Chapter Text
There was always something consistent with Rudo's memory before he was dropped into the pit; almost every one of his memories has Regto in them. For as long as the boy can remember Regto had always been there, never was there a single day that he lived on the streets or at least any he can remember. Regto was an anchor, someone that steadies Rudo in even the hardest situation.
But there's a memory, one he's never seen before, one he's long forgotten with time. A memory worn yet so full of love, a memory he had believed to be of him and Regto.
“Hm? Ya’ thinking of something bud? “ Rudo looks up at the man, his hand in his, the older man guiding him somewhere, home perhaps. Rudo shakes his head, his hand lifted to rub at his eyes, he lets out a yawn. The man beside him cooed, and chuckled “okay, okay, c'mere Dad'll carry you” The man slowly lifted him onto his shoulder with ease, his little face burying itself into the man's ashen hair
Rudo blinks for a moment, ash? But… wasn't Regto's hair black?
The man pats the boy's back and they continue to walk, Rudo doesn't know where he was, or who this man was supposed to be. His little head turns to the side to see piles of junk and broken things, turning the other way to only see the same thing. This didn't look like the sphere..? It looked far more like the ground than anything he's ever seen on the sphere.
Soon a house comes into view, a small reinforced wooden cabin. The man steps up to the porch and opens the door. Inside was warm, a couch in the middle of the room, an old worn down television, doors leading elsewhere in the house and an open entryway to a presumed kitchen. Rudo gets lifted again, his mind tenses but his body stays calm, how that's possible is beyond him. He's now propped up on the man's waist, he walks into the kitchen and places him on one of the counters, his legs swinging below him
Rudo doesn't understand the sight, he wasn't moving his limbs, his whole body felt sore and tense yet what he sees doesn't reflect anything he actually feels, it's surreal, almost like watching an old video of yourself in first person view, you can't change anything, all you can do is watch. He hates how he feels locked out of his own body. He can hear an ongoing conversation, most likely between the man and someone else in the house, all he hears are snippets, nothing with enough information but enough to leave him in the dark.
The house feels familiar, the man that carried him felt familiar, everything about this particular memory was odd, like something covered in dust and fuzzy static, something he wasn't meant to remember.
Rudo blinks again, now back in that same sea of darkness that pulled him under. A void that traps him in a loop, a small voice calling his hand, a hand he doesn't see patting his head and holding him close. A void that holds comfort yet also holds nothing at all. A silent voice that blankets him, holding him close and sharing its warmth, it feels so… Safe. It feels like being beside Regto again, he just wished it was real.
He doesn't know how long he's been in this void, how long he's been under. His eyes blinked open, the first thing he noticed was that someone was holding him, their grip was firm but gentle, it reminded him so much of Regto. The second thing he noticed was the sterile smell that surrounds him, which means he was most likely in the infirmary. Rudo shifts in the person's arms, he tries to pry them away yet their hold only got stronger, like holding him was the person's only source of comfort. Rudo tenses slightly, he doesn't even know who this was.. He couldn't see the person's face because of how tight they were holding him
He grumbles, still trying to wrestle out of the person’s grip. He struggles against the grip, pausing only to swallow down his rising anxiety, He takes a deep breath and starts to make progress, with one of his arms free he pulls himself towards the edge of the bed, Rudo cheers internally. A smirk forming on his face before he was sent face first onto the floor, Rudo lays on the cold sterile ground of the infirmary, his head lifting up slightly and his hand comes up to rub his forehead. He turns himself onto his back and slowly sits up, hand still rubbing his forehead.
How the hell had he even fallen so quickly?! The boy groans, his eyes looking over to the figure who is just now waking up. Great, he thought, he could ask why some turd face was holding onto him like some sort of lifeline! His red eyes meet a pair of black, his body freezes, suddenly the cold floor he’s on doesn't feel so cold.
A chill runs through him, his heartbeat picking up and eyes blown wide. “Who- who the hell-?! Who the hell are you?!” his voice shook, the threat within sounding more like a question than an actual threat. Rudo tries to move, but his body doesn’t obey, it doesn’t move, it doesn’t listen to him, his brain screams at him. This had to be some cruel dream the gods were playing on him right? Maybe he’s finally lost his mind after doll fest after all! He feels the tears that stings his eyes, he doesn’t feel the presence that’s moved in front of him nor does he hear him. His hand comes up to his chest, the gloves pressed together to his chest.
