Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“That was fun, ain’t it?” Noli’s eyes beamed with joy, his elbow nudging 007n7. They just recently came back from their local pizzeria, which was three blocks away from their college. 

007n7 turned his head towards Noli, who looked pumped up as ever “Yeah, that pizza man’s face was priceless.” He snickered, walking alongside Noli.

“Even more funny burning their building down!” Noli slung his arm over 007n7’s shoulder, heading towards the dormitory building alongside 007n7. No matter what anyone said, the duo was inseparable; No matter what they were doing, you could see the other staying by their side. 

007n7 and Noli liked doing things together; they preferred each other’s company. Even if they ran out of things to talk about, the duo enjoyed the silence just as long as the other was there.

After bantering back and forth about today's events, the duo eventually reached their shared dorm. Noli took his key out and attempted to insert it into the lock. He missed the keyhole, earning a chuckle from 007n7.

“Nice one, Noli.” 007n7 snorts out.

 “Okay, asshat..” Noli scoffs, inserting the key successfully into the keyhole.

“Sorry, Noli..” 007n7 chuckled out, entering their dorm room. 007n7 flips the light switch that lights up the main area of their dorm. 007n7 sighs in relief after finally getting back home. Noli went in, locking the door behind him. He walked past 007n7, heading towards their rickety couch. 

“Ugh, it’s so good to be home.” Noli groaned as he stretched, cracking a few joints in the process. Without missing a beat, he grabbed his laptop from the coffee table. 

“I’m gonna check on our assignments.” he said, booting it up. “You can go ahead and rest in our—uh, I mean, your room! If you want.” He stumbled over the words, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks.

007n7 smirked, flicking Noli on the forehead as he passed. “Thanks, Noli.”

“Hey—!” Noli gasped, rubbing his forehead as 007n7 headed toward the only actual bedroom in the dorm.

007n7 then went ahead to the only room that had an actual bed. 007n7 never knew why Noli got paired up with him, knowing that the dorm only had one bed, but he was thankful for that. He got a best friend out of it, though he always had to fight with Noli over who would sleep on the bed.

Though 007n7 would almost always let Noli win their fights, he didn’t mind sleeping on the couch if it meant that Noli would be sleeping more comfortably than him. To be honest, 007n7 did everything to make Noli happy because Noli would always make 007n7 happy as well. 

007n7 sighed, opening the light to the bedroom. His eyes landed on a eerie box sitting on top of the bed. “Did Noli forget to get his shit off the bed again?” 007n7 groans, approaching the box. 007n7 noticed the box was open, he couldn’t help but be curious on what was inside.

He peeked inside the box, gasping upon seeing what was inside. “What the fuck..??” 007n7 exhaled sharply, his eyes never breaking contact from what was inside. It was a red baby sleeping soundly inside the box. 007n7 stood there looking at the weird red baby, processing what to do next. “What’s- What the hell is a baby doing here?!” 007n7 frowned, looking at the window.

He looked for signs of a break-in. 007n7 panicked, what would he do with a baby? How would he even take care of it? Don’t babies need the milk from their mothers to survive!? 007n7 couldn’t think straight, he couldn’t even stand up properly. He only had one thought, one thing, one person in mind..

“Noli! Help– Could you–” Before 007n7 could finish his sentence, Noli bursts into the room almost immediately. 007n7 couldn’t help but squeal at the sudden entrance.

“Seven? What is it– What’s wrong?” Noli asked immediately, tending to 007n7. He pointed at the bed, completely speechless, his hand trembling slightly. Noli’s eyes followed his gesture and landed on the box. “What about it, Seven..?” Noli asked, his voice ever so soothing.

“Just look inside the damn box.” 007n7’s eyes furrowed. Noli sighed, walking over to the box, taking a peek of what’s inside. 

“Holy shit..” Noli took a step closer. “Is that a..?”

“A baby?” 007n7 intervened, finishing Noli’s sentence. “Yeah. Yeah, it is. And not just any baby, it's..” 007n7 trailed off. “Just look at it.” 

The baby stirred in its sleep, letting out a soft, muffled gurgle. Its skin was deep crimson, almost glowing in the dim light. Noli’s mouth was wide open. “Oh my goodness, it’s fucking red.” he whispered in disbelief.

“Thank you!” 007n7 said, throwing up his hands. “Finally, someone acknowledges the baby is red! I thought I was going insane.”

“Why is it red?!” Noli whisper-yelled, his voice cracked with disbelief as he flailed his arms like he could somehow fling the weirdness out of the room by force alone.

“You think I know?!” 007n7 shot back, hands gesturing wildly. “You think I just wander around campus planting red demon babies in cardboard boxes for funsies!?"

“I don’t know, you were in here first!” Noli retorted, jabbing an accusatory finger at 007n7.

“Oh my goodness–” 007n7 muttered, pacing now. “Oh my goodness, we’re going to jail.”

Noli blinked. “What? Why?” Noli furrowed his eyebrows, seemingly confused.

007n7 spun on his heel to face him. “There’s a baby, Noli! A red baby in our dorm. We’re the only two people here. How’s that gonna look? Huh? ‘Yes, officer, I have no idea where the demon child came from, it just showed up in a box inside our apartment, please don’t arrest me!’” 007n7 says sarcastically.

Noli stared at the box, wide-eyed. “Okay, okay, okay! we can’t panic-”

“You’re panicking.” 007n7 interjected, shooting his hands up in the air.

“I’m not panicking!” Noli snapped, which would have been more convincing if his voice wasn’t rising an octave with each word. “I’m just expressing my stress very dramatically!”

There was a beat of silence. The baby let out a small yawn, stretching its arms. 007n7 and Noli both recoiled at the same time, like they’d just seen it sprout wings. Would it sprout wings? 

“What if it does something?” 007n7 whispered, looking over at Noli.

“Like what?” Noli whispered back, stepping closer to 007n7.

“I don’t know!? Float? Explode? Eat one of us?” 007n7 anxiously mumbled, biting his nails

“You’re watching way too many horror movies, Seven.” Noli deadpanned, holding 007n7’s wrist, preventing him from biting his nails.

“You’re not watching enough if you’re not concerned about this.” 007n7 retorts.

Noli tiptoed forward and leaned down slightly, squinting at the baby. “Okay. Okay. So… it’s a baby. Red. Wrapped in this cloth. Not crying. Doesn’t look sick. It’s just… sleeping!”

007n7 hovered near the door, ready to bolt. “You’re getting way too close.”

“I’m not touching it! I’m inspecting it.”

“Please stop inspecting it.” 007n7 rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“I’m scientifically observing it.” Noli touched the baby.

“Noli-” 007n7’s voice grew raspier. 

“I think it’s cute.” Noli smiles as he caresses the baby.

“What.” 007n7 deadpanned.

Noli shrugged, arms half-raised. “What?! It is! I mean, like objectively, it's got the little nose and the chubby cheeks and— it’s just red. So what? You wouldn’t say a frog isn’t cute just because it’s green.” 007n7 stared at him in disbelief like he’d grown a second head. The baby stirred again— and this time, its eyes fluttered open. Both of them went dead silent.

“Okay..” Noli whispered. “Never mind. That’s a little less cute now.”

007n7 stepped forward reluctantly, voice tight. “What do we do with it?”

“I don’t know!” Noli snapped his head to look at 007n7

“You always know!” 

“Yeah, well, I don’t have a contingency plan for magical red babies, okay? I didn’t prepare for this!”

007n7 rubbed his face, then looked at the baby again. “What if someone left it here? Like, on purpose?”

“That would make sense. Except for the part where it’s..” He motioned vaguely, “..radioactive demon-colored.”

The baby gurgled. One tiny hand reached up, almost waving. 007n7 groaned, hand over his heart. “Oh no. I think it likes us.”

“Shit..” Noli whispered, voice cracking.

“I’m not ready to be a parent!” 007n7 muttered, panic rising again.

“You weren’t even ready to own a plant.” Noli attempted to sprinkle in some comedy.

