I wanna meet Benny, Good Cop said.
It had been a little over a month since Good Cop began making his comeback. So far, he hadn't had nearly enough energy to take control of their body, but his confidence had been growing lately.
"You sure you're ready to come out?" Bad Cop asked. It was evening, and he was driving home from the station. Benny had left earlier – as a Master Builder, he now had a split responsibility between acting as Bad Cop's deputy and helping rebuild the city.
I think so, Good Cop replied. For a little while, at least.
Bad Cop nodded. "Then you got it, buddy. I know Ben's been looking forward to meeting you."
You really do care about him, Good Cop said.
Bad Cop scowled even as his ears went red, and Good Cop laughed. I'm happy for you, he said. And from what you've told me, I think I'll like him as much as you do. Then he suddenly added: I've always felt guilty, you know.
Bad Cop's forehead creased. "About what?"
About making those one-sided relationships, Good Cop said. You were never really into them.
Bad Cop sighed as he pulled into the apartment building's parking garage. "Don't worry about it," he said.
But Good Cop did worry. He was the worrier. Bad Cop barged through life like a bull in a china shop, and Good Cop swept up behind him and worried.
Bad Cop seemed to sense his concern and said, "If we'd left it up to me, nothing ever would have happened." When Good Cop still hadn't responded by the time Bad Cop had locked the car and made it into the elevator, Bad Cop added, "You know I never really minded. We've talked about this."
I know, Good Cop replied. I still feel bad.
"Please don't," Bad Cop groaned as he unlocked his apartment door.
"Don't what?"
Bad Cop jumped a little in surprise, his hand instinctively going for the holster at his hip. But it was just Benny, settled on the couch and slurping up some kind of noodle soup. Bad Cop sighed and closed the door behind him. "Nothing," he said. "Just talking to Good Cop." He hesitated, then said, "He says he thinks he's ready to come out for a bit and meet you."
Benny's brow furrowed. "Do you not want him to?"
For a moment, Bad Cop was confused, then he said, "Oh! No, we were talking about something else. I'd like you to meet him, too."
Benny grinned, nearly spilling his soup as he scrambled upright. "Heck yeah!"
Bad Cop twisted his fingers together, suddenly nervous for a reason he couldn't name. "Let me just get his glasses," he said, shuffling towards the bedroom. Benny nodded, and Bad Cop all but fled to his room. The glasses were resting on top of the bureau, and his hands shook as he picked them up. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and slid them on.
Good Cop opened his eyes slowly, blinking a few times before his vision came into focus. He reached up and adjusted his glasses a little. There was a crack in one lens, and he wondered how that had happened. He flexed his hands experimentally and looked around the room. The bathroom door was open, and his gaze caught on the mirror. He squinted, puzzled. There was something not quite right about his reflection. He crossed the bedroom and flicked on the bathroom light.
The left side of his face was covered in scars. Dazedly, he put his hand to his cheek to confirm they were real. "Bad," he croaked.
I know, buddy, Bad Cop said. I'm sorry.
"But…" Good Cop said, feeling dizzy. "How did this happen? Did you get hurt while I was gone?"
He felt Bad Cop freeze. They hadn't really talked about Good Cop's missing weeks. Bad Cop had seemed reluctant to bring it up unless Good Cop did, and Good Cop hadn't really felt the need to. He just wanted to focus on the present, on regaining his strength.
You don't… You don't remember?
"Remember what?" Good Cop asked, but his heart had begun to race. There was something, something just under the surface, lurking and dark.
What was your last memory? Bad Cop sounded terrified.
Good Cop ground the heel of his palm against his forehead. "Lord Business was showing us his collection… Some kind of cloak, I think?" Or was that it? Was there a room, murky and cold?
Let me back out, Bad Cop said hurriedly. Let me take over.
But Good Cop wasn't listening. He gripped the edge of the sink, breath coming in short gasps. Where was this panic coming from? Why was he so scared?
Dammit! Bad Cop shouted, pounding against the mental barrier that separated them. Get back in here!
Good Cop's heartbeat slammed in his ears. He was petrified, couldn't move a single muscle. Every one of his functions had locked up.
Bad Cop let out a roar of frustration, battering at the barrier with everything he had. Breathe, you eedjit!
Good Cop sucked in an involuntary breath.
Ben! Bad Cop screamed, and his voice managed to tear its way out of Good Cop's throat.
There were thudding footsteps as Benny raced from the living room to see what was going on, and he arrived in time to see Good Cop's knees give out and his head crack against the counter as he crumpled to the floor.