{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*] *~Multiverse Mysteries~*[*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*}
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-FutureFalloutVerse*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*~8~*
Chapter 8:
Expect the Unexpected…
{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^} *-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-* {*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^}"Well our head scientist stayed behind to familiarize themselves with the new tech Simon brought us. Becks sent the data back to HQ before we left the island." Alec sighed, gaze flickering over the readouts on the display before turning back to the Alden's, giving a bit of an apologetic shrug.
"I really thought they'd have a possible ETA for us by now but honestly most of the time I don't understand a quarter of what they're talking about. I thought they'd have it up and running pretty quickly but I guess it could have taken longer than I expected." He glanced over, catching Simon's eye, brow quirking.
Simon started faintly, setting up, glancing from the team over to Walter and the others, nodding animatedly.
"Yeah, that'd actually make a lot of sense. Honestly most of the tech I developed for the rifts I kinda thought was just for my benefit. I didn't know anyone else knew about them and until I understood them and made sure they were safe I didn't want to bring them to anyone and risk putting someone in danger so a lot of it is cobbled together from old projects or repurposed something or others.
I never really bothered to streamline or clean anything up to make it fit for presentation since I didn't think I was anywhere near presenting it to anyone so for someone just coming in blind to my thought processes they may not seem very user friendly." he gave a faint laugh, shrugging, reaching up, awkwardly tucking a couple wayward curls behind his ear, flashing an apologetic smile and a bit of a helpless wave.
"I mean they make total sense in MY mind but to someone not used to my over-caffeinated chipmunk on a sugar high thought process a lot of it could probably just seem like total gibberish. That could definitely account for the delay…sorry." He chuckled again, shrugging, flashing a reassuring smile.
"No worries though. I got all the readings. I don't have a way to do an instant readout but going by the other candle rifts I've dealt with we have at least a few hours before it'll even begin to show signs of re-opening so we have plenty of time to work it out.
Once we get back and I get to touch base with the head scientist I'm sure we can get this all worked out and give you a pretty close approximation to when we can get you guys back home."
Walter's brow quirked, gaze shifting over him suspiciously.
"How sure of that are you?"
"Positive."
He huffed out a disbelieving scoff.
"And how can you be so sure of that? I mean you said you didn't know when it would open s-"
Simon nodded, standing up a bit straighter.
"Yeah I know I said that and I don't but there are some really distinctive readings that come through as precursors to the candle rifts relighting. Spikes in the Atmospheric pressure, a shift in the electromagnetic field and a really distinctive dip in the thermodynamic spectrum to name a few.
They always show up a minimum of two hours before they begin to reopen. I didn't see any traces of them beginning so like I said we have plenty of time to make it back to Oasis and once we're there I can get my readings put in and extrapolate a more set time."
Walter shifted, suspicious gaze slipping over Simon before again shaking his head.
"I don't know, sounds like you're just making this up as you go along."
Dani smirked, brow quirking pointedly, zeroing in on Walter.
"Well yeah, of course he is. That's kinda how it goes when you're pioneering new tech for a completely unknown field of study."
Millie huffed out a soft laugh, shifting a bit towards her husband, reaching over, resting her hand on his arm, squeezing lightly.
"Sorry dear but she does have a pretty good point. We don't know the first thing about any of this. Doesn't sound like much of anyone does…" She glanced over at Simon smiling reassuringly.
"Except for Simon here. He clearly has a very firm grasp on this and if he built the equipment and programmed the technology I'm sure he is more than capable of reading the output of his own inventions." She smiled again, catching Simon's eye, nodding.
"It seems we are in very good hands."
Ritchie snorted.
"Sounds like we're in the hands of a brainiac geek."
Blake glanced over, brow quirking.
"I'll take the brainiac geek over the frat house reject any day."
"Hey! I'm not a reject! They didn't reject me, they're thinking it over a-"
Walter huffed, waving them off.
"Ritchie? Not the time. Our fate isn't resting on you-"
"Thank god." Blake muttered, Kasey snorted, nodding, eyes wide.
Walter ignored the two teens, shaking his head, turning back to Simon giving a faint wave.
"Look you seem like a very intelligent young man and I'm sure you're doing fine with your studies and all that but I don't like the idea of putting the fate of my family in the hands of an intern."
Simon stood up a bit straighter, shaking his head.
"I'm not an inte-"
"Intern, rookie, student, whatever you want to call it. Semantics aside you said yourself this is your first day on the job. Your very first official mission. I know everyone has to start somewhere and I get that, I do, but I don't like the idea of my family's fate boiling down to someone's trial run." Walter sighed, giving a somewhat apologetic shrug before continuing.
"Look it's not your fault it worked out this way and I'm sure you're perfectly competent and with practice you'll be fine but I don't like putting my family's future in the hands of someone on their first day on the job. I just don't. I know I said I'd give you all the benefit of the doubt and that and I will but the idea of leaving my family's fate in the hands of a student on his first day on the job is just asking a bit too much.
Hopefully this head scientist will have a handle on it and have some idea when we can get back home. From what Alec said they seem to have some kind of protocol for this kind of situation. They've been here before, dealt with this before.
I'm sure you're very advanced for a student but I'll just feel much more comfortable with my family and my fate in the hands of competent, accomplished professionals. Professionals with more than a matter of hours on the job under their belt. Like this Doctor Bane." Walter paused, shifting his gaze from Simon over to Alec.
"We're meeting with him right?"
Alec blinked, head tilting curiously.
"Who?"
Walter quirked his eyebrow.
"This head scientist; Doctor Bane? The top scientist for this Oasis place where you work."
Alec shifted, nodded, giving a bit of a wave. Walter relaxed faintly, nodding, gesturing back towards him.
"And you said they're good, right?" he paused, gaze shifting from Simon over to Alec, brow quirking expectantly.
Alec shifted, smirking, reassuringly nodding.
