Chapter 1: Where it All Started.
Summary:
007n7 meets someone who changes him for the greater good.
Notes:
First fanfic! Warning ahead the next chapters will scatter, as I am not the best at staying on plot!
Chapter Text
007n7 was a well-known hacker, and alongside Noli, they acted as partners in their wrongdoings. They moved from place to place, cracking codes and undermining others simply for fun. 007n7 had multiple reasons for pursuing hacking, but the temptation of power frequently obscured his judgment. He had transformed into the very entity he sought to oppose. It seemed like an ordinary day, yet today’s target was the pizza shop, one they had tormented many times before. Noli engaged in it purely for enjoyment, while 007n7 participated not only for the fun but also because he appreciated the sight of that charming pizza boy.
After a lengthy day of evading Admins and taking advantage of situations, 007n7 and Noli chose to end their evening and went their separate ways.
The rain had started to pour heavily, drenching his small figure as he struggled to insert the key into the lock. He breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the door click open, quickly rushing inside to escape the downpour, which now carried the rumble of thunder, echoing through the overcast sky. He removed his coat and headed straight for the bathroom, intending to indulge in a long, hot shower. He pushed the bathroom door open, shedding his layers of clothing before turning on the shower and stepping in. The warm water cascading over his skin felt incredibly soothing after the icy rain that had just soaked his now non-shivering body.
After enjoying a lengthy, refreshing shower, 007n7 emerged from the bathroom dressed in a fresh set of clothes, his hair damp and his expression weary. He made his way to the couch, sinking into the soft fabric, his hand awkwardly handling the controller as he switched on the news. 007n7 typically had little interest in the news unless it featured him, as it inflated his ego to witness the reactions of those brave enough to utter his name.
007n7 sat there for about 5 minutes, not even that long, as his relaxation was abruptly interrupted by both frantic knocking and the persistent ringing of his doorbell echoing throughout the house. The old man flinched at the noise before pulling up his C00lgui and summoning a baseball bat. He wasn’t about to take any chances, especially since he was an exploiter and fully aware of his status as a highly wanted criminal. Rising from his cozy position on the couch, he tiptoed toward the front door, hesitating for a brief moment as he peered through the small peephole near the top of the door, only to see nothing. No one was outside, just the chilling presence of relentless rain. 007n7 groaned, “Damn kids these days, doorbell ditching.”
He was on the verge of reclaiming his spot on the couch when he heard a faint sound of a sob, or rather, a wail—one that unmistakably belonged to an infant. Although 007n7 wasn’t well-acquainted with children, he had spent enough time around families with such little ones to recognize the difference between their cries. This was no adult; it was definitely a baby.
He spun around and flung the door open, bat still in hand, scanning the area until his gaze fell upon a basket that was quickly becoming drenched in the pouring rain. Inside that basket was a bundle of cloth, or perhaps a blanket; he couldn’t quite discern. It appeared torn in several places and seemed to be made of rough fabric, not the kind of material anyone would typically seek in a blanket. But that was of little concern to 007n7, for the moment he spotted two small hands reaching out from the fabric, he wasted no time in snatching the basket from the rain and bringing it into the warm comfort of his home.
He collapsed onto the couch, holding a basket as he hurriedly started to remove the drenched fabric, only to find himself staring into large, tear-filled eyes. He recoiled, glancing down at the tiny, red infant. Lacking any experience with children, especially infants, he was at a loss for what the baby needed. This situation was nothing like coding; infants were not composed of code or firewalls that required hacking. Instead, they were delicate beings that demanded constant attention and care, something 007n7 realized he was incapable of providing.
007n7 was known as a notorious hacker, not a babysitter, caretaker, or father—he hesitated, pushing that thought aside. This was a baby, for heaven's sake! He couldn't possibly manage the responsibilities of caring for an infant while also engaging in his exploits. There simply wouldn't be enough time to balance both. Moreover, he would be a dreadful father figure if he continued his activities while raising a child, especially a baby. Yet, as he gazed back at the infant, his heart filled with trepidation. Perhaps it was the horns the baby possessed, or the small tail that was beginning to sprout, or maybe it was the hue of the child's skin? Whatever the reason, it had led to this poor creature being left at his door. This baby was evidently an outcast, even to its own parents, a situation 007n7 was all too familiar with, and not one he took pride in. If he were to abandon the baby at an orphanage, the child would likely grow up feeling unwanted until reaching an age too old to remain in the system, ultimately being cast out onto the streets.
What kind of person would he be if he did that?
A monster.
That’s what.
UGH! What is he thinking!? You know what? He’ll take care of the infant until he can find a more suitable family to look after the baby.
The following day, after staying awake all night conducting research, he ventured out to the store with the infant to purchase necessary items for the baby's care. He acquired baby formula, diapers, a few toys, and other essentials.
Initially, 007n7 found it challenging to adapt to the routine of caring for the child, but after five days, he managed to get the hang of it. He also attempted to shut off his emotions, as he couldn’t risk becoming attached to the baby, but it proved futile; every time he gazed at the little one, a wave of love surged in his heart. His instinct to protect became overwhelming, a feeling he could hardly contain. He refused to let the child, whom he would later name C00lkidd, out of his sight, even for a brief moment.
His desire to part with C00lkidd was nonexistent; he had no plans to give the child up because this was HIS son, his boy. He stopped hacking, informed Noli about it, and subsequently severed ties with the other man. He was determined not to let anyone come between him and his child. He embraced the kid into his life and was resolute about not allowing anyone to take him away.
He sat at his computer, with C00lkidd sleeping in his left arm, while he typed on the keyboard. He had successfully hacked back into the Builder Brother’s Pizza Place’s website, but this time he was focused on removing all the glitches and mini-games he had previously added, even going so far as to send out advertisements for the restaurant, updating the website to make it more attractive to others. He had no intention of continuing this torment, as whatever this child did to him had transformed him for the better.
It’s been several months since he fixed the pizza place’s system, yet recently he found himself craving pizza, so he took out his phone while C00lkidd was napping and placed an order.
Elliot let out a sigh; it was just 30 minutes until closing time, and he was irritated that an order had come in, specifically a delivery one. He ran his fingers through his hair as he started to process the small order, which consisted of a simple medium pepperoni pizza and a drink. After cooking the pizza and boxing it up, he got into his car and drove to the specified address.
Meanwhile, C00lkidd had already woken up, and 007n7 was in the midst of feeding the boy when he heard a knock echoing from the front door. He stood up from the couch, C00lkidd still in his arms, and walked over to open the front door.
"Thank you for ordering from Builder Brother’s Pizza Pla- YOU," Elliot began, glaring fiercely at the older man. He was about to launch into a tirade until he noticed the child in 007n7’s arms. "I-when did you-who would want a child with YOU of all people?"
007n7 paused, looking at Elliot with a puzzled expression until he followed Elliot’s gaze to his son. "Oh, I’ve had him for quite a while now, why do you ask?" 007n7 replied, his voice sounding tired and surprisingly soft, which was something Elliot wasn’t accustomed to.
"I didn’t picture you as the nurturing father type..." Elliot muttered, prompting 007n7 to let out a soft chuckle.
"That’s understandable, given my past behavior," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyway, I don’t want to keep you here for too long, so how much do I owe you?" he inquired, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
"That will be $17.85, cash or card," Elliot replied, extending the pizza and drink while deliberately avoiding 007n7’s gaze.
The older man nodded, taking the pizza and drink before disappearing inside the house to fetch his wallet. He returned shortly, having put C00lkidd back to bed at the same time. He didn’t waste any time, quickly pulling out the cash as soon as he opened his wallet and handing it to Elliot, along with a generous tip.
Elliot stood frozen, his eyes wide as he gazed at the tip 007n7 had given him, which was nearly ten times the cost of the order. However, he didn’t question it, suspecting that half of the money MUST be counterfeit.
"So... what happened to your little mini games in our system?" Elliot mumbled, feeling quite perplexed about their sudden disappearance and the influx of customers.
"Oh! I removed it, why do you ask?" 007n7 replied, pausing to raise an eyebrow at the pizza man.
"The ads... was that also you? Everything else?" the pizza boy inquired again.
007n7 hesitated before giving a slight nod.
"I see... is the person who hacked into our system yesterday also you?" Elliot asked, causing 007n7 to freeze in bewilderment.
"Pardon? I haven’t accessed your website since I fixed it. If you don’t mind me asking, what did this hacker do?" 007n7 probed, maintaining a calm demeanor, though internally he was furious. How dare someone hack into this Pizza Place’s system after he had repaired it? He was not going to let that go unpunished.
"Oh, well the hacker kind of messed up our order and menu, and we plan on closing the pizza place until the issue is resolved," the pizza boy responded.
007n7 fell silent for a moment before grabbing Elliot by the arm and pulling him inside. "I need you to show me, just keep quiet, as my son is sleeping," the old man instructed.
Elliot’s face turned a deep shade of red as he was pulled inside, escaping the chill of the outside air. He followed the older man to the computer, confusion clear on the pizza man’s face.
007n7 took a seat in the chair, entered the pizza place’s website, and hit enter. The website appeared on the screen, and he waited for it to load completely. "Where?" 007n7 muttered, glancing at Elliot, who reached for the mouse and scrolled down to the relevant section.
007n7 grunted in annoyance before exhaling, "I’ll have it fixed by morning."
Elliot let out a sigh, silently expressing his gratitude before pivoting and leaving. He entered his car and drove back to the pizza establishment, where he closed up for the evening.
007n7 quickly became a frequent patron, consistently leaving generous tips, always offering assistance during technical issues at the pizza place, and ensuring that no hackers could breach the system. It was the least he could do.
As the months passed, 007n7 took on four different jobs to support both himself and C00lkidd, as he was no longer earning money through exploitation. It was manageable, somewhat, but it wasn’t easy. After C00lkidd celebrated his fifth birthday, feeling like a proud father, 007n7 discovered two other children resembling C00lkidd; the pink one appeared to be about six years old, while the light blue one seemed to be around seven. He couldn’t leave them behind, so he decided to take them in as well. He found out that the pink one was named Pr3ttypriincess, and the blue one was called Bluudud.
However, after that point, finances became increasingly tight, prompting 007n7 to completely resign from all his jobs, intending to leverage his coding expertise. 007n7 was indifferent to his financial struggles or the prospect of going hungry so that his children could have meals. These were his kids, and he was determined to do everything within his power to provide them with a wonderful childhood. Consequently, he established a small business focused on upgrading firewalls; as a former hacker, he was well aware of every vulnerability. He also offered services to repair coding issues or machinery. Initially, the business struggled, but after he placed a few advertisements, revenue began to flow in.
This income was sufficient for them to live comfortably, and for the first time in a while, 007n7 experienced a sense of happiness.
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
₍^. .^₎⟆
- 2,257 Words -
Chapter 2: Everything Goes Downhill Eventually.
Summary:
Not everything lasts, 007n7, thought you would've learnt that by now.
Notes:
HI! This is chapter 2 of my story! I know it's really short and I apologize for that, just really busy but too eager to get this out! Thank you for stopping by!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
007n7 had allowed the C00lgui to transform him, altering his own code to align with that of his three little children. He had developed horns and a tail, his teeth had morphed into fangs, and his fingers were no longer gentle, now ending in small claws. Why did he make these changes? Simply so his beloved kids wouldn’t feel excluded.
Today, they visited the park. 007n7 couldn’t suppress the smile on his face as he observed his children playing, a joy he hadn’t realized he was missing.
He was so engrossed in watching his kids that he failed to notice the mother stealthily approaching from behind, swinging her fist.
The blow struck him on the back of the head, nearly causing him to lose his balance and grunt in pain.
All three of his children immediately turned their heads towards the sound of their father’s pained grunt.
Pr3ttypriincess was the first to rush over, her face filled with concern, “Oh my gosh, Papa, are you o-okay!?” she exclaimed anxiously, tugging at her father’s hand.
“Y-Yeah! Hoofff-” 007n7 replied, ruffling his daughter’s hair as he straightened up.
The woman hesitated, staring in confusion. She recognized 007n7 as the notorious hacker but was unaware that he had children; she had assumed he was merely there to supervise kids.
C00lkidd and Bluudud soon joined, staring at the woman.
“What is wrong with you!” C00lkidd complained, glaring at her.
“I-I’m sorry, he’s a criminal and I thought-” the woman began, only to be interrupted.
“Well, he’s not bothering anybody!” Bluudud shouted.
"Get out of here, you mean lady!" Pr3ttypriincess shouted, attempting to push the woman away from her father.
007n7 chuckled before addressing the lady. "It’s alright; anyone would have reacted the same way," he remarked, then turned to the children, instructing them to return to their play.
The lady expressed her sincere apologies, believing she was acting in the right. However, 007n7 comforted her, assuring her it was fine, and after a brief conversation, she offered one last apology before departing.
With a sigh, 007n7 looked at the little ones enjoying themselves, and a smile crept back onto his face.
He felt…
Joy.
Since these innocent children entered his life, laughter filled his home each morning. The sound of his beloved kids resonated off the colorful walls. The rhythmic patter of their tiny feet as they dashed through the corridors. The nights he lovingly tucked them into bed.
Joy?
Joy is a farce.
. . .
Because nothing lasts forever.
The family had gone to the pizzeria to grab some pizza.
They stood outside the establishment when 007n7 turned for just a moment to help Pr3ttypriincess adjust her ribbon. In the next instant, he heard the crackling of flames behind him, accompanied by the unmistakable scent of smoke. He quickly turned back to see Noli pushing what appeared to be C00lgui into C00lkidd’s hands before vanishing. But what truly caught his eye was the pizzeria engulfed in flames. The fiery blaze reflected in his eyes, now wide with terror.
Who was responsible for this? Was it C00lkidd? But he hadn’t taught the boy any tricks! Nor had he given him access to the C00lgui!
007n7’s gaze shifted to the C00lgui still clutched in his innocent son’s hands; it looked so unreal, like a failed imitation.
He reached out, grabbing it from the younger boy’s grasp, only to freeze as the truth hit him.
It was cardboard.
A damn piece of cardboard.
Covered in nothing but paint.
007n7 was furious.
He was not just angry; that was an understatement. He was boiling with rage. Not directed at his son, but at Noli, who he had seen place this into his son’s very hands.
His ‘best friend’.
His former partner in crime.
Was attempting to frame his damn son.
007n7 swiftly drew his genuine C00lgui, the one item he had vowed never to use again, and extinguished the flames.
However, he didn’t have enough time to conceal it. Elliot had already caught sight of him.
The blame fell on him; why wouldn’t it?
The family was banned from that restaurant. 007n7 wouldn’t have minded, if it weren’t for the fact that his children loved dining there, how they enjoyed chatting with the friendly pizza boy—Elliot.
But naturally, they could bounce back from this. It was just a minor setback, right? Merely a small ban, nothing more; they still had each other, and that was all that mattered.
That was all they possessed.
It was all he had.
He believed he had finally found peace.
That the universe had finally chosen to show him mercy after all he had done to atone for his past errors.
But that was a belief 007n7 regretted holding in the first place. Because the instant it occurred. The instant he blinked at that park. That amusement park. In front of that carousel. Was the instant his entire world began to collapse in unbearable waves.
One moment, his three precious children, his three babies, the very beings he had come to love and cherish, disappeared, as if they were mere figments of his imagination, as if they were simply dreams. As if their codes were just a broken record in the system. Nuisances that needed to be erased. Eliminated. Destroyed.
His babies.
C00lkidd.
Pr3ttypriincess.
Bluudud.
Gone.
Why?
Covered in nothing but paint.
007n7 was engulfed in anger.
Why did the universe despise him so intensely?
Why did it have to wrest away the very last things he cherished from his grasp, from his thoughts?
Days. Weeks. Months. At this point, he had lost track. He wasn’t counting, wasn’t monitoring. When was the last time he had a meal? Took a shower? Tidied up the house? He couldn’t recall. He was too preoccupied with putting up missing posters for his children. Too absorbed in mourning their disappearance.
To be precise, it had been 3 weeks.
3 agonizing weeks of silence. There was no laughter anymore. No sounds of children racing down the hall. No one to tuck in at night. No one to shield when the thunder roared too loudly. No one to soothe when the nightmares became unbearable.
It was all eerily quiet.
He loathed it.
He felt as though he was losing his sanity. His aging mind deteriorating a little more each day without his children.
. . .
It has been a month and 3 days since his kids disappeared.
Unbearable.
The house was in disarray, alcohol bottles littering the floor, missing posters piled high everywhere, blood staining various fabrics throughout the home.
007n7 was in no better condition; he bore numerous wounds on his arms, all self-inflicted, all self-created. He had shed an unhealthy amount of weight. His eyes were hollow, with dark circles overshadowing them. His mind was fracturing with every passing second he felt isolated.
He ceased leaving his home, choosing to remain secluded, hoping his children would return. Oh, how he missed them profoundly.
But waiting can truly shatter one’s mind. Because if it didn’t, then 007n7 was simply weak. He waited, and waited, but nothing arrived; his children didn’t burst through those front doors, as they once did.
Time and time again.
Until.
007n7 had reached his limit.
His children were gone, weren't they?
How foolish could he have been to believe they were still alive?
How pitiful.
He needed to reunite with them.
To express his apologies for his failures.
For not being a better father.
For...
Everything.
He pushed himself off the couch, dragging his feet along the floor as he shuffled toward his bedroom, his arms stained with blood.
He was aware that no one would come searching for him, checking in on him.
His father loathed him.
He seldom communicated with family.
And Elliot—oh, Elliot... the man likely wouldn’t even remember him once he awoke from his coma.
It was ideal.
007n7 opened the door, stumbling toward his nightstand, yanking the drawer open to retrieve a handgun, the very weapon he had purchased to safeguard his children, his beloved little ones, yet he couldn’t even manage that correctly.
He turned and headed to the bathroom adjoining his bedroom, closing the door and locking it with a soft click.
. . .
BANG!
Brain tissue and blood were splattered across the bathroom mirror, coating it in a deep crimson hue.
Everything burned, he was unable to move, yet he could detect the faint odor of sulfur in the air, mingled with the scent of charred flesh.
But that was all he could recall, as his vision distorted.
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
₍^. .^₎⟆
- 1,428 Words -
Notes:
Next chapter will be in the Forsaken place! I'm so tired bro pmo
Chapter 3: Familiar Faces.
Summary:
C00lkidd.
Notes:
I apologize for this chapter being rather short and boring, but I'm running low on ideas before I start adding in pieces of my original story piece. So if this chapter deters you from the rest of the fanfic, feel free to click off, can't stop ya there anyway!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
A muffled groan escaped from 007n7’s lips as his eyes slowly began to open. The scent of gunpowder filled his nostrils, and his tongue was coated with the same metallic taste that lingered from the wound beneath his chin. It was a bitter, unpleasant flavor that he couldn’t shake off.
He could hear whispers, familiar voices mingling with some that were new, unfamiliar.
As his vision cleared, he looked around and froze.
Builderman.
Shedletsky.
Elliot...?
When did Elliot regain consciousness? Was he alright? Wait—
Shit.
What if Elliot discovers his body?
Fuck...
Fuck.
FUCK!
He took a moment to gather his thoughts.
But where was he? Why was he still alive?
Why were the people who despised him the most present?
The atmosphere felt charged, almost suffocating, as if a single misstep could trigger a reaction. Someone could snap. At him.
Time skip because I’m feeling lazy. Cough.
It had been a long time since he found himself trapped in this nightmare.
He thought he deserved this fate, but for the others, he believed they hadn’t done anything to warrant such suffering. He should have been the only one here.
He had come to accept that his hacking skills had diminished significantly, now limited to cloning himself or teleporting; everything else was ineffective, which was quite unfortunate for his defense. He was labeled a survivalist, yet Noob proved to be more resourceful. 007n7’s abilities only served his own survival. Yes, he could deploy clones to absorb damage for others, but even then, he couldn’t compel them to shield someone directly, unlike Noob, who rarely failed to take the hit.
He felt like a burden to the team.
The only thing he could reliably manage were the generators.
Even that seemed insufficient.
The icy stares and harsh glares were painful.
They kept pursuing him, haunting him, even in this limbo.
Why?
That was the sole question on his mind.
Why were innocent individuals trapped here?
He was the only one who had done anything to warrant being killed repeatedly.
So why?
Out of everyone.
Why Elliot?
The kind pizza delivery guy.
He had committed no wrongdoing.
Why was Elliot in this place?
Was it because of an accident?
It wasn’t his fault; the drunk driver was to blame.
Elliot couldn’t have known that the other driver was lost in a fog of alcohol. He was just the unfortunate victim of this driver’s recklessness.
Thus, no matter how hard he tried, 007n7 couldn’t find a reason to hold Elliot responsible for the crash. The younger man was innocent.
None of these individuals were guilty, at least not in his view. To him, they were enduring punishment for offenses they hadn’t committed. For errors made by others that had been forced upon them.
It was unjust.
Most of the people in the room had suffered because of him; there were things he doubted he could ever be forgiven for. Yet none of them had harmed him, not in a way that left a lasting scar, not in a way that couldn’t be absolved.
He understood that apologies wouldn’t compensate for his actions.
He merely wished for them to collaborate as a team, just in the rounds; that was all he desired.
But even then, he felt like the outsider in the group.
He seldom ate to conserve food for others, even though it was always pizza.
He never applied med kits to himself, even when his health was lower than the person he was treating.
He was striving so hard to gain the approval of the others. To atone for his past mistakes in the hope of reuniting with his children in the afterlife.
But that reunion never materialized.
No matter what he did, how many times he sacrificed his own life to save someone else, or how often he refrained from eating to ensure others had enough food.
No matter how many times he...
Nothing seemed to work.
The most troubling aspect was that 007n7 came to the grim realization that he was truly dead. Unlike the others who were merely lingering after near-death experiences, still recovering in hospitals, he was unequivocally gone. There would be no awakening in a sterile room attached to machines for him. No escape from a nightmare.
Nothing.
If he ever managed to leave this place.
There would be nothing awaiting him on the other side.
Today. Tonight? He couldn’t tell. The cycles of day and night were irrelevant in this realm; even the passage of time was difficult to discern. Nothing moved beyond the trees. Animals were frozen in mid-motion, whether in the air or on the ground, it made no difference; it was as if time had arbitrarily halted in this strange place, whatever it was.
A purgatory.
Hell.
At this point, 007n7 was uncertain.
What he did understand was that this place was tormenting him.
In the midst of a round, 007n7 found himself being 'useless' as usual, crouched in front of a generator, wires in hand, attempting to solve the puzzles to get the damn thing operational, when he heard it—
“DAD! There you are!” A cheerful voice chimed.
A voice.
007n7 recognized that voice.
C00lkidd.
What was his son doing in this hell?
Wait.
If C00lkidd was here then...
007n7’s heart sank as the realization hit him. He could hear the child's voice calling out for him, for their father, yet he couldn’t bring himself to turn around and look. He couldn’t bear the thought of witnessing what this specter had done to his son. He simply couldn’t—
Drip.
007n7 froze, raising a hand to his face to wipe away the warm liquid trickling from his eyes. He was...crying...?
He glanced down at his hand, which bore a smudge of tears and blood staining his fingertips.
When had he started bleeding?
Wha—
“TAG! YOU’RE IT!”
Then everything went dark, and he reappeared back in the cabin.
Panic surged within him, expelling every bit of air that had once occupied his lungs, leaving him gasping for breath. He was suffocating. His sight was becoming hazy. Why was his sight becoming hazy? Tears streamed down his face. Why couldn’t he stop the tears? Why couldn’t he catch his breath? He could hear the frantic pounding of his heart in his ears, could feel it throbbing painfully in his chest as he fought to fill his lungs with air. His lungs were in agony. They felt as though they were engulfed in flames, as if each breath he attempted was igniting them further.
He was experiencing a panic attack.
But he was completely unaware of it.
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
₍^. .^₎⟆
- 1,101 Words -
Notes:
Remember, feel free to click off if the story is no longer up to your liking. I apologize once more that it's quite short. But thank you for reading till the end!
Chapter 4: Trading Pain For Code.
Summary:
007n7 adapts his skills to become more beneficial, yet these enhancements come with a cost.
Notes:
Hey there! Sorry this chapter is a bit shorter and kind of scattered.. I honestly didn't think this fanfic would get any attention at all, so I'm really surprised it did. Huge thanks to everyone for the support! It really means a lot to me. Just a quick note: even though I imagine 007n7 with horns and a tail, I don't mention it much in the fanfic because I'm a bit lazy and feel like it's not that important.
WHATEVER! Enjoy reading me go insane and side track from what the story was originally supposed to be about! :D
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
It has been some time since that event.
He had confirmed it.
His three children.
His little ones.
Were present, but not as survivors; no, they were aligned with the killers, deceived into thinking they were engaged in a game of tag or hide and seek.
He felt powerless.
Why did they have to be involved in this?
Whenever one of them took on the role of the killer, 007n7 would zone out, until he felt their small, innocent hands wrap around his neck and-
CRACK.
It was a noise 007n7 had grown quite accustomed to. One that he couldn’t shake from his mind because it was made by his children. His kids.
He scoffed quietly to himself as he remained seated at the dock, staring into the water, his eyes glazing over as tears began to stream down, uncontrollable. He raised a hand to wipe away the tears, a slight tremor in his movement as a broken sob struggled to escape his lips. He had been a mess these last few days.
The other survivors didn’t care for him, which was understandable. He couldn’t fault them. He had been a monster back then, terrorizing innocent individuals for his own benefit, for his own motives. That was until C00lkidd entered his life, along with Pr3ttypriincess and Bluudud, yet even then he somehow managed to screw up and raised monsters who viewed killing as a mere game. Perhaps he simply wasn’t cut out to be a father. To be a human being. What God, or divine entity, thought it was a brilliant idea to bring his soul into being? He didn’t even comprehend it himself. How could he? He was a disgrace of a man who couldn’t even nurture a child. He had failed. Everything. Everyone. His sons. His precious daughter. He loathed himself for it. Yet, 007n7 yearned to be more helpful, less of a burden. He wanted to enhance his skills to contribute more and become less of a liability, so that others wouldn’t view him as just another dependent.
Whenever a round commenced, and it involved one of his three children, he would merely go through the motions. The team had learned from numerous previous experiences that they could not allow any of these children to see 007n7, whom they referred to as their father, because if 007n7 laid eyes on them, he would make no effort to escape; he would simply stand there and succumb to the hands of his own kids. Regardless of the pain it caused him, no matter how many times he had the air knocked from his lungs, 007n7 made no effort to reveal to his cherished children what they were truly doing.
The innocence in their laughter was still present, the tenderness in their small hands remained, their little minds unable to grasp the true implications of their actions. 007n7 wished to preserve this innocence for as long as possible. He understood... he just understood that if the children discovered how much blood had begun to stain their tiny hands, the extent of their father's blood they had spilled onto the damp grass, they would never forgive themselves. The children loved one another, but they adored their father, the very man who had taken them in when no one else would.
He had not noticed that his body was becoming heavy as he dozed off by the docks. His body slumped slightly, leaning forward, inching downwards. He was already unconscious; his mind having entered a much-needed slumber. However, his body was not in a position to rest, having succumbed to exhaustion while seated at the edge of the dock, his tail twitching involuntarily.
Gradually, his body leaned forward until enough weight shifted in that direction that his slumped form began to topple, until a hand grasped his shoulder, pulling him back from the brink. The hand belonged to someone who despised 007n7, who harbored hatred for the man who had tormented them and their family in the past, yet here he was, lifting the unconscious older male into his arms, carrying him in a bridal style as he made his way into 007n7’s cabin.
It was late, and the rounds for the night had concluded, so Elliot made his way to the bed in 007n7’s cabin, gently placing 007n7 onto it and draping a blanket over the older man’s body before hesitating. He looked down at 007n7’s face, which appeared relaxed; it was the first time he had witnessed this man at ease in this purgatory. He reached out and softly ran his fingers through 007n7’s hair, observing how the older man instinctively leaned into the touch, before turning to leave the cabin and heading to his own secluded quarters.
It had been some time since 007n7 experienced such a restful sleep; it was likely the best rest he had enjoyed in years. Upon waking, he noticed his face was slightly flushed, his clothes were rumpled, and his hair was a chaotic mess. He felt at ease, perhaps too at ease. He couldn’t recall how he ended up in his cabin, which indicated that someone must have brought him there. Yet, he dismissed the thought.
It was likely out of pity.
Even in such a comforting setting, the same troubling thoughts continued to swirl in his mind.
All he longed for was a sense of belonging, to gain access to the central space, to engage in conversations with others, as the unbearable silence was pushing him towards despair. The cold stares and critical glares from nearly everyone left him feeling drained and fatigued. He was exhausted from being reprimanded for his attempts to help, to find a sense of purpose, even if it meant serving as a human buffer. He understood that he was not entitled to anything, if anything at all. Yet, he felt unworthy of their forgiveness, kindness, or... love. Still, he yearned for at least some interaction, as the isolation was driving him to madness, no matter how much he believed he deserved it.
Then a thought emerged in his sleep-clouded mind.
It was indeed a foolish one, but what if it actually worked…?
. . .
Perhaps he could attempt to modify his abilities. He had made an effort upon his initial arrival, believe him when he says that, yet something prevented him from moving forward. It felt as though his C00lgui had parental controls activated, even though such a notion was nonexistent; still, it certainly felt that way.
The day continued, yet the thought remained.
He pondered the idea; it appeared silly, even ridiculous, but it was worth a shot. However, each time he tried to engage with his C00lgui, he was thrown into yet another excruciating round. It seemed as if the entity keeping them trapped here was doing so on purpose, and it was starting to frustrate 007n7. Whenever he was sent into a round, he would just operate machines to speed up the process, to make the timer count down faster, yet even then, he found himself running out of time. Time and time again. He endured three sleepless nights trying to make it work, but each time he fell short because his thoughts were scattered.
It didn’t help that the comfort of his cabin was taken from him with the arrival of a more favored survivor. He didn’t complain about it, however, relinquishing his cabin without much hesitation. Instead, he found a tent and set it up near the dock, his preferred spot, and began to rest there. There were occasions when he lingered in the main cabin, but even then he refrained from interacting with others to honor their space.
Today, 007n7 exhaled deeply while sitting on the couch, toying with his C00lgui. He felt a strong urge to make it work, eager to be helpful. Consequently, when it failed to function, he became overwhelmingly frustrated. For the past three days, he had been laboring tirelessly, suffering through three agonizingly sleepless nights, all while attempting to manage his rounds, which only made things more complicated. He checked the time, his eyes narrowing in weariness as the clock ticked, the sound of the ticking fading into the background as he observed the clock's inner mechanisms.
It was mesmerizing... truly, as if the clock had no worries and possessed all the time in the universe—get it? Pfft, never mind. Blinking, he redirected his focus to the task at hand; he had two hours left before the next round began, which was heightening his stress. He sighed in exasperation, pondering whether it would be more prudent to give up and remain unproductive until—
BEEP!
007n7’s eyes widened as he realized he now had access to new resources. A sense of relief washed over him, fueling his determination to continue, yet there was also a sensation stirring in his chest. It tingled slightly, a minor feeling, but he did not feel any pain or anything of that sort; he did feel a wave of nausea, yes, but he was resolved not to let that impede his progress. Therefore, he chose to ignore it and returned to his tasks.
The entire crew was assembled in the main cabin, either chatting or strategizing for the imminent round, which was just moments away. A few moments to spare. He had successfully accessed the commands, yet he knew that a few moments were trivial when it came to modifying the C00lgui, and he was correct, because just as he was about to make changes, he was propelled into another round.
He exhaled in exasperation as he closed his C00lgui, assessing his surroundings. He looked around, feeling tense as he realized he had spawned near the killer, Jason, a notorious predator known for relentlessly pursuing his victims until they were left as nothing but a pool of blood. 007n7 understood that he would probably be the first to attract attention, yet he felt a sense of boredom and thought it would be entertaining that way. The old man was notorious for his inability to dodge, juke, or even execute something as simple as distracting the killer. He often unintentionally led to the demise of others, which resulted in him being reprimanded after each round. However, 007n7 was determined today; he was not going to zone out as he had previously. No.
He approached the killer, aware that if the killer focused on one person at a time, he needed to be the first to be noticed. He moved closer, shouting, “HEY JASON! Come catch me!” He laughed, relishing the excitement as the killer chased him.
“Great...He’s going to get us all killed...” Elliot muttered, watching from a safe distance, just waiting for 007n7 to slip up and meet his demise. But that moment never came.
007n7 was laughing, treating the scenario like a simple game, as if it were a fun activity for kids, mere child’s play. He hadn’t been hit even once, hardly exerting any effort, yet he was skillfully evading Jason time and again, making it look effortless. He would taunt the killer, casually glancing at his watch while Jason took a moment to catch his breath, before continuing the chase. He watched as Jason tripped and stumbled over his own feet in an attempt to catch him; to say it was amusing would be an understatement, it was downright hilarious. However, they never managed to catch 007n7 even once, and as the countdown hit zero, Jason ultimately gave up, glaring at the older man, who wore a smug smile.
DING!
Everything went dark.
The round concluded.
The survivors emerged victorious.
Once they returned to the cabin after their triumph in that round, 007n7 refrained from interacting with the others, who regarded him with confusion as he stood up and left the cabin. He made his way outside and settled on the dock's edge, letting his feet dangle in the water. With two hours left before the next round, he was resolute in not wasting that time.
Meanwhile, the others, along with Elliot, engaged in a discussion about the events that had unfolded, reflecting on how 007n7 had successfully kept the killer occupied throughout the entire round. No one was killed, and there were no injuries; Elliot found himself without the need to perform any healing, which was quite an anomaly for him.
With 007n7.
During those two hours, he adeptly modified the teleportation codes and reactivated the item spawning ability. He contemplated what additional capabilities he might unlock, but before he could implement further changes, the round began, and his surroundings shifted. By this time, the tingling sensation in his chest had intensified into a mild discomfort, reminiscent of gentle heartburn. It wasn't excessively painful, yet its existence was unmistakable, leaving him uncertain if it was something he could accept. Additionally, 007n7 noticed that after altering his C00lgui, he started to feel increasingly lightheaded, as if a heavy burden was pressing down on him. He scoffed to himself, "this is ridiculous, it’s just a little discomfort, I’m an adult, I must behave appropriately." 007n7 muttered, mostly to himself, as there were hardly any others around.
