Chapter Text
The world melted around him as his body manifested on the soft grass of another round. He scanned the area that surrounded him, noting how he seemed to spawn right in the middle of the whichever map this was. They still had no name for any of these places they were forced to endure death in an endless amount of times.
The current map was dark, which was unfortunate for him. He could barely see where he was going, keeping a silent prayer that nobody just saw him walk right into a wall.
Everything blurred together in an amalgamation of deep, dark colors that eased the dull ache that persisted in his skull.
The way his head never seemed to cease hurting had to be a stick joke being played. A last ditch effort to make him feel small among the survivors.
A reminder that he was selfish for taking his own life.
In fact, 007n7 was sure he had not had a hard life before he pulled the trigger. The only thing he knew before he had done it was the unbearable months looking for his missing son before he found his baby's body rotting in a back alley.
Otherwise, he never had a bad life. He could say he made other people's lives harder. Killing himself over something so small in comparison to everything he had done in his life felt pathetic.
He couldn't do that. Not when he was such an infamous hacker. When he'd ruined countless of people's lives, Never did he deserve the sweet release of death. He didn't deserve it. He didn't deserve it. Hedidn'tdeserveit.
007n7 was so pathetic. Half of the time he just wondered if he should let himself be killed, and when he did go through with it he just let himself be screamed at by any of the survivors angry enough to do it just to feel the punishment he deserved after years of evading admins. He should be rotting in hell right now.
If any one of the survivors knew he had taken his life, how would they react? Would they think the same as he did? He did not deserve to have a second chance at life. To even be Here right now was a stretch.
007n7 sighed, his fingers finding their way to his temple. He had to stop thinking like this when a round started, that was how he found himself without food for a week.
He shuffled around the clearing, a short yelp escaping his throat as he tripped on something hard. The ex-hacker glanced at the white object that stared back at him, inviting him to pick it up. A soft smile stretched on his lips as he grabbed the med kit.
It was getting more rare to locate med kits now. They could definitely use this later. He pocketed the object in his makeshift bag, eyeing a generator that was nearby. At least he could do his job.
007n7 knelt beside the generator, thankful for the grass that softened the impact of his knee as he worked to connect the wires. It was hard to do it on a map like this where he could barely see, but he was getting better at noticing where to connect the wires in the dark.
So far he had only gotten stung from failed attempts a few times, which was less than usual as he did these generators. It was much harder in the dark for him to even finish a generator, despite that being his only job.
007n7 was aware that he wasn't going to be able to see properly again. His vision had been horrible for years prior to ending up here in this god forsakened place.
He refused to get his vision checked when he had been alive, the thought of not being good enough with anything was enough to make his blood boil.
He was 007n7 for crying out loud! He didn't NEED glasses.
The glasses he sported like they meant the world to his very soul were always just for show.
Back then, from what he could just barely remember put together from his fuzzy memories, Noli had been on his ass for years about his eyesight. Apparently it had always been this bad, he just didn't want to hear it.
Noli was always looking out for him. That’s what made it worse seeing him around here. Even now Noli refused to leave his side. The hacker always ended up advocating for him to the point even Elliot stopped hating 007n7.
That was a long process though. For how long they had been in this realm, it had to have been some sort of year or longer, from what he could tell. The idea that Elliot could have ever stopped hating him–not forgiven, he never thought that would happen–was an insane thought in itself.
After rounds where the killer was his son Noli held him close while he broke down in his friend's arms. He couldn't ever imagine a life that didn't include the guy that practically glued themself to his side.
Noli had helped raise C00lkidd, and he never once stopped caring for their small family. Even when 007n7 stopped hacking, he accepted it. It took him a while to get over it, but when they got to that point, their life couldn't have been happier- or healthier.
Noli had sort of stopped hacking. He never truly stopped, just wasn't the bad side of hacking. That was something that was both of their passions, and they both never truly let it go. That ended up costing their son his childhood when he found their guis. He forever would never forgive himself for that.
What they had bore no label. While he was thinking about this, he should ask Noli about it when he got back to their cabin. The thought of them being official felt strange. Not when the way he felt about Noli was the same feeling he had for the group healer as well.
It humored him to think about love in a place like Hell. He didn't deserve love. Or to be loved. Maybe that’s why his son was a killer. He deserved this.
007n7 stood back from the generator, the sound of the machine rumbling to life buzzed in his ears. A small smile crept onto his face at another successful generator completed in the dark.