"Oh absolutely; best there is, no comparison. I mean don't get me wrong, they're totally insane. They're bold and dramatic and stubborn as hell and terrifyingly brilliant and infuriatingly reckless and a whole laundry list of things that make me want to pull my hair out and probably the closest thing the real world has ever had to a mad scientist- but yeah, they absolutely know their stuff.
Best of the best. And they definitely have the experience to back it up. Been with Oasis for over half a decade."
Walter relaxed a bit more, nodding, giving a faint wave towards Alec.
"Okay good. That's good…very reassuring. I'm sure meeting him will help a lot."
"Her."
"Huh?" Walter asked, blinking, glancing over at Blake in confusion.
"Her. Pretty sure Doctor Bane is a woman."
Ritchie scoffed, rolling his eyes at his cousin, shaking his head.
"Yeah right."
Alec shrugged, folding his arms across his chest, casually leaning back against the ship wall beside the monitors, brow quirking curiously at the two other men.
"Why? What would be so crazy about that? Dani's a doctor, she's a woman. You don't think it's possible that the head scientist for a cutting edge tech company could be a woman?"
Walter froze, beginning to shake his head before just kind of slumping, groaning, rolling his eyes, rubbing his face.
"Oh of course- why am I even surprised?"
Blake snorted, shrugging.
"I don't know- I got it when he was using they instead of he. The purposeful switch is pretty obvious once you know what you're listening for. It's the same thing he did when he was talking about his team through the flying, techno-colored squid-a-phone."
On Simon's shoulder Becks started, huffing and giving an indigent little squeak, two tendrils folding across the front of him. Blake held her hands up placatingly, flashing a faint smile.
"No offense meant buddy, you're the bees knees. You really are. I was just pointing out what an obvious switcheroo it was."
Becks shifted a bit, kinda sulking before giving a bit of a shrug relaxing at the apology. Dani chuckled at the overdramatic antics of the drama queen tridectopod, shaking her head, standing up from the seat along the wall of the transport, giving a halfhearted shrug of her own and a fluttering little wave, moving closer to the others.
"Well actually it's not as much as you'd think. At least not an intentional one. I can totally see how it could be read that way but honestly it's just a sign of the times.
It's pretty standard practice anymore to just default to gender-neutral pronouns, especially in professional settings. It wasn't Alec doing like code switching or whatever- at least not intentionally- not this time in any case. It really wasn't some sneaky move, just the way it is nowadays, no one really gives it much of a second thought.
It's just the easiest and most professional option. It's pretty standard, keeps from offending or misgendering people and cuts down on any personal biases someone may still be holding onto. It just makes everything easier."
Blake blinked, giving a somewhat approving nod.
"Whoa, killer."
Dani chuckled, shrugging, nodding faintly.
"Yeah guess it kinda is when you really think about it. It really does cut down a lot on issues a-"
Walter huffed, waving somewhat agitatedly.
"Okay, alright, whatever really don't care about the gender of terms or whatever right now. We're getting off track here." He sighed, shaking his head once more before turning back to Alec.
"This Doctor Bane, SHE knows what she's doing right? You said she has nearly half a decade of experience with this, correct?"
Alec shifted, shrugging.
"Yes, he does."
Again Walter started, blinking.
"Wha-"
Alec huffed out a faint laugh, giving a bit of a wave.
"Doctor Bane actually is a man; I just wanted to prove a point. You can't assume you know who or what someone is just based on their title, position or appearance. It's something you're gonna have to get used to pretty quickly here.
You can never just assume you know all there is to know about someone at first glance."
Walter huffed, glaring.
"So you were just giving me the runaround."
Alec shook his head.
"No, not at all. I'm giving you a heads up.
Things here aren't going to add up to your point of view. You're gonna be thrown, confused, surprised, you just are. It's all but inevitable. I'm just trying to hammer home the point that just because someone doesn't fit what you would picture as a scientist or a professional it doesn't mean they are anything other than exactly that." Alec again shrugged, relaxing again against the wall, giving a faint shrug.
"But to get back to your original question yes. Yes he is, and yes he does. He might not be what you're expecting as a scientist but there really is no one better. He knows what he's doing and even though you won't think it he's near always five moves ahead." Alec gestured towards the readouts and the door, flashing a reassuring smile.
"We're here. The transport docks in the security bay just as a matter of protocol. We can head straight over to doctor Bane's lab to figure out our ETA, than loop back and meet with the head of Oasis. Technically we're supposed to go there first but given the circumstances I think we can rework the order." He paused, glancing up at a soft chime from the computer, a pale blue-green light shimmering above the door of the transport.
He smiled, pushing off of the wall of the transport, reaching over, hitting the button to open the door. There's a soft hiss as the airlock seal breaks, the smooth grey metal shifting out, folding down to form the ramp to exit the transport.
"Like I said we're here now, just getting to you guys and you back here safely was the biggest step. I know this all is very confusing and overwhelming and seems like way too much to even begin to process but I promise you really are in the best of hands.
It's an odd group and it can really throw you for a loop but we do know what we're doing, we really do. We got this. I know for you this is likely the craziest, most terrifyingly confusing day of your life but for us this is just our standard work day.
Hell, this is actually an EASY work day. Nothing trying to kill us, no primordial monsters to outrun, or corral, or both. It's practically a vacation from our usual.
I know how much it is for you. I know it's a big ask and is requiring a huge leap but I promise you; we do have this. I know it's hard but so long as you just go with it and try and work with us the best you can it really will all be fine."
Walter relaxed faintly, giving a slight nod.
"Okay-alright. I did give you my word…I gave it because you completely hoodwinked me but I did give it. I'll keep my word; give you all the benefit of the doubt." He took a deep breath, somewhat suspicious gaze shifting over the group, clearly still pretty uneasy before somewhat relaxing, giving a slightly shaky nod.
"I'm sure once we meet this Doctor Bane and know our fate is in the hands of an experienced professional it'll seem a lot less d-" Walter trails off, cut off by a riotous racket at the door of the transport followed quickly by a figure all but hurling themselves over the descending ramp, tucking and rolling before springing to their feet in a flurry of crimson, black and shimmer the clatter of heels on the metal echoing off the walls as the person rights themselves.
