Chapter Text
Twotime's eyes open to the blinding light of the moon. they'd say they had woken up but in reality they hadn't even been asleep.
they hadn't been sleeping for a while really. moreso just.. laying with their eyes closed or staring into the corner of the room like someone was there.
they would deem that a sufficient amount of rest of course.
..but also they had to wonder why exactly they've "woken up" in the first place, had they heard something?
as they peel back the covers slightly they curl their spiked tail around their ankle, shivering, the chill from the slightly ajar window hits them
they sit up in bed, hugging their form, and listen. but it's eerily silent...
...well until they hear a grumbling type of noise and notice the sour taste in the back of their throat. they're hungry. that's why they're not rotting away in bed anymore.
after this sudden realization they slowly clamber out from under the covers, their bare feet hit the wooden floorboards with the tiniest thud.
as they silently make their way through their cabin, avoiding all the creaky floorboards they had memorized, they brainstorm ideas of what exactly they want to eat.
they were never one to crave anything really so it's most peculiar they've been randomly getting these hunger pains in the middle of the night. maybe they should consider joining their fellow survivors for breakfast and dinner more often.
they open the door to their cabin, the midnight air blowing obnoxiously into their face, seriously does air not understand personal space?
with a grumble they close the door behind them, hugging their arms around their frail torso. they choose to ignore how they can feel their ribs through their clothes.
they walk silently, about the only useful skill they know apart from wielding a dagger.
they look at their shadow, cast by the glow of this realms artificial moon behind them. watching as their tail slowly swayed side to side, in time with the movement of their walking.
their gaze dips to look down lower. to the ground they're walking on. it feels damp and yucky, especially because they aren't wearing anything to cover their feet.
they never usually do anyway.
a huff of some form of chuckle escapes their nose at the thought of Guest 1337's -another survivor in this hellhole. a kind soul.- constant remarks and lectures about Twotime wearing shoes.
'he was a military man after all' they thought 'its only natural his worry for something as simple as not wearing shoes' . their tail flicks thoughtfully as they ponder.
through their dissociation they hadn't realized they had reached the main cabin and they almost trip on the steps going up, luckily they caught themselves on the handrail and pulled their slightly shivering form up the stairs, opening the door to the smallest crack and squeezing inside.
they didn't want to open the door fully and risk it creaking, they conditioned themselves to be sneaky even long before ending up in this place.
walking by standing on the sides of their feet first, to muffle their steps, they make it to the kitchen.
before they have the chance to gaze around the room they aren't usually allowed in, their eyes land on a glinting shine caught by the moon through the window.
..a knife sits on the windowsill.
still. unmoving. of course it's unmoving it's inanimate.
Twotime, is suddenly pulled from their trance by the whirring of the fridge beside them, they hadn't even noticed they'd begun walking... oh well.
they open the fridge, pulling out a drawer at the bottom shelf. they bite the inside of their mouth to avoid wincing at the cold nipping at their already frostbitten fingers. seriously if you were to ever touch Twotime they feel just about as cold as a dead corpse and the fridge certainly wasn't helping.
after digging through the drawer they find it, a little packet of cheese slices, yes that'll do.
but before they can even get the chance to pull back the already open plastic cover-
"OH GODS- Twotime! by the admins what are you doing in here?"
Twotime's tail flicks curiously as they look behind them, greeted by the sight of a very startled Elliot gripping a lantern.
they put the cheese back in the fridge and close the door. the only thing illuminating the room now is the warm glow from the lantern.
they clasp their hands together. signature smile already straining against their face.
"Oh dear Healer! I apologize if I had awoken you! I simply found myself a little peckish and decided to venture out for something to satiate my hunger!"
Twotime, lowers their clasped hands in front of themselves politely. their eyes, pure black in this lighting, stare into Elliot's very soul. Elliot, if this interaction had taken place a few months ago, would've been horrified but right now this is just usual Twotime behavior.
