Work Text:
Builderman bit down on the end of his pen, eyebrows furrowing as he pondered.
A laughing huff of air came from the deity in front of him, an upcurved smile on his lips. “Thinking hard, aren't you?” Telamon snickered, his voice testing Builderman.
They sat in Builderman's office. Builderman opted to sit on his own spinney chair with his feet propped up on his desk that Telamon sat on, his heel pressing against the deity's thigh.
The sun was setting, the colours fading from a velvet red into a deep ember purple adding a red-purpley hue to the room. Otherwise from the sun's setting rays, the room was otherwise dark. Shadows prickled the room as they dared to envelope the whole room.
Rather than continuing to do their work, the two buddies decided to have a little deep dive of each other. It wasn't anything serious– they just asked each other questions. Stupid ones like ‘if you wanted the grass to be another colour, what would you want it to be?’ (asked by Telamon). But also deep ones like ‘what is the biggest sacrifice someone could do for you?’ (asked by Builderman).
It was random and genuinely so out of pocket for them, but, when left with an empty building and boredom, anything could happen.
So now here they were, Builderman’s eyes glancing around the room, hoping to find some form of inspiration for the deep question he wanted to ask to combat Telamon’s deep question previously.
Builderman felt Telamon’s eyes on him.
“Shaddup,” Builderman mumbled under his breath, his face not making a reaction.
“I said nothing!” Telamon cackled, a grin plastered on his face.
“Hm.” Builderman responded, not paying any attention. “‘m thinkin’.”
“Builderman, just ask a normal one! It'll take you until the end of the world to finally make one up!” Telamon advised, it being a half joke.
Telamon wanted Builderman to ask a normal one; what if it was some really really deep one?! But well, the deity would be lying if he said he didn't like seeing Builderman like this. Eyebrows furrowed, lips pursed, hands fidgeting, eyes circling around the room– focused. And if seeing Builderman like this potentially made him spill a secret or two, Telamon would say it was worth it.
The atmosphere around them was playful and joking, but of course, Builderman was a sight inescapable.
Would Builderman notice the slight shade change in the deity's face?
“GOT IT” Builderman’s feet fell to the floor, as a wide grin grew on his face in a matter of milliseconds. His hands gripped the side of his chair, his cheery eyes glancing at Telamon’s, despite the shadow.
“I'm intrigued,” Telamon teased, the words rolling off his tongue as he prepared himself.
🪡“`¡-*‹—‹🐦›—›*-¡`”🪡
Telamon sat outside on one of the fields in front of the HQ. It was a shining day. The sky was a bright blue colour, its colour seeming like something out of a childhood memory. Clouds were scattered and sprinkled around the sky, dancing as they floated around.
Other robloxians sat on the fields, busy in their own world, all connected by spec of land in the universe.
It was beautiful, really. If you thought about it enough.
Everyone enveloped in their own world, their own struggles, their own excitements, and the most interesting of all..
Their experiences.
That's what Telamon liked to think. Even as a god, Telamon would never experience those people's experiences. That's what really separated them.
Because Telamon wouldn't experience their life, and they wouldn't experience his.
They were like the clouds, prancing around the sky together. Maybe they'd never see each other ever again. Maybe they would. But that cloud that looks like Builderman's hat would never manage to feel or see everything that that cloud that looked like his own perched wings did.
Even though circled each other,
It wasn't likely they'd connect– become one.
Not likely
Right?
Telamon laid his back down, fully taking in the sight in front of him as he laid on his feathered wings.
“Ain't that pretty?” Builderman remarked from beside him, suddenly appearing there with his head tilted to the sky.
Telamon’s shadowed eyes flickered over to Builderman, who just sat down beside him. “Hm.. I was under the impression you weren't attending,” Telamon said, feeling a gentle up lift of his cheek.
“Yeah, but seeing ya’ alone.. Err, those papers could wait a few.”
Telamon responded with a laugh, his chest rising up and down.
“sight’s nice, ain't it?” Builderman brought up again, this time adjusting his body to mirror Telamon’s.
“Hm, isn't it always?” Telamon said, his eyes locked on Builderman's face.
The slight droop of the top of his nose before continuing as a straight line until the end, the comfortably hung grey-blue eyes that had a faint reflection of the skies, the faint stubble he had, the slight up-curve of his lips, and the uplift of his relaxed eyebrows was nothing but captivating for the deity’s eyes.
The deity of whom had seen more than a lifetime of adventures, more than the skies could see, couldn't get tired of the same face he saw everyday.