A small warmth blooms on his left shoulder, slowly pulling him in slowly, the small patch becomes burning, a hand on his left shoulder, the radiating heat pressed against his other side, and what feels like two fingers rubbing circles on his chest. Regto used to do this for him, he used to help him through these, but Regto wasn’t here, Regto was dead, he saw his body and lifeless eyes. So why the hell does it feel like Regto was beside him again, coaching him through his panic and back to the world. Tears slipped down his face, silent sobs wracking his body, the arms pulled him closer. The burning warmth enveloping him entirely and a hand rubs circles on his back, “-ust - foc..-on–” Redo sobs harder at the voice, it was so much like Regto. Damnit, why did this guy feel and sound so much like him?!
“-kay..it- ok-ay..da- is- here.” His sobs died out into hiccups after a few minutes, tears ran dry and throat sore, a chin rested atop his head, a hand holding the back of his head and the other hand rubbing circles into his back. The radiant warmth still present, he sniffles head burying deeper into the person’s clothes. He can vaguely make out the man's mumbles, his body slowly relaxed in his grip, the guy just felt so similar to Regto…”Ru- ar-..Rudo?” the giver hums into the man's clothes “Feeling better bud-?” he nods into his clothes, that seems to let the man relax. The man’s hand slowly pulls him away, Rudo protests the sudden missing warmth and bright light of the infirmary.
One of his hands slowly lifted up to the man’s chest right on top of a heartbeat, and pinched the boy on the same arm. Rudo shrieks from the sudden ant-sized pain, his hand doesn’t move, what does move is his eyes. As soon as they meet the face of the man he sucks in a sharp breath, the face of the man he had presumed dead, because no one recovers from that kind of injury and makes it out alive. So then, this had to be a dream right? No…that wasn’t right he felt pain, there was no pain in a dream, and there was a heartbeat under his hand. A rhythmic beat that belongs to the man in front of him..a man that should’ve been dead and yet somehow ended up on the ground.
If this was Regto, how did he survive the fall? How was Regto even alive?! “Ho- how are…how are you-” the older man hushes him “I’ll explain most of it once you’ve processed I’m real first, but the short version is; I’m not sure how I’m here” Rudo stares at his face, the seconds passed by and his eyes lingers. Every detail, every old scar and that old look in his eyes that Regto always carried, the older man removes his grip on the hand that presses against his heartbeat, moving up to rest it atop Rudo’s head.
And suddenly his eyes started to sting again. Because this felt surreal, but it felt so real, like Regto was actually here with him on the cleaners infirmary floor. Regto opens his mouth to speak, then he bursts into tears again. The older man seems to panic at the sight, his hand moving frantically around him “KID?! RUDO? - YOU ALRIGHT?! DO-DON”T CRY DAMNIT! SEE? I-I’M ALIVE! ” his lower lips trembled, arm rubbing his eyes, his eyes met Regto’s and the man’s gaze softened. Rudo scoots closer, watching, waiting for the illusion to end, waiting for someone to tell him this was some cruel joke, instead a hand pulls him to his dad’s chest, the other one returns to atop his head. Rudo’s shoulders shook, no water works but just pure relief with a confusion he’s put aside for later.
“I’m glad yer’ alive..” Regto smiles, he’s also glad to know his son had been in good hands after all, and even seems to find people that’ll accept him as himself, Regto couldn’t be happier for Rudo “Yeah, and I’m glad you found yourself some friends” Rudo buries his face deeper, Ringtone chuckles at the sight. Last Rudo had been this affectionate with him was around the same time Alto was dying, he shakes off the thought, his grip on his son tightened before it was loosened by the noise of infirmary door
“Shit. did Regto really-...oh” Zanka shadows over the two, one hand rested on the end of the bed Enjin had previously slept on, his expression unreadable “Why are you both on the floor?” Rudo goes rigid at new voice before his head lifts up and eyes peaking at the new presence in the room
The blue meets those red eyes with Rudo blinking at him owlishly, Zanka’s mouth opens but nothing comes out, it hangs there for a few moments, unaware of what he’s even doing. Why the hell did Rudo look like some kicked puppy?! Was he always able to do that or was that a new thing he can do now?! Zanka scoffs, eyes running over Rudo quickly to make sure there were no injuries, and thankfully there were none just as Eishia had said… He didn’t doubt her but seeing Rudo in the state he was in earlier made whole alarm bells ring in his head.
