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Elliot was running late.
He hurried down the street quickly, hoping he would make it on time. He had managed to take a day off from work today, and he had fully intended to arrive early—but helping Mia with her school project had taken much longer than he had expected. By the time Elliot had finally checked the time, it was already too late—he didn't realise how fast time had passed.
They were all having a gathering—nothing too fancy or complicated. The plan was to just have some pizza, catch up with one another and talk together after everything. He was really looking forward to it, and he wouldn't want to miss it for the world.
Elliot swings the door of the pizzeria open, before rushing inside. The bell above him chimes sharply, announcing his arrival. Almost instantly, that comforting smell of baked dough and melted cheese filled the air, and he could hear the familiar laughter of his former teammates close by.
Most of them were already here.
Chance and iTrapped were sitting together, close enough that they were clearly having a small conversation with one another. Beside them, sat Wanwood—a unexpected pairing, if you asked him. He never expected they would get along, but apparently they had kept in contact after everything that had happened. There were the admins too—Builderman and Dusekkar, alongside Taph—were seated a little further down, also engaged in an animated discussion. Azure and Two Time were there too, with Azure listening intently and nodding along to whatever they were saying.
Everyone there was present—except Shedletsky. Figures. He’s probably late too.
“Sorry I’m late!” Elliot calls, lifting a hand in apology. A few heads turn into his direction, but they offer him kind, reassuring smiles, and don't press any further. He quickly slides into the empty seat beside Noob, not intending to make any fuss about his arrival.
Elliot's eyes drift back to the unexpected pairing. Wanwood was busy talking with Chance about... something. He was flipping his coin in the air, and demonstrating the flip to her. However, after catching the coin and hitting heads on the flip, he stops flipping the coin. Instead, he grins, then bites down on the coin—flashing his gold tooth proudly.
“Look at this! It’s real gold, y’know?”
“Gross,” Wanwood replied, sneering in mock-disgust. “I shouldn’t have asked.” But even though she initially sounded disgusted, she quickly laughed afterwards, and started to shake her head in disbelief at their antics.
Elliot lets out a quiet sigh of relief—he's glad everyone seems to be getting along with one another. "Seems like I'm the last one here... I'm not sure if he's showing up." Elliot mumbles, glancing around the table.
I wonder where Shedletsky is...
Then, he turns towards the entrance of the pizzeria—and freezes instantly.
Shedletsky was standing there, and was noticeably out of breath, like he was rushing here. But it's not the sight of Shedletsky that catches him off guard—it's the person standing beside him. Shedletsky's hand rested lightly on their shoulder, guiding the figure forward... and they were none other than 1x.
In a way, they looked different. They were smaller now, about the size of a teenager, with shorter white hair that was pulled back into a ponytail, instead of being left wild and unkempt. They had a towel draped around their shoulders, with a few strands of their hair soaking wet. Their expression too, was calmer—there was no longer any look of hatred, of bloodlust in their eyes. But still, it was a look that Elliot had remembered far too well. And despite all their physical changes in their appearance, Elliot couldn't help but feel a tight knot form in his chest the moment he saw them. He knew the awful memories wouldn't disappear just because they changed.
1x... he didn't remember any of it, though. He couldn't recall any of the events that had happened in purgatory. It was as if their memory had been wiped clean, leaving behind a blank slate in return.
“The kid here got into trouble,” Shedletsky explained, before giving them a gentle pat on the back.
But 1x simply crossed their arms, clearly annoyed. “It's not my fault there’s so many freaks out there. Had to save some kid from drowning—just a bunch of bullies.” Their hand moved to their sword, and he began to lift it slightly. The weapon was smaller now, more suited to their current build. “I should teach them a lesson—”
Shedletsky shook his head firmly, then placed a hand on their shoulder, interrupting the thought before it could continue on any further. Without a word, he guided 1x towards an empty space at the other far end of the table, positioning them well away from Elliot—far enough that Elliot could finally breathe again.
Builderman raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on Shedletsky. "You seem extra dressed up today," he remarked, clearly amused by everything. "Special occasion?"
Elliot blinks. Only now does he really pay attention to Shedletsky's outfit—he was far too fixated on 1x's presence. Instead of his usual attire—a loose, flowy shirt with a, well, funny design and his iconic blue shorts—he was dressed in a crisp, neat blouse, and a proper set of trousers. He seems unusually put together.
“All right, Gramps,” Shedletsky shot back at them, before rolling his eyes in annoyance. “Can’t a man just dress up for once?”