That was when the ‘stomach bugs’ came. But, they weren't bugs. Well, not bugs– more like little bees, with their buzzing being the gentle hum of contentment. Their wings flapping being the flutter and swirling of his chest. And Telamon imagined there'd be so much swirling in his stomach, that they'd have to just buzz on the spot, giving Telamon that fulfilling feeling.
That was 18 months ago.
🪡“`¡-*‹—‹🐦›—›*-¡`”🪡
He leaned forward, his blood rushing to his face as he leaned his head forward, practically toying with Builderman. “I waited so long, it better be good,” Telamon whispered, his lips exaggerating each word as they quietly left his lips. A grin formed.
Builderman leaned forward. His mouth just a bit open, the corners of his mouth tilting up. Oh, Builderman was more than ready to one-up Telamon.
Telamon could feel Builderman’s warm breath. He could see everything. The faint stubble, the glow in his eyes despite the barely glowing sun, the smell of his usual self - oh how Telamon loved it - and the very very very faint darker hue that plagued his cheeks, crossing his nose like a bridge.
Wait.
‘very very very faint darker hue’?
“Sorry, I kept ya’ waitin’,” Builderman interrupted the deity’s train of thought, the faint sentence sending a rush of crawling (in a good way?) ladybugs around his back before they began circling around his wings, before finally dissolving. Was it hot in here?
Telamon hummed, a slow nod of his head urged Builderman to cut the suspense.
“What means the world to you?”
“That's.. Now that's interesting, my dearest,” Telamon muttered from beneath his breath, his head snapping back in thought.
“Mhm. Good, ain't it?”
“Hm.”
What meant the world to Telamon?
Experience made up the world, Telamon would say. But, that wasn't what the world meant.
‘meaning the world’ was a robloxian phrase, if Telamon was in check. Something along the lines of ‘that meant the world to me’ to show sentimental or personal value.
Everyone's interpretation and feeling of ‘the world’ was different. This wasn't a multi-answer question.
It wasn't a question where there was one right answer. Technically, anything could be right.
‘my wings mean the world to me’ Telamon could say that, but if he were to lose his wings?
He would care of course, but he'd keep living.
The HQ?
no, no that actually wasn't anywhere near his world.
Would this speck in the universe count?
But, according to the human saying..
It wouldn't.
This is just a world. Not Telamon’s. Not anyone's to claim, really.
Well, it was one that people thrived on. One that people took shelter in. One that people called ‘home’. (but, apparently that word as well held some deeper meaning?)
This world is a speck in the universe, it was how Telamon thought it of.
If something ‘meaning the world’ was something that small,
Did it really mean anything at all?
🪡“`¡-*‹—‹🐦›—›*-¡`”🪡
The sun was far beyond its setting, the HQ being otherwise dark than the moon's light shining through the halls.
Telamon heard a faint noise.
He stopped in his tracks, turning a silent heel as he strided closer to the sound.
Low and behold, Builderman's office.
Telamon took a breath in and pushed the door open with his clawed hands as silent as he could manage.
And there slept his companion.
Builderman.
Telamon scoffed, despite there being a smile placed on his lips. Builderman promised to go home hours previously.
But, nevertheless, there Builderman sat, his head resting against his arms as they slouched on his messed up desk. The noise came from the faint snoring escaping Builderman’s mouth, it opening with every exhale.
Telamon’s hand trailed the door as he took careful steps inside. He walked slowly towards Builderman, taking in this god-kissed sight.
Telamon felt that buzzing swirling in his stomach, as well, he felt as if his heart was being squeezed. Like some inner hand clutched it and decided to silence its beating.
Telamon leaned against the free wall on Builderman’s left, not daring to do anything yet. He needed to remember this sight. Detail. By. Detail.
His grey hair, ruffled and messed up. It was clear that Builderman tried to stay awake, based on the few hairs sticking extra up on the sides of his head. Oh, how he wished he came in and just let Builderman sleep in his arms, wrapped in his wings as they held each other.
The short sleeve white tee Builderman always wore, always perfect sized for him. Sometimes, Telamon could see a small part of Builderman’s stomach, a small extra curve of his stomach and small darker grey lines that barely prickled up across the ends of his stomach, predominantly at his sides, and today was one of those days.
It made the bees buzz even faster.
Builderman's legs hung straight, resting with his legs stretched out forward, creeping under the desk in those dark blue jeans that was nothing short of iconic.
The way his back gently lifted up and down, moving with each and every breath the sleeping man took.
His eyebrows weren't furrowed like they usually were when Builderman was asleep or even when he would try to do so.
No, Builderman’s face was calmed, like it yearned for this. And, he deserved it.
