Chapter 1: First Light
Chapter Text
The game happened quickly, taking only a few minutes to eliminate all the survivors. This was a great relief for Azure. The delivery man was the first to fall, and after him, everyone else quickly fell.
The fact that a certain occultist had spent the entire game in a ball of sobs and occasional convulsions didn't help his teammates much in winning the game.
The hat that followed him like a parasite kept spewing cruel words and threats, which only soured Azure's already bad mood.
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When the game ended, all he did was return to his cabin and his room. He didn't bother to greet his fellow comrades; it's not like he could talk even if he wanted to.
When he got to his room, he quickly closed his eyes and decided to relax a little from the anxieties that had followed him all day.
That lasted for about a few seconds until he noticed the visitor in his room, automatically tensing up and taking a few steps back, bumping into the entrance to the room.
The specter
Incredible...
And in a display of power, followed by a very awkward silence, the specter finally let Azure know the purpose of their visit.
They didn't know how it worked, but ideas came to their mind automatically without the specter needing to say a word.
Azure was a little envious of this curious power; it would really save them the trouble of carrying that parasitic hat.
After a few moments of awkward silence, Azure finally looked back at the specter. The specter looked at them with an impatient look, as if his answer would be the answer to every evil that plagued them.
The deal was simple: he would become a survivor and regain his original body, but in return, he wouldn't be able to break the facade of hatred and revenge toward a certain occultist that the Spectre had so painstakingly designed for him.
Azure didn't know how to feel. Unlike what the survivors might say about him, his hatred toward the occultist wasn't that big. He was a little hurt from being stabbed in the back that time, but that couldn't erase all the feelings he held and still holds for his beloved.
As much as he tried to resist those feelings, he knew that one of his greatest desires was to rebuild the relationship he had with them. Even if it wasn't romantically, Azure just wanted to be back with his favorite person in the world.
But if he had to act as the specter dictated in exchange for his normal appearance, would it really be worth sacrificing everything? His remaining connection to Two Time in exchange for a body he didn't feel repulsive in? Would he be willing to do that?
Before Azure could dwell on the matter further, they decided to make a decision.
They shook the specter's hand, thus accepting the deal, as well as its terms.
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That night, Azure couldn't sleep. Anxieties had kept him awake since he was a child, and that night was no different. But what did change were the origins of those anxieties.
How would Two Time react? Would they hate him? Would they cry? Would they beg for his forgiveness on their knees, or would they not even look at him again? He doesn't know what frightens Azure more: Two Time's complete rejection or their indifference.
With that final thought, Azure let the cloak of night finally claim him, concluding a very interesting day in the eyes of a certain host.
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The first thing Azure felt was his heart pounding, a cold sweat running down his chest, and his body paralyzed.
Scanning, he realized he was no longer in the hunters' cabin, but in a forest that seemed suspiciously familiar.
Could he have been sleepwalking? He remembers that during his time in the Spawn cult, it was a normal occurrence; after all, members eventually lost their sanity sooner or later.
While Azure was lost in thought, he saw a green glow in his peripheral vision.
That glow quickly turned into a sword that grazed him close enough to deduce who it belonged to.
His body finally came back to life and began to listen.
Azure's panicked brain told him nothing more than to run, and, unwilling to find out what would happen if he stayed, Azure happily complied.
Something felt strange.
In addition to being hunted by one of those he considered a comrade less than 12 hours ago, his body felt lighter and his head was no longer spinning.
That's when all the understanding hit him.
The specter wasn't lying; Azure had become a survivor.
-Look what you've done to us- that irritating voice couldn't belong to anyone other than Azure's beloved hat.
Which miraculously didn't undergo any changes due to its host's sudden transformation.
In other situations, Azure would have thrown himself the hat as hard as he could. At that moment, he thought of nothing more than running and escaping the hunter as fast as his legs would carry him.
As he ran across the map, he managed to spot a figure in the distance. The closer he got, he recognized it as the pizza delivery man.
Azure, trying to get the man's attention, began waving his hands as a sign for him to flee.
But all his attempts at communication were in vain because the delivery man seemed absorbed in his own world.
Oh well, Azure thought, if the hunter changes targets, it's much better for me.
As the hunter and Azure approached the figure, he could see the delivery man's face change from a look of confusion to one of pure horror.
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The delivery man stood still in terror. Azure really couldn't stop calling him an idiot in his mind. -Are you serious, you see a killing machine and you just stood there waiting for your death?- he thought
Azure didn't hesitate, and when he was near the delivery man, he took his hand and ran as fast as he could to the center of the map.
The delivery man seemed to have snapped out of his trance halfway there, but Azure didn't care. Later, they would take the trouble to reintroduce themselves.
They ran and dodged for what seemed like an eternity to Azure. -Is this what it feels like to be hunted?- Azure promised himself to give the survivors a bit of an advantage the next time he went hunting.
A blue flash crossed their periphery and suddenly the hunter was no longer behind them. The survivor, whose name he can't remember, was distracting the hunter while yelling at them to run.
Azure didn't wait for them to repeat it twice; he turned and started running, not noticing that he was taking a certain pizza delivery man with him.
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When Azure reached an area he recognized as safe, he finally allowed himself to stop and take a break, his lungs burning from the exertion he had made earlier.
During his time in the Spawn cult, he didn't usually take part in rituals or other activities that required endurance, although he still retained his usual strength. It seemed that so much time of time being "dead" had really taken its toll on his body; all his muscles felt atrophied.
Before he could finish his train of thought, a voice cut through the silence.
-You really saved me out there, didn't you? If it weren't for you, 1x1x1x1 would have really turned me into a pulp- he said, scratching his hair and laughing nervously.
-By the way, are you new? I've never seen you around here. What's your name? My name is Elliot, if you want to know.- Azure opened their mouth, wanting to answer the questions, but not a single sound came out.
Azure grabbed his throat and tried again. As he suspected, he couldn't speak. At that moment, Azure swore he heard the voice of that little hat-demon laughing in his ear.
Elliot, noticing Azure's expression, became more nervous.
-Are you okay? I know it's shocking to be chased in your first match. Believe me, it doesn't get easier with time- Elliot said, crossing his arms.
Azure, accepting that he wouldn't be able to voluntarily utter a single sound, began to gesture with his hands at his inability to communicate.
-Can't you talk?- Elliot asked, picking up on the signals. Azure nodded.
- I see. Okay, buddy. When the game's over, we'll find a way to communicate- the blond said as he pulled something from behind his back.
-Here, the hunter left you a little bruised in that chase.- Azure hesitated a moment before grabbing the pizza from the other's hands.
Suddenly, he felt his scratches slowly heal.
Azure let out a satisfied sound and sat down on the floor so he could enjoy his food more accurately.
Elliot sat beside him and they remained silent for a while, allowing Azure to gather his thoughts.
Although he was now in his original body, the specter decided to take away his ability to speak again, and although he hated it, it seemed that his hat could no longer communicate his thoughts.
Now what had once been an arrogant voice that filled the silence Azure couldn't, seemed to have been displaced to a place where only he could hear.
Apparently, Azure's suffering was evident, as Elliot patted him and smiled.
-I understand your situation. When I arrived here, I was just as lost as you. I think I was even worse.- Elliot sighed. -I spent my entire first playthrough curled up in a ball, crying in a corner.-
Azure snorted in response. Although the situation wasn't similar, that story still brought them a bit of comfort.
That comfort didn't last long.
Only he and Elliot remained.
Azure heard Elliot swear under his breath as he saw the status bars. Elliot stood up and signaled for him to do the same.
-We need to get out of here, and find a place we can hide- he said as he led the way.
Suddenly, he felt his heart skip a beat, and fear flooded his senses.
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The hunter had found them before they could find a place to hide, and when that happened, both he and Elliot decided to go their separate ways.
Luckily for him, the hunter decided to focus on Elliot.
But that didn't stop him from running like his life depended on it.
And before Azure knew it, he was deeper into the forest.
Azure looked around and noticed a pile of Nightshades in a secluded spot.
That really caught their attention.
Azure approached cautiously, scanning his surroundings for any traps the hunter might have hidden there.
And when Azure finally found himself standing in the middle of that pile, a feeling came over him.
His entire body and mind felt numb, and the desire to lie down in the Nightshades consumed him.
Azure succumbed to his desires and lay down.
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He woke up in a field of Nightshades, all of them dancing to the rhythm of the wind.
Suddenly, he felt a presence behind him.
£©°←—é←+?- That voice.
Azure turned and looked at the person they wanted so desperately wanted to see, but they looked strange.
Not as he remembered them, but as they looked now, worn out, with a hint of madness in their eyes.
Suddenly, the scene changed before his eyes.
No, Azure was no longer in that beautiful field of Nightshades with his beloved, but now in the main temple.
Pain soon clouded his senses.
This was a scene he remembered perfectly; after all, who would forget the moment of their death?
Everything went black.
And suddenly, he heard a voice.
Congratulations, my dear one, you've been noticed by the Spawn.
May your days be full of joy and your devotion remain intact.
Azure stood up suddenly, breathing heavily and his mind still paralyzed.
He watched as the pile of Nightshades had disappeared, except for a few growing at his feet.
Suddenly, he saw the counter reach zero. He had survived without the hunter finding him.
It was time to return to the survivors' cabin.
It was time to see them again.
Chapter 2: What we are
Summary:
Azure starts to get used to becoming a survivor
Chapter Text
When the counter reached zero, Azure watched as the scenery changed from being in the forest to standing in front of a camp.
Azure looked around, mentally thanking the fact that the survivors' camp was better than the hunters'. He'd been through too much to end up sleeping in a pigsty again.
His train of thought was cut short by a hand on his shoulder. Surprised by the strange touch, Azure couldn't help but shudder.
-Hehe, sorry.- Azure turned to face the voice and saw it was Elliot. This calmed him down, letting out a sigh Azure didn't know he was holding.
-I'm glad you managed to survive your first playthrough. That's more than most survivors can tell you,- the blond said, nudging him.
-I know our first meeting wasn't the best, but you didn't tell me your name.- Elliot searched his pockets for a second and pulled out a small notebook with a pen. -Here, this will help you more than it will me.-
Azure grabbed it and clumsily began to write his name. He didn't know if it was nerves or embarrassment at having to write to communicate, but his hand was shaking and his handwriting came out a little illegible.
After writing his name, Azure showed what he'd written to Elliot. Elliot squinted slightly, trying to read what the other had written, but finally figured it out. -Azure, what a beautiful name. It's nice to finally meet you.- Elliot smiled at him, and Azure felt a warm feeling in his heart. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been treated kindly and not like a monster to run away from.
-Anyway, come on, let's go to the lobby. I'll introduce you to everyone else.- Suddenly, Elliot grabbed Azure's hand and began to drag him, despite the other's reluctance.
Although Azure had imagined this scenario on several occasions—finally reuniting with the love of his life in his human form—doubts began to plague him.
Also, of course, he hadn't forgotten the requirement the specter had given him: he had to act like he hated Two Time.
The walk to the lobby was short. Azure couldn't stop sweating, his heart bouncing against his chest. Azure swore he would die right then and there.
