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“Wifies. This needs to stop.”
He slowly cocked his head and met Saps’ eyes, vacantly. “What does?”
The Director, as the world had come to know him, was no fool, he’d clawed his way to the top. He had outsmarted the trickiest of players, solved timeless mysteries and managed to make bending an all powerful dictator to his will look easy. This man could do anything he wanted, have anything he wanted and yet all he devoted his attention to was protecting someone who’d abandoned him without a second's thought.
Saparata clenched a fist, the muscle in his jaw ticking. “Your obsession. I've given everything for you and somehow still he matters more than me.” He stared at him, the betrayal still feeling ugly and raw. “Why is he so special?”
“He needs me to protect him.” Came the flat answer, everything about him was neutral. His face was blank, his eyes were dull, and he stood in the room like he was just another piece of furniture.
He was becoming less to give Parrot more.
“No he doesn’t. You yourself are the only threat to his life. He was doing perfectly fine up until you sent assassins after him! Why don’t you get it? It’s not that hard to understand!”
He took a slow breath, recollecting himself as he tried to find different words. The Director was a man who operated beneath logic. Parrot was the only exception to this way of being but Saparata was determined. If he could make him understand, maybe he could fix this.
“Everytime Parrot has come close to death it's been under your orders. Nothing on this server is more dangerous to him than you. I think it should be pretty damn clear by now that you are the only risk to his life.”
The Director didn’t blink, his purple irises boring into Saparata — trying to dissect him with a stare.
Why isn’t it sinking in? I’ve spelt it out so clearly.
“And like, how is this realistic?” Saps scoffed. “You’re gonna clip his wings and seal him in a prison with you. Really? For fuck’s sake he still thinks you’re dead!”
Why is he so rational about everything except him?
“You’ve pushed him to his limit, you’ve manipulated every person he’s interacted with in the past months. Wifies, Parrot will never forgive you. He’ll never understand. He’s not capable of being selfish like you and I are. All you’ve done for him has been a waste. I don’t even get it. Why are you still trying?”
Saparata was bringing up whatever might be able to get through to him but not a single thing was working. Wifies was destroying himself piece by piece to protect Parrot. Saps saw that he never slept and struggled to recall the last time he'd seen him eat. He spent hours at a time writing in a book, methodically planning out how to keep his best friend safe.
Saps knew why, he had heard the stories, he’d been there when the Director first made himself known to Ash. But knowing and understanding were two entirely different things.
At Wifies’ request, he had taken on the identity of the anonymous player, known as the Reaper. The Director’s infamous guard, his shadow who had a tendency to fiercely attack any fool who dared to get too close.
He was more than okay with the rapidly accumulating blood staining his soul as long as it was to further the Director’s schemes.
And throughout every moment, despite the risks and horrors, he’d stayed, because he wasn’t ParrotX2. He wasn’t some self righteous asshole, intent on being pure and selfless.
Saps was loyal to a fault, almost completely unquestioning of the Director with one sole exception. Him.
Parrot had brought their lives nothing but pain. And what made it all so much more ironic was that the two of them had never even met. They’d nearly encountered in the Farlands but the timing had been off. Still he knew nearly everything about the avian and was certain that none of this soul sucking plan was remotely worth it.
Saparata was done treating Wifies’ obsession as anything other than a delusional fantasy.
“He doesn’t need to understand.” The Director’s voice tore him free from his thoughts. ”And believe me it’s not a waste, after all he’s alive, isn't he? And when I put him in Paragon, he’ll come around.” The brunette’s lips curled gently. “He can only go so long before needing human connection and guess who’ll be waiting with open arms.” Saps’ blood boiled beneath his skin. Did he really not know how stupid he sounded?
The angel moved closer to Wifies, looking up at him and trying to find a single answer in the darkness of his eyes.
“Why. Does. He. Deserve. You.” Saps grit out.
“He’s my friend. My best friend.”
“And am I not? Have I not been? Do you not care about me?”
The Director smiled, his eyes remaining eerily vacant. “Of course I care about you.”
“But you care about Parrot more than me.”