"Oh for gods sakes move you stupidly slow unwieldy behemoth!" Magnus exclaimed, dusting himself off before sharply kicking the still not even halfway down ramp, huffing irritatedly, glaring once more at the apparently obnoxiously slow descending ramp before whirling to face the group, gesturing distractedly towards Bindy.
"Alright I know it's a safety risk it descending too fast and it could crush someone and blah, blah, blah but that thing is too slow. A geriatric sloth on valium could get out of the damn things path!
We have got to upgrade. I don't care how, I don't care what but we need to. Just put on sirens or lights or a magnetic pulse or something to tell people to get the hell out of the way already this is just ridiculous. Seriously what kind of slowcoach i- oh!" he stopped mid rant, eyes landing on Simon, irritation seeming to totally evaporate.
He positively beamed, excitedly gasping, practically bounding across the transport, rushing over to Simon, hugging him tightly before planting a firm kiss on his cheek, leaving a perfect crimson lip print. He practically giggles, bouncing on his heels, near vibrating with excitement.
Simon blinks in confusion, nearly stumbling at the onslaught, reaching up, catching on Magnus's shoulder to keep from falling, instinctively reaching up with his free hand, balancing Becks as well, blushing, giving a kinda unsure little half chuckle.
"Uh wha-"
"Oh sweetheart! I'm so glad you're back! Come here cutie, come on, come on, we have so much to talk about! I have to show you-oh my goddess, there's so much we need to go over. Your ideas we're amazing- I barely made it through a tenth of them but wow- totally mind blowing. I'm SO glad you're here, I can't wait for our first collaboration.
I have SUCH plans for you!" He laughed excitedly, swooping in again, hugging Simon tightly, pressing another smacking kiss on his cheek before trailing his hand down his arm, clasping his hand, squeezing, practically dragging Simon over to the monitors on the ship before whirling around to face the monitors, fingers flying across the keys, beginning to pull up something or other.
"Ahem…Uh, who is this?" Walter asked, clearing his throat, judgmental gaze shifting over Magnus.
"What is this?" Ritchie all but spat, moving over a bit, settling a little further away from Magnus, disgusted gaze also shifting over him, lingering pointedly on the red leather pants and spiky heeled boots, brow quirking.
"Someone so far out of your league you're not even playing the same game." Blake chuckled, shaking her head pityingly at her cousin, glancing over, catching Kasey's eye, giving an exaggerated eyeroll.
Kasey snorted, glancing over at Magnus, blushing faintly before shifting back to Blake, emphatically nodding.
"Ritchie!" Millie admonished, swatting his shoulder, glaring at her son.
"Stop staring, it's rude." She huffed faintly, glaring once more at her son before turning to Magnus, giving an apologetic smile.
"Sorry sir."
Magnus laughed, shrugging casually, waving her off.
"No problem sweetie, I get that a lot, kinda used to it by now. And no need for the 'Sir' thing, Magnus's fine." He chuckled, glancing over, flashing a smirk and a little wink at Blake and Kasey before switching back again to Millie, head tilting approvingly.
"Love the look by the way, really works for you. And your lipstick is absolutely fabulous."
Millie blinked, shifting.
"Oh…thank you. Um…y-yours is very nice too."
"Hey I think you two are actually wearing the same color." Blake laughed, glancing between the two of them before giving a bit of a shrug, gesturing towards Magnus.
"Sorry Aunt Millie but gotta say he pulls it off better."
Magnus huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head, giving a fluttering wave, flashing a little smile Millie's way.
"Apples and oranges sweetie; we both rock it, no competition needed. And anyway sh-"
Walter huffed at the lot of them, waving them off, cutting Magnus off mid-word, stepping forward, shaking his head.
"Okay enough- we don't have time for whatever this is. We need to head over to Doctor Bane's Lab a-"
"Oh, no need for that." Magnus interrupted right back, waving him off.
Walter faltered, brow quirking.
"What- why? Did he get called off our case?"
Magnus hit a few more buttons on the panel before seemingly satisfied with whatever it was he was doing, shifting, turning to face them, leaning back casually against the console, shrugging, shaking his head, smirking.
"Nope. Doctor Bane is still working on it. It'd just be a waste of time heading over to his lab as he's currently standing right in front of you."
Walter froze.
"What?"
Magnus smirked, raising his hand, giving a fluttering little wave, plethora of rings sparkling in the light, catching on his chrome red nails.
"Hello; Doctor Magnus Bane. Lovely to meet you."
"Wh- No you're not."
"Yup."
"No . You're not." He shook his head, looking at the others in alarm, gesturing towards him.
"He's not, right?"
Dani nodded.
"He is."
Bindy followed suit, unable to reign in a smirk.
"The one and only. Our fearlessly fabulous leader; mad scientist extraordinaire, fashionista of all fashionistas and the thing that makes our own individual brands of crazy seem downright tame in comparison."
Magnus chuckled, hand dramatically going to his chest, fanning himself with the other.
"Aww, thank you sweetheart! Praise from Cesar."
Bindy chuckled, flashing a playful wink.
"Hey, like recognizes like, yeah?"
"Always." Magnus smirked, sending a flirtatious wink back.
Walter swallowed, blinking, gaze shifting from Dani, Bindy and Magnus before moving back over to Alec near pleadingly. Alec gave a faint shrug, head tilting, holding his hand up.
"Hey I did say he wouldn't be what you expected."
Walter sputtered, gesturing animatedly.
"Yeah but-"
Alec shook his head, stepping forward, standing up straighter, folding his arms over his chest, brow quirking.
"No. That's enough. I know this is hard for you, I know you're being thrown a lot right now and the learning curve is steep as hell but you're really gonna have to just suck it up and deal here. I told you from the get go this group wasn't gonna be what you expected. I told you specifically that HE would not be what you expected.
I get with it being his first day and all your hesitancy on Simon b-"
He scoffed, shaking his head.
