Chapter Text
The apartment was a mess of half-finished scripts and empty burger wrappers. Noli was slumped on the couch, staring at the back of 007n7’s head as the other worked on his latest GUI. Every time 007n7 laughed at a successful line of code, Noli felt a familiar, annoying flutter in his chest. Just friends, he reminded himself. Partners in crime.
A sharp, rhythmic thumping hit the front door.
“Expecting someone?” Noli asked, not moving.
007n7 groaned, standing up. “Probably some admin trying to track my IP again.” He walked to the door and swung it open, ready to activate his GUI
only to freeze.
007n7: “Dude, there’s a fucking baby on the doorstep.”
Noli didn’t even look up, a smirk playing on his face. “Hahaha! Nice one seven, What, did the admins leave a ‘Gift of Damnation’ or something?”
007n7: “I’m serious. It’s red. And it’s staring at me.”
Noli rolled his eyes and finally stood up, wandering over to the door. “If this is another one of your clones trying to prank me, I’m going to-”
He stopped dead behind 007n7. Lying on the welcome mat was a small, bright red, fleshy infant. It didn't have a diaper; it had "TEAM C00LKIDD JOIN TODAY!" stamped across its tiny chest in Comic Sans, it had little red devil horns and a red devil tail
noli: “...WHAT!?”
The baby looked up at them both. Its beady black eyes scanned 007n7 with something like recognition, then shifted to Noli. Instantly, the child’s face twisted into a grotesque, toothy snarl.
007n7: “Aww, look! He likes me! He’s reaching for my Thomas shirt.”
Noli: “He’s literally growling at me, 7. It sounds like a animal with rabies.”
007n7: “Don't be dramatic, Noli. He probably just needs father figure. Or a co-parent.” He scooped the red child up, the baby immediately calming down and snuggling into 007n7’s blue shirt. “We’re keeping him.”
Noli felt his heart sink and soar at the same time. Co-parent? It was the closest he’d ever get to the 'family' he wanted, but looking at the way the baby was currently trying to bite his finger off, it was going to be a long night.