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“So,” Vinnie plopped down on the beanbag while the fresh summer breeze flew through the window, “what is this new trick?” Crunching noises filled the air when he started munching on his chips.
“Well, it’s not “new,” per se.” Sunil adjusted his sleeves. “You remember my ol’ switcheroo trick, right?”
“How could I forget…?” Vinnie chuckled awkwardly when his mind decided to take him on a quick trip down the memory lane. Not the best memories he had… “So, what about it?”
“I believe I have found a way to improve it greatly!” Sunil swung his hand in a dramatic fashion. “You also must remember that it included switching one person’s place with another’s. Well, no more! I believe I can switch a person’s place with just about anything - another person, an object, even air.”
“No way,” Vinnie muttered in amazement, at first just to himself. He licked the crumbs off of his cheeks. “Air?”
“Precisely.” Sunil nodded quickly, walking across the room. “When you think about it, air is just another thing. That’s not all, however. I believe it should be possible for me to transport two people at once. That’s where I need your help.” He gestured to the spot next to himself and once Vinnie found his place there Sunil pointed to the other side of the room. “If my calculations are correct, I should be able to move the two of us there, switching our spot with the air.”
“Woah.” Vinnie eyed the area carefully as if it was some mystique place. “Sounds promising. Then what are we waiting for?” He looked up at his best friend eagerly.
“Right.” Sunil nodded. “Do keep in mind this is just an attempt, but I really think I can do it. Maybe just…” He eyed Vinnie, “close your eyes and don’t say anything so I can focus.”
“If you’re tired of my yapping you can just tell me.” Vinnie folded his arms playfully, swallowed the rest of the chips still in his mouth, and closed his eyes obediently.
After taking a breath Sunil mirrored the action. Pure silence hung in the air between the two for a while until he started muttering multiple words that Vinnie couldn’t have deciphered if he tried. Purple eyes twitched under his eyelids, but he willed them to remain closed even when after quite a while finally multiple otherworldly sensations overtook him for the longest second of his life.
He was glad to feel that the ground was still under his feet, yet it all felt different somehow. Then he felt a gust of wind hit him straight in the face.
“What the-?”
“Huh?” Vinnie opened his eyes when he heard confusion in Sunil’s voice.
They weren’t in his room anymore, not even in his house.
They both turned their heads around seeing trees, the street, as well as buildings in the distance.
“Oh my goodness!” Sunil’s expression morphed into a big, excited smile. “Not only did I manage to teleport both of us, but such a distance too!”
“Yeah, no kidding.” Vinnie squinted his eyes at the buildings. “We’re kinda far from my house, I can barely see it.”
“I know, it’s a miracle! No, no, it’s magic!” Sunil suddenly picked Vinnie up and spun around, the sound of both of their laughter filling the air.
Once Vinnie was back on the ground holding himself on wobbly legs, he proposed in a voice still filled with residual laughter, “Well, future Houdini, feeling like doing this again, just this time the other way around?”
Sunil looked between their spot and the direction of Vinnie’s house. “Perhaps I shouldn’t. I wouldn’t want us to appear in someone else’s house. As impressive as this trick was, I'm afraid I don’t exactly have control over this. Yet.”
“Someone’s full of himself today.” Vinnie grinned lovingly at his best friend. “No, seriously, this was amazing.”
“Yes, yes it was.” Sunil reflected Vinnie’s smile. “But next time we will need to choose a more secluded place it seems.”
With the conversation full of praise and wonder in full swing now, the two friends set off on their way back, the distance not appearing as grueling as before even if they had to use more common means of transportation than Sunil’s magic.
Gradually the distance shortened, and Vinnie’s house could be seen clearer on the horizon. However, it wasn’t the only thing the two noticed.
“Hey, Sunil, look.” Vinnie nudged his companion, pointing at the person who appeared behind the corner. “I think it’s Russell.”
“Hmm.” Sunil focused on the person’s back as well. “Yes, it would seem so. It seems he’s also heading to your house.”
“Yeah, it sure does.”
“Did you know he’s supposed to visit you today?”
“Nu-uh.” Vinnie shook his head. “I guess it’s a surprise visit. Oh, oh, maybe that means he wants to talk about a surprise too! Like a… surprise party or something.”
“I suppose this is a possibility.”
“So… wanna play a little prank on Serioussel?”
“A little prank?” Sunil repeated cautiously. “As long as it’s nothing too bad...”
“It’s not. Just follow my example.”
With that Vinnie and then subsequently Sunil quickened their steps. Once they were right behind Russell, who by this time had almost reached Vinnie’s door, the pair practically jumped on him.
“Rusty!”
“Russell!”
“What the-?!” Russell jumped and turned around, his eyes widening as he started frantically eyeing the two. Actually, mostly one of them. “Wh… S… what? …Sunil?”
“And Vinnie!” The green-haired man quickly posed in front of his best friend. “Don’t forget about me.”
“Vinnie…? I… I…” After standing frozen in place Russell practically threw himself against the wall of the house, panting heavily while his gaze continued jumping all over the place.
“Dude, what’s up with you?” Vinnie raised a brow and took a step closer. “Did we scare you this much? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Sorry, it was supposed to be just a little prank…”
“N-No, Vinnie… I… Why do you look like this?” Russell swallowed hard.
“Look like this?” Vinnie eyed himself up and down and then turned to Sunil who shrugged. “Uh, I always looked like that. Do I have a new bruise or something?” He checked himself again, but nothing came of it.
“N-No, Vinnie, no, listen.” Though Russell’s steps were hesitant, his grab on Vinnie’s shoulders was anything but. Vinnie's eyes met Russell's, making him flinch. The gaze was truly haunting as it quickly moved to Sunil and back. “Do you… see him?”
“Uhh…” Vinnie looked behind himself, but still, the only person there was now shifting awkwardly on his feet Sunil. “You mean Sunil? Well, yeah, obviously, why wouldn’t I? Wait, did his trick make him invisible to some people as well?”
