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The final platform finally comes back up, Sandbag, Sailor, Vega-
But no Eddie,
Benny rushes over to Sandbag. Heart thundering in his chest, he can't be dead right? He would've survived he had a plan, he always had a plan.
"Where is he?" Benny grab Sandbag by his shirt.
"Benny- I" He stummbles.
"No, no, no don't give me that, he would've survived, he has to survive. Right Sailor?"
Sailor's eyes are out of focus, body frozen, face still not turning to face Benny.
"Orca man's dead," He musters out, "He sacraficed himself, to save me and Sandbag."
Benny stops, frozen. Something bitter and wet threatens to prick from the corner of his eyes but he blinks it away, tightening his fists instead.
"No, No, no that can't be, you just let him?! You just let him kill himself so you could survive?!" He shoves Sailor, going to grip his shoulder.
Sandbag grabs Benny's wrist, on his lips hold back cries as his eyes prick up. Neither of them even notice the others coming over.
"Benny-" Sandbag stutters out, "He did what he had to in order to save the kid."
Benny shoves off Sandbag, his hands ride up to tug into his own hair, strands of orange and a bit of black clutter in his hands from just how hard he's tugging. How could this even happen? Eddie was smart, he would have found another way, he would have done something, he wouldn't have... sacraficed himself.
"This isn't right!" Benny yells "He saved you, he helped you! Both of you! And-and you just let him die, how selfish were you?!?" His hands shake at his side, eyes blinking increasing bit by bit. "Dammit Eddie,"
Benny's fist goes straight towards Sandbag's face, but is stopped by Maneki who shakes their head. Benny looks over behind him where Cecelia and Rook have gathered behind Maneki.
"Tch, what about you 'Heartless Maiden', if you hadn't fucked everyone over in the first round Eddie might actually be here, you're selfish, manipulative-"
A sharp metal object squares him right in the cheek, Rook's hoofpick.
"Silence! At once, Cecelia's behaviour was in the best interest of both me and herself and I will not sit iddly and let you tarnish her name!" The tall dark haired woman reprimands.
"Tch," the orange haired man laughs, mouth dripping with a bit of blood. "You're only saying that because you're her pet, her lackey. She doesn't care about you, she's in this for herself."
Benny's words earn him another strike from Rook's hoofpick. he can feel his chest heave as unsteady breaths leave it bit by bit.
"Eddie's really dead isn't he?" He mutters, more to himself than those around him.
The surrounds around him seem to fall into quiet, flashing lights like the ones from when he got caught remind him of all he's done wrong. Nothing but bitter painful regret, is there even anything left for him? No one dares says a word, but their gaze remains on him.
Maneki's hand goes to rest on Benny's shoulder, he shoves it off.
"I'm going to get a drink."
He leaves, steps wavy and uneven as he stumbles his way to the bar. He can't even make out shapes just the slow fade or harsh colours into a more dull and senseless feel telling him he's where he needs to be. His hand slides two chips across the counter.
"Whiskey, strong." Is all he says before using his hands to cover up his face.
He could have done something, they were right there they had the chance, if he had been just a bit quicker to pull the trigger he would've beaten Vick, if stupid fate hadn't gotten him dragged up there with a bunch of psychopaths. If he hadn't even joined this stupid competition maybe Eddie would have been alive. There was so much he could have done if he wasn't so stupid. Eddie is dead now and it's all his fault.
A glass of whiskey is slid across the table. Benny chugs it no hesitation, between the bitter feeling of mourning and the painful tinge of whiskey, the second is the more welcome flavour.
"You were supposed to buy me this drink, we could have been alive together, even if it was just for a second longer."
He slams the glass down onto the table.
"Another stronger this time" He demands, the bartender warns him it'll cost him another chip, he throws three down onto the table.
Eddie would have said something about him wasting chips, probably would have done that gorgeous thing where his lips pulse in disapointment, sweet, sexy disapointment, that Benny would never see again.
The second the next drink is placed onto the table Benny immediately snatches it, welcoming the sour, poison down his throat as if it was an old friend, how Benny wishes it was Eddie's tongue in his mouth instead of this rottting liquid, but Eddie's dead, he's not coming back.
The glass slams onto the table.
"Another." He demands.
"You don't have enough for anything here." The bartender tells him.
Benny looks down at his last chip, shoving himself off the bar counterer.
His slow dragging steps take him back to the "In-fun-o", the same place he shared time with Eddie, Eddie's not here, why can't he stop thinking about him?
Flashing lights and loud banging sounds assult Benny's drunken senses as he drifts himself towards the nearest slot machine. His eye's flare back to the bench in the corner of the gambling hall. A small, sour smile crawls it's way onto Benny's face as tears finally stream from his eyes freely.
"This ones for you Eds"
He presses his lips to the chip before sliding it into the machine, pulling the lever.