"We were better off with Simon! I'd rather have my family's fate in the hands of a student turned intern on their first day on the job than some flouncing Fairy!"
"Walter!" Millie gasped, glaring admonishingly, shaking his head.
Alec stood up straighter, shifting forward, leveling him with a sharp glare.
"Hey now, watch it-"
Magnus chuckled, slinking forward, settling next to Alec, reassuringly patting his arm before sliding up, hand coming to rest casually on his shoulder, giving a fluttering little wave towards Walter with his free hand, multiple rings glinting and sparkling as they catch in the light.
"I don't know, 'Flouncing Fairy' kinda has a nice ring to it. Feels like a good band name. If I ever decide to ditch the whole scientist scene and go the pop star route I may need to steal that." He chuckled again, settling comfortably closer to Alec's side, glancing over, catching Dani and Bindy's eyes, brow quirking.
"What do you say? Every pop band needs a couple of badasses? You two in?"
Bindy chuckled, nodding, Dani following suit, nodding eagerly.
"Hey flashy threads, fun scene, cute girls- count me in." she chuckled, glancing over, flashing a flirtatious little wink towards the guys.
Ritchie and Walter started faintly, shifting away from the trio. Magnus chuckled, completely ignoring Ritchie, focusing back on Walter, flashing a little smirkish type smile and a twinkling wave towards the red faced, glaring older man.
"Again lovely to meet you, Walter was it?" he waited a quick beat before shifting, seemingly taking his stony glare as agreement,
"Don't worry, we'll make sure we give you the credit for the name on the first album." He chuckled again, gaze slipping from the glaring blowhard over the rest of the travelers, holding up a finger, chrome red nails glinting in the light of the transport, pointing to the others.
"And if I remember correctly from the uploaded transport data pack; Millicent- the lovely and very fashionable Millie- Ritchie, Blake and Kasey…did I get that right?" he paused, gaze stopping on the two teens, perfectly sculpted brow questioningly quirking.
Kasey blushed, shyly glancing up at him, nodding.
"Uh-y-yes sir."
"Yup, right on the dot." Blake chuckled, nodding as well, settling closer to her cousin's side, smile warming, glancing over at the younger teen before shifting back over to Magnus.
Blake stood up straighter, meeting Magnus's gaze head on, shifting forward, extending her hand. Magnus blinked, pleasantly surprised by the gesture, shifting forward as well, catching Blake's hand, shaking firmly, giving an approving nod.
"Nice to meet you Doctor Bane. Gotta admit that does sound like a pretty solid band name- and you all got a killer look to boot. I'm sure you three would be awesome. Kinda hoping you put off the career change until after we get this sorted though.
From what Alec said it sounds like you're the best bet we got here- he was really singing your praises." Blake laughed, smile brightening all the more, a mischievously knowing little sparkle twinkling in her silvery blue eyes, subtly glancing between them.
Magnus chuckled softly, glancing over at the taller man, smirking flirtatiously, brow quirking.
"Oh he was, hmm?"
Alec huffed out a faint laugh, rolling his eyes, waving him off.
"Only when I wasn't complaining about your insanity. It was about a sixty-forty split between complaining and complimenting - maybe fifty-fifty at best."
Magnus laughed, settling closer to Alec, smirk warming teasingly.
"Ah, so the usual then?"
Alec chuckled, settling closer, nudging his shoulder.
"Yeah pretty much."
Magnus huffed out a soft little laugh, relaxing closer, rolling his eyes playfully at the taller man. Beside Blake Kasey started faintly, something seemingly clicking.
He blinked, glancing between the two of them, dark, expressive green eyes moving from them over to Bindy and then Blake, catching her eye questioningly. Blake shrugged, brow quirking back, head tilting faintly. Kasey blinked before shifting back to Alec.
"Wait… is he your boyfriend, Alec?" Kasey blurted, looking again between the two before startling, seeming to realize he actually said that out loud.
Walter sputtered, shaking his head, glaring at the teen.
"Kasey! Think before you speak! That's slanderous and vile; you can't disrespect Captain Lightwood like that. He may be sneaky and underhanded but whatever else he is he's a military officer. We raised you better than that. You need to be respectful. You can't just go around insulting people, especially military officers."
Ritchie scoffed, glaring disgustedly at his younger brother, nodding along with his dad.
"Dad's right. Ugh, how dumb can you be? Of course he's n-"
Kasey blinked, looking worried, blanching, animatedly shaking his head looking pleadingly at Alec.
"Oh man! Sorry Captain I didn't mean t-"
"Hey, hey, no…Kasey? Kid? You're fine, you're okay. You really are." Alec shook his head, waving him off, smiling gently at the teen.
He shifts, gaze slipping from the younger boy over to the two men, eyes going sharp, giving a censoring, reproachful glare before shifting back to the teen, once more smiling reassuringly, placatingly holding his hand up.
"You're fine Kasey. Really. No insult, no slander. All you did was ask a simple question. I know in your time a question like that would have been a huge deal. It would have be taken as a vicious insult to someone who isn't and would be like painting a neon target on the backs of someone who actually WAS but thankfully by now we've long since moved past that stupidity and ignorance.
It's not an insult or an implication or some vicious slander…it's just a simple question. It's perfectly fine to ask a question. Asking questions is how you learn." He smiled once more seeing the teen relax faintly.
"You're a very intelligent person Kasey…and it would seem very intuitive as well." He paused, glancing subtly over at the two men, relaxing, settling closer to Magnus, just waiting for the inevitable, a plan already forming.
Kasey startled faintly, again blinking, looked somewhere between amazed and nervous, deep green eyes also shifting over to his brother and dad waiting for their reaction. Richie looked confused, the complicated math problem expression returning with a vengeance. Millie looked a bit surprised but also somewhat completive, soft blue grey eyes subtly flickering briefly over to her youngest child before shifting back to the couple.
