To Beerus's surprise, Shin did visit him before long. About Zamasu, not Buu.

"So you're not going to help?" Shin asked. "I don't know why I even bothered. You always make these promises that I can depend on you, but it's all lies."

"Excuse you? I've done my bit for this timeline. Our future is secure."

"You were the one that introduced Goku to Zamasu. You caused this."

Beerus tapped the table irritably. "And I've fixed it. Whatever's going on in the future is none of my concern. And it shouldn't be any of yours either."

"So you would send that boy back to his time…and his death?"

"He's already broken enough rules, he might as well stay here. Or why not take his time machine and travel to another time?"

"He cares about other people in his future too. That's why he won't stay or go elsewhere. I guess we'll have to rely on Goku and Vegeta."

"'We?' Don't do anything stupid."

He had half a mind to report the kai to Grand Zeno and petition for a new one when he found out Shin had been led astray by Gowasu, the pair of them travelling in time to see the end of Zamasu in all his dangerous glory.

Fate had it that they couldn't keep ignoring each other. First it was Goku wants to see Supreme Kai, then it was there's an exhibition match for all gods to witness, and now it was 2 days in each other's company preparing for the Tournament of Power. Shin had been quick to disappear, saying he was going to scout for warriors on other planets. Beerus was almost certain that every participant of theirs would be from Earth; how could they focus on teamwork if they introduced new people with less than 40 hours to go? He sat tight, enjoying the food while he could.

"He's really been trying recently," Old Kai said through a mouthful of food.

"Huh?"

"Trying to do his best as supreme kai. Did you say something to him?"

Beerus shrugged. "Don't think so. He doesn't like me much, so why would he listen to anything I had to say anyway?"

"Well, you are quite insufferable at times."

"Watch your tongue, old man."

Old Kai eyed up the last stick of beef. He took it and slid half off onto Beerus's plate. "I think you two should sort out whatever grievances you have before the tournament. If we're trying to instil teamwork in our team – in people like Vegeta – then the gods should be a shining example of what we're going for, wouldn't you agree?"

Beerus looked at the beef, in thought, then he halved his portion, giving some to Whis. "You're not wrong. I don't know if it can be done, but I can at least tell him the plan is to look good on the outside. Whis, you should call him back."

"No, no," Old Kai interjected. "Leave the boy to come back of his own accord. He's probably out there just processing it all."

Ooo

Shin returned, looking sad and exhausted.

"No luck?" Old Kai asked.

"No, it's…there's too much out there to even know where to start looking. I never thought I'd need to keep tabs on specific people for a purpose like this…" Shin fell into a chair and put his head in his hands. Was there something he was missing? Somewhere, or someone, he should be thinking of? "Where is everyone?"

"Goku and Gohan went to gather more fighters, Vegeta's training, and the boys are in bed," Bulma said. She watched over Whis's shoulder while he rocked Bra in his arms; he had a way with babies it seemed.

Beerus walked over to Shin and put a hand on his shoulder. "Come."

"Where?"

"Secret god meeting, come on." He resisted the temptation to drag the kai out of the chair.

Shin got up slowly and allowed Beerus to put a hand around his shoulder and steer him out the room and down the corridor to an unoccupied one.

"What's all this about?" Shin asked.

"First, I want you to chill out. You looked stressed to the high heavens."

"How can I not be? Are you telling me you aren't?"

Beerus flopped onto the bed; Bulma had made sure he had every luxury. "Of course I am a bit. Aren't we all? I think even Whis might be feeling something deep down. But I can see it in your face. You need to calm down so the team doesn't lose faith."

"If anything, I think them seeing me in a state makes them work harder."

"Look, we need to look good in front of the other universes too. That's why I wanted to talk to you, actually." Beerus sat up and patted the space next to him. Shin didn't make a move to accept the invitation. "Our theme is teamwork, right? We should start displaying some of it, don't you think?"

"If you have it in you."

"I'm going to try my hardest. We have to win this." Beerus stared down at his hands. "This is my fault, after all."

Shin was surprised to hear Beerus say that; no one had accused him yet, and so far everyone said it was Goku's fault. "Why? Don't you blame Goku?"

"I didn't destroy Goku when I had the chance. It's because I allowed myself to be tempted by Earth and its food that we had the Destroyers Tournament which led to Grand Zeno even meeting Goku in the first place. I should have wiped the saiyans out myself long ago. So yes, it is my fault this time. My actions could have prevented this."

Shin took a seat next to Beerus. "Goku's just that kind of person. I'm sure even if things hadn't happened as they have, Goku would have met Grand Zeno some other way eventually."

"I should have destroyed him."