Builderman deserved the world.
🪡“`¡-*‹—‹🐦›—›*-¡`”🪡
That was it.
‘meaning the world’ meant what meant the most to you, sentimental or personal value.
And for Telamon,
Builderman was what meant the most– sentimentally and personally.
Builderman meant the most, no matter the situation.
Builderman meant the world to Telamon.
He wasn't just a speck in the universe– never could be even if the worst happened. Builderman was his sun. He'd never be something like just a speck, let alone just a moon.
Builderman was his closest companion.
🪡“`¡-*‹—‹🐦›—›*-¡`”🪡
“It's you.” Telamon answered with a whisper, as if stunned himself.
Builderman’s eyebrows shot up, confusion plastered across his whole body. His hands dropped into his lap and his mouth agape. “What was it?”
“It's you,” Telamon repeated, his eyes finally meeting Builderman’s.
“W-Whaddya mean?” Builderman chuckled, his eyes diverting away.
There.
There it was again.
That shade. Except, it seemed almost like a darker shade. Instead of the faint one Telamon spotted earlier.
“It's logical,” Telamon begins with a lie. Well, not that unlogical. Builderman was his closest companion, but as well, if was - if not - purely passionate. He loved Builderman, their companionship was everything to the deity. “You are my closest companion after all. And I enjoy your presence more than anything,”
“So ‘m yer world?” Builderman asked, his eyes finally returning to meet Telamon’s.
“Accordingly.” Telamon responded, a nervous smile making it's way to his mouth.
Builderman’s eyebrows relaxed. He stood up, and took a step closer to Telamon.
🪡“`¡-*‹—‹🐦›—›*-¡`”🪡
Builderman sighed, his brain aching due to the work on his hands, the words blending and barely making sense at this point of the day.
Well it was still sunrise..
But it was far too early for Builderman.
He placed down the files in hand, leaving it on the mess off his desk.
He turned his head around, his eyes glancing at the fields and the sun's slow rise as it floated higher and higher into the atmosphere, adding a brighter yellow hue fading into the scarlet reds that faded into the indigo that marked the top of the sky.
In the skies he vaguely saw a familiar figure. Their wings stretching longer than the person's length as they soared in the sky like a bird.
Ah.
Telamon!
Builderman felt a slight boost in his mood and - not that he initially noticed it - a faint tug at the corners of his lips, forcing his neutral frown to be uplifted.
Telamon always brought the mood with him, despite trying to seem cold.
He wasn't ever cold– Builderman decided then that Telamon couldn't ever properly be ‘cold’.
Telamon was everything.
A god, his best friend, his partner (work-related, yet when it came the right time, Telamon was either there, or acted the way Builderman needed.
If he was upset, Telamon would speak softer, his barely visible yet mesmerising eyes would glance his way when in the same room and it was noticeable that Builderman was stressed.
Or when he was happy, Telamon would join in the victory or just be cheerful.
Or and if when he had a long day, Telamon would come in and just hold him. Their bodies pressed against each other and Builderman’s body would slowly but surely relax.
Sometimes, if he fell asleep at work, he would wake up with his jacket draped over his back. One he definitely didn't put there.
Sometimes he wished it was Telamon.
Builderman cared for Telamon.
Cherished Telamon
Builderman felt his body grow hotter, especially around his ears as he continued to stare at Telamon, whooping around in the air with that smirk on his face Builderman always adored.
Maybe it was weird Builderman wanted to press his lips against Telamon’s.
Not as the deity everyone knew him as, but as his Telamon.
🪡“`¡-*‹—‹🐦›—›*-¡`”🪡
Builderman pressed his palms on the table, a hand at both sides of Telamon– pinning him down to the table, almost.
“What about unlogically?” He asked, his eyes drifting around the god in front as they rose up to finally meet his shadow-covered eyes.
“What?” Telamon stammered.
Builderman noticed the crescent moon forming at Telamon’s eyebrows.
It was hot in there.
So hot.
If Telamon didn't have the bees flying in his stomach, or the new drumming of a beat at his spine, Telamon would just toy back.
But, alas, it was Builderman’s turn after toying with him when he wanted to think.
And..
Telamon didn't mind seeing this.
He kind of enjoyed it.
Oh screw it, he dreamed of it.
“Unlogically, what means the world to you?” Builderman repeated, his face leaning in closer, before stopping a breath away from Telamon’s face. He silently hoped that Telamon would say his name again.
He could feel the light brushing of Telamon’s breathing, a hot wave, rather than his usual neutral temperature air.
Telamon opened his lips, before shutting them. He knew the answer, but, when his chest was about to burst open with bees, he couldn't speak.
