Chapter 87 - Life is Strange 2

Dammit!! I'm horny! I want to write smut!!!

Gaaaaaah!!!!!!!! I need it!!!!!

But I must persevere!!!

===========

Life is strange.

Friday, October 4.

As they sat together in the dimly lit diner, Morty knew that their bond had deepened in ways he couldn't have imagined.

And as Kate's tears slowly subsided, replaced by a sense of calm, Morty felt a renewed determination to protect her and keep her safe from whatever dangers lurked in the shadows. With a gentle squeeze of his hand, Morty silently vowed to always be there for Kate.

As Kate's tears subsided and a sense of calm settled over them, Morty noticed her yawning, a sign of the emotional toll the evening had taken on her.

"Hey, Kate," Morty said softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.

"You look exhausted. Let me drive you back to wherever you're staying." Kate nodded gratefully, her eyes heavy with fatigue.

"Thank you, Morty. I appreciate it."

Morty helped Kate out of the booth and led her to his car, guiding her gently into the passenger seat. As they drove towards Blackwell Academy, the silence between them was comfortable, a sense of understanding passing between them.

When they arrived at the academy, Morty pulled up to the entrance and parked the car. Kate turned to him, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Thanks for the ride, Morty," Kate said, her voice soft with gratitude.

"I can walk back to my dorm room from here."

Morty nodded, but before he could say anything, Kate hesitated for a moment, her expression uncertain. Then, without warning, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his in a deep, passionate kiss.

Morty was taken aback at first, but he quickly melted into the kiss, his heart racing with unexpected desire. When Kate finally pulled back, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"I-I'm sorry, Morty," Kate stammered, her voice shaky.

"I don't know what came over me." Morty smiled gently, reaching out to brush a lock of hair behind Kate's ear.

"It's okay, Kate. Don't apologize. I… I find you cute anyway." Kate's heart skipped a beat at Morty's words, a rush of warmth flooding through her.

"Th-thank you, Morty. That means a lot."

As they sat in the car, their eyes locked in a silent exchange, Morty felt a sense of connection unlike anything he had ever experienced before. In that moment, Kate's vulnerability and strength resonated with him in a profound way.

With a final nod, Morty reluctantly pulled away, watching as Kate made her way towards the dormitories. As she disappeared from view, Morty couldn't help but feel a sense of longing, knowing that their paths would inevitably cross again.

As he drove away from Blackwell Academy, Morty felt a renewed sense of purpose. Whatever the future held, he knew that his encounter with Kate had changed him in ways he couldn't fully comprehend.

And as he looked ahead to the adventures that lay in store, Morty knew that he would always carry a piece of Kate with him, a reminder of the profound connection they shared on that unforgettable night.

A few days later, Morty found himself settling into a small apartment he had rented near Blackwell Academy. The apartment was modest but served his purpose well: to gather evidence on Nathan Prescott and Mark Jefferson. He had managed to keep in touch with both Kate and Victoria through texting, maintaining the connections he had made during his initial days in Arcadia Bay.

On October 8th, a Tuesday, Morty headed to Two Whales Diner, a place he had come to appreciate for its cozy atmosphere and good food. He planned to meet Chloe Price and Max Caulfield, two key figures in the events unfolding at Blackwell Academy. Morty had a plan, and meeting Chloe and Max was a crucial part of it.

Not to mention, he finds the adventure to be worth his time. Morty can do everything in an instant but decide to enjoy the process for now.

As he walked into the diner, the familiar smell of coffee and frying bacon greeted him. He found a booth near the window and settled in, waiting for his new acquaintances to arrive. After a few minutes, Joyce Price, the friendly and no-nonsense owner of the diner, approached his table.

"Morning, hon," Joyce said with a warm smile.

"What can I get you for breakfast? And I don't think I've seen you around here before. You're new in town?" Morty looked up at her, returning the smile.

"Good morning. Yeah, I'm new here. Just moved in a few days ago. I'll have the classic breakfast special, please. Bacon, eggs, and toast."

