All of sudden, Jake found himself curious. Grandma Harley had died when he was just a kid, leaving him alone on the island, and Dave looked his age. It didn’t add up. “Say, how did you know my grandma?”
Dave turned to look at him again.
“She’s been my friend for a long time,” he replied, monotone. Then, almost as an afterthought, he smiled. Jake couldn’t see his eyes, but the smile felt a bit sad. “A knack for adventure and one hell of a bitch –in a good way, I assure you. Had her following me ‘round for a good decade or two”.
“Now I know you’re just pulling my leg,” Jake grunted, hands planted on his hips. “You can’t be older than me by a single day, how could you have been pals with my grandma for decades?”
The smile stretched into a smirk, and Dave straightened his back, managing to look far too smug, even if he was shorter than Jake by at least two inches.
“I am a Guardian of Time,” he stated, pressing one thumb on his chest.
Jake opened his mouth to say something, then thought better of it, and closed it again. “What?”
“Guardian of Time. Keeper of the Gates of Clockwork, and a lot of other names,” Dave supplied helpfully. “That’s all me”.
“You mean for real?” eyes wide, Jake stared with newfound interest at the visitor. “How did you get on my island?”
“Stepping through the flows of Time, how else?” completely unperturbed by Jake’s shock, Dave mimicked a step forwards. “I know exactly when and where I want to go, easier than laying down some sick beats, bro”.
Instantly, Jake pounced, invading Dave’s space in his haste to get a closer look. This was not a silly, maybe dangerous kid anymore –this was legit!
“So what, are you The Doctor?”
“Doctor Who?” Dave deadpanned.
“That was a horrible joke,” Jake commented, shaking his head, but even the pun didn’t make his excitement fade at all. “So, are you?”
“Of course I am, I left my Tardis parked right in the woods down there,” Dave pointed at the forest behind him with a thumb. “Not going to go anywhere without me”.
Dave allowed himself a second to appreciate the way Jake’s eyes grew even larger, looking almost ready to burst into a thousand million fragments of pure excitement before he lifted one hand up.
“Bro, calm down. I’m kidding,” he snorted at the other teen. “Doctor Who is fiction, nothing but a TV–show. Jeez, you’re such a loser, believing everything I tell you”.
Jake deflated, staring at Dave with a tinge of anger. “Does that mean all you said was a dirty lie?”
“No man, I’m the real deal here, package including time travelling and all that cool shit,” Dave assured.
“Well, what if I don’t believe you now?” he huffed. His pride had been hit where it hurt. “Don’t go selling me woof tickets, mister,” he decided to add for a good measure.
“That is where I either tell you about my adventures on the beats of a rap, words as fresh and cutting as a double edged sword, or I give you proof,” Dave chuckled. “Let Time Roll”.
There was no flicker in the air, no flash of light like in one of Jake’s favourite movies, no world turning on its axis –but suddenly another Dave stepped through air, coming to a stop right next to the one Jake had been talking with.
“Holy–” backing out in shock, Jake observed the two Daves with eyes as wide as saucers, glasses slightly slipping down the bridge of his nose. “How did you…”
Both Daves turned to look at him, the same smirk on their identical faces.
“Time Tricks, bro, the usual for me, one step here and you get to prehistory, one step too far and all the futures lay at my feet, basking in my cool presence,” the first Dave stated smugly.
“Spinning and weaving time with my fingers, best job in the world,” the second Dave continued, although his voice had a haunted tone that wasn’t lost on Jake.
“Did I burn away all your silly resistance now?” both Daves commented.
Jake nodded wildly, hands clenched into fists as a wave of excitement ran through his body. “Sure you did old chap!”
The first Dave turned to the second and offered him a fist, which the second Dave gave a bump to; then, the Dave Jake had been talking with until then made a mock–wave and stepped backwards.
Just like that, he was gone.
“That was –so far out I can’t believe it’s happening right here!” Jake grabbed one of Dave’s hands, holding it tightly. “What other things can you do?!”
Although surprised at the sudden contact, Dave kept the smirk on his face and shook his head. “You’re nothing like him,” he murmured, patting Jake’s arm with his free hand.
“Huh? Nothing like who?”
“The guy who gave me these,” Dave pointed at his shades. “Originals, too, Ben Stiller wore them on his big sweaty nose”.
“Ow, yucky man,” Jake wrinkled his nose. “Those look kind of tacky anyway, you positive they’re originals?”
With a tap on the side of the lens, Dave nodded. “Ironic as hell and equally original, yes. Jade’s… it was a gift from your grandma’s bro”.
Jake blinked in shock at him. He hadn’t been able to meet any of his grandma’s family members before she had died, and none of them had ever visited –they probably didn’t even know where he was– but Grandma Jade always had heart-warming stories about her brother.
“Good man, also travelled with me for a while. Had a good grasp on wind, the guy,” once again, Jake detected a flicker of sadness passing on Dave’s face.
