Archive of Our Own ^beta

Builderman panted as he sat atop Doombringer. He weakly held the Illumina, lazily ramming the sword once more into the larger man’s chest. Doombringer had succumbed to his wounds several blows before, but Builderman didn’t care. He leaned into the sword for support— the sound of tearing flesh and squishy viscera quietly rang through the wind. Once his regained his strength, he pulled the dimly glowing sword from Doombringer’s chest, throwing it to the side.

They were caked in blood. Builderman’s casual, approaching attire was now stained with the sin that hid behind it for so long. He stared at his hand, blood dripping down onto Doombringer’s matted fur. Builderman’s eyes instinctively focused onto the lifeless body of his friend. Doombringer’s face, once so full of love and admiration for the people of Robloxia, lay there lifeless— his eyes staring up blankly into the starry night.

Builderman decided to follow his gaze— looking up into the endless sky. Golden pillars towered above him shining dully in the moonlight. It was quite an opulent scene compared to the carnage that lay inside it. He sat there on a paved path, cutting through a garden adorned with the most spectacular flora Robloxia had to offer. It was perhaps one of, if not, the best garden in the land. It happened to be Taph’s favorite, too.

Ah, that’s right… Builderman thought.

He looked back towards the paved path. Not far from him lay Taph’s body slumped against a golden pillar. Blood dripped down his head and painted the pillar behind him. His elegant robes disheveled and tattered. Doombringer had followed the demolitionist, knowing he enjoyed coming here while the citizens were asleep. He had caught Taph off-guard, taking  him out with one merciless strike to the head. Builderman had witnessed the gruesome scene— Doombringer clutched his hammer with rage as potent as venom, his breath audible through his clenched teeth.

“You!” Builderman took a step forward, fury welled up inside him.

Doombringer darted his eyes towards the unexpected guest. They were wide, glowing in the darkness. His gaze was manic, unwavering.

Builderman’s breath hitched. The intensity in his friend’s eyes momentarily turned Builderman’s anger into fear. He was far too gone, the weight of insurmountable tragedy broke him.

Builderman’s fear would not last long, with a second wave of rage hitting him harder than the last. He summoned the Illumina into his hand, clenching it hard. “You fuckin’ idiot,” he said, hatred coating every word that left his mouth. “You selfish bastard!”, he spat lunging at Doombringer.

And now he was left here by himself. He buried his face into Doombringer’s chest, sobbing quietly. “He didn’t deserve that,” He dug his nails into the corpse’s shoulders. “I- he was just following orders.”

Builderman submerged his face deeper into Doombringer’s bloody, matted fur. The tang of blood stung his nostrils, reminding him of the unbearable scene that befell him. After what felt like an eternity, the solemn atmosphere was broken as he threw himself backwards in a loud wail— its sound piercing the air.

He continued to cry, his breathing frantic. “I’m sorry. I should’ve done something. Anything,” he began. “I failed you. I failed them. If it wasn’t for me we wouldn’t be so deep in this goddamn mess,” Builderman said, his voice faltering. “Shedletsky, Brighteyes, Dusekkar, Clockwork… all them. I just want them back.”

Builderman turned his head back down to look at Doombringer. “I know how much you despised me these last several months.” Builderman paused, with a delusional hope Doombringer would respond. “I just wanted answers. I thought that if I kept going.. kept destroying.. I’d get an answer,” Builderman chuckled dryly, “but that never happened, did it?” He said leaning into Doombringer’s face.

He held himself there for a moment before pulling back. He put his head into his bloodied hands, tears forming in his eyes once more. “You couldn’t get to me so you decided to cut it off from the source, huh?” Builderman’s hands clenched his face harder, smearing it with blood. “Oh, Doombringer…” He trailed off sobbing into his hands.

Builderman’s heart rate fastened; he inhaled shallow, rapid breaths. His hands slid off his face as he cried out. Reality finally hit him— he had no one left. “What am I even going to do..” He grabbed at his hair, his eyes darting around. “I- I can’t do this. I can’t go on without anyone else.. I.. there’s the others but they just won’t get it like you guys did. Oh and the reputation?” He laughed shakily. “There’s no way in hell I’m fixing that.” Tears continued to envelope his face, “Gods I wish I could just see them ag-“

From the corner of Builderman’s vision, a familiar object shimmered in the dark. The Illumina, once a weapon of legend, lay soaked in blood. It called him; its alluring glow whispering into his ear. Builderman stood up from Doombringer’s corpse, stepping slowly towards the sword. His body swayed with each careless step— his body only strong enough to limply bring him to the sword. He halted above the weapon, gazing at it’s desecrated glory. Builderman couldn’t resist the Illumina’s call.

His body crumbled to the ground, his knees hitting the stone with a loud thump . Builderman reached for the sword, lifting it up with shaking hands. For a for a brief moment he hesitated, before ultimately turning the sword on himself. “Maybe there’s one way to meet them again,” Builderman’s voice shook, “if not in this life, may we meet in the next.”

Builderman lined the blade’s sharp point with his sternum. Mustering up his remaining strength, he thrust the sword into his body. Builderman exhaled deeply, the sound of crunching bone echoed in his ears. The pain was excruciating as the white sword penetrated through his bones, heart, and finally out through his back. Blood began to fill his throat like bile, it’s metallic taste choking him as he sputtered. Builderman began to see two, his vision rapidly betraying him. He fell forward onto the path, his body too blinded by pain to keep him up any longer.

Suddenly Builderman felt tired, a wave of fatigue drowning out the pain that permeated every nerve. It almost felt blissful, like all the torment couldn’t touch him anymore. His breath shallowed, he felt lightheaded. He didn’t resist, instead he let the freeing nothingness take him.

Suddenly, in the distance, he heard a voice. “Hello? Anyone? I heard some commotion over here. I wanted to see if everything was okay,” it was the voice of a young man.

Soon after the source of the voice appeared, it was Scripter. The sight filled him with horror, his body freezing in shock. His eyes darted from one to the other— Taph, Doombringer, Builderman. Scripter noticed the shallow heaving of Builderman’s chest, he ran to his boss’s side— snapping out of his trance. The gold crown he wore fell from his head as he dropped to Builderman’s side.

Scripter shook the man’s body, “Builderman! Builderman… oh Gods… w-what happened.” His breathing hastened as he tried to process the situation. “Please just- keep in there, okay. I can fix this I’ll get some he…”

The words started to become muffled, syllables blending together as his consciousness faded further. All he could make out was Scripter’s desperate pleas and cries, trying to think of anything to help the situation. But he was too late, there was nothing the young man could do. Builderman felt a small pang for him, having to stumble across the horrid tapestry. The guilt was short-lived, though. Builderman was just glad it was over— the burden no longer laying on him.

As the world got darker and the screams from Scripter began to fade, Builderman smiled weakly. Lying there in his own blood, eyes no more than slits, he thought back to his friends. The way Shedletsky would get on his nerves with his stupid jokes. Dusekkar’s dramatic language that often leaned on absurdity. Clockwork always having something fun lined up for the others. Brighteyes’s larger than life personality lighting up even the grimmest of situations. The way Luke cared for nature— seeing beauty even in a gloomy day.

Builderman thought of them all, and in his final breath he thought of the joy they brought to his life. The cold that gripped him seemed at last to let him go. He closed his eyes and in his last moment felt only warmth. Only love.