Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Falling

      Falling

            Falling

That all I feel for what seems like an eternity. I hear familiar voices. It's hard to make them out but I can tell who is who.

I hear the Paynes.

I hear Da.

I even hear him…

As time went on, I heard their voices less and less, except for Inco. he voice was the most common, sometimes he was with Vinny but most of the time he was alone. 

After enough times I figured out what he would say to me before his voice would stop.

“I'm sorry and I love you Olivia, goodbye”

One day I stopped falling.

I could feel the gown on my body as well as a blanket, I could smell the sterolness of the room. My stomach felt empty, yet I wasn't hungry. My mouth was dry, yet I wasn't thirsty. The first thing to greet my ears…

Was a song. 

My eyes flutter open.

“Wha te fuh?” 

I am greeted by a hospital room, a nurse is taking care of some wilted flowers when she looks over and sees me staring at her. She drops the flowers and rushes out of the room. Moments later, a doctor walks in, he is an older man with a mostly bald head and white hair, he has round glasses and speaks in a greek accent.

“Hello, I am Dr. Constantinou.”

I look at him with a face of confusion and worry.

“Ms. Halford?”

“...Yes?”

“What is the last thing you remember?” 

“Well, I remember going down the stairs at the winter ball after pushing myself away from my …ex-boyfriend.”

“Do you have any idea how long you have been in a coma?”

“Well, I know its been awhile but no, not really”

“Ms. Halford, I’m afraid that it's been… nine years”

He waits a moment for me to process what I just heard… 9 years, that means that I would be 27 now…

“Ms. Halford, I know this news is shocking for you, fortunately you have a guest arriving soon, from there you can notify anyone you need.”

“Oh… w-when can I go home?”

“We just need to check if everything is working right, if everything is good, you can go home today”

*Knock knock*

“Oh it seems your visitor is here, come in”

I look towards the door and my stomach drops. It’s him.

Inco drops the flowers he was carrying, his face showing pure shock. He looks about the same, albeit a little thinner, he is wearing more modest clothes and is wearing the same glasses he had in high school, they are dinged up and have scratches. As I'm looking him up and down I see he begins to tear up.

“...O-Olivia, you’re a-awake… after all this time!” he starts crying and begins to approach me.

“Inco, I haven't forgotten what you did, for you it may have been 9 years ago… but for me it just happened.”

“Olivia, I’m sorry. Every day for the last nine years I have been beating myself up about that night. I know that nothing I could do while you were in your coma could make you forgive me.”

“... I-I can’t accept your apology… at least not yet. Could you call the Paynes, I want them to know I’m awake.”

“Olivia, I don't know how to tell you this but… I'm the only one still in Vocaldera.”

“W-what do you mean by that?”

“Damien and Liz moved to better pursue the whole art thing, Vinny is in college now, Randy and Sophia downsized and moved a couple hours away… I am the only one here.”

He sees that I'm tearing up, he approaches the side of the bed.

“Every day, I have found time to visit, every week I bring flowers… Every anniversary, I come here to just sit here with you, not knowing if you would ever wake. I think… I think I did it as a way to repent. What happened that night was a series of unfortunate events that all came together and caused it all to come crashing down. I've had 9 years to reflect… some of it was on the Payne's, most of it was on me… and some of it was you.”

Oh no, not me

We never lost control

You’re face to face

With the man who sold the world

Did… did he really do all of that? I can tell he has changed, not just physically, but also mentally. The way he spoke to me, the look in his eyes… It was genuine.

I’ve been gone for nine years. The world has turned and left me here… 

…

…

…

“Olivia?”

I'm snapped out of my thoughts.

“Yeah?”

“You were staring off for a few minutes and I didn’t want to interrupt you, I know it’s a lot to process.”

“Inco?”

“Yes?”

“Can… Can you call my Da?”

“Of course I can.”

He opens his phone and scrolls through his few contacts before reaching “Mark”

“You ready?”

“...Yeah.”

*RING*

*RING*

*RING*

“ Hello?”

“...”

“Inco, you know what day it is, if you’re just gonna waste my time I will hang up.”

“Hey Da…”

“A-Ace?”

“I’m… I’m awake.”

Chapter Text

INCO

I watch intently as Olivia talks to her father over the course of the next hour, they both cried after Olivia first spoke to Mark, hell at one point I even teared up. I’m still amazed that she is finally awake. The doctors always told me that she could wake up any time after the first year but I eventually stopped believing them. I knew that if she ever woke up that no matter what I did, I would never deserve her. After the Payne’s moved away last year, I’ve been the only person to visit her. Eventually she says goodbye to her father and she hangs up, she stares at the phone for a few moments before returning it to me.

“Inco, can we go now?”

“Of course we can, Olivia.”.

I check her out of the hospital and we head towards my car. It's nothing special but it does what I need it to. I help Olivia into the passenger seat before folding up her chair and putting it in the backseat. I get into the driver's seat and head off.

“Inco, before you take me wherever, can we get some McDinold’s? I haven't had real food in 9 years.”.

“Sure, it's about lunch time anyway, do you want to go drive-thru or inside?”

