Well, it's been a while. Back with a new Alvon story co-written with Munk19. I have a few disclaimers: if you view my profile I have some information regarding a new design/style for the Chipmunks and Chipettes. As much as I'd love to explain it all, I don't really want to. Here's the short version:
Alvin, Simon and Theodore are 3+ feet and have no tails. Alvin has sapphire blue eyes and light brown hair. Simon has gray eyes and medium brown hair. Theodore has green eyes and blond hair. Alvin is oldest, Simon second oldest. Visit my deviantArt for the artwork of this new style. SawyerSeville is my username.
'Alvin' is Alvin in Simon's body
'Simon' is Simon in Alvin's body
-Enjoy!
Simon was hard at work in the basement. As he rotated smoothly between typing away at his laptop, and flipping through his written notes in his notebook, he heard the sound of the door opening. Pausing briefly as he typed, Simon let out a breath and shook his head, recognizing the sound of Alvin's footsteps as they descended the stairs.
"Alvin, why do you insist on coming down here all the time?" Simon asked, turning a page of his notes and continuing to type.
"If I don't come visit, you'll forget that you have an older brother and what I look like," Alvin replied as he walked up to Simon.
"If only," Simon mumbled softly.
"Whatcha workin' on?" Alvin asked, glancing at the notebook and the laptop, standing closer to Simon than necessary.
"Notes for an experiment," Simon offered shortly.
Alvin arched an eyebrow, "clearly. What experiment?" Alvin moved from the table and over to the area Simon kept his projects.
"If I told you, you'd want a demonstration and that is not happening. Way too dangerous," Simon answered distractedly.
"Well, then how do you know it'll work?" Alvin asked as he picked up a small water gun looking device with multiple knobs and buttons, the only one he didn't recognize.
"Just because I don't want you to see what this experiment does, doesn't mean I haven't already gone through trials," Simon huffed out, annoyed with Alvin's series of questions. "I have an important interview coming up very soon, and I really don't appreciate you distracting me, Alvin."
"Hmm?" Alvin hummed distractedly as he turned the device over in his hands, noticing a small screen on the outward side of the handle. Alvin pushed a button and it powered on. Glancing at his distracted brother for a moment, Alvin tapped the screen and beamed when he saw it was a touch screen. He scrolled through the features but wasn't able to make heads or tails of it.
As he fiddled with it, he saw a few words that weren't scientific mumbo jumbo like: 'body', 'voice', 'sight', 'hearing', 'mind', 'emotion', 'touch', 'taste' and 'all'. Alvin decided that 'all' was always better than only having one from the list of options.
After selecting 'all' it loaded a new prompt that asked for distance between the holder of the device and the next person. Alvin guessed that Simon was fifteen feet from him, and put the information in.
The next part asked for an amount of time, and showed a vast range of times, even as far as years. Alvin furrowed his brows in thought and selected one hour. The screen then showed the word 'computing' and was loading.
Simon looked up after realizing Alvin was much too quiet, and he blanched at seeing what Alvin was holding. "Alvin, put that down!"
Alvin jumped at the sudden yell, almost dropping the device but he managed to catch it, pressing a button in the process.
Two bright beams of yellow light shot out from the device, one enveloping Alvin and the other surrounding Simon. After a moment, the light faded and there was quiet.
"What was that?" 'Alvin' shouted, as his now gray eyes widened in a panic when he realized it was Simon's voice instead of his own. Frozen in his place, 'Alvin' looked down at his hands, where the device no longer sat, but instead there was a laptop under his fingertips. 'Alvin' gasped and immediately yanked his hands away from the keyboard. Curious as to how he got where his younger brother was standing, 'Alvin' searched around the room only to spot himself holding the device. Oh no… 'Alvin' thought to himself.
'Simon' glanced down at his experiment and immediately recognized the red sleeves as his older brother, Alvin's, instead of his own. He took a moment to wonder why Alvin preferred his sleeves to go past his hands a bit. Groaning in frustration, 'Simon' checked the last launch of the device he was holding and searched for the length of time Alvin had put in. "I swear, if you put anything longer than an hour, I will kill you!" 'Simon' grumbled with Alvin's voice instead of his own. He sighed in relief when he saw that it was, in fact, set for just an hour. He searched through what else Alvin had picked. "Why can't you not touch my stuff, Alvin?"
