Chapter Text
They had gotten out.
A statement that once began with when but had evolved into an if as time went on, and hopes had wavered. Even the most hardened of them had begun to lose their resolve as weeks turned into months.
But at the one year mark, something had changed, shifted. A change that had gone unnoticed by their captor, a change that the survivors knew they needed to take advantage of. They spoke in silent messages, tiptoed quietly around the realm to not stir the Spectres attention, and then finally, *finally* they had done it. They had found a way out.
Tearful cheers and hugs had uproared the moment their feet had landed on uncorrupted grass, when they looked toward the sky and saw the beautiful bright sun instead of a starless black sky. Congratulations were thrown around, many began to contact their family with their newly acquired signal. However, what they forgot to take into account, was their torturers.
Despite slaughtering them time and time again, the survivors came to learn that their killers were just as trapped in the purgatory as they were. And unlike them, who had any corruption or disfigurements healed by the Spectre, the killers were not so lucky.
“ It’s our punishment,” one of the killers, 1x1x1x1 hissed out during a round, “ A way of the Spectre telling us we aren't performing well enough.”
And that punishment seems to have followed them out of the Limbo as well. The killers still mutated, still corrupted, standing awkwardly like lost puppies as they watched the survivors celebrate their newfound freedom.
Their journey was only half complete, while they had managed to escape their captor's grasp, there was a long journey of therapy, both mental and physical, awaiting those who were most affected. For most of the survivors, they had family and friends waiting for them, eager to help them with their recovery. It was the killers where things became rocky.
Most didn't have any family to return to, and there were some where convincing them to turn over a new leaf would be easier said than done. The recently escaped admins made do with what they had though, with some volunteering to assist specific killers in their recovery journey. Such as Dusekkar who took it upon himself to watch over Azure, Or Builderman who moved into his son, John Does, home to help with his corrupted illness. Even Shedletsky and 1x1x1x1, while one harbored deep resentment for the other, she ultimately agreed to move back in with Shed and Bright eyes to receive treatment.
So when Coolkid was brought up in the conversation, 007n7 didn't hesitate to speak up on bringing him back home. He was by far the most damaged of the killers, far too young to have to experience the things he had, and cruelly corrupted by the spectre both physically and mentally. The moment they had managed to escape and he got his bearings, the first thing he did was let out an ear piercing wail, the true memories of what he had done crashing into his mind all at once like a tidal wave, leaving him a sobbing panicking mess. 007n7 himself was surprised, and a bit offended, when the admins response to his request was to give him nervous looks and ask if he was sure he was up for it.
How dare they? He had spent over a year being separated from his son, having to stand idly by while he suffered without him being able to do anything about it, and they say they should stay separated for longer?
He insisted, they relented, and after several more days in the admins office, 007n7 and Coolkid found themselves in 07’s car, on their way home for the first time in a while.
Coolkid sat in the back, slightly hunched over due to his newfound height, idly picking at his claws or chewing on his fingers. 007n7 couldn't help the smile that crept up on him everytime he glanced back to see Coolkid, no longer forced to commit atrocities, now they could both go home and he could just be a kid again. Just as it should be.
“ You excited to get home kiddo?” 07 asked.
“ Mm, yeah,” Coolkid mumbled, still nibbling on his fingers.
07’s smile faltered. Coolkid had been like this since they had returned. Nothing like the excitable hyperactive kid he had raised. He was unnaturally quiet, reserved, only giving short answers. The only times 07 felt the old Coolkid came through was when he threw his many, many, tantrums.
Just give him time, 007n7 told himself. He’s sure Coolkid will return to his old self in a couple weeks, he needs time to process.
“ No need to be nervous bud,” 007n7 assures his son, “ I cleaned the place a couple days back so it’ll be good as new, better than new even!”
“ Ok,” Coolkid replied indifferently, shifting his attention out the window to watch the houses passing by.
The car came to a rumbling stop just outside of the garage. 007n7 quickly got out and headed over to Coolkids side to help him get out. Coolkid however had already unbuckled and let himself out, clutching his backpack.
Unlocking the house, 007 was greeted with the pristine time capsule. Very different from a few days earlier when he, Elliot, and Builderman had come over to clean up the place. Back then the place was littered with dust, rotten garbage, and bugs everywhere. 007n7 was pretty sure Elliot used up ten bottles of disinfectant to fully clean the place. Now it was like no time had passed at all, which 007n7 wanted. Coolkid was already forced to overcome so many changes, he didn't need anymore stress in his life.
007n7 let his suitcase down with a dramatic sigh and turned toward the red imp, “Why don't you head to your room and unpack kiddo? I’ll get started on chicken soup for dinner.”
Coolkid simply nodded, but his tail slightly wagged at the mention of his favorite dinner, making 007n7 smile. His claws clicked and clacked against the floor toward his room. 007n7 himself dragged his bags toward the master bedroom, but before he started unpacking, he quietly tiptoed toward the door of his son's room, pressing his ear against the door. His smile widened when he heard Coolkid gasp, his tail thumping happily against the floor, and the ripping of paper and cardboard. His joyous giggling made 07’s heart melt, he knew it was a good idea to get that toy. He creaked the door open to see the red demon squeezing his new drakobloxxer plushie, “ You like your welcome home present, kiddo?”
Coolkid turned toward his fathers voice, nodding with a huge grin, “ YES YES! I LOVE IT THANK YOU!” as he ran toward 007n7 for a hug.
All of a sudden, time slowed, 007n7’s smile fell, his heartbeat beating rapidly as he broke out into a cold sweat. All of a sudden he wasn't at home, he was in a round. And it wasn't his son running toward him with a hug, but a red emaciated monster, sprinting toward him with a flaming sword in its claws. A mouthful of fangs grinning maliciously.
He was going to die he was going to die he was going to die he was going to die he was going to die He was going to die he was going to die he was going to die he was going to die he was going to die he was going to-
His thoughts were cut off as Coolkid wrapped his arms around 07, hugging him tightly, but carefully, tail wagging from side to side. 007n7 blinked, right right, he wasn't there anymore.
“ Of course Kidd,” he smiled, hugging him back, “ Now why don't you go unpack, I'll be preparing dinner soon.”
