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DDEL3TING M3M0RIES, 1% C0MPL3TEDD.
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C00lkidd started to cry the moment Bluudud stuck his still-growing teeth into his tail.
It wasn’t hard at all, just a slobbery baby mouth drooling spit into it. Still, it was enough for warm, wet tears to roll down his chubby cheeks and onto the brightly coloured playmat below, and 007n7’s attention quickly moved towards his son.
007n7 never envisioned himself in this position, taking care of a child. It wasn’t too long ago when he was a chaotic soul, swore up and down that he was destined to do something. Good or bad, 007n7 wanted the world to know his name. Attention was still attention, after all.
But all news of him, of his doings, had fallen off the moment he found C00lkidd at his doorstep.
He had tried to get rid of him at first, going to nurseries and putting up posters in a desperate attempt to find C00lkidds real family.
But no one came for the child, and they seemed just as undesired and unwanted as 007n7 was to most. That was probably his undoing in the end, his cause to stop wanting to destroy people’s lives and watch them crumble like rocks against tides.
Attachment was a funny thing; it came out of nowhere and completely hooked him like a fish to a rod.
“You’re so still so protective,” 118o8 sighed, voice not unkind but still forward. 007n7 had been quick to take the still crying C00lkidd into his arms, cradling and rocking him in his unkept, hairy arms. She set down her cup of tea against the bench. “C00lkidd is fine, Bluie doesn’t have teeth yet.”
007n7 begged to differ, but he bit his tongue to keep himself from saying anything cruel. 118o8 had been the only other parent to talk to him, after all. The only one to show him even a tiny inch of kindness.
They had gone to high school together, 118o8 and him. She was popular, but kind, she never picked on anyone, never said anything cruel, and for 007n7 that alone made him like her a little more than the rest. She always had her nose stuffed in a book of some kind. It was no surprise when she was announced as one of the valedictorians of their grade.
007n7 had not been so lucky. He wasn’t popular, per se, but he did have his group of friends. It started small, at first. Rushes of adrenaline pump through their nerves as they paint buildings, or ride trains from the outside, or climb to heights once thought unimaginable. Those restless nights led to 007n7’s grades plummeting, and the kid who was once considered the smartest in his year level became a man with a horrendous final score. He had never cared, though.
His connections led him to start doing… odd jobs, and those paid well enough.
“Bluudud also bit him, what if he has, I don’t know, roseola??” 007n7 pleaded.
“Are you suggesting that my son has roseola?” 118o8 hummed, brow raised. Shit. 007n7 gave himself an extra hard pinch on his arm, already covered in bruises from this a dozen times over.
He couldn’t mess this up. He needed C00lkidd to have a friend.
“No,” 007n7 mumbled. “No, I’m not. I’m just… I’m sorry.”
118o8’s gaze softened, and she picked up her tea and brought it to her lips once again, taking a long sip of the still-steaming cup.
It was pretty, covered in a floral pattern that matched her kettle. It looked expensive. Then again, 118o8 had been pretty well off her entire life. The prized only child of a rich family, who was smart and gifted from birth, had a well-paying job in finance into adulthood. She worked online too, so even after she adopted Bluudud, she worked just fine.
007n7 couldn’t bring himself to go back. Not with C00lkidd being so young, it was dangerous, too dangerous. But at the same time, the money he had made from exploiting was soon to run out.
Maybe he had to take on another client. Just one should get them through the month; daycare fees were expensive.
“I suppose I can accept your apology,” she hummed, voice lighter, edging towards teasing. “Are you sure you don’t want any tea or coffee?” 118o8 asked, head tilted. “You look tired.”
007n7 was tired. Extremely so. He’d do anything to have a night's sleep without C00lkidd crying, or without forcing himself to code until the early morning. But there was simply no space for that to happen.
C00lkidd's tears came to a halt, and quietly 007n7 retired him to the playmat once again with Bluudud.
“I’m okay,” he assured. “Just not used to not drinking energy drinks every day…” he mumbled as an excuse. 118o8 laughed at that, a real, genuine laugh. Bright and crisp like a warm summer day, perfect for ice cream.
“You did always smell like sour honeydew energy drinks, now that I think about it,” she chirped, her eyes shining like lights. “I can’t believe you’re still doing that!”
“Yeah, yeah,” 007n7 scoffed in response, eyes rolling with it, but even someone like him couldn’t help the smile against his lips.