He was proud of himself for finishing machines on maps like these, where he couldn't see an inch in front of him due to his lack of sight combined with the dark atmosphere with zero lights anywhere.
A flash of a deep red darted across the open field, which he assumed to be the healer. It was unfortunate if he was being targeted, they could really use him. Today was unfair on everyone.
He couldn't see well, but from what he could see Elliot fled from the right, to which 1x1x1x1 appeared. He would always recognize that sickly neon green in front of him, the killers were a constant here.
007n7 would admire Elliot if the killer wasn't right behind her. He could imagine what she looked like right now, his golden curls framing his face like they wanted the world to know how beautiful she was even when they were running for their life with blood caked onto their face and stained into his clothes.
The ex-hacker watched Elliot limp behind a nearby wall just barely dodging an attack from 1x4, the attack flying right by his face. He knew Elliot struggled with entanglement, so it was always a small personal victory for the healer when they dodged it. 1x4 was relentless in her chase, not even trying to give up on the pizza worker.
For the past few rounds they had today Elliot had been caught in the killer’s line of sight first. It was horrid that they seemed to be extra upset today. 007n7 wondered what always made the killers so much more upset than usual.
He had once tried to pry information out of his son, but his poor baby had no idea what he was trying to ask. C00lkidd was just happy to be playing a game with his dad again. 007n7 didn't leave his cabin for a week after that round.
007n7 grabbed the medkit from his bag, letting his grip on the object tighten as he watched Elliot’s health drop. He could only assume the worker was about to run out of stamina.
He wasn't sure if his body was tense because of the healer dying in front of his eyes or the fact that he was stuck in his own head again.
Thoughts about C00lkidd hurt him more than he wanted to admit. Every time his pride and joy was insulted by another survivor he felt himself slink back into the shadows into his cabin, ready for another breakdown to take over his body like a supernatural possession.
The brunette sighed, moving his body to go towards where he saw the killer last spotted. He wasn't usually allowed near the danger, being only able to protect himself and all, but he couldn't let Elliot get hurt like this. He could only hope she had gotten away.
It wasn't like he had anything left to do, and he had one of the only medkits on the map. That was only if another one spawned, which was getting rarer every round for even one to spawn.
He had to give it to Elliot.
007n7 continued onward, but behind the wall he didn't see anyone. He let out a sigh of relief. The healer getting away was rare, with the killers constantly being on his ass.
He turned to leave, after all there was nothing he should be doing now except for hiding unless he could find a generator in time. Or he could find Elliot, but he could be anywhere by now.
The grass in front of him shone with red, just a few strands of grass, but enough for 007n7 to notice something was behind him.
007n7 snapped his head around as 1x1x1x1 slashed forward at him, her blade grazed his arm as he moved out of the way from her attacks.
He ran as far as he could, keeping his eye on his stamina bar until he could get away. It was getting close to the bottom, he wasn't sure if he could keep going for any longer. The limited stamina they all got was a joke. The minute he ran out of stamina it was over for him already unless he could get a clone to take the finishing blow.
1x4 took the chance to throw out an entanglement at 007n7 as she lost her own stamina, and by the time 007n7 thought he might have lost her, he didn't see the attack flying into him.
Chains dragged him down to the ground, wrapping along the inside of his legs like vines, tearing their way through his flesh. The smell of burning flesh ripped through the air, surrounding him in a bubble of blood and regrets.
He wouldn't have gotten hit if he was paying attention! Fuck!
007n7 clawed at the chains as the killer got closer, the sickly green laughed in his face, tormenting him as he failed to get rid of each of the tight bindings. Warning signs blared through his body, not stopping for a moment as hot white pain flooded his senses.
He almost forgot what he was doing until he felt 1x4’s Daemonshank connect with his right arm, immediately ripping away the last chain before he took off.
He clutched his arm like a life line on instinct, not letting the injured appendage go. He feared if he let go of it the limb would fall limp, making it a bigger target to the relentless killer on his tail.
The father groaned in pain, sucking in air through his teeth to try and ignore the pain that shot through him. He just had to find Elliot. Elliot. Just keep his thoughts on being healed.
The minute he gave up it was game over.
1x4 reached out to him, ready to strike before she doubled over, letting out a cry of rage. He looked behind him, slowing to a walk as he regained his composure to see Two Time knelt behind the killer, that deranged smile staring back at him.
