Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

007n7 was past his prime and he knew that fact. But being forced into heavy combat at the ripe age of 36 was making him wish he was at least a bit closer to it.

Now, he’s fighting Noli once again. Back in that prime he knows the two were seen as power couple by the exploiter community. A friend said they were sexy men with sexy code. Noli was brains and brawn while 007n7 was brains and agility. They were two of the most wanted, tearing down world after world all to the dismay of Builderman and the admins.

Their dynamic lasted ten years, from when a troubled 007n7 fell for the bad boy named Noli to the final straw of 007n7 taking in C00lkidd.

Noli doesn’t look like he did before but 007n7 knows why. Burnt black skin on one half and a tight purple muscle over the other that’s covered in glitches and code. His now amorphous form was a jaded reflection of who he once was, with a black crown atop his head to cap it all off. 007n7 knew that Noli didn’t always look like that. Once, long ago, he had cool toned dark skin and slicked back black hair. He was tall with broad shoulders and a sturdy build. It was always always accompanied by a smirk on his face along with half of a comedy mask on the left side.

In this other life, 007n7 was young and lively. Still with thin features but with light muscles covering it all. Long dirty blond hair kept in a low pony tail. Now, he was more gaunt with, his long hair being something of his past, him having cut it soon after he adopted C00lkidd. His brown eyes grew long, tired and saw more than one man should in his lifetime.

But, right now, he was facing his past once again.

He jumps behind a wall, dodging the void star.

“Why the hell did you tell my son to call me a slur?” he calls out.

“He actually did it?” Noli laughs, “And I mean, you know why..”

“Yes I know why.” 007n7 scoffs, “Doesn’t mean you needed to be teaching him words like that.”

The sword plunges into the ground right next to him, “In my defense. 1X said it first.”

“You know better!” he stands up, rushing back.

“Hm, do I?” Noli teases.

“Oh, I forgot you were a 38 year old child.” 007n7 rolls his eyes.

Noli suddenly charges, sword stabbing into his side and then into the wall behind.

007n7 hisses in pain.

That’s when he yanks out the sword and 007n7 turns to run.

But, that only gives Noli the opportunity to charge forwards again, slamming 007n7’s face into the dirt.

“Noli you’re a fucking bitch, you know that?”

“Fuck you too.”

Noli yanks the man back up before bashing his head onto the wall. The first time, it just knows 007n7 unconscious, but after the second, 007n7 shoots awake within the walls of the cabin.

He snaps up, hands gripping tight on the kitchen counter in front of him.

He quickly hits his cheek with his palm, trying to snap back to normality. To try and pull it back together before C00lkidd found him. He was supposed to try and cook something for him but, was summoned away before he could even find the ingredients.

Speaking of his son, he wondered where he was now. They were lucky to discover that C00lkidd didn’t join them in their suffering within the rounds and just stayed at the cabin. They gave him things to do in the meantime, usually the first to die having the courtesy to check up on him. But, 007n7 didn’t know who died first which means, it could be someone who wouldn’t have.

So, he exited the kitchen, stepping out into the common area.

There he saw two people, Noob and Builderman. They weren’t talking but, it didn’t seem awkward. More just a period of reflection and relaxation for both.

He genuinely hates to interrupt but, “Hey.. have you two seen C00lkidd?”

“We need to talk about him.” Builderman growls.

“Did something happen, did he do something?” 007n7 tenses.

“H-he’s upstairs sl-sleeping.” Noob mutters, “H-he was tired so, I-I told him to take a n-nap. We were, j-just”

“So, what do you need to talk about then?” he sighs as he turns to Builderman, crossing his arms.

“I would like to know why yer still letting the little shit run around with yer program.” he rolls his eyes, standing up.

“It’s his now.” 007n7 pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Oh yeah, let the kid run around with the good shit while we all fuckin’ die.” Builderman snorts.

“We’ll die with it or without it Builder.”

“But, we might die less.” he states, “Fuck ya know I hate exploiters like you and that fuckin’ ex of yours but it could be a bit useful right about now.”

Noob just sat there, watching these two men argue. This was the first time they heard that someone was 007n7’s ex but, their mind was wandering to other things. Mainly, how out of their depth they were, plus, how these two men were double and almost three times their age respectively.

“I’m not just taking back something I chose to give my child years ago.”

“That was years ago like ya said. Shit happens, you get thrown into death games.”

“I’m not fighting with him over it.”

“Then beat him just like my father did to me.” Builderman chuckles.

“I’m not beating my child.” 007n7 puts his hand on his hip, “I’m not raising my son like that.”

“Soft ass parenting method aside, we need all the tools we got.” Builderman steps forwards, pushing into 007n7’s space.

“It’s built to him at this point. It might take weeks for me to even rebuild it for me.”

“Ya changed it for him. Just fix it back.”

“I didn't change it, he changed it himself.” 007n7 explains, “Did you ever have kids of your own? If you did you would understand.”

“Stop prioritizing the child over everyone-”

“I LOST HIM FOR MONTHS!” he shouts, pushing his chest out, “A-and I still don’t really know what he went through. So, I don’t want to push him too hard.”

“Two words.” Builderman’s eyes show no sympathy, “Survival scenario.”

“Why would I take away his joy to survive a couple minutes longer?”

“You would be an idiot to not!”

“Dad?”

Both their heads turn. They see a sleepy looking C00lkidd, rubbing his eyes.

“Oh, hi C00lkidd, sorry if we woke you-”

“You can have the program back dad.” he summons his C00lgui in front of him.

“You.. heard that?”

“Yeah. But like orange dome over there said it’ll help you be stronger. And to beat his ass. Can you beat Builderman’s ass?”

“Shut up kid-”

He’s interrupted by C00lkidd walking over and slamming his foot into Builderman’s shin.

Builderman stumbles back in his chair.

Before he can curse the kid out though, 007n7 speaks.

“I told you not to hit. Apologize to him.”

“But he’s being a bitch.”

“Yeah but, violence is not the answer.” he sighs.

“Fine.” he briefly turns to Builderman, “I’m sorry that your shin is weak.”

“Actually apologize.”

“Fine.” he scoffs, crossing his arms, “I’m sorry for kicking you.”

“Uh.” that’s all Builder speaks.

“Anyways. I’ll give you it back dad.”

“You really don’t have to.. I’ll be fine without it.”

“But, I want you to be okay.”

And that breaks 007n7’s heart. As well as Noob’s, who has been the bystander to this conversation.

“Okay. If you’re sure.” he pauses, “But, I’ll give you the one I’ve been using in return. It.. can’t do as much but, you can still make your clones you like.”

“Okay! I’ll make it better don’t worry!”

007n7 smiles, “Yeah, you probably will.”

007n7 summons the beta C00lgui in front of him, watching as C00lkidd’s shoves his at him.

007n7 pushes the beta over and C00lkidd giggles, immediately scurrying off to mess around with it.

That leaves 007n7 staring at the once familiar screen.

It’s not in a rough state but, it needs to be rebalanced for his skillset and frequently used tools.

But, he can do it. 

“See, ended up fine.” Builderman gestures, “Though your kid fucked up my shin.”

“Aren’t you like f-fifty, aren’t your legs already messed-”

Builderman throws a wrench over Noob’s head, “EEEK!”

That’s when Taph walks into the common area, visibly sulking.

He signs, which Builderman translates, “He teleported into my base I built and jumped me.”

Taph then dramatically flops onto the couch, throwing a half built bomb onto the coffee table.

007n7 types something on his screen. Another exact replica appears beside it.

“What the..” Noob mumbles.

“That one was always one of my favourite features.” 007n7 smiles, “Glad to see it gets to make its comeback.”

Chapter Text

“How can you not like pizza?” Chance asks, scoffing at the taller man.

“Chicken is better.” Shedletsky states, “The only pizza I even remotely like is the blondie’s.”

Noob follows the two, deciding that it’s always been better to just not step in between any arguments.

“But pizza!” Chance shouts.

“Buddy, we all know why you like pizza so much.” Shedletsky chuckles.

“How do you all know about that?” Chance asks, “I told no one except one person!”

“Wh-what are we.. talking about?” Noob asks quietly, continuing to look around at the things around them.

They notice targets off to the side, something new on them but they can’t get a good view as the two in front of them just continue to walk, threatening to leave them in the dust.

“Chance has a thing for our beloved healer.” Shedletsky laughs.

“So what if I do? Why’s that’s everyone’s business.” Chance scoffs.

“Because you both are obvious and it’s hilarious.” Shedletsky continues to laugh.

As Chance pouts Shedletsky whispers in Noob’s ear, “Guest told me Chance heard Elliot laugh and shot himself in the foot.”

“He did what?” Noob giggles.

“I did not!” Chance shouts, “What’s wrong with my feelings anyways? Elliot’s a good guy. Hell, because of him and pizza, we have one less killer in rotation.”

“I know he’s not a killer anymore but C00lkidd still scares the shit outta me.” Shedletsky puts his hands behind his head.

“He’s ac-actually really sweet.” Noob states, “Th-though he did kick Builderman a few rounds ago..”

“Probably deserved it.” Chance and Shedletsky speak at the same time.

“Look I’m just happy I won’t be set on fire anymore.” Chance shrugs, “One time it made my gun go off.”

“W-was that the time you got sh-shot in the foot?” Noob asks.

“No that time my hip got blown off and Elliot carried me for the rest of the round.” Chance sighs, “Told him to leave me but he wouldn’t-”

The three heads whip to the left at the sound of heavy footsteps.

A puff of smoke rises into the air, coming from a thick cigar.

In the man’s other hand, he twirls a red visor on his finger. Elliot’s visor.

Chance’s eyes go wide while the other two squint.

He knows that man. He knows that man all too well.

Black suit and a black trench coat. Black fedora on his head along with heavy stubble across his face. The hat masks his eyes but, it doesn’t cover that smirk on his lips.

“Two more survivors and one rat to snuff out.” he scoffs.

“Who the hell-” Shedletsky is interrupted by a brick being thrown at his head, knocking him backwards.

The dark figure stops twirling that hat, grabbing it tight and looking at it.

“I dunno Chance, heard you got a bit of a soft spot for Builder’s son.”

Noob runs over to help Shetletsky up, whispering, “Elliot’s the son of Builderman?”

“Different Builder.” Shetletsky quickly explains before the man speaks again.

“Maybe I can use him to repay your debt.” he scowls.

“Leave him out of it!” Chance steps forwards, “It’s between you and I Mafioso. No one else.”

“The thing about that.” Mafioso chuckles, “If ya don’t offer something up, I’ll take what I want. And what I want, is to see you suffer. And I know you Chance. Ol’ gamblin’ child. Your life means nothin’ to ya. Just another thing for you to risk away.”

“Chance..?” Noob's voice is quiet as he finishes getting Shedletsky up.

Chance doesn’t speak.

“The one honorable thing about ya kid? You’d never risk someone else, not for yer sake. So I’d say the punishment fits the crime. Cheat our rules, I getta cheat yours.”

“What, you mad that I won your rigged game fair and square?”

“You’re a dirty cheater kid.” Chance is reminded how much Mafioso towers over everyone around.

Standing tall around 6’9” with a broad build, he loomed over everyone, especially Chance’s 5’9” height.

“Just married to Lady Luck herself. Looking at your ugly mug though, seems she wouldn't even spit on ya.” Chance smirks.

“Feisty aren’t we?” he snaps, “Get it done, boys.”

Two men appear beside him. One with a pot on his head and a crowbar, the other with a captain styled hat and a wooden board.

They slam Chance into the wall he didn’t realize was behind him.

He shrugs one off, yanking out his gun from his pocket.

He shoots it right at Mafioso’s ugly mug.

Luckily for him, it goes off and fires.

Mafiosos stumbles back, and Chance uses the opportunity to break away from the goons and run the opposite direction of Noob and Shedletsky.

“I got the rat. Get the other two!” Mafioso barks and the two goons nod.

They turn and charge the two survivors.

“NOOB RUN!” Shedletsky shouts, drawing his sword, “I GOT THIS! GO TELL THE OTHERS I’M A HERO!”

“Uh- um, ok-okay?” Noob decides to listen, taking a big bite of their Ghostburger before disappearing.

Shedletsky smirks, “Let's dance dumbasses!”

He rushes them, swinging his sword at the first. Him blocking the blow with his crowbar.

The goon tries to counter, taking a swing. Shedletsky just catches the crowbar right before it would have slammed into his head.

His hand feels like it’s suddenly ablaze.

“GOD,” he stabs through the chest of the Goon, causing him to vanish, “DAMNIT WHY THE FIRE.”

He shakes his hand rapidly to try and get that feeling to go away before turning to the other goon.

He looks side to side for a way out.

But, Shedletsky is already charging him, swinging his sword down.

He lifts his board to block it but, the blade splits the board in two.

Shedletsky knocks them to the ground before stabbing him through his forehead.

The goon vanishes right after.

Shedletsky doesn’t celebrate though, instead looking up in the direction Chance ran.

And, Chance is still being chased by Mafioso.

He really wishes his dice rolled hot for once. But instead he’s stuck in what he can tell is a weakened state.

He flips his coin as he runs, trying to get another bullet to appear in his flintlock. But, with every flip, it lands on tails. It causes him to get lightheaded, a migraine forming. A pressure in his head that makes it feel like the chamber of his gun.

He flips it one more time, finally getting the heads he needs.

He quickly turns going to shoot.

But, before he can even pull the trigger. Mafioso’s hand extends forwards, grabbing Chance around the neck and lifting him up.

He squeezes tight, cutting off any airflow in Chance’s body.

“You can’t escape from me. No one is here to protect you now.”

Chance attempts to lift his gun up but Mafioso doesn’t seem phased.

“I know you’d rather put that revolver to your own head, kid.”

He throws him to the ground, onto his knees.

“Do it. Lets see how lucky you are Chance.”

Chance looks up at him, hands shaking.

“If I do it, you won’t hurt anyone else?”

“Yes, of course.” he gives a sleazy smile.

Chance hands shakes as he lifts the gun, placing it against his temple.

It scares him how natural this feels. That comforting feeling of the hot metal pressing into his skin.

He sees Mafioso’s feet circling him.

He feels something tighten suddenly around his neck, what he can see from the small view he gets, it’s Elliot’s visor.

“Scared little boy?” he taunts,

“No. Never will be.”

He feels the visor being taken away, as he hears Mafioso take a step back.

Chance, with no hesitation, pulls the trigger.

No bullet fires. Lady Luck dealt him a worse hand.

The gun explodes, shockwave destroying the flesh of his hand and of the side of his head.

It barely doesn’t kill him.

He stays on his knees in shock, part of his brain and skull freshly exposed, his hat and headphones blown off.

His eyes stay wide but his vision goes blurred. A ringing sound he can hear from what once was his ear.

He feels himself being pushed forwards.

"Lady Luck called. She wanted a divorce!" Mafioso shouts.

Chance feels his head being crushed, specifically stepped on.

Honestly? He finds this the closest thing to an act of mercy Mafioso would ever give him.

As Chance’s body goes limp Mafioso tosses the visor next to his crumbling skull.

One last taunt for this round. But both know there will be many more to come.

Chapter Text

Elliot searches through the pantry, trying to pick out some decent ingredients to make something for everyone.

