Chapter Text
When the counter reached zero, Azure watched as the scenery changed from being in the forest to standing in front of a camp.
Azure looked around, mentally thanking the fact that the survivors' camp was better than the hunters'. He'd been through too much to end up sleeping in a pigsty again.
His train of thought was cut short by a hand on his shoulder. Surprised by the strange touch, Azure couldn't help but shudder.
-Hehe, sorry.- Azure turned to face the voice and saw it was Elliot. This calmed him down, letting out a sigh Azure didn't know he was holding.
-I'm glad you managed to survive your first playthrough. That's more than most survivors can tell you,- the blond said, nudging him.
-I know our first meeting wasn't the best, but you didn't tell me your name.- Elliot searched his pockets for a second and pulled out a small notebook with a pen. -Here, this will help you more than it will me.-
Azure grabbed it and clumsily began to write his name. He didn't know if it was nerves or embarrassment at having to write to communicate, but his hand was shaking and his handwriting came out a little illegible.
After writing his name, Azure showed what he'd written to Elliot. Elliot squinted slightly, trying to read what the other had written, but finally figured it out. -Azure, what a beautiful name. It's nice to finally meet you.- Elliot smiled at him, and Azure felt a warm feeling in his heart. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been treated kindly and not like a monster to run away from.
-Anyway, come on, let's go to the lobby. I'll introduce you to everyone else.- Suddenly, Elliot grabbed Azure's hand and began to drag him, despite the other's reluctance.
Although Azure had imagined this scenario on several occasions—finally reuniting with the love of his life in his human form—doubts began to plague him.
Also, of course, he hadn't forgotten the requirement the specter had given him: he had to act like he hated Two Time.
The walk to the lobby was short. Azure couldn't stop sweating, his heart bouncing against his chest. Azure swore he would die right then and there.
Upon entering, the first thing he noticed was a blond boy approaching them. "Elliot, you're finally here! We were getting worried." Azure recognized the person in front of him; it was Noob. Azure remembered him since he was one of the people who stuck to Two Time the most during the matches.
-Yeah, sorry about that,- Elliot scratched his head. -I was waiting for him to finish his match to introduce him to everyone.- Noob looked away from Elliot and looked at him as if he had just noticed him after Elliot had mentioned him.
-Oh, sorry, I didn't see you. I'm Noob. Nice to meet you!- Noob extended his hand to Azure to shake it. Azure quickly waved back to the blond to show his inability to speak. Azure also waved back to the blond.
-They can't talk?- The blond put his hand to his chin. -Yeah, that's why I wanted to introduce everyone at once, because of his inability to speak.- Elliot put his hand on his hip.
-Anyway, let's go to the lobby, that's where the others are,- Elliot and Noob guided him.
Although he was a little annoyed at being treated like a doll to be bossed around by Elliot, Azure couldn't help but feel anticipation. He sighed and followed them slowly but surely.
Upon reaching the lounge, Azure noticed how all the survivors were relaxing. This surprised him; he really wasn't used to seeing them like this. In a corner, Azure could see them.
There was Two Time next to a person with glasses. They seemed to be having a friendly conversation. This provoked an unpleasant feeling that Azure didn't want to name. It had been so long since he and Two Time had a conversation like that. Most of the interactions between the two of them were basically Azure actively avoiding giving in to the urge to strangle the other, and Two Time talking intelligibly or kneeling before him.
They were never friendly or sentimental conversations, just interactions filled with resentment and unspoken feelings.
That thought significantly soured his mood, and Azure allowed himself to be dragged by Elliot to the center of the room.
-Guys, let me introduce you to our new comrade.- When Elliot raised his voice, everyone in the room stopped what they were doing to closely observe the new guest standing in front of them.
-His name is Azure, and for reasons we don't fully understand, he's unable to speak.- Azure wanted to strangle Elliot. What kind of introduction was that? Azure felt his face turn red with embarrassment.
There were a few seconds of silence in the room that felt like hours to Azure, until a blue-haired man approached and placed his hand on their shoulder.
Azure recognized him as the one who had helped them escape in the previous game. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Azure. I didn't have time to introduce myself earlier. I'm Guest1337." He gave them a smile that Azure couldn't help but return.
After that, all the survivors approached to talk to him. Azure was happy to know that the survivors accepted him so easily, but to his dismay, the person he most wanted to see didn't even move from their spot.
Two Time just stared at him, as if they were seeing a ghost. Not that Azure blamed them, after all. Just a few hours ago, he was a monster with appendages on his back and a talking hat. But that didn't stop his pride from being hurt.
Apparently, someone noticed how Azure was looking at Two Time. -Relax, Two Time is a strange person. I'm sure they'll introduce themself later,- Shedletsky told him, patting him on the back.
-You wouldn't believe it,- Azure thought, but he couldn't help but sigh. After all, he wasn't going to force Two Time to talk to him.
Azure was still planning how he could strike up a conversation with Two Time without violating the specter's requirements.
With nothing else to do, Azure finally tore his eyes off his beloved and approached Elliot and Noob, who seemed to be making dinner.
All this time, Azure felt like a pair of eyes were fixed on him, and a part of him was glad to receive that little bit of attention, even if it was just blank stares.
