Chapter Text
Life was going great for Judelow. Everything was perfectly aligning into place at the right time. Jude was running low on trapping materials and due to his very strained relationships with all the members on the Strength SMP, he couldn't just go around asking for some. However, at the same time, he can’t grind for them either. The risk of him getting jumped was too high–he practically had a bounty on his head that only increased with each successful trap he had.
So, when Tai had sent an announcement regarding failure in the respawn and healing system and that members shouldn’t log onto Strength or do anything lethal. Jude knew that this downtime would be a perfect opportunity to stack up on materials – and maybe even more sets.
Jude was deep in a cave, his sword swinging at Slimes that kept multiplying with each hit. Yet, the bunny didn’t falter—he was far too used to the slaying of slimes, he stomped on the final one watching it splat into a perfect condensed slimeball that would be put into greater use. Judelow smiled to himself at the thought of making a trap. He could make one right at spawn when everyone is off and get plenty of trap kills. The thought made Jude tremble with excitement.
But, his thoughts were interrupted by a notification in the chat.
conexion joined the game
Judelow blinked at the message. He hadn’t expected the swordmaster to get on–Sharpness was the most blood thirsty guy he’s ever met, other than himself, of course. So, the fact Sharpness was on when the whole idea of fighting was momentarily banned only piqued the interest of the rabbit.
Maybe he should get an idea of what Sharpness was doing. Jude began to type as he made his way out of the cave, mining up.
<Judelow> hey sharp
<Judelow> wyd
Jude then closed the chat, focusing his attention on mining up as he let his message simmer. Sharpness shouldn’t take that long to respond. As Jude dug up the final block he needed to breach the sunlight, he squinted as he placed the block back down and opened his chat.
…
No response. Judelow scratched his head, his ear flopping down in confusion. Okay, maybe the swordmaster didn’t see his message.
<Judelow> sharp [x5]
<Judelow> wya [x4)
Surely that thread of messages would catch the attention of the swordmaster. Jude whistled as he closed the chat once more, making his way back to spawn. Maybe he’ll come across the blonde in person instead..and hopefully not the sponge who was strangely on at this time.
As Judelow looked at his inbox, groaning internally as he saw no notifications meaning no reply from Sharpness. Was this guy ignoring him?
<Judelow> broo
<Judelow> sharpness
<Judelow> i look like a fan
And he wasn’t wrong! He seriously looked like a fan–he scowled in frustration, he’s stooping down so low just to get the attention of Sharpness and the man and Spongs of all people are getting front row seats to it! Jude huffed as he continued to walk. He should just trap Sharpness again for this little stunt.
<Judelow> dude can you stop egoing me
A few minutes passed by when a notification popped up, Jude opened it way too eagerly for his own liking.
<conexion> sorry was afk
Oh, that made sense.
Still, Judelow was going to trap the swordmaster anyways. He was the most fun to trap even if he didn’t do anything necessarily wrong.
<Judelow> jesus finally
<Judelow> did you see tai’s announcement
<conexion> no
<conexion> checking it rn
That made sense. In no way did Jude ever think Sharpness would get on at this time. He sort of expected him to leave in a few moments but the rabbit was bored and feeling a tad bit deprived of social interaction.
<Judelow> wya [x8]
<Judelow> gimme coords
<Judelow> ???
<Judelow> Sharp
And here he goes again. The lack of a reply made Jude roll his eyes. He’ll just find Sharpness himself.
Jude knew Sharp couldn’t be too far from spawn, and luckily for him, Jude was just approaching spawn. He looked around curiously, his ears twitching to pick up on any sound– any sign of the blonde.
The rabbit continued to walk– venturing further out of spawn when his intuition made his gaze fall upon the colosseum. His intuition almost never failed him. Jude squinted, looking closer– and that’s where he saw it. He found the gem he was looking for.
Black with a beautiful ruby red, blonde hair flowing in the wind, sitting atop the colosseum.
Jude let out a huff of satisfaction, at last he had found Sharpness. But Jude looked once more.
This felt off.
He saw Sharpness, sitting at the very top of the colosseum, sitting at the ledge. Too close at the edge for comfort. A wave of dread washed over him, his body tensing as he stared harder.
Just.. what was Sharpness doing up there?
Judelow wasn’t dumb, he prided himself with his wits and smarts. He knew that Sharpness was aware about the revive system, he knew that a fall from that high was deadly, and the harder he looked, he had realized the swordmaster wasn’t wearing any armor.