He looked down as the keypad emerged under his fingertips, his skin lightly brushing against the controls. He had played around with the features, but now it was time to determine if they actually worked. A shiver ran through him as he felt his presence flicker. This was not an unusual event, as it always happened when he used his C00lgui, yet it was harmless, so he paid it little attention. His fingers deftly navigated the buttons as he typed ‘: Spawn Med-kit’ and pressed enter. The pain in his chest intensified, becoming more unbearable, causing his tail to twitch in annoyance behind him. It no longer felt like heartburn, but rather as if someone were stabbing him swiftly, even though there was no visible injury. However, 007n7 chose to ignore it, believing that if he didn’t acknowledge it, the pain would dissipate. At first, nothing happened, much to his dismay and disappointment, but within moments, a med-kit appeared before him, eliciting a startled yelp. His eyes widened as he gazed down at the white kit at his feet, and a smile broke across his face. He let out a sigh of relief; one he hadn’t realized he had been holding. (IDK HOW COMMANDS WORK LEAVE ME ALONE 😭)
He felt a surge of pride…that he was being of assistance, completely overlooking the escalating pain, fatigue, and weakness that were spreading through his limbs, as that was a concern for future 007n7. He chuckled to himself before leaping again, startled by the sudden screams. He wasted no time grabbing the medical kit and began to run. All he needed to do now was test the teleportation. He opened his keypad, his eyes glued to the letters he was typing before he looked up, noticing Elliot being chased by the killer, with Shedletsky and Guest closely following, trying to distract the killer, who just happened to be Azure. Elliot had made the mistake of healing TwoTime while Azure was in the middle of tormenting him, which displeased the killer.
007n7 adjusted the vital signs, realizing that Elliot was practically on life support, with just 12 health points left. 007n7 quickened his pace as he approached the two, urgently typing Elliot’s name along with the coordinates to the farthest spawn point. He merged his name with Elliot’s, feeling the weight of the situation intensifying as he glanced at Elliot’s vitals, noting that the man was down to 5 health. He leaned over and wrapped his free arm around Elliot’s waist, positioning himself behind him just as Azure launched an attack that would have certainly taken Elliot out of the round. 007n7 gasped and coughed up blood as he was hit in the chest, sustaining a near-fatal injury that left him with only 2 health, his legs trembling beneath him.
Elliot gasped, yelping in terror as he felt something grip him, pulling his back tightly against its chest. His head jerked back, eyes widening as he witnessed 007n7 absorb the blow, noticing the man’s eyes beginning to glaze over. He stared, everything seemed to happen in slow motion, his gaze dropped to see what 007n7 was attempting, realizing the man was trying to teleport them both. He gritted his teeth, "THAT WON'T WORK ID-"
His vision began to fade, his surroundings started to blend together, and his body felt incredibly heavy, yet he pressed on, as his main goal was to save Elliot, the pizza delivery guy being his most vital ally. 007n7 trembled, holding Elliot tightly, his arm securing around the man’s waist before he pressed the enter key, teleporting them both away.
"IOT-" Elliot gasped as his body, unaccustomed to teleportation, trembled from the transition. At the same time, 007n7's breath was ragged, heavy, and uneven, as he choked on the blood that had accumulated at the back of his throat. His legs faltered, struggling to regain balance, only for his knees to buckle beneath him. He collapsed onto his backside, his back slamming against the wall behind him, knocking the wind out of him and making it increasingly difficult to breathe. Pain radiated through him. Everything ached. His thoughts were jumbled, his vision was hazy, but what truly captured his focus was the excruciating pain settling deep within his chest. Why was it so painful? Naturally, he had been stabbed, but this hurt more than usual. He yearned to scream, yet his voice was trapped in his throat.
Elliot, naturally, went down with the weight of 007n7’s arm still wrapped around his waist. He gazed at the older man, eyes wide, as he nearly fell into the man’s lap, his back pressed against 007n7’s bleeding chest. Elliot exhaled sharply, tensing as he felt 007n7 rest his head on his shoulder. He grumbled, ready to shoot a glare at the man for the contact, but when he turned to look, he realized 007n7 was completely out of it. He opened his mouth to say something but was taken aback when 007n7 nudged a medical kit into his arms. He froze, staring down at the bulky white kit, before quickly prying it open and tending to his injuries, not even minding that he was still seated in the older man’s lap.
After addressing his injuries, Elliot tried to get up, only to be pulled back down. He nearly snapped at the older man but fell silent when he noticed that 007n7 had lost consciousness. With a sigh, his mind shifted to another concern. How on earth did 007n7 manage to teleport them both? Weren’t the older man’s abilities supposed to be limited to himself?! It didn’t make sense! Unless… 007n7 had tricked them! The jerk was being selfish and refusing to assist. Elliot gritted his teeth, his anger beginning to boil, and he exhaled shakily before turning back to wake 007n7 from his slumber.
007n7 groaned, slowly coming to. His head pounded, feeling as if it were ablaze, causing him discomfort. Still tense and utterly disoriented, 007n7 mumbled something incoherent into Elliot’s shoulder, commenting on how warm the younger man felt. His words barely formed as he struggled to gather his thoughts, nuzzling deeper into Elliot’s neck for solace. Mentally, he was absent, unaware of his actions, but his body, which was desperately trying to keep warm, recognized the heat in its embrace.
Elliot’s face flushed a deep red, feeling the warmth rise in his cheeks, which irritated him because he couldn’t tell if it was from embarrassment or something he was unwilling to face. “O-Okay! Okay! 007n7! What are you doing!? Let go of me this instant!” Elliot ordered, but 007n7 was unaware of his muffled commands. Elliot grumbled as he rummaged through his bag and retrieved a pizza, turning to 007n7 and almost shoving the pizza into the man’s mouth. However, 007n7 turned away, his mind gradually starting to clear.
He lifted his head from Elliot’s shoulder, his head pounding with pain as he tried to clear his vision.
“I’m…fine…s-save it for the others…” his voice emerged hoarse and weak.
“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?! I KNOW I DISLIKE YOU AND ALL, BUT YOU’RE CLEARLY NOT FINE! YOU’RE AT 2 HEALTH, DAMMIT!” Elliot exclaimed, attempting to get 007n7 to eat the pizza.
But 007n7 avoided it as if it were contagious. He felt he didn’t deserve it, and besides, he already consumed too much food; he needed to shed some pounds and didn’t want Elliot to waste pizza on him when others clearly required it. Just as he was about to speak, he hesitated, freezing as he realized he had his arm around Elliot, effectively trapping him in his lap.
"A-Ah, my apologies…!" 007n7 stammered, quickly letting go of Elliot, who promptly stood up. Elliot glared down at him, extending the pizza, but then his aura sense alerted him to Chance needing healing as well. He hesitated, torn between choices, before ultimately turning and dashing away.
007n7 didn’t dwell on it; he was pleased that Elliot had listened. He remained there for the remainder of the round until the timer hit zero, and they were transported back to the cabin. 007n7 collapsed as soon as he was back on his feet, his mind swirling. His injuries had vanished, so why did the ache persist? Why was there still pain? He couldn’t comprehend it; it was frustrating. However, after a few minutes, it gradually eased, not completely, but just enough for 007n7 to stand. Aware of the rules, he walked out of the cabin and headed to his small tent by the dock.
Why was he sleeping in a tent? Well, a new survivor had arrived, and he had given up his cabin for them. He didn’t mind, honestly; he never felt he deserved it in the first place. His stomach growled, a consequence of not eating frequently, perhaps only twice a week. Yet, he scolded himself for it, chastising himself for being such a greedy pig, unable to quell his hunger. He unzipped the entrance to his tent, stepped inside, closed the entrance, and essentially collapsed into sleep.
Elliot, on the other hand, was still perplexed by the ability that 007n7 was ‘concealing’ from everyone. He felt a surge of anger; here was 007n7, going on about his transformation, yet he had the audacity to pull this stunt? Pathetic. Elliot bit the inside of his cheek as he approached the others, requesting to speak with them.
"Wait—wait—wait, are you saying that 007n7 teleported himself AND you?" Chance asked, astonished, his brows knitted as he tried to grasp the implications of this.
"So that’s what transpired… Shed and I were worried and confused when we turned the corner, and you had vanished. You definitely weren’t dead," Guest remarked, his gaze shifting to Elliot, who nodded in agreement.
"I believe he was concealing his abilities from us because of his selfishness and reluctance to assist, but at the same time, I’m not entirely sure…" Elliot murmured, uncertainty clear in his voice as he looked down at the table, fidgeting with his fingers.
Builderman sighed, rubbing his face as he made a decision. "Someone go fetch the old man, because this is serious and selfish on his part. He could’ve been of great help-"
Elliot raised his hand, pushing his chair back and standing up to interrupt Builderman mid-sentence. "No, let him be. He seemed quite out of it earlier; it’s pointless to seek information from him if he’s not thinking clearly and has the brain of a rock." His tone was firm, indicating that he was just as eager to question 007n7 as the others, but recognized that this wasn’t the right moment.
“Uhm...rocks don’t have brains-”
“That’s the point.”
━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━
Though hesitant, everyone else concurred, continuing with their day as Elliot went off to prepare for dinner. Three hours had passed, the pizza was ready, and Elliot was serving everyone at the table. There were ten survivors, yet only nine chairs, one of which had been stowed away in a closet. Elliot sighed as he stood up and exited the cabin, heading towards the dock, unzipping the door of 007n7’s tent.
"Alright, wake up sleepyhead-" Elliot began, but halted mid-sentence as he glanced down at the older man. Goodness… he looked terrible… Elliot stared in shock as 007n7 lay on the mattress, covered with pieces of cardboard for warmth, sweating profusely. Elliot ducked into the small tent and placed his hand on the older man’s forehead, immediately retracting it as if it had been burned. Since when could they fall ill in this place? What on earth was happening?! Why did 007n7 have a fever!? He hesitated for a moment before nudging the man, causing 007n7, a light sleeper, to stir. His eyes fluttered open, half-lidded, and his gaze fell on Elliot, who instinctively backed away in fear and discomfort. 007n7’s expression was one of exhaustion, his eyes reflecting unspoken pain, as if any movement might bring the world crashing down.
007n7 was unaware of what was happening to his body; he felt ill and feverish, indicating that something was seriously amiss. Although this location was hell, it was not a place where one could fall ill. A slight cough? Certainly, but a high fever? That was ridiculous. Even so, with his stomach empty, he felt as if he might vomit his insides out, as if it were a real possibility.
"Hm...?" 007n7 managed to utter, his voice hoarse from just waking up, sounding groggy. Though reluctant, he forced himself to sit up, his hair a complete mess, and his face flushed from the intense, unbearable heat radiating from his body.
Elliot’s face turned red, the tips of his ears burning with embarrassment. When did this old man become so…. cu- NO. NO. ELLIOT, PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER.
007n7 mumbled something under his breath while scratching his chest, his breathing becoming slow, as if each breath was painful. He looked back up at Elliot, his eyes clouded with sleep, "Did you… need me, Elliot?" His voice was rough, a stark contrast to his usual soft tone.
"Uh- I- f-food-" Elliot stuttered, what was this man doing to him!? This man had ruined his life! Elliot, get a grip, damn it! He stood up and stepped out of the tent to divert 007n7’s gaze from him, attempting to cool his flushed face. But it was futile, as the moment 007n7 spoke again, Elliot’s face turned beet red once more. He froze when he processed what the older man had just said."
"I’m not hungry, I ate earlier," 007n7 mumbled as his mind started to engage again. It was a falsehood. He hadn’t eaten at all. The last meal he had was four days prior, but he preferred it that way. Elliot crouched down again and glared at the man, who stiffened under the scrutiny, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. Not wanting to incur Elliot’s anger, he grimaced as he stood up and exited his tent, struggling to maintain his balance. His body felt heavy, excessively so, as if a strong gust of wind could topple him. He despised it. The worst part was that he couldn’t comprehend why this was happening.
However, it was evident that 007n7 appeared unwell; his movements were stiff, as if even the slightest quiver caused him pain. Elliot’s brows knitted together as he reconsidered his decisions. Why did he feel compelled to feel sorry for this man? Ugh. That infuriating face…he would just ask the questions himself. Why was he doing this again? Whatever. He seized 007n7 by the wrist and pulled him toward his cabin, unsure of why he was taking this action, but having already committed, there was no turning back. He ushered the man inside before returning to the main cabin to grab a few slices of pizza. Afterward, he left and went back to his own cabin, where a bewildered, half-awake 007n7 awaited him.
007n7 stood there, striving to maintain his focus, attempting to ignore the intensifying pain that was eating away at his chest, while making a conscious effort not to touch anything, as none of it was his. He looked up at the ceiling, losing himself in thoughts of C00lkidd and Bluudud, his cherished sons, and then Pr3ttypriincess, his sweet but somewhat overprotective daughter, oh how he longed for them. The sound of the door creaking open snapped him out of his daydream. 007n7 turned to face Elliot, still bewildered about why he found himself in this place.
Elliot, carrying a plate with four pizzas, scoffed and rolled his eyes before reaching out to place his hand on 007n7’s forehead once more. He was still burning up. With a sigh, he started to push 007n7 towards the bedroom, encouraging him to sit on the bed before handing him the plate of pizza. "Eat." 007n7 hesitated, gazing at the plate of food before shaking his head. "I already ate, no worries…just, return this to the others, I’m sure they’re hungrier!" He said, extending the plate back to Elliot, who shot him a glare that made him falter.
Why did he despise this idiot again? Ugh, this is ridiculous. Not only had he discovered that this jerk was likely concealing his abilities, but he was also depriving himself for the sake of others. How could he loathe this fool when he behaved like this? He grumbled under his breath, nudging the plate back towards 007n7. "E A T." There was no way around it.
007n7 hesitated before he started eating; it felt strange yet satisfying as it alleviated the hunger that had been plaguing him for who knows how long, yet it was also feeding into the growing feeling of sick in the back of his throat. Elliot observed from the doorway, arms crossed, his expression stern. Typically, he detested this man, so why was he doing this? Why was he allowing this fool to sit on HIS bed? He should just send him back to his tent—but the thought of that made Elliot feel a pang of guilt. Regardless, he took a deep breath before beginning his interrogation.
"So, care to explain your little stunt today?"
"What stunt...?"
"You know what I mean. The one where you teleported me."
"Oh...I was just testing something. I figured out how to modify my C00lgui recently. Didn’t think it would work."
So that’s it, huh? Just a new modification, one that 007n7 wasn’t even certain would function. This meant the man had taken a chance, unsure if it would teleport both of them or not. It was a risky decision, but it paid off; this could signify something.
"Did you manage to change anything else?"
"Oh, I was able to make it so I can spawn items, well...not spawn, more of I can teleport them to myself. It’s nothing extraordinary really…just trying to be more helpful." The last part was said quietly, as if 007n7 didn’t want Elliot to hear, but spoke without thinking.
So, this is what it’s about…he just wants to be more helpful. It was both sad and understandable at the same time, but one thought lingered in his mind. Alright, maybe a few.
"Are you planning to try anything else?"
"Oh, definitely…I want to explore what else I can access, although it’s been a while since I’ve used any of these real hacks, so it might take some time…"
"That’s understandable, but are you sure what you’re doing won’t come back to bite you in the ass?" He asked, his tone filled with concern.
007n7 hesitated, mid-bite of another slice of pizza. "No, not really…but I don’t mind, as long as it makes things easier for you guys, even if it’s just for a little while..."
Elliot bit the inside of his cheek, clenching his fists. He observed as 007n7 finished his food, standing up with the plate in hand. This cu-THIS IDIOT. Yes. Idiot, nothing more.
"I’ll be leaving now-" 007n7’s voice faltered as he was pushed back onto the bed.
"You’re not going anywhere. I don’t care if you sleep or not, you’re staying here. It’s freezing outside."
007n7 hesitated, then a faint smile crossed his face. "Elliot. Don’t feel sorry for me. I don’t mind, really, I’ve gotten used to the cold." He was about to continue but stopped when Elliot grabbed him by the collar and glared at him. He raised his hands in surrender, indicating that he wasn’t going to leave anymore, while also mumbling incoherent apologies. The only other reason Elliot was keeping 007n7 in his cabin was that the idiot had a fever, a bad one.
The man was prohibited from entering rounds, not that the system had initially placed him in them. While he remained in Elliot's cabin, resting on the somewhat more comfortable couch, he concentrated on enhancing his C00lgui. Naturally, after making upgrades and modifications, he discovered the reason for his chest pain. The more alterations he made, the more discomfort he experienced. He felt increasingly exhausted and restless due to the pain. He would occasionally suffer from nosebleeds, endure severe headaches, and at times, his body felt too heavy to move. One observation he made was that he glitched more frequently; using certain abilities felt as if his body was being torn apart from the inside out, and his blood appeared darker, glitchy, and even glowing.
It was a cost he was prepared to accept. However, he realized that if he took a break from the panel, the pain would ease, not significantly, but enough to be tolerable. It had been six days since he had been in Elliot's cabin. He attempted to leave several times, but each time he was forcefully returned to the bed. He couldn't comprehend the sudden change; he thought Elliot despised him, which made no sense. He kept the upgrades he had made and the abilities he had liberated from the specter's control a secret. But once his fever subsided and he felt fit enough to run again, he was thrust into the next round.
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
₍^. .^₎⟆
- 5,691 Words -
Notes:
Yeah... It's all over the place, what did ya expect? Just click off at this point, I'm not the best story teller or writer at that, so just let me know what you guys think, alright? It'll tell me whether I should continue it or not!
Chapter 5: Another Round, Another Shot.
Summary:
007n7 wields a gun once more, the question is, who is the bullet for?
Notes:
Another quick chapter drop since a few people said I should continue the story! The more chapters I drop the higher chance there is that they will pull away from what was originally the main plot, if that disinterests you, feel free to click off, no hard feelings.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Typically, he would be operating machines, but today he was hovering near those distracting the killer, who was a 1x today.
This was the first round 007n7 had participated in for some time, leading others to believe that this was the reason for his lack of focus on the machines. However, he was attentively monitoring those who were distracting the killer. He had a med kit with him, and when he turned away for just five seconds to set it down, he looked back to see Shed gravely injured, Guest attempting to assist a dying Twotime, and Chance, unfortunately, was cornered and unable to use his gun.
007n7 hurried to Guest and handed over the health kit before turning back to Chance. He waved his hand, activating his keypad as he clicked on the killer’s name, using the ‘:lock cage’ command (AGAIN IDK ANY COMMANDS BACK OFF RODENTS 😭) which formed a cage-like cell around 1x, giving Chance the chance to escape—get it? Apologies, my mistake, cough.
He glanced back to see Elliot attempting to heal Shedletsky; he didn’t say much, merely stared before shifting his gaze back to the killer who was charging towards him. Honestly, 007n7 was merely experimenting with the new commands, running on empty and completely clueless about his actions, trying to see what worked and what didn’t. Nevertheless, he was keeping the killer busy until others could step in again.
Eventually, fatigue set in, and he noticed that the others were back on their feet. He was about to step aside to let them take over when a sharp pain pierced his neck. He coughed, choking as blood spilled from his lips, hearing that cold laugh from 1x. He should have collapsed; this should have been a lethal blow, yet somehow, 007n7 managed to stand firm. Blood oozed from his mouth, trickling down his chin and mingling with the crimson staining his throat.
He gagged on his own blood, raising his hand to catch the blood flowing from his neck, then looked back with a dark glare in his eyes, staring at 1x, who appeared flabbergasted and shocked. His blood glowed, an unnatural neon red, glitching sporadically.
"W-Wh@t tH3 h3l1.... wh7 4r3n't y0v d-d3A6!?" 1x exclaimed, irritation creeping into his voice as he lifted his sword to strike 007n7 down once more. But 007n7 was not going to let that happen. A pistol materialized in his hand, he’s shot a gun before, he knows how to use one, and without a moment's hesitation—
BANG!
The shot echoed, drawing the attention of the others. Was Chance back on his feet? He was the only one with a gun, but that gun sounded slightly different; there’s no way that wa—Elliot froze, turning to his side to see Chance standing RIGHT FUCKING THERE. Who fired a gun!? It wasn’t Chance!
Panic engulfed the group as they rushed towards the sound. There stood 007n7, gun in hand, with a gaping wound in his throat, bleeding profusely, staring down at an injured 1x. The weapon inflicted more harm than Chance's gun ever could. His body shook with agony, yet his knees stubbornly held him up, adding more strain to his already suffering form. The timer was counting down.
10...
9...
8...
1x glared at 007n7 and charged forward.
7...
007n7 recoiled.
6...
He raised the gun again.
5...
4...
3...
2...
1...
BANG!
The survivors win.
They all reappeared in the cabin at the table, where 007n7 gasped for air, struggling to breathe while clutching his throat. He coughed, trying to clear his lungs, until he managed to steady his breath, but the excruciating pain in his chest returned to haunt him. He glanced up, exhaling deeply, but tensed as he sensed the weight of everyone's gaze upon him. "Ah- right, sorry, I’ll take my leave," he stammered, pushing back from the chair and rising, only to have someone seize the back of his shirt and pull him back down, knocking the breath from his lungs. "Ack-!"
"WHAT WAS THAT!?" Chance shouted, staring at 007n7 in disbelief.
"YEAH! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU 007n7!? YOU WERE STABBED IN THE THROAT AND STILL ON YOUR FEET!" Noob chimed in, a look of concern etched on their face.
"Noob is correct. That was a lethal injury; you should have been eliminated from the round. There’s no way anyone could have survived that or have the strength to defend themselves afterward," Guest concurred, turning to face 007n7.
His head was spinning; his thoughts were chaotic.
What’s happening?
Why is it so noisy?
What’s all this commotion?
He couldn’t comprehend.
Everything sounded muffled.
What’s that ringing?
It’s painful.
Everything hurts.
Too much noise.
Too much attention.
He wanted out. No. He NEEDED out. Fresh air. Yes. That’s what he needed!
007n7 suddenly stood up, breathing heavily as he hurried out of the cabin. He needed to find some calm, to collect his thoughts. He was merely trying to assist. Had he made a mistake? Did they despise him even more? Was his effort insufficient? He was tormenting himself to harness these abilities. Was it inadequate? Did he require more?
His nails pressed into his scarred arms, breaking the skin and allowing blood to flow, staining his clean hands. His breathing was not easing; instead, it quickened, transforming into desperate gasps for air, a frantic effort to fill his lungs with something, anything.
His mouth felt parched from the air, yet he sensed an inability to breathe. His mind began to blur as his thoughts came in short, fragmented bursts, overwhelming him with their quantity.
Despite the flood of thoughts, the pain in his chest remained. It intensified, feeling as if his insides were ablaze, as though his heart was being torn apart while he was still alive.
It was excruciating.
He wished for it to cease.
His nails pressed deeper into his arms, likely leaving marks. He hadn’t even noticed until the tears began to fall, flooding his eyes and trickling down to his chin. His mind jolted back to reality, his body tensing as he jumped and nearly stumbled down the steps.
Elliot reached out, grabbing 007n7's arm and pulling him back before he could fall. "JESUS, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU TODAY, 007N7?!" Elliot exclaimed, not meaning to shout, but loud enough to pull 007n7 from his thoughts.
"I- I- don’t know..." 007n7 replied, his body shaking, voice quivering with uncertainty, his face wet with tears, and his eyes swollen.
"A-Are you crying...?" Elliot whispered, his eyes widening at the sight in front of him. 007n7 was not the type to shed tears in public, as he despised the idea of eliciting pity or seeking assistance, believing he deserved all the emotional and physical suffering he endured. He felt unworthy of discussing his pain, which had become deeply embedded in his troubled mind.
Elliot stood there, paralyzed, gripping 007n7 by the arms, until he sensed something warm and thick brush against his fingers. It wasn’t water; it had a denser consistency, and even if it were, it wouldn’t make sense since it wasn’t raining. Elliot felt his breath catch in his throat as he hesitated, then glanced down at his hands, which were smeared with blood.
His eyes widened in terror; he couldn’t even manage a gasp as he struggled to breathe. He clenched his teeth, his brows knitting together as he glared at 007n7, who was tense, his eyes wide open, with messy tears streaming down to his chin. "What the FUCK is wrong with you?!" Elliot's voice rose, sounding like a shout, but it was fueled not only by anger but also by concern and fear. "What is happening with you, Seven?! You’ve been acting strange lately, and the first time you join after being out for days, you’re using bizarre abilities, somehow got a gun, and—AND YOU KEPT STANDING AFTER BEING STABBED IN THE THROAT!"
007n7 froze, staring at Elliot in disbelief. 'Seven...? No one called him that. It felt like a nickname, but he didn’t deserve such a thing. Nicknames were for friends, right? He and Elliot were far from friends. This had to be some kind of trick. Some deception. Some cruel joke. His body trembled, his mind began to unravel as he looked at Elliot, whose voice faded into white noise, an unbearable ringing in his ears drowning out all thoughts. Yet, his thoughts were laid bare against his will. Pop-ups appeared around his head, his thoughts spilling out for Elliot to witness.
‘Liar’
‘I’m just trying...’
'Stop pretending you care'
'LIAR'
'DON’T CALL ME SEVEN AS IF WE ARE FRIENDS'
Elliot stood still, staring at the red outlined boxes that appeared behind 007n7's head. It was at that moment he understood the depth of 007n7's troubling thoughts. This was not a healthy mindset. Had they truly been treating him so poorly? Elliot didn't want to dwell on it; instead, he pulled 007n7 into a firm embrace.
007n7 stiffened, pulled from his dark thoughts. Confusion washed over him, yet he found himself unable to voice his feelings as his body instinctively leaned into the warmth of the embrace, despite his better judgment. He began to cry uncontrollably, his tears soaking Elliot's shirt and long hair. Blood stained Elliot's back as he held him tightly, as if trying to cling to the fragile hope that this was real.
"Stop trying to change yourself to please others, dammit..." Elliot murmured, "just... be you."
It had been ages since 007n7 had heard something like that.
Two hours had passed since then (am I running out of ideas? Yes. Yes, I am) and they found themselves in Elliot's cabin. 007n7 was seated on the couch, his eyes swollen and red, but he appeared more at ease. He extended his arms toward Elliot, who was busy bandaging the cuts, his hands stained with the glowing blood. Some cuts were deep, some old and infected, while others were fresh from just two hours ago, each scar telling a story of sorrow. His actions halted as he noticed the scars and cuts that drew his focus. The more recent cuts. The ones that were not merely the result of carelessness, not just remnants of past suffering—but purposeful. Intentional. The raw tissue displayed a range of colors, some darker and others lighter, indicating shallow cuts alongside those that were uncomfortably deep. He felt the urge to inquire, to understand the origin of those scars, yet he refrained from speaking, aware that it was not his role to intrude. He paused, letting out a light scoff that carried a trace of concern.
"You’re going to bleed all over my floor."
"Aww, worried about me?"
"Worried about having to deal with a body."
"I knew you cared." He was deceiving himself. He didn't truly know.
"You’re insufferable."
"And you look hot when you’re angry." 007n7 joked.
Elliot hesitated, his face turning a deep shade of red as he shot a glare at the older man.
"Yep, that’s attractive." The older man teased, his body relaxing slightly, no longer as tense as before.
Elliot rolled his eyes, attempting to suppress a laugh, while trying to disregard the warmth rising in his cheeks. This was a side of 007n7 he had never witnessed before. It was either the old malevolent hacker or the hesitant father striving to satisfy everyone for better judgment. However, if he were honest, he preferred this version more. "I prefer this side of you over the others..." he mumbled, the words escaping before he could contain them. He froze, realizing he had spoken that aloud.
007n7 paused, opening his eyes and gazing at Elliot, whose face was a deep shade of red.
"Pardon...?"
Elliot swallowed hard, avoiding 007n7’s puzzled stare.
"I-I mean... I like this version of you more; you just appear more at ease and less of a people pleaser..." Elliot fell silent, then smirked. "Do you think you can return to making your clever remarks?" he teased, "You need to regain your backbone, add some edge to your words. Aren’t you bored? Inject some excitement into your life."
007n7 looked at Elliot, then smirked, leaning in closer. "My entertainment is your face, you clown," he teased, his voice low. This made Elliot’s face flush even more; he maintained a nervous grin as he playfully nudged 007n7’s face away, while averting his gaze.
"Come on, I’m just joking with you!" 007n7 chuckled, while Elliot turned away, feeling both embarrassed and flustered. He couldn't determine if 007n7 was flirting or merely teasing him. But goodness... he had never heard a genuine laugh from this man before, and it was stirring something warm in his chest now that he was experiencing it. He was in deep denial; there was no way he was falling for this jerk, and yet, here he was, wishing that 007n7 was indeed flirting with him.
Goodness, this man was going to be the end of him.
"Shut your trap..." Elliot whispered, attempting to steady the quiver in his voice. He had never experienced love before; was this what it truly felt like? His stomach was alive with butterflies, causing his cheeks to flush.
007n7 let out a weary, nervous laugh, leaning back to give Elliot some space once more. "Apologies, I didn’t mean to burst your bubble." He sighed; his gaze fixed on the ground.
"It’s alright, honestly. So, what happened today? When you were... when you had that gun?" Elliot inquired, trying to divert his thoughts from the haunting image of 007n7 bleeding from his throat.
"Huh? Oh, I’m not entirely sure myself... I thought I was going to pass out; it was quite a lethal blow. It hurt like hell, which annoyed me, but still." 007n7 replied with a slight shrug. "But I’m not complaining; I got to shoot the bastard." He chuckled at the memory.
Elliot nodded in comprehension before letting out a sigh. "I’m feeling exhausted; I’m going to head to bed and try to get as much rest as possible before the next round begins..." He mumbled wearily, rising from the couch, though his legs felt unsteady from all the walking. He yelped as he lost his balance and tumbled back onto 007n7.
007n7 grunted, his eyes snapping open in confusion, before he glanced down at Elliot, who was now seated in his lap. "You alright...?" he whispered, attempting to assist Elliot in standing up.
"YEP! NEVER BEEN BETTE-WOAH!" Elliot tumbled back down, grumbling in frustration. 007n7 hesitated for a moment, then turned away, covering his mouth to suppress a laugh, while Elliot sat in his lap, his face flushed with embarrassment.
"You sure?" 007n7 teased, shaking his head in amusement. He lifted one arm under Elliot's legs, while the other supported the younger man's back. He stood up, carrying Elliot in a bridal style, which made Elliot gasp in surprise and his face turn a deep shade of red.
"H-HEY!" he protested, sweating as he attempted to break free.
"Calm down, I’m not going to do anything. Just taking you to bed, like I used to with..." 007n7 paused, clearing his throat as he walked with Elliot in his arms toward the bedroom. Elliot fell silent, watching 007n7 with sympathy, knowing the man was referring to C00lkidd, and he felt a pang of sadness for the father.
Elliot let out a sigh, allowing the weariness to envelop him.
007n7 navigated through the cabin, cradling the sleeping Elliot. He made his way to the bedroom, carefully placing Elliot on the bed and tucking him in. He hesitated for a moment, then leaned down to plant a kiss on the pizza man’s forehead. His cheeks reddened as he stepped back, covering his mouth with his arm while he turned off the light and quietly exited the room.
‘WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT 007N7?’ he thought as he left Elliot’s cabin, running a hand over his face in an attempt to erase the memory of his actions. He headed towards the dock where his tent was set up, flopping onto the mattress inside. Sleep eluded him, and he didn’t manage to rest at all...
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₍^. .^₎⟆
- 2,692 Words -
Notes:
Might drop another today, which would mean this would be 3 uploads, but it's fine, as long as the people in the comments wish for me to continue, I will. The idea for the story, was for 007n7 to wish to be of more use, becomes useful and probably overpowered, and the spectre doing something which caused 007n7 to be put on the killer side yet refuse to kill, all while trying to keep the main ship of this story - Elliot/007n7 - as healthy as possible. It's absurd, yes, but it was what I thought when I started writing this. If it's of your interest, please do tell me, it'll boost my confidence in writing this.
Anyway, the pop up idea for 007n7 was heavily inspired by Crycodile's 'To Bring Back A Friend' fanfic! Please go read it, as it is amazing!
Chapter 6: Secrets Reveal Themselves Eventually.
Summary:
Nothing remains concealed indefinitely, particularly when it is exposed for everyone to observe.
. . .
Isn't that right, Seven?
Notes:
I can't write angst for shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit UGH. I hate these two. This is satire. I don't know what the fuck I was doing in all honesty.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The following morning—if it could even be called that since it was perpetually night—Elliot awoke, oblivious to the events that transpired after he had fallen asleep. He got out of bed and exited his cabin to prepare breakfast for everyone.
007n7, who had not slept a wink, emerged from his tent. He typically avoided the main cabin unless necessary but today was an exception. He entered the main cabin and headed to the kitchen, where Elliot was busy cooking.
Elliot glanced up from the pan, raising an eyebrow at the sight of 007n7 entering, but his puzzled expression quickly transformed into a grin as he noticed the man’s disheveled appearance, a clear indication of his sleepless night. He chuckled, “Did you sleep well, big guy?” he teased, already aware of the answer.
007n7 grumbled in reply, approaching Elliot and reaching for his tied-up hair. He grabbed the elastic and playfully tousled Elliot’s hair until it was a chaotic mess.
“Wha- HEY!” Elliot exclaimed, bursting into laughter as he tried to grab his elastic back, while 007n7 simply continued to grin. With a shake of his head and a self-mocking scoff, 007n7 looked down at Elliot.
"So... what do you think happened?" Shedletsky inquired of Builderman while they observed Elliot and 007n7 from the couch. Builderman shrugged, taking Shedletsky's coffee and finishing it off. "YOU-" Shedletsky simply stared, pretending to be betrayed. Builderman laughed, kissing Shedletsky to silence him before getting up and walking away to attend to other matters.
Elliot laughed as 007n7 playfully rolled his eyes and assisted the pizza man in tying his hair up.
‘There’s something sweet, and almost kind...’
Elliot halted his cooking, glancing at 007n7 from the edge of his vision, wincing as he recalled the older 007n7, reminding himself to dismiss that comforting sensation.
‘But he was mean, and he was coursed and unrefined.’
Elliot started to create the plates, his face turning a shade of red as he glanced back at 007n7, who was anxiously conversing with Chance and Taph.
‘And now he’s dear and so unsure...I wonder why I didn’t see it there before...’
Elliot realized he was completely infatuated with this former hacker. It was a mess, falling for the man who had caused him so much trouble in the past.
"Breakfast is served! GET DOWN HERE NOW!" Elliot called out, preparing the table.
Everyone settled into their seats while Elliot went to the closet to retrieve an extra chair for 007n7. "Oh- Thanks Elliot!" 007n7 said quietly as he took his place and began to eat. Elliot finished his meal before anyone else; he glanced at 007n7, who seemed deep in thought but still had two pieces of bacon left on his plate.
Elliot watched for a moment, then suddenly stood up, grabbed 007n7's food from across the table, and dashed away. "You- HEY!" 007n7 shouted, realizing what had just happened, laughing as he ran after Elliot.
"My wrist is in pain..." Noob muttered.
Chance laughed, "From what? Masturbating?" He joked, bursting into laughter as Noob retaliated by throwing food at him.
"Come back here, you mutt!" 007n7 shouted, chuckling as he caught up to Elliot, grabbing the back of the man's shirt, pulling him back and spinning him around, wrapping an arm around Elliot's waist. "Gotcha." He teased, a smile spreading across his face.
"AHH!" Elliot cried out, his face turning a shade of red. "Nooooo, I was just about to escape!" He complained, wriggling in 007n7's hold.