“…”
Sharp teeth cut through his cheek and hot, salty blood pooled in his mouth. He swallowed it down straight faced.
This is bullshit. I’m gonna kill that bird.
He softened his entire demeanor, maybe this was petty, cruel or- actually he doesn’t care. If it took being a piece of shit to get through to Wifies then so be it.
“Wifies?” He whispered, voice soaked with concern.
“Yes Saps?”
“Is Parrot safe right now?”
The man’s brow twitched for a brief second. “Why are you asking?”
He resisted a laugh. Now he cares about the conversation.
“Because I’m worried about your poor little bird’s wellbeing.” He pitied, his hand softly lifted to caress the man’s cheek.
Cold, perfectly flawless skin, he was one of only two people alive who could dare to touch the Director and not be immediately killed — the other one didn’t know he was alive.
“Saparata.” His name fit so well in Wifies’ mouth, so perfectly pronounced. Although all it accomplished was making him angrier.
Saps would ensure the other avian never heard his name leave the Director’s lips. Parrot didn’t deserve the privilege.
The angel smiled sharply and lowered his hand to rest at the exposed base of the brunette’s throat.
“What? Are you concerned for him? Don’t you have tabs on him every second? Is he not as safe as you thought?”
“What are you planning.”
“Oh, Wifies,” the white haired man pouted, watching him through his lashes, "I'm just pointing out, because I care, Parrot, he could die at any moment.”
The angel’s thumb rubbed sweetly over the sturdy column of his throat, worshiping the skin of his Director.
“You wouldn’t.”
Saps’ let out a delighted laugh, “What makes you say that?"
His hand was callously ripped off of where it rested on the neck. “He’s mine.” Wifies glared. “You should know your place by now, Saparata.”
“I should know my place?” Saps giggled. He shook his head to himself, oh this was rich. This was some insane irony, it seemed that the Director had actually lost his mind. “I’m a little confused I guess.” He smiled up at Wifies, barely containing his laughter. “Can you clarify some things for me?”
The taller of the two narrowed his eyes, braced for Saps’ theatrics.
“Who is the person keeping your identity hidden?” The angel hummed, combing his pale hand through his free falling hair.
Wifies subtly tensed at the reminder.
“Who is the person funding your projects?”
“Who is the person killing the people who’ve been asking too many questions?”
“Who is the person who has stayed by your side since the start?”
Saps spun lightly on his feet, floating over to rest his chin on Wifies’ shoulder. He snaked his arms tightly around his back, holding the brunette to his chest.
“Because I know it isn’t him.” He whispered. “And I think you’ve grown far too comfortable with me being so obedient, Wifies.”
He let out a bright laugh, soaking up the warmth of their one sided embrace. He couldn’t remember the last time Wifies had let him hold him this close.
The angel closed his eyes, pained at the reminder of how wrong everything had gone. But Saps Saparata hadn’t gotten this far in life by mourning what he could’ve had. He’d gotten this sheer controlling grasp on the server through persevering.
So he gave himself five more seconds, breathing in the reminder of the man he used to have. The moment had ended, he carved his features into a sickening smile.
The angel released his hold and slipped away but not before placing a quick kiss to the back of his Director’s neck.
“I will kill him if you don’t give up on your fantasy of living with him in Paragon.” Saparata promised, breezily moving past him and throwing open a door to the balcony.
“He’s been far too much of a nuisance.” Saparata walked into the fresh air and let the door swing closed, leaving the other man to make the next move.
Saparata leaned against the balcony’s railing, picking at his nails absentmindedly. Out of the corner of his eye he watched the sunrise, warm and bright. He wondered if he’d actually have to go through with killing the bird. It might make Wifies realize Saps was all he could rely on. Or it could destroy what little of his sanity remained.
Saps sighed.
If only Wifies had never met Parrot. He needed to give up on his friend before it killed him.
His headwings shifted to cover his eyes. He hid himself, taking a moment to recenter. He was alone, he was okay and there was no need to lose control. Saps didn’t cry. He just breathed in the sharp air of a cold morning. It reminded him of Wifies.
The door swung open but he didn’t turn.
Couldn’t have given me two more minutes?
