Work Text:
Jimmy’s luck has always been bad, that we can all agree on.
So, when Double Life started, all he could think was how angry his soulmate would be when they found out they were connected.
Jimmy was sure he would be the one to have the first death, and he did but not in the way he expected.
He was minding his own business when his vision suddenly flicked to red before fading to black.
What happened? Did a mob sneak up on him and kill him?
He looked down at his communicator once his breathing regulated.
‘Tango was blown up by a creeper.’
‘SolidarityGaming died.’
Oh, so it wasn’t his fault this time. They weren’t out but they still died first.
Jimmy took a deep breath before hitting the respawn button. He knew Tango probably felt horrible for killing them, and he wanted to be mad, he really did. But...
“What happened, Tango!?”
“Uh- HI- Hi...” Tango’s voice wavered as he spoke, “What are the chances of that? I died and now we’re linked and I- Oh, ‘cause you died too- I'm so sorry!”
Jimmy decided then and there he could not be mad at the man. Granted they never really interacted much but, his brother knew and trusted him so how bad could he be?
Plus the blaze hybrid did seem to feel extremely bad.
So, they both agreed to go their separate ways to hopefully gather their supplies before meeting up again to decide on what they’ll do.
Tango, surprisingly, wasn’t angry about being linked with him. Quite the opposite, he seemed excited to be around him and Jimmy couldn’t understand.
And he tried to not let himself get attached, he really did but Tango was... Well, he was Tango. Simple as that. At first, Jimmy tried telling himself that it was just the proximity or the fact that they were linked but then Tango began wanting to be close to him more often. He showered Jimmy with passing compliments and began being more physically affectionate with him as well. Jimmy was so used to the joking stabs his friends would send his way that his heart caved faster than he’d like to admit.
On one of the nights when they both were on their third and final life, they were both cuddled up in bed. Jimmy was trying to commit all of Tango’s features to memory. He knew that when one of them died, he’d lose him for however long the Watchers would take before pulling them into another game. It was selfish but he didn’t want to let him go.
“What are you thinking about?” Tango questioned him, his warm hand slowly rubbing up and down his back as Jimmy cuddled closer to him making their bodies practically collide.
Jimmy chewed on his lower lip nervously as he reached up with his hand and softly laid it on the man’s cheek, “I’m just being selfish.”
Tango made a questioning hum as he tightened his arm around Jimmy.
“I know this is going to end but,” Jimmy hesitated his eyes flickering away from Tango’s face and his hand falling from his cheek before he continued with a soft scoff, “I just wish it never does.”
Tango’s breath hitched and Jimmy cursed himself in his head. There goes his bad luck again, he ruined it. Again.
Jimmy bit the inside of his cheek to try to keep the coming tears at bay when Tango removed his arm from his waist. He wouldn’t cry. No... At least, not in front of him.
But the blaze hybrid didn’t leave. Instead of getting up like Jimmy expected, he gently grabbed Jimmy’s jaw and turned his face to face him once more. He frowned as he took notice of the tears growing in the avian’s eyes, “I wish it never does either. The world we’re in is cruel, baby.” Tango rubbed his thumb against Jimmy’s cheek as he rested his forehead on the younger's.
Jimmy took a shaky breath as he closed his eyes, “I don’t want to say goodbye,” he whispered brokenly, “You know they erase our memories of the previous game. This one means forever.”
His futile attempt at keeping his tears at bay was unsuccessful, he realised, as tears began rolling down his face. With his eyes still closed, he didn’t expect what came next.
All he heard was Tango letting out a soft whine before he felt lips pressing against his. His breath stuttered for a second before he kissed back, his hand went up to grab at Tango’s forearm. He let himself sink into the comfort of Tango’s grip on him.
---
Jimmy choked on a sob as his sight went black and he was, once again, the first one to spectate his friends. That was it. He lost Tango.
His heart hurt, the Watchers were cruel enough to not erase their memory of the game until it was fully over. The spectating mode kept each of them in their own little transparent boxes, unable to touch each other until they were back on their servers.
In his ache, Jimmy momentarily forgot that Tango would be back here with him. The avian was on his knees, sobbing silently in his hands when he heard him.
“Jimmy? Baby?”
Jimmy gasped as he turned his head quickly to look at the man he loved, “Tango- I’m sorry... I’m so sorry.” His sobs doubled when he tried to reach for him and was blocked by an invisible wall.
Tango sank to his knees as well, both of his hands were on the invisible wall of his own little box, “It’s okay. It’s okay, Jimmy, we’ll be okay.” Tears of his own began racing down his face as he looked at his lover, “I’ll remember, I won’t forget I swear. I’ll remember.”
---
Tango found himself staring at Jimmy as Grian explained the new game to them. He didn’t know why but his eyes seemed to be stuck on the avian. Skizz, being the one beside him, nudged him lightly and only frowned at him questioningly when the blaze hybrid turned to look at him.
He shook his head at him before turning to look at Grian, only to meet eyes with Jimmy. The younger man smiled at him excitedly before turning his attention back to his brother. Tango’s heart ached for a brief second before he pushed it aside, and not even a second later, they were all running from each other as the game started.
He should try to get to know the avian, who knows, they could end up being good friends.