007n7 scoffed, but that was all, as the environment around them shifted, causing 007n7 to trip and fall onto his back, with Elliot landing on top of him.
"Ugh-" 007n7 groaned, grimacing as he attempted to sit up under the weight pressing down on him. "Are you alright...?" he whispered, assisting Elliot to his feet as they surveyed their surroundings.
"Yep..." Elliot replied, rising to his feet. "Who do you think the killer is?"
"Hmm, let’s see," 007n7 said, examining the vitals. It was Azure, indicating that Twotime was the next target. "Poor Twotime," 007n7 remarked, shaking his head with a scoff.
Elliot chuckled, "Looks like I need to go heal," he stated, his aura sense indicating that Guest required healing.
"Alright, let me join you."
"No, you should handle the generators instead."
"But that’s so booooooooooooring."
"You’re foolish."
"I’ll take that as a compliment."
007n7 faced the group, saying, "Don’t worry, everyone, I’ll look after Elliot!" He declared, wrapping an arm around Elliot’s waist.
Elliot, blushing, attempted to escape 007n7’s playful grip. He scowled at 007n7, muttering, "You’re the reason everyone believes I’m gay..." Finally, he managed to free himself from 007n7’s hold.
They both started sprinting towards the others. Guest needed healing, true, but he had 73 health, while Twotime’s health was deteriorating rapidly. So, they headed to Twotime instead. Both 007n7 and Elliot halted abruptly when they spotted Twotime pinned against a rock, ensnared by Azure’s tendrils and injured. Azure stood before Twotime, clearly engaged in a dispute while Twotime struggled to break free.
The two were bickering like literal children.
007n7 and Elliot exchanged glances before grinning widely.
"Hey! Why don’t you two find a room? It’s quite embarrassing to make out in public, you know," 007n7 shouted, prompting Elliot to cover his mouth in a futile effort to suppress his laughter, which ultimately erupted uncontrollably.
Twotime’s eyes widened, his face turning red as he glared at the pair, while Azure stood frozen at the comment.
However, Twotime observed that the tendrils appeared to relax, indicating he might have an opportunity to escape if they loosened further. He felt quite uncertain, but he realized he was doomed regardless.
"You should be addicted to shutting the fuck up," Azure hissed, glaring at 007n7 and Elliot.
"Ha! You wanna kiss me so bad it makes you look stupid!" Twotime retorted, redirecting Azure’s focus once more, but not before signaling 007n7 and Elliot to flee. Yet, he received an unexpected reply. Naturally, he sensed the tendrils constricting, a bit too tightly; he gasped as the one encircling his chest compressed, forcing the air from his lungs.
Azure growled, leaning in a bit closer, "So what if I do?"
GASP.
007n7 and Elliot remained frozen, their eyes wide and mouths agape in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Twotime's face turned a deep shade of crimson as he fought harder against his restraints. "PLEASE NO, I WAS JUST KIDDING, HAVE MERCY!" Twotime pleaded in a desperate tone, while Azure merely rolled his eyes with a scoff.
Azure glanced back at 007n7 and Elliot, signaling them to run, which they did, before refocusing on Twotime, who was repeatedly apologizing.
The round passed in a haze, as Azure was preoccupied with Twotime.
Once the round concluded, Elliot headed towards the kitchen, ready to prepare dinner for everyone, when someone collided with him.
"GAH- Watch it, nitwit-! Oh, it’s just you, Seven," Elliot grumbled, his irritation flaring as his eyes landed on the older man.
"Pfft- what’s with the sudden decrease in hostility?" 007n7 joked, smiling.
"Sybau baldie," Elliot retorted.
"WHAT." 007n7 coughed on his saliva, "BUT I’M NOT EVEN BALD!" He complained, tugging at his hair to confirm it was still there.
"HAH! Made you check." Elliot chuckled, "have you ever noticed how gullible you are?" He mocked.
007n7 rolled his eyes, yet couldn’t suppress the grin that was forming on his face, "you ever notice how your brain operates strangely? Congratulations on finally catching up."
Elliot’s face turned red, taken aback by 007n7’s retort.
He hesitated, a question lingering in his thoughts, and before he could voice any objections, his mouth opened and the words flowed out. "So...I’ve been wanting to ask....why did you do it?" Elliot mumbled, avoiding 007n7’s gaze.
"What?" 007n7 replied, looking thoroughly confused, "I don’t understand what you’re talking about...?"
"The cuts," Elliot said bluntly, no longer dancing around the issue.
007n7 froze, his voice caught in his throat as he stared at Elliot with wide eyes. "It’s-it’s not important, the reason is really stupid-"
"It matters to me," Elliot interjected, cutting off 007n7, "I may seem like I despise you, but that doesn’t mean I can’t check on you..."
"I....well..." 007n7 began, but the words eluded him. They felt trivial, as he was accustomed to keeping them bottled up. Why would anyone inquire about an ex-hacker's well-being? Or question the visible signs of self-harm? It seemed foolish, incredibly foolish. Yet, it felt so unfamiliar...too unfamiliar. "Uhm...it started with my dad..." He began, his voice trembling with an unyielding quiver that refused to subside.
Elliot remained silent, fully intent on not interrupting 007n7. His complete focus was on the man standing next to him.
"Uhm...can we go somewhere more private...?" 007n7 murmured, looking away in embarrassment. He was aware that Elliot needed to prepare dinner, so he felt foolish for suggesting it in the first place. "A-Actually, never mind, it’s fine!"
Elliot shook his head, saying, "Meet in my cabin after dinner."
007n7 appeared relieved and nodded in appreciation before exiting the main cabin.
To be honest, sleep played its part, and 007n7 eventually returned to his tent and fell asleep. Initially, he considered teleporting there, but since he didn’t feel the excruciating pain in his chest, he opted not to.
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₍^. .^₎⟆
- 1,541 Words -
Notes:
These ho's make me SICK. I wanna make em kiss but I can't write fluff or romantic stuff for the LIFE OF ME. pmo
Chapter 7: Death is a Permanent Solution to a Temporary Situation.
Summary:
007n7 confesses to some things that transpired in his past.
Notes:
UGHH EAT CHILDREN. This chapter is so cheesy and like I wrote this at like 3-4 am or some shit so bear with me I beg.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
He had skipped dinner and did not meet with Elliot afterward.
Elliot, naturally, noticed this and made his way to 007n7’s tent, ducking inside only to discover 007n7 asleep on the small mattress, using cardboard as a blanket. A tightness formed in his chest at the sight. Was it guilt?
He sighed, shaking his head as he roused 007n7, who apologized profusely for dozing off.
They returned to Elliot’s cabin, with 007n7 barely awake. Elliot opened the door and held it for 007n7 to enter before following him inside. 007n7 made his way to the living room and hesitantly sat on the couch, his eyes landing on Elliot, who was seated across from him.
Elliot sat there, looking at 007n7 expectantly, while 007n7 sat opposite him, clearly fatigued. "So, um... the cuts, right...?" 007n7 asked, his voice low and tentative.
Elliot remained silent, offering a brief nod.
007n7 swallowed hard, fidgeting with his fingers. "So... it began with my father... um... he wasn’t the best, to say the least, an alcoholic... he cared too much about the family image while he couldn’t even maintain a clean slate himself..." he spoke softly, "after a few years, I got clean until things became difficult again... during that challenging time, a school shooting occurred at my school... I survived, but I did get shot once in the arm...”
"You dodged a bullet, literally," Elliot remarked, immediately regretting his words.
"Close, but not quite... I was in such a dark place that I actually chased after the shooter, pleading to be shot again. When they set the gun down, I picked it up and reloaded it for them, hoping they’d aim for my head this time..." he said, falling silent right after.
Elliot froze, his eyes widening in horror at what he had just heard. 007n7... had been suicidal? No, 'had' was too mild; what if 007n7 was still in that state? He felt a surge of protectiveness rising within him as he gazed at the older man, unable to deny this feeling, especially after learning what he had just discovered.
"After that... I discovered hacking... I lived in a neighborhood that wasn’t the best, where exploiters and hackers were constantly bothering us, so I learned to hack to fight back against them. But, you know, power can really corrupt, right? I stayed clean during that period because hacking distracted me from everything else."
A brief pause.
"Then I stopped hacking when my son came into my life... oh, that precious little bundle of joy. Naturally, money became tight since I wasn’t hacking anymore, so I took on three jobs to support us, but even then, I let him down. I had been saving up, setting aside meals for myself just so C00lkidd could enjoy this amusement park, and I turned away for just a moment..." 007n7 fell silent, his eyes starting to glisten, a sign of tears beginning to form but unable to fall. Yet. "He was just... gone." 007n7 didn’t even realize when his hands began to shake, or when the tears started to stream down his face.
Elliot didn’t hesitate for a moment before reaching out and taking 007n7’s hands in his own. "Pain isn’t the only way to grieve; it’s simply the loudest... the one that stings the most, temporarily distracting one from the stress of living. Your situation is only temporary, while the solution you might be seeking is a permanent one, a choice that cannot be reversed once made. You’re allowing your emotions to cloud your judgment, because there’s nothing after death; you won’t find peace if what you leave behind is anger and sorrow." Elliot paused, carefully choosing his words. "Seven…promise me something. If we ever escape this place, you must come to me when you’re feeling low—maybe in another universe—"
"I wish I were dead in every universe. If I would grow a pair, I’d be dead in this one too," 007n7 blurted out, his eyes narrowing, his expression turned serious as he remembered something.
"What—?" Elliot started, only to be interrupted.
"About that," he cut Elliot off. "Elliot, I’m dead."
Elliot froze, his eyes widening in denial and disbelief at the revelation.
007n7 was… dead?
"You’re joking, right?" Elliot stammered, his words tumbling out like a broken radio. His body shook, tears welling in his eyes as he bit his inner cheek to suppress his sobs. "W-What—how…?"
007n7 glanced at Elliot before looking away in shame. Since when did Elliot care enough to cry for him? He let out a shaky sigh.
"After C00lkidd disappeared…my life took a downward turn. That kid…transformed me for the better, prompting me to acknowledge as many of my mistakes as possible. Pfft…isn't it ironic how redemption functions? They break your legs, expecting you, no, desiring you to crawl, yet they act so astonished when you refuse to stand. When you are unable to stand. That kid…my son, compelled me to do everything in my power to change. I believed perhaps this was the purpose of my existence, yet as is often the case, just when I had my life nearly in order, the universe took him from me..." he paused, swallowing hard as he met Elliot's gaze. "I shot myself in the head, Elliot."
"W-When...? W-Why didn’t you tell me?! Unless...was this after the crash...?" Elliot stammered, a choked sob escaping his throat involuntarily.
The older man hesitated, nodding softly, before a faint smile appeared on his face. "Elliot, if we ever escape this place…just remember, despite the cold glares and insults, you were a wonderful experience." His tone was sincere, brimming with honesty, nothing less.
"Y-You were…everything." Elliot replied, struggling to suppress the sobs that threatened to spill from his throat. The words slipped out before he could process them. Why had he said that? He despised 007n7! Right…? But now that he reflected on it, the grudge he had clung to so fiercely was merely a shield against the feelings he had started to develop for the older man. A barrier meant to protect himself. Yet even then, it crumbled, and he fell hard. The audacity of this man, he swears to Telamon, how dare this attractive, single father look at him with those gentle eyes after shattering most of his life?
"I-I need a moment..." Elliot murmured, rising and stepping outside the cabin. Fifteen minutes passed, and Elliot returned, holding a slice of pizza, his eyes still puffy and red. "You missed dinner." Elliot said quietly, sniffling softly.
007n7 halted, visibly taken aback. He knew Elliot was quite strict about missing meals, so he somewhat anticipated this reaction. He scoffed, "Have you been crying? There’s no need for that; you’ll still have the others-"
"But I don’t love the others the way I love you!" Elliot exclaimed, tears once again on the verge of spilling.
007n7’s cheeks turned red, his eyes widening in astonishment, "You…love me?" he inquired.
"Yes! I tried to conceal it, tried to dismiss it, tried to build barriers around my heart with a grudge I held tightly, believing my feelings were wrong, that-" Elliot stuttered.
"I suppose the feeling is mutual then, huh?" 007n7 joked, causing Elliot to become momentarily paralyzed.
"What…?"
007n7 grinned, rising from the couch and approaching Elliot, gently taking the pizza plate from his hand, then wrapping his arm around the younger man’s waist and softly pressing him against the wall. "I said, I suppose the feeling is mutual," he teased, his lips just inches from Elliot’s, his breath nearly brushing against the younger man’s lips.
Elliot’s face turned crimson, his body both tensing and melting in the warmth of the older man’s embrace.
"You can stop joking now..." Elliot whispered, his breaths shaky as he turned his head away, avoiding 007n7's gaze.
007n7 scoffed, taken aback; it was the first time he had seen Elliot in such a state, and oh, what a sight it was.
However, Elliot wasn’t about to let this little one tease him, so he swiftly wrapped an arm around 007n7’s waist and spun them around, leaving 007n7 pressed against the wall.
Mind you, 007n7 stood at 5'9 thanks to his ass genetics (hah loser), while Elliot was 5'11, inheriting most of his height from his father.
007n7 gasped, his cheeks flushing as he looked up into Elliot’s eyes and smirked, "touché," he quipped, leaning in to plant a quick kiss on Elliot’s lips.
Elliot froze, his eyes widening as warmth spread across his face. "Y-You..." he stammered, but the rest of his words got stuck in his throat, almost teasing him.
007n7 chuckled, observing the deep red hue creeping onto Elliot’s cheeks. "Elliot, get your head out of the clouds," he teased, tugging Elliot down by his shirt and pressing another kiss to his lips.
Elliot tensed at the contact, yet he didn’t push him away; instead, he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue past 007n7’s lips.
007n7 smirked into the kiss, his arms loosely encircling Elliot’s neck. The kiss lingered for a few moments before 007n7 pulled back, a thin strand of saliva connecting their lips.
Elliot coughed, trying to regain his breath before shooting a glare at 007n7. "Short stack," he muttered, though there was no real malice in his tone.
"I’m just a few inches shorter, you jerk!" 007n7 shot back playfully, "kids these days are so cruel." He feigned hurt, turning away from Elliot with a mock pout.
Elliot rolled his eyes, but a grin couldn't help but spread across his face. "Alright, old man, you’re just three years older," he teased, planting a kiss beneath 007n7’s jawline. "But hey, whatever you say, Seven."
007n7 froze, his eyes widening as he became completely still.
Seven.
No—no̸̗͊̀, stop, shut up̵͓͝. Don’t call him that. Sto̸̗͊̀p—st̶̯͐op—
"Stop it!" 007n7 shouted, pushing Elliot away, only to stiffen in realization of his own actions.
"E-Elliot, I didn’t mean to... I-I thought you were..." He bit down hard on his inner cheek, tasting the metallic tang of blood. He needed to silence himself. Why did he have to mess things up? Why did a silly nickname have to bring HIM into his thoughts!?
Elliot paused, narrowing his eyes as he looked down at 007n7, who was clearly lost in his own turmoil, a trickle of blood now seeping from his mouth.
"Did I do something wrong, Seven ?" Elliot murmured, taking careful steps closer.
"S-Shut up. Don’t call me that," 007n7 blurted, his body shaking.
Damn it.
Why now?
S̴h̶i̵t̶.̴ ̷
Y̴̩̕o̵͎͛ú̶̠’̶̛͕v̸̲̑e̴̞̾ ̶̭̔r̶̨̀ù̸̢i̸̹͒n̴̤̓ȅ̷̖ď̴͉ ̵̥̀m̵̪̾y̸͖̿ ̵̰͋l̵̮͑ï̸͍f̸̲̕e̵̙̾,̴̫̂ ̵̫̿j̴̨͑ë̸͖́r̴͐͜k̸͔̉.̵̱̆ ̵͕̅
À̶̞̓ͅl̸̻̂̏l̵̤̾͊ ̷̧͙̉b̶̨̊̍ȅ̸̛͙c̷͖͈̍a̴̬̫̔ú̴̮̔s̶̻͠e̷̡̓ ̵̮́I̶̙̦͑ ̴̺̈́ẁ̴͈͠à̸̟̝͌n̵̟̊ţ̸͕̈̈́è̸͖̭d̸̥̎ ̸̦̬̀̚t̷͙̺̾͌o̶͈̣̍̈́ ̸̨̩̏̃s̴̟̈͝ṯ̷̺̂̈́o̴̪͌ͅp̷̝̚͝ ̴̛̖́ḧ̸ͅá̸̮͝c̸̢̻͌̀k̴̰̄̍i̴̼̓n̸͇͌̈́ǵ̸̯̞.̵̪́ ̵̰̣͗
S̷̪̱͑͘ë̵͔̟́r̸̛͇ͅi̵̩̇̾͜ô̸̩̙u̴̟̕s̴̛͖̺͠l̴͚̅͊y̷̥̌?̵͖̊ ̵̧̬͒
Elliot hesitated, confusion washing over his face. "What’s wrong with ‘Seven’?"
G̸e̶t̸ ̶o̷u̵t̵.̴.̶.
Ğ̸̥̗͗ẽ̸̩̠t̴͔̹͌̇́ ̴̡̲̉o̴̩͗̐̕ú̸̚ͅt̴̮̖͑͂͠.̶͚̞̟̔
G̵͈̗̜͙̝̞͎̠̰̟̈́̆͐̃̄͑Ę̶̢̛̼͍͕͍̟͖̲̟̱̟̑̒͂̐̌̽͑͋͜Ţ̷̛͓͇͖̖̬͉̝͖̠̖̖̾̇̐̃̃̈̒̐̒͑̅͠ ̴̻͇̫̽Ó̶̡̝̥͖̱̠̰̦̗̘͍̀͗̈́̀̉̕Ŭ̵̧̡̻̬͓̻̞͙̖͐Ţ̶̡̡̪͈̬̼͕͙̭̯̱̍̈́̍̂́͑̓̍̌̀̓̃͛ ̵̞͙̜͖̽͜O̶̢̙͉̙͙͙̪̣͖͓͎͖̩͆̋̀͑̐͊̑̄̂͌͌́Ḟ̵̛̠̫̗̈́ ̴̢̣̥̤͖̳̪͓͚̇̀M̸̧̡̡̱̬̼͉͓̝̳̰̤̃̆͐̚̕͝Y̴̨̩͙̬̯̲̼̤̻̾͑̔ ̶̢̮͈̱̞̘͇̩͈̼̤̈́̈̐̔̎̓̋́͝Ḟ̷͈͈͓̰̻̳̺̮̫̳͓̥̽̉̋Ů̶̲̦̻̗͎͔͉̇̀͂͝C̴̢͕̺͖̜̑͋͒́ͅK̸̫̔̌̏̊̑́͑̋͘͝͝Ĭ̵̛̖̭̱̝͚̓ͅN̶̨̲̤͉͖̉ͅG̶͓̀̈̓͜͠ ̴͔͓͇̱̮̝͖̺͚̩͖̽͌͘Ḩ̴̟͖͙̣͇̠̝̓͐̓̕͜È̶̢̢̖͚͚̼̭̤̞̪̜̯̚ͅA̷̭͖͌̊̿̅̑̃̃́͐D̷̛͉̦͖̲̉͊̌̅́̉̓̏̕͠͝͝ ̴̧̬̞͙̲̦̭͇͙̘̰́͂̒̆͘͝ͅŃ̷̡̝̠̝͖͍̹͓̖̇͌̒̇̀̋̎̀O̴̡̢̧͍̬͍̼̮̼̖̰͑̃̇̆́̚͜͝ͅL̵̡̛̥̲̱͎̉͛I̴̯̫̻̋́̏͛͘͠.̷̛̞̩̦͕̱̲̩͍͖̹̤̈̚͜͝
007n7 snapped back to reality when he felt two gentle hands holding his own, someone kissing the inner palm of his left hand while cradling the other as if it were a treasure.
007n7 blinked in surprise and confusion, realizing he had been crying. He looked up to find Elliot holding both his hands, gazing at him with concern.
"Are you with me? Heh...there you are," Elliot said gently, tenderly wiping away 007n7’s tears while keeping his gaze fixed on him. "Could you...tell me what’s happening, Se-007n7?" Elliot stammered, correcting himself just before he almost used the nickname again. He didn’t quite understand why 007n7 had an issue with it, but given the man’s current demeanor, it must have been something serious.
"It’s nothing...just an old friend who called me that name, and it didn’t end well after I told him I was quitting hacking...." 007n7 murmured, leaning into Elliot’s touch. "It’s a long story..." 007n7 added, but the words got stuck in his throat.
"Well, if it’s your story, I’m here to listen," Elliot responded, gazing at 007n7 with half-closed, love-filled eyes, as if he couldn’t tear his attention away from the man he had tried so hard to despise.
"Seriously, Elliot, it’s okay, don’t worry about it—" The older man started softly, only to be interrupted by a firmer tone.
"007n7."
"I-I...if you’re certain..." 007n7 stammered, swallowing hard.
The two of them shifted away from the wall and returned to the couch, now sitting a bit closer together. Instead of occupying opposite ends, they positioned themselves so that their shoulders brushed with every slight movement.
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
₍^. .^₎⟆
- 2,054 Words -
Notes:
DOUBLE UPLOAD WILL BE HAPPENING TODAY!!!
Chapter 8: A Friendship Built From Lies and Tears.
Summary:
A look into 007n7's past with a fight that broke bonds.
Notes:
Ugh, this chapter is based off a song that I listened to when writing this. If anything the lyrics are just switched up a bit because we all know I was NOT about to write a full fight in my tired state, those who know will recognize the song reference, I will detail it at the end of this chapter.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
007n7 did not have the privilege of growing up in a good neighborhood or a supportive family. His father was consumed by alcohol, prioritizing the family's tarnished image over their well-being, while his mother only acknowledged him during serious matters. It was far from ideal.
The one constant in 007n7's life was his friend, C00lgui, a young boy brimming with potential.
That was until...
The exploiters and hackers crossed a line.
C00lgui was inside the building that was set on fire by these individuals. What they anticipated to be a minor incident with no casualties turned into a disaster, resulting in the building's collapse and the loss of other children, parents, and entire families, including C00lgui.
Ultimately, there were 34 fatalities, 34 lives lost due to the reckless boredom of another Robloxian. C00lgui's death was the result of a cruel joke.
This tragedy sent 007n7 into a downward spiral, torn between the longing for death to reunite with his friend and the urge for vengeance against those responsible for his friend's demise.
His path changed after meeting Noli, who had a profound impact on him.
He transformed into a hacker himself, determined to confront those who had taken so much from him. He named his creation C00lgui in memory of his friend, but now he feels regret.
He honored his best friend by naming something after them, yet that creation was designed to inflict the same suffering that led to their death.
However, Noli made the name feel appropriate, manipulating his thoughts to the point where he took the bait and fell into the trap that Noli had meticulously prepared for him. The constraints imposed by the lies of the one individual he believed to be trustworthy.
He transformed into the very thing he despised, the entity he had aimed to oppose.
A hacker.
An exploiter.
He was so engulfed by the deceptions, by the false sense of security Noli provided to his love-starved psyche, that he didn’t even pause to reflect on whether it was right or wrong.
He was innocent.
Desperate.
To fill the void that C00lgui had left within him.
To discover a new individual who genuinely cared for him.
It wasn’t Noli.
He made a poor decision.
“What’s your issue?! Is this some sort of joke? You’re tarnishing the family reputation, you little brat! You could have been ANYTHING but this!” 007n7’s father shouted, glaring at his son, who stood before him with his hands in his pockets and a smirk on his face.
He disliked visiting his father, but he had dropped by to pick something up, and naturally, his father was not happy to see him. 007n7 scoffed, eyeing his father’s pathetic demeanor, “HAH! Was that a joke? Pfft! You’re joking right? Come on.... tell me that was a joke!” 007n7 chuckled at the idea. Him? Ruining the family reputation? No way, it had been damaged long before he took his first breath.
“UGH! You used to be SO NICE!”
007n7 smirked, "No, I used to be a pushover and a people pleaser, and I let people like YOU walk all over me! But now I have boundaries and a little bit of self-respect, and you don’t like that I’m not your personal doormat anymore!” He replied, grinning as his father's face flushed with anger. "Besides, it’s all just a joke, so relax, old man."
“It’s not a joke, you brat; you’re ripping this family apart with your—your hacking!”
“Whaaat? It's more of a lifestyle, that’s my destiny! What more could I do?” 007n7 taunted, shrugging his shoulders. “Telamon knows the rest.” He grinned, preparing to leave while adjusting his jacket. “Just face it old man, I’m not the child you once knew.”
His father clenched his jaw, saying, "No." He started to turn and move deeper into the house. "That child would see you and run." And that was the end of the conversation.
The statement took 007n7 by surprise, his hand pausing just before reaching the doorknob. He realized his father was right...what he had turned into...his younger self would never be able to meet his gaze.
A few days later, he discovered C00lkidd waiting at his door during a fierce thunderstorm. The young child had stirred something within 007n7. He had transformed him. Made him recall his past mistakes and the suffering he had inflicted on so many.
After looking after the child for a while and forming a strong bond, he called Noli and asked him to meet at the deserted park at 9 PM that night, emphasizing its importance.
It was late at night, the birds were chirping, the grass was swaying, and the moonlight illuminated both 007n7 and Noli’s figure, who sat in the darkness. 007n7 had sent a text to Noli about meeting up, needing to discuss some matters with him. Naturally, 007n7 felt anxious, even scared, as he understood that this was not news his friend would welcome, but he had already made his decision; whether Noli would react violently was a question yet to be answered.
"So, you wanted to discuss about that thing? The red pill?" Noli inquired, snorting at the mere thought of it.
"He’s not a thing," 007n7 shot back.
Noli hesitated, turning to face 007n7 in disbelief. "He’s? HE’S? Oh-ho! Don’t tell me you’re getting attached to it now, Seven? What about us!? Are you really going to throw everything away for a baby some fool left on your doorstep?!" Noli exclaimed, clearly irritated by the idea. 007n7 was his puppet friend! They had been partners in crime for as long as anyone could remember!
"I never said that..." 007n7 clarified. "Just because I want to keep the child doesn’t mean we can’t remain friends, Noli." 007n7 murmured, gazing at Noli with weary eyes.
"No, it definitely means we can’t be friends! We’re hacking buddies, Seven! That—that THING that has wormed its way into your heart is NOTHING compared to our friendship! Come on, Seven! Snap out of it!" Noli implored, desperation lacing his voice. 007n7 was strong; he couldn’t afford to lose him if he wanted that star. "It’s just a baby-!"
"HE’S NOT AN ‘IT’ DAMMIT!" 007n7 yelled, "he’s not some object, Noli! He’s a living being like you and me, get that through your fucking head!" His voice trembled as his eyes began to well up, breathing heavily in an attempt to regain his composure while fighting back tears.
Noli stood frozen, his eyes widening as the realization hit him. His ṕ̶̾͗̀͝ͅũ̴͕̗͆p̷̙̜̘̍̍̔̏p̸̢̧̠͇̭͂̄̓ë̴͇͇́̀͌͝ṱ̸̔͠͝ friend.
He had worked so hard to change 007n7, to transform the once selfless, kind-hearted boy into a heartless jerk to achieve his own objectives. He took advantage of every opportunity to manipulate 007n7, aiming to alter the man's viewpoint.
007n7 had once been a kind-hearted boy, growing up in a harsh environment filled with hackers and exploiters who frequently attacked. He simply wanted to make them pay for their actions, especially since one of their assaults had resulted in the death of his best friend, fueling his desire for revenge. He started hacking as a means to achieve this, determined not to let any power corrupt his mission. However, after meeting Noli, everything began to deteriorate without his awareness. Gradually, that selfless boy faded away, replaced by a callous man shaped by deceit and relentless manipulation.
A man crafted by Noli.
Now, due to some foolish baby, he was witnessing all his efforts crumble.
The gentle-hearted 007n7 was beginning to resurface, all because of a damn baby left on his doorstep, and it was infuriating Noli.
His fingers tightened into fists as he gritted his teeth, struggling to contain the fury boiling within him. He had a deep-seated desire to eliminate that infant. It had to be eradicated. It was a flaw in his strategy, a gaping hole that threatened to rip 007n7 away from him. "You are selfless, sentimental at best, that’s not a making of mine." Noli spat through clenched jaws, his anger barely restrained. "You’ve grown soft, your dead friend can attest," the man hissed, venom dripping from his words.
"Hey!" 007n7 shot back, his voice laced with simmering rage. Noli had vowed never to use his friend's death as a weapon against him, regardless of the circumstances, yet here he was, crossing that line. What a damn hypocrite.
"Put your emotions aside!" Noli shouted, abruptly rising from the bench. "You’re a hacker, meant to hurt the rest! I don’t know where it went wrong, but I warned ya, and you failed the test! So now I’m gone." Noli realized at this moment that 007n7 was beyond saving. Worthless. He had hoped this one would prove to be of some value.
"This way, you’ll know what your place is! This way, you can’t cross the line! This way, when all is over, you’ll keep yours and I’ll keep mine." Noli began, his glare fixed on 007n7, who merely stared back in disbelief. "This way, you won’t disappoint me. This way, you won’t waste my time! This way, I’ll close the door, consider this as my goodbye!" He paused, glancing back at 007n7, wishing, hoping this would jolt 007n7 back to reality and compel him to return. He knew 007n7 would do anything to preserve this friendship, as Noli was the only one who truly ‘got him.’
But 007n7 was well aware of the trap Noli was attempting to set, and he refused to take the bait. Not this time. “That’s just like you, why should I be surprised? Selfish and prideful and vain."
Noli stood frozen, his heart racing as the words tumbled from 007n7’s lips, his eyes wide with disbelief as he gazed at the other man in utter shock.
"Unlike you, every time someone cries, I’m left to deal with the blame." 007n7 declared, rising to confront Noli, his voice taking on a harsh edge that was foreign to Noli, especially when directed at HIM. "What’s a friendship that a best friend could give, if I’ll never sleep at night?" He locked eyes with Noli, his expression hardening, "I’ll remind you, I saw you as a friend, but now we’re done." His voice was icy as he turned away, dismissing the moment.
"This way, you’re out of my life now, this way, you won’t plague my mind! This way, when all is done, you’re out of sight and out of mind!" 007n7 snapped back to Noli, his anger boiling over, "this way, you get what you wanted. This way, you can save your time. This way, you close the door and have your damn goodbye!" 007n7 shouted, fury lacing every word.
"You’re not looking for a friendship, I’m not looking for a friend! I mistook you for a partner, what a waste of hacking spent!" Noli attempted to argue, to hold his ground, but he was unaccustomed to 007n7’s fierce resistance, unprepared for the confrontation.
"At least I know what I’m fighting for, while you’re fighting to be known! Since you claim you’re so much better, why’s your life spent all alone?! YOU’RE ALONE!" 007n7 bellowed, only to freeze in shock at his own words.
Noli fell silent, his eyes wide as he feigned tears and hurt, "one day, you’ll see what I’m saying, one day, you might understand...one day, but not today, for after all it’s just a kid!" He shot back, pushing 007n7 away, "this day, you sever your own head! This day, you cut the ties! This day, you lost it all, consider this as my goodbye!" Noli flicked 007n7 sharply on the forehead, disorienting him for a brief moment, which Noli seized to vanish without a trace.
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
₍^. .^₎⟆
- 1,944 Words -
Notes:
The song hinted at in this chapter is 'My Goodbye' by Jorge Rivera-Herrans & Teagan Earley from Epic the Musical!
Thank you so much for reading up till now, I would like to inform everyone who plans on staying till the end of this story that chapters and updates will come in more slowly now, which means I really need to get to writing FAST! But that's alright, as long as you guys appreciate my work I don't mind. Anyhoo, thank you all once again! Until the next chapter.
Chapter 9: Familiar Voices.
Summary:
An unexpected visit.
Notes:
Shout out to Genofresherror for being my motivation to even continue this story! Awaiting your comment, dear reader.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"And that’s pretty much it; I didn’t see him again until he attempted to frame C00lkidd for the arson at the pizza place, which I took the fall for, along with a few other incidents," 007n7 murmured, avoiding Elliot’s gaze out of fear of judgment.
At the same time, Elliot was FURIOUS. His breath was erratic, and his eyes burned with rage. Was it not 007n7 who set the pizza place ablaze? It was this damn ‘Noli’? He could have admitted his feelings for 007n7 earlier? Oh, if he ever encountered this Noli... no, Elliot, get a grip!
Elliot exhaled deeply, leaning forward to pull 007n7 into his embrace, who stiffened at the unexpected contact before gradually relaxing into the soothing touch. But just as he began to unwind, he tensed up again. "Hey, it’s getting late," 007n7 murmured as he started to pull away from Elliot. "I should head out–"
"No," Elliot interjected, seizing 007n7 by the sleeve and yanking him back into his lap. "You’re spending the night," Elliot insisted, burying his face in the crook of 007n7’s neck and showering gentle kisses on the freckled skin.
007n7 gasped as he was yanked back down, landing in Elliot’s lap with a soft ‘oof’ before he shivered at Elliot’s tender kisses. "Elliot, I-it's fi–"
"No. You’re staying here," Elliot said firmly, pulling 007n7 even closer.
(They did more than just stay together, but since I’m so ass at writing fluff and can’t write smut, uhhhhhhh let’s just say they did the boombaya.
007n7 was very loud because this OLD ASS MAN was such a loser and didn’t pull any bitches in the past. In simple terms, his dumbass WAS a virgin until Elliot’s smitten-d bitch ass decided ‘this is mine now’ and fucking snatched it.)
007n7 awoke, feeling a warm weight pressing him down. He raised his hand to comb through hair that definitely wasn’t his, but belonged to Elliot, who was still asleep. 007n7 scoffed, his face turning red as memories from hours earlier rushed back to him. Oh god, he hoped he hadn’t been too loud; Elliot had repeatedly told him to keep it down, which was quite embarrassing. His hips were sore. He let out a shaky breath while gazing at Elliot’s back, which bore marks that would likely leave scars...
Damn.
Ugh, he was going to have to apologize for this. Sure, Elliot had left marks on him, but those would fade eventually, unlike the ones he had left on Elliot. He should have left the cabin when he had the opportunity! What an idiot, how foolish can you be, 007n7?! Now he had to figure out how to conceal these marks! Elliot didn’t have to worry about that, no! Because this jerk only had marks on his back, which was always covered! This guy knew exactly what he was doing! But... who was 007n7 to complain? It was enjoyable, really enjoyable, too enjoyable even. He mumbled as he drifted back to sleep, sinking deeper into Elliot’s embrace.
Elliot awoke shortly after, his eyes fluttering open as he noticed 007n7 with his face nestled against his chest. He let out a soft chuckle, planting a kiss on the older man's forehead while admiring his features. Wow, he really fell hard, didn't he? If he had known this man was such a cuddle bug, he would have snatched him up sooner, if not for the grudge he held. He ran his fingers through 007n7's hair, savoring the embrace, and although he wished to remain in bed with 007n7 in his arms, he recognized the need to prepare breakfast.
