to the brunette's eyes, recalling his daughter, the other picking it up.
"I'm sorry, I'm…I'm sure that Vanessa's alright. She's strong like you are. I'm sure that she's somewhere safe."
Not sure if he was telling the truth, no more, he wasn't sure if Perry knew the truth about their world.
Yet somehow, he felt truth in those words, knowing that if he and his family survived, then others must have as well.
His daughter may have very well survived the destruction, that she's out there somewhere angry and scared, but safe no less.
It was all he could bring himself to hope for now.
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