The smell of chicken broth wafted throughout the home, with 007n7 drooling subtly at the scent. Food was always so difficult to find in their former purgatory. Even though they were respawned whenever someone died of hunger, it was never a pleasant way to go. Usually they would have to rely on Elliots pizzas or Shedletskys chicken (whenever he was willing to share that is) to keep them afloat. But even those resources were limited, and they were lucky if they were refreshed after a round. Because of that, the group had formed their own little ways to find food. Taph, Dusekkar, and Elliot had started their own garden, mainly consisting of wild potatoes and squash. 007n7, Builderman, and Noob typically went out to forage the already existing foliage of the woods, which typically turned up with wild berries and mushrooms. Chance, Shedletsky, and Guest 1337 were in charge of hunting, and while most of the time they caught scrawny birds and rabbits, there were lucky days where they would manage to snag a small deer or wild boar. Their efforts did not produce much, but it was enough to stave off hunger, and it brought them together further as a group.
The killer's side was not as lucky.
They too experience intense hunger, that much was evident in Coolkids emaciated appearance, or how some of the killers would have to hold themselves back from devouring freshly killed survivors. Although unlike the survivors, the killers barely respected each other, so working together to find solutions for their meals was out of the question. Coolkid had told 007n7 that the only times they'd have a satisfying meal was whenever John Doe or Guest 666 would return from a hunt, typically with a large deer. They would have to wait for the hunter to eat their fill, anyone who tried to sneak a morsel while they were feeding were met with claws and snarls. After that, the 1st tier killers such as 1x1x1x1 or Noli would claim the carcass. And then after them the second tier killers like Azure, Itrapped, and the Slasher would have their turn. And then finally, once everyone else was finished, was Coolkid allowed to eat. He may be ferocious during the rounds, but when faced with hungry killers he could hardly defend himself. Usually by the time he was allowed to approach the corpse, there was nothing but scraps and bones left behind, evident by the subtle chips in his teeth.
With that in mind, 007n7 made sure to make double portions for Coolkid.
Coolkid sat on the opposite end of the table, wearing one of 007n7’s old college shirts, seeing as he had outgrown most of his clothes. He had brought his newly acquired drakobloxxer plushie with him, and insisted that it receive their own place setting and meal (to which 07 obliged). His tail wagged happily behind him as he scarfed down his first bowl of soup. 007n7 took a sip from his own bowl, savoring the blended taste of spice and chicken.
“ So kiddo, are you excited for tomorrow?” 007n7 asked.
Even though Coolkid was living with 007n7 for now, he still needed intensive treatment. The admins had rented out a small hospital wing which would be reserved for the killers to receive physical and mental therapy. Coolkid would have to attend both at least 3 times a week.
Coolkid hastily gulped down his current bite before answering, “ I dunno, will they give me shots?”
Coolkid was always afraid of hospitals, and if 007n7 was being honest, so was he. Though his fears were far different from his sons. For Coolkid, hospitals mean possible shots, for 007n7 it meant possibly having Coolkid taken away from him. Either by his identity as the former hacker being discovered, or the hospital staff deciding that Coolkid was far too strange of a child and shipping him off to some sort of research facility to be poked and prodded at. Thankfully he didn't need to worry about that now.
“ I don't think so Kidd, but even if they do, remember that it's there to help you get better, ok?” 007n7 assured Coolkid.
The red demon turned to his plush toy, who still left their soup uneaten, “ Can I bring my drakobloxxer with me?”
007n7 smiled, “ Of course! I don't see why not.”
Coolkids smile returned as he began to consume his second portion of chicken soup, “ Will you be there with me?”
“ I'm afraid not kiddo, I got errands to run, but I heard your friends Bluuduud and 1x1x1x1 will be there too!”
Coolkids eyes sparkled at the mention of his old friends, “ What kinda errands are you gonna do?”
“ Well I'll be mostly grocery shopping, getting some stuff for the house, and probably stopping by a store to get you new clothes.” 007n7 answered absentmindedly.
Coolkid paused upon hearing that, looking up from his now empty second bowl, “ Why are you getting me new clothes?”
“ Oh, well you don't exactly fit in any of your old ones anymore kiddo, but don’t worry I'll make sure to get you the coolest looking ones.” 007n7 quickly replied, flashing a nervous smile.
Coolkid's face turned to a scowl, “ I don't want new clothes.”
007n7 bit the inside of his cheek, “ Well you can't keep wearing my old shirts forever Kidd.”
“ I want to wear my old ones,” Coolkid muttered, his gaze turning to the floor.
007n7 was panicking now, “ I know kiddo, but you don't fit in them, I promise I'll try to find the same ones but bigger for you.”
Coolkid mumbled something under his breath as he shifted his feet.
“ What was that?” 007n7 asked.
“ It's not FAIR!” Coolkid suddenly exploded, his fists colliding with the dining room table, causing some cutlery to fall to the floor and the dishes to tremble under the demon's tantrum.
“ it's not FAIR, it's not FAIR! I don't WANT new clothes! I wanna fit in my OLD ones! I wanna be SMALL again! I wanna be a KID again! IT'S NOT FAIR!” Coolkid wailed, as he continued to pound on the table with his fists, his feet stomping against the floor and his tail lashing wildly behind him.
007n7 immediately stood up from his chair and ran over to his sobbing child. But when he tried to inch closer to comfort him, Coolkids spiked tail lashed just a bit too close to his face.
007n7 yelped in pain and brought his hand up to his cheek. There was a stinging pain and faint droplets of blood stained his hand. 007n7 focused his gaze back to Coolkid, who was now deathly silent. He had ceased his thrashing and was now staring at his father, his eyes wide and scared. Before he could assure his son, Coolkid let out a mournful wail of agony.
This was different from his other cries. 007n7 could differentiate between his son's cries, and this was different. This was a cry that Coolkid only expressed during times of intense stress. A kind of cry that he had only done as an infant.
Coolkid fell out of the chair and crawled up to his father, who knelt down to embrace his son.
“ Shhh shhh it's okay, it doesn't even hurt that much it's alright,” 007n7 assured his son, rubbing circles into his spiked back. All Coolkid could do was let out more cries, burying his face into his fathers shirt.
“ It’s alright I know you didn't mean it, It's going to be okay,” 007n7 muttered, but even he was beginning to lose faith. Was it going to be okay? He knew appointments like the one set up tomorrow for Coolkid are supposed to help him with tantrums like this, but what if it was too late? What if his son was too broken to be fixed.
He shook the thought out of his head. No, even if he was broken, 007n7 would never abandon him, not again. He laid his head against Coolkids, pulling him closer. Coolkids cries had calmed down into faint hiccuping breaths.
The two stayed like that for who knows how long. Coolkid hiccuping faintly while listening to his fathers heartbeat, and 007n7 who continued to hush and comfort his son.
