Chapter Text
“You did good, kid”
Player winced as Shedletsky disinfected their wounds.
“Is… Builderman alright?” Player asked, their eyebrows furrowed with a mix of worry and pain.
Shedletsky smiled, his eyes looked so much less tired now. “Kid, he’s fine. Surprisingly unharmed. Besides a few bruises and malnutrition. Look at yourself” he said with soft exasperation.
Player didn’t need to, they could feel the massive gash across their chest from the Illumina. Every so often the wound would sparkle with magic, it felt like they were being electrocuted. They yelped in pain.
Shedletsky pushed them back down against the couch, they were in the basement of Roblox HQ. The same place they met up after every sword collected, “hey, breathe. You’re fine, it’ll fade. Just let me patch you up…”
Player nodded, their limbs felt like sand bags. “Any way to- ah!- make it s-stop?” Player managed to struggle out.
Shedletsky shook his head, “it’ll simmer down as it heals”
Player let out a little whine. It turned into a wince as the Illumina wound jolted electricity through their body again. They could barely move their limbs from exhaustion. Though it didn’t help that wielding the Darkheart felt like wearing the heaviest jacket in existence. Their hands and feet were blackened from it, skin translucent enough to see their bones. It would’ve been at least a little cool if it didn’t make them feel numb all over.
They’ve seen what it does to their enemies. They watched as the Mysterious Figure rotted in front of their eyes from the Darkheart. They couldn’t close their eyes without seeing it. They felt queasy.
Another jolt from the wound across their chest pulled them from their impending mental spiral. Shedletsky had finished wrapped the wound. He sat next to them on the couch.
Player was hunched over. Clutching their torso, the pain was agonizing. It only seemed to be getting worse. Shedletsky put an arm around their shoulders and coaxed them out of the ball they had curled up into.
Shedletsky started talking, about a million different things. How Roblox was founded, the hopes he has for the future, anything and everything.
Player relaxed against him slightly. His voice was a nice distraction from the burning pain that spread across their chest.
They moved slowly, like they were trying to move through molasses, they rested their head on Shedletsky’s shoulder, then their arms wrapped around his torso, then their legs.
Shedletsky brushed his fingers through their hair. Much to Shedletsky’s disappointment, they didn’t fall asleep. Though he definitely understood why, he’d accidentally cut himself on the Illumina a handful of times. Even the smallest cut had him bedridden, though he liked to be dramatic, he couldn’t imagine the pain Player was in from a gash like that.
—
Eventually the pain dulled enough for them to move around. Shedletsky didn’t want them going far from Roblox HQ though. They weren’t sure if Mysterious Figure had anyone left working for them. The last thing they needed was another kidnapping. Not like Player had much energy anyways.
There was a knock on the door to Shedletsky’s office. Shedletsky glanced down at Player, he knew visitors would start pouring in soon. While he knew they just wanted to congratulate them, they needed time to rest and recover.
Player looked up at Shedletsky and nodded, one visitor wouldn’t hurt. Shedletsky sighed before he turned to the door and called out, “come in!”
Dr. Sophie poked her head in, “how are ya?” She asked, she was a little more mellow than her usual eccentric personality.
Player shrugged, not having the energy for words. Dr. Sophie nodded, she sat down on the couch next to Player. “Can I see your hands for a second?”
Player uncurled their arms from around their torso, very slowly. They held out their hands to Dr. Sophie.
“Good to know your fingerless gloves weren’t glued to your hands” she joked lightly. All Player could muster was a smile, before they were wracked with another jolt of sword energy making their veins feel like molten lava was flowing through them. Shedletsky instinctively held them tighter as they choked out a broken noise.
Dr. Sophie frowned, she gave them a second to breathe before she asked another question, “how far up does the numbness go?”
Player pulled their hands back to feel their arms, “uhm… half way up my forearms” they said quietly. Their fingers were always numb from hypothermia, ever since they got the Ice Dagger.
