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For the past day, Percy Novikov had been a captive of the California Asylum for the Genetically Enhanced. 

And he was about to lose his fucking mind. 

His time had been filled with medical examinations on how his detox was going, individual therapy sessions with Dr. Whitehall, group therapy sessions, informational sessions on the dangers of substance abuse, so called ‘unstructured free time’ that was [i]definitely[/i] structured as there had been a required activity, and meals that resembled animal scat more than they did food. He was already tired of the periodic room checks throughout the night, where orderlies shined flashlights on him to make sure he hadn’t killed himself or attempted to. And the numbness that had settled into his bones from the power dampeners was infuriating. Not only could he not text or see his boyfriend, but he couldn’t feel him either - couldn’t feel the tiny traces of Dorian lurking within him. 

The largest offense, of course, was that he could not read. 

He could only read in English, Russian, Yiddish, and Hebrew. It was cruel and unusual punishment unlike anything he had ever heard of before. How was a person supposed to live with only four languages at their grasp? Yes, he had a large stack of Asgardian erotica in English that he had acquired on his trip with Leah and Dorian, and yes, he hadn’t finished more than three of them, but it was the [i]principle[/i] of it all. He [i]wanted[/i] to be able to read without limits - not be forced to experience the fall of Babel! 

And as his stay was due to be so short, he wasn’t allowed any visitors, either. 

His jaw was clenched as he paced back and forth, angrily turning the next page in his book as he read in the day room. When he got out of here, he was burning this place to the ground. He knew an excitable pyromaniac who probably wouldn’t ask too many questions. 

There seemed to be no shortage of new and younger supply at CAGE recently. August watched as the tiny new inmate paced back and forth, spying the cover of the book he was reading as he saw the photo of a muscular Norse looking guy embracing another more slender man. It looked like the trashy romance novels he'd see in bookstores in a bargain bin, except more…exotic, as if Thor himself was the star of it. All that smut and no outlet would make anyone mad enough to pace. So he decided, as he did will all newcomers, to introduce himself and help him out. 

August made his way over to Percy, silently, stealthily, as he began to keep pace and pace alongside him. Hands behind his back and staring at the pages Percy was reading, though he couldn't read it himself. 

For longer than Percy would have cared to admit, he didn’t notice his shadow keeping pace by his side. He was so absorbed in what he was reading, the words flowing from the page to his mind and painting the scene with little to no effort. Bjørn was about to find Magnus in Einar’s bed, and his pulse had quickened with anticipation. It was trashy slop, yes, but at least it was engaging garbage. He turned the page, about to reach the climax of the encounter when he finally noticed the other boy. 

Immediately, Percy took several steps back, and snapped the book shut. 

[color=ed1c24]“Can I help you?”[/color] he snapped. 

August stepped closer, clearly unaware of what personal space meant. Looking down at the book, back at Percy, and then lower than the book, before finally his eyes met Percy's once more and he smiled. [Color=66CDAA]”I don't know can you? I mean, I certainly could help you. You seem pent up, are you? Is the book any good, got any pictures in it? Id loooove it if there was some photos to go with the story you know what I mean?”[/color] August winked at Percy. 

Percy’s eyes widened, as he quickly adjusted his hoodie. It was too big for him, which helped with camouflaging a certain area. And then for good measure, he held the book below his waist as well. He was speechless for a moment though at how forward the other boy was. Had it been Dorian, he would have said yes in a heartbeat. [color=ed1c24]“I am not,”[/color] he huffed. [color=ed1c24]“And there are not any pictures, it’s a book.”[/color] There were definitely pictures. 