It was now 11:00 pm, far past Coolkids bedtime. To be fair on 007n7’s part, he had a hard time finding his old pajamas for Coolkid to wear. Coolkid himself was utterly spent and exhausted, curled up in his sheets while clutching his drakobloxxer plush.
“ Night night kiddo,” whispered 007n7 as he planted a kiss on Coolkids forehead. But just as he was about to get up and leave, he felt a claw grasp onto his tail, causing him to involuntarily yelp.
“ Yeah? What is it?,” 007n7 asked.
“ I don’ wann be alone…” Coolkid muttered, his throat still raw from all the crying he had done earlier.
Normally 007n7 wouldn't oblige, especially with the busy day they had tomorrow, but if he was being honest with himself he didn't want to leave Coolkid alone either.
“ Alright kiddo, just for tonight ok?”
Coolkid nodded and shuffled to make room for 007n7, who sunk into bed with a dramatic sigh. He turned to shut off the nightstand lamp and placed his glasses on the table. He turned over to Coolkid who had already passed out, snuggling against 007n7’s arm. 07 smiled and quickly succumbed to exhaustion himself.
The morning had passed by with a blur. Neither 007n7 nor Coolkid spoke about what happened that night. The red horned child returned to his quiet behavior. He hardly even reacted when 007n7 asked if he wanted to choose dinner for tonight.
007n7 was also worried about dropping Coolkid off at his first session for the week. If something as simple as buying new clothes could throw him off, he couldn't imagine what would happen if Coolkid was in a session full of strangers. What if they didn't have the patience to deal with him like he did? Or worse, what if they treated him like a monster instead?
07 stood outside of his car, his foot tapping impatiently and his tail flicking nervously behind him. He was fatigued from the errands he had to run today, apparently it was very difficult to find clothes that could fit an adult person but still had dinosaurs and drakobloxxers on them. 007n7’s gaze flicked upward as he heard the door in the distance open, two figures exiting the building. One was a robloxian with a doctor's outfit, and the other was his son, happily flicking his tail behind him as he sucked down on a lollipop.
007n7 felt relief wash over him as he paced forward to meet with the two.
Coolkid took the lollipop out of his mouth before speaking up, “ DAD DAD! The session was so fun!! They let me play on jungle gyms, they gave me candy, even Mr. 1x was there!! He didn't seem very happy though, but he did say hi!! I also got to meet his mom I think! Did you know Mr. 1x has a mom? She has purple hair! Dad can you come over next time I wanna show you my favorite bean bag chair they have! They also have this giant foam cheese thing-”
“ Slow down there kiddo! I can't understand you when you're speaking a mile a minute,” 007n7 laughed ruffling his son's head.
Coolkid huffed in annoyance, “ Daaaaad not in front of Dr. Laura…”
“ Alright alright, why don't you take a seat in the car while I chat with her, alright?”
Coolkid nodded and scrunched himself into the backseat.
“ So, I’m guessing you're his main doctor for now?” 007n7 asked.
“ For now, yes,” the doctor smiled, “ Coolkid is a great kid, and he did really well today!”
007n7 sighed, “ Well that's good to hear, is there anything else I need to do?”
“ Don't worry, Mr. Builderman already paid for the visits, though if it's not too much trouble do you think you could attend Coolkids next session? It would be very useful for his recovery if his dad was there to hear all the details in person.”
“ Oh yeah yeah of course, I should be free for his Wednesday session, I just got carried away with errands today, yaknow?”
“ No worries!” the doctor smiled, “ Have a good rest of your day Mr. 07.”
“ Yeah, you too, and thanks for everything you're doing for my son.”
007n7 whistled as he cleaned the dishes from supper. Coolkid had requested pizza for dinner that night, and while 007n7 inwardly groaned at the request, he knew he couldn't deny him his favorite food. Speaking of the not so little red demon, he was currently passed out on the couch after trying to sit through a 2 hour movie. He was wearing an adult sized dinosaur onesie, while it wasn't exactly like his old drakobloxxer onesie, it was close enough for Coolkid not to mind. 007n7 was thankful the night went without a hitch, no tantrums, no panic, just a peaceful dinner with his son. He was eternally thankful for the therapy sessions Builderman set up now, they seemed to be doing the trick in helping Coolkid.
007n7 placed the last dish in the drying rack, stretching his back and making his way to the living room. His son was still asleep, he had insisted earlier to stay up past 11 to watch a movie, and since they didn't have any plans tomorrow 007n7 allowed him. The poor kid didn't even make it past 11:45 before he conked out.
007n7 carefully sat next to Coolkid and shook his shoulder, “ Heyyy kiddo, think youd be more comfortable in your own bed?”
Coolkid just groaned in response and shifted in his sleep. Well looks like he wasn't getting up anytime soon. On nights like this 007n7 would just pick up Coolkid and tuck him into his own bed, but he doubted he had the strength to carry him in his new form. So 007n7 just took a blanket and pillow from the closet and tucked his child in on the couch.
Tomorrow may be free of any obligations for Coolkid, but 007n7 was a different story. He had someone he needed to meet, and it was better to do it sooner rather than later.
When 007n7 entered the sterile halls of the facility, he was pleasantly surprised at what he was met with. When 007n7 thought of a care facility, the first thing that came to mind was one of those horror movies of a blinding white sterile prison with mistreated patients and cold impatient doctors. But the facility that the admins had rented out actually looked quite pleasant. There was comfy colorful furniture, plenty of games and enrichment for patients, and the walls were painted with pastel yellows and pinks. 007n7 would honestly not mind living in a place like this.
He wasn't here just to admire the architecture though, he was here to visit an old friend. 007n7 clutched the small plastic box in his hands as he stood outside of door 003. The nurse had said he would be in here. Carefully he creaked the door open and stepped inside.
The man was faced away from the door staring out the window in disinterest. His hospital robes hanging loosely off his thin frame. He didn't even react when 07 shut the door behind him.
“ 007n7…” The man rasped, his voice still thick with glitchiness and distortion, “ D1dnt th1nk y0ud ev3r com3…”
“ Y'know I wouldn't do that Noli…” 007n7 muttered, pulling up a spare chair near the side of the bed.
“ Hm.. Funny,” Noli cackled, “ B3cause 1 se3m to rememb3r a m4n fr0m over a decad3 ago wh0 had no qualms about gh0sting me!”
He turned toward 007n7, his face still sporting that white porcelain mask, half his body extremely emaciated and a sickly purple color. 007n7 had heard from the admins just how extensive Nolis recovery was. When they had finally pried the void star from his grasp, they'd immediately started to apply skin grafts and muscle donors to try and cover up his skeletal half. Even more strange was the fact his porcelain mask had seemingly fused into his skin, and was unable to be removed without further damage. To top it all off, the man was suffering from withdrawal symptoms from the lack of the void star. Constantly getting sick, trying to scratch his new skin off, chills and muscle pain, and overall irritability.