It had been a while since he last smiled; the last time he could recall doing so was when C00lkidd finally started taking his first steps. So many restless nights kept 007n7 awake because even at 18 months, C00lkidd hadn’t started to walk. He crawled just fine, but even when 007n7 tried to hold him up, C00lkidd would cry. And 007n7 hated seeing him cry. But when C00lkidd turned 19 months old, he finally started to, and 007n7 had been so happy he dropped the bowl of baby food he was making.
He wasn’t so happy when he got glass in his foot after that.
But C00lkidd mattered more.
That day, he spoiled himself with Builderbrothers and let C00lkidd nibble on the crusts.
This time, his foot wasn’t bleeding. And 118o8’s house had heating. And more toys than 007n7 could dream of for C00lkidd and Bluudud to play with. Bluudud grabbed a shark-shaped toy and tried to chew, as much as chewing could get you when you didn’t have any real teeth yet, on it.
007n7 watched for a moment, until there was movement from the side of his eyes, and both his and 118o8’s eyes flickered to the window with lace curtains.
Just kids playing outside. Squirting each other with water guns in the warm day and having droplets splash down their clothes and faces.
“Hey, that’s Elliot,” 118o8 hummed gently, eyes locked onto one kid in particular. Elliot… Elliot, Elliot, did 007n7 know an Elliot? Was he supposed to? He didn’t think he did, but 118o8 called his name with such ease that made 007n7 doubt himself. Maybe he did know an Elliot?
No. No, he really didn’t.
“Elliot?” 007n7 echoed.
“Mm. I’m surprised you don’t know him; he’s the kid of one of the owners of Builder Brothers. He’s a good kid, that one, looks after Bluie for me sometimes.”
“What?” 007n7 barked out, words pouring before he had managed to stop them. Leaving a baby with a kid? The mere idea sent shivers down 007n7’s spine.
When he was Elliot’s age and near a baby, he distinctly remembered having the urge to drop-kick them.
But he wasn’t Elliot’s age, long past it by now, and by his foot were two babies he had no interest in drop-kicking anytime soon.
“Oh, relax,” 118o8 said, shoving him playfully. She was a lot stronger than she looked, and 007n7 got ragdolled. “Only for a few minutes when I need to get something from the grocery store or fill up my car. Bluie hates the car; it takes the same amount of time to get him in his seat as driving to the actual store, and he cries all the way there and all the way back.” She sighed. “It’s easier to leave him with Elliot. Besides, he has experience with his baby sister, and he’s already working full shifts at the pizzeria.”
007n7 still found himself grimacing at the thought of doing so. He supposed 118o8 was simply living a different life than he was, in the end.
“I guess,” he replied, trying not get 118o8 on his bad side as little as possible. Better to be friendly with someone like her; she got annoyed easily, and her scoldings were something 007n7 would rather deal with as little as possible.
C00lkidd was starting to get whiny on his playmat, crashing a car into one of Bluudud's figurines. With that, 007n7 could rightfully gauge it was getting close to home time before he had a full on meltdown. He was probably hungry. C00lkidd was always hungry.
“We best be off,” 007n7 nodded, scooping C00lkidd into his arms, squirming and all. 118o8 nodded carefully, eyes glued to his own.
“I see, thanks for coming around, I’m glad Bluie has a friend.”
“Uh, yeah… me too, cya, Eight-o,”
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DDDEL3TING M3M0RIESS, 10%% C0MPL3TEDDD.
…
C00lkidd was sleeping in his toddler bed, and 007n7’s gaze kept flickering between his computer and the baby monitor. C00lkidd seemed comfortable, tail wagging every now and then as he slept, 007n7 smiled every time it did, and frowned again whenever his screen buzzed.
36 NEW CLIENTS WAITING FOR YOUR ATTENTION! :)
007n7’s cursor hovered over the text he could never find the strength to delete. 36 was a lot. Even just one could probably get them through the month.
But he couldn’t. He couldn’t afford anymore criminal activity. He didn’t want to have this constant need for adrenaline, this addiction to the rush of it all, police sirens and screams. But breaking habits was a lot easier said than done.
007n7 pinched his arm enough to bruise to get his head out of the clouds, and a small brook of blood slid down from his skin.
“Fuck,” he breathed in response. Getting blood all over his GUI. Thankfully, it was enough of a distraction to draw his attention away from that cursed screen of his.
The floor boards of the old house creaked loudly under each footstep 007n7 made, despite how light his steps were. He grimaced and prayed that it wouldn’t wake up the sleeping child in the room beside him.
Still, he tiptoed his way to the bathroom and grabbed one of his dwelling numbers of Band-Aids, slapping one against the fresh wound, taking a moment longer than he should have to watch as the padding of the bandage eagerly soaked up all the blood.