“W-What? No…”
“Oh good, that could be problematic.” Vinnie swiped non-existent sweat off his temple. “Speaking of Sunil, you gotta hear about this new trick he just performed! Actually, it’s not new exactly, just improved.” Despite the joyful exposition Russell’s fear did not diminish. In fact, it seemed to double. Vinnie’s voice started wavering with uncertainty with each word. “But I p-promise it’s exciting and… cool. Okay, Russell, seriously, what’s up with you?”
“Yes, I’m quite concerned as well, do you need some water?” Sunil got closer to the two. He didn’t fail to notice that now Russell’s attention was back on him in its entirety.
“Could you tell me more about this trick?” Russell asked quietly, his hands still gripping Vinnie’s shoulders tightly.
This time Sunil was the one to respond, his face brightening, “It was an improved switcheroo! This time I managed to transport two people at the same time and far too.”
“And…? Was there more to it…?” Russell’s trembling voice trailed off.
“I suppose so,” Sunil agreed. “I was planning to bring us to the other side of Vinnie’s room, but we found ourselves outside and rather far from his house.”
“Yeah, yeah!” Vinnie beamed. “And we were just returning and saw you. Here, let me get the keys-.”
“NO!” Russell hollered and stopped the reaching to the pocket hand by shaking Vinnie by the shoulders violently. “Don’t! Come with me!”
Ignoring the other two’s surprised protests Russell grabbed their wrists and started dragging them away from the house, letting go only once they reached a rather bushy area nearby.
“Russell, what-? Ah!” All air left Sunil’s lungs when said person lunged forward and squeezed the life out of him. “Uh, okay…” He raised his eyebrow at Vinnie who gave him a shrug in response. “Here, here.” He started patting Russell’s back, at first awkwardly but when the other didn’t let go immediately Sunil’s movements became more relaxed and eventually he returned his friend’s gesture, though perhaps not quite as passionately.
The embrace was held for a long time, but eventually Russell himself stopped it and eyed both Sunil and Vinnie. He sighed.
“You will never believe me, I know, but I think that magic trick did more than just teleport you outside.”
“Whaaaat?” Vinnie tilted his head.
“I concur with that response, what do you mean, Russell?” One of Sunil’s brows raised high in surprise. “How would you know that when not even I am aware of it?”
What left Russell’s mouth next was perhaps the least logical thing they ever heard, especially from his mouth. This wasn’t right. It sounded like a joke.
“It’s… it’s complicated. But let’s just say I have my reasons to really believe somehow you got brought to an alternative universe instead.”
But this was Russell, not Pepper.
“What? I… what?” Vinnie stuttered, his eyes moving back and forth between Russell and everything else.
Sunil once again had to agree with his best friend’s reaction.
“Excuse me? My magic trick brought us to an alternative universe? How…? Why? Why would you even think something like that exists?!”
“Russell, buddy.” Vinnie wobbled to him and this time he was the one with his hand on the other’s shoulders. “You know I believe you with my life, normally. But this… I just… I think we will need some more proof than that cause now I’m starting to wonder if you’re actually Pepper in a really convincing disguise.”
“I don’t blame you.” Russell managed a small smile as he gently slapped his inquisitive friend’s hands away from his shoulder. “I know it sounds like I’m trying to perform a comedy sketch, but trust me, the proof is right there.” He pointed at Vinnie’s house.
“You mean something like… another Vinnie lives there?” When Russell gave a single nod Sunil’s eyes flew open wide, and he tugged on his hair. “I-If this is true then that means we’re stuck in some other, different world! No-, i-if I just perform my switcheroo again we probably will be-!”
“No!” Russell grabbed his sweatshirt bringing him down to himself. “Don’t, please! At least, not for a while… I understand how distressing that situation is, but… please, I need you both to stay for an hour or so, please.”
“I…”
Vinnie stepped to the rescue, now looking more composed.
“I think we can. I mean,” He narrowed his eyes at Russell, but his gaze remained soft, “this could still be some sort of weird joke and we’re freaking out over nothing. Maybe. Let’s at least see that other Vinnie or whatever. Then we’ll know for sure. It’s not like I have a twin brother or anything.”
“I… I suppose that’s true.” Sunil looked at Russell who after those words let him go, his posture a bit less tense now. “But why would we need to go to Vinnie specifically?”
“Yeah, not really looking forward to seeing the guy,” Vinnie himself muttered and rolled his eyes.
Russell looked away and opened his mouth but closed it once it lingered open for a few long seconds. He started once again, “You’ll see, just trust me that this is needed.”
“Actually, isn’t the reason obvious?” Vinnie cut in, this time with a reassuring grin. “If it were me, and it is, I would love to have two Sunils for myself.”
Sunil shook his head playfully and poked his best friend with his elbow who chuckled before dramatically jumping away. Russell smiled softly at their antics and nodded towards the familiar building, all three setting off on their short way back.
Once the door was in front of them again, now looming like some ancient, ominous structure, Russell moved his fist forward, but just before he could knock, he looked behind himself at the two.
“I think we should have some sort of way to tell you,” He pointed at Vinnie, “and the other you apart.”
“I guess,” Vinnie agreed skeptically. “How about I just be Vin, and the other one will be Vinnie, so we don’t confuse him too much.”
Russell’s gaze lingered on Vinnie, or rather Vin now, but ultimately he just nodded and soon the three were anticipating for the door to open. However, what they got instead was a voice that was as undeniably muffled as it was Vinnie’s.
“Who’s there?”
“Vinnie, it’s me.” Russell raised his voice and stepped a little closer to the door, his tone now firmer and full of conviction. “Open the door!”
When the booming response came Russell was the only one who didn’t jump. “NO! GO AWAY!”
“Vinnie, open. The. Door,” Russell insisted and leaned forward. “I’m serious! I promise you I’m not here for what you think I am. It’s something incredibly important.”
“NO! You always say it and it’s always the same thing! I’m fine!”