Upon entering, the first thing he noticed was a blond boy approaching them. "Elliot, you're finally here! We were getting worried." Azure recognized the person in front of him; it was Noob. Azure remembered him since he was one of the people who stuck to Two Time the most during the matches.
-Yeah, sorry about that,- Elliot scratched his head. -I was waiting for him to finish his match to introduce him to everyone.- Noob looked away from Elliot and looked at him as if he had just noticed him after Elliot had mentioned him.
-Oh, sorry, I didn't see you. I'm Noob. Nice to meet you!- Noob extended his hand to Azure to shake it. Azure quickly waved back to the blond to show his inability to speak. Azure also waved back to the blond.
-They can't talk?- The blond put his hand to his chin. -Yeah, that's why I wanted to introduce everyone at once, because of his inability to speak.- Elliot put his hand on his hip.
-Anyway, let's go to the lobby, that's where the others are,- Elliot and Noob guided him.
Although he was a little annoyed at being treated like a doll to be bossed around by Elliot, Azure couldn't help but feel anticipation. He sighed and followed them slowly but surely.
Upon reaching the lounge, Azure noticed how all the survivors were relaxing. This surprised him; he really wasn't used to seeing them like this. In a corner, Azure could see them.
There was Two Time next to a person with glasses. They seemed to be having a friendly conversation. This provoked an unpleasant feeling that Azure didn't want to name. It had been so long since he and Two Time had a conversation like that. Most of the interactions between the two of them were basically Azure actively avoiding giving in to the urge to strangle the other, and Two Time talking intelligibly or kneeling before him.
They were never friendly or sentimental conversations, just interactions filled with resentment and unspoken feelings.
That thought significantly soured his mood, and Azure allowed himself to be dragged by Elliot to the center of the room.
-Guys, let me introduce you to our new comrade.- When Elliot raised his voice, everyone in the room stopped what they were doing to closely observe the new guest standing in front of them.
-His name is Azure, and for reasons we don't fully understand, he's unable to speak.- Azure wanted to strangle Elliot. What kind of introduction was that? Azure felt his face turn red with embarrassment.
There were a few seconds of silence in the room that felt like hours to Azure, until a blue-haired man approached and placed his hand on their shoulder.
Azure recognized him as the one who had helped them escape in the previous game. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Azure. I didn't have time to introduce myself earlier. I'm Guest1337." He gave them a smile that Azure couldn't help but return.
After that, all the survivors approached to talk to him. Azure was happy to know that the survivors accepted him so easily, but to his dismay, the person he most wanted to see didn't even move from their spot.
Two Time just stared at him, as if they were seeing a ghost. Not that Azure blamed them, after all. Just a few hours ago, he was a monster with appendages on his back and a talking hat. But that didn't stop his pride from being hurt.
Apparently, someone noticed how Azure was looking at Two Time. -Relax, Two Time is a strange person. I'm sure they'll introduce themself later,- Shedletsky told him, patting him on the back.
-You wouldn't believe it,- Azure thought, but he couldn't help but sigh. After all, he wasn't going to force Two Time to talk to him.
Azure was still planning how he could strike up a conversation with Two Time without violating the specter's requirements.
With nothing else to do, Azure finally tore his eyes off his beloved and approached Elliot and Noob, who seemed to be making dinner.
All this time, Azure felt like a pair of eyes were fixed on him, and a part of him was glad to receive that little bit of attention, even if it was just blank stares.
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Azure had to admit it was a good dinner. The table was filled with laughter and conversation, bringing back memories of his time in the cult, how the entire room was filled with people, creating a comfortable atmosphere.
Although he couldn't participate in the conversations, he didn't mind; just being present and feeling the camaraderie was enough.
Every so often, Azure glanced at his ex-lover out of the corner of his eye, and it was always the same. Two Time stared at him without blinking, as if they were to look away, Azure would disappear like a hallucination. To be honest, Azure wouldn't be surprised if that was what the other thought.
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When the clock struck 12 and most of the survivors retired to their rooms, Azure decided to do the same.
According to him, the survivors had to share cabins, but since Azure's arrival made them an odd number, he was given the small privilege of having a cabin to himself.
His cabin was the farthest away from all the others. When Azure entered, he was surprised to find that the specter had already taken the trouble to decorate his room.
He looked at the room with nostalgia; it reminded him of his cabin when he was alive.
Azure yawned and relaxed his shoulders. Tiredness finally got the better of him, he threw himself into bed without bothering to change. That day had truly been a stressful one.
Seeing Two Time again in his original appearance really rekindled feelings he thought had been buried by the specter.
-Pathetic,- he heard a voice in his room. It really startled Azure, causing him to jump out of bed.
When he looked around the room, he realized there was no one there. -Look what you've done to me, demoted to a mere decorative hat.- Oh, of course. Who else could ruin Azure's moment of relaxation more than his beloved hat?
Azure took it off his head and faced it. -I can't see your mouth, how can I silence you?- Azure thought as they scanned it in detail. Of course, a cry of indignation was not long in coming.
-Of all people, you had to be the only one I can speak freely to.- Azure sighed in resignation and threw the hat across the room.
It started yelling curses and other things that Azure didn't really care about. Tomorrow, he would talk to Two Time, a real conversation, at least that's what he told himself.
Azure lay back down in his bed and succumbed to sleep. After all, tomorrow promised to be a great day.
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They woke up with the sun's rays hitting their face. Azure got out of bed heavily, quickly going into the bathroom to wake up fully.
After a quick shower, Azure was finally able to look at himself in the mirror. He had to admit that it was strange to see his human appearance again; he had grown accustomed to his reflection not being a pleasant image.
This filled them with happiness; they were finally in a body where they felt comfortable with themselves.
Azure emerged from the bathroom, already revitalized after a cold shower. While he was searching for an outfit he could wear, something caught his eye. On the nightstand next to his bed was a Nightshade.
Azure didn't remember it being there when he went to sleep that night, but he was sure that perhaps tiredness had caused him to ignore the flower the day before.
With a smile forming on his face, Azure carefully placed the flower on his hat.
After finishing changing, Azure decided to leave his cabin and head toward the lobby. Perhaps he might bump into Two Time by chance.
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Azure was about to reach the lobby when he collided with someone, the shock of the impact sending him sprawling on the floor.
-Sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was looking.- Azure looked up and found himself facing the survivor wearing the strange hat. -What was his name again? 7n7 or something like that, Azure can't quite remember,- Azure thought as the man in front of him became clearly more nervous.
-That wasn't really a good first impression, was it? I always ruin these things.- Azure stopped paying attention to what the other was saying; he really wasn't in the mood for that nonsense.
What Azure did notice was a wound that could be seen from the ground. It was clear it was new, hadn't healed properly, and had a high chance of becoming infected.
Azure jumped up, scaring the man in front of them. His mission had changed. Going to the lobby could wait. Right now, his main mission was to heal the wound of the person in front of him.
They grabbed 7n7's hand and began dragging him to their cabin, ignoring the other's retorts. It wasn't that difficult a task because Azure was clearly stronger than the other, and he only made a minimal effort to stop them.
When they arrived, Azure instructed the other to sit on his bed while he examined the wound. The man was a little surprised, but he did what Azure wanted him to do.
The wound wasn't that deep, but it would need a few stitches to fully close. Azure grabbed his hat in frustration, realizing he didn't have any medical equipment on hand that he could use.
That was until the movement caused the NightShade he had placed in his hat to fall in front of him. Suddenly, an idea struck him.
Azure quickly offered the NightShade to the man in front of him, signaling for him to eat it.
-You want me to eat this?- 7n7 said, looking at him with a puzzled look on his face. -Are you sure they're not poisonous?- Azure ignored what the other said and stood up from his position. He was prepared to be a little more insistent.
-Relax, I believe in you,- the brunette said as he stuffed the NightShade into his mouth in one bite. Suddenly, they were both able to observe how the wound healed quickly, making it now look like a fresh scar.
That discovery brought a smile to Azure's face. -Wow, I really don't know how to thank you. The pain was killing me.- Azure waved his hand, dismissing it; after all, it was only natural to help a comrade in need.
-You really are an angel, just like Two Time described you.- That comment surprised Azure. Had Two Time told the other survivors about him? Could there still be something else tying them down?
Before he could dwell on that thought, a counter appeared above their heads. -Looks like the game's about to start soon. We'd better get ready.- And with that, 7n7 left his cabin, giving him a small farewell.
Azure clutched his hat as his breathing quickened. This wouldn't be a pleasant time.
Notes:
Azure doesnt know but that NightShades comes from a secret admirer, wonder who could be ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°)
Chapter 3: WILDFLOWER AND BARLEY
Summary:
Sometimes theres a rainbow after the rain
Notes:
Shout out to the noli who hated me from the core of their soul and inspired me to make this chapter, Noli, if you are seeing this, just wanted to make you know that you traumatized me for life :C
I think I may start doing longer chapters since I don't want the history to have that many, editing them is such a pain in the ass, but is worth it uwu
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
One minute, that's all the time Azure had to prepare before the game began. He started pacing around his cabin, trying to calm down. Meeting the survivors and being with 7n7 had distracted him from the fact that now that he was a survivor, he would have to suffer the same fate as them.
Azure wasn't prepared to be chased by a hunter actively wanting to kill him again; he'd had enough with that first game he'd participated in.
While the timer started going down, Azure started looking around his room. Maybe he could find something to help him, an object with which he could hit the hunter if he dared to get close to Azure.
But unfortunately, he didn't find anything to help him. The only interesting thing was a bookshelf containing heavy-looking books, and Azure wasn't so sure he could kill the hunter by hitting them repeatedly with a book
Disappointed by the lack of deadly weapons in his dwelling, Azure decided to sit on his bed and wait for the accountant to run out. Like a vaccine, Azure repeated to himself, -You know it will hurt, but there's nothing you can do to avoid it-
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When Azure opened his eyes again, he noticed he was standing in what appeared to be a cemetery. He gathered his courage and began walking cautiously toward a generator, trying to remain as inconspicuous as he could. After all, being the first survivor the hunter encountered wasn't a great idea.
Azure began silently fixing the generator, listening for any sound that might indicate the hunter was approaching. The only sound that could be heard was his breathing and the generator.
Suddenly, he heard a branch snap behind him. Azure jumped as he turned around as fast as his body could allow, and to his relief, it was only Noob.
Noob looked at Azure like a kicked puppy, approaching him as he gave a silent apology and began building the generator next to them.
The new company brought him a small sense of confidence. Azure felt more protected when he had a partner who could watch his back.
When the generator was fixed, Azure decided to go their separate ways. He didn't want to draw attention to himself and end up hurting Noob. The blond quickly noticed Azure's intention to leave and decided to grab his arm. -If we're together, we'll have a better chance of surviving, don't you think?- Azure hesitated for a second but finally nodded.
Noob and he began walking around the map in search of another generator. Although something kept Azure on alert, they had a strange feeling, as if someone was watching them. Azure ignored the feeling, telling himself that it was just the paranoia the game was causing him.
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Soon they and Noob found a generator, which they quickly approached. Noob began to complete it while Azure looked closely at the surroundings. The sensation was still present, and this caused him great bewilderment.
