Chapter 1
When Otto felt himself being overtaken by light, he couldn't imagine what life would be like when he got back. He knew that Norman would have been sent back earlier than himself, so he was fully aware that everything wouldn't be as he remembered. Otto's actuators may only be a far-reaching dream and his Rosalie would still be alive. Norman would be alive. He closed his eyes as warmth washed over him, feeling his body return to where he was supposed to be. When his body stopped buzzing, Otto reopened his eyes to a sight he wasn't expecting. It was his old dorm room from his second year at MIT. The room was as he remembered it, give or take a few things. His first thought was that it was a prank that Norman had patiently waited to play out. That was until he looked out the window. Nothing he saw looked like the world he had left behind.
Otto's eyes must be deceiving him. He ran out of his room, going to the building's stairs, practically slipping down them in a panic. Once he was on the busy campus, he searched for a newspaper stand as calmly as he could, not wanting to draw unwanted attention from strangers. He internally sighed in relief when he finally saw a newspaper stand. He picked one up, eyes immediately finding the date. July 24, 1974. Otto instinctively went to the back of his neck, expecting to feel metal, but felt nothing other than smooth skin and the hair on the back of his neck. Panic began its prickling march through his veins.
29 years. He thought, mind racing. I was sent back 29 years.
Otto didn't want to believe it. He was nineteen again. He had thought that maybe Norman had the same issue as him, or that he was sent back to their correct time. Otto began to walk back to his dorm as he thought. This was the year he and Norman met. If he remembered correctly, they would meet in two days. Otto ran his hands through his hair, which was longer than he remembered. Once back in his dorm, he took a look at himself in the mirror that hung on the wall across from the door, just above his desk. He felt like he was gazing into a funhouse mirror, or at a portrait that he didn't remember posing for. His hair was long, two thick strands of loose curls rested on his forehead, almost long enough to get in his eyes, the rest of his hair seemed to curl around his ears. His face was thinner, with significantly fewer worry lines and wrinkles. A bit of stubble rested on his chin and around his mouth. If the date wasn't proof enough for Otto, this was.
What he remembered, what happened 29 years in the future, suddenly felt like a fever dream. Otto started second-guessing his memory. Could I really have just dreamed almost forty years of my life? Otto sat at his desk, head in his hands. It was entirely possible, but that didn't feel right. He couldn't have dreamt it all, he refused to believe that he had; it all felt too real to be a dream. Otto pulled out a notebook, an extra one that he remembered he had brought but never used, beginning to write.
July 24, 1974
Waking up after something so intense leaves one disoriented. I don't know what's real or fantasy, or if there is a difference anymore. All I have ever known is gone, is this the second chance that I need?
He couldn't think of more to write, so he just signed his name and closed the book. Otto looked back into his mirror, half expecting to see himself the way he was before.
–
Two days later, Norman was there. He looked exactly as Otto remembered. Norman looked so similar to his older self. Same square jaw, same eyes, same mouth, same everything. The only thing really different was his worry lines were practically nonexistent. Otto stared at Norman, almost getting caught a few times, as he mulled over what he should say. He was unsure of how he would bring up their past/future in the alternate universe without scaring him off. Otto hoped that his old friend had been sent back with him to navigate this familiar yet strange world.
Soon enough, Norman was done meticulously organizing his side of the room, and the two of them were settled into an awkward silence. Otto wanted to take out his phone just to do something with his hands, but since portable phones wouldn't be a thing until the eighties, and portable phones with games until much later, he had no other choice than to suffer in silence.
"Do you believe in the multiverse theory?" Otto blurted out, unable to stop himself. Norman looked at Otto the same way the other Norman looked when he said that Norman was dead. Otto needed to fix his mistake, and quickly. "I'm getting a science degree, so I thought that it would be a good icebreaker."
"Oh, well, you could've asked what I was studying. Or my name" Norman stated, his voice soft and thoughtful. "And to answer your question, there is no way to prove the theory to be true or not."
"Oh." Otto responded, trying not to sound dejected. "What's your name and what are you studying?"
"My name is Norman and I'm studying chemistry, business administration, and electrical engineering." Norman recited, just as Otto remembered. "What about you?"