“Saps.” The Director said, voice collected and measured. He begrudgingly retracted his wings and let out a silent exhale.
“…”
“I’m sorry.” The Director slid his arms around Saps waist and stared until the white haired man met his eyes.
“Don’t bullshit me.” He muttered, leaning into the touch, knowing it was nothing more than a part of Wifies’ elaborate mind games.
“I do need you, you’ve been nothing but loyal, you are the sole reason this Director charade is possible.”
Saps frowned, any traces of his earlier amusement had long since faded.
“I care about you-“
“Yeah right.”
The man, almost imperceptibly, quirked his head in some emotion that Saps may have once deluded himself into believing was confusion. But it couldn’t be. The Director knew all, he saw all, predicted all.
“What do you mean?” The man holding him asked. “You’re the only person who cares for me, you’ve given up all you had in your old life for my sake.”
“I’m not hearing anything about how you feel.” Saps observed, closing his eyes as he melted further into the embrace.
“I was getting there-“
“Whatever you say.”
“I’m honestly puzzled by your devotion.”
You and me both.
“But I appreciate it. When we first met, I always figured you were weak.”
Saps’ eyes snapped open. “Yo what the fuck?” He watched the brunette clueless as to where he was going with this. There was no need to insult him?
“Shhh. But then you saved me.” Wifies consoled, gently tangling his fingers in Saps’s cascading hair.
I guess that's decent.
“Mhm.”
“If you hadn't killed those invis players, there's no way I'd be alive. And I know you had to leave the Farlands civ because of Flux but you made sure to reach out to me non-stop. I’m sorry about him by the way. It’s unfortunate.”
His throat tightened with regret, images of his old friend flickering in his mind. Flux’s appearance was fuzzied from the time he’d spent locked away in the recesses of Saps’ mind. He swallowed down the lump, blinking away the bitter memories. Nothing good had ever come from needlessly dwelling on tragedy.
“No point in thinking about him. But I shouldn’t have left,” Saps mumbled, mood severely mellowed, “I shouldn’t have left you.”
“You had every right,” he reassured, still running his fingers through his hair, ”but regardless, you gave me advice on how to apologize to Parrot and helped a lot in general.”
He glared at the horizon. That’d been a massive mistake on Saps’ part, he should’ve sabotaged their relationship the very first second he could. Maybe he could’ve even sold Parrot out to the mafia and gotten him killed.
“Then when we met back up you obviously had some … reservations about my plan but you stayed. The Reaper to my Director.” Saps could hear him smiling, Wifies had made their titles himself. He’d been bouncing off ideas of different names for Saps, some like ‘The Protector’ and ‘The Guardian’ but they’d felt too inaccurate. Saparata suggested some more ominous titles; he'd wanted a name that carried weight without being untrue. After some back and forth they settled on ‘The Reaper’. He’d laughed about the irony of an angel being called something so grim but regardless it felt right. And it wasn’t long before it was clear he earned the title. “It was shocking to realize that you actually care about me.” Wifies reminisced, his voice carrying fondness. “But over time, I found that you’d become someone I needed.”
Even if Saps couldn’t fully trust the words, they made him feel warm. It was nice to hear that he was more than a pawn in Wifies’ game of chess. Even if he was only a step above.
But there was always more with him. It couldn’t just be that Wifies cared about him.
“Wifies, I know where you’re going with this.” He admitted, disappointed to be ruining the moment on his own accord. “I know even after all of what you just said I can never compare to him.”
Ever so slightly the Director tightened his hold on the angel’s waist.
“Why are you being so difficult?”
His stomach dropped.
“Are you actually asking me that?” Saps asked, venom oozing out of the words, going rigid in Wifies’ arms as a small act of defiance.
“What- why do you want to jeopardize our plan, the months of work, everything?”
The angel turned so his back was up against the railing and he was facing Wifies. “Because I miss you, before your stupid power trip and manipulation arc.”
The Director frowned. “You miss a dead man. Wifies is gone.”
The shorter man rolled his eyes, irritation etched across his face. “God, what a stupid thing to say. Wifies is right in front of me, gaslighting himself into thinking the only way to save his friend is by stalking him and throwing him in a prison.”