Dr. Sophie nodded, where ever their skin was black and translucent, it was completely numb. Dr. Sophie got a closer look at their hands. Their finger tips were a blue-ish black, definitely hypothermia. Their hands were covered in blisters from the firebrand and calluses from fighting. Player used their forearms to take the brunt of most attacks. There were slashes from every SFOTH sword, frozen cuts from the Ice Dagger, slashes that sprouted leaves from the Venomshank, burns from the firebrand, blackened scars from the Darkheart, and the electric agony coursing through their veins thanks to the Illumina, along with the hundreds of other weapons their enemies carried.
It was a miracle and a half they could withstand that all. “Well, the black see through skin and numbness should fade when you aren’t welding the Darkheart. As much as I would love to take it off your hands right now, my lab is a mess. I need to repair it and get it back to tiptop condition before I take the Darkheart back”
Player nodded. Dr. Sophie let go of their hand to cup their cheeks, “you are so strong, stronger than anyone I’ve ever met. Your resilience is incredible, hero”
Player tears felt foreign as they rolled down their cheeks. Dr. Sophie’s thumb wiped them away. She gave them a gentle hug before she pulled back, “stay strong kid, your almost home”
She left soon after, to go fix up her lab and make it secure enough to keep the Darkheart once more.
Shedletsky laid Player down on the couch, he sat on the floor next to the couch. Player eventually was able to get some sleep, maybe around 3 hours? Shedletsky was on the floor next to them the entire time. He busied himself with preening their wings, they were always a mess.
—
Shedletsky had a pile of yellow feathers next to him. Their wings were looking much better, feathers no longer twisted at uncomfortable angles. Shedletsky’s touch was also a nice distraction from wound on their chest. It still shocked them every so often. Made them tense up, some curse word or noise leaving their mouth as their wings would flare out and smack Shedletsky in the face. Followed by a weak apology. “Don’t sweat it kid, just tell me if it gets worse” Shedletsky said with a fond smile.
“Could it get any worse than this..?” Player asked with dread.
“I doubt it will, but you never know. Sword energy is a mystery” Shedletsky sighed.
Just then the door to Shedletsky’s office opened. Considering that whoever it was didn’t knock, he could probably guess who it was.
“This your little intern?” Said the slightly robotic voice, laced with sarcasm.
“Good afternoon, Clockwork,” Shedletsky looked over his shoulder at the robot. Clockwork lowered his sunglasses and looked between Shedletsky and Player on the couch.
“They aren’t an intern” Shedletsky said. Player cracked an eye open to look at the new admin in the room.
Clockwork crouched down next to Shedletsky. He was flexible for a robot, especially a 2010 robot. “This the little fledgling that saved Builderman?”
Shedletsky chuckled, “they did, yeah”
Player curled up and yelped as the gash on their chest once again electrocuted them. Clockwork tilted his head to the side, “the hell was that?” He asked.
“Illumina” Shedletsky said.
Clockwork whistled, “that’s gotta hurt like a mother fucker”
Player nodded silently.
“How’s Builderman?” Shedletsky asked.
Clockwork shrugged, “better than this kid, that’s for sure. He’s looking at that time machine to send ‘em back to the future.”
Player perked up slightly, the Retro Toolkit? They winced as lifting their head pulled at some wounds.
Shedletsky eased them back down, “careful” he murmured.
“Well, aren’t you antsy?” Clockwork smirked.
Shedletsky eyed Clockwork, silently telling him to go easy on the teasing. Clockwork shrugged, “can’t say I blame ya. I’m not exactly a homebody, but if I was in a whole other time I’d wanna get home too”
Player nodded, it was a struggle to keep their eyes open. They wrapped their arms around their pillow, the soft pressure against their chest wound was nice.
Shedletsky peaked under the blanket, it was about time to change their bandages. The medkit was still by his side, he slowly sat them up. Player whined. “I know, I know. I’ve gotta change your bandages”
Clockwork watched in silence. He tried not to cringe at the size of the wound when Shedletsky unwrapped it. It went from shoulder to hip.
It was slowly scabbing a purple color, an unnatural lavender. That was normal for a wound caused by the Illumina. “It’s healing up nice” Shedletsky reassured.
