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A child wandered into the woods outside Anvil town, crying and alone, shunned by his peers and family for differences he could not help.
Two boys walked out of the forest later that evening, a pair of twins, hand in hand… just as it always had been.
The day Emmet and Ingo were hired to work at Gear Station was, at that moment, the best day of their lives. Opening the identical letters with bated breath, they both let out a cheer when they realized they had been accepted, that they had finally realized their dream of working on the best rail system in the world.
Ingo had lifted Emmet into the air in pure joy, twirling them around and around until they both got far too dizzy to continue, collapsing into each other’s embrace and laughing until their voices had long gone hoarse.
Elesa had been just as excited to hear the news, as the girl had already long moved to Nimbasa for her gym leader internship. She told them that she had missed them dearly, (despite calling every day) and that she was so excited to help them pick out a place.
Of course, that’s where the trouble started.
“Maybe this would be a good chance for us to finally get separate rooms.”
Emmet froze at his brother’s offhanded words, smile sharpening slightly as he looked up from the realtors website.
“What do you mean?”
Ingo didn’t bother to look up from his own laptop, still scrolling through the different options available in their price zone.
“I mean, you and I have never had the means to stay in independant rooms before- wouldn’t it be nice to have your own space?”
No, no it wouldn’t. Emmet screamed internally, hands already quaking at the thought…. but he reigned the instinct in, trying to stay rational. Sure, the two of them were practically attached at the hip, doing most everything together- but that didn’t mean they didn’t need alone time every once in a while. Separate rooms would give the boys each a private space to retreat to, a place for their personal hobbies and time. Which apparently Ingo needed… and that was totally okay!
And it’s not like Ingo would be far away anyway! They would still be living in the same apartment, working the same job- Emmet’s twin would always be easily accessible!
But separate rooms meant separate beds- and THAT was a thought that Emmet found deeply uncomfortable.
But he was 20 now, not a child anymore. He was a grown adult who could sleep on his own- he didn’t need to cling to his brother all the time.
“Alright! Sounds fun!” Emmet lied, his smile stretching in a way that felt unnatural on his face.
He could do this. If Ingo wanted this then he could do this for him. Emmet would do anything for Ingo- this was nothing in the grand scheme of things.
The apartment was small but pleasant, just enough space for the boys and their Pokémon- all while being in quite good condition. (Which was quite a feat for their limited budget)
The move was pleasant and quick, the twins meager possessions easily being transferred over to the new building. Emmet even found himself enjoying setting up his room, getting to put it together just the way he liked- no exceptions.
But of course, that good mood came to a screeching halt when nighttime rolled around.
Dressed and bathed and ready for bed, Emmet stared at his new white bedspread nervously, anxiously glancing at the bathroom where his brother was taking a shower. And when Ingo emerged, steamy and warm… he simply gave Emmet a hug before disappearing into his room, door closing behind him.
Emmet stared at the closed door for a moment longer… before heading into his own bedroom, slipping under the pure white covers.
He felt uncomfortable, nervous, and wrong. No matter how much he tossed and turned he couldn’t get comfortable- the room was too hot and his arms were too empty.
After a half hour of restless shuffling he finally caved- but not enough to slink into his brother's room like a toddler.
Opening the door a crack, Emmet slipped down the hall to their Pokémon’s room, rousing half of the house as he shuffled over to Tiny’s pokebed. The eelektross was thrilled to spend the night with him when he asked- in fact, most of the Pokémon that had been awoken from his visit started clamoring to join. Emmet had to frantically hush them as he quietly closed the door, giant death eel hanging heavily on his shoulders.
It was similar but not the same, the cool scales far too tough to be his brother- pointed fangs and fins poking at Emmet in a way that Ingo would not.
But, as Emmet curled up around his oldest Pokémon partner, it was close enough that if he closed his eyes he could pretend, finally letting him fall into a shallow sleep.