"I was curious." 'Alvin' responded immediately, frowning at the sudden wave of frustration he was feeling. "I didn't mean to - " 'Alvin' was cut off.
"That's the problem, Alvin! You don't mean to do anything." 'Simon' wanted to continue with his frustration with Alvin, but all he could feel was guilt and confusion running through his body, of which was clearly not his own feeling. Sighing, 'Simon' put the device down on the table gently and walked over to where 'Alvin' was standing. "Move," he instructed curtly, "so I can try to, once again, fix the mess you made."
'Alvin' obliged, taking a moment to tug at the clothes of the body he was in, touching the glasses on his face and removing them. His jaw dropped at how poorly he could see without them. "Have you considered contacts, Simon?" 'Alvin' reapplied the glasses.
'Simon' rolled his now blue eyes, a bit amazed at how clear Alvin's vision was. "No." He clicked through his notes from his laptop.
"What are you looking for anyway?" 'Alvin' asked, watching 'Simon' cringe a bit at the sound of his own voice talking to him.
"For a way to cancel a transfer," 'Simon' answered, skimming through his notes.
'Alvin' tilted his head. "I only put in one hour. You can't suffer one measly hour in my shoes?"
'Simon' glared at the laptop screen in front of him. "I can't suffer one minute in your body, let alone in your presence. Please be quiet so I can read, which apparently you're awful at because I don't understand a word of this!"
'Alvin' blinked, deflating at Simon's words.
'Simon' was suddenly overwhelmed with hurt, shame, and sadness in such abundance that he stopped what he was doing, and had to actively fight back tears.
Meanwhile, 'Alvin' felt shock and regret flood his body. Scoffing, 'Alvin' folded his arms. "For a genius you sure don't think before you say things you usually end up regretting."
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean that," 'Simon' said softly, relieved when the emotions went away and a sort of soft emotion as well as an easygoing forgiveness took their place. 'Simon' didn't think too hard about those, not wanting to transfer over anymore emotions for Alvin to pick up on than necessary.
"For the record, I do know how to read. Did it not occur to you that I'm just clearly not at your level?"
'Simon' shrugged. "Well, I can't read this, but you can. So here, you look through my notes." Simon stepped aside and let Alvin take a look.
'Simon' folded his arms and watched Alvin scroll through his notes. "Looking for a way to cancel, right?"
"Right."
Without prompting from Simon, 'Alvin' skimmed through the information twice, shocked that what once was a second language to him was now making sense.
'Simon' could feel how proud Alvin was of himself for understanding the notes. "Anything, Alvin?"
'Alvin' shook his head. "Either there isn't one, or you didn't program it as a possibility."
'Simon' groaned, running a hand down his face. "What an awful oversight," he sighed out. "Well, I guess we'll have to wait the rest of the hour. Without Dave finding out."
"Dave's gone. And so is Theodore. Should be smooth sailing from here," 'Alvin' said as he moved from the laptop, marveling at the height difference between them. It had never seemed like much of a difference, but 'Alvin' felt very tall in Simon's body.
"I've been down here all day; let's head upstairs."
"Alright, Alvin," 'Simon' started as they both walked towards the kitchen. "Since we are, unfortunately, inside each other's bodies for an hour, let's discuss some ground rules."
'Alvin' rolled his eyes, heading towards the refrigerator. "Simon, it's only for an hour, inside our own home. What rules could I possibly break?"
"Do you want my honest answer?" 'Simon' grumbled, annoyed that he couldn't even make the time go by faster with his work, since Alvin's mind couldn't follow it the way his own could.
'Alvin' hesitated at the sudden frustration he could feel boiling inside his borrowed body before grabbing his favorite drink and closing the fridge.
"First rule, no embarrassing each other. I don't want you doing anything embarrassing in my body, and vice versa."