"Coming right up," Joyce replied, jotting down his order on her notepad.

"Where you from, if you don't mind me asking?" Morty paused, deciding how much to reveal.

"I'm from a few towns over. Needed a change of scenery, and Arcadia Bay seemed like a good place to start fresh." Joyce nodded understandingly.

"Well, welcome to Arcadia Bay. Hope you find what you're looking for here."

"Thanks, Joyce," Morty said, appreciating her friendly demeanor.

As Joyce walked away to place his order, Morty glanced around the diner, taking in the familiar faces of the regulars and the steady hum of conversation. He checked his phone, confirming that Chloe and Max were on their way. While he waited, he received a text from Kate.

[ *Kate:* "Good morning, Morty. How's your day going so far?" ]

[ *Morty:* "Morning, Kate. Just grabbed a seat at Two Whales Diner. Waiting to meet a couple of people. How about you?" ]

[ *Kate:* "Just heading to my morning classes. I hope your meeting goes well. Stay safe." ]

[ *Morty:* "Thanks, Kate. I will. Talk to you later." ]

No sooner had he finished his text exchange with Kate than his phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from Victoria.

[ *Victoria:* "Hey, Morty. Hope you're not too busy to grab lunch sometime. Got something to discuss with you." ]

[ *Morty:* "Sure thing, Victoria. I'm free today. I'll keep you posted." ]

He put his phone away as Joyce returned with his breakfast.

"Here you go," she said, placing the plate in front of him.

"Enjoy, hon."

"Thanks, Joyce," Morty said, picking up his fork and taking a bite. The food was just as good as he remembered, comforting and satisfying.

Morty enjoyed his breakfast, savoring the taste of the bacon and eggs. He glanced up as the bell above the diner's door jingled again. This time, a girl with shoulder-length brown hair and a bag hanging over his shoulder walked in. Morty recognized her immediately as Max Caulfield, the time-traveling protagonist of "Life is Strange." She looked around the diner, a slight look of nervousness in her eyes, before choosing a booth directly behind Morty.

Morty decided not to approach her just yet. He sensed the temporal distortion around her, a subtle but unmistakable ripple in the fabric of reality. It was a peculiar feeling, and he knew he had to be careful to not ruin his fun. He remained quiet, choosing to observe Max from a distance. She seemed deep in thought, fiddling with her camera and occasionally glancing towards the entrance, obviously waiting for someone.

As Morty continued his meal, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of curiosity and admiration for Max. He knew about her ability to manipulate time, and he could sense the burden it placed on her. The diner buzzed with quiet conversations and the clinking of dishes, providing a comforting backdrop to his thoughts.

After a few minutes, the door opened again, and Chloe Price strode in with her usual confidence. Her blue hair was striking against the diner's warm lighting, and she quickly spotted Max, heading straight for her.

"Hey, Max!" Chloe greeted her friend with a wide grin.

"Sorry I'm late. Traffic was a bitch." Max smiled back, visibly relaxing at Chloe's presence.

"No worries, Chloe. Glad you made it."

Chloe slid into the booth across from Max, and they started chatting immediately, their conversation a mix of casual banter and more serious undertones. Morty listened discreetly, catching snippets of their dialogue about recent events at Blackwell Academy and their concerns about Nathan Prescott.

As Morty finished his breakfast, Joyce came over to refill his coffee.

"Everything good, hon?" she asked with a warm smile.

"Yeah, everything's great. Thanks, Joyce," Morty replied, returning her smile.

Joyce nodded and moved on to check on other customers, leaving Morty to his thoughts. He debated whether he should introduce himself to Max and Chloe now or wait until a more opportune moment. He didn't want to come off as intrusive or suspicious.

As he sipped his coffee, Morty could feel the temporal distortion more acutely. It was as if reality itself was subtly shifting around Max, responding to her presence. He knew he needed to approach her carefully, ensuring he didn't disrupt whatever delicate balance she was maintaining.

