Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

...


“Order up.” 


DING!


Elliot rang the bell on the small counter, placing two pizza boxes in front of him. He rubbed his eyes quickly afterward, clearly exhausted, though he tried to brush it off. Even if he tried to sleep, he doubted he would actually get any rest. The nights seemed endless now, just tossing and turning in bed, and before he knew it, another day would begin. But new days never felt like a fresh start. Not for him, anyway.

"I'm shocked you still keep up with your old work habits. You could go on about how much you hated your old job for a million years, from what I remember." Chance’s voice broke through Elliot’s thoughts as he walked into the room, pulling a coin from his pocket. He flicked it into the air, watching it flip and fall. It landed on one side, but from Elliot’s angle, he couldn’t tell which side it was. Chance’s grin, however, said it all—he’d won.

"You try working at a restaurant for years and see where that gets you. Maybe it’s a real job you need, instead of earning your cash from luck. Ever think about that?" Elliot raised an eyebrow.

"Nope. Can’t say I haven’t heard it before, though. Maybe you should stop giving the same advice to the same person over and over." Elliot sighed, rubbing his face. Maybe he should try sleeping again. With how he was feeling, he might actually manage to this time.

"Maybe you should learn to take it. Or listen for once… that helps too," Chance chuckled to himself, about to add something else when Noob walked into the room.

"Pizza again!" Noob exclaimed, joining the others. Elliot forced a smile, greeting the familiar yellow Robloxian. Chance, meanwhile, made his way to the table and took a seat. Elliot cupped his face in his hands, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. But he forced himself to stay awake. The others thanked him for the meal as Shedletsky ate his chicken off to the side.

Despite the fact they could all eat separately, they’d always chosen to eat together. Elliot couldn’t remember when that tradition started, or even why, but he didn’t mind. Deep down, he was always happy they did. Even if he wasn’t particularly fond of everyone at the table. On some days, they talked about past runs, cracked jokes, or even got into deep conversations that could last for hours. Tonight, though, the dinner was mostly quiet. Some murmured words were exchanged, but for the most part, they simply enjoyed their food.

"This a new recipe?" Noob asked, always trying to lift Elliot’s spirits about his cooking. Elliot knew the group was slowly tiring of pizza every day, but he just couldn’t bring himself to make anything else. Pizza was his thing. Who didn’t like pizza? It was absurd. Sure, he’d tried other dishes before—chicken wings, burgers, fries, hot dogs, even fish. But the ingredients were tough to come by, especially on runs. And no matter how hard he tried, Elliot knew he could never master making any food as well as his pizza. His pizza skills were extraordinary! Asking him to stop making it would be like asking Builderman to stop building. Impossible.

"Nope. Same old pepperoni. You know I don’t usually mix it up unless I’m sure it’ll taste good. Thanks for asking though."

"Could you maybe try something new?" Guest spoke up, a little late, realizing he’d interrupted.

"Ah—sorry. Didn’t mean to talk over you."

Elliot forced a small frown. "It’s fine. I was pretty much done anyway."

He could tell by the look on Guest’s face that he was about to ask the same thing he’d heard a million times: Can you make something other than pizza?? Elliot was tired of answering that question. If it bothered them so much, maybe they should ask Shedletsky for some of his chicken, or better yet, cook for themselves. It was getting annoying. They’d probably be dead half the time without him and his healing recipe. They should be grateful they had food at all.

"If you'll excuse me..." Elliot picked up the empty pizza box and walked away from the table. He placed it by the trash can before heading toward his bedroom. He felt eyes on him as he passed, but honestly, he couldn’t care less. Once he reached his room, he shut the door behind him and collapsed onto his bed. His brain barely registered how tired he was before he was already drifting off.

[Hours later...]

"Mmhrm..." Elliot blinked slowly. His eyes still felt heavy, but as he woke up, he realized just how thirsty he was. Groaning, he rolled over and sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes to adjust to the darkness. He glanced at the clock: 3:34 AM.

"God damn it," he muttered, sliding out of bed. He glanced back at the bed for a moment before heading for the door, making sure to close it quietly behind him. The house was silent—everyone must be asleep. He walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He frowned when he noticed there were no water bottles in there, so he grabbed a few from the cabinet instead. He placed two in the fridge, cracking open the third and drinking it down quickly, still thirsty.

He tossed the empty bottle in the trash, grabbed another, and sat down near the cabinet. He finished half of the second bottle before setting it down beside him. He stared up at the ceiling, unsure of what to do next. He knew he wouldn’t fall asleep again anytime soon, so going back to bed wasn’t an option.

His gaze drifted to the front door. Should he go for a walk? He knew it could be dangerous, especially at night. They weren’t sure how the killers lived, but Shedletsky had mentioned they might be more active, even stronger, at night. Elliot glanced back at the ceiling, then back at the door.

He hadn’t gone for a walk in a while, and it might be nice to have some time alone. He could always bring a medkit, just in case. How dangerous could it really be?

Chapter Text

Elliot lifted the hatch blocking the front door and unlocked it. He pushed the door open, a quick cold breeze greeting him. He was glad he’d grabbed a jacket. After making sure the door was securely locked, he stepped off the porch and into the open area. Unsure of where to go, he simply continued walking along the faint path that seemed to lead into the unknown.

Two-Time found themself in a panic. They pressed a hand against their side, the wound bleeding as their head swam with dizziness. Despite the fear coursing through them, they kept a smile on their face. It would all be over soon.

They stumbled behind a wall to catch their breath, but they had no idea where the creature was or how they'd even crossed its path. All they remembered was the sudden pain of being stabbed by some kind of weapon before being thrown. They were shocked they even managed to escape, but that didn’t matter anymore.

“Death. Is. Inevitable.”

At the sound of the voice, Two-Time slid down the wall, sinking into a sitting position. Their whole body felt weak. They glanced down at their side, moving their hand slightly. Blood seeped out, so they quickly pressed it back into place, applying as much pressure as they could. They had no idea where they were or where they were planning to run. Their mind raced as they blinked repeatedly, trying to think.

“FOUND YOU.”

Two-Time snapped their head to the side, seeing the green creature pick up its swords, preparing to throw them. Without thinking, they pushed themself off the wall, their legs aching as they forced them into motion. They barely dodged the attack and kept running, panic setting in.

The creature’s sinister laugh echoed behind them, followed by the heavy thud of its footsteps. The chase was far from over, but Two-Time had an idea. They could play dead. That’s what they’d do.

They let themself collapse, landing hard on the ground, closing their eyes. The footsteps slowed, then stopped altogether. They felt the unsettling presence beside them. The creature was looking down at them, waiting. Was this the end? Were they about to die for real this time? Was it going to be...over ?

No. That wasn’t possible. They knew better. They studied respawning their whole life. There was no doubt about it. They would respawn.

Suddenly, Two-Time opened their eyes. They weren’t sure how much time had passed, but the creature was gone. They slowly pushed themself off the ground, wincing at the pain in their side. A small puddle of blood had formed around them, but it didn’t matter. The creature must have thought they were no good by now.

Shaking, Two-Time got to their feet, holding their side, and started walking. They didn’t know where they was going, but they kept walking, hoping for something, anything. Their mind raced. They didn’t even know what they were hoping for. But they walked-

Step after step, until they couldn’t anymore. Two-Time collapsed backward, landing on their back. Their vision blurred as they looked up at the night sky. Blood seeped from their side faster now, their head pounding. They wanted to sleep—just close their eyes, and wake up in a new body. A new life. A fresh start.

And yet, their eyes fluttered shut.

Elliot wandered around, finding himself in places he had seen before. The old, abandoned buildings that had once been full of life now stood dark and eerie, empty of any movement. He sighed.

He had been walking for about an hour now, and so far, no killers. He figured the others would be upset with him in the morning for going off alone, but at least he would have valuable information to report back. It would help them all. Elliot turned a corner and froze, staring at the brick wall in front of him. Something was dripping from it, a dark liquid. He swallowed, slowly walking toward it.

Kneeling in front of the wall, he examined the small puddle of liquid on the ground. His face paled as realization hit him.

Blood.

The smell hit him next, and he quickly stood up, backing away. His eyes then caught sight of small droplets of blood leading away from the wall, forming a trail. His mind raced. Did someone die here? Was a killer nearby? But this couldn’t be old blood—it looked fresh. New. The blood had come from someone. Someone who was hurt. Someone he could save. Someone who was still alive.

Without hesitation, Elliot took off, following the trail.

His heart pounded in his chest as he ran. He didn’t know how long he’d been sprinting, but he didn’t care. The blood trail led him into a forested area, where he dodged trees, branches, and twigs, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Each passing second only made his heart beat faster. Then, as he rounded a tree, he stopped in his tracks.

There, lying on the ground, was someone. Blood surrounded them, their arms splayed out at their sides as they lay staring up at the sky. A faint smile rested on their face, though their chest still rose and fell with slow, labored breaths. They were alive.

“Oh my god. Oh my goodness—oh my god.”

Elliot rushed to their side, dropping to his knees. The person shifted their eyes toward him.

“Holy fu—oh my goodness this—You look—oh my god, this is really REALLY BAD.”

“W…who…?” The voice was weak, strained.

Elliot snapped back to reality, realizing the person was trying to speak. Of course, they were—how long had they been like this? That trail of blood had been long, and who knew how far they’d walked in this condition?

“AH! I’m so sorry! Don’t worry, I have a medkit. I’m gonna get you fixed up, okay, sir? Please, just hang in there...” Elliot scrambled to pull out his medkit, working quickly.

He lifted the person gently, grabbing disinfectant and gauze, trying to stay calm. “Okay, this is going to sting, but it won’t be for long.”

He poured the disinfectant on the wound, dabbing it carefully to clean it. The person winced, a sharp yelp escaping them, and they squirmed in pain. Elliot held them steady.

“Please, try not to move too much. I’m almost done. It’s okay. You’re going to be okay.”

The person stopped moving, and Elliot couldn’t help but smile, relieved that they were listening to him. He placed a sterile gauze pad over the wound, then added some absorbent padding before wrapping bandages around them.

Two-Time blinked, sensing someone nearby. They turned their head and saw... something. Red? No, yellow. Or maybe both? It looked like a person, but could it be another creature that had come to finish them off?

They blinked again. The figure didn’t seem hostile. It spoke, but Two-Time couldn’t make out the words. They wanted to reply, but their body was too weak to do more than murmur a few barely intelligible sounds. The figure moved quickly to their side, and Two-Time blinked again. They weren’t going to attack them.

The figure gently lifted them and started working with items that felt cool and comforting against Two-Time's skin. It didn’t seem like a threat, but more like someone... someone helping them. The pain from the disinfectant stung, but they felt strangely safe as they tended to them.

“Please try not to move a lot. I’m almost done. It’s okay. You’re going to be okay,” the figure reassured them. Two-Time couldn’t move, and for the first time in what felt like forever, they believed it. They weren’t sure who this person was, but they felt kind. Was this an angel?

Elliot finished bandaging the person up, tossing the medkit aside and standing up.

“Ugh, I should’ve brought pizza... Well, I didn’t expect this... but still. That would’ve been helpful...” He sighed, rubbing his hands on his hips. He glanced at the person sitting in front of him. “Uh... Do you feel okay now? Well, probably not, but... do you feel better?”

The person blinked at him, their expression softening.

“I uh—” Elliot started.

“Thank you.”

Elliot was caught off guard by the sudden words. He quickly brushed off the shock and replied, “Oh, please don’t thank me! It’s fine really. You were hurt badly. I couldn’t just leave you there.”

A chill ran through him, and he realized the person was wearing nothing but a sleeveless shirt and fingerless gloves.

“Oh my gosh, you must be freezing! I need to get you back home.” Elliot quickly took off his jacket and draped it around them, shivering himself at the cold, but imagining how much worse it must be for them.

Two-Time looked up at them. Back home? They had been wandering for what felt like forever. If the person was offering, they weren’t going to decline. They stood up shakily, clinging to the jacket they’d given them. Two-Time wasn’t cold, but the jacket felt nice, and they didn’t mind it.

“Ah! You can stand! That’s a good sign! I still want to support you just in case,” the person said. “Once we get back home, you can rest. I’ll make you a comfy pallet in my room.”

Two-Time simply followed, their arm draped around the person's neck as they walked together. The person seemed to know the way, and that comforted them. Two-Time hadn’t realized their own smile had faded, but when they looked at them, it returned.

“I’m Elliot, by the way. Your name is...?”

Two-Time stared at Elliot for a moment, as if processing the question. They hadn’t spoken to anyone in a long while.

“Two-Time. You have a very nice name, Elliot.”

Elliot’s expression shifted slightly, but it quickly returned to a smile.

“Thank you, Two-Time. It’s nice to meet you.”

“...You too.”

The two continued walking in silence, the bond between them quietly growing.

Chapter Text

The two walked back to the cabin together. Elliot led the way, making sure he wasn’t moving too fast for Two Time. He couldn’t help but smile. Helping others always gave him a special feeling—one he genuinely enjoyed. The closer they got to the cabin, the wider his grin grew. A sudden cold breeze sent a shiver through his body.

“Would you like your jacket back, Elliot?”

Elliot slightly jumped at the question, staring at them for a moment before quickly snapping out of his trance. He replied, teeth chattering.

“A-ah… uhm… Well, I’m sure you’re still cold, Two Time! You’ve been out here longer than I have, especially in your condition. I’m sure you need it more than I do—”

“That didn’t answer my question, Elliot. Would YOU like your jacket back?”

Elliot paused for a moment. “Well, I—”

“Elliot, please don’t worry about me being cold. I’m honestly fine with this weather. I only took your jacket because I assumed you were being nice and didn’t want to refuse. You’re the one shivering—you need it more than I do.”

Elliot watched as Two Time began to take off the jacket. A part of him wanted to stop them, to reassure them he didn’t need it. But another part of him really did want it back.

“And besides, you’ve already helped me enough. Really.”

Elliot hesitantly took the jacket from their hands and quickly put it on.

“Okay, but as soon as we get back to the cabin, I’m making sure you’re warm! Walking without a jacket in weather like this is absolute insanity—”

“But… you were?”

Elliot paused, his face flushing with embarrassment.

“Well—of course, I was! We only have this one jacket, and like I said, you needed it! Why were you out here without one in the first place?!”

“I like cold weather. Like I said, it really doesn’t bother me much… it never has. I’m not sure why.”

Elliot frowned slightly, but he believed them. During their walk, Two Time had felt like a portable heater. Elliot had to stop himself from leaning into them, wanting to keep some space between them.

“Still. Would it hurt to stay at least a little covered?”

“Maybe I can work on that if it worries you that much.”

