Chapter Text
There was 1 minute and 50 left in the clock for the round end. Taph was hiding in the haunted mansion at the corner of the map, the place surrounded in tripwires and trip mines, for protection more than anything.
While she was fixing one of the machines that were left to be done they heard very faint footsteps walking towards her position. She quickly got off the machine and turned to look at the direction of the footsteps, seeing a familiar figure standing next to the wall, looking towards her. It was Two Time, of the sentinels, they looked.. hurt, to say the least.
“Ah… my fellow survivor… how fortunate, how truly blessed, that our paths converge in this place…” – The wingless harpy said, their body trembled as the pain spread though their body, their left hand holding clenching their shoulder.
“❤️🩹🤕⁉️” – Taph expressed in concern, walking towards the sentinel and helping said stand up straight by putting their arm over her shoulder before heading towards the machine, helping Two Time sit next to it.
The support survivor grabbed a medkit that was nearby, turning back to Two Time before starting to bandage them up, lifting up their shirt to wrap a bandage around the wound that was on the sentinel chest from Slasher’s chainsaw. Despite the somewhat mixed feelings Taph had towards the sentinel she couldn't just stand there and leave them hurt.
While he was bandaging them up, he noticed their extremely poorly preened body feathers, looking like they weren't even preened at all, at the sign she couldn't help but feel curious about it.
“... 🛑🫵🪶✨❓(don't you preen your feathers?)" – They gestured, looking down at the sentinel.
“Ah… not precisely… It has been some time since I last attended my own preening… yet I can assure you… I remain in flawless condition…” – They assured, looking at the support survivor standing in front of them.
Taph let out a small sigh at Two Time words, not exactly falling for their words. She sat next to them, her hands moving to analyse some of the messed feathers in their shoulders. Unfortunately, before she could analyse their feathers better, Two Time pulled back, looking at her while a bit frozen.
“.....”
“.... 🙏🤲🚫🫵🔓✔️ (i apologize, i shouldn't have touched you without your clear consent)” – Taph apologized, pulling back while looking at Two Time. They felt rather bad for making Two Time uncomfortable, even if not intentionally.
“.... It's.. okay..” – They looked back to the floor, their tail a bit wrapped around their frame.
Taph looks at the timer, 20 seconds until the round ends. Taph looked down at the floor, thinking, how can she make this up?
“🤔➡️😊🤝⏳➡️🏁❓(would you like to meet up later after this round?)” – Taph asked, looking back at Two Time, hoping they will accept the offer - “🪶✨🤲 … 🙏🙂❓(to preen your feathers.. if you don't mind)”
“…I… will carry this in my thoughts… and let the Spawn guide my contemplation…” – The sentinel answered, looking at the supporter.
“☺️👍” – Taph sighed. Shortly after the round ended, both of them and the other survivors that were in the round got teleported back to the cabin.
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Taph was laying at the bed of her cabin, she could see the main cabin from out the window, for the first time in the eternity of this purgatory, the sky was brighter, no longer night as usual, she wondered what could have caused this.. maybe whatever entity was keeping everyone here was feeling nice? Who knows.
While laying down down, she heard a knock at the door. She got up, heading towards the door before slowly peeking it open slightly, when she saw who was on the other side she opened the door. It was Two Time, standing by the door.
“Greetings my fellow survivor..” – Said the sentinel, looking at the harpy standing before them.
“🫵➡️🚶♂️” (you came..) – Taph expressed, looking at Two Time for a minute before giving them some space to walk in when Two Time coughed a bit to break him out of thought. – “🙏❌🤔🫵✔️.. (my apologies, i just didn't expected you to accept my offer)”
“its all well… I merely required time to reflect upon the favor you have extended unto me…” – Two Time assured, walking into the other’s cabin, looking around.
The place looked like a nest, to say the least, not exactly the most clean place but Two Time couldn't judge considering the state of their own room back in the main cabin.