'Alvin' smirked, opening the can of soda. "Well, that takes away half the fun, doesn't it?"
Ignoring Alvin's comment, 'Simon' continued, "Second rule, no making promises on behalf of the other person. I don't want to wake up tomorrow with people asking me why I promised to do something I have no clue about."
'Alvin' nodded. "Got it, no promises." He took a sip of his soda, taking a moment to notice he actually couldn't really taste anything.
'Simon' paused, eyes widening at the coca cola flavor on his tongue and the way it felt like he was drinking something while actively not. He hated soda, especially this particular one and the taste of it made him gag, covering his mouth.
'Alvin' arched an eyebrow, setting the can down and approaching his brother. 'What's up with you?" He could feel nausea and panic flooding the borrowed body and he took another glance at the drink he had grabbed.
'Simon' felt surprise and guilt rush into Alvin's body and he groaned in annoyance. Why does he always feel guilty?
'Alvin' paused as the thought crossed his borrowed mind and he frowned at the thought and the annoyance it was surrounded in. "Maybe because I don't mean to do most of the things that upset you?"
As the nausea faded, not entirely gone because the taste lingered, 'Simon' looked at 'Alvin' before sighing. "You heard that?"
"It was your thought, not mine. I'm in your body," 'Alvin' shrugged, a bit annoyed.
'Simon' smirked. "Why don't you have any thoughts running through your mind?" 'Alvin' hesitated, and 'Simon' was surprised to feel a blush forming on Alvin's cheeks.
Looking away, 'Alvin' shrugged. "I keep certain thoughts in the back of my mind." He quickly glared at 'Simon'. "And don't go searching for them, either!"
'Simon' arched an eyebrow, feeling adrenaline making his heart race. "Why shouldn't I? You snooped through my experiments and got us into this situation." Anger and panic followed 'Simon's' words, surprising the younger sibling.
"That's different! This is my mind we're talking about! My private thoughts you're threatening to invade!" 'Alvin' jabbed a finger at 'Simon's' chest. "You said no doing anything embarrassing in each other's bodies! That counts!"
'Simon' cleared his throat and gently pushed 'Alvin's' hand off his chest. "Well, uh, speaking of embarrassing . . . " 'Simon' hesitated, looking a bit embarrassed, 'Alvin' feeling it humming through his body. "Third rule, we need to respect the privacy of each other's bodies. That means, well, ya know. . ."
'Alvin' raised an eyebrow, "Come on, Si, spit it out."
'Alvin' could feel a blush forming on his temporary face and had to stop himself from smiling, 'Simon' muttered, "Don't do anything. . . inappropriate or invasive, okay?"
Huffing, 'Alvin' folded his arms. "You waited until I was practically yelling at you to say that, but okay. I won't do that, but I don't know if I trust you not to." 'Simon' felt worry and reluctance fill the body he was in.
"I'm not going to invade your privacy, Alvin," 'Simon' insisted. Briefly, 'Simon' mentally nudged the very back of Alvin's mind, more so out of curiosity than anything, and was surprised by the wall he had encountered. Whatever Alvin had locked away back there, Simon wondered whether Alvin would ever talk to him about it, or at least come to terms with it himself.
Normally Alvin would take Simon's word, but this was a different situation. Simon had access to things Alvin preferred to stay hidden and well out of this particular brother's reach.
'Simon' frowned as the worry and reluctance lingered despite his words. 'Alvin' wasn't offering any input, either, just standing there and giving off vibes of doubt and uncertainty. "You don't trust me?" 'Simon' finally asked.
'Alvin' felt sadness and disappointment coming through easily, and he lifted his gaze to 'Simon's short-term blue ones.
Simon's phone buzzed with a notification, drawing both of their attention. Alvin, being in Simon's body, casually reached into the pocket and retrieved the phone with a sly grin.
"Give me that!" 'Simon' snapped, grabbing the phone from 'Alvin's' hand. However, when Simon attempted to unlock the phone with Face ID, it predictably failed. Frustrated and slightly embarrassed, which 'Alvin' picked up on immediately, he let out a groan. Without making eye contact with 'Alvin', he handed over the phone to him, muttering, "You unlock it."