007n7 felt bad about leaving Noli in a care facility, but he knew he couldn't help Noli the way the doctors would be able to. Besides he had Coolkid to focus on now.
That wouldn't stop him from trying to connect with his old friend again though.
“ I brought you something,” 007n7 offered, opening the plastic container.
Noli glanced down at the treat in 007n7’s hands. A small cheesecake, Nolis favorite. He’s surprised 07 even remembered after all this time.
“ If th1s is supp0sed to be som3 kind4 peac3 offering then 1ts a lousy one,” Noli hissed out, but he still took the container out of 07’s hands and began to devour the pastry.
“ So, how's the facility treating you?”
“ N0 compl4ints… Th0ugh 1t 5ucks they w0nt let me go 0utside.”
“ Really? Why not?”
“ S0methin b0ut my skin gr4fts needing to heal b3f0re they g3t sun exp0sure.”
“ Oh, well that makes sense at least.”
The man scarfed down the remaining crumbs of the slice and wiped his mouth, “ Wh4t ab0ut you? H0w is the once gr3at 007n7 doing?”
“ Nothing too exciting,” 007n7 muttered, scratching the back of his neck, a nervous habit, “ I've just been focusing on Coolkid and making him comfortable at home for the past couple days.”
Noli raised an eyebrow at him, “ C00lk1d is h0me w1th you?”
“ Yes..?” 007n7 answered in confusion, “ Why wouldn't he be?”
“ N0 re4son real1y, I'm just surpris3d the big sh0ts in ch4rg3 let you d0 that,” Noli said, shrugging as if it's no big deal.
007n7 narrowed his eyes, “ What do you mean?”
Noli just chuckled, “ Well let's face it S3v, it's 0bvious to ev3ryone you're not really in the right m3nt4l space to t4ke care of s0me0ne like th4t!”
007n7 felt anger beginning to bowl beneath him, “ What are you talking about Noli?”
“ I he4rd fr0m the adm1ns about wh4t they f0und at your house,” Noli answered, taking a sip from a glass of water, “ The 3mpty b0ttl3s, the filthy c0unt3rs and d1shes, the bl0od in the bathr0om.”
Then Nolis gaze turned into a dangerous glint, “ The handgun y0u bought thr3e d4ys b3for3 be1ng f0rs4kened…”
007n7 steadied himself, “ That was a difficult time, but it's fine now, I'm fine now.”
Nolis gaze remained unwavering, “ Y0u h4ve quit3 a f3w diff1cult times like th4t, d0nt you?”
“ Noli…”
“ B3caus3 the w4y they descr1bed y0ur pl4ce rem1nds me wh3n 1 found y0u after failing that c0mp sc1 final…”
“ Noli stop.”
“ 0r th3 tim3 4fter y0ur f4ther d1ed…”
“ Thats different-”
“ 0r th4t t1me aft3r you w3re fir3d from y0ur first j0b-”
“ That's ENOUGH!” 007n7 snapped, “ It's different now! I'm fine! Coolkid is fine! I've spent way too long away from him, I'm not spending another second apart!”
Noli barely even flinched, “ Y0ur3 4t le4st se3ing a shr1nk right?”
007n7 looked towards his feet in shame.
“ J3sus y0u aren't, aren't y0u? That Bu1lder fell4 is p4yin for 3very0ne sh1t and y0ud rej3ct that?”
007n7 knew Noli was right. He hated that Noli was right. But he couldn't go to a therapist. If he did then he’d have to tell the truth. The awful ugly truth about what really happened after Coolkid initially went missing. About the real reasons he bought the handgun. He’d have to tell them about all the things he'd spill about himself to Noli when they were still roommates, or 118o8 when they were still friends, or even Coolkid when he was still a baby and couldn't quite understand what his father was weeping about.
The moment he decided to spill his heart out to a shrink, they would tell Builderman, and that would give them plenty of recourse to have Coolkid removed from his care. He couldn't let that happen. Coolkid needed him, and 007n7 needed his baby.
007n7 stood up to leave “ I think I'm going to go now, Nols.”
“ Th1nk 4bout wh4t 1 sa1d S3v,” Noli called to him, “ Th3res no sh4me 1n gettin h3lp!”
But there is shame in going if it means that Coolkid will be taken from him again. He can't do that to himself or his son.
“ Sure Noli, i’ll… think about it,” He answered as 007n7 shut the door behind him.
The Evening marched forward without any more issues. 007n7 and Coolkid ate dinner, watched some dinosaur documentaries together, 007n7 packed his and his sons bags for his appointment tomorrow, and he read Coolkid a story before putting him to bed. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, so 007n7 couldn't figure out just what caused his son to deteriorate.
He knew something was up the moment he tried to wake him up. Coolkid was curled up in his sheets and gnawing on his tail, and cried and hissed when 007n7 tried to get him to stop. He continued acting difficult for the rest of the morning, 007n7 had to change him into his day clothes, had to spoon feed him, and practically manhandle him into the car, all the while Coolkid cried and wailed. He tried asking what was wrong but all he was met was more babbling from the child. Now he was here in the doctor's office, with a crying nearly 7 foot child at his knees.
“ I just don't know what happened!” 007n7 exclaimed, “ We had a perfectly fine evening, no arguments or anything, I just don't know what turned him like this.”
Coolkids doctor, Dr. Laura, was the opposite of 007n7, calm and collected simply observing Coolkids behavior.
“ When does he usually get like this?” She asked, kneeling down to meet Coolkids eye level.
“ Well… usually after we get into a big argument, or when he gets really sad or distressed, he kind of just shuts down, does not speak aside from small noises or crying, and tries to bite everything.”
The doctor nodded before fishing something out of her pocket. It was a small bright yellow pacifier.
007n7 raised an eyebrow at the object, but did not object when Dr. Laura offered it to Coolkid. The sobbing child immediately took the gift and stuck it in his mouth, his wails now muffled and quiet as he calmed down.
“ Mr. Seven,” Dr Laura's gaze turned up to meet his, “ How much do you know about age regression?”
“ Oh, well not much, but I have heard of it before,” 007n7 whispered, “ Is that… What Coolkid has?”
Dr Laura stood up and dusted off her lab coat, “ I believe so, it's nothing to worry about! It's pretty common for children and adults who have suffered from trauma to regress to an age where they felt safe and cared for, it's a perfectly healthy coping skill for someone like him.”
