Work Text:
It was a hard time for me.
Constant jobs, especially tough ones.
Worst of all, I saw ITrapped was struggling as well.
He was struggling everyday, to be honest. But it was getting worse every day.
I saw him way too often in the casino bar. Way too often behind the casino, staring at the back wall.
I saw he was barely getting any sleep, indicated by the dark circles under his eyes.
I wanted to help him. I gave him as much as I could. I gave him what Mafioso couldn't because he was too obsessed with him to see his flaws.
Me and the other crew members tried to check up on him regularly. To make sure he still cares about himself. If we didn't, who knows what would happen.
...
December __th, 2025
Itrapped didn't reply to me for the past few days. He didn't reply to anyone.
I was sitting in the main room of our hideout, leaned against the couch, staring at the ceiling. My hat was laying by my side. I was worried.
I took my phone and after a moment of staring at the screen, I decided to text Itrapped again.
C: Hey ITrapped, what's going on? You've been ignoring us for the past few days...
I locked the phone and stared at it for a moment. Hoping he will respond immediately. 'Maybe he's still asleep. He has a tendency to sleep late' – I thought.
"Hey Cons"
I got startled by Soldier's voice and jumped a little
"Oh! Uh– what is it?" I asked grabbing my hat and putting it on
"The boss calls us" the man replied leaning against the doorframe, swinging his crowbar carelessly
"Alright, 'm coming." I replied standing up
Soldier turned around and went through the door to Mafioso's office. I stretched and soon followed.
The office was dark, the only source of light being a lamp on the big desk. Behind it sat Mafioso, a cigarette in hand, while he stared down, his other hand's fingers clenched around the edge of the desk. His black rabbit ears tworched at thw lightest sound. He looked...concerned.
I joined my crewmates, waiting for him to speak up.
"Mission report?" he started quietly
Caporeigme stepped out of the line
"The target refused to pay, so we interrogated them and after some convincing, they paid half of it and promised to pay the rest by the end of the next week." he reported, his tone reserved and emotionless
"Good. If they don't, I want them dead. No more petty promises" Mafioso growled
Caporeigme nodded and stepped back into the line. We knew it wasn't all he wanted. We waited.
Mafioso took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled slowly, apparwntly gathering hus thoughts.
"What about Icarus?" he asked looking up at us, his eyes gleaming slightly in the dim light.
We all exchanged glances. I bit my lip. I caught others' expecting gazes. I sighed quietly and stepped forward looking at the boss.
"He hasn't responded to any messages or calls for the past few days. We were planning to visit him later today." I said slowly
"Why didn't you do it earlier" he asked looking straight at me
"We didn't have time." I replied quietly
He stared at me for a few more moments. Finally, he sighed defeated.
"Do it now. Dismissed." he mumbled
We nodded slowly and turned around walking our one by one. I felt a slight relief that I could finally see him.
–––
We were driving through the town slowly. I was leaned against the window, trying to not overthink it. I took out my phone. Still no response from Itrapped. I clenched on the favric of my pants.
I unlocked the phone and ppened his contact. My hand lingered over the call button. After a while of consideration, I pressed it and raised the phone to my ear.
...
....
No response.
'His phone is off?'
I decided to text him
C: Itrapped...please give me a sign you're alright
C: We're all worried
I put the phone down with a sigh. As I looked out the window, I saw a white mansion appear.
–––
The door was open.
Weird.
He never left it open.
Maybe he invited someone over? And forgot about it?
That would be nice to know.
But rather not possible.
"Itrapped?" Caporeigme called out
No response.
'He's probably still asleep...and his phone is dead...yeah that must be it...' I thought to myself, trying to not overthink too much.
I mean, he was in a bad mental state. But I surely would notice if he was planning something, right?
...
Or not.
I shook the thought away quickly. I'm sure hes fine. Just still sleeping.
"I'll go check upstairs" I muttered and without waiting any moment longer I went up the stairs.
I first went towards the bedroom. My hand hovered over the door handle before I finally opened it quietly. I peeked inside and...
The covers were a mess. He wasn't there.
I felt a sudden lump in my throat. I opened the door wide and looked around. It was empty. No ice crown lying around, no coat thrown on the bed, no sword hung on the wall, nothing.
Then I noticed a small red scarf. It was laying on the night stand. I walked up to it slowly and raised the scarf. It was soft and light. Silk perhaps? Doesnt matter.
It was his. He got it from Chance as a gift.
...
It was cold. It looked perfect. Untouched. Not a single crease. Like...
...like he wasnt wearing it for a long time.
My gaze shifted for a second and I saw something else on the nightstand, previously covered by the scarf.
It was a photo frame. A photo of him and Chance, presumably on some Christmas.
Glass of the frame was cracked. It looked like someone dropped it.
There was also a note stuck underneath it. I supposed it was from Chance, since the bit of text I spotted didn't look like ITrapped's handwriting. I decided to not read it. It would only hurt, being reminded he loved someone even more. That I was just a replacement.
I put the scarf back from where I took it, covering the photo, then left the bedroom.
'Maybe he's in the–'
"Guys...I found something" Contractee shouted suddenly
I quickly went downstairs when I heard it, almost making my hat fall off.