Fumbling with his words, he tightened his grip on the other teen’s hand and tugged. “You gotta tell me everything about your jolly adventures, I say!”
Dave paused for a moment, resisting Jake as he tried to drag him towards his house.
“Man, as much as I like talking about my rad exploits, I don’t think a man of adventure like you would be satisfied with that, hmm?” Dave tapped Jake’s shoulder, then pushed him off, only to offer him his hand again. “What do you say, English? Want to hop onto the Time Train for a while?”
Jake didn’t even have to think about it.
He batted the offered hand away and stomped up to Dave, ignoring his slightly surprised face and wrapping his arm around the other teen’s shoulders.
“I daresay you have yourself a new companion,” he commented, smiling. “Just let me go and grab my pistols then I’m set to go!”
Snorting despite himself, Dave watched as Jake pulled away, hurrying down the path leading to his house and turning around every few steps to make sure Dave was actually following him.
True to his words, the only thing Jake took was his pair of guns, securing them to his sides and staring expectantly at Dave, waiting for instructions.
“If you don’t have a Tardis, mighty Time Guardian, how do you move around?” he asked as Dave made his way back outside.
“A skateboard,” was the deadpan reply.
Jake stumbled slightly, having not expected such an answer. “Uh, I’m sorry?”
“What? It’s highly ironic,” Dave commented, smirking. “But if you’re hesitant to take such an innovative machine, I guess I could find something suitable to your tastes”.
“What about a–”
“No, not a DeLorean”.
“Aww, bummer”.
“I guess you’ll have to settle for an equally ironic pony”.
“You’re shitting me, Dave, are you?”
Dave simply smirked, and held out his hand again.
Without hesitation, Jake grabbed it.
Looking forwards, Dave counted down the seconds, stepped forwards–
–and then they were gone.
–––
Between all the tomfoolery and adventures I have partaken in with the company of one Guardian of Time, namely Dave, that first encounter has been, despite its lack of perils, the one I still remember the most vividly.
I have been at his side for many years, and still remain, as far as I know, one of the few to know his full name.
I left a life of boredom, the confines of an island I knew like the back of my hand, to follow Dave through time and time again, and insofar, I have yet to regret it.
My adventures with him have not yet concluded, and if Time is on our sides, which I know it will be, many more still await, ready and ripe for me to take.
I am glad to have taken my chance in both hands, and I still hold it tightly, unwilling to let it go. I have been granted not just a never-ending supply of adventures, but a mate to enjoy them with.
Time moves on, and with it, so does he. And at his side, so do I.
FILL: Team Dave<3Karkat
Dave turned to look at him again.
“She’s been my friend for a long time,” he replied, monotone. Then, almost as an afterthought, he smiled. Jake couldn’t see his eyes, but the smile felt a bit sad. “A knack for adventure and one hell of a bitch –in a good way, I assure you. Had her following me ‘round for a good decade or two”.
“Now I know you’re just pulling my leg,” Jake grunted, hands planted on his hips. “You can’t be older than me by a single day, how could you have been pals with my grandma for decades?”
The smile stretched into a smirk, and Dave straightened his back, managing to look far too smug, even if he was shorter than Jake by at least two inches.
“I am a Guardian of Time,” he stated, pressing one thumb on his chest.
Jake opened his mouth to say something, then thought better of it, and closed it again. “What?”
“Guardian of Time. Keeper of the Gates of Clockwork, and a lot of other names,” Dave supplied helpfully. “That’s all me”.
“You mean for real?” eyes wide, Jake stared with newfound interest at the visitor. “How did you get on my island?”
“Stepping through the flows of Time, how else?” completely unperturbed by Jake’s shock, Dave mimicked a step forwards. “I know exactly when and where I want to go, easier than laying down some sick beats, bro”.
Instantly, Jake pounced, invading Dave’s space in his haste to get a closer look. This was not a silly, maybe dangerous kid anymore –this was legit!
“So what, are you The Doctor?”
“Doctor Who?” Dave deadpanned.
“That was a horrible joke,” Jake commented, shaking his head, but even the pun didn’t make his excitement fade at all. “So, are you?”
“Of course I am, I left my Tardis parked right in the woods down there,” Dave pointed at the forest behind him with a thumb. “Not going to go anywhere without me”.
Dave allowed himself a second to appreciate the way Jake’s eyes grew even larger, looking almost ready to burst into a thousand million fragments of pure excitement before he lifted one hand up.
“Bro, calm down. I’m kidding,” he snorted at the other teen. “Doctor Who is fiction, nothing but a TV–show. Jeez, you’re such a loser, believing everything I tell you”.
Jake deflated, staring at Dave with a tinge of anger. “Does that mean all you said was a dirty lie?”
“No man, I’m the real deal here, package including time travelling and all that cool shit,” Dave assured.
“Well, what if I don’t believe you now?” he huffed. His pride had been hit where it hurt. “Don’t go selling me woof tickets, mister,” he decided to add for a good measure.