[Color=66CDAA]”What? That's so lame!”[/color] August reached forward at the books new location, snatching it out of Percy's hands as he quickly began to flip through it. Spying a few pics within the pages. His eyes widened a bit at the graphic content before looking back at Percy. [Color=66CDAA]”Yo, its ok slow reader, there's pics later on look.”[/color] He turned the book for Percy to see, a steamy scene depicted one the pages about what had been written on the page next to it. August whistled, impressed at the sight. [Color=66CDAA]”Hot stuff. Papi”[/color]

[color=ed1c24]“Give that back!”[/color] Percy demanded, his face rapidly turning bright red. He tried to grab the book back, but August was a little too quick for him. He huffed. If he’d had his powers, he would have teleported with his book as far away as he could - or even borrowed Dorian’s to telekinetically grab it back. [color=ed1c24]“That’s not yours.”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”Hey no worries. Id only use the pics anyways. Between you and me, I cant really read. Words keep flying off the pages, makes it hard tk understand any of it. But this? I could get behind this. Or you. Or both.”[/color] August smiled, handing back the book with the page still open to the pseudo pornographic image.

Percy was sweating as he took the book back, and practically slammed it shut. He should have just read in his room. He shouldn’t have come to the day room to see if they had anything more interesting to browse through on the shelves. Maybe this was his punishment for being a teenage alcoholic. [color=ed1c24]“I have a boyfriend. He’s the jealous type.”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”And I have Depression. Whats your point?”[/color]

Just depression? Somehow Percy doubted that was everything wrong with this kid. [color=ed1c24]“It means I’m not interested.”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”Riiiiight. So how long you in for? What're you in for?”[/color]

[color=ed1c24]“Why would I tell you that?”[/color] He took another step back away from August. 

August took another step forward, a little too close as something pressed against him and his eyes darted down before meeting Percy's again. [Color=66CDAA]”Why wouldn't you? No one here judges, we'll except the orderlies. But we're all in here for something, me its more fun than anything, and they supply so it's not all bad. Besides, was curious how long you were here cuz you may be doing a one handed salute for a bit then.”[/color]

Percy practically jumped backwards, feeling like he’d been electrocuted as August pressed up against him. He tripped over the table leg, landing onto the beaten up old couch. [color=ed1c24]“You’re deranged,”[/color] Percy muttered. But August was between him and the exit. [color=ed1c24]“I’m here because I drink.”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”You might be more skittish than April was, and that's saying something. She grew a whole birds nest overnight atop her head.”[/color] August held his hand out to help Percy up if he wanted to. But as Percy mentioned why he was here, he got in close, really looking at Percy's face, inspecting it. [Color=66CDAA]”What is your skincare routine. I thought you were younger than drinking age. That's, well we don't like to use the C word around here.”[/color]

[color=ed1c24]“I don’t like being touched.”[/color] Percy refused the offered hand. Of course this kid knew April. He was mentally kicking himself for not asking Dorian to ask his sister for a list of people to avoid at CAGE. And as August got in closer, he felt the familiar swell of energy build up in him - only it had nowhere to go. No blue energy to release and escape. He was pressing himself into the couch as much as he could to increase the distance between them. [color=ed1c24]“That’s because I [i]am[/i] younger than the drinking age. Are you happy now? Will you leave me alone?”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”Why didn't you say so! I didn't know you were no touchy my man. It's cool.”[/color] August pulled back his hand and plopped onto the couch, his legs crossing over Percy's lap but never actually touching it or him as he kept his knees bent. [Color=66CDAA]”So you're younger but drinking and reading smut? Wild work papi. You're like, so cool.”[/color]

Percy shifted as far away from August on the couch as he could. His thoughts flashed back to how hurt Dorian had been, how much pain his mothers had been in. Drinking didn’t feel cool. Not anymore. Maybe a month ago he might have agreed with the other boy, but not now. The thought of liquor made his stomach churn, as much as he still craved it. It was desperation for poison. [color=ed1c24]“It’s not cool,”[/color] he argued. [color=ed1c24]“The drinking. The erotica isn’t a problem. It didn’t break my boyfriend’s heart like the alcohol did.”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”May have broken his back with the tent you're pitching. But that's true, I guess if it was cool you wouldn't be here huh?”[/color] August was quiet for a second, which was a miracle to anyone who knew him. [Color=66CDAA]”Hey, sorry it hurt him though, that had to be rough for you both.”[/color] 

He was practically on the armrest of the couch now. Percy glared slightly at the comment about breaking Dorian’s back. He didn’t really like talking about his sex life with other people - of course, it was different when his boyfriend would tease him and rile him up, but otherwise he liked to keep that behind closed doors. They’d already been unlucky enough to have another student walk in on them during their first time. 

