Work Text:
Two Time was always a strange person.
Never really showing any emotion other than that damn smile they always had on their face. It drove anybody wanting to form some kind of relationship with them away within minutes. But it was fine. Nobody truly understood their ways. None of them understood the true reasons behind Two Time’s actions.
They spent their time alone, usually working on prayers, or trying to find ways to contact Spawn in this place. This was simply just one of Spawn’s tests. To test their loyalty to the Spawn. It was… Hard at times. Sometimes it hurt to stay true to their religion, but what difference did it make? Spawn had saved them when they were at their lowest. When the only logical way out was through taking their own life. Spawn convinced them otherwise. They would always stay true to Spawn.
Even if it took a few sacrifices.
They had been on their own ever since Azure’s departure, but Two Time was just fine with that!! In fact, one could even say they were happy! They had been so emotional when they had first lost Azure, but Spawn helped them to realize that it was a needed death. That it wasn’t at all in vain. Spawn himself had gifted them the grace of a second life. A second chance on this earth. And all it took was another’s life.
When they were taken into this place, it had been a mere week after his sacrifice. They were here due to his devotion to the Spawn. And they saw that as nothing more than a reward. They just needed a way to contact Spawn from here. And the best part of here was the fact that it was practically punishment free, other than the punishments for attempting escape. Though why would they ever try to leave? If they were here, that meant the Spawn meant for them to be here, so of course they would stay. Unless told otherwise by Spawn himself.
This was far from paradise, yet Two Time had loved it anyway. Sure, maybe the other people here had been hellbent on getting out. On being free again; but Two Time found their efforts amusing. There was no way out of here and Two Time had accepted it, but it seemed that the others here had varying reactions.
Elliot was someone that interested them the most. A person who didn’t want to get out of here for work, to continue their addictions or sinful lives, but to get to his family. Guest 1337 was similar, though Guest didn’t speak to anybody other than Chance, Shedletsky, or on occasion, Builderman. Elliot was someone who Two Time was able to strike a conversation with and not be pushed to the side.
And sometimes, Elliot even listened to their preaching of Spawn when he had been too tired to refuse them. Two Time wasn’t one to share about themselves, yet after a night of mistakes and tears, they had told Elliot about Azure. Elliot was… Understanding. Two Time was safe with Elliot.
“Good morning, Elliot! May I ask how your rest was?” Two Time smiled as he sat next to Elliot on the sofa in front of the fireplace. Him and Two Time were always the first to awaken it seemed, because they were both used to strict sleep schedules that even in a place like this, neither were able to shake off old habits.
“It was fine! How about yours?” The cheer in Elliot’s voice made Two Time smile, though instead of the usual emotionless one, they seemed genuinely happy to be talking with Elliot. Sure it may just be a normal conversation, but the fact that they were able to speak with someone here without any sort of backlash or hurtful exchanges was exhilarating to them.
The two of them continued their banter as they spoke for what seemed like forever, until the others started to slowly wake up, and of course,Two Time retreated to their room once more. They didn’t like when the others came out. Too much interaction he supposed.
_________________
Not long after, a new round had started. He was walking with Elliot, a bit of confusion on their face. They had absolutely no idea who the killer was this round. If it was c00lkidd, they would’ve heard his laughs, and his talk about playing tag. If it were 1x, they would hear the glitches. John Doe was loud with his footsteps, and Jason was cold and calculated. But they heard nothing of the sort.
Grouping up with Builderman and Chance, the two people gathered around each other as Builderman set up a sentry. They all tried to collectively figure out who the killer was, and Two Time held out hope that maybe the killer just wasn’t here this time. Maybe this was just a free round and they would all be safe this time around.
That was until they saw Noob running full speed to them and hiding behind Builderman’s sentry.
“Woah woah, you alright? What’s the matter?” Builderman questioned, only to get more cries from Noob, holding onto the sentry as he shook.