“Vinnie- alright, fine, if you won’t let me in I’ll really go away, but before that you have to open the door at least slightly and glance outside for a second, I…” He looked behind at Sunil and Vinnie who lingered there awkwardly. “I promise it’s worth it.”
Silence hung in the air for a moment or two when even the usual noises of the outside appeared muffled. Russell took a few steps back, now finding himself between Vinnie and Sunil who were both craning their necks, except that Sunil was at least trying to be subtle about it.
The door creaked open the slightest amount. A purple eye widened and disappeared just slowly enough for Sunil to catch the quickest glimpse of it in the gap before the door got slammed shut.
“Vin-.”
“No! No, no! I-I… I’m seeing things again! I saw- I saw him!”
“Vinnie, you’re not seeing things.” Russell’s voice came out just as earnest as before but also much softer now. He ignored the other two’s questioning gestures while he continued trying to conquer the mental battlefield.
“What the fuck do you mean I’m not?! I just saw… I saw him!”
“Vinnie, listen, I know how unbelievable it is, but I promise who you saw was very real.”
“No, he wasn’t! How even? Don’t make stupid jokes, Russell, I’m not in the fucking mood. I’m hallucinating, and that’s it. It’s all not real. You’re probably not even there either!”
Russell sighed and gave the two men standing on his either side a nod towards the door.
“Are you sure?” Sunil whispered straight to his ear on a hitched breath.
“One hundred percent.” Russell checked his left side where Vin, who was wearing a determined if tense expression, nodded.
He jerked the doorknob violently and the other two rushed inside the house after him, finally getting a good look at the… other Vinnie. Or rather at his back for now. It was enough to see some differences and then more when he turned on his heel with a creak, untrusting eyes flickering between his other self and Sunil. He didn’t try to run away this time, no, instead without any questions he rushed towards Vin and…
“Hey, what’s up with-?”
A slap of incredible, pent up force hit Vin across the face, causing him to wobble on his legs and take a step back.
“You fucking slut!”
Not waiting for a comeback or acknowledging Sunil or Russell’s protests Vinnie grabbed Vin by the collar of his hoodie and pulled his squirming frame to the side.
“Argh!” Vin gasped when his back hit the solid surface of the wall. “Dude, what the fuck?!”
“Vinnie, no, don’t!” Russell managed to wrap his arms around wildly squirming Vinnie’s torso and hurriedly waved at speechless Sunil.
Sunil’s moment of hesitation was enough for Vinnie to wriggle out and attempt to jump straight at Vin. Yet, by that time the other managed to assess the situation and wouldn’t let his alternative self beat him up senselessly, not without a retaliation. He wanted a fight? Fine!
Before Vinnie could fully reach him, Vin kicked himself out of the wall, and while sliding between Vinnie’s legs tugged violently on his ankles.
“Fuck!”
Soon pain spread on Vin’s lower back when the other’s weight pinned him hard to the floor, causing him to hiss but he didn’t let it render him helpless for long. He blindly pushed hard on Vinnie’s back and managed to wiggle from under him with a grunt and clenched teeth.
“You stupid-! Ah!” Vinnie growled when his head was thrown backwards, the splashes of blue and orangish brown jumping around the fighting pair and grabbing at their limbs but ultimately Sunil and Russell’s were unable to steady their grip every time.
“You’re the stupid one! The hell you’re slapping me for?!” Vin let go of the hair aggressively, a few barely green strands with protruding ginger falling next to his foot. He didn’t attempt any more physical or mental punches, instead waiting in a bent position.
“Guys- guys, stop!”
Vin glanced to the side where Russell and Sunil were still carefully circling around the two. He opened his mouth but all that left it was air when a quick swish of a limb made the ground disappear from under his feet and Vin once again found himself beneath his other self who unceremoniously measured a punch straight in the center of his face.
“Die, die, die, you useless piece of shit!” Vinnie bared his teeth, his knees violently pinning Vin’s hands down when they started moving up. To protect? To fight back? It didn’t matter now. “YOU SHOULD HAVE SAVED HIM BUT INSTEAD YOU WERE SITTING ON YOUR ASS DOING NOTHING!”
“Wha-?” Punches started raining once again rendering any and all of Vin’s attempts to speak useless. His hands stilled under Vinnie’s knees. There was also another kind of rain hitting his body - this one more literal.
Vinnie’s clenched fist started moving once again towards Vin’s face. “YOU-!” He got abruptly cut off when Russell lunged at him, causing them both to roll off to the side.
“Vinnie, stop! Stop!” This time Russell managed to keep Vinnie in place despite his intense squirming.
“No, let me go, let me go, I need to kill him! HE NEEDS TO FUCKING DIE!” Vinnie growled, his bloodshot eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.
Vin was quick to copy his screams. “I SWEAR-!” But he too was stopped when Sunil tightly wrapped his arms around him from behind, causing his posture to relax if only slightly.
This however railed Vinnie up even more.
“No, NO, come here and fight! It’s all your fault! It’s! All! Your! Fault! You should have been in that goddamned car! You should have been the one to die! You useless, pathetic, piece of- piece of-!”
Russell gave Vinnie a quick but tight squeeze, enough for a choking gurgle to pause his rant once it escaped his mouth.
“Die…?” Vin repeated slowly. “What? What do you mean? Who…?”
“Who? WHO?!” Vinnie bared his teeth even more, furious wrinkles forming on his cheeks as he hung uselessly in Russell’s arms who wasn’t planning on letting this shouting match continue.
“Vinnie, stop!” He yelled. “I mean both of you, but you especially!” He gave Vinnie a glare who reacted by rolling his eyes.
“Russell, I still don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, he’s not even here.”
Sunil whose hold on his best friend has by now loosened more exchanged a glance with him. A what now? Neither he nor Vin dared trying to make sense of it.
It didn’t matter, Russell was already on it.
“He is, Vinnie, he is. …They both are.”
“No, they’re not,” Vinnie scoffed. “Do you really expect me to believe that literal clone of me is here? Not to mention… They’re not here. It’s just an illusion, a hallucination or something like that.”