Reluctantly, he got out of bed, careful not to wake his lover friend, yes, they were merely friends, nothing was official yet, so it was best not to raise his hopes. He slipped on his turtleneck before layering a red work shirt over it. He took one last look at 007n7 before turning to leave the room, quietly shutting the door.
Upon entering the main cabin, he was taken aback to find everyone else already awake. Had he really slept in that late? Oh well, he would just have to prepare himself for the inevitable questions. He headed to the kitchen, where he spotted Chance rummaging through the fridge. Elliot smirked, eager to seize the opportunity.
He crept up behind Chance, stifling a laugh before lightly tapping him on the shoulder.
“AHH! WHO- oh. ELLIOT, DON’T DO THAT! YOU SCARED ME!” Chance complained, grumbling as Elliot chuckled at him. “Ugh, whatever. Also, where have you been? You don’t usually sleep in.” Chance interrogated, narrowing his eyes at Elliot.
“Oh, just up late doing stuff.” Elliot replied curtly, turning to make himself a cup of coffee, one of the few things the spectre provided for them to consume.
“Doing...what?”
“Now that really isn’t your concern, Chance.” Elliot teased.
“It kinda is since I live in the cabin next to yours and I heard a lot of noise. Wait. Were you killing someone?!” Chance exclaimed, stepping back while playfully raising his gun.
"What? Me? Kill someone? Nah, just had a little fun is all." He chuckled, reminiscing about the events of the previous night.
"Beating someone up? Because Builderman and I heard it too. We don’t wander far from your cabin, Elliot. So, spill it." Shedletsky declared, making his presence felt as he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, brow raised.
Elliot smirked as he turned his head to meet Shedletsky's gaze, his grin widening before he let out a snort. "Ha! You don’t even know what you’re asking me to confess!" Elliot shrugged, turning back to his coffee. "You have nothing; I don’t have to tell you anything at all," he paused, "...unless." He set his coffee down, glancing back at Shedletsky, who now had Chance standing close by. "If I can prove that I never took a life, do you promise not to tell another soul what you heard?"
Shedletsky shrugged, "No one else was in the room where it happened."
"Is that a yes?" Elliot asked flatly.
"Um, yes," Chance responded, looking intrigued.
"I fucked burger man," Elliot stated flatly, appearing completely unfazed by the admission.
. . .
"YOU DID WHAT?!" Chance shouted, while Shedletsky looked like a deer caught in headlights. "D-Didn’t you HATE that guy?!"
"Hm, somewhat, yes, but hate is such a strong term; it was more of a minor grudge," Elliot replied with a smirk, casually shrugging his shoulders.
Everyone gaped at him, their mouths open in disbelief. Yet, Elliot paid them no mind, preparing breakfast before carrying two plates back to his cabin, where he and 007n7 shared a meal. They still had time before the first round, so they opted to cuddle while they could, unaware that the next round would feature someone who haunted a particular burger man.
The round commenced in silence, an unsettling quiet. The survivors were perplexed, as the killer had yet to reveal themselves, and even 007n7 couldn't identify the killer since their name was obscured by question marks. One thing was clear, however: the killer's presence affected the generators, as numerous fake ones were strewn across the map, much to the survivors' dismay.
While 007n7 conversed with Elliot, chaos erupted. The killer had made their entrance, attacking and gravely injuring Noob, who was barely hanging on. 007n7 and Elliot turned their heads towards the commotion, and Elliot dashed off to tend to Noob, with 007n7 trailing behind, eager to understand what had transpired. But something halted him abruptly, nearly causing him to stumble as he stared, wide-eyed, at the corpse-like purple figure before him.
The killer's gaze swept through the crowd of foolish survivors until it settled on the very individual they had been informed would be present.
"Seven! There you are, buddy!" the figure exclaimed, causing 007n7 to flinch.
"N-Noli...? How did you...what...who informed you of my presence here? How did you f-find me?" 007n7 stammered, retreating a step as Noli advanced one.
"Oh, a little birdie whispered it to me! Thought it would be nice to check in on an old friend! It appears you've made some new acquaintances, which is quite unexpected given your past actions," Noli taunted, a sinister smile spreading across his face, which was a grotesque blend of a complete skull and what seemed to be decaying flesh (Micheal Afton ahh look), if it could even be called decay.
"We are not friends, you jerk...you-you attempted to frame my son!" 007n7 shouted, his voice turning harsh, yet it quivered, as if the fear still echoed within the vibrations of his speech.
"And I would do it again!" Noli chuckled, reminiscent of a child, but devoid of any innocence, filled instead with sheer malice, "you eliminate it first, then it can't escape, but I realized too late that you had evaded my grasp. Quite vexing, I’m sure you’d agree if your cherished toy ran away from you!" Noli went on, grinning as if his words were anything but alarming.
"I've heard that tale far too often, Noli." 007n7 shot back, "I trust you also recall the narrative where you attempted to murder me and my children on several occasions." 007n7 spat, venomous hatred dripping from his every word.
"Oh, absolutely, I adore that story, but it’s truly unfortunate those nuisances didn’t meet their end. They took you away from me, and when I discovered you had taken in two more, it hit me just how weak you really are," Noli declared, his tone shifting from light-hearted chuckles to pure fury. "That’s right, I heard the story over and over again," Noli sneered, seizing Twotime, who was about to strike, by the neck and brutally decapitating him. "Gee, it’s swell to finally meet your other friends!" He laughed as he discarded Twotime’s bloodied corpse, "That’s right, I heard the story, don’t really like how it ends." He exclaimed, lunging at Builderman, who was caught off guard, resulting in a grotesque display of entrails and shredded flesh. "Gee, it’s swell to finally meet your other friends!!"
He rose to his feet, facing Noob, who had been restored by Elliot but stood frozen in fear. Noli wore a sarcastic pout, feigning sorrow. "What did he say about me? What did he say?" He turned to 007n7, who flinched again, "What did you do without me? what did you do?" He took a teasing step closer to Noob, who was trapped with no escape and his abilities on cooldown. "Did you play games without me? What did you play?" He inquired with feigned curiosity as he crushed Noob’s skull in his hands. "Did you think all this time that I wouldn’t find out about you?!"
He lunged at 007n7, who recoiled, with Guest intervening to shield him from the blow. Noli scowled, glaring at Guest. "That’s right, I heard the story over and over again, gee it’s swell to finally meet your other friends!" He remarked with an eye roll, his sight momentarily obscured as Taph hurled one of his bombs at him. Noli grumbled as he shattered every bone in Taph’s body.
Guest glanced at Noli before shifting his gaze to 007n7, confusion etched on his face. "007n7! Who is this guy? Why does he say he knows you?!" But that was not the right question to pose, as it only served to further provoke Noli, who lunged for the kill before Guest could turn back. He was furious that they were unaware of him, as it implied that 007n7 had never mentioned him.
"Who am I? WHO AM I?! What are you even saying!" Noli snapped, his teeth clenched as he glared at 007n7, who realized he was in deep trouble. "I’m the loser of the game you didn’t even know you were playing!" Noli paused, a sinister grin spreading across his face as a new thought struck him, "let’s play another game, this time I get to win!" Noli directed his attention to Chance, "lives on the line!" Grimacing as he was shot in the chest, he declared, "winner takes all!" Yet, he refused to back down; the moment he regained movement, he lunged at Chance. Dusekarr attempted to cast a shield to protect Chance, but it shattered the instant the spell was conjured. "Ready or not let’s begin!" Noli cackled, having just dislocated Chance’s jaw, more like having completely torn it off.
"Oh, that’s right, I heard the story over and over again," Noli remarked as he turned to Dusekarr, who immediately panicked and tried to escape. Noli scoffed in disbelief before pursuing the pumpkin man. Shedletsky attempted to stun Noli, hoping to buy Dusekarr time to flee, but it resulted in both of their deaths. "Gee, it’s swell to finally beat your other friends," Noli taunted, glancing at Elliot, who 007n7 promptly shielded.
"Noli, enough! Don’t drag them into this, damn it!" 007n7 shouted, trying to reason with Noli, but the killer merely rolled his eyes in response.
"Oh, that’s right, I’ve heard this story over and over again," Noli deadpanned, glaring at Elliot, who stiffened under his stare. He aimed for the hit, only for 007n7 to intercept it, but Noli anticipated this, ensuring it wasn’t a lethal strike, just enough to incapacitate 007n7.
007n7 collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood while clutching the large wound that marred his side. It was so deep that he felt his organs nearly shift, forcing him to press harder to keep them in place. He lifted his head, tears welling in the corners of his eyes as he helplessly watched Noli pursue Elliot.
Noli reached out and grabbed Elliot by the collar of their shirt, saying, "gee it’s swell to finally meet your other friends, Seven." Noli laughed as he repeatedly stabbed Elliot in the abdomen, leaning in with a sadistic grin, "Nice to meet you."
That was the final thing Elliot heard before he felt his body being torn apart. He was transported back to the survivor's cabin, gasping for breath and choking on his own saliva, arms wrapped around his stomach as the pain gradually faded. But that was irrelevant; 007n7 was now alone with that MONSTER. He quickly pulled himself up from the ground, staggering over to the couch where everyone else was gathered, watching the television that was currently focused on 007n7.
Noli grinned at the horrific scene he had created with the bodies of 007n7’s friends. He diverted his gaze from Elliot’s lifeless body to 007n7, who remained on the ground, clutching his side. "Now that they are out of the way, why don’t you come back to your senses, Seven?"
“Don’t you dare call me that,” 007n7 retorted, his eyes filled with unspoken loathing.
“Come on Seven, you know I love you; the red speaks for itself,” Noli taunted, gesturing to the blood that stained the grass.
“You tricked me!” 007n7 shouted, “that isn’t love!”
Noli narrowed his eyes, his smile shifting to a frown, "Tricked you? No, I saved you." He replied, moving closer and seizing 007n7 by the hair, forcing the ex-hacker to meet his gaze. "And we both know that’s true, don’t we, Seven?" Noli taunted, fully aware of his correctness.
007n7 stood frozen, his eyes widening in realization. He recognized that Noli was right, and he despised that fact. However, without Noli, he would have never encountered Elliot, become a hacker, or found himself in this predicament. Memories surged back, overwhelming him with the recollection of the day he first met Noli, the day he was drawn into a web of deception.
It was April 13th, 2012, and 007n7 was around 19 years old at that time. He loathed his existence; he had lost his friend C00lgui, his parents barely acknowledged him, and he felt utterly alone.
By this point, 007n7 had completely lost his sense of purpose. That friend had brought light into his otherwise dark life, and now that light was extinguished. He and C00lgui had done everything together. He would braid their hair, and they would braid his. He shared his lunch, and they reciprocated. He completed his homework; they worked on theirs together. They were inseparable. 007n7 appreciated them for helping him manage his long hair, which he never knew how to style. His parents never took him for a haircut, and when he attempted to cut it himself, he nearly ruined it, so he allowed it to grow. After their... passing, he kept his hair in braids, hoping to feel their presence even in their absence.
Things never improved, so today, during lunch break, he headed to the school's rooftop. Just as he was about to take his shoes, off of the rooftop, there he sees, a boy with braided hair here before him. Despite himself, he went and screamed, “Hey! Don’t do it, please.”
Whoa, wait a minute, what did he just say? He couldn’t care less, either way.
To be honest, he was somewhat pissed.
This was an opportunity missed.
The boy with braided hair told him their woes; you’ve probably heard it all before.
“I really thought that she might be the one, but then she told me she was done.”
“For God’s sake, please! Are you serious? I just can’t believe-”
That for some stupid reason they got here before him.
“Are you upset ‘cause you can’t have what you wanted? You’re lucky that you’ve never gotten robbed of anything!”
“I’m feeling better, thank you for listening.” The boy with braided hair then disappeared.
The next day.
Alright, today’s the day, or so he thought. Just as he took both his shoes off, there was but a boy, short as can be. Despite himself, he went and screamed.
The petit boy told him their woes; you’ve probably heard it all before.
“Everyone ignores me, everyone steals. I don’t fit in with anyone here.”
“For God’s sake, please! Are you serious? I just can’t believe-”
That for some stupid reason they got here before him.
“Cause even so, you’re still loved by everyone at home! There’s always dinner waiting on the table, you know!”
“I’m hungry...” said the boy as they shed a tear, the boy short as can be then disappeared.
And like that, there was someone every day. He listened to their tale; he made them turn away. And yet there was no one who would do this for him–no way he could let out all this pain.
The next day.
For the very first time, there he sees, someone with the same pains as him. Having done this time and time again, they wore a yellow cardigan.
“I just wanna stop the scars that grow, every time that I go home, that’s why I came up here instead.” That’s what the boy in the cardigan said.
Whoa, wait a minute, what did he just say? He couldn’t care less, either way!
But in the moment, he just screamed, something that he could not believe. “Hey! Don’t do it, please!”
Ah, what to do? He can’t stop this boy; oh, this is new. For once, he thinks he’s bitten off more than he can chew. But even so, please just go away, so he can’t see, their pitiful expression is just too much for him.
“I guess today is just not my day,” they looked away from him and then they disappeared.
The next day.
“There’s no one here today, I guess it’s time. It’s just me, myself and I. There is no one who can interfere, no one to get in my way here.”
Taking off his yellow cardigan.
Watching his braids all come undone.
This petite boy, short as can be.
Is gonna jump now and be free.
"ACK-" 007n7 exclaimed as he was seized and pulled back onto the roof. He flinched, glancing up to find a face looking down at him.
"What were you attempting to do?" the boy inquired, causing 007n7 to become motionless.
"I–um–n-nothing!" 007n7 stuttered, his eyes wide with the realization that he had almost been discovered.
The boy scrutinized 007n7 with a wary gaze before breaking into a smile.
"My name is Noli! What about yours?"
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
₍^. .^₎⟆
- 3,360 Words -
Notes:
P.S- I wrote this all today...
Songs referenced in this chapter are:
We know – Hamilton.
Other Friends – Cristina Vee.
The red means I love you – Madds Buckley.
My R – Annapantsu.Thank you for reading! I’ll get the next chapter out as soon as possible! Sorry if this chapter isn’t the best either…I just put whatever I thought worked together.
Chapter 10: A World Made of Empty Promises.
Summary:
A deeper look into a certain someone's past.
Notes:
Shout out to Genofresherror for being an amazing person and giving me the motivation to continue with this story!
Did I leave this one on another cliffhanger? Yes, yes I did. But that's because I ran out of ideas, plus I have a certain someone to keep updated, I don't want to leave them hanging after what happened in the last chapter, you know?
Anyhoo! Enjoy reading this chapter! Any songs referenced in this will be noted at the end! Those who know will immediately get the references, especially if you went through...that phase...heh.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"O-Oh, my name is 007n7!" 007n7 replied with hesitation, rising next to the other guy, who appeared slightly older than him.
"007n7? That's quite a lengthy name, if you ask me. I'll just call you Seven ; does that sound alright?"
007n7 took a moment to think, then nodded, a faint smile beginning to form on his lips.
Perhaps.
Perhaps today is just not the day.
Noli was... a good friend, understanding, kind, and caring.
The kind of person 007n7 had come to yearn for after C00lgui's passing. He was so eager for something akin to that bond that he overlooked the warning signs.
The way Noli would take pictures of him without asking. The way he would find Noli rummaging through his belongings without permission. Or how Noli gradually turned 007n7 against everyone else.
He was so captivated by the flattering words, so innocent after losing so much, that he fell for the trap.
"So, does this mean we are friends...?" 007n7 inquired cautiously.
"That depends; do you enjoy hacking?"
007n7 froze, his eyes widening as beads of sweat began to trickle down his face. "P-Pardon...?"
Noli hesitated, gazing at 007n7 with a puzzled expression. "Hacking? You know what that is, right?"
"O-Of course I know what it is... it's just that, isn't hacking risky...?" 007n7 stammered, attempting to shift the topic but failing miserably.
"Dangerous? Sure, but it’s exciting!" Noli interjected with a grin, "and I fortunately know a little hacking, it’s a talent that I always have possessed." Noli stated plainly, bringing up a command screen, "and dear friend, please don’t laugh! I use it on behalf of the miserable, the lonely and depressed." Noli’s expression hardened, " Pathetic." The boy suddenly rose to his feet, "poor unfortunate souls! In pain...in need." He spoke with feigned sorrow, convincing enough for 007n7 to buy into it. "This one longing to be seen and that one wants to get a friend, and does it help them? Yes, indeed.”
"So... you gain attention from this? But can’t you simply converse with others? Isn’t there a risk of harming others through hacking?"
Noli scoffed, turning sharply to 007n7, who recoiled slightly, "COME ON! They’re not all that impressed with conversation! True Robloxian’s avoid it when they can!" Noli elaborated, a grin spreading across his face as an idea struck him. "But they dote and swoon and fawn, on a man who is above. It’s they who show their throne that get their fans."
007n7’s eyes brightened at the prospect of being liked, of having more ‘friends’.
Noli beamed, seizing 007n7’s hands and yanking him up, causing the other boy to yelp in surprise. "Come on, you poor unfortunate soul!" He twirled 007n7 around, who nearly lost his footing, "go ahead," he urged, thrusting a command panel into 007n7’s hands, leaning in to whisper in his ear. "Make your choice." He released 007n7, who fell back onto the bench with a thud, still clutching the panel. "I’m a very busy man and I haven’t got all day." Noli remarked with a casual shrug, before locking eyes with the anxious 007n7, "it won’t cost much..." His expression turned sadistic for a brief moment as he took 007n7’s hand and placed a soft kiss on the back, "just your mind..." he murmured.
“But my parents! They’ll call me a monster more than they already do!”
"Dear Seven, ignore it, cause parents ain't always right," Noli replied bluntly, standing tall and brushing himself off. "I can walk you through this dark fantasy! Learn what you’ll go through, I can teach you to laugh at tragedy," Noli proposed, knowing he had 007n7 exactly where he wanted him.
"B-But..." 007n7 started, only to hesitate, a look of uncertainty crossing his face.
Noli paused, glancing back at 007n7, who remained seated on the bench, now staring at the ground. Noli clenched his teeth, stepped forward, and grasped 007n7 by the shoulders, pushing him back as he locked eyes with him, striving to remain calm. "Open your eyes!" Noli urged, stepping back while keeping his gaze fixed on 007n7. "See the world from where I stand, us among the mighty!"
You caged at my command.
"Open your eyes!" Noli insisted, "abandon your sweet fantasy land!" he said, slightly more forcefully than intended, but he brushed it off, softening his tone a bit more. He couldn't afford to frighten 007n7 away. "It’s time to grow up and get wise. Come on Seven, open up your eyes."
007n7 stood frozen, his eyes wide with shock... yet it was evident that Noli was beginning to sway him. But the thought of hacking pained him, as it was what had taken his friend away; how could he possibly turn to it? Yet, he recalled an argument he had with his father years ago when he was merely 13, and C00lgui was still alive.
November 8th of 2006.
007n7 felt distressed about being likened to his father. He despised it, as he resembled a perfect replica of his dad. He was afraid of turning into his father.
A truly, exceptionally cruel individual.
007n7 had no desire to be unkind, as that would make him a bad person, and no one should have to endure pain.
"Son, I'm proud that you resemble me. Pfft, one day you’ll have a wife and son just like I do, and you’ll name him after me!" his father declared with pride, while 007n7 could only grimace in revulsion at the idea.
He would never name his child after his father, nor would he allow his father anywhere NEAR his son. Not after everything he had done to him. After all the suffering and mistreatment he had endured. Yes, the abuse was no longer physical, but it was still very much verbal. Hurtful words. "I don’t want to name my kid after you..." The words escaped before he even realized it, but now he understood it was too late.
007n7’s father froze, his expression shifting into a fierce glare. "Excuse me? You are supposed to be a spitting image of ME! I raised you! You’re going to be what I want you to be, and that’s like me."
"I won’t be—NO! I won’t be like you!" 007n7 shouted, his voice trembling more than he intended.
"Fighting back?" the father growled, snorting in a mix of amusement and anger, but that feeling was short-lived.
"I’m fighting back the truth!" 007n7 shot back, pointing a finger at his father. "Eyes like yours can look away!" Tears welled in the corners of his eyes as he turned to retreat to his room, desperate to escape his father.
"But you can’t stop DNA." His father remarked bluntly, a chilling laugh echoing from behind him as he sensed his father approaching. His body tensed, muscles tightening as he felt his father’s hand on his head, followed by a whisper. "No, you can’t stop DNA..." The man chuckled to himself again, "your mother said to clean up your mistake." He continued.
"W-What mistake...?" 007n7 stammered, but it did nothing to conceal the venom dripping from his voice.
"Yourself." Those were the final words his father spoke before heading to the kitchen.
The statement pierced him, as he recognized the truth in his father's words.
He couldn't escape the DNA that bound them, keeping him as a persistent shadow in the recesses of 007n7's thoughts, regardless of how hard he tried to erase him from memory. It was painful, everything. He despised his existence.
He yearned for an escape.
He craved freedom.
He attempted to break free.
This isn’t the solution, Seven.
The rhythmic beeping of machines roused him from his sleep, yet it left him with a throbbing headache.
He couldn't fully open his eyes yet, but the incessant beeping filled his ears, a multitude of sounds. Too many. But that wasn’t all. He felt a throbbing pain in his joints, as if something was fractured. Where on earth is he...? What transpired? Why can’t he recall? Everything is painful.
It hurts.
He was immobile.
"Sev! You’re alright!"
That voice.
He recognizes that voice.
Whose voice is it?
He can’t quite name it.
Someone whose name begins with the letter 'C'...
Cakey? No, Cakey didn’t have a fondness for him.
Castra? No...her voice was higher, it couldn’t be her.
C00lgui? Yes...that’s them. It’s C00lgui.
But why do they sound anxious? Did something occur? He recalls falling, but that’s all he remembers.
Awake, he opens his eyes to see, a hospital...? So white and clean.
He was walking up to the roof, he thinks? Then can’t recall at all a single thing.
Held a hand for him.
“You...were there...” He managed to get out, his voice somewhat fractured yet still understandable.
"I know..." C00lgui replied, their voice trembling with sobs as they grasped 007n7's hand tightly.
But couldn’t reach the me, that would fall down all the time.
But stand and reach my hand to see...
‘Have you tried crossing over yet?’ The voice echoed, serving as a stark reminder in his mind of just how miserable his life is.
“Ah...wanna die, wanna die...” 007n7 muffled out, his words choking into bit back sobs.
“But don’t really wanna die?” C00lgui inquired, tightening their grip on 007n7’s hand, a trace of concern evident in their tone. They experienced a sense of guilt, realizing they should have recognized the warning signs.
“Y-You were there….”
You would care.
"Making me aware…" 007n7 remarked, his gaze locking onto C00lgui’s, whose eyes were red and swollen, resembling a child who had just stopped crying after a long bout.
"Every scar, all the blood…" C00lgui sniffed, attempting to suppress further tears.
‘More and more, they’re never done.’ 007n7 reflected, his eyes shifting down to his freshly bandaged arms. ‘Not enough…not enough.’
4 years passed.
"I wanna die…wanna die!" 007n7 wept, holding onto C00lgui, who embraced him tightly.
"But I don’t really wanna to die..." C00lgui whispered into 007n7’s ear, attempting to reassure themselves that 007n7 was improving, even though they were aware he wasn’t.
"If I died, you would cry…and I don’t know why…" 007n7 murmured, pulling back from the embrace to examine his arms, which were marked with fresh wounds, all self-inflicted. "Every scar, all the blood..." he murmured, scratching at his injuries. "More and more, their never done…not enough—"
"It’s enough." C00lgui replied firmly, gently removing 007n7’s hands from his arms before drawing him into another hug.
007n7 quickly returned the embrace, burying his face in C00lgui’s shoulder as he struggled to suppress choked sobs. "W-When…I forget you, I’m all alone…without a place to go…" he whispered, his thoughts tumbling out, "but then…played a mirror like a s-show—the past, I used to know…" 007n7 paused, relaxing a bit in C00lgui’s hold as they began to braid his long hair, encouraging him to continue.
"A dream..." 007n7 went on, his voice steadier now. "Where I saw every part of me…e-eyes of red, following and—" he started to cry again, "I wanna live, wanna live." He murmured, sinking deeper into the hug, "deep inside I’ve always been…reaching out for a—"
"A hand?" C00lgui interjected, eliciting a soft laugh from 007n7.
"So don’t let this be the end..." He pleaded.
The hug was soothing.
"Burgers growing on your head," C00lgui joked, a genuine smile lighting up their face. "Still remember even then, where you are—when I’m dead."
Until it wasn’t.
"I wanna die, wanna die!" 007n7 shouted, his voice breaking as he clutched the lifeless body that lay in his arms, his grip fiercely tight.
But don’t really wanna die?
"Y-You were there…you would care…" 007n7 wept as he clutched C00lgui’s lifeless body amidst the charred remains of what used to be a school. "You know it really isn’t f-fair!" he shouted, his grip tightening as he struggled to avert his gaze from his friend's face, which bore burns in places that were too apparent, but not as striking as the gaping wound where their head once was.
They're just sleeping.
They're just sleeping!
THEY’RE—gone, 007n7.
"Every time, I-I forgot—you remain inside my thoughts, b-but not enough, not enough!"
I wanna die.
Wanna die.
Wanna die.
"But I still couldn’t die with you by my side!" 007n7 cried as his thoughts began to blur from the lingering smoke.
Behind the days I spent alone, afraid.
007n7 reflected as he loosened his braids and removed his yellow cardigan. He looked at C00lgui, who stood beyond a metal fence, eyes filled with concern, silently urging 007n7 to stop, but the message never reached him as he started to scale the fence. He attempted to move forward, but the tears overwhelmed him. He couldn’t continue.
Now you’re here, to stay.
The scars never fade.
Memories that replay.
Rewind, yet again to the pain.
We You felt on that day.
"ACK-" 007n7 shouted as he was dragged back down, gazing up in bewilderment.
"What are you doing?" the purple figure inquired.
. . .
Oh, the memories were painful. He longed for C00lgui, but he understood that his friend would want him to act righteously. So, as he resolved to do so, he turned his gaze towards Noli.
"Alright… as long as I’m assisting others… but what if we fall?" 007n7 murmured, his eyes filled with apprehension.
"Blame it on the admins," Noli replied with a casual shrug, settling back down next to 007n7.
Just like that, Noli had 007n7 within his reach. His influence. He merely needed to earn his trust.
"I’ll keep quiet, you won’t even know I’m here!" Noli declared, settling into 007n7’s dorm.
You won’t suspect a thing.
You won’t see me in the mirror.
"But I crept into your heart, you won’t make me disappear," Noli whispered softly as he gently brushed the hair of the unsuspecting sleeping 007n7 away from his face.
‘Till I make you.
"I’ve made myself at home," he told 007n7, who nodded in agreement while assisting Noli in unpacking his belongings.
In the cobwebs and the lies.
"I’m learning all your tricks, Seven!" Noli teased as 007n7 grumbled about their unsuccessful effort to retrieve the TV remote.
I can hurt you from inside.
" I made a promise to myself ," Noli began.
"And what is that promise?" 007n7 prompted.
Noli scoffed, "you will never see me cry , I’m just too cool!" he exclaimed.
‘Till I make you.
"Hey Seven, pay attention, you’ll never know what could hit you." Noli remarked, playfully tousling 007n7’s long hair that cascaded down to his hips. He could have cut it, but hair carries memories, and he wasn’t ready to let C00lgui go just yet.
Won’t see me closing in.
"I’m gonna make you suffer food, okay Seven?" Noli announced, earning a small appreciative sound from a sick 007n7.
This hell I’ve put you in.
I’m underneath your skin.
Noli chuckled as he observed 007n7 stumble over a stone, “looks like the rock has the devil within it.” He joked, eliciting a grunt from the other hacker.
You’ll never know what hit you.
Seven.
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
₍^. .^₎⟆
- 2,503 Words -
Notes:
I do hope this chapter wasn't disappointing Genofresherror, if it was that'd truly be a shame. Either way, thank you to everyone else who has reached the end of this chapter! I'll try and get the next one out as soon as possible-with more references of course! Because listening to certain songs while writing really gives you the motivation, especially if that song gives you an idea for a certain situation!
Anyway! Here are the songs referenced in this chapter, whether it was through small hints and obvious ones!
Poor Unfortunate Souls – Disney. Join Us for a Bite – JT Music. Parents – YUNGBLUD. Open Up Your Eyes – CG5 (Or MLP Movie). DNA – Lia Marie Johnson. Shinitai Chan (Miss Wanna Die) - Kyreas. Humans - GEN.KLOUD. The Devil Within – Digital Daggers.
Chapter 11: A Friendship Bound to Break.
Summary:
A reveal that broke an unstable father into a fit of rage.
Notes:
Hi guys! I said I wasn't going to be posting chapters for a bit, but my guilt caught up to me and I started writing. But it's alright! Even though I've been lacking idea's recently, I'm still trying my best! This chapter might not be of interest, so don't force yourself to read it, alright? Take care!
This is basically just an AU at this point because it's far from canon, but I don't really care anymore, too tired to care. If the story is of no more interest, feel free to just get up and walk away, no one is stopping you, nor can I force you to be interested. Even then, I'd still thank you for at least having read my fanfic up until then.
Songs referenced in this chapter are put in the end notes if anyone is interested in checking.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
007n7 felt as if his life was finally coming together after enduring so much pain and grief.
Noli was always there for him during his most difficult times, a reliable friend ready to offer support whenever 007n7 began to spiral again. A reassuring presence to lean on, someone he could confide in... right? Noli had vowed never to harm him, to refrain from hitting him, and simply to be there for him. It was a promise that 007n7 trusted, a promise he was grateful for, until it was shattered.
On a stormy night, with snow falling rapidly amidst fierce winds, they had narrowly escaped the admins this time, only managing to get away because 007n7 had made a mistake in the plan. He didn’t dwell on it much, thinking that since they had escaped, Noli must be fine with it.
How mistaken he was.
He still recalls Noli's furious shouting, something about safety or the risk of being banned; it was definitely one of those. But what truly etched that night into his memory was when Noli laid hands on him.
He had been struck before, yes, but this was the first instance where someone had seized him by the neck, attempting to strangle the breath from him, to cut off the air his lungs desperately craved. Being pressed against a wall with no means of escape, while the person restraining him shouted incomprehensible words to a mind that was barely clinging to consciousness.
He recalled nearly breaking down in tears, only managing to utter pitiful pleas for mercy, choking on apologies, anything to calm Noli’s fury. In the end, it worked, as Noli’s expression softened when he realized what they had done. Their hands quickly relaxed their hold, drawing 007n7, who was quaking with fear, into a firm embrace while murmuring gentle apologies that, to 007n7, felt genuine, but to Noli, were insincere and devoid of remorse.
Even then, Noli noticed that 007n7 had become fearful of him, and at that moment, he understood he had made a mistake. He couldn’t afford to lose his toy, not yet. Not ever.
So, he reverted to his gentle manner, gradually working his way back into 007n7’s fragile heart. He used the phrases he knew would resonate with 007n7, words that would melt the other man’s defenses. He found his way back into 007n7’s thoughts, making the man feel at ease around him once more. Just as he desired.
Perfect.
I mean, who wouldn’t do the same? How could he possibly be?
He was merely a man; manipulating someone is completely justifiable!
That was Noli’s perspective, at least.
It’s been, what, two years? He couldn’t quite recall. But what he does know is that his life now revolves around hacking, exploiting, or evading admins.
Lately, he had taken a liking to toying with this pizza establishment, primarily because there was an attractive employee there, and it was conveniently located near his home, making things simpler.
Elliot, was it? He was fairly certain that was the name of the pizza guy.
Regardless, he and Noli had once set the place on fire. It wasn't a large blaze, but it was significant enough to force the establishment to shut down for two weeks, or was it three? 007n7 didn't really mind.
What is he trying to convey?
He did care.
He felt terrible, knowing he was one of the instigators of the fire.
Fire.
He despises fire.
It took his best friend away from him, yet here he was, igniting another building as if it were a game.
He wanted to make amends with the pizza guy, but Noli disagreed, insisting that Elliot deserved it.
The only option he had was to covertly cover the damages, but even that was a gamble. He learned the hard way what happened when he angered Noli. But that was a one-time incident! Noli assured him he would never harm him again, he promised! Besides, Noli's anger was justified, right...?
He had recently returned to the pizza place, clutching an envelope filled with cash. He was determined to apologize, whether Noli approved or not.
He pushed the front door open, the bell above jingling. His gaze fell on the familiar pizza worker, who grimaced at the sight of the hacker.
"What are you doing here?" Elliot snapped, shooting daggers at 007n7, whose words got stuck in his throat.
007n7 nervously fidgeted with his fingers as he placed the letter on the counter.
Elliot raised an eyebrow, glancing down at the letter before narrowing his eyes in suspicion. "What's this?" Elliot muttered, looking back at 007n7, who averted his gaze.
"Just...money to cover any potential damages, in case Noli decides to set this place on fire..." 007n7 mumbled.
Elliot was taken aback, his eyes widening in true bewilderment. "Seriously? Is this some sort of joke? Because if it is, I’m not amused." Elliot charged, maintaining a defensive posture. "Listen, jerk. You infiltrated our systems and tampered with our orders, our menus, and even our ovens. You crossed a line that can’t be uncrossed the moment you and your little accomplice decided to ignite this place the FIRST time." Elliot declared, directing nothing but glares at 007n7.
"You know, I really hate you. Stop getting in my way." Elliot grumbled, stepping out from behind the counter and approaching 007n7. "I’ve lost my patience, when are you gonna retire?" Elliot snapped, thrusting a finger towards 007n7, who recoiled slightly. "I want to throw you out, just like my broken TV." He seethed, fists clenched as he gestured towards the exit. "If you come back once more, it shall be painful, you’ll see." The threat was unmistakable, lingering in the atmosphere. " I hope you die in a––"
"FIRE!!” someone yelled as chaos erupted, with people rushing out of the building, smoke billowing from the kitchen.
Elliot's eyes grew wide as he turned and dashed back into the kitchen, eager to understand what was happening.
On the contrary, 007n7 remained frozen in disbelief until he spotted Noli attempting to flee.
Noli...
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a scream emanating from the kitchen. Someone was injured. Or worse.
Trapped.
Without a moment's hesitation, he sprinted to the back, covering his mouth against the smoke until he saw Elliot, whose leg was pinned beneath a fallen, burning piece of wood. He rushed over, grimacing as his hands made contact with the hot wood, but his focus was solely on freeing Elliot.
Elliot froze, his eyes widening in alarm as he saw 007n7 approaching, "WHAT ARE YOU-"
"WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP FOR ONE SECOND!?" 007n7 barked as he hurled the wood aside, trying to disregard the pain coursing through his body. That could wait. He wrapped his arms around Elliot's knees and back, lifting the younger man into his arms as he sprinted toward the main entrance. He would have exited through the back, but it had already collapsed, leaving the front as the only option.