'Alvin' couldn't help but grin triumphantly as he took the phone. 'Well, well, looks like I have the upper hand in more ways than one."
"You really want to play that game with me?" 'Simon' asked sharply as he raised an eyebrow.
'Alvin' immediately frowned as he lifted the phone and unlocked it with Simon's face before locking eyes with his brother. "If you want me to answer your earlier question with a 'yes' by all means, see what happens." He shoved the phone against 'Simon's' chest, the shorter of the two fumbling to grab it before it hit the floor.
'Simon' looked at his phone, mulling over the dark anger and foreboding sense of distrust he was inadvertently creating for Alvin with his empty threats. Biting back at sigh, 'Simon' checked the notification, an email, and opened it. It was a reminder for his Zoom meeting with the director of California Institute of Technology. Frowning, 'Simon' scrolled through the information, unwilling to believe the interview was in fifteen minutes.
'Alvin' watched his brother, waiting to know what was going on and processing the emotions that were passing through Simon's body: shock, disbelief, dread, and disappointment. "What is it, Simon?"
Not receiving an answer, 'Alvin' carefully took the phone out of 'Simon's' unresisting hand and looked at the email. 'Alvin' blinked, remembering Simon mentioning having applied for this a few weeks ago. "Zoom meeting at one thirty…today." 'Alvin' glanced at the time on Simon's phone. "Fifteen minutes from now."
'Simon's' frustration echoed through the room. "This is not good, Alvin. I can't attend this Zoom meeting in your body. I can't even process my own thoughts! How am I supposed to answer his questions?" The strain in 'Simon's' tone was palpable.
"Just ask to reschedule it, Simon. I'm sure he'll understand," 'Alvin' suggested gently, attempting to maintain a calming presence. The feeling of frustration in Simon's body was something Alvin despised, a sentiment he had often expressed he hated causing to his brother.
'Simon' scoffed, the weight of disappointment evident. "Reschedule? Alvin, you know how long I worked to try and get this interview? They cycle through hundreds of people every day just to find the right individuals to attend this program. I don't want to miss the opportunity to attend it for the entire summer."
A wave of sadness coursed through 'Alvin's' body, a sentiment Simon would have felt immediately if his mind wasn't consumed with stress and anxiety. 'Alvin' whispered, "You're going to be gone the whole summer..."
"Was, Alvin," 'Simon' clarified, unaware of Alvin's emotional response to the news. "I was going to possibly go for the whole summer. It was going to be an opportunity for me. But now, all that is thrown out the window because of you!"
'Alvin' hesitated, absorbing the weight of 'Simon's' words, before finally responding, "I never meant for this to happen, Simon. I know I mess up, but I never thought it would jeopardize something so important to you."
'Simon's' frustration turned into resentment as he shot back, "That's the problem, Alvin. You never think! You act on impulse, and it always ends up affecting everyone around you. I'm tired of cleaning up your messes."
'Alvin' winced, realizing the depth of 'Simon's' anger. "I get it. I mess up a lot, but I'm still your brother. Can't you cut me some slack?"
'Simon', still seething, retorted, "I've been cutting you slack my entire life, Alvin. But this time, you've gone too far." He sighed in frustration. "Just leave me alone..."
"Simon, I-"
"Save it, Alvin! I don't want to hear you, or in this case, myself anymore!" Simon groaned, turning away from Alvin with his arms crossed, glaring at the floor. "Just please leave me alone, okay? Honestly, you being around me just makes my life worse all the time. You ruined a great opportunity for me all because you refuse to listen or care about anyone other than yourself. You're a walking disaster and always will be."
A heavy silence enveloped the room, the only audible sound the soft hum of the refrigerator. 'Simon' stood with his arms crossed, still breathing heavily after unleashing a torrent of words on 'Alvin'. The weight of the room seemed to settle on his shoulders.
