Work Text:
Builderman hasn't been doing so well lately.
It was weird, feeling blank without someone you once despised. Was it guilt, was it apathy? Even a God such as himself had no idea what he was feeling.
The elevator before him dinged and Builderman stepped inside, his signature smile dropping to a blank, almost exhausted expression. He sighed heavily, rubbing at his eyes as he mentally prepared himself for the upcoming interaction. Listen, he adored Elliot, it was just…
He was so, so tired.
But whatever, the other needed him right now, he was sure of it. Call him crazy, but something was telling him that things at the pizza place weren't going so well…
A wooden broom brushed across the floor of Builder Brother's Pizza, dragging any dirt it caught into a small pile. It continued to sweep across the floor even when there was nothing left to catch. Because it needed to keep going, or it might suffer from the memories.
Elliot's grip on the broom was tight, his smile strained. Today was absolutely shit, as most days had been after 007n7's untimely demise. Everything had seemed to go wrong, and no matter what anyone said, he couldn't find it in himself to feel better.
But that's okay, Elliot has had worse days than this one. That was a guarantee. Must he remind you, the love of his life is dead?
Warm, calloused hands held Elliot's face gently. The yellow-haired male stared at the ex-hacker before him, tears falling down his face like a waterfall. Before long, careful thumbs reached up to swipe them away.
Less than an hour later, he was up against the wall, being pulled into a soft kiss. His eyes slipped closed, euphoria floating through him as his lips pressed against 007n7's.
This is what he wanted, this is what he continued going for.
Elliot's teeth gritted together harshly, and his hold somehow tightened even more. He sucked air in through his mouth, exhaling through his nose with a bit more force than needed. In, hold, out, repeat.
Do not let the memories win, Elliot.
They were free. Finally, after twelve months of endless torture, of being trapped with Killers that showed them no mercy, the Survivors were finally free.
Elliot let out a wet laugh, soaking in the sunlight that he had been oh so cruelly deprived of for the last year. He couldn't believe this was happening. His family was going to be thrilled!
Speaking of family—
He turned, looking over the small crowd of Killers and Survivors with a beaming grin on his face. However, his cheerful expression soon faded. Confusion overtook him instead, and he found himself frantically looking around for a familiar head of brown hair.
…Where was 007n7?
This was just getting ridiculous.
Could a guy not simply clean up his father's pizzeria? Who cares for hurtful memories of the past when there's a stack of money waiting for them in the future? Listen, he had a very important job to do, and no matter how much he longed for the familiar sight of a hacker cackling above scorching hot flames, 007n7 was not coming back.
He had long since realized that.
Elliot wailed, folding in on himself as he dug his nails into his arms, staring at the grave before him through blurry eyes.
This wasn't supposed to happen. 007n7 — he wasn't supposed to be dead.
A paper crinkled in his hand, a letter that proved that everything happening was currently real. What was written inside hurt almost equally, but the final line was the worst.
‘Remember, no grave can hold me down.’
Elliot choked just thinking about it.
This wasn't fair. They were going to be happy — they were going to be together ‘till they died right next to each other. They were going to get married.
Voice as broken as he was feeling, the pizza worker whispered to the grave before him.
“Please Sev, tell me this is all some cruel joke. Tell me that you're okay, and I'm fine. Hold me to your chest one more time and joke about how bright my hair color is. Please.”
There was no answer.
Elliot paused, the broom in his hands stilling. The tears that had been building up in his eyes finally fell, silently rolling down his face. It took a few seconds but one tear eventually dripped down, falling against the floor.
That single tear was a catharsis, leading to the broom in his hand getting snapped in half, the remaining pieces getting thrown angrily at the wall. Dropping to his knees, the healer allowed himself to break, to let all of his emotions out in loud sobs.
The door dinged as someone stepped inside, and it didn't take a genius to know who it was. Only one person entered the restaurant without permission after it was closed.
“I — I hate this job.” He choked out. An exhausted yet soft voice responded.
“We both know that's not true. You just miss him.”
Builderman kneeled down beside Elliot, letting the mortal drag him into an embrace. He held the other close, not minding the wet spots in his jacket from his tears. Even when the other let out a guttural, grief-ridden scream, he didn't even flinch.
He knew how close Elliot and 007n7 were. He knew what Elliot was going through. Noli and C00lkidd were suffering just as he was, but at least they had someone who could understand them well.
Elliot was completely alone with his love for 007n7.