“It’s not gaslighting.”
“And my name’s not Saparata.”
Saps watched the man in front of him try to mask his anger, his face was a controlled neutral but his vexation was seeping into the little micro movements he couldn’t suppress. His hands were twitching against Saps’ waist, barely tightening before he caught and corrected the movement. “Can you just understand?” The Director asked, lips drawn tight.
They had argued so much over this stupid bird. He just wanted Wifies to pick him over his friend who didn’t even care about him — at least not like Saps did. The angel shut his eyes, his sharp nails cutting into the skin of his palms.
“Wifies,” Saparata sighed, “if you can explain to me, and have it make sense then of course, but you have a habit of spewing incomprehensible bullshit when talking about that stupid good for nothing bird. But I don't know, maybe you'll say something rational, I’m all ears.”
“Saps.”
“I’m listening.”
“Imagine Parrot was me,” “-he’s not though.” “humor my hypothetical.” The lavender eyed man stared down at Saparata. “If I was helpless and very prone to senselessly risking my life, what would you do?”
“Let you get traumatized by a near death experience so you stop?” He shrugged, his head wings twitching.
“That didn’t work.”
“Okay, I guess I’ll just follow you and protect you with my pvp skills?”
“Not enough.”
The angel made a face. “You’re just saying that cuz you suck at fighting.”
“Not even you can fight off an army.”
It was clear what he was supposed to say. Unfortunately for him, Saps was a stubborn bastard.
“Fine. We fake our deaths and live together happily ever after. Good enough for you?”
The man inhaled, clearly disappointed. “But I’m too worried about others to do something as selfish as disappearing. What if someone needs my help or-“
“You aren't Parrot.” Saps snapped.
“I need you to imagine-”
“I need you to give me a reason why he matters enough to destroy yourself!” Saps’ wings puffed out in frustration, chest heaving. There was no plausible explanation for all this sacrifice, especially not for someone as pathetic as ParrotX2.
“He’s the purest person I know.” “Oh give me a fucking break!” “He’s the personification of heroism. He helps everyone before himself and most of all, Parrot is my best friend.”
“I swear to god.” Saps cursed under his breath. “He’s all you talk about, he’s all you think about. He’s literally everything to you. Do you even know what’d happen if the Director stopped meddling in the poor bird’s life?”
“I have plans, I’m keeping him safe, I can’t just stop.”
Saps grabbed Wifies’ hands, holding them tight. “Have you tried to stop?”
The Director went silent, regarding Saparata with a cold expression.
“No. That would risk everything.”
Saps rolled his eyes. “Can you literally just see how a week without your …” he made a gesture with his hand, trying to find words, “oh sue me directing, would go?”
“My plan-“
Saps groaned unhappily. “-your plan is stupid.”
“It’s not stupid if it’s keeping him alive!” Wifies shouted, pupils small as pinpricks. His hands were trembling against the angel’s own. Saps laced their fingers together and rubbed slow circles onto the brunette’s skin with his thumb.
“Alive,” the angel repeated, “yeah I guess but this is miserable for everyone. Hmm~ now that I think about it, a week’s too short.” Saparata continued. “Three is better. Three weeks no meddling, directing- oh interference, that’s a better word.”
“That’s actually insane of you to suggest. You know how easily people die without safety measures. Three weeks would be the death of him.”
Saps scowled. “I didn’t realize this was a suggestion.”
“What do-“
His hold on their hands turned bone crushing.
“The people you control, I control. I give them the orders you whisper in my ear.” His voice was low, shrouded in threat. “If I want him to die, he will. I have seven people on him right now, waiting. Wifies, this test run is happening or I give the order.”
“You’ve lost your-“
Saps cut him off. “He lives without you controlling everything or I will have him killed. This is a chance to see how safe he actually is. Parrot, as much as I hate him, isn’t an idiot. He can keep himself alive.”
Wifies stared at him, horrified. For all the complex obstacles he’d prepared to face, this was not one of them. The Director mask crumbled, finally, the real Wifies, his Wifies, was here.
Saps slightly softened, tamping down his bubbling frustration to watch Wifies’ distressed face.