Builderman leans forward in his seat, then rests his elbows on the table before continuing. "Well, I'm just saying—you look extra fancy today," he teases, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. He raises his voice to an exaggerated, higher pitch, clearly trying to mock Shedletsky's question earlier. “Can’t a man just ask why?”
1x snorts. "It's 'cause he's going on a date later," they admit bluntly. "With some woman he met."
That, naturally, got a reaction.
Taph rose to their feet almost immediately. Their hands moved quickly, and they were signing with obvious excitement. “Who is it? Please, I must know!”
1x shrugged, unimpressed by the sudden attention. “Her name or BrightEyes, or something. I don't know—you should ask him."
Two Time clasped their hands in delight, then let out a sigh. "Ah, true love... how adorable." They turned their heads, their gaze softening as they looked fondly at Azure.
Azure flushed just a little, ducking his head as he pulled Two Time closer and laced their fingers together. Immediately, Wanwood noticed their sudden display of affection and made a disgusted face. “Eww, gross. Get these lovebirds away from me!"
And amidst the teasing and laughter by the others, Noob turns to Elliot, offering him a shy smile. Elliot noticed that once again, the both of them were still wearing their matching friendship bracelets. Elliot had the bloxy cola charm one against his wrist, while Noob had a pizza charm, meant to remind them of him.
“It's been a while, huh?” Elliot said softly, breaking the silence between them.
“Y-Yeah…” Noob replied, rubbing the back of their neck as they nervously looked away. They reached into their pocket, fumbling about for a moment as if they're reconsidering something, before finally pulling something out. It's... a ticket. "Uh, I saved this one just for you..."
Elliot takes it carefully, surprised by the sudden gift. As he looks at it, he realises that it wasn't just any ordinary ticket—but a special, limited VIP one to their upcoming concert.
The four of them—Azure, Two Time, Noob, and Sixer—had really hit it off. After travelling for a while, and exploring the world together, Azure and Two Time had decided to settle down. However, it seemed like life had a different path for them—they had begun experimenting with music, and realised that they truly enjoyed it. From then on, both of them had decided to take music more seriously.
The group ended up reconnecting, strangely enough, at a music shop. After speaking for a while, they decided that together, the four of them would form a band—and it turned out to be very successful. Now, they were touring the world, playing live at famous concert venues. Elliot was happy for them—he was glad they had managed to patch things up with Sixer, and move forward with things.
Noob continues to speak, their words tumbling over one another as they're overcome with their nervousness. "It's only if you want to, of course! I understand if you're really busy, I know you have a lot of work—"
But Elliot stops them. He reaches out, and gently takes their hands in his own, and wraps his fingers around theirs. "Thank you, Noob. I really appreciate it."
Noob's smile widened—the relief they feel from his words is evident in their expression. And Elliot already knew—there was no way he would miss their concert for anything.
Around them, the rest of the table was lively, all engrossed in their own discussions and conversations with one another. Dusekkar speaks with Two Time, letting them share about the different places they had travelled to, and what they had learnt and experienced along the way.
Meanwhile, Azure is chatting with Wanwood, sharing about the different plants he had seen, and showing her a collection of various sketches and drawings he made of them. The rest of them were also deep in conversation about Jane and John's upcoming wedding—and they were talking about how stressful the preparations must be, and offering a helping hand to the couple.
And at that moment, everyone looked... happy. They were almost like old friends at this point, that seemed to have known one another far longer than they actually had. Honestly, it was hard to believe they had all been stuck in purgatory not that long ago.
And then, Guest1337 asks the question—the one Elliot doesn't know if he's truly dreading, or not.
“Where’s 007n7? I thought he would be coming today…”
At the sound of their name, Elliot stiffens. They weren't on the best terms, but he still cared. After everything that had happened, 007n7 had gone off the radar—no one could really reach him. That is, until Elliot did some digging—and found out they had started an orphanage, hoping to help other children, just like c00lkidd.
After that, Elliot checked in with them whenever he could—whether it would be him stopping by the orphanage, bringing free pizza for the kids, or quietly aiding with funds and donations when they needed it. They weren't perfect, and it would be a long time before Elliot could find it in himself to forgive them, but at the very least, it was something. And he couldn't deny that he was glad to see that 007n7 was doing better, especially after everything that had happened between them.
And yet, he doesn't mention any of this to the others. It seemed like 007n7 wanted to keep it a secret—and quietly go on with his life, hoping to make a difference. After a few moments, he opens his mouth to suggest something else, intending on switching the topic—but Shedletsky speaks up, stopping him in his tracks.