There was a new killer. That was always rough for everyone. He couldn’t help within the round due to being caught quickly and put down.

He knows the longer they all survive, the better quality of food and supplies they receive.

Recently, they’ve been doing fairly well. They’ve stocked up a lot of supplies, saving for when they knew it would get rough again. And until they figured the new guy out, it was probably going to get rough again.

So, Elliot knows he needs to keep everyone’s spirits high so they don’t fall down.

Elliot hears someone walking behind him before the feet suddenly stop.

So, he turns.

There he sees Chance, breathing heavy.

“Hey, you alright Chance?” he asks.

No response, just a blank stare.

“Chance..?” he steps towards him, reaching a hand out.

Elliot gets his hand swatted away, “Leave me alone. I’m fine.”

Elliot doesn’t say anything as Chance walks away, walking down the set of stairs to presumably his makeshift bedroom in the cellar.

He doesn’t follow, letting him storm off.

Elliot finds it hard to turn back to the pantry after that.

…

Elliot is almost thankful to hear the soft groan from Guest as he stretches, walking into the kitchen.

He doesn’t even let Guest get a word off, “Can you go check on Chance?”

“Whoa, why?” he asks, not dismissing him but searching for the reason, “Is it about the new killer?”

“I think he.. Look. He just seemed pretty off and kinda was, staring into space.” Elliot crosses his arms against his chest, “He went to his room I think, just, you’re close with him I know. Can you, make sure he’s alright?”

“Of course.” Guest gives him a reassuring smile, “I’ll go check on him now.”

…

Chance can vaguely hear his name being called, a soft tapping on his door. He doesn’t really pay attention though. Too focused on the gun, once again, pressed on his temple.

It’s an oddly comforting, familiar feeling.

In his lifetime, he’s played a lot of rounds of Russian Roulette. The exact amount, he had no real idea. He just knew it was a lot. 

One man always convinced him to play. Itrapped. He always told them to play, said he needs to test his luck. That and, he shouldn’t mooch off his parents so much, why not get money with the only real skillset Chance has, his luck.

The rule usually was, you put as much cash as you had on you in. Last person standing got it all. Whether that be bailing or worse.

Chance is no stranger to death due to this. Though, usually it was only one. Everyone else basked out after that.

Chance just had to put one more gun to his head, usually covered in blood, viscera and gun powder.

He always did.

Chance really didn’t see many of his winnings. He wanted to keep Itrapped happy.

But he never seemed happy. Just encouraging Chance to play more and more.

Part of him found it fun. It was exhilarating to risk it all. But the other part of him had a few things to say about it. Like, who would care for Spade when he died.

Some would say his boyfriend would but, Chance didn’t trust him around their rabbit. Not after he tried to cuddle up to him and Itrapped punted the poor creature. Not after Itrapped started to hit Chance too. Chance might have deserved it but Spade didn’t.

His hand shakes, the end of the gun rubbing up and down on his temple.

He hears the door swing open.

The gun doesn’t move but his eyes shift to the doorway.

“Whoa.. hey Chance, why don’t we put the gun down?” He sees Guest 1337 slowly stepping into his room.

Chance doesn’t speak.

“Lets talk okay? No need to do anything rash.” Guest sits down in Chance’s desk chair.

Chance nods, lowering the gun to his lap.

“What’s going on?” Guest asks.

“You know, I’ve spent a lot of time with guns to my head.” he mutters, “But, I guess Mafioso knew that too.”

“Mafioso?” Guest asks.

“The new killer.”

“You know him?”

“Used to gamble at his casino. Until.. It happened.”

“What happened?”

Chance pauses briefly before speaking, “I was on a hot streak. Slots, blackjack, roulette, the works. That’s when I stepped up to a poker table. It started off interesting, just playing a few rounds, won one small pot, lost one, skipped out on one. But, people started leaving the table. It was just me, the dealer and this other guy. I should have seen the trap. But, the next hand was out. I had a seven and a three, both of spades. The guy next to me, unbeknownst to me at the time, was purposely dealt pocket aces.”

“So it was rigged?” he asks.

“Yeah. But I didn’t know that. They placed the flop. King of clubs, ace of diamonds and a six of spades. He bet, a lot. Not everything but a lot. But, there was that one card that helped my hand. And I always felt lucky with Spades. So I called. The turn hit and, five of spades. I was getting closer. So, as he raised. I did too. I felt lucky. I was on a hot streak. I just needed one card. One in a forty-four shot. That’s when the river was placed, four of spades. He went all in. I followed. I won with a straight flush. The way he and the dealer looked at me after I collected all the chips was, the moment I realized I wasn’t supposed to win that game. I saw his aces, figured out pretty quickly that the dealer must have fucked it all up. I immediately cashed out and ran for the hills.”

“Why would they do that?”

“They knew I had money. They also knew I play impulsively. Probably figured they could make a quick million out of me.”

Guest chokes on the air, “Wait, million?”

“Yeah, I was pretty well off back in reality. Parents were rich, I gamble and win, a lot. Though, I did give my boyfriend most of my winnings so I never really saw much of it.”

“You have your boyfriend millions of dollars?” Chance doesn’t want him to piece it together but, he also doesn’t want to outright tell the man.

“Yeah he.. needed it for stuff so I thought I’d help him out.” He bluffs, “but because of that, when a photo of the dealer’s head blown off came to our condo door, uh, I didn’t have anything to pay the supposed debt.”

“He killed the dealer..? Why is he going for you then.”

“He probably doesn’t know who’s at fault. So, why not both. Or.. something like that. All I know is I won 22.5 million that day and he wants it all back.”

He watches Guest jump, “I thought you said a million.”

“A million, 22 million, same thing.” Chance rolls his eyes, “but, yeah he’s not one to just, forgive debt. Especially not one that big. I either owe him cash or.. a favour. Cash is preferable for me.”

“A.. favour? How bad can that be.”

“Someone owed him something once, I think they borrowed 25 K or something. They chose the favour. He was made to do a hit and run on someone.”

“Oh.. and that was for 25 grand.”

“Yeah. I’m not taking any chances.. even if I think he wants me too.”

“What do you mean?” Guest asks.

Chance slowly turns to him, “he said something about using Elliot as repayment.”

“I’m what way?” Guest asks bluntly.

“Either his family’s restaurant or just.. as a punching bag. Probably both.”

“And..?”

“And what?” Chance quickly stands up, “I’m not letting him do shit to Elliot. I don’t care what it means for me, my debt is between me and Mafioso, no one else gets involved.”

“Then why is he killing us?”

“Were you.. were you killed by him?” Chance goes quiet.

Guest nods, “He managed to jump me from behind while my guard was down.”

“He promised if I..” Chance mumbles, “No he-“

They suddenly scoff, “Of course he fucking lied. Fucking snake of a god damn man.”

Then Chance sees it, Guest pocketing his flintlock.

“H-hey!”

Guest stands up, “let’s go for a run. I’ll give you it back after, once I know you’re not going to use it on someone who doesn’t deserve it.”

“Fine, but I probably won’t be able to keep up with you.” A run does sound nice, at least nicer than vocalizing their messy feelings.

Guest gestures for them to follow out the door.

Chance shoves his hands in his jacket pockets as he does.

They walk up the staircase and Chance sees Elliot once again, in the kitchen.

Elliot’s head turns. He slowly and cautiously walks over before Chance can escape.

“Okay, I, don’t like to stew on things.” he sighs, “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to heal you during the round, I, I would have if I could but, the new guy.. He got me pretty early on and.. Well I couldn’t do much afterwards.”
Chance blinks.

He didn’t even realize what he was projecting.

So, he feels the need to clarify, “Elliot, that’s not, I’m not-”

He settles on this, “I could never be mad at you Elliot.”

“Horrible idea. There’s a lot of things about me that should piss you off Chance-”

Chance suddenly throws his arms around Elliot, “And you are.. Okay. Well, uh. Um, uh.”

Chance feels Elliot hug him back using one arm to hold him close while the other rubs his back softly.

“I’m sorry.. I-I didn’t mean I-I..”

“Hey, it’s okay. I kinda just, jumped to it. Guess, it was on my mind. Sorry..”

They hold each other, bodies naturally swaying back and forth. Both always terrible at staying still. Chance buries his face into the crook of Elliot’s neck, humming softly at the warmth around him.

But, slowly, they pull away.

Elliot’s hands naturally drift up to Chance’s face, hands resting on his cheeks.

“Have fun on your run, Lucky.”

“L-Lucky?” Chance stutters, feeling his face heating up.

“If you get to call me Doll, I get to call you some stupid nickname, right?” Elliot smiles softly.

“Yeah, of- of course Doll.”

“Are they fucking yet?” Guest jumps at the sudden whisper.

He whips his head to the side. There he sees Builderman.

“Sadly not.” Guest recomposes himself and responds.

“Great.. I need a beer.” he scoffs, walking to the bridge.

That seems to snap the two out of their daze.

“Hey! I’m making food, drink with that!” Elliot shouts.

“I’ll drink now and then.” Builderman scoffs.

Guest gestures for Chance to follow him, “C’mon, we’ll go while Elliot cooks.”

Chance nods, waving bye and getting a wave and a smile back.

…

Chance’s original thought was correct, he can barely keep up with the soldier.

But, he still finds himself following on. Running and running, the motion feels good on his body.

He ditched his jacket and tie back at the front porch but the rest of his suit still feels stuffy. He knows he needs some better clothes. Something more athletic. Something he can actually breathe in.

But, he watches as Guest slows. Watching him slowly stop in a clearing.

He watches him sit on the edge of this cliff, patting the ground next to him.

Chance takes the hint and sits down.

He looks off this cliff, off into the distance.

A dark lake, trees in the far off lands. It’s a gorgeous sight.

“I come up here to think once in a while.” Guest says, “I find it peaceful.”

“Yeah.. it’s nice.”

“Sometimes, it’s nice to slow down. Take a break during all of the chaos.” he hums, “I.. usually end up thinking about my wife and child.”

And Chance can’t help but think about something similar. Elliot. Long ago, those thoughts would be reserved for Itrapped. Technically the two never broke up. Technically that’s one of his many loose ends. But, Chance realizes something. He doesn’t think he ever truly was even attracted to Itrapped. They just liked that someone, someone was finally being kind to them, giving them attention and praise. Being told that they were worth it. At least at the start. But, that felt like years ago at this point. And Chance knew he moved on romantically. But, Chance might never be able to escape the fears that Itrapped brought on.

“Chance.. You leave everything up to luck. The best advice I feel like I can give you is.. Find something stable that you can fall back on when things go awry.” he speaks, “Your strong Chance. And I know you’ll find a way. You always do.”

Guest slides him back his flintlock, Chance putting it in his holster, “Thank you.. F-for both things.”

“Anytime kid.” Guest smiles, “You're always welcome to join me up here.”

…

Chance needed a shower. He had the top buttons of his shirt undone, sleeves rolled up and sweat dripping down his brow. He lazily carried his tie and blazer, both slung over his shoulder. He couldn’t help but squint at the fact Guest didn’t even seem to break a sweat.

As they walk through the kitchen, Chance smells something amazing.

He quickly looks to the side and sees two trays of food completely done up.

Burgers, mac and cheese and tomato salad.

Elliot was a godsend.

Chance looked at the plate that had his name in front of it. Burger loaded with cheese (how he liked it) as well as various other toppings that they love. Onions, lettuce tomatoes and specifically three pickles. He could tell whatever amazing sauce was whipped up was slathered all over it. Chance’s mouth was already watering.

That wasn’t even looking at the two sides. One was a comfort meal, mac and cheese, obviously made from scratch plus baked in the oven. Chance can sense the cheese stretch from there. The other was a tomato salad and man, Chance underestimated how much he liked vegetables. It helps when you suddenly go weeks without anything fresh. So when you get some, it’s like heaven.

He briefly does glance over at Guest’s food. Seeing that the burger has less cheese but two patties. 

They then glance at Guest and hears him mutter, “Elliot you fucking miracle worker..”

Chance is the first to walk over, grabbing his bowl of mac and cheese. He desperately wants to eat the rest but, he has something to do first.

He heads towards the living room, food already down his throat.

There he sees people idly chatting, most about half done their food.

They can recognize that Elliot made Dusekkar his own vegetarian burger that Taph seems to be trying to convince the man to let him have a bite of.

But, instead of making a joke about those two, he heads for another person.

“Aces,” he shoots a finger gun at Two Time, “I was wondering something.”

“Hm, what is it?” their mouth is covered in burger sauce as well as gooey cheese. 

“Got any extra knives?”

“Oh, sure!” they smile, “Are you considering showing your devotion to the Spawn.”

“Sorry, the only goddess I worship is still Lady Luck.. And Elliot..’s cooking.” he shrugs.

“Aw.” Two Time pouts before standing up, “Well.. follow me anyways..”

And, Chance does. Following what he best describes as a cryptid up the stairs, towards Two Time’s bedroom.

Two Time quickly pushes open the door.

Chance has been in their room once or twice before. There are still way too many Spawn symbols drawn on the walls and floor, and somehow on the ceiling too. The rest of the room is a mess of trinkets collected over time, things Two Time deemed as offerings to their ever so beloved Spawn.

But, Chance has learned to just walk past that.

They follow them to a room off to the side.

When that door is pushed open, Chance sees a pristine room, covered wall to wall in different types of knives. Along with that, there’s two chests, visibly full to the brim with ones Chance assumes Two Time didn’t find aesthetically pleasing.

“Nice.” Chance smiles, genuinely impressed.

“Take your pick.” Two Time smiles.

“Thanks Aces.” he gives a lazy salute as he starts to pursue the wares.

“Why do you call me that?” Two Time asks, tilting their head.

“Pocket aces, best poker hand kid.” he winks behind the sunglasses.

“Poker.. Hand..?”

“I gotta teach you to play some time.” Chance hums, “Maybe we can get a good game going.”

“Why would I play that?”

“You can win stuff to give to the Spawn.”

“Okay!”

Then Chance sees it. A White blade,a butterfly knife to be specific.

He had always wanted one of of these,

He slowly picks it up, “This one okay for the taking?”

“Yep! As long as you teach me that game!”

“Will do kid.” Chance smirks, “We’ll have one hell of a time playin’, trust me.”

Chapter Text

Guest 1337 has been running a lot recently. It’s something he’s been trying to work on.

Guest has been watching Elliot recently, seeing how the man moved.

It’s amazing. One minute you’re dying, the next there’s a hot slice of pizza being extended to you.

Guest wanted to be able to do that, wanted to be able to reach people just as fast to give them the aid they needed. Maybe even just to take some of that burden off the very overstretched supporters.

So, he continues to run through the forest that surrounds them.

He wanted to truly help with the other burdens too. Specifically now, the fact all the younger survivors' mental health seemed to be slipping.

Elliot was cracking, starting to get deep into his head about his own worth. Plus, there’s that self-sacrificial habit of his, one Guest personally knows is very hard to break. He’d watched Elliot recently; he finally started speaking to 007n7. But good here seems to always come with bad.

Then there was Chance. He was a stick of TNT lit from both ends. Guest couldn’t tell if that recent event was his explosion or if worse was to come. Back on his army days, when they used to gamble on rations he learned something. Games like that go quick. Chance started off cool and collected, ready to take on any challenge ahead of him. But, hundreds of rounds in suddenly his determination was wavering. His bad luck streak was tearing him down.