Blake on the other hand looked like she was absolutely eating this up, a Cheshire cat type grin tugging at her lips, near bouncing on her heels, eyes trained on her uncle and older cousin, clearly just waiting for the show. Alec had to somewhat school his features to keep from chuckling at the girls reaction. She seemed to live to see the two stodgy men squirm.
Yeah, he liked this kid.
Walter seemed to come out of the confusion stupor first, shifting, shaking his head, crossing his arms, brow quirking.
"S-so, what? You're seriously saying you're actually dating this man. He's your 'boyfriend?" he huffed, all but spitting out the word.
Alec gave a faint, totally relaxed shrug.
"No, he's not my boyfriend-"
Walter started, pointing.
"Ah! So w-"
"He's my husband." Alec smirked, arm slipping over, sliding around Magnus's waist, hand coming to rest comfortably at his hip.
Kasey gave a shocked, bright squeak of a laugh, eyes wide as saucers. The sound seems to startle the teen, hands coming up to his mouth, not quite able to totally muffle another soft breathless little giggle, an unmistakable look of wonder sparkling in his eyes. He glances over, bright, hopeful gaze catching Blake's, brow raising questioningly.
Blake smirked, brow quirking right back, seemingly confirming. Kasey blinked again, huffing out another soft breathless laugh, gaze shifting from his cousin over the group once more before again settling on Alec and Magnus, clearly trying to rein in his excitement- something that seemed to be a totally fruitless effort- reaching up, nervously tucking a loose lock of messy auburn hair behind his ear.
"I-s-so…wait…you guys are married…like MARRIED married? Like for real? That happens now?"
Walter started noticeably, catching the hopeful little uptick in his voice, frantically shaking his head, coming out of the affronted stupor far quicker this time, waving his son off.
"No they're not; they're just putting us on, trying to prove some kind of point or something. They're lying, he's lying."
Magnus shook his head, settling closer to Alec's side, cuddling in, arm snaking around the taller man, hand settling on his shoulder, tugging him closer.
"No he's not. He's telling the truth, we're married."
Walter shook his head insistently, glaring.
"No you're not."
"We are."
He shook his head more insistently, waving him off, glaring.
"No, you're not. You're just trying to shock us. Trying to prove some point about people from our time or something. You're just testing me since I told him we'd cooperate and give the benefit of the doubt. He's trying to test my limits and see if I'm actually gonna go back on my word."
Magnus huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head.
"No he's not- We are together, quite happily I might add. Our relationship has absolutely nothing to do with you."
Walter again shook his head, digging his heels in.
"No you're not."
"Yes, we are."
"You don't have the same last name."
Alec shrugged, gesturing towards Magnus.
"It's technically Lightwood-Bane- or in his case Bane-Lightwood- we just streamline at work. It's actually pretty standard really, just a sign of the times. In your time when a woman married she all but lost her previous, individual, unique identity. She wasn't really seen as her own person. She was just her husband's wife. Her children's mother. And for many they were perfectly happy with that. Getting a spouse and starting a family was thought to be everything she could ever want.
And for some it was…" He shrugged, glancing at the travelers, catching Millie, Blake, Kasey's and eye, waving faintly.
"And for others it wasn't. Nowadays that's quite the rarity. I mean there are some who choose to be stay at home spouses or parents and it's a completely valid choice…but it's just that; a choice.
It's an option, but far from the only one they have. There are some who choose to just have a shared last name; whether that means one of the partners taking the others existing surname or the couple jointly collaborating to come up with an amalgamation of the two to form one or something altogether different that they feel fits their new family unit is completely up to the couple.
There are a lot of possibilities but in general a simple hyphenation is by far the most common practice nowadays, same with sticking with your original last name in an already established workplace.
It really is by far the simplest option. No one loses anything to the marriage; it just adds another layer to your already existing identity. I mean realistically most of your life building up to your career is generally done under your original name.
If you've built up a reputation under that it doesn't really make sense to switch it out. If you put in the work to add strength and creditability to your name you definitely deserve to keep that.
Plus since we do work together this is by far the best option for us. It's a handy way of keeping a distinction between our work life and our home life. Just a little safeguard. A way to keep things balanced and professional. It keeps us from bringing work problems home or personal squabbles or issues into the workplace.
It really is the best choice." He smiled, shrugging, glancing over at Magnus, head tilting towards him.
"Besides I started here quite a while after Magnus. By the time I started here he was already very well established and highly respected. I'm incredibly proud of all of his accomplishments and all the respect and admiration he's garnered over the years but I didn't want to use that to get ahead. I wanted to make my own way, earn my own place. I didn't want to just trade on my husband's name and reputation."
Walter blinked uncomprehendingly before again huffing, shaking his head, brow raised, folding his arms.
"Trade on HIS name? I thought you were a military Captain?"
Alec shrugged dismissively.
"I am. Quite a decorated one if I'm being honest. I've gotten quite a few awards for meritorious conduct and I've very much earned my rank and title…but I mean…come on. There are thousands of Military Captains." He smiled, sighing softly, glancing over, hand at Magnus's hip tugging him closer, nudging him lightly.
"My husband is a bat crap crazy, insanely brilliant, mad scientist. He's one of the most brilliant, accomplished revolutionary minds of the last millennium. My accomplishments are comfortably impressive in the right circles to be sure but they don't even begin to hold a candle to his. Not even close."
Magnus blushed, shaking his head, humming softly, leaning up, pressing a soft kiss to Alec's cheek, nuzzling lightly, lingering.
"Mmm…gorgeous you know I do so hate to argue with you but I'm gonna have to disagree with you there. There may be thousands of other Military Captains but there are none like you. Not even close. You are one in a trillion. There's no one who could ever hold a candle to YOU, no one who could even begin to try. You are the best. The best of the best."
Alec huffed out a chuckle, brow quirking.
"Yeah?"
Magnus hummed softly, smirking, nodding eagerly, eyes sparkling bright and warm.
"Of course you are! I married you didn't I? I am a literal genius, a revolutionary innovator, a certified badass, and a total knockout to boot. You really think I'd settle for anything less than the absolute best?"