“ You were the one who overwatered it!” 007n7 replied back, jabbing his finger into his chest.

“It looked thirsty!” Noli raised his hands up in defense.

They both froze again as the baby made a tiny cooing sound and hiccupped, a little spark of red light pulsing from its mouth before it returned to sleep. The silence was heavier this time, it was more uncertain. Noli sat back on his heels, arms folded tight across his chest, eyes still locked on the strange infant. His brow furrowed like he was trying to do long division in his head without a calculator.

“You think we should raise it?” he asked suddenly.

007n7 turned to him slowly, incredulous. “Are you joking?”

Noli didn’t answer right away. He just kept staring at the baby, lips pressed together, his posture stiff with uncertainty. It wasn’t a yes. It wasn’t a no. It was the kind of silence that asked questions all on its own.

“Okay, yeah-” he finally said, with a weak chuckle. “I’m joking– mostly.” He glanced at 007n7 with a shaky smile. “But also, like, what if I’m not?”

007n7 blinked. “Noli,” he said slowly, enunciating every syllable like he was talking to a toddler hyped up on sugar. “We are broke. Exhausted. College students. Our diet is ninety percent ramen and ten percent pity. We don’t even own matching socks, let alone a crib. We have one bed. One! And most nights you pass out on that goddamn couch that sounds like it's actively dying.”

“I like that couch..” Noli muttered.

“That couch hates you.”

“But it’s got character!” Noli insisted.

“Noli.” 007n7 rubbed his temples. “We are not equipped to raise a baby. Let alone a... potentially radioactive one.”

“It’s not radioactive,” Noli said. “It’s just... glowing. Occasionally. That could be, like, a vitamin deficiency or something.”

007n7 turned slowly to look at him, eyes squinting. “A glowing vitamin deficiency?”

Noli shrugged. “Weirder things have happened. I watched a documentary about a guy who survived eating nothing but marshmallows for a month. The human body is wild.”

“That is not the same thing, dimwit.” 007n7 snapped.

The baby stirred again, its tiny tail flicking against the soft fabric in the box. Both of them went rigid. Then Noli sighed and leaned back on his hands.

“I’m not saying we commit to anything,” he said. “I’m just saying.. maybe we wait a little. See if someone shows up looking for it. Or, like, leaves us a note or something.”

“Yeah, maybe next it’ll grow wings and write its own note.” 007n7 muttered.

“I’m serious, Seven. We can’t just throw it out.”

“I didn’t say we throw it out! I just... I don’t know.” 007n7 let out a sigh so deep it seemed to deflate his entire body. He glanced again at the baby, whose eyes were closed once more, as if none of this existential chaos concerned it in the slightest.

The baby, in its defense, looked entirely unbothered by its new, unwilling roommates. Its red tail flicked lazily over the side of the blanket. It let out a small snore— delicate, wheezy, weirdly cute.

“I mean…” Noli said after a beat. “We can’t just give it to someone. Not with how it looks.”

007n7’s expression tensed. “Yeah.”

“Like, I’m sure there’s somewhere out there that would take it, maybe. But the horns, the skin, the..” he gestured vaguely at the tail, “..that’s gonna raise eyebrows. Best case? People stare. Worst case.. they run.”

007n7 was quiet for a long time. Until he softly sighs. “You think people would hurt it?” 007n7 frowned, feeling a bit concerned for the kid.

“I don’t know.” Noli admitted. “But I don’t wanna find out.” They both looked at the baby again. It wriggled slightly in its sleep, stretching one tiny arm out and gripping the edge of the blanket like it was bracing for something.

007n7 let out a soft breath. “God. What the hell do we even name it?”

“You’re assuming it stays.” Noli said, tilting his head.

“You’re assuming it doesn’t.” 007n7 shot back. They stared at each other.

Then Noli grinned. “So.. we’re keeping it?”

“No. No. We’re not keeping it. We’re just.. housing it temporarily.”

“Like a long-term guest.”

“Exactly.”

“A guest that poops.”

007n7 groaned. “Why do you always have to say the gross parts out loud?”

“Because I live in reality, Seven. You should visit sometime.”

The baby stirred again and let out a soft wail— its first cry. They both jumped. “Oh god, it’s starting.” 007n7 muttered.

Noli scrambled to the box. “What do babies want?! Food? Warmth? Jazz music?”

007n7 blinked. “Jazz music?!”

“I don’t know, man! I had weird tastes as a baby!”

The baby cried louder, squirming now. “Okay, okay! uh..” Noli reached down awkwardly, scooping the baby up with all the grace of someone defusing a bomb. “I got it. I got it. See? No one’s dead!” 007n7 watched with something dangerously close to awe as Noli gently bounced the baby in his arms. The crying began to soften.

Noli’s expression relaxed. “Okay. This is fine. I can do this.”

007n7 crossed his arms. “You look like you’re about to cry yourself.”

“I’m feeling very emotionally vulnerable right now, yes.”

There was a long pause. The baby nestled into Noli’s shoulder, tail curling lightly around his arm. It had stopped crying completely now. Its small fingers were tangled in the fabric of Noli’s hoodie.

 007n7 sat down beside them. “I guess..” he said, quieter now. “if it has to be with anyone… I’d rather it be us.” 007n7 rested his head on Noli. 

Noli glanced over, surprised at 007n7’s actions. “Really?” 

“Yeah. I mean… we’re weird. It’s weird. We match.”

Noli smiled. “We’re gonna need diapers.”

“And a crib.” 007n7 added.

“And baby formula. Oh god, what if it's lactose intolerant?”

“Don’t. Please.” 007n7 shudders. “What do we even name it?” He gained the courage to touch the little red demon baby. They both stopped and looked at each other.

Then Noli shrugged. “We’ll figure it out.”

007n7 sighed, burying his head into Noli’s shoulder. “That’s what you said when you accidentally signed us up for public speaking, knowing we're both anxious when it comes to talking in front of hundreds of people.”

“And we survived that, didn’t we?” Noli smiled, leaning his head on top of 007n7 in response.

“Barely.” 007n7 chuckled, slightly blushing at the gesture.

They both fell quiet again, listening to the baby’s soft breathing. Noli gently swayed where he sat, still holding the baby like it was made of glass. 007n7 didn’t say it out loud, but it was already obvious. They weren’t giving it away. They couldn’t. Not now. Maybe they were already in too deep. Or maybe, for once, this was something that needed them.

Chapter Text

007n7 groaned as he stumbled out of bed— or, more accurately, off the floor. He tripped over a stack of textbooks and landed directly on a juice box. It exploded under him like a war crime. Noli, already semi-awake and looking like a disheveled raccoon, peeked up from the couch. "Was that the last apple juice?"

007n7 stared at his soaked hoodie. "It was."

"Tragic." Their tragedy was cut short by the unmistakable wail of C00lkidd. It wasn’t an ordinary baby cry; It was slightly warped, like a synthesizer glitching out. Noli scrambled off the couch, tripping on a cereal bowl in the process. "Okay! Okay, little dude, chill— your dads are here!"

“We’re just its guardians, Noli!” 007n7 corrected, grabbing a bottle from the mini fridge. "Is it too warm? Too cold? How can we heat this up when our microwave is out of order!?" 007n7 briefly panicked, holding the bottle in his hand ever so tightly.

"Boil water?" Noli picked up C00lkkidd, cradling him in his arms.

"We don’t have a kettle." 007n7 retorted rather bluntly.

"We could fill a mug with water, boil it on the stove top, and stick the bottle inside." Noli said, still cradling the baby.

007n7 stared at him. "That.. sounds suspiciously like logic. Who are you and what have you done with Noli?"

Noli tossed him a peace sign as he bounced C00lkidd awkwardly in his arms. "Desperation breeds innovation, my guy."

The two stumbled around their tiny dorm, half-functioning and fully overwhelmed. Noli tried burping C00lkidd while humming what he thought was a lullaby, but it turned out to be the theme song to a video game. 007n7 tried to warm the bottle using Noli’s advice.