Then there’s Two Time. They don’t even know their age but everyone agrees they look to be in their early twenties. Guest has tried to ask the one themself but, they always say that the Spawn doesn’t want them to celebrate frivolous things like birthdays. Everyone knew though, Two Time was already at least partially insane before they got here. Recently though, those delusions of theirs seemed to get worse and worse. The other day Guest caught them staring into space while holding a kitchen knife before suddenly they attempted to stab the wall like someone was there. Elliot has banned them from the kitchen now. Probably for the best. Guest assumes it’s also just wear and tear. He personally figured Two Time was going to get worse before they got better. Most likely due to the separation of them from their manipulators. They’re also being introduced to a lot of new things through everyone else. It’s bound to make their mind run wild.

And then, there was Noob. Guest always had a soft spot for them. Started when they were the first two. It was just them and Jason for a while. Noob was always an anxiety riddled mess but, at least right now, they seemed to be getting slightly better. Guest can’t tell if their babysitting of C00lkidd had a hand in it or not. He tends to personally avoid the kid. Not because he thought he was evil but, it was complicated.

He wants to help them all. To pull them out of the holes they're sinking into. He’s trying to not ignore himself doing this. These runs and workouts definitely counteract it all. But, it was always a deep rooted instinct to him to worry about those who are younger. After so much time in the orphanage, you picked that habit up.

…

Guest slammed his fist into the heavy punching bag. It was something he made near the start. Something he could practice on to get stronger.

It was made out of a bound comforter blanket with rocks in the very middle to give it some weight. It swung wonky but the killers did too, so it was fine.

He swings again and again. Right hook, left hook, up, down, straight on. He just tries to keep himself moving. He needs to build up his stamina. To strike harder, to swing faster, to last longer.

He doesn't have magical abilities like the rest of them. All he has is his own strength.

“C00lkidd hey, w-we sh-should leave him al-alone.” he hears from the corner of the room.

He slows and sees in the doorway, C00lkidd and Noob, peeking in.

“Oh hey, need something?” he asks, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Oh, h-he just wandered and-”

“Can you use your kung fu moves on Builder Bitch?” C00lkidd interrupts.

Guest laughs quietly, “I don’t think your dad wants you saying words like that.”

“All my cool friends did.” C00lkidd sighs.

“Yeah but, the kill- they’re all older than you. And when you get to a certain age you’re allowed to say that stuff.” he shakes his head, realizing he’s parenting the kid again, “Look, why do you want me to hurt Builderman?”

“He’s mean. And won’t look at my drawings.”

“Right..”

“H-how about we leave G-Guest alone, C00lkidd.. H-he’s busy working out.” Noob nudges C00lkidd out of the room.

“Hey, Twos can I have a knife?!” C00lkidd seems to have found someone else to talk to.

“God..” Noob mutters, “How does 007n7 handle him so easy?” 

“Ten years of experience, kid.” Guest chuckles, “You seem like you need a break, come sit.”

Noob nods, walking over and sitting at their normal spot, atop a table in the corner of the room.

They watch as Guest starts up once again, going for another set.

Somehow (completely unknown to Noob), Guest speaks while he’s doing this, only producing quiet grunts every once in a while.

“You seem off, anything going on kid?”

“Uh, u-um.. Just been.. Watch-watching C00lkidd to give 007n7 a br-break.” Noob sighs.

“Is he giving you much trouble?”

“Uh, n-not really.. Surprisingly. Just, can be, a lot.”

“Most kids are, trust me on that.”

“I-I want to help.. more. I-it feels like I don’t really do that m-much.. I’m, not really.. The best, at anything. J-just, average.” they ramble.

“Nothing wrong with that.” he states, “Better to be average at everything then only have a few set skills.”

“I-I.. guess.. But, I.. dunno.”

Guest stops punching the bag, “Want to try and take a few swings? I’m due for my rest period anyways.”

“Uh, um, sure!” Noob perks up, “Though, uh, I, uh, don’t really know how but-”

“Then I’ll show you, don’t worry.”

…

Guest keeps running. He’s been keeping an eye on his times and he seems to be getting faster. It’s a slow gain but it’s noticeable and it brings a smile to his face.

Though, as he approaches that spot, he needs to slow to a halt. Staring off that cliff once again.

He slowly sits down, looking down into the water below.

He presses his hand on his breast pocket.

“Hey Daisy. I miss you.” he speaks into the void, “It’s been, a while. A long while. I’m still sorry I never made it home to you and Charlotte. At least not yet. I’m trying, and I’ll keep trying. Maybe.. maybe in another life I could have been with you through all of it.”

This is it, this is the only way he gets to have some closure, speaking into the dark abyss.

“I miss you. I miss both of you.”

His hand shakes as he reaches into his breast pocket and takes out a folded up photo. When he unfolds it, he stares at the photo of him, his wife, and his child. Playing happily at a playground. Back when it was safe. Back during the good times.

But the good times are gone.

But despite that, he knows he needs to be strong. Always be strong. 

But how the hell can he be strong when he’s struggling to remember how old his daughter would be right now.  The concept of time, completely irrelevant to him.

…

Guest runs. Not for fun this time.

He heard a loud bang, something obviously flying into a wall.

So Guest runs towards the danger.

He hasn’t seen anyone for a long while but, at the same time, they’re nearing the end of the round.

He doesn’t know if he’s relieved or to see 007n7, standing face to face with 1X.

007n7 is frozen in place, Guest sees him staring desperately at the black and red screen in front of him.

Before anyone else can act, Guest rushes forwards, sweeping 007n7 over his shoulder and immediately picking up the pace.

“Stupid fucking program! I swear on my fucking ass if this shit doesn’t fucking keep breaking because of that glitched fucking bastard-” he seems to realize what’s happening, “Oh shit. Uh, I- I mean.”

Guest just laughs, “It’s okay dude. What’s up with it?”

“I, I briefly managed to get my program to freeze whatever code 1X runs on. But then I lost control because why the hell did C00lkidd put that program in settings. I know it says disable but it wasn’t referring to the damn program- Sorry. I’ve been holding back a lot of cursing recently. He, he already heard enough he doesn’t need more.”

“Relax, he’s not here. Curse all ya want dude.”

“Okay. Fuck I think I get why Elliot hates this motherfuck- DUCK!”

Guest knows better than to ignore that shout.

He dips down and a beam flies above their heads.

He watches from the corner of his eye, 007n7 frantically typing something in his program.

Then, that beam suddenly turns around, reversing course and flying back in the direction of the killer.

“WHAT THE FUCK-” they hear it slam into 1X.

“Good thinking.” Guest can’t help but smile with his eyes still wide.

He pops back up and continues running.

“Yeah I really don’t know what I just did, god bless the memory feature.” he pauses, “Wait, did I get that back up and running yet- Praying I did. Anyways,uh, how did we escape with me on your shoulder?”

“Been training. Also, you are light as a feather. I’m telling Elliot to increase your rations.” he hums.

“Give ‘em to someone else.” 007n7 waves it off, “Need you to keep, what do the kids call it, bulking? Yeah, I’m not getting any faster or stronger even with more food.”

“Beyond the original point but, we’ll discuss this later.”

“Don’t overwork yourself like Elliot.” 007n7 states, “S-sorry. I, uh, just don’t burn yourself out please…”

“Don’t worry about me.”

“If you worry about my eating habits, I can worry about you.”

Guest lets out a huff, “Fine. I will.. Relax between this and the next round. If you eat properly between it.”

“Deal.”

And that’s when, they both feel their bodies being warped away.

The survivors won. That message echoes through their minds.

They look at each other, now sitting across from one another at the table.

“Dad!” they hear a kid’s voice call out.

007n7 stands up, catching C00lkidd in his arms.

“Hey, I missed you too kiddo.” 007n7 smiles.

“I got a knife!” he exclaims proudly.

“You, you what?” 007n7 blinks.

Guest can’t help but watch on. Feeling something he shouldn’t. Jealousy. Jealousy that this man got to reunite with his child and he’ll never get to see his daughter grow up.

He’ll never get to hold her tight and say,

“I love you kiddo,” it’s a simple phrase.

Guest barely hears him add on, “Just maybe let’s not play with knives..”

Guest looks down at the table.’

Be strong. Always be strong.

But, Guest thinks in order to build that strength back up, he needs to take a bath, eat beef jerky and maybe cry a bit too. 

And he knows, that’s probably the strongest thing he can do right now.

Chapter Text

Builderman genuinely found the people around him insane. He’s magnet for it. His friends/colleagues proved that fact almost twenty years ago.

So when this bright red child started following him around, it didn’t surprise him. It just, slightly infuriated him.

So, it wasn’t a shock to feel a sharp tug on the back of his sweater while he was trying to reach the little chocolate they had in the kitchen that that tall ass named Elliot left on the god damn top shelf.

“What do ya want?’ he scoffs, tempting to slam his foot backwards into the child.

“Heheh, you’re short.”

He’s not going to hit the kid. But god does he want to.”

“Shut the hell up.” he sighs, “Is that the only reason you’re botherin’ me?”

“Nope! Can you build my drawing?”

“Huh?” Builderman stops his reach, turning back to the smiling child.

He looks at the image he’s holding proudly in his hands.

For a ten year old, it’s not that bad. Builderman makes out what seems to be a massive mech, built similar to one from say the power rangers. But Builder notices something.

“It’s missing an arm.”

“That’s it starting to go invisible!” he chirps.

“I can’t make anything fuckin’ invisible.” Builderman states, “You can’t expect a man to bend the physics of the universe.”

“Aren’t you like, a god?”

“No- I’m- Just running the place. And I don’t even have access to that here in this shithole.”

As C00lkidd starts to pout, he looks at the rest of his drawing. Fantastical nonsense. But, he still can’t help but ask,

“Why do you even want me to build this?”

“I.. I want to protect my dad.” C00lkidd’s voice goes quiet.

“Huh?”

“I.. after I became smaller again, I, I couldn’t do a lot, my sword, it.. Burned me? And now I don’t have my original program. So.. I need to find another way! And you’re gonna help!”

“What do ya mean it burned ya?”

C00lkidd shows him one of his hands, “See?”

And Builderman does see. The palm of his hand is discoloured.

“You should tell Elliot ‘bout that-”

“He might tell my dad!” he shouts.

“Yeah.”

“It doesn’t hurt. I’m fine.” he scoffs.

“A kid should not be talking like that. Did it hurt when it happened.”

“Not really. I’m used to being hurting though.”

“You should tell your dad about that one.”

“He seems sad.. I don’t wanna make him more sad.”

Builderman sighs, “I think he’s just, going through a lot. We all are.”

“Is that why you’re mean all the time.”

Builderman lets out a puff of air, shoulders slouching, “Yeah, yeah I think so.”

It goes quiet for a second.

“Want some chocolate kid?”

“Sure!”

“Great.” Builderman reaches down and picks C00lkidd up, “You’re gonna reach it.”

“Okay!”

Builderman helps C00lkidd stands on his shoulders, letting the kid reach up and grab the tub of chocolate chips.

“Got it!”

He helps him down, plopping him on the counter.

C00lkidd quickly screws the lid off before reaching his hand in and grabbing a fistful of chocolate.

He shoves it all in his mouth before handing it over to Builderman who proceeds to do the exact same thing.

“Let me look at that drawing again kid.”

“Okay!”

…

He tightens the bolt on the machine.

That sound has always been such a simple pleasure to him.

He loves those small things. Rain on concrete. A cool breeze on his skin. A machine whirring. 

It’s been those little things keeping him going recently. Small moments. 

Elliot’s been interested in mechanics recently allowing Builderman to look back at his basics, to not overwhelm himself with complex ideas.

He’s been attempt to grow a garden in the terrible dirt outside. It’s not, perfect but, it might keep them all going if the supply gets cut. He’s always enjoyed the feeling of labour, of dirt on his skin and sweat on his brow.

But, he has complex pleasures in his life as well. The feeling of a baggy sweater. Chocolate as a comfort food.

The day he finally got those blasted breasts removed.

But, there was also Taph and Shedletsky.

He met Shedletsky first, him just looking for someone to help him with his duties. Shedletsky was the only applicant he could actually tolerate. Sadly he needed to take on more then him but, he ended up preferring the chicken loving man.

He was stubborn, a born fighter but a sensitive man deep down. He was also an amazing drinking buddy. Someone who could slam down beer after beer with Builderman and then need to get up at noon the next day.

Taph was.. Different. Taph was an 18 year old, desperately searching for work. No one wanted to hire a mute man. Luckily, Builderman had learned basic sign language in school. Builderman found out he grew up doing demolition with his family so, that’s the job he offered.

Taph quickly hopped on, but started wearing the cloak as he did so. He used to take it off but, after the backlash started, he stopped. Despite that, Taph was always, a creature to Builderman. Taph was loud for someone who never spoke. A big personality hiding behind his cloak.

The three ended up good friends through everything. There was always trouble but, it was nothing they couldn’t handle.

Then Taph stopped showing up to work.

Sheletsky almost got his leg stuck in a beartrap when the two broke into the hooded man’s house to search for him.

Another missing poster went up that day. One that added to the many growing across the lands.

Builderman thought it had to be an exploiter. Someone who wanted revenge against the admins.

Noli was long gone, so they went for 007n7.

At that time, C00lkidd was already missing so, he figured 007n7 guessed an admin banned him and decided to take his revenge.

He only took Shedletsky with him. This fight was a personal affair. And 007n7 wasn’t going down without a fight.

He managed to escape the two admins and run into the forest. Shedletsky chased after while Builderman did not. 

Builderman never found out what happened in that forest but, Shedletsky changed afterwards. He was much quieter, keeping to himself.

They never saw 007n7 after that, at least not until now.

Shedletsky was the next to go missing though. One day, Builderman was waving bye to the man as he was heading off to train with his sword, the next, he had no one to wave hello to.

He has lost everyone.

His own family had disowned him years ago for who he was. The other admins were terrified that they would be next.

Builderman had to try on his own. But maybe that was his downfall.

Ending up in that alleyway alone, something bashing on his head, a struggle, and then he was in this shithole. But, at least he’s not alone dealing with it.

Taph and Shedletsky don’t talk about what happened to them. But, Shedletsky insists that it wasn’t 007n7 who took him out. Why he thinks that, Builderman doesn’t know.

Life sucks right now. It’s hardship after hardship.

Builderman tightens on last bolt, kicking the new machine to flare it to life.

As he slowly backs up from it, he feels himself pass through something. All before, the machine vanishes from his view.

But stupid ideas like this are bound to make the hardship a little easier.

“Hey Builderman-” he hears Elliot before he seems to interrupt himself, “Nothing is there. Did you fix a fake generator?”

“Nope.” he pops his lips before walking back towards the machine.

“Where the fuck..” Elliot pauses, “Where the fuck did you go?”

“Invisibility. Brought to you by me! And I guess that little shit..”

…

“Hey kid.” he looks down at C00lkidd as he draws.

“Watcha need ya old fart?” he snorts at his own joke.

“Got any more of those drawings you wanna show me?”

C00lkidd’s eyes light up, “Yes yes yes!”

He starts to gather papers that were scattered around.

