Archive of Our Own ^beta

Rhys was always careful when he went out of his apartment with Vaughn, Hyperion wasnt the safest place when you were anyone except a janitor. He just also enjoyed things like Bunkers and Badasses, and comics, figurines and posters of his favorite characters. That was when he laid eyes on it, a beautiful, breathtaking, lifesize statue of Jack. He walked in and there it was, just standing there, hands on his hips and, oh god, it was moving! Rhys tensed and looked to the shopkeepers confused as if to say “Is this happening?” but Rhys managed to force himself to pick up what he came for, the new edition of the bunkers and badasses!

But he was right there, and he was real, and it was crazy. Rhys tried not to look. Thankfully they mercifully rang him up quickly and smiled at him “That’ll be 50 bucks, Rhys.” the clerk said. Jack placed a hand on Rhys’ shoulder then, and he nearly jumped out of his skin, but was kept there by the fact that Jack had a tight hold on him.

Jack grinned “Fifty for a book? That’s, like, highway robbery.” he said before setting some comics down “Add these and I’ll pay for it all. Provided…” he looked up and down at Rhys “You can pay me with something else, Rhys… Pretty name.” he hummed out lingering his gaze on his tattoos

Rhys was near hyperventilating, but Jack wouldn't let go! So of course “No, no I’ll pay for it- Id be honored, Jack- Handsome- Sir!” He said unable to settle how he wanted to address him, paling as the blood drained from his face. Jack must've liked what he saw because he chuckled, and took advantage of Rhys’ frozen state and paid for the books before Rhys could protest further.

Jack took a card out of his pocket “Cute, pumpkin, but you can relax.” he said and shoved the card in Rhys’ shirt where it was open, if Rhys had tits it’d be poking out from between them. Instead the card awkwardly fell onto the inside of his shirt and caught at the bottom where it bunched up at his hips. Rhys could swear the edges of skin he could see past the mask were a bit pink- was he blushing?

Rhys opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by the fact that Jack was now petting his head “Cute- soft-'' he said quietly as if just noticing it before pulling back a bit shocked at his own actions “Ah- sorry kiddo just uh… couldn't help myself.” he said “Anyway- lunch? You can buy me lunch. If you want?” he asked

Jack was… Oddly cute? He seemed flustered, interested, blushing, and had very little impulse control. Rhys was hit with a lot of information all at once and he nodded swallowing because his mouth had gummed up “Uh- yeah! Of course. Yeah. Lunch. I’ll buy lunch.” he said

Jack laughed a bit and Rhys’ heart fluttered, oh man, this was… amazing. Rhys wasn't violent, but he probably would’ve killed somebody for this opportunity, but Jack just- fell into his lap! Rhys was smiling and nervously he walked out of the shop now with the new rulebook under his elbow “I know a really great froyo place not too far from here and its next to this really nice italian thing- so does that… sound good?” Rhys asked.

Jack hummed a bit and brushed his hair back “Ah- yeah. I could go for some Italian, just gotta be careful of my clothes. If I get anything on this- its uh…” he stopped midsentence and shook his head “Ah- fuck- well. I can't replace it, as easily as I could replace anything else.” he said now.

Rhys looked at him and smiled a bit, finally, his heart calmed as he came to a realization “You’re a double aren't you?” he asked straight out “I won't tell,” he said. The double stiffened and blush spread across the rest of his face and he smiled softly and rubbed the back of his neck, offering out his other hand.

“You don't mind, still grabbing lunch? Even though I’m not him?” The double asked, and Rhys shook his head, taking up his hand. Rhys’ heart fluttered even still and the double smiled “Wow- uh… normally people kinda ditch if they figure me out.” he said “What gave me away?”

