Chapter Text
“...Jane?” Their voice was quiet and shaking. Tears streamed down their face into the grass below them. They were sat up against a tree with their knees pulled tight to their chest, their tail wrapping around themself tightly.
“Yes? I’m listening, Two Time.” Jane spoke with kindness, aware of how fragile and vulnerable Two Time was currently. Their normal manic smile was gone. They weren’t even trying to hide how much pain they were in. They didn’t have the energy. They wanted to hide. They didn’t want anyone to see them like this. They were being a bother. Jane was probably busy. They were being selfish by taking up her time.
“Whatever you say, I- I’ll believe you. Please just… answer honestly.” Each word sounded strained and had to be forced out. It probably was forced out. They had a tendency to shut down whenever they were stressed or scared. They could rarely speak in this state. Amarah would get upset with them whenever they cried or complained, so they learned how to shove down their emotions. They never cried in front of anyone if they could. They would force down their emotions until they were completely alone, and only then would the tears come. They would always cry silently, scared to make a sound. They couldn’t let people see them so vulnerable. People would try to comfort them, but they could never answer back. “Oh, Thomas, are you ok? What’s wrong? What can I do to help?” Inevitably, they’d get upset with Two Time. “I’m trying to comfort you, and you ignore me? The Spawn would not like your behavior!” They wanted to speak. They tried to speak. But the words would never come. They finally hit their breaking point when they were around 8. They vowed never to feel sadness in front of anyone ever again. They only ever upset people when they cried, so they wouldn’t cry. Or at least, no one would realize they cry. The only person they could cry in front of was… Azure. And they betrayed him. But now, hearing Jane’s comforting voice, they couldn’t stop the tears. She had said many times that she understood why they couldn’t speak when they got upset, and that she would never think they were ignoring her when they got like this. She learned quiet cues that told her whether or not they desired physical comfort from her. She was patient and kind with them. She was rarely that way with anyone, especially not Builderman. They remembered a time they had been scolded by him for missing a stab. They had apologized profusely, but he didn’t think their apology was genuine enough. Just before they had run out the door of the cabin, they heard Jane getting upset with Builderman.
“It wasn’t their fault! They just got unlucky!” She had said. “You can’t expect them to be perfect! Besides, can’t you see they’re upset? You can’t get angry at them just because you think their apology ‘wasn’t genuine enough’!” Builderman had apologized to them after they came back from sobbing in the forest. They were so confused on why he was apologizing. He didn’t do anything wrong, it was their fault that they hadn’t sounded genuine enough.
“What is it? Of course I’ll answer honestly.” Jane answered Two Time.
“Is it real? Is the Spawn real? Or have I been lied to? Was Dusekkar right? Is it a cult? Did I…” Their voice broke slightly. “Did I sacrifice Azure for a fake god?”
“I-” Jane hesitated. She didn’t know how to say it. It wasn’t real. It was never real. She had never liked their beliefs. But seeing how lost they were, she couldn’t help but hesitate.
“No, it’s not real.” She finally answered. “I’m sorry.”
They cried harder after she said that.
“I’m such a failure! I should’ve known! I should have never listened to Amarah! I can’t do anything right! I’m worthless!” They cried as Jane pulled them into a hug.
“That’s not true. You’re not a failure, and you’re definitely not worthless.” Jane’s voice was kind and soft, but still firm. Two Time didn’t say anything else after that, they only continued to cry.
“I’m sorry you have to go through this. You don’t deserve it.” Jane was so kind to them. They had never understood. Chance and the others often said things related to Jane being a mother figure to them. They wondered if that was true. They wouldn’t know. They’ve never had a mother figure before. Now that they had realized the Spawn wasn’t real, they also realized that maybe they had never had a father figure either. They always thought of Amarah as a father figure, but now they weren’t so sure. As their sobs slowed down and their breath steadied, Jane asked them a question.
“Do you want to go back to my basement? I can bring you some hot chocolate.” They nodded. That was the only way they could have answered. Their voice had finally been silenced by the pain and stress of this horrible realization. Jane offered her hand to help them up, and they accepted. Their tail dragged along the forest floor as the two made their way back to the cabin and to Jane’s basement. Jane opened the trapdoor, and Two Time made their way to the nest of pillows and blankets they had made near Jane’s research-covered desk. She had barely started to open the trapdoor again to leave when Jane saw Two Time had already fallen asleep. They had curled up, their tail slightly wrapped around them. Jane sighed, knowing she was probably going to have to answer questions about why Two Time had come back crying, but for now she was glad that they were at least finally getting some rest. They often stayed up late with her. She knew that they had only gotten a couple hours of sleep in the past few days. They never got much, but it had gotten much worse. Azure’s arrival, the reveal of their secret, the slow realization that they were in a cult, it had all combined into Two Time rarely getting more than an hour of sleep each night.