Maybe most of these wouldn’t work but, this kid is smart.

Builderman knows that maybe, this is the inspiration he needs to keep pushing his own limits.

Chapter Text

Noob and Shedletsky hear a loud splash. Both look at one another before looking towards the sound.

It came from one of those rivers, the ones that are completely filled with a dirt and blood.

Sheldetsky is the first to rush over, glancing down into the sludge.

Noob follows.

Noob is the one to see a partially gloved hand reaching out.

Noob immediately grabs it. As he tugs, he finds Two Time at the other end.

“It’s okay.” they cough out some sludge, “The- The Spawn will protect me.”

“Says the bitch who’s drowning.” Shedletsky scoffs, reaching down and aiding in the rescue.

Noob tries to help Two Time out of the river without getting that water on their own skin.

They’re lucky that Shedletsky is also there, much stronger than Noob.

As soon as they’re out of the water, Two Time turns and starts to vomit onto the dying grass.

Noob finds themself rubbing their back in an attempt to comfort them.

“H-hey it’s ok-okay..”

“Th-the Spawn,” they let more spill from their lips, “The Spawn will-”

They end up in a fit, body convulsing as a putrid liquid escapes from their stomach.

“We should find Elliot.” Noob turns to Shedletsky.

“Yeah, that would be a good idea.” Shedletsky sighs.

“No need to bother the-” Two Time is interrupted by more vomit spilling from his lips.

All of this makes Noob want to throw up too. The sound of choking and the sound of his body tensing and those damn gags.

It makes Noob want to rip their hair out.

But, Noob fights it. They continue to rub Two Time’s back, aiding them in their bodies recovery.

“The Spawn will-”

“Don’t bother Elli-”

“I’ll come back-”

His sputters are interrupted by his hurling, at this point barely anything coming out. It’s visibly painful, Two Time recoiling with every gag, eyes squeezed shut.

Though, it seems to be slowing. But what surprises Noob is that Two Time doesn’t seem to be crying. Their eyes water but, it’s not due to crying, more likely due to the force of the actions.

“Elliot might come himself, probably saw the flashing shit he sees.” Shedletsky states.

A loud crack suddenly can be heard echoing all around.

The Three can’t tell if it’s thunder or not. Could just be the sound of someone being taken.

“Who we think it the poor bastard who died this early?” Shedletsky asks, laughing a tiny bit.

The other two don’t respond.

“Right.. Sorry.”

“W-we should get th-them to s-somewhere safer-”

“I’m fine,” they cough, “I’m feeling better now I swear. The Spawn has healed me.”

“No, I think you just puked everything shitty out.” Shedletsky rolls his eyes.

“And the Spawn caused that to happen.” they smile.

“Uh, sure. Whatever you wanna believe kid.” Shedletsky scoffs.

Noob is a bit more sympathetic, “I-I’m just happy you’re okay T-Two Time. Wh-whether it be the Spawn or not.”

Noob is a bit surprised by the look Two Time gives them. One of pure awe.

“You’re, happy?-”

That’s when the thumping starts.

The sound of some kind of four legged beast running on the dirt.

It’s loud and fast.

Noob quickly helps Two Time up. All three turn to the source of the noise.

But, before any recognize anything. The thing’s grabbed Two Time from Noob’s grasp and pinned them to the ground behind.

Shedletsky and Noob’s heads whip back around.

That’s when Noob eyes go wide.

A beastly figure, forced on all fours. Bright red horns and a bright red blocky tail. The rest of the figure is blocky, only round parts being their head and their knees. Pitch black fur coats their neck and back.

But, Noob knows that hat on their head, torn through by the horns but that cap is something so recognizable.

Noob’s voice is quiet, “S-sixer..?”

The creature turns back, Two Time’s shirt and large intestine wrapped around one of his large fangs.

Noob can vaguely hear their name being called but, their eyes are firmly locked onto them.

Guest 666. Sixer. Their Sixer.

What the hell did she become?

What happened after the two were split up?

Suddenly Noob feels themself being picked up, thrown over someone’s shoulder.

“I CAN’T LEAVE THEM!” they call out, begging to be let go, “NOT AGAIN PLEASE!”

“We- We gotta get out of here! You wanna die!”

“If it means seeing them again?” they decide against answering their own question.

Noob sees them starting their chase once again. Their breath becomes heavy at his once lover’s expression. One thing echoed in their mind. This was their fault. Sixer was like this because of Noob’s actions.

Suddenly Shedletsly swings around, taking his sword from his holster.

“D-don’t hurt them!” Noob whines.

“Trying to save our asses here kid.” He scoffs, placing Noob on the ground before charging towards the looming danger.

Noob starts to feel just how much they’re shaking, sobs starting to wrack through their body, drowning them in their own tears.

They feel someone grabbing onto them and hear a soft voice, “Noob? Noob are you okay?”

They recognize it vaguely as Elliot.

Noob finds themself unable to respond, sobbing instead. Body shaking and squirming.

“Are you injured, what’s going on-“ he then pauses, “Is that..?”

“It’s my fault if I was.. if I didn’t.” He rambles .

Noob can’t breathe.

Something warped Sixer. Changed who they were. Changed him onto a monster.

And that thought, makes Noob throw up. Body shaking as their stomach empties.

“Hey Elliot, are they okay?!” He hears a deep voice shout.

“Y-Yeah, just, panicked!”

They briefly look up to see Elliot tossing a slice of pizza. But right after they’re forced down by their body curling in it itself once again.

It doesn’t last as long as Two Time’s episode did but afterwards, Noob is still left on the ground, shaking with tears and snot spilling from their face.

They feel themself being pulled upwards, “okay, we, we should get you out-“

“I CAN’T LEAVE THEM!” They shout.

“Trust me Noob you’ll see them again just we need to not die right away at least.”

He feels Elliot wrap his arm under their arms and force them to stand up.

It’s all their fault. It’s all their fault that Sixer changed. It's all their fault that Elliot and Shedletsky need to risk their lives. And for what, someone as pathetic as them?

So Noob pushes themself away from Elliot.

They see that the pizza that was for Shedletsky didn’t quite reach.

So Noob takes the Ghostburger from their bandolier and takes a bite.

As they feel themself banish, they rush forwards towards that slice.

They sweep it off the ground before running towards the fight.

They place it in Shedletsky’s hand before they rush past. 

They don’t look at Sixer. They can’t bring themself to.

Chapter Text

“May I ask for a favour, Taph?” Dusekkar asks, watching the cloaked man lay tripwire along the doorway.

The man stops, jabbing the other end deep into the dirt before turning to Dusekkar and once his hands are free, “What do you need pumpkin?”

“I would like to learn how to make your subspace tripmines. If that is alright?” he asks.

Taph gives him two thumbs up.

The two walk over to their normal corner in this building, they sit down.

Taph summons the parts for two tripmines, giving one set to Dusekkar while he keeps the other.

“Want me to explain or do you just want to watch?” Taph asks.

“Watch.”

Taph nods, starting to slowly piece together the bomb.

“How are Builderman and his asshole?”

Taph snickers before signing, “Builderman has been repressing those feelings for over twenty years, you think that fact changed?”

“How about the bastard?”

“Builderman was bending over and I caught him staring at his ass.”

“Again?” Dusekkar chuckles.

“It’s a regular occurrence.”

“We should really just set them up finally.”

“No no, cause it’s gotten interesting.”

“How so?”

“Recently I caught the two half drunk in each others arms. I think Builder’s going soft.”

“Doesn’t he threaten to beat 007n7’s child?”

“Less so now. C00lkidd’s drawings are very revealing. You should look at them.”

“Maybe I will.”

“How’s Elliot been? You two were talking in the cabin during the round?”

“Oh yeah, he is. Chance is still deep on his mind and constantly on his lips. Sadly not literally. Still pretending he isn’t self-sacrificial. Normal things for him.”

“Didn’t they have a cute hurt slash comfort moment in the kitchen the other day? We know what caused that?”

“No but, think it was something, actually bad based off of our soldier’s expression afterwards.”

Taph pauses before nodding.

“I’m gonna sew a plushie of Chance to make them feel better.” Taph signs.

“You do that darling.”

Taph looks up at Dusekkar and he can tell he’s smiling.

Despite the hood, ever since the two had started their relationship, he figured out what his smiles and laughs look like. He’s never seen the man’s face. Maybe one day but he doesn’t need to push it.

But, he knows they both feel comfortable with one another. Dusekkar is completely one hundred percent on his end. He’s dropped his rhyming around Taph.

It’s a traditional thing for his coven. You rhyme your words to confuse those around, so they don’t discover the secrets of the magic. But, Taph snuck his way past those barriers already, even before the rhyming ended.

He saw past everything, the showmanship, the pretentiousness and the pizazz. He genuinely saw Dusekkar as just another person like him.

And that was one of the most magical things Dusekkar experienced.

Dusekkar is way too attracted to this man.

They slowly finish the bombs, tossing them to the middle of the room.

“Wanna make another?” Taph asks.

“Why not.”

And so, they both start on another. This time, Dusekkar manages to mimic the parts he was originally given using the small amount of magic he currently has.

They both start to piece them together once again.

Taph only pauses to say, “If you were a vegetable you would be a cute-cumber.”

Duesekkar snorts.

“I also want your cucumber if you catch my drift.”

That causes Dusekkar to break out into laughter, “One day my dearest. But maybe not when we could be walked in on by a killer.”

Taph watches the fire within him pulsate as he laughs, that causes him to smile behind his mask.

The two finish once again.

Then Dusekkar gets an idea.

He waves his hand, causing an aura to be produced around the bombs.

But, Dusekkar knows he can do more then that, the grip on his magic loosening as he assumes the being who rules this place is focused on more pressing matters.

So he flicks his wrist once again and a golden amulet with a red gemstone appears in his hand.

He slowly places it around Taph’s cloak, only for the man to sign, “You can reach in to put it on properly.”

He can tell it’s more of a want than permission.

So, he unclasps it, reaching around into the hood of Taph’s cloak, feeling the warmth of his skin. He reclasps it, slowly taking his hands out.

Taph leans closer, pressing his forehead on Dusekkar’s.

Dusekkar can’t help but mutter, “I wish I could properly kiss you darling.”

He’s told Taph about his predicament. How normally the pumpkin on his head is just a mask. Just a way for his coven to hide their identity. But here, it’s a curse. It’s his real head here. Something he would wish on no one else.

Taph just presses his head into Dusekkar’s chest and he gets a hint, wrapping an arm around the hooded man.

“Thank charm will allow you cast my magic onto your explosives. It will give them a bit more kick. And, a nastier knockback.”

He feels Taph nod.

Then, they both hear a rattle.

“Looks like we get to test it out now.”

The two quickly get up, pulling themselves up towards the rafters above.

Watching Noli break in below, tripping over the tripwire.

Despite him landing on the bombs and causing them to explode, knocking him around, Taph continues to make more.

So, Dusekkar follows suit. Deciding to create another to.

They finish around the same time, two magically enhanced bombs being launched into the already dazed man.

Two more are already being created though.

They wonder how long they can keep Noli stunned for.

Dusekkar can tell that originally, Taph was slowing himself down but now? He’s piecing these explosives together rapidly.

He only pauses briefly to sign, “You’re staring. Wanna know what else these hands can do?”

Dusekkar snorts, “You are, so horny dearest.”

“Call it my claim to fame.”

Another explosion.

But, that’s why Dusekkar loves this man.

He watches Taph toss another before pulling himself over into Dusekkar’s lap, lounging casually within it and on Dusekkar’s torso.

He continues to make those bombs. Duesekkar also creating them but at a much slower pace.

Vague curses are being produced from below but, the two above are simply just enjoying one another’s company.

“I love you Taph..” he hums, tossing another bomb down.

“I love you more Dusekkar.” he signs back.

“FUCK YOU FUCKING BOTH YOU FUCKING CUCKS I’M DONE WITH THIS BULLSHIT!” they hear Noli shout before hearing the sound cue of the man teleporting away.

That causes Taph to turn and take a good long moment to caress Dusekkar’s bare forearm.

Soon after ending up in this world, Dusekkar cut the sleeves of his robe. It was a tough decision but being sleeveless allowed him to fight better overall. They were now cut like a tanktop, the rest of his robe still firmly around him. He found out quickly that Taph really loved this fact.

“I’d like to remind you I do not even have much muscle on my frame.”

Taph moves his hand in a mock talking motion before reaching up and zipping Dusekkar’s mouth shut.

Dusekkar just chuckles as he softly shakes his head.

“Wanna go to the roof? I saw earlier that the stars were visible today.” Dusekkar hums.

Taph nods before signing, “As long as we can keep cuddling.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way darling.”

Chapter Text

Taph found it very easy to love people.

He loved how Builderman was like the good father he never had. 

He loved how Shedletsky was a perfect mix between an estranged uncle and lunk-head older brother.

He loved their genuine friendship and even if Taph was the third wheel, that was okay because he just let himself be their shitbag child they both have to deal with.

Taph loved all the survivors and his connections with them.

He loved how Elliot’s subconscious couldn’t decide between being an asshole and being the nicest person. Helped that he was also an amazing cook.

But nothing could top Noob being the sweetest person ever. Though they usually were riddled with anxiety they genuinely made an effort to help those around them and that was such a lovely trait.

He loved Guest’s strength, both emotionally and physically. The being who created this place decided as a form of torture all the TV could play was DVD’s of soap operas. He managed to Guest into them and he loves those nights of binge watching episodes as Guest yells at the screen about the different relationships and about how all their problems could be solved with decent communication and maybe a bit of a backbone.

Two Time was such a funny (yet tragic) creature to Taph. It was always Spawn this, Spawn that. But through the cracks in their formation Taph was beginning to peer into the real Two Time. Even if that piece was small, hidden deep away in a subconscious.

He loved Chance for how genuinely fun he was. He could tell there was more to him but, at least the Chance that was shown to the world was a hilarious, fun loving guy. 

Then there was 007n7. Taph was told not to trust him, that he was a danger to the other survivors. But, after some time, he’s come to enjoy the man’s company.

But Dusekkar. Of Dusekkar. Fuck he loved that man. The two started talking soon after Dusekkar was forsaken, the two finding a friendship in the mutual struggle of being a more heavy handed supporter.

Dusekkar was so intelligent, able to recite Shakespeare off the back of mind. But, Taph knew Dusekkar was also pretentious. But, Taph found that kind of hot. He also found him incredibly attractive. His voice was smooth, almost floaty in a sense. The way he spoke sent shivers down his spine.
Recently even, he’s found room in his heart for C00lkidd. The little kid was so much fun to be around. He also had a lot of questions about bombs. Questions that Taph was always happy to answer as he truly loved his explosives.

But, with all this love in his heart, there was always someone who couldn’t slip their way in. Himself. Taph, didn’t know if he loved himself. He probably didn’t. Growing up bullied for your appearance did that to. Being told there were things wrong with you. Things that needed to be fixed. It was his appearance and his emotions. He was tossed around psychologists as a kid. Told 500 different things it could be but never settling on one. Taph was born with physical problems too. A cleft lift that became a scar due to a botched surgery done by someone at Maple Hospital that didn’t even have a medical license. It was closed sure but it’s scared and maimed and Taph is pretty sure his lip doesn’t even line up right. His skin is patchy, covered in pinkish-white vitiligo. Kids used to say his mom tried to erase his skin when he was born. Told him that he couldn’t speak because he never deserved to.