When the next morning rolled around, Emmet could not say he felt very well rested. He hadn’t slept well, waking frequently during the night despite Tiny’s best efforts- and as a result was feeling quite groggy and weak.
Ingo didn’t look much better when he stumbled out of his own room, joining Emmet for breakfast with dark circles under his eyes.
Neither decided to comment on it though, instead talking about Gear Station and what they thought the day would bring.
(They had started working two weeks before, staying in Elesa’s home while they waited for the previous tenants of their apartment to move out)
And when they finally went to leave the house, decked out in depot agent green, Ingo pulled Emmet into a hug and Emmet m e l t e d in his brother’s arms.
But it was over far too quickly, Ingo pulling away from him with far more force than normal- or at least it felt that way to his needy childish clingy brain.
And then they were off.
The next three days passed in much the same fashion, restless nights blending into painful mornings, moving on to wonderful train filled work hours… but with the feeling of wrongness hanging over Emmet all throughout the day. And then night would fall and the cycle would continue all over again.
Emmet kept his smile up though, did his best to keep chipper and not show just how much he was hurting inside, how much his skin itched and his insides felt empty and gaping and-
Because he was an adult and he could handle this!
…..Even if Ingo refused to touch him.
Since that first morning, Ingo hadn’t made to hug Emmet, almost downright going out of his way to avoid touching his twin.
Walking a few extra feet away, ducking around him in the hallways, not taking his gloves off even at home-
And that…. that hurt. Made the loneliness claw at his insides, made his skin prickle and itch, made him feel like nothing was right, everything was wrong and-
And-
And he was being silly.
Ingo was obviously…. going through something, and didn’t want to be touched.
And Emmet would respect that! He could do anything for his brother and if-
empty lonely longing alone wrong wrong wrong what did Emmet do wrong- Why didn’t his brother want to touch him anymore? Was Emmet no good? Would Ingo leave? Would Ingo leave him alone lonely empty longing
i n c o m p l e t e -
He could handle it.
That third night Ingo didn’t stay out nearly as long as the others, practically bolting into his bedroom when dinner was over. He only barely wished Emmet a good night before shutting the door- blocking out his twin when the sun hadn’t even set yet.
Emmet did not cry. He hadn’t the first night, he would not now. No matter how much-
The fourth morning in the new apartment was harder than all the others combined. Lethargy dragged at Emmet’s limbs as he attempted to pull himself out of bed, the empty feeling reverberating through his chest and the nasty itch dancing over his skin.
But he. Could. Handle. It.
His legs felt like lead as he dragged himself out of his room, his arms felt numb as he knocked on his brother’s door, and his smile-
“Good morning Ingo! Time to wake up! Many verrrrrry exciting things to do today!”
Emmet couldn’t hear the normal groaning his brother would make when awoken, didn’t hear his sheets rustle as he rolled over, didn’t hear the snores of a twin still fast asleep, didn’t-
he left he left he left Ingo left him he-
“Ingo? You okay?”
There was a long silence, the only sound being the too loud thudding of Emmet’s heart, the echoing noise of Emmet’s breaths- speeding up as he went longer without response as-
“…I am fine Emmet.”
Something was wrong.
Ingo was too quiet, his voice wobbly and distorted, almost like he was trying to speak in his true form and failing, as if-
“You do not sound fine!”
Emmet didn’t sound too panicked right? He didn’t want to worry his brother when something was verrrrrry wrong and he didn’t know what because there was a door in the way and-
“I- uh- well- I admit my cab might not be running in peak condition today… I might have to take the day off for maintenance…”
Ingo had not gotten sick in many years, not since the first time he stepped into Opelucid City- poison clogging his lungs and reducing him to a shadowy mess for days. That had been absolutely horrifying for Emmet to go through, Elesa and him desperately trying to figure out what was wrong, how to fix Ingo how to-
Emmet and Ingo had never been in a city as big as Opelucid in their lives, and as such were unaccustomed to the poison in the dense city air. The smog and fumes were unpleasant and flooded Emmet’s senses- but he was otherwise fine, barely affected by the noxious atmosphere.