The others were already standing there around Contractee, holding a crumpled piece of paper. It looked like it was torn out straight from a notebook.
"What is that?" I asked quietly walking up to them.
"Read it yourself" the young man mumbled handing him the paper
I grabbed the paper in my hand and I almost immediately felt everything around me fall apart.
I think I'm starting to go crazy. I can't even function normally anymore. I see them in everything. Sometimes I swear I can feel their touch, hear their voice. Calling me. To the other side. Reminding me I took their gun.
Why did I do it though? Why did I take it in the first place? I knew damn well they'd prefer to take it to the grave with themself. But I still took it. Why?
More importantly, should I. Should I do it. Living without them is hard and I can't stop thinking about them. About their warmth. About everything they gave me. I miss them so much. Even though I'm trying to move on, forget about them, distarct myself from them, fuck it I try replacing them, that's what I'm doing. I'm such a bad
The text suddenly ended. There was nothing on the other page.
To me it looked like a diary entry.
But also...
I could feel tears gathering in my eyes. He was struggling even more than I thought. But he didn't ask for help.
Why? Why didn't he? I would help him. I would help him get over it. He could get better. But he didn't.
I stared at the note for a moment longer.
Then my hands started shaking.
He had a gun.
He had a gun.
He had a–
"Good Telamon" I whispered, my voice strangled as I looked up at the others "We need to find him. Now."
They knew it already.
"We searched through the whole house already. No trace." Soldier replied, his voice unusually quiet
Then a thought appeared in my mind.
"The garden. We didn't check the garden." I murmured
"Why would he..." Contractee started
"He really cares about it. He can spend hours there even in the cold." I replied, already going towards the outside.
They didn't ask any more questions and followed me.
–––
At first, the garden looked normal. Most of the flowers covered with snow, singular branches had icicles hanging from them. A rowan bush was standing out, with it's red berries.
If he wasn't there, I had no idea where else could he go.
I stared around the garden, thinking.
Then something gleamed in the snow. Not like the snow. It was brighter. I locked my gaze there and stared at the place near the bush, slowly going up to it.
Then something else gleamed. The gleam wasn't as bright.
Then something else.
Something red.
I froze.
No.
No, no, no...
I started to go faster.
"No, no, no, no..." I repeated subconsciously as I spotted more red under the snow.
I started to spot a silhouette under the snow. Tears started to trail down my face.
My legs started to give out. I dropped on my knees onto the snow and started digging through it. An unpleasant smell hit my nose.
Then I spotted something under the snow. A fur coat.
"No." I whispered
Then started digging through the snow more erratically. My fingers were wet and freezing but I didn't care. I felt the others around me.
"Help me dig him up." I said through gritted teeth, not stopping
"Cons..." Contractee started
Then I saw a strand of golden hair. Completely wet and frozen. I let out a quiet sob. My hands started to look for his shoulders through the snow. Then I pulled him sharply with struggle.
And I immediately felt the urge to vomit.
"Oh lord" Caporeigme whispered
I was speechless. I felt tears going down my face but I couldn't move. My gaze was stuck on ITrapped's face.
Half of it was gone.
It was just tissues and bones. One of his eyes gone.
The one left was dark and dull, pain and sorrow visible on his face.
In the corner of my eye I could see the ice crown lying in the snow, its' front broken.
I raised a shaky hand to his face, the other hand still holding him by the shoulder. His cheek was cold as I placed my palm against it
"Oh Icarus..." I whispered, my voice thight
Then I bursted into tears. My hand dropped to his back as I pulled his body close, hiding my face in the crook of his neck. Tears felt down my face as I sobbed loudly, repeating apologies like a mantra.
I felt Soldier's rough hand placed on my shoulder and grabbing it as a reassuring gesture. I heard Contractee take of his hat and whisper something, a prayer probably. Caporeigme stayed quiet.
I was shaking a lot, my grip on ITrapped's body was tight, like it could disappear any moment.
I could've prevented it. Talk him out of it. Help him.
But I couldn't. Because of work.
How ironic.
After a longer moment, I started to calm down.
I slowly loosened my grip, leaning back but cupping his face once again.
"I think I know why he did it here" Consigliere suddenly muttered "Look"
I slowly turned around to see a stone tablet covered in snow. On it, jagged letters were carved out.
CHANCE
1998 – 2023
Oh.
Oh.
Oh gods.
I stared blankly at the tablet for a moment.
"Bury him here" I mumbled
"...You sure?" Soldier asked with concern
"Yes. It would be easier to explain we decided to bury him immediately. At least he wouldn't ask how he got that...wound. He would get mad." I replied
"Fair point" Consigliere muttered going up to the shed in the other side of the garden.
–––
It took us some time, but we managed to bury him. With his sword and crown. In the process we accidentally uncovered Chance's body a little. It stinked. A lot. It must had laid there for a while.
When it was done I stood over the grave for a moment more.
"I'm sorry Itrapped." I muttered "I wish I could come earlier. Maybe this wouldn't happen then."
Then I turned around to go to the car where the others were already waiting.
The place now looked almost the same as when we came here.
Although, there was a small change on the stone tablet.
Specifically, a second name under Chance's.
ITRAPPED
1996 – 2025
The stone was soon covered by the snow.