Chapter Text
“T-Minus 1 minute.”
“T-Minus 30 seconds.”
“T-Minus 10 seconds.”
“5… 4… 3… 2… 1… Blast off!”
And with that, they flew up, up, and away, leaving behind everything they used to know.
Trapped floating in space with two alcoholics, two pretty girls and a robot, Jonas still wasn't happy. But why? He had everything he could ever wish for here, going across the furthest stretches of the galaxy for a noble cause. Even better, when he gets home, he'll be awaiting riches only his wildest imagination could dream of.
So why is he still feeling blue?
Wuan sat next to him and Dondó, cracking open his third beer of the night.
“Come on, Joey! Get your head out of your hands!” Dondó teased.
Wuan tossed a beer can to Jonas. “Learn to have some fun in your life for once, man!”
“We're all gonna be cooped up here all year. It'll pass by way slow if you just sit there moping around.” Dondó pointed out.
Jonas fiddled with the beer can in his hands, reading the nutrition label a few times over. He set it down on the coffee table, standing up to leave.
“Where are you going? Party's just getting started!” Wuan exclaimed.
"I'm, uh, not big on parties." Jonas replies, excusing himself.
Jonas left without a word, making his way to his pod. He replays his words in his head over and over again. 'I'm not big on parties.'
Jonas sat on his bed, head in his hands while his shipmates drank themselves to death in the foyer. He thought of his family back at home. His best friend, his parents, his dog, his coworkers.
Even further back.
His teachers, his elementary school friends, his dirt bike, his Weezer CDs… Damn it, how he wished he had brought his CD player.
He shook his head. This is no way a captain should act.
Jonas looked up, focusing on a picture he put up on his wall with practiced intensity. He decided that while all his shipmates partied, celebrating the Betsy II's launch, he was going to stay cooped up in his pod, wallowing in his own misery. It was truly a foolproof plan.
The picture wasn't even that great, anyway. It was of him and his mom on his first day at the Star Corps Academy. He wondered if his mom even missed him, anyway. His ears began to ring. Maybe she hadn't even noticed he was gone. His vision went fuzzy. Or maybe she did, and she just didn't care. Maybe everybody secretly hates him. Maybe this, maybe that, maybe-
An ice cold hand on his shoulder. What can only be described as a primal fear clawed at Jonas' ribcage, wringing his guts and chewing at his stomach. He whipped around, scrabbling out of his bed and landing hard on the floor.
Right there in front of Jonas stood himself. (Jonas) stared down at Jonas through cracked glasses with a piercing stare and empty, desolate eyes. His clothes were singed and torn, his hair longer, tousled and matted.
Jonas felt like he was going to throw up.
With shaking knees, he stood up, sizing (Jonas) up.
Jonas pushes his glasses up his nose. “Uh, um… what ha- what happened to you?”
(Jonas) blinks slowly. He inches towards Jonas, examining him. Jonas’ breath hitches.
“died.”
“I can- I can tell.” He gulps. “But, like… how?”
“this is g0ing t0 be a l0ng st0ry. y0u sh0uld sit d0wn.”
After (Jonas) manages to calm Jonas down, he begins to talk.
“i was f00lish. truly f00lish. i led 0n maria, having sex with her in her p0d. i g0t her pregnant, t00. barely even g0t t0 meet the kid bef0re i died.
Jonas takes a deep breath.
He whispers, “when we finally landed 0n n0mis, i wanted n0thing m0re than t0 return h0me. as it turns 0ut, we g0t there t00 late, and there was n0thing we c0uld d0.”
Jonas fidgets with his bedsheets.
“and with that, they all left with0ut me. the sun swall0wed me wh0le, and i died.”
“Damn.”
(Jonas) looked up at Jonas strangely.
“damn? is that really all y0u have t0 say?”
Jonas brings his knees to his chest. “I uhm- I- I, uh, I'm sorry.” He manages, internally panicking. He just made a huge fool of himself right in front of his future self. 'Idiot!' He thinks. 'Why the fuck would you say that?'
“are y0u dense?” (Jonas) ridicules.
Tears prick at the corner of his eyes. Maybe he shouldn't have gone on the mission in the first place. Maybe he should've just stayed home. Maybe he should've become a lawyer or something. Jonas cries out, “I'm sorry! I'm so fucking sorry, I just- I can't-”
As much as (Jonas) found it pathetic, he started to feel strange. Ever since Nomis, (Jonas) hadn't felt anything. He was always indifferent, empty. But now, this was different. As he watched his past self break down in front of him, he began to feel bad. What was happening to him?
Reluctantly, he put a hand on his shoulder. Jonas flinched. ‘Cold, cold, cold,’ he thought.
“i d0n't mean it, idi0t.”
(Jonas) wraps his arms around Jonas and pulls him in closer. Despite how uncomfortably cold his body temperature is, Jonas leans into his touch.
“Sorry.”
“st0p ap0l0gizing.”
"Sor- uh, I mean, okay.
Jonas remains curled up in (Jonas') arms for a few minutes before (Jonas) pulls away, giving him a gentle pat on the shoulder.
“Can I- can I- can I, uhm, ask you some questions?”
“sure.”
Jonas paces around his pod, running a hand through his hair. “Am I gay?”
“pard0n?”
“I said am I gay, (Jonas?) Answer the damn question.”
“yeeeeees…???”
Jonas sighed. “Alright. Another question, is there any way to prevent my death?”
(Jonas) shakes his head. “it’s fate.”
“Fuck. Alright.”
Jonas puts his hands on his hips, pondering something for a moment. He suddenly blurts out, “can we make out?”
“what?”
“I want to make out with you.”
(Jonas) steps closer to the other. “really?”
“I- I mean, only if you'd like to-”
(Jonas) gives him a little peck on the cheek. His face flushes red. Jonas grins, his hands getting shaky.
Jonas leans in, and the two kiss. I really don't feel like describing this part, so use your imagination.
The two sat on Jonas’ bed, holding hands. (Jonas’) hand is still very cold, but he's getting used to it. Jonas occasionally steals glances at the other.
“are y0u seri0usly attracted t0 me?”
“Maybe.”
“you're h0peless.”
“I know.”
(Jonas) laughs.
The music coming from the foyer begins to die down, and (Jonas) turns to Jonas.
“i sh0uld get g0ing. i'll visit y0u s0me 0ther time, alright?”
Jonas sighs. “Alright. … Love you, (Jonas.)”
“l0ve y0u t00, j0nas.”
The two gave each other another quick peck, and with that, he was gone.
Wuan bangs on the door to Jonas’ pod.
“Jonas!” He calls. “Ground control wants to speak to you!”
Jonas slides open the door and heads off.