He had to act fast. Jude didn’t want to believe Sharp was doing what he thought he was going to do–Sharpness would never. But, the feeling in his gut didn’t go away. He didn’t feel assured that this was okay.
His feet were already moving, the rabbit sprinted toward the colosseum—thank Notch he had high stamina and speed.
Was this why Sharpness wasn’t replying? How long has Sharpness been up there? Will I be too late?
So many questions and things ran through his mind but all of them led to one goal.
Get to Sharp.
Jude breathed heavily as he climbed up the colosseum, his hands clawing at the walls and legs scrambling to crawl up. He never expected to move this fast–ever. As his hand gripped onto the last brick, Jude hauled himself over the ledge, now only a mere distance away from Sharpness.
Sharpness. The man’s back was turned to Jude–he hadn’t noticed the rabbits presence. He looked graceful, the sun basking him in light that represented him all too well. He looked almost peaceful yet the air hung heavy in Jude’s mind.
“Sharp,” Judelow called, his voice sounded far too wary for his own liking. That didn’t matter right now though– he needed to get Sharpness, “Sharp.” He echoed, his body growing more tense at the lack of a reply. Sharp please, look at me. Jude pleaded in his mind.
His pleas were answered, yet Jude didn’t feel relief when the swordmaster turned, looking at him.
Sharpness’ gaze was empty. His green eyes that practically glowed in light were now dull. Judelow swallowed, his throat was dry. Sharpness didn’t look like Sharpness. He hated that. Where was Sharpness?
“Sharp, what are you doing?” He managed to get out, moving a step closer. Jude didn’t want to make any sudden movements, he didn’t want to scare Sharp– he didn’t want to be the trigger of something that Jude dreaded. Again, no response. This pattern of events made Jude even more wary.
He just needed a response. Something. Anything.
“Sharp, please, what are you doing,” Jude croaked out once more, hesitating before stepping another step closer.
Sharpness blinked at him, repeating what Jude had said, “what am I–” He stopped himself.
Jude looked at Sharp with overbearing intensity–maybe, if he stared hard enough, he'd break out of this hellish nightmare. He’ll get to see Sharpness, not this– shell of him.
“Sharpness, you saw the announcement, right?” Judelow reminded, “Don’t do anything dumb, Tai said that.” Please. Realize how dumb this idea is. Everyone– I would be devastated.
Sharpness’ gaze fell over the ledge, he was staring down at the ground that was too far of a fall. “I’m… I’m not doing anything stupid.”
Bull-fucking-shit.
“It sure doesn’t look like it,” Jude muttered, bringing out his hand, “come here” ‘Please’ was left unsaid.
“I wasn’t going to do it,” Sharpness murmured.
“Huh?” Jude breathed out, he desperately wanted to believe those words.
Sharpness finally turned around, his back now to the edge. Jude didn’t know if that made him feel better or worse.
“I know what you’re thinking, I wasn’t going to do it,” Sharp clarified.
This time, Jude felt the slim hope that Sharpness wasn’t lying.
“Prove it, come here,” He indirectly pleaded, moving his arm forward once more.
Sharp stared at his hand, he didn’t move.
Please, Sharp.
Jude held his breath, staring at Sharpness, waiting for any movement. The rabbit was practically ready to lunge and dive forward if Sharpness chose to do anything ridiculous. And, maybe god had heard his prayers as Jude felt a wave of relief wash over him as Sharpness began to move his arm toward the bunny.
As soon as Judelow felt the brush of contact between the tips of his and Sharpness’ fingers, he interlinked hands with Sharp, and pulled him away from the ledge. He was safe. Thank Notch he was safe.
Judelow wrapped his arms around Sharp, holding onto him like he was going to disappear at any moment. Like he couldn’t risk holding him any looser. He took in a deep breath, taking in the senses of Sharpness.
Touch. He could feel Sharpness, his oddly cold body, his silky elegant blonde hair brushing against his face.
Smell. Jude could smell Sharpness. Not the metallic smell of blood that always lingered around Sharp– just Sharpness. This was Sharpness.
Hearing. The rabbit’s ears picked up on every sound Sharpness emitted. The steady takes of breath.
And sight. Judelow pulled away, his hands lingering onto Sharpness’ shoulders as he took in the sight of the swordmaster. He was a sight for sore eyes–but he had bigger fish to fry. His grip on Sharpness tightened, “What the fuck are you doing?” He hissed out, having half the brain to not shake the blonde.