Noob let out a shriek that immediately alerted Azure. The blond moved away from the generator as if he had been burned and began to tremble. -We have to run. This isn't a generator.-
In the distance, Azure began to hear the sound of distorted music approaching faster than Azure felt comfortable with. They nodded to Noob and began to run as far away from that bizarre sound as soon as possible.
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Noob and Azure ran as fast as their legs could carry them, but it seemed that wasn't going to be enough. Azure heard the sound of glitches increasing. He turned around to look, and to his horror, the hunter was already a few steps behind them. He recognized his comrade Noli. Now Azure understood why he was one of the most feared hunters.
The hunter gave a jump that knocked Noob to the ground. Azure also stumbled along the way. Luckily for him, and not so luckily for Noob, Noli didn't seem very interested in him.
Azure panicked. The hunter was focusing on the already wounded Noob, and if he continued like this, it was only a matter of time before he ended up killing them.
Azure took a deep breath and threw the first thing at the hunter, which turned out to be a branch. It didn't hurt them, but it did catch their attention.
The distraction worked, as Noob took the opportunity to run to the other side of the map, leaving Azure and the hunter alone. Realizing this, Azure broke out in a cold sweat.
He really didn't believe he would make it that far. He was physically fit, and if he tried, Azure was sure he could punch the hunter, or at least that's what he kept telling himself to calm down.
-Wh4t2 wr0n9 w*7h y0u!- Azure tried to make sense of what Noli was trying to tell him, but with so much interference, it was almost impossible.
Azure slowly grabbed a rock that was near him and threw it at the hunter. While the hunter was distracted by the thrown object, Azure ran as fast as he could with all his might.
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Noli seemed to have taken a dislike to him as he continued to chase him after Azure nearly ran the entire map. Some survivors supported him, like Elliot, who gave him a piece of pizza after the hunter hit him for the first time, or Guest, who distracted him for a moment, allowing Azure to gain distance.
But no matter how many of his teammates supported him, Noli didn't seem to want to change his target. Azure may have thrown one or ten Nightshades at him in an attempt to distract him, but that was no excuse for the hunter to be so determined to end his life.
Azure recited all the prayers he knew to the spawn. He prayed to the spawn to shoot a lightning bolt at the hunter and end their suffering. Although it didn't help much, the pure spite that maybe if Azure held on a little longer, the hunter would fall dead kept him standing for as long as necessary.
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Azure quickly reached the house on the map, and by then he'd gotten enough exercise to be doing nothing for the next decade.
He took a moment to breathe. The hunter could be heard in the distance, still trying to catch up. Azure limped while holding a Nightshade in his mouth. They arrived at what appeared to be a dining room. He sat down on one of the chairs and waited for Noli to catch up so they could resume their game of cat and mouse.
It didn't take long for the other to catch up, but before the hunter could reach the dining room where Azure was, he was stabbed in the back.
That took them both by surprise, the hunter froze for a few moments because of this.
Azure was dragged out of the house. When Azure came out of his shock, he realized that his savior was none other than Two Time. They held his hand gently, as if he were a delicate flower that would break with the slightest mistreatment. Oh... and the way they looked at him, just like in his sweetest dreams, it caused butterflies in his stomach. It was as if time itself stopped so he could appreciate that event.
That moment didn't last long. It was broken when Azure saw Noli start moving again and realized that he wasn't at a picnic with his partner, but rather in a game where they actively sought to torture its participants.
Noli looked furious. Azure watched as his mask changed into a grotesque expression. The sounds he made became more erratic, showing how his patience was running out.
But as if it were a ray of hope, he noticed the timer reach 40 seconds. He could no longer run. His legs were burning and his lungs screamed for mercy.
But Azure knew someone who could keep going. He glanced at Two Time, who seemed ready to stab the hunter again.
Azure grabbed Two Time by the forearm. That action seemed to take them by surprise. -Nigh Azure what are you doing?- Before the others could finish speaking, Azure gathered momentum and threw them in the direction of the hunter. Azure hoped Two Time wouldn't get too angry with him for using them as bait. Silently, he heard a chuckle coming from his hat. Of course it would enjoy that.
He didn't turn around after that. He just ran, not wanting to face what he had just done. When he stopped, Azure felt his stomach churn. His whole body screamed at him to turn around and go get his beloved back. But Azure wasn't stupid. He was exhausted, and he wasn't going to. be nothing more than a burden to them
Besides, Two Time is more than capable of taking care of themselves, -not to mention their second life—his little hat kindly reminded him, but that didn't stop the urge to take care of Two Time from kicking in.
Azure sat on the ground, patiently waiting for the timer to run out. There were 10 seconds left, and it seemed Two Time was managing just fine without him, since they hadn't used their second life yet.
He needed to do something to apologize to them afterward. Maybe he'd leave them a NightShade while they weren't looking.
The timer reached zero, and with that, the game ended, crowning the survivors as winners.
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Azure fell to the floor of his cabin, causing a dull thud to echo throughout the room, but he didn't care. Now that all the dopamine had finally worn off, the tiredness had finally caught up with him, making it almost impossible to move his body.
They decided to simply lie on the floor. They felt their muscles relax and their joints pop. They breathed a sigh of relief.
Everything around them was silent. It was just him and the loneliness in his room. This made his eyelids grow heavier. Azure decided to close his eyes for just a few moments to rest them, long enough for them to stop burning.
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In the silence, a knock was suddenly heard on the door, which woke Azure up, who jumped up due to the noise. The little break he had taken wasn't so little in the end.
Azure's head was spinning from how quickly he stood up. With a slightly unsteady steps, Azure reached the entrance and opened the door.
The first thing he saw was the sight of the most beautiful person he knew. The second thing he felt was the horrible realization that Two Time was at his door. Azure opened it, looking like a patient who had just woken up from a coma.
After he opened the door, it was followed by a few minutes of absolute silence. Azure's brain was short-circuiting, and Two Time looked like he was going to cry. Neither of them knew what to do.
Azure, blinded by discomfort, wanted to close the door in their faces, but Two Time quickly grabbed the frame, preventing him from doing so. They inhaled and finally spoke in a weak voice. -My dear teammate, Elliot, didn't see you after the game. He's worried that you were in a state of shock after such a fiasco with the hunter this evening-
True, tiredness made him forget about his teammates. It was obvious they were going to worry about him after being the hunter's focus throughout the match and then disappearing at the end of it.
Azure nodded curtly to Two Time, not giving them the initiative to continue their conversation. It wasn't that Azure didn't want to hear them talk, quite the opposite. But with them facing Azure, he wasn't sure he could maintain the facade of indifference he had maintained as a hunter.
Two Time's expression faltered for a second, but it was quickly replaced by that blank expression Azure hated so much.
The minutes passed, and neither of them moved from their spots, both staring at each other with the same gaze that spoke so many unspoken words.
Azure couldn't stand it and broke eye contact. He began to close the door again so he could look more presentable to the others. He didn't want to cause unnecessary worry.
This was until Two Time spoke again. -I'm really sorry to bother this server, but I think it would be best if I accompanied you. After all, it seems you came out very unstable from that game. The most sensible thing would be for someone else to accompany you, for safety, obviously.-
Azure wasn't stupid. What Two Time was giving him was a very poor excuse to be near him without making him uncomfortable. Even Azure could observe the gestures he knew so well, how they looked at everything but him and fiddled with their hands, all signs that they were lying.
Although seriously thinking about it, it wasn't a bad proposal. It wouldn't violate any requirements since he wouldn't show open affection toward Two Time, but it would give him the opportunity to be with his beloved for a few seconds.
Azure pretended to think about it for a few moments, glancing at the look of expectation that Two Time tried and failed to hide.
Finally, Azure nodded, accepting the proposal, but not before signaling them to wait for him at the door. Two Time nodded quickly and stood in the doorway like a gargoyle, not moving an inch.
He sighed at his beloved's strange reaction, but did nothing to stop them; after all, he had grown accustomed to their eccentricities.
Azure quickly entered his bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. His hair looked like a bird's nest. He had one or two smudges of dirt on his face, and what shocked him the most was the bruise on his left eye. The mere thought of Two Time seeing him like that did nothing but to further embarrass Azure; they wanted to dig a hole and get in there.
He quickly fixed his hair as best he could and washed his face, removing all the dirt that had gotten on him because the hunter had thrown him to the ground several times. Azure couldn't do much about the bruise. It seemed his Nightshades didn't have the same healing power as with other survivors; at least they served as a weak sedative.
Azure exited the bathroom and was greeted with the sight of Two Time snooping around his room. Azure cleared his throat, causing them to jump.
-I'm glad you're done changing, my dearest. We'd better go, don't you think?- That nickname made Azure's heart skip a beat. It almost made Azure miss the fact that Two Time had stolen one of his shirts. The keyword was "almost," but Azure chose to ignore the dark-haired person's action.
Azure pushed away the hand Two Time was offering him, deciding to walk forward without a single glance at the other. If Azure ignored the fact that he was actively sabotaging what remained of their relationship, he'd be lying if he said playing hard to get wasn't fun.
He remembers how in the cult, unlike Two Time, he wasn't the most popular person, which caused him to be almost always with them. Not that that was a bad thing, at least that's what Azure considered. But when the entire cult knew you as the clingy one in the relationship, it felt good to have the roles reversed.
Two Time began to walk faster, allowing them to catch up to Azure, standing at his side. -Who knew it only took you being stabbed for your dream to come true?- Exasperation filled Azure's senses. He really had to find a way to silence that little pest, he thought. Azure squeezed his hat in retaliation. It wasn't going to cause it any harm, but Azure hoped it'd get the message.
Apparently, Two Time perceived his actions as discomfort towards them, causing them to start avoiding his gaze and taking more space between them, which made the atmosphere even more awkward.
This mortified Azure. In a burst of courage, Azure approached Two Time to the point where their shoulders were touching. He didn't make a sound or point it out. He acted as relaxed as he could, deliberately ignoring how his hands were sweating and how he almost tripped over a branch.
But it was all worth it when he saw the small smile that formed on Two Time's face. Not one of those smiles that denoted their lack of sanity, but rather ones that Azure thought he would only see in memories. That brought some relief to his bruised heart.
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The walk to the lobby was silent. Azure couldn't say a word, and Two Time didn't seem to have any intention of starting a conversation, but that didn't matter. Just being together once again brought with it the feeling of peace they both longed for.
The silence was deafening, but that didn't matter, as in that silence, more things were said than they could ever say out loud.
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When they finally arrived, Azure was greeted by a worried-looking Elliot. -Azure, I'm so glad to see you safe and sound. Noob told me all about your departure and how the hunter treated you like a rag doll,- the blond said as he shook Azure by the shoulders.
-Even Two Time seemed worried, they kept saying- -Hey, Elliot, don't you smell burnt?- Two Time interrupted the blond before he could finish.
Elliot, hearing this, quickly went to the kitchen to check that his creation hadn't ended up burnt. Azure took advantage of the situation to approach the table. His short nap helped, but his legs still hurt.
Two Time seemed to want to approach Azure but they were intercepted by a Noob who seemed extremely disturbed by something in their shared rooms, which left them with no choice but to accompany the blond to their cabins.