“Look, I know how unbelievable it is,” Russell repeated with a sigh. “But they are here, and they are real. You just fought with that “clone,” you touched him. He’s real and he hurt you and the other way around.”
“I don’t care if I touched him or whatever!” Vinnie still protested, no whisper of doubt in his voice. “It’s not possible. Y-You’re probably a hallucination too.”
“Vinnie, hallucinations aren’t this clear, you know it and-.”
“I don’t care!” Vinnie remained seething. “If not that then it’s a dream or something. I can still kill that stupid motherfucker!”
“What the hell did I do to you?” Vin gestured wildly. “Seriously? And who died…?” His voice cracked and wavered.
“Who died?” Vinnie mocked. “Wouldn’t you like to know? You’re not even real!”
“Says the one still wants to fight with me.” Vin leaned forward and Sunil’s hold on him tightened again.
“Stop, please, just stop, enough!” Russell’s voice cut through the air, everyone’s eyes on him now. He took a quick glance at the two Vinnies but neither looked seriously hurt. “Allow me to explain it to you.” He addressed the two on the opposite side of the room simultaneously ignoring Vinnie’s huff. “This world’s Sunil is… dead.”
“Dead?!” Sunil himself tensed up, his gaze jumping from side to side. “Are you… serious?”
“Unfortunately.”
“O-Oh.” Sunil gulped. “I guess that’s the “alternative” in the alternative world. How…?”
“A car crush…” Russell’s throat felt tight as he uttered. “Someone was driving recklessly, Sunil was in the wrong place at the wrong time and… it was immediate, nothing could be done.”
“So that means he didn’t suffer… right?” Sunil swallowed hard.
“As… as far as we know.”
The two interlocutors' attention moved to the floor and lingered there until the third voice cut through the air. Cold.
“W h a t?”
Russell slowly lifted his chin and for a second or two he and Vin were sizing each other up, the latter’s expression unreadable.
“Exactly what I said,” Russell started again, tension in his voice so thick it was almost visible, “…Sunil’s… dead here.”
“Sunil’s dead,” Vin repeated before slowly, sluggishly almost, shifting his attention to the one held by Russell whose brows knitted together more. “And where was I… where was he at that time? Why wasn’t he with him?”
“...He was in his house.”
“In his house. He was in his house. While Sunil got hit. While his best friend was dying.”
“Vinnie- Vin, listen.” Russell took a small step to the right side. “Yes, yes, he was, but so were the rest of us. None of us could have predicted that this would happen. The only fault here lies in that other driver’s hands. It’s not our fault, it’s not your fault.”
“It’s not.” Vin’s shoulder squared up. “It’s not mine. It’s his,” He hissed at Vinnie whose eye began twitching. “Why the fuck would you try to kill me if I weren’t even here?! You’re this world’s, or whatever it is, Vinnie, why would you blame me?!”
“Because you’re an idiot!”
“Maybe, but my Sunil didn’t die! Who’s an idiot now!?”
“Quiet!” The loud voice of Sunil was enough to render Vin quiet. His other self didn’t even grace him with a wary look, but Sunil knew what he had to do. He took a step forward, letting Vin go. “Vinnie, you… really don’t think I’m real?”
“No, of course not!” Vinnie yelled desperately. “You’re… you’re dead! I… I’m not talking to you, I can’t! Russell, let me go or I will go crazy!” He returned to his crazed wiggling, but Russell was ready for that and gritted his teeth as he put all his strength into holding the other in place.
“Vinnie,” Sunil muttered carefully, “I can only imagine how unbelievable this is to you, but I’m real and I’m here…”
With each step closer Vinnie tensed up more and more, but similarly his eyes became glassier. It didn’t deter Sunil from holding his gaze, one of his arms stretching out in front of himself and when his hand touched Vinnie’s shoulder he gasped and flinched so violently Russell was forced to let him go. Sunil reached out now with both of his hands but stopped when he realized Vinnie was standing motionless. So instead, Sunil’s gaze locked with Vin’s who, just like his alternate self, stood undeniably tense, yet in a separate way. More so cold than aggressive.
For a second or two the only sounds in the room were heavy breaths of everyone involved, but ones certainly surpassed the other three.
“Vinnie…”
Vinnie began shaking under Sunil’s successful touch, his knees close to completely giving out.
“N-No, how? You’re… dead,” He choked out.
“It’s a long story, or at least a very weird story, and I’m still trying to wrap my own head around it.” Sunil smiled faintly. “I attempted an improved switcheroo and long story short, me and Vinnie landed here instead. I am not your Sunil, but I am Sunil. We-,” He tried to explain but whatever words were to escape his lips got distorted when a powerful hug caused him to stagger on his feet.
The overstimulating silence returned when Sunil reciprocated the gesture with just as much force as Vinnie, perhaps even more. A sharp inhale. He bent down and adjusted his position, whispering into Vinnie’s ear, receiving shaky breaths in return.
Meanwhile, the other two didn’t move from their spots. Russell was only able to stare sadly at the hugging pair and then at Vin whose expression didn’t quite match with the others. Frankly, it didn’t match at all. Furrowed brows, lips in a tight line, and the widest eyes Russell has ever seen stuck on Sunil and Vinnie. No, actually only on Vinnie. The two didn’t move even when Sunil’s voice returned at a normal volume.
“I’m here and I’m alive.”
“I… I…” Vinnie’s face was covered with silently and profusely falling tears from his eyes. “I am so sorry!” He wailed and attempted to squeeze Sunil even tighter only to realize there was no more force left in him. After a while whatever amount of strength he had managed to gather dissipated into thin air as well, his legs finally buckling under him.
Both Sunil and Russell moved to try to catch him, but Vinnie’s knees hit the floor way too quickly. The new compromising position didn’t prevent him from shaking and clinging to Sunil weakly.
“There’s nothing to apologize for.” Sunil followed the other to the ground and this time was able to react in time before Vinnie’s face could join his knees on the floor. “Shhhh.”