Elliot blinked, his face gaining a hint of red as he forced a small, nervous smile and adjusted his hat.

“Well, we’re almost there. After this next turn, it’s a straight path to the cabin.”

Elliot reached out to support Two Time again, but they slightly jumped. Noticing this, he quickly pulled back.

“Ah—Sorry—!”

“It’s alright, it just caught me off guard.”

Two Time smiled at Elliot, who smiled back. This time, Elliot waited for Two Time to grab onto him first before placing his hand on their waist. They continued walking down the path together.

Two Time had a lot on their mind but stayed quiet, their thoughts scrambled. They wondered what the creature that had chased them was and if Elliot knew anything about it. They wanted to ask but decided not to bug him—he had already done enough for them, and they didn’t want to seem annoying. First impressions were important, and they wanted to be at their best. As they walked, Two Time noticed old buildings and abandoned areas, wondering if the cabin they were heading to was in any better condition. They certainly hoped so. Looking down at their feet, they sighed as the path beneath them seemed to fade away.

“We’re here.”

Two Time looked up, their eyes landing on the cabin before them. It was larger and cleaner than expected, bringing a smile to their face. Elliot continued to help them as they approached the door.

“Give me a sec. We have this place pretty locked up, so it takes at least two hands to open.”

Two Time nodded, shifting to the side as Elliot worked on unlocking the door. They watched him struggle slightly, noting the complexity of the locks. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be too difficult to learn. After finally getting the door open, Elliot extended a hand to help Two Time inside.

Elliot locked the front door again, pulling down the hatch as the finishing touch. The room was dark, making it hard to see, but he spoke quietly.

“Okay, there are other people sleeping here, so if you could keep your voice down—”

“WHO THE HELL GOES THERE?!”

A light flicked on suddenly, blinding both Elliot and Two Time. They stepped back, Two Time instinctively reaching for Elliot but barely able to see.

“LISTEN HERE, YOU HAVE EXACTLY 0.5 SECONDS TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE I SHOOT YOUR BRAINS OUT ACROSS THESE—”

“CHANCE!! COULD YOU BE ANY LOUDER?!”

Elliot shouted back at the voice. Two Time blinked as their eyes adjusted, finally making out two figures. One was a person wearing a red robe, holding a gun pointed directly at them. The other was a yellow figure wearing a blue hoodie and green pants, hiding behind the armed one.

“Elliot! You’re okay!”

The yellow figure rushed forward, hugging Elliot. Elliot sighed, hugging them back.

“Of course, I’m okay Noob. Why wouldn’t I be?”

The figure, Noob, pulled away slowly. “W-well, you weren’t in your room when I checked… then I saw the front door’s hatch was up, so I thought something happened… so I got Chance.”

“Chance?! Out of ALL the people you could have gone to?! Seriously, Noob? I told you, if something bad happens, Chance is your LAST and FINAL option—not your first!”

“As hurt as I am by that statement,” Chance interrupted, “I believe there’s something more important to discuss first.” He pointed the gun back at Two Time. “Who the hell is THAT? And Elliot, who gave you permission to go out alone?”

Elliot rolled his eyes. “Chance, I’m a grown man. I don’t need permission to go out.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Got it. WHO is that?”

Noob moved closer to Elliot as Two Time looked at the trio.

“Oh—right. Two Time! Meet the world’s most annoying gambler, Chance, and Noob! And get your stupid gun out of their face!”

“Two Time? That’s a weird name.”

Chance finally lowered his gun, placing it on the table. Noob stayed close to Elliot, staring at Two Time.

“I—uhm. Hello, Chance and Noob. Very pleased to meet you.”

Noob shifted slightly. “Hello to you too, Two Time…” They forced a small smile.

“Why did you randomly bring a person home?” Chance asked.

“You’re not even going to say hello back? How much WORSE can you possibly get?!” Elliot groaned.

Before Chance could reply, a loud voice cut through the room. “Why are y’all so fucking LOUD?! IT’S FIVE IN THE GODDAMN MORNING!!! GO THE FUCK TO SLEEP.”

Two Time had no idea who or where that voice came from, but the other three scrambled to turn off the lights and move quickly. Elliot grabbed Two Time’s hand, startling them.

“Sorry—that’s Shed. You’ll meet him and the others tomorrow.”

Two Time nodded as Elliot led them forward.

“Ah—sorry about them. It’s just how they are.”

Elliot sat Two Time on his bed after locking his room door. “I’ll set up a place for you to sleep. Oh—would you like fresh clothes and bandages? Yours might not be comfortable.”

Two Time smiled. “Yes, that would be nice. Thank you, Elliot.”

Elliot blushed, scratching the back of his neck.

"Really—it's no problem! Please don’t thank me."

Two Time looked like they wanted to say something but remained silent, simply offering a small smile. They watched as Elliot worked, layering multiple blankets and pillows to create a comfortable sleeping area. After finishing, Elliot walked over to his dresser, pulling out a gray hoodie and a pair of black sweatpants. He set the clothes down before rummaging through a specific drawer.

"Could you take off your shirt?"

Two Time blinked, their face heating up slightly. Elliot glanced at them, then quickly realized how his words had sounded and panicked.

"AH—! F-FOR YOUR BANDAGES! SORRY—"

"It’s alright, Elliot. No need to shout."

"I—Was I shouting!?" Elliot stammered, tugging his hat down to hide the growing redness on his face.

Two Time let out a quiet giggle. Elliot sighed, still flustered, before grabbing the medical supplies and sitting beside them on the bed. Setting the bandages within reach, he watched as Two Time hesitated, then removed their shirt, revealing the wounds beneath. Elliot leaned in slightly, carefully assessing the injuries. He moved with precision, gently cleaning and wrapping up the largest wound first, making sure not to be too rough or too tight. Once satisfied, he shifted his attention to the smaller cuts and bruises, tending to each with the same level of care.

Two Time sat still, letting him work. That same feeling of safety from earlier lingered—the warmth of Elliot’s presence was oddly comforting. His hands were soft and steady, soothing them more than they expected.

"Alright! You’re all set." Elliot leaned back, inspecting his work before flashing a satisfied smile. "You’re not hungry or thirsty, are you?"

Two Time was, in fact, both. But they didn’t want to be a bother.

"No, but thank you."

"Well, just in case, I’ll leave a few water bottles next to your pallet."

Two Time felt a quiet relief at that small gesture.

"Alright, I’m heading to bed, but I put some clothes on the dresser for you. You can change in my closet—should be enough room."

They hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Are you a medic?"

Elliot blinked at the unexpected question, then chuckled.

"Something like that... probably the closest thing we’ve got here."

Two Time smiled softly.

"Thank you so much, Elliot. You’ve done so much for me in just a few hours. I don’t know if I can ever repay you."

"Oh, stop it!" Elliot waved a hand dismissively, cheeks flushing again. "Really, it’s fine. I’m just glad you’re okay."

Two Time’s expression faltered for a brief moment, their smile dimming slightly. It had been so long since someone had said that to them… They stood, picking up the clothes from the dresser.

"Thank you again, Elliot."

"You’re welcome."

With that, Two Time walked into the closet, closing the door behind them. Elliot let out a breath, taking the opportunity to change as well. He threw on an over sized red shirt and a pair of grayish pants before grabbing three water bottles and placing them near Two Time’s area. Satisfied, he turned off the small lamp and flopped onto his bed, finally sinking into the warmth of his blankets.

As he began to drift off, he muttered without thinking:

"Goodnight… Two Time…"

A small creak and a quiet click of the closet door followed. Then, a gentle voice responded:

"Goodnight, Elliot."

Chapter Text

Elliot's eyes slowly began to open. He blinked a few times, trying to roll over to his other side. He wanted to pull up his blankets, but something was holding them down. He tugged at them gently, but they barely budged. Frustrated, Elliot looked down, noticing Two Time sitting on the side of his bed. He had almost forgotten about last night and propped himself up quickly. Two Time hadn’t been looking at him at first, but after the sudden movement, their eyes locked.

"Good morning..." Elliot muttered. Usually, he'd try to sound more cheerful when waking up, but he was so tired. After everything that happened last night, he just wanted to curl back up in his blankets and rest.

"Afternoon, actually."

Elliot blinked, his gaze shifting to the clock. 1:45 p.m.

"How long was I sleeping for!? God, I always set my alarm for 6 a.m.! Was I so tired I slept through it—"

"Actually... I stopped it for you. Sorry."

Elliot turned back to Two Time, his vision still a little blurry. He could just about make out a faint blush spreading across their face.

"I woke up a little before your alarm went off. I saw it set, but... well, since you were up so late, I thought you'd need the extra rest. So, I canceled it before it could disrupt you. I’m really sorry, especially if it was for something important—"

"It’s fine, Two Time! Don’t worry about it." Honestly, Elliot was relieved. If the alarm had gone off, he’d have been even more frustrated and groggy. If he couldn't go back to sleep after that, he’d have been absolutely miserable.

"O-Oh, are you sure...?"

"Yes, really! Honestly, I would've done it myself last night if I had remembered!" Elliot rested his back against his pillows, rubbing his eyes before letting out a big yawn and stretching his arms. It was going to be another long day... But maybe this one would feel different. After all, something had changed—he had found Two Time.

Two Time found themselves staring at Elliot. They watched as Elliot yawned, his hair falling in every direction. They observed as he rubbed his face, slowly waking up. Two Time felt a little guilty, like they were somehow responsible for Elliot's exhaustion. Maybe if it weren’t for them, he could've gotten more rest. They stared at him silently as he began to reach for a hair tie. The silence was suddenly broken by a loud, grumbling noise.

GRRROOOWWL!

Two Time and Elliot both locked eyes, shocked by the sound.

"...Was that your stomach?" Two Time flushed, suddenly aware of their own hunger, which they’d completely forgotten about while focused on Elliot.

"I—uh—well... uh..." Two Time struggled for words, still caught off guard. They couldn’t tear their gaze away from Elliot's eyes.

"Wait—what time did you wake up!? Have you eaten anything?" Elliot's voice was sharper now. Two Time finally managed to find their words.

"Uhm, no? I woke up a little before your alarm, around 6 a.m., and went back to sleep for a while. I officially got up at around noon, I think..."

"Twelve—TWELVE!? It’s almost two o'clock! You haven’t eaten since you woke up!? That’s nearly three hours ago!" Two Time’s face turned even redder under the accusation, but they nodded sheepishly.

"And why haven’t you eaten yet? Eating is important, especially breakfast! It’s the most important meal of the day!"

Two Time hung their head in embarrassment. They could feel Elliot’s eyes on them. After a long pause, they hesitated before answering.

"I, uh... was waiting for you to wake up." They looked back up at Elliot, trying to smile. Elliot returned a confused look.

"Why?"

"Because... I don’t really know anyone here yet. Honestly, I’m too nervous to leave your room right now... haha..." Two Time felt their face heat up. Why was this so embarrassing? They were acting like a nervous kid giving a presentation for the first time!

"Oh, right. I’d forgotten about that..." Elliot looked down a little before meeting Two Time’s eyes again.

"Still, if you were hungry, you could’ve woken me up, or done something else! I’d rather have my sleep interrupted than have you starve!"

"Haha... right. My apologies..." Two Time rubbed the back of their neck, finally feeling their face cool down. Elliot started shifting, slowly getting out of bed. Two Time stepped aside.

"Oh, shoot!" Elliot exclaimed. Two Time tilted their head, wanting to ask what happened, but Elliot was already quickly searching through his drawers for clothes. Clearly, whatever it was, it was important. Two Time decided it was best not to interrupt.

As they sat down near Elliot’s area, Two Time quietly gathered their thoughts, mentally preparing for the day ahead. They needed to make sure they didn’t mess up their introduction to whoever they were about to meet.

Elliot moved quickly, pulling out clothes for himself while also trying to find something for Two Time. Their clothes had dried, but they were stained with blood and torn. He wondered if he could patch up their shirt or get them something new, but decided he’d think about it later. Finally, he found something suitable and handed it to Two Time.

Two Time gave him a soft smile, accepting the clothes, and walked into the closet to change. Elliot quickly changed as well. Just as he finished buttoning his shirt, Two Time stepped out. They smiled, and Elliot couldn’t help but notice that the clothes seemed to fit perfectly.

Elliot walked over to the door, and Two Time followed closely behind.

Elliot swung open the door and made his way down the hallway toward the kitchen. As he rounded the corner, he was greeted by—only two people? He looked in front of him to see Noob and... Seven. Elliot's face showed a hint of annoyance as he walked over to the counter.

"Oh—Elliot!" Noob exclaimed. Two Time remembered his name and hoped they had it right. They noticed the person with a burger on their head but said nothing. They waited to be introduced or spoken to. Noob glanced over at Two Time, then turned to Elliot.

"Good morning, Noob!" Two Time waited for Elliot to introduce the other person so they could learn their name. They wanted to ask but felt silly doing so. However, Elliot’s next words interrupted their thoughts.

"Where is everyone else?"

Two Time looked back at the person with the burger on his head. Had Elliot ignored them? The person seemed to look down at the question, their eyes drooping slightly. Two Time was confused, but they didn’t ask anything.

"Oh, they’re on a run! They wanted you to come, but Chance and I told them about what happened yesterday. They decided to let you sleep in, but I’m pretty sure they’ll want an explanation when they return... Sorry. Also, good morning, Two Time!"

"Good morning to you as well, Noob." Two Time replied. The other person standing next to Noob looked up, meeting Two Time’s gaze before quickly looking down again.

"Thanks for letting me know, Noob. I suppose I can make a batch of pizza before they get here. But for now, Noob, can you get Two Time something to eat? They’re starving!"

Two Time flushed slightly at the sudden accusation, but it was true.

"Oh, alright! I think the others made some toast before leaving. I’ll get you some! Do you like toast?"

"Uh... Sure."

"Great! Toast it is!"

Noob hopped over to the oven, and Two Time returned their gaze to Elliot. Elliot sighed and spoke again.

"Two Time, this is 007n7—also known as Seven."

The room fell silent after the introduction. Seven looked up, not at Two Time, but at Elliot. Their face softened slightly, which struck Two Time as strange. Elliot glanced over at Seven for the first time, but his expression didn’t match Seven’s. Slowly, Seven looked back down at the floor.

"Two Time. Nice to meet you."

"Ah—You... as well."

After the brief exchange, Elliot quickly moved toward the kitchen, and Seven walked off in the other direction. Two Time could sense something was off between the two, but they didn’t ask. They were far too hungry to worry about it.

