Chapter Text
Grian wrapped his arms around himself, feeling safer, more right with his jumper on. He looked at Mumbo and croaked. “You got anything to drink?” He wasn’t going to figure this out sober. He looked around the plush space, he had seen the movies, there had to be a globe full of bottles or something around here. No one had such an uncomfortable sofa unless they had some booze to numb the pain of sitting on it.
Grian was proven correct as Mumbo walked over to the cupboard and pulled out a bottle of whiskey that looked more expensive than a month’s rent on his flat. He snagged two cut crystal tumblers and joined him on the sofa again. “I think that might be the first sane thing you said today.” He told him as he poured them both generous triples.
Grian took his and downed it, spluttering. “Fuck.” He managed gasping for air. He was now definitely certain that bottle costed more than his life and was probably older than him too judging by the painful look Mumbo gave him for downing it like that. He used the burn to push through the awkwardness and started. “Okay, so this is what I remember….” Grian spoke until he felt almost sober again and got drunk again as he listened to Mumbo tell his version of what happened or what he thought happened.
Mumbo kept shooting him confused looks and his eyes kept darting to his lips, as they spoke. “Do you… remember anything else?” He asked quietly. “Were we just friends?”
Grian swallowed and nodded. “Just… friends.” He felt the booze hit him harder or maybe the dizziness was from the looks Mumbo was giving him, like he wanted him to lie, and just use it as an excuse to kiss him. “Best friends.” He told him truthfully, unable to do that, even if it wasn’t real or this wasn’t real. Grian had no idea anymore. “Uh yeah.” He shuffled a little closer, feeling like Mumbo was more real than everything else since Mumbo was in both realities? He felt tears drip down his face as he realised that he wasn’t alone anymore, that he could have been that amazing builder with friends.
Mumbo mumbled softly. “Shame.” Before he pulled him into a hug. “Please don’t cry. I am here. I will always be here for you.” He insisted. “I don’t know what is happening, but we will figure it out.” He promised squeezing him. “Pesky Bird.” He told him, making Grian smile, a little watery.
Grian snuffled. “Can I stay here tonight?” He asked after his body was shook with a jaw cracking yawn. “Please?”
Mumbo nodded. “Maybe it will all make sense in the morning.” He told him and led Grian to his bedroom. Neither of them mentioned sleeping on the sofa as Mumbo fetched some sleeping clothes for Grian. They both took turns using the ensuite to change into sleepwear.
Grian didn’t know who moved first but Grian tucked himself against Mumbo who wrapped his arms around him. He snuffled wetly against his chest as Mumbo stroked his back. “Goodnight.” Grian whispered and tried to sleep.
The morning came and at least he didn’t have any dreams. He woke up with Mumbo, sporting bed hair and drool down his face, still holding onto him. He poked Mumbo awake as he realised something. “Come on, we are going out.” Grian instructed.
Grian climbed out of bed and grabbed his most of his clothes, leaving his work shirt on the floor as he dove into the bathroom to change. He came out and let Mumbo dress as he told him his plan through the bathroom door. “Look if this is a dream or fantasy or something, we need to break out. If we keep walking in one direction eventually whatever it is, it won’t keep up and we will see.” Grian told him nodding his head. It couldn’t be madness? He didn’t feel mad.
Mumbo came out dressed in his usual suit and tie. “Okay, even if we are wrong and we are going mad, it is still sounds better than me doing another fucking pile of paperwork.” He told him and held his hand out. “Together?”
Grian took it and squeezed. “Together.” He agreed and pulled him to the lift. They got out of the building into sunshine, they picked a random direction and started to walk. Grian swung their joined hands as they headed out, just walking, and talking. As they talked, more memories of before came flooding back. Even though he finally felt like himself, his old self, he didn’t let go of Mumbo’s hand and Mumbo didn’t let go either.
Grian was laughing too much to notice it the first time but by the third time he blinked. “Mumbo, that… building?” He pointed to half a mansion sticking into the side of a tenant building. “I… I think I built that?” He rubbed his eyes with his free hand. “We passed it… like three times already?” He whispered.
Mumbo nodded, now looking confused as he stared at it. “How… how did we not notice it before? It is half a mansion?!” He sounded freaked. Grian wondered if he believed him before, but now with that strange building in front of them, it was properly sinking in.
Grian looked around to see if anyone else noticed it and finally saw another person. He pulled Mumbo over to tap the person on the shoulder. “Excuse me do you see that?” He asked pointing to the half building.
He screamed as the blank face person turned around. Its voice was shrill and hurt Grian’s ears. “OVERLOAD! HERMATRIX RENDER SYSTEM OVERLOAD! SIMULATION CRASHING!”
With that the world went black.
Renbob looked at the flashing monitors and sighed. He had hit restart a dozen times and yet these two couldn’t stay under. He tapped through the options for simulations and picked one at random for the pair. He had been learning what was more effective and keeping the pair apart meant they would break the simulation faster, as if they knew they were missing something. He hoped this new option would keep them under while they chased down the virus.
Somewhere in the system a collection of code learnt. It spun through the permutations and reset the variables before going into standby waiting for the simulation to start up again.