Ingo was not so lucky.
“I am coming in.”
Grabbing the door handle, Emmet twisted it and-
and-
It wasn’t opening. It was stuck. It couldn’t be- was it- It was just stuck. Why would Ingo-
“There’s no need Emmet! I assure you that I’m fine, I am simply feeling a bit under the weather! There is no need for alarm!”
Emmet was still twisting the doorknob back and forth, fighting the rising panic because the door was just stuck, it was just stuck, his brother wouldn’t-
it was locked it was locked his brother had locked him out, Ingo had locked him out he-
“The door is stuck.” Emmet was practically whimpering, his eyes trained desperately on the doorknob in his hand, rattling back and forth and back and-
“Emmet. I’m serious, there is no need for you to worry about me. You can go to work without me, I will be-”
“I’m sorry!!” He was hyperventilating now, his legs trembling as he clutched the doorknob, still twisting it back and forth frantically. “I don’t know what I did but I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’ll fix it, I promise! Just tell me what I did wrong and I’ll fix it please-” The door wasn’t opening, his vision was blurring, tears were welling up and he-
“Emmet?! You didn’t do anything wrong, why are you-”
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’ll fix it! Please don’t go- I can fix it I promise I can fix it please please please-”
“Emmet-!”
“I can be a better brother! I can! I won’t steal your pudding! Or hide joltik in your clothes! Is it Gear Station? Did you not want to work there? We can quit! I don’t mind! I’m sorry I didn’t notice I-”
“EMMET!”
Emmet froze, his words dying in his throat and his hand stilling because- because Ingo yelled at him, because he’s mad, because Emmet was being too clingy, too needy and now he would-
“Emmet! I am not mad at you! The door is just locked! Everything is okay!”
Legs giving out, Emmet slid down the door to the floor, hand still clenched around the doorknob.
“I’m sorry.” He whimpered quietly, pressing his body against the door. “Please don’t go.”
Ingo wanted him to leave now, he told Emmet to go to work without him- so Emmet needed to do that. Emmet promised to be a good brother which means he needed to get up from the floor and l e a v e.
He couldn’t though- because Emmet was a bad brother and Ingo hated him now because he couldn’t do the one thing he asked-
There was an exasperated sigh behind the door, no no no no he’s sorry he’s sorry please don’t- before a long silence and-
click
With speeds that he would have thought his body incapable of, Emmet ripped himself from the floor and tore open the now unlocked door, charging into the room and-
“Wha-! Emmet! Please stay behind the yellow line!”
Stopping as quickly as he could, Emmet shoved his hands behind his back, sitting soundly on the floor so he wouldn’t try and charge his brother who was-
Who looked stuck between his true form and his human disguise, inky blackness almost coalescing into the shape of a man- before sinking back down into the puddle of ooze that was his brother. Over and over, Emmet watched in horror as Ingo tried to reform himself but failed, a process that seemed to deeply disturb both of them.
“I’m sorry Emmet.” Gurgled Ingo, his strange voice making a lot more sense when Emmet could see that it was coming from a half formed head. “My cab is suffering some… malfunctions, and I didn’t want to worry you. I suppose I failed on that front regardless.”
“What- what’s wrong?” Emmet sat on his hands, not trusting himself to not reach for his twin if he didn’t. “Did I- is this why I can’t touch you?”
Ingo flinched, his entire form collapsing on himself as he almost slipped into the shadows around them.
“Oh, my apologies, I didn’t realize you… noticed. No wonder you were so alarmed.”
It was obvious that speaking this way was hard for his twin, and Emmet wished he would just speak telepathically with him, something that would be so much less difficult on his trembling body…
But that would require Ingo touch Emmet- something his twin seemed to be vehemently against at the moment.
“It’s ah, a bit complicated- but not to worry! I should be able to find a proper solution soon-”
“What did I do?”