'Simon's once stern expression shifted to one of surprise when he felt tears welling up, accompanied by a sudden wave of hurt and remorse coursing through Alvin's body. His temporary blue eyes widened, reflecting the shock of this unexpected emotional surge.
As the refrigerator hummed in the background, Simon's realization deepened. The gravity of his words hit him when he heard the unmistakable sound of hurried footsteps running up the stairs. His heart pounded rapidly, the echo of a slamming door upstairs reverberating through the house.
Turning around swiftly, Simon faced the empty space where Alvin had stood just moments ago. The room now felt emptier, the atmosphere charged with the weight of their strained relationship. He hoped Alvin could feel Simon's regret for what he said as he felt the tears slide down his cheeks. He closed his eyes to not allow anymore to fall, as each drop only reminded him of what he had done.
I didn't mean that, Alvin.
I didn't mean that, Alvin.
Simon's thoughts echoed in Alvin's mind as he stood with his back pressed against the bathroom door. The weight of Simon's pain flooded Alvin's senses, regret coursing through his body like an unrelenting tide. Their history was filled with exchanged hurtful words, but this particular insult cut deeper than any before. The label of a "walking disaster" left Alvin feeling as if there was no hope for him.
Lost in his negative thoughts, 'Alvin' was jolted back to the present by a knock on the door. 'Simon's voice, now softer and more sincere, pleaded, "Alvin, please open the door. You know I didn't mean that. I was just angry, frustrated; I mean, it's a lot to take in with what's going on right now."
'Alvin' remained silent, wrestling with the emotional turmoil inside him. 'Simon' leaned against the bathroom door, letting out an exhausted sigh. He slid down to sit on the floor, his head resting against the door. In that moment, 'Simon' felt 'Alvin's pain consuming him in a way he had never experienced before. The realization dawned on him - he had underestimated the impact of his words on his older brother.
As 'Simon' sat there, the bathroom door became a symbol of the barrier between them, holding the weight of their shared pain. In this moment of vulnerability, the dynamics between the two brothers shifted, leaving them both grappling with the aftermath of their heated exchange.
'Alvin' sighed as he glanced at the mirror, seeing Simon's face looking back at him. Standing, 'Alvin' approached his new reflection, a sad smile wanting to form but unable to as he recalled all 'Simon' had said.
'Alvin' reached up and touched the darker brown hair, hand trailing down to the large round glasses and he stared into the intelligent gray eyes he loved so much. His fingertips brushed Simon's cheek lightly before his arm lowered back to his side.
'Simon' felt a gentle touch to the hair on the head of his original body, and wondered what Alvin was doing. He could almost see through his own eyes again, if he tried hard enough. The touch on his hair trailed lightly down to where his glasses sat on his face, and 'Simon' shut his borrowed eyes and tried to focus on what Alvin was doing, trying to see it.
Briefly, frustratingly brief, Simon saw his reflection, and there was an odd serene fondness to the expression on his own face. Furrowing his eyebrows, Simon tried to keep the visual from slipping out of his grasp but since his body wasn't his own at the moment he lost it. As his reflection faded from his view, he felt more than he saw his hand lightly caress his cheek. It was such a gentle touch, almost barely there, and even though it was his own hand, Simon could only picture Alvin doing it. 'Simon's temporary eyes snapped open, an odd fluttery sensation formed in his stomach and his heart rate picked up, the thought of Alvin touching him so affectionately giving him an odd sense of longing and comfort.
Just as he was processing his reaction to Alvin's…whatever he was doing, 'Simon' perked up a bit when he felt the heart in his borrowed body pick up a bit as well, and a deep sense of affection, adoration and love flooded the body he was in. Mixed in with those emotions was also a deep sadness, self-resentment and disappointment. 'Simon' brought a hand to his temporary chest, not touching, just hovering, soaking in the emotions, trying to make sense of them. They were so similar…
As he tried to understand, he also tried not to share his thoughts with Alvin at the moment, not wanting to come off as invasive at this moment.
'Alvin' eventually turned and looked away from Simon's reflection, realizing he was probably giving a lot away and promptly stifled his emotions.
