Work Text:
When his brother had originally came up to him to ask him if he would join a team that would hunt down players for bounties. Originally the idea seemed exciting. The thrill and the adrenaline spurring him on in every fight and each mechanic they end up using.
From canons, to just a simple swing of the sword, tnt explosions and arrows flying in the sky.
It was all so thrilling being in a team with his friends and brother by his side.
Especially that he got to sit as the leaders right-hand man! He had never felt more pride than when Leo had assigned him and explained to him what he was to take control over.
Bases were soon constructed, a massive outline rather than the shitty underground base that they had previously. And now that they’ve collected enough resources they were able to afford builders to help them build a massive headquarters where they will use as a base of operations.
And seeing where they had ended up it was no surprise that Nufuli felt this was where he belonged. This was his element, he had everything under control.
That is..until the thoughts began to creep in.
Silent and stinging thoughts of his behavior, with every swing of his axe or even his sword. He couldn’t shake the feeling off.
He looked similar to his brother. He started with feeling a hint of greed, silently beginning to try and improve his skills.
Pushing himself over his limit to train day after day after day, but every single time it would end in vain. He still has yet to prove himself to the team that he was capable and trustworthy and better than Leo.
So he pressed further.
Creating ideas, learning about redstone, anything that could garner his teams attention towards him.
But nonetheless they still looked up at Leo as leader.
Leo was best.
Leo has always been the best and you will forever be a simple shadow on his side.
You. Are. Nobody.
Nobody had asked you to be here? Why stay?
Weak.
You are nothing but weak, a pushover, an unnecessary part of the team.
Usually during the times when these thoughts had hit him, he barely noticed till his team began reassuring him whilst he was gripping the table so hard it nearly cracked.
Or when he had zoned out and returned to his fist punched deep in the wall.
Leo, obviously noticing his brother’s distress, had called him out on it and offered to listen to whatever had been going on and if he could help.
Though Nufuli had shook it off and lied through his teeth saying it was merely, ‘stress of the fighting and missions’.
(Leo gave him a week break for that and it only made Nufuli push himself to train harder)
But still, no matter what had he worked for. Nothing. It led to nothing, no results. He was no different than his brother and maybe even worse. So weak.
“I care about you Nufuli..please…please keep yourself safe for me, don’t throw yourself like that..” Leo had told him, as he was wrapping a bandage around his brothers torso. When Nufuli had blocked an attack for him and got hit. Incompetent meek rat…
His heart fluttered at the sight that Leo had been worried about him. Yet his head screamed that he was simply pitying his underlings.
“Stay useful to me Nufuli. You arent of any use if you don’t start locking in.”
Leo never said that..but the voice that sounded like Leo in his head did.
And seeing as he was holding the rest of his team back by worrying for him, Nufuli set out to bury his feelings deep in his heart. Locking it away for himself to revel in.
Because they don’t need to pity him. He doesn’t need anyone. He’ll be useful for them. He’ll prove it.
This went on until Parrot had shown up.
When the sand barrier had dropped above him and he watched as his friends fall slowly but surely to the heavy core of the mace that had been gripped tightly in ItzReal’s hands.
Their blood tainted the grass red.
Nufuli had been infuriated by Parrot’s incompetence of communicating with the rest of the team of this plan. Seeing him try so hard to make himself useful reminds him of his own self.
When the base was raided by Itzreal they had returned to save Parrot who had ignored their emergency call.
When they had to hunt Parrot down, Nufuli stood stern and straight beside Leo’s side menacingly.
And when they had to fight the hacker..
That was when the feeling had begin to bubble up on the brim of his heart. Seeing Jumper leave had hit him too, she was his friend despite it all. And seeing her depart had made him unnecessarily blame Parrot for the loss.
A part of him was angry that his brother had let her go. But on the other he understood Leo’s decision.
