#oswaldo magani

[factorialsotherfandoms]

HELLO! Today I bring you post-canon EdM fanfic. It has massive spoilers, read at your own risk, ao3 link here and full text below the cut

Oswaldo awakens in a field. It is dark, and his vision struggles to see further than the wildflowers around him. His body feels wrong, there is the ache of injuries he does not remember, and a stiffness that does not feel quite right.

He is also alone.

Very, very alone.

That's…

"Alan?" He whispers.

This is…

Think. What does he remember.

Last he remembers… They were about to arrive on a mission. At a place called the Perimeter, a place that does not exist. Previous agents had vanished, and those that returned had lost their memories, so… so a long term investigation was being arranged.

Okay. His memory has a gap, but it is not contextually unexpected.

Not contextually unexpected, but why is he alone? And in a field? Where is Alan? How long has it been - did something happen? He was unconscious not walking so it cannot be he left, it must be that someone succeeded in banishing the paranormal. It’d nighttime, maybe he was asleep, but why was he asleep and not preparing the infirmary for patients? A delay before the magic undid, maybe?

He thinks… That works. right?

But where is Alan, where is Theo, how long has it been, did something happen-?

If something happened, if something happened…

"Alan!" He yells his beloved’s name this time, then takes a deep breath and calls louder still "Alan!"

He pulls himself up, starts looking around. He finds one of their photographs in the mud nearby - he grabs it, clings to it, tries to work out where to go.

If they have just finished the mission, people are likely hurt. He should… He should find the infirmary, get there and prepare. Maybe Alan is gone because he was fighting the cause? While Oswaldo prepared for patients?

But then why is Oswaldo in a field, and not the infirmary?

He needs to find someone.

Anyone.

Alan.

“Alan!” He calls again, trying ro pick a direction to search. “Jorge? Anyone?”

It is dark - it is really dark - he cannot see-

"Uncle Oswaldo?" A voice calls back. "Where are you?!"

Theo.

He sounds scared.

"I'm here," Oswaldo calls back. "Theo, are you okay?!"

Oswaldo squints against the darkness, turning to look for his nephew - Alan's nephew, but his all the same.

As he looks… he spots a faint, purple light not a little ways behind himself.

No, not just purple light - a UV torch. Every agent was equipped with one, but Oswaldo has nothing with him, not even bandages. They were supposed to have normal light ones as well, but perhaps in however long it's been, whoever this is had lost theirs?

Does not matter. The light moves, and either it is Theo or a very specific sort of trick.

"I think I see you!" He calls back. "Stay there!"

The light twists and Oswaldo is only more certain of his choice.

He stumbles a little as he runs, feet catching on an assortment of debris, all hidden by the wildflowers. He still clings to the photograph he found, chasing towards the light.

As he approaches the figure holding the light becomes apparent, and then that figure becomes familiar.

"Theo!" He reaches out, grabbing his nephew's face. Even in the dark, he can tell things have changed. Theo is older, now, his face filled out a little more and the bleached fringe now just one lock of hair. "Theo, are you alright?!"

Theo is frozen for a moment, and then all movement as he throws his arms around Oswaldo's chest. Oswaldo shifts, moving to return the hug, keeping the shaking boy - man, now, he is very clearly a man now - tightly against him.

"I thought-" Theo's voice bubbles. "I woke alone, and something happened, and I don't-"

"I think…" Oswaldo hesitates a moment. "I think the mission is over? It was a memory well, perhaps we couldn't undo that, only stop it going further? The others must be around somewhere."

He says it with more confidence than he has; years of shaken patients and time at the surgical table has only taught him a little more consideration.

Theo nods, "where's uncle Alan?"

"I'm not sure," Oswaldo tries to mask the terror that question leaves in his throat. "We can go look for him. He was probably with the team fighting whatever caused the problems, right?"

"Right," Theo takes a deep breath, pulling away as he dries his eyes.

He looks so, so much older now - just how long has it been?

"There's nobody that way, I just came from over there."

There could be, further away.

But it's as much a way to make a decision as any.

The photograph goes in Theo's bag, and together they use the UV torch to see just a little more than in the darkness. It is a cloudy night - a new moon, even - and the little helps, reflecting off disjointed metal and scraps burrowed in the mud. There is something familiar about some of it, in a way Oswaldo refuses to think about; he just clings to Theo's hand, and they keep walking.

If Oswaldo thinks about how he seems to have awoken in the remains of a destroyed infirmary, equipment unevenly buried until everything is a trip hazard, he will break.

So they just walk, hand in hand, an occasional call of "is anyone there?" "Alan?" "Beto? Rossi?" "George? Lethicia? Veríssimo?" "Uncle Alan?" between them.

After not very long or perhaps forever they hear an answer.

"Oswaldo?" The voice is faint, but unmistakable. "Theo?"

"Alan?!"