007n7 had always found his own blood morbidly interesting. Bleeding meant he was alive.
Sometimes 007n7 didn’t feel alive. He couldn’t without the rush of adrenaline or the sting of pain.
But pinching himself until he bled hadn’t been nearly as exciting as getting scraped knees from dropping into trains, or jumping from building to building as the police chased his tail.
007n7's thoughts of his prime days shattered like glass when he heard the stirring of a certain someone. Whimpers quickly turned into sobs, and sobs became screams.
007n7 had never run faster to get to him, not even from police sirens or angry victims of his clients.
C00lkidd was squirming against his blankets and already thrown away his plush dog far, far away.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay. I’m sorry. Did I wake you?” 007n7 cooed, scooping C00lkidd close, C00lkidd bit down against his hand in response.
007n7 hissed in mild pain, but this was a habit of C00lkidds that was becoming rather… common, so he couldn’t help but not be surprised.
“That mean.” He scolded, setting down the angry devil back onto his sheets. “What has been up with you and biting? You’re getting a bad example for Bluududd, that’s for sure. Do you know how many times 118o8 has scolded me?”
C00lkidd only sniffed, and a string of liquid drizzled from his nose. Gross. He quickly grabbed a nearby tissue and began to wipe it away. C00lkidd leaned into his palm at the action, cuddling in much to 007n7’s dismay.
118o8 was right about one thing: he was too soft when it came to C00lkidd. This action would probably have consequences eventually, but for now, whilst C00lkidd was still too young to stir up too much trouble, 007n7 accepted it begrudgingly.
Scooping C00lkidd back into his arms, he sighed. “You’re hungry, I’m assuming? Ever since you’ve discovered real food, you’ve not wanted to stop eating, huh?” 007n7 chuckled, too himself, like a manic probably.
Hey, talking to babies was beneficial to their learning. Then again, C00lkidd was hardly a baby anymore. He had grown long ago out of his cribs and baby toys, growing much more fond of anything colourful and loud. Loud was his favorite.
Dangerous seemed also decently high on that list, seeing how much C00lkidd loved his GUI, the one that made things set on fire, explode, and glitch. Not the one that was safe. Because, of course, he had no interest in the one 007n7 made in particular, so he couldn’t harm himself.
That was… great.
007n7 had to hide it about 5 times now, every time C00lkidd somehow miraculously managed to get his grubby, babyfood-covered hands upon it. Thankfully, he had only punched in random lines of code. Minus that one time he had set the 007n7’s hair on fire…
C00lkidd was laughing and clapping his hands whilst 007n7 flailed around like a headless chicken looking for something to get the blazes to die.
Water did just fine, but 007n7 had to wear a burger-shaped hat he had won at a fair back in his promise every time he went out for 4 months straight.
To say he got weird looks was an understatement. It didn't help that he still had some wanted posters up at that time. Though lately police haven’t even bothered with him these days. His fame was surely dying down. A shame, almost. 007n7 liked his fame. Liked the fear he occasionally offered. The realization trickled into people’s eyes when they realized they were face-to-face with the first GUI exploiter.
But he would no longer feel that pride. C00lkidd was a handful. Maybe when the kid was older, real old, in college partying with his friends because gods knew that kid would be a wild card, he could go back to those adrenaline rushes. Those chances were that he’d be too old by then. Muscles sore and withering and tired from taking care of C00lkidd for all the years to come.
Oh, precious C00lkidd, how you have changed 007n7’s life for the ██████ .
The microwave hummed lowly behind 007n7. Heating up one of the last frozen meals he had for C00lkidd. C00lkidds tail flickered as he watched it with curious eyes.
“Hot?”
“Yes,” 007n7 agreed. “It will be.”
“I like hot,” C00lkidd smiled. 007n7 knew that look. He wanted something to be on fire. Like father, like son, 007n7 supposed, which was weird because 007n7 barely tormented anyone around C00lkidd. He vowed to make himself a better person for C00lkidd. He would make himself a better person; he had to.
The microwave dinged, the light inside of it suddenly flickering dim, then out completely. C00lkidd was quick to struggle onto his "adult chair", aided by a step, and up he went onto the seat's height booster, tail wagging excitedly as 007n7 grabbed the bowl from the oven with an oven mitt.
He set it down and hummed, dipping a tip of his finger in the liquid; too hot, he decided. Grabbing one of those flimsy plastic kids cups to pour in some water, the kind that came from a box, 007n7 couldn’t afford filtered water. He’d have to go job hunting tonight, then again, he’d sworn he’d go job hunting every night for the past week. Instead, he always ended up lingering on his past and trying to recreate his GUI.