“It's someone new…! I’ve never seen them before a-and they were scary..! They had this weird looking witch hat..and a z-zipped up mouth like 1x..!!” While the others tried to figure out who that could be, Two Time froze. A feeling of familiarity filled their mind as Noob described the killer, before a smile stretched across their face. It looked weird. And their eyes glinted with a hint of mania in them. If this was who they thought this was, then that meant their test was over. Spawn had gifted them yet another blessing.
With a small turn, Two Time looked down at the trembling Noob with that same uncanny smile. Chance and Elliot had noticed how instead of being normal, as soon as Noob started to speak of the killer, they changed. They had that look of mania in their eyes that Elliot had only seen when he preached about Spawn and when they started to spiral into their madness again. When they thought that they were the vessel of Spawn. When they were under the impression that one of the survivors was actually an angel of Spawn in disguise.
When Elliot had to stay awake with Two Time to make sure nothing bad happened.
Almost instantly Elliot was at the other’s side, scared of what had come over Two Time. The necklace on their neck had a Spawn symbol on the end of it, and it started to shine in the moonlight of their surroundings.
And for the first time, they pushed Elliot away from him, the same look on their face as they left the group. Oh Spawn how they’ve missed Azure. But now… He was here. He was here and Spawn was right, Azure would be back and they would finally be together again. This was a gift from Spawn, surely. Just how their second life was a gift from Spawn. Just how their existence was a gift from Spawn.
They could hear the music that usually accompanies the killers, but oh how it was a heavenly melody. Nothing more than a somber musical piece, but as soon as they got closer it turned fast paced and heavy. And Two Time couldn’t help but savor every moment of it. They turned the corner, and met Azure’s eyes.
Those beautiful eyes that held nothing but hate for Two Time. Yet they had no care in the world for that hate. All they saw in front of him was a blessing from Spawn himself. Spawn himself had done this. And they were nothing but grateful.
They slowly walked closer, admiring their beloved’s features as they laughed to themselves. Azure’s skin was now an inky dark purple, the tentacles on his back slick with a grotesque black substance. The hat that he usually wore was now slightly ripped and tattered, a devilish grin on its surface now, and the symbol of Two Time’s savior was embedded into his chest. By Spawn he was mesmerizing.
They watched as Azure twitched in place before charging after them, yet Two Time did nothing to move out of the way, nor protect themself. They just stood there in adoration as Azure hoisted them up into the air, anger seething out of their expressions.
“You. Why’d you do it? I trusted you. I trusted EVERYTHING YOU TOLD ME.” Azure’s voice was staticy. It was hard to understand yet Two Time knew everything that Azure had said to them. And instead of begging, or apologizing, they just smiled. With that look in their eyes that Azure hated with every part of his body. He wanted Two Time to pay for what they had done but Two Time just simply wasn’t scared.
“Spawn was right. You’d come back, I knew you would. A blessing from Spawn indeed.. An angel sent down as a reward.. Oh Azure, how I’ve missed you..” Two Time’s voice was shaky with not fear, but something else. Spawn had blessed Azure with a second chance as well, and he was eternally grateful. Their eyes held pure faith and their smile was cracking ever so slightly. They wanted nothing more than to praise the Spawn at this very moment, but they needed to let Azure speak.
“You speak as if I forgave you. I will never forgive you. I need you to FUCKING remember that.” With one swift movement, Two Time was thrown against the wall, the kitchen walls shaking as Azure threw them. They limped into the ball pit area, going on their knees and clasping their hands together in prayer, thanking Spawn as their voice shook with devotion. It disgusted Azure. How desperate they were for their Spawn’s praise. Azure hated the Spawn with every fiber of his being. He was the reason why Two Time had been driven to kill him.
But he couldn’t punish the Spawn. He could punish Two Time however.
With a harsh kick to the gut, Two Time’s prayer was cut short as they felt the pain shoot up their stomach all the way to their shoulders. Fuck. Yet they didn’t let their smile fade. This was a divine punishment, meaning that he wasn’t in any position to refuse any of the pain or hurt he was given. The smile stayed on his face even as Azure grabbed them and threatened them. Before long, the others had taken notice of what was happening. Elliot included.