Kids were cruel. Adults became crueler. He hid away.

When he met Builderman and then Shedletsky, it changed for the better. He could be everything he wanted and they loved him for it.

But. Adults whisper. Adults whisper and then they mutter. They mutter and then they speak. 

Taph still remembers the day another admin flat out called him ugly. Said no one would really love him. He said it was a joke. Said Taph probably thought that fact himself. And Taph did.

That was the floodgate. That was the floodgate for the others to start to comment. At the end of the day, admins were gossipers. practically bratty high schoolers with a bit too much power. So, the cloak became his normal. Hiding away every part of him the world didn’t want to see.

It didn’t help that he was accused of murder every other week. That came with his job though. But the admins didn’t defend him like they defended the other demo men. Why would they? 

So he locked himself away. Found comfort in solitude. He still talked with his friends but. One day he was jumped. He never knew who jumped him. Just that they screamed that he killed some. He killed someone important to them. And then, Taph was here.

But, one thing changed it all.

Them. They were all different. They questioned his cloak at first but quickly let it go. Whenever someone new would ask, they would just say, “Oh that’s just Taph, he’s chill.”

To them, he was just another survivor. They all had quirks so his blended it. It got even safer when Shedletsky and Builderman first appeared.

But, Dusekkar was his certainty.

He knew Dusekkar loved him for who he was. Dusekkar was blunt and sharp tongued. 

When Dusekkar told him that he loved him, he believed him wholeheartedly. When Dusekkar pressed his forehead to his and held him close, he felt real. When Dusekkar promised he would never push him to take his cloak off until he was ready, he felt validated.

So that’s why right now, he feels safe in Dusekkar’s arms, hearing him speak.

“I’ve decided to call that constellation the great horn.” he speaks, pointing to a set of stars in the sky, “And that one the wave.”

Taph just listens as he takes the time to repaint his chipping nails.

“That one resembles Auriga, it also is known as the Charoteer.” he hums.

Taph feels safe with him.

As he finishes his final finger, he feels Dusekkar take his hand, holding it close to his face.

The fire inside starts to dry the paint. 

He signs, “Thank you.”

It was his non-dominant hand but he thinks Dusekkar gets it.

“It’s my honour dearest.”

Taph feels his face warming up.

He loves Dusekkar. And he knows Dusekkar loves him.

He slowly takes his hand away, reaching for his hood.

He slowly pulls it back, his hand shaking as he reaches forward once again to pull his mask down.

He turns slightly, smiling up at Dusekkar.

He’s learned how to read Dusekkar through the pulses of his fire.

But he doesn’t recognize this one.

Little does he know, this is the expression of a man who just fell in love for a second time.

Dusekkar can’t help but stare at this beauty of a man.

Dark, rich skin. Two amber eyes. Patches running down his face. He had tightly curled, fluffy black hair kept in a short afro that sort of seemed to stray everywhere. Taph was a work of art to him.

But, he quickly noticed a growing look on Taph’s face.

So, he knew to vocalize his thoughts, “By the gods above you are.. Stunning my dearest.”

His voice us breathy, sending chills up Taph’s body.

“Could say the same about you.” Taph tries to wave him off.

But, he feels Dusekkar’s hand cup his cheek, brushing a stray strand of hair from his face.

“I love you..” he hums.

That breaks Taph. He feels tears spill from his eyes, a quiet whimper escaping from his lips.

“A-are you alright Taph?”

Taph nods rapidly before messily signing, “Happy, happy. Very happy.”

Taph jolts up slightly to kiss Dusekkar on the cheek.

Dusekkar in return, leans down and presses his forehead on Taph’s muttering, “I will get us out of this if all it means is that I can properly kiss those tears away..”

“You aren’t alone on that journey.”

The two end up embracing, sitting on that roof and holding each other close.

The only sound is each other’s heartbeats. And that is something that they find beautiful.

And Taph truly loved this.

TAPH; SIMS EDITION:
(Missing scar due to, the Sims being the sims)

Chapter Text

“Get it?” Chance asks.

Two Time just nods slowly, slightly overwhelmed by the barrage of information.

Who knew a simple game could be that complicated.

“Can I.. watch for a bit?” Two Time asks, “If anyone else even wants to play. It sound complicated I doubt that anyone-”

“YO BUILDER! WANNA GAMBLE AWAY OUR SUFFERING?” he shouts down the hallway.

“HELL YEAH!” he shouts back.

“Drunk poker?” Shedletsky pokes his head in from up the stairs.

Two Time tenses up, whispering to Chance, “That’s a high treason why would he-”

“Nah, Two Time doesn’t drink, we’ll just use coins.”

“Two Time’s gonna play?” Shedletsky starts to walk down the stairs, “Nice.”

“Can I join?” Guest asks as he walks over, “Been a while.”

“Of course Chance smiles.”

The three gather around, Two Time stepping to the side to watch for the first bit.

“Who deals?” Builderman asks.

“We’ll just pass it around. Skip Two Time when they join.”

“Got it.” Guest nods.

Everyone dumps out their small coin purses, Chance having the most from the start.

Two Time doesn’t really fully understand what’s fun about this. But, all of them seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.

This was a sin. Gambling was something Two Time was told they should never do. Never waste gifts from the Spawn in search of greed. More importantly, why waste the Spawn’s gifts in pursuit of a fragile happiness?

But, they watched the men laugh, smile.’

They watched Builderman greedily take the pot, tossing down a pair of jacks, they watched the other two groan in response.

They found themself wrapping their lanky arms around their knees.

Two Time wasn’t used to this. They were born into the Church of the Spawn yet never met their parents properly. No one in the Church of the Spawn knew who their parents were. It was believed they were irrelevant. That the Spawn is truly the one who gave you your life. And the Spawn could give you more if you tried hard enough.

Two Time eventually found out what that really meant.

They felt their stomach rumble.

They turned their head to the kitchen, knowing that Elliot had prohibited them from entering that room anymore.

But. There was a voice in his head, whispering that Elliot was just a sinner. Someone who wouldn’t accept the grace of the Spawn.

So as they were buried deep in another round, Two Time stood up, walking towards that open door frame.

They peeked in first, making sure no one was there.

There he sees a bowl of fresh apples on the counter.

They got them after a lot of successful rounds against every killer but Mafioso.

They figured out Guest 666 quickly. He fought more like a crazed animal than a real sentient person. Though they tried not to say that around Noob, who Two Time watched break down into sobs after someone brought that fact up in front of them.

But that wasn’t the topic right now. Now it was them getting some yummy apple slices.

They hopped over, grabbing one of the apples.

They grab a cutting board (just like Elliot always taught him to) and then reaches into the drawer below.

They grab a steak knife, deeming it acceptable enough.

They place the apple on the Center of the board. Going to make the first slice.

That’s when their body freezes up.

They freeze as a voice echoes through their mind. Telling them that they could use this knife for something more useful.

They’re all sinners. Gamblers, gluttons and harlots.

They curse the Spawn’s name, reject the truths of the universe. Of their universe.

They could overpower them all. They could gain more lives.

They could take their lives. That would make it easier to survive. They couldn’t die. Or, they couldn’t stay dead.

Maybe if they went for someone like Guest, they would get even more. They must have taken so many lives as a soldier Two Time would gain so many in return.

All they had to do was sneak back in that room. Maybe target Guest first. Maybe steal Chance’s gun.

They know their truth, it’s a soul for a soul. Every life you take is one added to yours. Every life an undevoted takes before you take theirs is added as well. It’s a simple fact of the universe.

All they need to do is use that damn knife. That’s what the voice is screaming. Use that damn knife to purge this world of the sinners. 

They could be reborn. Make the spawn truly happy with them.

The prophet would be- The prophet.. The one who-

“Uh, hey what are you-”

Two Time whips the knife back, launching it into the wall, narrowly missing Elliot’s head.

Two Time just stares.

They vaguely hear Elliot speak.

What were they thinking about? Why would they think that? They don’t want to hurt the others. The others help them. The others are kind to them. They, don’t even know why they would want more lives.

“Chance! Uh, someone!” they hear Elliot call out.

After a moment and some whispering, Two Time feels themself being led away by the outstretched hand, being pulled out of the kitchen and to the living room.

Those thoughts scare them. But, they seem to happen any time they touch a knife. It’s the Spawn speaking. It has to be. 

But why would the Spawn speak with so much malice?

They feel themself be sat on the couch.

Their vision is blurred, eyes feel shot, breathing heavy as this imaginary weight on their shoulders.

The knives make them feel closer to The Spawn. But, they’re starting to not want to feel closer to it. No! What are they thinking? The Spawn is glorious. They must accept their gifts. They must do what they will. It’s, it’s who they are. It’s all they know.

They hear the small clink of ceramic on the table in front of them.

They blink and watch a hand place a bowl of freshly sliced apples in front of them.

“If you’re hungry, just ask.” They hear Elliot smile.

“Th-thank you.” they choke out.

Are, they crying? When did they start crying?

They slowly take a slice of apple and take a bite.

They threw that knife pretty hard, they could’ve seriously hurt the healer.

Wait. What’s stopping them from throwing knives at the killers?

“You know Elliot banned him from the kitchen for a reason. At least until they no longer worship that.. False demon.”

They know that voice, Dusekkar.

They also know Dusekkar doesn’t really like them much.

“I’m already gettin’ an earful from Elliot, I don’t need another pumpkin guy.” Chance groans.

“The Spawn’s real.. He has to be..” Two Time finds themself muttering.

They hear no more words spoken. Not until a cold voice breaks it.

“Your wolven shepard has you sheep tricked. You’re being led to his fanged butcher’s shop, maybe if you’re lucky you’ll get to be a relict.”

Two Time doesn’t even know what that last word means but, they don’t think they want to know.

…

In the empty forest surrounding the cabin, Two Time lowers themself to their knees.

They rest their hands, palms up, on their thighs.

They close their eyes and begin to speak.

“Spawn, may you please bless this practice. Keep my aim and mind true.”

They stay eerily still.

“I am devoted to you and your prophet alone. I will keep your needs satiated. At least once I’m out of this maybe..”

They quickly shake their head, snapping back to it.

“Thank you for gracing me with the skills to survive. And with every respawn. I know my friend- my fellow survivors are sinners but, I thank you for bringing them back each time. You do bring them back. It has to be you, who else?”

Two Time feels their body start to squirm.

“It-It’s your right? You’re listening?”

They go quiet, before in a hushed whisper, “Y-you.. Brought back Azure.. Right?”

Two Time was promised. The prophet promised that Azure had taken a life. That, all Two Time had to do was take his life to prove their devotion. That Azure would be fine afterwards.

That they would see Azure again.

But. Two Time never saw them again.

They sobbed for hours afterwards, blood still soaking their frame.

They begged, asking the prophet when Azure would return.

Two Time never made it out of that room. Not alive at least.

If this was respawning, they didn’t want it.

Then, they snap back.

“I-I’m so sorry for my faulty devotion, my be-beloved Spawn. I’ll practice. I’ll punish myself. I’m not worthy of your gracious gifts. I’m so sorry.”

They feel tears streaming down their cheeks, body wracking with sobs.

“I’m sorry I’m not devoted enough. I’m trying I swear it! I-I’m trying…”

They take a sharp breath in, forcing their tears to stop.

“I will be greater than my previous faulty self. I swear it.”

They know that promise is starting to feel hollow. Their chest feels hollow. They barely feel alive anymore. If The Spawn means well, why does Two Time still ache?

But despite that, they take another breath.

“Thank you for your grace Spawn. Praise be.”

Chapter Text

The survivors usually didn’t linger together. At least not all ten of them.

Outside of the rounds everyone usually splintered off to do their own things. Alternatively they would break into small groups, everyone generally enjoying different topics of conversation. They knew there was nothing wrong with that and it wasn’t like they didn’t like each other, just that sometimes half the group were battling it out over how many shots they could down while the others were gossiping the night away. Actually usually in that situation about half the people would switch around depending on how drunk they were or if they suddenly felt like they needed to down three shots to continue the conversation.

But during rounds, it was just inconvenient. They spawned so far apart. Sometimes it was in clusters but never all together. There was no point in trying to use pack mentality when half the pack dies trying to form it.

So it was strange that everyone was gathered together for once. Cramped in an old dilapidated cabin, it was eerily quiet for the survivors.

All the noise was Taph and Dusekkar setting up traps while Builderman tinkered at a sentry in the Center of the room. Also there was the sound of Two Time sitting back, just having finished carving their ritual spot into the wooden floor.

But all knew why they were there.

First it was Mafioso, then Guest 666 and now, they all felt another was coming.

They all couldn’t help but wrack their brains, wondering if there was someone in their lives who went missing. Someone who might have changed into whatever these monsters were.

Elliot is the one who finally breaks the silence, “if you slice your fingers off I am not healing you.”

He watches as Chance flicks his butterfly knife around, fiddling with the sharp object in such a calm and collected way that Elliot knew only they could.

“Relax Ellie..” he hums, “These fingers can work wonders.”

“Uh huh. Sure. And in order for me to test that you’ll need your fingers to not be dismembered.”

“Elliot bottom confirmed?” Taph signs.

“Says you .” Elliot scoffs.

“Wait what’s he say-“ Chance is interrupted by Elliot.

“Taph,” he switched to sign language, “I’m a switch for your shipping information.”

“Duly noted.” He signs back.

“Since when do you know sign kid?” Builderman chuckles.

“Spent enough time around Taph to pick some things up. Plus I found a crusty old book on it back at the cabin.”

“Wait, what we’re they talking about?” Chance looks between everyone.

Dusekkar and Shedletsky snicker before seeing that the other is snickering so they both cease immediately.

“You’ll find out eventually.” Builderman snorts, looking between the two.

Both raise their eyebrows.

“God, they are just.. like that okay..” Noob mutters.

“Reminds me of Daisy and I.” Guest shakes his head, “both so so obvious.”

“This is really sweet and everything but-“ 007n7 interrupts himself, “Sorry, I uh, not important right now-“

“Spit it out exploiter.” Builderman scoffs.

007n7 briefly taps at the floating screen in front of him before speaking, “so every workd has code and-“

“Just cut to the meat.” Builderman crosses his arms.

“Chill dude.” Shedletsky sighs, “non-admins here who will probably got no clue what he’s saying.”

Builderman looks at him before quickly looking away, “Fine.”

“Are they together?” Two Time whispers, not expecting anyone to listen.

“No..” they hear Noob sigh quietly.

“Married?”

“I think they just.. haven’t confessed yet.”

Two Time nods their head.

“Well um,” 007n7 continues, “In every world there’s code. It stores everything, all the information. Builderman set that up years ago. I broke into this world’s and uh, I think it says there’s currently seven killers.”

Shedletsky counts on his fingers, “Uh, Mask guy, green bitch, Johnny Johnny, Seven’s ex,”

007n7 can’t help but roll his eyes at that one.

He continues, “Mafia boss, the dog,”

Noob physically whiners at that one.

Two Time finds themself putting a hand on their back in an attempt at comfort.

They seem to accept it.