Eventually, the bottle was warmed, the baby was fed, and the room smelled vaguely like baby wipes, burnt toast, and shampoo. They collapsed onto the couch, C00lkidd between them like a small red peace offering. Noli nudged 007n7 with his elbow. "At least we did better this time, ey?"

007n7 exhaled, letting his head drop back against the couch. "Give it ten minutes." Right on cue, a small burp echoed from C00lkidd’s mouth. “Nice one, kid.” 007n7 chuckled, patting C00lkidd’s back. This earned a stupid grin from the little guy.

C00lkidd let out a hiccup, another tiny spark popping from his mouth. 007n7 instinctively flinched, checking the couch for signs of smoldering. Nothing, just the faint scent of static and baby powder. 007n7 squinted at the blinking digital clock across the room. “Crap. I’ve got class in twenty minutes.”

“But Sev , you just sat down.” Noli whined.

“I just remembered I have a quiz.”

“Oh, we’re definitely failing this semester.”

“You say that every semester.”

“Yeah..” Noli said, standing to start rocking C00lkidd again. “..but this time we’ve got an unstable demon baby who cries like a banshee with a voice changer.”

007n7 snorted and dragged himself up, grabbing a hoodie and his half-charged laptop. “Text me if he starts running around the hallway again.”

“No promises.”

Just as 007n7 reached the door, C00lkidd reached up with his little clawed hands and made a soft noise. Something like a whimper. 007n7 froze.

“...Are you serious right now?” 007n7 stared at C00lkidd. Its eyes were big and round, almost like puppy dog eyes. C00lkidd’s bottom lip trembled dramatically.

“I don’t think he wants you to leave, Sev.” Noli chuckles.

“I’m going to be late.”

“C’mon, he looks super duper sad!” Noli cooed, bringing C00lkidd closer to 007n7’s face. C00lkidd squealed and reached for 007n7’s nose, patting it like a button.

“Nice try, kiddo.” 007n7 smiled, gently taking C00lkidd’s hands off his nose. “But I really don’t wanna fail this quiz.” 007n7 kissed the red baby on the forehead before turning to leave. “You two behave.” 

As 007n7 finally left, Noli glanced down at the baby curled against his chest. Noli grinned. “Tactical deployment of cute. Evil genius in the making.”

“You know..” Noli started. “..We really might not make it through midterms, or finals, or life in general.” Noli didn’t expect C00lkidd to respond, but he continued to talk regardless of that. C00lkidd yawned, a little tongue flicking out between his fanged gums.

“But if we do…” Noli trailed off, smiling. “It’ll be one hell of a story.” He adjusted the baby, flopped back on the couch, and pulled a blanket over both of them. 

–+⟡+–

007n7 sort of regretted adopting C00lkidd.

Not in the actual “abandon the baby” way— just in the existential dread, what have we done kind of way. Juggling schoolwork, his part-time job, and taking care of a demon baby with a love for destruction was not doing him any good. His GPA was hanging by a thread, his hoodie had spit-up stains that probably defied the laws of chemistry, and his right eye had developed a permanent twitch.

He missed it. He missed the rush of coding in sync with Noli, of cracking through layers of virtual security while laughing like lunatics. He missed the stupid inside jokes in command lines, the late-night raids on Robloxia’s most secure servers, and the way they used to torment that stupid pizza man.

Now his life was diapers, lectures, and a paycheck that barely covered formula and instant noodles.

007n7 sighed as he approached his college classroom, slinging his backpack over his shoulder and trying not to yawn in the face of consciousness. The hallway buzzed with tired students and the smell of burnt coffee. He caught a glimpse of himself in a window– hoodie half-zipped, backpack hanging lopsided, one sock very much not matching the other. Perfect. Peak academia.

He rubbed at his eyes, pausing at the doorway.

He’d stayed up all night finishing a paper while simultaneously trying to rock C00lkidd back to sleep— who’d spent a full hour shrieking because his pacifier had fallen two inches out of reach. Noli had tried to help, but he had a shift at 5 AM and left looking like a sleep-deprived ghost with a fry hat.

007n7 hesitated, then slowly walked into class, slipping into a seat at the back. His professor was already droning on about SQL queries. His brain tried to keep up. Tried. But the words blurred together with the memory of demon baby shrieks and the scent of sour milk. Somewhere in his notes, he found a doodle of a tiny red blob with horns and angry eyebrows.

007n7 slumped down in his seat, eyes half-lidded, and pulled out his laptop. He minimized his lecture notes for just a second and opened an old hacking script. His fingers hovered over the keyboard. For a moment, just a moment, it felt like old times.

Then his phone buzzed.

[Noli]: c00lkidd vomitted on me
i have notinh cleam to wear now

007n7 stared at the message. He felt like he wanted to break down right then and there. He sighed, staring back at his laptop screen. He gave a small smile at the GUI then he closed the hacking script and opened his lecture notes again.

"We’ll be fine.." 007n7 murmured to himself. “We’ll be so fine.” 007n7 shook his head slightly, attempting to reassure himself.

Another buzz from his phone.

[Noli]: c00lkidd got his fot stuck n the sereal box

007n7 exhaled through his nose slowly, like if he breathed out any faster he might blow up the whole building. He glanced up at the professor pacing at the front, muttering something 007n7 couldn’t really make out, then down at his phone again.

[Noli]: also he just licked the wall

like the actual wall

why is he like this

His jaw clenched, a muscle twitching in his cheek. He could see it— clear as day. That mischievous little gremlin baby with red skin, tiny stubby horns, and a tail that somehow always found a way to knock over exactly what it wasn’t supposed to.

Still, he couldn't help but let out a breath of a laugh. The kind that carried the weight of three hours of sleep and the ghost of a headache. He stared at the blinking cursor in his lecture notes. It blinked back at him like it was judging him.

He opened his text app.

[007n7]: tell him if he eats drywall again he’s grounded

no more Bluey for a week

The reply came quickly.

[Noli]: he doesnt fear telamon or consiquences. 

he laughed.

007n7 leaned back in his chair, dragging his hands down his face. He felt like he was decaying in real time. The screen in front of him flickered as the professor clicked through a slideshow. He tried to focus— he really did— but the last slide he registered said something about “socioeconomic paradigms of domestic structures” and his brain promptly short-circuited.

Another buzz.

[Noli]: also

he climbed into the laundry basket again

i think he thinks it’s his throne

007n7 didn’t respond this time. He was too busy imagining coming home to C00lkidd sitting proudly in the laundry basket, tail swishing with pride, wearing a pair of socks as a crown.

He smiled— tired, frayed around the edges, but still genuine. The hacking GUI on his laptop still sat open in the background, minimized but not deleted. And for a moment, he let himself miss it. Miss the rush. The thrill. The way he and Noli used to vandalize homes and set buildings on fire.

But even with that ache sitting in his chest, he didn’t bring it back up. He looked at his lecture notes again, then at the open text chat. C00lkidd might not be some flame-spewing demon, but the kid was definitely a one-baby wrecking crew.

And somehow, he was theirs.

“We’ll be fine.” 007n7 muttered again, this time a little softer. Then, with a helpless shake of his head. “We have to be.”

His phone buzzed one last time.

[Noli]: he fell asleep in the basket

kinda cute

btw hes drooling on ur shirt lol

007n7 stared blankly for a second. Then leaned forward, resting his forehead on the laptop. “Oh Telamon, please give me patience.." 007n7 groans, closing his phone. He slid the phone in his hoodie’s pocket, looking back at the professor who had skipped ahead two slides on the presentation.

–+⟡+–

007n7 stood over the bed, rocking C00lkidd gently in his arms. The little guy had been fighting sleep for over an hour. He kept squirming, babbling, trying to climb everything that vaguely resembled a ledge. But now his eyelids were heavy, his tiny red fingers curled into 007n7’s shirt, and his breathing had started to slow into that soft, rhythmic pattern that meant he was finally giving in.