Two Time sat at the table with Noob, finishing the toast they’d been offered. Getting to know Noob wasn’t as bad as they thought. They learned Noob’s favorite drink was Bloxy Cola, and he loved burgers. Before going on runs, Elliot made him a "special" burger that helped him turn invisible for a short time. During their conversation, Two Time learned more about their world. They gathered that the "Killers" were the entities attacking them—each with unique abilities and potential dangers. The one who had attacked Two Time was called "1x1x1x1." It sounded silly, but they didn’t question it. Noob explained that there were four main killers, each with its own origin.

"Pizza’s ready! Order up!" Elliot called from the counter, ringing a small bell.

Two Time looked up, noticing three slim boxes.

"What’s that?"

"The pizza, silly! Oh, right! I can’t believe you’ve never had it!" Noob adjusted himself in his seat to face the table.

"Elliot’s going to go nuts when he hears that! But don’t worry—Elliot makes the best pizza you’ll ever taste. It’s like nothing you’ve ever had!"

"You’ve NEVER had pizza!?" Elliot was flabbergasted. How could anyone have never had pizza before? It was mind-blowing.

"Nope. Never looked into trying it, I guess. Haha..." Two Time rubbed the back of their neck, feeling a little embarrassed. Was it really that big of a deal?

"Well, today, your life is going to change drastically," Elliot said, opening one of the boxes. The air filled with the irresistible smell of cheese, tomato, and dough. Steam rose from the box, and the sight was beautiful—almost criminally good. Two Time and Noob stared at the pizza in awe. Elliot stood proudly with his hands on his hips.

"Go ahead! But I warn you—after this, your life will never be the same," Elliot said with a grin.

Two Time hesitated for a moment before reaching for a slice. They pulled it away and watched as the cheese melted and stretched. Two Time studied the red dots on the slice, then took a bite.

"...Well? What do you think?" Elliot asked eagerly, watching Two Time chew slowly. His face dropped slightly, but then Two Time took another bite... and another. Soon, they were devouring the slice, and Elliot grinned.

"See! I told you!" Noob exclaimed, taking a big bite of his own slice. Two Time smiled with a mouthful of pizza, quickly finishing the entire thing, crust and all.

"You weren’t lying. This is... the best thing I’ve ever tasted. Ever. We seriously get to eat this every day? This is a blessing, to say the least."

Elliot blushed and waved his hand, flustered by the compliment.

"Well, I can only feel bad for someone who’s never had it before! Seriously, it’s unbelievable!"

Two Time grinned and grabbed another slice, just like Noob. Elliot joined in, grabbing a slice of his own.

"Alright, save some for the rest! I don’t need them even more angry at me than they already are," Elliot said with a chuckle, and the three of them enjoyed their pizza together.

Chapter Text

Elliot learned a bit more about Two Time as the three of them talked together. He listened closely, trying to make mental notes of small facts about the other person. He’d done this with everyone for as long as he could remember, and it had become a habit. He smiled when he heard that their new favorite food was pepperoni pizza. As the conversation continued, he learned other things, too—like how Two Time really enjoyed cold weather. For some odd reason, they always seemed to feel warmer than most, even in cooler climates. This made sense to Elliot, especially when he first encountered them. Still, he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea of the other person going out in so little clothing. Even if the cold didn’t bother them much, they should still stay warm!

Elliot also learned that Two Time loved being outside and admiring pretty landscapes. He began to think about ways he could make time to go out with them. The others preferred to stay inside as much as possible due to the dangers outside, but Elliot missed going on his daily walks like he used to. Of course, he understood that safety was the top priority in their situation, but in the end, he still found ways to sneak out, even if the others got mad at him for it. He always managed to come back in one piece anyway. Maybe he could bring Two Time along next time? He wouldn’t mind the company..

Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by a loud bang. They all snapped their heads toward the front door as a group of people poured into the house.

“Chance, I swear to Christ, you’re about to be banned from runs at this point. You and that stupid coin.” Guest pinched the bridge of his nose as Chance quickly followed behind him.

“COME ON, Guest! The situation wasn’t even that bad!”

“Right—because I swooped in just in time. If I hadn’t, the situation would’ve surely turned bad.” Shedletsky rolled his eyes walking in after Chance.

“All three of our Sentinels, yet we barely made it out alive…” Builderman sighed walking in behind the three.

“Pssh, please! It could’ve been worse. And we made it out alive, and that’s what matters.”

Guest, Shedletsky, Builderman, and Chance all walked into the area. Guest took his time locking the door behind him as the other three walked over to the table and sat down. After a moment, Chance noticed he wasn’t sitting in his usual spot. He looked up and saw Two Time. The other three also noticed the new face.

“…So, who’s this again?” Shedletsky asked, grabbing a slice of pizza from one of the boxes in front of them.

“Ah, right! Everyone, this is Two Time! Two Time, this is Shedletsky, Builderman, and Guest! I’m not sure if you remember Chance, but he’s the one we ran into last night along with Noob,” Elliot said, pointing to each person. They all exchanged small smiles, some of them waving. An awkward silence filled the room as Chance walked up to grab a slice of pizza. Finally, after what felt like forever, someone broke the silence.

“I’m glad you were able to help and find a new survivor, but might I ask why you were out so late last night?” Guest asked. Elliot took another bite of his pizza.

“I was going for a walk. I couldn’t sleep and just needed some fresh air.”

“Elliot, we’ve talked about this. We all agreed not to go out by ourselves, let alone at night.”

“Well, I came back alright! I didn’t run into any killers, and even if I had, I would've handled it myself.”

“Elliot, please. You can hardly handle yourself during rounds. You don’t have any weapon to defend yourself,” Chance chimed in. Elliot frowned.

“I know you’re not talking! Your gun is hardly trustworthy! You have a weapon but still fail to defend yourself! You’d be dead half the time if someone else wasn’t there to keep YOU safe!” Shedletsky and Noob chuckled, continuing to eat their pizza. Chance put on a smug grin and fixed his hat.

“Still counts as defense. Plus, it’s not like my gun doesn’t work. It’s there when it’s needed.”

Elliot and Guest both rolled their eyes. Guest looked back at Elliot.

“Chance is… right about your defenses. If you came into contact with a killer, it’s likely it wouldn’t have ended well for you. That’s the last thing we want. If you want to go out at night again, could you at least try and get someone to go with you? Preferably, someone with a weapon.”

“Or maybe just don’t go out at night,” Chance chimed in again.

“...But then again, I’m also glad you went out last night.” Guest’s gaze slowly shifted to Two Time, and he smiled slightly. He was happy they managed to find someone else and bring them back. He wanted to help as many people as possible. Two Time felt eyes on them but chose to ignore it, grabbing their sixth slice of pizza.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Anyway, are you all going on any more runs today?” Elliot looked up at Guest. Looking around, he saw Shedletsky chatting with Noob while Two Time watched and listened from the side. Builderman was re-wrapping some bandages on his leg, with a slice of pizza not too far away. Chance was finishing up his slice and flipping his coin, leaning against the counter. Guest sighed heavily and sat down, grabbing a slice for himself. Elliot slowly got up from the table.

“I’ll take that as a no for you all then,” he said, finishing his last bite as he walked back to his room. Two Time suddenly felt nervous. They looked around at the unfamiliar faces and, attempting to go unnoticed, grabbed their last slice of pizza before hurriedly following Elliot.

However, Noob and Shedletsky noticed the other leaving the room.

“Those two are gonna be stuck together like glue,” Shedletsky said, taking a bite of his pizza.

“What makes you say that?” Noob asked.

“Trust me, they are.”

Elliot sighed and let himself fall back onto his bed. He felt tired but knew he wouldn’t fall asleep anytime soon. He suddenly felt the bed weigh down next to him. He hadn’t realized Two Time followed him back to his room and quickly sat up.

“Sorry, did I startle you?” Two Time was still eating a slice of pizza, almost at the crust. Elliot had lost count of how many slices they’d grabbed after their fourth one. If anything, he wouldn’t be surprised if they managed to finish a whole box themselves. He didn’t blame them, though—they had said they were starving.

“Ah, no! I just didn’t notice you followed me…”

“Oh, my apologies… did you want to be alone?” Two Time took another bite of their pizza, crunching the crust.

“No, it’s fine! I just expected you to stay back for some reason.” Elliot honestly did want to be alone but decided against saying so. He wasn’t sure where Two Time would go if he’d asked them to leave, and he didn’t really have a reason to ask them to go.

Two Time finished their pizza and spoke again. “Are you all… going to do anything? Is there a specific schedule you follow?”

Elliot noticed a small crumb on Two Time’s face from the pizza. He leaned closer and moved his hand toward their face.

“Sorry, you’ve got something on your face…”

“Oh! Uh…” Two Time blinked, slightly embarrassed. Elliot squinted and managed to wipe the crumb off, then smiled, pleased.

“Anyway, I’m not too sure if we’ll be doing anything today. The others already went on a run earlier, and they’re pretty worn out, so I highly doubt it.” Elliot continued talking about the others’ daily routines. As he spoke, he noticed how interested Two Time seemed while listening to him, and he couldn’t help but smile. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had actually enjoyed talking to him.

Two Time listened closely as Elliot spoke, trying to absorb as many details as possible in case they needed to go on a run themselves. Though it was hard to focus—they kept thinking about how Elliot had held their face just now… how soft his hands were. It reminded them of yesterday when Elliot had tended to them. How kind he had been. Two Time found themselves distracted, staring at Elliot’s face. His smile was so… beautiful. Two Time envied it. They had always tried to smile after what happened, but they couldn’t quite perfect it. They wondered how Elliot managed to make such a bright, genuine smile..

“Two Time?” Elliot’s voice snapped them out of their thoughts.

“Oh, sorry. What did you say?”

“Oh, I was done talking. You were just… staring at me.” Elliot pushed a bit of his hair out of his face.

“Oh! S-sorry, I zoned out for a second…” Two Time blushed slightly, still staring at Elliot.

“It’s fine!” Elliot smiled again, and Two Time’s gaze drooped a little as they stared at him. They wondered if they could ever manage such a smile. The two sat in silence for a bit, neither knowing what to say next.

“…Do you listen to music?” Elliot asked, looking at Two Time with curiosity.

“Hmmm… I haven’t listened to much.”

Elliot’s smile returned, and he got up. “Well, today’s your double lucky day! Man, did you live under a rock or something?” He hummed as he walked over to his dresser, opening the drawer. Two Time smiled to themselves, excited yet again to learn about something new from Elliot.

Chapter Text

Elliot and Two Time rested on his bed, backs against the soft, comforting fabric as they stared up at the ceiling. Elliot had introduced Two Time to a variety of music genres, and they had listened intently, occasionally questioning certain aspects. The conversation then drifted back to different types of food and other things Two Time was unfamiliar with. Elliot enjoyed teaching them new things, happily answering their questions—even when he wasn’t entirely sure himself.

Two Time seemed to know very little about the world, and Elliot couldn't quite understand why. He wanted to ask but pushed the thought away. It could’ve been personal, and besides, he had no room to judge. After all, he had locked himself away for a while… after what happened. The incident.

Two Time was talking about something, but Elliot’s mind drifted. His eyes slowly closed as he listened to their voice. They sounded so kind. So genuine. So… familiar. Like a voice he hadn’t heard in a long time...

"Ell, you awake?"

His eyes shot open. He wasn’t in his room anymore. He was sitting somewhere, his head resting on a table. He bolted upright at the familiar voice.

"Whoa, hey. Didn’t mean to startle ya. You… okay?"

Jackie. An old co-worker from the pizza place. No—not just a co-worker. She was like family. Always there when Elliot needed her. He blinked at her.

"Helloo? Earth to Ell?" She waved a hand in his face. Elliot shook his head slightly, rubbing his eyes.

"Ah—s-sorry. I must’ve dozed off."

"It’s fine, ya big goof. Have you been sleeping, or are the dreams still messing with you?" She gave him her usual reassuring smile. Elliot couldn’t help but smile back.

"I’ve been sleeping fine. Just… more tired today, is all."

"Uh-huh. Glad to hear that. I hope it’s true." She ruffled his hair, and they both giggled. Jackie always looked out for him.

"Oi! These pizzas ain’t gonna make themselves, you two!"

Elliot and Jackie turned toward the voice. Elliot’s eyes widened—Koru. Another friend. He was hauling boxes from the storage room, likely supplies.

"Also, Elli, you might wanna help Kayce up at the register. Hail just clocked out for the day, and we’ve been wondering where the hell you ran off to."

Koru’s voice always carried a rough edge, but that was just how he was. He refused to call anyone a friend, yet he always made sure everyone was okay.

"Yo! Hail said something about drinks tonight! You coming, K.O?"

Jackie wrapped an arm around Koru’s shoulder, nearly knocking him over.

"If your dumbass keeps slacking off, I just might have to work overtime with Elli to clean your mess!"

Elliot giggled, watching the two bicker. Slowly, he stood and made his way to the registers to help Kayce.

"I’ll take that as a yes. Speaking of overtime, Elli, you gonna show up tonight?"

Elliot glanced back as Jackie gave him pleading eyes. She nudged Koru to do the same, but he only rolled his eyes.

"I’ll… think about it."

Jackie frowned slightly but then smiled—at least it wasn’t a no. She ruffled Koru’s hair, making him curse under his breath as he struggled with the boxes. Elliot smiled at them both before pushing open the door leading to the register area.

Then he stopped dead in his tracks.

Blood was everywhere. Red smeared the walls, dripping from the counters, pooling on the tiled floor. The bodies of innocent people lay scattered around the restaurant, slumped beside tables where they had once sat, laughing, eating, living. Elliot's breath hitched as his eyes landed on a familiar figure sprawled across the counter near the register.

Kayce.

Her lifeless body lay in a growing pool of crimson, the deep gash across her neck seeping out what little life remained. Her wide, terrified eyes glistened with tears that would never fall. Elliot's hands clamped over his mouth. He wanted to puke. He couldn't move. He couldn't think. One of his best friends—gone. Right in front of him.

A scream rang out. Then another. And another.

The voices—so familiar. Koru. Trixie. Markus. Luca. Jackie.

His breath came in ragged gasps as he curled in on himself. The weight of it all pressed down on his chest, crushing him. He was drowning in his own terror. Tears blurred his vision, spilling over as his body trembled. Then—laughter.

High-pitched. Childlike. Sickening.

Elliot’s head snapped up, his blood running cold.

There he was.

The monster that took everything from him.

The tears came faster now, his body shaking violently. Footsteps echoed in the silence, slow and deliberate, each one hammering into his skull like a death toll. He wanted to scream, to run, to fight back—but he couldn't move. He was frozen, paralyzed by fear, by grief, by the weight of his own failure.

Why couldn’t he stop this? Why couldn’t he save them? Why was he so weak?

The footsteps stopped.

Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it—

"ELLIOT!"

His eyes snapped open. He was back in his room. Two Time held him by the shoulders, their face filled with concern.