"I'm surprised the other guy took up white hat hacking... It was his friend—Noli, was it? Good for him."
At that, Dusekkar nods in agreement. The table grows quiet again, all of them unsure of what to say. As if sensing the tension, Chance immediately jumps in, ready to break it with another playful remark.
“Hey, the pizza’s on you, right, Elliot?”
Elliot laughed, the tightness in his chest lifting ever so slightly. “Sure! I mean, of course—it’s my treat.”
"Thanks, pal!"
Chance grins back at him, but this time, it's a genuine act of gratitude. In the past, they had always put up a facade around the others, but not anymore. They were more open now—no longer keeping things to themselves. In fact, they seemed even healthier—that tired look in his eyes had faded.
And now, he was talking excitedly about his work at the casino—playing the piano every night, while hitting it big at the slot machines. It seems like he became a piano teacher too, teaching Guest’s daughter, Charlotte, the piano. Then, he pulled out his phone to show pictures of his bunnies—Spade and Ace. Spade, a black rabbit, had been his first—followed by Ace, a white rabbit who had been surprisingly chosen by iTrapped. And to anyone that was still listening, he wouldn't stop gushing about how cute and soft they were.
“I can't believe I had to drag my old pal here too!” Chance says, before turning to iTrapped. He slings an arm around them, pulling them closer to him. Elliot can see iTrapped visibly stiffen at sudden contact, but they don't pull away.
"And I'm glad you came," Chance adds softly, the teasing lilt in his voice fading, making his words sound sincere.
However, before iTrapped can respond, the music player in the corner starts to crackle loudly, the sound stuttering—and then goes completely silent. Elliot lets out an exasperated sigh—he knew he should have had it fixed earlier. He pushes his chair back, and stands up. "Give me a sec, I'll go and fix it."
"Hey, wait a minute," Chance says, reaching out to grab his wrist and stop him. He tilts his head slightly, deep in thought. "You got a piano lying around here?"
Elliot paused, considering the question. "No," he replies, glancing back over his shoulder. "But there should be a keyboard in the back."
And that seemed to be all Chance needed to hear. A grin spreads across his face as he turns to iTrapped, his eyes bright with a familiar spark of excitement. "You brought your violin, right?"
iTrapped blinked, clearly caught off guard by the sudden question. “I did,” he said slowly, reaching behind the chair, and adjusting the strap of the case hanging from the back. “Why do you ask?”
Chance’s grin only widened. “How about we play something together?”
There's a brief pause that follows after. iTrapped looks uncertain—his gaze drifts from Chance, to the rest of the table, then back to him again. It seemed like he wasn't comfortable with the others—but that was understandable, especially after all that had happened. For a moment, it seemed like he might refuse Chance's offer—but finally, he gives a reluctant nod, and picks up his violin.
With that, Elliot hurries off to grab the keyboard from the storage room, then returns and starts to quickly set it up. After he was done, he gave the go ahead to play—and Chance took his place, alongside iTrapped. They begin to play a more lively piece, with a rhythm that couldn't help but feel like it was inviting them to dance along.
Out of all of them, Two Time was the first to stand. They turn to Azure, and offer them a hand with a soft smile. Jane and John followed soon after, laughing as they joined in, and Noob and Sixer weren't that far behind. One by one, the others got to their feet, all full of the same enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, Elliot is still sitting, lost in thought. Noob seemed to look back at them, concerned.
"Are you coming, Elliot...?"
That snaps him out of his thoughts. He pushes himself from his seat, ready to join them—but the sudden buzz of his phone in his pocket makes him pause. It's a notification, for a new message. He pulls it out, and glances at the screen.
Y0. THX F0R TH3 H3LP, P1ZZ4 B0Y.
Below, a photo was attached—a picture of 007n7 standing in front of the orphanage, with children gathered around him, every single one of them smiling.
Elliot smiles. It seems like they really were doing better.
He tucked his phone away, and rose to his feet, before stepping forward to join Noob on the dance floor.
After everything they had been through—it seemed like they would get a moment of peace. And to have each other's support through this entire ordeal, to see everyone smile after everything they had endured together—it made him feel... relieved. Because deep down, he knew—that things were finally going to be okay.
“Um hi, I’m Tyler. Is this the right place...?"
At the sound of that unfamiliar voice, Noli looks up from his phone. A man is standing in front of him, glancing around nervously, like he isn't quite sure if he's supposed to be there.