He felt a shiver run down his back, but nodded at the cultist anyways, despite how uncomfortable their presence made him.
“Thank you, Two Time.” The ex-hacker said, his voice coming out in shaky breaths as he gained stamina back.
Two Time waved him off, their eyes never leaving the killer as they slinked back into the shadows. 1x4, forgetting 007n7 as a target entirely, raced after the sentinel, a permanent scowl dragged across her face, if that’s what he could call it.
007n7 retreated behind a rock, shaking as he grabbed his c00lgui with his bad arm, internally cursing at how little he seemed to care about his injuries. The man clicked teleport, noting the fact that he could still see 1x4 from here. He couldn't stay around this area, less he wanted to die quickly.
He appeared at the back of the map, near a place he couldn't remember what it was. He could never make out what this area was, and he didn't care enough to jot down a name in his brain.
In and out. In and out.
He clutched at his chest, feeling the way his heartbeat seemed to slow as his chest quickly went up and down under his palm. He could tell he was freaking out, but there wasn't anything he could do about it right now.
Everything around him spun in his vision as he fell to the ground, pressing his head into the grass below him. His arm was forgotten about, laying limp beside him as he groveled into the ground.
His face felt hot as tears fell quietly down his cheeks and onto the grass below. He felt numb. Despite the amount of times he had gotten hurt or died he still always fought to stay alive. It hurt so bad when he got hit, he couldn't go through this again. Fuckk. Fuck. It hurt.
He needed something. Anything.
He couldn't keep going like this. At this point he might as well curl up in a ball and pray 1x4 hits a mass infection on him from far away. He couldn't do this anymore.
His entire body felt like it was on fire, half of his limbs felt numb from poison and the cuts left behind from 1x4’s daemonshank. Blood pooled around him, the ground below him stained with the red substance protruding from his wounds.
Thinking of it as “bleeding out” felt more depressing, he couldn’t afford to give up. Giving up meant he lost his humanity. That the deaths here meant nothing. That he was willing to give himself up to the killer just to feel something.
There was a rapid tapping on his shoulder, the one he couldn't feel anymore. He didn't respond to it, but he knew somebody was near him. 007n7 sluggishly moved his head to the side to look at whomever was bothering him.
Elliot stared back at him, worry pinched into his expression as he watched 007n7’s head lift up to meet his gaze. His eyes looked clouded, like he wasn't truly there. Trapped in his own mind like it would help him escape the place they were in.
Elliot helped him up, to which 007n7 accepted graciously, holding onto the nearby wall to keep himself up. He didn't trust his words, with how out of breath he currently felt. Apparently standing took all of his energy. Who would have guessed.
007n7 tilted his head, frowning at the way Elliot seemed to immediately get more upset as the man spaced out in his own head. “Are you ok-?” He asked, his hand drifting towards Elliot before the worker snapped.
He turned around, scratching at his head frantically as he ranted. “THIS ENTIRE DAY I’VE BEEN RUNNING AROUND WITH MY HEAD CUT OFF BECAUSE THESE KILLERS WON’T LEAVE ME ALONE!”
“I’M SO SICK OF THIS!” Elliot groaned, pacing back and forth as he spoke. 007n7 didn't know what to say, but he let the worker speak for a while.
Thank god he was a good listener. He wasn't the best at advice, but he could definitely listen.
Elliot pressed a finger to his temple, muttering under his breath as he walked back to 007n7. He wasn't quite sure why she was getting closer, but questioning it didn't seem like it would get him anywhere.
“Why am I the only person who’s been targeted at ALL today?” He growled, jabbing his finger into the dad’s chest. “Especially you! Shouldn’t they want to go for you first!”
007n7 assumed he meant that it was because he did well when he was the last survivor left, but he also didn't know if that was what Elliot meant since they were so upset.
“Sorry-” He started before he saw the way Elliot’s face softened at his words. It was a look of pity, or guilt, those two went a lot of the time hand in hand in his experience. Elliot didn't say anything. Lost in her head again.
“Elliot..?” He watched the way the healer flinched, like he didn't even realize he was still conscious.
She turned towards him, eyes rounded with worry, like 007n7 might have needed something from him.
He held out the medkit, pressing it forward into his chest. “Take it.” 007n7 hasn't needed it now that he found Elliot, and the healer was nearing his own death. The father hadn't even noticed how much Elliot seemed so close to death. Checking the other’s hp, he was at around 15%.
