Chapter Text
One minute, that's all the time Azure had to prepare before the game began. He started pacing around his cabin, trying to calm down. Meeting the survivors and being with 7n7 had distracted him from the fact that now that he was a survivor, he would have to suffer the same fate as them.
Azure wasn't prepared to be chased by a hunter actively wanting to kill him again; he'd had enough with that first game he'd participated in.
While the timer started going down, Azure started looking around his room. Maybe he could find something to help him, an object with which he could hit the hunter if he dared to get close to Azure.
But unfortunately, he didn't find anything to help him. The only interesting thing was a bookshelf containing heavy-looking books, and Azure wasn't so sure he could kill the hunter by hitting them repeatedly with a book
Disappointed by the lack of deadly weapons in his dwelling, Azure decided to sit on his bed and wait for the accountant to run out. Like a vaccine, Azure repeated to himself, -You know it will hurt, but there's nothing you can do to avoid it-
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When Azure opened his eyes again, he noticed he was standing in what appeared to be a cemetery. He gathered his courage and began walking cautiously toward a generator, trying to remain as inconspicuous as he could. After all, being the first survivor the hunter encountered wasn't a great idea.
Azure began silently fixing the generator, listening for any sound that might indicate the hunter was approaching. The only sound that could be heard was his breathing and the generator.
Suddenly, he heard a branch snap behind him. Azure jumped as he turned around as fast as his body could allow, and to his relief, it was only Noob.
Noob looked at Azure like a kicked puppy, approaching him as he gave a silent apology and began building the generator next to them.
The new company brought him a small sense of confidence. Azure felt more protected when he had a partner who could watch his back.
When the generator was fixed, Azure decided to go their separate ways. He didn't want to draw attention to himself and end up hurting Noob. The blond quickly noticed Azure's intention to leave and decided to grab his arm. -If we're together, we'll have a better chance of surviving, don't you think?- Azure hesitated for a second but finally nodded.
Noob and he began walking around the map in search of another generator. Although something kept Azure on alert, they had a strange feeling, as if someone was watching them. Azure ignored the feeling, telling himself that it was just the paranoia the game was causing him.
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Soon they and Noob found a generator, which they quickly approached. Noob began to complete it while Azure looked closely at the surroundings. The sensation was still present, and this caused him great bewilderment.
Noob let out a shriek that immediately alerted Azure. The blond moved away from the generator as if he had been burned and began to tremble. -We have to run. This isn't a generator.-
In the distance, Azure began to hear the sound of distorted music approaching faster than Azure felt comfortable with. They nodded to Noob and began to run as far away from that bizarre sound as soon as possible.
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Noob and Azure ran as fast as their legs could carry them, but it seemed that wasn't going to be enough. Azure heard the sound of glitches increasing. He turned around to look, and to his horror, the hunter was already a few steps behind them. He recognized his comrade Noli. Now Azure understood why he was one of the most feared hunters.
The hunter gave a jump that knocked Noob to the ground. Azure also stumbled along the way. Luckily for him, and not so luckily for Noob, Noli didn't seem very interested in him.
Azure panicked. The hunter was focusing on the already wounded Noob, and if he continued like this, it was only a matter of time before he ended up killing them.
Azure took a deep breath and threw the first thing at the hunter, which turned out to be a branch. It didn't hurt them, but it did catch their attention.
The distraction worked, as Noob took the opportunity to run to the other side of the map, leaving Azure and the hunter alone. Realizing this, Azure broke out in a cold sweat.
He really didn't believe he would make it that far. He was physically fit, and if he tried, Azure was sure he could punch the hunter, or at least that's what he kept telling himself to calm down.
-Wh4t2 wr0n9 w*7h y0u!- Azure tried to make sense of what Noli was trying to tell him, but with so much interference, it was almost impossible.
Azure slowly grabbed a rock that was near him and threw it at the hunter. While the hunter was distracted by the thrown object, Azure ran as fast as he could with all his might.
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Noli seemed to have taken a dislike to him as he continued to chase him after Azure nearly ran the entire map. Some survivors supported him, like Elliot, who gave him a piece of pizza after the hunter hit him for the first time, or Guest, who distracted him for a moment, allowing Azure to gain distance.