“And then uh.. does C00lkidd still count or are we…”

You could hear a pin drop in that room.

They all knew what that meant. It meant there was one more they didn’t even see yet.

One more they all have to deal with. One more they knew absolutely nothing about.

Little do they all know. They were about to find out.

Builderman could hear something creaking from underneath his sentry.

Then, a crack.

It split into two, a flower being left behind

All don’t recognize the kind. All but Two Time who’s eyes go wide.

The flower then explodes, a large tentacle lashing out.

It immediately strikes at Builderman, “FUCK!”

Shedletsky steps in front of the man, slashing at the tentacle with his sword.

Two Time can hear footsteps on the grass outside, suddenly hyper aware of their surroundings.

They slowly push towards the door, seemingly unaware of the voices around them questioning what they’re doing.

They open the front door, walking out on the porch.

On the dirt path below, they see a dark figure.

A man with void skin and a purple tank top. Carved through that top into flesh is that symbol. The symbol of the Church of the Spawn. Tentacles protrude from his back that he seems to hover on, feet not touching the ground. Two more float in the air, already pointing at Two Time. A pointed hat is on his head. One with a burning purple face carved into it.

But, Two Time recognized those eyes.

“Azure.. It’s you.”

There’s no response, just a tightening of his eyes.

“The Spawn.. He brought you back! I knew he would, the prophet said he would!”

Azure still doesn’t speak.

“We can be together once again. I knew it wasn’t a lie. I knew the church’s words were true. It’s okay, it’ll be okay, we’ll be-”

Two Time feels something pierce through their chest.

They look down to see a tentacle piercing through their chest. Piercing through their heart.

Two Time’s eyes roll to the back of their head.

Azure tosses their body to the side, finally speaking, “DIE YOU FUCKING PRICK! FUCK THE FUCKING SPAWN I FUCKING HATE IT!”

“Well, this gathering was fun while it lasted.” Chance sighs.

All nine remaining heads turn to where Two Time drew their sigil.

But, they see no Two Time.

No Two Time crawling from the dirt, and growing their new limbs.

No Two Time.

“That’s not fuckin’ good is it-”  Builderman starts before suddenly, the new killer charges the room.

Everyone immediately scatters.

Elliot watches as Guest and Shedletsky, being the people they are, charge the new foe.

Elliot watches the fight, in somewhat awe. He can’t tell if it’s at the battle prowess of his fellow survivors or, the growing terror of this looming threat.

Most likely both.

He turns, making sure everyone is getting out alright.

Taph casually blows a hole through the wall with way too many bombs for Elliot to count.

That allows him, Builderman, Noob and 007n7 to escape.

Taph seems to be urging Dusekkar to join but the man waves him off, instead raising his staff and creating shields around the two fighters.

He does a mental head count and sees that Chance is still in the room, flipping his coin a few times.

Elliot knows that’s how he loads their gun but he also knows it makes the gambler physically weaker.

“Chance get the fuck out of here.” He orders.

“Why are you staying, get out.”

“They’re gonna need healing real fast, I’ll be fine just-”

“You aren’t moving so I’m not.” they scoff, “Plus,”

They take aim and fire a shot into the arm of the killer, “I can help.”

That shot causes the void man to recoil back, stumbling for a second.

But, they’re back at it immediately after, trying to break through the shields.

Though, they seem to figure out who’s casting them.

Suddenly, the tentacle whips out of the flower once more, reaching out and grabbing Dusekkar tight.

Suddenly they jump up.

Chance tries to take another shot but the bullet flies past them as their body moves too quickly.

They rip Dusekkar free from the flower’s tentacle only to grip him harder instead.

They slam them to the ground before coldly taking the one tentacle they have left and puncturing it through the pumpkin the man calls a head.

There’s no shields anymore.

Chance tries to fire one more time, one last shot as the figure stands up.

But, nothing comes out of the flintlock.

“Bad timing bad timing bad-”

The man jumps at the two.

Elliot makes a brash decision. He grabs the butterfly knife from Chance’s belt and uses it to brace against the blow. Making sure the man pushes on it instead of their actual bodies.

But that comes at a cost. Elliot forgets one simple fact. Which way the sharp part was exactly.

So as they push, Elliot feels something of his get cut off.

He can see his fingers hitting the floor.

He freezes as Chance rips back the knife, slashing at the bastard’s face.

Though Elliot barely notices, body going into shock to protect himself from the growing agony.

“CHANCE GRAB ONTO ELLIOT I’M GETTING YOU TWO OUT OF THERE!”

Elliot hears a voice shout and feels his body start to get fuzzy. He’s being teleported.

He feels Chance grab onto them, holding them in an almost protective embrace.

But, before they fully vanish, they summon three slices of pizza, leaving them behind for those still fighting, Shedletsky, Guest and who he presumes is 007n7.

Elliot lands in the soft grass, lying flat on his back as Chance lands on his chest.

He can’t catch his breath no matter how hard he tries.

“Ch-chance..” he mutters, “I-I..I can’t feel my.. My..”

“I-I know.. It’ll be okay. Things get reverted okay? That’s what you always tell me.” they take Elliot’s good hand.

That’s before suddenly, they use the knife to cut off a chunk of their own blazer.

“Wh-what are you-”

“Until we find a real medkit, we should stop the bleed.”

Elliot feels Chance slowly start to wrap the now shorter tips of his fingers as well as his palm in that cotton material.

“Y-your suit-”

“Elliot you are more important than some stupid suit.” he states it like a fact.

“A-are you hurt at all because-”

“I’m good Elliot.” he states, “Though, you are not. You’re not going anywhere near the action right now. Not until we find an actual medkit for you.”

Elliot wants to say a lot of things.

“I don’t deserve this. Leave me and protect yourself”

“What even about me makes me so worth helping? Why waste time on a random pizza man!”
“Thank you so much Chance, I love you.”

But Elliot doesn't say any of that, instead settling on, 

“Thank you Chance.. Just keep yourself safe too. I-I, I don’t like to see you hurting.”

“Oh.” Chance’s voice is quiet all of a sudden.

“S-sorry, I-I think that’s why I’m tough on ya? Sorry, I think the blood loss is uh, making me out of it,” he rambles, “But, I think I’m tough because I, I really don’t want to see you hurting and you, tend to be the cause of your own injuries.”

Chance gives Elliot a new look, one Elliot hasn’t seen before. He can’t quite describe it. It looks like a mix of confusion, happiness and a deep-seeded pain being brought to the surface.

So Elliot decides to not push that right now. Later for sure but, right now, Elliot was tired.

And Elliot needed some rest because he knew, this was going to be a shitty next few rounds.

Chapter Text

Shedletsky wakes up in pain. Again.

Standing up in the kitchen, reaching up for a snack. He quickly drops the position, not even hungry anymore.

Waking up in pain after rounds is pretty normal for him. Especially after he just got his head bashed in repeatedly. So most of the pain concentrates itself in a migraine that he does not want to deal with and thinks he might just try and sleep through.

But, he can’t when he can hear shouting from the common room next door.

He sighs, walking towards it and peeking his head in.

There he sees, Dusekkar screaming at Two Time.

“YOU DID WHAT?!” He shouts, “YOU KILLED HIM!? NO WONDER HE’S PISSED AT YOU!”

The first thing Shedletsky notices is the lack of rhyming. He knew Dusekkar didn’t have to rhyme but, he knew it was in some weird code of his to.

So it was strange hearing him like this.

The second he noticed was how Two Time tugged on their own matted hair. Actually Shedletsky never noticed that Two Time’s hair had matted under the surface before.

That was the least of his worries though.

“H-he was supposed to come b-back, he c-came back!”

“THIS ISN'T COMING BACK YOU INSOLENT BRAT!” he continues to shout, pushing closer to Two Time, “THIS IS HELL ITSELF!”

“Matt. Back off.” Shedletsky tries to keep his voice steady.

“Great, this fucking shit’s ex kill-”

“Azure is not my Ex! We- We’re..”

“YOU KILLED HIM. YOU KILLED HIM FOR THAT STUPID CULT OF YOURS!”

“Matt. Calm down. Yelling at them isn’t going to help anyone.” 

“No I will not!” he turns to Shedletsky, “I will not stand for this nonsense! It is his fault that we have to deal with another!”

“Yeah and if Seven didn’t adopt C00lkidd, that one might not be here. And if Builder didn’t ban Six and John Doe they wouldn’t be here.” He finds himself pushing his chest out.

“That- That’s different! They worship false idols they-”

“And they grew up in it! How are they gonna know better?”

“THEY KILLED THEIR OWN LOVER! Why are you defending them?”

“Because fighting isn’t going to solve anything right now! We all have demons. Killing isn’t justified but-”

“What’s your demons then, huh? What’s your big-”

“This isn’t about me!” Shedletsky defends.

“They’re. A. Killer.” he punctuates.

“And yelling isn’t going to change that fact!”

“What the hell is..” a new voice joins in, slowly drifting off.

Shedletsky is the only one who turns, seeing Chance standing in the doorway.

They see Two Time, curling onto themselves.

Chance goes to walk over to the raven haired man but Dusekkar speaks first, “He killed his own partner!”

“Yeah and they don’t seem too happy about that fact.” Chance scoffs, pushing forwards.

Shedletsky watches as Chance seems to attempt to comfort Two Time.

Soon after, another person enters the living room.

“Chance, that was stupid why did you-” Elliot freezes at the sight before sighing quietly.

“Chance, get Two Time upstairs, I’m going to make us all food.” he states “Two Time, do you have any requests?”

“Don’t ask that murder-” Shedletsky nudges Dusekkar, telling him subtly to shut up.

Two Time shakes their head, still staring partially into space.

“Okay, I’ll make us all some lasagna. That way I’ll be up and able to help.. Those who need it.” he sighs before walking towards the kitchen.

Chance leads Two Time up the stairs, presumably to their bedroom. Leaving Dusekkar and Shedletsky alone.

“I get you don’t like the Spawn Cult but you don’t need to take it out on one of their victims.” Shedletsky states.

“They took a life.”

“And how did they end up here?”

That causes Dusekkar to pause.

“Look. I’m not saying them killing this guy is completely alright. But let's hear the full story before we completely condemn them Matt."

"Stop calling me that."

"Why?"

"Because Matthew got SHOT twenty-five years ago!"

Shedletsky didn't chase after as Dusekkar stormed off.

…

Shedletsky stares into the bathroom mirror, trying to recollect himself after all the previous events.

So, Two Time was a murderer, great. Shedletsky can’t say anything about them creating a killer though, not when 1X was around.

He doesn’t even know how that really happened. 1X was just a training bot he used. Then Taph went missing. Shedletsky trained more, let his anger out on the training bot. It made him feel better, a lot better. Almost like it was soaking in his hatred. Maybe it was. All he knows is they got stronger. Got faster.

And then Shedletsky had a blade to his neck.

They were programmed not to ever finish the job.

They did anyway.

And now Shedletsky awoke here, wingless. He doesn’t know if 1X did that but, some cruel entity wanted him to suffer. God he misses those wings.

Shedletsky just sighs. 1X isn’t his training dummy anymore. He’s a real threat and slowly, Shedletsky can weirdly see almost a, personality start to develop.

A rogue AI is what he wanted to call it but, he knew it might be something else.

But, that barely mattered. That wasn’t even really why he was staring in the mirror.

He was staring at the empty space around him. The place where brown and white fluffy feathers would be.

“What are you moping about?” he hears someone knock on the doorframe.

He turns his head seeing Builderman leaning on the doorframe.

“I wouldn’t use the term moping. How about reflecting?”

“Too fancy for you. Let's go with moping.”

“Thanks.” he rolls his eyes.

“So, what’s wrong..?”

“Just.. Dusekkar was screaming at Two Time earlier.”

“Yeah, heard ‘bout that. Where’s Twos now?”

“Chance brought them upstairs last I checked.”

“Right.” he pauses, “That really it?”

“Yeah, just got me thinking about other.. Bullshit.”

“Wanna drink away yer sorrow?”

“No.. not really.”

Builderman goes quiet.

“Talk to me.” he speaks.

“H-huh.”

“Somethin’s obviously wrong. Yer stuck in yer own head. Again.”

“My wings.” he states, “I was thinking about my wings.”

“Ah..” Builderman sighs.

“Just, miss them. I guess. It’s kinda stupid.”

Builderman enters the bathroom, closing the door behind. He sits down on the closed toilet.

“Not real stupid.” he states, “It’s like if my arms were missing. You’d see me bitchin’ about that.”

“Hm.”

“What happened to your wings? Like, yer back just bare now or..”

“My back was never bare, hairy as hell.” he laughs.

But Builderman knows he’s just joking to try and avoid the question.

“You.. don’t hafta tell if you don’t wanna. I just think you haven’t told anyone yet and I think you and bottling things up end bad.”

“You got proof of that?”

“Yer emo phase.”

“Telamon me was not an emo phase! I was cool!”

“No ya weren’t.”

“Yeah.. I wasn’t.” he sighs.

Then, Shedletsky slowly takes his shirt off.

“Shit man..”

Shedletsky knows the sight he’s seeing. Two large scars vertical on his back, where his wings would have once have flown out.

He closes his eyes, not wanting to see his reaction to this.. Embarrassment.

But that’s when he feels a hand run down his back, softly soothing his worries.

“I’ll get ‘em back for you.”

“You say that like we still have admin powers.” he opens his eyes, seeing Builderman in the mirror.

Shedletsky wouldn’t admit to this to the man, but, that intense gaze was sending shivers up Shedletsky’s spine.

“We’ll get our powers back.”

“Like hell we will.”

“Why are you so.. Defeated suddenly.”

“I.. don’t even know.” he chuckles sadly, “Don’t even fuckin’ know..”

…

Shedletsky slashes his sword against the tree.

“Oh, uh sorry, I’ll uh, go the-”

He turns and sees 007n7 walking through the forest, but seemingly turning the other direction.

“It’s uh, fine,” he stops his training, “Just, what brings you out here?”

“Tense in there.. Needed some uh, space. Was trying to figure out something..”

“What about the kid?”

“Currently being tasked by Elliot to annoy Dusekkar into calming down more.” he sighs.

“Smart.”

“Yeah..”

“I’m just practicing. Feel free to sit out here.” he shrugs before turning back to his current opponent, the tree.

He sees out of the corner of his eye, 007n7 sit down against another tree, pulling his program.

Deep down, he wonders how he so casually sits in a forest after that day.

He shakes that thought away.

Shedletsky knows this training sucks. Slashing at a non-moving opponent is not exactly the perfect way to do this.

But it’s all he has. Once and a while he’ll train with Guest but, that’s a rare occurrence. He would see if Builderman could make him a training bot but he would prefer to not accidentally create 2X.

So, the tree it is.

He can’t help but wonder what Seven’s working on. The man has been looking through the code recently, maybe that? Shedletsky knew the man was smart, very very smart. He was probably figuring out something important.

Shedletsky was an admin but, he specialized more in take downs of people, less the technology of the world. That was Builderman’s job.

Shedletsky knew he wasn’t stupid. But, Shedletsky knew he wasn’t that smart either.

So, he just kept swinging that damn sword. It was his most powerful skill so he might as well continue to hone it.

That’s when, he suddenly feels a gust.

He slashes his sword, a blade of air being launched from it, slicing clean through the tree in front of him.