Alec laughed brightly, rolling his eyes, nudging his shoulder.
"And as always so modest."
Magnus smirked, winking playfully.
"I know- I really am the whole package…and yet somehow still I'm the one who lucked out."
Alec chuckled, rolling his eyes, beginning to shake his head.
"Think I'm the one who has to disagree here…"
Magnus gave a soft breath of a laugh, settling closer.
"Disagree all you want, doesn't change the facts. And the fact is I'm always right. Especially about this." Magnus hummed softly, hugging him closer, leaning up, again pressing a soft, lingering kiss to his cheek.
Walter scoffed, glaring at the little display of affection, again shaking his head, waving them off.
"Oh stop that! You're not married. You don't have wedding rings."
Magnus huffed at the interruption, rolling not only his eyes but his entire head, exasperated expression absolutely dripping with sarcasm, shifting his focus from his 'husband' back over to the glaring blowhard, nodded sarcastically, flashing an irritated smile.
"Yes we do, we're just not complete idiots about them. We keep them safe in our car. Last thing you want is to lose something important in some primordial nightmare zone. General rule is you don't take anything into Oasis you aren't prepared to lose." Magnus scoffed, shifting, folding his arms, giving a fluttering wave.
"Hell I'm still expecting my other Gold Lamé boot is going to eventually turn up somewhere in the fossil record in the bivalve of a Liopleurodon. If I lost my wedding band? Oh hell no. I don't care if I have to go toe to toe with a Viking, an acid spitting scorpion or a freaking T-rex; I'd be getting my damn ring back."
Alec huffed, rolling his eyes, smirking in playful exasperation.
"You would- You HAVE…for a hell of a lot less. Corralling you is a full time, twenty-four, seven job as it is. I definitely don't need to add any more incentive to the insanity."
Magnus smirked, giving a fluttering wave.
"Hence why I don't wear it at work. I may be reckless and cavalier in many aspects but not with the things that REALLY matter. And anyways what'd you expect when you get hitched to a mad scientist? You knew what you were signing up for."
Alec snorted, shaking his head playfully.
"No I didn't. You had Raphael write your vows- I'm still not sure what the hell I agreed to!"
Magnus laughed brightly, shrugging unconcerned.
"Well if anything at least your life is always exciting, yes?"
Alec chuckled, bright hazely green eyes slipping over the other man, humming softly, nodding settling closer.
"Eh- exciting, insane, panic inducing…however you want to put it."
Magnus blushed, settling closer still, leaning up, brushing a soft kiss to Alec's cheek, lingering faintly, giving a soft contended sigh, glancing up at him through his lashes.
"Okay admittedly it is a lot…but not TOO much…right?"
Alec chuckled, tugging him closer.
"Always…but also always so very much worth it." He murmured softly, leaning over, brushing his lips against Magnus's.
Magnus hummed softly, reaching up, catching Alec's jaw, tugging him in for a more proper kiss.
Walter huffed, again shaking his head, refusing to let up.
"You're not married. You're just screwing with me."
Magnus scoffed, brow raising, dismissive gaze shifting totally unimpressed over the man, shaking his head.
"Oh honey no! I'm bi; not desperate."
And again Walter froze, blinking- along with everyone else. The silence is broken by crowing laughter. The group collectively shifts their gaze over to Blake. She laughs, holding her hands up, waving them along, pale blue eyes sparking bright with mischief and amusement.
"Hey, don't mind me. I'm just really enjoying this…Kinda wish I had popcorn though- this is one hell of a show."
Dani chuckled, brow quirking impishly.
"You just live for chaos, don't you?"
Blake shrugged, smirking.
"Pretty much. Keeps life interesting in any case." She smiled, shifting back over to Alec and Magnus, gesturing towards them.
"You two are adorable together by the way. Seem like a perfect couple."
Dani laughed, nodding, gaze flickering from Blake over to Bindy and a very obviously chuckling Magnus.
"Oh yeah, think we're gonna get along like a house on fire."
"Yeah only with you lot that's not always hyperbole." Alec chuckled, looking at his sister and the assassin, reaching over, casually slipping his arm around Magnus's waist, hand settling on his 'husband's' hip, nudging him lightly, shaking his head unable to stop a teasing smile.
Blake grinned brightly, nodding animatedly.
"Oh yeah, we'll get on just fine." She glanced over at Bindy, brow quirking hopefully.
"Hey think we'll get the chance to meet your girlfriend while we're here?"
Bindy laughed, head tilting, giving a bit of a shrug.
"Probably…if you're here long enough." She hummed, leaning casually back against the wall, tapping her chin.
"Hmm…let's see. It's about four now. About this time she's usually either sparing in the self-defense classes, showing the boys who's boss or down at the munitions lab, testing out some of the new toys the brainiac's are rolling out. After you guys have the whole meet and greet with our boss and get this all squared away maybe we can head on down there."
Blake huffed out a faint chuckle brow quirking approvingly.
"Killer…"
"Nah, that's actually more my expertise." Bindy chuckled, smirking mysteriously, flashing a curious little wink.
Blake blinked, gaze shifting questioningly from Bindy over to Magnus, brow quirking. Magnus chuckled at the teen, waving dismissively towards the assassin, shaking his head.
"Oh don't worry sweetheart. It takes all kinds…she's one of the good ones though. She just tends to hide it really, REALLY well. Also she really likes to screw with people. It's entertaining as hell when it's not directed at you." He relaxed, flashing a playful wink at the teen before shifting his focus back over to Alec, smiling cheekily.
"You know we really should have another double date. How about this Saturday w-"
Walter groaned, shaking his head.
"Oh stop that! You're n-"
"Walter, enough!" Millie snapped, cutting him off, startling everyone.
Walter froze, blinking, looking somewhat taken aback at his wife.
"Wha-Millie the-"
"Are married. They're a couple. No matter how much you complain or protest or insist otherwise it won't change that. Stop pushing them on it. Their personal life is none of our business. This isn't our time and this isn't your place."