Rhys smiled “You were blushing- and your speech pattern is off a bit, you were starting to stutter and Jack’s voice is deeper just a bit, most of the time.” he said matter of factly, the double raised an eyebrow with a smile and Rhys blushed “Oh- it's- I’m not like a superfan-” he lied “I just-” he floundered a bit

The double laughed a bit “Its okay, I’ve met plenty of great people who idolize Jack like that.” he said as they walked together and he gave his hand a little squeeze “Just means I’m doing a good job, I kind of represent most of Jack’s public image, generally the interviews, posters and everything I’m like… the guy.” he said “I’m the Jack you’ve probably got on your wall right now.” he said playfully leaning into him a bit

Rhys blushed at the thought, especially since he’s used those posters for… less than innocent inspiration in the past “Oh- I guess, he wouldn't really have time for all those photoshoots-” he murmured in realization “I didn't really think about it to be honest.”

The double smiled as they walked into the store then “Nobody does! Greatest scam ever, his public image is always him, and yet he’s never really there.” he said with a hidden bitter tone behind it “I haven't seen him all year… Nobody except his secretary and personal assistant.” he hummed a bit

Rhys looked at him as he processed “Wait- Jack’s only been CEO for a year and a half so- you know him?” he asked surprised. The double nodded as he ordered froyo for himself and Rhys followed suit and they quickly walked out of the store just as fast as they came in.

The double looked at him “Yeah- I was the first double- I’m uh… also the only one that's actually met him- and…” he hummed a bit “Well- my face actually is the same as his. Everyone else has a holo and voice filter from the new you stations. It's actually a pretty well paying job- and…” he pressed a hand to his face “Thanks to the stations you actually get to go home and be yourself at the end of the day.” he murmured

Rhys looked a him and smiled softly “You don't get to?” he asked now and the double shook his head “It's in my contract, if I get time off I have to be alone. I can't take the mask off except for any maintenance needed underneath it, or else…” he sighed “Well. My head explodes. There’s a bomb in my head and if I do anything wrong- if I take the mask off, or say my name- or any time Jack wants, just… dead.” he said a bit grim.

Rhys looked at him now “Jesus-” he said a bit shocked and looked down at his slowly melting froyo “I knew things were fucked up with Jack sometimes- but it sounds like you just lost your life to him.”

The double looked at his froyo with a small fake smirk, the same he always had to wear, to be Jack “Honestly I wouldn't mind it so much, if he just… treated me like he used to. But ever since everything that put him in power…” he stopped himself realizing he was saying far too much “Jeez you’re a total stranger and here I am saying my life story! I really should be more careful. Cute things like you are gonna get me killed.”

Rhys reached forward with a small smile and rubbed the double’s wrist “You don't have to talk about it. As much as I wanna know.” he said and the double gave him a small flustered smile, taking his hand back. He was happy that he picked out someone who would listen to him, it’d been forever since he’d felt so… free.

“It rhymes with Jimothy. My name. Its… a T name. I can't say it, but… if you could,” Tim said flusteredly flicking his eyes back and forth from Rhys’ face to his hands. Rhys gave his hand a squeeze “Timothy? That's… a really nice name.” the smaller of them murmured making Tim’s entire body flush. He hadn't heard his own name said to him, not the full length of it, said by anyone since the procedure. Even Jack always just called him Tim (or Tim-tams.)

Rhys smiled a bit more as he took in everything Tim offered- as selfish as it felt, seeing Jack’s face all twisted up, a blush poking out from behind the mask, and the meek eyes flicking back and forth, Rhys was living for it. Then again, it was so unlike Jack at the same time that it was uncanny “My name’s Rhys- again but uh… You already knew that,” he blurted out on impulse.

Tim straightened and pulled his hand away from Rhys when his echo started to ring “Ah hell-” he said as all of that, other personality, the one Rhys had just a glimpse of slipped away in favor of Jack. It was both impressive and… concerning. The real fear he saw for just a split second before the cocky in control nature of Jack returned as he walked off answering the phone acting as if he was angry and busy, but Rhys could tell that it was the real Jack on the other end… likely chewing out his new… friend.

Rhys bit his lip as he watched Tim walk away, and two things ran through his head. He hoped he’d see him again, and… he hoped that he did not cause trouble for him.