“I don't want to see you die, Elliot. Fuck I didn't even notice. You need this, please just take it.” The pizza worker’s eyes slowly looked downwards at the medkit, like he was on the verge of a collapse.
The medkit lay limp in his arms for a moment before the healer snatched it, opening the lid in a rush. He could tell their injuries hurt, blood caked his clothes, though you could barely tell through the neon red of his shirt. He had long since noticed when Elliot was hurt and was trying to hide it. Always refusing to heal when anyone else was hurt.
Times like these were rare when Elliot accepted the medkit, especially when the round wasn't even close to over.
Healing was like second nature to him, with constant targeting. “Thank you..” Elliot murmured, a smile tugged at his lips before he dug into the medkit.
By the time the timer hit 10 minutes left he was already done using it. The magical healing properties of the medkit was fascinating to him with the way all of Elliot’s injuries were already gone. It was like they never existed in the first place.
He didn't want Elliot to worry about him, he could see it in his actions. It made him feel like he wasn’t good enough. He had to be good enough. He just had to.
Elliot reached into his bag and pulled out a slice of pizza, pressing it to the man’s lips with enough urgency that it sort of snapped 007n7 from his trance of self deprivation. He didn't question where his pizza came from anymore, at least it never ran out.
He was confused on why Elliot didn't just hand it to him.
007n7 pressed his left hand to Elliot’s chest, steadying himself as he stood completely up to gently shove the pizza away from his face. “Someone.. might need this more than me.” He murmured, ignoring the way Elliot’s face deepened into a face that teetered on something he didn't want to admit to himself right now.
He didn't want the pizza worker to worry about him. He was sure some sentinel needed that heal more than him.
“Sev..” Elliot frowned, cupping 007n7’s face with so much gentleness he thought he might cry. The healer shook his head, offering the slice again.
The nickname made his heart hurt. Everything Elliot did made him feel queasy.
“Nobody else needs this, I’ve checked. You don't look well, please just take it.” Elliot urged, taking his good arm and placing the slice in his open hand.
His stomach flipped at the words, the way he spoke so softly, at least to his ears, made him feel calm.
She sighed, “I’m not upset at you, I haven't been for a long time.” Elliot said, brushing his thumb against his cheek, his head tilted slightly as he spoke.
“Don’t say things like that. Please just take it before I have to make you eat it.” 007n7 nodded, watching Elliot relax at his acceptance.
“Sorry..” 007n7 said, weakly closing his hand around the pizza and bringing it to his mouth before taking a small bite.
There was no need to be a burden and have Elliot make him eat it.
The flavor seemed to explode in his mouth. He genuinely couldn't remember the last time he had eaten. He always pretended like he ate if anybody asked, but never actually showed up to most of the cabin dinners.
While he wouldn't admit it out loud, he really thought he didn't deserve it. The others needed to eat more than he did. He was just a survivalist, he didn't mean much to the troupe anyways, not with a history like that anyways.
He scarfed down the rest of it happily, watching the food be gone in seconds. He was glad for the healing properties of the slice, stretching out his arm, still surprised even now that it seemed as if nothing happened to him.
To be honest he hadn’t eaten in a bit, lately he had been retreating to his cabin and immediately passing out until the next round started. There was never time to eat.
Elliot was glaring at him when he looked back up, eyeing him like he was about to kill him. “Can you stop apologizing for everything?” They said, pressing 007n7 harder into the wall like that would fix how he acted.
Holyshit
Maybe it would if Elliot kept on like this.
Warmth crept up 007n7’s neck as he watched Elliot’s every single movement, analyzing it in his head. Fuuck. He was so down bad for him.
He swallowed hard, his gaze trailing down to the wall. It was hard to look Elliot in the eye. Did he even know what he was doing?
The pizza worker dragged his hand down his face, “Shut up, Seven.” Elliot groaned, letting his arms drift down to 007n7’s waist. He eyed the man cautiously, like maybe this was too far.
It was never too far for him.
007n7 felt his legs shake, on the verge of giving out underneath him. It didn't feel real. None of this felt like it was actually happening.
The way he was making sure he wasn't uncomfortable with this made his heart stutter. He wasn't used to somebody other than Noli caring for him like this before.
How did he even get to this point? Had Elliot truly been this pent up about everything?
Elliot’s eyes dropped lower, focus connecting with a lower part of him. He wasn't sure what he was looking at, it wasn't like he was inside of her mind. They looked back up at 007n7.
