Reverie [The Distortionist x reader]

Chapter 26

(Art by giovani13 on DeviantArt)

How you distorted my reflection

You know it's too late

-----*-----

The whole trek to Stia's house, you're thinking of Christopher. It just seems like you can't get him out of your mind, which might be in a literal sense. He's listening, your reflection said. Is he hearing your quiet wisps of thoughts right now too?

Even if he is, it doesn't matter. He'd like what ideas bloomed in your tired cranium anyway. He'd know that you're going to Stia's to see a way to defeat his advances into your cerebrum, but he'd also know that you won't do what's needed to execute whatever plan you will concoct with your other friend.

You recognize that Stia and Henry just want your well-being, and perhaps you should too. But sometimes, your wishes get in the way of that, and sometimes, they're too hard to ignore. You guess that's your fatal flaw, and it isn't one you're motivated to change. There would be both Stia and Chris, trying to convince you of opposite paths. Right then, it is up to how charismatic they were, since you are neutrally charged, still having opinions but no clear goal.

That lack of aim was what you hyper-fixate on as you knock on Stia's door. Stia opens it for you almost immediately for me to step in and remove your boots. As you turn yourself perpendicular to the closed entryway, you see a certain someone leaning on the door with a puzzling look. It looks contemptuous, but still honorable, like he's truly trying to protect you.

Stia catches you staring at the empty space, only occupied by a plain door. You see that she's following your gaze. "Can you see him?" you ask. It's a valid question because of her purpose for going to the prison.

"Christopher. Yes, I can see him," she answers. As a formality, perhaps, she turns to him and bows. "Thank you for being so gracious as to grant me permission into your mind. You and I both know that's best for [Y/N], and if it is true when you say that you truly care for her, then you'll have no complaints, yes?"

"None here." He lifts up his hands from his crossed arms as a sign of surrender.

Suddenly, the door phases through him as it opens and his image is replaced by that of Henry. "Ah, Henry," Stia greeted. "Welcome. [Y/N] just arrived."

"You invited him?" you ask. "What a nice surprise. I didn't know... I thought that you'd want to discuss otherworlds and such alone."

"No, you told him already." She shakes her head. "He thinks it's crazy talk anyway."

"I think that makes him a fool," Chris comments from beside you.

"Christopher!" Stia and you both reprimand.

"...Pierre's here?" Henry speaks up.

"Yes," you say. "He's here to be the defendant in this trial, arguing in favor of-"

"Hush!" Christopher shushes with a cross look. "The less this Elsner knows, the better. I don't really like him."

"Why don't you like Henry, Chris?" you ask.

"You know he wants the same thing as you - for [Y/N] to be well," Stia adds. "You might even convince him that your way's best."

"I don't know..." Christopher shrugs. "He just is a pain in many ways."

Everyone looks at Henry, who seems mind-bogglingly lost. "...What?" he breathes.

"Never mind," you say. "Let's just start this, shall we?"