"A-are you okay? Why are you crying?"

Elliot blinked. He hadn't even realized he was crying.

"D-did I say something wrong? I-I’m sorry if I did—!"

"N-no... you didn’t, you just—uhm—" Elliot’s voice wavered as he struggled to find the right words. Images still flickered in his mind, intrusive and relentless. His body tensed as more tears slipped down his cheeks.

Things had been going so well. Then he had to go and ruin it. Again.

Why did he always do this? Why did he have to break down over something so small? It wasn’t a big deal—at least, that’s what he kept telling himself. Then why did he react this way? Why couldn’t he just push it down and move on?

He hated it.

He hated crying. And yet, he cried so much.

Why couldn’t he stop? Why did he have to be so weak? Why did he always ruin everything?

The spiral tightened around him, pulling him deeper into the suffocating weight of his own thoughts—until suddenly, it all stopped.

A warmth surrounded him.

Two Time had pulled him into a soft embrace, their arms holding him firmly yet gently. Elliot stiffened for a moment before slowly melting into the hug, his hands clutching onto them as he buried his face into their shoulder. The dam broke. Silent sobs wracked his body as the apologies poured out in a choked whisper.

"I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to—"

Two Time didn’t let go. They simply held him, rubbing small, reassuring circles on his back. Their presence alone seemed to say what words couldn’t.

"It’s okay. I’m here."

Two Time was… panicked, to say the least. One moment, they were talking about a song, and the next, Elliot was crying right in front of them. They hadn't meant to yell his name, but he had been completely out of it.

A flashback, they assumed. Two Time had experienced plenty of those—sometimes mistaking them for hallucinations. They were never pleasant. They were fragments of the past, and whatever Elliot had just seen… it had shattered him.

They had heard him whisper a name, but it was too faint to make out.

Regardless, they were going to help him through this. Elliot had done so much for them. The least they could do was be there for him now. They would hold him for as long as he needed. They would always be there for him from now on.

After what felt like forever, Elliot’s sobs quieted. He pulled away, wiping his eyes.

"I’m s-so sorry about that—I-I—"

"It’s okay, Elliot. Please don’t apologize." Two Time offered him a reassuring smile. Elliot kept his gaze down, avoiding eye contact.

"I don’t know why I started crying like that. God, I’m really sorry…" He covered his face with his hands.

Two Time tried to lighten the mood attempting to move away from the topic. "I don’t blame you. This song kinda makes me want to tear up too."

Elliot uncovered his face, letting out a small giggle. Relief washed over Two Time—they weren’t great at jokes, but at least this one worked. Elliot wiped his face once more smiling back at the other.

A knock on the door made them turn.

"Come in," Elliot called.

The door cracked open, and Noob peeked inside. "Uh… Me, Guest, Chance, and, uh… Seven are going on a run soon. I wanted to see if you’d come?"

Elliot sighed, glancing at Two Time before looking back at Noob. "I see Guest changed his mind. Sure, just give me a moment."

Noob’s face lit up. "Two Time, you should come too! Good chance to show you the ropes."

Two Time hesitated, looking at Elliot, who smiled and nodded.

"S-sure. That would be nice."

Noob grinned. "Great! See you soon!" They shut the door behind them.

Two Time turned to Elliot. "Am I… going to regret that answer?"

Elliot chuckled. "Oh yeah."

Chapter Text

Two Time walked alongside Elliot as the six of them made their way down the winding path. Their eyes scanned their surroundings, taking in every detail while keeping pace with the others. The warmth of the cabin still lingered in their mind, a stark contrast to the cool breeze that now brushed against their skin. Conversations buzzed around them, a familiar white noise in the background, but their attention flickered between their feet and the peculiar sight of the pizza box strapped to Elliot’s back.

Before the group had left, Elliot had whipped up another batch of pizza. At first, Two Time assumed it was for a snack break, but Elliot had insisted that it was more than that. Once the pizza was finished baking, he cut it into eight perfectly even slices before retrieving a ‘special’ pizza box from a small closet in the kitchen. The box itself was no different from the others he had used before, except for one key feature—a sturdy black strap attached to its sides, allowing it to be worn like a backpack. Two Time lowered their gaze again, closing their eyes momentarily before opening them with a small, content smile as they listened to the chatter around them.

“We’re here.”

Guest’s voice snapped Two Time out of their thoughts, prompting them to look up.

“Alright, you all know the drill. The faster we get these generators up and running, the quicker we can get out of here.” Guest’s tone was as gruff as ever.

Chance nudged him with a smirk. “Lighten up, Guest! Plus, we’ve got a newbie on our hands—gotta show ‘em the ropes sometime, right?”

Both of them turned to glance at Two Time, who felt a bead of sweat trickle down their forehead. Slowly, they inched closer to Elliot as if seeking some form of protection. Elliot giggled at their reaction before turning to face them completely.

“Don’t worry, Two Time! I’ll stick by you and teach ya! You’ll be finishing these generators in no time!” His grin was bright and reassuring. Two Time, still smiling, simply nodded in response.

“I could come along too… In case you need to run off and help someone?” Noob suggested in a quiet but audible voice.

“Of course, Noob! That would be great!” Elliot beamed at the yellow Robloxian just as warmly as he had at Two Time.

Guest stretched his arms before adding, “Alright. Just stay on guard. If anything seems off, stay cautious and safe.”

“You got it!” Chance gave Guest a hearty pat on the shoulder, flipping his coin as he walked off. The others soon split up, leaving Noob, Elliot, and Two Time to stick together.

Two Time stayed close to their small group, keeping up as they ran. They weren’t entirely sure what to expect but wanted to remain within reach of Elliot or Noob in case of an emergency. Still, they weren’t overly concerned, their smile never faltering. The area around them was littered with white walls placed seemingly at random, with trees sporadically growing in between. Eventually, the three slowed down, walking along the gray path.

Turning a corner, Two Time spotted a small red and black machine resting in front of a tree. They blinked, curiosity flickering across their face as they approached it. Elliot kneeled beside the strange device, patting its side before looking up at Two Time.

“These are the generators Guest mentioned! They’re one of the main reasons we go on these runs. Generators keep power running in different areas, and without them, we’re left in the dark.”

Two Time tilted their head slightly. It didn’t seem like the generator was running at all. But before they could voice their thoughts, Elliot beat them to it.

“Ah—I know what you’re thinking! ‘That doesn’t look like it’s on to me!’ And you’d be right!” He opened a side hatch, revealing a mess of broken wires inside. Noob mirrored his actions on the other side of the generator.

“The killers tend to sabotage these a lot, which is why we have to fix them constantly. No generators, no power, and we definitely don’t want that!” Elliot waved his hand, motioning for Two Time to kneel in front of the generator. They did so hesitantly, opening their own hatch to reveal more tangled, damaged wires.

“It looks complicated, but it’s actually really easy! Just match the wires by color—blue to blue, red to red, pink to pink… Well, you get the idea.” Elliot scooted closer, grabbing a broken green wire and tying it securely to its other half. After finishing the demonstration, he moved back to give Two Time some space.

“That’s all there is to it! You got it?”

Two Time blinked, then smiled, nodding. “I-if I need help, I’ll ask.”

They studied the wires carefully before selecting a broken purple one. After locating its missing half, they connected the two, tying them tightly. They repeated the process several more times until—

A bright green flash emitted from the machine, making Two Time flinch.

“You’re doing amazing! That bar tells us how much power each generator has. Our goal is to fill it completely for every single one!” Elliot gave them a thumbs-up.

“How many generators do we need to fix?” Two Time asked, tilting their head.

“There are usually three to five, depending on the area.”

Two Time nodded, focusing back on the wires. The task was almost like a child’s puzzle. It was… fun, in a way. The more they thought about it, the more they realized how much they enjoyed this kind of work. Simple tasks, supply runs, the freedom to move as they pleased—how could anyone find this tiring?

But then, they remembered something crucial.

They weren’t alone.

A sudden explosion echoed in the distance, shaking the ground beneath them.

“...What was that?” Two Time asked, standing up from the generator.

“T-that sounded like Chance’s—” Noob started to say, but his sentence was cut short by the abrupt appearance of jagged spikes shooting up from the ground.

“TWO TIME, LOOK OUT!!”

Before they could react, a force shoved them backward. The world spun as they hit the ground, breath catching in their throat. When they turned their gaze toward the spikes, their blood ran cold.

Elliot was on the other side, bleeding. Badly.

Their heart skipped a beat. Someone grabbed their arm, yanking them up. Noob. Their grip was firm as they tried to pull Two Time away.

“Elliot, a-are you—”

“Get them to the other side of the area. I’ll find Chance. Don’t worry about me, Noob. Just keep Two Time safe and as far away from the killer as possible.”

Elliot’s tone was sharp, leaving no room for argument. Noob hesitated but nodded. Two Time, however, struggled.

“What about Elliot? He’s bleeding—”

“I know, Two Time! But we have to go! The faster we finish the generators, the faster we can leave! Elliot will find a medkit—we’ll still be helping him! I promise!”

Two Time stared into Noob’s eyes. Finish the generators. Get back to the cabin. They clenched their fists and nodded.

Together, they ran along the path.

Elliot stumbled around the map, desperately searching for Chance. He attempted to follow the spikes, retracing their path. After what felt like an eternity, he finally found where they ended. Moving to the other side of the wall, he spotted a faint black trail fading in the distance. Without hesitation, Elliot sprinted after it, struggling to keep up. As he turned a sharp corner, nearly losing his balance, he saw Chance flipping his coin just a few feet away from John Doe.

Elliot’s heart pounded as he reached for the pizza box strapped to his back, quickly pulling out a slice. Pressing his fingers to his lips, he let out a sharp whistle, catching Chance’s attention.

"Down to SEVEN!"

Elliot hurled the pizza slice through the air. Chance grinned, leaping up to snatch it before shoving it into his mouth. Without missing a beat, he pulled out his gun and turned to the killer. Elliot's eyes widened in panic.

BAM.

John Doe staggered back from the shot as Chance glanced back at Elliot.

"Glad to have received the help, pal!" Chance tipped his hat before dashing away from John Doe. Elliot let out a breath of relief before ducking around a corner to get out of sight. He leaned against a tree, his breathing heavy as he glanced down at his side. Blood dripped onto his pants, his shirt torn from the spikes, and a gash marked his arm. Trembling, he forced himself forward, scanning the forest for a medkit.

Two Time finished the final puzzle as the generator roared to life. Rising quickly, they took off with Noob in search of another. Based on their information, two generators had been completed with Noob, two more with Seven and Guest, and Guest had completed one solo. That meant only one remained.

"There should only be one left. Any idea where it is?" Two Time glanced at Noob.

"U-uhm… it might be somewhere in the open! We haven't checked there yet!"

Two Time nodded, sprinting towards the middle, maintaining their shaky smile. They hadn't seen Elliot since the round began and hoped to run into him soon. As they rounded a corner, they failed to check their surroundings—

Pain shot up their leg, spreading rapidly through their body. Two Time gasped, looking down. Some kind of infection pulsed from the ground, transferring into them. A presence loomed nearby—not close, but rapidly approaching.

"Shit- Shit- SHIT!" Noob cried out, eyes darting frantically.

"Oh no, no, no... C-can you move, Two Time?" Noob asked, panicked.

Two Time attempted a step forward, but every movement sent searing pain through their body. Running was impossible. They trembled but kept their smile, though the presence felt closer now. A dark figure moved toward them—were they hallucinating?

"TWO TIME!!!"

Claws dug into their arm, hurling them backward. Whatever had affected them vanished as adrenaline surged through their veins. Scrambling up, they stared at the figure before them. It had a sickly yellow hue, a deformed right arm shaped like a spike, red binary code etched across its limbs. A glowing red eye burned from its face, surrounded by a black substance.

The creature raised its arm, poised to strike—but this time, Two Time moved.

They launched themselves to the side, narrowly avoiding the slash.

"Try to get him off your trail! I-I'll find someone!" Noob shouted as Two Time darted off, the killer close behind.

Elliot finally found a medkit near a finished generator. His wounds weren’t fully treated, but they would have to do. Only two slices of pizza remained; he had used the rest healing Guest, Chance, and Seven. He hadn’t run into Two Time or Noob, which he hoped meant they were safe. Carefully, he stepped out of his hiding spot, scanning the area for any sign of the killer.

Just as he turned a corner—

"E-Elliot!"

Noob stumbled forward, clearly out of breath. Elliot quickly jogged over, allowing Noob to lean against his shoulder.

"Noob, are you alright? You don’t look well! Also, where’s—"

"They’re… huff being chased… huff Killer…"

Elliot’s stomach dropped. He didn’t wait for further explanation. Almost immediately, he sprinted in the direction Noob had come from, nearly knocking them over in his urgency.

"Stay back and catch your breath! If you see Guest or anyone, tell them immediately!"

Sweat dripped down Elliot’s face as he pushed himself faster. He didn’t know how long Two Time had been running, or how injured they might be. Panic settled in as he forced himself forward.

Two Time was panicking. They had managed to loop the killer multiple times, skillfully dodging its attacks. They hadn’t been hit in a while, but exhaustion and weakness gnawed at them. That didn’t matter right now—they needed to focus.

The killer swung again. Two Time twisted sharply, dashing past its side in the opposite direction. The creature growled in frustration, giving chase. Two Time risked a glance back—

Their foot caught on a tree root.

They tumbled forward, crashing onto their face. Pain jolted through them as they scrambled to rise, but their foot was stuck. A low growl rumbled behind them, footsteps drawing closer. Desperately, they yanked at their leg, but the root held firm. A shadow loomed over them.

One last tug—

Their leg came free.

But as they scrambled up, the killer raised its arm, poised for the final strike.

Chapter Text

Two Time closed their eyes, bracing for the impact of the claws—but it never came. Blinking in confusion, they looked up to see someone standing in front of them.

Guest stood firm, blocking the attack.

"GO!" he shouted before pulling his arm back and landing a solid punch on the killer, pushing them back with a crunching sound. Two Time scrambled to their feet and rushed down the trail, running as far as they could before stopping to catch their breath.

Elliot ran, dodging most of the trees in his way. Panic gripped him as he realized he had no idea where Two Time was. Turning a corner, he skidded to a halt, eyes widening as he spotted Guest fending off John Doe. The killer slammed his foot into the ground, summoning spikes from below. Elliot seized his chance.

"GUEST!" He pulled a slice from his box, raising it high. Guest glanced over just as the spikes emerged.

"ONE LEFT!" Elliot launched the slice as the spikes closed in. Just in time, Guest snatched it from the air and darted out of the way. Elliot exhaled in relief before running off again. He was glad Two Time wasn’t being pursued, but he still didn’t know how badly they were hurt.