“Get off the floor, we still got bed ya know.” Rudo seems to contemplate it before pushing himself off the older man, though Zanka notices Rudo still holding on to Regto with the man’s fingers. The two quickly complied with the comment, Regto laid on the bed and Rudo sitting at the edge, contact still made despite the completely different positions. Zanka isn’t one to judge when it came to stuff like attachment, he understand most of where it comes from, thinking someone you loved so deeply that they gave you a part of them had died only to find out they weren’t dead after all must feel like having a rug pulled under ya’
Zanka stares as the moment passes, a soft whispered conversation starting and he stands there awkwardly and slightly out of place. His hand digs into his pocket, grabbing a handful of the wrapped sweets in his pocket, he looks up at Rudo and smiles at the glint of the younger boy’s eyes, a weight that’s lifted. Zanka sits down beside him, and taps him on the shoulder. Rudo’s head turns to him, head tilted and eyebrow raised, Zanka pulls his hand out of his pocket and dangles the hand full of sweets in the boy's face “Wha- Gris already gave me sweets earlier..?” Zanka shrugs, the sweets now in the boys hand “Eh, it won’t hurt no one, ‘sides Eishia told us ya’ needed more sugar”
Rudo looks at the sweet and his hand and nods, a glimmer of something dancing in his eyes, then his head turns up towards Zanka. The older boy freezes, his eyes widening slightly at the sight. In front of him sat Rudo still, his head tilted and eyes boring holes into his soul, but also a small smile playing on his lips “Thanks Zanka…for uh, looking out for me…” Zanka nods curtly and the boy turns his head back to Regto, his reaction seemingly going unnoticed by the younger boy. Zanka takes a deep breath, eyes staring at the back of the boy’s head. Well, that’s one heck of a smile the kid has…maybe Rudo not knowing how to smile properly had its pros, Zanka doesn’t think most of the cleaners could refuse a raccoon looking kid with a smile really.
Zanka just shakes his head, he better leave the two alone for now, he’ll tell Enjin it should be fine for now, he’s not really sure why Enjin had seemed so suspicious of Regto. The door open and he almost bumps into another figure standing in the door, Zanka halts just in time his eyes meeting the figure’s “Ah- sorry Tamsy, I hadn’t expected anyone at the door” the older man simply laughed, his eyes peering over his shoulder, his eyes widening for a moment before he caught himself “Ah, it’s no worries, I heard Rudo passed out and came to see for myself, though it seems he’s already awake!” Zanka nods, closing the door behind him, he can’t help but notice a slight shift in the air, something so subtle he isn’t sure what it is yet…
“Yeah, you can still go in, he’s just a bit busy catching up I think?” Tamsy nods, his eyes closing before he just sighs “Well, I did come to see if he is alright, so I suppose there is no reason I should bother him while he’s busy catching up with Regto” Zanka watches as Tamsy spoke his pleasantries and walked off. Well Tamsy seems off, but that might’ve been from his week long mission…Zanka turns the other, his hand fidgeting with his sleeve, he should go find Enjin and tell him to clear out a room near Rudo’s, Regto can’t sleep in the infirmary for forever after all.
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Zanka soon finds that finding Enjin proves to be a more difficult task than it ever has to be, he’s tried the chokers but it doesn’t work, which could mean 2 things, 1) Enjin was just out of range of their connection or 2) Enjin took off his choker for some unknown reason. Zanka also finds himself panicking slightly due to the fact he’s circled HQ 2 times and has found not a single trace of Enjin, well at least from the last 3 hours since he exited the infirmary after confirming Rudo was alright. But besides that, it was as if Enjin had disappeared! The blonde paces back and forth, not sure where else he could possibly search seeing as he’s rounding the HQ a third time already, as if Enjin would show up like some miracle the same way he did all those years ago. “What are you doing? You’ve gone through this hall twice- three with this for like 4 hours back to back” Zanka’s head lifts to the red head that’s leaning against the wall on his left
Riyo cocks her head, waiting for the frozen Zanka to answer her, “I..well- I’m trying to find Enjin” Riyo’s face shifts slightly to confuse “Is he not in the mess hall, his room,the common lounge or his smoke spot?” Zanka shakes his head and hears the hiss from Riyo, she gives him a sympathetic look, then pulls herself off the wall, throwing her arm over his shoulder “Alright let’s go search for a missing Enjin” Despite the calm in her voice, Zanka can still hear the underlying worry in her voice. It isn’t like Enjin to disappear for hours after all, that was more of Tamsy’s thing.
