Trust Me [Content Warning]

Content Warning

This chapter deals directly with the events of September 11, 2001.

9/11 is not an important plot point for the overall story. This chapter mainly serves the character development of Oliver and Peter and the development of their relationship.

If this subject is uncomfortable or upsetting for you, you can safely skip this chapter without missing anything essential to the main plot.

For everyone who chooses to read it: I have included some personal thoughts at the end of the chapter as well. Please take a moment to read them. This subject matters to me, and I don't want those thoughts to get lost beneath the story.

Take care while reading.

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September 11, 2001 | London, England

POV Oliver

"How is this possible?" Peter asked in disbelief, looking from the television to Oliver.

Oliver didn't answer. His eyes remained fixed on the headline displayed at the bottom of the screen.

Breaking News

Plane crashes into World Trade Center Tower

"How could you have known?" Peter shouted, grabbing Oliver by the collar.

But Oliver still said nothing. His eyes never left the live report that had begun only moments earlier.

"We have unconfirmed reports that both towers were completely evacuated shortly before the first impact," the voice of a female news presenter carried through the living room. "According to witnesses, both buildings were evacuated following a bomb threat," she continued.

Oliver let out a relieved breath and finally looked away from the television towards Peter. He was still holding him by the collar, though his own eyes were now fixed on the footage as well.

"Pete, there are things I can't tell you—not yet!" Oliver said, pausing for a moment. His expression turned serious as he stared directly into Peter's eyes. "You made sure it can't be traced back to us?"

Peter released him, took a few steps back and sank onto the sofa. His face had gone deathly pale.

"Yes, I'm sure!" he said. "I did it the way you wanted. I called from a public phone box outside London. No cameras, nothing! They didn't believe me at first, not until I told them that two planes should already be missing and that I'd take responsibility if the information turned out to be false."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Oliver raised an eyebrow.

"Pete, thank you—thank you for trusting me! We saved thousands of people today!" he said, relieved.

Oliver knew what the consequences could be if anyone ever discovered that he had known about the attacks beforehand.

But he had to try. He couldn't simply close his eyes and allow thousands of people to die. If he had believed anyone would listen to him, he would have preferred to warn air traffic control as well.

But who would have believed him? And what if there really had been something to those conspiracy theories? Oliver didn't know—and he certainly wasn't willing to risk waking up in some CIA bunker one day.

Oliver looked at Peter. He was still sitting on the sofa, staring blankly ahead. Oliver had expected a reaction like this. If anything, Peter was taking it remarkably well. Oliver had, after all, just shown him something that should have been impossible according to everything he understood about the world.

He remembered the moment he himself had woken up in another body, in another time.

"Pete, nothing I could tell you would help you accept what happened today," Oliver tried to explain.

"What about the truth?" Peter snapped.

"Trust me, big guy, that would only make it worse!" Oliver paused and met his eyes. His voice was calm, almost cold.

"Trust me. You don't want to know!" he repeated, this time with more warmth.

"You expect me to just accept this?" Peter asked, desperation creeping into his voice.

"Yes," Oliver answered simply. "Pete, this is the only reason we were able to prevent it!" He pointed towards the television, where images of the burning World Trade Center filled the screen.

Peter shot to his feet. "I can't just accept this!"

"I'm not asking you to. I'm asking you to trust me," Oliver replied.

"And what if I can't?" Peter asked, his voice almost cold.

"Then you're free to do whatever you think you have to do," Oliver said. He turned away and walked towards the door, stopping just before he reached it. "And whatever you decide, I won't hold it against you," he added before leaving the room.

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Author's Thoughts

This story is a fanfiction and something I write for entertainment. September 11, 2001, however, was a real tragedy, and I do not want this chapter to feel like I used it simply because it makes for an interesting plot.

I am not American and did not experience that day the way many of my readers may have. I therefore wanted to approach it with the respect it deserves.

At the same time, I could not simply ignore it. Oliver knows what is going to happen, and I cannot imagine him knowing that thousands of people are about to die and choosing to do nothing.

9/11 itself is not an important plot point in this story. This chapter is mainly about Oliver and Peter, their character development, and what this moment changes between them.

I also deliberately kept the chapter short. I did not want to add unrelated plot, comedy, or lighter scenes just to increase the word count. The subject is heavy enough on its own, and I wanted this moment to stand on its own before the story moves forward.

This is an alternative-history interpretation and is not intended to diminish what happened, the people who lost their lives, or those who survived.

If anyone affected by September 11th feels that I handled something insensitively or crossed a line, please tell me. I genuinely mean that.

My thoughts go to the victims and survivors, their families and friends, the first responders, volunteers, and everyone who risked their own safety to help others.

Twenty-five years later, the world has not forgotten September 11th—or the people who lost their lives that day.

Stay safe, everyone!

WaitWhatAuthor