Two Time sat in the bed, looking back at Taph while analysing him a bit, he was wearing something a bit more casual, it was weird to see her wearing something other than her robes.
“Ah… so… you spoke of preening me, did you not?.. I… I am grateful for the offer… Yet… is it not often a trial of discomfort? Such an act… is deeply intimate… among our harpies and avians…”
“🧠➡️💭💞🚫👀🪶😟➡️😣 (i know it's considered intimate but seeing the state of your feathers made me feels very uncomfortable, your feathers seem brittle)” – Taph expressed, walking towards the bed and sitting next to them while looking at them. – “🤲💌✨➡️🙂, 🚫➡️▶️❌🫂 (It was just an honest offer, we don't need to go forward with it if you do not comfortable with it)"
“I.. understand..” – The harpy let out a small sigh before continuing. – “We may proceed… I merely… needed a moment to reflect upon your offer… may the Spawn’s eternal light bless you for your boundless kindness…”
Taph gave a thumbs up before moving closer to Two Time, gesturing with her hand for them to take off their shirt. Two Time hesitated a bit before agreeing and taking off their vest and shirt, leaving themselves with only the “top” they used underneath.
After Two Time took off their shirt, Taph hands moved to their back, the top was making this a bit more inconvenient. Before building a lot of courage to ask, he decides to request something from Two Time.
“🙏👕❌❓ 🤏⚙️😅 (could you take off your top? It's making this process a bit more difficult)"
“Oh…. Sure..” – Two Time answers before taking off their top, the entirety of their body was covered in feathers, it was not like anything was gonna show.
Taph nodded before going back to the preening, while doing so they paused a bit as they noticed the scars in Two Time back, two massive scars in the sides of their spine, conventionally being in the place wings normally are in avians and Harpies — Taph stopped in his tracks, looking at the scars, for a while now he thought Two Time was just a wingless harpy, it was uncommon for avians and harpies to be born without wings, yes, but not impossible, so he thought that was the case, but now seeing those scars… maybe the case was different.
Unsure if it was okay to mention they decided to ignore it for now, going back to preening
After some time. Taph was almost done with preening Two Time back, while preening, they heard some soft noises coming from Two Time, snoring. He pulled back, looking at Two Time, realising they were asleep — was the process this relaxing for Two Time or extremely boring to the point of sleep? He couldn't tell. He slowly pulled Two Time down a bit, positioning both themselves so the pose was comfortable for Two Time to keep sleeping but also convenient enough for him to keep preening them.
After some long time, he was finished, Two Time body now soft and fluffy, the feathers now preened and kept. He gently shakes Two Time's shoulder to wake them, said didn't even budge at the gesture, just moving a bit, guess they are a deep sleeper? Though he is pretty sure he heard from Shedletssky Two Time doesn't sleep that much in between rounds, maybe all the lack of sleep got to them during the preening, since the process is pretty relaxing.
He slowly laid Two Time down onto the bed, covering them up with the blanket — “they look pretty cute like this” — She thought before shaking her head, shaking the thought away, thinking that of someone he barely knew was weird to him.
He slowly sat down next to Two Time figure, where can he sleep now that Two Time is at their bed? Maybe on the couch at the cabin? He's pretty sure he can't lift Two Time up, Two Time was the shortest survivor yes, and since they are a harpy they are definitely light since their bones are hollow. He's pretty sure if he picks them up they will wake up tho..
The supporter sighed before laying down next to them, laying against the wall to try and keep a distance between both of them, covering himself with the blanket.
The next day. Taph slowly woke up, feeling something in her arms, she looked down, seeing Two Time hugging her chest, her own arms wrapped around their smaller figure. He blushed a bit heavily, not expecting any of this. He tried to pull back a bit, his movement seeming to have got to Two Time, who stirred a bit in their sleep, their eyes slowly opening up. The same face also flushed a bit as they noticed what was happening, pulling back and then sitting up on the bed.