Oh.
Oh.
The look on her face screamed desperation, like he was her lifeline. Like this was the only thing keeping Elliot going. The thought seemed redundant, it wasn't something he thought Elliot would be thinking about anyways.
They had a job to do, all of them, there was hardly any time to think about sleep let alone to romance the man that single handedly ruined their life.
007n7 dragged his own eyes back up to Elliot fully, just to see what he was really thinking.
Elliot had a soft smile on his face, his face was crinkled with a nervousness he didn't even know Elliot could possess. The entire time he had known her she seemed so calm, like nothing could ever make him feel nervous. Nothing ever could make the notorious pizza worker feel anything like that.
He should feel honored.
Instead he just felt flustered that he was the one that made Elliot feel like that. He didn't plan for this! None of this was right. He didn't- this wasn't planned. None of it was.
This was something he only ever thought about (despite that this was a neverending thought, not a fleeting one), it wasn't supposed to actually happen!
007n7 stared at the man’s lips for a second too long before Elliot made another move. She slipped her arms completely around the ex-hacker, holding him tight against the wall.
Elliot leaned in close to him, his face dangerously close to the father’s. Her breath ghosted on the small unexposed part of 007n7’s neck, the way they teased him made him impatient.
If that reflected on his face, Elliot noticed, his stare made 007n7 feel completely exposed. It was like she was staring directly at his soul, waiting to reach in and destroy it like she made that decision.
His breath hitched as he felt himself growing more anxious by the second against the worker. He squirmed in her arms, yearning to just be closer.
That was all Elliot needed to see.
Elliot smashed his lips against 007n7’s, unwrapping arm from around the father to tug at the man’s hair, giving him something to ground himself.
007n7 gasped, squeezing his eyes shut as Elliot deepened the kiss. This was everything he had ever wanted, yet he could barely breathe. He couldn't believe it was even happening.
They were in the middle of a round goddamnit! There wasn't any time for this! Yet he didn't seem to care about it, not right now.
Elliot pressed down lightly on 007n7, signaling he was going to lower the two of them to the ground, to which he didn't fight the other man.
A knee was slotted in between his legs as Elliot leaned in closer to 007n7, bringing his arms around the ex-hacker’s neck. She pressed her tongue inside his mouth, getting a taste of 007n7.
It was like they had been waiting for this moment. He couldn't believe they actually wanted this. It was insane to him.
007n7 whined into the kiss, pulling away to quickly cover his face with his hands so he couldn't see Elliot’s reaction. He wasn't sure if he could handle it.
Elliot tapped on his fingers, and 007n7 hesitantly lowered them to see what the other wanted.
Elliot looked like he had won the lottery, he didn't seem stressed anymore. His face was relaxed, with eyes twinkling with delight.
He cupped 007n7’s cheeks, a small smile adorned on his face, “Don't cover yourself up.” Elliot murmured, removing a strand of hair from the father’s face.
“I want to hear all of you, don’t hide.”
007n7 could have just died from that. His heart pounded in his chest, threatening to leap out and expose itself to the worker just to show him just how much he meant to him.
He nodded weakly, wincing as he felt his face heat up at the way Elliot’s face lit up.
Elliot hummed, “I would continue but.. there’s like 20 seconds left on the timer.”
007n7 stared at him blankly, not sure what to do in this situation. His. His knee was. Literally- he didn't know what to say. Did that really just happen?
“Don't think so hard.” Elliot connected their lips, kissing him slowly as the timer went down way too quickly for his likings.
007n7 reciprocated the affection like his life depended on it, teeth clashing against Elliot’s in a messy attempt to prove himself. He wasn't sure Elliot truly cared.
They pulled away as the timer hit zero and the world around them burned away in a dark haze.
*
007n7 thought he was going to die right here. Despite the fact that nobody saw it happen at ALL, he was still scared that someone out there could have. He would have noticed if anyone saw.
It was something he was getting used to, he always ended up knowing when someone was watching him, it was unnerving.
His entire face felt hot, like if someone took one look at him they would immediately tell something was off about him, and that thought made him uncomfortable. 007n7 had never had a “poker face”, and was unable to keep his expression in check.
Eyes burned into the back of his shirt, eyes that seemed to stare and rot in the back of the ex-hacker’s mind. They clawed at his brain, humiliation crept into the crevices of the open stem.
Despite the fact that everyone had already gotten into their little bubbles post-round, he felt like the conversations were directed at him instead, words that through him like a knife.