Azure, having nothing to do, began to look around. Elliot and Guest were trying to make dinner, or at least what was left of it. Azure watched as Elliot stared at a pile of ashes with resignation.
In a corner were Shedletsky and Builderman, who seemed to be fixing a slot machine. Although Azure noticed that Builderman was doing all the work, his partner was only in charge of holding his toolbox. Not far away, Chance was resting against a wall with a smug smile. At their feet, there was a small pile of coins.
In another corner were Taph and Dusekkar. The former seemed to be having a one-sided conversation with the latter, but Azure noticed that Taph was occasionally making hand movements that he couldn't decipher.
And finally, Azure noticed 7n7. He looked like what Azure would describe as a deer in the road. He looked lost and uncomfortable, as if he didn't belong here, though that never stopped him.
Azure got up from his spot and walked over to his side. This seemed to take 7n7 by surprise. He looked around as if expecting a trap, and finally approached Azure.
-Hey friend- 7n7 stood next to him but still keeping a considerable distance -I saw your performance with Noli, you really beat him up don't you think?- 7n7 let out a dry laugh -Don't hold a grudge against him, okay? He's not normally like this, he just lost control because of something I did, and you had to be the target of his wrath.- 7n7 put his hands on his face, letting out a breath heavy with resignation. -I always screw up, no matter how much I try to change.- Azure didn't know what to do, but he wasn't going to leave the other alone. It was clear he needed someone to vent to.
Azure simply stroked 7n7's back in circles. -No matter how monstrous they've become, a part of me still loves them.- Azure nodded, not only to show that he cared about what the other said, but that phrase described the feeling he had so long retained and still retains for his beloved. No matter how twisted their psyche had become, Azure would still love them no matter what.
7n7 wiped the remaining tears from his eyes as he adjusted his glasses. -Thanks, I really needed someone to listen to me. I know it can be annoying for you, and sorry again for what happened in the match, it must have been very stressful for you- Azure denied, giving him a small smile.
Azure wouldn't admit it, but being chased by the hunter brought him nothing but good things. He would replay that game a thousand times if he were allowed to touch Two Time again. That idea would remain in the back of Azure's mind, along with his hat, whose ability to ruin any beautiful moment. He wasn't sure 7n7 would appreciate being told his true opinion.
After that the brown-haired man looked happier, still with tired eyes, but with a small smile, Azure moved away from him and began to walk back to the table, hunger was killing him.
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After a few screams and a lot of insults from Elliot, the pizza was finally ready. Everyone sat around the table. As they all settled in, a terrified-looking Noob entered the dining room, followed by Two Time, who was carrying a spider like a trophy.
Noob quickly ran towards Elliot, using him as a human shield. Shedletsky approached Two Time and began pinching the spider as if he expected it to miraculously revive.
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Apparently, Noob wanted them to get rid of the spider, while Two Time wanted to give it as an offering to the spawn, arguing that a spider of that size was surely a divine sign.
When neither of them accepted the other's proposal, Chance suggested they play rock, paper, scissors. Two Time won, to the sadness of most.
Although Azure loved his dearest, he could see the folly of giving a giant spider to the spawn, so while everyone was focused on the fight, Azure took the spider and burned it in the oven.
None of the survivors wondered where the spider ended up or why the oven smelled strange. Everyone sat at the table enjoying each other's company.
Two Time sat next to Azure, neither of them said a word, and if their hands accidentally touched on more than one occasion, no one commented on it.
Notes:
During the same match, met this Elliot that wouldn't leave alone, I attract them hoes >:)
Who likes the found family trope and can't stop themselves from using it: meeeeee! >:D
Chapter 4: Would That I
Summary:
Local entity teams up with homophobic hat to break up beautiful couple apart
Local cultists and audience are not happy about it
Notes:
If any of you is interested, the cabins are sorted like this:
Shedletsky-Builderman
Dussekar-Taph (The cabin is actually Dussekar's house, but he allows Taph to be with him)
Two Time- Noob
7n7- Guest 1337
Elliot- Chance
Azure is alone lolI like to think that the hunter's cabin is just a very big mansion, just like the creepy pasta one, where every killer has their own room
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Azure woke up with the sun's rays hitting his face. With a slow, drawn-out step, he got out of bed and walked straight to the bathroom to take a shower.
The hot water splashed all over his body, causing his muscles to relax. These past few days had been truly stressful for him, causing his entire body to tense most of the time and giving him a horrible neck ache, so he decided to take it as a small reward.
He left the bathroom when he felt the water starting to turn cold. He put on a towel and went out to find a comfortable change. After all, the specter had told them the day before that due to errors in some maps, the games would be canceled for the entire day.
Azure was really going to enjoy that mini-vacation. Ever since he became a survivor, he hadn't stopped participating in the games. Sometimes, Azure wondered if it was a pure coincidence or if the specter was just playing tricks on him.
Azure's theory gained strength because in almost every game he participated in, if not all of them, Two Time was also chosen. This seemed to be a new event, as the tired looks on the others' faces were noticeable.
Azure noticed how the recurrent games were affecting the other. Two Time had dark circles under their eyes that made them look like a raccoon, and let's not forget the way they held the dagger during the games, as if it were a lever that kept them from falling asleep.
Although he didn't complain about anything, the relationship between him and Two Time had surprisingly improved thanks to these games. Little by little, it seemed that the occultists were beginning to grow more comfortable with Azure's presence. They no longer trembled or became tense when he approached.
Sometimes, even in games, Two Time would stick to Azure almost the entire time. They would always give a different excuse, from watching over Azure's safety to even saying that the spawn had assigned them that task. In those moments, he didn't mention the obvious lies; instead, he decided to enjoy the moment with his beloved. After all, if Two Time is the one approaching him, Azure isn't violating any requirements.
That reminds him of what happened yesterday in the last game he had with the others.
The game had started well. The hunter was John Doe. Shedletsky was holding him off for almost a minute, and the machines were being completed. But the game changed when the hunter decided to switch targets to Elliot, who couldn't hold out that long and was killed in less than 30 seconds.
This left Azure as the sole healer, which was fine—Azure is good at his job, after all. But that task became more difficult when Chance's pistol malfunctioned, causing an explosion that distracted Shedletsky, allowing the hunter to take advantage of the situation to eliminate him and seriously injure Chance.
With two survivors gone and one seriously injured, panic quickly set in, causing the machines to complete more slowly.
The hunter was chasing Chance, and the way things were going, he wasn't going to last much longer, so Azure decided to leave the machines he was completing and start running in the direction where his comrade and the hunter were.
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Azure ran as fast as his legs could carry him, just in time. The hunter was about to deliver the final blow to Chance, but he quickly stepped in, effectively bodyblocking him.
-Thanks, buddy, you saved me out there,- Chance said as Azure gave him a flower to help him heal. Azure nodded, still a little confused by the blow the hunter gave them. -Good conversation, but you know, duty calls.- After a few moments, Chance pulled out his pistol again, preparing to resume his conflict with the hunter.
They both shook hands and decided to go their separate ways, after all Azure didn't share the same feeling of wanting to go bother the hunter.
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While Azure was completing a machine, he heard familiar footsteps approaching him. Azure decided not to pay much attention to it, focusing on finishing the machine more quickly. When it was finally complete, he finally took the time to look at the person in front of him.
As he had feared, the person in front of him was none other than Two Time. They were staring at him, more specifically at the wound on his head.
The wound had already stopped bleeding. Azure only felt a dull pain that was easy to ignore, but from the way Two Time was looking at them, it could easily be mistaken for a mortal wound. Azure was in no mood for Two Time's pitying glances, so he preferred to continue on his way in search of another machine to complete, intentionally avoiding any place where they might encounter the hunter.
In the distance, Azure heard the blast of Chance's pistol, followed by the alert that the hunter had successfully eliminated a teammate.
Azure wanted to tear his hair out in frustration. The match was about to end, but after Chance's elimination, the timer slowed down again.
Azure's main objective momentarily changed. He had to hide while the hunter looked for a new victim. After all, he was already half-wounded. Two Time hadn't followed him, so he was completely alone.
Suddenly, the hunter stepped on one of Taph's bombs, revealing his position. Azure sighed in relief, seeing that he was nowhere near them.
Azure emerged from his hiding place and looked around again, noticing that there were no machines near him. Azure scratched his hair, removing the dried blood that had stuck to it. He was mentally preparing to run halfway across the map in search of a machine.
Azure began to run without looking closely around him, hoping the hunter wasn't nearby. This caused him to miss the figure approaching in the opposite direction, almost at the same speed and with no plans to stop.
This caused him to collide with a loud bang, sending them both to the ground. Azure clutched his chest in indignation, ready to look a little offended. Maybe that way, he could distract the person in front of him from the fact that it was Azure's fault for not looking ahead.
While Azure was thinking of a way out of the embarrassing situation he had gotten himself into, he was interrupted by a throat clearing. Azure finally noticed the person in front of him only to run into Two Time. Again, why do I always end up running into them? Azure thought. It was incredible how they always ended up in the same situations. It's as if fate was putting them in each other's path on purpose.
-I'm really sorry. I didn't look where I was going and ended up hurting you.- Two Time looked at him with a face of immense remorse, and that only made him feel guilty about the fact that it was mostly Azure's fault for not looking where he was running, and with enough force to knock a person off their feet.
Azure quickly stood up, ignoring the other's apologies. He gave Two Time his hand, helping them up. After all, that's what a good partner would do. Not that he wanted to hold their hands, no, just out of platonic concern.
Two Time accepted his help, clearly looking embarrassed. -I noticed you were hurt earlier, so...- Two Time suddenly closed their mouth, stopping themself from saying anything. They simply gave Azure the medical kit without looking him in the eye.
He carefully grabbed the medical kit, not knowing how to react to Two Time's action. All Azure wanted to do at that moment was throw himself into Two Time's arms and kiss them, but he was sure that wasn't something people who hate each other do.
Azure gave Two Time a small smile in gratitude and began walking to a place where he could sit, being followed by the other, only a few steps separating them.
When he found a spot that looked decent enough, Azure sat down so he could focus better on healing his wounds. They sat next to him, not close enough to touch, but enough so Azure could feel their warmth.
After a few seconds, Azure finished healing, feeling relieved that his wound was no longer at risk of infection. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Two Time stir in their spot.
-You may not think so, but for me, these past few weeks have been the best of my life,- Two Time said in a weak, broken tone, the kind that would have been lost in the wind if he wasn't paying attention. -You really don't know how much I missed being with you.- They faced Azure, their gazes pure sincerity, showing him the most defenseless part of them.
Azure felt his face turn red and his heart race. Of course he knew how they felt; after all, he knew them like the back of his hand. But the others accepting such feelings so openly really made Azure's heart skip a beat.
A few moments of pure silence from Two Time and an internal war from Azure filled the air.
Fuck the specter and their demands, Azure finally thought. He bravely took Two Time's face in his hands. They looked at him in shock, but with a hint of hope in their eyes.
But before any of them could make a move the timer reached zero, causing all survivors to be automatically teleported to their cabins.