“M-My humblest apologies, Taph… I… I was lost in the shadows of my own slumber… forgive me… for the intimacy that I did not intend—” – They quickly apologized, looking down at Taph who was now sitting on the bed.
“👋👋🙂, 😴➡️🛌, 🙏😔, 👀➡️🤏🫂💤 (hey, hey, it's okay, you were asleep, i also apologize, didn't realized we had got so close while sleeping..)” – Taph quickly answered, trying to reassure Two Time. He looked at their chest, realizing they are still bare, she forgot she didn't put shirt clothes on them yesterday before letting them sleep. – “…👕➡️🙂 (just.. put a shirt on)” – He expressed a bit embarrassed, handing them their shirt and vest.
Two Time gulped before nodding, grabbing their top, shirt and vest, putting it on. They looked back at Taph, he was staring at them, his face still visibly flushed.
“... Uhh..” – They looked down at their body, noticing their fluffy feathers. Taph did a good job preening them, last time they got their feathers preened was by Azure, their ex fiance. It felt.. intimate to get touched like this, to say the least, specially by another harpy. – “…I… offer my deepest thanks for the… preening… your grace humbles me…”
“❌❗🙂🤝✨.. (no problem, happy to help..)” – The supporter answered, looking to the side.
“…I… shall return to the main cabin now… once more, I offer my gratitude for your aid… may the Spawn’s eternal grace shine upon you…” – They added before heading to the door and closing the door after leaving.
After Two Time left Taph couldn't keep the sentinel out of their head for the rest of the day, the feeling of their body against his, his hands around them, god he felt like a pervert for thinking of all this, she just helped them preen, nothing more, keep it together Taph. The fact today was a round free day didn't help either since he didn't have anything to distract his mind from, was he this desperate for affection for these thoughts to be filling his head from such a simple situation that happened?
Taph was a crow, Two Time was.. an owl? Of sorts? This would never work, they are natural enemies, why was he even thinking of this, they barely interacted, it was just a one time thing.
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The next days were.. weird, to say the least. Taph did noticed Two Time being relatively more.. close to him? Something like that, they have been staying close to him during rounds, bringing him food in between rounds, it was.. weird…
Today, she was determined to ask about that, curiosity getting the best of her. After looking for the sentinel for a bit, she found them. They were in the doc, sitting in the fishing area while looking at the sun that would never set. Taph took a sign and slowly built courage to talk to them, to ask about their behaviour towards him recently.
“2️⃣⏱️❓💬❓… (Two Time?.. can we talk?..)” – She asked, looking down at them.
Two Time turned their head to look at the crow standing behind them, a small smile forming in their face.
“Ah… good evening, Taph… to what matters of the soul shall we turn our minds this eve?..” – They said, looking at Taph as she sat next to them.
“…💭👀➡️😕🫣… 🧍♂️❓🌀😬 (it's.. about your behaviour lately.. you have.. been acting a bit weird recently)” – Taph gestured, looking at the owl sentinel.
“My… conduct?.. I… I fail to understand… what is it you perceive?..” – The owl tilted their head to the side, a bit confused at the question.
“🤔…🧍♂️➡️🫂🕹️… 🍱➡️🫵⏰…❓(i mean.. you have been staying very close to me during rounds.. also have been bringing me food from times to time lately.. why is that?)”
“Ah… well… I am merely attempting to honor the kindness you bestowed upon me through preening… such an intimate gesture among us owls… and so… I wish to offer my gratitude… properly… to you…”
Taph blushed a bit at their words before shaking their head, looking to the side. What does this mean for the both of them, i mean, he knows owls harpies to this to show affection, he's sure it's normally between mates tho. Does this mean anything? Does that mean Two Time and Taph have grown a bond? Were they something now?
“Taph.. Taph!” – They shaked his shoulder a bit, to wake him up for her trance.
