Opposites Abstract - Pomni x Male Reader

Chapter 7 - Blackberry Picking

Y/N couldn't remember how long he had his abilities.

He wasn't entirely sure what they were either.

He distinctly remembered the day they appeared. It was after one of Caine's adventures, and he, Zooble, Kinger and Queenie had returned back to the Tent. The adventure itself was something trivial. They went to collect a basket of blackberries for the Head Bubble Chef to create a tantalising digital pie. Caine had created a small field that they strolled through for the better part of an hour. It was probably one of the better adventures.

At one point Y/N got pricked by one of the thorns on the blackberry bush. Caine distinctly said that they shouldn't really feel pain as they were detached from their physical bodies, and if they do they're likely glitching out in some sort of way and to immediately fetch him. When Y/N retracted his hand, not only did a small pool of realistic blood begin to leak out of the wound, but the plant itself became outlined in that bright red, glitchy glow and clipped through the floor. To say Y/N was frightened, shocked and intrigued was an understatement. He didn't tell anyone.

It then started to prop up more often. Y/N would be practicing an instrument, opening a door, getting dressed, or even doing literally nothing, and then something he was touching would start distorting. And then sometimes it would be himself; whenever the effect latched onto him, it hurt. A lot. It felt like the selected area was simultaneously cramping, burning, stinging and twitching. Y/N has tried to pin down why or when it happens, but it seems totally random and it seemed like it wasn't happening to anyone else. So why him? Good question, unfortunately not with a good answer. He had no idea.

Y/N had no idea why he bled. Y/N had no idea why he could alter the world in strange ways. Y/N had no idea why he was different.

It wasn't without benefits. He had gotten loose control over what exactly his powers could do. It was sort of anything, within reason. It reminded Y/N of coding of some sort. He could manipulate the code, or distort it, but he could not fundamentally change it. That seemed to be restrictive access to Caine and Caine only. So, repairing Gangle's mask was an easy fix. However, creating an exit, changing the environment or creating NPCs or areas was out of his control. Most of the time.

It was worrying that it appeared when he was in that back office space with Pomni. It was even more worrying that ever since their little escapade, it had been showing up more and more frequently, and somehow had gotten more and more painful. Sometimes only a finger, other times his full torso. Y/N was now desperate and had to turn to the one person he knew he could.

Y/N - "Rags... you in there?"

He knocked softly on her door, looking down sheepishly and holding his hand behind his back. Ragatha was a source of comfort for everybody, but she and Y/N were especially close. How to even phrase this to her was going to be a challenge, but hopefully she'd understand.

The door flung open, and there she stood, beaming as always. Her smile dropped slightly as she saw Y/N moping in front of her door.

Ragatha - "Hey Y/N. You okay?

Y/N - "I... don't know?"

Ragatha - "Come in."

Ragatha's room was reminiscent of a saloon. The walls were accented with fake windows looking out into cloudy blue skies, while the floors and walls themselves were constructed with worn glossy wood. Where tables would be was furniture, scattered with no real order around the floorplan. Ragatha herself skipped over to her bed and sat down, patting next to her in encouragement as Y/N joined her.

Ragatha - "Where do you wanna start?"

What a loaded question.

Y/N - "Um... uh... well, I... ugh, sorry."