“Sleep well, Two Time. As well as you can in this horrible place.” Jane finally left the basement.
Azure didn’t cry. He wasn’t allowed to. He was supposed to be a killer. At least, that’s what his hat said. That’s what his mind said. But those opinions had been overruled. He was leaned up against 1x’s shoulder. His hat had been sewn shut, not allowing it to speak the hateful lies that didn’t reflect his actual thoughts. 1x was the only good thing in this horrible place. He was comforting in his own way, despite being a manifestation of pure hatred.
“Can you talk right now? Or have you done that shutdown thing again? It’s fine if you have, I’ve done it too.” 1x was blunt and straight to the point.
“I can talk.” Azure’s voice had been raspy and quiet ever since he had gotten the ability to speak again. Now that he finally had his voice and free will, he was the most depressed and sad he had ever been in his entire life. The stupid hat had made Two Time think he hated them. That wasn’t true. Sure, he was upset at them. They did murder him afterall. But he never hated them. He forgave them as soon as they plunged the dagger through his heart. He understood why they felt they had to do it. He had noticed their faith faltering. The prayers when they used their abilities were said half-heartedly, as if they were only saying the words to activate healing. Their tail was never standing tall as it used to. It dragged on the ground like limp fabric. They were sad. They were hurting. And there was nothing he could do about it. He hated that so much.
“Oh geez. What’s up? You can tell me, I won’t judge.” 1x spoke softer than usual. He only got like this around Azure. They were incredibly close.
“I miss them.” Azure was whispering. “I miss them so much. I miss having their arms around me. I miss comforting them through storms. I miss spending time with them. I miss being allowed to love them.” Tears were starting to stream down his face.
“Yeah, I know you do. D’you think you could talk to them? Next round you see them, tell them how you feel.”
“I don’t know. I want to. I want to so much. I want to say I forgive them. But I don’t know if I can.”
“Then don’t.” 1x said simply. “You don’t have to forgive them.”
“That’s not what I meant. I don’t know if I can find the guts to say I forgive them, when really I should be the one asking for forgiveness. I’ve gotten my revenge a million times over. I’m so tired, 1x. I’m so fucking tired.”
“Then maybe just don’t kill them next round? If you can’t bring yourself to speak, let your actions speak for you.”
“...Yeah. Maybe you’re right. I- I will try.” He had made up his mind. If he couldn’t speak to them, he would at least refrain from harming them and their friends.
“Of course I’m right. I always am.”
“Can you stop being full of yourself for five seconds?” Azure asked, barely hiding the amusement in his voice.
“Heh. I got you to smile. I win.” Azure punched 1x’s arm playfully.
“Well man, you’re up next, good luck.”
This round’s killer is:
AZURE
They were in Yorik’s Resting Place. They were still a little tired from waking up a little bit ago, but they had more energy thanks to Elliot’s pizza. He was so happy when they had actually accepted the food. Did they really not eat that often? They had never realized how much they had starved themself for the Spawn. It was Azure’s round. They were going to apologize. They needed to apologize. Even if he didn’t forgive them. Even if he hated them. That wouldn’t matter. He needed to hear this. They had found their target.
“Azure?” They attempted to raise their voice loud enough for him to hear. They hadn’t seen him attacking anyone, they realized. Azure turned at the sound of their voice. Their hand instinctively dropped to their dagger. They slowly pulled it out, glanced at their reflection for a moment, and dropped it on the ground.
“I have some things to say,” They started. Azure said nothing.
“I- I know I’ve made mistakes.”
Azure would’ve rolled his eyes if he didn’t think their belief was so tragic.
“And I’m done using the Spawn as an excuse.”
Azure almost couldn’t hide his surprise.
“It was a lie. You were right. I should’ve run away with you that night. Or maybe we shouldn’t have met at all.” Their voice was trembling now.