007n7 exhaled slowly, like he was afraid even breathing too loud would wake him. Carefully, he lowered C00lkidd onto the bed– the only bed in the dorm. He adjusted the blanket around the baby and watched as C00lkidd made a soft little snuffling sound, his tail curling around his leg like a cat’s.

007n7 hesitated for a moment, unsure. Then, wordlessly, he slid in beside him. The mattress creaked in protest, but the kid didn’t stir. He stared at the ceiling, taking in the noisiness of the other residents of their college dormitory.

It had always been loud in the dormitories, especially during nighttime. As Noli said, “The night is where the freaks come out.” And honestly? 007n7 was starting to believe it now. The walls between dorms weren’t thin, but they weren’t exactly soundproof either. You could hear the loud music that would blast all night long, chanting some nonsense, and even inappropriate noises.

007n7 was put in charge of taking care of ‘C00lkidd’— stupid name, honestly, though it was what Noli came up with. Still, naming the red demon baby after their hacking GUI? 007n7 never could get used to it.

He turned to look at the red baby sleeping soundly beside him, its tiny tail twitching slightly as it dreamt. Despite the horns, C00lkidd looked peaceful. 007n7 couldn’t help but give a small smile.

Almost a month ago, when it had first appeared, everything had spiraled. Their lives, already teetering on the edge of manageable, were thrown into full-blown absurdity. Diapers replaced gaming sessions. Formula bottles sat where energy drinks once did. They barely had enough money to feed themselves, much less a baby.

007n7 had tried to keep it together, but it wasn’t easy. He worked part-time at BloxBurgers, flipping synthetic patties for minimum wage and tips that mostly came in the form of leftover fries. Every time he handed Noli another receipt, he could feel the guilt gnawing at him like a slow fire.

Noli never complained. He’d just wave it off, mutter something like “I got it.” or tease 007n7 about how he was a terrible fry cook anyway, but that made it worse; Even if Noli didn’t say it, 007n7 knew Noli was stretching himself thin. He’d caught him counting coins from a jar once, lips pressed together like he was trying not to scream.

Despite it all, somehow, they were making it work. Kind of. 007n7 always had a dreadful feeling that C00lkidd would burst into flames or grow extra limbs.

007n7 looked down at the baby again. Its tiny hands were curled into fists near its round face. It snuffled softly in its sleep.

“You better be worth it.” 007n7 murmured. He didn’t expect a reply, but C00lkidd gave a tiny hiccup.

007n7 sighed and leaned his head back against the wall. Through the thin plaster, someone in the next room moaned out a name. This earned a disgusted look on 007n7’s face as he draped the blanket over himself.

The freaks really did come out at night.

007n7 draped a thin blanket over himself, slumping further down the wall, trying— and failing— to block out the noises of sexual intercourse. It was 1:00 AM in the godforsaken morning. Did they really need to do this now? He gritted his teeth and tried to focus on his breathing, but it didn’t help.

C00lkidd stirred beside him, 007n7 wincing as he prayed the noise hadn’t woken him. The red baby twitched once, let out a soft snort, then rolled to one side and went still again. A sigh of relief passed through 007n7's lips.

He was exhausted. Not the kind of tired a nap could fix, but the deep, soul-sinking fatigue that came from juggling school, late-night shifts, and trying to keep a baby alive when he could barely manage himself. He shifted under the blanket, feet sticking out the end. 

His eyes fluttered shut. 007n7 couldn’t help but think, ‘ We shouldn’t be doing this’. He was right, college students like him and Noli shouldn’t have to care for a baby, much less a demon baby.

"Seven?" came Noli's whisper from the door. 

"What." 007n7 said bluntly, unmoving from underneath the sheets. He didn’t mean to come off as rude, but he couldn’t help it.

007n7 would feel Noli sit down on the edge of the bed. “I know it’s been a rough four weeks..” Noli placed a tender hand on 007n7’s head, caressing it through the thin blanket.

007n7 wanted to say something, but he felt too tired to say anything. All he could do was groan. Noli frowned even further at this response. “I’ve been meaning to ask— are you okay, Sev?” Noli sighs.

Noli never wanted to admit it outloud but, he always did had a soft spot for 007n7. Everything they did together, it always made him feel warm. To say it hurt him seeing 007n7– the light of his mundane life— being so depressed, was an understatement.

"I’m..." 007n7 trails off as he peeked over the blanket. Noli looked equally destroyed, dark circles under his eyes, hair a mess, wearing a hoodie that was flipped inside out about three times already.

007n7 buried his head in the mattress, feeling tears forming. “I can’t even fucking lie anymore, Noli.” 007n7’s voice began to crack as the tears began flowing.

Noli could feel his heart break as he heard his best friend cry. This wasn’t the first time he heard 007n7 cry, but damn did it hurt. “S-sev..” Noli stammered. 

He was never good at comforting people; the most he could do was listen and hug them when needed. “Let it out..” Noli began petting 007n7’s head, hoping to console him. “I’ll listen.”

007n7 curled up into a ball as his tears intensified. “I— Noli.. I can’t.” 007n7 tried to piece together the words. “We sh-shouldn’t even be doing this.” 007n7 brought his hands to his face. “We’re literally drowning in student debt, we can’t focus on school, and the worst part is that we’re destroying ourselves for this baby!” 007n7 started ranting, still trying to keep his voice quiet in fear of accidentally waking the baby.

“I can’t keep doing this, N-noli— We can’t keep doing this.” 007n7 felt guilty saying that. Yes, he’d grown somewhat attached to C00lkidd— but the thought of ‘what if we just left him at an orphanage’s doorstep’ or just straight up giving C00lkidd to someone else who was capable of raising him, always crossed his mind.

Noli was quiet for a long time.

His hand never left 007n7’s head, fingers gently combing through tangled hair, like it was the only thing he could do to keep the moment from unraveling any further. His chest felt tight, the kind of tight that came from hearing someone you love say something you’ve been too scared to think yourself.

“I know.” Noli whispered. The words weren’t defensive. They weren’t shocked. Just quiet. Honest.

“I think about it too. Like, all the time,” he admitted, leaning forward so his elbows rested on his knees. “Every time I walk past someone on campus who doesn’t have a bottle of formula in their bag or a red gremlin-child chewing on their hoodie string... I wonder what it’d be like. If we just didn’t.”

007n7 didn’t respond, but the sobs had softened now. He was still curled in on himself, breathing shaky, hands pressed to his face. Noli stayed quiet, his hand resting against the curve of 007n7’s head, fingers still threading softly through his hair like it was the only thing tethering either of them to this world.

“I’m scared, Noli,” 007n7 finally whispered. His voice cracked like a thin layer of ice. “I’m so fucking scared all the time now. Like if I drop one thing, just one thing, everything’s gonna collapse.”

Noli’s throat tightened. “I know.”

“No, you don’t,” 007n7 snapped, sitting up to look at Noli. His voice became louder and stern before he caught himself, glancing quickly toward C00lkidd checking if he was still asleep. He dropped it to a whisper again. “You’re stronger than me. You joke about everything and you smile like this doesn’t break you.”

Noli blinked hard. “It does break me, Sev.”

“Then why do you look like you’re okay?”

“Because if I look like I’m not..” Noli said, voice trembling, “..you’ll fall apart.”

That made 007n7 go still. For a long moment, there was nothing but the quiet hum of the heater and the soft baby snoring from the other side of the room.

“Every day I think about running” 007n7 whispered, breaking the silence. “Just walking out. Leaving my laptop, the notes, the baby— I just want to disappear, Noli. Like we used to. When we’d use the C00lGUI to teleport out of there.. Just so they won’t catch us.”

“Yeah.” Noli said softly. “We were feared, weren’t we?”

“And now we’re just.. what? Broke kids with a baby we found in a cardboard box and no idea what the hell we’re doing.”

“We’re trying.” Noli said, inching closer to 007n7.

“Trying isn’t enough. Trying doesn’t pay tuition. It doesn’t stop the phone calls from my parents or the stomach aches from stress or the way I forget to eat, Noli. I look at myself in the mirror and I don’t even recognize who I am anymore.” The words hit hard. Too honest. Too real. But Noli didn’t look away.