Squinting against the darkness, Oswaldo can see a shape sat against a rock. Most of him is obscured, but he knows that voice like he knows his own soul; he drops Theo's hand, and runs towards him.

Alan does not rise, instead he stays sat against the rock. Worry builds in Oswaldo's throat, barely even checking for danger before he crashes to his knees at his beloved's side.

Alan does not even turn to him.

"Alan?" He calls again, softer now, patting his face in an attempt to draw attention. "Alan? What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

He looks rough, but it is unmistakably his Alan, no matter how many years have passed and how many scars have been accrued. Oswaldo wants nothing more than to sink into his arms, return to his favourite place in the world, but first he has to make sure his beloved is okay.

Please, please, if there is a god, let it be something Oswaldo can treat at least.

The lack of anyone else here is terrifying.

So, too, is a lack of corpses.

Didn't he and Alan command a team? Where are they?

"Oswaldo?" Alan turns to face him, just a little. "You're there?"

"I'm here," Oswaldo promises. "Alan, are you hurt? Is anything wrong?"

Theo comes close, and stops a few steps behind them. He rummages in his bag; Oswaldo pays it no mind other than making sure he still knows where their nephew is.

"I can't see," Alan's voice shudders a little. "Oswaldo-"

"It's dark," Oswaldo answers, dread in his stomach. "A lot of time seems to have passed…  Maybe… I'll check. As soon as we're somewhere with lights, I'll check. It'll be okay, I promise, I'm right here, everything will be okay."

Alan clings to his hand, but takes a deep breath and nods.

"I tripped over a root or something,” he tells him. “Hit my head and scraped up my leg. Seemed better to stop trying and wait for someone to come to me after that."

"Idiot," Oswaldo nudges him before moving to feel across his head. He cannot find any swelling, but once they have proper light… "You shouldn't have tried if you can't see; I will always find you. You know I always find you."

Alan’s face softens a little. “So you do. I-”

"Got it!" Theo yells, drawing both of their attentions. There's the sound of something heavy being dropped; as Oswaldo turns to look, he is greeted by a red box. "First aid kit!"

"Thank you Theo," Oswaldo would give his soul for their nephew at the worst of times, and especially right now. "Can you see if you can find a better light? Just be careful, and stay close."

"Of course."

Theo hesitates, and then steps away. Oswaldo listens to the footsteps for a few moments, then begins checking the first aid kit.

Usually…

It's a small, tiny thing, but there is a little keyring torch there. It is too small to walk by, and he dare not risk putting it near potentially damaged eyes even if to assess them, but it is enough for what he needs.

"I'll check your head first, then your leg," he tells Alan. "Theo's looking for a better torch - I can still see him. There's no monsters, and we're safe."

"Oswaldo," Alan's voice is tight again, perhaps tighter. “You're not hurt?"

He considers that as he checks Alan's head more properly. There is some bruising in grey hair, but it's not particularly swollen or tender - something to keep an eye on, but not an immediate issue, given his responses are coherent enough.

"I'm okay," he replies. "Sore, it feels a little like healed injuries or old bruising, but there is nothing recent. Theo is alright, too; scared, but intact."

"Good," Alan squeezes his shoulder. "That's… I'm glad it's only me."

The eyesight explains why Alan isn't with the other combatants, having fought whatever the cause is.

It does not explain anything else, or ease the worry in Oswaldo's veins.

Still, his Alan is hurt. Make sure he'll be alright, then hunt the others together.

Head injury, leg injury… There's no point asking about dizziness or nausea right now; newly discovered vision problems will do that, too, and they are not in a position where they can do anything but move.

They have to find more people, or shelter - something - and they have to get up to do so. They'll have to be careful, but he's conscious and talking, so the rest can wait for a proper room; they’ll just be careful, that’s all.

Moving down, he finds Alan's trousers torn. Beneath there is one long cut, deeper than the rest, and a bunch of scrapes.

Oswaldo takes a wipe, and grieves the lack of stitching supplies in Theo's kit. He knows exactly why they are missing, but the long cut could definitely do with something.

"You've some cuts," Oswaldo tells him. "I'm going to clean and bandage them for now, but you'll need stitches and a tetanus jab as soon as we find some. Alright?"

"I trust you," Alan tells him.

Oswaldo kisses his cheek, then begins.

By the time he has finished, Theo has returned with a better flashlight. Oswaldo quickly reminds him to keep it away from everyone's eyes - the last thing they need is the sudden change in light hurting Alan more - then puts everything away. Rather than return it to Theo, he strings the first aid kit onto his belt.

"I'd tell you not to put weight on it, but we really need to get out of here," Oswaldo tries to keep his tone light. "So, leaning on me?"

"I always do."

Oswaldo offers a smile, then realises it cannot be seen.

It falls quickly, but he helps Alan get an arm over his shoulder, and then onto his feet. The position is awkward, but the only other way Oswaldo would take it is for nobody to be injured at all.

"I'm fine," Alan tells him.