007n7 sighed, pressing a hand through his hair and adjusting his fake glasses on the edge of his nose before looking up.
Elliot stood in his own circle, staying quiet as Chance ranted about their own gun not cooperating last round, a comment being made about where Elliot was the whole time while they needed a heal.
007n7 knew they were exaggerating, he had checked the stats before, and they were not low at all, maybe 1x had landed one of her main attacks on the gambler but that was it.
Elliot rolled her eyes, saying something before she locked eyes with 007n7. He smirked at the father, a little wave made the man feel like he was going to die. 007n7 jumped, his heart leapt out of his chest at that very moment. Fuckkk fuck. Nonono he could not do this right now.
The cabin wasn't safe for him right now. He needed to speak with Noli. He would know what to do about this, it wasn’t the first time he had talked to Noli about something like this anyways. It was fine!
His cabin wasn’t the closest to the main cabin, which was some sort of relief to him whenever he needed space, which was most of the time. 007n7 left the lobby, keeping his head down straight at the ground as he fled, making sure nobody followed him.
Leaves fell around him from the permanent dead trees above. It felt like they restored leaves every day, or maybe it was just that they dropped it like how some game characters drop coins when you kill them.
The grass crunched underneath his shoe, like it wasn't really grass in the first place. It made him feel uneasy, like it was going to kill him. He thought everything would kill him actually.
A lot of advice, being in a world where you’re constantly fighting for your life isn’t fun.
Don’t try it.
If he had the choice, he would be dead right now.
As soon as 007n7 found his way into his cabin he collapsed onto his bed, curling in a ball on top of the blanket, not finding the motivation to get underneath it.
“Hey buddy, you ok?” A soft voice made itself known from the corner of the shared room. “You look exhausted. Long round?”
007n7 didn't know how to respond. It really did feel like a long round. He could still feel 1x1x1x1’s sword against his arm, the poison seeping into his arm as he lost sensation in it.
He could still feel 1x4’s entanglement wrapped around his legs, chaining him to the ground as it burned into his flesh.
He could still feel Elliot’s lips flush against his.
007n7 dug into his scalp, grumbling a noncoherent string of words under his breath at his roommate.
“Diiid something happen?” Noli asked, the voice now directly to the right of him. He didn't have the energy to respond.
007n7 groaned, his hands found their way to his face as he dragged them down his face, “YES, something did happen, happy?”
Noli laughed, “Sure, suure.” A dip in the bed made Noli’s presence known to him. “Soo what happened?”
007n7 sat up, frowning at his old college roommate before staring out their window, eyeing the trees like they were the most interesting things ever. “I sort of.. kissed Elliot.”
“WHAT?”
Noli shook 007n7 aggressively, his mask pulled into a confused expression. “In the MIDDLE of the round???”
“STOP! Get off of me!” 007n7 grunted, shoving the hacker’s arms off of him. “It’s really not that big of a deal..”
Noli’s jaw dropped, their face went slack as he tried to process the words said. “YES IT IS??”
They stood up with as much exaggeration as a theater kid could get and struck a pose at their friend. “I can demonstrate how much of a big deal this is!”
007n7 tuned out the demonstration, ignoring how cringe his best friend was being in favor of thinking about what just happened. He didn’t know if he could keep this up anymore. He was scared, he didn't think he deserved any of this. Hell, he barely deserved to have Noli around.
“Am I interrupting something?”
That voice. 007n7 froze as he looked up, the color red sending danger signs throughout his brain. He locked eyes with Elliot and immediately looked away, ignoring the fact that his face was burning.
He really couldn’t hide how he was feeling around others, it was his biggest weakness. “No..”
"Good! I hope you don’t mind if I crash here for a bit. Guest said he'd make dinner so.. I have some free time." Elliot said, smiling at the two of them. The words sent shivers down his spine. Fuck.
"How are you holding up Noli? Did you do anything productive outside of the round today?" Elliot asked, his voice was soft as he spoke. He supposed from the years of customer service they naturally reverted back to it.
But the way Elliot sounded was genuine, not that fake voice he trained himself to be like.
Noli blinked, looking at the ground as he thought of his answer "Uhh.. I slept. i think. It's all kinda fuzzy." He admitted.
"I had the great sleep though, shit I wish I could sleep like that again."
Elliot sighed, "I wish I could get some good sleep.” he said, "I’m jealous, I’ve been unable to fall asleep lately.”