“I guess we can go inside, I want to see how much has changed.”.

“Alright then.”

I retrieve Olivia's chair from the backseat and we head inside. We both ordered and I went to pay. I notice Olivia staring at my wallet, specifically the picture of her, the picture she took 11 years ago. As we wait for our food, I can almost hear gears turning in Olivia's head, she is probably gonna ask me about the picture. We receive our food and go to an empty booth. Olivia stares at her food before looking up at me.

“Inco, why do you have that picture of me in your wallet?”

“Well… I wanted to keep a picture of you in my wallet, but I remembered that on our first date, you weren’t truly happy in any of the pictures we took.… I wanted a picture of you actually being happy, and that was the only one I knew you were happy in.”

“Oh…”

“I-I can take it out if you want.”

“No… you can keep it in there… just don't go through my things.”

“Ok”

We finish eating and get back in the car and begin heading to my house.

“Hey Inco...”

“Yes, Olivia?”

“What have you been doing for the last 9 years?”

“Well, I took online courses so I could still see you everyday. I decided to pursue photography and became a professional photographer, but that's what I do on the side… I felt like I should become a photography teacher… I knew that I could never replace him, but that's what I thought I could do to honor him.”

“Oh, that's nice… Inco, could you put on some music?”

“Sure.”

I turn on my Snootify and the first song that comes on is “INVISIBLE” by Dilo Dilo. I see that Olivia recognizes the song and begins listening while looking out the window. She is deep thought as the song plays. I don't really listen to the lyrics much because I'm focusing on the road. The song ends after a few minutes and I see Olivia pause the music and turn to me.

“The song… It’s… It’s me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I became invisible. I became invisible to everyone, I became part of the background to everybody but you…”

“No, no you didn't.”

“But I did! You said it yourself! Everyone moved on!”

“Vinny didn't.”

Those simple two words her breath away.

“Every chance he got, Vinny would come with me to visit. He would tell you how he was doing in school, how the Paynes were doing, what games were coming out. He hoped you could hear him so you didn't miss out on life. When he left for college, the last thing he said to me was “I just wish Olivia could be here”, he didn't let you fade into the background, he made sure you stayed a part of his life.”

Once I finished, I looked over to Olivia and saw that she was tearing up.

“H-He st-still loved me after what I did? After what I said to him?”

“Yes, after the accident, I made sure to let him know that you still loved him. I told him that he would understand one day.”

“Olivia, you wouldn't believe the man that Vinny became, he got tall, somehow taller than Damien. He is real smart, he was the top student in my class, he wanted to make sure that he got into a good school for you. His plan is to become a doctor so he… he could maybe help you.”

I pull over because I know what I'm gonna see when I look back over at Olivia. She is on the verge of tears. I get out and go over to her side and open the door. She practically jumps into my arms. We stay like this for a few minutes as she cries into my shoulder.

“D-Did he really go through all that t-trouble just for me? I was such a bitch to him, I was such a bitch to everybody Inco! Why even keep coming back, why did you care so much about me?”

“Because I still love you.”

“...T-thank you, Inco.”

Eventually we break away and we get back to the road. Eventually Olivia recognizes where we are.

“Inco, I thought the Payne’s moved?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Vinny got like a shit ton of scholarships and was provided free housing at the college. Randy and Sophia didn't need all the space, so as a gift from my parents, they gave me half the money to buy the house and I provided the other half. When they moved, we left your room untouched apart from cleaning up your clothes and such. When you DID eventually wake up, I didn't want you to face so much change.”

“Damn, I always forget how rich you were.”

We arrive home and I help Olivia inside, despite having lived here for about a year and a half, I am yet to put more than just some pictures and essential furniture like a couch, table, and TV. Olivia takes her time rolling through the house, taking in how barren it truly is. Eventually she reaches her door and hesitantly opens it. It's untouched, exactly the way she left it, apart from her window being cleaned and the bed made. The most I have ever done here apart from dusting is check Olivia’s playlists in order to actually develop a music taste. The playlist named “B flat” confused me, but aside from that, I’ve left the room untouched.

“Inco, do you think we could get my phone reactivated soon? I have a lot of catching up to do.”

“I think we have a few hours before the store closes, so sure.”

-

OLIVIA

I guess the best way for me to catch up is YouSnoot and Lizard Lounge.

>be me
>skinnie boyfriend ruins winter ball
>tries to hug me
>i push away from him but end up falling down a flight of stairs
>go into coma
>wake up 9 years later
So, What did I miss?

Now we just wait.

-

INCO

“Hey Olivia, before I leave I need to tell you a few things.”

“M-yeah?’

“So I'm gonna talk with Scaler about getting you into online classes so you can graduate, how does that sound?”.

“Mkay.”

“Olivia, Randy and Sophia are hosting Christmas at their house this weekend, I haven't told them that you're awake yet. It's up to you if we go, I want them to find out either there or from you. Now you don't need to answer immediately, I just want you to be comfortable.”

“Ok, I’ll see you later.”

“See you Olivia, if something happens, don't be afraid to call me.”

“Inco?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for not forgetting me.”

“Olivia, I would have never forgotten you.”