"Hey, Max," Chloe greeted, sliding into the booth.

"So, you ready to show me this crazy power of yours?" Max looked around nervously before nodding.

"Yeah, but it's still hard to believe myself sometimes." Chloe smirked, leaning back in her seat.

"Alright, let's put it to the test. Tell me what's in my pocket."

Max took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing in concentration. Morty watched as she focused intently on Chloe, then subtly rewound time. The distortion rippled around them, but Morty, unaffected by the temporal shift, continued to observe with keen interest.

Max's eyes widened, and she confidently listed the items Chloe had in her pocket.

"Keys, a pack of cigarettes, some loose change, and a parking ticket."

Chloe's expression turned from skepticism to astonishment.

"Holy shit, Max! That's amazing! But I need more details, how much change and cigarettes do I have, what's my keychain and most of all what's the time in my parking ticket "

Encouraged by Chloe's reaction but still skeptical where Max once again uses her ability with Morty seeing the space time continuum was shaking because she doesn't have an anchor and boat to swim the sea of time.

'She's still linked in the timestream rather than manipulating it, she's rearranged it. A sloppy job. Not to mention she's not acausality.'

Max continued to demonstrate her ability, predicting the sequence of events that would unfold in the diner. Morty watched as she accurately described what would happen next—spilled coffee, a jukebox malfunction, and a conversation between two regulars. Each time, she rewound and replayed the moments, convincing Chloe of her power. Satisfied with the display, Chloe leaned in closer.

"Okay, Max, I'm convinced." After Max successfully demonstrated her powers to Chloe, the two friends sat in awe, their minds buzzing with the possibilities and dangers that came with manipulating time. The gravity of Max's abilities was starting to sink in when a voice from behind interrupted their thoughts.

"You should be careful with that power. Playing with time is dangerous."

Both Chloe and Max jumped, turning to see Morty standing behind them, his expression serious and his demeanor mysterious.

"How do you know about this?" Max asked, her eyes wide with shock.

"And who are you?" Morty stepped forward, his gaze steady.

"Name's Morty. Morty Sanchez. Some call me The Fool." Chloe snorted, a skeptical look crossing her face.

"The Fool? Seriously? What kind of name is that?" Morty didn't flinch, instead offering a small, knowing smile.

"It's from the tarot. The Fool represents new beginnings, innocence, and a free spirit. It also signifies the start of a journey, often one that's unpredictable and fraught with challenges. The Fool is both naive and wise, a symbol of potential and growth." Chloe raised an eyebrow, her skepticism giving way to curiosity.

"Alright, Morty Sanchez, or The Fool, or whatever you want to call yourself. Why should we listen to you?" Morty took a deep breath, his expression softening.

"Because I've seen what happens when people mess with time. It can create ripples, unintended consequences that spiral out of control. I don't want to see that happen to you two." Max exchanged a glance with Chloe, uncertainty in her eyes.

"You said you've seen it before. How?" Morty hesitated, deciding how much to reveal.

"Let's just say I've been around. I've witnessed things, experienced things that have shown me the dangers of tampering with time. You don't have to trust me right away, but you should heed my warning." Chloe leaned back, crossing her arms.

"Okay, Mr. Mysterious, what's your angle? Why are you here in Arcadia Bay?" Morty met Chloe's gaze steadily.

"I'm here to uncover the truth about what's happening at Blackwell Academy. Nathan Prescott and Mark Jefferson are involved in something dangerous, and I believe it's connected to the strange occurrences around here, including Max's powers." Max's eyes widened with recognition and confusion.

"I've had a bad feeling about Nathan but Mr Jefferson?" Morty sighed deeply.

"It is always the least you expected." Chloe's skepticism faded, replaced by a sense of resolve.

"Alright, Morty. If you're serious about taking these guys down, we could use your help. But you better prove you're not just blowing smoke." Morty nodded, his expression earnest.

"I'm here to help. Let's work together to make sure nothing goes wrong."