Noli sat down on a nearby chair, leaning back into the flimsy wood. "Well you can't take my sleep away, sorry princess but I need my beauty sleep.”
Noli shrugged, “but you can talk with us for a while. No harm in that.”
007n7 stared at the wood underneath him, refusing to make eye contact with either of them.
This was the perfect time to talk with Elliot and make sure he wasn't upset about what he did, even though technically they started it-
He didn't want them to regret it. Everything didn't feel real to him. Elliot never came to visit their cabin unless they had a really good round and she was practically dead half the round until 007n7 found her.
That wasn't something he would consider a perfect round.
"007n7 get out of your head." Noli said, their head turned towards him.
007n7 snapped his head up like a deer in head lights. It took him a minute to respond as he spaced out on the space in between Noli and Elliot. “Sorry..”
"What did I say about saying that?" Elliot frowned, his arms crossed against his chest.
007n7 faintly recalled a time a few weeks ago like that, but the memory was faint in his head. He flashed a weak smile, the words 'sorry' on the tip of his tongue. He stared down at his hands for a moment, fidgeting with his fingers before remembering he was being spoken to.
Elliot stood there for a moment, her eyes switching between the two hackers before settling on 007n7.
"Can I talk with you outside?"
007n7 frowned at that. He didn't know what they wanted, but it was definitely going to be about the kiss. He was sure Elliot was going to tell him it was all a mistake right there.
Noli spoke for 007n7, smiling even. "Yeah, go ahead and take him! I was about to go to sleep anyway, I have a feeling tomorrow's gonna be a good day and I want to be all rested up for it.”
007n7 glared at the hacker who turned away from him and started getting his nightly routine done. He was way too fancy with that kind of thing.
He was way too aware of the way sweat clung to the sides of his face and clung to his hair. Shit he was way too nervous for this.
007n7 stood up and made his way over to Elliot anyway, he couldn't back down now.
“Thanks Noli!” Elliot said, immediately headed out the door as 007n7 trailed behind like a lost dog.
They took a detour from the cabins to the trees, having a small walk in the woods where nobody could really hear them. 007n7 knew they weren’t going that far from the cabins, if they were they would have to tell a sentinel, not Two Time though.
Two Time wasn't really responsive when it came to things like that. They slunk back into the shadows of the cabin with a horrified expression and told the survivors to leave them alone as the cultist retreated into their personal space.
Elliot stopped in a small clearing and turned towards 007n7, offering out his hands to the father.
007n7 looked down at it before placing his own hands in the pizza worker’s. Elliot smiled before speaking.
"I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about any of this. I really like you 007n7, I have since before this whole.. realm thing.” They said, “Which.. sounds sort of wrong considering everything that happened before we got here.”
"I need you to know that I do love you, I can see you overthinking about it." Elliot dropped his hands to cup the brunette’s head.
"I’d like this to be a permanent thing, if you'll let me in." Elliot murmured. 007n7’s eyes darted to the floor below them, the man only now keeping in check of how close the two of them were.
007n7 blinked, his thoughts racing as he thought of if that meant what Elliot implied or not. Elliot shook her head.
"This feels like such a weird place to be doing this in. Like really, purgatory? But there’s no other time to ask so, Sev, will you be my boyfriend?" Elliot asked, a soft smile adorned on her lips.
Tears stabbed at the corner of his eyes as he looked at Elliot, really looked. She was being serious. Oh mygod. He couldn’t believe this was actually happening. "Yes, please, I would love to."
The soft smile vanished off of Elliot’s face as he beamed at the response, pulling 007n7 towards him as he wrapped the ex-hacker in a tight hug before pulling back and kissing him softly, really taking his time to pour as much love as he could into it.
"I love you, 007n7, ok? I need you to know this."
007n7 swayed in the other's arms as his brain went still as he processed what was really happening. The amount he had to process today was really overwhelming him. "I-I love you too.." he whispered.
Elliot gripped his hand and dragged him back towards the cabins. "I’ve also been noticing you haven't been sleeping, and that changes tonight."
"You can sleep in my cabin if you want, I'm sure Noli would love to have a cabin all to himself, and I'd love to have someone to share a room with."
007n7 forgot that Elliot didn't share with anyone, not after the incident. He didn't want to think about that.
"I’d love that.." he said, letting himself be dragged towards the cabins.
He would say today went fine. He was happy with the outcome.