This feeling of jealousy had bloomed to that of grief, of depression. Of the slow feeling of acceptance that he will always just be an extension of Leo. Never Nufuli.
Nufuli doesn’t matter.
Leo’s right hand man does.
When all has settled and dusk comes in just as the silence is met. The remaining team walked outside for the first time after the fight.
“im really going to miss this base..” Derap said, holding contact with the dusty cracked walls of the entrance. Leo met him and placed his hand on Derap’s shoulder sternly but comforting.
“We had a good run..i’ll miss this place too.”
The two sighed quietly and as Nufuli helped them cross over a large hole they were met with clear air and skies. No hackers that they need to fear, and for that moment no director, it was just them and a ruined base. And a successful survival.
Despite everything..
Despite…everything.
They turned to see the fiery ruins of their base one last time, “it has gone through…so much, you guys remember when Parrot-?” “yeah okay don’t remind me bro” Parrot cut Derap off bringing the team to huff laughter in what felt like forever.
Nufuli stared off into the jagged rocks, the base that he and his brother had fought in. Had strategised. Had cried. Had laughed. And all the times they worked together flooded his senses.
YOURE NOTHING WITHOUT HIM
YOU WONT SURVIVE WITHOUT HIM, YOURE ALWAYS GOING TO NEED HIM TO COVER YOU
YOURE WEAK
WEAK
“Leo.” Nufuli called out.
Gaining his brothers attention who turned to face him, “yeah? Whats up?”. He looked up from the ground, heart heavy and his hands twitching at the sides.
The silence stretched over a second and two. And now all eyes were on him, Parrots especially.
He met Leo’s eyes and almost wanted to die right there and then for the fondness in his eyes for once. But he had made his decision. And if he didn’t go through with it now, he may never have a chance at it again.
“Nufuli? Whats wrong? Whats going on?” Leo asked, raising his brow questioningly. Nufuli felt dread pool in his stomach, feeling trapped underneath his teammates gazes.
“i…um..” He stammered, balling his hands into fists and huffed.
“Im leaving BAT.”
And that was it? Wasn’t it?, he looked up to see his friends, teammates, brothers eyes widen in shock. “what….?” Leo says, shoulders sagging and waiting for a-..something out of Nufuli.
A tick passed and three.
“I have to-“ “Are you being serious right now..?”
HE SEES YOU WEAK. YOURE NOTHING WITHOUT HIM. YOU CANT SURVIVE. YOU NEED HIM. ALWAYS NEEDS HIM. LOOK HOW HE KNOWS.
Nufuli pushed the thoughts away in a rage, “you wanna leave the team?” his brothers voice cut through.
His brother. Leo.
When had he forgotten the correllation between the two words. When had Leo stopped being his brother and instead..just…Leo..?
He loved the both but he knows deep down that leaving. Was the only solution to begin his own path. His own journey.
And so with a voice of a million memories he responded. “Im being serious.”
And he began. Looking up at Leo it felt like for once all eyes were on him. He wasn’t in the shadows. The sun was setting and they were looking at him.
“Why?”
That was the million dollar question wasn’t it?.
Tears threatened to spill, seeing Leo walk close towards him. “Leo…we..as a team, as BAT has been through a lot..”
“don’t get me wrong but.. I feel like a sort of..extension of you so please just understand, you know me..weve been through hell and shit and survived but..”
Silence.
Silence was all there is. Silence when the stars appeared. Silence as the fire crackled and died behind them. Silence as Leo’s saddened gaze stared at Nufuli and for once Nufuli looked up and he didn’t see Leo the leader of BAT.
…
He saw his brother.
His overly confident, strong willed, hard headed, loving brother. Leo.
“…im tired of trying to be you.”
His voice was high pitched, tears finally spilling down uselessly down his cheeks. He wiped them away just as quick as they came.
“Nufuli.” Leo said, walking over and placing his hand on his brothers shoulder.
Nufuli didn’t know what to expect, eyes were on Leo now. He had expected yelling, he’d expected a please don’t go.