“I’m… here to pick up the kids,” the man, Tyler added, looking past Noli as if he was expecting someone else to appear.
Noli snapped his fingers lightly, realising that he was probably here to meet 007n7. "Gotcha," he says, pushing himself upright and rising to his feet. "Let me call him real quick."
Tyler blinks, still confused as ever. But before he could ask anything else, Noli was already on his feet. He slips his phone into his pocket, then turns around and walks towards the main room, leaving them standing there with a puzzled expression on his face.
In the next room, 007n7 was sitting with the kids—one dressed in blue, and the other in pink—both sitting close to him, clearly reluctant to move too far away. They were waiting to be adopted, and it seemed like things had worked out—there were two eager parents waiting for them. But it was obvious that 007n7 had grown attached to them—he always did.
At first, Noli couldn't really believe it. The legendary 007n7, turning his back on hacking? It was his greatest strength, something he was infamous for. But over time, after everything... hearing about the loss of his son, and watching him fight his way of purgatory—Noli found it within himself to accept that. He tried to, at least, but his old friend. He couldn't give up hacking entirely, though—so he sought out more ethical means, just for 007n7. Still he couldn't help but tease him, especially in front of the kids—he was always nudging him to tell stories about his so-called glory days to them, and rolling his eyes whenever they tried to downplay it.
He really had gotten soft, hadn’t he?
But maybe he had that effect on people. Noli had changed too, after all—not completely, but enough that for him, things were better than they used to be.
The kids' voices pulled Noli back to the present. They were always a loud bunch—not that Noli minded. They were talking over one another now asking 007n7 for one last song before they had to leave the place. Just one, they promised him.
But 007n7 hesitates with going along. He's embarrassed by all of this—which Noli finds adorable. The big bad 007n7, afraid of dinging to a couple of kids. How... silly.
“A-Ah, but we don’t have a lot of time…” 007n7 mumbles, his gaze turning instinctively toward Noli, silently asking for backup.
Noki shakes his head, and an amused smile tugs at his lips. "It's just one song—I'm sure the guy can wait."
“You have to—” the boy in blue started, leaning forward.
“Pretty please, mister?” the girl in pink finished, clasping their hands together as a plea.
Finally, 007n7 let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Alright, alright…” He glanced back at Noli, raising his eyebrow, clearly not amused by his antics. “You're not a good influence at all on them at all."
Noli chuckles, already moving towards the corner of the room. “Guess you got me there," he admits, picking up 007n7’s guitar. He notices there's a different sling attached to it—it’s not the usual, boring black. It’s the knitted kind, with little drakobloxxers as the design. It seems like it was a gift from someone they knew.
Must be that former soldier, Noli thinks. 007n7 had said they had taken up knitting as a hobby. An interesting switch in hobbies, but he wasn't one the judge—he used to love trolling people online. And so, Noli simply hands the guitar to 007n7, and he accepts it with a small nod of thanks. After a brief moment to adjust his grip properly, he takes a deep breath, and begins to play.
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine…”
Noli settles beside him, then gives the kids a gentle pat on the head as they take their seats on the tiny stools in front of 007n7.
“You make me happy, when skies are grey…”
As 007n7 sang, his eyes drifted to a nearby picture frame resting on the shelf. It was a photograph of him and c00lkidd together, smiling happily, completely unaware of the unfortunate fate that lay ahead. Something in his chest tightened, and the tears threatened to spill once more, but he held them back, not wanting to cry in front of them. He didn't want their last memory of him to be a sad one.
“You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you—”
And for a second, he saw it—the faintest glimpse of c00lkidd standing there, looking at him, smiling the way he used to. He didn't look sad, or angry… he just seemed happy. 007n7 hoped he was in a better place now.
“Please don’t take my sunshine away…”
He continues to hum the rest of the song softly, and closes his eyes, resting his head against Noli’s shoulder. The kids sat quietly, unusually still, enjoying the tune.
After all this time, he had learned to move on. And although it may hurt, it was inevitable—he’s just glad he had people to support him along the way, people who genuinely cared about him. It's about time he moves on—he can't keep grieving, and hurting himself like this.
007n7 still loves his son, and he always will—but he needs to move forward, and learn to forgive himself after what happened. He couldn't change the past, but at least he could look forward to the future, and start anew. Only then, by accepting who he was and taking responsibility for what he had done, would he finally be able to heal.
And in that moment, his memory of c00lkidd fades—it feels like a final farewell, a long-overdue closure for them both. It’s the one his son had deserved all along.
“Goodbye, kiddo. I love you.”