Chapter Text
It was awkward, to say the least. Despite the strong stench of alcohol in the air, and mounds of takeout boxes laying out on the coffee table, it was silent.
Too silent.
Like, you could hear a clock ticking type of silence.
The endless noise from the city surrounding didn't seem to reach the penthouse at the moment, and the living room was bathed in moonlight, given the hour.
A hush had fallen over the penthouse ever since the trio had arrived back home hours prior. That was hours spent in the living room, staring one another down.
It was unusual for them. Usually, they'd be laughing their asses off, especially with alcohol coursing through their systems, like they had done years ago.
But no. Silence is the only thing that could even begin to describe Caleb244 and Ellernate's emotions right now.
iTrapped, after a while, had started looking into his glass, the whiskey having left a bitter taste on his tongue.
He could feel their eyes trained on him still, as if trying to kill him with just a look. Moreso one than the other.
"..So," iTrapped began, at last, glancing up at the other two men. "How are we feeli—"
"Two and a half years, Icarus. Two and a half fucking years for you to finally get your ass up and get our asses out?!" Ellernate rose from his spot on the sofa, drink still in hand as he pointed an accusing finger at the other man.
He winced at the use of his real name; suppose it had been a while since he hadn't gone by iTrapped. It'd been a while since he had heard it spoken so loudly.
"You couldn't even have bothered to turn yourself in, come to the Banlands with us! You chickened out after a mistake that you had made!! Coulda at least owned up ta' it?! Do you know how horrible that god forsaken place is?!?"
"Look, I said I'm sorry!! I would've gotten you out sooner but--" iTrapped protested, immediately being cut off by the other man.
"But what?! You were too busy frolicking around, living your best life, while your best friends— fuck that— EX-best friends are in the Banlands?!" Ellernate continued, dark red eyes boring into the icy ones of iTrapped's.
"It was hard, Nate, all the planning the actual execution of the plan it takes time! You would've done the same, made sure it didn't end up getting you caught, or your friends being terminated!!!"
The other man stared at him, a look of pure disbelief painted onto his face, and iTrapped couldn't help but feel guilty.
It could have been a faster rescue mission, he knew that.
He knew that if it weren't for his emotions having gotten in the way, he could've completed the task quicker. If it hadn't been for that stupid gambler—
...
The exploiter cut that particular train of thought off immediately. Best not think of them. They were long gone, not of use anymore.
iTrapped refocused on the conversation (which was more like a screaming match, if you asked him), when Ellernate grabbed him by the front of his shirt, glaring down at him.
"Are you even listening?! Icarus this is important, dear Telamon, I could kill you right here— you fucking deserve it!!"
That's when Caleb finally stepped in, grabbing Ellernate by the back of his t-shirt and pushing him back into his seat on the couch. "You two need to cut it out, jeez, you're gonna tear each other's throats out at this rate!!"
Caleb, despite his usual rashness, had always been good at breaking up the two's fights, a sensible head whenever they disagreed.
...Especially when he was drunk, for whatever reason. Alcohol had always tended to bring out the softer side to the domino-crowned man.
He couldn't help but admit he admired that quality in his friend, staying level-headed during dire situations, as he'd seen many times over, during Team Gliza's prime.
Icarus wished he could see it more often, but he highly doubted he would anymore, given their current predicament.
"I get that Icarus is at fault here, but don't you think you could give him a bit of grace? He got us out, for fucks sake!" Caleb continued, placing a hand on their shoulder.
"Well, he put us in, so I think that cancels it out!!!" Ellernate's gaze flitted from Caleb to iTrapped and back again, narrowing. "Y'know what? I'm going to bed, good night, and fuck you both."
Ellernate stalked off, smacking away Caleb's hand, leaving the pair watch his shaggy black hair disappear into the darkness and down the hall.
Caleb sighed, hearing their door get slammed closed, probably loud enough for the whole housing complex to hear. He took a sip from his glass, studying iTrapped for a moment, before speaking.
"Sorry about him, I think he's just overwhelmed with all the shit about getting out of the prison, and whatnot."
"It's fine," iTrapped answered, drumming his fingers along the side of his cup. "I guess I'd feel the same in his position."