007n7s shoulders sagged in relief, “ Oh thank god, but is there a right or wrong thing to do during his uh, regressions?”
“ Just continue treating him with love and care,” Dr. Laura answered, “ You can also consider getting him some enrichment tools, like chewing rings, pacifiers, blocks and weighted stuffed animals, things that will help him feel more secure whenever he's regressed.”
He could do that, 007n7 could definitely do that, “ Yeah yeah of course, i’ll get those for him as soon as possible.”
“ I can show you some of the enrichment tools we have here, take a look to see what you want to buy, and we can observe Coolkids behaviors there too!” Dr. Laura continued, writing something down in her clipboard.
007n7 smiled, he was relieved to be able to understand his son better, these visits were working, they were helping, “ Of course, i’m sure Coolkid will love to play with whatever you have, right kiddo?”
Coolkid didn't answer, his jaw still working at the pacifier, but his tail immediately began thumping happily against the floor at the mention of ‘play’.
The doctor laughed at the display, “ I think he agrees with you!”
007n7 became used to the rhythm. Bringing Coolkid to his therapy, running errands, occasionally visiting Noli and having to sit through his rants about how he’ll ‘make those admins pay’. He got used to the routine, and while he was happy about all the progress his son had been making, there were days where it felt like he was the one regressing instead.
Times where the clicking of Coolkids claws against the floor sent him into a panic. Nights where Coolkid would crawl into his bed in the middle of the night that made his breath quicken and pulse raised. Or when Coolkid would hug him and 007n7 instinctively braced himself for the feeling of his neck snapping or flames ready to roast him alive. Even worse was the fact that Coolkid noticed. He would notice his hesitation during hugs or subtle flinches whenever he approached too close to his father. This inevitably led to crying, apologies, and usually regression on Coolkids part. 007n7 was at least thankful now that he knew how to care for Coolkid whenever he regressed, but that didn't help the gnawing guilt of knowing that his actions caused them. His chest would ache whenever his baby's progress seemed to undo itself in seconds whenever he noticed his fathers fear. Maybe 007n7 was wrong. Maybe he was the one who was too broken, not Coolkid.
Sometimes he would try to speak with the other escaped survivors about their experiences, ones that echoed his very own. Elliot would talk about how every time he heard a rattling sound he would freeze up. Chance would talk about how a sudden chill would suddenly raise his guard up. Or Noob who would feel compelled to run whenever he saw a flash of red fabric or fur. It was nice knowing 007n7 wasn't alone in these feelings, but he wasn't sure how to heal from them. Unlike the others who could simply isolate themselves from such triggers, 007n7 couldnt isolate himself from his own son. At first he wanted to speak with Shedletsky and Builderman, seeing as they were living with their own children who were also former killers, but 007n7 was hesitant. If Nolis words were true then they already felt as though he wasn't fit enough to take care of Coolkid, and he feared if he mentioned any of this, they would recommend a separation.
So 007n7 would continue with his routine, trying his best to suppress and bottle up his instincts. And whenever he'd lose the fight or flight battle, and Coolkid took notice, 007n7 would be sure to drop everything and comfort his child. This wasn't a permanent solution, hell it wasn't even a good solution, but 007n7 had one thing on his mind, making sure his baby wasn't taken from him.
What he did not know is that the spark was just about to reach the bottom of the fuse.
007n7 haggard breathing echoed throughout the cave he was in as he struggled to connect the last two wired together. Every now and then he would glance over at the corpse of his former teammate, crackling quietly as embers drifted into the sky like fireflies. To the average person, they wouldn't be able to recognize who this body once was, but 007n7 knew. He had witnessed from afar as Elliot was slammed into the ground and burst into flames from the red demon hunting them. His mangled face twisted into a permanent expression of horror and agony.
It was just him and Guest 1337, the latter instructing 007n7 to complete the remaining generators while he distracted the killer. Even if the blue haired guest had multiple bruises on his legs and fists, he was still willing to protect his remaining team. 007n7 envied that determination and willpower to keep fighting, especially for someone as unworthy as him. With the last wire in place, the machine before 007n7 rumbled to life, letting out a pleasant hum of completion. 007n7 checked his watch to see 40 seconds left for the round. Perfect, he had done everything Guest asked him to, they were going to make it!
But that relief would be short lived.
007n7 felt his blood run cold as he heard the sounds of a distant bonfire suddenly flare up, and the pained screams of the soldier following afterward, only to gurgle and come to a deathly silence.
“ AHAHAHA! ONE MORE LEFT!” The voice laced with malice and distortion called out,
007n7 felt a shiver up his spine as he suddenly felt very vulnerable and exposed. He quickly pulled up his gui frantically putting in coordinates, but the nervousness caused him to fumble and mistype several times. He could hear the footsteps of the demon getting louder and louder, he was always so quick, so fast, too fast.
“ THERE YOU ARE DAD!” The foul beast grinned with a mouthful of fangs as its claws outstretched to reach the older man.
007n7 yelped as hissed as the talons made contact with his skin, leaving behind deep ugly scratches that wept blood. He clutched his arm and immediately turned tail to run, typing out commands to release a clone of himself in the killer's path.
The lanky monster fell for the bait, letting out an excitable giggle as it gave chase towards the fake 007n7. This allowed the real 007n7 to duck behind a cavern wall, letting out a sigh of relief. He was panting heavily, his body definitely was not used to this kind of exercise, made worse from his ankle monitor biting into his flesh and his now injured arm. His fluke would not last him the round though, as he heard just as quickly the sound of a sparking inferno and the frustrated groan of the monster.
“ NO FAIRRR, I ALWAYS FALL FOR IT!” The killer wailed, if 007n7 could focus he could almost imagine it stomping its feet like a petulant child.
007n7 pulled out his C00lgui once more, plugging in coordinates. He was far away enough to be able to teleport without issue, and he could survive! Unfortunately, right before he could press the run prompt button, he felt a clawed paw grab the back of his shirt. Whipping around he was met face to face with one of the monster's clones. Its fleshy mouth twisted into a horrifying grin as it slashed 007n7 across his stomach, leaving behind a burning flame as well. 007n7 fell to the floor gasping in pain as the clone dissipated into ash. Through the ringing in his ears he could just slightly hear the monsters joyous yell in the distance!
“ THERE YOU ARE!”