“Woah, woah chill–” Sharpness scrambled out, writhing in Jude’s grip, “I was just thinki–”
Jude’s brows furrowed. Thinking? Seriously? “Thinking? You were just thinking? On the ledge of a 150 block fall? When respawn and healing systems are down?”
“I wasn’t going to do it,” Sharpness grumbled, his eyes looking away from Jude who wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it.
“Well now you aren’t, that’s for sure,” Jude swore and he meant it. He wasn’t going to let Sharpness do anything–not under his watch. “Now where’s your set? It’s not everyday I see a naked Sharpness on Strength,” The rabbit inquired, pulling out his ender chest and placing down, letting go of Sharp as he began to rummage through his chest.
“I don’t have one,” Sharpness replied, a response Judelow didn’t expect as he paused his movements. Sharp continued, “I ran low on sets and strength cause I kept getting quickdropped— and trapped.”
Jude felt a pang in his chest somewhere. “Oh,” He breathed out. Right. Judelow almost forgot he was responsible for the majority of the swordmaster’s deaths. A tinge of regret almost began to bud, but Jude quickly snipped it down. An awkward brief moment of silence passed before the bunny broke it, “you can have some of my spare sets, I have too many anyways.”
Judelow began to take out a shulker, placing it down and taking out a netherite gearset. Most of the gear he’s gotten from trapping–and a lot of them were from Sharpness.
He never used them though. He wouldn’t.
The rabbit offered the set to the blonde who only stared at the gear, a hint of wariness in his gaze. Jude expected that.
“It’s not a trap,” Judelow reassured, “if that’s what you’re thinking. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
No really, I wouldn’t. Not now. Later? Maybe.
Sharpness eyed Judelow then the gear before, albeit hesitantly, taking the set. Jude smiled as he watched the swordmaster shut his eyes, expecting a drop or anything–but Judelow made no moves.
“See? No trap,” He said with a grin, taking his shulker box and placing it back in the ender chest. “I have more stuff at– my base.” Jude had to pause his speech for a brief second. He almost said ‘our’. It wasn’t ‘our’. It was just his. So why did that feel so wrong? “If you still need more gear, you got an elytra?” He suggested, equipping his own elytra, letting the makeshift wings fall against his back alongside a few fireworks.
“Why?” He heard Sharpness mutter.
Jude’s smile fell, confused at the question as he tilted his head, “What?”
“Why are you helping me?” Sharpness asked. The question made Judelow’s smile return.
“You’re not that much of a threat,” he cooed, watching as Sharpness’ jaw clenched. Ah. He saw the issue now. “...But, it’s no fun without having someone competent to go against, even if you lack a brain and fall for my traps!”
So that’s what all this was about, Judelow concluded, eyeing the blonde. Sharpness thought he wasn’t competent enough–which was insane. Sharp was one of the best pvper’s Judelow has ever come across. Whoever planted the idea that Sharpness wasn’t good enough will certainly be facing a demise planned out by the purple bunny.
“There are plenty of other good pvpers- I’m not—” Sharpness began.
“Sharpness,” Judelow interrupted, his voice silencing the other, “You’re practically the best I know. Besides, the others aren’t really that fun to drop,” the rabbit said with honesty, every word being laced with truth and coming from his heart as he scratched the back of his head. Though, he bit his tongue from saying too much, You’re the only one I want to go against. Damn anyone else. So please– stay.
Jude watched as Sharpness just stared at him in disbelief, as if he couldn’t believe the words the trapper was saying. The concept of that made Judelow almost frown. Sharpness was capable. He was the most capable. How did Sharp ever come to the conclusion he wasn’t?
“I also don’t think I’d have much fun if you were– gone,” Jude admitted, his voice going quiet and tone more grim. “So- don’t pull some stupid stunt like that again,” The bunny scolded, “like genuinely, you expect me to not think you’re going to do something stupid when you’re practically dangling off the ledge?”
Judelow felt a hint of relief as he saw a small smile tug at Sharp’s lips. There’s the Sharp he knew, “Sorry,” Sharpness apologized, though Jude knew he wasn’t too sincere about it. That didn’t matter.
“Yea yea,” Jude sighed, waving his hand dismissively, “just– come on, let’s go to our base.”
Our. Yeah, that sounded better.
The rabbit felt himself brim with happiness as the swordmaster nodded, “okay.”