Chapter Text
*plop!*
A droplet of tears fell down a certain man's eyes. His hazel eyes’ gaze reflected off of a death screen. A Minecraft death screen.
“H—huh..?” Avery looked down to his desk from his computer screen, for what felt like the first time in days. A few drops of tears wet his keyboard.
Wait— Why was he crying?
What just… happened?
Muffled crackles and booms outside awoke him from his trance, Avery lifted his hands looking at them as if he was born yesterday. Everything felt so unreal. Another stream of tears rolled down his cheeks without his consent.
“!…9, 8, 7…” the crowd outside roared with anticipation. His window flashed with multiple colors and lights– A truly eyesore-inducing sight for someone who hasn’t taken his eyes off the screen for over 15 hours. Lights flashing, people celebrating, having a time with their families and friends. What a shame.
Oh. Right, it’s New Year’s Eve— a sudden pang shot through Avery’s head, vivid flashes of just a few moments flashed in distorted glitches. Instinctively, Avery clutched his head. His lips were so dry they might bleed, he feels like he’s gonna piss his pants, his shirt is completely soiled from sweat and his throat felt like sand. And this headache… his head might actually burst open.
I’m so thirsty.. Avery massaged the side of his head.
Standing back up from his chair to get some water, maybe a bit too quickly— The next thing Avery could remember was a strange Thud!
Collapsed completely on the ground,
A small beam of light hits Avery right in the eye, gently awaking him. His lashes fluttered open. The headache is less intense now, but goodness he might actually pee himself. After Avery relieved himself, his whole world felt twisted again.
He gripped the countertop to keep steady, his vision was getting foggier and more static by the moment.
I’m supposed to remember something…
Today was sunday, the last day of his weekend. Well I’m glad I don’t have to worry about work today.Trying to not collapse from pure sleep deprivation is no easy job.
Hm… maybe I was just playing games for too long. That’s probably why I’m so drained. Why was I crying, though?
Avery stood in the hot steam for a long time, trying to recall the moment before he hit the death screen. But every time he gets remotely close, his brain pounded like crazy and his vision gets all foggy again. The feeling of ease slowly drained down his body from the warm water. Slightly calming him.
Avery put on a simple elbow length white shirt and gray sweat pants, his hair was still dripping, slightly damping the top of his shoulders. He checked the time… 2:34. Way past his lunch time. But he wasn’t hungry. Just… Hollow. A part of him felt so missing, but he can’t tell what or why. Still he forced a granola bar and a banana down to try to keep himself from withering away.
Are my memories… Withering away?
That seems familiar.
“Ha! I’m going crazy from a blocks game!” Avery tried to make a joke out of it to take his mind off of it. But it didn’t really help much.
SLAM!
THUD!
A loud noise crashed against Avery’s door and dropped mid track onto the floor, snapping him from his trance once again. The noise was followed by low laboured breathing, was what Avery could make out. He quickly stammered at the door, the effects of not standing up for 15 hours straight finally catching up to him as Avery felt a tingling feeling up his legs.
He quickly opens the door to find a man, someone who looked like he belongs in the ER collapse completely on his welcome mat. His breathing was uneven and harsh, though his skin was tan, it was more of a dull color, almost lifeless. He was struggling to get up but couldn’t get the balance and slipped again.
“—‘very” His voice was low and controlled with a hint of exhaustion. Avery immediately knelt down and lifted him up. His body was frail, a resemblance of a once great build. Trying to help but didn’t know exactly what to do. Avery turned his head finally getting to see the man's face.
•••
“D3rlord3..?” What just went through Avery’s mind? He’s never met or seen this man his whole life, why does he know his name? Why did he get a weird comforting sensation? Why isn’t his head on static anymore?
The King in Yellow—Wifies— Yellow gates— at the cross roads— the lord in gold—D3rlord3—
“D—Derek!” A stream of uninvited tears wet Avery’s face. Pouring down as fast as he pulled ‘Derek’ up and hugged him. No doubt about it— it was him. Suddenly everything that happened in the past 15 hours Avery had seemed to forget slammed him like a truck at the sight of this man.