“I wish I could turn back time. I wish you hadn’t met me. You never deserved someone as horrible as me. You should’ve left long before then. You should’ve been allowed to be happy.” Tears were streaming down their face now.
“I- I’m so, so sorry Azure. I regret it so much. I should’ve never done it. I should’ve refused to do it and faced the consequences. It was never real. The Spawn was fake. It was all fake. You were right. I wish-” They cut themself off.
“...I wish I had been the one to die that night.”
Azure was stunned. They believed they deserved to die? He started to walk towards them.
“I am really so sorry. For everything. For the lies, for the betrayal, for never admitting it was for a lie. I deserve every horrible death you’ve put me through. I deserve this punishment more than everyone. Do whatever you wish with me. Yell, berate me, torture me, it doesn’t matter. I deserve to di-” They were cut off. Azure’s arms were around their body. His tentacles were too.
“...Azure?” Their voice was small.
“Don’t say that.” Azure said quietly.
“What?” They noticed his voice was different. It was nothing like the one that yelled at them, calling them a traitor. It was nothing like the one that had used that name they hated so much. It was more like the Azure they knew before the sacrifice.
“Don’t say that about yourself. You don’t deserve this. You don’t deserve death.”
“But I-”
“I forgive you.” He interrupted.
“Huh…? I don’t understand- You shouldn’t forgive me. I don’t deserve-”
“It doesn’t matter whether or not you think you deserve my forgiveness, it’s whether or not I want to give it to you.” Azure said softly.
“But-”
“Stop beating yourself up. I hate seeing you feel like this.”
“But I-” Their tears were flowing freely now.
“I don’t deserve this! I’m a murderer! I hurt you! I don’t understand! Why would you forgive me!?” They were sobbing into his shirt now.
“...Because I love you.” Azure whispered it into their ear. “I love you more than anything.” Two Time finally melted into his embrace.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” They half said, half cried into him.
“Shhh… I know.” Azure was comfortingly stroking their hair now. “I forgive you.” The timer was starting to get close to zero.
“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid we must part, for now.” Azure said, pulling away from the hug. He gently wiped their tears with his hand. Two Time sniffled.
“I’ll see you soon, ok?” Azure promised. Two Time nodded, finally meeting his eyes and smiling.
“Ok.”
“I love you, Nightshade.”
“I- I love you too.” It had been years since they heard him refer to them that way. Their tail was starting to wag slightly. Azure pulled them back into a tight hug right as the timer hit zero, and everyone was teleported back to their respective cabins.
“Yo, Two Time, you good?” Chance walked up to them as they wiped their tears.
“Yeah. I’m doing great. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned how much I appreciate you as a friend, Chance. Thank you.” They graced the gambler with a smile. A real, genuine smile. They had never seen Two Time smile like that before.
“Awh, don’t mention it, Two! You’re a great friend too!” Chance grinned back at them. Two Time quietly turned towards the door. Nobody stopped them from exiting the cabin. This was different. They weren’t running away. They were simply going to collect their thoughts. Azure had forgiven them. Everyone realized how big that was.
Good for you kid, good for you. Jane thought.
“I am truly glad Two Time and their lover did reunite, it brings me such incredible, wonderful delight.” Dussekar commented.
“Me too.” Noob agreed.
“Oh hell yeah, they undoomed my yaouri!” Veeronica happily exclaimed.
“🗡️♥️🪻🏳️🌈😀🎉”
“Glad we agree, Taph!”
“WH47 7H3 H311 W45 7H47???” Noli exclaimed.
“For once I agree with the stupid glitchy purple thing. What the HELL was that Flower Boy?” ITrapped said.
“Sound’s like you guys are just jealous that he actually managed to fix his relationship issues.” 1x smirked.
“CHANCE AND I WERE NEVER IN A RELATIONSHIP!!” ITrapped yelled.
“I never said anything about Chance.” 1x was barely holding back laughter. Azure was completely ignoring the commotion. He needed to get outside to his garden. He quietly slipped out the door as the killers’ argument became more heated. Azure’s golem happily bounded up to greet him.
“Hello Rafflesia!” Azure greeted the beast. It seemed ecstatic that its father seemed so happy.
“I have quite the story to share, don’t I? I’ll tell you all about it when we get back to my garden.” The golem happily followed Azure.
We’ll see each other again soon, I’ll make sure of it. Azure thought. They’re so wonderful!