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The first thing Azure felt when he returned to his cabin was the air rushing out of his lungs. He opened his mouth to gasp for air, but it only made his throat itch.
Azure began coughing, initially with dry coughs that quickly turned into fits that made him fall to the floor from the force of them.
He grabbed his throat in a desperate attempt to make the coughing stop. Suddenly, Azure felt something in his throat. He coughed harder, trying to get the foreign object out.
Finally, he managed it, taking a deep breath as he felt the air rush back into his lungs. His entire body was trembling, his eyes had become glassy, and his breathing was uneven.
Azure looked at what he had spat out. Were they flowers? Azure didn't understand what had happened. Was that a warning from the specter to keep Azure from breaking the deal they had made?
He picked up the flowers from the floor, noticing they were blue roses and Myosotis. Azure looked at them morbidly. The flowers were blue, but the blood splatter made them stand out even more.
Tears began to spill from Azure's eyes. He didn't know why exactly they just flowed, and he couldn't stop them.
Azure got up from the position he was in, even though his muscles were fighting him. He threw the flowers into the trash can near his bedside table and lay down on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
The specter really is cruel in its warnings, Azure thought as he closed his eyes to try to sleep. Tomorrow would be a new day, and what happened today would be forgotten, just a fleeting, bitter memory.
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That discovery had left Azure with a bad taste in his mouth, both metaphorically and literally. Every plan he had was shattered when he learned that the slightest sign of love for his ex-lover would result in him being suffocated to death with flowers.
Azure sighed in defeat, filing that problem away for later. Today he would enjoy his mini-vacation. He could sleep all day, as some survivors had said they would. However, Azure wanted to keep his mind occupied, so he decided to look for a companion of his who needed help.
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Azure left his cabin, the sun beating down on his face. The atmosphere of the camp was calm, a clear contrast to the tense atmosphere that sometimes exists there. That tranquility allowed him to think about different things. Azure wondered how the other hunters were doing.
After all, before becoming a survivor, he was a hunter for a long time. To say he didn't miss his companions a little would be a lie. Compared to the survivors, the hunters were quieter, but that didn't stop them from being close in their ways.
Although the hunters were still doing their job successfully, Azure noticed how they avoided focusing on him or simply gave him a quick death without torture, as they did with other survivors. It wasn't the best, but Azure would grab that small shred of mercy.
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Azure arrived at the main cabin, to his disappointment, Elliot and Two Time were nowhere to be seen. Although he didn't care much that the latter wasn't around there, Azure didn't think he could face them at that moment.
He sighed and started toward the exit. Maybe going to sleep didn't sound like such a bad idea after all. -Azure, would you give us a hand?- He looked in the direction of the voice, noticing it was Dusekkar greeting him in a friendly manner, along with a worried-looking Taph.
Curiosity got the better of him, so he went over to see what was worrying them. The closer he got to them, the stronger a nauseating smell grew.
When Azure was close enough to his two companions, he had to cover his nose to avoid vomiting right then and there. Horrified, he looked at the people in front of him for answers.
Taph began to wave his hands in strange patterns that only made Azure more confused. He looked at Dusekkar for answers. -Um, basically, we might have made a mistake while trying to make a potion,- the other finally said, fiddling with his staff.
-We've tried everything, but the smell doesn't seem to go away, no matter how much we clean the place.- Taph nodded in agreement with his companion. Azure sighed in defeat instead.
It wasn't the situation he imagined, but he wasn't complaining. The perfect situation to keep his mind occupied. Azure remembered that while he was in the cult, his experiments with oils and poisons sometimes resulted in bad combinations that caused stenches that wouldn't go away no matter how much he bathed. Perhaps the situation is the same, if we remove the magic factor.
Azure began walking toward the kitchen area. He looked around for the supplements that would help him. To his relief, he quickly found the baking soda.
Although another key ingredient was nowhere to be seen, Azure turned to look at his companions, looking for a way to make them aware of his need. -Is something wrong?- Dusekkar said, noticing the annoyance reflected on Azure's face.
Suddenly an idea came to mind. Azure began to sign the letter v with his fingers. This seemed to have taken his companions by surprise. They stared at each other, not knowing how to respond to what Azure was doing. -V?- Azure nodded quickly when they saw that they understood, then changed to the letter I. -I? Vi.- Dusekkar scratched his head. Azure didn't know what to call it. -N, VIN.- Azure looked pleadingly at Taph to see if he understood the message Azure was giving him, since spelling the alphabet to communicate was becoming a bit tedious.
Apparently, Taph understood his intention and made those strange signs, making Dusekkar finally understand the message. -Oh, do you want vinegar? I think I have some in my cabin. Give me a few minutes and I'll bring it to you.- With that, he left the main cabin in search of vinegar, leaving Azure and Taph alone.
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A deafening silence filled the air, which neither party involved could break. This continued for a few more seconds until Taph started signing again. This made Azure feel a little guilty since it was clear the person in front of him was truly trying to communicate, but he didn't really understand what it could mean.
Azure sighed when he saw the conversation wasn't going anywhere. He started walking toward the mess, motioning for Taph to follow him.
He wondered what else he needed to remove the smell from the room. It was a relatively small area, but that didn't stop the smell from clinging strongly to the room.
When Azure turned to look at his partner, he was greeted by a notepad right in front of his face. This threw him off a bit. He took a few steps back to read what the other had written.
-What's the name of the flower on your hat?- Ah, that took Azure by surprise. He involuntarily touched his hat. Taph nervously began writing again in the small notebook upon seeing Azure's reaction. -The healing properties they have seem curious to me.-
Although the question had taken Azure by surprise, it didn't mean he couldn't answer it; in fact, it was quite the opposite. He tried to make the emotion less evident on his face, but he was failing miserably. Would you blame him? Azure couldn't remember the last time he'd been able to talk to someone other than Two Time about a topic he was so passionate about.
To Taph's surprise, he snatched the notebook from his hands and began to write as if their life depended on it. Their lack of speech could limit them in many ways, but telling random facts about plants wouldn't be one of them.
Taph, though he couldn't say it explicitly, seemed genuinely interested in what Azure had to say about plants, nodding as he read the information. Azure may have gotten a little excited about the topic since the conversation ended abruptly with Dusekkar's arrival, scaring them both.
-Eee, I don't know how long I've had it, but I'm sure it'll do the trick,- he said while scratching one of his antlers.
Azure nodded, taking the vinegar. He headed to the closet where the cleaning supplies were, putting on gloves and a mask, and taking out the bleach, which seemed untouched, to his surprise.
In a bucket, Azure began mixing the baking soda with the vinegar, creating a foam that fell on the bedroom floor. The good thing was that the floor wasn't wooden; otherwise, it would have been a real pain to have to wash it.
With Taph and Dusekkar's help, they managed to spread the entire mixture, removing the residual dirt and the superficial odor that the room gave off. The first step was already completed; now came the real challenge.
Azure instructed his assistants to put on their safety clothing, he didn't want them to end up with any food poisoning from this, they obediently followed the instructions given to him, and Azure had to use all his self-control to not laugh at how they looked dressed in the safety suits.
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The task was difficult; the smell of alcohol and chlorine made Azure want to vomit after a while, but that didn't stop them from their mission.
Dusekkar had to take a few breaks from his cleaning task, while Taph seemed to enjoy the smell in the room.
After a few hours of mixing chemicals and praying for the best, they worked until their arms felt numb and their noses burned from smelling the chemicals, but in the end, the group successfully made the smell go away.
The three sat in silence, internally enjoying the victory they had just achieved.
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They both left after a while, but not before making plans to spend time together again.
Azure just nodded, looking forward to their next outing. They seemed like very interesting people to Azure.
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Night fell, prompting everyone to gather for dinner. Azure simply left the main cabin to return to his own. Today's problem had left him without an appetite, and fatigue was eating away at his bones, nothing a good night's sleep couldn't fix.
The path was filled with a suffocating silence. His mind was beginning to wander to the one thing Azure didn't want to touch at that very moment. He began to quicken his pace. The faster he could get home to sleep, the less time he'd have to think about his situation.
When he finally reached his cabin, he collapsed at the door, feeling all the fatigue of the day settling in.
His eyes were heavy and his body didn't want to get up from the position he was in. Azure closed his eyes for a moment. It would only take a moment to rest, and then he would get up to lie down in his bed.
Just when his body was ready for his long-awaited rest, a knock on the door woke him up abruptly, causing him to hit the door handle in his surprise.
Azure mentally cursed while his hat snickered. With his mood considerably soured, he opened the door. He considered not opening it to the person outside, but in the end, he decided to be polite. After all, it was his fault for thinking it would be a good idea to sleep in the doorway.
When he opened the door, he was greeted by Elliot holding what appeared to be a pizza box. -You really had me worried. I hadn't seen you eat all day. When I didn't see you at dinner, I thought you might have fainted.- That reminded Azure that yes, he hadn't eaten anything all day. Although it was normal for him to go days without eating, he didn't want to worry Elliot further, so he took the pizza box with a smile.
That seemed to calm Elliot down. -I'll stay here to make sure you actually eat,- the blond said as he pushed Azure aside and entered his cabin. -Um, I really envy you sometimes. You have your own cabin all to yourself. Having to share a cabin can be a pain sometimes.-"
Azure sat down on his bed, followed by Elliot, who seemed more focused on going through Azure's belongings in great detail. -You know, surprisingly, with your arrival, the hunters seem more peaceful than usual,- the blond said as he grabbed a slice of pizza.
Of course they'll be more peaceful if they spend most of the match being stunned by the sentinels, Azure thought, remembering how when he was a hunter, he couldn't take more than five steps without a sentinel trying to hit him. Instead, he simply nodded at what his friend was saying.
-Even that weird tentacle hunter doesn't appear anymore. I remember how Two Time became useless when we went against them.- Azure decided not to comment. On the other hand, his hat seemed extremely offended by the comment, although it didn't matter because Azure was the only unfortunate one who could hear its complaints.
Elliot seemed about to open his mouth to say something else, but before he could, he was interrupted by a knock on the door. -Oh, were you expecting visitors?- he said, raising an eyebrow at him. Azure shook his head in response. He was equally surprised by this late-night visit.
The blond stood up and walked towards the door. Azure couldn't see who the person was from where they were sitting. -Ah, Two Time, I wasn't expecting you here.- The mention of the other made Azure get up from his bed and walk towards the door with long strides.
-Elliot, my dear friend, I hadn't anticipated your presence here either. I had come hoping to discuss a matter that was bothering me fervently with my dear Azure. But if I'm disturbing your evening, I won't hesitate to leave,- Two Time said, looking directly at Azure. He in turn shifted his gaze to Elliot, who seemed nervous.
-Oh nonono, it's not what you think, I mean I just came to make sure he ate something- Elliot said while laughing nervously. Azure looked at him critically, now judging by his reaction the situation could have been easily misinterpreted, -Yeah well I'm going now, have a nice night friends- He said as he walked away with a quick pace, leaving Azure and a very confused Two Time together.
Azure just sighed at the strange situation he had gotten himself into. Now thanks to Elliot he couldn't avoid Two Time or the conversation he had feared so much. Just seeing Two Time in front of them made him feel his throat start to itch.