[color=ed1c24]“… Yeah. His father’s an addict, too,”[/color] Percy said quietly. [color=ed1c24]“I don’t know if he’ll ever be able to forgive me.”[/color]

August lifted his legs and spun in place, leaning back so that his head now rested atop Percy's lap, fully ignoring any extra movement he may find from literature. [Color=66CDAA]”Damn, I mean they do say you end up with people who resemble your parents. But I'm sure he'll forgive you, i mean you're putting in the work here right? Doing all your little activities and checking all the boxes, you're trying to make right and that's got to be worth something right? Me? I've got nobody, last anyone knew of me I was doing clinical tries before the whole lab exploded. Next thing I know I'm here for my Depression. Not that I mind but…none of my families even visited me. I miss my sister so much. Now she was the coolest.”[/color]

Percy gasped sharply, and immediately sprung up off the couch, not caring if it sent August tumbling. He moved so quickly to the other end of the room that for a second, he thought his powers had managed to break through the dampening field. He wasn’t finding it particularly hard to believe that no one wanted to visit this boy. [color=ed1c24]“You don’t seem depressed,”[/color] he snapped. [color=ed1c24]“You seem insane. Do you do this to everyone who comes here - harass them until they run screaming? No wonder you have no one.”[/color]

August lay there on the floor, a smile partially still on his face but a deep set sadness in his eyes. He rubbed the back of his head as he sat up on the floor and remained there, legs crossed over one another now. [Color=66CDAA]”I'm not depressed. I have Depression. Very different things. But yeah…I guess it is no wonder why huh? Parents never thought much of me, I couldn't do well enough in school, and the only person who ever truly believed in me was Gideon…but she's too busy playing hero now to care about me I guess.”[/color]

Dorian wanted him to try to be nicer to people. 

Percy sighed slightly. 

He didn’t feel super bad - but… he did feel a [i]little[/i] bad. A tiny singular atom’s worth of guilt. The other boy was clearly unwell and he didn’t need Percy’s tongue adding to his issues. It felt like kicking a sick dog. So as much as he wanted nothing more than to flee from the room with his book and continue to read about the complex relationship between Magnus and Bjørn in peace, he knew his boyfriend wanted him to try to be a better person. 

Being a hero was annoying. 

[color=ed1c24]“Wait… Gideon?”[/color] He frowned. There weren’t that many girls named Gideon. [color=ed1c24]“Overtly sexual, incredibly dim, always wears glasses? Obsessed with swords and muscles? [i]That[/i] Gideon?”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”Yes! I mean she has a light sensitivity so the glasses thing isn't really her fault, but its still dope! Wait, don't tell me, she's made it big?! She's an honest to Cap superhero already? Oh I'm so proud of her! No wonder I haven't seen her she's too busy saving the world.”[/color] 

[color=ed1c24]“Erm, no. She was disqualified for failing her English class… despite the principal giving all of us A’s for the semester after a near death experience.”[/color]

August slumped back down, practically melting into the floor. [Color=66CDAA]”Oh…”[/color]

[color=ed1c24]“… She has a girlfriend though.”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”Oh? That's good, I'm happy for her. I'm glad to know she's doing ok.”[/color]

[color=ed1c24]“Well… she did almost die. But she seems fine.”[/color] Percy didn’t know almost anything about Gideon. He considered for a moment if he ought to just lie to August and tell him a list of incredible things his sister had done. 

August laughed at Percy's comment. Wiping a tear from his eye. [Color=66CDAA]”Awe man, thanks I needed that Papi. Things were getting a little too serious around here and we can't have that. Oh man, almost died, you're so funny.”[/color]

Yes. August was definitely deranged. Percy almost pitied him. At least he seemed to be feeling better.