He swallowed, beginning to shake his head.
"Yeah b-"
"No, no buts." She sighed, gesturing towards the couple before shifting over, encompassing the rest of the crew.
"These people are trying to help us. They are likely just about the only people who CAN help us. They are just trying to do their job and get us home. They are doing their job. Leave their personal life alone. Let them do their job."
Walter again shook his head, shifting forward, folding his arms.
"It's not right."
"It's none of our business."
He huffed, gesturing.
"It's n-"
Millie shook her head, standing up straighter, folding her arms, brow quirking pointedly.
"It's not your place, Walter. Their personal lives or preferences or anything else are none of our concern. Our only concern is getting us home safely. They're not trying to shock you or trick you or screw with you or anything else. They are just trying to do their jobs and get us home.
These people are the only ones who can do that." She swallowed, shifting closer, reaching over, resting her hand on his arm.
"Walter? We are in a lot of trouble here. We are two centuries out of our own time. We are trapped in a world we know nothing about, stranded in a future we wouldn't even begin to be able to comprehend.
We are in real trouble here and the only way we are getting out of it is with the help of these people." She stood up straighter, catching his eye, gesturing towards Ritchie, Blake and Kasey.
"You're the head of the family. You need to protect us, keep us safe. We need you to keep us safe."
Walter shrugging somewhat helplessly.
"That's what I'm trying to do."
Millie shook her head.
"But that's not what you are actually doing." She sighed softly, shrugging right back, looking back up, catching his eye.
"Walter, we're trapped in a world we cannot even begin to truly comprehend and you are antagonizing, belittling and insulting our only hope of getting back home. That's not helping us. It's not protecting us.
It is putting us in even more danger." She sighed, swallowing, reaching over, again resting her hand on his arm, squeezing tightly, looking up, pleadingly catching his eye.
"Please Walter. I know how hard this is for you. I know all you want to do is just take charge and fix it and make it better but darling? There's nothing you can do to fix this for us. The only thing you can do is take a breath, take a beat, keep the commentary to yourself and let the people who can actually get us home safe do their jobs.
Their personal lives are irrelevant. Their sexuality or relationships are irrelevant. Their stylistic choices or political/sociological/ethical/religious views are irrelevant. None of that matters right now.
The ONLY thing that matters right now is that they know their jobs and they can get us back home. They know what they're doing. They know how to get us home. They are the only ones who can.
They are our only chance to get home. Please stop antagonizing our only chance at getting home. Please. For me," She paused, reaching up, gesturing towards Ritchie, Blake and Kasey.
"For us?" She finished softly, looking up, locking eyes with him, pleadingly squeezing his arm.
Walter froze a moment before swallowing, nodding faintly, reaching up, resting his hand on her arm.
"I-y-yeah…of course." He reached forward, wrapping his arms around her, hugging her gently.
They stood there for a moment before he took a deep breath, pulling back, catching her eye, flashing a soft, reassuring smile, squeezing her arms once more before shifting back a bit further, turning a bit to face the others keeping his arm around Millie's waist, turning to Magnus giving a faint, near apologetic shrug and a bit of a wave.
"I-look I really don't understand any of this. I'm completely out of my depth here and at this point I feel like I don't even know which way's up. I don't understand any of this…I-I don't understand any of YOU…especially you…" he sighed shrugging helplessly at Magnus before shifting, swallowing, gesturing towards Alec.
"But I do know that he said you're the best there is. That you can get us home. That you're just about the only person who can. I'm really hoping he wasn't just talking you up or something cause you're the only hope we have here and if you can't…or if you won't because of something I said or did I-" he swallowed, trailing off, shrugging helplessly.
Magnus paused a moment, sharp bright gaze slipping over him, brow quirking before finally relaxing, chuckling softly, waving him off.
"Oh no sense for all the dramatics sweetie. I wouldn't punish an entire family for the snarks or condescension of one-" He paused, brow quirking, gaze flickering over to Ritchie,
"Or even two members."
Millie relaxed, flashing a relieved, hopeful smile.
"You won't?"
Magnus chuckled, grinning brightly, waving her off.
"Oh sweetheart of course not! I only look like a temperamental, capricious drama queen-" he paused, not even bothering to glance up, giving a fluttering wave, pointing over at the rest of the crew.
"Ignore their incredulous looks, they're actually the overdramatic ones. I'm much more down to earth and made of a fair bit stronger stuff than that. I'm a professional, and I've never really been one to hold a grudge…"He paused, shifting away from Alec, slinking closer to the console, giving a somewhat distracted wave.
"Besides refusing to help a sexist, homophobic, blowhard get back to their own time-and thereby effectively trapping them in MY time- is kinda like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Travelers who don't manage to get back to their time are basically our responsibility until they're capable of functioning in our world on their own. It can take weeks, months, even years to truly get someone acclimated and back on their feet enough to wash our hands of them.
I'd much rather just put up with it for the day until the anomaly reopens rather than for all of my foreseeable future.
That's just good sense."
Walter huffed, shifting faintly.
"Hey, I am trying okay? I told you this i-wait…" he trailed off, wading past his snark and insults to the real point.
"A day? You know when we'll be able to get back? You have a time line for us?"
Magnus smirked, shrugging, hand trailing along the console, hitting a button, bringing up a complicated mess of swirling, shifting, twisting data, symbols and formulas, a flickering countdown clock ticking away glimmering brightly in the center of the data cloud.
"Technically it's twenty-three hours, eight minutes and fifteen seconds, but I figured I'd round up to simplify."
Walter blinked, gaze shifting from the complicated data to the clock than back to Magnus in disbelief.
"I-wha-Why didn't you say that?!"
Magnus shrugged.
"Well I was going to…but you were kind of being a dick."
Blake laughed brightly, brow quirking, smirking, head tilting curiously.
"Thought you said you wouldn't hold a grudge?"
Magnus shrugged, giving a fluttering little wave.