-I just wanted to know if you'd like to go for a walk with me. There's something I'd like to show you,- Two Time said as they extended their hand. Azure wanted to simply ignore Two Time and have that break he so longed for, but in the end, he was a weak man who couldn't say no to his beloved. So, he finally agreed, grabbing Two Time's hand.
Suddenly, he felt the irritation in his throat again, a clear warning of what would happen if he continued down this path. But just feeling the warmth of his beloved against his skin made all warnings go unheeded.
Azure gripped Two Time's hand tightly, not wanting the moment to end. The action was met with the same energy, bringing the cultist closer to Azure, to the point where their shoulders were touching.
In the warm moment they were having, and the mental strength Azure was exerting to avoid a coughing fit in front of his beloved, he didn't notice they had reached their destination until Two Time finally stopped walking.
Azure looked in front of him, observing the wide garden of Nightshades in front of him. It wasn't the same as the one he remembered from his time in the cult, as it was smaller in comparison, but that didn't stop him from staring at it in awe.
He took a step towards it, being carried away by the beauty of the flowers. When he finally reached the center of the field, he lay down, remembering the thousands of times he had done the same with his beloved. His beloved did the same, lying down next to him.
-This garden is one of the few things I'm proud of. You really made it seem like taking care of a garden would be easy.- Azure just looked at them, amazed at what the others were saying. -The Nightshades reminded me so much of you, and now seeing your face, I think all that effort was worth it.- Two Time finally looked at them again, and the way they looked at him was enough to melt Azure's heart.
Two Time sat down -I- They looked conflicted, that made Azure sit down to be able to face them better -After the ritual I couldn't stop going to the NightShades garden, it was the only thing I had of you- Two Time said as their voice broke and their eyes filled with tears
-You should hate me, but I know you don't- Azure looked at the flowers, neither denying nor confirming anything that the others told him, -I don't care if we can't be what we were before, I just want to be by your side again- Suddenly Two Time grabbed Azure's hands tightly, as if they let him go he would never come back
-I'll do whatever you want, just please,- Two Time said, sobbing. Azure couldn't stand it anymore. The only thing that could break his heart was seeing his partner cry, and he wasn't going to just stand idly by and do nothing.
Azure grabbed Two Time's face, bringing them close enough for him to see them in detail. He finished what he couldn't do in the last game, finally bringing their face closer to kiss them.
The kiss wasn't long, but it was sweet, filled with the feelings both of them had longed to express. Azure felt like the air had finally become breathable, and his heart was beating again.
That was until he started coughing, which soon grew in intensity and caused Azure to gasp for air.
Azure began to feel his eyes fill with tears and his throat burn with reproach for the flowers that soon flooded his vision.
No matter how much Azure coughed, or how his mouth began to taste metallic, air wouldn't reach his lungs, his vision began to waver, his body couldn't bear the lack of air, and he finally collapsed. At least as the veil of unconsciousness enveloped Azure, he felt arms grab him tightly. He couldn't help but feel how familiar that felt.
Notes:
Welp that whats happends if you decide to follow your heart sjsjs
Yes i know Nightshades are poisonous but they are used to made some narcotics so its okay i guess ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°)
Poor Azure he gave Two Time a heart attack, the spectre is laughing right now
This chapter took longer than I thought it would (。﹏。*), it was so longgg, even though I cut certain things to the og chapter
Anyways, just one more chapter left to end it, so excited ╰(*°▽°*)╯
Inspired by that Two Time costume, just find it funny if Azure had the same way illness Two Time had, but Azure's is like a reverse hanahaki kind of thing ( •̀ .̫ •́ )✧
The flowers Azure throws up are my favorites hehe. Who represents eternal love and loyalty, according to Google (o′┏▽┓｀o)
Chapter 5: Take me to Church
Summary:
Fuck angst this bitches are getting a happy ending
Notes:
Yes, I name every chapter after a Hozier song o(><；)o, but can you blame me?
Last chapter guys hope you enjoy the history, it was so fun to make lol, kinda like the trope of hunters becoming survivors, maybe I will do another history like this but with other hunters, or reverse it and make a survivor become a hunter, who knows q(≧▽≦q)
And yes, I wrote this chapter instead of studying for my finals, but it's okay because all the exams are multiple choice, so who cares ;_;
almost 6k a chapter?? this is a new record for me ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Azure remembers that day clearly. No matter how much he tries to forget what happened, the memory always comes back, both in his dreams and nightmares. He remembers the color of the Nightshades, how the sky was a shade of gray and the atmosphere was heavy, clearly it was going to rain.
He remembers the ringing in his ears, the stabbing pain that had settled in his chest, and how his eyes had filled with tears, preventing him from seeing clearly. He could have fought back. Of course he could have. After all, even if Two Time was strong, Azure would have gained in strength.
But he didn't. How could he? How could he hurt the person he loves most in the world? And so it was. He didn't fight back. He let Two Time plunge that dagger deep into his heart. No matter how much it hurt, or how much his body began to panic as it realized they were going to die, Azure never fought back, because he loved Two Time.
And because at that moment, he hoped they would stop, that they would hold him down and tell him they regretted what they had done, that Azure was more important than their God and their religion that they professed so much.
But it didn't happen. Azure died that day, stabbed by the person he loved the most. Small, helpless, and replaceable, he lived an average life and died a grotesque death. He found it poetic in a way. After all, since he was a child, he was always ignored. He wasn't the most interesting person. It was obvious he wouldn't be anyone's first choice. But when he met Two Time, his way of thinking changed. Maybe after all, he was longed for. Maybe after all, he could be someone's first choice. Maybe he was a person who could be worthy of being loved.
Although deep down, Azure knew it was only a matter of time until Two Time realized it and got fed up with Azure. That day had come sooner rather than later. He, even in his last moments Azure was the second option, second to a God who never bothered to look in his direction, simply a tool, which they decided to use the moment it stopped working for them.
The next thing Azure felt was pain, a lot of pain. His skull felt like it had been hammered incessantly. His joints didn't respond, and he couldn't see anything. It was just him in what seemed like an infinite void.
He didn't scream or cry. After a long time, Azure felt peaceful. If he ignored the constant pain he was suffering, the place could be considered comfortable. After all, Azure was already used to being alone. He had always been alone before meeting Two Time, and it seemed that after meeting them, he would also have to embrace loneliness like a blanket that always lulls him.
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The transition, like everything in that place, was violent. One second, he was in the eternal void, and the next, he was in front of what seemed to be a mansion. Azure didn't believe it at first, thinking that surely so much time in that place had made him start having hallucinations.
But he soon realized it wasn't a hallucination. In that mansion, there were people like him, broken, unable to fix themselves or searching for ways, people who had been disappointed by society or their trusted people. Azure believes that's why he connected so easily with them. After all, when other people drown with you, the situation stops being so scary.
Another thing that had changed was his appearance, a mere shell of what he once was. Azure cried the first time he saw himself in a mirror. No sound came from his sealed mouth, but that didn't stop his horror from being transmitted. He was robbed of his ability to speak and molded into an aberrant image.
What followed was worse: he was manipulated like a puppet to murder people who hadn't done him any harm. No matter how much Azure refused or tried to overrule those orders, none of it mattered. What kept Azure awake at night was the fact that when he murdered, he didn't feel guilty in those moments, nor was his mind filled with guilt. regrets, on the contrary, a small and ugly part of him was excited and nourished by his horrendous actions
That was when he saw them again, Two Time, they looked unstable, paler than he remembered, they didn't recognize him, of course, as they would recognize their old self from their new one, but that only provoked Azure's anger, when he broke their necks, they felt nothing but the urge to vomit along with the emptiness he caused, after all, he was just a shell that had no voice or vote.
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Azure jolted up, his heart pounding in his chest and his body spasming as he coughed dryly. He didn't throw up any flowers this time, but the cough left his mouth tasting of blood.
-Wow, kid, calm down. We don't want you to have another attack like that, do we?- Shedletsky said, patting him on the back. -You really scared more than one of our teammates to death, you know?- Azure just stared silently as the other chuckled, -Elliot almost fainted when we told him.-
Azure decided staring at the ceiling was more entertaining. The reason he was there was eating him up with shame, and even more so when what brought him there was his lack of self-control.
He looked around, noticing that he was in what appeared to be the infirmary. It reminded him of the cult's infirmary. He spent his time there helping people with his knowledge of medicinal plants. He remembered how Amarah forced him to spend several nights there when he didn't behave. Those memories filled him with a strange sense of nostalgia.
-Meanwhile, Two Time- Before Shedletsky could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by the door of the room violently opening by the aforementioned. -Speak of the devil- Said Shedletsky, clearly annoyed with a frown in his face. Azure looked at Two Time, noticing how they looked, what Azure would describe as wild, both their hair and clothes looked dirty, as if they had been dragged somewhere, they looked pale and their eyes shone with a touch of panic and madness, Azure couldn't help but shudder at the sight, he knew firsthand that when his beloved looked like that it was a sign that something bad was going to happen.
Behind them quickly appeared a Chance and Noob who looked tired, both breathing as if they were short of breath, and Chance was sweating as if he had run a marathon.
-I told you both to keep them away from this place- Said Shedletsky in a scolding tone. Noob looked at him with remorse. Azure would compare him to a sad little dog, Chance, on the other hand, looked extremely offended -They had a damn knife!, Plus, they ran away the only time Noob and I turned around- Chance pointed an accusatory finger at Two Time, they didn't even flinch, they were focused on something else
That something else being him obviously, the mere sight of Two Time made Azure's stomach churn with both electrifying excitement and embarrassment. Although the kiss of reconciliation they shared last night was what he would describe as sweet and straight out of a fairy tale or a bad romance novel, the final part of the date wasn't the most ideal.
-Hey, buddy, I really don't think being here is a good idea.- Before Shedletsky could get Two Time out of the place, they pointed their knife at him. -Okay, okay, fine, jeez, I'll leave you two alone for a second. Just don't do anything weird.- Shedletsky signaled Chance and Noob to leave the infirmary. They seemed reluctant to leave, but seeing that the situation wasn't going to change, they both finally decided to listen to the older man and leave the place.
As soon as they left, the room began to feel heavy. Azure felt his throat start to itch, and the way Two Time was trembling didn't help the situation at all. After a few moments of being inert, Two Time began to approach him, with soft and measured steps, as a person would approach a wild animal. In complete silence, they sat down next to his bed.
Two Time arrived next to the stretcher he was on, his gaze fixed on the floor, showing no desire to look him in the eye. This frustrated Azure a little. Wanting the situation to move forward more quickly, Azure grabbed both of Two Time's hands. The contact made the others shudder. Suddenly, they looked up, finally facing him.
That's how Azure noticed that the others were crying, although they also had a twisted smile on their faces, which made their faces look terrifying. Azure ran his hands over Two Time's cheeks, wiping all the tears away. Tears flowed from their eyes, the action was as tender as his touch, Azure touched Two Time as if they were a porcelain flowerpot, which, if touched improperly would end up breaking.