He ran as if his life depended on it, fully aware that failure meant taking someone down with him—someone who didn’t deserve that fate.
So, he ran, only hesitating when a chunk of the ceiling crashed down and scraped his back, causing tears to well up in his eyes, but he refused to stop. He couldn’t afford to stop.
He turned his back to the door and shattered the glass, cradling Elliot in his arms as he fell to the ground, attempting to shield the younger male from further harm while absorbing the impact himself.
It hurt; his body felt as if it were ablaze, which was quite ironic considering he had just escaped from a fire.
His body shook, his muscles weakened, and they loosened their hold around Elliot’s form, while blood started to ooze from open wounds and the significant gash on his forehead.
"Oh- WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? ARE YOU-" But before Elliot could complete his sentence, 007n7 vanished.
The catastrophe left 007n7 with numerous scars, which filled him with guilt just by glancing at them.
He blamed Noli for the fire, but the other man insisted he wasn’t present that day, and 007n7 was so gullible that he accepted every word of it.
When did it come to this?
Noli had been so considerate before, and then suddenly, he was always treading carefully around that man.
He would have departed long ago, but he lacked the strength in his endeavours to escape unscathed, not to mention the panel he possessed was a lesser version of the one Noli had, a weaker model.
He needed to create something of his own if he wanted to escape this predicament.
His own panel.
That’s how he developed his C00lgui panel, named after the one person who genuinely cared for him but now rested 6 feet under soil and dirt. He had mentioned it to Noli, who seemed perfectly fine with it.
But now 007n7 had to utilize this for exploitation. Using the device he named after his best friend, to exploit in the same manner that led to his friend's demise, made him feel nauseous.
He couldn’t even revert to using the one Noli had given him because the man had reclaimed it, leaving him with no choice but to use this.
But who could he blame? He got himself into this mess, and now he was just facing the repercussions of it. To be honest, the thrill of exploiting initially excited him, but after realizing what Noli had been compelling him to do, and how many lives he could have endangered if he had made a mistake, it made him feel sick to his stomach.
He no longer enjoyed exploiting, not as much. The power felt good, yes, but the cost associated with it just wasn’t worth it for him.
Even with his own panel, now able to walk away at any time, he found himself unable to do so. Noli appeared so isolated, so adrift, that 007n7 felt a pang of guilt even contemplating departure. How could he abandon this unfortunate soul? This kind-hearted man? This-
Bastard.
What...?
No-no no! Noli was a good man! He was merely–misunderstood! Yes! Noli was a kind, gentle man who kept his promises; that broken vow was an isolated incident! They hadn’t intended it!
He meant it.
All the truths began to seep in, all the deceptions, all the hollow assurances.
Everything.
All because he wished to cease hacking to ‘play house’ as Noli described it.
All because he couldn’t bring himself to abandon this little red ball of joy at some orphanage. He believed Noli would comprehend, that Noli would concur with him. But no, Noli didn’t even acknowledge the child as a living being, instead referring to the baby as ‘it'.
It enraged 007n7.
He had thought Noli was compassionate, yet he was beginning to see that none of it was genuine.
The sweet words, the comforting nights, the reassuring presence.
It was all a façade.
The realization hurt. It left a sour taste in his mouth. As if he had savored the sweetness of love on his tongue, only for it to turn into a bitter aftertaste, one too bland to overlook.
The confrontation in that park was fierce, a memory none of the 007n7 wished to recall. When he noticed the tears in Noli’s eyes and observed the other man’s rigid posture, his heart desperately wanted to believe he was mistaken, that Noli was indeed a good yet misunderstood individual. He hoped it was the truth, even though his mind was aware it wasn’t.
. . .
"You rescued me and transformed me into a monster," 007n7 murmured, striving to suppress the memories.
"Yet a mere red brat took you away from me," Noli replied, observing as 007n7 gripped his side more firmly. "So, what was it like the day they vanished?"
Those words took 007n7 by surprise, his eyes widening in shock and bewilderment. "H-How––"
"Rumours circulate, old friend. But it’s also because I’m the one who took them, decapitated them, and you know the rest."
007n7 gazed at Noli in horror, tears welling up in his eyes. "You...you murdered them?"
Noli scoffed, which quickly morphed into a bitter laugh. "I needed them out of the way, one way or another, though I didn’t anticipate you would shoot yourself because of it. Before you inquire, I paid you a brief visit and found you lifeless, so..." Noli let the sentence trail off, allowing the words to linger in the atmosphere.
"They were just children..." 007n7 whispered, his voice breaking as he fought to suppress his tears.
"Oh, do not be so DRAMATIC! It was necessary—" Noli started, but 007n7 interrupted him.
"They were just...children...and you KILLED them in cold blood!"
"I DID WHAT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CAUSE—"
"THEY WERE JUST CHILDREN." 007n7 retorted, his voice quaking with pent-up fury. "AND YOU KILLED THEM." He yelled, his voice a quivering wreck as he attempted to rein in his anger.
Everyone in the cabin was taken aback by the statement. They experienced feelings of disgust and even anger. Murder is a vile act, but to take the life of a child? That would infuriate anyone.
Noli remained motionless, stunned by the rage evident on 007n7’s face. Had he ever witnessed 007n7 this furious? He couldn’t recall. To him, they were merely nuisances obstructing his path; he failed to grasp why 007n7 was so invested. However, before he could utter another word, the round concluded, with 007n7 emerging unscathed.
He was furious. All this time, had his children been dead? All due to some deranged individual? Someone he had once regarded as a friend?
His anger felt overwhelming; was this what they referred to as a parent's rage? A father's fury?
Regardless, it was still rage.
Unrelenting hatred, anger, and disgust.
He had never felt such fury in his life; if it were anyone else, he might have been angry, but this was about his children. His little ones. The ones he had tirelessly searched for, believing there was a possibility they were alive.
Now he was discovering they were dead. Had been dead since the moment they were taken from him. Now they were trapped here, taking lives while deluded by the notion that it was merely a game.
He was not going to let this go unpunished.
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
₍^. .^₎⟆
- 2,402 Words -
Notes:
Songs referenced in this chapter are: How Bad Can I Be? - Ed Helms. Die in a Fire – The Living Tombstone.
Once again, I apologize if this chapter, or AU aren't up to your liking! I'm trying my best.
Chapter 12: A Swap of Sides.
Summary:
To climb to the top, just to fall back down.
Notes:
Hi everyone! This chapter is 8,889 words long without including the end creator notes I have left! I'd like to thank everyone for waiting patiently for me! It means a lot!
This chapter is kind of all over the place, but since other chapters will be coming in more slowly, I wanted this one to be at least 5,000 words long, but I went over that so it's better.
There is something I will point out, chapters will be a lot slower, especially because I won't be available between the 5th and 12th of July to write! It saddens me truly, but I can't do much about it sadly.
If this chapter makes you lose interest in the fanfic entirely, feel free to close the tab, unsubscribe or remove it from your bookmarks! I cannot force you to like my work, nor can I force you to enjoy reading it. You're free to leave whenever you want, it's your decision to make, not mine.
Any songs referenced in this chapter will be listed in the end notes! Feel free to look at them if one catches your eye!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Hair carries memories, and for 007n7, his hair was a reminder of things he wished to forget, which is why he had cut it off long ago.
He never anticipated encountering the same individual who prompted him to cut his hair after such a long time, especially in this limbo.
It has been quite some time since that moment.
Noli is seldom the one to kill, but when he does, he becomes an absolute nuisance to handle.
However, this was inconsequential, as the survivors were enjoying a winning streak of 33 rounds thanks to 007n7’s assistance. Yet, this came at a significant cost to 007n7, leaving him more fatigued than usual, with Elliot nearly attacking anyone who attempted to rouse him too early. Elliot was determined that 007n7 would not suffer from fatigue simply because he hadn’t rested adequately between rounds.
Despite their winning streak, where the others hardly needed assistance or healing, Elliot still had to provide care. Who was in need, you ask? Naturally, it was 007n7! His hacks came with a hefty price. At times, utilizing them would result in his organs feeling as if they were being scorched from within, or random bones fracturing, or his heart experiencing the sensation of being gradually submerged in acid. It was no longer just a simple chest pain; employing his abilities exacted a far greater toll. It was not for the faint-hearted; 007n7 himself despised it, but if it meant allowing the others to rest, he would endure it, hoping they would recognize him as a better person.
It proved effective; 007n7 was regarded as the most crucial survivor, even instilling fear in the killers. The only killers he refrained from confronting were his children, his three beloved kids. Everyone understood this choice, and he felt a deep sense of gratitude for it, as he could not bear the thought of causing them any harm, not even in the slightest.
This round's killer was, regrettably, Noli. Unlike other killers, everyone had a grievance with Noli, particularly after the revelations from that one round. What he did to those unfortunate children. 007n7’s children. Innocent, young minds with so much potential ahead of them, yet their lives were abruptly ended because a selfish individual believed they had the right to do so. It was so egregious that even Elliot would go out of his way to take a hit on Noli.
Thus, whenever Noli was the killer, generators were not completed to prolong the round without a single death. Why? Well, that’s an easy question to answer! Because everyone wanted to take a hit on Noli.
Today, however, was a challenge. They were hurrying to finish the generators because 007n7 was struggling to keep pace, his rest having been interrupted by Noob, who accidentally dropped a vase, shattering it and waking the light sleeper 007n7. Elliot understood that 007n7 should have been resting in his bed rather than on the couch in the main cabin. As a result, 007n7 was lagging behind, requiring more assistance from the others than usual, but who could blame him? Not the others, as they were aware of the toll that using the hacks took on 007n7’s body; it drained him, causing him pain, as if his body were on the market to be vivisected at a price for hacks.
Elliot was on cooldown, feeling frantic, watching 007n7 struggle against that bastard, with only 17 health remaining and a minute still on the timer. If 007n7 perished, everyone else would undoubtedly falter, it would extend the timer, they would lose their winning streak, but it would also mean that all the suffering this round was for absolutely nothing. Elliot could not allow that to happen.
45 seconds.
007n7 winced in pain as he took cover behind a wall, clutching his arm.
"Oh Seveeennnn!!" Noli exclaimed, confident he would win this round while standing on the opposite side of the wall.
35 seconds.
"Hey, Noli," 007n7 started, chuckling to himself, aware that Noli was destined to lose. "Just you and me, a hack or 3 and nothing else between us and this wall."
20 seconds.
He hummed while pulling up his C00lgui, “you bring the blood, I’ll bring the fight," 007n7 said, almost with a hint of sarcasm, as he dashed around the corner where Noli was approaching. "Hey Noli, come get a bite—" 007n7 joked as a sword materialized in his hands, which he plunged into Noli’s back.
5 seconds.
"Cause I’m surviving this round," he grinned, twisting the blade and eliciting a gasp from the other male before the round concluded and they were all transported back to the main cabin where everyone celebrated.
Elliot coughed as he was escorted back to the cabin, his eyes immediately landing on 007n7, before he stormed over.
007n7 yelped when he felt a slap across his face, his hand instinctively rising to his cheek as he turned to face the assailant—Elliot.
"That’s for nearly getting yourself killed!" Elliot reprimanded, before seizing 007n7 and pulling him into a brief kiss, then breaking away. "And that’s for saving me..." He murmured, attempting to suppress a smirk as he noticed 007n7’s flushed expression.
However, he failed, letting out a snicker before heading to the kitchen to prepare dinner, which was pizza, as usual. While he stood by the oven, waiting for the pizza to finish baking, he saw Chance approaching. He raised an eyebrow as Chance leaned against the counter, a grin plastered on their face, a coin in hand. "Hey Elliot, I have a question for you!" Chance declared, beaming widely.
"That is?" Elliot replied.
"Are you gay?"
"Pfft, how are you gonna ask me a question like that?"
Chance chuckled, "How do you ban a man, and then turn around, and let that man bend you over?"
Elliot laughed, "Ain’t no one, bending me over." He said, pulling the pizza from the oven.
"Ho-haha! So you’re the one doing the bending?" Chance remarked, which sent Elliot into a fit of laughter, gasping as he tried to regain his breath. That was the last thing he anticipated Chance would say.
Everyone was feeling upbeat, as they were on a winning streak, all thanks to none other than 007n7. This marked their 34th victory of the week, and everyone was in celebration mode, grateful to 007n7 for their success.
The rounds for the day had concluded, and the survivors were hosting a small gathering to commemorate their achievement, a win that 007n7 ensured they would not miss out on.
However, the spectre took notice. It observed the incredible number of victories the survivors were accumulating. It was baffled by the unusual shift in the burger man’s powers. The most troubling aspect was that when it attempted to revert the abilities back, it found itself powerless over 007n7’s skills. This realization sent it into a panic, prompting it to act on impulse.
It killed 007n7 off.
And placed him among the killers.
The only evidence left near the survivors' cabins was a faint trail of glitched blood found by the dock.
Elliot laughed as he surveyed the others enjoying themselves, but his grin faded when he noticed 007n7 was missing. His concern escalated as he searched the cabin, yet there was no sign of 007n7. Anxiety turned into panic as the others began to look for him, but the only clue they discovered was a trail of blood leading into the ocean, a trail of coded blood.
The blood of 007n7.
━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━
As 007n7 regained consciousness, he groaned, the last thing he recalled was something piercing through his head.
A bullet, perhaps?
Ugh, bad memories; this isn’t the time for that, 007n7.
He blinked once.
Then twice.
The sky was a deep red, a blend of orange and crimson, with what appeared to be a sun setting and a moon rising. It was sunset. Where on earth was he?
He sat up a bit too abruptly, which caused a sharp pain that forced him to lie back down. Why was his body in pain? He felt odd. Different would be a more accurate description. It didn’t feel like it belonged to him.
He sat up again, this time more cautiously, leaning against the nearest tree before examining himself.
He froze, his eyes widening in terror. This must be a dream. It has to be a dream. This cannot be his body. This was the body of another killer. The spectre was merely toying with him. Right? This can’t be real. No-no no—NO.
His clothing was different, his horns, his tail... Everything.
His attire was more elaborate than before, now featuring a ruffled skirt corset and dress pants. He also wore a turtleneck beneath two additional layers of clothing, something he hadn’t donned since his teenage years. Clearly, the spectre had decided to play dress-up with its toys.
However, it wasn’t the outfit that troubled him; it was the corruption on his body. His horns, once matching the color of his skin, were now a sickly light red, and his tail, which originally had a single spike, now sported three. But what drew his attention the most was the corruption creeping up his left leg and the one that had already reached his right forearm. The rigid canines now protruding from his teeth made him feel strange. He couldn’t see out of his left eye, there was C00lgui corruption on him, and it was sunset. Something was terribly wrong.
He groaned in pain as he stood up, his knees nearly buckling until he steadied himself against a tree, trying to catch his breath. His vision blurred as his eyes struggled to adjust to the light, too accustomed to the night sky filled with stars that appeared real but felt artificial.
Everything hurt.
His head throbbed.
His body ached.
But he was too preoccupied with figuring out where he was to care.
He started to navigate through the trees until he reached an opening with cabins that resembled the survivors' cabins, only larger and more pristine. This realization made him cautious, as it indicated he was in a completely unfamiliar location that he couldn't navigate.
Taking a deep breath to clear his mind of negativity, he proceeded towards the cabins, heading for the largest one.
As he ascended the steps, the wood creaked beneath him, and his hand hovered over the doorknob before he nervously twisted it open, peering inside.
"Ugh, I look great in this outfit, but can the spectre skip the dress-up for once?!" Azure exclaimed, grumbling as he collapsed onto the couch.
"Stop complaining, mister! New clothes mean new looks!" Pr3ttypriincess retorted, twirling in her new dress, "Right, Uncle Noli?" She asked, beaming as she bounced up and down.
Noli glanced at the girl, scoffing as he forced a reluctant smile and nodded. Whatever, being called Uncle Noli was preferable to them recalling that he was the one who had killed them.
Pr3ttypriincess giggled, "I’m going to show my brothers!" She exclaimed joyfully, dashing off to find Bluudud and C00lkidd.
Noli rolled his eyes, unimpressed by the child's exuberance as he turned to head to the kitchen instead.
C00lkidd, who had just noticed the change in attire, entered the main room, holding his pet rat, Ino, who was munching on the food stash in the cabin. He approached John Doe, climbing onto the couch next to the older man and watching TV while still clutching the rat.
Meanwhile, 007n7 was at a loss for words. Was this the killer's cabin? It only demonstrated how much the spectre favored them. But that was irrelevant to 007n7, as his children were here, his sweet angels, oh... and Noli. He would address him later.
He quietly entered, attempting to remain as silent as possible, but the other adult killers appeared to have sensed his arrival. Unfazed, he approached C00lkidd, who was still unaware of his presence, and was about to tap the boy on the shoulder when John Doe's hand suddenly shot up, seizing him by the wrist and glaring protectively at him. The grip made 007n7 wince, causing him to pull back and retreat, but John Doe held on tighter. Alongside the other adult killers, except for Noli, he stood up and began dragging 007n7 back outside for questioning, as they were quite protective of the children, unaware that 007n7 was the father they often discussed.
"Who are you? A new killer?" Azure hissed, crossing his arms as he positioned himself in front of the door, blocking the exit.
007n7 swallowed hard, feeling tense under the scrutiny of many eyes, yet he refused to back down. "So that confirms it...I’m at the killer's cabin. Just wonderful. Screw you too, spectre," 007n7 muttered, followed by a weary sigh, "I don’t know what I am, survivor or killer, I’m uncertain at this point."
John Doe paused, "Wait, you were one of the survivors?" he inquired, confusion evident on his face.
"Was. I was one of the survivors, but now that I’m here, I assume I’ve switched sides. Not willingly, but whatever..." 007n7 replied, running a hand through his hair.
"Oh, well good luck with killing your friends, because the spectre will influence your thoughts to compel you to kill," 1x stated, now sounding rather calm.
"What do you mean?" 007n7 asked, his curiosity piqued.
"If you refuse to kill, it will force you to. It’s just its way of ensuring the fun continues. It doesn’t matter if you’ve forgiven the person or if the anger has faded; the spectre will revive it when it’s your turn to kill, whether you want it or not," Azure explained softly, adopting a more friendly tone to clarify.
‘It’s whatever; you’ll adapt to it in time, regardless. Which survivor were you? Just so you know, there’s one survivor who’s quite a nuisance to deal with, and they’ve been keeping the survivors on a winning streak for the last week,’ Jason signed, attempting to caution 007n7 about that individual.
"Oh. You’re referring to me..." 007n7 mumbled, causing all the other killers to tense up and step back, while 007n7 remained there, scoffing in amusement. "My name is 007n7, by the way," he stated calmly, his expression gentle.
SLAM!
The killers turned back to see C00lkidd accidentally slamming the door open, Ino still in hand, dangling comfortably, while wearing what appeared to be a party hat adorned with a mix of red, pink, and blue—colors that represented his three children. Clearly, the specter had enjoyed dressing up with a literal rat as well.
"Hey kiddo, do you need something?" Azure asked, softening his tone for the child.
"When are we—" C00lkidd froze, his eyes widening as he gazed at 007n7, who smiled back. "Papa!" he exclaimed excitedly, placing Geno down and rushing over to his father, leaping into his arms.
007n7 chuckled as he embraced his son, while the killers looked astonished, having not realized this was the father the kids had been talking about. "Papa! Papa! Are you joining the taggers team?" he asked, to which 007n7 nodded, setting his son down and watching as C00lkidd dashed back inside, Ino following closely behind to fetch his siblings.
"You’re...the kids' father?" 1x asked, clearly taken aback.
"Yeah, why do you ask?" 007n7 replied, intrigued as to why it was significant.
John Doe’s expression shifted to a scowl, "Because Noli shared quite a bit about you..."
007n7 hesitated, his gentle demeanor now turning serious as he wondered what that bastard had told his children. "What did he say about me?" 007n7 inquired, clearly not amused at all.
‘You continued to hack even after having children, and how you coldly murdered them before taking your own life to escape the repercussions.’ Jason sighed, the notion that Noli could fabricate such lies, lies that extended to him killing his own children? It made 007n7’s blood boil. His thoughts were no longer private; in this state, they were free to roam, popups flooding his mind, bewildering those around him.
‘What the hell?’
‘You must be lying.’
‘I’m going to kill him.’
‘What a liar.’
“Where is Noli?” 007n7 said flatly, making a concerted effort to remain composed, though his voice was laced with unrestrained venom.
“Last I heard, he was in the kitchen,” Azure responded, watching as the three children burst through the door, rushing to embrace 007n7. However, Jason quickly moved them aside, no longer trusting 007n7 around them, too entangled in Noli’s deceit.
007n7 noticed this, which only fueled his anger. He pushed past the others, returning to the main cabin and heading towards the kitchen, grateful that the layout resembled that of the survivors’ place. He forcefully opened the door, observing as Noli jumped in shock before freezing at the sight of 007n7.
“S-Seven! What brings you here?” Noli stammered, attempting to sound nonchalant.
“YOU.” 007n7 spat, his voice saturated with unsheathed venom.
‘Traitor.’
‘I’m going to end you.’
‘You should have kept quiet and stuck to the truth.’
“Come on, old friend, we can sort this out! Like, buddies!” Noli suggested, raising his hands in a feigned gesture of defense, yet the smirk never left his face.
"Indeed..." 007n7 started, "But it wouldn’t fix my issues, or change your lines, cause I ‘broke’ your heart and you buried mine." 007n7 stated flatly, fixing a glare on Noli, who found himself cornered.
"Sure, but we can have a fresh start! No deceit this time, I promise! We’re allies now, we can eliminate those annoying survivors together!" Noli replied, chuckling at the notion.
"Hmm." 007n7 hesitated for a moment, feigning contemplation, though he had already made his decision. "Might be fun..." He began, locking eyes with Noli, "but your brutality can’t be undone, and you know you don’t wanna get dunked on." He stepped closer, a murderous spark in his gaze, something Noli never imagined 007n7 could possess. "So, contemplate your cruelty, only killers play dirty." He remarked, aware that everyone else present had their motives, but Noli? Noli was doing it purely for amusement, which infuriated 007n7, though he kept that hidden.
"What...?" Noli inquired, perplexed and somewhat annoyed that 007n7 wasn’t falling for his ruse.
"Spare their lives, consider twice before being unkind, or you will end up having a bad time. No puns to make because it’s true, the joke will be on you." 007n7 asserted, his tone softening as he began to relax, albeit reluctantly. "I exist outside it, even if restarted, your actions won’t erase. Nothing safe from my eyes, you might but numbers don’t lie, I can see your real face." 007n7 continued, then glanced back at Noli, curiosity evident on his face. "So, I’ve got a question for you, do you think even the worst person can change? That everyone can be a good person, if they just try?" He asked, waiting patiently for Noli’s reply.
"Well—yes! But I enjoy who I am, so if you’re suggesting I change, that’s not going to happen; you might as well just give me a free pass." Noli shot back, appearing disinterested in the discussion, only to pause in confusion as pop-ups appeared around 007n7’s head.
‘Narcissistic much.’
‘Well played, Noli.’
007n7 halted, his tail flicking in annoyance behind him as he attempted to manage his emotions. He was not typically one to become angry easily, nor did he usually display his anger, but Noli was truly testing his patience. 007n7 tightened his fists, his body trembling slightly with rage as he forced out a laugh, "I guess I’m fresh out of free passes, you’ll pay if it happens again." 007n7 hissed, his voice strained with fury, "cause boy, if you were me, could you really blame me? It would make you crazy." 007n7 murmured, a dark chuckle escaping his throat.
"Cause another and another coming up out of the gutter, ‘til I’m drowning in an ocean of entitled motherfuckers, and they’re pushing all my buttons but they never seem to wonder, why another and another ask each other?" 007n7 raised his corrupted hand, the fist transforming into a sharp blade, plunging it into Noli’s abdomen, the other man gasping as he began to cough up purple, coded blood. "Does it get your blood boiling?" He began, a teasing taunt lacing his tone as he twisted the blade. "Does it make you see red? Do you wanna destroy it? Does it get in your head?" 007n7 muttered, pulling the blade nearly all the way out before stabbing it back into Noli’s chest.
‘How does it feel, old friend?’
"Cause it gets my blood boiling, and I’m coming unglued." He hissed, as he withdrew the blade, the skin reverting back into his hand as he turned to face the other killers in the doorway, "It would hit you like poison, if you knew what I knew, you would be angry too." He mumbled, glaring at the other killers as he struggled to contain his rage. He was aware his children were nearby, he could hear their soft giggles and the gentle sound of their little footsteps echoing off the walls. He turned his head, glancing back at Noli who had long since bled out, before turning and striding out of the kitchen, intending to spend as much time as possible with his children, in case this was merely a dream. Because if it was, he was not about to waste it.
The other killers stood frozen, gazing in disbelief at Noli’s lifeless body. While it wasn’t particularly alarming since Noli would respawn, as they always did, it raised concerns because they were uncertain about the implications of 007n7’s words. Was Noli deceiving them? Were they unaware of the complete narrative? Doubts began to surface among the group of adult killers. They were torn between believing the purple killer, whom the children appeared to adore, and the new killer, who was unfamiliar to most of them but was recognized by the kids as their father. If this wasn’t merely a fever dream, they would need to inquire with the survivors in the next round or at least verify if someone was genuinely missing.
━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━
As the night progressed, 007n7 devoted as much time as possible to his children. He taught them how to play tag properly, instilled good manners, and shared lessons he never had the opportunity to impart on the day they were taken from him. It still piqued his curiosity. What transpired that day? How did Noli manage to lure them so effortlessly? He ensured they were unaware of Noli’s identity, so how...? How... it didn’t matter; his questions would remain unanswered unless he directly asked his children.
He was eager to find out.
No.
He was desperate to find out.
He could only hope, no, he fervently prayed, that Noli possessed some mercy, some awareness of the heinous act they were about to commit, and granted his children a swift death.
The question was not an easy one to voice; how could it be? A parent attempting to ask their child about their death, what transpired. For all he knew, Noli might have tortured his children, leaving them traumatized beyond repair, which made the inquiry even more challenging, as he didn’t want to resurrect any painful memories if that were the case.
Yet, he persevered.
They were seated in the cabin that the spectre had specifically created for them after he coerced 007n7 into switching allegiances, against his will, of course. The cabin was spacious, slightly larger than the typical survivor cabins, which usually contained just a bathroom, a living room, and a bedroom. In contrast, this cabin featured two bedrooms—one designated for 007n7 and the other for his three children. Additionally, the cabin included an extension that housed a kitchen, a living room, and—wait a moment. 007n7 hesitated as he stepped into the 'cabin'—no, the house. The spectre had replicated the layout of his former home, the one where he had raised his children.
No, this must be a dream; he would eventually awaken in Elliot's cabin, as he always did.
But that moment never arrived, and the truth began to dawn on 007n7.
This was not some trivial dream; this was reality. He had genuinely been switched to the killer's side, the side where his children resided, the side that offered them a better life. The side with Noli.
007n7 recalled what one of the killers had mentioned about how the spectre would manipulate their thoughts to ensure they committed murder, how if he were selected to be the killer for a round, he would have to eliminate those he had only recently acknowledged, thanked, and cherished.
Elliot.
Oh, dear god... he would have to kill Elliot.
The mere thought made him feel nauseous.
He could not allow that to happen.
He would simply repeat what he had done previously—escape the spectre's influence.
But that could wait for later, as his children were currently requesting a bedtime story. It had been ages since he last read one, especially to anyone. However, he wasn’t going to complain, as it felt like a second chance to spend time with the beings he believed were lost forever.
His children.
Without delay, he helped tuck in the three little ones before retrieving a storybook from the shelf and settling into a nearby rocking chair. It was a tale he had read countless times, one of their favorites. Yet, just as he was about to begin reading, one of them posed a question that made his stomach churn.
"Is Uncle Noli going to read with you?" Bluudud inquired, his eyes half-closed as he settled into his bed.
‘What—’
007n7 stood still, his fingers gripping the book tightly, as the thought of that entity infuriated him. "Kids...why do you call him your uncle..." 007n7 inquired cautiously, attempting to prevent his voice from trembling.
The room became quiet, until C00lkidd propped himself up, beaming while holding Ino, who still had a party hat on, "Because Uncle Noli said you and he were great friends!" C00lkidd exclaimed joyfully, his grin wide.
007n7 clenched his jaw at the thought. Yes...best friends built on a foundation of deceit. He questioned whether Noli even regarded him as a true friend; puppet seemed a more accurate description. The question felt lodged in his throat, as if the words were ensnared in a web of guilt resting at the back of his tongue. The question lingered, it wasn’t a pleasant one, nor one he relished contemplating, but it was certainly one he required an answer to. He just needed to keep his thoughts clear, so his children wouldn’t grasp what was happening through those ridiculous pop-ups.
"What occurred that day at the park...why did you all leave papa?" The words escaped him before he could rephrase them. It was too blunt, too pointed. Yet the silence conveyed everything, the uneasy expressions on his children's faces revealed more than enough. It erased any notion of Noli possessing even a hint of compassion, because the look in his kids' eyes, the unspoken dread that appeared on their faces, communicated it all.
"Don’t worry...papa’s not angry with you...just concerned." He amended, softening his voice, observing as the three little ones eased, as C00lkidd released his hold on Ino, how Pr3ttypriincess's eyes filled with tears, and how Bluudud appeared embarrassed.
"I’m sorry p-papa..." Pr3ttypriincess whispered, clutching her blanket as tears streamed down her pink cheeks.
"Hey, it’s alright; papa just wants to know, he’s not angry!" 007n7 comforted, putting the book down and rising from the chair to console his daughter. The words began to flow, recounting the past events as Pr3ttypriincess explained what had occurred, the moments that unfolded when they followed the hooded man, whom they didn’t recognize.
Noli.
It was a bright sunny day, children were laughing, rides were filled, and C00lkidd, Pr3ttypriincess, and Bluudud were enjoying the time of their lives, going from ride to ride, devouring ice cream until their mouths felt numb, while their father stood nearby, beaming as if they were his entire world.
Because they were.
Pr3ttypriincess recalled feeling hungry, the uncomfortable rumble of her small stomach signaling that it craved food. Something to satisfy that hunger. So, like any other child, she and her brothers approached their father, 007n7, to request something to eat.
"Papa! I’m hungry!" Pr3ttypriincess complained, tugging at her father's sleeve.
"Can we have burgers with lots of meat?" C00lkidd pleaded, while Bluudud rolled his eyes.
"You and your constant meat cravings, what are you, a t-rex? Non-vegan?" He joked, receiving an annoyed glare from his brother.
"Hey! T-rexes are awesome!" He shouted, pathetically stomping his feet on the pavement.
Bluudud couldn’t help but snicker, ruffling C00lkidd’s hair.
007n7 could only manage a weary chuckle, nodding in recognition as he started to guide them towards one of the numerous food stalls bustling in the park. "What would you kids like?" 007n7 inquired gently, a smile lighting up his eyes.
"I want two large burgers!" C00lkidd shouted, bouncing up and down with excitement.
"Can I get a salad?" Pr3ttypriincess asked, while Bluudud merely scoffed.
"I’m too good for that kind of food!" He joked, crossing his arms, which earned him a smirk from his father.
"Too good, you say? Well then, you can go hungry." He teased, prompting a gasp from Bluudud.
"What?! I was just kidding! Dad!" He whined, tugging at 007n7’s shirt, "I’ll have pizza..." He mumbled, feeling embarrassed by 007n7's teasing.
007n7 snorted, rolling his eyes as he tousled Bluudud’s hair, "Don’t worry, kiddo, I won’t let you go hungry while I’m around." He assured, before turning to join the line for food. The line was relatively short, with only two people ahead, but that was just enough time for Noli, because as soon as 007n7 looked away, he returned a minute later with the food. He signaled for his children to follow him to one of the park's most frequented spots to drown out any screams. The moment they reached a noisy, secluded area, ̸̛̘0̶̣̄0̵̫͘-̵̛͇N̶̛̬ȯ̵͎-̸̳̾7̸̙̐n̴̲̎-̴͙́l̷̙͆i̵͖͂-̶̗̒7̶͙̇ dropped the tray of food, the metal crashing to the ground with a loud thud. A dark chuckle escaped him as he turned to face the kids, who were now tense, with Pr3ttypriincess and C00lkidd hiding behind Bluudud, who was attempting to protect them.
0̴ ̳̚-̵̭̌N̵̼̔0̴̪̀l̷̝̎-̶̨̚7̷̭̀-̶͚͝n̸͔͐i̸̬̒-̶̤͝7̸̙͝'̴͇͊š̴̼ figure began to glitch, the mask slipping away as the shape they believed to be their father transformed into a hooded figure with a concealed face. None of them recognized this man, but it was clear that he was familiar with them.
The first to fall was Bluudud. In his attempt to shield his siblings, he suffered a broken arm and twisted joints before his neck was snapped. It was not a painless demise, yet it was a bloodless execution.
Next to fall was C00lkidd, whose blood was splattered across the park's pavements while he tried to defend his older sister, Pr3ttypriincess. His horns were violently ripped from his head, and his face was smashed against the concrete until it became nothing but a gruesome mix of brain matter and crimson.
The last one remaining was Pr3ttypriincess. Oh, the poor sweet child, now huddled in the corner, covering her mouth as an ocean of tears streamed down her face. She witnessed everything—the twists, the slams, and heard every crack, sob, scream, and the thud of bodies hitting the ground. She gazed at the bloody remnants of her once vibrant brothers, before looking up at the figure approaching her with a sinister smile. That was when she realized she wouldn’t escape this; she was destined to perish alongside her brothers at the hands of this deranged stranger.
She longed to scream, to call for her real father, but deep down she understood that no one would respond. The crowds surrounding the area, the screams from people on other rides, would drown out her genuine cries just as they had with her brothers. This man, whoever he was, had orchestrated everything meticulously, and it was evident that this was personal—as if he knew her, as if she was meant to recognize him, even though she couldn’t place him.
The initial sensation was pain, followed by numbness as her brain entered a state of shock before it began to shut down. She had been stabbed in the eye, the final act, but only after the man had ripped her jaw off and shattered her shins to prevent her from escaping. She couldn’t comprehend how she hadn’t died instantly from the blood she had lost, but the human body is strange and can astonish anyone, even its own owner. The last image Pr3ttypriincess recalled was the man laughing, not at the chaos he had caused, but at her, at her suffering, at the tears that mingled with her blood as it trickled down her face, at the lifeless bodies that had once been her brothers, her dear brothers. Then, the final surge of pain arrived and faded, and everything turned dark as her body gave in to the injuries, just like her brothers.
Noli knew the ending, just not this one.
She coughed, choking on her own blood and tears as her eyes flew open, weeping while the phantom pain lingered but left no scars. She jolted upright, cradling her jaw which was somehow still whole until her gaze fell upon her brothers, who appeared just as bewildered and frightened as she felt. But at that moment, she didn’t care, because her brothers were right there in front of her, alive and breathing, despite having witnessed their brutal mutilation. She acted on impulse, springing from the bed she had awakened in and throwing herself into her brothers' embrace, crying and sobbing as she checked to confirm she wasn’t dreaming; but she wasn’t, they were here, alive, standing—
Alive.