“❗… 🙏…🤔💭 (sorry, i.. was just thinking)” – Taph apologised, looking back at the sentinel, god, they looked so pretty under the sunset light. – “…🫵🏡⏰❓ ➡️🏁⏳(can.. you visit me at my cabin later? After the round tomorrow?)”
“Oh… yes… it would bring me… indescribable pleasure…”
Taph nodded before getting up, sighing goodbye to Two Time before leaving, running back to his cabin. He closed the door, looking around the cabin, dear Roblox, they never felt like this before — Maybe he's reading too much into this? He hopes not, cuz if he is what he is about to do will be the most embarrassing thing he ever did in his entire life. She rushed, starting to clean his cabin, make it.. acceptable, fixing his nest like bed, etc.
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The next day, after a round ended. Taph was sitting in his bed, waiting for Two Time, he had collected some shiny rocks and some of his own feathers, to give it to Two Time. Why was he doing this? He himself didn't know. — “desperate” — She thought to herself, looking at the nest bed, he didn't even know if Two Time liked them, how could he even be developing feelings so fast? It was a one time situation, they cuddled ONCE and he was getting some gifts from Two Time and now he was making a whole nest with rocks and some of his own feathers for them.
He froze a bit as he heard a knock at the door, getting up and walking to it. When they opened they saw Two Time standing there, looking up at him.
“Greetings Taph, it's nice to- oh!” – they couldn't finish their phrase as they were interrupted by Taph pulling them by the arm to inside the cabin, closing the door while looking at them. – “Ah… it appears your soul yearns to commune with mine, does it not?..”
Two Time looked around the room, noticing it was.. a lot more clean and organized as it was last time they came here, did he stop to clean up? They looked at the nest, seeing the shiny rocks and feathers.
“... What is..?” – Their eyes moved to Taph, who was holding a little bag full of shiny rocks, sticking it towards Two Time, an offer. – “.. Taph”
“2️⃣⏱️… 🤔👉 💞🫵👫❓(would you like to be my mate?)” – Taph expressed very nervously, her tail wagging slightly behind her.
“Taph, I..” – They looked to the side, thinking about the question, they.. were expecting anything but this. They looked back at Taph, they couldn't see his face but they knew his face probably was flushed behind the shadow covering their face. He's acting just like Azure was acting the day he confessed to them, so nervous, all of her body language showing anxiety. – “i…”
“…🫤❓💔😖🤦♂️🙏😔👀❌📖➡️🫵💭😣➡️🥀 ("... You don't like me back, right? God, that was stupid, I'm sorry, i misread your intentions, I'm sorry, i probably look desperate now)” – He starts apologizing, stepping back and covering his face, dear Telamon, they probably look pathetic now, desperate.
“Taph, it's okay” – They reached up to hold Taph's hands, uncovering his face and looking at him. – “I… find myself drawn to you, though I dared not believe the feeling could be mirrored. To reveal such longing so soon felt as though I would be laying bare a hunger unworthy, desperate… yet the pull has been undeniable, even in these few days.”
“.....”
Two Time couldn't say much before feeling Taph arms wrapping around them, lifting them up and spinning them around, pretty sure Taph liked this answer. Taph put Two Time in the nest like bed softly before laying down next to them, wrapping their arms around their form and pulling them close — okay, yea, he's definitely happy with this information.
“Ah… it seems your spirit stirs with fervor at my reply…” – Their arms around her back, their eyes looking up at her.
The crow didn't answer, just wrapping his arms around their form tighter, his body snuggling into them. Two Time, touch starved as they were, snuggled deeply back — their tail wagging softly behind them before wrapping around the crow’s leg, their legs wrapped slightly around Taph’s form. It's been.. so long since Two Time last experienced this type of affection, last time was.. the night before Azure died. Taph behaviour reminded them of Azure, their touch, their affection — maybe that's what made them get so drawn to her so quickly. Maybe this could be a new start, a chance to.. heal. Who knows?
Both stayed there, snuggled and cuddled together like magnets, both feeling slumber starting to fall over both of them, this will be a long night..
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