#inspired by birdantlers fic recently djhgdfjghs it was jus so good

[imperfectercell]

Mandolin (doesn't) split in two (a lil mandolin ficlet)

There is a pull at his every pore as Mandolin lies there, shivering. Begah tugs at his arm, barely able to not be flung back by the pressure being exerted by the Namekians body, begging his friend to awaken.

But that would require Mandolin to be asleep, and not dreadfully conscious as he is now. These are not without caveats, a thousand technicalities, but Mandolin finds himself stretched out. Yes, he is there on their cruiser back, finally back to Namek Colony Four after over ten years, under Begahs warm mammalian limb as the Saiyan tries to bring him around, but he is being stretched out somewhere else.

An Anchor, based around where that hand lies on his back and where his mind has decided to splinter itself. It weighs heavy as he is pulled, and Mandolin can't help but look down at himself and wonder

"Why am I still so weak?"

Mandolin scoffs, and snarls at Mandolin. "Because you're still so attached to that planet, you gave up all of us for it- for those people so small in your mind. Why did you do this to us?"

Mandolin cocks his head, looking at Mandolin stretched out and far away, but still tethered as much as he is. "Because I had to. That's what a hero does. But Heroes get stronger- they don't get like this." He says, gesturing at his body. Frail, and fragile. Shifting.

"We're no hero- pariah, perhaps. What, you think they'll understand? Be able to pay you back? Begah and Rutab taught us better than that, and look what we've gotten them!" Mandolin peers at Begah mournfully, eyes softening. "Wasting their time on someone weak. What a mess."

Mandolin hisses at Mandolin, and wishes he could stretch and grab him and shake him. "We're not wasting time- they're not wasting time- but what are we doing-" he says, feeling himself become more whole, more Separate and still horrible connected to Mandolin. "Who do I think we am?"

"I'm not even a Namekian anymore." Mandolin says. And like it has now happened twice before now, Mandolin finds himself snapped back and miserably whole; only minorly better than being miserably separate. He reels up his head, nearly knocking Begah in the nose as the Saiyan gasps, and sits back. "You're awake! Mando, I was so worried, that thing happened again and your body was-"

A four clawed hand is held up, as Mandolin holds his temples in pain. "Wait just- hang on." Every little bit of Mandolin re settles back into place, a horrible sensation. He'd been pulling away from himself in two different directions, and yet again been forced back into one. The whiplash on his mind ached, and he wished as he usually did for another Namekian to be near to understand his thoughts and feelings that would never make it out into words with another race.

But he wasn't Namekian. Not even his dear Begah was the one to pull him back again. He sighs, slumping willingly into Begahs arms for comfort. Everything tingled, like his body was trying to regenerate nothing at all. "I can't really, explain. I just want to lie here, okay?" The Saiyan bites his lip, and pulls him in closer, with no words.

A third tether, that never strayed far. Never stretched, but instead wrapped around Mandolin dragged the two halves back every time. A subtle pressure inbetween Mandolins eyes that ached like a jackhammer. Like a beautiful light that threatened to sear the insides of his eyeballs. And so he remains whole. Wholly alone, in anothers arms.