But no matter how many of his teammates supported him, Noli didn't seem to want to change his target. Azure may have thrown one or ten Nightshades at him in an attempt to distract him, but that was no excuse for the hunter to be so determined to end his life.
Azure recited all the prayers he knew to the spawn. He prayed to the spawn to shoot a lightning bolt at the hunter and end their suffering. Although it didn't help much, the pure spite that maybe if Azure held on a little longer, the hunter would fall dead kept him standing for as long as necessary.
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Azure quickly reached the house on the map, and by then he'd gotten enough exercise to be doing nothing for the next decade.
He took a moment to breathe. The hunter could be heard in the distance, still trying to catch up. Azure limped while holding a Nightshade in his mouth. They arrived at what appeared to be a dining room. He sat down on one of the chairs and waited for Noli to catch up so they could resume their game of cat and mouse.
It didn't take long for the other to catch up, but before the hunter could reach the dining room where Azure was, he was stabbed in the back.
That took them both by surprise, the hunter froze for a few moments because of this.
Azure was dragged out of the house. When Azure came out of his shock, he realized that his savior was none other than Two Time. They held his hand gently, as if he were a delicate flower that would break with the slightest mistreatment. Oh... and the way they looked at him, just like in his sweetest dreams, it caused butterflies in his stomach. It was as if time itself stopped so he could appreciate that event.
That moment didn't last long. It was broken when Azure saw Noli start moving again and realized that he wasn't at a picnic with his partner, but rather in a game where they actively sought to torture its participants.
Noli looked furious. Azure watched as his mask changed into a grotesque expression. The sounds he made became more erratic, showing how his patience was running out.
But as if it were a ray of hope, he noticed the timer reach 40 seconds. He could no longer run. His legs were burning and his lungs screamed for mercy.
But Azure knew someone who could keep going. He glanced at Two Time, who seemed ready to stab the hunter again.
Azure grabbed Two Time by the forearm. That action seemed to take them by surprise. -Nigh Azure what are you doing?- Before the others could finish speaking, Azure gathered momentum and threw them in the direction of the hunter. Azure hoped Two Time wouldn't get too angry with him for using them as bait. Silently, he heard a chuckle coming from his hat. Of course it would enjoy that.
He didn't turn around after that. He just ran, not wanting to face what he had just done. When he stopped, Azure felt his stomach churn. His whole body screamed at him to turn around and go get his beloved back. But Azure wasn't stupid. He was exhausted, and he wasn't going to. be nothing more than a burden to them
Besides, Two Time is more than capable of taking care of themselves, -not to mention their second life—his little hat kindly reminded him, but that didn't stop the urge to take care of Two Time from kicking in.
Azure sat on the ground, patiently waiting for the timer to run out. There were 10 seconds left, and it seemed Two Time was managing just fine without him, since they hadn't used their second life yet.
He needed to do something to apologize to them afterward. Maybe he'd leave them a NightShade while they weren't looking.
The timer reached zero, and with that, the game ended, crowning the survivors as winners.
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Azure fell to the floor of his cabin, causing a dull thud to echo throughout the room, but he didn't care. Now that all the dopamine had finally worn off, the tiredness had finally caught up with him, making it almost impossible to move his body.
They decided to simply lie on the floor. They felt their muscles relax and their joints pop. They breathed a sigh of relief.
Everything around them was silent. It was just him and the loneliness in his room. This made his eyelids grow heavier. Azure decided to close his eyes for just a few moments to rest them, long enough for them to stop burning.
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In the silence, a knock was suddenly heard on the door, which woke Azure up, who jumped up due to the noise. The little break he had taken wasn't so little in the end.
Azure's head was spinning from how quickly he stood up. With a slightly unsteady steps, Azure reached the entrance and opened the door.
The first thing he saw was the sight of the most beautiful person he knew. The second thing he felt was the horrible realization that Two Time was at his door. Azure opened it, looking like a patient who had just woken up from a coma.
After he opened the door, it was followed by a few minutes of absolute silence. Azure's brain was short-circuiting, and Two Time looked like he was going to cry. Neither of them knew what to do.
Azure, blinded by discomfort, wanted to close the door in their faces, but Two Time quickly grabbed the frame, preventing him from doing so. They inhaled and finally spoke in a weak voice. -My dear teammate, Elliot, didn't see you after the game. He's worried that you were in a state of shock after such a fiasco with the hunter this evening-
True, tiredness made him forget about his teammates. It was obvious they were going to worry about him after being the hunter's focus throughout the match and then disappearing at the end of it.