Two Time leaned against a wall, gripping their injured arm. Three deep scars bled sluggishly, the crimson liquid trailing down their skin. Their abdomen ached from older wounds, making them wonder if they should have stayed behind.

"Two Time!"

Their head snapped up, muscles tensing as they prepared to flee—but it was only Elliot.

"E-Elliot! Thank The Spawn you're alright!" Two Time rushed over, scanning him for injuries.

"Did you find a medkit? Are you okay?" They lifted his arms, checking his torn, bloodstained shirt for wounds. Before they could continue, Elliot grabbed their shoulders and pushed them back, concern flashing in his eyes.

"Are YOU okay!? You're literally the one bleeding out!" Two Time blinked, momentarily forgetting their own condition.

"Well, I feel alright. But I’m more concerned about you! It's my fault you got hurt so badly—"

"No, it’s not, Two Time!" Elliot cut them off firmly. "I could have let you take that hit, but I chose to step in. That was my decision, not yours!"

He held their hands gently. Two Time’s smile faded slightly as they stared at him, lost in thought. Elliot sighed about to speak before Seven walked over.

"The generators are done.. The others are keeping John occupied—we should get moving," Seven muttered, avoiding eye contact.

"We’ll be there," Elliot said bluntly. He turned back to Two Time, giving them a reassuring smile before taking their hand and following the others.

The group retraced their path in silence, waiting for Chance to catch up. Two Time nibbled on a slice of pizza Elliot had given them, while Noob fidgeted with their hands. Elliot chatted with Guest, but his expression remained troubled.

"Are you sure he can lead John off our trail?" Elliot asked, resting his chin on his hand.

"He better. That’s all I’m gonna say," Guest huffed, crossing his arms. Before he could continue, the group turned at the sound of hurried footsteps.

"I stunned John, but we still need to make sure he gets off our trail!" Chance shouted, adjusting his hat. The others quickly gathered their things and took off running as Chance caught up with them. They sprinted for a few minutes before finally deciding they were far enough away. Slowing their pace, they walked toward the cabin, their breathing still heavy from the escape.

The group broke into conversation—some chatting about the run, others reminiscing about past ones. Two Time, however, remained silent, clutching their arm. The wound wasn’t fully healed, but at least the bleeding had stopped, thanks to Elliot’s pizza. They still didn’t understand how it worked, and they made a mental note to ask him later.

Their gaze shifted to Elliot, watching as he spoke with Noob. Then, their eyes drifted to his abdomen, remembering how he had been bleeding not too long ago. Looking back at their own arm, they felt a small smile form on their lips.

When they got back to the cabin, they were going to help Elliot with his scars—just like he had helped them.

Inside the cabin, Guest had decided to walk Two Time through the locks. They struggled with a few keys but caught on quickly.

"Well, look at the newbie! You got those locks down faster than Elliot did his first time!" Chance laughed, clapping them on the back.

Elliot rolled his eyes while Guest secured the door. The others gathered in the living room, where Builderman and Shedletsky were playing cards.

"How’d it go?" Builderman asked, holding two cards. Shedletsky had a frustrated expression, gripping nearly nine.

"Not bad!" Chance grinned, hanging up his suit.

"Chance’s gun exploded on his first shot," Elliot added, putting away his pizza box. Builderman chuckled, while Shedletsky groaned and picked up another card.

"Sounds like Chance. One," Builderman said, placing his second-to-last card down.

"You cheating son of a bitch!" Shedletsky shot up slamming his cards down, pointing accusingly. " You're supposed to say ‘Uno’ when you only got one card left! "

"I said ‘One’!" Builderman defended.

" You're SUPPOSED to say Uno! Its a mexican game! " Shedletsky crossed his arms sitting himself back down.

"No, the hell it ain’t! Just ‘cause it’s in Spanish don’t mean it is!" Builderman narrowed his eyes at Shed crossing his arms as well.

"Shut up and play already! I wanna join!" Chance said impatiently.

"C-Can I play too?" Noob asked shyly, sipping a Bloxy Cola.

"Of course! One, out." Builderman said, laying his final card down. Shedletsky groaned in defeat.

"Whatever! I’m winning the next round!" He threw his cards onto the table. Chance shuffled the deck as Guest sat down near the group. Two Time smiled, enjoying the moment. They turned to see Elliot—

Wait. Where was Elliot?

They glanced around, but he was gone. Peeking down the dim hallway, they saw a door click shut.

"Ey! New guy! You joining?"

Two Time jumped slightly, turning back to face the group sitting on the ground. Chance held the deck of cards, ready to deal, but he seemed to be waiting for an answer.

"Oh—N-no, I—uh, I can join another time. Thank you for the offer." Two Time smiled, scratching the back of their head and waving a hand dismissively.

"Tsk, it's fine if you're scared, newbie! I'd be pretty intimidated by myself too." Chance smirked as he began dealing the cards.

"Didn't you lose to me when it was only my second time playing?" Noob asked, tapping a finger against their chin.

"Hah… beginner’s luck… that’s all it was! Let’s see if that’s gonna help you today!" Chance chuckled, finishing up the deal. The group laughed as the game kicked off, while Two Time quietly slipped away down the hallway, heading toward Elliot’s room.

Elliot sighed as he pulled a medkit from his dresser. Unbuttoning his shirt, he winced at the messily placed bandages wrapped around his side. With another sigh, he slid the fabric off his arms, tossing it onto the side of his bed.

"Would you mind if I… helped you?"

Elliot nearly fell off the bed, whipping his head toward the door. Two Time stood there, hands clasped together.

"You have GOT to stop doing that," Elliot muttered with a chuckle. Two Time laughed softly as they stepped closer, and Elliot scooted over to make room on the bed.

"Well, m-may I?" Two Time asked, turning to face him fully.

"Oh—uh, I wouldn’t want to put you through the trouble—"

"Elliot. Please. I really don’t mind," Two Time interrupted, their voice firm yet gentle.

Elliot hesitated for a moment, staring at them before feeling his face warm slightly.

"Well… ah—alright then."

Two Time clapped their hands together in a small, excited gesture before pulling the medkit closer. As they reached out to remove the bandages, they paused, glancing up at Elliot.

"I-Is it okay if I—?"

"Y-Yeah! Go ahead."

Two Time carefully peeled away the bloodied bandages. Elliot flinched slightly, hissing at the sting, but let them continue. As his scars were revealed, Two Time tapped their chin in thought before selecting the necessary supplies. They worked slowly, cautious with each movement. Elliot assisted where he could—holding the bandages in place, giving small instructions—but for the most part, the room remained quiet.

"Do you eat your own pizzas?" Two Time suddenly asked, breaking the silence as they reached for another item from the medkit. "If not, why don’t you?"

Elliot blinked, caught off guard.

"Well—uhm… I… I guess I don’t?" He frowned slightly, as if only now realizing it himself. "I usually save them for the team. I don’t want to run out too quickly."

"But you’re part of the team too, aren’t you?" Two Time asked, looking up at him.

"Well—yeah, but… I—uh…" Elliot stammered, struggling to find the right words. When his gaze met Two Time’s, he faltered.

"I guess I just… don’t think about myself that way? I’m not too sure, honestly." He exhaled, looking away.

Two Time, now finishing the final wrap, studied him for a moment before speaking again.

"Then you should." They tilted their head slightly, expression softening. "You’re just as important—if not more important—than everyone else, right?"

Elliot felt his face heat up again.

"I mean, at least I think so," Two Time added with a small smile. "A medic is a pretty important role."

They packed up the medkit putting it to the side of his bed and stood, heading toward the door.

"The bathroom is to the left, correct?"

"Oh—y-yeah! The room at the end, it should be open."

Two Time gave him another smile before stepping out, closing the door behind them.

Elliot sat still, hands in his lap, staring down at his feet.

' You're just as important. I mean, at least I think so.'

His eyes flickered to the fresh bandages, then back down.

Nobody had ever told him that before.

Chapter Text

After the door shut, Elliot sat in silence for a moment, the silence settling around him like dust in the air. The room felt quieter than usual, as if holding its breath along with him. After a few minutes alone with his thoughts, he finally moved, rising from the bed with a soft sigh and making his way to the dresser. He rummaged through the drawers, pulling out a clean pair of pants and a soft, well-worn shirt for himself. As he dressed, his thoughts drifted back to Two Time. Their clothes were still torn and stained—he hadn’t gotten the chance to wash them yet. After a pause, he opened another drawer and sifted through the extra clothes, searching for something that might fit them. It wasn’t perfect—worn jeans, a hoodie a little too big—but it was better than what they had. He folded the clothes neatly and placed them on the chair near the door, making a mental note to keep an eye out for better clothes options the next time they went on a supply run. Something that would actually be theirs.

Once changed, Elliot sat back on the bed and leaned against the wall, intending to wait for Two Time’s return. He had more questions—things he wanted to know, things he needed to understand. There was one question in particular that had been lingering in the back of his mind, unspoken but heavy. But the longer he waited, the more his eyes began to blur. He hadn’t realized how tired he was until the quiet lulled him into stillness.

His thoughts drifted, growing fuzzier with each passing second. And before he knew it, his eyes closed as he drifted off.

Two Time walked down the dim hallway, their steps quiet on the wooden floor. They turned into a doorway on the left and reached for the switch. The sudden brightness of the bathroom light flared to life, making them wince as their eyes adjusted.

They stepped inside and shut the door behind them with a soft click before turning the lock. The sound was small, but final. For a moment, they simply stood there, staring into the mirror. Their reflection looked back with the same practiced smile—but it didn’t last. The corners of their mouth faltered, and the expression faded into something hollow. They sighed, breaking eye contact with themselves as they looked down. Fingers fidgeted against each other, nervous energy radiating through their limbs. Even though the room was empty, they glanced around, as if expecting someone to step out from the shadows.

No one did.

Slowly, they reached down and tugged up their pant leg, revealing a dagger strapped securely against their thigh. The leather holster hugged it tightly—custom-fit, familiar. Their hand hovered for a moment, then closed around the hilt. They pulled it free with a slow, deliberate motion. As the blade slid out, the metal caught the light, gleaming cold and sharp.

Their pants slipped back down over their leg as they stood still, the dagger now trembling in their grasp. They stared at the blade. Their reflection wavered across its surface—distorted, wrong. Their breathing grew uneven, sharp with tension. Sweat beaded at their brow.

They clutched the dagger tighter and held it close to their chest, eyes closing as their breath turned ragged.

Why did they do it?

What have you done?

The words weren’t loud. They didn’t have to be. They whispered through their mind like a memory they couldn't shut off—like a truth they hadn’t yet faced.

Two Time’s eyes flew open, drenched in a panicked sweat. Their chest heaved, air catching in their throat as they tried to orient themselves. The dagger was still clutched tightly in their trembling hands, but something was wrong.

The bathroom was gone.

Everything around them had changed. The air smelled different—familiar, warm, and painfully nostalgic. They blinked rapidly, their vision swimming until it settled—and when it did, their heart nearly stopped.

They were standing in front of a house.

Their house.

Home. Or… what used to be.

Two Time’s breath caught in their throat. It was exactly the same—every chipped piece of siding, the crooked porch railing, the windchimes that never chimed quite right. A haunting familiarity wrapped itself around their body like a cold chain. This was the place they had once laughed, lived, loved. The place where they stayed with—

Him.

The place where they had felt the most welcome. The most safe.

The place where everything—

Died.

A twisted smile began to creep onto Two Time’s face. It wasn’t joy, not even close. It was the kind of smile that stretched too wide, one born of panic and disbelief. A way to cope. A way to deny.

This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. Right?

"Go forward."

The whisper slithered through the air like smoke. Two Time’s head whipped around, eyes scanning desperately—but there was no one there.

They began to sweat again, their breath quickening. Their hands clenched tighter around the dagger.

“What…?” they whispered, barely audible.

"DO IT."

The second voice was louder, harsher. Two Time recoiled violently, their body spinning around just as their knees gave out. They hit the ground hard, the dagger slipping from their hand and landing beside them with a dull clink.

Panic rose in their throat like bile. They gasped, trying to breathe, trying to claw their way back into control. Blinking over and over, they dug their fingers into their scalp, pulling at their hair. The trembling only got worse. That damn smile—why was it still there? Why wouldn’t it stop?

They glanced to the side.

The dagger.

Their reflection stared back at them in the blade’s surface, distorted, wide-eyed, terrified. Their hands reached for it again, despite every part of them screaming not to. They curled their fingers around the hilt and slowly rose, limbs shaking beneath the weight of their dread.

The house loomed in front of them like a grave.

Each step toward the porch felt heavier than the last, as though the very ground was trying to hold them back. The creaking boards beneath their feet howled like ghosts. It was just a dream, they told themself. Just a memory. Just a hallucination. If they finished this—if they did what needed to be done—they’d wake up. They had to. One step at a time. Just get it over with.

They reached the top stair, their hand reaching out, inching toward the doorknob. It trembled violently, and their breath hitched—

"I hope they'll like it..."

The voice stopped them cold.

Familiar. Soft. Kind.

Two Time froze. They blinked, as if that would shatter the illusion—but it didn't. Carefully, cautiously, they backed away from the door and turned toward the window beside it. With hesitant steps, they approached and peered inside.

And there he was.

Azure.

He sat inside the living room, moving gently around the small space. He was setting up two chairs, smoothing down a tablecloth. On the table, beside one seat, sat a small, neatly wrapped gift—paper slightly wrinkled, but clearly handled with care. His expression was peaceful, almost excited. A faint smile touched his lips as he took his seat beside the second, empty chair.

"I hope they haven’t forgotten..." he murmured, his voice muffled by the glass but unmistakably real.

Two Time stepped back from the window, stumbling slightly before sitting down hard against the front door. Their arms wrapped tightly around their knees, pulling themself into a ball. The dagger remained clutched in one hand, held close like a guilty secret.

They couldn't do it.

They had already done enough.

Why did they do it? They didn’t even know anymore. But they should’ve talked to him. They should’ve asked. They should’ve told him. Anything—anything would’ve been better than silence.

It was their fault.

It was your fault.

What have you done?

Two Time was snapped out of their thoughts by a sharp knock on the door. Their head perked up, eyes wide as they blinked—the bathroom had returned. The house, Azure, the whispering—it was all gone.

"Anyone in there?" Another knock. This one finally got them moving.

They quickly stood up, pulling their pants leg back down and carefully sliding the dagger into its sheath. As they did, they paused. A sharp sting pulsed from their arm. They looked down, noticing for the first time a fresh cut slowly bleeding out. Had they…?