Closer closer closer, the sound of claws against earth was approaching rapidly. 007n7 didn't want to die, not for any selfish reasons, but he didn't want his teammates' efforts to go to waste, especially Guests. He hobbled out of his hiding place, maybe if he could make it to the marsh the killer would slow itself down in the waters. Suddenly, a brick cracked against his ankle, breaking it seamlessly, causing 007n7 to cry out and crumple to the ground.
“ I FINALLY GOT YOUR ATTENTION, DAD!”
This was it, 007n7 couldn't run anymore. He shut his eyes and braced for the final blow. A blow that never came. Instead 007n7 felt the monster manhandle him into a standing position. He let out a whine of pain and confusion as the red beast encircled its clawed and bloodstained hands around his torso, embracing him. 007n7 wondered if the bloodloss had caused him to lose his mind, but hesitantly he wrapped his arms around the creature to hug it back. His hands were met with rough writhing flesh, hot, almost burning to the touch, as if the beast was suffering from a constant fever. Then, 007n7 felt another heat, bursting from within. He screeched in agony as the flames spread across his whole body, clawing and punching against the chest of the creature to try and escape.
“ DAD? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” the red demon whimpered, clutching onto 007n7 tighter and tighter.
007n7’s vision began to blur, his mind fading in and out as he collapsed against the crimson killer, too tired to continue fighting. He sighed as he felt his body begin to numb, and with it the pain fading.
“ DAD? DAD WHY ARE YOU SLEEPING? WAKE UP DAD! WAKE UP!”
“ PLEASE? I DIDN'T MEAN TO TAG TOO HARD!”
“ AT LEAST WAIT UNTIL WE GET HOME! THE GROUND IS TOO BUMPY!”
“ DAD? ARE YOU STILL THERE?”
“ PLEASE…”
“ WAKE UP!!!”
007n7 snapped awake, covered in sweat. Everything was blurry, where was he? He stumbled out of bed, falling onto his knees. God where were his glasses? Blindly his hand reached up to his nightstand, fishing for them, only to find nothing. 007n7 frowned, he was sure he left them on his nightstand, did he leave them somewhere else by mistake? 007n7 groaned as he pulled himself up with help from the nightstand and gazed toward the window. Through his blurry vision he could just make out the light rays of the rising sun peaking through the window. It was still plenty dark, it must be around 5 am. 007n7’s heart was still rapidly pounding in his chest and he was on high alert from the adrenaline of his nightmare. He decided he might as well kill two birds with one stone and head to the kitchen for a glass of water and see if his glasses were there as well.
007n7 tiredly dragged himself through the kitchen, bumping against several walls and table legs on the way there. Those were definitely going to bruise later, but he was too tired to care right now. He could just make out the pale shapes of the kitchen island and immediately began searching. He huffed in disappointment as his search brought up nothing, just where the hell could they be? But before 007n7 could think of anywhere else in the house he could have left his glasses, he heard a shuffling noise and the sound of clawsteps behind him.
“ Dad?”
007n7 whipped around to the source of the noise, blinking rapidly as he took in the blurry shape of the trespasser. Large, lanky, red, he could just make out the horns atop his head, and if he squinted he could see spikes protruding from the creature's arms and back, a devils tail lashing lazily behind it. It was the murderer. The monster from his dreams.
007n7 felt his heart rate spike, his lips wobbling as he backed away. The memories of his nightmare crashing back at full force. How did the monster get into his house? What was it doing here??
The creature was undeterred, “ Dad, I think I found something of yours-”
“ S-stay back,” 007n7 mumbled, his hand behind his back, searching for something, anything!
The beast did not listen, instead opting to take a step closer, “ Huh? What happened? Did you have a nightmare Papa?”
“ G-get away from me- please- I don't want to die,” 007n7 felt tears threaten to spill from his bloodshot eyes, his hand frantically grabbing onto what felt like a ceramic mug. Perfect.
“ Wh, Dad, are you okay? I-I won't hurt you! Promise!” the demon took a step forward, its arms outstretched seemingly wanting a hug.
A hug that will end in an inferno. 007n7 could still feel the flames invading his flesh and bones. The sounds of embers and sparks destroying his ear dreams, and the nauseating smoke invading his nostrils.
“ I said STAY BACK!” 007n7 blindly threw the ceramic mug, shattering just to the side of the red beast. It yelped and stepped back. Good. That was good, it was working!
“ Dad-!”
007n7 didn't let the killer finish, his hands immediately grabbing anything he could from the shelves and tables. Coasters, cups, mugs, cutlery, pans, anything! And just as his hands curled around the next weapon he would throw them with all his strength at the murderer.
Most of them missed, shattering or clattering against the wall or ground, but some met their target, causing the foul beast to screech in agony.
“ I don't wanna die! STAY BACK! PLEASE!” he continued to beg, his arm getting sore from the amount of objects he kept hurtling.
Soon the creature collapsed onto the ground, sniffling and sobbing with all its might. Just before 007n7 could strike it again, a glint of light caught his attention. He craned his neck to see a small object had fallen out of the monster's clutches, a familiar object at that. Silently, 007n7 placed the would-be weapon onto the countertop, and stepped forward to pick it up. His glasses. Moving with precision, almost like a robot, he wiped the frames with his pajama sleeve and placed them on his face.
Oh how he wished he hadn't.
After putting them on, the blurry mass of red began to focus and clear up, turning into the shape of his son, his baby. His baby who was lying on the floor sobbing his heart out. His baby whose body was already beginning to bruise up. His baby who he had broken in an irreversible way. Oh god his baby!
007n7 couldn't help the scream of agony that released from him when he realized what he had just done to Coolkid. The child flinched and looked up, his black eyes swirling with sorrow and tears streaming down his flushed face. 007n7 collapsed onto the ground and dragged himself toward his baby, his heart shattering even further as Coolkid flinched away from his embrace.
“ Oh GOD oh GOD i'm so SORRY I'M SO SORRY! Coolkid oh GOD my baby please I’m so sorry I didn't know!”
Useless apologies, explanations and ‘i love yous’ spilled from his mouth just as the tears spilled from his raw eyes. He hugged his child as close as he could, as if the embrace could heal the injuries he had just dealt towards his own son.
He felt Coolkid shift beneath him, and then hesitantly wrap his paws around 007n7 too, still sobbing and wailing at what just transpired.
They were right, they were all right about him. Noli, the admins, everyone. He was too broken to take care of Coolkid, and now it was too late. If Coolkid wasn't broken before, he was now.
They stayed like that for a while, almost feeling like hours. Just two broken people embracing each other, sobbing and crying into each other. Both of them refused to leave the ruin the moment. Because the moment one of them left would mean having to deal with what happened. The moment one of them left would make it real. 007n7 had hurt his son. And he would never forgive himself for that.