007n7 scuffled C00lkidd's head for a moment, smiling to himself when C00lkidd dug in eagerly.
So this was life now.
Maybe it wasn’t so bad to be a family man.
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█DDEL3TING M3M0█IESS, 10%█ C0MPL3TED██.
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The computer buzzed with a soft groan as the message popped up. Anonymous, no face or name to the call, only words pressed in an overheating screen.
“You’ll pay for that.”
007n7 sucked in a breath. He had been threatened before, correction, he had been threatened a lot. Angry clients, angry victims, all the same to him. People wanted him dead or in the Banlands; that detail had never surprised him.
But this was different. He was a father now. And whoever this was knew how to get access to his devices.
Shit. Wasn’t that just… great.
C00lkidd was home. The house had been quiet for a while now. That typically never had been a good sign; every time it happened, even when it was long past his bedtime, it meant he was up to something.
007n7’s heart sank deep, past the chest where it lay, amongst lungs and air, deep down into the kindles of his stomach and kidneys, fading into the abyss. Deep, deep down. The feeling almost made him feel nauseous upon impact.
He managed up to half shaking legs, the kind that made him feel as if he were on stilts, or even trying to walk in a pair of 118o8’s heels. Her heels were tall back in the day, when she went - or what was probably more likely knowing her personality now; forced to go to parties and such. 007n7 could distinctly remember the one she wore to grad, it was high enough to make her taller than him, and came in a leopard print that clashed with her dress.
007n7 had always found himself strangely warm to it. It looked nice on her.
With those wobbly legs of his, he managed his way to C00lkidd's room.
Sure enough, the sinking feeling that had fallen long past abyss and into the realm where the gods ruled, where their weapons broke bones and hope, lands many wanted 007n7 to be.
C00lkidd’s face was once again wet with tears streaming from his face, his eyes flickered to 007n7’s own with what could only be described as fear. He squeaked and hid behind a sheet, face stuffed into a nearby pillow.
“C00lkidd,” 007n7 breathed, stumbling to his side and pressing a hand against his back.
“John Doe is gonna eat me!” C00lkidd whined in response.
“Wh-“ where the hell did he get that idea from?? 007n7 blinked a few times before groaning under his breath. “You didn’t steal my GUI again, did you?”
C00lkidd always did this. Always stole his GUI, just to end up in tears. On the old model, there was a bug called John Doe. It inflicted simple corruption based upon that old myth. 007n7 rarely paid attention in school; he hardly went to school. But he had been in an ancient studies class that went over the gods and such, and one of the very few times he had been at school, and one of the few times he bothered paying attention, the myth of John Doe came up.
007n7 had always been oddly drawn to it. Enough so that he made an entire command for it.
C00lkidd had asked him what it did once, and like an idiot, 007n7 explained the entire myth of John Doe instead of what the command did. Thus spawned C00lkidd's worst fears; the day March 18th - thank god he couldn’t count that far yet - and the idea of John Doe capturing and eating him.
007n7 had no idea where he got the eating part from. Probably from other story books his class read, witches and wizards eating naughty children, and such.
“John Doe is not coming, and he’s certainly not coming to eat you,” 007n7 mumbled softly, mind temporarily echoing past the whole stalker situation. “Gods know how you even form these ideas, great Banlands,”
C00lkidd only sniffled and crawled close to 007n7, his smaller, warmer body pressing into 007n7’s side.
“I’m scared, Papa,” he said. “I don’t want to die.”
“You’re not dying,” 007n7 sighed. “Nothing bad will happen. I’m right here. I’ll protect you, promise.” With that, he reached his pinky out for C00lkidd to latch onto.
C00lkidd’s hands were ever so slightly sticky, but warm and tiny compared to 007n7’s own. 007n7 smiled.
“But I suppose if you’re still scared, we could make a pillow fort?”
Instantly, 007n7 heard the signature thumping of a certain wagging tail. C00lkidd's eyes shimmered, and he nodded happily.
What a fool 007n7 had become for a life like this.
007n7 grabbed as many sheets, pillows, and blankets as he could possibly find. Chairs and legs he had stolen from his old apartment’s community drying rack. He had never quite known why he had stolen that in particular, but they came in handy. C00lkidd adored pillow forts. He grabbed some thumbtacks and pressed them into the corkboard close by, stabbing them into cotton and silk until they held well, then used the back of a chair to lengthen, making sure it was kept well in place thanks to the stolen pegs.