“Do you hate me?” 007n7 asked suddenly, voice small. He looked at Noli with tearful eyes. 007n7 couldn’t help but sniffle as he felt snot coming out of his nose. “For dragging you into this?” 007n7 finished.

Noli shook his head, slow and certain. “Never. Sev, I chose this. I chose to stay when we opened that box. I chose you. I still choose you. Every single day.” He placed a gentle hand on 007n7’s cheek.

007n7 choked on a sob and clutched the edge of the blanket, knuckles white. “Then why does it still feel like I’m losing you?” Noli placed his free hand behind 007n7’s head, slowly bringing it to his shoulder.

“You’re not losing me.” Noli murmured. “I’m still here. Even when it’s hard. Even when I don’t know what to do.” Noli’s voice was soft and tender, he didn’t want to upset 007n7 more.

“I don’t think I’m strong enough to keep doing this.” 007n7 admitted. “I feel like I’m shattering every time I breathe.” 007n7 buried his head deeper into Noli’s shoulder, his tears staining his hoodie.

“Then shatter.” Noli said quietly. “I’ll be here to pick up the pieces. Every time.” 007n7 let out a shaky breath. A sob clawed its way up his throat, and Noli just held him through it– arms wrapped tight around his best friend, his partner , his soulmate – heart aching with every tear that hit the mattress.

And somewhere across the room, C00lkidd shifted in his sleep, letting out a soft hiccup that sounded almost like a sigh. They weren’t fine. Not even close. But they were still here. And for now, that had to be enough.

Chapter Text

“Oh, honey… I’m home!” Noli jokingly says in a sing-song tone as he bursts through the door. 007n7 snaps his head to look at Noli, his hands still busy putting a shirt on C00lkidd. Noli had plastic bags hanging from his forearm. 

“Don’t say that.. We’re not a married couple or even a couple.” 007n7 scoffs teasingly, his head turning to look at C00lkidd again. Though really, 007n7 had to turn around just to hide how red his face was getting. He didn’t want to admit it out loud, but hearing Noli call him ‘ Honey’ as a nickname made him feel so flustered.

C00lkidd babbles, drool falling onto the clean shirt that was just put on him. C00lkidd seemingly gave a smug smirk as if he knew what 007n7 was thinking about. 007n7 couldn’t help but furrow his eyebrows. “Don’t you dare snitch.” He mumbles to the red baby.

Noli let the bags drop onto the cluttered desk with a dramatic sigh. “That’s the thanks I get for bringing you your favorite snacks?” he asked, hand on his chest like he was heartbroken. “The betrayal in this room is palpable.”

007n7 rolled his eyes but couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “You’re so dramatic.”

“You love it.” Noli grinned, beginning to unpack the bags. “I got the good chips, by the way. And that weird milk tea you like– and diapers. Because someone used the last one and didn’t say anything.”

“That someone was you.” 007n7 said pointedly, adjusting the baby’s onesie as C00lkidd continued drooling like a little fountain of chaos.

“Yeah, whatever!” Noli waved off, digging out a snack and tossing it toward 007n7. It landed in between 007n7’s legs. C00lkidd giggled at the exchange, then sneezed unexpectedly– a big, wet, cartoonish one that sent a new wave of drool splattering down his chin.

“Oh my Telamon, again?” 007n7 groaned. “This shirt didn’t even survive five minutes.” 

“I mean, he is just a baby, yeah?” Noli said as he walked over, grabbing a wipe from the coffee table’s drawer and crouching beside them. “That’s normal, maybe?” Noli hands over the wipes to 007n7. C00lkidd blinked at them innocently, then tried to eat the sleeve of his own onesie.

“You’re disgusting.” 007n7 muttered affectionately, taking the wipes from Noli as he gently wiped the baby’s chin. He sighed, shifting to lean against the couch, finally settling now that the baby was dressed and slightly less gooey. “And you’re lucky you’re cute.”

“You talking to him or me?” Noli asked with a raised brow.

“I plead the fifth.” 007n7 shot Noli a sly smirk.

A brief silence passed, warm and familiar. C00lkidd cooed softly between them, his tiny hands now reaching for 007n7’s sleeve to chew on. Noli sat cross-legged on the floor, watching them with a look 007n7 didn’t catch– tired, yes, but content in a strange, broken way.

“You know..” Noli said quietly, “I think we’re doing okay.”

“Are we?” 007n7 replied, voice low. “Because I feel like I’m barely holding it together.”

“I mean, yeah. Same.” Noli shrugged. “But we haven’t dropped him. He’s clothed. Fed. Only mildly covered in spit. That’s basically parenting, right?”

“Is that a bar we’re proud to hit now?” 007n7 retorts, a hint of playfulness in his voice as he crosses his arms.

Noli looked up at 007n7. “It is when you’re broke, exhausted, and raising a cryptid.”

007n7 let out a short laugh, something between bitter and real. “Oh Noli.. Remember when we used to freak out when one of the admins would patrol the town were supposed to vandalize?”

“Yeah.” Noli smiled. “Now it’s whether we’ll get enough sleep before one of us starts hallucinating again.”

007n7 looked down at C00lkidd, who was now trying to eat his own foot. “He’s.. not what I imagined.”

“No.” Noli said. “He’s better. In the worst way possible.”

There was something in the way he said it that made 007n7’s chest ache– a weird mix of affection and grief for the versions of themselves that used to exist, before this strange, impossible life.

007n7 glanced at him, his expression softer now. “Thanks, by the way. For the milk tea.”

“Anytime, Honey. ” Noli said teasingly with a wink. 007n7 groaned and flung a pillow at him. C00lkidd squealed in approval. 007n7 glances at the digital clock sitting on top of the coffee table. 1:32 PM, it read. Without skipping a beat, 007n7 stood up from the couch, heading to the bedroom.

“Whatcha’ doing, Sev?” Noli leans his head forward, trying to get a peek at what 007n7’s doing.

“Gettin’ my apron.” 007n7 was muffled, though Noli was still able to make out what he was saying. 007n7’s eyes landed on his ‘BloxBurgers’ apron. Wasting no time, he grabs the apron, tying it around his waist. “I have work in like thirty minutes.” 007n7 then exits the bedroom, heading straight to the front door.

“Aww.. Leaving when I just got here?” Noli cooed, acting hurt. “Are you avoiding me? Ouch! When I just got you that boba tea you liked so much..” Noli huffs, bringing his hand to his forehead, looking like a damsel in distress.

“Waah waah waah, cry about it.” 007n7 turned to Noli, giving him a playful smirk. He kneeled down, grabbing the blueish-gray backpack off the floor. “Don’t do too much damage while I’m gone.” 007n7 gave both Noli and C00lkidd a sincere smile before he left.

It was an overcast Saturday afternoon, it would be the perfect time to sleep right about now, but he couldn’t since he needed to earn money to buy the diapers and baby formula, since they run out every two weeks. 007n7 could never understand how one tiny baby, such as C00lkidd, could go through that many diapers and bottles.

007n7 tugged his hoodie tighter around his face as he passed the corner near the BloxBurgers strip, half a block from the employee entrance. The strap of his backpack dug into his shoulder, and he could already feel the ache in his feet even though his shift hadn’t started yet.

He was running on three hours of sleep, a half-eaten granola bar, and the pure spite of not quitting life altogether. Right as he reached the corner, something sharp and unmistakable pierced the low buzz of traffic and background noise.

“Are you kidding me?!”

007n7 paused, blinking. 

That voice.

Uh oh.

He turned his head, and sure enough– there he was. Pizza Guy . Okay, 007n7 never could catch his name, but that didn’t matter. The pizza guy stood near a cheap red scooter with a pizza box under one arm and the world’s most judgmental expression on his face. The scooter had a giant logo slapped on the side, as if it hadn’t been mocked to hell and back by Seven and Noli in the past.