“But there is!” Vinnie cried while shaking his head from side to side even if he couldn’t achieve much with Sunil’s chest pressing against it. “I should have known, I should have been there! I can’t live without him! Nobody can! Everyone was… everyone is so sad without him, without you! I still… I still don’t believe you’re real, how… why…?” His runny nose from mixing with the wetness on his face.
“Oh, Vinnie.” Sunil’s voice came out similarly shaky. “Perhaps we should go to your room to talk, just you and me.” He lifted his chin to look from Russell to his best friend, as if hoping one of them would recite a correct course of action for such a situation. Russell however just gave an uncertain shrug while Vin… Sunil wasn’t quite sure what he was trying to do.
With Vinnie still clinging to him he managed to stand up but was only able to take one step before Vin’s voice made him pause.
“Sunil, why, where… why are you going with him?” He spat the words out like venom. “This damn guy… he let you die.”
“Vin…nie … He didn’t do anything,” Sunil defended the one clinging to him, but his posture tensed up significantly.
“Exactly, he didn’t do anything! He was just sitting there or something, all oblivious!” Despite the anger in his voice, Vin’s expression was now slowly starting to reflect his other self’s, and an unmistakable glassiness appeared in his eyes followed by a few quick blinks and a bit on his lower lip. “He let you die… he let his best friend die. It’s not how it was supposed to go, he wasn’t supposed to die first!” With his throat feeling narrower with each word he finished in a small coughing fit.
Sunil opened and closed his mouth. What was he even supposed to say to that? Perhaps even more importantly he could clearly hear Vinnie’s labored breaths and one glance down at him told him everything. But another look at Vin informed him he wasn’t doing perfect either.
“Sunil, go,” Russell intertwined. “I will stay with Vin, and we will… talk.”
Sunil took a breath and made his decision. As he quickly carried Vinnie upstairs genuine distress tainted Vin’s voice.
“No! You can’t be with him alone! What if you die?!”
At some point he couldn’t hear it anymore.
“Vin, no, Vinnie, come on…”
“Come on? Come on what? He went there with the person who-who couldn’t even make sure he stays alive!” Despite his words Vinnie slumped on the couch, one of his arms landing heavily across his closed eyes.
It didn’t do much to hide his distress however and so Russell took a seat right next to him.
“He won’t kill him there, you saw the state he is in. Do you really think he’d want to go through it all again?” Vinnie didn’t reply, didn’t even move. “He already blames himself enough even though he didn’t do anything wrong. Probably didn’t help that you just reinforced that guilt,” He added quieter. “I didn’t understand it when he did it and I don’t understand when you do it. Why?” He asked with genuine curiosity in his voice. “Sunil’s… his death is completely unrelated to any of us. It’s tragic, yes, but blaming anyone besides this other driver makes no sense.”
That grabbed Vinnie’s attention fully and he uncovered his still glistening eyes with newfound fire appearing in them, overshadowing everything else.
“Whare… Where is that man? In jail? Awaiting the death penalty!? Wherever he is I will find him and-.”
“Leave it.” Russell raised his flat palm. “That man died upon impact too.”
“At least there’s that, I guess.” Still, Vinnie tugged at his hair and Russell could have sworn he heard some faint ripping sounds but before he could react Vinnie’s arm fell down back to his side. “Still, would have rather I killed him myself.”
Seeing Vinnie’s low mood return Russell wondered if it would have been better had he lied. He shook his head internally, the thought losing its appeal with it. He had enough of all sorts of crimes, even the smallest possible ones.
“I just can’t believe it. Why this, why him?”
“Vinnie, I don’t know the answers to those questions,” Russell started slowly, his hand moving to rest on his shoulder, “but I have one myself.” When the other gave him a “go ahead” with his head Russell continued, “What did you mean when you said that Sunil wasn’t supposed to die first?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Vinnie snorted humorlessly, his gaze stuck on the ceiling. “I’ve just always hoped I would be the first one to die among us, so I wouldn’t have to see all of you do that, especially Sunil,” He sniffled. “Maybe it’s really selfish but…” He didn’t have a noble follow up to that. Apparently neither did Russell because he simply squeezed Vinnie’s shoulder and looked up as well.
“Vinnie… what do you think you would do if… it was your Sunil who died?”
The reply came without even a millisecond of delay,
“Kill myself.”
“You’re both definitely the same person.”
“Vinnie…”
Sunil had no idea what else to say. What do you say in a situation like that? He could only rely on pure instincts and impulses while Vinnie kept clinging to him even when Sunil tried to remove his hands.
“Sunil, you can’t… you can’t be here… but now that you are, don’t… don’t go,” Vinnie choked out quietly while Sunil sat down on the messy bed. It wasn’t the usual “Vinnie messy” way though, no. Normally Vinnie didn’t have tissues scattered all around the covers.
“Vinnie, you… you realize I’m not the same Sunil, right?” Sunil finally managed to utter.
“I know and it sucks.” Vinnie finally looked up and Sunil swore his eyes were even more red-rimmed than before. Was it the dimmer lighting? The additional tears? “But otherwise, you’re the exact same, and that’s-that’s, ugh.” He was unable to finish when his voice broke completely.
Sunil sighed sadly and rewrapped his arms around his… best friend who didn’t loosen his grip in his unconsolable state. Sunil decided to simply wait and eventually his efforts earned him a four-word continuation.
“Is it all true?”
“You mean this whole other world shenanigans?”
“That sounds so stupid.”
“I can’t disagree.” Sunil attempted to smile even if he knew Vinnie wouldn’t be able to see it.
“Then again you were always amazing, I don’t even know why I’m surprised.” Sunil opened his mouth but found himself lost for words once more. Fortunately, Vinnie decided to carry on, “Maybe it happened for me. That’s kinda selfish, right?” He tried to pull off a playful tone, but it mixed with regret so heavily it came out as bitter instead.
Sunil couldn’t help but wonder. Maybe… As ridiculous as it sounded it was the best explanation yet. Maybe fate was real, and it was pulling the strings.