But all he got was a hug.
Nufuli’s hand twitched to return it.
Resting his face on Leo’s shoulder and sobbed.
“Im proud of you.” Nufuli sniffled, “huh..?”
They pulled back and Nufuli sees the tear streaks on Leo’s own face. The hold on his shoulder tightened. “I..dont want you to go but..i understand. And im so..proud of you, thank you..for all this time. All the fights. Everything. Alongside me, the others i..
…im proud of you.”
Leo smiled and Nufuli felt his heart crack and reform itself at the words. He smiled too.
He stepped back, armor and everything he had thrown on the ground. He handed the spyglass that Parrot had lended to him just yesterday and nodded at him.
Parrot nodded back, acknowledging his decision and respecting it.
“Goodbye Nufuli..i hope we see eachother again.” Leo says, standing between his teammates.
Nufuli sighed, for once his breath was free. For once he was happy and was stepping into a new path in his own life.
He wasn’t a shadow. He was Nufuli. He was his own person.
“Goodbye!” He said happily, smiling as he turned to see them one last time.
He had so much planned, so much things to do. He raised his hand to wave to his past.
Oh the innocence of a man whose light lit up the darkness of others.
The director of the show has prophesied.
Your story ends now. Nufuli.
THWACK!
He felt a force push through his heart, smile fading away replaced with pure fear when he lost his balance falling onto the ground from the air.
He sees Leo. Running. Screaming something.
He sees Parrot. Standing as the last form of embers burn out from the ruins behind him.
He sees Derap. Eyes widening in surprise but too far for Nufuli to see him.
Thud.
His name was being called out somewhere.
But breaths were hard to do. It hurt. His chest hurt. Why?
There was blood in his mouth and something wet and solid on his chest. His hands twitched to pull it off but there was no energy left in him after that fall.
Was this the dread that had pooled from earlier? Why was his chest hurting so much?
His vision blurred to someone holding him up. He looked up to see.
..
Leo.
His eyes were frantic and fearful. He felt his head resting on something but he didn’t know what anymore.
“Nufuli..Nufuli stay with me come on.. no..no please don’t. don’t do this to me no..i can’t lose you please..”
Nufuli was pressed close to Leo’s chest. Ah..he understands now. He was dying.
Words were stuck on his throat as blood dripped and covered his shirt. Somewhere beside Leo was Derap. He was calling Nufuli out too but Leo was clutching onto him and pressing and it burns…
He opened his mouth to say something but all that came out was a cough and a choke on metal taste that he knew was blood.
“There goes your clean suit..im sorry Leo.” He thought, mind hazy as his vision blurred and slipped away.
“NUFULI. NUFULI COME ON..” Leo looked down at his brother, eyes cloudy and dark, reflecting the stars and the fire from behind him.
“Leo..” “No..nono.. Derap get..get healing pots.. something. A- a totem something anything please. Anything.” Leo shook his head, shaking his dead brother hoping that would keep him awake.
“Leo.. he’s gone-“ “I KNOW!” he screamed clutching down to press his forehead against his…
“I know..” he cried, feeling Nufuli’s body grow colder and paler by the second. They had nothing.
He had let his brother down. He should’ve never invited him to this. He should’ve noticed, he should’ve..
“….Leo..” Derap was calling him and he turned to see him pointing at something in the ruins.
He turned his head, hands still clutching on to Nufuli’s body. No..his brothers. Body.
And there the director stood.
He was speaking some jack shit words that Leo could give two shits about. His hands trembled, rage wracking through his body.
“you killed. My brother.” Leo stated. His eyes boring holes towards the invisible person.
His hands flew to the potions on his side, laying Nufuli gently on the ground and stood splashing them onto himself.
His hands grabbed his sword, pulling it out and charged towards the director.
He’d failed Nufuli.
He’d avenge him. “I promise I wont let you down again.”