“Pizza Guy?” 007n7 said automatically.

The delivery guy looked up, the color visibly draining from his face before getting replaced with instant, simmering rage. “You.” He was seething with rage. “Of course it’s you.”

007n7 bit back a grin. “Wow. Still delivering pizza? I thought you’d have upgraded to, I don’t know, therapy.” 007n7 didn’t know what it was but something about seeing Pizza guy again made him remember how thrilling it was to ‘prank’ him with his exploits.

“I needed therapy because of you!” the guy snapped, taking a step forward like he was going to punt him straight into the trash can. “You and that other freak? You both dismantled my scooter while I was gone!”

007n7 raised both hands in mock surrender. “Allegedly.”

Pizza guy glared. “You turned our storefront sign into a giant middle finger.”

“Anyone coulda’ done that!” 007n7 shrugged, acting innocent.

“I lost a week’s pay fixing that!” Pizza guy snarled, placing his helmet on his scooter. “You rerouted thirty orders to an abandoned shed in the woods.”

“We left snacks for those who needed them!” 007n7 retorted, looking like he was on the verge of laughing.

Pizza guy narrowed his eyes. “Still think it’s funny? Did you and your little hacker boyfriend kiss after your little shitty ‘prank’? You nearly got me fired.”

“That wasn’t pranking. That was strategic pizza redistribution.” 007n7 shrugged, blushing at the comment pizza guy made. “And Noli’s not my boyfriend.” He coughs out.

“Yeah, whatever.” 

007n7’s smirk faltered just a little, and he looked off to the side, suddenly very aware of how heavy his backpack felt, how dry his throat was. “You’ll be happy to know I haven’t touched your place in weeks.”

Pizza guy crossed his arms, suspicious. “Why? Finally getting punished by Telamon himself?”

“As if!” 007n7 scoffed. “If I had the time, I’d have re-coded your GPS to think every customer lived at sea.”

Pizza guy’s eyes landed on the little “BloxBurgers” logo peeking out of 007n7’s hoodie. He rolled his eyes. “Right. The great vandal of Robloxia s’ now flipping patties for a paycheck like the rest of us.”

007n7’s smirk faded entirely. “Yeah, well. Even anarchists have rent.”

There was something bitter in his voice. Not angry– just tired. That kind of tired that clung to your bones. Pizza guy must’ve caught it too, because his expression shifted, if only slightly. A flicker of confusion, maybe even concern– but it vanished just as fast.

“Whatever. Just don’t mess with my scooter again.”

007n7 gave a low chuckle. “No promises.”

He started walking again, the moment already too long. The sooner he got behind the counter at BloxBurgers, the sooner he could stop thinking about formula, or bills, or how many ways his life had spiraled off-script. But just before he disappeared around the side of the building, Pizza guy called after him.

“You never even asked my name.”

007n7 stopped walking, turning slightly– eyes half-lidded. “What’s your name?” 007n7 groans out, asking the pizza guy reluctantly. 007n7 tried not to smirk, but it tugged at the corner of his mouth anyway. He should’ve kept walking. He had somewhere to be. 

“If you’re going to torment me, atleast learn my name, asshole.” The pizza guy crosses his arms, rolling his eyes. “It’s Elliot, so stop calling me..” The pizza guy– Elliot, paused for a quick second. “ Pizza guy .” Elliot mocked 007n7, making air quotes.

“Whatevs’ Ell-i-ot.” 007n7 pronounced the syllables in Elliot’s name slowly. “Still callin’ ya’ pizza guy tho!” 007n7 snickers mischievously. He didn’t wait for a response. Just shoved his hands in his pockets and kept walking.

And behind him, Elliot stood alone on the sidewalk, muttering a curse and shaking his head, like he couldn’t decide whether to call the cops or just go home and scream into a pillow.

Finally arriving at BloxBurgers, 007n7 clocked in for the afternoon. He made sure to greet his fellow co-workers. BloxBurgers was dead that afternoon. The air felt too still, and the smell of fryer oil lingered like regret. 

007n7 leaned against the counter with his chin in his palm, squinting at the crusty touchscreen register like it had personally offended him.

He had been working here five months. Not because he liked it— hell no— but because at first it paid enough for the constant energy drinks and ramen cups Noli and him munched on all semester– but now, he worked there because he needed the money to buy baby wipes, diapers, and formula.

A coworker shuffled past behind him, dragging a mop across the floor like they were preparing the scene of a crime. "You look like you’ve been shot in the soul." they mumbled, not bothering to wait for a response.

“You got that right” 007n7 muttered back. 

The bell over the door jingled. A customer walked in, probably a freshman from one of the dorms. They looked bright-eyed, 007n7 hated them on instinct.

He straightened up behind the register and greeted them with the kind of deadpan charm he’d perfected by now. “Welcome to BloxBurgers. What can I get you?”

The customer blinked. “Uh... just a double cheeseburger?”

“A classic.” He tapped the order in, the register beeping with each press like it was crying out for help. “Anything else? A side of fries, maybe?”

They awkwardly declined. 007n7 handed them their receipt and gave them a robotic smile. “Thanks for choosing BloxBurgers. Have a nice and splendid day.” 007n7 gritted through his smile.

The next fifteen minutes were a haze of wiping down tables that didn’t need wiping, restocking the sauce packets, and pretending not to hear the manager yelling at someone in the back about a missing inventory sheet. 007n7 moved like muscle memory, body on autopilot, brain elsewhere.

He couldn’t stop thinking about the morning. How C00lkidd had clung to his shirt, refusing to let go. The way Noli had mumbled teasingly, “He’s gonna miss you.” while trying to distract the baby with a plastic spoon and a lullaby that sounded suspiciously like a remixed video game theme.

It haunted him a little, leaving like that. Even if it was just for a shift. Even if it was necessary. It’s been two and a half months since they adopted C00lkidd. It was nearing the end of their college years, about to graduate. “Heh.. Graduating with a baby..” 007n7 chuckled bitterly to himself. 

He leaned against the fryer station now, watching fries bubble in oil. One, two, three minutes. A whole different kind of ticking bomb.

“Yo..” his coworker called, poking their head in from the side. “Your break’s up. Back to register.”

007n7 dragged himself to the front. The customer from earlier was sitting in a booth, half-eating, half-scrolling on their phone. Another order came in. A group of students with backpacks and loud voices. He took their orders like he was built to do it, like he’d always been here.

By the time the sun had begun dipping low outside the smudged windows, painting the floor in honey-colored stripes, 007n7 had memorized the feeling of grease sticking to his skin and the exact time it took the ice cream machine to break again. Thirty-seven seconds after cleaning. Always.

During a lull, he leaned on the counter and pulled out his phone. Stupid photos he took of him, Noli, and C00lkidd. He smiled. Just a little.

Then the bell dinged again, and another customer walked in.

Back to work.

–+⟡+–

The dorm was too quiet.

Well– quiet in the way a volcano is quiet right before it erupts. C00lkidd sat on the floor, babbling to himself while smacking a stack of index cards with what appeared to be malicious intent. His tail flicked lazily behind him, red skin glinting in the soft afternoon light. One of 007n7’s socks hung from his tiny horn like a war trophy.

Once C00lkidd notices the sock hanging from his horns, he immediately grabs it. C00lkidd babbles and giggles, fidgeting with the pair of socks he pulled down from his horns.

Noli sat cross-legged on the floor nearby, watching him with a look of tired wonder. “Man, you look really entertained with Sev’s socks” he muttered. “What’s up with that, C00l?”

C00lkidd giggled in response and flung an index card at the ceiling. It fluttered down pathetically.

Noli sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He hadn’t slept more than four hours in the past two days. His hoodie was on backwards. Again. There were formula stains on the knee of his sweatpants, and one of C00lkidd’s toys had embedded itself into the bottom of his foot earlier and nearly made him see Telamon.

He still couldn’t believe this was his life.

