Chapter Text
⌞ 𝜗𝜚 ⌝
2014. That’s the current year. Elliot had a feeling of unease all day. And this—what’s going on as of now—surely is the reason, and would be why.
The pizzeria his family owns was trembling in front of him. Burning. Memories were left there. The culprit, a young adult, maybe teenager, carrying a small child. No older than four. The whole Builder family is familiar with them—they come here to troll and mess around at least once a month. But this? He—Elliot—would never have expected it to get this serious.
❝What’s wrong, Ellie?❞
A mocking voice asked. Elliot couldn’t bring himself to answer. There was a lump in the poor boy’s throat. He’d choke on a silent sob. Not only was it literally silent, but it fell on deaf ears.
007n7, the mastermind behind this all, would just let out a harsh laugh. He clutched the child tightly, and turned.
Elliot stepped closer. Everything his father worked for, the building.. this would take large amounts of money to repair.. was it even salvageable? Would it need to be completely rebuilt? Elliot couldn’t focus on questions of such importance. His mind wouldn’t let him. It was screaming at him. Take revenge. But what is there for him to do? There was quite literally nothing he could possibly do to get revenge at the moment.
”Wait. Please, at least—“ He choked out. The man whom was retreating momentarily stopped.
”Why? Why did you do this?” Elliot mentally begged this wasn’t just for some sick pleasure.
As he waited, tears had finally began threatening to fall.
No reply came, just a single call for the gui, and a moving hand from the man. Elliot turned, and without thinking, lunged at the perpetrator. Yet he—Elliot—fell to the ground. He—007n7–was already gone. He just continued to cry, collapsing and letting his body mourn. He reached for his phone, pulling it out from his pants pocket, dialing his father’s number. The one day his dad and sister aren’t here, OF COURSE this happens.
⌞ 𝜗𝜚 ⌝
Mr. Builder had made a deal. A deal with the Sonnellino’s. Thankfully, Elliot’s ‘familiar’ with the leader, better known as Don Sonnellino. He prefers to just be called by a title—Mafioso—and Elliot has been kind to this man.
Mafioso takes his boys to the pizzeria as a reward for doing good on a mission. And he was less than pleased to hear about what had happened. He had only recently fully taken over, at the age of twenty. This does not mean he doesn’t have authority.
After some arrangements and talking, Mr. Builder and Mafioso came to an agreement. And as soon as they could, the pizzeria would be rebuilt.
⌞ 𝜗𝜚 ⌝
It’s been three months since the incident. 007n7 hasn’t shown his face around the area since. Then again, he’s also wanted by the local police now. As well as being blacklisted.
They let go of some employees, leaving them understaffed to help pay off the debts the Builder family now has. Mia’s only a teenager, she’s not expected to work. Elliot is, though. He’s eighteen–turning nineteen soon.
Time could pass all it wants to. Elliot wouldn’t forgive the man who was responsible for this.
⌞ 𝜗𝜚 ⌝
007n7 has no guilt. He laughed with his friend, Noli. “Am I supposed to feel bad for the kid? He should’ve known something bad would happen from the first time I showed my face around there! I only brought trouble, dude!” He laughed even harder.
”Y34h, I’m c0nfus3d 4s t0 H0W th4t Ell10t guy d1dn’t kn0w!!!” — “Yeah, I’m confused as to HOW that Elliot guy didn’t know!!!” Noli, 007n7’s BEST friend, chimed in quickly. They found it laughable how Elliot kept allowing 007n7 in.
”I’m s2r3 y02 hon3stly c0uld g0 in 4nd b3 F1N3; n0t, 3v3n!!” — “I’m sure you honestly could go in and be FINE; not even!!”
”Don’t make me laugh. No way that wasn’t his last straw.” 007n7 rolled his eyes, setting C00lkidd down. “Hey, Noli?” He nervously asked.
Noli didn’t do much to respond, just verbally grunted out a light, ‘mh’.
”…I’ve been thinking, you know, as fun as this all is..”
”S3v. Don’t 3v3n S4Y wh4t I th1nk y0u’r3 4bo2t t0 s4y.” — “Sev. Don’t even SAY what I think you’re about to say.”
”…Noli.”
”Wh4t?!” — “What?!”
007n7 let a sigh come out of his lips, he turned to face something else momentarily, eventually turning back to face Noli.
”Look, I’m a father now. And—“
”4ND WH4T?? IS 0UR C4R33R NOTH1NG T0 YO2?” — “AND WHAT?? IS OUR CAREER NOTHING TO YOU?”
”I didn’t say that!-“
Noli glared at 007n7. “Th3n WHAT 4r3 yo2 1mply1ng, S3v?!” — “Then WHAT are you implying, Sev?!”
”…I want to retire from hacking. For the kids safety.” 007n7 spat out. “That crown on your head? It’s YOUR responsibility. You CHOSE to take it. And that’s not my issue.”
”…3xcus3 m3? I CH0S3 T0 T4KE 1T? YO2 T0LD M3 T0, S3V3N. 0R D1D Y02 F0RG3T TH4T??” — “…excuse me? I CHOSE TO TAKE IT? YOU TOLD ME TO, SEVEN. OR DID YOU FORGET THAT??”
”Stop it. You’re going to wake C00lkidd!-“ 007n7 muttered, shooting Noli a glare as he wrapped a blanket around the kid’s body. The small four year old had fallen asleep on the way home.
”S3v3n. Yo2 m4de m3 t4ke 1t. Y02 c4n’t j2st l34v3 M3 t0 de4l with th1s 4l0n3.” — “Seven. You made me take it. You can’t just leave ME to deal with this alone.”
”I didn’t say I would. I just said I was going to stop hacking. Whatever happens and how you use it no longer affects me after today. That’s it. It’s over, Noli.”
”007n7. I f2ck1ng g1ve y02 my L1F3, and y0u d0 TH1S.” — “007n7. I fucking give you my LIFE, and you do THIS.”
”….I th02ght yo2 w3r3 b3tter th4n th1s.” — “….I thought you were better than this.”
007n7 sighed softly. Finally, he turned to face Noli. “Look, you need to just accept this. I’m done. I need to step up, and care for C00lkidd.” 007n7’s voice held a tone of finality. “And if this has to be the end of our road, then so be it. After today, I’m going to put C00lkidd first.”
”S3v3n. Don’t d0 th1s t0 m3.” — “Seven. Don’t do this to me.”
”….pl34s4. I’m b3gg1ng yo2…” — “….please. I’m begging you.”
⌞ 𝜗𝜚 ⌝
It’s been 3 years since the incident. Since 007n7 cut contact with Noli. Since 007n7 burnt down Builder Brothers Pizza. Since everything. Apologies are in order for a good life… right?..
Elliot is now a slightly older man, he’s come to terms with everything and settled on the fact 007n7 is purely at fault. Blame resides with him. And that’s final.