007n7 draped over fairy lights as the final touch. He would never buy such a thing himself, 118o8 gave it to him a while ago - apparently she had originally brought it for Bluudud, but as he grew older, the more fascinated he got with the lights, to the point he enjoyed trying to munch on it.
With batteries, it wasn’t the safest, so she gave it to him one evening. 007n7 had never quite managed to get the sticky tape guarding the battery compartment off, so it was covered in parts of bright blue tape and residue, but it worked.
Besides, C00lkidd adored it. What else could 007n7 have wanted out of a free gift?
C00lkidd crawled in first, his tail still wagging continuously behind himself. 007n7 followed behind him, though the fort was much too small for his own figure, and in order not destroy everything, he had to bend his posture into that of a shrimp.
Life would be nice to have stayed like that. But life did not flaunt for any soul, no matter how much the gods adored or detested them. Not here in Robloxia.
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█D█EL3TIN█ M3M0█IES█, 4█%█ C0M█L3TED██.
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The same black car purred against the tar on the ground. Engine hissing to a halt for the third time that evening. C00lkidd just got back from school and had complained about being hungry, 007n7 was trying to make him a snack plate to squeeze in a few extra hours or so before he had to make dinner for them both, since he had no clue what he wanted to eat.
Once could have been a mistake, two was suspicious, but three times? 007n7 highly doubted someone would simply watch his house for a couple of minutes three separate times.
007n7’s blade hovered over the fruit and vegetables he had been trying to cut off, eyes glued to the shimmering black car outside of his window, outside of his home, outside the same place his child was at, playing in the garden with stuffed toys.
His son.
Shit.
007n7 sucked in a small breath. Letting himself feel the oxygen slide through his mouth, through his system, and to his lungs, holding it there for a careful, prolonged moment, before he calmly closed the curtains hanging above the sink.
They were the old kind, made from lace and ribbon, the kind you’d expect to see in some sweet, widowed lady’s house.
“C00lkidd,” 007n7 cooed, noting the sound of an engine relighting, and wheels crushing gravel as it moved away. “C00lkidd, come on. We have to go.”
C00lkidd’s eyes moved up. There was sand on his cheeks and dirt tucked deep into the fur of his stuffies and fingernails. He looked utterly confused.
“But Papa-“
“We’re going on an adventure,” 007n7 cut off before he could protest. Scooping him up into his arms. C00lkidd had gotten so much heavier as he grew up. To think there had been a time when carrying him was easy. “We gotta go, cmon. You can take your toys. But we have to leave.” He nodded.
“Can you be quiet? Remember what I said about the quiet game?” He nodded again, though 007n7 wasn’t too sure he was paying attention as he made the dinosaur munch on the dog's neck.
His kid sure did have an interesting playstyle, huh…?
007n7 grasped the gate lock with his hands. Best not to use the front door; they were unfortunately shaky, so getting it to open was difficult in itself, let alone having to do it with a child in one of his arms.
His legs felt like stone under him, heavy and useless. Still, he pushed on, because what other choices did he have? Leave himself to be killed, or worse, like a sitting duck?
He wasn’t that stupid.
But it wasn’t like he could call someone for help. What would the police do? They’d arrest him on sight just as quickly as any soul trying to kill him. And then he’d get banned for all the crimes he committed, and gods knew 007n7 wasn’t ready to join the members of the Banlands yet.
The sky’s light was fading, the purple and pink hues that once painted it only a few minutes ago were drifting, leaving darkness to take over.
Prime time for anything illegal to happen. Any screaming could be covered up with simple neighborhood noise, children refusing to shower or sleep, or a father’s favorite sports team losing and getting overworked about it.
007n7 knew this. He knew what came next.
He was a rat on a trip trying to find his cheese with a pickie on his back, but the cheese was certainly laced with poison he couldn’t digest.
Then he heard it. The signature jingle of a bike bell and the giggles of much older children.
007n7 scattered to the voices immediately, until he hovered right above a kid with golden locks.
“Hey, uh, Elliot, right?” He pressed out, voice coming out a lot tighter than he would have liked. Elliot jumped, and in the time it took him to turn to face 007n7, his friends had all left him in the dust.
Fair. 007n7 knew he had rumours about himself in these parts, and the sight of an old man approaching a bunch of kids barely old enough to be considered as teens didn’t exactly look good.
Elliot took a moment to process, precious time clicking away, which 007n7 was sure he could have used somewhere else for something else. Then he nodded, not daring to speak. Reddish-brown eyes wide, like a deer in headlights.
