nexus_crossings | Manhattan's Diamond King

Manhattan's Diamond King

Jack had been wandering the streets on a night watch with Diamond. The people of the Party and their Ministry of Truth goons were getting bold. It made Jack antsy and he wasn’t sleeping. It was weird sometimes how he went days and weeks here and there without sleeping. No one knew how he could do it.

The scenery had changed oddly when he turned a corner, Diamond at his side whining. He reached down and patted the white mutt that went with him everywhere. Straightening, Halloween Jack shifted the automatic weapon slung over one shoulder that stood in stark contrast to his feminine clothing including spike heeled black boots and gaudy diamond bracelets and earrings. He came very close to shooting the hologram when it startled him by appearing on his blind side. He’d seen something like this before but couldn’t remember where. He listened to it all the while wondering why the guy was in the weird get up. It looked enough like a military uniform to make him suspicious of the Nexus.

Walking on he kept looking up at the building corners, the trees, anywhere something could be hung. Though the gun was back in a resting position, he remained jumpy and jittery.. one part drugs and one part nerves. Diamond was watching the people coming out into the plaza. Normal morning traffic of shops opening.

Jack narrowed his eye at the people and eventually asks. “There aren’t any cameras or drones here?”

He is confused as hell about what is going on. The dog sat at his feet, looking up expectantly at her one eyes master. In the back of his mind there is a lingering worry that this is some Party trap or that he had been caught again and this was something in his own mind.

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You could be jealous, Ziggy, the young man explains.

No, Princess Allura is from the same--

Hiroki trails off. He kisses Ziggy, briefly, because they're not alone. Briefly but with a promise of more later.

I'm fine, I'm not hungry. Besides, today I'm paying for Jack's dinner.

His stomach grumbles.

I've got no reason to be. I'd understand you finding him attractive, you find me attractive... and I know even if he did seduce you that you'd come home to me. Ziggy was almost saying as much about himself as his feelings toward Hiroki.

Ziggy's mind lingers on the thought that this might be some alternative future self and it is only that kiss that stops him from frowning deeply. But it brings a bright laugh.

Actually, I ordered the food so you need to eat too. Ziggy runs a hand down Hiroki's torso. And I think I like Jack's thoughts on you repaying me for food. Ziggy winks at his lover before turning his attention back to Jack and having a few pieces of sushi himself.

Dummy, you're the only one I desire.

Alternative self, huh? Wait, Jack doesn't have to be a clone, he might be--

Jack might be you from another Reality! Why didn't I think of that. Then again, I've heard of Sven from others, but I've never met him. Right, I'm sure you don't know what I'm talking about. It's a long story-

His thoughts trail off as he's kissing Ziggy. Mhm.

Alright, sure, you caught me, I am slightly hungry. But I'm still paying for Jack's dinner, Hiroki insists. And our guy can think whatever he wants, but I'm never repaying you that way.

Now Hiroki just watches Ziggy and Jack, trying very hard not to doze off. He's glad he's called Ziggy for help.

I don't have to be. Ziggy shrugs and lets the topic go.

I think I've met him. He was lost. Ziggy glances at their new companion. He could be me from this existence even, or the child of another Anthean and human?

Ziggy pauses and then adds very concerned. I've never seen a mind like this where there's just blank spots where there should be something. It.. I don't know.. It upsets me.

But that kiss is soothing and laughs. You don't want me to promise to make love to you because you've taken me to a nice dinner?

He asks that of Hiroki while explaining to Jack what some of the foods are that are on the table. Ziggy has a lot of sympathy for Jack. He's so hungry and injured. He feels Hiroki falling asleep and asks gently.

Do you think I should offer him our couch for the night?

You've met him? Huh. He's Shiro from alternate reality. Jack might be you from alternate reality. A horrible reality, it seems.

Hiroki frowns and thinks, His mind... he said some Ministry deleted his memories, so that's what this is. I'm sorry you had to see this, but Jack needs help.

The clone grins at that.
How about we make love anyway?

At the question, Hiroki replies, Of course! He needs a place...

And then he can't keep himself awake anymore and dozes off.

Ziggy considered this and the worry grew. He could be my future. I'll see thousands of years on Earth.