Shin couldn't help but laugh softly. "Sometimes I think the same, but… I like Goku deep down. He may cause me unnecessary stress, but he's fun and makes my job worthwhile. To know that eons of work has culminated in creating someone as interesting as Son Goku fills me with a strange sense of achievement. But also, I am indebted to him for his help."

"…I was surprised to see you recoil when Buu was getting beat."

"You thought I'd enjoy it?" Shin asked. "The Buu I once asked you to destroy is gone. That part of him. I have to accept this one is a different part…and watching him being beaten just meant that our chances of winning the real thing would decrease."

"So you have moved on?"

"Oh not at all. It's much worse now," Shin said nonchalantly, as if he wasn't being more honest than ever before.

Beerus glanced over at him. "Really?"

"Treating him like an ally? It tears me apart. When I look at him and see Grand's face staring back at me? I'll never get used to it."

"You've done well to hide it."

"Yeah… Every time I've had to be in his presence it hasn't been the time for a breakdown, you know. I'm the supreme kai, ruler of this universe, not someone who cries over tragic events when he sees a certain majin. I just have live with it. By now I'm quite numb to the thoughts that flood my mind when I see him."

They lapsed into silence.

"Is there –" Beerus began.

"Please don't get involved. You're the last person I want to discuss this with anymore."

"I understand. Do you talk to, er, Kibito or anyone else?"

"Sometimes I open up to Kibito. More so now we've lived in the same headspace. I think he understands a bit more. But I've come to terms with the fact I'll likely never be over this. And that's fine. It's just a part of me now."

Beerus nodded. "If you're okay with that, then I guess I'll just have to accept it."

Shin was surprised. "Thank you. Is our secret meeting over then?"

"Don't be so quick to get away." Beerus pulled him close before sending them both crashing into the mattress. "Once the saiyans return we won't have time to nap before the tournament begins."

"Is this really the time? Shouldn't we be out there helping them?" Shin rolled to face Beerus.

"This is their fight. This is their time to prepare. We will only be spectators in the end. All we need to do is look good and show our undying support."

Shin sighed and closed his eyes. "I suppose we can spare a few minutes."

Beerus pulled him close so he could feel the kai's warmth.

"I missed this," Shin whispered. "I still don't know why you stopped coming. I wondered what I did wrong."

"Nothing. A case of 'it's me, not you.' I'll tell you another time – we're losing valuable beauty sleep."

Shin wanted to know now. They probably wouldn't have a chance to talk again before their possible erasure. But he didn't insist, finding that now he'd closed his eyes sleep was ready take him.

"My lords?"

Whis's call was loud enough to rouse Shin, but Beerus didn't move an inch. Realising the position he was in – still curled up in Beerus's arms – Shin quickly sat up and began to move away. Beerus grabbed the tail end of Shin's robe, preventing him from leaving the bed, both aware of Whis's stifled laugh.

"My lords, the others have returned. Gohan is requesting a strategy meeting with input from both of you."

"Five more minutes," Beerus moaned.

"Every minute before the tournament counts. Now you'd better get up or I'll have to carry you out in front of all the humans."

Beerus let out a groan as he let go of Shin and stretched. "Fine. Give me one minute then. Shin, wait."

Whis closed the door gently behind him.

"Yes?"

"Teamwork, right?"

"That's the plan."

Beerus nodded. "I'll let you take the lead with this. You and Goku's son will do a great job, I'm sure."

"So, you'll back me up when I need you to?"

"Yeah. Unless it's something stupid. Come on, partner." He held out his hand and Shin shook it. "Uh, that wasn't… Did that look like I wanted you to shake it?"

"What else?" Shin regarded the still outstretched hand. "Oh? I'm not walking out holding hands with you. We can display teamwork in other ways, you know."

"God I'm just trying to be helpful."

"Just smile and pretend we're having a nice chat as we walk in if you want to give them that impression."

"Fine, we'll do it your way." He grabbed Shin's shoulders and pressed his thumbs in. "Don't forget to relax. The more stressed you appear, the more stressed they'll get. Forget about Goku and Vegeta, we need to focus on keeping the others in the ring as long as possible."

"I agree. Shall we?" Shin opened the door.

Beerus walked out and smiled. If they all came out of this alive he was going to make it so their teamwork was real. No more pretending. He would find a way to make it so their relationship reflected the one in their paired universe's. If their team could find a way to win, he would do whatever was needed to fix the discord between destruction and creation.

A/N: Thanks for reading this absolute train wreck. It feels disjointed to me in the later half because I didn't write it in order and certain bits have already been written in other fics of mine so I didn't want to rewrite them. Anyway this is a good place to end if I still want it to be a prequel to Magnetic Today. It feels like this fic was a long essay that concludes that Shin will never really get over his shit. All according to canon, then?