“I don’t think it is. In fact, I’m glad it happened,” Sunil whispered while his hand started moving up and down on Vinnie’s back.
“There are… there are so many things I haven’t told him, I haven’t told you,” Vinnie drawled as if he didn’t hear. “And before I could have even really thought about it you were gone. Why? Why?! And I didn’t even try to save you!” Vinnie’s tone molded back into an aggressive one, the kind of aggression that was targeted at just one person.
His frame trembled violently causing alarm bells to go off in Sunil’s head. Vinnie has always been skinny, sure, but he swore this one was even lighter and it felt as if the trembling was going to make him fall apart in his arms there and then.
“What would he think?! He helped me so many times, hell, he saved me so many times, and then when I should have repaid, I failed!”
“Vinnie…”
“I didn’t even get the time to tell him I love him! Stupid damn pride, stupid fucking tough guy act!”
“Vinnie.”
“I-.”
“Vincent!” Sunil felt a pang of guilt immediately after using that name, but it did achieve the goal of grabbing Vinnie’s attention.
He wasn’t screaming anymore, instead quietly attempting to keep his eyes locked with Sunil’s even as his lip quivered and tears continued creating massive streams down his cheeks.
“Sorry,” Sunil mumbled in shame but quickly regained his mental footing. For once Vinnie was the one trembling like a leaf in his arms and he didn’t want to let him down even if the situation was worse than anything Vinnie has ever helped him with… “You know, you don’t have to wonder what Sunil would think, I mean, I’m here and I can tell you.” He gave a weak but reassuring smile, but Vinnie’s body tensed up, his tears never stopping. Still, Sunil had something to say. “He wouldn’t blame you. I don’t.”
“B-But-.”
“No buts, I know it. Not only because I am him, but also because Russell is right - there’s nothing anyone could have done. And about love, Vinnie, believe me, you didn’t have to say it out loud for me to know that.”
Vinnie opened his mouth again, to protest Sunil guessed, but said oppositions came out as incomprehensible mumbles exiting between hitched breaths. Yet the meaning was clear.
“It’s true. Vinnie, you tell me this every single day, often non-verbally but it doesn’t matter.” When Vinnie didn’t react Sunil continued, “Like today, Vinnie agreed to help me with my magic trick even if we both know those hadn’t always ended well. Do you see what I mean?”
A few more uneven gasp-like breaths came out of Vinnie before he responded, “Yeah, I guess, but I didn’t get to do that cause…”
“But it’s not just this,” Sunil insisted. “This example is a mere fraction of what I mean.”
“What else?” Vinnie muttered with no conviction, notes of scoff danced in his voice but never quite dominating.
“Many situations,” Sunil began softly, putting measured effort into not having his voice waver. “Sometimes he seems to know me better than I know myself. He helps me whenever I feel anxious, he can be a chatterbox yet remains quiet when I’m overwhelmed, I don’t even need to say it, he just knows. He remembers all the dates that are important to me and showers me with gifts, he can repeat every important thing I have ever told him, and so so much more.”
There was silence for a moment broken only by Vinnie’s sniffles and gulps, but their volume had died down a tad. That’s when Sunil realized he didn’t exactly say everything he wanted to.
“Does that sound like something you were doing as well?”
“I guess.” Vinnie’s position was slumped, his face hidden behind the curtain of too dry hair, but what he couldn’t hide was the hand which moved to his face, his arm quickly moving up and down before stopping. “So, you think he knew?”
“I’m sure of it.”
Sunil held his breath in anticipation. However, just when he thought he achieved something, got Vinnie out of this dark place, the cries returned, filled with more desperation than sadness.
“Tell me you’ll stay here!” He begged, gripping Sunil’s upper arms. “I need you here!”
Sunil flinched but didn’t try to move away. “V-Vinnie, I can’t…”
“Please!” Vinnie cried harder, his breaths accelerating. “Everyone misses you here, not just me! Russell, Zoe, Pepper, Minka, and Penny…! So why not? They haven’t even seen you yet! At least stay until the girls-!” Sunil quieted his rant with a finger to his lips. The gesture was assertive, yet the golden eyes were full of doubt.
“Vinnie, I don’t know. I don’t even know if me and my Vinnie can return to our universe.” Familiar tendrils of anxiety returned but the reality of the entire situation in front of him lessened their impact.
Vinnie on the other hand parked up hopefully hearing that.
“You don’t?”
“I mean, I’m not sure.” Sunil scratched the back of his neck. “I have an idea that I think will work but I can’t be completely sure. I definitely will attempt it however.”
“But why?” Vinnie returned to whimpering, curling up on himself. “You don’t understand how happy everyone here would be to have you. You’re more than welcome to live with me! Heck, even that other me can.”
“...That’s a plan but me parading around not to mention another Vinnie would pose even more questions and problems-.”
“I don’t care!” Vinnie claimed once more, this time in pure anguish. “We’ll figure something out, the most important thing is that you'll be here. Please… I… I won’t survive without you.”
“Of course you will.” Sunil changed his strokes to pats. “I know you don’t always remember or like taking care of yourself but…” His voice trailed off when he noticed Vinnie’s expression. Something about it made him stop.
“Not what I meant.”
Despite the wait this time Vinnie didn’t add anything more.
Silence hung between Vinnie and Russell, but it was mostly a comfortable one, all things considered. Russell busied himself with keeping an eye on the other and had already managed to stop him several times when he jumped to his feet, ready to bolt upstairs. Despite not succeeding for now, Vinnie had another attempt every time. He was however getting slower, so when the inevitable next time came before he could even properly get up Russell was right in front of him, keeping him down.
“Calm down, Rusty.” Vinnie sighed, but it wasn’t an annoyed one, no, this sigh was more subdued. “I just wanted something to eat or drink or whatever.”
“Very well.”
Russell moved aside, this time letting Vinnie get up and direct his steps to the kitchen, but he followed closely behind. Vinnie didn’t say anything about it, instead looking around the familiar area before opening the fridge.