They must’ve been pressing the blade into their skin while sitting—whether they meant to or not, they weren’t sure. A sigh escaped their lips. They wiped their face, smoothing their expression, forcing a smile just in time to unlock and open the door.

Standing there was Chance, flipping a coin between his fingers as usual.

"There ya are—geez! Y’know we only got one of these ‘round here, right?" he said, grinning.

Two Time instinctively hid their arm behind their back, smile still holding.

"M-my apologies. I’ll have to keep that in mind," they said, nodding slightly. Chance tilted his head, eyes narrowing just a bit.

"Ya… got something back there?" He pointed at their arm, his smile faltering—though not vanishing completely.

Two Time panicked, quickly tucking both arms behind their back. "N-NO! Not at all! Why do you ask?"

Their voice cracked just slightly as sweat began to bead at their forehead. Chance blinked. His brow furrowed for a split second before his signature smirk returned.

"Nope—nooooot buyin’ it, newbie. You can’t fool me that easy." He winked.

"I’ll be takin’ care of that arm for ya, don’t cha' worry! Chance’s got it covered." He popped his collar with exaggerated flair. Two Time blinked, confused, just before Chance clapped a hand on their shoulder and guided them back into the bathroom. They watched, startled, as he crouched and pulled a medkit from under the sink.

"Come on, give it here—don’t be stubborn, ‘kay?" Chance reached out a hand. Two Time hesitated before slowly revealing their arm.

The wound was fresh, still bleeding. Chance’s eyes narrowed slightly as he examined it.

"Ooo—yeah, I see why you tried to hide this thing..." he muttered, holding their arm gently. For a brief moment, the usual grin was gone- but it didn’t take long to return.

"But have no fear—Chance is right here!" he declared, pulling out gauze and bandages with enthusiasm.

Two Time stayed quiet, watching as he cleaned the wound. He wasn’t as delicate as Elliot, but his movements were careful—sincere. He didn’t rush. When he finished, he wrapped the arm snugly and gave it a firm nod of approval.

"There ya go. See? Wasn’t that hard now, was it?"

He glanced up, waiting for a response. Two Time just stared, a quiet smile still on their face.

“...I’ll take that as a yes,” Chance chuckled, standing up and putting the medkit away. As he started toward the door, he paused, hand on the knob.

"How’d ya get that scar anyway?" He turned slightly. Two Time jolted upright, caught off guard.

"T-the killer got a small hit on me," they answered too quickly, fingers fidgeting against each other.

"Elliot didn’t patch it up for ya? You two were in the room for a while. And that looks… pretty recent," Chance said, brows raised.

Two Time’s panic returned. Their hands shook again, breath hitching. But Chance stepped forward, placing a hand gently on their shoulder.

"Hey. Don’t worry, you don’t gotta tell me nothin’ you don’t wanna—I ain’t gonna force ya." He gave them a reassuring pat.

"We’re all friends and family here. This is your new home, Two Time. I just wanna make sure you feel as welcome as I did, ‘kay?"

He extended a hand, waiting. But Two Time just looked at it. Their smile faded. They stared at his hand… then looked down at their own, holding their freshly bandaged arm. No words came. Chance let the moment linger before pulling his hand back with a quiet chuckle.

"It takes a while to get used to. No pressure. I’m sure you’ll come around soon."

He tipped his hat and stepped out into the hallway, whistling softly as laughter from the living room echoed down the corridor. Two Time stayed frozen in place for a moment.

"This is your new home."

They looked down at their arm. Tears welled in their eyes, just for a second—but they blinked them away quickly. A soft smile tugged at their lips. This one… didn’t feel fake.

They turned off the bathroom light, gently closed the door behind them, and began walking back to Elliot’s room. Each step lighter than the last.

Two Time quietly opened the door, peeking inside before slipping in. Their eyes landed on Elliot, fast asleep on his bed, sprawled on top of the blankets.

"Oh... he must’ve fallen asleep waiting for me. Ah— I hope not..." They mumbled softly to themself, their smile faltering.

They stepped quietly across the room, standing over Elliot for a brief moment. Watching him breathe slowly, peacefully. A warm smile returned to their face. With careful hands, they gently lifted and shifted him, turning him so his head rested properly on the pillows. Then, they reached for the blanket at the end of the bed and pulled it over him, tucking it lightly around his shoulders.

They stood there for a few extra seconds, just smiling down at him.

Then, turning away, they padded over to their little corner and began tidying up—fluffing pillows, smoothing blankets, making the space feel... theirs. That’s when they noticed the folded clothes left on the dresser. A quiet look of appreciation crossed their face as they picked them up. Two Time stepped into the closet to change. When they returned, they neatly folded their worn clothes and placed them on the side of Elliot’s dresser, careful not to disturb anything.

Before settling in, they walked back to Elliot’s bedside. Just one last glance. One more soft smile. Then they reached out and turned off the small lamp beside him, casting the room into gentle darkness. Finally, they made their way back to their spot, crawling under the blankets. Laying on their back, they stared at the ceiling—dark, still, and quiet.

"A new home," they whispered to themself.

A smile crept onto their face, calm and genuine. Their eyes slowly began to close, warmth filling their chest as they breathed in the silence.

"This is... my new home. I’m... welcomed here. I’m... safe."

Their eyes shut fully now. Their smile remaining.

Chapter Text

Elliot blinked as his eyes started to open. He rubbed them slowly, yawning as he sat up in his bed. He blinked a few times, a little confused about how he had ended up in his current position. He didn’t remember lying down this way, or even deciding to cover himself up. Yawning again, Elliot decided to brush it off and begin his day. He shifted to the side of the bed and swung his legs over the edge. Running a hand through his hair, he rubbed his eyes and glanced over at his alarm clock.

5:04 a.m.

Elliot sighed and stretched his arms out before standing up from the bed. He walked over to his drawers and picked out some clothes. Since he was up so early, he figured it would be a good time for a shower. A cold shower would most likely wake him up, which was exactly what he needed. After grabbing his clothes and towel, his eyes caught sight of Two Time’s neatly folded old clothes, along with the ones they had worn when they first met, sitting on the side of his dresser. Elliot smiled to himself, picking up both sets of clothing in a pile, happy to finally be washing them. He also noticed that Two Time's original shirt had some cuts and holes in it, so he decided he’d stitch it up for them as well. Before leaving his room, he glanced over at the pallet he had made for Two Time. They were resting on it with a small smile on their face. Elliot smiled too, opening his door and closing it quietly behind him.

Elliot walked into the kitchen, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. He set the dirty clothes down near the washing machine.

“Mmhmm...” he muttered, rubbing his eyes and letting out a small yawn. He really needed that shower. Scratching his head again, he made his way to the bathroom with his clean clothes and towel tucked under his arm. He flipped on the light, the brightness blinding him, and squinted. After a sigh, he placed his clothes down and turned on the shower, leaving the handle in the cold section. After undressing, he stepped into the shower, shivering as the cold water hit his skin, making his heart rate spike.

After his shower, Elliot already felt more awake, his body buzzing with energy. He quickly put on his new set of clothes, then walked out of the bathroom with his dirty clothes in hand, ready to toss them in the washer. As he walked down the hallway, he noticed someone had turned the lights on in the kitchen. He smiled slightly, realizing he wasn’t the only early riser in the house. He continued down the hall, the walls no longer blocking his view, and saw—

007n7.

Elliot stopped in his tracks, his smile instantly fading into a frown. Seven, who had noticed him out of the corner of his eye while making himself a cup of coffee, also frowned. But his expression seemed more sad than angry. The two of them stared at each other, the silence stretching on for what felt like an eternity.

"...G-good morning, Elliot..." Seven stuttered. There was clear hesitance in his voice, but Elliot didn’t care. He let out a loud sigh before continuing to walk toward the washer.

"Morning," Elliot spat out, not even glancing at him. Seven stayed silent, his attention returning to his coffee cup.

"I-if those were your clothes, I already put them in the washer for you. I... I wasn’t sure if you had a specific way you wash them, so I didn’t start it yet..." Seven muttered, almost as if he didn’t want to be heard. Elliot shot him a nasty side-eye, despite the fact that Seven was fully turned around.

"You shouldn’t have. Really. You shouldn’t have." Elliot replied, his voice thick with annoyance. He shifted over to the washer, grabbing some detergent from the shelf.

"I’m sorry, I just wanted to—"

"Of course you're sorry. You know, I wasn’t even going to speak to you originally. I don’t understand why you constantly try to make conversation with me, Seven." Elliot glared at him. Seven, still holding his cup with both hands, looked back at him, his hands slightly shaking. Elliot scoffed.

"'I just wanted to help,' is that what you were going to say?" Elliot stared at Seven, who simply looked down at his cup. He didn’t need to answer.

"Well, I don’t want your help, okay? Do you get that? I don’t want anything to do with you, and you know exactly why. So stop trying to change that." Elliot looked back at the clothes as he finished up. After he turned on the washer, he looked back and noticed that Seven had gone.

"Good riddance." He muttered, sighing to himself. Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself that it was a new day. After finishing up with the clothes, Elliot decided to start breakfast.

Two Time blinked as their eyes slowly began to open. They slowly sat up from their blanket, rubbing their eyes slightly. As they did, the blanket fell, uncovering the top half of their body. A small shiver ran through them, and they hugged themself, their eyes drooping again.

"Elliot must really like sleeping in a cool environment..." They whispered softly. A small smile crept onto their face. They were glad the cold didn’t bother them too much. Looking over at Elliot’s bed, they quickly noticed that he wasn’t there, and the bed seemed a bit messy. With a small yawn, Two Time slowly rose from their pallet, fixing the area a little. They glanced at Elliot’s small alarm clock on the side of his bed.

7:44 a.m.

Two Time yawned again, stretching their arms out, their tail wiggling slightly behind them. Looking back over at Elliot’s bed, they decided to tidy it up for him. They dusted it off, fluffed the pillows, and tucked the blankets in carefully on the sides. After finishing, they smiled to themself, yawning once more. Two Time then took a deep breath...

Suddenly, their eyes widened slightly. They smelled something in the air. Something good. They sniffed again, turning towards Elliot’s door. Whatever the smell was, it seemed to be coming from the kitchen. Two Time slowly started inching toward the door, hand outstretched to grab the handle. They weren’t sure what the smell was, but they were dying to find out.

"Hot hashbrowns coming in! Hot plate, out the way!"

Elliot held a metal tray as he walked over to the table, placing it down along with the rest of the food.

"Chance, move! You’re gonna make me drop the juice!" Shedletsky nudged Chance over, holding two large bottles under his arms.

"Sorry, I’m trying to get the silverware!" Chance scoffed as he stepped back, looking through the kitchen drawers for spoons and forks.

"I’ve got the cups!!" Noob called out, holding a stack of cups in their hands.

Pretty much everyone in the cabin was awake by now, all chipper and excited for breakfast. Every time someone new had joined the group, Elliot had made it a small tradition to have a big breakfast with everyone, as a kind of welcoming. He always cooked extra on these 'special occasions.' Since Elliot hadn’t gotten to do it for Two Time the day before due to how late he woke up, he figured, why not today? He had gotten a good head start this time and had a lot more energy this morning.

And every time he did one of these breakfasts, he made sure it was going to be big. The table was covered with all kinds of food—waffles, pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, grits, muffins, and a small plate of requested chicken wings, and more. Every time the others caught Elliot in the kitchen early, they always knew they’d be stuffed after breakfast.

Guest1337 and Builderman sat on the couch, both drinking coffee and waiting for the last bits to be finished. They had helped bring the food to the table, while Noob and Chance set it up. Shedletsky brought the drinks, and 007n7 moved the food around, making sure there was enough space for everything.

DING

"Order up! Cinnamon rolls are done! Everyone to the table, please!" Elliot held a small tray in his hands, which contained exactly eight cinnamon rolls, one slightly bigger than the rest. Everyone made their way to the table, taking their usual spots. Builderman yawned as Noob sat down with excitement. After everyone was settled, Elliot placed the tray directly in the middle of the table, then stood with his hands on his hips, proud of his work.

"I’m in awe. Can we take a picture?" Chance chuckled, adjusting his shades. Despite still being in his pajamas, he always made time for his limited-edition sunglasses.

"You always say that... I don’t have time for a picture! I’m hungry!" Shedletsky grinned at the food, drooling slightly as he reached for a piece of chicken, only for his hand to be slapped away.

"Well, you better make the ‘Time’ for ‘Two’ then." Guest replied. Noob chuckled slightly at Guest’s statement, and Builderman giggled before yawning. Shedletsky frowned.

"Well then WHERE are they!? I’ve been up for hours!" Shedletsky crossed his arms, pouting. Elliot blinked, glancing at his room door for a quick moment. Two Time had surprisingly been asleep for a while, but he was starting to wonder how long they would stay asleep.

"Hey, they’re the reason we’re having this today anyway. Cut ‘em some slack. The food ain’t going anywhere, Shed." Builderman yawned, leaning back in his chair with tired eyes.

Suddenly, the group heard a door creak open, followed by the faint sound of footsteps.

"About ‘time,’ huh, Guest?" Shedletsky nudged him playfully as Guest simply smiled in response. Elliot felt a smile form on his face as he watched the hallway, signaling the others to hush.

"Okay, okay, here they come. Don’t be too loud, alright? We don’t know how they’ll handle surprises, and we surely don’t want another Guest situation." Elliot whispered to the group.

"At least there are no party poppers this time." Guest sighed, shaking his head slightly.

Two Time rubbed their eyes as they slowly walked down the hallway. A part of them felt anxious. It was very quiet... almost too quiet. They had heard a few whispers after leaving Elliot’s room, and it almost felt like whoever it was didn’t want them to hear. The other part of them was curious. The smells only grew stronger as they walked, making them more eager to find out what it was. When they reached the end of the hallway and stepped around the corner, they blinked in surprise, noticing everyone staring at them from the table. They stopped for a moment, debating whether to continue walking or not.

" SURPRISE!! " The group shouted in unison. Two Time blinked again, confused. They had no idea what was going on.

" Come on over, Two! The food's gonna get cold!" Elliot happily waved them over, patting an empty seat between himself and Noob. Two Time froze for a second, feeling all eyes on them. Slowly, they walked to the table, holding their arm as they plopped down in the seat.

" G-good morning to you all. Might I ask... what is all this?" Two Time placed their hands in their lap, a small smile creeping onto their face.

" Ah—right! This is a little get-together we do whenever we welcome a new person into the group! Yours was supposed to be yesterday, but I woke up late and didn’t get the chance... ahah..." Elliot nervously chuckled as Two Time glanced at him for a moment before looking back at the table, which was now covered with food.

Two Time was in complete shock. The smell was heavenly—it was like they could taste the food from the aroma alone. There were so many colors, and everything looked so beautiful and delicious. They had never seen food like this in their life.