He cleared his throat slightly. [color=ed1c24]“My name isn’t Papi.”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”Be weird if it was. Who names their kid daddy?”[/color]  August studied Percy's face for a second, wondering if he truly thought Gideon had almost died. Then again, he figured if this kid didn't know he wouldn't tell him. Maybe Gideon wanted it to be a secret, like some upper hand shit that would make villains go ‘Woah so cool totally thought you were dead and you're still standing! Wha-? No way!’

For a moment, a pang of sadness hit Percy as he heard the translation. The two words shouldn’t have sounded different to him. It was like a prick of pain in a phantom limb. [color=ed1c24]“My name’s Percy.”[/color] He did not want August calling him daddy. He didn’t want anyone calling him that. He didn’t even call Dorian that. 

August snapped his fingers and finger gunned Percy before clapping his hands. [Color=66CDAA]”Moanable, love it! But I'll stick with Papi, it's less syllables.”[/color] It was not. 

Percy’s jaw dropped. 

He didn’t know how to respond to that. 

[Color=66CDAA]”Close that mouth papi, you have a boyfriend remember? Unless you're open, then keep it open please.”[/color]

Percy had never shut his mouth so quickly in his life. 

[Color=66CDAA]”Rude. Your little friend seemed to like me earlier.”[/color]

[color=ed1c24]“Absolutely not!”[/color] he protested, his face positively burning up.

[Color=66CDAA]”Geeze relax, you're wound up tighter than…than…something that winds up super tight! I'm only messing with you, and it finally got you to actually say words. Besides you seem more…ah nevermind.”[/color] August waved it away.

Percy’s eyebrows furrowed. [color=ed1c24]“I seem more [i]what?[/i]”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”Ya’know”[/color] August gestured to all of Percy.

[color=ed1c24]“I don’t…know.”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”Oh. Well now thats awkward. I thought maybe, I mean you just seemed so…and you read too so…”[/color]

Percy frowned. [color=ed1c24]“What?”[/color] If there was one thing that drove him madder than not having his powers, it was the feeling of information being withheld from him - even if that information came from a lunatic twink. 

August looked to his left, his right, then at Percy. His hands hand been grabbing his ankles as he sat criss cross on the floor, one of his hands moving up to motion for Percy to come closer to him. 

He stared at him for a moment. 

This was stupid.

Percy took a single step forward. 

August motioned more frantically, clearly indicating he needed to be right next to him.

[color=ed1c24]“No. You can tell me from here.”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”I guess you won't know then.”[/color]

He huffed. He [i]really[/i] thought about leaving. It would be so easy. He could go back to reading his book. He wouldn’t have to think about whatever was going through this kid’s head. He could be free. 

But as stupid a mystery as this was, it was still a mystery. 

[color=ed1c24]“No touching,”[/color] he said, before walking up to August. 

[Color=66CDAA]”Just a little touching. You cant not touch when whispering a secret. Also…maybe a little lick, technically I should've done so waaaaay before to make sure you weren't an enemy, I mean that alone would tell me your problems based on your flavour, Depressions really good about figuring those things out like that.”[/color] August was smiling wide as he nodded happily.

[color=ed1c24]“A… a lick?!”[/color] Percy practically screeched. [color=ed1c24]“Do you know how disgusting that is?! My flavor?! No, no, absolutely not. Never in a million years. Never in a million lifetimes! Keep - keep your tongue in your mouth and away from me!”[/color] 

Percy flinched back, a slight move that August instinctively locked into like a predator to its prey. He hadn't meant to, not fully, but the sudden motioned caused his tongue to lash out quickly, an easy 12 inch clearance of a gap quickly closed in on as his tongue elongated and licked the side of Percy's face. [Color=66CDAA]”Shit, sorry P–”[/color] August stopped mid sentence, who knew if he'd've say Percy or Papi, the word lost on his lips as he began to smack them for a moment. A full body shudder as the taste of Bourbon overwhelmed him for a moment. 