He cleaned it and wrapped it up tightly. Player’s eyes were closed for most of it. They were exhausted. Shedletsky checked on their other wounds as well. A myriad of bruises, cuts, and burns.
After rewrapping them all, he laid Player back down. “Go to bed” he murmured quietly. Shedletsky took a step back and noticed Clockwork’s staring. “What?” He asked.
Clockwork grinned, “nothing… nothing, just… you’ve really stepped up as a father, y’know?”
Shedletsky’s face heated up, “they aren’t my kid—“
Clockwork’s grin widened, “I mean don’t you see the family resemblance?”
Shedletsky shoved Clockwork, which wasn’t very successful, he was a 300 pound robot after all.
Clockwork pushed up his shades, “well, catch ya later, Shed. I’m gonna go see Doom”
“Yeah yeah, go love up on your boyfriend, gay ass” Shedletsky huffed. Clockwork jabbed him before leaving.
Shedletsky heard a quiet giggle as Clockwork left. He looked over at Player, they were laughing weakly.
Shedletsky smiled fondly, “you’re gonna hurt yourself” he chided gently.
Player smiled weakly, their eyes closed as Shedletsky ran a hand through their hair. “How long had you had this ponytail in?” He asked.
Player shrugged, their hair was a rats nest. Shedletsky undid the ponytail and grabbed a brush he thankfully had nearby. He brushed their hair the best he could with them lying down. He wasn’t going to make them sit up again
—
It had been a couple of days since Player had gotten Builderman and the Illumina back. They recovered at an astounding speed. Shedletsky was impressed. They were up and walking, albeit with a help.
“Are you sure you don’t need a cane or anything? I’m sure mine is somewhere around here from way back when—“
“I’m fine Shed,” Player was leaning against their sword heavily.
Shedletsky bit his lip, “are you sure?”
Player nodded. They were sick of this basement.
“I’ve got a meeting with the other admins, promise you won’t go far?” Shedletsky said.
Player waved him off, “I won’t go far, I’m just sick of being cooped up here”
Shedletsky nodded, “I get that, just let me know if you need anything”
Player nodded. Shedletsky left soon after. Player assumed admins had their meetings at Roblox HQ, but apparently not. Player shrugged and dragged themselves up the stairs and out of Roblox HQ.
It was the evening outside, the weather was nice and cool. Bizville always had the perfect weather for just walking around.
Player tried to ignore the whispers and stares, then again, they happened every time Player came through. Everybody in Bizville had at least heard of the time traveler collecting every SFOTH sword. Player was both flattered and anxious at all the attention.
A few passersby gave them a wave or a slight smile. A few asked if they were alright, to which Player just nodded politely. It was a nice stroll, their chest wound was surprisingly quiet. Only throbbing with pain every so often. They took a seat on a bench by the dog park, Shedletsky probably didn’t want them going any farther.
They took out their phone, they had left their real one in their apartment, in the future. So Shedletsky had let them borrow one when they needed it. All it had was the phone and messenger app for communication, and a few games Player installed themselves out of boredom. Holding this little 2010 phone that is the peak of innovation in this time was surreal. What Player was happy about, was the fact that they could have Flappy Bird again.
They were mindlessly playing Flappy Bird when they heard a familiar voice.
“Hero!!!!”
Player looked over their shoulder, it was Red, Blue, and Noobador. Blue was the one calling out to them. She ran up and hopped onto the bench, she would’ve jumped into their arms if it weren’t for the fact that they were covered in bandages and had a slight grimace on their face.
“Are you okay Player?” Blue asked.
Player put their phone back in their pocket, “I’m alright” they said gently. Noobador sat down next to Player.
“So kid, heard Builderman’s back in town. Was that your doing?” Noobador asked.
Player nodded, they could see the slightly guilty look on Noobador’s face. He was technically apart of the inciting incident for all of this.
Noobador opened his mouth to apologize for the millionth time, but Player spoke first. “It’s fine, Noobador. Mysterious Figure would’ve found other people to get Builderman and the Illumina”
Noobador sighed, he knew they had a point. But, he couldn’t help but feel guilty. “He’s alright, right?”
Player nodded.
“And you’re alright?”