“Emmet, I already said-”
Emmet shook his head, silencing his shadowy twin before he could continue.
“Fae were not meant to live among poison and iron,” Ingo had explained to Elesa and Emmet eventually. He was no exception to this rule- only able to live along the tracks they adored because Emmet spent so much time there, because Emmet’s body was steeped with Iron long before he had met Ingo. And so, when Ingo mimicked Emmet, when he became Emmet’s mirror image…
But Emmet had no such resistance against poison, leaving his brother to suffer and suffocate, unable to hold his disguise aloft for very long.
They briefly considered avoiding cities all together, only going in briefly for their gym badges… But if they were to work for Gear Station someday, such a solution was simply impossible.
It’s not like you can avoid the city if you work there.
“This is like with Daisy, yes? You are having trouble- and my body is the problem. What do I do? I want to fix it.”
Eventually, Ingo ended up catching a trubbish.
The next few weeks were spent in relative agony, the two of them taking turns holding “Daisy” for hours, playing and cuddling with her and dealing with the poisonous effects that followed. It took a while, but eventually the toxins soaked into Emmet’s system, implementing themselves into his genetic makeup and giving Ingo the immunity he needed.
“That-” Ingo wasn’t able to finish his thought before his face collapsed once again, a gurgling moan escaping him. (as his true mouth was unable to form proper Galarian words)
Tendrils of Ingo’s form began to stretch out along the floor towards Emmet- before being snatched back violently into his brother, a low growl escaping the shadowed fae.
“This is…. different.” Ingo managed to get out eventually, the words more quiet then they should be and barely legible. “I don’t knooooooglak- know how to…. You can’t-”
“You cannot touch me. It is related. Tell me why.”
Emmet crossed his arms and glared at his brother, the frantic worry of abandonment and reverberating loneliness easily fading in the face of Ingo trying desperately to shield him from something.
Ingo squirmed awkwardly on the ground, dipping deeper and deeper into the shadows around them, before glowing silver eyes were the only indication that Emmet was not alone in the room.
“Ingoooooo~”
A low whine from his brother, the shadows around Emmet beginning to stretch towards him before-
Emmet let out a loud gasp as an inky tendril brushed his foot, a rush of good well content okay happy shooting through him before the touch disappeared- and it took everything in Emmet to keep himself from lunging forward to pull his twin out of the shadows.
“Oh- oh no oh no I’m so sorry Emmet I didn’t mean-” Ingo was apparently under the bed now, his speech much clearer then it had been mere moments earlier. “I think it’s probably for the best if you leave the room- I- I do not believe it’s safe for you to be in here.”
“What are you talking about?” Emmet laid his head on the floor to peer under the bed- barely making out the silver light of his brother’s eyes. “Why is it not safe?”
More quiet whines from Ingo, his silvery gaze slipping further under the bed and away from Emmet.
“Please Ingo. You are scared to tell me- I know this. But you are in pain. Please, let me help.”
More silence- but at least Ingo seemed to be contemplating his words, his eyes scrunched up in thought.
Eventually though, he let out a quiet sigh before melting into the darkness completely, (almost sending Emmet into a panic) before shifting out into the room proper again.
He still wasn’t put together in the slightest- but at the very least he seemed capable of forming his human mouth.
“I- you know,” Ingo seemed to struggle for words a bit, something that was quite unusual for his normally verbose brother. Emmet waited patiently though, happy to wait in the same way Ingo would so often wait for him.
“…Changelings aren’t supposed to coexist with their hosts.”
Emmet nodded, already well aware- Ingo had told him this years before.
But why was he bringing it up now? Was Ingo- No. He would be fine. He was Emmet and Ingo would be FINE.
“Sometimes the original child is spirited away, but usually they are devoured by the faerie. Some types eat the human’s soul and take on their skin- but mine was meant to absorb the newborn completely and take their place.”
Ingo’s form wiggled again- moving in a way that Emmet knew meant he was nervous.