'Simon' felt the emotions being yanked away and he followed them, curious where Alvin was sending them and realized they were going behind the wall Alvin had built. Tilting his head, 'Simon' allowed himself to ponder on that before he recalled the affection, adoration, and love he had felt and knew it was aimed at himself. Could that mean…Alvin cared for him as more than a brother? Was that why Alvin was always visiting him in the basement? To be close to him and spend time with him? 'Simon' stared at the wall, wanting to think on it more but he was sure his body was already reacting to the thought, so he pushed it aside, as well as what he had felt seconds ago, and focused on the present situation.
'Alvin' faced the bathroom door, pausing at the slight increase in Simon's heart rate and the fluttery sensation in his stomach before it stopped and went back to normal. He dismissed the sensations. "Si?" he called out softly, hand on the door.
Outside the bathroom, 'Simon' stood and faced the door. "Alvin?"
'Alvin' hesitated before opening the door, lifting Simon's phone that he had still held in his hand and checking the time. He looked at 'Simon' , a sense of determination set on his face and 'Simon' felt it rush through Alvin's body.
Maybe it was genuinely Alvin's idea, or maybe it was the influence of Simon's intelligent, quick thinking mind and the fact that he was still in it, but regardless, 'Alvin' had an idea. "Go get your laptop and meet me in the den."
'Simon' blinked, Alvin's idea running through his mind, which told Simon it wasn't the influence of his body on Alvin. Heading back down to the basement to get his laptop, he met 'Alvin' in the den, watching him turn on some lights.
"You think this will work?" 'Simon' asked as he set the laptop on the table and got it powering on.
"It will," 'Alvin' answered. "I'm not gonna let you miss this opportunity."
'Simon' looked at 'Alvin' , that same affection and love coming through before Alvin's body shoved it away again immediately, and 'Simon' felt a blush forming on Alvin's face.
'Alvin' watched 'Simon' load up his email and click on the link for the Zoom meeting. It was in five minutes. "We can hear each other's thoughts, so I'll do the interview as you, and you just think of the answers to the questions and I'll say them."
"I'll stand over here," 'Simon' said and moved to stand adjacent to where 'Alvin' was sitting. "And I want to make sure you can hear me from here." Simon was sure distance wasn't an issue, but the scientist in him couldn't do this without confirming his theory.
'Alvin' just nodded as he situated himself on the couch, angling the camera as he did so. 'Simon' watched him, a fondness creeping through. Shaking his head, he sent a thought over to 'Alvin'.
I'm sorry for what I said.
'Alvin' looked over at him. "Don't worry about it, you're always forgiven, Si."
'Simon' felt sincerity and warmth as 'Alvin' said that, and knew Alvin wasn't holding what he'd said against him. Still, Simon wished he could make it up to Alvin somehow.
'Alvin' glanced back at the laptop, feeling Simon's remorse clearly. "Two minutes. You ready, Simon?"
"Yeah."
They spent the remaining time practicing sharing thoughts and 'Alvin' voicing them to rule out if there was any delay in receiving the thoughts. There were none. 'Alvin' watched as the 'no video' symbol left and a person behind the camera popped up.
"Good afternoon, Simon. It's good to finally meet you." The gentleman's face appeared on the video call, a distinguished man with graying hair and a neatly trimmed beard. His professional attire exuded a sense of authority, and a pair of glasses perched on his nose conveyed an air of intellect. "My name is Mr. Baronowski. Let's begin this interview, shall we?"
'Alvin' sat up straight and confident, his demeanor projecting readiness to tackle the upcoming questions. "Nice to meet you too, sir. I'm ready when you are."
'Simon' couldn't help but smile, grateful that Alvin was approaching this interview with the seriousness it deserved.
"Firstly, Simon, could you tell us why you're interested in joining this program?" Mr. Baronowski inquired, his gaze focused on the video call.
'Alvin' nodded, "Absolutely," He took a breath and focused on what Simon was telling him. "I've always been fascinated by," He started off slow, but picked up as he went on. "the endless possibilities in the field of science. This program at Caltech aligns perfectly with my passion for exploration and discovery. I believe it's the ideal environment for me to contribute to groundbreaking research and expand my knowledge."