"Otto, and I'm studying Physics and Chemistry."
Norman nodded, the two of them falling silent once again, the air settling awkwardly around them. Otto wished he recreated their first conversation instead of asking about the multiverse. He remembered that they talked about what they were studying and why they had chosen what they chose to study. Otto opened his mouth to ask why Norman chose to study what he was, but his words got stuck in his throat. Norman looked at Otto expectantly, waiting for what Otto had to say.
"Nevermind." Otto brushed off, standing up in search of his journal. He had nothing else better to do and he wanted to distract himself from the awkward situation he'd dug himself into.
"You wanted to say something, why don't you?" Norman asked.
"It's nothing." Otto insisted. "I don't want to say anything."
Norman nodded, backing off. It relieved Otto, who had finally found his journal. He picked up his pen, opening it to the page after his first entry.
July 26, 1974
I have made a fool of myself in front of my dorm mate. Of all things to use as a conversation starter, I had asked about his belief in the multiverse theory. I feel so idiotic. He, Norman, pointed out that I could've asked for his name and major. I wanted to curl up in a ball or somehow get hit by a bus just to avoid how I felt.
He isn't how I expected him to be, and I don't know how to feel about it. Warming up to someone who is different from what you expected is nerve-wracking. I hope I don't mess this up more than I already have. I don't want to go through the rest of college alone.
Signed Otto Octavious.
He blew on the ink to dry it faster before closing the journal once more. Otto discreetly turned to see what Norman was doing. He was reading a book. Otto thought that reading was a lovely idea. He didn't have much of a choice, seeing the three books that weren't textbooks that he had brought with him: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. After a moment of thorough consideration, Otto decided that the behemoth that was The Count of Monte Cristo was his best choice, hoping that it would somehow impress Norman. Book in hand, Otto settled himself back in his bed, back propped up on his pillow. He opened the book, appreciating that his eyes were properly functioning without the help of glasses.
"Out of curiosity, what are you gonna do with your physics and chemistry degrees?"
Otto didn't answer right away, thinking carefully about how he would respond. He couldn't, for the life of him, remember what he had answered the first time. He had to say something before the silence became awkward.
"So much. The possibilities of what I could do and achieve would be incredible with just one, but both, both could lead to unspeakable leaps." Otto had decided to say. "But what I really want to do is disease research. I don't really want my name to be known, I just want to help people. What do you intend to do with your degrees?"
"Start a business, maybe do disease research like you, or maybe military research." Norman answered, looking thoughtfully at the book laid in his lap.
"Are you sure you want to do military research?" Otto asked a little too quickly, mentally cringing once the question left his mouth.
"Why?"
Otto first shrugged, staying silent as he thought carefully about his response. He knows that he should be more careful about what he says.
"Well, the military may be active now, but who knows about the future, y'know?" Otto replied. Norman raised an eyebrow, looking a bit offended. "I mean the military may not be as important in the future as it is now, but who knows, I may be wrong."
"You do have a point." Norman admitted, Otto relaxing a bit. "But I'd like to keep my opportunities open."
Otto nodded, thinking about his own opportunity. He had the opportunity to help steer Norman away from the very same research that got him killed. He went back to his desk to write one more journal entry.
July 26, 1974
If you had the opportunity to go back in time to save someone doomed to die, would you do it?
Signed Otto Octavious
"What do you write in there?"
Otto's glanced at Norman, who was now out of his bed and making his way over to Otto's desk. He quickly snapped his journal shut before Norman could see what he'd written.
"Just thoughts before they escape my head," Otto stated, looking up at Norman, who was now standing over his left shoulder. Otto felt like he couldn't breathe.
"Like what?" Norman asked, stepping back from Otto, probably realizing he was a bit too close.
"Like the interesting ones that I don't want to lose." Otto said.
Norman nodded, receiving the message that Otto wasn't going to elaborate. They both picked up their respective books, laying in their own beds as they read in silence, though Otto could barely focus on his book. In four years and two months, he would meet Rosalie. Maybe he could make it so that they met earlier, and have at least four more years with her in case history plays as it did before.