"Times- ya' know you don't have to steal from the fridge? just come to me and I can make you something to eat? it's my job after all!" Elliot explains exasperatedly, placing the lantern on the kitchen island and walking over to the creepy smiling cultist
"and don't worry, you didn't wake me I was just thirsty"
he added with reassurance, Twotime seemed to visibly relax at that.
"well I simply considered it rude to wake you for such...matters.. I can manage on my own! the fridge has plenty to eat yes?" they tilt their head slightly to the side.
"Well- yes the fridge has plenty but wouldn't you rather eat a warm meal? I mean you skipped dinner AND breakfast today...?" Elliot inquired, concern written over his features. it wasn't a rare look for Elliot to have on his face.
"ah, well I, very simply just-..." Twotime awkwardly looks over to the kitchen equipment; stove, microwave, toaster, oven, air fryer.
they remember a time. in a different kitchen. a figure with a pointed hat beside them and a very burnt egg in a pan.
"I find I am incapable of engaging in the aspects of the culinary arts." they state a-matter-of-fact-ly. their stare
blank and smile a little smaller
"uh- sorry?" Elliot looks to them with confusion
"I cannot cook."
"HUH?" His expression changes from confused to dumbfounded. "you CAN'T cook? Twotime, that's nonsense! everyone can cook!"
'everyone can cook' Twotime ponders "I remember someone else speaking those exact words to me before"
"well that person was correct! c'mon let's make you something to eat!"
Twotime was about to protest before being completely and utterly flash-banged by the lights getting switched on, Elliot's doing of course as he casually walked over to the pantry, beckoning Twotime to follow.
They huff lightly and reluctantly will their legs to follow Elliot. now they weren't ungrateful, of course not, they just simply didn't want to bother Elliot with making them something to eat, especially so late at night.
they could surely just get something from the fridge without bothering anyone! but alas.. they didn't want to decline. that would be rude.
they paused in the doorway of the pantry, watching as Elliot dug through ingredients and herbs and really just a jumble of kitchen related things.
it was honestly overwhelming for Twotime to look up at all these shelves stocked full with things.
they silently thanked the fact they didn't need to know what all of this stuff was for.
they're suddenly startled by Elliot standing up from his crouched position.
"Alright times, ya got any ideas for food you might want? and I mean a proper meal now, not whatever shit you were pulling from the fridge"
Twotime scowled slightly at Elliot's unpleasant language before beginning to ponder. what did they want to eat?
" Well- I'm not... exactly positive" they murmured, sheepishly. Is it a usual thing for people to know what they want to eat?
" That's alright! I just wanted to ask just in case ya'know? how about a bowl of porridge? "
Elliot suggested, pulling out a bag of oats from the bottom shelf of the pantry. clearly he had already been prepared to show off the bag to them. probably why he was digging through the bottom shelf a moment ago.
Twotime looked at the bag for a moment, before nodding.
" perfect! now c'mon I'll teach ya how to make it " Elliot placed a hand on twotimes shoulder as he walked past them out the pantry, getting measuring cups, a wooden spoon, a small pot and a jug that he filled with water before placing down next to the rest of the items and going to the fridge.
Twotime gazed at the equipment, their face filled with nothing but curiosity.
Elliot walked back with a carton of milk setting it down and handing Twotime the measuring cup
" alrighty! so, you see that line in the middle of the cup?"
a nod from the very confused Twotime.
" You'll want to dip that cup into the bag of oats and make sure that the oats fill the cup only to that line 'kay? " Elliot explained, clasping his hand over the lid of the milk carton and twisting it until he heard the satisfying click of the lid opening.
Twotime, nodded again, their tail, although still in its usual position of curled up to touch their spine, like that of a curly tailed dog, swayed back and forth a little faster, suddenly excited to be doing something so productive and useful.
they did as Elliot Instructed, dipping the cup in and filling it with oats to the middle line.
looking to Elliot for what to do next, they were met with a nod of encouragement and a point to the pot, they then dumped the oats into the pot.