“… Gee, I uh, I know this is sudden and all, kid, but, could you look after C00lkidd for me? I really have to get out of here. I’ll pay you. For your time and your dinner. I just- I really need to go, please understand.”
The sound of a car caught 007n7’s attention; he quickly dragged Elliot behind a fence. “You don’t understand. I need this. I can’t let him get hurt-“
Elliot’s eyes crinkled with further concern and further anxiety. “If something bad is happening, shouldn’t you call the police- I don’t- I’m only 13- I can’t just-“
“You don’t think I would if I could??” 007n7 pleaded. His heart thumped in his chest so hard he swore it would burst out from the seams. “Please, kid…”
Elliot didn’t get the time to react when 007n7 peeked through the gaps in the fence and gasped under his breath. 3 men walking to his front door and knocking, the black car discarded on the footpath.
He groaned and shoved C00lkidd into Elliot’s arms, as well as his wallet, with maybe 50 or so dollars inside.
“Papa- papa, where are you going?” C00lkidd mumbled, tail drooping. He was anxious. Elliot was anxious. Everyone here was anxious and confused and in serious, genuine danger.
“Out. I’ll be back. Just… be good for Elliot, okay? I’ll be back. I have to go, Papa has to go.” 007n7 pleaded, shaking off the dust on his pants.
The people at his front door were getting annoyed, and 007n7 could hear their knocks becoming louder and louder and louder with every time their hands crushed against the wooden door.
“Sir-“
“Papa-“
“I have to go. There’s no time.” 007n7 said.
“Papa-! Pinkie promise!!”
“I can’t.” He finally snapped. Watching as C00lkidd and Elliot flinched back in surprise. He hadn’t used that tone in a long time.
But there was no moment to apologize. 007n7 had no time. He had to go. He had to leave. He had to run.
The last thing he heard, the last thing he saw of his once perfect little family was C00lkidd crying, wet tears rolling down his cheeks, and hands coiled hard into a yelping Elliot’s hair.
007n7 ran before he dared to witness more.
…
“When’s Papa coming back?”
Elliot didn’t know. Elliot hardly knew who “papa” was, aside from the rumours his friends liked to spread around like plague.
Criminal. Suspicious. Most of them always joked he had kidnapped C00lkidd and was planning on sacrificing him when he grew old enough.
Elliot never listened. Correction, Elliot never tried to listen. People could be withdrawn and still be normal people, he understood that better than many his age. Years of working at Builder Brothers taught him that lesson; his father taught him that lesson.
Some people just liked keeping to themselves. They lived, they breathed, they existed like any other Robloxian, just quieter.
But to say the rumours hadn’t at least scared Elliot would be false. Exploiters were common, especially around these parts. Cruelty for entertainment had been a rising trend, according to his father.
That Elliot would never understand.
“I don’t know,” Elliot finally responded, eyes flickering to the clicking clock above the doorway of C00lkidd's room. 9:54, usually, Elliot would have put himself to sleep by now.
But C00lkidd refused to sleep entirely. Crying and screaming and tugging out numerous strands of Elliot’s hair until he gave up entirely.
For someone so young, you’d think they’d get so tired they’d go to sleep themselves, but C00lkidd seemed entirely attached to the idea of staying awake until his father came home.
Elliot’s head ached, probably from the number of times his head was tugged hard without his consent and how late it was.
He wanted to go home and snuggle up to a pillow and never even think of this family ever again.
No, no. Be kind, Elliot. There’s no point in making enemies with your neighbors. That would only lead to more headaches beyond this moment.
He was sure 007n7 had a great reason for running out on his young only child. A great one. And that he’d be home soon, and put C00lkidd to rest, and Elliot could go home.
Then again, Elliot had been sure that that exact scenario would play out two hours ago, and it never had.
C00lkidd rammed his toy car into his plush dog and dinosaur a couple of times.
“You’re sure your dad doesn’t have any other friends? It’s late, I really wanna go home…”
C00lkidds tail flickered with momentary thought.
“Sometimes Papa brings me to ice cream house.”
Wh…
118o8?
“Seriously??” He breathed. “That’s- that’s good! That’s really good!” C00lkidd’s head tilted in confusion at Elliot’s words, but Elliot didn’t pay attention. “Do you wanna go see her, 118o8? I think we should.”
“Why?” He retorted. “I’m playing.”
Elliot blinked. Gods above this child were stubborn.
“I know. You can play at her house, though. Maybe Bluudud is awake. Do you know Bluudud?”
He nodded, which gave Elliot false hope for a moment.
