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[abrightboy]

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[empathicfault]

...ah. That's something Will intuited but never quite said aloud. Of course Malcolm wanted to be a doctor as a child. And of course he couldn't follow in his father's footsteps there, either.

But if Malcolm isn't upset, Will's not going to bring it up and possibly stir up some terrible feelings. So he just shrugs. "It's not unusual to end up doing different things than you expect, when you grow up. And being a detective is pretty good, too. I think you really like it when you're an adult."

[abrightboy]

“Well… I like puzzles,” Malcolm acknowledges. “Do you like puzzles?”

[empathicfault]

"I...like mechanical puzzles," he says, after a brief hesitation. "And I like being able to help people. I don't think I quite have your adult self's drive to solve the puzzle and close the case, but there's definitely some satisfaction in it."

It's something he admires about Malcolm, watching him be clever. Watching him enjoy being clever.

"Have you had anything to eat yet?," Will asks, then amends. "Do you think you could eat anything? I'm pretty sure we shouldn't do our usual coffee routine." He's going to have to keep an eye out for mental necessities, too. He doesn't seem as manic as usual, maybe the chloroform damage hasn't happened yet?

[abrightboy]

"Do you know how to make eggs?" Malcolm asks. "I like them scrambled with green onions."

[empathicfault]

"I can do that," Will replies, with a small smile. "I'll get started." They should have eggs- and if there aren't any green onions, he can grab a couple from the kitchen, he's sure.

By the time he's cooking, he's feeling far more comfortable. Nothing's off that isn't explained by a flood. No one new is here. And he enjoys taking care of kids. It'll be weird, but what isn't on this boat?

"You picked one of the few things I actually have experience making, so that's lucky. Do you have any questions for me, about...anything?" He's not sure how exactly remembering backwards works, especially when one is stuck in a still-developing mind.

[abrightboy]

“Why do I trust you so much?” Malcolm asks. “I know I do. More than anyone, I think. But it’s like… you know when you’re watching a movie and everyone else laughs but you don’t get it? It’s like that, except with trust and the everyone else is my limbic system.”

[empathicfault]

That makes Will laugh, just a pleased chuckle as he thinks over the question. "I'm...honestly not entirely sure. I know we've spent a lot of time being more comfortable with each other than...anyone else in our lives. Our histories share a lot of similar events, and we understand each other. But you..."

He looks at the boy and smiles at him. "I don't know if you've actually been through it and you're just younger now, or if you're literally brought here from a prior time and experiencing 'echoes' of your future. Hmmm. I can't believe both are options, here." He stares at the eggs as he moves them around on the pan while shaking his head. "I'll do my best to keep that trust, Malcolm." Just in case that needed to be said.

[abrightboy]

“I’m not worried,” he says and he’s really not. He climbs up onto one of the stools at the kitchen island. “Is there any juice?” He pauses. “I should know that, right? This is my house.”

[empathicfault]

Well, he's glad Malcolm isn't worried, but he also just felt the need to make that clear. Maybe he's just remembering everything Malcolm goes through at about this time.

Talking about juice is a lot easier than that. "I don't know...if I was suddenly twenty years younger, my memories of my life in the future probably wouldn't include the presence or absence of juice. It might be too mundane a detail for you to recall." Which just means Will is going to have to go look. "What kind do you like, anyway? Apple, orange, tomato?" Is there any kid on earth that likes tomato juice?

[abrightboy]

“I like apple. Or grape. Or cranberry,” Malcolm tells him, swinging his legs on either side of the stool.

[empathicfault]

"Okay. I think Kikimora likes the apple from time to time..." He rifles through the fridge and comes out with a small pitcher of apple juice. "Success."

He finds a smaller glass in the cabinet and pours some apple juice for Malcolm before returning to the eggs. "Do you like salt or pepper on these? Or just the green onions?" They'll be done soon. Will's made enough for both of them.

[abrightboy]

“Just green onions,” Malcolm tells him, taking a drink of juice. “Do you think I’ll be a grown up again soon?” he asks pensively.

[empathicfault]

"It might take about a week," Will admits, unsure which scenario this younger Malcolm would prefer. "Do you remember anything about floods here on the Barge? I think this is probably one of them."

He finishes up with the eggs and slides them onto two plates, then busies himself getting silverware.

[abrightboy]

He thinks about it. “Yes. I future-remember floods. I think I’ll be happy to be grown up again. I like being equal with you. We’ll be friends again. It’s hard for a grown up to be friends with a kid.”

[empathicfault]

"Yeah," Will agrees. "But these things do happen here. I think we might continue to get along better than most. You weren't scared by me bursting in here with a gun, that's...a pretty good start." He thinks so, anyway.

He comes around the counter with the plates and sets Malcolm's down, sitting at the bar next to him. "Let me know what you think. I might need to practice some."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm takes a tentative bite of eggs, then a bigger one.

“They’re good,” he declares, taking another bite. He looks up at Will. “I wasn’t scared because I knew you wouldn’t hurt me. I know you won’t. Not ever.”

[empathicfault]

"I might on accident," Will admits, after taking a few bites of his eggs. "But I promise I'll try my best not to, not even on accident."

A bit of a heavy topic for a kid, but Will suspects Malcolm can handle it. "I bet we would've gotten along when I was little, too. I wonder why I didn't change this time. Although- I guess we'd have no one to make breakfast if I did."

[abrightboy]

As with adult Malcolm, child Malcolm remains not at all concerned about the possibility of Will hurting him.

“I bet we could figure it out. I saw the housekeeper do it lots of times.”