“Actually…” Riyo places a hand on her chin while the other rested on her hip “Now that I'm thinking about it, I couldn’t find Follo either…I wanted to know f he knew anything on an individual we met while at the north ward” Zanka bites the inside his cheek, the flesh stings slightly in protest as he spoke to gritted teeth “Yer’ tellin’ me that we’ve possibly got two missing cleaners that’s never disappeared for hours before?” Riyo pauses than nods, her head rubbing the back of her neck and they continue to walk “Hey Zanzan. You don’t think your siblings would have a hit list of people around you by any chance right?” Zanka fumbles at the question, his brain caught off guard by the sudden question “Wha- no? ‘Sides if they did they’d have executed their list far earlier” Riyo nods slightly, the two walks past the entrance of the parking garage before freezing and backing up to the entrance
Zanka’s eyes wandered the rows of cars, nothing but silence filled the space, Zanka opened his mouth but Riyo shushed him before he could say anything. Riyo grabs his wrist and pulls him forward, Zanka follows her , his wrist loose in her grip, they come to a stop a few cars down from Enjin’s assigned car, Riyo tugs at his wrist, his choker coming undone as she turned of her own choker, Zanka blinks, his eyes going to the two chokers in her free hand, the two walked up to Enjin’s car, Riyo raises her hand knocking on the window’s glass three times. “What are-” “ssh!” Zanka’s mouth hangs open slightly at the attitude, what was up with Riyo? She seems so much more cautious then he’s ever seen. He’s snapped out of his thoughts as soon as he hears a lock click, Riyo pulls the back seat door and pushes Zanka in and squeezes herself beside him, the slam of the car door echoes for a moment as the door’s lock clicks again
The blonde giver blinks, he looks around the car and spots Enjin and Tomme in the front seat, his head turns to the person beside him and spots those golden eyes he’s spent so much time staring into. All their expressions seemed out of character, all too serious and air suffocating with a tense silence. “Why are you all in the car…?” Riyo pats hims on the shoulder, her eyes darting to Enjin, he sees the small nods Enjin makes at the edge of his vision, he feels his stomach drop slightly, this all feels so weird…were they all hiding something from everyone? No no, he shouldn’t think like that, if Enjin and Riyo are both involved it has to be for a good cause.
“OKay, to catch you up to speed,Tomme, Follo and Enjin have noticed Tamsy’s odd behavior. I joined recently after the last mission we had a few weeks back, you remember the one right?” Zanka nods hesitantly, he remembers it vaguely, they’d been on mission with Tamsy instead of Enjin, and something didn’t really sit right after the mission, Zanka didn’t poke around but it was obvious it ticked Riyo off, at least that’s what he thought from the rant she went on while they trained together after the mission. “Good. We were considering on inviting you to these, because you had been the one most present when Tamsy collapsed the floor during our fight with Amo, but we weren't sure if you’d seen in between Tamsy’s mask” Zanka crosses his arms, head leaning back and eyes trained on the car's roof. It wasn’t like he hadn’t suspected it, Tamsy was too polished sometimes, too perfect, and the fact they barely knew anything about him had only added to his initial suspicion of the man…but to hear that his suspicion wasn’t baseless from other people seems to make his stomach twist
Because the difference between his baseless speculation and having a group of people agree and even confirm the facts are worlds apart, at least it is in this specific case. Tamsy was hard to read, but that never particularly bothered anyone, but Zanka wasn't anyone. He didn’t like that he was never able to read Tamsy, the man held things close to his chest, letting enough slip for people to trust him but never enough to know him. What had also struck him as odd was the fact Delmon barely knows Tamsy and yet Tamsy seems to know Delmon like the back of his hand, it didn’t stop at Delmon either, Tamsy just had this way of speaking that made people so comfortable around him. It always got under Zanka’s skin every time Tamsy had tried that same voice on him, the worst part was that it would’ve worked the first time had he not caught himself mid rant.