Chance shot at Azure to get him to stop, and that stunned them for a moment, long enough for him to drop Two Time and Elliot to grab them and drag them to safety with the help of Builderman. Elliot tried to get them to speak but all they did was stare straight ahead with that look on their face.
“Two Time..! What in the hell was that?? Why didn’t ya move away from ‘em??” Chance questioned as he put his gun back in his holster, only to be met with an almost giddy laughter coming from Two Time. Elliot had kneeled down to their level, giving them a pizza as he looked at them in concern. Were they alright? Why did this happen now? What triggered it? Usually Two Time was perfectly fine during rounds just the occasional prayer to Spawn once they revived, but this was something completely different.
“My Spawn has blessed me with an angel today.. An angel of deceit, yet an angel of Spawn nonetheless. Spawn kept its promise and brought him back with his gift of respawn. My Azure is back because of the pure kindness and power the Spawn holds.”
Elliot just hugged them. Hugged them tightly as they felt Two Time tense under his touch. Elliot felt Two Time’s pendant on their neck, and desperately wanted to get rid of it. All he knew about the Spawn was that it made Two Time like this, and that there was no way in hell it was a good god.
Elliot remembered the nights that Two Time would come into his room sobbing about someone named Azure. About how Azure was dead and the Spawn was testing them with visions of Azure or hallucinations of him stabbing others just how he had stabbed Azure that day they were supposed to become official. The day that Two Time felt nothing at all for his fallen partner.
Two Time recalled how they weren't scared of killing Azure,, that they didn’t care about that. But what they were scared of was the emptiness they felt. How they regretted nothing. How they would do it again if Spawn requested.
But now, Two Time seemed as if the only thing they wanted to do was to go back to Azure. To let him kill them, so they could show Azure the beauty of respawning. What Two Time had sacrificed Azure’s life for. They felt like they needed to show Azure what Spawn blessed them with. So of course, they needed to get out of the other’s grasp. They needed to get back to Azure. Azure was waiting for them.
So just as quickly as the others had been able to get them, Two Time was gone in an instant, the only things that were showing they were even there in the first place was the small puddle of blood on the ground beneath where they used to be. Two Time was running back to Azure. If this was some kind of death wish… Elliot hoped that Two Time would somehow snap out of it. There was no way to help them if Elliot died in the process of trying to help.
_________________
Two Time sprinted to where they last saw Azure at full speed, eyes wide and body shaky as they frantically looked around for him. Fuck, where was he?! They didn’t just lose track of one of Spawn’s angels right? In an almost panicked sense, they looked around the map in a daze, trying to find him. They needed to find himtheyneededtofindhimtheyneededtofindhimtheyneededto-
A sharp pain blossomed in their stomach as they felt the sensation of being stabbed from behind. Ah. There was their angel. A smile graced their face once more as they felt the blood ooze from the wound in their stomach, the inky back tentacle peeking out from said area. They turned their head slightly to see Azure staring at them, before they were thrown again. And as the blood got to their head, they felt the feeling of being revived.
With a sickening crunch, two wings sprouted from their back, the bone twisting and morphing into the blessing that was their second life. Though their body shook and ached, and fuck everything hurt but what did that matter? Azure was able to see what their life contributed to Two Time’s, and even as their flesh melded together and fixed the wound, Two Time smiled.
_________________
This was the first time Elliot had watched Two Time respawn, and by god he was mortified. The way that he was able to hear the way their body reshaped itself and healed, it sounded like it hurt. And Elliot couldn’t help but come out of his hiding spot to rush over to Two Time, grabbing them and holding them close, ignoring the look of disgust on Azure’s face as he did. Were they okay? Why would they willingly go to the killer? He shook them to consciousness as they just stared blankly, sweat dripping down their face.