His words hovered in the air for a moment, the house quiet again.
"I know I'm bad at complimenting and allat jazz... but I'm grateful you got us out. Nate probably feels the same here," Caleb added, "Now, that doesn't mean either of us forgive you, but don't be too hard on yourself, 'kay?"
"Thanks." He nodded, though some part of him lit up at hearing the comment.
At least one of them, wasn't completely off the walls mad at him. He didn't let it show on his face, though, remaining neutral and composed.
Old habits die hard, he supposed.
"I'm gonna head to bed, you should too. Have no idea what Nate and the others have in store for tomorrow." And with that, Caleb set his drink down on the coffee table, heading down the hall to his respective room.
Right.
The others.
iTrapped groaned, dragging a hand down his face. Johnathan, Twister, and Vilicus were being housed at LonelyTree's house, and Ellernate had wanted to have the whole team meet up once more, to discuss their plans for moving forward and whatnot.
iTrapped assumed that meant a meeting at the penthouse, since he knew Lonely wasn't too big of a fan with lots of people over at his house.
Which means they, more so just Icarus, had to clean the house, to at least be a smidge presentable.
He frowned, standing, stretching his sore joints as he rose.
As he moved to clean up the leftover takeout, he started to mull over the night in his head.
It had not quite gone as he wanted; he had wanted at least a bit of appreciation. But, instead, all he'd gotten since the duo had arrived back home was a hostile environment, in his own damn house.
They had been so nice, before everything happened, most arguments over silly things, things that had never mattered before.
But then May hit.
May 3rd, 2012.
He'd bitten off more than he could chew. More than his group combined could handle.
iTrapped still remembered that fury. The pure, unrestrained, fury, on Ellernate's face that night. The night that they'd heard about Icarus's 'little' stunt.
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"ICARUS. WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU DONE?!"
Ellernate seemingly towered over him, despite them both standing at about the same height, their dark eyes burning with anger beneath his hood, horns barely poking out from under. The setting sun coming through the window was not helping how terrifying he appeared in the moment.
Caleb stood next to him, arms crossed, face contorted with rage, "You can't just go around stealing that many fucking items?! AND SELLING THEM TOO!! You've probably pinged everyone on the fucking admin team with that stunt!!!"
"Look, look, I'm sorry, I just wanted to test a few things out!! I didn't mean to cause that much damage..." iTrapped muttered, refusing to meet his friends watchful, threatening, eyes.
"Test a few things?! Really?? Icarus, you're going to get us caught. They're probably approaching right fucking now, for all we know!! Just because you decided to be a dumbass and break into that many inventories!!!" Ellernate rambled on, Caleb nodding vigorously beside them.
"I fucking can't with you anymore, you.. you... TELAMON, I don't even know!!"
Nate stalked up, grabbing his jaw so they could look perfectly eye-to-eye.
"I want you out of our— Caleb and I's apartment," He corrected, "I better not see your sorry face until at least tomorrow fucking morning."
Caleb came up behind Icarus, grabbing him by the sleeve, opening the door, just to shove him out.
When he turned back, a plea rising in his throat, anything to defend himself, Ellernate just muttered, "Hope you're happy."
That's the last he heard, before the door was shut in his face, leaving him to find a place to stay for the night.
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He remembered how cold that night was. Despite having found refuge in LonelyTree's home, covered head to toe in an attempt to stop his shivering, he had still been cold.
He remembered coming back the next morning to find the place completely wrecked, notes torn to shreds and sprinkled across the small room, monitors smashed into bits and pieces.
He remembered not being able to believe it. His best friends, having escaped the admins thousands of times, finally getting caught. Caught over something that he did.
...
Icarus didn't remember when he started shaking.
He stood in the kitchen, an empty container still in hand, waiting to be disposed of, tears rolling down his cheeks silently.
His knees hit the floor, as he curled into himself, sobbing quietly, into the stilled penthouse, with mere remnants of those who'd been friends before.
Mourning those he'd lost. Those he'd possibly never get back. Those he wanted back so desperately.
The penthouse accepted his soft cries, though nothing moved to help.
Nothing moved to lend a helping hand.
Nothing.
Nothing again.
Maybe that was how the world wanted him to be.
Alone.