Ziggy shuddered at the idea but Hiroki's hope is infection. I'll ask mom and Tommy if they can help with his mind but everything might just be gone.

Ziggy laughs. I will make love to you any time you want.

He nods and continues to stroke Hiroki's chest while he and Jack eat and drink. He likes the other man and the way he leans into contact which stays mostly platonic, at least by Ziggy standards.

Drunk and laughing they di manage to carry Hiroki out to the car and into the house. Between trying not to jostle him too much and Ziggy's mental abilities they allow him to sleep.

Once on the couch the other two find they are sleepy too and just nestle down with the human on the couch.

Nowadays, when he sleeps, his mind goes to Atlas, sometimes. Sometimes. Now was such a time, so when he wakes, he's not sure what's going on, at first.

And then he realises. Oh. This is nice. He cuddles up.

By the time he wakes up Ziggy is curled up with his head on Hiroki's shoulder. Jack's long limbs all tangled up with Ziggy's and pressed in close to both of them. Diamond and the cats curled at the end of the couch.

"Good morning, love." Ziggy mumbles without opening his eyes, whether or not it is morning doesn't matter. He snuggles in closer to Hiroki and causes Jack to shift around and grumble before he settles in again.

"I love you." Ziggy whispers.

"I love you, too, Ziggy. Sorry for falling asleep on you like that."

Hiroki kisses Ziggy's cheek.

Then thinks back on the whole encounter.

"How's Jack?"

He glances at Jack. A guy with experiences like that, he can imagine he might thrash or something in his sleep. Or maybe not, who knows. Everyone's different.

Edited 2020-10-17 06:23 (UTC)

"You needed the rest." Ziggy comments while burying himself farther into Hiroki's arms.

"He's sleeping." Then Ziggy starts grinning, almost laughing. "I think he'll be fine. He's got someone here if his dreams mean anything." He whispers close to Hiroki's ear. "He's having dreams about someone like the ones I have about you."

"He does? That's great. I thought he was alone, but if that's so, then I'm far less worried."

"And, mhm, meeting Jack was just, overwhelming, somehow."

He smiles, snuggles to Ziggy, and then, with a soft smile, whispers, "But I guess Antheans are just overwhelming, hmm? One'd think I'd get used to that, but nah."

Edited 2020-10-17 08:45 (UTC)

"I don't recognize the person but there are memories attached to the dreams." Ziggy is almost certain Jack has someone.

"We can't help it if you like aliens." Ziggy teases, half awake and content.

"I see. Well, as long as it seems to be a decent person, don't tell me more about Jack's dreams, or I'd feel like I'm trespassing."

Or like a voyeur.

Liking... aliens...?
Hiroki only stops himself from laughing because it'd wake Jack up, probably.

"You're impossible. Be glad I don't get attracted to every alien I'm friends with, or I probably wouldn't've been single by the time I met you," he teases.

Truth is, he had no idea Ziggy was an alien when they've met, and whatever he was, he'd love Ziggy just as much either way.

"He enjoys their company which has to mean something good."

Ziggy can sense the humor in Hiroki's emotions and grins. "No, I'm perfect.. perfectly impossible and you wouldn't have any other alien because of it." He teases quietly. "Are you still tired?"

"Heh, hopefully."

Hiroki giggles just a little, quietly. And then shakes his head. He's really not so tired anymore, he's had a good rest and he has a feeling that Ziggy's definitely helped. Ziggy, and Atlas.

Oh, right, that reminds him, he's forgotten to tell Ziggy-

"Allura's going to call Blue here soon. I mean, the Blue Lion. Just in case we get into the fight with Honerva. Another reason, though Allura probably won't say it, she obviously misses Blue. It's been a while, so that's only natural."

"Anyway, in short, Blue'll be in Nexus soon, I'm sure. I'm definitely gonna ask Allura for a ride someday. I've missed the Lions of Voltron, too. Also, I've never been a passenger in a Lion, I'm sure that's fun, too. Hey, you could also come."

I wonder if I'd still be able to pilot Black. Probably not, as a lot of weird stuff's happened to me, mentally and spiritually, and I don't even know if Black'd recognise me anymore. But I could be a passenger, if he ever came here.

