Reflective Detective One Shots!

Embrace Like Water

Glisten had been sent out on a mission, extract ichor, get home, and finish the day... He was alone now. The others had left a while ago, having met their quota. Glisten was the unfortunate soul that was unable to race others to machines, so he was stuck doing them on his own. He looked over his shoulder, feeling as though something was watching him. But, there was nothing but a little capsule, shining in the lights that flickered overhead.

Glisten sighed. Rodger would have snatched the thing up in an instant, if he were there. Glisten wondered where his beloved had gone, had he simply been shut away in his room? Was he still on the lower floors? Glisten shook his head, focusing back on the task at hand. Although... Rodger would appreciate a capsule, when he returned.

Glisten didn't know what lurked within the capsule was the very same toon, or rather twisted, he was thinking about. In the capsule, Rodger couldn't see much. He could feel movement through the fluid, pain from being confined keeping him awake. He saw a faint outline from within the glass. The capsule did not move, but Rodger was aware.

Glisten sighed. He looked at the capsule once more, it was a strange one. Oddly enough, it lacked the usual wrapping around its body, and the liquid inside almost seemed to twitch as he hand drew near. Glisten paused, unsure, but he remembered Rodger's joy at finding a group of these the last time they were together. He wrapped his hand around the capsule, giving a light tug. That was all it needed for the glass to shatter.

Ichor spread across the floor swiftly, making Glisten startle and trip over his own feet. He tried to shuffle backwards, but he was frozen by what he saw. Taller than before, a more sinister gaze on his face, but Rodger all the same. Glisten looked up at him, horror and understanding filling him. He had twisted down here, and he would most likely lose his mind.

Glisten rushed to stand. He limbs felt weak, slow as he fought against the puddle of ichor. The melting toon made a sound, like he was trying to speak, but all that escaped was a gurgle. Glisten gasped as he felt cold, wet hands wrap around his torso and yank him back.

Rodger looked down at Glisten, shining him in a deep red light. Glisten winced, expecting a flash of hot pain, but it never came. Rodger pulled Glisten against his torso, silent as ever. He turned Glisten around so that Glisten's face was pressed against Rodger's chest, before squeezing him into the ichor once more.

"Glisten," Rodger spoke, the words were nearly a growl. It sounded like Rodger was drowning, barely able to cough up words. Glisten was close enough now to hear Rodger breathe, it seemed like it took great effort, each inhale stuttered, each exhale sounded disgustingly wet.

"What... What happened to you?"

Glisten tried to look up, but Rodger's melting form clung to him like glue. Tendrils of the substance clung to his frame, holding it in place. Glisten felt his heart pound. He was trapped, Rodger was twisted. What would happen if another one stumbled upon them? Would Rodger's ichor infect him?

Rodger merely shook his head at the question, signalling he did not want to disclose whatever answer he had. Rodger could faintly feel Glisten's panicked heartbeat, and he made a displeased sound. The red light that bathed Glisten's form, making him shimmer, intensified. Glisten gasped, instinct taking over as he tugged with all his might, trying to get free.

Rodger's displeasure with the actions could be felt. He grabbed Glisten tightly, making the mirror toon freeze. Rodger made a strange noise, it might have been a sigh once. Rodger looked at Glisten, his gaze softening.

"Calm yourself. You will not be hurt. Please..."

Glisten could only nod, shaking. Rodger seemed sane... Well, sane enough. He was anchored to the floor, the ichor like a trap that threatened to hold him at his post for all eternity. Glisten held still, and Rodger eventually released him. Glisten looked Rodger up and down, feeling himself calm down.

"Does it hurt?" He eventually asked. Rodger blinked, he looked hesitant to answer. Glisten faintly remembered the same look of shame Rodger had when he neglected to sleep, and Glisten would pester him about it. Glisten sighed.

"Rodger... I won't leave you here," The toon swore. He looked around, spotting the shattered glass from the capsule. He looked back at Rodger, guilt filling his soul. But he couldn't leave Rodger anchored, in pain. His lover didn't deserve that.

"Hold still," Glisten mumbled, grabbing the glass. He crouched down, leaving the twisted with a confused look until Glisten cut at the ichor that fused Rodger to the floorboards. Rodger screamed, but he was released soon enough. Glisten scooped him up immediately, the puddle on the floor quivering before it fell still.

Rodger looked at Glisten for a moment, pain in his eye before he seemed to realize what was done. He was freed. Rodger looked at Glisten, knowing that machines could not be done if he was carried. Rodger's body bubbled a bit as he wrapped his melting frame around Glisten's. Rodger's chest was pressed against Glisten's back, his form was cold. Glisten's torso was wrapped with Rodger's melted body, the ichor clinging to his skin like it wanted to crawl underneath and live in there.

Rodger felt like water, in a way. Glisten sighed, and began to get the work, a new deadly backpack keeping him company.