The Truth

Callum didn't realize how much he needed to talk to someone until he started talking to someone. 

Genesis sat cross-legged on her worn-out couch, her bat still leaning against the armrest, and listened with the kind of wide-eyed focus that made Callum feel both ridiculous and relieved. 

"It started when I was eleven," Callum said, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. 

He started by talking about his childhood fall from Midnight and how that brought him his first memory of falling off Arrow, his Kinnarion. He told her about meeting Ashur in his dreams and the shock he received when he met Micah.

"When I met him, it was like being struck by that lightning bolt all over again. Everything about him was familiar. The way he smiled, the way he laughed… I couldn't explain it. And then, the more I got to know him, the more memories came back. Not just of Ashur, but of losing him. Of holding his body after the fire." 

It was a longwinded, exhausting story; how he got to know Micah, seeing more memories and coming to terms with the fact that they weren't merely dreams. He talked about the feeling of grief and despair he had to carry after Ashur's death.

"It's like I've been carrying this grief for two lifetimes." 

Then he got to his least favourite part of the story, the part about Damian being Edric. He explains Edric's role in the fall of Aeryndale.

"Edric. That bastard. He acted like my friend but didn't stop his father from killing mine. He played both sides, making sure I didn't see the knife until it was already in my back." His hands balled into fists. "When he told me Micah was destined to die, I wanted to strangle him. But the worst part is…" 

His voice faltered, and Genesis's expression softened, though she said nothing. 

"The worst part is that I think he's right," Callum admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Micah quit. He told me he can't be around me anymore. And I don't blame him. How do you tell someone you think they're your reincarnated lover without sounding insane? Without scaring them away? How do you have the memories I do and just go on living like they don't exist?" 

"You don't?" Genesis offers.

"You don't," Callum agrees, solemnly. "I was his boss… his friend… and now, I'm just an anomaly. A revenant from a past he never knew he had until recently."

There was silence. Callum felt exhausted. He never knew that telling his entire story would take so much out of him, neither did he expect it to take so long. But he'd done a good enough job compressing the months of madness into one comprehensive tale. By the time he finished his story, the sun was fully up, its light painting the room in soft gold. Callum's throat was raw, and he reached up to massage it, the confession felt like a log lodged in his chest. 

Genesis stared at him, her bat forgotten as she processed everything he'd said. Finally, she let out a long breath. "You're either crazy," she said, "or you're a very prolific storyteller." 

Callum groaned, dropping his face into his hands. "Genesis…" 

She ignored him, her voice gaining momentum. "Oh, so that's why you've been playing Mr. Dependable with my favorite, now gone, intern. That's why I've seen more of you these past few weeks than I have in the—what is it, eight years I've known you?" She pointed an accusing finger at him. "You're having gay thoughts about your employee!" 

Callum peeked at her through his fingers, his face burning. "You can't tell Ryan." 

Genesis raised both eyebrows. "About the gay thoughts, or about everything else? Because—fucking hell, Callum—reincarnation!?" 

He groaned again, letting himself fall back against the cushions. "Please, the Tylenol." 

She rolled her eyes and pointed to the side table. "It's been there the whole time, genius." 

Callum turned his head to see the packet of pills and a covered glass of water sitting within arm's reach. He muttered a quiet "Thanks," grabbed them, and swallowed two pills with a long gulp of water. 

Genesis sat back, crossing her arms. "What are the odds, though? What are the implications of reincarnation being real? Does that mean everyone who dreams about being someone else is actually reincarnated? Because I once dreamt I was Alice from Twilight, and you don't see me playing vampire baseball with an immaculate face." 

Callum gave her a deadpan look. "I don't know what it means for the rest of the world," he said hoarsely. "But it's not just the dreams. It's a feeling. Like my heart knows I defied death just to meet Micah in this world, but… now that I'm here, I'm so fucking confused." 

Genesis leaned forward, her gaze softening. "Callum… he has a boyfriend." 

Callum's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Yeah. He has a boyfriend." 

She tilted her head. "Okay, let's say hypothetically— and this is a huge hypothetical— that what you're saying is true. That you're some reincarnated prince, and Micah was your lover. Why does it matter? The people you were are dead. This is a new life, in a world without tiger-foxes and in a city without a monarchy. Why does what you once had mean anything?" 

It was a good question. A sharp, cutting one. 

Callum sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I feel like my life has gone completely off the rails, and I don't know how to get it back on track. Nothing feels real and, when they do, they hurt." Callum murmured. "It's like… I've been living in someone else's shadow. Caelan's shadow. I can't tell where he ends and I begin, and with Micah… I don't know if he sees me or just the man I used to be." He rubbed his temples, the ache behind his eyes worsening. "It's like I've already failed before I've even tried."

Genesis' gaze softened for just a moment, her usual sarcastic edge replaced by something quieter. "You might be crazy. But if what you're telling me is true, that's a lot for one person to carry, Callum. No wonder you're falling apart." Then she frowned. "Doesn't make the threesome any less insane, though."

Insane was a big understatement. 

Callum ran his fingers through his hair. He felt disgusting; all the alcohol and sweat from last night still clung to him. All he wanted was to go home, take a bath and pretend like his life still has some semblance of normalcy.

"I'm terrified of what's coming next—of what else I might remember, of learning that I wasn't some saint, of Micah…" His voice caught, and he looked away. "Of Micah dying." 

Genesis frowned, her fingers drumming against her knee. "Is that really going to happen?" 

Callum's chest tightened. "Ashur died when he was 23 summers old. Just a few weeks before his 24th birthday. Micah… he's 23 now. I saw his résumé." He swallowed hard, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm scared history is going to repeat itself. That Damian's right. That our fates are set in stone." 

Genesis was quiet for a long moment. Then she sighed, shaking her head. "So, let me get this straight," she said finally. "You reincarnated into this life to be with your lover, and instead of actually getting to know who he is now, asking him out, and enjoying whatever time you have left together, you let his psychotic, ex-evil prince boyfriend scare you off and decide to have a threesome with strangers in a shady hotel?" 

Callum stared at her, his face heating. "When you put it like that…" 

Genesis stood, grabbing her bat as she headed toward the door. "Look, I'm not going to pretend to understand everything you're going through," she said. "But if this 'Micah' you describe is anything like the guy I know, he's not just going to sit around waiting for history to happen to him. Do you know he's participating in a game jam."

"I do."

"See!" She exclaimed gleefully. "He's living in the present while you're here wallowing."

"The present sucks too, Genesis," Callum deadpanned. He wasn't even going to get into the potential sale of Catalyst and the fact that she'd probably lose her job if Howard got his way.

"Still, the way I see it, you're going about this all wrong." She glanced over her shoulder, her expression thoughtful. "You'd think a prince would be a bit more brave." 

With that, she shut the door, leaving Callum alone with his chaotic thoughts.