That was all that mattered.
━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━
007n7 felt his blood boil, his veins tightening beneath his scarred and corrupted skin, as he absorbed the words pouring from his daughter's lips. Each word only fueled his anger further. He kept convincing himself that it couldn’t possibly get worse, yet it did, spiraling into a deeper abyss of rage until he felt utterly consumed by it.
His hands shook as he attempted to soothe his daughter and sons, whom he soon helped to drift off to sleep. Once his children were in a deep slumber, he tucked them in and exited the room. He had already inflicted torment on Noli and had no intention of repeating that anytime soon; instead, he aimed to turn everyone against that man. Not only had that man attempted to frame his son C00lkidd for the arson of the pizza place, but he had also manipulated him in the past.
Moreover, he had killed his children. Slowly. Painfully. As if mercy was never an option, as if his sweet, innocent babies were ruthless criminals. But that could wait; right now, he needed to remain by his children's side, ensuring they were well cared for. Noli was a concern, but he meant nothing to 007n7 when it came to the safety and wellbeing of his kids. So, that problem could wait.
Today marked a fresh start, a new opportunity for 007n7 to refrain from confronting Noli in front of his children, who were present almost all the time. The initial round of the day clearly favored Noli, which only fueled 007n7's frustration, as he was aware that Noli would not show any mercy, particularly towards Elliot. Noli had yet to realize just how protective 007n7 was of the pizza delivery guy.
However, 007n7 could only feel his rage intensifying as he observed from the viewing screen while Noli methodically eliminated everyone, taking pleasure in their cries, screams, and pleas. He particularly savored tormenting Elliot, prolonging the pizza man's anguish to the point where 007n7 found it unbearable to listen. Yet, he understood that Noli was doing this intentionally, fully aware that he was being watched. This pushed 007n7's anger over the edge, spilling into a toxic fury.
Noli chuckled to himself as he concluded his torment of Elliot, ultimately killing him and securing the round for himself. He beamed with satisfaction as he was returned to the killers' cabin, where others congratulated him for achieving the first killer victory in weeks, while 007n7 simmered with rage.
He scoffed quietly to himself as his children followed behind him, before instructing them to go play, as he needed to have a serious conversation with a particular individual. Once his kids were out of earshot, he wasted no time striding over and forcefully pinning Noli against the wall by his neck.
Noli gasped in surprise, clawing at 007n7's arms, which had a surprisingly firm grip around his throat. "Ugh—what’s the matter S-Seven? Upset that I played with your little friend?" Noli managed to choke out, a grin firmly plastered on his face, reveling in the sight of 007n7's anger, pleased that he had succeeded in provoking the father.
007n7 snorted as he tightened his grip around Noli's neck, saying, "You wanna make me angry? Fine; you wanna see the real me? Fine!" He declared, yanking Noli back by the neck and slamming him headfirst into the wall, observing as Noli grimaced in pain. "I’ll burn your soul down to cinder for wasting my fucking time," he threatened through clenched teeth, pushing Noli to the ground and stomping on his arm, grinning as he heard a crack and the man scream. The other killers noticed the commotion but refrained from intervening, not wanting to provoke the father's evident fury.
"I’m not afraid to kick your ass, I’ve got nothin’ here to lose. May you remember to never ignite a short father’s fuse," 007n7 shot back, seizing Noli by the hair and yanking it until blood began to trickle from the wounds. He chuckled as Noli emitted a feeble whimper, releasing the man's hair in response. "You have 10 seconds. Ten. Nine."
Noli's eyes widened as he hurried to his feet and dashed out of the main cabin's door, clutching his broken arm while attempting to see through the blood streaming down his face. He bolted to his cabin, flinging the door open, kicking it shut, and locking it, but froze when he heard the doorbell ring, peering through the peephole to spot 007n7's silhouette.
Shit.
"Ding-dong," 007n7 taunted, pressing the doorbell again. "I know you can hear me; open up the door, I only want to play a little!" He grinned, pressing the doorbell once more, "ding-dong, you can’t keep me waiting, it’s already too late for you to try and run away!" 007n7 cheerfully explained, glancing through the window, "I see you through the window." Their eyes locked together, causing Noli to stumble backward. "I can sense your horror," 007n7 grinned, his twisted hand morphing into a hammer, poised to smash the window open. "Though, I’d like to see it closer!" With that, the sound of shattering glass echoed.
D̸i̸n̸g̴-̶d̷o̶n̸g̴.̵ ̷
"Here I come to find you, hurry up and run!" 007n7 shouted as he climbed through the window, observing Noli’s shadow vanish around the corner. "Let’s play a little game and have fun!" 007n7 proposed, his tainted hand transforming back into a blade that he dragged along the ground.
D̷̟̾i̷̤͐n̴̺̕ǵ̵̲-̸̟̑d̵̞̓o̶̩͘n̶̫͒g̸̞̉.̵̤͝ ̸͙͗
"Where is it you’ve gone to?" 007n7 said with a playful tone, scanning the cabin, "do you think you’ve won? Our game of hide and seek has just begun!" The man feigned a pout as he tuned in to that oh-so-familiar thumping sound. Someone seemed to be in quite a rush. "I hear your footsteps...thumping loudly through the hallways..." 007n7 remarked, tracking the sound, blade scraping against the wooden floors. "I can hear your footsteps, you’re not very good at hiding!" 007n7 declared playfully, a dark chuckle following.
Just wait, you can’t hide from me...
I̴’̵m̴ ̷c̵o̵m̶i̸n̸g̶.̵ ̵
Just wait, you can’t hide from me?
H̷̬̊e̸͖̍’̵̙̈́s̸̡̓ ̷͚̈́c̷̙̒o̵͎͑m̸̝̐i̵͚͛n̸̯͠g̸̱̍.̸̢͗ ̷̼͝
Just wait, you can’t hide from me!
I̸͖͇̕t̷̝̠͛͒’̶͖͛s̶͉̏ ̶̧̛͕̈c̶͖̱̅͝ȏ̸͉̍m̸͖̄i̵̺̲̍͘n̵̻̱̊g̷̢̪̈́.̸̧̼̋ ̵͍̮͂͌
"Just wait, you can’t hide from me." 007n7 scoffed as he positioned himself in front of the closed bedroom door, a trail of blood leading beyond it. "Knock, knock!" 007n7 laughed as he tapped on the door, "I am at your door now, I am coming in!" He murmured while twisting the doorknob. "No need for me to ask permission!” He stated matter-of-factly.
Knock, knock!
"I’m inside your room now, where is it you’ve hid? Our game of hide and seek’s about to end!" He chirped with excitement, shutting the door behind him. "I’m coming closer," He teased as he peered under the bed, pouting when he found Noli absent, "You’re not here, I wonder..." He began, standing upright as he turned to face the closet. "Could you be inside the closet...?" He inquired, stepping forward, hand reaching out to grasp the handle, swinging the wooden door open.
D̷̮̎͜į̶̏́n̸̦͍̎g̴̛̘̲-̷͚̃d̷̮̅̔ͅọ̷̹́n̵̨͖͋ĝ̶͖.̶̫̣̏ ̶̢̤̏
007n7 couldn't suppress the murderous grin that crept onto his face as he gazed down at Noli, who was concealed in the closet. "I have found you," he taunted, lifting his blade.
Ḏ̵̛̾͜ǐ̴̻̀̍n̷̜̠̖͐g̶̱̳̋̎-̷̺͗ḓ̴͓̆o̶̟̭͚͋́͊n̸̻̑̎́g̶̥̺͔̓͒.̴̦̒ ̸͖̫̈́͐͛
"You were hiding here?" he asked, stabbing Noli in the chest. "Now you're it," he stated flatly.
D̸̫̂̌͋̕í̶̧͈͖͓ñ̶͔̠̔g̸̢͍̘͍̔̕-̸̡͓͖̐d̶̫̘͋ö̷̰͚́̆̄͝n̵̨͖̖̺̍̒̕g̸̥̓̌̍͜.̶̲̜́̆́ ̶̦͔̃̐̍͝
"Finally found you, pal," he mocked, bending down to meet Noli's gaze. "Now you're it."
D̵͔́̏̐̾i̷̙̜͎̜̹̓̓̐ǹ̶̞̯͉̲̪͂̇g̸̫͉̜̅́̆̄̕-̶̩̞̲͑̽̓̈́̀d̵̨͍͛̏͝ǫ̷̼̭͍̭̐̓́̈̀n̷̼͕̥̪̈́͛̾̏̇g̴̛̛̫̗̗̀̉̌.̵̹͚̦̪͝ͅ ̴̟͂
"Looks like I have won; now you're it."
D̵̀ ͎̮͂i̸̧͉͖͖͛͠ͅn̵̼̳͓̓̉̈́̑̇͝g̵̭̟̳̙̈-̴͚̳͓̩̌̓͂d̷̥̖́́̚ó̴̧͕̘͓̮̎̀̂̓n̸̪̪̉ģ̴̻͕̟̖̃̎͂̾̔.̶̼͕͈̤̳̍̓̉̀̌̂ͅ ̶̡̝͉̬̫̓͆̀̔
"Pay the consequences—" 007n7 started, but Noli lunged forward and slashed him in the stomach. He staggered back, gripping the wound, and glared at Noli, who was now standing, albeit barely. Then he heard a tap on the window, his attention shifting as he turned to investigate the noise, spotting his children outside, looking horrified. His grip on the wound tightened as he turned back to Noli, who tensed under the four murderous gazes now fixed on him. "Looks like you messed up, old friend!" 007n7 exclaimed, his voice glitching, before he raised his blade and beheaded Noli, all while still clutching his side.
After witnessing Noli's body disintegrate, indicating the man had respawned, he turned and exited the bedroom, leaving the cabin entirely, only to be nearly tackled by his kids at the entrance. He was still holding his side at that moment, blood seeping through his clothes, appearing coded and glitchy. He chuckled wearily at his children's concern but felt a pang of guilt for having them witness such a scene.
In the meantime, all three siblings, C00lkidd, Pr3ttypriincess, and Bluudud, were on the hunt for blood. They were fiercely protective of their father, to an extreme degree. Noli had the nerve to harm their father and cause him to bleed. This was not something their young minds were willing to overlook. However, they realized that Noli was hiding from them and their father, as he was nowhere to be found.
The children insisted that their dad take a break, and although 007n7 thought it was absurd, he reluctantly agreed, leaving Ino, a rat wearing a party hat, to keep an eye on him.
Meanwhile, the kids returned to the main cabin, where they started inquiring about Noli's whereabouts.
"Can you tell me where you saw Noli?" C00lkidd asked Azure, who appeared quite puzzled by the child's interest in the jester's location. He shrugged and shook his head, observing as C00lkidd's expression fell in disappointment.
"Sorry, kiddo," Azure replied, tousling C00lkidd's hair, "maybe you should ask John Doe; I'm sure he would know!" He suggested, watching as C00lkidd nodded and dashed off with his siblings.
As soon as they located John Doe, they surrounded him like a swarm of bees from an agitated hive.
"Hi! My name is Priincess! What's your name?" she inquired innocently, then interrupted John Doe, "Oh! That sounds familiar!"
"Have we played this game? Where one person hides and you've got to go find them!" C00lkidd chimed in, clearly referring to hide and seek.
Pr3ttypriincess nodded, gazing at John Doe with wide, innocent eyes.
"We’re looking for our friend," Bluudud exclaimed, while John Doe pointed behind them, causing all three children to tense up.
"Wait, you think you see him?" Pr3ttypriincess whispered softly, quickly turning her head to find no one there. "In this tree? In this box?" she asked the older man, only to be interrupted.
"That's a good hiding spot!" C00lkidd shouted.
"Gotta get this done!" Bluudud scolded, grumbling as Pr3ttypriincess continued to speak.
"So we can more fun!" she reiterated, though by fun, she meant something entirely different...
C00lkidd paused upon hearing a rustling sound from a nearby bush, stepping away from his siblings to investigate the noise. His eyes widened, and his tail flicked behind him in irritation at the sight before him.
"Hey, look, you found me! I guess it is my turn now, huh?" Noli mumbled, emerging from behind the bush while trying to ignore the three murderous glares from these 'innocent' kids.
Pr3ttypriincess beamed, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "Or we could play another game! Maybe tag-!" she started, leaping forward only to be yanked back by her brothers, who were grumbling.
"Wait Priincess! I haven't gotten a turn—can't we just do one more round of Hide and Seek?" Noli suggested, raising his hands in defense as he scrambled to come up with an excuse on the spot, which conveniently involved him being the seeker.
Pr3ttypriincess hesitated, then huffed in annoyance, "I guess... that’s only fair." She reluctantly agreed, crossing her arms with a pout.
Noli never imagined he would live long enough to be frightened by children.
“Uh... what comes next?” Noli muttered, trying to buy himself more time.
( ̷T̶w̵o̵,̴ ̵t̴h̵r̷e̵e̷,̴ ̵f̷o̸u̷r̷,̴ ̸f̴i̵v̶e̸.̸)̵ ̷
“O-Oh right, you're the best!”
(̵S̶i̶x̸,̶ ̵s̴e̸v̴e̴n̴,̵ ̴e̷i̵g̴h̷t̸,̵ ̶n̶i̵n̶e̴.̴)̴ ̴
"You must play this a lot!" he said anxiously, feeling uneasy about being defeated by the very children he had previously vanquished.
(̵S̸e̴v̸e̸n̵,̵ ̴e̸i̷g̷h̶t̴,̷ ̴n̶i̴n̴e̶,̸ ̴t̴e̸n̶.̶)̵ ̵ ̶
"Okay I get it! So ready or not, here I….come? Oh, no! They could be anywhere! Do you see the children?" Noli declared with great drama, all the while stealthily moving away, attempting to return to his cabin.
Now watch us play our part!
Now watch us dance and sing!
Don't want to fall apart, like kids who never seem to scream!
We get to play all day—but can we play my way!
Got another game!
So can you try it with us?
"Bluudud, C00lkidd!" Pr3ttypriincess shouted, attempting to regroup in search of Noli once more. "Oh, Bluudud, C00lkidd!"
Before long, the three children came together again and set out to locate Noli, but this time they were determined not to be tricked into a game of hide and seek.
C00lkidd grumbled as they once again failed to find Noli, until a door to the main cabin swung open—
"Hi, my name is Priincess..." she mumbled, only to stop short at the sight of their target's familiar face. "Oh, hi! It's you again!" She smiled brightly, rushing over to grasp Noli's hand to prevent him from escaping. "We're playing Hide and Seek! Seems like it never ends," Pr3ttypriincess complained, a frown replacing her previous smile.
"Isn't it getting boring?" Bluudud interjected.
"We'd have more fun today—if we tried something else!” C00lkidd suggested.
"Put Hide and Seek away—!" Pr3ttypriincess concluded, giggling innocently. "I've been thinking how 'bout we play tag!" she exclaimed cheerfully, yet her grip on Noli's hand was so tight it could leave a bruise. This was clearly a warning.
"When I say, you're it-and I run in zig-zag!" C00lkidd declared, darting around Noli. "Can we be happy, if we make believe—” C00lkidd rushed over and seized Noli's other hand, his fingers digging into the adult's skin. "That we have a choice what you play with us!"
"I’m ready to play!" Bluudud shouted, with Pr3ttypriincess following suit.
"I’m ready—" she started, only to fall silent at the sound of her name.
"Priincess!" Noli called out, trying to ignore the discomfort of C00lkidd’s grip on his arm.
"What?!" Pr3ttypriincess snapped, glaring at the man with concealed animosity.
"I know you want to play tag, but it’s my turn now!" he insisted, hoping they would take the bait again, but they did not.
"It's my turn now!" Pr3ttypriincess whined.
"It's my turn now!" Noli countered.
"It's my turn now!—" Pr3ttypriincess shot back.
"1̸̯͂ ̶͖͚̱͒͛Ẁ̸̘͇̯4̷̧̢̯̐͘Ņ̴͙̿̍̐T̵͎͋̈́ ̸̪͊̓̀ͅT̴͈͈̥̈́͝͠0̸̫̄̈ ̸̬̄̾͝P̵̺̰̎L̶̜̦̘̊A̵̺̤͙͆̀Y̴̙̼͑̇ ̸̘͐̐$̷͚͙̆̀̚O̷͇͉̐̉M̵̧̼͗̕Ȩ̴̙̰̓͊͘T̷̪̚H̶̩̓̏̏1̸̩͈͍̔N̷̹̥̑G̸̢̈́̽ ̴̹̬͑͋̚3̶͙͌̿̈́Ļ̴̧̓S̸͉͗͗͊E̴̞̼̺͛!̵̭̏̒͝" C00lkidd exclaimed, stepping on Noli's foot, eliciting a pained grunt from the older man.
Now watch us play our part!
Now watch us dance and sing!
Don't let it break your heart!
Just play along and never—
“Ah—!” Noli yelped as he was stabbed in the leg by Bluudud.
These kids are fucking psychopaths! Don’t they have a shred of mercy?!
We get to play all day!
But can we play my way?
Got another game!
So can you try it with me?
Seeker: Noli.
"Is she just past this bush?" Noli whispered.
Count to ten!
“—Or behind this old tree?"
Will you help me find my friend?
"I don't think she's around here, please you must trust me!" C00lkidd said cheerfully, a smile lighting up his innocent face.
Is she here?
"I really don't want to go in there..." Noli murmured, trailing behind C00lkidd.
Or is she there?
“I don't want to go in there—" He reiterated as C00lkidd began to pull him along instead.
I can't find her anywhere!
"I don't want to go— ANYWHERE! " Noli objected, pulling his hand free from C00lkidd’s hold and stumbling back, toppling a cardboard box that had served as a rat’s dwelling. "Huh?" Noli stammered, glancing at the rat that stared back at him in fear, then he heard the crackling sound of static, causing his heart to race.
"L̴o̴o̵k̸s̵ ̵l̷i̸k̸e̵ ̵y̶o̶u̷ ̴f̶o̶u̷n̶d̴ ̴s̵i̵l̸l̵y̸ ̵M̶i̷s̵t̷e̵r̶ ̴R̸a̴t̵!" Pr3ttypriincess exclaimed, tearing Noli’s heart right out of the adult’s chest, giggling to herself as she turned to her brothers, "now watch him fall apart." She began.
"Now watch him gush and bleed!" C00lkidd squealed, hopping over to where his sister stood.
"He had a beating heart—" Bluudud added, stepping closer as well.
"That ended with a little scream!" They all cheered, crushing Noli’s heart that had been in Pr3ttypriincess's hand.
Noli cried out as he respawned in the main cabin, clutching his chest as the throbbing pain persisted, but that wasn’t his only worry, as those brats were still around.
"Now we can play all day!" Bluudud cheered, surrounding Noli, brick in hand.
"And we will play our way!" C00lkidd shouted, following his older brother, "Made our own game!"
"So can you try it with us!" Pr3ttypriincess grinned, snapping Noli’s arm.
We’ll watch you rip apart.
You'll watch us dance agape!
Puppets with beating hearts-and strings made of magnetic tape!
We're cursed to play all day!
But never play our way.
Is there another game?
And could you try it for me?
"Kids!" 007n7 exclaimed as he entered the main cabin, only to come to a halt at the scene before him.
His three children were playfully tormenting Noli; the sight was almost amusing, but he resisted the urge to laugh, reminding himself that he needed to act responsibly. "Alright kids, that’s enough for now," he said gently, moving towards them and guiding the trio into the kitchen, allowing Noli to recover and respawn later.
Once in the kitchen, he paused to glance at the clock before turning to C00lkidd. "You’re up next, buddy! Just remember, no roughhousing tag," 007n7 instructed firmly, to which C00lkidd responded with an eager nod, his tail wagging excitedly behind him.
Five...
Four...
Three...
Two...
One...
Round starting!
The k̵i̶-̸t̴a̸g̶-̷l̵-̴g̴-̴l̸-̵e̴r̶ this round is C00lkidd.
━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━
With the survivors.
It has been a day since Elliot last encountered 007n7, with only a blood trail remaining, which did nothing to alleviate his anxiety. The other survivors have been searching relentlessly for the father, but they lost the first round of the day due to their inability to concentrate. Now, he had to confront one of 007n7’s children, and he dreaded the thought of having his neck snapped. It had been some time since he experienced that, and he was not looking forward to becoming accustomed to it again.
As the next round commenced and they were thrust into a map, Elliot found himself grumbling to himself.
He had spawned next to Builderman and Guest, who immediately set to work.
“Somewhere somethings hiding in the dark...” Guest whispered, staying close to Elliot in case the healer became a target.
“Somewhere C00lkidd’s out there roaming free...” Builderman added, as he began to set up a dispenser.
“Somewhere here a monster’s on the move...” Noob muttered, joining the group.
Elliot sighed in frustration, “something tells me we’re all gonna be...dead.” He said flatly, crossing his arms.
Everyone turned to give Elliot a look, “Dude, are you okay? You’re usually so optimistic...” Guest asked, to which Elliot replied with a forced laugh, only for it to be interrupted by a childish giggle that followed.
“THERE YOU ARE!” C00lkidd shouted, chasing after Elliot, who began to run for his life. However, he was quickly running out of stamina, and the others were lagging behind, leaving just him and C00lkidd. He realized he was in trouble; he was going to get hit or die, as there was no way he could escape this child with the little stamina he had left, and then-
“TAG! YOU’RE IT!”
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
₍^. .^₎⟆
- 8,889 Words -
Creators note + designs!
Hi guys! Thank you so much for being patient with me! As I've stated before, I'm not the best when it comes to describing clothing or changes, so here are 3 character designs within what I deemed as 'fancy clothing'! I apologize once more for the anatomy, I'm not the best with bodies and I'm still using shapes for such! So the waist in these drawings is easier for me to do, but also the only kind I can really do at the moment. So far I have Elliot, 007n7 and Azure done! I will try to get more done and add them to upcoming chapters when I can! But do enjoy the drawings!!
Notes:
007n7's and Elliot's outfits were heavily inspired by one of Nikko_Kage's drawings on TikTok! They are an amazing artist so please go check them out if you haven't already! Thank you!!
Shout out to Genofresherror for being a great motivator! Another shout out to Nikko_Kage for the art reference on their TikTok!!
Songs that were referenced in this chapter: Five Nights at Freddy’s: Night 2 – Random Encounters. Broken – Lund. Judgement – TryHardNinja. Angry Too – Lola Blanc. Nana Knows The Ending – Random Encounters. Ayano vs. Michaela – Michaela Laws. Play My Way – Jakeneutron.
Chapter 13: A One Night Accident of Drunk Minds.
Summary:
It's not your fault, Elliot.
Notes:
Hi!!! This is the filler chapter as I am still working on the main one! I apologize that's it's short and not much, though I hope you all enjoy it!! There's no angst don't worry! Just a night of alcohol! (:
Once again, shoutout to Genofresherror, Fascat and Endezencio! As always, any songs referenced in this chapter will be listed in the end notes, any songs scrapped completely will be listed down below as well! Please do enjoy reading this!!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
It was just another typical Tuesday for Elliot.
Well, almost.
That day, the rain was pouring heavily outside the pizzeria, accompanied by what sounded like ominous thunder. He had already finished his shift and was supposed to close the restaurant an hour earlier, but due to the severe weather, he decided to keep it open for anyone seeking refuge from the storm. However, no one had arrived so far. Elliot would have left when he was meant to clock out, but he was aware that driving in such conditions could lead to a car accident, and he didn’t want to take that risk.
With a weary sigh, he started wiping down the tables for the third time that evening, until he perked up at the sound of the bells ringing. He paused and looked up at the entrance to see who it was and—
Oh.
That was the last person Elliot wanted to encounter at that moment. The notorious hacker, 007n7, hadn’t caused trouble in the establishment for what felt like five years. He couldn’t recall the exact timeline, but it didn’t matter to him. 007n7 had somewhat redeemed himself since taking in that kid, whose name he thought was C00lkidd? Again, he couldn’t remember and didn’t care. All he wanted was for 007n7 to leave his restaurant. The man claimed he had changed, but since they rarely interacted face to face, Elliot was skeptical and refused to accept it.
Setting the rag down, he stood up straight to confront him, only to falter in his steps as he took a closer look. The storm outside continued to rage, with rain pounding against the pavement and sidewalks, resembling thousands of tiny blades for anyone brave enough to venture through it. He wasn’t going to hesitate to push 007n7 back into the rain, but when his gaze fell on the three children soaked from the downpour, with 007n7 also drenched and giving his own jacket to one of the kids who didn’t have one.
It caused him to pause.
Since when did 007n7 have three children...? On the other hand, he hardly knew anything about the former hacker, so he dismissed it as another fleeting thought.
If he expelled 007n7, the children would inevitably have to go as well.
He couldn’t bring himself to do that.
He let out a frustrated groan as he weighed his options, ultimately deciding to allow the family to remain.
Meanwhile, 007n7 was sniffling as the cold began to affect him, but his primary concern was ensuring his children were alright. So, crouching down, he started to examine his kids for any injuries sustained during their run in the rain, particularly Pr3ttypriincess, who had stumbled while running. He looked at the little girl’s knee and winced at the sight of the scraped and bruised skin.
“Papa, my knee hurts...” Pr3ttypriincess complained, using her wet hands to wipe away her tears.
007n7 responded with a soft hum, nodding in acknowledgment. He reached into his pocket to retrieve the small first aid kit he usually carried, only to discover it was absent. This only added to his frustration, as the scrape on his daughter’s knee needed cleaning to avoid infection, yet he lacked the necessary supplies at that moment. He grumbled softly, sniffling as he stood up and scanned the area, tensing as he became aware of their surroundings and... who was accompanying them.
Elliot locked eyes with 007n7, a scowl on his face, though it was gentle, nonetheless. 007n7 felt the weight of Elliot’s gaze pressing down on him, making him uncomfortable. However, he desperately needed bandages, so with a reluctant sigh, he prepared to speak.
“Elliot... please just allow them to stay here for a little while, I need... to go purchase something from the store...” 007n7 mumbled, hastily exiting the pizzeria without another word. He recognized it was reckless, even irresponsible, to leave his three children with Elliot, someone he was certain despised him, but he truly needed to get those bandages.
Elliot stood in disbelief as 007n7 stepped back out into the torrential downpour, then turned to the three children who were trembling and gazing at him with desperate eyes. Damn it—ugh. He exhaled deeply, running his fingers through his hair as he made his way to the back, eventually arriving at the manager’s office where he collected some blankets that were kept for birthday celebrations, striding back to the dining area. Without hesitation, he wrapped the kids in their own cozy blankets, guiding them to sit at one of the tables while he hurried to warm them up. He then returned to the kitchen to fetch leftover pizza, which was still warm, anticipating that the kids might be hungry, and it seemed they were.
Now that all three children were settled, warming up and enjoying their pizza, Elliot stood back and kept an eye on them, mentally chastising 007n7 for leaving in the first place. What could possibly be so crucial that he would leave his kids at a pizza place to run back into a storm? What a foolish, irresponsible father. Just as he was about to lose himself in thoughts of scolding the ex-hacker, he heard the familiar jingle of the bells hanging above the entrance, signaling that someone had entered or exited the restaurant. He looked up, only to see the aforementioned ex-hacker stumbling back inside, looking breathless and clutching what appeared to be a plastic bag containing two small square boxes.
Speak of the devil.
As Elliot scrutinized the father from head to toe, he observed that 007n7 appeared completely drenched in cold, relentless rainwater. Nevertheless, he witnessed 007n7 approach the little girl, kneeling before her. He reached into his bag and retrieved a small packet of band-aids, deftly flicking open the cardboard lid with his thumb. He selected a wrapped bandage from the packet, tearing open the paper that encased it. After cleaning Pr3ttypriincess’ scraped knee with disinfectant, he quickly applied the bandage, ensuring it adhered properly by rubbing the area before letting out a sigh and rising once more.
He was freezing, his body trembling as water droplets fell from his clothes onto the wooden floor. The weight of his soaked garments clung heavily to his skin, leaving him feeling exhausted. Yet, he remained focused on the well-being of his children. His thoughts were abruptly interrupted when something was thrown at him, causing him to yelp as he turned to see the culprit—Elliot, naturally; who else could it have been?
“Ah—Elliot, thank you for looking after the kids…” 007n7 stuttered, grasping the blanket that Elliot had tossed to him, still shivering and sniffling, a clear result of the rain.
“It’s nothing. Just don’t run off without saying anything next time; I thought you were abandoning them,” Elliot retorted, poking a finger into 007n7’s chest before exhaling in frustration as he compelled the father to sit down. He was reluctant to admit it, unwilling to accept it, but seeing 007n7 now—the living, breathing evidence of a transformed man—was beginning to affect him. He no longer perceived the feared hacker 007n7; instead, he saw a father striving to raise his children, a man who had genuinely changed for the better. This realization stirred a mix of denial, anger, confusion, and an unfamiliar feeling that he welcomed, nonetheless.
The night continued, yet the storm persisted with its cacophony of flashing lights. Throughout the evening, Elliot repeatedly checked the weather updates, hoping for some positive news eventually, but it seemed that the furious storm outside the pizzeria was not going to relent anytime soon. What a pity. However, this also meant he would be confined in the building with the family until the storm passed, which he found quite bothersome.
Naturally, 007n7 noticed Elliot's annoyance with his presence and felt guilty. So, when he managed to speak again, despite his sore throat causing his voice to come out raspy, he suggested to Elliot that he and his children could leave and seek shelter elsewhere, a proposal that Elliot promptly rejected. He had no intention of sending a father and his three kids out into such a storm! While he disliked the man, he had no ill feelings towards the children, and he certainly wasn't going to let them suffer in the frigid rain just because of a petty grudge. Therefore, he insisted that 007n7 should withdraw his offer and stay put, even if it was unpleasant for him.
He assisted 007n7 in drying off and offered the ex-hacker some pizza as well. The man appeared kinder than Elliot remembered, but he wasn't going to voice any complaints, at least not at that moment. 007n7 could only express his gratitude to the pizza worker, sniffling as a headache began to settle in his mind, along with a warmth spreading beneath his skin. He must have caught something from the rain; his immune system was weak, much to his regret, so there wasn't much he could do about it. He had more pressing matters to attend to at the moment than his health, which could wait as far as he was concerned.
As anticipated, the storm intensified as time progressed, causing frustration for both adults. Elliot simply wished to return home and rest in his own bed, while 007n7 wanted to get home so his children could sleep. It was approaching midnight, which was quite late, yet the storm showed no signs of relenting; it only escalated. It was unyielding in its aftermath, targeting structures that crumbled under its force, while threatening to sweep up any Robloxian who dared to venture outside into the tempest, with fierce winds shaking trees and power lines at risk of snapping. The situation was looking grim, and then suddenly—
BOOM!
Both Elliot and 007n7 recoiled at the sound that resembled an explosion. Elliot turned his head towards 007n7 in bewilderment, only to find the ex-hacker attempting to comfort the three children who were crying due to the thunder. Bluudud wasn't actively sobbing, but it was evident that the 8-year-old was unsettled. In contrast, Pr3ttypriincess and C00lkidd were in tears, clinging to 007n7, who was trying to calm their cries while covering their ears.
Elliot felt a pang of sympathy for the man, but he couldn't dwell on that at the moment; he had to determine the source of the explosion sound. It was better to investigate than to regret later. Fortunately for Elliot, his questions were swiftly answered when the lights flickered, signaling one inevitable truth... the building was now engulfed in darkness, the power out of reach, and the air trapped within these walls was growing colder by the moment. This was serious, not just a minor inconvenience or something to joke about; no, this was truly dire. The power outage was caused by a lightning strike on one of the power lines, leaving them without lights or heating, and the warmth inside the building was rapidly fading into a bitter chill.
Elliot wasted no time searching for flashlights and gathering all the blankets the pizzeria had available, knowing they would soon be essential. The temperature inside the building continued to plummet at an alarming rate, with time slipping away as the storm raged outside, testing the building's ability to retain heat. Elliot hurried back toward the entrance, only to stop abruptly when he spotted 007n7 and the children. Just seeing them caused a swell of an unfamiliar emotion in his chest. No, he recognized this feeling; it was love. Having had many partners in the past, he understood its meaning, but he was uncertain if he could accept the object of those feelings.
He quickly shook off the thought, snapping back to reality as he approached the family. He dropped a couple of blankets over the kids before turning his attention to 007n7, who seemed to tense under his gaze. The sight made Elliot scoff, a sense of amusement bubbling up in his heart as he looked down at the ex-hacker, before thrusting the last blanket into the man's hands.
007n7 froze as he felt the soft fabric brush against his fingertips. His gaze quickly shifted to the quilt clutched in his palms before returning to the pizza worker who had so awkwardly handed it to him. "Elliot—what about you...?" 007n7 whispered, careful not to disturb the children he had worked so hard to put to sleep.
Elliot placed his hands on his hips in a rather sassy way, looking down at the father still seated. "I’ll be fine; I have things to do anyway!" Elliot explained, his gaze unwavering. 007n7’s eyes, such beautiful eyes... wait—WHAT!? Elliot, get a grip on yourself, damn it!!
"Elliot, seriously," 007n7 pleaded, pushing the blanket back into Elliot’s hands, which earned a grumble from the pizza man, who then glared at the ex-hacker.
Elliot bit his lower lip, attempting to suppress an insult before taking a deep breath to calm himself. His fingers tightened around the quilt now hanging from his hands as he stepped closer to where 007n7 was seated. "Fine. How about we just share the blanket?" Elliot said flatly, shocked by his own words. He couldn’t believe he was about to do this—snuggle up to a feverish bastard he despised just for warmth.
007n7 tensed, his face flushing even more, if that was even possible given that most of it was due to his fever. He quickly backed up in his seat until his back hit the wall, realizing he was cornered. He swallowed hard, staring at Elliot with wide eyes, as if bracing for the worst, but Elliot found it amusing and somewhat sad.
With a roll of his eyes and a sigh that escaped his lips, he positioned himself between 007n7’s legs, his back pressed against the ex-hacker’s chest. "This is a one-time thing out of desperation; don’t get used to it," Elliot spat, covering both of them with the blanket as he leaned into 007n7 for warmth.
007n7 found himself frozen, his hands immobilized as he sensed the weight pressing against his chest. He must be dreaming, right? There’s no way this could be real. He’s losing his mind, isn’t he? Oh, for the love of all that’s holy! He muttered under his breath, rubbing his hand across his face before glancing at Elliot, who appeared to have settled in comfortably. "Elliot—" 007n7 began to say, but was interrupted as Elliot chimed in.
“I think...you’re changing.” These were the simple words that escaped from Elliot's lips, causing the single father to halt, a wave of confusion washing over him. “Don’t worry, you don’t gotta stay the same," the yellow-haired man added, which only deepened 007n7's bewilderment, though he chose not to question it at that moment.