'Simon' smiled. Good job, Alvin.
The interviewer nodded appreciatively before moving on to the next question. "Now, let's delve into your journey. Where did your love for science begin?"
"My love for science started at a young age. I remember spending countless hours in my makeshift laboratory at home, conducting simple experiments and exploring the wonders of the natural world. Those early experiences ignited a curiosity that has only grown stronger over the years."
Mr. Baronowski, intrigued by 'Alvin's answer, proceeded to the next question. "Looking ahead, what goals do you wish to accomplish at Caltech?"
Simon's aspirations echoed in Alvin's mind as he articulated his response. "My main goal at Caltech is to immerse myself in a stimulating academic environment, surrounded by brilliant minds and cutting-edge research. I aim to contribute meaningfully to ongoing projects, collaborate with esteemed professors, and ultimately, foster a deep understanding of my chosen field. Additionally, I hope to develop lifelong connections and friendships with fellow passionate scientists."
The interviewer listened attentively, recognizing the genuine enthusiasm in Alvin's words. As the questions continued, Alvin seamlessly channeled Simon's thoughts.
"Well, Simon. I must say I am very impressed with your knowledge and love for science. You're one special young individual. Your family must be very proud."
'Alvin' smiled. I am proud. 'Simon' could feel the blush on Alvin's face, realizing that Alvin must have heard him.
"Now, for the last part of the interview, it was required that you allow me to speak with one person in your family, just to get an outside perspective."
'Alvin's' eyes widened, and 'Simon' could feel Alvin's heart racing in his chest as panic coursed through his body.
'Alvin' cleared his throat, "Uh, yeah, well, I..."
"Simon' ran right in front of the webcam. "I'm right here, sir! Alvin Seville, Simon's talented and quite charming older brother." 'Simon' spoke confidently, scooting next to 'Alvin' on the couch. "Ask away. I can tell you all about Simon's cool gadgets, his test grades - "
"Actually, Alvin, I'd like to know how you feel about your brother, Simon, personally."
'Simon' could feel Alvin's heart racing again. "Uh, personal thoughts about Simon?"
Mr. Baronowski nodded, looking through Simon's application. "Yes, I imagine you must be very proud of Simon."
Before 'Simon' could speak what was on his mind, 'Alvin' allowed Simon to hear his thoughts about him. There was a slight pause while 'Simon' was processing everything Alvin was telling him.
'Simon' blinked a bit at what was coming through before speaking, "Simon isn't just the smartest person I know, he's also the best. If you ever needed someone you could truly count on, he's that person." 'Simon' paused and glanced at 'Alvin', unwilling to continue because it was almost too personal to share.
Go on… 'Alvin' nudged him mentally, feeling Simon's body reacting to the genuine thoughts he was sharing. 'Alvin' placed a hand over Simon's racing heart, blinking away tears.
'Simon' continued, "He can be tough love when he needs to be, but it always comes from caring about you, and wanting the best for you. He's passionate about what he does, and it shows. His excitement is contagious, and when he's talking about something I don't usually understand, he explains it in a fun way and I forget I'm being taught something. It just turns into us hanging out, and those are my favorite moments with him."
'Alvin' tried to keep Simon's expression serious but he couldn't. The emotions his thoughts had on Simon were strong and he couldn't stop the few tears that escaped.
Alvin's thoughts continued and 'Simon' voiced them. "I just want you to know, sir, that when Simon's at your program, I hope you teach him a lot, but make sure you let Simon teach you all something, too. I bet you'd all be surprised by what Simon can do. I live with him and am around him all the time, and he never fails to amaze me. Yes, sir, I am proud of Simon. Actually, "proud" doesn't even come close to how I feel about him."
'Simon' had to resist the strong impulse to embrace his brother, considering the interview was still going on.