"And I wouldn't…doesn't mean I'm gonna set back and LET someone attempt to insult me and run down my husband. I'm a better person than he thinks but I'm not THAT good. Couldn't really just stand by and allow tha-"
"Oh wow, wha-dude!" Simon exclaimed excitedly, light honey brown eyes sparkling lively and eager, moving closer to the console, looking in amazement at the data swirling and flitting about the screen.
He giggled, bouncing, looking from the screen over to Magnus and back a few times, gesturing animatedly, seemingly unable to even form words.
"I-t-that-that's my program! My algorithm-but like supercharged or…I-I mean you can see the formulas and the data and the stats and th-how, wha-oh my god…what? Dude!"
Magnus chuckled, settling in close to his side, smirking.
"So…I take that to mean you approve, yes?"
Simon laughed brightly, squeaking, bouncing excitedly, darting forward, hugging him tightly before shifting back, turning, bright, ecstatic gaze trained on the streaming data, expression like a kid who was just given the key to a candy store.
"Oh my god yes! It's amazing…y-you got it to…it-it's there and you can see it, oh my god Magnus, it's incredible! How did y-what did you do?"
Magnus sighed, smiling, settling closer to his side, shaking his head.
"Sweetheart I didn't do anything."
"I-b-but no, you did! I-it didn't. It never worked like this, never-I-I-the best I could get was a two hour window. It has a countdown clock to the freaking second! How did y-what did y-Oh my god Magnus, you are amazing!"
Magnus chuckled, again shaking his head, settling closer, smiling bright and warm.
"Sweetheart as much as I'd love to take the compliment it's not mine to take. I didn't do anything. This is all you. And yes, it is freaking amazing." He laughed softly, flashing a bright, beaming smile, leaning over, pressing a quick, happy kiss to Simon's cheek.
Simon laughed, flailing, looking over at him, shaking his head.
"Wha-no-I. It never worked like this. It doesn't have these kinds of capabilities. The best I've ever got it to was a two hour window. You have it calibrated down to the second! I don't even know how that's possible but oh my god I need you to walk me through every step of the way. I have to know how you did this. How you got it to do this."
Magnus laughed softly, again squeezing his shoulder, shrugging.
"All I did was swap out your outdated pieces and resourced materials you've managed to cobble together with the up to date, top of the line materials we have access to here." He smiled, squeezing Simon's shoulder, settling at his side, looking over the readouts, head shaking in amazement, glancing over at the younger scientist, a soft breathless little laugh slipping out, squeezing Simon's shoulder, gesturing with his free hand towards the screen.
"This is all you Simon. It's all your work, all your effort, all your accomplishments. This is all you. This is you. And yes, sweetheart it is freaking amazing." He laughed again, hugging Simon to his side, beaming, looking back at the screen in awe.
"I cannot wait to see what's next darling."
Simon blinked, gazing in amazement at the swirling, spiraling data strings, bright honey brown eyes sparkling with wonder and possibilities of what was to come.
"Neither can I." he breathed,
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***End Of Chapter Notes***
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Yay! Another chapter {FINALLY} done!
Okay I know it was a somewhat abrupt cut off but that's actually for once totally intentional {It'll make perfect sense in the next chapter, I promise}. Don't worry though it won't be nearly as long of a wait for the next chapter this time around. I'm actually gonna switch up my update list and just go right on ahead into chapter 9 of this verse instead of story-hopping.
I'd originally planned to jump over to V3 and get ch 9 there out of the way but this one is really speaking to me right now. Also I got like a quarter of the way through the next chapter already as originally this chapter was gonna be a 2 parter before I realized it'd work better as the start of chapter 9 rather than the tail end of chapter 8 {Plus this way I get to post NOW…and also this way this chapter managed to come in under 10k for a change lol}.
So on the plus side I actually have a head start on the next chapter {over 2k already so yay- well past the usual stall out point} so hopefully I'll be able to get that up and out pretty quickly- thinking sometime next week.
Here's the ever present update list so you can see where we are and where we're going:
*Picture Perfect {Verse 9} {Ch9}* Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch9}*Nosey Neighbors {Ch9}*You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch9}* The Demon In The Mirror {Verse 4} {Ch10}* The Demon In The Mirror {Verse 4} {Ch11}* The Demon In The Mirror {Verse 4} {Ch12}* Nosey Neighbors {Ch10}* Nosey Neighbors {Ch11}* Nosey Neighbors {Ch12}* Love Bug {Verse 2} {Ch10} Love Bug {Verse 2} {Ch11} Love Bug {Verse 2} {Ch12}* Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch10}*, Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch11}* Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch12}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch10}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch11}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch12}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch10}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch11}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch12}*
Yeah I know it's a jumbled mess- however it is a jumbled mess of only 24 chapters is all we have left of this round of stories { out of 108 not too bad}. I'm really hoping to pick up the pace- actually I think once I get all the verses up to chapter 10 it really will as I write the final 3 chapters back to back and it tends to go fairly quickly as I already know exactly what I'm doing for them.
So we really are into the home stretch here.
By the way I really am sorry it's taking so long on this round. I swear the next one won't take nearly as long. This one just happened to be where I needed to build up all my framework. I had to solidify all the ideas for the verses, get a clear picture of them and make sure I know exactly what I'm doing and where I'm going.
I very much do now.
I have nearly 500 pages of notes for the verses {everything from basic framework, background info, world building details all the way to nearly completed chapters}. Oddly enough the further on I go into the series the more I have completed and ready to go. So basically the further on we get here the quicker it start moving. Again this is a marathon, not a sprint, and I promise it'll all be worth it in the end.
Anyways enough about my apologies and babble. About the story- I really love Blake, Kasey and Millie. I thought in this verse Blake and Kasey being related would make for a lot of interest. I loved Mags and Alec being married lol.
How about you?
What was your favorite part? What do you think so far?
*~Page 26 of 26~*
{ *^*^*^ *^*^*^*^*^*^*]8*- Future Fallout Verse*-8 [ *^*^*^ *^*^*^*^*^*^*}