Chapter 41

Y: *feeling some of his emotions in their mind and is getting overwhelmed*

M: *pulls back and stares at them lovingly*

Y: Can you teach me to shield? Please? It's too much.

M: *closes his mind to help reduce the input* Yeah, let's sit down.

Y: *sits cross-legged on their bed*

M: *sits across from them* Okay, first can you picture a room? Any kind of room.

Y: *is trying, but is having trouble with it*

M: Or, I know! Picture a filing cabinet, with all the files out of order.

Y: *frowns* If I picture it, it'll be neat.

M: Okay, well imagine that each file is labeled and each is an emotion.

Y: *trying their hardest* Why is it so hard?

M: You just started.

Y: Should be easy to picture something simple.

M: *hesitates* I could help you.

Y: How?

M: I can help you picture the filing cabinet, but you'll need to sort it yourself.

Y: I can try.

M: Okay. This works better if we're touching. *holds out his hands*

Y: *takes them* You don't need a reason to touch me.

M: *smiles in acknowledgement* *puts up his own shields and carefully navigates their thoughts*

M: *projects an image of a filing cabinet, picks up a file* Which one is this?

Y: Um. Janet's.

M: …Janet? Never mind, here. *mentally hands them the file*

Y: It's like I'm a ghost. I can't hold or touch anything in my head.

M: Uhh- ok- *pictures them solidifying next to him* Try now.

Y: I still can't.

M: Okay for now, picture the filing cabinet opening.

Y: Okay. *it opens* How'd I do that?

M: You just have to think it.

M: *sets the file in the drawer and pick up another* Which one is this?

Y: Mine.

M: *nods* Now open another drawer.

Y: *tries* It's stuck.

M: Does it need a key?

Y: No.

M: How is it stuck?

Y: *mentally flops on their butt, the draw popping open* I don't know.

M: Okay… *sets it in the drawer* Usually the draw with your file is supposed to have a lock because that is literally your essence, the part that makes you- you.

Y: I did not know that. Maybe I subconsciously sealed it?

M: That makes sense. Can you picture a lock on the drawer?

Y: *picture a lock, a combination lock appearing on the drawer*

M: *smiles* Great! *picks up another file* Now this one.

Y: Yours. I want to try picking up the file with my mind, not body.

M: *holds it out*

Y: *it lifts, staying in place* Okay, let's see if I can open the draw simultaneously.

M: *mentally takes a step back and gives them a thumbs up*

Y: *this draw has which unlock, the file in place* *the draw opens, and they place inside* I did it!

M: Great job! Think you can do another one?

Y: Yeah. Wait, I didn't lock the draw, how does it have one? And why is it another color?

M: It's about another person, and all the thoughts and feelings associated with them. That's why it's a different color. As for the lock you must have unconsciously thought the lock into place,

Y: So all the ones about people are colored, but Janet's isn't?

Y: Hey it's glowing!

M: Maybe because she's part of work?
M: I- huh- that's weird. That's never happened before.

Y: That's possible about Janet.

Y: Maybe it's glowing because of who you are to me?

M: That could be.

Y: *shrugs*

Y: Next file?

M: Go ahead! *hands it to them*

Y: Ianto's. *sets it into the draw*

M: You've got the hang of it now!

Y: I do! *sorts the rest, only dropping a couple*

Y: Wait, didn't I sort yours?

M: Yeah?

Y: So how is there one more with your name on it? And- mine?

M: *shrugs* I don't know, what's in it?

Y: Pictures.

M: Maybe make a new drawer?

Y: Okay. Wait. Where did these pictures come from?

M: I can't see them. What kind of pictures are they?

Y: Us. But intimate moments.

M: Um, yeah you might want to put a lock on that drawer too.

Y: *gives him the file* Have a look first.

M: You sure?

Y: It's both of us.

M: *looks at the pictures, going red* Yan, I don't think these are memories.

Y: What? *takes them back* Oh-

M: *clears his throat* Yeah, you'll want a lock on that draw.

Y: Ha- maybe two.

M: Couldn't hurt.

Y: Are you okay with having seen that?

M: Yeah, it's fine. Just remind me to sort my own mind later.

Y: Okay. Um- maybe in the future if you want to do some- of- that…?

M: *nods* Yeah that- yeah…

Y: Right, well everything is sorted.

M: Okay. Once you shut the last drawer, I'll be kicked out. So wait a second for me to get out because otherwise that'll be a helluva headache for me.

Y: *waits for him to go*

M: *retreats out of their mind*

Y: *smiles* Don't want to hurt you.

M: Alrighty, go ahead.

Y: *closes the last few drawers*

M: *gently knocks against their mind but can't get in* Perfect!

Y: Wait, that's it?

M: Well, I'm not knocking very hard, and eventually you'll want to change it to a safe or something else. Whoever knocks hard enough can get in, but what you have right now is a very well constructed basic shield. You shouldn't be getting any low-level projections.

Y: But what if I wanted to talk to you with my mind? And how far apart can we project?

M: You have to throw the words at me- *Like this*

M: And we could technically be across the universe and it'd still be like we are right next to each other, though I've never actually done that.

Y: I think you did.

M: I did?

Y: Possibly. There were times I felt like a longing or heartbroken emotion from someone who felt familiar yet distant. And it couldn't be from me.

M: Oh Yan, I'm so sorry.

Y: Why? That means Icould still feel you! Even though we were in two separate universes.

M: I'm sorry because you had to feel that.

Y: But it's a good thing I was able to feel your emotions!

M: It's amazing you could, despite being in a separate universe. But I'm sorry you had to feel those emotions-

Y: I'm sorry for being the cause of it, of your heartbreak.

M: *gives a small smile, pulling them into a hug* I'm sorry I didn't find you sooner.

Y: HArdly your fault, you didn't know I was alive.

M: *laughs quietly* Guess not.

Y: *hugs him physically and mentally*

M: *melts into them, returning the mental hug* We should rest now, that much mental sorting is tiring.

Y: *yawns* Yeah, I am tired-

M: *turns so both of them are laying on the bed, holding them close*

Y: *snuggles against him, falling asleep pretty quickly, more exhausted than they realized* Love you, cozy man.

M: *snorts quietly* Love you too.

*sometime while Malcolm and Yan are on their date*
J: Rikki, you can go home, it's getting late.

R: I've got like two pages left. J: Alright. If you'd like, you can finish now or wait until tomorrow.

R: *glances at pages* I'll just finish now.

J: Okay.

*rift monitor beeping*

J: I'll check it.

I: *sighs* And here I thought we'd have a quiet night.

J: It's small, I can take care of it and call if I need backup.

I: You sure? *helping him into his coat*

J: Looks like some space junk. *slides into his coat then kisses Ianto*

I: Well, be careful. *kisses him back*

R: *not looking up* Have fun.

J: I don't know if it constitutes as fun… *heads out*

R: *shrugs* It could be if you wanted it- *looks up and realizes he left*

J: *over comms* Ianto I need you to please tell me where I am going.

I: *pulling it up on the screen* Righ- oh never mind, take the next right.

J: *walking, following his directions* Okay.

I: Do you see a clump of bushes? About a hundred yards to your 10 o'clock.

J: Yep.

I: It looks like it's right in the middle.

J: *gets there, looking through the bushes* Got it!

I: What is it?

J: *running back as fast as he can* I don't know, but it's got a mauve light on it.

R: *sits up* That's not good, right?

J: It's flash- AGHHH

I: JACK?!