" Good! now next you want to fill the cup with milk and put that in and then with water, both can fill the cup fully. "
They hummed with another curt nod and carefully grasped the milk carton, deciding to put the cup on the counter since the full carton of milk was pretty heavy in one hand. Elliot held the cup stable as they shakily poured the milk. some overflowing and spilling but Elliot just waved it off.
" Dont'cha worry about that Times, I'll clean it " He said. unknowingly he had blocked Twotime from starting a ramble of how apologetic they were for causing such a mess.
after pouring the milk in they scooped out some water from the jug and poured it in the pot also, Elliot, after he had soaked up the little milk spill with some kitchen paper, sprinkled in a pinch of salt in the pot before stirring the mixture and turning on the hob.
he set the heat to around 5 or 6 and gave Twotime the wooden spoon.
" Okay so just stir that for around 4 or 5 minutes until it's thickened alright? I'll put all this stuff back. " He instructed and referred to how he would return all the equipment back to it's spots.
Twotime was about to nod again before realizing-
" ah- dear Healer I must admit I'm not quite positive I know how to count to 5 minutes..."
Elliot paused for a moment before nodding in understanding. they probably couldn't count well because of all the... cult shit? he wasnt one to know. Dusekkar had rambled furiously about Twotime's cult many times but Elliot blocked it out almost as much as he blocked out Twotimes old preaching about their "god". all he knew was it was bad and it really did hurt to think Twotime grew up in that environment.
" That's alright Two uh- how about I just check the clock then? "
Twotime seemed to agree with this as they smiled and gave another nod, beginning to stir away at the mixture forming inside the pot.
𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸
after around 5 minutes the porridge seemed to have thickened and was finished.
" Good job times! that looks perfect! c'mon let's put that in a bowl and get you a spoon "
Twotime was internally thankful that Elliot had turned away to get them a bowl because their tail was practically a blur it was wagging so fast from the praise. they felt so happy! they actually cooked! and it was something edible!
Elliot handed them the bowl, picking up the pot and using the wooden spoon to pour the mixture in, after it was all in he put the pot on the draining board next to the sink and switched off the oven and hob.
After handing Twotime a spoon Elliot suddenly got an idea, gesturing to Twotime for them to stay in place as he ran off to the pantry, after a bit of rustling he came back with a bottle of honey.
" d'you like honey, times? " he asked raising the bottle.
he noticed how their pupils seemed to dilate before they nodded happily and held up their bowl. he smiled before clicking the cap off and pouring a zigzag type pattern on the top of their porridge then going to return the honey to the pantry.
𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸𓇢𓆸
" Thank you dear Healer, I fear I would've been quite a lot hungrier if you hadn't come and helped! " Twotime said after a few bites.
Elliot had convinced them to stay and eat at the kitchen table, he himself had heated up a slice of pizza in the microwave, he had offered some to Twotime but it seemed they only ate it during rounds out of desperation for a heal. it was healing pizza after all.
" It's no issue really Twotime, you know I'm always happy to help! "
Twotime's smile seemed to be a lot more genuine, their tail wagging side to side happily as they ate spoonfuls of their porridge.
The sight brought back some memories for Elliot of making food for his younger sister... he shook his head though, he can't let his thoughts ruin the happy moment.
after Twotime had finished, Elliot was cleaning the bowl and pot in the sink, Twotime perched on the counter beside him, seeming a lot more chatty after getting a meal since they were yapping about how the cat in the lobby had curled up on their lap the other day. they kicked their feet against the counter, tail swaying slowly behind them.
Elliot had dried and was just putting the pot and bowl back before looking to Twotime who was staring off into the distance.
" hey times, how about I walk you back to your cabin? "
he asked
Twotime perked up, pondering the question for a moment before nodding
" I suppose I could use the company! "