Oswaldo shushes him, "Theo? Can you lead? Just go a little slowly."

"Of course!"

In the torchlight his eyes are wide, typical of the boy they know but looking strange on a much older face.

Still, it is with growing confidence that he finds a safe route onwards, keeping up a chain of words. It takes a moment for Oswaldo to realise what he is doing, but when he does… It's very considerate.

They walk on again, unsure exactly for how long. Soon, however, Theo interrupts himself to say "I see more lights!"

With them pointed out, Oswaldo can see them too. A small collection of probably torches, gathered in the middle of a field.

"Hey!" Theo calls, about to run ahead, only to pause and remember what he is doing. Oswaldo smiles, watching him restrain himself, and staying close instead.

There is no way that the people at the lights would have heard the call, that far away. When they get a little closer, however, one light does break off from the group.

"Someone's headed our way," Oswaldo tells Alan. "There's a lot of lights down there - it's probably some of the others, not cultists. I doubt there’d be that many cultists with electric torches in a field."

Alan understands the inference; he might be able to see little to nothing, but Oswaldo feels him tense up, ready for a fight.

"Hey!" Theo calls, once the light comes close. "Who's there?"

"Theo?" The voice… Oswaldo struggles more with this voice than those of his family. A woman, though, and familiar. "Thank god, I was so worried when you weren't with the others. Did you find anyone else?"

"Just the three of us, Lethica," Alan is the one to reply, relaxing a little. "Is anyone else missing?"

"Theo was the last of my tea," she replies, now close enough to see. "So we're all accounted for now. Everyone else… Diogo has found his way here, but not Jorge. I'm not sure exactly, but it seems to be about half of their team and a quarter of yours here, plus a couple of the missing agents. Nobody's seen Veríssimo or either Besatt, though; we're looking for a phone."

"Your best bet would be Calisto," Alan frowns. "I think only you, he, and I have mobiles, maybe one of the rookies?"

She shakes her head, "already checked. And we tried the radios, but nobody answered."

As they talk, they slowly begin the cautious descent to the group.

"I'm glad you're alright," she tells them. "We worked out the three of you were probably together about as soon as we realised Theo wasn't with us, but with so few of your team making their way over here…"

"It's been a long walk," Oswaldo replies. "We haven't seen anyone else, but they may have gone a different way? Or been off fighting whatever caused all of this?"

"We can hope," Lethica agrees, then pauses, and "Alan, are you hurt?"

"Just scraped up my leg tripping over a rock; Oswaldo's feeling protective," Alan replies.

Oswaldo would correct him, but… better not to. If he wants to keep it quiet until they know what's wrong exactly, Oswaldo will help him hide it.

"Is anyone else injured?" Oswaldo asks instead. "I can't imagine Alan was the only one who tripped in the dark; I don't have much equipment, but I can check people at least."

"I don't-" Lethicia pauses a moment, reconsidering. "There's a few people a bit banged up, but I think anyone seriously injured would struggle with the terrain; once it's light we can organise search parties, but I don't want to risk anyone else in the dark. Fernanda thinks we’re an hour or two off dawn.”

She pauses, frowning, clearly wanting to say something else.

The three of them give her a moment.

“Speaking of Fernanda… Some of the rookies are acting a little odd. I'll send them your way if it becomes very odd."

"I'll arrange to see everyone once it's light," Oswaldo promises, already running through what he will need to do. "If there is anything serious or bleeding, though, we'll keep ourselves central. Just direct people over."

If Veríssimo, both Besatts, and Jorge are still missing, Lethicia will have been trying to organise everyone herself - no wonder she looks about to drop dead from exhaustion. Hopefully he and Alan can take some of the pressure from her, coordinate their own team at least, perhaps Jorge's too.

Or maybe he's wrong and Diogo took control, which is perhaps the more terrifying option entirely.

Still, she leads them down to the group. Theo glances back as he's mobbed by some of his friends - Oswaldo promises they'll be fine, prompting Alan to shoo their boy off - before running off to join them. There are a couple of crates and camping chairs around the area people are congregating in; Oswaldo helps Alan sit down, only to be pulled onto his lap.

Familiar arms wrap around him, and he leans back to kiss the inside of Alan's neck.

"We'll work it out," he quietly promises. "I won't leave you."

"I love you," Alan replies, equally as quiet. "Always and forever."

"Forever and always," Oswaldo replies. "Even into the depths of hell."

That draws a chuckle, before Alan drops his face into Oswaldo's shoulder. "I am so, so very glad you are safe."

"You must have protected me,' Oswaldo replies. "So, thank you. For that. And for staying safe yourself."

"I don't remember doing anything."

"But you must have," Oswaldo clings to his arms. "Because I love you, and you love me, and whatever else happened in these years, we are safe and we are together."

"And we always will be."

"And we always will be."

[susie-dreemurr]

Eles nunca conseguiram ter a festinha deles </3