“Bluudud doesn’t like me.” He said, however, crushing Elliot’s dreams like ants under a stone, leaving a bunch of bug goo to remain.
Bluudud was, like, 2. How could he not like C00lkidd? He didn’t even have the brain power for that yet.
“Okay… but maybe she has something yummy for you?”
Finally, something caught his attention, and C00lkidd stopped the ravaging of his poor stuffed animals, if you could call a dinosaur an animal.
He nodded, thank god, and stood up, grabbing the dog plush to take with him. Sure, whatever got him to finally move. Whatever got Elliot to finally be free of this responsibility thrust upon him.
C00lkidd latched onto Elliot’s hand, and they thus began their track to her house.
It wasn’t close, but it wasn’t exactly far either. One block away was quite a distance when you couldn’t use your bike, and had to carry around a small child with you.
Elliot did have to carry around C00lkidd eventually, probably 4 minutes into the walk. Apparently, his feet hurt, and Elliot didn’t exactly feel like dealing with a screaming match at 10:00 at night when the neighborhood was trying to sleep.
So he did so.
And finally, the blessing that was 118o8’s house came into view.
The doorbell sang out, and Elliot could vaguely hear it echo throughout her house. He felt a little bad for probably waking up Bluudud after the noise had already been crafted, but there was little he could do about it.
The lights fluttered on, a warm shade of soft yellow, and Elliot could pick up on the heavy thumps of her coming to the door, the soft sounds of a sobbing baby accompanying it.
“If you kids are dingdo-“ she trailed off immediately upon swinging the door open. Eyes instantly softening. She was wearing a silk-made teal nightgown, and under it were a pair of flared green pajama pants and her white bunny slippers. “Oh, Elliot dear,” she whispered.
“Goodness, what in the Banlands are you doing here at this time, sweetheart? Come in, come in.”
Elliot moved inside with a sigh of relief, watching as she shook Bluudud a few times to get him to calm down.
“Sorry,” Elliot was quick to say. “I’m sorry for waking you and Bluudud up- I just- Mr. 007n7 made me babysit C00lkidd, but he hasn’t come home yet. I don’t know what to do…”
“He what?!” She quickly barked out, head snapping towards them. She paused and took in a deep breath. “Elliot, would you like any tea or hot chocolate?”
“Hot chocolate would be great…” Elliot said, gently dropping C00lkidd into her playpen at her approval, and sighing as he sat down against one of her chairs.
“Please excuse Seven. He’s… weird, but he’s not a bad person. He’s a great father to C00lkidd any other time, I don’t think I’ve even seen a more devoted dad… he’s just… troubled.”
Elliot nodded at her wishes, but still had doubts that her words truly meant anything to him at that moment.
He was tired, lost enough hair to make a wig for someone, and wanted to go home more than anything.
118o8 slid the warm, still steaming cup towards him. It tasted sweet, like any other drink she made, but it was welcomed with ease, and slid down his throat quickly, till the cup remained half full.
“I can go and get him, but I’ll have to leave both kids with you for a while. Bluudud will probably be sleeping; C00lkidd would be your only problem. Is that okay?”
Elliot let out a sigh of desperate relief.
Anything to finally be done with this. He was quick to agree.
…
█D█EL3T█N█ █3M0█IES█, 8█%█ C0M█L3█ED██.
…
007n7’s feet cluttered and crashed and cried against the pavement below. Dashing through the pipe-wet alleyway with no other choice than to keep pressing forward.
The men behind him were fitter and angrier, though. And what was a rat supposed to do in a new maze, when angry beagles were hot on his tail and could smell every move he made.
It was dark, and his glasses fell off his face at least a mile ago. His skin felt cold, and he would have wanted nothing more than to be at home, knowing C00lkidd was safe and sleeping. But that wasn’t the case.
And with how close the men behind him were, he knew there was a chance that he might not get to know if he was safe asleep again.
007n7 was late on his feet and ended up skidding into the wall when he tried to stop.
Chuckles echoed out from behind him like hungry hyenas, drawing close with blades and daggers pre-drawn.
Shit.
This was the end, then?
Damn.
He wouldn’t get to see C00lkidd grow up. No more times in the sun, or day trips to the beach, or weird looks. That sucked. He really wanted to see how C00lkidd grew, what he grew into.
Hopefully it’d be nothing like 007n7.
“Well, well, well. No more tricks. Nowhere to run.” One cooed, voice dripping with false innocence. “A shame. The boss really thought there’d be more to you, 007n7…” The others giggled at his words, no different to teenager girls giggling at every lame “joke” their boyfriends made.