There was a part of him– small and selfish– that missed his old life. The thrill of causing chaos with 007n7. Hacking vending machines to spit out every soda. The petty joy of watching that pizza guy spiral into confusion when the pizza tracker glitched and redirected his delivery to the center of a Robloxian ocean.

They were good at being bad. And now? Now they were.. whatever this was.

Noli ran a hand through his hair, leaning back against the wall. His back ached. His eyes stung. But the worst part? The gnawing guilt in his chest, like he’d dragged 007n7 into this life and chained him to it.

He looked at the baby. “You’re lucky you’re cute, y’know.”

C00lkidd responded by chewing on the corner of a book.

“Cool.” Noli muttered, gently pulling the book away. “That’s my calculus book. If anyone’s allowed to eat that garbage, it’s me.”

There were fleeting moments– like this one– where he really, really wished 007n7 was home. 007n7 always knew how to ground him, even if it was through sarcastic grumbling and passive-aggressive sighs. And C00lkidd seemed calmer when 007n7 was around too. Probably because they shared the same gremlin DNA.

The silence lingered for a while, C00lkidd’s soft hums and the distant rattle of a passing skateboarder outside was the only noise you could hear.

Noli pulled out his phone and stared at the last photo he took of the three of them. It was blurry, off-centered, and C00lkidd had his fingers in 007n7’s nose. But it was theirs.

He tapped out a message.

[Noli]: hope your shift isn’t killing you too bad

he misses you

I miss you too but like. in a bro way. maybe

He hesitated for a moment until he deleted the last line. Before he could spiral into emotional oblivion, C00lkidd crawled over, climbed into his lap, and stuck his tiny demon hand up Noli’s nose.

“…Ow.”

C00lkidd giggled. Noli laughed too, despite himself. “Okay little jokester, my attention’s on you now.” he murmured, holding the baby close.

It was calm, until it wasn’t

C00lkidd’s scream hit Noli like a bullet to the skull.

It started as a whine– just a fussy noise he thought would pass– but then it escalated into a bloodcurdling, soul-rattling wail that echoed through the tiny dorm like a siren. C00lkidd flailed on his back, face scrunched, redder than usual, fists balled tight as if he were about to manifest flames from sheer rage.

“Kid!? Yo- What’s happenin’ with you!?” Noli panicked, immediately sitting up straight, holding C00lkidd in his arms.

He scanned his little body like a medic in a warzone. “You’re not bleeding. You’re not exploding. You’re not possessed..” He rambled. “Unless this is a new stage of possession??” Noli was genuinely so concerned for this kid. He gently picked C00lkidd up and rocked him. “Okay, shh shh shh, I can’t afford to have a breakdown right now, bro. We already had three this week.”

But C00lkidd did not calm down. He screamed louder. Spittle dribbled down his chin. His tiny tail whipped around like a furious metronome.

Noli ran through every checklist he knew. “Diaper? No. Hunger? I just fed you. Bored? Same, dude. Existential dread? You’re like nine months old– I think– you don’t get to be depressed yet!”

For a while, Noli stood there, rocking C00lkidd back and forth in a desperate attempt to calm him down. Nothing worked, nothing helped. Until C00lkidd, in a moment of exhausted desperation, took Noli’s finger, shoved it into his mouth, and began gnawing.

Noli froze. C00lkidd’s screams dulled into grumbles. Then muffled babbles. Then blissful silence. “What the hell.” Noli whispered, blinking in disbelief. He was stunned, and sort of– kind of– disgusted that his finger was being used as a pacifier.

The baby blinked up at him with big puppy dog eyes, slurping Noli’s finger like it was gourmet cuisine. His little horns gleamed under the dorm’s awful fluorescent lighting. Noli noticed something else too– drool. So. Much. Drool.

C00lkidd gave a soft coo and chewed even harder, like he was trying to cut Noli’s finger off with just his gums. Though it didn’t feel soft. He felt a hard bump in C00lkidd’s gums. And that’s when it hit him.

“Oh my Telamon.” Noli gasped. “You’re teething?!”

He scrambled across the floor and whipped out his phone, frantically Googling "what does teething look like" and "do demon babies grow teeth at the same time as human babies” The results were not helpful. He found a parenting blog from someone named "MommyHelper" and just decided to roll with that.

“You little gremlin.” he muttered, half-laughing, half on the verge of tears. “You scared the crap out of me. I thought you were dying. Or summoning something.”

C00lkidd sneezed. On him. Directly.

“Awesome.” Noli sighed, wiping the slime off with his hoodie sleeve. “Perfect. I’m being bodily slimed by a teething devil baby on a Saturday night.”

Still, it was hard to stay mad. C00lkidd curled up against him with a soft whimper, his gummy mouth still working on his tiny fist. Noli wrapped an arm around him, holding him close. “You could’ve just.. told me, y’know?”

C00lkidd gave him a look that could only be described as, I'm literally a baby. “Yeah, yeah.” Noli chuckled softly. “I got the hint now.”

After a while, when the dorm fell back into something almost peaceful, Noli texted 007n7 again.

[Noli]: btw i think hes teething niw

 nearlt gave mr an heart atracjk

anwyays hes calm bow. my finger is the inly pacifier that works lol

ere good

mostly

 i smell like baby drool but thats not new

He looked down at the little demon baby now squirming and climbing onto Noli as he sat down on the couch. “Are you gonna fall asleep treating my finger as a pacifier?” Noli whispered, watching C00lkidd’s eyelids slowly close. C00lkidd responded with a soft snore and a bubble of drool sliding onto Noli’s shirt. “Yeah. Thought so.” Noli smiled.

Chapter Text

It’s been half a month since C00lkidd finally grew teeth. To say the few weeks were hell would be an understatement. He gnawed and bit everything just to get some sort of relief, clinging onto Noli just to use his fingers as a teether, and in desperation, they bought teething toys— six different ones.

C00lkidd hated all of them. He bit the packaging– not the toy– the box it came in. C00lkidd gnawed on it like a damn feral goblin.

Noli sighs, shaking his head from the memory. He turned around to tend to C00lkidd again, only to be met with horror.

Noli blinked at the mangled plastic, thick droplets oozing out from a freshly-chewed hole. The bottle laid on the bathroom floor and beside it sat C00lkidd– looking like the world’s tiniest mob boss, satisfied and covered in conditioner.

“Seven!” Noli instinctively called out to 007n7, scurrying to C00lkidd. “Your son bit through my shampoo bottle!” Noli immediately kneeled down, making C00lkidd spit the shampoo out of his mouth.

007n7, halfway through microwaving leftovers, groaned and rubbed his eyes. “You said you were gonna watch him.” 007n7 wasn’t even phased by the “your son” comment anymore. In the past he’d always try to correct Noli about it— Now he just gave into it.

“I did . I turned around for two seconds and he turned the bathroom into a Slip ‘n Slide.”

007n7 trudged into the room, stared at the soapy mess, and sighed. “Oh my Telamon..” 007n7 mumbled.

C00lkidd grinned. Two tiny teeth twinkled like malicious pearls.  The thing was–  the biting never stopped. It wasn’t a phase, it was a lifestyle; A lifestyle Noli and 007n7 needed to get used to.

If it existed in their dorm, it had teeth marks. The couch legs, the controller grips, the rubber sole of one of Noli’s sneakers. At one point, 007n7 caught him trying to gnaw open a packet of soy sauce with the intensity of a prison escapee.

“Are you fucki–” Noli gave 007n7 a mean stare before he briefly coughs, cutting himself off. “Are you freaking kidding me?” 007n7 grit his teeth in frustration. 

“No swearing in front of the baby, Sev!” Noli picked up the shower head, rinsing the soap off C00lkidd’s body. “We don’t want him to learn swear words till’ he’s like.. Fifty years old!” Noli rambled, still spraying water at C00lkidd.

“Him learning to swear is the least of our worries.” 007n7 sighed as he took a bite from the burger he sneaked from his workplace.

“Yeah– But he’s still a baby! He shouldn’t swear..” Noli argued back, scrubbing the shampoo out of C00lkidd’s growing hair.