Azure nodded curtly to Two Time, not giving them the initiative to continue their conversation. It wasn't that Azure didn't want to hear them talk, quite the opposite. But with them facing Azure, he wasn't sure he could maintain the facade of indifference he had maintained as a hunter.
Two Time's expression faltered for a second, but it was quickly replaced by that blank expression Azure hated so much.
The minutes passed, and neither of them moved from their spots, both staring at each other with the same gaze that spoke so many unspoken words.
Azure couldn't stand it and broke eye contact. He began to close the door again so he could look more presentable to the others. He didn't want to cause unnecessary worry.
This was until Two Time spoke again. -I'm really sorry to bother this server, but I think it would be best if I accompanied you. After all, it seems you came out very unstable from that game. The most sensible thing would be for someone else to accompany you, for safety, obviously.-
Azure wasn't stupid. What Two Time was giving him was a very poor excuse to be near him without making him uncomfortable. Even Azure could observe the gestures he knew so well, how they looked at everything but him and fiddled with their hands, all signs that they were lying.
Although seriously thinking about it, it wasn't a bad proposal. It wouldn't violate any requirements since he wouldn't show open affection toward Two Time, but it would give him the opportunity to be with his beloved for a few seconds.
Azure pretended to think about it for a few moments, glancing at the look of expectation that Two Time tried and failed to hide.
Finally, Azure nodded, accepting the proposal, but not before signaling them to wait for him at the door. Two Time nodded quickly and stood in the doorway like a gargoyle, not moving an inch.
He sighed at his beloved's strange reaction, but did nothing to stop them; after all, he had grown accustomed to their eccentricities.
Azure quickly entered his bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. His hair looked like a bird's nest. He had one or two smudges of dirt on his face, and what shocked him the most was the bruise on his left eye. The mere thought of Two Time seeing him like that did nothing but to further embarrass Azure; they wanted to dig a hole and get in there.
He quickly fixed his hair as best he could and washed his face, removing all the dirt that had gotten on him because the hunter had thrown him to the ground several times. Azure couldn't do much about the bruise. It seemed his Nightshades didn't have the same healing power as with other survivors; at least they served as a weak sedative.
Azure exited the bathroom and was greeted with the sight of Two Time snooping around his room. Azure cleared his throat, causing them to jump.
-I'm glad you're done changing, my dearest. We'd better go, don't you think?- That nickname made Azure's heart skip a beat. It almost made Azure miss the fact that Two Time had stolen one of his shirts. The keyword was "almost," but Azure chose to ignore the dark-haired person's action.
Azure pushed away the hand Two Time was offering him, deciding to walk forward without a single glance at the other. If Azure ignored the fact that he was actively sabotaging what remained of their relationship, he'd be lying if he said playing hard to get wasn't fun.
He remembers how in the cult, unlike Two Time, he wasn't the most popular person, which caused him to be almost always with them. Not that that was a bad thing, at least that's what Azure considered. But when the entire cult knew you as the clingy one in the relationship, it felt good to have the roles reversed.
Two Time began to walk faster, allowing them to catch up to Azure, standing at his side. -Who knew it only took you being stabbed for your dream to come true?- Exasperation filled Azure's senses. He really had to find a way to silence that little pest, he thought. Azure squeezed his hat in retaliation. It wasn't going to cause it any harm, but Azure hoped it'd get the message.
Apparently, Two Time perceived his actions as discomfort towards them, causing them to start avoiding his gaze and taking more space between them, which made the atmosphere even more awkward.
This mortified Azure. In a burst of courage, Azure approached Two Time to the point where their shoulders were touching. He didn't make a sound or point it out. He acted as relaxed as he could, deliberately ignoring how his hands were sweating and how he almost tripped over a branch.
But it was all worth it when he saw the small smile that formed on Two Time's face. Not one of those smiles that denoted their lack of sanity, but rather ones that Azure thought he would only see in memories. That brought some relief to his bruised heart.
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The walk to the lobby was silent. Azure couldn't say a word, and Two Time didn't seem to have any intention of starting a conversation, but that didn't matter. Just being together once again brought with it the feeling of peace they both longed for.