“*Hic* Oh my gosh, D3rl— ah! Derek! Are you okay?!” Avery pulled him closer and pressed his head against Derek’s chest. His wild heartbeat pounded at Avery.
“Avery… So you’re here.” Derek spoke rather relieved, his hand was held, pressed by Avery’s face.
“I don’t want an ambulance.” No follow up. Derek went limp. Freaking out as Avery should be, he checked for any signs of breathing and thank goodness he was breathing fine. It appears he’s just sleeping.
The evening sun casted a blue light into Avery’s apartment, Derek woke up in a sweat. He was resting on a couch with a Christmas blanket draped over him. Ambient warm lighting softly illuminated his face. What happened? Where is he? How is he still ali—
“Derek! You’re awake!” A guy woke up from laying his head on the side of the couch he was laying on. Startling him a bit. Derek noticed his eyes were quite puffy.
“Avery—” He was immediately cut off by Avery’s arms, wrapping around him so tight. quited trimmers and snuffles muffled by his sweater. A stranger knelt down, completely wrapped around him, balling his eyes out.
“Derek, *hic!* I thought you— you were— *gasp*” Avery struggled between his words, not knowing what to say or how to react. This was the man that saved him, that warned him. He’s never even met him, why was he crying so hard?
“Avery, it’s okay, I'm fine.” Derek said, letting Avery wet his lap as he softly strokes his back. His dirty blond hair fell over his face. Avery let out an ugly crying sound, but he didn’t care.
D3rlord3 was alive, the man he thought had ‘died’. He wasn’t crazy… I really did forget. How could he? Leaving the memory of a man who had saved him, instant regret hit Avery. Derek saved him so many times but he wasn’t able to do anything until falling off that platform and reaching the death screen to only forget everything.
“Derek… I’m so sorry… I—I mean the king, the crossroads, everything-hic!* it was real right?” Avery started, finally looking up and meeting Derek’s eyes for the first time. His eyes were a pure blue, dull and tired sure, but still, a pure blue. With a faintest hint of yellow.
“Yes.” Derek turned away briefly, trying his best to comprehend what just went down himself.
“I couldn’t save you— *gasp* I could’ve saved you!” Avery’s stomach dropped.
“No, Avery you can’t. What you did was the best thing you could have done. Please don’t think you failed Avery.” Derek spoke with the same gentleness as a mother.
“You’re capable of great things, Avery. Please, this isn’t your fault. It’s none out our—“
“But this is your fault. D3rlord3. Please don’t say you forgot about little ol’ me?”
“You.” Derek had already figured out who it was.
“Seems you have forgotten our deal.” The blackened out figure gave a sly smile.
“No. I didn’t make the deal.” Derek firmly replied. This was the second time he slipped into this… State. It seems the world pauses around him for a brief moment whenever the king wants to talk to him.
“Oh but I thought you wanted to live?” The king continued.
“I thought it would be better for you to continue to live, and along with that I get to stay too. I can’t do anything after all, your mind is… too strong for me.”
“No, I wanted you gone. I don’t care if I am dead. Kill me if you desire. I don’t want you in my world. I don’t want you hurting Avery anymore.” Derek protested. His voice was collected and steady. He was met with a long silence.
“Let’s see how long you’ll last.”
“Derek?”
At an instant, Derek snapped back to reality. Avery still has his arms tightly wrapped around him.
“Fault.”
Avery sniffled, snot and tears mixing together. “H—how are you not dead?”
“I don’t know,” Derek let out a long sigh.
“Im just so *hic!* glad you didn’t die! Hic!” Avery laughed as he cried like a maniac. But Derek didn’t mind.
“I-I’m glad you’re safe too.” He replied, brushing Avery’s hair out of his face to help Avery clean his face.
“Will you leave again?”
“Please don’t go… *Gasp* don’t do that again, please… *hic!* don’t leave me again…” Avery didn’t know what he was saying. This is a stranger. Why was he so worried about him leaving? His sobs echoed in the tiny apartment. Everything felt so dizzy.
“I won’t…” Derek trailed off. What about the king? He was still in his head. Derek can’t control that, he could die anytime the king desires.