The cough didn't take long to appear when Azure started doing such an action, the cough had evolved to become deep and squeaky, causing Azure immense chest pain.
Two Time pulled away from his grasp as if it had burned them. They stood up forcefully from where they were sitting. Azure watched as their hands trembled. Without saying anything else, they simply turned around and left the infirmary, leaving Azure alone.
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Azure felt his eyes becoming glassy and his breathing becoming unsteady. That's why he closed his eyes for a few moments, taking the time to calm down and think more clearly.
He opened his eyes when his mind was clearer, unaffected by emotions. That's how Azure observed the state he was in more closely. His throat burned like hell, his head ached, and the most interesting thing was some bandages that were tightly fastened to his arms. This filled him with curiosity.
He doesn't remember hurting his arms yesterday, although Azure guessed it must have been when he had fainted. Carefully, he began to remove the bandages around his arms. When they finally fell onto the mattress, Azure could see in horror the reason for them.
His arms were full of flowers, more specifically Nightshades. They were stuck to his arm as if they had been planted there. Azure tried to remove a small flower that was sticking out, and when he tried to pull it off, a stabbing pain flooded his senses. He let out a groan of pain as he pulled his hand back. Great, Azure thought. Now he not only had to worry about choking on the flowers, but now he also had to worry about being eaten alive.
With a sigh, he lay back down on the stretcher. After everything that had happened, his mind was too active to sleep, so Azure just settled for staring at the ceiling, hoping that everything that was happening was just a dream from which he would soon wake up.
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The following days passed in a blur. Both Shedletsky and Builder Man came to check on him every few hours to confirm if his condition was improving or worsening. Sometimes Elliot came to Noob's side to give him pizza and talk to him about their day. Even on some nights, 7n7 would appear to wish him a good recovery. But Two Time never came. Every time someone opened the door, his heart leaped with excitement, only to be crushed the moment he realized the person he wanted wasn't the one walking in.
A few days later, Shedletsky finally let him go when he realized his condition was stable. Although they tried their best, none of them could help him with his flower problem. They only recommended not doing what caused the buds to start. It was easier said than done, Azure thought as they gave him those suggestions.
In the end, he didn't get angry; after all, it would be very foolish to get angry with them for not being able to give him a good cure for an illness given by an extremely powerful identity, the Spectre. They are the only person who can cure him, and the way things are going Azure doesn't believe they want to do such a thing. Maybe Azure can communicate with them to set things straight, who knows, maybe the specter will take pity on them.
With that thought in mind, Azure finally left the infirmary. The camp was incredibly quiet, although that was to be expected. Most of the survivors were in matches. The only one lucky enough not to participate was Azure, who was unconscious most of the time.
Imagining that Two Time was in a match, he didn't bother looking for them. When it was time for dinner, he would face them. In the meantime, he decided to go to the lobby. He was in the mood for something other than pizza. He was truly surprised by Elliot's ability to always eat pizza and not get sick.
Upon entering the lobby, it was exactly what Azure imagined. The place was completely deserted. The only thing that indicated someone was there was the sound of the slot machine being used.
The sound came from the second floor. When Azure went up, he met Chance, who seemed to be quite focused on his objective. He approached silently, not wanting to interrupt the other in what he was doing. After a few seconds, the machine made a sound, causing him to take out a small pile of coins. They piled up at Chance's feet
Chance made a victory gesture as he relaxed his back. Azure thought this was the best time to make his presence known. With a soft touch, he grabbed Chance's shoulder, causing the other to flinch, followed by a scream of fear and a lot of cursing. -Damn, you really are quiet,- Chance said as he fixed his glasses that had moved from the jump he had made.
-Hey, you look okay now. Last time I saw you, you looked like shit.- Azure couldn't help but grimace. The mention of his condition was really a sensitive subject for him at that moment. Although Chance was absolutely right, they had really looked like shit these past few days.
-Noob and I bet on whether you were going to die or not.- Azure looked at Chance with a sour face. -Calm down, bro. When Elliot found out about the bet, he scolded us for three hours straight,- the gray-haired man said while laughing. -Although if you had died, I would have asked for your hat, it's cool as hell- they raised their eyebrows unimpressed by what the other was telling them, although Azure would give that gift hat a try if he could, on good days that thing looked like a spoiled cat, the hat growled in response to Azure's thoughts
-Anyway, I'm hungry, how about we go get something to eat?- Chance said with a smile. Azure decided to ignore what the other said and agree to go with him. After all, hunger was killing him too.
Upon arriving at the kitchen, Chance began searching through the refrigerator while he sat at the counter waiting for the others to find something to eat. -Luckily, it seems we have enough ingredients to make something other than pizza.- The gray-haired man said as he took the ingredients out of the cupboards and refrigerator. -I love Elliot, but if I eat pizza one more time, I swear I'll get seriously sick.- Azure nodded thoughtfully as she watched him begin to prepare the ingredients with precision.
-You know when I have a lot to think about and I can't concentrate, I like to cook. It helps me put my thoughts in order, you know, it's easier to resolve a conflict when you have a cool head.- Azure decided to ignore the critical look Chance was giving him. He already knew what he was suggesting, although, as they wanted, resolve the conflict when one party completely avoids the other
Azure couldn't help but let out a sigh, which only caused a small laugh from Chance. -Hey, things about love, don't you think? You really don't know what you're doing most of the time, but it doesn't matter if it works, you don't mess it up.- The other gave Azure a smile that reminded him of Two Time.
The meal was eaten in silence after that. When Chance finished preparing it, they sat down at the table, the silence being broken by a few anecdotes or jokes that the man with glasses told, while Azure only allowed himself to give small nods while eating his food in silence. It was really good to eat something new.
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The afternoon passed faster than Azure expected. When he realized it, the survivors were already starting to arrive at the main hall. With a farewell, Azure walked away from Chance. After all, he had something more important to do.
Azure quickly scanned the people who had arrived, but none of them was his beloved companion. He gave them a simple greeting and left the main cabin in search of Two Time.
Finding the black-haired person would be a difficult task for Azure, since he didn't know where the other were most of the time. After all, Two Time was the one who found Azure, not the other way around. And from the words he exchanged with some survivors, they seemed to have no idea of their lover's whereabouts.
Azure walked briskly toward the cabin Two Time shared with Noob. He'd never been there before, so he had to wait a while to work up the courage to knock on the door. But to his disappointment, when he finally worked up the courage, no one answered.
Noob was in the main cabin helping Elliot make dinner, which meant either his lover was ignoring him or no one was there. To confirm that the cabin was truly empty, Azure decided to look through one of the open windows.
The cabin was split in half; it was clear which half belonged to whom. The right half was filled with colors and posters of bands and movies Azure didn't recognize, while the right half was a landscape Azure couldn't describe as anything other than depressing, decorated with a few spawn symbols.
Azure moved away from the window after confirming that the rooms were empty. Now he really didn't know where to go. He really didn't know for sure what his beloved's schedule or usual places were in this place. That feeling of helplessness truly embarrassed Azure. Back when they and Two Time were in the cult, Azure knew where to find his partner even with his eyes closed, but now they had become chaotic. Most of the time, he didn't know what was going through their head.
Suddenly, Azure felt like he had an epiphany. How hadn't I thought of that before? Azure thought as he began walking quickly toward NightShades' garden.
The path, following the road Two Time had shown him a few weeks ago, although his memory wasn't the best regarding that specific memory, some of the plants Azure passed seemed familiar.
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When Azure finally arrived at NightShades' field, he had to take a deep breath. Although he hadn't coughed up flowers since being discharged, his breathing hadn't been the best.
When his lungs stopped burning, he looked around for his beloved, and there he found them. They were sitting right in the middle of the field. Azure approached them slowly and silently. It seemed they hadn't noticed his presence yet.
Azure approached them, noticing how they were sitting almost in the fetal position, while hiding their faces in their knees. He sat next to them, not letting them acknowledge his presence. They would realize he was there in due time.
The sun had begun to set when Two Time noticed Azure's presence. They jumped in surprise, causing a smile to spread across their face. After their initial surprise, Two Time stiffened as they stared at Azure like a deer blinded by a highway.
-Is this a hallucination or are you really standing in front of me, my love?- Azure felt a small smile form on his lips at Two Time's use of the nickname. They awkwardly raised their hands, their eyes scanning Azure's in detail.
Two Time placed their hand on Azure's cheek. He could feel the warmth coming from the other's palm. -Why are you here? NightShade-Two Time broke eye contact with him, staring at the flowers surrounding them. Azure, to show his intentions, placed his hand on Two Time's, which was still resting on his cheek, gently squeezing it.
The atmosphere became tense. Two Time looked like a skittish animal, and Azure didn't know how to communicate with them properly, which caused silence to begin to reign in the room.
Although it was broken by the cough Azure started to have, it wasn't a coughing fit, just a few coughs, nothing serious, Azure repeated to himself, but when he looked at Two Time, they looked extremely scared, their eyes bulging and trembling like a wounded rabbit.
Two Time stood up abruptly, clearly intending to run away from there, but Azure stopped them by taking their hands. His grip wasn't strong; if Two Time struggled enough, they could break free, but it was steady enough that his intention of not letting them go was conveyed.
They tried to slip out of his grasp for a second but ended up giving up easily. Azure approached them but was pushed away by Two Time. -Because don't you understand that I'm hurting you?- Two Time's voice broke at the last part. That made Azure's heart clench. His first instinct was to hug them, but he didn't want to agitate them further, so he stayed still without a sound. -Don't you understand that this is a punishment from the Spawn? I hurt you and now I'm not worthy of you.- That made Azure open his eyes. That was why Two Time didn't approach him, right? They believed the Spawn was punishing them, he thought.
Azure wanted to tell his beloved the whole truth at that moment, from the pact with the Spectre to how this was their punishment for breaking the rules, but he knew better than anyone that no matter how hard he tried, no sound would come out, so they simply shook their heads.
But Two Time didn't seem to understand what Azure was saying. They were too busy crying like a baby. So he grabbed his partner's hand again and began to guide them to his cabin. The path was filled with sounds coming from Two Time, mostly pitiful sobs. If someone didn't know them, they would probably think Azure was about to kill Two Time from the way the other was crying.
Carefully, Azure opened the door to his room, gently guiding Two Time to his room. By this point, his partner had stopped sobbing. They had simply stared at a fixed point in the room without showing any emotion. Azure was sometimes worried about how his beloved could change their mood so easily.
He put the water on to boil. Maybe it would help calm Two Time's nerves, Azure thought. He scanned the room for Two Time. He found them sitting on his bed, fiddling with their hands, a clear sign that they were stressed.
Although they hadn't run out the window the moment Azure turned around, so he'd take that as a small victory.
As he watched Two Time, Azure hadn't noticed how he'd gotten lost in his thoughts, being pulled out of them the moment the kettle squealed. Azure turned around quickly, noticing out of the corner of his eye how Two Time tensed at the sound.
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The two of them were sitting on Azure's bed. Two Time was staring at his tea as if it were the most interesting thing in the world, and Azure was staring at them as if hoping that by staring at Two Time, the other would magically understand his thoughts.
