Work Text:
It's silent in the guild hall tonight.
With everyone, well almost everyone, in bed, the halls seemed so empty that you could potentially hear a pin drop.
The perfect setting to initiate a stealth plan.
Flayon had one mission on his mind tonight. Get in, take some snacks, and get back in the R-TRUS just in time to have an all nighter playing video games and potentially play that vn he bought on stream that one time. I mean, that thing needed a purpose after all. The only thing that could be stopping him is if he was too tired to go on, or if Magni was actually right about Leader's supposed 3am walks. But other than that, the pilot had a full proof plan to have a well deserved break night, even if it was going to cost him massively in the morning.
The nimble pilot successfully snuck into the Guild Hall's large kitchen, somehow managing to not break anything in the process. He went to check the cupboards only to realize that, somehow, they're too tall. Which is incredibly weird because even though he is shorter than average he should be able to reach some measly kitchen shelves, right? Fortunately for Flayon, all he needed to do was to stand on this cinderblock that was just conveniently placed in front of the cupboard to see what's inside.
A half full bag of walnuts, some instant ramen, plantain chips, various hot sauces, a gummy making set that was still in the box, he swore he might have seen some kind of protein bar in there but it was hard because of how dimly lit the room was.
Flayon scours throughout the cupboard as silently as he can, still making a lot of noise, but not as much as Axel when he looks for something. He settles on a fairly big unopened bag of these cheesy puffy chips that he couldn't make what brand they were.
The pilot looks through the fridge, the cool air of the compartment hitting his face, humid from the warmth of the outside.
There contained a huge turkey, its $15 price tag still on the wrapping, a small container holding a weird frozen rock with words in bold saying "MAGNI'S DO NOT TOUCH.", a folded piece of paper with 3 sides that said "Axel, this is the space for when Noct buys us pizza. Don't fill it up, love ya. - Altare", and some leftovers from dinner on thursday.
Flayon grabbed 4 cans of Brisk, probably belonging to Bettel, and went on his way.
It seemed fairly hard to carry everything on him at once. The Crackling of the bag and the metal of the cans of Brisk made it increasingly more difficult to get out rather than getting in. Flayon planned to exit the same way he came in. Through the stairs, past the bedrooms on the second floor, and then up the emergency ladder to exit into the R-TRUS. Simple, easy, no one will notice.
He passed by the rooms one by one. Magni's room smelt like chemicals and paint. You could hear the loud snoring of Aniki coming from his doorway, and possibly could smell the odor of drool. Shinri barely left the door half closed to let a bit of the wind outside hit him. And Hakka's room...
...had a glowing light emitting from the tiny crevice that was open.
It's silent in the guild hall tonight.
The moon, shining brightly in a clear sky, hit onto the window of Hakka's room.
The young raven had woken up in a cold sweat from a nightmare, but not a typical one involving being naked in public.
No, this one involved a crashing and burning Guild Hall. One of engulfed flames, broken pillars, and shattered memories. Every turn at every corner and there was something new to see for him, more terrifying than the last. To his left, a blurry figure of a man lying on the floor about to be engulfed in the flames . To his right, a man carrying other people to safety about to be crushed by the crumbing pillar about to fall down. And to his front, a group of people staring deep into his very soul, disappointed, angry, and vengeful.
He had had this dream multiple times before, but never once did it leave him this much aftershock.
He tried to close his eyes to try and fall asleep and forget it all like it was just a memory he could laugh with his brothers while he makes breakfast and discusses the plans for today. But the more he tried to go back to sleep, he kept thinking about it. The desperateness he could feel while he was in the dream, the guilt he felt while watching everyone reach their eventual deaths. And the three people, staring at him, his soul, his actions. It was starting to make so much sense.
Was this fate his own? Will this vision be the way he dies?
No, he couldn’t believe it, his brothers love him as much as he did. Yet, they didn’t know the full extent of what the records corruption can do to Hakka. He didn’t want to hurt his beloved guild-mates, willingly or not. He would rather eat shit than die knowing that he ruined the lives of the people he cares the most. He can’t accept a world where he had the blood of the people he loved on his hands.
Suddenly, a sharp pain peaked in his left arm. Not the kind you would get if you get a cramp, or if you had an open wound. No, this one was worst.
Hakka took a quick look at his arm. It was spreading reaching from his elbow to his shoulder. Hakka felt weaker, not a tired weak but in a power weak. The records corruption was draining his energy. He tried to stumble his way to the closest mirror to look at himself, knocking down a few objects in the process.
The young bird, tired yet restless, took a good look at the damage. It's past his arm, shit.
