“Let's start with the good news! Hell is real, it is not as bad as people make it look like. Lau is actually pretty chill. And he has a soft spot for Miwa’s children. So great afterlife, actually. Bit difficult to get out but 10/10, I would recommend.” 

I look at Jason, he looks back. 

He fidgeted with his fingers, looking more and more uncomfortable as the silence grew. It should have been funny, Jason was the embodiment of cocky confidence and the few times he wasn’t could be counted with one hand. Seeing him this nervous was a treat. 

I wasn’t laughing, though. 

The malevolent spirit of ‘this-client-is-a-bitch.’ possesses me as my lips stretch into a very fake and vaguely scary smile. “I’m not sure I heard you correctly. Please, repeat that again.” Honey may as well drop from my mouth with how sweet my tone has become. “This time slower and less crazy if you can.” 

Denial was sweet after all. 

“Wow, you grew up to be more creepy. Congratulations.” 

“Thank you!” 

“Alright. Stop that.” 

“Stop what?”  

“Doesn't your face hurt? It looks like it should hurt.” 

“I don’t know what you mean, Jay.” 

“Really, stop it. You’re starting to freak me out.” Jason whined. “And I can’t even punch you for it! You’re the worst, Touma. The absolute worst, I tell you.” 

The bantering helped. I knew time-travel was a thing, it wasn’t that far-fetched Hell was real when Miwa’s power was almost physical around the slums. Ergo’s temples survived the fire as well. 

Furthermore, Jason didn’t lie. 

“Since when do you follow the rules?” 

“Since I only have one chance to fix this mess.” Jason informed me with sudden solemnity. “And I’m not gonna fuck it up.” 

‘Oh.’ A light bulb turned on. ‘So that’s what this is about.’ 

“You want to go back.” I say bluntly. I tilt my head in genuine curiosity. “How are we gonna do that? Peter is dead. And I’m sure that he didn’t qualify to enter Hell no matter how many of our traditions he may have learned in his time with Strays.” 

“No, he isn’t.” Jason agrees. “I saw him ascend after all. Now, this is part of the bad news I was spelling before ‘cause I’m pretty sure I’m the reason Leo is dead so… Yeah. I’m both sorry about that and kind of relieved he can rest in Hell. He was more of a zombie than a real person by the end.”

 This conversation keeps getting better and better. 

“What do you mean by that?” 

“I mean, that my range is bigger now than when I was fifteen. And apparently ghosts get to keep their abilities. Thus, Leo dying? Totally on me. I kind of tried to keep them up and… well. We all fell. They had their romantic moment in front of my salad and Leo hit the ground just a moment before I did. So, yeah, my fault.” 

The grimace on his face is painful to look at. 

“Let’s say I understand any of that.” Because I’m not gonna touch some of those points with a ten-pole stick; I arched my eyebrow. “Are you saying that Leo wouldn’t have died if you weren’t there?” 

“Are you telling me that it didn’t surprise you that he was dead at all?” Jason dared, crossing his arms. 

I hesitated ‘cause he was right; I hadn’t comprehended what I was seeing for long minutes before Tim started crying. Peter, sure. But Asahi? That seemed just wrong in a way that I couldn’t comprehend. 

“Exactly.” Jason nods with satisfaction. 

“That doesn’t make sense.” I say but the words lack strength. “But then, time-travel doesn’t either. And yet, we all accepted it as the truth.” I shake my head, forcing the denial away from my mind. “What’s your power?” 

“Null other people's abilities.” 

I blinked owlishly at him. 

“...you sound very sure.” 

“I am.” Jason said flatly, silently informing me he wasn’t going to elaborate and that it was better if I just moved on. 

I coughed, clearing my throat. ‘Alright, then.’ 

“Well, I’m sure I was the one that started the entire thing so… Eh. Let’s share fifty-fifty of the guilt, yes?” I say with a twisted smile, Jason flips me off and I laugh with a hint of malicious glee to avoid bursting into tears. “Good. Now back to what’s important… The plan, please.” 

Now is not time for guilt or tears, moving forwards is the only acceptable option. If Jason thinks there is a possibility of us fixing this mess, then I’ll follow, no questions asked. Thus, making sure we didn't deviate from the goal was high on my list of priorities. 

“It’s simple. Peter has the ability to go back in time and I’m already a veteran on breaking out supposedly eternal afterlives.”

“And the part I’m needed for?” 

“Peter is dead and he didn’t turn back automatically ‘cause I was there so… we need you to be the one to turn back.” 

“What.” 

Jason winced at my flat tone. “Don’t look at me like I’m crazy. I’m not— “

“Well forgive me— “

“Touma, I’m talking. Shut the fuck up.”

“— You sound like you cracked! Me? The one to go back? I thought we wanted to make this shit-show better, not worse. I’m a screw up, Jay. I’m the worst person to be chosen to fix things! You know who would be better? Tim! Tim’s friend with Peter, he’s your omega—”

“He is not.” 

“— and is more than capable of kicking some sense into you.” 

“Alright. Two things: a) You’re not a screw up. And b) I would never chose Tim over you so your point is mute. Now, I’m glad we’re on an agreement that it needs to be before I died ‘cause that shit-show fucked up everyone’s lives.” 

I was too stunned to speak for a few moments there, just gaping unattractively at his audacity. ‘I cannot believe this bitch.’ “You whore.” 

“What? We know it’s the truth. You all fell apart when I died.” Jason shrugged unconcernedly.  The worst thing? He wasn’t wrong. 

“Oi. You could at least pretend to be polite and not rub it.” 

“If you think like that then you’ve been spending too much time with Tim, Touma, you’re getting soft.” 

“Now you sound like my therapist.” I told him with a fake-gag. 

“Do they also agree you’ve grown soft?” Jason arched an eyebrow. 

“No, they also think I spent too much time with Tim.” I informed him matter-of-factly, she also was of the opinion that I should leave him but what did she know? Nothing, that’s what. “Also, fuck you and your smug face.” 

“Aw, you tease.”

I flipped him with both of my hands. 

“No, but really, are you sure you want me to go back?” I ask shyly, trying to not focus too much on the warmth that had filled me at his confession. ‘He loves me more than Tim.’ Was in a loop and it said way too much about me that I had fixated on that. 

“Do you trust me?”

“Always.” I answer automatically, blinking in confusion. “What does that have to do with anything?” 

“It just does.” Jason says simply. “If I say you’re the best choice, then you’re the best choice. Trust me.” 

And well, when put it like that… It seemed easy. I mean, I knew it wasn’t true but I would always choose Jason over anything, even myself. This was just a different kind of trust than the one I was used to. 

“Alright.” I nod. “I’ll do it. I will go back.”