"About Jack," Hiroki whispers, do you think we should tell him you might be him from another Reality or not? Because, really, your choice. I'm not sure what I'd do in such a situation, anyway. And we're not even sure yet."

After a good rest and now thinking things through, and talking to Ziggy about it, now it seems more likely to Hiroki than Jack's another Reality's Ziggy rather than a clone.

Because, for example, if he was a clone, no memory erasure would be necessary, he just wouldn't have memories. And Ziggy's confirmed that Jack's mind had been emptied.

So, yeah, probably not a clone, Hiroki thinks. Whew.

Ziggy has shifted over to telepathy to let Jack rest. Though Antheans rarely sleep, Ziggy figures gorging on food after starving probably encouraged the body to want to rest.

I would love to see one of the lions. he's a little more excited in voice than he thought he would be. I am sure Black would welcome you back.

Ziggy strokes Jack's hair as he sleeps thinking about Hiroki's question. I think finding out he's half alien will be enough of a shock. That's what is important for him, not that he might be me. He's his own person and you taught me the pain of thinking you're someone else. He doesn't need that.

You'll see one pretty soon. And thanks.

For the vote of confidence regarding Black.

Speaking of others, sometimes I wonder whether to tell other Paladins about the Nexus, because I miss everyone, but... maybe after the war. Everyone's surely too busy now.

Then again, time doesn't pass normally in Nexus, and everybody in the Voltron Coalition needs vacation sometimes, honestly!

Allura can tell them someday. Or Shiro, or Romelle.

Hiroki grins. Yeah, he really misses his friends, who are like a family to him, too. He knows that Ziggy's not content with how they treated Hiroki, but right now, he doesn't care.

Maybe also because Hiroki's not sure he'd've done anything any differently, if he was in any of their shoes.

And this is the first time he's allowed himself to think that all of them, even Keith whom the clone had tried to kill (had tried not to kill, it was Haggar who had tried any killings), wouldn't mind seeing him, too. And really, much of that was thanks to Allura, who, he knows by now, still considers Hiroki a friend. Maybe not as close, but still. (Or, she might be as confused about how close friends they are, as he is with anybody whom he's met who first knew Shiro. It's a bit of a mess. But they're dealing with it. Slowly.)

Right. Jack. True, any nebulous connection he might or might not have to Ziggy shouldn't be a priority right now. Being an alien without knowing was pretty surprising on its own.

You're right. Maybe tell him a little about Antheans before you tell him he's one? So that he doesn't think it's something bad. Either way, it's going to be a lot to deal with, but yes, he deserves to know.

It's strange, but I'm really not attracted to Jack. Maybe because he just seemed so young and lost. Not that I should talk, I'm way younger, in every possible way. I wish I was the age I'm feeling like I am. Because sometimes, just talking to people I barely know, I'm feeling like a fraud. Like I'm lying that I'm as old as I look. Because of course I'm not gonna be telling strangers.

And then he realises that Ziggy's heard that thought, too. Now that's slightly embarassing.

"Never mind, okay? Stuff's weird, you know."

Edited 2020-10-18 20:51 (UTC)

Shiro surely knows about this place. That had Ziggy confused. Wasn't it that their memories were shared or something. Whatever happens Ziggy will be there for Hiroki going forward.

I was thinking about introducing him to Mom. She'll be able to tell more about him than I will. He does need to know what he is though. It's dangerous if he doesn't. Ziggy was thinking just about food and movement like cars.

Ziggy giggles lightly. I understand. Remember I'm 90, look 20, and am a teenager by species. Age isn't clear for me... it probably isn't for Jack either, if he even knows how old he is. There's a lot of holes in his mind.

Yeah, Shiro knows about Nexus. I think I might be uncomfortable, still, with the idea of Shiro coming here, and he must've picked up on that. That's why he hasn't come here. I mean-- maybe someday, after I settle, I'll invite him for a visit. But I'd rather settle first. Be more sure of who I am, first.

Hiroki smiles a little.

He nods, he's sure Aletayria can help. Looking more serious now, he ponders something, then puts it into words.

Mhm. Speaking of holes in minds, I've been remembering. Stuff from before I thought I was Shiro. I think I remember most stuff now. It's so weird... I don't think I'd call myself that person anymore, I have more in common with Shiro than with myself from my earliest time in life. Probably because I didn't know anything, back then. I don't think many people remember the time when they didn't understand almost anything.