“That is where I either tell you about my adventures on the beats of a rap, words as fresh and cutting as a double edged sword, or I give you proof,” Dave chuckled. “Let Time Roll”.
There was no flicker in the air, no flash of light like in one of Jake’s favourite movies, no world turning on its axis –but suddenly another Dave stepped through air, coming to a stop right next to the one Jake had been talking with.
“Holy–” backing out in shock, Jake observed the two Daves with eyes as wide as saucers, glasses slightly slipping down the bridge of his nose. “How did you…”
Both Daves turned to look at him, the same smirk on their identical faces.
“Time Tricks, bro, the usual for me, one step here and you get to prehistory, one step too far and all the futures lay at my feet, basking in my cool presence,” the first Dave stated smugly.
“Spinning and weaving time with my fingers, best job in the world,” the second Dave continued, although his voice had a haunted tone that wasn’t lost on Jake.
“Did I burn away all your silly resistance now?” both Daves commented.
Jake nodded wildly, hands clenched into fists as a wave of excitement ran through his body. “Sure you did old chap!”
The first Dave turned to the second and offered him a fist, which the second Dave gave a bump to; then, the Dave Jake had been talking with until then made a mock–wave and stepped backwards.
Just like that, he was gone.
“That was –so far out I can’t believe it’s happening right here!” Jake grabbed one of Dave’s hands, holding it tightly. “What other things can you do?!”
Although surprised at the sudden contact, Dave kept the smirk on his face and shook his head. “You’re nothing like him,” he murmured, patting Jake’s arm with his free hand.
“Huh? Nothing like who?”
“The guy who gave me these,” Dave pointed at his shades. “Originals, too, Ben Stiller wore them on his big sweaty nose”.
“Ow, yucky man,” Jake wrinkled his nose. “Those look kind of tacky anyway, you positive they’re originals?”
With a tap on the side of the lens, Dave nodded. “Ironic as hell and equally original, yes. Jade’s… it was a gift from your grandma’s bro”.
Jake blinked in shock at him. He hadn’t been able to meet any of his grandma’s family members before she had died, and none of them had ever visited –they probably didn’t even know where he was– but Grandma Jade always had heart-warming stories about her brother.
“Good man, also travelled with me for a while. Had a good grasp on wind, the guy,” once again, Jake detected a flicker of sadness passing on Dave’s face.
Fumbling with his words, he tightened his grip on the other teen’s hand and tugged. “You gotta tell me everything about your jolly adventures, I say!”
Dave paused for a moment, resisting Jake as he tried to drag him towards his house.
“Man, as much as I like talking about my rad exploits, I don’t think a man of adventure like you would be satisfied with that, hmm?” Dave tapped Jake’s shoulder, then pushed him off, only to offer him his hand again. “What do you say, English? Want to hop onto the Time Train for a while?”
Jake didn’t even have to think about it.
He batted the offered hand away and stomped up to Dave, ignoring his slightly surprised face and wrapping his arm around the other teen’s shoulders.
“I daresay you have yourself a new companion,” he commented, smiling. “Just let me go and grab my pistols then I’m set to go!”
Snorting despite himself, Dave watched as Jake pulled away, hurrying down the path leading to his house and turning around every few steps to make sure Dave was actually following him.
True to his words, the only thing Jake took was his pair of guns, securing them to his sides and staring expectantly at Dave, waiting for instructions.
“If you don’t have a Tardis, mighty Time Guardian, how do you move around?” he asked as Dave made his way back outside.
“A skateboard,” was the deadpan reply.
Jake stumbled slightly, having not expected such an answer. “Uh, I’m sorry?”
“What? It’s highly ironic,” Dave commented, smirking. “But if you’re hesitant to take such an innovative machine, I guess I could find something suitable to your tastes”.
“What about a–”
“No, not a DeLorean”.
“Aww, bummer”.
“I guess you’ll have to settle for an equally ironic pony”.
“You’re shitting me, Dave, are you?”
Dave simply smirked, and held out his hand again.
Without hesitation, Jake grabbed it.
Looking forwards, Dave counted down the seconds, stepped forwards–
–and then they were gone.
–––
Between all the tomfoolery and adventures I have partaken in with the company of one Guardian of Time, namely Dave, that first encounter has been, despite its lack of perils, the one I still remember the most vividly.
I have been at his side for many years, and still remain, as far as I know, one of the few to know his full name.
I left a life of boredom, the confines of an island I knew like the back of my hand, to follow Dave through time and time again, and insofar, I have yet to regret it.
My adventures with him have not yet concluded, and if Time is on our sides, which I know it will be, many more still await, ready and ripe for me to take.
I am glad to have taken my chance in both hands, and I still hold it tightly, unwilling to let it go. I have been granted not just a never-ending supply of adventures, but a mate to enjoy them with.
Time moves on, and with it, so does he. And at his side, so do I.
Jake English
---
Jake's speech style is HARD, man.