[Color=66CDAA]”Bourbon…but what's…what's underneath it, something…no, someone else.”[/color] August gasped. [Color=66CDAA]”Do you also have a Depression?”[/color] He whispered to Percy as he tried to make sense of the other person's flavour coming in before it faded away and revealed a third flavour. Such a complex profile Percy had. [Color=66CDAA]”Oooo wait, there's a third flavour too, it's sort of like, you know those mystery flavour bags? Kinda like that. Oh! Puzzling!”[/color] He looked back at Percy and nodded. [Color=66CDAA]”No yeah that last one makes a lot of sense. Especially with the no touching. You probably don't like certain textures huh?”[/color]

Percy screamed as an inhuman tongue shot out and licked him. He immediately tried to scrub any residue off of his face with the sleeve of his hoodie, sacrificing poor Kirby for his own comfort. He was frozen in place, startled like a deer in the headlights. Not only had he been licked, but the other boy was… he didn’t even know where to start. How did he know bourbon was his poison of choice? And another person… Dorian? Could he taste quantum entanglement?! And what did he mean [i]that that last one[/i]?!

[color=ed1c24]“I… what… yes? I can’t - I can’t stand burlap,”[/color] he stammered. [color=ed1c24]“What - I - explain. Now.”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”Buuurlap. That'll do it, yeah. Oh! Yeah, it's my Depression. I can figure things out about people when I lick them, especially if they're a threat or not to me. You're…undecided.”[/color] August beamed, smiling brightly as if he'd done a good job.

Percy stared at him for a good, long while. Ordinarily, he would have dismissed what August was trying to tell him. Even a cold reader might have gotten lucky with bourbon. And jumping from touch averse to sensory issues? Hardly a lucky guess. The [i]someone else[/i] was more intriguing than the rest. Even with their newfound notoriety, Percy doubted the details of the entanglement had been made public. Not that it seemed like August kept up with the news. Otherwise, he would have known that Gideon didn’t compete. 

[color=ed1c24]“Tell me more about the someone else you tasted.”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”See, normally when there's a split with people they're like a creamsicle, or sometimes way more than that, like an everything milkshake. But you…it was a distinctly different taste, like there was a different person inside of you. Your very own Depression, like I have, another being within you. The taste was faint though, and these things work better if I lick the other person instead. Its like youre asking me to figure out a dish that's already been licked clean off the plate. I can get pieces but not the whole.”[/color]

He was quiet for a moment, contemplating. [color=ed1c24]“Tell me about your Depression, then.”[/color]

August scooched closer to Percy. No one had ever been interested in hearing about Depression, not earnestly. [Color=66CDAA]”I could just hug you! But i won't because you're mystery flavour, but I could. I haven't always had Depression, not till my last clinical trial. It was weird and I mean weird weird. There were tanks with people in them, jars full of who knows what, the drugs were great, made things a bit fuzzy though, then an explosion, I was gonna die…lots of glass in me you see? But then Depression merged with me and it turns out he likes the drugs too. I must've made it just outside the building when a van came and took me away. Next thing I know Im here. They supply me with the food he needs and the drugs I like, and…everyone's happy I guess? He's just overprotective of me, takes care of me. I mean, I'm nothing like Gideon, I have no powers, talents, I'm not even immortal. Everything special about me came from a jar.”[/color]

Percy scrunched up his face. Yes, August was in an insane asylum. But at the same time, there were tons of heroes who got their powers from unethical lab experiments. Dorian went on about them all the time. He couldn’t dismiss this at face value. And at the same time, he was curious… Was August entangled with something? Just a further stage than he and Dorian had reached? 

[color=ed1c24]“Is Depression a name? Or are you referring to the mental illness characterized with profound sadness?”[/color] Percy asked, as he stood up and started to pace. 