Player smiled, “mostly”
Noobador frowned, he saw the bandages that covered them and their hand that clutched their chest. “I assume you don’t want to get into it?”
Player shook their head, they were so exhausted the last thing they wanted to do was relive that all.
Noobador put a hand on their shoulder, it took a moment for them to eventually lean against him. Red and Blue had run off into the dog park to play with the dogs.
Player’s eyes drifted shut without their permission. Just as they were on the cusp of drifting off, the wound on their chest throbbed and shocked them. They tensed up and curled over in pain.
“Kid?!” Noobador jumped in surprise.
“I’m fine- I’m fine-“ they struggled out.
Noobador put a hand on their shoulder as they slowly uncurled as the wave of pain passed, “what the hell was that?” He asked, completely perplexed.
Player took a deep breath, well as deep of a breath they could take with a hole in their chest. “It’s… uhm, a cut… from the Illumina… it’s got some electricity and likes to shock me as it heals…”
“A cut?” Noobador raised an eyebrow. It really seemed like they were down playing their wounds. Player’s arms were wrapped around their torso.
They sat in silence for a moment before Noobador spoke up again, “how far in the future are you from?” He asked.
Player did a simple subtraction problem in their head, “16 years”
Noobador let out an impressed whistle.
“What? Did you think I was gonna say 6 months?” Player smirked weakly.
“I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t that” he shook his head in disbelief.
There was another few moments of silence.
“When are you going back?” Noobador asked. His voice a little more somber.
Player shrugged, “when Builderman can fix the retro toolkit, so a couple days? Maybe a week or 2?”
Noobador nodded, he did some mental math. Red and Blue would be almost 30 in Player’s time. Noobador himself would be pushing 60.
“Well, we’ll miss ya kid” Noobador put an arm around their shoulders.
Player smiled, “I’ll miss you guys too.” Though Player wasn’t going to have to wait 16 years, there was a chance something could happen in those 16 years. Player didn’t want to think about that, but just in case. Player pulled Noobador into a hug.
Noobador reciprocated, patting them on the back softly. Player blinked away tears, going home was all they ever wanted.
Why did it hurt this bad?
Red and Blue eventually ran back over, covered in dog hair. They looked between Player and their uncle.
Player pulled back, hopefully it didn’t look to obvious they were on the verge of tears (it did).
“Players leaving soon,” Noobador said.
Red frowned, “that sucks…”
The kids both climbed up on the bench and hugged Player tightly. “When are you coming back?” Blue asked. Player wasn’t sure how to answer that.
“They’re from the future, we’ll see them again in 16 years” Noobador scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. Can’t really beat around the bush with this one.
Red jumped back in disbelief, “what?!”
“Since when?!” Blue looked up at Player.
Player smiled guiltily. “It never really came up…”
Red huffed, Blue just hugged Player harder. They were kids, they couldn’t really fathom how long 16 years was. Hell, they hadn’t even been alive for that long.
“So, what are you gonna do with the swords? Is Shedletsky taking them back?” Noobador asked.
“I guess I’ve gotta return them all” Player shrugged. They should probably get to returning all the swords. It would be nice to have one last stroll around all the places they’ve been. It would be nice to see the new ruler of Blackrock the Trinity council had appointed, and how Cassie is doing as Queen. Shedletsky wouldn’t be too happy about them traveling with their chest wound, but they’ll plead their case anyways when they get back to HQ.
The sun was almost fully set, Red and Blue looked like zombies. They were completely tuckered out from playing all day.
“I’ve gotta get these guys home” Noobador said. Blue was leaning against Red, who was blinking slowly and trying to suppress a yawn.
Player smiled, “I get it” they nodded sympathetically.
“Give me a heads up when you’re leaving, alright?” Noobador asked.
Player’s smile turned slightly somber, “I will”
Noobador pulled them into one last hug, “I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like, but just know we’ll always be here for you”
Player leaned against him, they nodded into his shoulder, “thank you” their voice was squeaky from holding their tears back.
Noobador didn’t comment on it. He wasn’t going to force them to cry. They’d do it when they were ready. Either it be now or in the future, Noobador would be there.