Bits and Pieces

Second 'Verse, Same as the First

***because we're social distancing, and I'm bored...let's go back to the Multiverse Cafe y'all***

Mitch thought that he knew why he was here. It was the only place he was legally allowed to go right now since most of the world was on lockdown due to a wild new virus. But as soon as he stepped into the shadowy club, he wondered if there wasn't some deeper reason. The Multiverse Cafe was not just a place to come and get a drink. It was a place where Mitch could come face to face with other versions of himself--or in other words, a place to come to find out how spectacularly inadequate his own life was.

Okay, that's not totally fair. He knew that his life was actually rather extraordinary. Platinum albums and three Grammy awards weren't exactly minor accomplishments. But the quarantine had reinforced that he was single and alone and restless. He knew that coming to this place which tended to be a Scomiche love fest would probably hurt him a lot. But he didn't figure it could hurt worse than the silence and solitude of his own house.

It was easing from late afternoon into twilight, so the place was fairly mellow. Only about a dozen people were there, and they hadn't yet reached the drunken, grabby phase of the night. He walked past a pool table where one version of Scott was using some sort of wind magic from his hand to guide a ball into the pocket while another Scott conjured a little blue sprite which stomped and pouted on the green felt table. A version of Mitch, dressed as a police officer, leaned on the wall and looked back and forth between them with an expression of confusion and awe.

With a shake of his head, Mitch moved to the bar and ordered a double bourbon just because he thought it sounded sophisticated. It was spicy and strong though and it took him a few minutes between each sip to get ready for the next one. 

The pool game was getting heated. The Scotts were arguing about the appropriate way to use magic while Policeman Mitch played referee. Mitch turned toward the bartender and they shared a quick smile.

"Do you ever get used to it?" Mitch wondered. "It's hard enough for me to wrap my brain around the whole multiverse concept, but then to add in superpowers... It's a lot."

The bartender grinned at the squabbling Scotts. "It's fascinating to me. You all are."

Just then the bell over the door tinkled and another Scott walked in. He looked utterly sinuous in a worn black leather jacket and artfully torn jeans that emphasized the substantial length of his legs. Fascinating indeed, Mitch thought, trying not to stare as the new arrival strode gracefully toward the bar.

The Scott from his world wouldn't be able to display such agility unless he were on stage in front of screaming fans. But this Scott moved as though the whole world were his stage. There was something reckless and fearless about him, besides the fact that he was, of course, devastatingly handsome.

 Mitch watched on covertly as this new Scott sat a few spaces down from him at the bar. He ordered a beer and took a few moments to scan the other occupants of the club, his gaze landing on Mitch for just a moment but then returning. There was an intensity in his expression that Mitch couldn't quite decipher and couldn't fully return, but time and space bent around them as they always did, especially here. Mitch felt his lips turning up in an wide smile.

"Sorry to stare," Scott said at last, nibbling on his lower lip shyly. "I just...I'm not sure if I should introduce myself or if that would be really stupid." He gave a throaty laugh that sounded deep and dark and a little bit wild. "I mean, I know you're Mitch, and I assume you know that I'm Scott."

"I'd say that's a safe assumption," Mitch replied, but he held his hand out and let it be swallowed up by Scott's long fingers. There was a strange undercurrent of energy that passed into him when they touched, like the other boy was thrumming with power. As if to echo this thought, something funny happened with either the lights or Mitch's vision; it looked for a moment as though Scott's familiar blue eyes had a reflective gleam in them.