“Two Time? Two Time are you alright, what were you thinking?!” Elliot shook them as he looked over their body in a panic, giving them a pizza to help with the aching of their wings and tail. Two Time just gave him a bleary smile, their eyes wide and smile almost manic. Two Time stood up, turning their head to glance at Elliot.
“Many thanks, Elliot. However, this is what the Spawn intends for me, so I must urge you not to intervene.” Two Time’s tone was almost an automated response, but at the same time the amount of sheer confidence in their tone scared Elliot. This wasn’t just another one of Two Time’s episodes, this was worse. Elliot didn’t even know how to begin to help them. How could he? They were completely convinced that Azure was here as an angel of Spawn’s; Two Time wouldn’t listen to reason.
“Two Time, please you can’t go there! He’ll kill you, I’m sure of it..! You’re already on your second life, please just stay here.” Elliot practically begged, Two Time just giving him a glance before laughing to themselves. Did Elliot really not see? Did he not see how much of a divine blessing this was that Azure was here?
Maybe they could make him see. Show him exactly how grateful he should be that Spawn has sent down Azure to cleanse them. With a swift movement, they grabbed onto his sleeve, picking up the delivery boy with ease before starting to walk to where they had last seen Azure.
They would make sure Elliot could see Azure the way they saw them.
Elliot almost immediately realized what Two Time was attempting to do, and started to pull and tug against them to get them to let go; yet the cultist persisted. Saying how much better he’d feel if he just gave into the Spawn and stopped trying to get away and avoid his true calling. Two Time paid attention to how he tried to alert others to help, but at the same time, the others were all far far away.
There was no chance that Elliot would be saved by anybody that was on their team. In fact, they didn’t even need saving! The Spawn would save him! Azure would save him! They were sure of it. Maybe once Elliot opened his mind to the Spawn he would even embrace it! What a lovely thought..
Once Two Time made it to the area where they had last seen Azure, and a bigger smile graced their features as they saw the killer their angel standing there. Azure. They made a loud stomping noise, alerting Azure of their presence here with their grip on Elliot still as tight as ever. Sure, they saw the amount of struggle and panic in Elliot’s eyes, but it was fine. They needed to see just how wonderful the Spawn and its angels were. Starting with Azure. They slowly took off the spawn pendant they were wearing, putting it over Elliot’s head and securing it tightly, before they noticed Azure charging at the two of them. Perfect.
“Oh dearest Spawn, guide this lost soul, and let your divinity and glory reach them even in death..”
Just as Azure tried to stab them, Two Time put Elliot in the way of the tentacle, effectively having him stabbed. Two Time watched as Elliot’s face went from panic, to a pained expression, to that hazy look that the survivors got whenever they were poisoned, or an effect that messed with the brain overtook them. It brought a strange sense of glee in Two Time, seeing the damage that an angel had caused. That their angel caused.
“Do you feel it Elliot? The divine power of the Spawn calling to you, my sweet?”
The falter in Azure’s steps when he saw what Two Time had done was small, yet noticeable nonetheless. Was Two Time doing what he thought they were…? If so, then he needed to be careful. Everything in him was screaming to finish the job and kill Elliot, yet he had to focus on what Two Time was attempting to do. They were trying to indoctrinate Elliot. Their soft spoken words and gentle touch was enough to convince him of it.
Azure lunged forwards once more to try and make it so that Two Time let go of Elliot, though once again, Two Time moved to the side, this time forcibly grabbing the tentacle and forcing it through Elliot’s chest, a strangled gasp erupting through them before silence fell over the area, Elliot slumping down in Two Time’s arms as the pendant shined, before falling dull once more.
“Finally. You’ll be seeing our god soon enough, Elliot.”
The round ended with a stunned Azure and Two Time holding a body close to their own.