Pathetic. Sad. But 007n7 couldn’t do anything. He had no GUI to protect himself, and his strength certainly wouldn’t cut it against 3 armed attackers.
007n7 sighed softly. And closed his eyes when one of them held their sword up high.
…
But then it clattered to the ground, and the one bearing the sword screamed as his arm tore right off its socket, falling onto the ground with a loud thump.
The two friends of his watched with confusion before another of them screamed as his arm lit up in glitching boxes. An exploit?
It looked eerily similar to the kinds 007n7 had made, but its outlines were coloured teal, and that was no hack of his. No matter the client, 007n7 always used red; that was his signature.
So who on earth was doing this…?
The arm fell off in another single piece, leaving bone to stick out from flesh, and blood to spill like a waterfall.
Finally, they had all lost at least one arm, and the one that previously taunted 007n7 lost a leg.
The exploit continued, travelling up to their necks, and starting to eat away at the flesh. They were helpless to its harm, like a disease. There was nothing they could do to prevent or end it. All they could do was scream pitifully and try to tear away the glitch. But it was relentless, like termites through wood it contained, until one by one they all lost their heads and died before their detached bodies could even fall to the ground.
“Holy crap,” 007n7 mumbled, looking up to his savior. A figure whose hands hovered over her on the GUI, eyes wide, body shaking with hard breaths, like a dog panting.
“Eight-o… fuck… You exploit?!”
“Is that seriously your main concern???” She hissed, rubbing her forehead with her free hand. “I just saved your life.” She reminded.
“Yeah,” he blinked. “Yeah. Shit. You did, huh…? Fuck, I really thought I was gonna die there… how in Robloxia am I supposed to pay you back…?”
118o8 shook her head.
“Doesn’t matter, Sev,” she assured. “You have a worried child at home, and a stranded teenager looking after him… can we just… go home…?”
“Yeah.” 007n7 nodded. “Yeah, let’s go home…” he agreed.
…
█D██L3T█N█ █3M0█IES█,99%█C0M█L3█ED██.
…
The rhythmic sound of a clock ticking was all he needed to know he was the last. That this generator he had been trying to fix had not been rendered useless.
Elliot must have died, and 007n7 could only hope he died far, far away from 007n7. He felt sick to his stomach. In truth, any running would probably cause him to puke.
So, 007n7 flickered up his GUI and sent out a clone, in hopes it would distract C00lkidd, even for just a moment longer, so he could figure out a plan.
But no thoughts came to his mind. None other than the core fact that his child was out there. Covered in blood, and breaking bones as if they were nothing more than twigs in a garden.
The crunching sound of a body filled 007n7’s ears. There went his clone. Wasted for no real reason in the end, because 007n7 couldn’t get his brain to think properly.
The sound of a sword scraping up the earth came next. Like it was being dragged.
“La, la, la, la, la…” 007n7 slid out of view, trying to use the safety of a counter to hide himself. “Come out, come out, wherever you are…”
007n7 didn’t dare answer his call. Not like he used to.
“This is no fun,” C00lkidd protested. Then he paused, and they both waited with bated breath. “Ahaha! I see you!!”
007n7 scrambled up before the rock met his shoulder, and C00lkidd was quick to follow, dashing out and slamming into a corner with deadly speed.
His laughs were forced, and eerie, and sounded nothing like how they used to. But then again, C00lkidd himself was not who he once was.
007n7 tried to type out on his GUI, but C00lkidd only swung at him and caught him in his arms in a hug.
A tight, tight hug. 007n7 could feel his lungs squeezing together, and his muscles tensing up forcefully.
C00lkidd said nothing, not even as 007n7’s ribs failed inside of himself and broke, one by one. Not even as 007n7 shook his head and tried to squirm away to no avail.
007n7’s vision started to fade, and they both knew this match was over.
C00lkidd gently lowered him to the ground.
“I’m sorry it had to end this way, Father.” He said. There was something in his shaking tone that almost made 007n7 believe whatever corruption that currently lived inside of his son, but 007n7 died before he could fully comprehend that thought.
…
1TS T1RING, H4VING T0 REM0V3 THESE DAY 4FTER DAY.
NIGHT AFTER N1GHT.
BUT TH3 SATISFACTION 0F WATCHING H1M SUFFER 1S SIMPLY TO0 GRAND, T0O G00D OF A FEED TO LET GO THAT E4SILY.
YOU’RE LUCKY CH1LD, BL3SSED TO HAVE ME REMOVE THIS 4GAIN AND AGAIN AND 4GA1N…
B3 TH4NKFUL.