“Oh wow.” He had to rapidly blink a few times to ensure he was seeing correctly.
The fridge was filled, but more importantly for him at the moment it was in big percentage filled with energy drinks, bigger than he ever had in one time. He analyzed the cans meticulously and grabbed a blue colored one which he quickly took a sip from, the taste of mango dancing on his tongue. Once the initial euphoria passed, he couldn’t help but voice something that had been on his mind for a while, but now he had an even more tangible proof.
“Why is his house so clean?” He raised a brow at Russell while slamming the fridge door shut. “I thought he was supposed to be all depressed or whatever. My house is messier than that and I’m not… you know.”
“It used to be an absolute mess, yes.” Russell nodded.
“So?”
“He wasn’t cleaning it, of course, he wasn’t cleaning himself or doing anything similar so… It only ever started happening when we were finally able to start getting inside on a regular basis.”
“Oh,” Vinnie replied after a while and took a long sip from his can.
“Oh, indeed.” Russell smiled sadly. Vinnie was just about ready to return to the couch, but when Russell leaned on the counter, he stopped himself. “You know, Vinnie, today he’s the best I have seen him in months.”
“That was the best?” Vinnie couldn’t help but sneer at his other self. “That’s a weird definition of “the best,” but sure. Maybe you just enjoy seeing “me” in pain, don’t blame ya.”
“That’s not what I meant at all.” Russell frowned deeply. “I don’t like knowing that you two caused each other pain, but it’s also the first time in those months Vinnie was so… lively, full of energy, even if that energy was made purely out of misdirected spite.”
Vinnie gulped the words on the tip of his tongue down. He had some thoughts on that but decided against letting them out. Those were to be for himself only. Now that he began, Russell continued further, peeling more and more layers away.
“It started as soon as we got the news, you know?” Despite addressing the other, Russell didn’t dare look up. “At first, he tried whatever source he could to get information that maybe it was all false, heck, we all did to some point, but… it wasn’t false. It’s so obvious in the hindsight, but back then I suppose we all hoped it was some horrible mistake. Once it really set in, Vinnie simply shut off completely. We all have, but we started gathering pieces of ourselves one by one,” He explained, his voice almost absent-minded. “All of us aside from Vinnie.”
“I can imagine that,” Vinnie muttered, his tone barely above a whisper. “If Sunil, o-or any of you… I don’t… I-I think I would-.” He bit his tongue to stop the downward spiral.
“Exactly.” It was Russell’s turn to sigh. “When he finally let us inside it was all a mess. Cleaning and organizing took time but eventually the mess got taken care of. At least the physical one.”
“M-Mhmm.” Tension hung in the air between the two until Vinnie’s grip on his can tightened producing a kneading sound. “He deserves that,” He hissed. “Not you helping him though. Should’ve just left him to rot.”
“No,” Russell inquired firmly. “No, we shouldn’t have. You have to stop with this… this guilt-ridden thought pattern, both of you.”
“But-.”
“No.” Russell thumped his foot with strength that left him as soon as his sole touched the floor. “I mean it. We care about you, I know none of us is Sunil, but you love us too, right?”
Vinnie glanced into those green eyes and momentarily curled up on himself in place. “Well, yeah… course I do…”
“Good, because we love you.” Russell gritted his teeth, the corners of his mouth lowering. “But you don’t seem to believe that.”
The world seemed to diminish, and all Russell could focus on were himself and Vinnie. He saw him. The shaking, trembling figure with hair sticking out in every direction, some already fading into more gingery tones. A figure with unnaturally wide eyes and knuckles so white he thought that red was only soon to follow.
“Please, believe me when I say you have other people who love you and want you to thrive.”
When his arms wrapped around Vinnie and squeezed tightly Russell didn’t let go and didn’t say anything. Because when they lost Sunil, he was only one of the two they had lost that day.
The time stretched and it felt like Sunil has been holding Vinnie in his arms since forever ago. Sunil knew it were minutes, but the lack of interruptions, the silence, the same steady touch, and his slowly flowing thoughts did not help to lift the illusion. He wondered if it was the same for Vinnie, but he didn't dare shatter his comfort. At first anyway. When another quarter of an hour passed, he made the hard decision to speak up again and not beat around the bush.
“Vinnie, I will leave.” He received a whimper in return, but it wasn’t rapid anymore, just tired even if undeniably there. “I’m sorry, I don’t feel good about this, but I will. I have people in my universe that I don’t want to leave behind.”
“Don’t, please…”
“You understand that, right?” Sunil lowered his voice but stuck to the convinced tone. “I can’t- no, I don’t wish not to return to my normal life.”
“I… I get that.” Vinnie breathed out, now looking up at Sunil even as his gaze kept jumping away in an almost predictable pattern. “But what about… me? I miss you so damn much!” He took a moment to swallow down the newly forming tears however it turned out to be all for nothing when the next sentence left his mouth. “And now that you’re here I can’t lose you for the second time!”
With those words Vinnie just… clung. Although the distress was still more than visible the screams weren’t quite as desperate, the sobs not as uncontrollable, just the feeling of undeniable sensation of that small, trembling form attached to Sunil’s own remained the same. The other gave him another minute or two, just enough for his breaths to start evening out and, with his arms using all their strength to keep his friend from falling apart, Sunil continued his wavering speech. This time however there was more palpable comfort in it.
“Vinnie, I’m sorry, I really am.” His breath hitched for a second. “I can’t even begin to imagine how that must feel to you right now even if I actively try. But I can tell you one objective fact.” He waited until Vinnie looked up at him slowly. “You’re not losing me, or rather not the same way as before. I’m not d-dying this time.”
“But you are leaving me,” Vinnie replied in a heartbeat.
“Yes, that is true…” Sunil bit his lip to add precious seconds to his thinking process. Or was it? No, he already knew what he had to say. “Look, Vinnie, there’s not much I can do about this aspect. I will leave, and that’s that. However, I don’t want this to be distressing to you-.”