_________________
Elliot respawned back in the lobby, his shaking body slowly turning to Two Time, and Two Time simply stared back with a smile. Elliot had seen God. Elliot saw the Spawn with his own eyes. Two Time was right. With a laugh, he feverishly felt his face and tugged at his hair to somehow ground him in reality yet all that seemed to do was make it worse. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned around to see Two Time right behind him, that smile more comforting than eerie now. They were happy to see him like this.
“You seem… Shaken up. Your eyes have been opened, haven’t they?”
Elliot just stood there, staring at Two Time before looking at the pendant around his neck. The Spawn. Even the name of the Spawn filled them with an odd feeling. A feeling of both bliss and numbness. The feeling of numbness quickly spread throughout his entire body, before once again, he was slumped against Two Time. With a gentle hand, they led him to their room, the smile ever so persistent on their face.
Their room was dark, yet far off into the corner, you could see a small shrine dedicated to the Spawn, and for some reason, it made Elliot smile. Seeing his god worshipped like that. With a shaking body, he stumbled to where Two Time brought him. In front of the shrine and onto his knees in front of it.
“Go on, say your praise to the Spawn. And maybe, it’ll accept you as one of its own.”
Elliot felt his body tremble as he clasped his hands in a prayer, as he mumbled praise under his breath for the Spawn. Two Time just watched, a smile on their face as they joined in on the prayer. Praying for the Spawn to enlighten him, and show him the way of Respawn. Two Time felt an almost manic feeling in his mind, seeing how simple it was to convert Elliot.
A smile graced Elliot’s face as he collapsed in front of the shrine.
_________________
The next round, Azure was killer once more, and very much to Azure’s dismay, both Two Time and Elliot were here. Now, he wasn’t upset that Elliot was here, it was more of a feeling of guilt that overtook him. That he just,, couldn’t help Elliot. Though when he saw the two of them, Elliot looked..different.
His usual bright attire was now dulled, and he looked at Two Time with pure and utter devotion, as Two Time was the one who showed him the Spawn. The thing that stood out the most to Azure was the pendant wrapped tightly around Elliot’s neck, and Two Time’s as well. Azure felt sick. Two Time had no right to do this. No right at all. Yet Two Time still went through with it. And now the Spawn had yet another follower here. And there was virtually nothing Azure could do about it.
All Azure did was stare at where the two of them were standing for a moment, before he started to grow angry. He had always been angry after what happened to him, yet this made him angry like no other. Azure grabbed Two Time, lifting them into the air by their neck as he practically shook.
“YOU. WHAT DID YOU DO.”
Two Time just smiled, even if it was strained, and a painful smile, they smiled. Azure found that infuriating, and with little to no hesitation, ripped the pendant off of their neck, before taking them to the river, and dunking their head under. He heard how they coughed and sputtered, before going still. Yet, they were yanked back up as their second life activated, but as soon as the wings sprouted, Azure pinned them onto the ground with his foot, before ripping out the wings.
A pained yell echoed throughout the space, and even the other survivors heard it, yet they couldn’t do anything or risk having the same treatment. Elliot just…watched. His eyes were wide with both fear and a sick sense of enjoyment, as he stumbled towards Azure.
“You…you’re the one they spoke about.. The one they killed..”
Azure just huffed, tossing Two Time’s body to the ground in front of Elliot with a scowl on his face.
“Don’t talk to me. Unless you wish to end up like them.”
Elliot backed away, but couldn’t help but laugh to himself. That was more proof of the Spawn’s existence. Two Time had said he was an angel from the Spawn, and as Elliot looked him over he couldn’t help but see how true that was. Elliot dropped to his knees once more in front of Azure, that look of pure insanity never leaving his face.
“Please…kill me.”
Azure was stunned once more. Elliot was…asking him to kill him?? The way that Elliot spoke hurt him, it reminded him of the way Two Time talked. But who was Azure to deny him death? Azure wrapped his tentacles around his neck, squeezing it as he hoisted Elliot in the air and to his face, glaring at him before bashing his skull in with a sickening squelch.
Azure tossed the body with no remorse, Elliot’s body falling onto Two Time’s.
God this was a headache.