And as the early morning sun rose, casting the ruined kitchen in its blinding rays, the two could faintly hear the sounds of sirens, and a vehicle pulling up just outside.
007n7 sat hunched over, a shoddy blanket covering his back and shoulders. The events that transpired before he got here were a blur. He just remembered some paramedics and cops breaking down the door, no doubt some neighbor called them after hearing the screams and shattering of glass. They wrenched Coolkid from 007n7s grasp, no matter how much the two of them thrashed and screamed, begging to stay together. Coolkid ended up biting one of the officers. 007n7 remembered being forced into a vehicle and driven to the admins headquarters. Now here he was, sitting on a bench in Builderman's office, mentally preparing himself for the scolding of a lifetime.
007n7 perked up as he heard the office door open and close, the weathered form of Builderman entering. He looked at 007n7 with tired, exhausted eyes, eyes that didn't scream “ I told you so” but rather “ I'm sorry I couldn't stop you”.
“ Where-,” 007n7 cleared his throat, “ Where's Coolkid?”
Builderman let out a tired sigh, “ The kids alright, he’s with Dusekkar who is treating his… wounds.”
007n7’s frown deepened when Builder said ‘wounds’. Wounds that he inflicted. If he hadn't cried his eyes out raw earlier he's sure he would have done it again just now.
Builderman sat down next to the grieving father, offering a hand to his back in support. 007n7 was surprised at the admins empathy, he’s sure that any normal person wouldn't even dare look at him. He couldn't look at himself either.
“ After this the kids gonna go stay with yer friend, 118o8 I believe is her name?”
007n7 nodded. 118o8 was a good option, she already takes care of Bluudud, she’d take good care of Coolkid as well. She’s not broken like 007n7 is, Coolkid will be happier with her.
“ I understand,” 007n7 replied, “ I won't stop you anymore.”
007n7 stood up from the bench, letting the blanket fall beneath him, “ So, should I go home yet or is there something else you need from me?”
Builderman's reaction confused him. He shot 007n7 a confused glance, “ You think yer going home?”
007n7 gave him a confused look in return, “ yes..?”
Was David implying he was going to be sent to jail? He wouldn't fight against it if that was the case, he hurt his child after all. Child abusers don't deserve to walk freely.
Builderman just let out an exhausted sigh, “ Listen- the others n’ I were talkin, and we don't think you're exactly stable enough to be on your own either.”
007n7 furrowed his eyebrows but didn't interrupt Builderman as he continued, “ Listen, I'm not stupid, I saw what yer house was lookin’ like after we came back, I just don't think you're well enough to live on your own without someone else to make sure you don't end up making a horrible decision.”
007n7 simply nodded. It made sense, honestly he probably would have gone home to drown himself in beer too. He hated that Builderman was right, but he can't exactly dig his way out now.
“ So, am I gonna go to some kinda institution then?” 007n7 asked, sitting down beside Builderman once more. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing, if he was lucky he could even go to the same place Noli was. Though he was not looking forward to his cocky “ I told you so”s or “ I was right”s.
“ Oh no, actually one of our friends offered to house you instead!” Builder said, for the first time since entering the room giving 007n7 a gentle smile.
Now 007n7 was really confused. Builderman was obviously talking about one of the former survivors of the Forsaken realm, but as far as he knew most of them either hated or tolerated him. Who was kind enough to give him, an unstable mentally broken man, a home for the foreseeable future?
“ Are you sure? Someone offered to house me?” he asked in disbelief.
“ Yup! The moment I mentioned it was you they accepted right away!”
007n7 stared hard into Buildermans eyes, “ Who is it?”
007n7 leaned against the window of the car, constantly having to stop himself from shutting his eyes and falling asleep. He hardly remembers getting a good rest since that night with Coolkid, and his raw aching eyes were begging for relief.
“ We almost there?” 007n7 asked the driver.
“ Just another minute or so.”
007n7 gaze turned back to the window watching the houses pass by. This neighborhood was new, and thus unfamiliar, he’s sure he’ll get used to it soon though. Speaking of getting used to things, he wonders how Coolkid is getting used to his new home. He remembers being allowed to say goodbye to him before his drive, Coolkid hugging him so tightly he thought he would pass out. The red child sobbing, begging his dad to stay with him and asking why the admins didn't want them together. It almost made 007n7 reconsider his decision, but he knew that wouldn't be helpful. This would be better in the long run, for both of them. He just hugged Coolkid back murmuring that 118o8 would be a good auntie to him, and that he would visit whenever he was allowed to.
“ Hey bud, we’re here,” the driver announced, snapping 007n7 out of his daze. He groaned as he grabbed his bags and slipped out of the car.
“ Ya need help with your luggage there?” they asked.
“ No no, I'm fine, thank you though,” 007n7 stammered, “ Do I uh- need to pay you anything?”
The driver shook their head, “ Nah David’s got you covered, stay strong pal!”
Just like that the car was gone, and 007n7 began walking up to the front door of his home for the next several months. The front yard had an old grill covered in a tarp, a tree with a tire swing attached to it, and several toys scattered along the grass as well. 007n7 dragged his suitcase up to the front door and rang the doorbell.
Shuffling and frantic footsteps were heard for a moment before the door swung open, revealing an average heighted woman with wavy long brown hair and tan skin. Her eyes were so full of life and she smiled upon seeing 007n7.
“ Hey! You must be 007n7 right?” she asked, offering her hand for a handshake.
“ Oh, y-yeah that's me.” 007n7 returned the handshake with a nervous smile.
“ Great! Well I'm Daisy, Guest's wife. It's so nice to finally meet you. Guest talks about you a lot!”
“ Oh really? That’s nice…”
“ Come in! Guest is in the spare room, the one you’ll be staying in, and- oh let me help you with your bags.” Daisy immediately reached for the suitcase with surprising strength, easily pulling it inside, ushering for 07 to enter as well. The house was modern, clean and beautiful, nothing like the two bedroom flat he could just barely afford with Coolkid. It was one of the last times he remembers using his c00lgui, summoning just the right amount of robux to be able to lock in the deal for the home. Justifying it by saying it would be better for Coolkid when he was older, better than the studio apartment he was living in before. He remembers how little Coolkid was, only about 3 or four. Still stumbling about on two or sometimes four legs, exploring the then empty house and letting out small shrieks of joy. 007n7 found himself smiling at the memory.
Entering deeper into the house, he noticed someone else sitting down at a small coffee table playing on a laptop. She was a carbon copy of Daisy, though she was wearing a tie dye hoodie instead.