“It will be.”
“Right.” Sunil nodded slowly. “Right, it will be. So, then I want this to be as stress-free as possible.” After a pause and an audible gulp, he continued, “Please, be honest, knowing that, was it a good or a bad thing that you were able to see me again?”
Once again, Vinnie’s response came without delay, “Every moment being able to see you is a blessing even if you have to leave, no matter what.”
And something about this singular sentence left a bittersweet trace in both of their minds. Sunil squeezed his best friend tightly and this time he was the one weeping.
Dull thuds reverberated from above and started climbing down slowly, causing both Vin and Russell to jerk their heads and eye the pair descending hand in hand. They didn’t need to exchange words to realize their minds were in this moment alike. Vin twitched once in Russell’s hold but ultimately managed to remain seated.
“Sunil! Are you okay?” His eyes darted all around Sunil who squeezed Vinnie’s hand, in turn making him wobble in place but also return the gesture weakly.
“Yes, we are both fine. And you…?” Sunil haphazardly waved his hand at the other two still locked in their warm embrace. “Is everything okay?” He inquired softly.
Russell opened his mouth, but the words only escaped it when he got an approving nod from Vin.
“Yes. We just had a talk.”
“Same here.” This time it was Vinnie who replied even if with his voice hoarse and eyes downcast. “So now… what?”
“Exactly what I explained. Me and my Vinnie need to leave.” Sunil regarded Vinnie with a soft gaze but didn’t let his hand go. Similarly, Russell remained holding Vin’s unmoving frame even as he twitched restlessly.
“Ugh,” Vinnie grunted but without much certitude, he lifted his chin and showed off his red-rimmed eyes mirroring Sunil’s. “It’s still so unfair.” He ran his fingers through messy hair managing to smooth it out a little and then more when Sunil helped, getting a hesitant chuckle in return.
“Vinnie, listen.” Sunil bent his knees until he was standing at eye level with Vinnie. “I know I’m not here anymore, but you have other people who can help you get back on your feet.”
Then, to everyone’s surprise, Vinnie snorted quietly. “That’s good considering how tripping prone I am… But really,” He dropped his amused tone, “I know that they have already helped me plenty…” His voice trailed off as Russell regarded him with a nod.
“And we’ll help you more. You just have to really let us.” Russell didn’t miss the look Vin gave him. Enough to register it but not enough to recognize the emotions involved... However, what he knew was that there was something soft in it.
Meanwhile, Vinnie threw his arms around Sunil’s shoulders and spoke close to his ear but still loud enough for everyone to hear.
“And you’re sure we can’t at least let the girls see you…?”
“I’m really hesitant about it still, Vinnie.” Sunil stuck to his stance, but there was definitely remorse in his voice. “I don’t want to give them this kind of false hope you and Russell already got.” Now he was observing Russell who didn’t reveal any unequivocal emotions.
“I guess you’re right.” Vinnie let go of Sunil but didn’t let him out of his sight.
Sunil was usually right. Sunil was always right. But that didn’t mean Vinnie couldn’t fantasize more. Maybe that spell wouldn’t work. Maybe he would be forced to stay here. Vinnie felt a pricking sensation on the left side of his chest. A sensation so different yet so similar he immediately knew what it meant. When he refocused on the world around him, he noticed the other him was now also standing free, avoiding his gaze. He parroted the behavior, much too focused on the other two individuals in the room anyway who now concentrated on one another.
“Russell…”
“Sunil.” Russell’s voice was much steadier than Sunil’s even as he made his way towards him with uneven steps trying to mimic confidence.
It was just self-assured enough for Sunil to move too and close the distance much quicker than Russell attempted.
“Sunil…” Russell repeated and sighed when he found himself wrapped in Sunil’s arms - a gesture he eagerly reciprocated even if with an aura of sadness practically outpouring out of the motion. “I’ll miss you. I already do. Both of you.”
“I know,” Sunil uttered.
After a minute of stillness Vinnie sent a hesitant look Sunil’s way who nodded. Barely, but it was unmistakably there so Vinnie joined in the hug. Once the pair accepted his other self Vin was not far behind and clung to the embrace though not before making sure Vinnie was on the opposite side.
The minute transformed into more, or at least that’s how it felt to the four of them. Thoughts were swirling in everybody’s heads, some clear, some unsaid, certain emotions skyrocketing while others started fizzling out.
…
When a deep voice cut through the moment most of them weren't quite satisfied, not even their author.
“Well, I think we should be off.”
Nevertheless, they all unwrapped themselves from around Sunil and stepped aside. That is everyone aside from Vin who, although now without any tactile friction, stayed very close to his best friend’s side.
“Thanks for everything.” Vinnie didn’t try to stop the words from pouring from his mouth.
“You’re still hoping the spell won’t work, right?”
“Oh yeah.”
The exchange never happened but Vin could practically hear it and subsequently commit it to memory.
Having prepared himself mentally, Sunil closed his eyes and with his hands pressing against his temples started muttering the same unintelligible words from what felt like eons ago. Vin stayed close to his side but turned around one last time, finally giving his full attention to Vinnie, and not exactly a negative one this time. Neither looked apologetic.
“Hey,” Vin started in a hushed tone while Sunil continued quietly, “what day was it when that happened?”
Vinnie’s mouth went dry, but he did answer, “Fifth of March.”
“Fifth of March 2024…” Vin muttered to himself, emphasizing the words in his mind but his train of thoughts stopped when he spotted Vinnie’s eyebrows knitting together, his face muscles almost stilling.
“March… 2024…?”
Vin shook his head disapprovingly, rolled his eyes, and turned away, feeling the familiar energy coiling around him, ready to transport him through time and space. He just hoped they would land on solid ground again.
He heard a few more words leaving in a quick burst.
And he did find himself on the ground, they both did, but Vin couldn’t focus on attempting to understand whether they landed in the right… universe? Vinnie’s last words rang in his mind, fogging every other possible thought.
“I meant the fifth of March 2025…”