“We are… well, we are probably not the first of our kind- but our relationship is certainly is not normal. Which… means there’s no real way for us to predict how things will go in the future…”
Emmet really wasn’t liking where this conversation was going- didn’t like the way his twin was shifting away from him slightly and refusing to look at him.
Ingo had to leave, Ingo had to go. If Ingo didn’t devour Emmet he would die and no matter how much Emmet would beg and cry for him to live, to survive- Ingo would never hurt Emmet, he would rather waste away then let any harm come to him. And Emmet would have to watch his twin disappear, would have to sit there, two feet away, as his brother thrashed in pain for days, hours- not allowed to touch, to comfort, before finally, finally, the thrashing would stop and-
and-
And Emmet would be alone.
“…Of course, those really are just excuses. I knew better but I- I’m truly sorry Emmet. I’m trying to make things right, but it’s not working properly and-”
“Ingo.”
He had to keep his voice steady- couldn’t let Ingo see how much this would destroy him. Because if Ingo could see, see the agony and fear that Emmet held inside him… he wouldn’t tell Emmet what was happening to him, would try to shield him from the terrible truth.
And then Emmet wouldn’t be able to find a solution, find a way to help, or- or at least tell his twin how much he loved him every day, read him his favorite books and bring him the comfiest blankets- because if Ingo had to go- if Ingo could no longer stay… than Emmet would make sure that his departure was-
“Ah, right. Sorry Emmet, I’m rambling again aren’t I.” His brother chuckled quietly, his eyes still trained on the wall so he couldn’t see how Emmet’s smile strained, how he-
“I- I believe I have been changing you without your consent.”
Emmet blinked, pulling himself out of his worst case scenario spirals as he stared at his brother and-
“What?”
“You- I mean- We are well aware of how I am affected by you- and, of course, it was obvious that you were undergoing minor changes over the years-” Ingo was stumbling over his words now, his form bubbling and twisting violently in distress. “-such as your eye’s color change, or that you have the sight despite not possessing it before- But I always assumed those were just natural consequences of spending so much time around the faerie! I didn’t think-”
“Wait.” Holding up his hand, (and keeping himself from reaching forward with it) Emmet stopped his brother before he could continue his spiral. “You were worried… because I was becoming like you?”
“It’s more complicated than that Emmet!” Ingo’s voice grew higher in desperation, his body rising further from the ground in tandem. “I don’t know what has changed- only that something has- and that you’re not fully mortal any more! This is completely inexcusable of me and-!”
“So you stopped touching me.” Emmet interrupted his brother once again, utterly unconcerned about losing his humanity- and much more worried about his still misshapen twin. “Okay. I do not mind being changed. May I hug you now?”
“What?! Emmet?! No!?”
“Fine. Why are you sick?”
Flinching again, Ingo lost all his earlier height, slipping back into the blob on the floor he was before.
“I- well, due to the parasitic nature of my kind…” Ingo sunk back into the shadows in what looked to be shame- his eyes once again looking everywhere but at Emmet. “It appears I cannot maintain my form without…. regular contact.”
There was a beat of silence- before Emmet let out a loud groan, flopping onto his back and staring at the ceiling.
“I am Emmet. You are Ingo. You are being verrrrrry dumb right now.”
Ingo let out an indignant splutter at that- and Emmet simply laughed, relief coming off of him in waves. His twin did not hate him, was not dying, and was not leaving. He was just being an idiot.
Sitting back up, Emmet impatiently held out his arms towards his brother, opening and closing his fists in a ‘give it here’ gesture.
“You are Ingo. I am Emmet. We are twins, but not the same. I do not care if you change me. You would not hurt me on purpose. If you hurt me on accident that is fine too. I just want to be with you.” Ingo peeked his true form’s head a little bit out of the shadow, big silver eyes staring up at him hesitantly. “I love you. Please hug me.”
