✦ The Plus Two ✦

X sat in the grassy clearing, wobbling nervously. His mouth curled into an M-shape, big eyes wide with worry. His arms flailed clumsily as he tried to keep distance between himself and the green figure looming over him.

“Come on, Times,” Two sneered, their grin sharp and cruel. “You’re too easy to pick on. Look at you, all floppy and useless. A silly symbol pretending to matter.”

X’s voice cracked, high-pitched and shaky. “T-that’s not my name!” His mouth quivered into a trembling shape, fear crawling up his face. “I’m X! I’m not a silly symbol, and I’m not a… a she!”

Two cackled, leaning closer until their shadow fell across him. “Pfft. Sure, whatever you say. You’ll never be a real number. You’re nothing but decoration. At least I’m someone.”

X’s mouth drew into a deep M, his eyes shimmering with hurt. “You don’t understand,” he whispered, voice breaking. “I’m not just a letter… I’m a variable. I don’t have to be a number.”

“Variable, schmar-iable,” Two scoffed. “If you’re not a number, you’re nothing. And nothing’s all you’ll ever be, silly symbol.”

They shoved him hard, and X collapsed into the grass with a squeak.

But before Two could laugh again-

FWIP!

A glowing token zipped through the air and slapped against their chest. It shimmered: a bold +2 symbol, glowing with power.

Two froze, pawing at it. “The heck is this? Some dumb card?!” They tried to peel it off, but the glow spread across their body.

X scrambled up, mouth wide in a shocked O-shape. “U-uhh… Two?! That doesn’t look good!!”

Two staggered, their voice breaking. “It’s… fine! I’ll-” Their words cracked into a low growl. “What’s… happening to me?!”

Their outline rippled violently. The soft curve of the “2” bent, splitting jaggedly. Their arms stretched long and sharp, their body convulsing like it was tearing itself apart.

“EYAAAAAHHHH!” Two screamed, clutching their face as the Plus Two forced their form upward.

The glow flared one last time before vanishing. The token clattered to the ground with a soft ping.

When the light cleared, Two was gone.

In their place stood a jagged, deep-blue figure. Taller. Sharper. Eyes wide with a strange authority.

X’s mouth trembled between O and trembling line. “…T-Two?”

The figure blinked, then spoke. Their voice was lower now, with an odd resonance. “…Not Two.”

They crouched down, smiling softly. “I’m Four.”

X flinched, arms wobbling nervously. “You’re still gonna mock me… aren’t you?” His trembling mouth quivered, voice small.

But Four shook their head. “No. Not ever. You’re not Times. You’re not silly. And you’re definitely not some she I can kick around.”

X blinked, mouth curling into a hesitant |. “…Then what am I?”

Four’s jagged smile softened. “You’re X. A variable. That’s who you are. You don’t have to be a number, and you don’t have to explain yourself to anyone. You’re you. And I respect that.”

X’s eyes went glassy. His mouth flickered between trembling and a shy W-smile. “You… you actually mean that? You’re not just making fun of me?”

“I’d never.” Four’s voice was steady, deep but warm. “I’m not Two anymore. I’m he/they, and I see you - he/they -exactly as you are. My best friend.”

X let out a shaky, high-pitched laugh. His W-smile spread wider, arms flopping happily. “Heehee… Four… no one’s ever said that to me before.”

Four extended his hand. “Then let me be the first.”

X hesitated, still trembling - but slowly, surely, he reached out. Four’s grip was firm, lifting him gently to his feet.

For the first time, X wasn’t being pushed down. He was being pulled up.

The Plus Two token glimmered faintly in the grass, its glow fading. Its magic hadn’t just changed a number. It had rewritten a bond.

Where Two tore down, Four rebuilt.

And for X
that meant everything.