“Can we talk about this later...?” 007n7 asked, receiving a slight nod from the pizza worker. He exhaled in relief, leaning against the window as he listened to the wind rustling through the trees outside the pizzeria. Just like that, for the remainder of the night, they were trapped in that building, enveloped in darkness, while the storm continued to rage outside. Elliot, to be honest, was unsure of what was happening within him. He LOATHED this man, so why was he feeling this way? Ugh! These frustrating, confusing emotions! Whatever, he didn't have the patience to ponder it, so he would simply set it aside and address it another time.
The following morning, the skies were clear, sunny yet still partly cloudy with a hint of fog. The area surrounding the location was without power due to the storm damaging one of the power lines, along with numerous trees that had become entangled in the wires connecting each tower. It wasn’t an ideal situation, nor did it bring joy to anyone, but it could have been much worse, so the residents simply accepted it, enduring the power outage until help arrived. Elliot was the first to awaken, finding himself in a rather awkward situation, ensnared in the embrace of 007n7. This caused his face to flush, which was understandable, yet still embarrassing.
After a few moments of silent struggle, he finally managed to extricate himself from 007n7’s hold, being careful not to wake the children who were still asleep, nor the man he had just freed himself from. His body felt warm, and his face was flushed with what he convinced himself was merely embarrassment, although he knew there was more to it; the rapid beating of his heart suggested otherwise. He needed to regain his composure; he was nearly falling for the very person who had tormented him so mercilessly in the past, yet he was also the reason Elliot was alive today.
That fire.
He recalled it vividly; the memory having left him scarred both mentally and physically. He bore scars from the burns he suffered in that fire, marks that disfigured his skin like permanent ink on a blank sheet of paper, forever imprinted there, with no means to erase them or the stories that lingered close behind, akin to a digital footprint that clung to a person just enough to remain anonymous, yet permanent enough to haunt the victim with falsehoods spread across online forums. Elliot despised them, loathed every inch of skin they marred; he simply wished for their disappearance. But that was not an option, so he did his best to overlook them.
However, he was intrigued to find out if 007n7 had any... He recalled witnessing a burning log tumble onto the man's back and how bloodied the former hacker had become after narrowly escaping the fiery pizzeria, with Elliot in his arms. He was aware that some of those injuries must have healed, but it wasn't his concern, so he quickly dismissed the thought. Standing up straight, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and gazed out the window, feeling relieved to see that the storm had stopped its assault and was no longer visible, though he felt a twinge of disappointment at the sight of a few fallen trees. He immediately realized that some roads back home might be obstructed, but since he wasn't heading home at that moment, he shrugged it off and moved to the back, past the cash registers. He proceeded to the rear and located the backup generator, kneeling in front of it to start the machine, watching as the restaurant's lights flickered back to life.
He rose back up, wiping his hands on his apron before returning to the kitchen. With the stoves operational, he could at least prepare some sort of meal, as he was quite hungry. He decided to make a simple cheese pizza, as it was the quickest option, or rather, the first idea that came to mind. By the time the pizza was ready, the three little gremlins had woken up, leaving 007n7 as the only one still asleep. Elliot was pleasantly surprised to see the children being as quiet as they could around their father; being so young, he hadn't anticipated them to be so considerate of another's rest. He brushed it off, placing the pizza on the table and observing as the three kids began to eat, smiling to himself as he settled back down, his gaze drifting to 007n7 once again.
The former hacker seemed to still be in a deep sleep, possibly due to a fever, as evidenced by the redness of his face. He muttered to himself while getting up to fetch a damp washcloth, returning to place it on 007n7’s forehead. With a deep breath, he settled back down, but his hand remained in 007n7’s hair, his fingers gliding through the thick strands. The only reason he withdrew was the intense gaze from 007n7’s children, which felt very…judgmental. Damn, when did kids become so intimidating—his hand jerked away from 007n7’s hair as if he had touched something hot or sharp within it.
His eyes quickly returned to the children, who appeared to have calmed down now, which was a relief, but goodness, they were intimidating! He needed to shift the conversation, quickly, before their stares pierced through him. "Uhm—what’s 6 x 4…?" Elliot blurted out, mentally chastising himself for even asking that.
"It’s 24!" C00lkidd exclaimed, giggling softly as he recalled that his father was still asleep.
Elliot felt his jaw drop in disbelief; wasn’t this child only 6 years old? How on earth did he know that! "Who told you that?!"
"Nobody!" C00lkidd replied, beaming with joy.
Elliot’s interest was sparked; he wanted to discover what else this child was aware of, so he continued to pose questions that a 6-year-old typically wouldn’t know the answers to. "Name one continent!"
Without any hesitation, C00lkidd answered, "Asia!"
Elliot was left speechless, utterly astonished. "Who told you that?!?"
"Nobody!!" The other two children began to giggle, all eyes on Elliot, who was in shock.
“YOU’RE SIX YEARS OLD! YOU SHOULDN’T KNOW ANY OF THIS!!” Elliot shouted, a quiet exclamation attempting to remain a whisper. He paused, contemplating another question, then looked back at C00lkidd. “I want you to name an element in the periodic table!”
C00lkidd paused, stopping his responses as he pondered, before finally speaking. “H2O...?” he asked, looking puzzled.
Elliot chuckled; oh dear, he was nearly an adult, and here he was debating with a 6-year-old. “That is NOT an element in the periodic table. WRONG!!” Elliot declared, smirking, but only in a playful manner, of course. "Now, I want you to spell... ‘light’!"
C00lkidd fell quiet once more, attempting to spell it out in his mind first, but he couldn’t quite figure out the letters. "...I don’t know..." C00lkidd finally admitted, causing Elliot to smirk even more.
Elliot snorted in response, crossing his arms as if he had achieved a victory. “See?! Your answer left! So now, you know nothing! Cause you’re just a six-year-old!” The pizza man rephrased, smirking to himself.
Meanwhile, C00lkidd sat in his seat looking offended, which was understandable, with a dramatic hand on his chest and wide eyes that conveyed ‘how DARE you!’ A moment of silence passed, before C00lkidd raised one of his hands and flipped Elliot off, “fuck you…Fuck you!!” He swore, glaring at Elliot who merely stared back in utter disbelief.
Elliot’s eyes were wider than the universe, questioning if he was hearing correctly. “WWHATTTTT????? WHY DID YOU SAY THAT TO ME???”
“CAUSE! I’M ALLOWED TO SAY CUSS WORDS!!” C00lkidd retorted, his voice resembling a whine, but that was to be expected from a child.
Elliot slammed his hands on the table, “NO, YOU’RE NOT BUD—YOU’RE SIX YEARS OLD!! YOU’RE NOT COOL CAUSE YOU CAN SWEAR KID, STOP SWEARING.” Elliot exclaimed, before freezing as he heard the sound of rustling beside him, turning his head to see 007n7 had woken up.
007n7 grunted as he propped himself up in the cushioned seat, reaching for his forehead to retrieve the damp cloth that clung there. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, then put on his glasses and glanced at his children before turning to Elliot. "What’s... happening?" the single father mumbled, shifting his gaze between his kids and the pizza delivery man.
C00lkidd, seizing the opportunity, exclaimed words that caused Elliot to gasp in shock and betrayal. "MR. ELLIOT CURSED IN FRONT OF ME!!"
"Elliot!" 007n7 reprimanded.
"WHAT?! NO—I DIDN’T—THAT’S NOT TRUE!!" Elliot protested, looking back at 007n7 before shooting a glare at C00lkidd, who merely smirked.
“ARE YOU CALLING ME A LIAR?!” C00lkidd complained, puffing out his cheeks while clenching his fists.
Damn, this kid is clever for a FREAKING six-year-old!! “Well, if the boot fits!” Elliot shot back, folding his arms.
C00lkidd stamped his feet, his tail flicking in annoyance. “Say that again...”
Elliot chuckled, bending down to meet the red demonic child at eye level, still with his arms crossed. “If the boo—TA, fits,” the pizza man reiterated, a grin spreading across his face. However, he quickly had to retreat as the red gremlin lunged at him, claws bared. "HOLY—" Elliot exclaimed.
"C00LKIDD!!" 007n7 reprimanded, observing as both Elliot and C00lkidd settled back down at the sound of his voice. The scene almost made him laugh, but he stifled it. "Elliot, why are you arguing with a SIX-YEAR-OLD??" 007n7 scoffed, neatly folding the blanket and placing it on the table before crossing his arms playfully. “Come on Elliot, you know you’re better than this,” the former hacker teased, grinning.
"I—uh—" Elliot stammered, his face turning red with both embarrassment and something else. This infuriating, attractive single father! UGH. Elliot's gaze flitted around the room before settling on the clock mounted on the wall. "O-Oh! Look at the time! You all should head home before another storm hits!" Elliot mumbled, rising to his feet and gently taking the father's hand to assist him in standing. He then retrieved his notepad, the one he used for jotting down orders, clicked the back of his pen, and began scribbling on the page. Afterward, he tore the page out, folded it haphazardly, and handed it to 007n7 while ushering the family out of the restaurant.
007n7 felt puzzled and slightly taken aback, but what truly piqued his interest was the not-so-neatly folded paper now in his possession. However, they needed to get home first, so he reluctantly tucked the folded note into his pocket, and he and his three adorable children started their walk home. As soon as they stepped through the front door, 007n7 assisted his kids in changing out of their clothes and instructed them to shower, believing it was best after they had run through the rain the previous night. Following that, he went to fetch some medicine for himself, but then he remembered the piece of paper and pulled it from his pocket, unfolding the crumpled folds.
He didn’t expect much, perhaps a few insults, but when he read what was written, he was genuinely surprised that Elliot had even taken the time to give it to him. It was Elliot's phone number, written clearly yet quickly, with a pen that appeared to be nearly out of ink. A soft smile crept onto his lips as he took out his phone and entered the number, then sent a message. He wasn’t going to get his hopes up; for all he knew, this number could be fake, and he might just be texting a complete stranger, so he needed to verify it first.
┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓
007n7
This is 007n7, is this Elliot Builder?
┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛
007n7 let out a sigh while he awaited a response, carefully refolding the paper and placing it aside before leaving his phone on the counter to assist his children in finding their clothes. After a quarter of an hour, he returned with the kids following him as he prepared a movie for them. It was only after this that he went back to check his phone.
┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓
007n7
This is 007n7, is this Elliot Builder?
Elliot
Yes, this is Elliot Builder.
007n7
Hey Elliot, mind explaining why you suddenly decided to give me your number? Thought you hated my guts?
Elliot
Umm, just in case I need to call you for something, since you technically owe me.
007n7
Thats fair.
Do you need me right now?
Elliot
No, not at the moment. Did you make it home safe?
007n7
You’re worrying me Elliot, where’s this sudden concern coming from?
Elliot
007n7, I may hate your ass, but you’ve got THREE kids now, of course I’m going to be concerned about whether you make it home or not.
Idiot.
007n7
Wow…so harsh, my feelings are hurt…
💔
Elliot
Last I checked the only feelings you had were either egotistic or nonexistent.
007n7
Ouch—
Dang Elliot, didn’t know you had it in you to insult my like that.
Elliot
Anyways, did your KIDS make it home safe?
007n7
They were with me, I don’t plan on letting them out of my sight, so yes they got home safe, don’t worry Elliot.
Elliot
Good…
Actually I’ll call you tonight.
007n7
Why?
Elliot
Don’t start asking questions, dumbass.
007n7
Alright—
My bad, man.
So, see you later I guess?
Elliot
Yeah, I guess.
007n7
Alright, bye Elliot!
Elliot
See you later, asshat.
007n7
💔
┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛
007n7 set his phone down after reading the last message, mentally noting Elliot's words, before heading to relax on the couch with his children.
Pr3ttypriincess was positioned in the corner of the couch, working on what appeared to be a bead bracelet, a token of friendship. She had already created one for herself and C00lkidd, and now she was crafting one for Bluudud, which resembled the others, featuring a pattern of pink, blue, and red beads strung along a slender thread. The bracelets were somewhat untidy, with a few errors scattered throughout, but they were handmade, crafted by a child no older than seven. Each bracelet was made with thoughtfulness and affection for the recipient, carrying a profound significance within every bead that was added to the colorful string. It was truly special.
After she completed arranging the beads and securing the thread at both ends, she turned to her older brother, who was sitting next to her, engrossed in the cartoon that was on. She leaned over and tapped Bluudud on the shoulder, prompting him to turn and look at his little sister, curious about what she wanted. “I made this friendship bracelet for you!” Pr3ttypriincess exclaimed, thrilled for her brother to accept it as she extended her hand.
Bluudud blinked in astonishment, then glanced down at the bracelet resting in his sister’s pink hands. "Aww!" he exclaimed, gently taking the bracelet from her palms and chuckling softly as he examined it. “Y’know, I’m not really a jewelry person...” he murmured, his tail swishing behind him as he scrutinized each bead closely.
“You don’t have to wear it—” Pr3ttypriincess started, her ears drooping slightly at the idea of her brother not donning the bracelet she crafted, but she also understood his perspective. However, she didn’t get to finish her thought before Bluudud interrupted her.
“No! I’m gonna wear it! Forever! Back off!” the young boy hissed, sliding the bracelet onto his wrist and holding it out of reach in case Pr3ttypriincess attempted to reclaim it. The joy on his sister’s face made it all worthwhile, as they both began to giggle and returned to watching television, their smiles even wider.
In the meantime, Elliot slammed his phone down, his face turning a deep shade of red as he ran a hand through his messy, curly hair. The remainder of the day felt like a series of blurred lines for him; the only thing he anticipated was the call with 007n7 tonight, because, dear lord, he was falling hard—perhaps a bit too hard. Literally. Out of all the partners he had in the past, he had never experienced anything like this. This single son of a father was affecting him in ways he couldn't quite understand, and he was uncertain whether he liked it or not.
As the hours went by, and the moment arrived when 007n7 reached out to him, he nearly leaped with excitement. They took they’re time with the call; he took no time with the fall. “You gave me nothing at all…” Elliot murmured after the two-hour conversation concluded, flinging his phone onto his messy bed, “but still you’re in my way! ” Elliot complained, burying his face in his hands, reprimanding himself for developing feelings for a man who had once tormented him. It was absurd, foolish, even ridiculous, yet Elliot was aware, he simply knew that he had already fallen deeply for the gentle-hearted father. Because when he gazed into that man's eyes, the same eyes that had once sparkled with mocking laughter and sass, they had transformed into something much softer, to the extent that Elliot could no longer recognize what had once thrived there, as if it had never been, which only made Elliot feel even more infatuated than he already was.
The following morning, Elliot went to work as usual. With the power restored, they no longer needed to depend on the generator, allowing them to open the pizzeria. Thus, with a reluctant sigh, he clocked in, tidied up the place, and unlocked the front doors after ensuring everything was functioning properly and flipping the open sign. Don’t misunderstand him; he loved his job, but it could be exhausting at times. Dealing with rude customers and managing the establishment almost single-handedly every week could really take a toll on someone. Today, however, he was grateful that Lulu was back to at least keep him company and lend a hand.
He stood in front of the cash register, lost in thought since there were no customers to attend to at that moment. He took the opportunity to breathe and reflect on something, or perhaps someone. He should have realized that Lulu was watching him, noticing how he was almost daydreaming on the job, which was unusual for him unless he was infatuated or something similar. So, he was taken by surprise when he felt a hand on his shoulder, causing him to yelp and quickly turn his head to see who it was. "HOLY—LULU!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!? DON’T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!!" Elliot exclaimed, feeling embarrassed as he watched Lulu laugh in response.
"Apologies, sorry. I merely thought I could pull you out of your little daydream," Lulu said, wiping a tear of laughter from the corner of her eye. "So, who’s the fortunate guy?" She teased, leaning back against the register, her elbows pressing against the counter.
"What?" Elliot replied flatly, gazing at her in confusion, until the realization hit him and his face flushed a deep red as blood rushed to his cheeks. "That’s not—it’s all a misunderstanding!" He protested, yet he recognized that look in her eyes, the one that indicated his expression told a different story. He groaned in frustration, burying his face in his hands, attempting to conceal how flushed he was. "I’m not in love," he mumbled, though it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself than anyone else.
"Uh huh... that’s what you claimed about the last guy," Lulu chuckled, pushing off the register and placing her hands on her hips. "Elliot, how long have we been friends? I think I can tell when you’re completely smitten with another man."
“Words can’t explain, how I feel in this time—in this very moment!” Elliot groaned, peeking at Lulu through the gap between his fingers while mostly concealing his face.
Lulu could only smile at his words, “really? How—how do you feel, Elliot?” she asked.
Elliot chuckled, pulling his hands away from his face with a smirk. “I just said words can’t explain it, dumbass.” he teased, prompting a shocked gasp from his coworker and friend, Lulu. "Besides, I'm serious; there's nothing like that between us." Elliot shrugged, then bit the inside of his cheek as he realized the implications of his statement, and before he could say anything further—
"SO, THERE IS SOMEONE!" Lulu shouted, grabbing Elliot by the shoulders and shaking him with such force that it made him feel like he might throw up his breakfast.
“WHAT?! It’s totally platonic!” Elliot exclaimed, regretting his words as Lulu continued to shake him.
“Boy I know what you desire, oh you’re such a bad, bad liar.” Lulu teased, then muttered under her breath, “just admit you’re in love Elliot!!”
“No chance! No way! I won’t say I’m in love!” Elliot shot back, folding his arms as soon as Lulu released him.
Lulu rolled her eyes, scoffing at his predictable reaction whenever he had feelings for someone. “You swoon, you sigh, why deny it? Uh oh—” she noted, observing how Elliot’s face turned an even deeper shade of red.
The pizza delivery guy gulped hard, attempting to refute her claim. “It’s too cliché! I won’t say I’m in love!” he countered, frowning. “You’re way off base, I won’t say it! Get off my case, I won’t say it!!” He huffed, crossing his arms and turning his gaze away from Lulu.
“Dude, don’t be proud, it’s okay you’re in love,” Lulu pressed, prompting a resigned sigh from him.
“At least out loud, I won’t say I’m in love...” Elliot murmured, tightening his fists. Then, as if on cue, the bells above the door chimed, and three children dashed to the counter, followed by a weary father. Elliot's face turned red, but he quickly composed himself and reached to take 007n7’s order. “You look pretty...” he whispered under his breath, the tips of his ears turning a shade of crimson as he gazed at the former hacker.
“Pardon, what did you say?” 007n7 inquired, having completely missed Elliot's words.
Elliot instantly froze, realizing he had spoken aloud. With a hurried motion, he donned his apron and rushed toward the kitchen. “I said you look shitty! Goodbye 007n7!” Elliot shouted back, his breath catching as he swiftly closed the door behind him, groaning as he remembered he hadn’t even taken 007n7’s order. That’s alright, Lulu can handle it, it’s as simple as that. But God, seven minutes in his bed is all that he needs if he gets with him. He pinched himself at the thought, trying to regain his composure as he started kneading dough and preparing pizzas, clearing his mind for the time being.
He occupied himself in the kitchen until the family departed, and only then did he step out, but he quickly regretted that decision. He removed his apron, hanging it on the hook with the few others, before pushing open the door that connected the kitchen to the cash registers, only to be seized. "Ack—" Elliot gasped, looking down to identify who had grabbed him, only to find Lulu with a knowing expression. "Don’t—" Elliot implored.
"So that’s the fortunate guy, isn’t it?" She teased, raising her eyebrows playfully.
"Shut up..." He muttered, trying to pull away.
“On your knees!” She ordered, exuding confidence from her posture. Elliot hesitated, raising an eyebrow as he assessed whether she was dead serious, crazy, or just being weird. To be honest, he saw all three. Crazy lady. Then, jolted from his thoughts once again, he heard her voice. “I said get on the ground!!”
Elliot scoffed, a grin spreading across his face as he recognized this was an opportunity he couldn’t afford to miss. “What? So, we can see eye to eye?” He joked, bending his knees slightly to meet Lulu at eye level. But he noticed her expression, and within moments he was standing upright again, fleeing for his life as Lulu pursued him with a dough roller.
Elliot would never confess his feelings, absolutely not, but he still wanted 007n7 BAD.
. . .
However, everything shifted on the day the pizzeria caught fire, the moment he witnessed the small family outside the burning structure, with children who appeared terrified and a father desperately trying to extinguish the flames. It had been an entire year since they had truly begun to communicate again, but that was irrelevant now, especially after 007n7 failed to keep his promise. Who else could he hold responsible? 007n7 was right there, clutching the C00lgui, leaving no one else to blame, no other targets for his anger. Just him, and in that instant, Elliot shut off those emotions, cut off 007n7, the children, the whole family, and vowed that the ex-hacker would never see him again, no matter how much he wished otherwise.
That was before he noticed the posters, the printed papers scattered across the streets, featuring familiar faces he recognized all too well. With the innocent smiles of young children, each with unique horns, and skin that radiated colors rarely seen in others. Three children he knew intimately. Three children who were now missing, no longer safe in their own beds or homes, but lost in a vast world where anything could occur. Children who belonged to the one man he had shut out, the one man he still yearned for.
007n7.
Years had passed since their last conversation. Elliot, now 29, continued to work at the family-owned pizzeria, which had risen from humble beginnings to become a popular dining spot. 007n7 would have been around 32, C00lkidd would have been 10, Pr3ttypriincess would have been 11, and the eldest, Bluudud, would have been 12. But now? They were missing, gone without a trace, not even a stain of blood, a trail to follow, or a place to look. It all happened so suddenly. One day the streets were clean, and by the next, posters were plastered on power lines and taped to shop windows, asking—begging for answers on the whereabouts of three innocent kids.
Elliot would occasionally drive past 007n7’s house during deliveries, catching glimpses through the windows of children playing and dancing, alongside a weary single father who would have given anything for his kids. However, now when he passes by, the house appears dark and empty, as if the previous family had departed and someone new had taken residence. The vibrancy is gone, replaced by a sense of unease. He reassured himself that it wasn’t his concern; he would keep an eye out for the children, but 007n7’s mental health was not his responsibility. Yet, the more he repeated this to himself, the less he noticed 007n7 outside, whether shopping for groceries or driving. All he observed now was a man who seemed to never leave his house, a man in need of assistance. He recognized the signs: withdrawal, isolation, and how the police hardly made an effort to search for the ex-hacker's children due to the man’s history.
Elliot grew fed up, grew sick of the sight. He never saw the signs of depression, never saw the marks of slit skin that marred the burger man’s arms, never saw the light of life withering in the man’s eyes, fading until it became a faint line in dust of patience wearing thin, a line that was on its wits and ends, ready to snap at any given moment. A life, that was willing to break the second it saw no more hope.
Perhaps if he had been more attentive and listened closely while eavesdropping on the discussions 007n7 had with others following the first day of his child's disappearance, he might have caught the remarks made by the ex-hacker, the answers 007n7 had to unsettling questions that lingered around the theme of death.
Suicide.
Maybe he would’ve heard and remembered when someone had asked 007n7, ‘death or freedom?’ Maybe he would’ve heard 007n7 reply with, ‘you said freedom twice.’ If he hadn't been so fixated on that grudge, he might have noticed the true indicators, the alarming signs that carried the unwelcome aroma of impending death that lingered around 007n7. The shadow of an unseen reaper following the burger man wherever he went.
Maybe.
But he didn’t. The signs that made him want to intervene, were those of a man on the verge of snapping, not the thin thread of life on the brink of collapse. Elliot didn’t let himself see that, couldn’t bear to see that. He believed that 007n7 was incapable of such actions, of ending a life, especially one of his own kin. Instead, he perceived a man poised to revert to his former habits or to inflict suffering on others for amusement. He never saw what he should’ve.
He stepped up, took his keys, put on his shoes, and got into his car, typing 007n7’s address. If he had known, he would have chosen to help 007n7 instead of just ensuring he wouldn’t hack again. If he had realized that 007n7’s life was deteriorating piece by piece, he would have approached the situation differently. But he didn’t. He turned a blind eye towards a man who needed it most, a man who was at the end of his rope of life. Yet, he didn’t.
His mind was solely focused on reprimanding the man for even contemplating hacking, but he never got the opportunity to do so. Elliot was a skilled driver, trained by his father and uncle; he wasn’t reckless on the road, but he always seemed to forget that he wasn’t the only one on the road either. At that red light, as he prepared to turn, the moment the light turned green, and he pressed the accelerator was the moment that changed his life forever. Everything unfolded in an instant—one second, he was about to make a turn, the next, the sounds of sirens could be heard. Elliot didn’t even have time to glance at the car racing towards him or to look out his window. The only memory that lingered was the collision that sent his vehicle spiraling before it ignited.
The smell of unwelcomed smoke filled the air, the sound of people panicking, numbers being dialed, screams, he heard it all, yet he couldn’t move. This was the last thing he recalled before darkness enveloped him, before his senses faded and his body succumbed. Elliot was unaware that he had been struck, oblivious to the fact that the driver who hit him was intoxicated beyond reason. All he understood was that he was here now. He never made it to 007n7’s residence; instead, he made it on the news, the same news that played on 007n7’s television, the news that snapped that thin thread of life within 007n7’s core, the scent of rot that began to linger days after the crash within 007n7’s house.
Maybe.
Things could’ve been better.
Because now, with his beloved absent and unaware of his location, Elliot finally grasped what 007n7 experienced the moment those children disappeared. Guilt overwhelmed him with thoughts, ideas, and scenarios of what he should have done instead of what he actually did, what he shouldn’t have left behind to rot, to perish alone. In this chase, fleeing from one of the very things that caused 007n7 to fall from the heights of life, was the youngest of the trio. The little red demon known as C00lkidd, the small brat he argued with during that storm, a child he should’ve looked for harder.
He felt the tiny hand, heard the child declaring he was now 'it', and felt the pain surge through his body as he made contact with the ground.
Maybe.
He should’ve tried harder.
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
₍^. .^₎⟆
- 7,744 Words -
CREATORS NOTE + ART
Thank you everyone who has read up to this far!! It means a lot, I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as possible, which might take a while since there's a lot of stuff going on for me irl...but that's fine! As long as you guys are happy I'll push through. Anyway, that's all from me! Here's some art I made regarding the fandom.
Notes:
Hah...sometimes you should never trust a writer when they say there's no angst...
Anyway! Thank you for reading up until now! Once again I apologize that it's short and I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as humanly possible! Thank you all!!!
SONGS REFERENCED IN THIS CHAPTER: Be Nice to Me – The Front Bottoms. Headlock – Imogen Heap. Call Me Maybe – Carley Rae Jepsen. President Perfect – Caleb Hyles. Siren – Kailee Morge. I Won’t Say (I’m In Love) - Hercules. Seven Minutes in Heaven –Mindless Self Indulgence.
SCRAPPED SONGS: Knock, Knock Who Cares? - Black Gryph0n & Baasik.
Chapter 14: A Fragile Reunion.
Summary:
Nightmares turned to reality.
Notes:
Hello, this is what chapter 14 would've looked like. I was in the process of rewriting it to make it more detailed, but I don't have time anymore. This is unfinished, my writing is not perfected the way I usually make it, so there will be mistakes, repeated words and what not. Though, please enjoy, it means a lot, even if this is discontinued.
Have fun!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"UGH!" Elliot grunted as he was pushed into the grassy dirt, hearing the child giggle behind him. Yet, something felt different; he was sore; indeed, the fall had been quite rough, but he wasn’t hurt—no cuts or gashes marred his skin, just light bruises forming from the shove. He grunted as he sat up, hearing the childish voice once more.
"You’re it! You’re it! Catch me if you can!" C00lkidd giggled, darting away while laughing like a completely innocent child.
Both Elliot and the others who had followed stared in utter confusion, before Elliot stood up and began to chase after him, his curiosity overwhelming him. He pursued the child, seemingly caught up in an actual game of tag with the little red demon. The others were hesitant at first, but as soon as they realized C00lkidd was merely trying to play tag, they joined in, while some took the opportunity to rest.
Naturally, it was odd that C00lkidd was playing tag properly for once, and all of a sudden, but it was also quite refreshing, not to mention interesting enough to distract them from a certain individual, particularly Elliot, who had been preoccupied with it just moments before.
The round ended with the survivors emerging victorious, and now, the distraction had faded, thoughts returned, and dread began to settle deep within Elliot’s heart. During his breaks, Elliot would search for someone, someone who wore a burger hat and pink glasses, someone who filled his mind with the worst fears.
Someone...
Someone he had come to cherish in this hell...
007n7.
Elliot was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t notice the new round had begun until someone brought him back to reality. The sound of soft giggles, this time more feminine and childlike... it was one of 007n7’s children. Which one could it be?... the only girl 007n7 had was Pr3ttypriincess, so it had to be her, although she seemed harmless now, just like C00lkidd. She was engaged in a game of hide and seek with the other survivors, but something felt off.
These children were known for their rough play during games like tag or hide and seek; there was no way they would suddenly change their behaviour. The spectre wouldn’t allow it, not a chance, especially with 007n7 missing. It didn’t add up, and he needed answers immediately. So, he started moving, taking one step after another, which quickly turned into a sprint, his desperate feet pounding the damp grass as he quickened his pace, ragged breaths filling the cold air that hit his face until he reached her, Pr3ttypriincess, who was searching for the hiders.
Without wasting a moment, he gently grabbed her arm, careful not to hurt the child. Pr3ttypriincess jumped at the sudden touch, turning her head to see who had grabbed her, only to find Elliot’s face. He looked terrible; it was clear he hadn’t slept in hours and had cried too much.
“Do you... do you know where your dad is...?” Elliot gasped, struggling to catch his breath as he looked into the little girl’s eyes.
“My... papa?” Pr3ttypriincess replied, receiving an eager nod from Elliot. “Oh! He joined the tagger team!” she exclaimed cheerfully, but Elliot’s reaction was anything but joyful.
He gazed at her, eyes wide and mouth open, struggling to comprehend this shocking revelation. The taggers team... as in the team of killers... 007n7 was now part of the killers' team? But that was illogical; 007n7 would never... Unless it was all a deception. What if 007n7 was merely pretending to earn their trust before betraying them? Had he truly erred in trusting this hacker with his heart...? What will he do, now that’s he’s gone…?
Elliot found it unbearable.
He released the little girl’s hand and observed as she dashed off to resume her game of hide and seek, while he remained frozen in place. His mind raced with a thousand thoughts per second as he began to grasp the undeniable reality.
007n7 was now a killer, which clarified the abrupt vanishings and the eerie silence.
Surely, 007n7 didn’t change allegiances willingly, did he?
Because if he did, then he would be out to kill them all.
The one person Elliot had started to care for in this hellish nightmare was now on the opposing side and likely intent on killing him. He doubted that the 007n7 he once knew was still there; he could wish all he wanted for them to be like the three kids, but deep down, he understood that was impossible, especially with the spectre’s influence.
Just like that, Elliot remained inactive for the remainder of the round. He couldn't even shed a tear, as there was nothing left to cry over. It was the reality, and he felt powerless to change it, no matter how desperately he wished he could.
Even as he started to question the truth with each passing day that brought no evidence of 007n7 being a killer, he understood that the unavoidable would soon come to pass.
From that point onward, the days did not become easier for Elliot; they simply became more burdensome. He had started to dread each new round for an entirely different reason, no longer just the fear of death. He was now terrified of facing the harsh reality, the tangible proof that 007n7 had indeed switched allegiances.
But the nights were the worst, the slowest at passing time.
Oh.
They were endless nights, within starless skies, it’s a hell that he called home. Was it a long goodbye? On the other soul? Of the only man he loved...and it felt like an eternity, since he had them here with him. Will he have to learn to be, someone they don’t know...?
The situation escalated to a level where the remaining survivors became increasingly worried, leading some to confront the pizza man.
"Elliot, are you certain you’re alright...?" Builderman whispered, his hand placed gently on the shoulder of the yellow-haired young man.
"I’m doing fine!" Elliot assured, but Builderman was aware that Elliot was actually not okay. The young man had noticeable dark circles under his eyes, and Builderman had seen him miss meals on several occasions. However, he also understood that Elliot required some space, particularly during such moments, so he decided to overlook it this time.
"Alright—" Builderman started but was interrupted.
"Okay!" Elliot grinned, stepping back and heading off to prepare lunch. He was fine; stars kept shining bright each night, saw it through his window shades, it’s alright!
"Just passing time!" Elliot remarked, glancing back at Chance, who appeared very worried. He’ll watch them leave, can’t do too much anyways. In this small hell, in a way, he’s doing fine!
“I swear I’m doing al—”
Was he really fine? Or was he just really good at lying? He doesn’t really know, lately, he’s been on autopilot and his mind keeps him awake. Every single night, he stays up late, he doesn’t know how to sleep when he’s overthinking every little thing.
In contrast, 007n7 was enjoying his time, spending it with his children and the other killers, with whom he quickly formed bonds, except for Noli, of course. Other than that, he was doing well. He discovered that the killers had access to better food, rather than the constant pizza. He also found that the killers' cabin was more comfortable and featured a real day and night cycle, which confirmed his theory that the spectre favoured the killers more.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly.
Except for the persistent thought that nagged at him.
. . .
When would the spectre decide to throw him into a round?
He always felt a wave of unease wash over him whenever that thought crossed his mind, whenever he contemplated the prospect of having to kill the survivors, his former teammates. He was just relieved he hadn’t been thrust into one yet—
Oh.
This was supposed to be the final round of the night; how unfortunate he was. 007n7 grimaced as he surveyed his surroundings, realizing he had just been placed into a round, his senses picking up the distant sound of heartbeats.
The heartbeats of the survivors.
God, the spectre must be toying with him...that MOTHERFU—
He muttered quietly to himself as he finally realized this was not a dream and that the spectre was being incredibly difficult. He exhaled a breath he hadn’t known he was holding, taking his initial steps while contemplating his next move. He sensed the spectre attempting to manipulate his thoughts and emotions, trying to incite a thirst for blood, but it was ineffective, and 007n7 was aware of that, so he chose to disregard the spectre to aggravate them further.
007n7 also realized he possessed two abilities, in addition to the passive skill of perpetually hearing the heartbeats of his intended victims. He was aware that he could transform his corrupt hand into whatever he desired. The second ability allowed him to disable the survivors' powers for a duration of 15 seconds, which would reset a survivor's cooldown once that time elapsed. However, to him, these abilities held little significance, as he had his C00lgui and had not yet faced re-restriction.
However, he recalled the one individual he wished to avoid, especially in this situation, particularly when they were on opposing sides. The memories of the time after Elliot had granted him forgiveness surged into his mind, overwhelming his thoughts with darker recollections, the ones that surfaced whenever he praised Elliot, those lingering thoughts that never seemed to fade or disappear, haunting him for what felt like an eternity, as if they had been a part of him since birth.
“I love you you’re so selfless.”
I’m sorry I’m so selfish.
“I love that you’re so gentle, and—”
I’m sorry I’m so hellish.
“I love it when you hold me—”
Cause I’m sorry I’m in pieces.
And you put me back together, and you make me feel what peace is.
“Patience and kindness and softness of the touch, and—”
I scream and I’m nasty and I’m brutal and I’m rough.