For a second, Emmet was worried Ingo would drop into the darkness again and sulk back under the bed- but his fears proved unfounded when his twin leapt from the shadow he had hidden in, straight into Emmet’s outstretched arms and-
Oh.
Emmet gasped at the feelings that slammed into his chest, clutching his twin tighter to himself as his body sang in relief. He practically sobbed as he buried his face in his brother’s cool skin, his arms clenching in a way that might be too tight but he didn’t care because-
Happiness peace love joy contentment togetherness-
C o m p l e t e
‘Emmet?! What’s wrong? Are you crying!?’
Emmet laughed as Ingo’s panicked thoughts washed through his mind, comforting and familiar and oh so missed.
‘I am fine’ He reassured his brother mentally, nuzzling his head further into his twin’s hold. ‘I am just feeling better now.’
To reassure him, Emmet pulled those feelings to the forefront of his mind- happiness, peace, joy, content, love, c o m p l e t i o n - and let them seep into their psychic connection, letting his brother feel them as well.
Unfortunately, instead of reassuring Ingo, it seemed to do the opposite, making his brother gasp and try to pull away.
Emmet did not let him though, simply holding on tighter and letting out a distressed whine when he tried to slip out.
‘You… you are feeling relief, like as in- no, no, you- you weren’t in physical pain when we were separated right? Please, tell me you weren’t in physical pain.’
Emmet briefly considered lying- but Ingo would probably see right through that. So instead he just shrugged, and pulled up the memories of the last few days for his brother to see, letting him feel the echoes of the agony he had been experiencing.
‘Oh… oh no. I’m so sorry Emmet. This- this is what I was worried about…’
Tears were dripping from Ingo’s silver eyes, wetting the top of Emmet’s head as the fae curled even further around him.
‘I- It’s not just me who’s reliant on you anymore- I’ve caused your soul to be unable to uncouple from mine… oh dragons Emmet, I’m so sorry I…’
‘It’s okay’ Emmet thought back, fingers tracing patterns on his brother’s cool skin.
‘No Emmet! It’s not! I’ve made you incapable of surviving without me! That’s- I can’t-’
‘You need me. Same thing. Not a problem!’
Ingo was shaking his “head” in disagreement, warbling croons slipping out of his body.
‘You’re human! It’s different! I can’t believe I- I’m so sorry Emmet, I should have never bonded with you-’
“NO!!!”
The cry reverberated through the small apartment, the first spoken word since they had switched to psychic communication.
“Don’t say that! You are-! No!! Don’t leave me!”
‘I- I’m sorry Emmet I didn’t mean it like-’
“You are-” ‘don’tgodon’tgo’ “-the best thing to ever happen to me! Don’t you-” ‘pleasepleaseplease’ “-You-! You- Do you… not… feel the same way?” ‘uselessworthlessclingyneedyheregretschoosingme-’
Ingo let out a distressed screech before grabbing Emmet’s face with two of his limbs, whimpering quietly as he watched the tears stream down his brother’s cheeks. Softly, he began rubbing at Emmet’s tears, doing his best to absorb the salt water with his glossy exterior.
‘That’s not what I meant! I’m terribly sorry Emmet, I shouldn’t have said that.’ He let out another distressed croon before nuzzling into Emmet’s hair, every one of his limbs clutching at Emmet and his pajamas desperately. ‘You are the best thing to ever happen to me as well- I could never regret the time I’ve spent with you. I’m just upset with myself for ruining your life like this.’
“Not ruined.” Emmet countered, his voice muffled from underneath his brother. “Much better.”
Ingo let out a low chuckle before unwrapping himself slightly from Emmet- not enough to go far, but just to release the chokehold.
‘Maybe. I suppose there’s no real way to know- and pondering on what if’s never got anyone anywhere.’ He sighed, before sagging in his brother’s arms, draping over Emmet in the same way Tiny would. ‘I just… I just wish I could be your real twin- that me being with you didn't cause you harm.’