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Azure had to admit it was a good dinner. The table was filled with laughter and conversation, bringing back memories of his time in the cult, how the entire room was filled with people, creating a comfortable atmosphere.
Although he couldn't participate in the conversations, he didn't mind; just being present and feeling the camaraderie was enough.
Every so often, Azure glanced at his ex-lover out of the corner of his eye, and it was always the same. Two Time stared at him without blinking, as if they were to look away, Azure would disappear like a hallucination. To be honest, Azure wouldn't be surprised if that was what the other thought.
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When the clock struck 12 and most of the survivors retired to their rooms, Azure decided to do the same.
According to him, the survivors had to share cabins, but since Azure's arrival made them an odd number, he was given the small privilege of having a cabin to himself.
His cabin was the farthest away from all the others. When Azure entered, he was surprised to find that the specter had already taken the trouble to decorate his room.
He looked at the room with nostalgia; it reminded him of his cabin when he was alive.
Azure yawned and relaxed his shoulders. Tiredness finally got the better of him, he threw himself into bed without bothering to change. That day had truly been a stressful one.
Seeing Two Time again in his original appearance really rekindled feelings he thought had been buried by the specter.
-Pathetic,- he heard a voice in his room. It really startled Azure, causing him to jump out of bed.
When he looked around the room, he realized there was no one there. -Look what you've done to me, demoted to a mere decorative hat.- Oh, of course. Who else could ruin Azure's moment of relaxation more than his beloved hat?
Azure took it off his head and faced it. -I can't see your mouth, how can I silence you?- Azure thought as they scanned it in detail. Of course, a cry of indignation was not long in coming.
-Of all people, you had to be the only one I can speak freely to.- Azure sighed in resignation and threw the hat across the room.
It started yelling curses and other things that Azure didn't really care about. Tomorrow, he would talk to Two Time, a real conversation, at least that's what he told himself.
Azure lay back down in his bed and succumbed to sleep. After all, tomorrow promised to be a great day.
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They woke up with the sun's rays hitting their face. Azure got out of bed heavily, quickly going into the bathroom to wake up fully.
After a quick shower, Azure was finally able to look at himself in the mirror. He had to admit that it was strange to see his human appearance again; he had grown accustomed to his reflection not being a pleasant image.
This filled them with happiness; they were finally in a body where they felt comfortable with themselves.
Azure emerged from the bathroom, already revitalized after a cold shower. While he was searching for an outfit he could wear, something caught his eye. On the nightstand next to his bed was a Nightshade.
Azure didn't remember it being there when he went to sleep that night, but he was sure that perhaps tiredness had caused him to ignore the flower the day before.
With a smile forming on his face, Azure carefully placed the flower on his hat.
After finishing changing, Azure decided to leave his cabin and head toward the lobby. Perhaps he might bump into Two Time by chance.
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Azure was about to reach the lobby when he collided with someone, the shock of the impact sending him sprawling on the floor.
-Sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was looking.- Azure looked up and found himself facing the survivor wearing the strange hat. -What was his name again? 7n7 or something like that, Azure can't quite remember,- Azure thought as the man in front of him became clearly more nervous.
-That wasn't really a good first impression, was it? I always ruin these things.- Azure stopped paying attention to what the other was saying; he really wasn't in the mood for that nonsense.
What Azure did notice was a wound that could be seen from the ground. It was clear it was new, hadn't healed properly, and had a high chance of becoming infected.
Azure jumped up, scaring the man in front of them. His mission had changed. Going to the lobby could wait. Right now, his main mission was to heal the wound of the person in front of him.
They grabbed 7n7's hand and began dragging him to their cabin, ignoring the other's retorts. It wasn't that difficult a task because Azure was clearly stronger than the other, and he only made a minimal effort to stop them.
When they arrived, Azure instructed the other to sit on his bed while he examined the wound. The man was a little surprised, but he did what Azure wanted him to do.
The wound wasn't that deep, but it would need a few stitches to fully close. Azure grabbed his hat in frustration, realizing he didn't have any medical equipment on hand that he could use.
That was until the movement caused the NightShade he had placed in his hat to fall in front of him. Suddenly, an idea struck him.
Azure quickly offered the NightShade to the man in front of him, signaling for him to eat it.
-You want me to eat this?- 7n7 said, looking at him with a puzzled look on his face. -Are you sure they're not poisonous?- Azure ignored what the other said and stood up from his position. He was prepared to be a little more insistent.
-Relax, I believe in you,- the brunette said as he stuffed the NightShade into his mouth in one bite. Suddenly, they were both able to observe how the wound healed quickly, making it now look like a fresh scar.
That discovery brought a smile to Azure's face. -Wow, I really don't know how to thank you. The pain was killing me.- Azure waved his hand, dismissing it; after all, it was only natural to help a comrade in need.
-You really are an angel, just like Two Time described you.- That comment surprised Azure. Had Two Time told the other survivors about him? Could there still be something else tying them down?
Before he could dwell on that thought, a counter appeared above their heads. -Looks like the game's about to start soon. We'd better get ready.- And with that, 7n7 left his cabin, giving him a small farewell.
Azure clutched his hat as his breathing quickened. This wouldn't be a pleasant time.