You probably already know that Nexus pulled me here from that time once. It's funny, I can now imagine how confusing I must've been for people in Nexus. That's when I met Mantis, for example. He really helped. Well, the fact that he's psychic helped with communication, also. He explained some things to me using images. Memories. That helped.

He assumes Ziggy knows, about Hiroki's time in Nexus as young clone, because after all, the 'child' (mentally) himself had met Thomas then. Hiroki's also told Aletayria about it.

So today, when I saw Jack in the plaza, and he looked like you and he looked almost as confused and scared as I had back then, suddenly in Nexus, I just wanted to protect him. Because somebody could hurt him, quiznak, for all I knew, Honerva could notice him and decide there's an easy Anthean for the taking because he's so confused, and, yeah... you know.

Hmmmm.

Right. Sometime, we should warn Jack, just in case, to stay away from Honerva. Wherever she might be right now. Quiznak, I know she's somewhere in Nexus, but I have no idea where exactly.

Because Hiroki knows that Honerva's somewhat intrigued by Antheans and what possibilities they might present, and Jack is an Anthean after all, so... surely it's not paranoia if things might happen.

Anyway... for more immediate matters now.

Do you think Jack's eaten enough? I know he must've been starved.

Ziggy nods sleepily. "He and I still don't get along all the time. That was another reason to not have Shiro here yet. Hiroki didn't need more stress.

I think he's more confused that no one is spying on him. He's very paranoid and wary. Ziggy didn't know why but he could feel it distinctly. I asked Lucifer to keep track of her for us. He's concerned about what she's done.

Ziggy wasn't sure if Hiroki had met Lucifer. If not, he should introduce them for sure.

I think food is scarce where he's from. You can't let someone who has starved eat too much at once. It can make them sick. Ziggy glances at Jack where he is still cuddled up with them sleeping. Ziggy reaches down and strokes the equally red hair. I think that's why he's sleeping so long. He finally has enough food to sleep.

Right, someone who's so starved- can't-

And spying huh? Right. The Ministry. Being watched-

Hiroki flinches, and takes a deep breath. There's a reason he's called Ziggy instead of just helping Jack himself. And the reason's horrible selfish, and Ziggy might know it already. And the reason is, that, beside reminding Shiro's clone of Ziggy, Jack also reminds Shiro's clone of himself. Of the himself he doesn't know, and would instantly want to help, if he's ever met that himself, here somehow (everything was possible here), ever. But would be so overwhelmed--

Would surely need help for that, selfishly, too.

You've asked the (or, a?) devil himself to monitor Honerva and he will just like that? Maybe instead of calling you Princess Ziggy, you should be Goddess Ziggy. Anyway- good idea. And, yes, I've met Lucifer. Rather serious man, and decent one, I think.

Edited 2020-11-10 21:58 (UTC)

Ziggy huddles closer to Hiroki when he feels the shifting emotions. He strokes his long hair and just waits for him to calm.

Lucifer values freedom. I think he sees her actions as violations of his own morals.. or principles maybe? I've met with him a few times. We have some interesting things in common that I don't quite understand but I think he's friendly.

"....hmm...what'd you have in common with mister Lucifer? Besides one pretty face."

Light giggle.

He's calming. He's calming. Slowly.

It's complicated. Ziggy tells him as Jack starts shifting to get closer again. Ziggy loves Hiroki but he feels connected to Jack and would rather avoid thinking about that so goes back to the discussion.

The man in his world he asked to use his face, I don't know that's something to do with angels needing to ask for their appearance or something. Anyway, the singer he offered that to him... I'm a fictional character that singer plays. Apparently, I'm an alter ego of another person in some other universes and not a real person. It's so strange."

I knew it! Ziggy's just too good and instantly lovable to be true. It's a conspiracy!

Hiroki wants to lighten the mood, right now. Stuff's gotten heavy. Of course, they'll help Jack, but, in the meantime...

Just act as if you're Jack's brother, if he's never had one, maybe he'll take you.

Edited 2020-11-11 10:37 (UTC)

Manhattan's Diamond King

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I have some slower time at work, so :) a tag

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