Mr. Baronowski smiled, maintaining a professional demeanor. "Well, Alvin, I must say that's the most sentimental answer I've heard out of all the interviews I've conducted. Not only have you expressed your admiration for your brother, Simon, but you've also illuminated his character. Caltech is not only seeking a smart, young individual, but someone who embodies those qualities."
'Alvin' smiled, feeling a swell of pride and relief.
Mr. Baronowski continued, shifting his gaze towards Simon. "Simon, you've performed exceptionally well in this interview. I am pleased to inform you that we would be honored to have you join our program at the California Institute of Technology this summer!"
Both 'Alvin' and 'Simon' could both feel their happiness in each other's bodies. 'Simon' was grateful that 'Alvin' helped him through this.
'Alvin' spoke, "Thank you, sir! It's such an honor. I promise I won't let you down."
Mr. Baronowski nodded with a smile. "I believe you won't, Simon. We look forward to welcoming you to our program at Caltech. You'll receive further details and instructions shortly. Congratulations once again. It was nice meeting both of you. Have a great rest of your afternoon." With that, he ended the call.
There was a comfortable silence, both still basking in the sense of happiness and excitement that it had gone so well. Probably even better than Simon had hoped, because he hadn't anticipated that the interview would need an outside party's opinion.
Looking at 'Alvin', 'Simon' grinned at him. "Thank you, Alvin. I really don't know if it would have worked out without you."
"It would have been their loss if they didn't pick you. I'm sure they'll see what I see in no time." 'Alvin' stood from the couch, exhaling the last of his nervous energy the interview had given him.
Simon doubted anyone would see what Alvin saw in him, given the light Alvin looked at him under wasn't just brotherly affection. Tilting his head at the sudden disheartened feeling flowing into Alvin's body, 'Simon' stood and approached his brother. Placing his hand on 'Alvin's' shoulder, he turned his brother to face him. "I'm going to miss you, too, Alvin."
'Alvin's eyes widened, wondering how he was still surprised that Simon picked up on his emotions so fast.
Fondness and sadness filled 'Simon' and he pulled 'Alvin' into a warm embrace. Not a moment later both of them felt like the world shifted under their feet, and both were hit with a wave of lightheadedness.
"What was that?" Alvin groaned as he reluctantly pulled back from the hug, cradling his head in one of his hands. He knew being near Simon made the world shift, but he never experienced it literally.
It took both of them a moment to process that Alvin had spoken with his own voice, but when they did they looked at one another.
"Are you–" Simon looked down at his hands, seeing his blue sleeves and blue shoes. "We're back in our bodies!"
"Aw man, I liked being the taller one!" Alvin pouted, folding his arms halfheartedly.
Simon chuckled. "I've always liked your height."
Alvin blushed, choosing not to comment. "Well, I guess you'll be going back to your work then."
Simon hummed as he closed his laptop and picked it up, "yeah. I need to finish my work more than ever if I want to bring the information with me to the program."
Alvin nodded, feeling a bit defeated, still remembering all of what Simon had said over the last hour. "I won't get in your way then."
Simon watched Alvin start to leave before he grabbed his brother's hand. "Wait."
Alvin looked down at their hands before meeting Simon's eyes. "What?"
"I know I said a lot of things," Simon began, holding Alvin's hand tighter. "And I know you said you forgive me, and I appreciate that more than you know. But I was–am–still in the wrong for what I said and how I treated you."
Alvin faced Simon fully, relishing the feel of Simon's hand in his own.
"I'll be leaving soon," Simon continued. "It would mean a lot to me if you and I spent more time together before I leave."
Alvin's eyes widened. "Really?" Simon nodded with a smile. It was at this moment Alvin realized that he couldn't hear Simon's thoughts or feel his emotions anymore. It gave him an odd sense of loneliness. "Alright, cool! Hey, maybe I can help you come up with a new project!"
Laughing now, Simon let go of Alvin's hand and led the way to the basement. "Well, you know, I'm not against it. Let's just keep it ethical, alright?"
"Sure, sure, ethical…whatever you say, Si. Wait, maybe something that can inhibit morals in people? Ooh or how about–"
"Alvinnn!" Simon shouted playfully.