In that brief moment, Shedletsky swears, he can feel his wings once again.

Shedletsky freezes, the tree in front of him falling away from him.

“I did.. Not expect that to work.”

Shedletsky whips his head to the side.

“Did you-”

“I just, borrowed.. Some of 1X’s code and put it onto you. Guess it customized it automatically to suit your skillset better. You uh, should be able to whenever you need-”

Shedletsky suddenly rushes over, picking 007n7 up in a massive bearhug, “YOU AMAZING SON OF A BITCH!”

“Hey it was the least I could do for you not uh, hating me here..” he smiles.

“That shit’s in the past.” Shedletsky states, “I’m starting to prefer the future.”

“Me too.”

He slowly puts 007n7 down.

“Sorry uh, for trying to ban you, a lot.”

“Oh, I deserved that.” he states, “I was a little shit.”

“Think I know where C00lkidd got it from.”

“Oh definitely.” he snickers before pausing, “sorry for uh, being a menace.”

“You give me more cool shit like that and fuck it you can do whatever you want!”

“Okay, gonna use it to get you and Builder to stop staring longingly at one another.”

He seems to miss the ‘and Builder’ part, “I don’t do that! He just, uh, happens to be in my eyes most of the time!”

“Uh, sure.” he snorts, “I’ve only seen you in conflict but even I know you two have been pining for over twenty years.”

“This conversation is over,” he starts to walk off, “I am ignoring the problem,”

“You can’t ignore your love!”

“YES I CAN!”

And 007n7 laughs as he starts to run.

But, it slowly stops.

007n7 didn’t have the heart to tell the man how he managed to pull that off.

Because he figured out, 1X’s code is so close to Shedletsky’s that, it was easy to just copy over.

Chapter Text

Noob caught themself staring into space once again.

They sometimes couldn’t tell if they preferred having people around over being the only survivor.

Other people came with company but other people also came with drama.

And there was a lot of that right now.

Specifically around the ethics of Two Time’s murder. And the fact Dusekkar and Shedletsky still were not on speaking terms. No one knows what happened between them. Just that they were avoiding each other like the plague. All has tried to make attempts to get them back to being their normal catty selves but no one’s been able to.

Maybe it was that Dusekkar was the only one firmly on the, we should banish Two Time from the survivors for this side but, it seemed like Taph was successfully dragging him back towards the grey area the rest were in.

Personally? They found Two Time to be strange but mostly well meaning. So Noob couldn’t help but give them the benefit of the doubt. Plus, Noob knew the guilt that came with all of this. Noob knew what they did wasn’t right but, they knew Two Time was genuinely upset at themself for it.

So, Noob, along with Chance and Elliot had been trying their best to help Two Time through their mental collapse.

Along with the fact, Two Time had stopped respawning. After Azure showed up, they just, couldn’t respawn mid round like they used to. Also, since then they’ve gained a permanent bony tail and wings. Something that they’ve seen, is causing them a lot of discomfort, completely unused to having them for prolonged periods.

That they knew of, Two Time was still in the current round and Noob, well per usual they were seemingly the first to die.

So that left them babysitting C00lkidd once again.

C00lkidd was preoccupied playing with their new C00l.gui while Noob was content to read a book they found about frogs. They assume whoever made this place thought it would be a bore but, Noob loves frogs.

C00lkidd was humming to himself, some show intro song that Noob was a bit too old to recognize.

That was until, a groggy 007n7 entered the living room.

“Dad!” he chirped, running over and hugging his dad’s legs.

“Hey kiddo.” Seven puts on a smile, ruffling C00lkidd’s hair.

“Dad look what I made!”

He summons his C00l.gui, and then, another C00l.gui.

Noob watches 007n7 rub his eyes.

“Uh- How-”

“I used the clone tool! Though.. This one can only clone things. It’s boring.” he sticks out his tongue at the end.

“Well, alright.” 007n7 nods slowly.

Noob slowly closes their book, slipping the bookmark between its pages.

“Um, C-can I-I, n-never mind, I-I,” they stop themself from standing.

“What do you need?” 007n7 asks with a smile.

“Can I.. try that extra pro-program out..?”

007n7 blinks, “You.. want it?”

“I-I dunno it j-just gave me an idea and I-I.. um, n-nevermind this is all st-stupid-”

“No no, just, unexpected?”

Noob goes quiet.

He sees C00lkidd rush over, summoning what he can tell is the second program in front of him.

He then pushes it over to Noob.

“Oh, uh, thank you..”

“I’ll show you how to use it!” he jumps up onto the couch, “My dad looks like he needs a nap!”

“Sounds about right..” Noob gives them both a soft smile.

“Oh, uh-”

“Go rest Seven, I-I’ll keep an eye on him.”

007n7 takes a deep breath, “Alright. Thank you Noob.”

…

Noob was getting better. They think.

It was a lot of button mashing at first but now they’ve got a better grasp on it.

Duplicating items was easier than expected. Though, the items were never, just right. Food would taste slightly off, weapons would be slightly duller or more fragile and anything else would just, be.. Different. They would also vanish after so long, fading away into static.

Then there were Noob’s own clones, which, they barely understood how to use so tended to not touch. Plus. Their clones weren’t believable at all.

Bald and blocky, while in reality Noob was pudgy with messy yellow hair.

They also couldn’t control them as well as 007n7 or C00lkidd. C00lkidd seemingly (most likely accidentally) created their own friendly program for his clones. Something they talk to and play with.

007n7 was great at controlling the movement. There were no thoughts in the clones mind but, worn out killers would start falling for it as 007n7 turned invisible and something else kept running.

The program Noob was given was a copy of a prototype so, they didn’t expect it to be perfect. But, it was functional and they still had their other things to fall back on.

So as the round’s time was starting to pass by, they continued to push on.

In their hands currently, they had a dagger they copied from Two Time’s corpse.

Rounds have been rough on the cultist, them spending up to an hour trying to perfectly draw their symbol, from Noob’s conversations with them they thought that could be the problem.

But, Two Time died on top of their symbol this time. No sign of a respawn coming.

Noob felt too bad to just, taking their knife so they made a copy of it.

They knew this round’s killer. They could tell from just the state they found Shedletsky’s body in.

It was 1x1x1x1. For some reason they hated Shedletsky and would constantly massacre his body. 

So Noob had Shedletsky’s sword for a while but that faded away about an hour ago. They figured that Two Time died first though, as their body was the one that was ice cold with flies buzzing around the scene.

Right now Noob was just walking. Maybe part of them wanted to play hero. Be like those who could fight. Be like Guest who would run up, showing no fear, and defend whoever needed it most. 

They knew they weren’t Guest though. They could never be like him.

But, maybe they could be their own hero.

It’s then when Noob feels two blades slam into them. They’re yanked out of their shoulders and Noob feels themself being stuck in place.

Pop-ups appear in the vision.

Noob blinks rapidly and they slowly clear. Just in time for them to feel the swords being ripped from their flesh, before they manage to turn and block the strike with Two Time’s dagger.

They watch the figure’s eyes go wide.

Noob rips the dagger back before stabbing it into the entities stomach.

He speaks in their deep gravelly voice, “You're going to pay for that."

Noob finds themself twisting their wrist a bit before blocking the next strike.

That’s where it began. The first time Noob truly fought back.

Dodging slashes, strikes and shockwaves, they continued to push on, getting small stuns in when they could.

Enough damage and they could run. Cause them to stumbled back and Noob could make an escape.

Noob reaches into their Bandolier, pulling out a copy of the pieces of a subspace tripmine.

As 1X rushes forwards, they quickly fiddle with the pieces, trying to complete this puzzle.

Once it’s completed, they drop it on the ground before turning to run.

From the corner of their eye, they see it go off, stopping 1X in their tracks.

But, Noob didn’t completely clear the blast, the shockwave sending them falling forwards.

They turn to face the killer, watching her ready to strike down.

That’s when, in a sudden motion, Noob watches as Elliot slide tackles 1X.

They fall backwards, slashing Elliot on the way down.

Noob quickly gets up, throwing the blade into the eye of the killer, causing a deep scream to ring out.

They help Elliot up, before the Two start to run.

Elliot propels them both forward with his rush, letting them easily lose the now partially blinded 1X.

They run up a staircase, both collapsing on a high point.

They see Elliot summon a pizza slice in their hand, sliding it over to Noob.

“Here.”

Noob states it before pausing and bringing up their own C00l.gui. They clone the slice of pizza, handing it to Elliot.

“Uh-”

“You, said you won’t eat your own pizza so, uh, here.’

“Oh.. thank you.” Elliot takes it.

Noob watches them stare at the slice, it morphing into a slice of pizza with peperoni’s, hot peppers and drizzled with a layer of honey.

Noob starts to eat theirs, pausing to say, “Sorry.. It uh, won’t be as good at yours just um, you need healing too.”

Elliot pauses for a moment longer before taking a small bite.

Noob catches a small smile on his face before he quickly scarfs it down.

Noob finishes theirs soon after.

That’s when in a sudden moment, they hear in their minds.

“The survivors won.”

And then, Noob and Elliot are back in the the cabin, sitting at that table.

And Noob realizes something.

They didn’t use their old abilities once during that entire round.

…

Noob was running once again with Shedletsky by their side.

“You know,” he gasps out, growing out of breath, “Whenever we’re together kid shit always hits the fan.”

“Oh, uh- um, s-sorry?”

“Not yer fault just.. We were together when we met Mafioso, then we were together when your Sixer showed up and then Azure and now uh.. I think someone’s dead up there.”

“Wait uh.. M-my Sixer?”

“Yeah, your partner, right?”

“Uh, um,” they blush, “Y-yeah before they were. I-I don’t know how she feels now..”

“Well, if you love ‘em, I’m sure it’ll work out.” he smiles.

They run up the staircase, up to a high platform.

Within a second of reaching the top, a beast jumps Shedletsky, tackling him to the ground.

“IF I DIE TELL BUILDERMAN I LOVE HIM-” he then pauses and draws his sword, “ACTUALLY DON’T DO THAT THAT’S A SHITTY IDEA!”

Guest 666 tries to smash Shedletsky’s head but gets his claw slashed with Shedletsky’s sword.

The creature whimpers, stumbling back.

Noob tries to not look at their eyes. Not those damn eyes.

Noob just tries to build the subspace tripmine that’s in their hands.

They roll it under Guest 666 and watch as it explodes, knocking Sixer away from Shedletsky.

Noob sees in a corner, 007n7 maimed and dead, torn limb from limb. A massive bite taken from his neck. His eyes stay wide open, glass from his glasses shattered into them, causing it to seem as he’s crying blood.

Noob can see that he’s no more, no point of taking that copied slice of pizza from their pouch.

But when they glance back to Shedletsky, they see a need to give it to him.

Shedletsky no longer has an arm, it being bitten off and launched off the platform.

But, before Noob can reach him to help, they watch the man’s head go flying from his body.

“Fuck.” they curse under their breath as they watch Sixer flash red.

They’re the last one left alive.

They’re alone with Sixer.

Sixer turns to them, blood on his fangs.

Noob backs up, staring up at their once lover.

“Sixer.” their voice is calm, “I love you, but,”

Noob quickly slides under them, stumbling and grabbing Shedletsky’s sword from next to his body.

Noob turns on one knee, two hands gripping onto it tight, eyes tightening with Guest 666 in his gaze.

And a battle commenced.

Sixer slashed down at Noob but Noob blocked the strike with their new sword.

It’s a battle Noob never wanted to have, but one they knew they needed to.

Face to face with Sixer once again.

The way Sixer moves isn’t human anymore. Sixer isn’t human anymore. At least, not right now.

It’s traded blows after traded blows.

A slash from Sixer, a stab from Noob.

Noob didn’t want to fight but, they weren’t going to die here.

So they slash once again, this causing Sixer to fall back, and off of the edge of the platform.

But, out of pure instinct, Noob reaches down and grabs Sixer’s hand.

They’re not allowed to fall again. She’s not allowed to die again.

“SIXER!”

The beast lets out a sharp growl but doesn't go to bite or swipe at Noob’s hand, seeing the predicament it’s in.

“S-sixer I’m sorry.” Noob speaks, tears starting for force themselves like pinpricks in their eyes, “I’m sorry I didn’t mean what I said. I’m sorry I let you go.. I’m not letting go again, okay? No matter what happens, I love you. I love you so much.”

Noob can see their tears hitting the face of Guest 666.

They stare back at Noob.

“I miss you.. I love you.. Fight it if you can.. You aren’t a killer.. We weren’t exactly good all the time but, you were amazing..” Noob rambles.

Noob doesn’t even know how they’re holding him up. They can tell Sixer is at least 350 pounds but, the adrenaline that courses through their veins is forcing them to keep holding on.

“Please.. Please I’m sorry.. I never meant to hurt you. Come back Sixer.. Come back please..”

“N-Noob..?” they suddenly choke out.

Noob feels their body lightening, so they pull him up back onto the platform.

They watch Sixer’s body slowly change, becoming humanoid once again.

The darkness of their skin recedes, becoming a light grey once again. The void lingers in patches but it was nothing like before.

The tail and horns shrink along with the rest of her frame.

Their fur turns into a black jacket with a fluffy hood that rests around his neck. His hair returns, dark, fluffy, curly hair that goes down to her chin. Their hat rests backwards on their head. But the horns no longer stab through, now, permanent looking holes made in it for them to poke through.

Their eyes are now a fiery red, but, they still have that same small smile on her lips.

“S-sixer.. You..”

Sixer tackles them to the ground, nuzzling their face in Noob’s neck.

“I-I’m sorry.. I-I hurt you and-”

“H-hey, it’s okay, we’reokay, it’ll be okay.”

Noob, holds his cheeks with their hands.

“I’m sorry.. For fighting with you before. A-and, it wasn’t really your fault, you know that right, right?”

“Lot of emotions right now babe, kinda like, crying I’ll process the fucking guilt later.” they manage to get out, despite the overwhelming amount of emotion forcing itself onto the face.

Sixer places his own hands on Noob’s cheeks.

“I love you Noob.. I always will.” Sixer can feel herself start to cry.

“I-I love you..” Noob sobs out before suddenly kissing Sixer.

Sixer is happy to indulge them.

It takes a good minute before Noob is willing to pull away with a, “God.. you taste like blood.”

“No shit. I just ate like five people.” he snorts, “I, uh, won’t do that anymore.”

“I-I know,” Noob throws their arms around Sixer, “I know you won’t.”

“I love you..” it comes out in a whisper as Sixer leans into Noob’s ear.

“You’re gonna make me cry more..” Noob whines.

“What if I told you you’re so cool.. And strong.. And attractive.”

“Asshole…” he sobs.

Sixer just rubs their back, laughing softly.

“I’m not leaving you again Noob.”

“I’m not leaving you either.”

And, a message echoed through both of their minds in that moment.

“The survivors won.”

Chapter Text

A couple rounds after 007n7 got his original C00l.gui

Elliot stares down at the motorbike. His old motorbike.

He found it lying it against what once was his old home, just where he left it.

That specific bike became his, he was the only one who lasted long enough to learn how to drive it. So, they had two more laying in the receiving area of the pizza place while Elliot, got to keep this one.