“You won’t what?” Avery squinted, looking for his face as Derek comforted him.
“…leave.” Derek said hesitantly.
“*sniffles* You w-won’t?” Avery stutters.
“No—“
“That’s good to hear.” Avery was so exhausted from sobbing he stayed on Derek’s lap for a few moments, trying to catch his breath, gentle soothing words calming his nerves.
“I’ll stay, Avery. I won’t leave.” Derek whispers.
“Oh, uhh *hic!* sorry…” Avery wiped his tears away, looking at the masterpiece me had created on Derek’s lap. Apologizing over and over, practically dropping his head for wetting Derek’s lap.
It was getting late, Avery shyly asked for Derek to stay for dinner and he agreed. Avery’s heart skipped a beat.
He was making dinner for both of them. His face was slightly pink and he definitely failed to hide it.
“How is your head?” Avery asked.
“I don’t know.” Derek answered honestly. He feels like he’s snapping in and out of consciousness every moment. And whenever he’s conscious, it feels foggy. Like a static on an old Television.
“I think I’m okay.” Derek said.
Avery was scared, scared to lose Derek again, he knew he couldn’t sleep tonight not knowing Derek isn’t near him. Derek stood up to help Avery before immediately falling back down.
How long was I stuck to that chair?
Months of not standing up had made him almost completely immobile.
“No, stay there, let me treat you.” Avery quickly wiped his hands on a towel and helped Derek back onto the couch.
“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay? I *hic!* can seriously take you to the hospital you know?” Avery said, carefully setting Derek back down to the couch like a caregiver. Derek wasn’t very fond of being treated like an old man. Avery had stopped crying, though the occasional hiccups remained.
“No, it’s okay I can’t imagine the bill after the visit, and I’m fine, just a little tired.” Derek said with a hint of annoyance, not at Avery, at himself.
“*sigh* I don’t wanna force you, just— take it easy Derek.” Avery returned to the kitchen finishing their dinner. Now he's calmed down a lot. He is starting to notice many things about Derek. His sunken eyes, his kind and charming face, faded away from months of sleep deprivation and starvation. He was tall— much taller compared to Avery, who stood at 5’9ft, Derek looks to be about 6’3ft. Stuck in that chair. God, he can’t imagine the agony and torture.
A comfortable silence fell upon them. Avery set two plates down and sat next to Derek to eat. “How did you stay alive? You know, during the past three months?” Avery asked, breaking the silence. Totally not because he wants to hear Derek’s voice to reassure himself. Also because he liked Derek’s voice.
“I have a mini fridge next to my monitor.” Derek replied, turning to Avery.
“Oh, there must be a lot in the fridge then.” Avery picked up a utensils to eat, giggling at the fact a mini fridge was a gods biggest enemy. After they finished their meals, Avery stood up to do the dishes while Derek stayed by the countertop.
“How long was I out?” Derek was being very vague now. Avery will understand. He was too tired anyway.
“Huh? Umm about four hours.” Avery replied.
“You don’t have to pretend to not realize I stink.” Derek had his arms rested on the countertop. Not even caring at this point.
“Oh right.” Avery really didn’t notice until now. Make sense, when was the last time Derek could shower?
“But I just can’t leave you alone like that in the bathroom when you can’t even walk, what if you have an accident in there?” Avery hung his apron up, walking toward Derek.
“Are you telling me I can’t stand and clean myself without help now? Do you really wanna see me showering?” He spoke with a bit of amusement. You could call it teasing.
“What! No it’s not like that I’m just worried you might… Hey!” Avery just realized what actually happened. He covered his face with one hand to somehow deal with the embarrassment. Derek chuckles a bit, finally having a small window to breathe out of this mess.
“Fine, stand up then.” Avery put his hands on his hips, testing him. The dude stood up, and immediately fell forward, barely caught by Avery just before kissing the floor. He rested on Avery’s shoulder admitting defeat.
“Ha!” Avery crackled.
“Uhh can I borrow your clothes?” Derek asked, leaning on Avery as he helps him to the bathroom.
“I’ll see what’ll fit you.”