He closes his eyes at the memory, it wasn’t one he was very fond of considering that had been after a particularly unpleasant mission, it felt as if Tamsy knew exactly when it was right to pry. A hand places itself on top of his own, his eyes darts to the hand then to the owner of it. Follo was looking at him, his eyes full of that familiar concern, and lips pressed together, Zanka pulls his hand from under Follo’s and intertwined them, the black haired boy looks down at their hand a smile smile gracing his lips, his hand squeezes Zanka’s and the latter's head moving to rest on his shoulder. Riyo clears her throat catching the blonde’s attention “Right so, why are you guys having another meeting? And without me.” Enjin sighs from the driver's side, head pushed back and eyes sharp with something Zanka’s never seen in the man’s eyes “Tomme noticed some more odd behavior, this time it’s more concerning…”
Zanka stares into the rearview mirror, what other odd behavior could there possibly be? Tamsy was already an odd entity, so what else was there under the guy’s perfect and polished mask…” It was weird, I noticed it soon after the doll festival and because of how Rudo had been interacting with the other cleaners, it started small but then it got…well, uncomfortable to put it easily. It’s like he was pushing the boundary of trust without repercussions, and Rudo hadn’t even noticed what Tamsy was actually doing…” Something twists in Zanka’s chest, a churning that digs a pit in his stomach, this was leading to something, a conclusion he wasn’t ready to make. “It isn’t just that, Rudo’s also been pullin’ away from most of us and radiating more towards Tamsy. Which had been why I forced him on the last mission, I needed to actually observe him without prying eyes to see if Tomme’s suspicions were right” Riyo tenses beside him, he can feel her fist curled at his side, his eyes glancing at her, it was one he’s rarely seen on her, a shadow over her face, lips pressed together and pupils constricted
“ And…? What’s yer conclusion?” Enjin taps his fingers on the steering wheel, an exasperated sigh escaping past the older man’s lips, his hand lifted to run through his blonde hair “There’s definitely some truth to it, but the good thing is Tamsy hasn’t gotten to any milestones yet, but convincing Rudo this isn’t normal is a whole different situation when he’s labeled Tamsy as a safe space and someone he can trust.” Tomme nods beside, she whispers something to Enjin and the man’s face only seems to sour even more. The air that filled the car weighed heavy, a tense so dense he would be able to cut it with a knife like some sort of cake. Follo squeezes his hand again, a gesture of reassurance they came up with in cases where words just weren’t enough, Zanka squeezes back the older’s hand “Okay, lets end it here, Riyo you clearly need to cool off right now” The girl’s head snaps up to Enjin’s direction, she opens her mouth in protest, “Riyo.” the girl closes her mouth, clearly wanting to protest, to say something before Enjin had shut her down
The door of the car unlocks with that familiar click, Riyo opens the door on her side and rushes off, Zanka watches as Enjin sighs and trails behind her calling for her name. Tomme’s head turns her head to Follo and Zanka, her eyes trailing down to their hand a moment, a small smile spreads on her lips before she waves them goodbye. Follo closes the door behind them and they both stand there, unsure whether they should break the tension or let it melt away with time “so…Why was Riyo dragging you here?” Zanka blinks, his head turning to Follo “Uh, I was looking for Enjin” Follo nods, the two begin to walk and exit the parking garage “What for?” the question crashes into him, oh crap he’d forgotten he was even looking for Enjin in the first place ‘I was trying to find him so I’d have some help setting up a room near Rudo’s…” Follo chuckles lightly under his breath, a smile appearing on his face despite the earlier atmosphere “Well, I can always help ya’ is it for Regto?” Zanka’s cheeks dusted a light pink at the question, was he that easy to guess? He nods his head and turns away from the golden eyed giver, Follo squeezes his hand, soft lips being pressed on his cheek quick enough for no one to see but long enough to make Zanka flush