Emmet didn’t really have a rebuttal for that. Despite years of reassuring his brother that they were real twins, that Emmet would do anything for Ingo… It was never enough. Because at the end of the day, Ingo was putting Emmet in danger- and he would never be able to forgive himself for that.
He’s going to leave you. The voice in the back of Emmet’s head whispered again- quieter now that he was holding Ingo, but still there. How much longer do you have until he tires of playing house? Until he decides you are too much at risk for him to stay?
How much time do you have left?
Changelings aren’t meant to coexist with their hosts.
“Ingo?”
The fae let out a questioning hum in response, dark limbs tracing patterns up and down Emmet’s back.
“...when you leave, will you tell me beforehand?”
Ingo froze, pulling back in an attempt to look his twin in the eyes- but Emmet simply stared steadfast at the floor, not daring to look up.
‘What are you talking about Emmet?’
“You-” Emmet swallowed heavily, choking back sobs. “You will leave. Yep! You think it is too dangerous to stay- that you are not supposed to be here. That you love me verrrrrry much… but you will leave. Eventually. Can you tell me beforehand? So I can say goodbye? Please?”
A stifling silence descended on the boys, Ingo obviously trying to process his brother’s request while Emmet-
Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything.
‘Emmet, I believe we have taken a wrong turn on these tracks, and have ended up at the terminal called misunderstanding.’
Head snapping up in surprise, Emmet met his brother’s eyes, almost choking up at the concern he could see in them. Ingo continued.
‘I’ll admit, I’m not entirely sure where we became uncoupled on these tracks, so I might as well start at the beginning.’ Taking a deep breath, (even though he was speaking telepathically) Ingo asked-
‘Emmet, when I asked if you wanted to use separate rooms and you agreed- were you simply agreeing because you thought it was what I wanted?’
Emmet stiffened, before once again hiding his face in his brother’s form, muffling his words.
“Didn’t want to. Hated sleeping alone. Had to use Tiny.”
‘Oh that’s clever.’ Ingo commented, a tendril running through Emmet’s hair. ‘I simply got no sleep this week.’
More silence- before Ingo let out another long suffering sigh.
‘I- alright. We might as well start at this terminal.’
‘Emmet, I initially suggested separate rooms because I thought YOU would prefer them.’
Recoiling in shock, Emmet opened his mouth to protest- but Ingo continued before he could.
‘Yes, I see now that that was an unwanted proposal- but you are at the age where most humans desire independence! I just…. I wanted to make sure you were getting that at the very least.’
‘Of course, the whole experience was much more rough on my cab then I had initially expected. Despite that though, I did not believe it to be something that I should be too concerned about- that is, until our before work hug.’
Ingo growled then, a low angry sound that scared Emmet just a bit.
‘I could feel myself PULLING at you- taking from you in order to fill in what I lacked. I… I was horrified. I knew subconsciously that I was receiving something from you all this time- but to actually feel it?’ He shuddered. ‘I knew I couldn’t allow such a thing to continue.’
Emmet gripped his brother just a bit tighter, tears threatening to overtake him.
This is it. This is when-
‘But leaving you never crossed my mind.’
Blinking, Emmet pulled back a tad, looking at his brother in confusion.
“What?”
Ingo chuckled darkly, his eyes taking on a dangerous sheen.
‘You seem to have some misconceptions about my character Emmet. While I’m honored you think me noble enough to leave you behind for your own sake….’ A tendril wrapped around Emmet’s hand tightly, pulling it flush with Ingo’s side. ‘Even if I am a “good” fae, I am still a fae- and we do not let go of what is OURS. ’
Emmet wasn’t exactly sure what expression he had on his face- but apparently it was humorous enough to send Ingo into another fit of dark laughter. He released Emmet’s hand.
‘I am a horrible being, despicable and selfish. You would have been much better off if you had never met me- for your own sake we should have never bonded- but unfortunately for you, we cannot change the past, and I am not going anywhere.’