He cleared his throat, his eyes fighting to escape Builderman’s lips.
“Unlogically,” Telamon began with a soft whisper.
“It's still you.”
Builderman took a deep breath in, his eyebrows flowing higher and higher in a slow but still shocked understanding.
Fuck, he loved this god.
“Mhm.” Builderman hummed, liking the feeling of that answer in his ears, travelling to his chest and landing straight in his heart he swore he had given up on. Oh who was he fooling– he gave up ‘giving up’ months ago. “Y’know, f’r a god,” Builderman began, ready to tease him. “I might think ya’... love me or somethin’,” Builderman chuckled, his face tilting to his right as he furrowed his eyebrows with a shit eating grin that barely showed.
Love.
Telamon’s smile faltered just a crack. Love– was that what he was feeling?
The bees? The drumming? The grip on his heart?
Was that love?
He heard that word a few times before. It was another one of those sentimental feelings. But it was more passionate than any.
To love someone was to want to be there for them, ups and downs,
To want to hold them,
To want to be everything with them
To want to stay with them forever
To want to kiss them
To want to grow old together
To want to be with them.
Or as Telamon hears.
Telamon didn't decide to worry about it, because if love was meant to be as passionate, as ‘embarrassing’, as heartfelt, as loving as the robloxians’ said,
Then this was definitely love.
🪡“`¡-*‹—‹🐦›—›*-¡`”🪡
“Maybe I do,” Telamon mumbled, his eyelids relaxing over his eyes. A clawed finger touched the corner of Builderman's jaw, a sharp inhale coming from the man in front, a gentle exhale leaving the Builder’s mouth.
Builderman only hummed, his eye melting to a close as Telamon’s finger trailed carefully towards Builderman chin with a soft touch. Telamon felt a faint tug at the corners of his lips– Builderman’s face was warm.
“If I do?” Builderman asked, his voice low. Maybe if Telamon’s answer was bad, Builderman would say he said nothing. But if he liked Telamon’s answer..
Sparks would ignite.
Maybe those bells would play and the gates would open. Not to claim them after death, but rather, tell them that ‘they made it’.
But, that’s if.
“If you did.. Then I’d say it back.” Telamon said, his pupils hanging low as they stared intensely at Builderman’s lips.
(holy drag AUGH)
Telamon’s clawed hand held Builderman’s chin with two fingers, the very very very faint tickle of a leftover stubble prickled at Telamon’s claws.
A silence fell over the pair, the air loaded and hot. The room was definitely a few degrees higher. And it was most certainly not due to the fact that Telamon and Builderman were absorbed with each other.
Of course not.
Builderman’s mouth opened before words spilled out like a singer performing something for the millionth time;
“I love you, Telamon.”
A smile grew on Telamon’s lips. “I love you more, my dearest, Builderman.”
The drumming had come back. Well, it was an exhilarating feeling. Those bees in his stomach became something more.. Beautiful. Their small wings no longer being clear, but instead morphing into the beautiful wings owned by a butterfly.
Maybe the bees were always just butterflies– Butterflies couldn’t even see their own beauty, so it could be easily mistaken for something.. Casual.
“May I?” Telamon’s eyes drifted to Builderman’s lips before flicking back up to meet the beautiful grey-blue pupils Builderman had.
“I ain’t ever gon’ say no to a god,”
“Certainly not to a god that’s all yours, hm?” Telamon remarked with a whisper, his head inching closer as the words faded lower and lower, until their lips began to brush.
Telamon tilted his head, his eyes fluttering to a close as he pressed his left palm to Builderman’s cheek. It was softer than usual, but Telamon held no complaints.
“Are you ready, my dearest?” Telamon checked again, his voice being barely audible.
“Just kiss me already,” Builderman ushered him, his eyelids shutting as he waited for the deity to make his move.
Telamon pressed their lips together with a gentle click.
Builderman’s hands trailed its way to Telamon’s thighs, his hands pressing against it as he tried to lean in closer.
Telamon opened his mouth slightly, tasting the sudden flavour of the man before him.
It was everything he wanted.
Builderman tasted like his usual coffee, infused with both vanilla ice-cream and mint-ice cream somehow all at once.
Telamon decided from then and there on,
He wanted to be there for Builderman, all the time.
He wanted to be the one to hold him,
He wanted to be the one to be and do everything with Builderman.
He wanted to stay forever bonded and united with Builderman.
He wanted to kiss him, forever and everywhere.
He wanted to grow old with Builderman, still loving every detail he noticed
He wanted to be with Builderman.
Forever and ever.