“ Is that your daughter?” asked 007n7.
“ Oh yes, that's Charlotte! Charlie, honey, say hi to our new guest!”
Charlotte barely looked up from her computer but gave a small wave. The action making 007n7 snort a bit in amusement.
Daisy just sighed, “ Come on hun, is that anyway to treat a guest?”
“ Mooom im busy right now, I'll say hi later,” Charlotte grumbled, staying glued to her screen.
Daisy rolled her eyes before giving 007n7 an amused look, “ Oh well, teenagers right?”
007n7 shot her a nervous smile in return. God, he could only imagine how Coolkid will be when he reaches that age. He hoped they could still be close, even though he knows that it's normal for teens to fight with their parents around that time. Hopefully by then theyll be healing, and maybe even living together again…
Daisy led 007n7 upstairs and pointed down the hallway, “ Guest should be in the room at the end, that’s where you’ll be stayin!”
007n7 nodded, taking his suitcase from her, “ Thanks Daisy, and thank you again for letting me stay. If there’s anything I can do in return please let me know.”
“ Oh that’s not necessary, really, you're practically family now!”
Practically family huh? 007n7 dragged his suitcase behind him and creaked the door to the spare room open. Inside he could see Guest wiping down the wooden drawers. The soldier looked nothing like how he did in the Forsaken realm. In the cabins he was always on guard, and tense. Sometimes his walls would break down and you could see the bubbly kind father beneath the wear and tear, but he was always keeping himself strong for the others. Here, without his soldier uniform, he looked relaxed for once in his life. Sure his body still sported the scars of war and Forsaken, but he had a genuine smile on his lips. A smile that the man would only make when he felt safe and at peace.
His black eyes glanced up to meet 007n7’s gaze, “ Seven! You're here!”
He marched forward before giving 007n7 a tight hug, “ It’s so good to see you again, how was the drive?”
“ Oh, it was uh, fine!” 007n7 laughed, embracing Guest in return, “ It’s good to see you again too, you look so happy.”
Guest broke away from 007n7, giving him a warm smile, “ Well, let me give you a tour of your place first, then you can unpack and rest for a little bit, no offense but you look like shit man!”
007n7 nodded eagerly, a rest sounded nice, right now he feels like he could collapse into bed and sleep for the next 3 days.
“ I also went ahead and picked up the prescription for you that David told me about, they should be on the nightstand when you're ready to take em, left a bottle of water there too,” Guest explained.
Ah, so that's what the little brown bag was. 007n7 never really gave much of a thought on whether he needed medication. Being a former hacker meant trying to seek actual therapy was always a risk of being caught and arrested. Not to mention 007n7 was too stubborn to admit something could be wrong. He always thought that if he took medication, that would cement he made a bad decision keeping Coolkid, because he wasn't fit enough to be his father. But when he heard from Guest 1337 about the drugs he took himself, his belief faltered. Guest is an amazing father, husband, and friend, and he still has his own issues and needs outside assistance to help. That made 007n7 feel just a little bit better about taking them now.
“ Oh by the way, we’ll be having dinner at around 7:00 pm, it's a little later than usual but I wanted to whip up something special for your arrival!” Guest said as he pulled some of 007n7’s clothes out of his suitcase into the drawers.
“ Oh you didn't have to do that,” he called out from the bathroom, organizing his toiletries.
“ Nah, it's fine, really! Perfect excuse to whip up the grill and sear somethin nice, ask Daisy, she’ll tell you I'm always lookin for a reason to use that thing,” Guest replied with a laugh.
007n7 finished unpacking, stuffing his now empty suitcase into the closet and plopping down against the bed, rubbing his eyes. To his surprise, Guest joined him on the bed, his hand going to 007n7’s back and rubbing circles into it.
“ How're you holding up Seven?” Guest whispered softly.
007n7 could only snort at the question, “ What do you think?”
He shook his head, “ Sorry, I'm sorry I didn't mean that, I’m just-”
Guest shushed him, “ It's alright Sev, I understand, this is a lot. I mean if I was told I had to be separated from Charlotte and it wasn't my choice, hell I wouldn't know what to do.”
007n7 felt the bitter bile of resentment building up in his throat. But he didn't understand. He was still with his child, they were both there happy and healthy.
“ Yeah? You understand? You ever hurt your child, Guest? You ever scared them so bad they couldn't even look at you?” he didn't mean to snap, the words just spilling out of his exhausted mouth.
Guest didn't even look phased as he answered 007n7, “ Yes, I have.”
007n7 turned to Guest, a genuine shocked expression on his face as Guest continued, “ When I came back home, in the early days I'd wake up and not recognize her or my wife. I'd be so scared and just yelling and screaming at them to leave me alone and that I didn't want to die.”
It was like 007n7 was listening to himself talk, “ It scared Charlotte to death whenever it happened, in the morning after she wouldn't even want to talk to me.”
And then Guest shot 007n7 a serious look, “ But I had the support of my wife with me. Daisy- she knew how to calm me down, she knew how to bring me back to earth.”
Guest grabbed 007n7’s shoulders pulling him closer, “ And now that's what we are going to be for you, Seven, whenever you feel like you're drowning, we’ll be there to pull you up.”
007n7 sniffled as a few stray tears fell from his tired eyes as he mumbled, “ Th-thank you, I'm sorry, thank you for this. Thank you Guest”
“ Now,” Guests smile returned as he slapped 007n7's back in a friendly manner, “ Go ahead and take a nap, can't have you falling asleep at the dinner table alright?”
007n7 nodded as he shifted closer to the head of the bed, Guest getting up and going to shut the door behind him. Just before he did though, the blue haired soldier glanced back at 007n7, “ Oh and I’d take some of the medication before you do, I heard some of them can cause drowsiness for a bit, they might help.”
With the door to the bedroom closed with a soft click, 007n7 fished the bottles out of the paper bag. There were quite a few, some he could recognize such as a pill for nightmares. Others were unfamiliar, like the antidepressants. Nevertheless he popped open the bottles and swallowed them with a swig from the water bottle. Cringing at the bitter taste and feeling of the medication going down his throat. 007n7 glanced over at the clock in the room, reading 3:30. So he had a few hours to sleep before they had dinner ready. With an exhausted sigh 007n7 went under the covers. His head rested against one of the pillows, and the other clutched tightly in his arms. As his consciousness faded, 007n7 could almost imagine the other pillow was Coolkid, wrapped safely in his arms. And as he fully succumbed to sleep, he could almost feel Coolkids claws hands hugging him back.