-You know that being by my side will only hurt you, right?- His lover's comment took Azure by surprise. He looked at them with wide eyes. -I know, but I don't care, nor do I care.- Two Time continued talking, not looking at him at all. -That's why I'm being punished by the Spawn, right? Because I'm a horrible person.- After that comment, a critical smile spread across Two Time's lips, clearly filled with resentment.
Azure wouldn't allow this cycle of self-pity and self-hatred that Two Time had to continue. With a determination he didn't have before, Azure got close enough to Two Time to invade the other's personal space and gave them a firm hug. A cough erupted from him, causing Two Time to squirm, but Azure didn't give in; instead, he squeezed Two Time tighter.
After a few moments of squirming, Two Time hugged Azure tightly, placing their head on the other's shoulder. Azure felt his shoulder begin to get wet, but decided not to show it; after all, he didn't want that beautiful atmosphere to be broken.
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Azure managed to convince Two Time to sleep together. At first, his beloved seemed really resistant to the idea, but it seemed that tiredness was settling in, causing them to end up in the position Azure was in at that moment.
Two Time was fast asleep. Azure was lying on their chest. The sound of their heart helped calm him down. It was a reminder that they were alive and that they weren't going to leave him. The sound of his partner's breathing and the calm atmosphere made Azure fall asleep. With a small smile, he let his eyes close.
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The first thing Azure felt was the chilling cold that covered his entire body. He opened his eyes in fear, realizing he was in a cabin, but he noticed something wasn't right. The first was that Two Time wasn't sleeping next to him as he had been a few moments ago. The second was how his window didn't show the dense forest but instead showed an infinite darkness, like a void in which no kind of light could make its way.
And to his reluctance, the icing on the cake of this eccentricity was that the specter standing at the foot of his bed. Azure just stared at them without blinking, never letting his guard down.
Suddenly, as had happened that day, images and ideas began to flood his mind. This caused Azure to have a headache, but he managed to understand what the specter was trying to tell him.
They weren't happy with Azure's contract violations. He didn't flinch. After all, the Spectre wasn't wrong, but did Azure care? Honestly, he'd answer no. Currently, his nervousness had turned to anger at the Spectre interrupting his sleep with Two Time just to scold them.
Azure felt his throat start to itch. The cough he let out brought blood and flowers with it. He just stared at the Spectre with a defiant look while wiping the blood from his mouth.
Another headache suddenly hit him, accompanied by a new proposal that had left Azure speechless.
The specter would allow his romance with Two Time to continue, but in exchange he would have to give up his human body and return to being a hunter. Azure stood still for a few seconds, not knowing how to process what the specter was saying.
His mind had become chaos at that moment. A part of him wanted to reject the specter's proposal and simply continue with what he was doing. But Azure was no fool. He knew the flowers had only been a mild warning. If the specter proposed, they could truly make being with his beloved a living hell. Or worse, they could start punishing Two Time instead of him. But returning as a hunter would mean giving up everything he currently had: the bonds he had formed with his companions, the strange relationship that was beginning to blossom between him and Two Time. All of that would be gone as quickly as it had emerged.
He let out a shaky sigh. His shoulders had hunched, and he couldn't concentrate clearly. The weight of making a decision was killing him. His head was pounding, and the screams from his hat, which he thought would be a good idea to come to life at that moment, didn't help.
With a swiftness that surprised even him, Azure let the specter know of his decision.
He accepted the new deal.
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When Azure opened his eyes again, he was greeted by the entrance of the mansion he knew very intimately. Not much had changed with his absence, the gloomy atmosphere still making its way through every inch of wood.
Azure walked slowly. His hunter body wasn't as light as his Survivor counterpart's, the appendages protruding from his back taking up much of the weight. And how could he forget his beloved hat, which laughed and shrieked with happiness at being back in its normal form
He wrapped a tentacle around the mouth of his hat. Azure really had no desire for its nonsense. He fixed his hair that was blocking his face and knocked on the mansion door with a sharp knock.
A few minutes passed until the door opened, the figure that greeted him was none other than CoolKid, who looked at him with a smile while his eyes lit up in recognition, -UNCLE AZURE, YOU'RE BACK,- the boy said in a volume that made Azure's head start to hurt, he simply nodded and ruffled the boy's hair.
-But look who brought the current,- Azure recognized that voice immediately, it was none other than 1x1x1x1, who looked at him with a critical air, -What? Does the occultist not like you anymore?- Azure didn't respond, the truth is he wished the situation were like that, things would be simpler if that were true, 1x1x1x1 took Azure's silence as confirmation, she simply let out a defeated sigh and crossed her arms
-Fuck them if they doesn't see how amazing you are, come on, you're lucky, we were about to start watching a movie- She grabbed Azure's arm and led him to the living room, where John Doe and Jason were sitting on the couch, Noli was adjusting the movie volume and Mafioso was petting 666, ignoring everyone around him.
Azure sat on the couch in silence, everyone around him stopped what they were doing and stared at him. Azure saw 1x1x1x1 whisper something to the others, which caused a few sympathetic glances and a shrill laugh from Noli.
The awkward atmosphere dispersed after that. The only thing that had changed was how everyone started striking up conversations with Azure. The topics were varied, from CoolKid's request to play with him later to the condolences Mafioso had given him. All of this reminded Azure of how much that he had missed his companions
Azure didn't pay attention to the movie; he was more focused on how 1x1x1x1 would cover CoolKid's eyes when violent scenes appeared, or how Noli would laugh at the silliest things, or how Jason burst into tears when they showed a strong relationship between the mother and her daughter. And most importantly, how everyone sat comfortably, sharing their personal spaces easily. At one point, even 666 joined in for the cuddle session they had started. The trust and strong bond between them was evident.
Azure had really missed that kind of intimacy. Azure had really missed his family.
In the end, they all fell asleep on that couch, watching that low-budget movie, being accompanied by each other's warmth.
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The match had begun, and with it, the beginning of Azure's life as a hunter as well. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. After all, he'd spent the entire previous month on the opposing team. He was sure some of his skills had gotten a little rusty.
Furthermore, Azure had grown attached to the survivors, especially a certain delivery man, which didn't make his mission to eliminate them any easier. So he made a decision: just for this match, he'd let them win.
He began to wander around the map. Although, yes, he'd let the survivors win, that didn't mean he couldn't torment them. And as if Spawn himself were reading his thoughts, Azure found himself face to face with his dear friend Elliot.
He seemed in a trance as he worked with the machine. Azure noticed dark circles around his eyes and his hair looked more disheveled than usual. Azure, seeing that Elliot wasn't going to notice him anytime soon, decided to grab the blond with one of his appendages.
That seemed to finally snap Elliot out of his trance, tensing in her grip as he looked at him with puppy dog eyes. -Damn, of course you have to be the hunter when- Elliot cut himself off mid-sentence, snapping his mouth shut as he looked at Azure with defiant eyes.
- What are you waiting for, weird octopus? Kill me now, let's not make this longer than it has to be-. Elliot closed his eyes, awaiting his fate. Azure couldn't help but snort when he saw that his friend didn't recognize him - You really are a drama queen, what? Don't you recognize me, pizza boy? - Azure's hat spoke. A part of him actually rejoiced at being able to speak again. He was still dependent on the hat, but it had the ability to speak, which was the most important thing.
Those words made Elliot look at him with a puzzled face. The blond even tilted his head and scrunched his eyes, scanning Azure. He could see the realization dawn on Elliot's face. His eyes grew wide and his mouth fell open.
-AZURE?- Azure nodded, a smug smile growing on his face. With that, he dropped Elliot to the ground. But that only made the other man lunge at him. -Dude, you really scared me, I thought you were dead.- With that, the blond hugged Azure tightly. -Damn, I should have known you were the cool hunter who had suspiciously disappeared,- Elliot said, scratching his head.
-I'll ignore the fact that you called me weird.- He looked at Elliot critically, the other only deigned to let out a chuckle. -It feels so weird hearing you speak. I was used to you being less sarcastic, plus you've gotten taller, I can't pull you around anymore.- The blond gave Azure a friendly nudge. Azure just responded with a smile.
-Enjoy the game. I don't feel like hunting them down, so you can do whatever you want. I have something to talk to Two Time about.-Elliot grimaced at the last bit and didn't escape Azure's gaze. -Good luck, you're going to need it.- With that, the blond said goodbye to Azure, giving him a smile that he couldn't help but return.
Finding Two Time was harder than Azure imagined. His lover was truly elusive. On his way to find them, he encountered other survivors. Most were relieved to see that he wasn't dead, while others just laughed at the absurdity of the situation.
But none of them knew the whereabouts of their beloved.
After a while he found them, or rather, he stumbled upon them, as Two Time was in the fetal position on the ground. The sight was a little disturbing for Azure, as no apparent movement was seen from his partner. If Azure didn't know better, he would think they were dead.
-Two Time,- Azure said in a serious voice. This made his partner stand up suddenly, causing him to take a few steps back in surprise. Two Time stared at him, scanning his body. Of course, it was a shock to see him back in his hunter body, but that only served to embarrass Azure.
-My NightShade, do you finally hate me now?- Two Time said as they tightly grabbed Azure's arm. His partner's expression was more of a grimace than a true smile. Their eyes were empty, with no trace of that loving look they'd given him less than a day ago.
-You're really stupid, aren't you?- Azure blurted out, more abruptly than he intended. This only made Two Time's smile grow and their grip tighten.
Azure was prepared; in fact, he'd been prepared for a long time, so he gathered his courage and continued speaking. -Tell me, Two Time, how do I get it into your head that I'll love you no matter what?- That made Two Time's expression crumble for a second, and their grip on Azure's arm loosen completely.
Azure took advantage of this to pull Two Time closer and give them the kiss he had been waiting for. This one wasn't short like the last time, on the contrary, it was long, passionate, and needy, like a thirsty man who had finally found his oasis. Two Time held Azure tightly, as if somehow they could become one, and Azure did the same, squeezing them so they could feel how much they desired them.
In the end, they both separated due to a lack of oxygen. Two Time looked at him as if he were a God, and Azure was no different. If his beloved had told him to give them his life, at that moment, he would have done it without hesitation.
With tears in his eyes, Azure gave Two Time another kiss. This one was chaste, but it meant a new stage for them. They couldn't be what they were before, but this new one was much better. They both smiled when they saw each other, knowing they had finally achieved what they had longed for.
Notes:
I find it so funny that I completed this history before the one I started with, not completing that one, such a pain writing it (。﹏。*)
My headcannon is that Two Time is kinda unhinged with the survivors, but with Azure they are just a big crybaby (o′┏▽┓｀o)
This chapter was originally going to be in Two Times pov, but i decided not to, because I couldn't resist no writing from my king's Azure perspective U_U
The ending was going to be bittersweet/kinda angsty but i decided to suck it, this bitches had suffered enough; they deserve a happy ending (*￣3￣)╭
Thanks to all the support, you guys motivated me to complete it (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)
Already working in another history, it isnt related to this universe, but its still AzureTime, have a lot of ideas for fanfics, just dont have that much time ( •̀ .̫ •́ )✧
If you guys have ideas related to this universe let me know, maybe it will inspire me to make a series of this (☆▽☆)