Right now though, in a mocking gesture, it was completely broken down.

When the pizza place map started to appear, Elliot went there first.

He was too scared to actually go into his home, knowing what he might see.

But the bike laid on the wall on the outside.

Every so often he would stop and see it, wishing he could do something.

But maybe he could.

Because Elliot has been fixing a lot of generators recently and has learned a few things about mechanics.

Maybe enough, with a bit more guidance, to fix this bike up.

But he would need one more-

“Elliot, uh, what are you staring at?” he whips back at a voice behind him.

“Oh uh, just, uh, looking at my old bike.” he scratches the back of his neck, whipping around and seeing 007n7 standing there.

He sighs with what seems like relief, “Thank god.. I thought you were hallucinating because of Noli..”

“No, I’m good. Haven’t seen the killer yet..”

“Okay, okay.. Wait.. your bike is here?”

“Yeah.” he just shrugs, “I was.. Actually, can I ask a favour?”

“What do you need?” he asks.

“Uh, you know how a lot of us can like, summon things? Like me with my pizza or uh, Chance with his dice and Shedletsky with his chicken?”

“Yeah?”

“This.. may be a reach but, you got your good program back, could you.. Link my motorbike to me somehow?”

“Huh? Oh. OH!” 007n7 realizes, growing a smile, “That would be useful, but, isn’t it broken down?”

“Not for long if I have anything to say about it.”

He catches 007n7 giving him a different type of smile, one his father would give him whenever Elliot did something he was proud of.

He watches 007n7 pull up his program, typing some stuff on the screen.

“I’ll need to access the code but… I should be able to link it.”

“Wait, really?”

“Yeah, let me just..”

He watches 007n7 tap at the screen, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small box of gum.

He pops a stick in his mouth before making an offering, “Gum?”

“I’m good, thank you.”

Elliot can tell that his gum seemingly allows him to concentrate further.

Suddenly, Elliot can feel something in his chest, a new feeling.

“Okay,you should be good, though I would try a couple of times to make sure it doesn’t break.”

“How the hell-”

“Really not that hard. Just put it in your inventory. We’ll see if it sticks. I’ll try to lock it down the best I can though.” 007n7 shrugs.

“Th-thank you.”

“It’s the least I can do for.. Everything.”

“Still. Thank you, so much. Though, I guess now I need to actually figure out mechanics, huh.”

…

Present Day

Elliot has learned a lot recently.

He had to figure out multiple tools, how to fix a motor, how to replace a shell casing, how to replace wheels, and so much more.

But, it helps that he can summon his bike seemingly once per round. Even if it breaks during it, it’ll just return in its last state before destruction.

So, whenever Elliot wasn’t healing, he’s been working on this.

He, hasn’t told anyone except 007n7. He’s been close to telling Chance. And maybe telling Builderman would have been useful. But he can’t help but feel, almost embarrassed at his attempts.

He’s been at this for a while, not even knowing if he could do it.

Since he began, a lot has happened.

Three new killers, one turned survivor.

They were all surprised when unlike C00lkidd, Guest 666 was forced to join them in their suffering.

The other two new killers were very much.. Still killing.

The tension has been palpable recently though. Shedlestky and Dusekkar were not speaking, which gave Elliot a headache since they used to help each other. Now they would more often need healing, Shedletsky burning through his chicken faster without the shields and Dusekkar being an easier target for killers without Shedletsky at least sometimes around.

Plus, there was Two Time. That was another issue that Elliot barely knew how to handle.

It’s like their mind is fracturing between their truth and the universe’s.

He’ll push it one day. Push their beliefs but right now, they seem to be pushing their own.

But, working on the bike has been the one consistent thing.

He’s enjoyed the feeling of grime on his hands, callouses reforming from working on something physical once again.

He’s always preferred being hands on with things. He thought long and hard about ditching the pizza place and going to college. Maybe for something that the world would view as more important.

But, he could barely sit through a high school class. He wasn’t exactly, a good student. Ditching class for work, sneaking into the bathroom to avoid the teacher's gazes, never handing in homework until the last possible minute.
He knew he was not really an academic guy. Always doodling in notebooks instead of copying notes. The only class he did well in was culinary but that’s because he’s been cooking since he could stand long enough to help his dad using a stool.

So, college and university weren’t for him.

He was happy though, happy to just live a simple life working for his father. Mostly. He just didn’t want to live in the shadow of his dad forever.

Elliot places the cover back onto the motor. Pausing for a second.

Is he.. Done?

He didn’t think he would genuinely get this far.

He would need his keys to check, which are in his house.

The house he hasn’t gone in yet.

The house that this bike is currently resting against.

Elliot slowly walks over to the front porch, running his hand over the knotted wood of the railing.

His home was small but it was home.

He walked up the staircase, up to his front door.

He tried to open it but, it was locked shut.

So, Elliot took a step back before, slamming his foot into the wooden door, right next to the doorknob.

That sends it flying in.

“That.. kinda hurt.” he mutters.

He shakes that off, stepping in through the newly opened door.

Surprisingly, his home is practically untouched. Guess whoever did this didn’t think he would be willing to cave in his own front door.

He can’t help but look around, at the memories, the posters on the walls, the photo of his family on the kitchen counter and the the genuine tidiness of the place.

He walks over to the kitchen counter. He picks up that photo.

His dad might kill him if knew about him keeping this one.

It’s a photo taken when he was around 7 and Mia was around 4. And before his mom left.

His mother walked out on them years ago. Elliot never knew why. Just one day she left and never returned. They knew she didn’t die. They got letters once in a while that were definitely hers. The cops also found her when they reported her missing. She said she just, didn’t want to come back.

But that was the past. He still couldn’t help to cling to the image, when they were all happy.

He slowly puts it down on the counter before turning and walking through an open door to his bedroom.

It’s then he’s reminded of something he’s wanted for a long time now.

To get out of this damn uniform of his.

So he grabs the satchel he can attach to his motorbike, along with a messenger bag.

He grabs a couple things. His favourite leather jacket. Two comfy hoodies. Some proper jeans as well as sweatpants.

He takes off his uniform button up and puts on his red leather jacket instead, keeping it open. He then puts his uniform shirt in the motorbike bag.

But that’s when he sees it through the wall.

That yellow flash.

He quickly throws some random clothes that were left on his bed (Pajamas) into his messenger bag before running out his bedroom door.

On his way out the front, he grabs the keys that were hanging by the door.

He takes a sharp turn, jumping off the deck and down to the motorbike.

He quickly attaches the bag before hopping on like he’s done hundreds of times before.

He pushes those keys in and smiles wide at the sound of the engine roaring to life.

He flips up the kickstand before kicking it into high gear, accelerating towards the danger.

And that danger was Chance getting pinned by Mafioso once again.

Chance had his back against the wall, slinking down to the ground as this figure loomed before him.

“Time to pay that debt boy-”

Suddenly, Mafioso was knocked forwards and Chance watches as if it was an angel coming to rescue him.

He watches as Elliot slammed his motorbike into Mafioso’s back, driving over him to reach Chance.

“Get on.” he gestures.

Chance freezes. Out of fear or lust he couldn’t tell.

Either way, he was not denying this request.

He quickly hopped on the bike, letting their arms wrap around Elliot’s waist as he started to drive away.

“HOW THE HELL!?” Chance shouts, visibly overjoyed.

“Little secret project of mine!” Elliot laughs, “Figured it would be pretty useful.”

Elliot takes one hand off the handlebars, summoning a slice in his hand, it shifting to a margarita slice as he hands it over to Chance.

“Little?! You just ran the asshole over!” they laugh, before taking a bite of their pizza.

Elliot can’t help but smile at their voice. He can’t tell whether his arms or the leather feels better on him right now.

“Thank you, for getting me out of there, you’re the best Ellie.” he feels Chance breathing onto his neck, sending a chill up Elliot’s spine.

“U-uh uhuh.” he tries not to crash the bike, “No- no problem Lucky.”

Slowly Elliot pulls the bike to a stop, “I-I wanna check your injuries over.”

He climbs off, turning to Chance.

He uses two fingers to tilt their head up, inspecting the injuries on their face and neck.

“Man.. Mafioso really does not like you..”

Chance does not respond.

“Chance?”

“Oh- uh, whatcha say?”

Elliot just lets out a puff of air through his nose, “Nevermind. It all looks pretty superficial so you should be good for now at least.”

“I.. I’m sorry.”

“What for?” Elliot asks.

“You.. shouldn’t have had to come save me.”

“Well I didn’t have to, I chose to.”

“Oh, I-I guess yeah..” he hums, “Just, feel bad I guess. You’re, always saving me.”

Elliot sighs as he slowly wraps his arms around Chance, burying his face in their neck.

“I don’t care how many times I need to save your reckless ass. You’re worth it.”

Chapter Text

“How long until round ends?” John Doe asks, lounging back on the couch, sipping at his bottle of beer.

“When can I have one of your drinks?” Mafioso asks from the other side of the couch.

“Fuck you, ya cunt.” John scoffs.

“”I am the head of the Sonnellino family I will not-“

“And I’m the king of fucking candyland.” He scoffs, “you won’t give me a cigar, you don’t get my beer I won it fair a square.”

“You guys gave the dog beer!”

Mafioso feels some jump over him and couch, pushing his head down on the way.

1X lands in front of him, “He was funny! And not a fucking dickwad like you!”

“We’re murderers!” Mafioso shouts. 

“Guy who got run over by a moped says what?” Noli speaks.

“What?- AGH FUCK YOU SCUM!” Mafioso growls, “That felt more like a motorcycle anyways! Plus, 1X and Jason lost their last rounds because they refused to kill Six!”

Jason, currently curled up in an arm chair, massless with a cup of hot cocoa, pouts.

“I’m allowed to miss the freak.” 1X puts their hands on their hips, “and that was only once.”

“What about the masked one then.” He takes a puff of his cigar.

“Jason’s a softie. We all know that. Plus Sixie was yapping with that boy toy of his which, if ya paid attention, Jason has another soft spot for because they were here together for so long!”

1X scoffs as they walk towards Noli’s who’s sitting closer to the TV.

Jason smiles in thanks at 1X who gives him a thumbs up in return.

“Can I decapitate Mafibitcho yet?” He sits down next to him.

“No.” He states, “also John, there’s still almost three hours left due to the kills and two people left.”

“Who?”

“Builderman and Shedletsky.”

“They sucking each other off?”

“AS IF ANYONE COULD LOVE SHEDLETSKY!” 1X shouts back.

“Chill. It was a joke.” John scoffs.

“And, looks like Azure just found them- and-“

“SHEDLETSKY NO LONGER HAS A HEAD FUCK YEAH-“ 1X finishes Noli’s sentence.

“Builderman’s sentry is gone annnnnd that’s officially Azure’s fifth wipe in a row.”

“That’s better than you Mafioso..” 1X turns and whispers.

“Suck Noli’s cock!” He shouts.

Noli chokes on air.

“Maybe I will you fat fuck!” She yells back, “NOLI-“

“Jason is right there!” Noli shouts back, despite the more human side of his face heating up, “Also, I don’t exactly have a dick for you to suck right now.”

“Then you can suck mine! Or you can ask for the stupid Spectre cunt to give you yours back!”

Noli sees Azure suddenly storm across the living room and out the front door to their normal spot on the porch.

Noli sighs, “next person who brings up my dick is getting their ass beat. I’m going check on them.”

Noli stands up, hearing 1X whisper to Mafioso behind him, “You should bring up his dick. It would be funny.”

He chooses to ignore the ensuing argument and instead, step out into the quiet of outside.

He closes the door behind, sitting next to the man on the stairs.

“What? You gonna give me a fucking pat on the back?” Noli was growing accustomed to Azure’s hostility.

“Nope.” He popped his lips, “you just seen more miserable than usual.”

Azure doesn’t respond.

“You really messed up Two Time… again.”

“What fucking about it.”

“Azure, your anger is just but stewing on it isn’t going to help you.”

“Says the guy who keeps killing his ex!” He defends.

Azure is shocked when he just lets out a laugh.

“Did I ever tell you that story?”

“What story?”

“I met 007n7 when we were a lot younger. We fell fast and hard. He was the sweetest under it all. He was handsome to match too. Though, guess, that was our down fall. It wasn’t. Sudden but it wasn’t expected either. We were fighting before, me, just being an asshole and shit and him being a stubborn bitch. Then, C00lkidd came around.”

“You.. all mention whoever that is. Who is it?”

He watches Noli take a deep breath, “C00lkidd was 007n7 adopted child. He was a killer for a while but they managed to free him.. We think. We.. we don’t know what happened to the kid, he’s just.. Gone.”

“Did they kill him?” Azure asks bluntly.

“Last time we saw him.. He.. had a moment like Guest 666. He, and the pizza guy, Elliot, managed to, make him a kid again. We, we haven’t seen him since. We all loved the little guy though.. Anyways uh. Back to topic.”

Azure watches him completely readjust his demeanor, “So, 007n7 actually found C00lkidd abandoned in an alley way, due to his skin issue most likely. 007n7, being, who he is, wanted to immediately take the kid in. I, I wasn’t cut out for fatherhood. I knew that. So I told him to leave the kid. He wouldn’t. We had a plan to do.. Something. I told him that and he told me to ‘fucking do it myself’. Which, that was the last time I talked to him.”

“And the fucking point of that story was?”

“I may.. Kill 007n7 but, I don’t really hate him. Never have. I think, I just know we’ve become two very different people. Your violence is being fueled by your hatred. You are going to crash and burn.”

“Rather go out in a blaze of glory than cold and alone.”

“You wouldn’t be alone, you got us now kid.”

Azure sighs, “You know what sucks..?”

“Hm?”

“I.. I miss them. I miss Two Time.”

Noli stays quiet, letting them speak.

“I don’t want to miss them. I want to hate them. I want them to fucking die and suffer like I did. I want them to scream and cry and beg. I want them to.. Feel how I felt when they murdered me.”

Azure pauses before speaking, “I want them to say sorry. I want them to realize it’s a sham. I want them to escape the brainwashing. I want them to know what they did was wrong and them to just fucking apologize!”

“I.. think I owe Seven one of those..” Noli looks over at Azure, “Apologies are hard to give. Especially when it goes against everything you’ve been taught up to that point. I have a feeling, one day, they will apologize. But, will you be ready to forgive them without taking a deeper look at yourself first.”

“Shut up!” Azure gets defensive.

“I’ll be here when you’re ready to look in.”

Azure just lets out a string of curses.

Noli barely pays attention to expletives. He knows that, Azure is grieving their own death still.

And until he manages to pass through this mountain, Two Time is going to have a rough time in their rounds.

Noli sees a sudden shift in Azure’s demeanor.

Suddenly they’re curling in on themself, tentacles wrapping protectively around.

“I-I’m just.. Tired Noli.. I don’t wanna be here.. I never wanted a second life.. I didn’t want more lives. And now.. Because of those stupid assholes.. Every time I kill someone.. I can’t help but feel.. I’m making the Spawn proud by extending my life..”

He starts to sob into his knees.

Noli reaches over and wraps his arm around Azure.

He feels them collapse into his chest.

Noli holds them tight, “I got you kid.. I got you.”

“Why are feelings so shitty?”

“I.. I don’t know, kid. I think it’s just what makes us human.”