" See!? They're already drooling!" Shedletsky joked, pointing at Two Time with a fork in hand.

" Trust me, if it looks good now, just wait until you taste it." Noob nudged them slightly. Two Time nodded, their smile growing bigger as their tail began to wag.

" Alright, now you can load up your plates, but DON'T start eating just yet!" Elliot said as everyone began grabbing portions of food. Two Time didn’t even know where to begin, watching as everyone filled their plates except theirs.

" I’d suggest the waffles if you’re not sure what to get. They’re a pretty good start." Elliot chimed in, pointing at the food with a smile. Two Time blinked, following his finger to the waffle, a grid-like bread sitting on the table. They pointed at it, slightly embarrassed.

" Is that the... 'waffles'?" Two Time asked. Elliot simply nodded, still smiling. Two Time picked up the waffle with their fork, placing it gently on their plate. They turned back to Elliot.

" What else would you suggest?" Two Time asked. Elliot looked at them for a brief moment, his smile faltering just slightly before returning even bigger than before.

After everyone had filled their plates and poured themselves a drink, Two Time wasn't sure what to choose, so they followed Noob’s suggestion and grabbed a Bloxy Cola. A moment later, Guest1337 cleared his throat, signaling for the table to quiet down. He raised his drink in the air, and everyone else followed suit, including Two Time, who awkwardly lifted their cup.

" Elliot, would you like to do the honors?" Guest1337 asked, his voice calm but expectant. Elliot blinked in surprise, his face flushing slightly.

" M-me?" Elliot stammered.

" Mhm. You're the one who helped out Two Time after all." Two Time smiled at him. Elliot cleared his throat, trying to steady himself.

" O-okay then. Ahem... We are here today to celebrate Two Time! I’m very happy that we've all made it this far, and that we're still alive and well. I'm so thankful that we were able to cross paths and form this small but wonderful group of ours, which is only growing stronger. This toast is to our newest 8th member of the group!" Everyone cheered, lifting their cups and sipping from them.

" Alright! DIG IN!!" Shedletsky shouted, already stuffing his face with a chicken leg. The others began eating as the table filled with the sounds of munching and happy chatter. Elliot noticed Two Time staring at their food in the same way they had with the pizza.

" It's not gonna bite, I promise," Elliot teased gently. Two Time looked up at him, letting out a soft giggle before looking back down at their plate and picking up their fork. They hesitated for a second before stabbing the waffle, cutting off a small piece and bringing it to their mouth. They chewed slowly, stopping mid-bite to look at the waffle with a thoughtful expression.

They took another bite. Then another. And another. Elliot smiled as Two Time eagerly continued eating, their tail wagging more with each bite.

" You know..." Elliot swallowed a bite of his own food. " Those and the pancakes taste really good with syrup."

Two Time looked up at him, a huge grin spreading across their face. It took them a moment to chew before they could finally respond after swallowing.

" I've heard of syrup before! I know there are all kinds of flavors, though I've never had it. It’s something I’ve always wanted to try!" Two Time beamed, eyes sparkling with excitement. Elliot smiled and grabbed the syrup bottle from where Shedletsky had left it. He drizzled a little bit over the corner of Two Time's waffle and placed the bottle near their plate.

" If you want more, feel free to add it yourself, okay?" Elliot said. Two Time eagerly nodded and took a bite of the syrup-covered waffle. They froze for a moment, eyes wide, then grabbed the bottle again, popping it open.

Elliot couldn’t help but smile wider. There was something about seeing someone so satisfied with his food that made him genuinely happy.

The group sighed in satisfaction, feeling full after the meal. Everyone began clearing their plates, piling them in the sink, and helping with packing away leftovers. As breakfast wound down, the group gradually split off, each going their own way. Shedletsky and Builderman ended up chatting on the couch, while 007n7 quickly disappeared back to his room. Noob sneaked off to grab another cup of Bloxy Cola in a quiet corner, and Chance offered to help Guest clean up the kitchen. Meanwhile, Elliot walked over to the dryer and pulled out the pile of clothes he’d placed in earlier that morning. He carried them back to his room.

Opening the door, he closed it behind him and tossed the clothes onto the floor. His eyes flicked to his bed, noticing it had been neatly made. He blinked, confused for a moment, but smiled when he looked over at Two Time’s pallet, which had also been arranged neatly. Elliot walked over to his bed and pulled a small sewing kit from underneath. It was a gift from one of his co-workers, a little something he used to patch up small tears on shirts and pants. He grabbed the kit and moved back to the pile of clean clothes, pulling out Two Time’s torn shirt and pants. Sitting down, he began to inspect the fabric, then carefully chose black and grey threads from the kit and threaded the needle. He decided to start with Two Time’s shirt, gently working to sew it back together.

Two Time sat at the kitchen table, unsure of what to do next. They’d debated going back to Elliot’s room several times but hadn’t moved yet. For some reason, they just sat there, staring at the table.

" Yo! Newbie!" Two Time's head perked up, turning to see Chance standing in front of them with Noob a little behind him.

" Me and Noob are gonna play some video games in my room. You up for it?" Chance asked, his tone light. Two Time blinked in surprise. Was he really inviting them?

" Hey, if you don’t want to, that’s fine! No pressure, alright? Take your time," Chance added, giving them that same reassuring grin from the day before. Two Time looked at him for a moment, then glanced at Noob.

" No, I’d like to join you this time." Two Time’s voice was firm, but there was a hint of something almost eager in their tone.

" W-woah, really?" Noob spoke up from behind Chance, their smile widening.

" Yes! Of course!" Two Time chirped, flashing a grin that was almost a little too wide. Chance and Noob both cheered in excitement as Two Time stood up to follow them toward Chance’s room.

Two Time watched as Noob and Chance competed in a racing game. Chance was leading by a wide margin, while Noob struggled to keep up. As Chance crossed the finish line, he let out a loud shout of victory, while Noob sighed, quickly laughing along with him.

" Seriously, kid, I gotta teach you how to get better at this!" Chance chuckled, giving Noob a playful pat on the shoulder.

" I’ve already told you, Chance, I’m just not good at video games," Noob replied, smiling shyly before glancing over at Two Time, who was sitting on Chance’s bed.

" Hey, uh—Two Time? D-do you wanna try?" Noob asked, waving the controller in the air. Two Time tilted their head slightly, a small smile spreading across their face.

" I can give it a go. Is it difficult?" Two Time asked, their curiosity piqued.

" Only if you're like me," Noob joked, handing the controller over to the other.

" I’ve never used one of these before," Two Time said, rubbing their fingers over the buttons while inspecting the controller.

" Don’t worry, we’ll teach you!" Chance gave them a thumbs up, and Noob beamed from the side. Two Time simply smiled back at both of them.

Elliot finished sewing up Two Time’s clothes and neatly folded them on the side of his bed. Once done, he packed up the sewing kit, sliding it back under the bed. He then allowed himself to flop down onto the mattress, glancing over at the clock.

5:47 p.m.

He was surprised Two Time hadn’t come back yet. He assumed they were just taking their time getting to know the others. A small smile tugged at Elliot’s lips at that thought. He let out a sigh, wondering about tomorrow. He was sure there would be some kind of run, which quickly turned his smile into a frown. Sitting up, he propped himself up with his arms and thought briefly about what else he could do today. Maybe he could make pizzas for the group? No, they already had enough leftovers, and it would only take up space. Besides, he was sure everyone preferred his pizzas fresh. Could he go for a walk? No, someone would have to go with him, according to Guest and Chance. He didn’t exactly feel like running into a killer, either. Elliot sighed and sank back into his bed.

Maybe he could learn more about Two Time? He hadn’t had the chance to talk with them yesterday like he’d wanted to, but even now, they weren’t here. Should he wait? Or maybe go see who they were with? No, he didn’t want the others to see or question why. Plus, he already knew as much as he needed to about everyone else. Elliot closed his eyes, letting his thoughts wander to pass the time.

" Okay, okay— I thought Noob was bad, but Two? Oh, you are BAD bad." Chance laughed, watching as Two Time stared down at the controller.

" I don’t get it. How was I driving the wrong way?" Two Time tilted their head, their smile faltering slightly. Noob giggled from beside them.

" It’s alright, Two... You’re not alone on that one! I’ve driven the wrong way a couple of times!" Noob chimed in, trying to make them feel better about the situation.

" Hmm... Are we sure it wasn’t the controller?" Two Time tilted their head again, pointing at the object in their hands.

" Trust me, that was definitely all you," Chance grinned, patting them on the shoulder. Two Time glanced over at a fancy clock that Chance had placed on the wall.

9:50 p.m.

" Oh my, I didn’t realize how late it was," Two Time remarked, standing up.

" Yeah, we’ve probably played enough for today. I’m kinda sleepy..." Noob yawned shortly after.

" Alright, well, you both get some sleep, alright?" Chance winked as Noob opened the door, with Two Time right behind them.

" You too! Night, Chance!" Noob smiled as they walked out. Two Time took a step forward as well, but stopped when they heard Chance call them back.

" Hey, Two."

Two Time turned their head around, smiling at him.

" It was fun today. I’m looking forward to hanging out more," Chance smiled at the other. Two Time blinked silently, still smiling at him.

" Heh... Still doing that? Guess I’ll have to get used to it then. You’re a weird one, Two," Chance added with another smile before turning back to clean his room. Two Time silently stepped out, shutting the door quietly behind them. They jumped slightly when Noob appeared right in front of them.

" S-sorry! I just wanted to say, uh... It was really fun hanging out with you!" Noob smiled at Two Time, who simply smiled back. After a brief moment of silence, Noob turned back around.

" S-see you tomorrow! Tell Elliot I said goodnight!" Noob walked off, opening their room door and closing it behind them. Two Time blinked, letting out a small sigh. The interaction was... different. But not something they disliked. It would surely take time to get used to.

" Ah, right! I’m not sure if Elliot has a sleep schedule or not... Hopefully, I don’t wake or bother him if he does..." Two Time murmured, walking over to Elliot’s room door and opening it as quietly as possible.

Elliot heard a small creak, causing his eyes to flutter open again. Had he fallen asleep? Man, he really needed to stop doing that. He slowly rose from his bed and saw Two Time walking into the room. A smile quickly replaced whatever expression he had been wearing.

"Hey, Two! Didn’t sneak up on me this time." Elliot chuckled as the other turned around after closing the door. He patted the space on his bed for Two Time to sit, and they did.

"Things going good for you here?" Elliot asked, pulling his legs up to his chest.

"Yes, it feels like it is. I spent my time with Chance and Noob today. They’re very talkative people." Two Time spoke, though they looked a little tired. Despite that, they kept a smile on their face.

"Oh, really? You know, Noob only really talks with people they’re close with. That means you’re growing on them pretty fast, huh?" Elliot smiled at the other, and Two Time simply nodded.

"If that’s the case... I suppose I am, then." Two Time paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. "How are you doing, Elliot?"

Elliot was caught off guard by the question. It took him a second to respond.

"I’ve honestly been pretty tired lately. I keep falling asleep, and I don’t usually do that." Elliot noticed that Two Time’s smile had faded slightly. They stayed silent for a brief moment.

"Might I ask... has that been happening to you lately?" Two Time asked, raising a hand to their mouth. They looked concerned, which in turn made Elliot feel concerned as well.

"I guess it has? I haven’t really been like this, other than yesterday and today." Elliot answered. Two Time only frowned deeper at his response, making Elliot worry a bit more.

"Ah... Y-you don’t think that was because of me, do you?" Two Time asked with a curious tone, their voice tinged with concern. Elliot quickly replied.

"What? No! That’s not your fault!"

"Are you sure? If I remember correctly, you were up very late that night because of me... I fear I might’ve had an impact on your schedule. You should probably go to sleep now," Two Time urged, their guilt evident.

"Two, it’s not your fault! I’m the one who stayed up that night anyway; it’s not like you forced me!" Elliot placed his hands on Two Time’s shoulders, rubbing them lightly to comfort them. Two Time blinked at him, still looking unsure.

"...Well, I-I still think you should sleep. It’s late, and you did say you were tired." Two Time looked at him earnestly. Part of Elliot was tired, but another part—he wasn’t sure why—wanted to talk to Two Time. He couldn’t put his finger on it. Maybe it was curiosity, or maybe he wanted to understand why Two Time had helped him before. Or maybe it was just wanting to know more about them.

"I’ll be fine! I’ve had enough rest—"

"Elliot... Please. I’d hate to keep you up like this, and you do look tired," Two Time insisted, looking at him with concern. Elliot blinked at them, then looked away, sighing in defeat.

"Okay, okay, I can sleep. I guess we have been up pretty late these last two nights..." Two Time’s smile returned at that, which made Elliot’s smile return as well. Two Time stood up and walked over to their small area, quickly settling into their blankets and pillows. Elliot smiled to himself as he got under his covers, turning off his side lamp.

"Have a goodnight, Two Time."

"Goodnight, Elliot. Oh—Noob said so too." Two Time added with a soft smile.

Elliot let a smile fall onto his face as he relaxed his body. His sleepiness finally settled in, and before long, he drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Text

Two Time blinked as their eyes adjusted to the overwhelming brightness around them. They squinted, trying to take in the unfamiliar space. Once their vision cleared, they slowly absorbed their surroundings. It looked and felt like an endless white void. The brightness stretched infinitely in every direction, swallowing everything.

' Where... am I? '

The thought echoed quietly in their mind. Part of them expected a response—part of them didn't. After a brief silence, they began to glance around, searching for any sign of a way out. It was then they realized they could float, their body unbound by gravity. It offered some freedom, but in a place so empty, it felt meaningless.

Drifting slowly, their gaze dropped—and they froze.

Their gloves were gone.

In fact, all their clothes had vanished. Looking down, they lifted their arms slowly. They were... translucent. It was hard to tell under the intense light, but their form shimmered faintly, as if they weren’t entirely solid. To confirm their suspicion, they hesitantly reached a hand toward their stomach. It passed through. Their fingers went cleanly through their midsection, reappearing on the other side. Pulling their hand back they stared at it for a moment. It hadn’t changed. Nothing had.

Were they... a ghost?

Lowering their gaze to their hands, they noticed old scars—ones usually hidden beneath their long gloves. Without them, every mark was exposed. Their eyes traveled lower to their thighs. More scars. Old ones. Faint but undeniable. And strapped to their leg, still somehow present, was their dagger.

Why had the weapon remained, when everything else was gone?

A shiver crawled down their spine. Their own body—exposed, bare, and unfamiliar—suddenly felt unbearable. They felt seen. Vulnerable. And they hated it. Desperate for distraction, Two Time drifted through the void, hugging themself tightly. They didn’t know what they were looking for—or if there was even anything to find—but movement felt better than stillness.