“Humor me, do the three week trial and then if that really proves he’s helpless, I’ll back off.”
The brunette opened and shut his mouth repeatedly, at a clear loss for words. “If- Saps, if that happens-“
“He’ll be at risk, he might die, blah, blah, blah. Welcome to the real world. Literally everyone else lives without a safety net. Anyone could die whenever but you don’t see their friends trying to throw them in a prison.”
Wifies’s jaw clenched. “I know that. But would it be worth it for you to kill him?”
“Oh my god, yes!” Saps laughed. “He’s the source of all of our problems. It's simple logic, if he dies, everything is fixed.”
“If you kill him, I'll never be the same Wifies you fell in love with.”
The angel let out an exasperated sigh. “You literally just told me that the Wifies I fell in love with was dead. Try to be consistent."
“If he dies what do I have left?”
Saps’ chest tightened. Was he joking? That question was so absurdly stupid.
His headwings started to flap in agitation. “You have me.” The angel’s brows were pinched, eyes roving over Wifies like he’d been replaced with someone else. “I'm right in front of you. I love you and he barely gave a fuck about you when you were alive. Why are you so stubborn? Open your goddamn eyes for one second and tell me who’s actually here with you.”
“That’s- not, that’s not what I meant.”
An agitated buzz coursed through his body. “What did you mean then? That I’m not a person? That I’m not worth anything to you?” His teeth ground so hard his vision swam. “Are you admitting that you’ve been lying this whole time?”
“No, Saps,” Wifies tried to calm him, watching him like a stray kitten that didn’t trust the well meaning hand outstretched to pet its fur, “you’re misinterpreting. Parrot-“
The angel had been forcing himself to listen but the mere sound of Parrot’s name set him off. That man was like an infectious disease.
“No! You know what? I don't care!” Saps yelled. “This isn’t something we’re bargaining over! It’s not whether or not he should live, it’s whether or not I think there's a single benefit to him being alive.”
The white haired man pushed Wifies off of him and moved to the far side of the deck, overlooking the mountains. He pulled out his communicator and messaged the person he’d put in charge of this operation.
<saparata> Status?
<JumperWho> hes asleep inside of BAT hq
<JumperWho> in his bedroom
<saparata> be ready for the order
<saparata> have your team stationed near all possible exits
<JumperWho> got it
Wifies tried to grab the communicator out of his hand but he spun out of his grasp.
“What?” Saparata bit out.
“You can’t kill him.”
“I can’t?”
“You can’t.”
“Oh, I’m not so sure.” Saps mused, making a big show of starting to message Jumper.
“Okay, okay.” He frantically backpedaled, hands raised in surrender.
“Better.” Saps smiled cruelly. He clicked onto the most recent notification, a picture.
“So, what now, Director?” Wifies stayed silent, unresponsive as he stared at the picture on the communicator.
Parrot laid, fast asleep. He was visibly haggard, he’d lost several pounds, his wings were dirtied and the streaks in his hair had dulled to a muted shade. It was cathartic to watch people who’ve hurt so many people suffer. Although it was all the Director’s doing … he still found it slightly odd that Wifies was protecting the bird by ruining his life.
“Yeah he looks like shit.” Saps’ slipped the communicator away and twirled his hair around a finger. Wrapping and unwrapping it.
“I’ll-” Wifies ran a hand down his face, all the sleepless nights catching up to him at once. “I’ll try the week no interference."
“Three weeks.” Saps corrected.
“Two weeks.” The taller man bargained.
“I still don’t understand why you’re treating this like a deal. Three weeks or he’s dead.”
Wifies barely nodded.
“Hey,” the angel consoled, “it’ll all be okay.” He planted a quick peck to the man’s nose, feeling unbelievably relieved. He’d finally made progress. Maybe there was still hope for them.
“He has so many enemies though…” Wifies tried.
Oh my god. He scoffed, throwing his white hair over his shoulder. “The server didn’t collectively decide to give the title of ‘smartest player’ to a newborn. He can manage three weeks.”
“Parrot-“ Saps’ felt his face twitch. Why was it that that stupid bird couldn’t not be the topic of conversation?