“Alright, I’ll help ya’ then!” Zanka’s head snaps back to the direction of Follo, his face adorned with this huge grin that only makes Zanka flush even redder. WIth their hands still intertwined and Zanka’s face completely flushed red, Follo leads them ahead through the halls, and they soon make it to the front desk. Semiu sits there consumed in her magazines, her eyes soon flickers towards the two new presences and lowers her magazine, she lifts her glasses, wiping them with a piece of fabric before placing her glasses back on “Follo what did ya’ do” The black hair sputters at the accusatory question “What?! I-I didn’t do anything??” Semiu hums and points her finger to the blonde that's beside him, his face still red “Well explain that then” Follo’s looks to the boy beside him and his head turns back to Semiu “It’s nothing, he just saw Enjin and Gris…ya’ know…” Semiu’s face scrunches at the implication, and Follo promises himself he’ll make it up to Gris for throwing him under the bus with Enjin “at this hour…?” she mumbles before shaking her head “RIght, whatdya’ want”
“Well, we were wondering if there were any free rooms near Rudo’s, I doubt he’ll wanna be far from Regto” Semiu hums, arms crossing and head tilting “Well lucky for ya’ Gris had actually asked me the same thing a few hours ago after he heard what happened in the infirmary, the room is the one exactly to the left of Rudo’s your free to help clean it up or just get the necessities into there like a bed or mattress, pillows, blankets, and all that junk” Follo nods and thanked the woman, Semiu simply nods and returned to her magazine as the paired walked off.
At the end of the opposite hall he leaned, back pressed against the wall, eyes piercing through the pair walking away. It would seem someone truly needed to die. The blonde huffs a breath, pulling his back from the wall and turning around. If he needed to kill Regto again, then so be it, but this time he’ll make sure the job is done. Because if Regto was still around, his plan will never succeed and Rudo will never fall back into his true role, oh what a shame it would be if that were the case. Rudo was the main jewel of his plan, the center piece to pull everything together. “Tamsy” the man looks up, his mask sliding back on in the presence of the taller man “ah Gris, can I help you?” the supporter nods, his hand rubbing the back of his neck “Yeah, I can’t find Tomme anywhere, have you seen her recently?” Tamsy hums, shaking his head, Gris sighs and thanks him and heads towards Semiu’s direction. Hm how peculiar, Tomme disappearing for a long period of time? That’s quite unusual for her…though there’s nothing to worry about, he had most of the cleaners' trust, if that girl even tried anything she’d most likely be the one casted out.
His feet take him past the infirmary doors, he’s tempted to enter, but knowing Regto he’d almost immediately recognize him. After all, they had been partners for years.
Tamsy continues to walk through the hall, he’ll need a full proof plan this time, one that gives no chance of survival, or perhaps he should pluck out two feathers. Enjin had been so close to death before, he’s sure the man wouldn’t mind being in its embrace. He can’t let his efforts go to waste. Tamsy’s snapped out of his thought by the ruckus of an enraged red head charging at him with Enjin just behind her, yelling out her name. Tamsy blinks at the sight, his hand reaching for tokushin and feet stepping back “Riyo? Whatever I’ve done I’m sure we can-” Tamsy stands at attention, Riyo steps away, hand out stretched and blood beads on his cheek from the jagged cut of what he presumes a throwing knife “Now that’s not very nice” he spoke, wiping the blood with on his palm “It wasn’t supposed to be.” The calm in her voice barely fools him with the company of anger from moments ago, he spots Enjin behind her, hand squeezed on her shoulder, his eyes narrowed on her rather than him. Hm, he could be of help.
And it seems Tamsy doesn’t even have to say anything, his mask slips back on as Enjin’s head practically forces Riyo’s head down into a bow, she grits out an apology and Tamsy only sighs “Just don’t do it again, taking your own anger out on your fellow cleaner isn’t very healthy” Riyo stares blankly at him, a curt nod nudged out of her from the squeeze of her shoulder from Enjin, Tamsy smiles at Enjin and the man gives him a small apologetic expression, pulling Riyo closer and walking past him towards the rooms. Perhaps he’s gotten sloppy, it’d be better to lay low for the time being then, he wouldn’t want another outburst from the reaper after all, though, perhaps Riyo isn’t a bad contender if killing Regto doesn’t work again. Oh well, he’ll just have to make the decision when the time comes for them, but this time with his main actor watching, a perfect climax for this story.