Alternate (Phan)

62*A red box

2025

Ev

'You sure, Lad?' PJ asked again, holding me in a single-armed embrace.

'Yeah.' I forcefully coughed out, nodding my head with my hands in my pockets. PJ nodded back, patting my shoulder as I walked away.

I had a rough idea of where to go, there were still signs around from before the war, so it shouldn't be too hard to make it to the station. I smiled through the cloud that was misting up my mind, looking around at the flowers which had started to bloom. The ground remained undisturbed for years, causing all sorts of colours to burst through the soils. I followed them down the tracks, pausing when I spotted two misplaced stones off to the side.

I could turn back. I could leave and tell Chris and Peej I wasn't ready. But I knew I couldn't actually do that. I had to see them.

I had little memory of my dad Dan, which made me feel guilty. I remember him protecting me when Dad-Phil grabbed my wrists one time and I remember him being shot. Despite the circumstances, I'm grateful for these memories because it means I feel like I knew him. Dad-Phil promised me I was just like him, and he never lied about one of those. I'd love to be like Dadda, because everyone said he was an amazing person. I could see it for myself in his eyes in his old broadcasts. I could also see how much my dads loved each other.

I stood over the gravestones, quickly sitting by them as it seemed wrong to be looming so high over them. Especially with my ridiculously tall, lanky body.

I sat there, tracing over the engravings with my finger as I let a tear slip over my cheek. Dad-Phil often mentioned universes and fate; I wonder if in an alternate universe they were still alive and raising me? I hope, even if it's not my conscious self, another version of me got to know Dadda past those two years of my life, to truly know him for the wonderful man I was told he was.

'They're interesting, aren't they?' a voice asked from behind me. My body tensed up.

'What do you mean interesting?' I snarled, still looking at the engravings, not moving my body an inch.

'Well, they're a bit random. You'd have thought the people who buried them would have put them somewhere prettier.'

'This is where they wanted to be buried, so fuck you with your opinions.' I snapped, turning my head round for the first time. I halted, mouth visibly parting as my eyes widened, staring at the boy in front of me. His dark bushy hair sat awkwardly on his head, falling over his eyes. He held his weight on one foot, lifting the other slightly off the ground, tipped into his toes. His face was in pure shock, still holding the smile from his previous expression. I sniffled, brushing my sleeve against my nose.

'Oh shit, I'm sorry-' he began, desperation riding his voice.

'No, I didn't-' I hurried, not wanting to think he hurt me, 'I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped. Just being protective, you know?' I smiled, shrugging as I turned back to face the stones. I felt him approach me, my throat burning and skin prickling as he closed the space. Prickling sounds horrible, but it was like pins and needles everywhere suddenly at the same time.

'Brothers?' he asked, sitting a few feet away from me. I noticed the way he sat with his legs parted, one knee raised as he propped his elbow on the same spot. I choked, spitting any contents from my mouth out in a laugh.

'Oh god no, they're my dads.'

'Oh.' he stated, 'Ohhh!' he gasped, pulling a face towards me.

'What, got something against that?' I snapped again.

'Shit, no- stop jumping to conclusions. I just imagined a weird incest moment.' I scrunched my eyebrows, also realising what he was getting at.

'Ew, no!' we chuckled.