-
Hours later

Me and Olivia are having dinner, we decided to just get take out because I haven't gone grocery shopping yet this week. She pops a question.

“Inco, what happened to our classmates?”

“Oh, well you know what Damien and Liz did… OH! Remember that triceratops that was one of Mia’s cronies?”

“Yeah?”

“Her and that fat dude from the arcade got married!”

“WHAT?! THERE’S NO WAY!”

“I WOULD KNOW, I TOOK THEIR WEDDING PICTURES!”

We both share a laugh before quieting down.

“Well… what happened with Ben and Mia?”

“Oh…well… I need a second to think… how do I tell you this… Ben… Ben murdered Mia 5 years ago.”

“...What?”

“It was a shock to everyone. It turns out that Ben was on psychotic medication, and Mia was holding them from him. So one day, he just snapped. The police found him curled up on the floor, covered in blood… next to her body”.

“Oh, dear God.”

“Because of the circumstances, Ben was sent to a mental hospital instead of prison. Remember Mia’s other cronie? The white striped raptor? She is helping him, and when he’ll be released in a couple years, she is gonna take him in.”

“At least he is getting help.”

“Yeah…”

We finish dinner and finish our nights. Olivia retreats to her room and I retreat to mine. It's still surreal having her back, the last few nights I haven't been sleeping well. With her back, what do I do? Where are we going to go from here? Will she stay until she graduates? I don't know.
.
.
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OLIVIA

I stir, unable to sleep, I decide to check my phone for the time.

1:49

Damn, almost 2 am. The last couple nights I’ve had trouble sleeping, it's still hard adjusting to everything being different. I’ve noticed Inco being active in his room late at night, I wonder if he is having trouble sleeping as well. I decided to go check on him.

As I silently knee shuffle through the house, I can hear Inco talking to someone. I make it to his door and I peep in. I see him sitting on the edge of the bed facing away from the door. His body was illuminated by moonlight. He wasn't talking to anybody, he’s praying?

“Lord, why did you bring her back to me? I know it's selfish of me to say, but why? Is this a test from You? Is this a way for me to repent even more, or is this to reward me? After what I did to her, after what everyone did to her... I don’t deserve her, Lord. Everyday I would wake up and cry, some days it would be just a few sniffles, others I could barely pull myself out of bed. The day she woke up and we hugged was the first time I hadn't felt alone in years. I know I could have moved on but that would be unfair to her. If I left, there would be nobody to care for her. I know I could have found new love, but I am undeserving of it. So I ask again, why?”

I swallow and prepare my words.

“So we are just two songs aren't we?”

“Olivia!? W-why aren't you in bed?”

“I couldn't sleep, and it seems you can't either.”

His eyes are wet as he stares into mine.

“Inco, you’re exactly like that one song, everyday you wake up, you start to break up, lonely as a man without love.”

I pause to let him process.

“I became invisible and you have tortured yourself by reminding yourself of our failures everyday. If either of us are gonna move on, we need to look forward together.”

I scoot myself over and onto his bed.

“Olivia, what are you doing?”

“Come on, we can cuddle, last time we did we both slept like rocks.”

“That… That would be nice, I don't have to work the rest of the week anyway.”

As we cuddle together, side hugging each other. We both drift into sleep, having the best sleep either of us have had in years.
.
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INCO

We arrived at the Paynes after about a two hour car ride. We are both nervous. Nobody apart from me and the doctors knows that Olivia is awake. As we arrive at the door, I tell Olivia to wait at the door while I go inside, just like we discussed.

I enter to the cheers of everyone while making sure that they don't see Olivia.

“Hey Inco! You made it!”
“Inco!”
“Heeeey Inco!”

The jeers and cheers from what is basically my family fills me with hope. I see Damien and Liz enter from the living room with their two kids.

“Uncle Inky!” they say in unison as they run over to me.

“Hey there you little rascals”

I look up and notice that Liz is pregnant.

“I see you've kept busy,” I say with a chuckle.

Liz shoots a look at Damien as he gives me a sly look that I return.

Then I see Vinny, I shoot him a warm smile that he gladly returns.

I clear my throat before grabbing everyone's attention.

“Everyone, I have news about Olivia”.

“Is something wrong?”

“What's wrong with aunt liv?” said one of Damien's kids.

“Did something happen?” says Vinny with a look of worry.

“Nothings wrong, the doctors are saying that she is doing better than ever.”

“Oh thank goodness, wait, what do you mean better than ever?”

“Well”

I pause, take a deep breath.

“See for yourself”

I open the door and as planned, Olivia is there.

“H-Hey everyone” she says with a shy wave.

Silence, the only sound heard is small gasps from everyone. Eventually it's broken by the hybrid kids.

“Aunt Liv! You're awake!” they yell as they run up to her and begin hugging her.

“Olivia…”

“Livy”

Olivia wheels herself in as I look at Vinny, his eyes are filled with tears as he practically leaps from his chair and into Olivia's arms.

“Hey Vinny, kept you waiting, huh”.
…

……

………

Chapter Text

I just wanted to post this real quick for anyone who is subbed to me will see that i rewrote part of chapter one so its better now