“If you mention him again I’ll go with the other option.” He smiled sweetly.
Please let me kill him, please let me kill him, I hate that stupid fuckass bird so much. The world would be so much better without him.
“I’d hate you, I would never love you again if you killed him.” Wifies reminded, the bags beneath his pretty purple eyes looking heavier with each passing minute.
Despite the words, Saparata’s face split into a delighted smile. The stone cold, ruthless, notoriously feared Director had just admitted to loving him. He didn’t even seem aware of it.
“Then I’m glad we’re going with the three week plan.”
Saps released Wifies’ face and took a step back, admiring this beautifully crazy man. There was still a solid chance his darling was biding his time, ready to regain control of Parrot’s every move but it wouldn’t be that easy. Because the angel would skin that bird at the first chance.
He pulled Wifies down to his level, aligning their eyes.
“You look tired, sweetheart. Let’s go to bed.”
“Wait, are you gonna keep watching him? How do I know you won't kill him anyway?”
The angel tugged him closer, holding his perfect face in his hands. Wifies’ erratic breath tickling his headwings.
He was so ridiculous, did he genuinely believe Saps would ever lie to him? No, he’d never.
Wifies opened his mouth again. “How do I know you’re being honest-” Saps cut him off with the gentle press of his lips. He just wanted the argument to stop. He just wanted time to pause and for the world to go silent. He just wanted them, together and whole.
The taller man stilled in surprise, not reacting for a few more seconds while the angel brought them closer. Saps had craved this closeness since the first moment he’d gotten it. There’d never been a chance when they’d been planning Parrot’s captivity or when meeting Ash or when blackmailing or even when they’d been here alone. Wifies only ever had time for Parrot, it was a never-ending stream of hyper specific questions about what he’d do if he were Parrot or what flaws he saw in the plan or what would make Paragon better or the worst of all “Do you think he misses me?”.
It was never about them. Saps would have to force it to be.
He slid his fingers up and into the softness of Wifies’ hair.
His fingers tangled deep in the silky mass, tugging on a few strands — eliciting a quiet sound.
Wifies waited a second to kiss him back, seeming conflicted but despite their fight, his hands landed on the railing behind Saps, pinning him.
The angel smiled against his partner’s firm lips. Wifies pushed back assertively, cold and possessive. His darling’s kisses weren’t a worship, it was a claim, they took and they took but that was more than okay. He couldn’t feel the frigid wind anymore, there was nothing but hazy warmth, pulsing through him as Wifies moved further against Saps.
He sighed into the brunette’s mouth, he tightened his hold on the soft hair, using it to control his partner’s movements.
Wifies wasn’t Parrot’s best friend, he wasn’t his protector, he wasn’t Parrot’s anything. Wifies was his and his alone.
He harshly tugged the man closer, sinking his teeth into the saliva slicked lip pressed against his own. Blood spilled out the wound and into the angel’s own mouth.
Mine. Saps thought to himself, savouring the metallic taste.
Sufficiently satisfied with how this had all gone, he pulled out of the kiss. He watched with a smile, relishing the unapologetic way Wifies chased him. He halted the man with a finger to his lips.
“I’d never lie to you.” His voice was breathy and sincere. He watched Wifies, completely open and honest. The man above him intently stared at his lips, taking a second to remember to nod.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Saps furrowed his brow. “Just okay?”
“Three weeks of surveillance,” he took a breath, his eyes flicking up to meet the intense gold ones, “no interference, then I decide.”
“Lovely.” Saps gracefully slipped free of the caging arms. He turned his back and started walking. “In that case, we should probab-”
Wifies swiftly caught up to him and grabbed his arm — stopping him dead in his tracks.
“What…” He trailed off.
“No.”
The Director pulled him back into his hold.
“I’m not done.”
The angel grinned coyly up at the man. His heart was hammering faster than any fight had ever made it.
Anyone with eyes could tell this was exactly where he wanted to be. Caged in the arms of Unstable’s most dangerous player.
“You should’ve just said so.”
Somewhere far away, Parrot slept, unaware he’d just lost his best friend for the second time.