But maybe he’s so sorry cause he can’t accept the truth—
He had not intended to do much, perhaps just to hide for the majority—no, the entirety—of the round to steer clear of any confrontation with the others, until that was—
That I’m not sorry for me, I’m sorry for—
He saw him.
YOU.
Elliot.
He looked at Elliot, stared at him, noticing the pizza man was dressed in unfamiliar clothing, but what truly captured his attention was the expression of horror and unvoiced sobs etched on his face, settling into the redness beneath his swollen eyes, the tremors becoming familiar against his skin. Their eyes met briefly before 007n7’s gaze shifted to the injuries marring Elliot’s taller frame, wounds resulting from carelessness and aimless wandering, as if he had been too absorbed in his thoughts. He could hear the rapid thumping of the man’s heartbeat, racing too quickly, and then—
Elliot took off, sprinting through the area as 007n7 chased after him, attempting to catch up to the pizza delivery man, which likely wasn’t the wisest decision since to Elliot, it appeared as though 007n7 was intent on harming him. His heart raced in his ears, and he felt the sting of tears welling up, tears he believed had long since dried.
007n7 had vanished.
This was not the 007n7 he recognized.
This was a twisted imitation, a cruel joke from the spectre, designed to torment him. A shell of the man he had fallen deeply in love with, now reduced to nothing but a vessel of murderous intent.
He couldn’t even recall what 007n7 truly looked like; all he could see was his face, and that was enough to send him fleeing.
He felt nauseous.
He wanted to weep.
To scream.
But this was not the moment for that; no, he had to escape first, to find a place of safety, far from whatever the spectre had transformed 007n7 into.
His legs moved on their own as his thoughts spiraled, the familiar sound of feet hitting the ground at a frantic pace, a sound that could only be described as running. He couldn’t stop; he just kept going until he spotted Twotime and Guest ahead, who immediately turned to face him, only to freeze in shock at the sight of his pursuer.
007n7.
Elliot ignored them as he sprinted past, hoping that 007n7 would target them instead. However, he didn’t; he continued to pursue Elliot, who was starting to run out of breath. His legs felt as if they were ablaze, burning with every step he took, with every muscle he forced to move out of sheer desperation.
It was painful; it burned. He wanted to stop running, but he couldn’t afford to, not with that creature behind him—he would be dead otherwise. So, he pressed on, attempting to disregard the pain in his legs and the lack of air filling his rasping lungs, trying to ignore the wheezing sound escaping his mouth each time he inhaled.
Everything burned; it was all consuming. He wished this was merely a nightmare, that it wasn’t truly happening, that he was just imagining things, losing his mind—anything but the harsh reality. But the truth crashed down on him harder than he could have anticipated.
The moment his foot struck a small rock, the reality hit him like a ton of bricks, as the consequences of his rapid pace caught up with him, causing him to lose his balance quicker than ever. He fell forward, arms first, into the dirt and damp grass, a sickening crack echoing in his ears alongside a stifled sob. A sharp wave of excruciating pain surged through him; it was a pain he knew all too well yet was far from accustomed to, the kind that signalled he had broken something in his body, perhaps a bone.
He didn’t want to move; it hurt too much to do so. But the moment he heard those footsteps drawing closer, growing louder with each inch they closed, it reminded him of the reason he was running in the first place, and adrenaline kicked in. "Ugh...damn it..." Elliot rose, gasping for air as if it were a lifeline tethering him to survival, pushing himself up with his uninjured arm while the broken one dangled limply at his side as he resumed running.
But 007n7? Oh, 007n7 had seen it all; he had observed as Elliot fell and hurt himself, noticed the pizza man’s arm clearly breaking upon impact. It caused him to wince, to hesitate in his pursuit, in the chase. Yet, he understood, he just understood, that halting now would only exacerbate the situation, making it appear as if he was enjoying this cat and mouse game. Therefore, he continued the chase, remained on Elliot’s trail, following the pizza man until he was close enough to seize him.
His tainted hand morphed into a rounded hook, the skin of corrupted code flickering in and out, but 007n7 had no intention of harming Elliot; he merely needed to catch him, by any means necessary. Thus, he rounded the blade of the hook, smoothing the edges to ensure nothing could pierce Elliot’s skin before he attempted to grab him. Using the curved hook, he wrapped it around Elliot’s waist, pulling the taller man back before encircling his arms around him to shield him from the impact as they both tumbled to the ground, wincing as the pain from the fall struck him in the back.
He landed on his back, the sound of Elliot’s pounding heartbeat echoing in his ears as he sat up and gazed down at the pizza man in his embrace, observing the younger man shivering in his hold, his eyes flickering to the broken arm before he let out a weary sigh, drawing Elliot closer.
Elliot could only tense up, bewildered as to why 007n7 hadn’t killed him yet, but he was wise enough not to inquire. He remained silent, attempting to suppress his tears, but then he felt something brush against his neck, causing him to freeze in terror, until he heard those simple words.
"I missed you..."
Those three words triggered the tears he had been desperately trying to hold back, spilling forth as the realization that 007n7 was still present and not going to harm him hit him like a wave. Yet, even with this understanding, doubt crept into his aching heart.
"007n7...?"
007n7 chuckled softly, planting a kiss on the side of Elliot’s head. He remained still, allowing Elliot to weep into his shoulder until the pizza man fell asleep. He didn’t move, savouring the moment while he could, gently rubbing circles on Elliot’s back and occasionally placing soft kisses on the sleeping man. He could see that Elliot hadn’t been getting much rest, evident from the dark circles and red marks under his eyes, and honestly? It frustrated him.
However, the spectre, oh the spectre was growing impatient. Where was the excitement? The bloodshed? The splattering of brain matter from lifeless bodies? Where was the thrill? 007n7 was slipping from its grasp, and it was displeased. So, it resorted to what it knew best, using all its power to manipulate 007n7’s mind, with assistance from a certain individual...
As serene as the moment was, chaos was lurking nearby. 007n7 sensed the thoughts intensifying, attempting to cloud his better judgment and his own reasoning. He needed to distance himself from Elliot; he couldn’t risk causing him harm. Gently, he lifted Elliot from his arms and placed him carefully on the grass against a rock before quickly walking away in the opposite direction.
The thoughts were becoming too much, even enticing, as if he were being compelled to engage in these twisted actions. He had this urge…he had this urge to kill—he didn’t want to; he didn’t want to hurt those he had worked so hard to befriend and to earn forgiveness from. But he felt powerless against the influence that had taken hold. Now, he was merely present in body, but mentally? He was lost elsewhere.
You hide a reason for shame.
007n7 shook his head, attempting to regain control of his thoughts.
You know that we are the same.
No, be quiet. Whatever this entity in his mind—whoever it was—was not like him. Be quiet, be quiet, BE QUIET!
Leaving them feeling betrayed, breaking the bonds that you’ve made.
Absolutely not! He had no intention of causing them harm, not now, not ever! Come on 007n7, get a grip! These are your friends, for heaven's sake!!
There is no price we won’t pay, we both know what it takes to survive.
In the distance, footsteps echoed, accompanied by what resembled fragmented code. Perhaps Twotime and Guest were telling the truth...
Deep down, we only care for ourselves.
"Builderman, set up 6 dispensers," Shedletsky suggested, while keeping a watchful eye on Elliot and the killer identified by Twotime and Guest as 007n7. Builderman nodded quickly and began constructing 6 dispensers around the group. (I am aware that is not possible it’s for the song shush.)
Deep down, we’re are lonely demons from hell.
Silence.
Noob glanced around nervously before sprinting over to Shedletsky, exclaiming, "Shedletsky! Something approaches!" He warned, just as they heard the ominous footsteps of something that a survivor would definitely not want to encounter.
There stood 007n7, appearing disoriented, as if he were not in control of his own mind; his eyes were glazed, yet his body moved with intent. All 7 survivors gathered there, excluding Elliot, stared in complete shock and horror.
They were unaware of 007n7’s abilities, his cooldown period, or whether he posed a significant threat. The only option left for them was-
"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" Shedletsky yelled, observing as Builderman, Noob, and anyone who wasn’t a sentinel fled, just as 007n7 charged ahead.
"DR0VVN 1N Y0U’R3 S0RROW 4I\ID F3ARS!" A distorted voice echoed, the melodic words slipping from 007n7’s mouth, yet the sound felt alien, as it wasn’t 007n7’s true voice.
A strangled sob followed, accompanied by the metallic scent that filled their nostrils. Builderman turned his head sharply upon hearing the sob, only to witness 007n7 disemboweling Shedletsky alive, but he also noticed something else: the slight quiver of uncertainty in 007n7’s actions. It was as if the former hacker was battling against himself, trying to hold back but unable to do so. However, he was quickly jolted from his thoughts as he heard one of his dispensers being destroyed.
"CH0I<E 0N YOVR 8L0OD @NI] Y0UR T34R$!" 007n7 sang, wiping his blade-like corrupt hand clean of Shedletsky’s blood, before shifting his gaze to Builderman, who tensed and began to flee. "BI-3ED ‘7IL Y0U’\/3 RVN 0UT OF YE4R$!" 007n7 declared, raising his bladed hand, poised to stab through Builderman’s back, only to falter in his stance when Chance shot him in the leg.
"We must do what it takes to survive!" Chance shouted, watching as Guest attempted to punch 007n7, only to be stabbed in the abdomen by the ex-hacker.
"G1\/5 UP Y0UR HoN0R 4ND F@1TH!" 007n7 cheered, observing as Guest gasped on the crimson liquid, before decapitating him, blood splattering across the grass.
LIVE UP YOUR LIFE AS A WRAITH!
Blood stained the once verdant landscape, as bodies piled upon one another, with broken machine parts littered in the dirt. "D!3 1N TH3 B-8LO0D VVH3RE Y0U B@THE!" 007n7 sang, as he turned to Elliot, who had awakened shortly after the chaos erupted, witnessing the brutality of the massacre 007n7 had just executed, tears welling in his eyes. He was the last man standing, with 10 seconds remaining on the timer after having just stood there, staring at each.
We must—
He ran as fast as he could.
Do what it takes to—
Elliot turned back to see 007n7’s blade aiming for his heart.
Survive!
It happened so fast, and in a blink—
Gone.
007n7 found himself back in the killers' cabin, now capable of moving his body independently while still recalling his recent actions. Guilt and regret churned in his stomach as he fought back tears, hurrying to his cabin. He forcefully opened the door, kicking it shut behind him as he stumbled into his bedroom and fell onto the bed. He wept uncontrollably.
Negative thoughts overwhelmed him as he recalled nearly harming Elliot and the potential deaths of everyone else.
He felt like a monster.
Elliot’s eyes flew open as he quickly sat up in bed, memories of that ‘round’ rushing back to him. Why was he in his bed? Didn’t they spawn in the main cabin after a round ended? Okay, okay, it was just a dream, a horrible, dreadful dream, a nightmare. 007n7 wasn’t a killer; he was simply missing, that’s all. Yes, calm down, Elliot, stop overanalyzing.
But it wasn’t a dream; the spectre was toying with his mind, manipulating Elliot’s perception for amusement, making him think that any round where 007n7 was the killer was merely a dream and not reality.
In truth, it was very real.
Later that evening, 007n7 discovered who had assisted the spectre in messing with his mind, and he broke into Noli’s cabin where he allowed his three delightful children to enjoy themselves. They engaged in activities ranging from playing dress-up with the jester during tea parties to dismembering the purple man for ‘scientific’ reasons.
"Seven!! Get these little pests off me! It was just a joke!!" Noli shouted, complaining as one of the children ripped off his left pinky.
007n7 merely shot Noli a disapproving look while seated in a rocking chair, legs crossed, with Ino perched on his shoulder like a protective guardian, sipping tea from what had recently been a tea party, showing no intention of helping Noli.
"Seven!!! I swear to Telamon I’m going to KILL you!!" Noli spat, suppressing a pained sob while glaring at 007n7, who only smirked in reply.
"Oh-ho! Scissor-me-timbers Noli! That sounds like the empty threat you’ve got there!" He mocked, grinning as he listened to the laughter of his children and Noli’s curses, before turning to Ino, "Hey buddy, why don’t you go and bite off Noli’s ears for me, hm?" He proposed, causing Noli to tense at the suggestion, while Ino simply leaped off 007n7’s shoulder to join in on the torment being inflicted on Noli.
His growing hatred towards the jester appeared to be unending.
It has been what...two weeks since 007n7's initial round? Now, he has participated in a total of six rounds as the killer, although 007n7 was seldom included in the rounds. Yet, whenever he was, he felt a wave of disgust as his body acted independently. Over time, he learned to control himself and disregard the influence completely. Although it took a while to rebuild the trust of his former allies, he still made an effort. Except for one.
007n7 never encountered Elliot; it was as if the man was deliberately avoiding him, which honestly broke his heart. It was painful, yet he couldn’t hold it against him. Whenever he was the killer, he would linger around the other survivors, hoping Elliot would make an appearance, but the pizza man never did. He would listen to the heartbeats surrounding him, each heart having its unique rhythm, and he had memorized what Elliot's sounded like. Even then, he could never find the man, much to his disappointment.
On the flip side, Elliot had convinced himself that every round with 007n7 as the killer was a twisted nightmare. This delusion led him to sleep less and less; he can’t sleep cause when he did, all his dreams were dreams of him, driving him to madness. Thus, he took every measure to stay awake during 007n7's rounds, as he couldn’t endure the sight of the person 007n7 had become, the man this nightmare had distorted him into.
━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━
Today marked the seventh round for 007n7, and as usual, he engaged in conversation with the other survivors, all the while hoping that Elliot might pass by. It was becoming exhausting; he longed to see Elliot’s face again, to experience the healer’s smile, and to remember how the pizza man used to look at him with unwavering certainty and no hint of regret. Even after everything that had happened, Elliot would still smile at 007n7, but now, he couldn’t even catch the man’s gaze. The pain was palpable; just thinking about it caused 007n7’s eyes to well up with unshed tears, a persistent ache in his chest that refused to fade. To distract himself, he concentrated all his attention on the ongoing conversation right in front of him.
“I’m gonna be the bigger person here!” Shedletsky exclaimed, red in the face out of embarrassment after Chance had pointed out how much Shedletsky had been eating recently.
Chance paused, before a grin crept its way onto his face, “Oh, you’re definitely the bigger person here.” He retorted confidently, earning a huff from the bird man.
“No! You definitely are! I got a coke body figure.” Shedletsky gestured to his body with pure confidence, earning a snicker from the gambler.
“A what—a 3 litre?”
“No—”
“A 6 pack?” Chance snorted, while Shedletsky couldn’t help but burst out into a fit of laughter, alongside everyone else there.
“Okay! But you miss your shot half the time!” Shedletsky pointed out, causing Chance to freeze up.
“I—what—HEY! It’s a gun of course I’m going to miss from time to time!”
007n7 couldn’t help but roll his eyes as the two continued to bicker like children, while the others either watched and laughed along, or had their own conversations. He didn’t have anything better to do, so this was kind of his only form of entertainment at the moment, until—
A heartbeat.
It was a different heartbeat, one that didn’t belong to any of the survivors around him, but one he still recognized, a heartbeat that belonged to a 5-star worker, a pizza man who had been avoiding him ever since he was forcibly swapped to the killers’ side. Without much hesitation or second thought, he excused himself from the others and began following the sound of the beating, his pointed like ears twitching to locate the sound better, until he saw him, Elliot, standing under a tree that appeared to be rotting to its core, but thriving nonetheless. Without much thought, he walked over, trying to be as slow as possible as to not alarm the healer, but fast enough to reach him in a short span of time.
“Elliot...?”
Elliot froze, his shoulders tensing as the voice sang through his ears, a voice he knew all too well. His head snapped back to look at the owner of said voice, eyes widening as he looked at 007n7, really looked. He never truly looked at the man, because it was all just a dream so it didn’t matter, but now that he was, that man might be the worst but damn he looks fine. The thought made Elliot’s face flush a tint, but he quickly brushed it off as soon as it came, now focusing his gaze on 007n7’s face, a face he had been avoiding for spawn knows how long.
“Elliot? W-Why have you been avoiding me…?” 007n7 continued, taking slow steps forward, giving Elliot enough time to back away if he wanted to.
Yet Elliot merely stood there, frozen in place as he watched 007n7 inch closer with every step taken. He was sick of this, sick of these dreams—no, these nightmares . This wasn’t 007n7, this was just an entity playing the part of someone who had gone missing ages ago, there’s no way this was 007n7. He needed this to end; no, he wanted it to end. The dreams, the nightmares, whatever this sick joke of a play the spectre was introducing him needed to end, one way or another. Then, an idea came to mind…
What if he killed 007n7—no, what if he killed this entity, this follower of the spectre, would the dreams cease? Surely, because it takes a while to perfect the act of the ex-hacker, and this one had quite a few flaws, not to mention broken code. 007n7 wasn’t on the killer side, he was just lost somewhere.
That’s what Elliot kept telling himself.
But the idea, well, the idea was certainly something, tempting even. No, tempting wasn’t the right word for it, the best word for it was the solution. “How did you find me.” Elliot questioned, avoiding 007n7’s gaze.
“I—your heartbeat! I followed the sound of your heartbeat…that’s how.” 007n7 stammered, until he found his words and voiced them into his answer.
“You can hear our heartbeats? C’mon, that’s a little farfetched.” Elliot retorted, still not meeting 007n7’s gaze, while he tried to figure out if this was the real deal or some façade of the spectres doing.
The ex-hacker paused, mid step as he stared at Elliot, holding back a quiet chuckle, “Elliot, I can hear yours too, your hearts beating pretty fast.” 007n7 stated, looking at Elliot’s face for a reaction.
Elliot, in response, turned his head, causing 007n7 to frown ever so slightly, but remained silent, nonetheless. Was Elliot not pleased to see him? Was he mad at him? It made 007n7’s heart ache with something he couldn’t quite place, but it was there, lingering like a parasite he couldn’t discard.
But that wasn’t his focus right now, he just needed answers, but 007n7 was too focused on not scaring Elliot away, on the pizza man’s eyes and face, he hadn’t noticed the healer grabbing a large rock, large enough to bash someone’s head in if given enough force. “Elliot—what’s gotten into you?—”
“God. Would you just, stop, talking…” Elliot hissed, cutting 007n7 short on words, with a tone that was filled with venom, anger and what seemed like…desperation.
007n7 stopped all movement upon hearing those simple yet harsh words, his eyes widening and his mouth opening to speak, yet no words fell out. Everything around him began to blur as his mind started overthinking thoughts that flooded his system, thoughts that shouldn’t have been there to begin with, thoughts that broke 007n7’s heart bit by bit. Thoughts that took so much out of him to think through, that the only thing that snapped him out of it was when something made contact with his head, effectively knocking him to his knees.
Then, something pierced his chest, sharp, cold, unforgiving, and then, the flow began. Drops of coded blood began to seep from the open gash on the side of his head, where Elliot had struck him with the rock, where the warm liquid drizzled down to his chin until it pooled enough to drip onto the grass. It left him dazed, confused and scared, but what he still felt was whatever had stabbed him in the gut, because it was still there, it lingered, stopping whatever internal blood threatened to spill, yet held whatever pain inflicted in place.
His vision cleared slowly, but enough for him to see the metal piece of what looked to be part of one of the broken buildings, jammed in his stomach, held by—Elliot. Those were Elliot’s hands, those roughed edged hands that were worn down after years of working at a pizza establishment, yet soft to the touch from the excessive work the wearer committed too, was holding the metal piece lodged in his gut, pushing it further until the sting was there.
Tears filled the brim of his eyes as he realized what was going on, as he realized who had just harmed him, who had—
Elliot.
“Your time is up.” Elliot hissed, his harsh gaze falling onto 007n7’s face, his voice coming out cold and unbothered, but 007n7 could recognize the tremble within it. He could see the look in Elliot’s eyes, the look of someone who thought what they were doing was right, yet felt guilty about it, with doubts that maybe it wasn’t.
The ex-hacker paused, before a weak, almost sad chuckle rumbled through his throat. “Then…my last words….” He began, his tears rolling out of the corner of his eyes as he looked up to meet the healer’s gaze, eyes half lidded, with blood dripping down to his chin from different places. “I l-love you…Elliot-”
The piece of metal twisted in his gut, earning a pained sob from the ex-hacker, while a frustrated huff came from the pizza man. “YOU’RE DETERMINED TO DIE WITH A LIE ON YOUR LIPS?!” Elliot exclaimed, trying to fight back tears as his doubts returned, making him rethink his actions, yet forcing himself to remember this was just one of the spectres followers.
007n7 coughed up more coded blood, his body going rigid at the twist in his gut, before trembling as it struggled to hold him up. But his determination didn’t waver, so, with a weak, shaky and broken voice, he repeated his words. “I…love you…Elliot…” The words were genuine, honest, no secret motive behind them, it made Elliot stutter in his actions, hesitate in twisting the metal that acted like a blade made for betrayal.
“…O-Oh god……” Elliot muttered, his breath hitching as he realized what he had just done, coming to recognition of the truth that this wasn’t some dream or nightmare the spectre created to fuck with him, this was the real deal, this was the real 007n7, the same 007n7 he had just injured and attempted to kill. But that doubt still lingered, that overthinking still existed, still lived in the back of his mind, that what if this was just another act?
This had to be another act.
The ex-hacker stared up at Elliot, while feeling the warmth of his own blood drip down the side of his head, yet that ache of heart break in his chest didn’t falter in its pain. Tears strained the corners of his eyes as he looked at the ground, trying to hide his face, before he opened his mouth just wide enough to speak. “I thought...maybe you could love me like you used too...” He began, looking back up at Elliot who now stood frozen in place, “Even though I’m...different.” He muttered, lightly gesturing to his new appearance.
007n7 saw the hesitation in Elliot’s hands, the fear of being wrong in the healer’s eyes, he saw it all, and it hurt more than it should, more than the metal piece jammed in his gut. It made him think over their relationship, think over everything they did together, maybe Elliot didn’t love him…maybe it was all just a trick, a lie, just like Noli. He bit his lower lip as the thought won, as if it were the answer to this pain. “Y-You tricked me into loving you…!” He spat, yet his voice held no hatred or hidden venom, it just sounded tired, too tired.
Elliot’s heart shattered at those words, the doubt no longer existing as he finally realized he had just harmed the person he had been looking for all this time. “D-Do you think I wanted to love you!? Knowing where you c-came from—what your mission was?” Elliot retorted, his own tears beginning to breach the thin layers of his eye lashes onto his cheeks. “Don’t you suppose that every hour you were gone, I was t-thinking—he’s just pretending!” Elliot continued, his words coming out uncertain, through shaky, tearful breaths with a voice that threatened to break under too much pressure.
“I wasn’t! I loved you!” 007n7 responded, coughing on blood as he focused on Elliot. “I—” he began, only to be cut off with a sentence that tore his heart apart.
“—and I loved you so much I LET YOU PRETEND!! Because—you brought something to my day, I-I…couldn’t stand the thought of losing you…” Elliot exclaimed, no longer holding the piece of metal as tightly as before, “I thought I had lost you…!” He continued, “I thought this shape of you was some sick joke the spectre created out of spite!” He cried, his voice cracking as he tried to steady himself.
( Discontinued )
━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━
( Author's Note )
This would have been longer, I cut some of it out due to how out of place the writing was, but the chapter was originally 12,000+ words. This will probably be the last chapter, unfinished and boring. I decided to post what I already had written, minus a few things, because you guys were so kind to me--you deserved it. Wish I could've done more.
Make sure to take care of yourselves, okay?
Signed, Astie
25/08/19
Notes:
This would've been longer, more detailed--but it's rushed, and unfinished.
SONGS REFERENCED IN THIS CHAPTER: Now That You’re Gone – Raconteurs. It’s Been so Long – The Living Tombstone. Eternity – Alex Warren. I’m Doing Fine – Marino. ILYIS pt 2 – Mel Bryant & Mercy Makers. I’ve Got No Time – The Living Tombstones. Scylla – Epic the Musical. Blink gone – BL8M & AKUGETSU. I Can’t Sleep – Powfu. Boys Beware – Mad Tsai.
Chapter 15: Update.
Chapter Text
So, here's an update on the situation, I would've posted this on the other book, since I'd like to keep this one clean of stupid updates like these, but I know not many of you are aware of the other fanfic, so I'm posting it here and will be deleting it later.
REASONS FOR WHY THE CHAPTER IS TAKING SO LONG:
As those who have been reading this from the start know, chapter 15 has been taking some time to get out. It was originally meant to be chapter 13 until I posted a filler chapter, as well as a lore one written from original character perspectives. It wasn't my original plan to begin with, but I felt guilty for not posting the new chapter. Not to mention, rules where I live can be quite strict, especially when it comes to screen time. I know it's stupid of me, and irrelevant to you, but I've just been drained, Wi-Fi has been acting out and ideas have been melting out of my brain. I'm tired, I can't think of anything. I got a boost to write, hurray! So I wrote, Wi-Fi bugged out, lost all my progress of nearly 1,000 words, so I tried again, but wrote a lot more this time because I was locked in. Big mistake. This time it was nearing 5,000 words, once again, I was called to help my mother, came back, not only had my phone overheated after I left it on for my work to save, but Word had crashed. Lost everything.
Its tiring, its really upsetting, and its draining my mentality more than I'd like to admit. I can barely write a few words before getting pulled away for chores, in which I come back with no more motivation, or I get stuck somewhere and no longer have the energy to come up with anything. It upsets me, because I left you guys on a horrible cliffhanger, which I shouldn't have, yet I did, so now I'm paying with the guilt that eats at my heart. Its pathetic, I know it is, especially because I've been gaining motivation to write a different fanfic that I barely know anything about. I don't plan on writing it, at least not until I get this next chapter out, as well as ask for permission, so it'll have to wait. Its just that... I feel overwhelmed, compelled to write something I can barely focus on now, its stupid and annoying and I hate it. The worst part, whenever I get ideas, I can't write. I don't have my phone or laptop near me to write, or its in the middle of the night where I know my devices are locked. Then, when I can write, I just can't bring myself to press the keys in front of me.
I want to upload the new chapter right now, but at the same time I don't, because most parts are rushed, its unfinished and I'm just not satisfied with the results. Which is also why I'm here to inform that I will be taking chapter fourteen down, and mixing it somewhere in the new chapter, since there's stuff I want to add to it as well as fix. Chapter thirteen, however, might stay the way it is, I might take it down as well to mix into the new chapter, or I'll just leave it up the way it is. Depends, truly. I just, don't know what I'm doing anymore. The characters personalities aren't even canon, so I don't understand why you guys are enjoying this fic to begin with, like, I'm honored, seriously, but there are so many other fic's out there that deserve attention, that I don't understand why you'd bother with this one to begin with. I'm not fishing for compliments, far from that actually, no, I'm being genuine, I'm writing this right now without thinking about correcting my words because I'm too tired to do that. But this fic is all over the place, barely anything here is canon to the game and the creator of it can barely keep a good uploading schedule without losing their mind over stress.
There's just so much I want to write, to add in for this chapter, yet my patience, my focus and motivation is withering right in front of me, and I can barely do a thing about it but pray and hope I'll get a boost at some point. Will that boost come? Probably. Will it be often? Absolutely not. I don't want to discontinue this fic, because so many of you seem interested in it for some stupid reason and I'd feel like shit stopping it here, but at the same time I don't know if I can go on with it anymore. My personally life isn't getting any better, I feel as though I'm spiraling between my sanity and the brink of insanity, rules are becoming stricter making my ability to write thinner. The pain burns, tearing its teeth into my skin day after day, through either myself, my mind, or the verbal words that worm their way through my head. It got to the point where as of recently, I can't write shit. I'm too tired, mentally, physically, I don't care, I'm just tired. Every time I tell myself to get up and stop being lazy, to open my laptop, phone--ANYTHING that can function the Word app, I just get this urge to kill everyone off and end the story as quickly as possible.
That's not something I want to give into. I have so many idea's for this story, I don't want to give it up now, but I just feel so pressured. I'd tell myself that I'll be working on it for the rest of the afternoon, but as soon as that time comes around, I just can't do it. It feels like I'm forcing my hands to do something my brain doesn't want, all because the ideas aren't there, just because I'm too drained to do shit. It pisses me off, in fact, its starting to get on my nerves. I feel like I'm going crazy, because I love writing when it comes to stuff I'm interested in, but this? This no longer feels as fun. I feel like I'm in a room with nothing but a laptop and a desk, tasked to write until my fingers grow numb, until my eyes have sunken into themselves from staring at a white screen full of words. I just...
Can't.
Not anymore.
So, here I am, writing this pathetic excuse of lack in updates, asking for permission to take a break from my own making of a curse.
I have no intention of ending the story any time soon, I just won't be updating much, take a long break if allowed to do so, and post whenever I feel its ready. Please, do forgive me for asking something so big of you guys, but I just can't go on anymore, this fanfic is eating at my brain and leaving me exhausted.
So, please.
Just this once.
Signed, Astra
25/07/27
Chapter 16: Why This is Being Discontinued.
Chapter Text
Hello my friends! Readers! I...apologize for this.
It wasn't my intention to discontinue this, but my life is just getting harder and harder. I'm not a big fan of living, honestly I would've quit if I wasn't such a wuss. Anyway, the reason I'm doing this is because school is starting soon, my devices are at a 90% chance at getting taken away, and my mother wants to evict me because I'm being too useless. I've done everything I could for her, but nowadays it just feels useless. I get no praise for what I do, and when she does give it to me, it'll turn into a rant about how difficult HER life is, or it'll mean nothing and turn into insults later.
I eat less, go hungry more often in fear of eating the food my little siblings like, because I don't want an earful of how I'm making them go hungry. During winter, I was the one who went out the most to get firewood, just to be seen as useful--but the moment I slip up, I'm suddenly a problem again. She just favorites the younger ones more, I never knew why. I'm just so tired--physically and mentally. I don't want to do this anymore, I don't want to go on anymore. I can't go on anymore. I'm sorry I couldn't hold out longer to finish this fanfic, or start the one I had been planning--I didn't mean to disappoint.
You can unsubscribe, remove your bookmarks--I don't care, I probably won't stick around long enough to see it either way. Just...thank you, for the support you gave me anyway, it meant something--kept me going, I guess. But some things just never last. Maybe, if I manage to push through, I'll be able to finish the next chapter, but with how things are going--I highly doubt it.
I don't have much more to say, except for thank you, and I'm deeply sorry I couldn't finish what I started.
It was nice knowing you all, while it lasted of course.
I'm sorry Geno.
Signed, Astie
Astra
25/08/19
Chapter 17: HI!!!
Chapter Text
Hello! I am here to inform that this fic isn't discontinued, but will be receiving no updates as I redo it!!
Why?
Because I fucking feel like it. Sue me babes.
No, but in all seriousness, I'm just not proud with what I have, and want to add to places I cut short. I'm also doing a few other fics, so keep that in mind. If you're interested to read any more of my current works, feel free to check out A Father's Wrath which is a rewritten version of another author's work! (With their permission, of course.) And my Chance/iTrapped/Mafioso fic, which is called A Purgatory is Better Than You and is inspired by the famous fic Ain't no fun when the rabbit got the gun by XT4ry!
Thank you all for the support! It means everything!!!
Chapter 18: HEAVY SPOILERS.
Summary:
The future of this fanfic and my situation.
Chapter Text
Hello! You’ve read the summary right, this is where I will be discussing the future of this fanfic.
So, as everyone who’s currently reading this is aware of, I’m rewriting the entire thing. That will take time, as I’ve set a goal for the words in every chapter. I will not disclose the amount here, but I will refuse to post anything until that word quota is reached.
If you’re wondering, no, I will not be posting the new versions of the prior chapters once they are finished, I’ll be withholding them until a new one is finished, that way you have more new content. This will, take me a while. I’m starting school, which means less time, but as long as I’m motivated, I can write around 5,000 words within 2 hours. I did something similar to that with my A Father’s Wrath fanfic.
Now, as for the story—the plot has changed. Things will not be the exact same once it’s redone, and the idea for the future chapters has changed. I have the story set up, I have the idea written out, and I have the end result composed. All I need to do is write it, alongside everything else.
This, alongside the other fanfics I’m writing, and the word quota count I’ve set for myself, will take a while. It may seem as though I’ve abandoned the story, but I can assure you I have not. I’m simply taking my time, it’s either the chapters will be updated once I compose the next one, or it’ll only happen once the last chapters for the story is finished.
Does this have a happy ending? Yes, it does. I will say it here, they do get out, one way or another. I already have the idea on how they leave, it may seem silly and absurd, but that’s exactly what I need to keep writing.
Now, as for my other fanfics, I have an issue where I cannot focus on one task at a time. I can go from rewriting chapter one of this fic, to writing a different part to another. It’s a problem, especially when I’m not interested in rewriting a certain part due to it being boring, bland, or just not eye catching enough. It’s even worse if I have another idea for a new project—I can try to ignore it all I want but I’ll cave one way or another.
So, I have A Father’s Wrath to finish, A Change of Pace to rewrite, A Purgatory is Better Than you to continue, a pressure fanfic that I’m still planning, a possible Guest centred fic that I saw an idea of from TikTok, and a one-shot Pizzaburger fic. This pile can always stack, stuff will be added and new projects will be made. I’ll try to stay focused on the ones at hand, but I make no promises.
Please note, that once this one is updated, you’ll either be told that several chapters have been added, or it’s a singular one. Past chapters will just be edited, as I have no plans on deleting them.
With that being said, thank you to all those who have chosen to support me on this journey! I’m not one to enjoy writing, but this changed it. I never expected to get all this support, I thought this book would just be a title in the shadows, hidden by all the other ones—but you guys proved me wrong.
That’s all for today, my dear human readers!
Signed, Astra
September 4th, 2025
( Yes I am using Discord to transfer my ideas to my laptop. )
(( Don’t ask. ))
😭
Chapter 19: News
Chapter Text
I personally don’t like using this place for updates, however it’s the most I can do.
I’ve not been writing at all the past 4 days, I’ve not been doing well and I’m working at my own pace. School is short, but sucks. The work just keeps piling, it’s day 2 and I have a shit ton of assignments. By the time I get home I just crash into my bed or work on my homework, which is so disgustingly annoying.
So, yeah, moving at my own pace by writing the ideas but unable to write the fanfics themselves. I make no promises, as I know these ones I’ll be unable to hold, but maybe I’ll have a chapter or two out in a year with how things are going right now. I’m not happy about it either, but it’s not like I can do much about it anyway, it’s simply out of my control.
I’m in 9th grade, as a 16 year old—no, I don’t give two shits about disclosing that information anymore—because I failed 8th grade twice, once because of a fucking court I had to attend that did nothing in my favour, and the other because I was homeschooled and deemed dumb even after all the work I tried. Does this information give my siblings a better chance at finding my work? Yes, but I’m tired, stressed and overall losing my shit.
So, updates will be EXCRUCIATINGLY slow.
Blame my fucking school for that.
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