We Should Talk

Screaming all around. Chaos on the streets. But on their roof, they were the only people in the universe. Neither one knew quite what to say. Pwy’he perched himself on the buildings edge, sitting with his legs dangling over the edge.
“Are you alright?” Lore joined him. “I’m sorry for stalking you.”
“That was you? I knew someone was following me.” Pwy’he tried to get angry but he couldn’t. There was too much on his mind. He just didn’t know where to start.
“How long have you felt like that?” Lore just went for the bluntest blade at their disposal and jabbed.
He took a moment, “I don’t know. I suppose not long but it was different this time.”
Lore rummaged through their bag but couldn’t find what they were looking for. “What was it that made you feel like that?”
“I don’t know.” He balled up. “Most of the time it’s just in the background, you know. I don’t know.” Lore moved to be closer.
“I’m here.” They went to rest their arm on him but stopped. “And no matter what, I’ll understand.”
“Really? Because I don’t.” He opened up and his eyes were twice their normal size and puffed like peaches.
“I know you’re in pain. I know pain.” Lore lifted their sleeve and revealed the rift scar. Surrounding it, a smattering of small, raised white lines.
“It’s not like that. I look at myself and I hate what I see. I hear you call my name and I cringe. I know what it means but it just reminds me of everything I’m not. I’m not peaceful.” He highlighted himself. “What am I?” The floodgates broke.
“You’re my child. My beautiful child.” Lore stood with him and buried his head in their breast.
“I want to be like you. I want to be able to do what I want. Look how I want. I don’t care what mum says.”
There was a pause. Not in reality but in their conversation. For the first time since they started, everything was silent. The outrage and shock of Merlyn’s death had somewhat worn off and now the respectful silence had begun. Lore’s mouth slowly curved into a smile.
“Where do we start?”
“What do you mean?” He looked to Lore. “It’s that easy?” They nodded. “I wouldn’t mind if, for now, you called me Piper.”
“Of course. Anything else we can do from here?” Piper’s smile started to grow.
“Can I have my ring back?” He smiled.
“There you go, Piper.” Lore took the opportunity to hug him. “No matter what, I’m always here for you and I’ll always love you.”
“Can I ask you something else?” Lore nodded. “How long did it take people to get used to your transition?”
“I had it easy. I transitioned on Quatarr in the middle of a battlefield, in a time loop. I had three confidants and an AI. It was seamless. I’m not saying it’s always like that but I’ll do what I can to make it as easy as possible for you.” Piper dried his eyes.
“Mum’s coming.” They both turned and lo and behold, she was there. “Oh hi Mum.”
“What’s going on? We’ve all been waiting for you. Varkral’s done one.” Then she noticed Piper’s eyes. “By the Gods, are you alright?”
“They’re going to be fantastic.” Lore smiled.
“Mum, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you refer to me as Piper from now on.” There was a pause. “Mum?” He said softly.
Char shook her head. “Of course.” She smiled. “Anything you want, you got it. I’ll suppose you’d be wanting ‘The shot’.”
“Shot?” Piper looked to Lore then to Char. Lore smiled.
“Niwen development is hell but our research says it’s essential. During the pre-puberty and puberty phases, the brain tries to develop faster than it actually can. New synapses and pathways develop, connections get more efficient but the brain mass isn’t sufficiently developed. The boosters allow the physical rate of development to match the synaptic. That’s normal. ‘The shot’ was something Lore looked into when you were born. It’s a hormonal balancer. Allows you to develop as normal but holds back on the development of gendered characteristics. Gives you time to think.” Piper nodded. “I’ll take them to Quatarr to get that sorted, you can sort Varkral out.”
“Deal.” Lore and Piper spoke in unison. And then they were gone. “Time to face the music then old chap.” Lore grumbled under their breath. They created another portal, this time to the future and found themselves not too far from Varkral’s front door.
Where once a miracle of magic existed, now a hellscape bombed past the dark ages by the Emraeh-Vakrael wars. Sticking out like a sore thumb, an oasis of colour and peace, Varkral’s house. From the outside, the change in scenery was a marvellous and beautiful thing however, the closer they came, the more they realised, that peace had been broken. Despite the thin atmosphere, Varkral’s bellows carried. Lore was hesitant but knew that if they were to get his aid, they would have to face his wrath first.
“I SEE YOU LURKING!” A familiar bolt of energy fired towards them, tying itself around their waist. With enough force to accelerate them from a standing start to ten miles an hour, Varkral yanked the whip. The floor below Lore’s feet disappeared as they flew towards him. He held out his hand. The whip now disconnected, Lore came to an abrupt stop on the invisible wall his palm had created. “Why is there a thief in my house and why does he think it’s his?”
“Piper had to make a deal?” Lore tried their best for an apologetic look but missed by miles.
“Piper made a deal?” He mocked. “There is a scavenger in my house.” He continued to ramble.
Lore cut him off. “And he won’t start until you tell him he can. The deal was that you take what you need and he gets the rest. To be honest, we were sort of hoping he would have been dealt with by the timeline but he got away.”
“You’re making it hard to like you, you know.”
“I am aware. Look, I’m sorry I didn’t clue you in but it was a spur of the moment thing.” Varkral sighed. “We really need you. Please?”
“Fine. When and where?” Lore jumped with giddy joy as they removed their Breacher. They paused then stopped.
“You’ve got your own methods so you won’t be needing this. There are fifty two universes out there. Do your best to build connections and make that multiverse smaller.” Lore smiled. Varkral did not. He still nodded. The portal closed, home. Huge Subtle Changes.