Quickly taking off the shirt, he looked at the mirror again to look at the real damage. It was starting to seep into his chest and his neck, and it hurted like hell.
And then a sting hit, forcing Hakka to the floor. He makes attempts to get back on his feet yet struggles and pushes things over. He wants to fight, he really really does, yet the pain was too strong. His body was trying to send him a message.
He bounces to the corner of his room and curls into a ball, it’s really the only thing he could do anymore. Then shortly after, tears starts falling down the birds eyes, he’s useless to his own condition and the myth was true. Sooner or later once everyone wakes up, they’ll find out about the real damage that records corruption can do to a human being. With the pain throbbing through the left half of his body, he thinks. Why would someone like him be allowed in a place like this when he’s only a ticking time bomb of mass destruction? Why did they hire someone who would only cause them more pain in the future?
Why must he hurt more people?
Why Him of all people must suffer this unfair fate?
All of these questions, yet no god had any answer left for him.
A creak is heard, a door opens.
Standing there is a young Flayon, looking in to check up on his friend he calls dear to him.
The room looked like a mess. Hundreds of things we’re shattered and messed up in the process it seems. Scratches on the walls and furniture. Something isn’t right and Flayon can truly tell.
Flayon tries to walk through the mess, trying not shatter anything. Carefully placing one foot after another while trying to balance the array of snacks he had garnered for himself. One arm holding the bag of cheesy chips and his tail holding the numerous cans of Brisk.
He tries to call for him, “Hakka…” he mutters up, “Hakka, you okay? It’s me, Flayon.”
Nothing comes back to him. He makes a turn from his bed to finally see the man who did the mess.
Hakka’s left half is covered in records corruption, only just starting to reach up to his face. His veins glowing a sharp violet and his left eye’s sclera fully blackened, this was not the man that Flayon knew as a brother to him. All that was left in the night is an injured, damaged raven, sitting from the corner his nest, fighting a losing battle.
”Dude, what the hell?!” Flayon asks, “Are you okay? Do you need help? I can wake up Magni to see if he could make a potion I-I-“
“No, Flayon.” Hakka responds weakly, “Don’t let them look for me. This is how you’re all going to die, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Shortly after Hakka starts sobbing. He didn’t want Flayon to find him like this, he always saw him as a older, slighly more level headed, brother to him. And now he’s crying, he’s weak in front of him.
Suddenly, he feels something lie against his good shoulder and looks to his side.
It’s Flayon, clinging onto Hakka like it’s the end of the world.
“I’m not going to let you die like that man.” Flayon responds, “I don’t know what the fuck you got going on, but I’m going to stick with you. You’re like the Jelly to my Peanut butter…or something. Forget that, that was cringe but you get my point!”
He was right, that line was really cringe, but he was right none the less. He should have known that Flayon would stick by his side no matter what. He was absolutely insane for managing to stay by his side for so long, yet that’s what makes Flayon himself.
Hakka starts to calm down a little bit as Flayon continues to push himself onto him. Eventually, he would put his arm across to his shoulder and pull him closer to him. Flayon looked up in surprise, his corruption started slowly shrinking, he’s becoming more calm.
Flayon grabs one of the cans of Brisk stolen from the kitchen and hands one to Hakka.
”You want some?” Flayon asks, putting the lukewarm can close to his face.
“Sure.” Hakka says softly as he grabs the can with his hand.
His hand, still tense, feels a small yet sharp pain while grasping onto the sides of the can. He opens it and takes a small sip out of it. It’s just like regular ice tea, except a bit more sweet than usual. I guess that’s what you get for a hugely popular brand such as Brisk.
It’s gotten louder in the guild hall. The noise of their ruckus has filled the hall’s night with just a bit more excitement, even if it is not very good excitement. And now, as the night goes on, the two boys ended up talking with each other. Having endless banter which made the last few moments before that feel like it didn’t exist.
A creak is heard, a door opens.
A man walks through the door, the light behind him as bright as his smile.
“Hakka~” Shinri says whilst opening the door, “Rise and shine, leader says he-“
He takes a good look at the room around him, and ruckus created. Shinri swoops in trying his best to see if he’s okay, yet he’s greeted to something much better.
A sleeping Hakka, and next to him a sleeping Flayon. Brisk cans are all over the ground and a bag of open cheesy chips are on Flayon’s lap.
He wanted to lecture them so bad about the ethics of good sleep, but it seems like they had the good time so who is he to judge.
Shinri pats Hakka on the head softly enough so he wouldn’t wake up, then Flayon, and leaves the room. Leaving them be to their own devices.
It’s finally silent in Hakka’s room.