August cocked his head to the side, his smile still wide and on display. [Color=66CDAA]”Papi, do I look depressed to you? It's a name. Keep up.”[/color]

[color=ed1c24]“I’d say you look clinically insane, but I digress. Can I speak to Depression or can he only speak through you?”[/color] he asked, continuing to pace. [color=ed1c24]“How big is Depression? Does Depression consume energy? You mentioned the medication here is good for him.”[/color]

August placed a finger on his lip as he began to think. [Color=66CDAA]”Yes/No, variable, technically, and yes it gives him the nutrients needed to survive. Technically I can find it in two other places but this is the cheaper and more…humane option.”[/color] He scooted even closer.

Percy walked a little further away from August. He didn’t want to step on him. The first answer wasn’t much of an answer at all - although, it implied some sort of conditions or change in state in Depression. Variable size? He frowned. Was Depression liquid or a gas - did he take the shape or size of his container? August had mentioned tanks. Perhaps he was a fluid. [color=ed1c24]“What’s the less humane option?”[/color] He wished he had one of his notebooks with him. [color=ed1c24]“Can other people see Depression?”[/color] And then he blinked slightly, realizing that this didn’t [i]have[/i] to be a game of twenty questions. [color=ed1c24]“Forgive me. What is Depression? I should have started there.”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”Can't say, technically yes but we don't allow it. Aaaaaannnd I couldn't tell you. There was a label on the jar but again, I can't read.”[/color] August had taken to grabbing his toes, legs still crossed as he sat on the floor and rocked front to back and side to side on his butt. [Color=66CDAA]”Unfortunately you're an unknown, no real threat level but something I can fully toss aside too sooo I can't really tell you much. Not that the orderlies here even listen to me but sometimes, I feel like people are watching me.”[/color] The last part was a whisper, August having quickly gotten up and whispered it in Percy's ear step enough his breath could be felt. He then pulled away himself as he giggled and laid across the couch. 

He flinched as he felt August’s breath on his ear, and immediately, his temper began to flare up once more. He was about to lash out when he caught himself, a new volley of insults on the tip of his tongue, and he stopped. [i]T’ats not w’at ‘eroes do[/i] Dorian would have said - or something along the lines. The accent was more difficult to parse without his powers and it infuriated him even more. He took a deep breath. He kept oscillating between being intrigued by August’s mystery and angry about the blatant lack of respect for personal space and boundaries. He still hadn’t gotten over the fact that he [i]licked[/i] him. 

[color=ed1c24]“Is Depression hurting you?”[/color] he decided to ask next. There were a lot of questions that August couldn’t fully answer. [color=ed1c24]“What is Depression afraid of?”[/color]

August had moved to laying upside down on the couch now, hair gently brushing against the floor as he blew raspberries at Percy. [Color=66CDAA]”No he isn't hurting me. He protects me, are you not listening? It pays to listen. I never said Depression was afraid, I…a lot happened at the last trial ok? I'm not ready to face those people again. I can't. I won't. I tried hard to get money to help my family, that's all I wanted, I couldn't even do that right.”[/color]

He frowned. The response was… unsettling. Percy stopped in his pacing, and sat down next to August on the couch. [color=ed1c24]“Do you need help?”[/color] This was all Dorian’s fault. 

[Color=66CDAA]”In more ways than one.”[/color] 

Percy nodded. [color=ed1c24]“Okay. I am leaving here in a few days, and I will get you help. What’s your name?”[/color]

[Color=66CDAA]”August Perlman. But you can call me anytime Papi.”[/color] August went to go pat Percy's knee, but being upside-down really messed with his perception, making him miss completely and patting Percy's crotch instead. He giggled [Color=66CDAA]”Weird knee man.”[/color]

[color=ed1c24]“Nope, nope, no - absolutely not - I wanted to try to do the right thing but no - I can’t do this - this is… no,”[/color] Percy leapt off of the couch once more, regretting every choice he had made that brought him to this place. He took his book and practically sprinted to the exit, throwing one last glance at August over his shoulder, before rushing off to the safety of his next appointment with Dr. Whitehall.