The silence was deafening, but that didn't matter, as in that silence, more things were said than they could ever say out loud.
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When they finally arrived, Azure was greeted by a worried-looking Elliot. -Azure, I'm so glad to see you safe and sound. Noob told me all about your departure and how the hunter treated you like a rag doll,- the blond said as he shook Azure by the shoulders.
-Even Two Time seemed worried, they kept saying- -Hey, Elliot, don't you smell burnt?- Two Time interrupted the blond before he could finish.
Elliot, hearing this, quickly went to the kitchen to check that his creation hadn't ended up burnt. Azure took advantage of the situation to approach the table. His short nap helped, but his legs still hurt.
Two Time seemed to want to approach Azure but they were intercepted by a Noob who seemed extremely disturbed by something in their shared rooms, which left them with no choice but to accompany the blond to their cabins.
Azure, having nothing to do, began to look around. Elliot and Guest were trying to make dinner, or at least what was left of it. Azure watched as Elliot stared at a pile of ashes with resignation.
In a corner were Shedletsky and Builderman, who seemed to be fixing a slot machine. Although Azure noticed that Builderman was doing all the work, his partner was only in charge of holding his toolbox. Not far away, Chance was resting against a wall with a smug smile. At their feet, there was a small pile of coins.
In another corner were Taph and Dusekkar. The former seemed to be having a one-sided conversation with the latter, but Azure noticed that Taph was occasionally making hand movements that he couldn't decipher.
And finally, Azure noticed 7n7. He looked like what Azure would describe as a deer in the road. He looked lost and uncomfortable, as if he didn't belong here, though that never stopped him.
Azure got up from his spot and walked over to his side. This seemed to take 7n7 by surprise. He looked around as if expecting a trap, and finally approached Azure.
-Hey friend- 7n7 stood next to him but still keeping a considerable distance -I saw your performance with Noli, you really beat him up don't you think?- 7n7 let out a dry laugh -Don't hold a grudge against him, okay? He's not normally like this, he just lost control because of something I did, and you had to be the target of his wrath.- 7n7 put his hands on his face, letting out a breath heavy with resignation. -I always screw up, no matter how much I try to change.- Azure didn't know what to do, but he wasn't going to leave the other alone. It was clear he needed someone to vent to.
Azure simply stroked 7n7's back in circles. -No matter how monstrous they've become, a part of me still loves them.- Azure nodded, not only to show that he cared about what the other said, but that phrase described the feeling he had so long retained and still retains for his beloved. No matter how twisted their psyche had become, Azure would still love them no matter what.
7n7 wiped the remaining tears from his eyes as he adjusted his glasses. -Thanks, I really needed someone to listen to me. I know it can be annoying for you, and sorry again for what happened in the match, it must have been very stressful for you- Azure denied, giving him a small smile.
Azure wouldn't admit it, but being chased by the hunter brought him nothing but good things. He would replay that game a thousand times if he were allowed to touch Two Time again. That idea would remain in the back of Azure's mind, along with his hat, whose ability to ruin any beautiful moment. He wasn't sure 7n7 would appreciate being told his true opinion.
After that the brown-haired man looked happier, still with tired eyes, but with a small smile, Azure moved away from him and began to walk back to the table, hunger was killing him.
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After a few screams and a lot of insults from Elliot, the pizza was finally ready. Everyone sat around the table. As they all settled in, a terrified-looking Noob entered the dining room, followed by Two Time, who was carrying a spider like a trophy.
Noob quickly ran towards Elliot, using him as a human shield. Shedletsky approached Two Time and began pinching the spider as if he expected it to miraculously revive.
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Apparently, Noob wanted them to get rid of the spider, while Two Time wanted to give it as an offering to the spawn, arguing that a spider of that size was surely a divine sign.
When neither of them accepted the other's proposal, Chance suggested they play rock, paper, scissors. Two Time won, to the sadness of most.
Although Azure loved his dearest, he could see the folly of giving a giant spider to the spawn, so while everyone was focused on the fight, Azure took the spider and burned it in the oven.
None of the survivors wondered where the spider ended up or why the oven smelled strange. Everyone sat at the table enjoying each other's company.
Two Time sat next to Azure, neither of them said a word, and if their hands accidentally touched on more than one occasion, no one commented on it.