He held that dark look for a moment longer before dropping it, sagging back against Emmet in the process.
‘Furthermore, even if that wasn’t the case, I am fairly certain I would literally die if separated from you, so the destination is the same no matter the track.’
Once again silence descended over the two- except now, instead of stifling, it was contemplative.
“I am… relieved.” Emmet finally stated, his smile finally softening to look more real. “And I would like to share beds again.”
‘A fair demand.’ Ingo sighed, defeated. ‘You are taking this whole “your twin was evil this whole time” situation surprisingly well.’
“You are not evil.” Emmet countered, pulling himself to his feet while carrying his brother’s shadowed form. “You do not want to become uncoupled. I do not want that either! We are the same.”
‘You make it sound so simple.’ Ingo grumbled as Emmet opened the bedroom door, revealing 11 verrrrrry nosy pokemon eavesdropping on the brothers. Most of which who scattered when they saw Emmet.
“It is simple! You are just overthinking.”
More grumbling came from the shadowy twin- but Emmet could tell he didn’t mean it.
‘In other news, it appears we are late for work.’
Emmet nodded in response, marching in the kitchen trailed by the Pokémon who hadn’t already run off.
“I will call a sick day.” He reassured, adjusting Ingo so that he was hanging off his shoulders. “We will watch train documentaries and cuddle. Let you recuperate.”
‘I- alright. I suppose I am in no condition to argue with you about that. We can discuss some of these things later.’
“I will not change my mind!”
‘That's not what I meant. I’m talking about safety measures to keep you more protected, considering your… change in constitution. It’s already quite clear that you have no self preservation instincts against malicious fae who intend to ruin your life.’
Rolling his eyes, Emmet drafted a quick email to Gear Station informing them of their absence, (both of them had come down with the flu. How tragic) before pulling out the pokefood for their likely hungry pokemon.
“Hey! Be nice! That “malicious fae” is my twin, and I love him verrrrrrry much!”
Ingo snorted, but didn’t otherwise argue- content to hang silently around Emmet’s neck as his twin fed the pokemon.
He seemed to have almost dozed off when Emmet spoke again, his tone thoughtful.
“I don’t think you are a changeling. Anymore.” He added the last part to soothe his suddenly stiff twin, not wanting to deny his heritage. “Things are different! You are different! Changeling do not live with their host- but you did! And now you are not a changeling. You are… something else! A fae that comes in two! Because I changed too!”
Placing down the last dish of pokefood, Emmet turned to the fridge with a flourish- ready to start making breakfast for the two of them.
‘You… you might be onto something Emmet! Bravo!’ Readjusting himself so he was draped over Emmet’s head like a hood, Ingo began vibrating in excitement. ‘You bring up some excellent points! Our bond has already caused quite a few unexpected developments- I think your assessment of us being something else entirely is correct!’
Emmet smiled at his brother’s excitement, relishing in the feeling’s pouring in through the bond.
‘...of course we should come up with a name of some kind! I mean, changeling is a catch all term human’s came up with, so it still could be accurate but-’
“How about Mirror Faerie?” Emmet interrupted him before he could talk himself out of it.
‘Of course! A mirror! You cannot have a reflection without a subject- and vice versa! Bravo Emmet! Very clever!’
Ingo continued to heap praises on his brother all throughout breakfast (only pausing to eat himself) before Emmet dragged the two of them to the couch- train documentary playing while their pokemon lounged around them.
All of the excitement and lack of sleep seemed to finally be getting to the faerie twin, his silver eyes struggling to stay open the longer they sat together. Emmet gently encouraged him to rest, humming quietly under his breath while tracing patterns on dark iridescent skin.
‘Emmet?’
“Yes? What is it?”
‘I love you.’
“Love you too Ingo. More than anything else.”
‘More than anything else.’
Beware the faerie folk, for they are dangerous, but beware that who is theirs most of all- for a faerie never forgets, and for those who hurt their own?
The faerie never forgives.