Over time, the white void began to dim. The brightness faded into gray, and then into black. It was strange, but they welcomed it. At least it was something different.  Eventually, they realized the darkness had become complete. Pitch black. Yet their own form continued to glow faintly, casting a dim light around them like a ghostly lantern.

Finally, they stopped. They didn’t know where they were, or where they were going. The darkness felt better than the white, yes... but it brought with it a creeping sense of unease.

Like they weren’t alone.

“Two Time.”

They blinked, their gaze snapping forward. In the distance, another faint light appeared—another glowing figure. They squinted, heart racing.

No... it couldn’t be.

“A-Azure..?”

Azure slowly moved forward, his figure growing clearer as he came into view. He stopped just a few feet away, wearing a faint frown. His eyes weren't visible but his gaze had an effect Two Time.

Two Time swallowed hard. A million questions swirled in their mind, but only one made it out.

“Where… are we?” they asked, rubbing at their wrist anxiously as they glanced around.

“A void. Your void, to be precise.” Azure replied, his gaze shifting as he turned slightly away. Two Time stared at him, studying every detail. He looked just like them—transparent, glowing faintly in the darkness.

“My… void?” Two Time echoed, bringing their hands to their chest. Azure turned back to face them fully.

“Yes. Your void,” he said calmly. “You should know this place better than anyone. You do know it… don’t you?” Azure asked, almost angry.

Two Time’s gaze dropped. Their mind searched for something—anything—that felt familiar. But it was blank.

“I… I don’t remember ever being here,” they admitted, voice small. Their arms wrapped tighter around themself.

Azure turned back forward looking at them. He was silent, expression unreadable.

“Then let me remind you.”

Two Time blinked, confused.

“What—”

They looked down at their hands—and froze.

Blood.

Thick, red, and fresh, dripping down their fingers. Their eyes widened in horror, a sharp gasp escaping their throat. They stumbled back, heart pounding out of fear.

When they looked back up—

Their eyes widened.

Azure was bleeding.

Four stab wounds bloomed across his chest, one centered directly over his heart. Blood poured freely from each, dark and unrelenting, soaking into the void. He stood motionless, just staring. His eyes were hidden, but they didn’t need to be seen. The weight of his gaze was suffocating.

“Do you remember now, Two Time?” he asked, tilting his head slightly.

Two Time trembled. Their legs gave out as they collapsed into a ball, hugging their knees, shaking violently. They began to cry.

“P-Please… stop… N-No… no—”

“Why can’t you look at me?” Azure’s voice echoed, sharp and cold. “You did this to me. Don’t you remember?”

Two Time sobbed harder, hands clamped over their ears, trying to drown him out. They didn't want to hear the reminders. They didn't want the pain to return.

“I don’t want to hear—I-I don’t want—” Two Time attempted to speak but they kept choking on their own words.

“Do you remember being here now? Do you remember when you came here—after I died?”

His voice rose, booming through the void. It cracked the air like thunder. It was too much.

“STOP!!”

Two Time screamed, eyes squeezed shut, body curled in on itself. Their voice was raw, broken.

“P-Please… j-just stop… I’m—I—”

Silence.

The void had emptied again. Azure was gone. But the blood on their hands remained. It soaked their skin, refusing to fade. Two Time sobbed into their palms, desperate, and alone. They hoped for something, anything to get them out of here.

Until—

They felt it.

A pair of hands—warm, soft, gentle—rested on their shoulders. They flinched at the touch, muscles tensing. They didn’t dare look up. Azure’s image was still burned into their mind. But… this didn’t feel like him.

No. This felt entirely different.

“Don’t worry.”

Two Time froze. That voice— Familiar. Soothing.

“It’s only me. It's okay. You’re going to be okay.”

The hands rubbed their shoulders gently, grounding them with quiet comfort. Two Time hesitated, then slowly pulled their hands from their face. Tears still clung to their lashes as they shakily lifted their head turning back to see—

"E...Elliot?" Two Time asked, their voice cracking from the weight of their sobs.

Elliot blinked down at them, his hands still resting gently on their shoulders. A soft but bright golden glow radiated from him, casting light into the surrounding darkness. His curls floated freely around his face, the usual hair tie missing from his hair, just like his uniform. The only familiar thing that remained was his red visor, sitting snug on his head. He smiled gently. Two Time turned to face him fully, tears drifting from their eyes and vanishing into the void.

"W-What are you doing here?" Two Time asked quietly.

"Why do you think? To help you, silly!" Elliot replied with a playful boop to their nose before reaching up to adjust their hair slightly, fixing it with gentle fingers.

"Help?" Two Time echoed, confused. Elliot smiled again, warm and bright.

"Mhm! I heard you crying down here. I figured you probably have a lot of questions." His gaze briefly dropped to Two Time’s still blood-stained hands, but his smile didn’t waver.

"So! I’m here to get you fixed up. I’m here to help!"

With a playful hum, Elliot floated around Two Time, orbiting them slowly like a moon. Two Time followed him with wide, confused eyes. If they weren’t lost before, they certainly were now.

"Now, you already asked your other friend where you were, right?" Elliot said, stopping in front of them again. Two Time nodded slowly.

"Ah, right. And I think they told you this was your void, yeah?" He brought a hand to his chin, leaning forward inquisitively. Another nod.

"Mhm! Well, to give you an answer that's a bit more... 'matter-of-fact-ly'..." Elliot grinned and offered his hand, gently pulling Two Time forward more into the darkness. "I like to call this place Acceptance."

Two Time blinked as they allowed Elliot to guide them. Though the darkness deepened, it somehow felt safer now—with Elliot’s warmth beside them and his bright golden glow lighting the way. They still felt uneasy, but less so much than before.

"Acceptance?" Two Time repeated. "Why is that its name?"

Elliot glanced back at them with a soft smile before looking ahead again.

"Can’t tell you that just yet! It’s something you have to figure out on your own. But don’t worry—I’ll help you get there too."

They continued drifting deeper into the void. Two Time was quiet at first, but thoughts swirled in their head. Finally, they spoke again.

"Well... can you tell me why were ghosts?"

"We’re not ghosts!" Elliot replied cheerfully. "Not really."

"Then... what are we?" Two Time tilted their head.

"These are our souls," Elliot answered simply. Two Time's eyes widened a little.

"Our... souls? But how?"

"I’m honestly not too sure myself," Elliot admitted. Two Time’s gaze dropped to their leg, where the dagger still rested in its usual spot. Then they looked back up at Elliot’s glowing form.

"Why are some of our items still here? Like your visor... and my dagger?"

Elliot glanced over his shoulder, looking down at the weapon on their leg.

"Well here we only carry what’s attached to us— spiritually. Things we can’t let go of. Like a weight on our soul."

He turned his gaze back to them.

"You carry that dagger with your soul. Even here, in this space... it stayed. I don’t know the full reason why—"

Elliot’s eyes met theirs briefly before facing forward again.

"—but I believe you already do."

Two Time flinched slightly. Their eyes dropped to the dagger again, then to their hands—still red, still stained. Guilt clung to them like static. They opened their mouth—

"I’m not expecting you to tell me anything you’re not ready to," Elliot said gently, cutting in. Two Time blinked in surprise... then gave a soft, almost embarrassed smile.

"...So, you carry your hat with your soul?" Two Time asked, glancing up at his red visor.

"Ehh... somewhat. It has its own reason, like your dagger," Elliot said, a little hesitant.

Two Time nodded slowly, thoughtful. They looked back up at the back of Elliot's head.

"I’m not expecting you to tell me anything instantly either," they said. "Only when you’re ready."

Elliot’s smile faltered slightly. He looked back at them—quiet, maybe even touched—before letting out a light giggle and looking forward again.

Two Time’s gaze drifted downward, studying Elliot’s form more closely. Their eyes caught a faint reddish tint across his abdomen—almost like a splatter of something dark. Small scars marred his thighs, similar to the ones they recognized on themselves. Curiosity stirred inside them, but they hesitated, not wanting to seem rude.

"Why is there… a red-ish color around your stomach?" they finally asked.

Elliot came to a full stop, still holding their hand. Two Time swallowed hard.

"My apologi—"

"No— It’s alright!" Elliot interrupted, turning back to face them. Slowly, he reached down and took Two Time’s free hand, holding both of their hands gently in his own. His eyes dropped to their hands, still stained red.

"It’s.. pizza sauce." He said plainly.

"W-What?" Two Time blinked, dumbfounded. Elliot smiled softly and nodded.

"You’re covered in… pizza sauce? But it looks like the same blood on my hands…" Two Time’s voice trembled slightly. Elliot’s smile faded just a little.

"Would you believe me if I told you it was meant to?" he asked quietly.

Two Time opened their mouth to speak but hesitated.

"I’m.. aware it looks a lot like blood. It’s meant to be that way."

Two Time blinked cautiously.

"Why?"

"Remember how I told you my visor is attached to me because it means something more?" Elliot asked.

Two Time nodded slowly.

"Well—"

Suddenly, the void trembled. The deep black around them began to brighten, spilling in waves of light. Two Time squeezed their eyes shut, trying to shield themselves from being blinded.

"I’ll have to tell you more another time! Promise you’ll come back here, okay?" Elliot called out, his voice filled with warmth. Two Time squinted, trying to see his face.

"B-But I don’t even know how I got here!" The brightness only intensified.

"Don’t worry about that! You’ll find your way—I know you will!" Elliot assured them.

Then, just as the light overwhelmed everything, a loud ringing filled Two Time’s ears. They began to tremble, clutching their head in panic.

Suddenly, two warm hands grasped their wrists. They felt a forehead gently pressed against their own.

"I’ll be here for you. Always." Elliot whispered softly.

Slowly, Two Time opened their eyes. Elliot was still there, glowing faintly through the haze. They felt numb, unable to move, seeing only Elliot’s luminous form.

Then, ever so gently, Elliot leaned forward.

He cupped their face with his hands.

He leaned closer to their forehead.

And as soft as a feather, he placed a tender kiss right on Two Time’s forehead.

Two Time shot upright, eyes wide, sweating, and breathing heavy. They whipped their head around the dim room. Soft light filtered through the curtains, and their gaze caught the clock on Elliot’s bedside table.

8:09 a.m.

Slowly, their breathing evened out as they realized they were back in Elliot’s room. They wiped the sweat off their forehead slightly slumping.

“Mmm…” They rubbed their eyes, stretched their arms, and let out a quiet yawn.

' That dream... ' They thought, tracing the memory. It had left them more confused than ever. Their mind drifted back to the way it ended, and they cautiously reached up to touch their forehead. It wasn’t as soft as Elliot’s gentle kiss had been, and their own touch lacked his tenderness. Bringing their hand back down, they thought to themself about it for a small moment. Their cheeks warmed faintly, but they quickly brushed the feeling away. They decided it'd be best to forget it.

After what felt like forever, they finally rose and left the room silently.

Two Time padded down the hallway toward the kitchen. Voices drifted ahead, so they assumed some of the others were already up. As they made their way through the hallway, they spotted Chance and Guest chatting by the counter, unaware of Two Time’s arrival. They slowly crept up to the counter as the two continued to talk, not wanting to bother them.

“Any plans for today?” Chance asked, pouring two cups of coffee.

“Nope, not really,” Guest replied, accepting the cup. “We fixed most of the generators yesterday, so today should be smooth sailing.”

“Why not a supply run? We haven’t done one in a while. Could use some new decor for my room.” Chance took a sip from his mug.

“You’re always trying to get into trouble, huh?” Guest rolled his eyes, taking a sip as well.

“Awww, you know me too well~” Chance grinned, tipping his hat.

“Plus, didn’t you and Builder clear out that old back room for Two Time to stay in?” Chance added, nodding toward the hallway.

“Your point?” Guest asked, curious.

“Don’t you think they’ll want something to decorate their space? It'd be pretty empty.” Chance leaned against the counter, mug in hand.

“I don’t mind having no decorations if it’s a hassle.” Two Time cut in.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!” Chance suddenly leapt about three feet in the air, dropping his mug. The coffee spilled across the floor as he landed and slipped backward. Luckily, Guest caught him with one arm, still holding his own mug in the other.

“Good morning, Two Time.” Guest said plainly.

“You saw them there?? I swear they teleported!” Chance gasped, gripping Guest’s strong arm.

“M-My apologies! Didn’t mean to scare you! Really!” Two Time said, putting a hand over their mouth from across the counter.

“Pfft—T-That didn’t scare me! I was just pretending! In case you- uh- startled Guest—! I wouldn’t have wanted him to feel bad, right big fella?” Chance nudged Guest’s abdomen with a quick grin. Guest looked down at Chance for a small moment, then released his hold as Chance flopped down on the floor with a small yelp. Guest chuckled softly, resting his free hand on his hip.

“I didn’t even jump. " Guest replied looking down at Chance.

“But you might have! That's called being a good sport people! " Chance replied putting both of his hands on his hips.

“Anyways, clean up your mess. You just wasted a perfect cup of coffee.” Guest said before taking another sip of his own.

“Aww, you think my coffee’s perfect too~?” Chance said, standing up and placing a hand on Guest’s shoulder. Guest lowered his mug and smiled.

“Yes, I like the way you make it.”

“W-Wha—really?” Chance blushed, removing his hand as a dumbfounded grin displayed on his face.

“Go clean your spill.” Guest replied attempting to keep a straight face— but he ended up smirking to himself.

“Sir, yes sir!” Chance tipped his hat playfully, headed for the pantry to grab wipes. Guest turned back to Two Time looking more serious. The other looked slightly nervous expecting to be scolded.

“You hungry?” Guest asked softly.

Two Time blinked a bit shocked by the question but then nodded quietly, resting their hands on the counter.

“I’ll warm up some waffles for you. Does that sound good? ” Guest said, setting down his cup.

Two Time smiled and nodded eagerly. Guest returned the smile before moving back and walking over to the fridge.

Chapter Text

Ummm I didn't exactly plan for this fic to have any kind of update chapters or anything like this but I feel the need to put this here so ok

I am not in a good state at ALL guys. I've been trying to collect myself and I've been thinking of what to write but my mental health is genuinely like just gone 😂✌✌✌ school isn't helping nor is my relationship with either of my parents. ao3 curse if this is u please just take me out the game dawg I'm tired. Committing doesn't sound so bad actually. 

Anyways I'm not canceling this fic this is just probably gonna be on hold for a long while, no need to panic about it being discontinued. Unless I do something stupid. Sorry about that. I might possibly write a one shot separate from this one cuz I feel bad for not posting but I don't know I can barely remember to keep my room clean ✌ ok