“He tried to rip into a can of beans, Noli..” 007n7 said blankly. “That’s not normal baby behavior. That’s like raccoon behavior.” 

“Well maybe he is part raccoon,” Noli muttered, trying to hold C00lkidd still with one hand while rinsing him with the other. “He’s got the horns and tail already; Wouldn’t be surprised if he started rummaging through our trash next.”

As if summoned by that exact thought, C00lkidd let out a high-pitched screech and tried to slither out of Noli’s grip like a wet fish. Water sprayed the bathroom mirror, the counter, the floor– basically every surface except the baby.

“Woah– Hey–! No no no no–!” Noli scrambled to catch him as C00lkidd flopped belly-first onto the floor with a comedic thwap. The baby immediately tried to crawl away, still slick with conditioner.

“I just cleaned this bathroom!” Noli wailed. “Why is he so slimy !?”

007n7 leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, still chewing on a cold fry from his leftover burger. “Because you thought it was a good idea to rinse him like a rotisserie chicken.” He snorted in amusement.

Noli managed to grab C00lkidd under the arms and hoist him back into the tub, his own shirt now soaked and clinging to his chest. He looked like he’d been through war. The baby, meanwhile, giggled like this was the greatest day of his life.

“You are a menace.” Noli said to him, gently wiping the foam from his cheeks. “An adorable, tiny, chaos-infused menace.” C00lkidd responded by latching onto Noli’s wrist with his newly-toothed mouth.

“ Ow – ! Ow ow ow– Okay–” Noli hissed in pain, shaking his arm. “Seven! He’s using me like a teether again!”

“I told you he’s bitey,” 007n7 said flatly, crumpling the fast food wrapper. “That’s why I started wearing hoodies with thumb holes. Less skin exposed.” 007n7 said with a smug smile, gesturing to his hoodie.

“You wear hoodies with thumb holes because you think they’re edgy.”

“That too.” 007n7 snorts, not denying the remark.

Eventually, Noli got C00lkidd rinsed and wrapped in a towel. 007n7 assumed that Noli had things under control as he retreated to the kitchenette; He assumed wrong. Noli carefully plopped the now-fluffy demon baby onto the shared dorm bed, where C00lkidd immediately tried to eat the corner of the blanket. 

“No– stop it!” Noli dramatically yanked the blanket away just in time. “That is not a snack! That is where I sleep!”

C00lkidd pouted, then sniffled. Big, fat tears began to well up in his eyes. “Oh no. No no no no no– don’t cry. Don’t you dare cry.” But it was too late. The waterworks came flooding in like a tsunami. C00lkidd let out the most theatrical wail Noli had ever heard.

From the kitchenette, 007n7 yelled over the noise. “What did you do?!”

“He can’t stop eating everything, Sev! I took away a blanket– not his soul!” Noli picked the baby up, his other hand putting the blanket out of C00lkidd’s reach.

They eventually bribed him with half a frozen banana. Noli sat cross-legged on the bed while C00lkidd happily chewed, drool dripping down his chin as he gnawed like a gremlin with a prize.

Noli sighed, wiping his wet hair away from his face. He was still wearing the soaked shirt, and his fingers were red from all the bite marks.

007n7 walked over and plopped beside him with two cans of soda. “Breakfast’s probably gonna be late. Microwave’s broken again..”

“I swear this kid’s gonna end us both.” Noli groaned.

“I already wrote a will,” 007n7 said, popping open his soda. “It’s just one line. It says, ‘Let Noli handle the demon.’” 007n7 smirked teasingly, handing Noli a soda.

“I hate you.” Noli stared into 007n7’s soul as he took the soda from 007n7’s hand.

“I know.” 007n7 gave a smug smile, taking a sip of the soda.

C00lkidd made a contented humming noise, lying back on the pillow, banana in hand, mouth still moving in soft rhythmic chomps. Despite the madness, the mess, the inexplicable urge to just scream into the void–  Noli found himself smiling.

But of course, Telamon likes fucking them over.

C00lkidd crawled towards the bedside lamp, opening his mouth, getting ready to chew on the wire.

“ NO— ” Both boys scrambled at once, diving like secret service agents to yank him away before he could electrocute himself. The baby shriek-laughed as if he knew exactly what he was doing.

“Why do you like eating things that you’re not supposed to!?” 007n7’s heart pounded from adrenaline. “Whenever I feed you your vegetables you always stick your tongue out.” 007n7 furrowed his brows, talking to C00lkidd as if he’d respond.

“Not cool.” Noli huffed, setting C00lkidd aside, somewhere far from the bedside lamp.

Upon hearing this C00lkidd couldn’t help but pout; His tiny lip quivered. After that scolding– for the rest of the day, C00lkidd didn’t chew on anything, not even on Noli’s finger.

He just sat there, solemnly playing with his toys. 007n7 pointed this behaviour out to Noli. They both couldn’t help but feel confused. It’d already turn night, 007n7 couldn’t keep it to himself anymore. He sighed to himself, walking over to Noli, wanting to share his worries with him.

“Hey Noli?” 007n7 called out to Noli.

“Yeah, Sev?” Noli turned around, putting down the ramen cup he was feasting on. “Ya’ need something?” Noli mumbled, food still in his mouth.

“Haven’t you noticed that ever since we scolded C00lkidd like that, he’s been like this ever since?” 007n7 muttered, biting the skin of his thumb.

Noli approached 007n7, gently pulling 007n7’s thumb away from his face. “I’ll check up on him if that makes you feel better.” Noli gave a slight smile.

“That’d be nice.. Thanks, Noli.” 007n7 returned a smile.

Noli left 007n7 alone in the kitchenette, going to tend to C00lkidd. Noli’s eyes landed on C00lkidd. The kid’s tail curled slightly around his foot like a comfort blanket, his tiny fingers gripping his toys.

“Are you upset, C00lkidd?” Noli muttered, kneeling beside him again. “I’m sorry me and papa had to scold you– we just don’t want you to feel sick.” Noli frowned, looking at C00lkidd.

C00lkidd looked back up at Noli, his eyes welling up. 

Noli blinked. “Wait– oh no. Oh no no no–”

The baby’s mouth opened, and he let out a wail so heart-wrenching, so genuinely distressed, that it almost didn’t sound like the same gremlin that tried to eat the wire of their bedside lamp earlier this morning.

Hearing this unusual cry, 007n7 rushed over to Noli and C00lkidd. “Hey– what’s going on?” 007n7 crouched on the other side of him, looking a little alarmed. “He’s never cried like that before.”

C00lkidd flailed his little arms as tears streamed down his cheeks, shoulders shaking. He wasn’t screaming in the usual “I’m annoyed and dramatic” way– this was soft, raw crying. Like something was wrong and he didn’t know how to explain it.

“Maybe…” Noli reached out, gently cupping his back. “Maybe he feels bad.”

“What?” 007n7 mumbled. When 007n7 saw C00lkidd crying like this, he couldn’t help but feel bad.

“Y’know..” Noli said gently, lifting C00lkidd into his lap. “Like, he got scolded– We yelled.” Noli started. “He probably didn’t know what he was doing was dangerous– he just… wanted to play. And now he’s confused and overwhelmed and.. and he probably thinks we hate him.”

007n7 went silent. The baby’s sobs got softer, but they didn’t stop. His face was scrunched, his fingers now holding tightly onto Noli’s sleeve like it was the only thing anchoring him to this world.

007n7 sank to sit on the floor beside them. “Fuck.” Noli sent him a sharp look. “Frick. Sorry. No swearing.” 007n7 apologized.

They sat in silence for a moment. The three of them. The boys and their baby. A demon child with two sharp teeth, his tears now soaking both Noli’s hoodie and 007n7’s soul in guilt.

“You think babies can feel guilt like that?” 007n7 asked, quieter now.

“I think this one can.” Noli whispered, running a hand over C00lkidd’s soft hair. “He’s not just chaos. He’s… he’s a kid– and kids mess up and don’t know why things feel wrong and scary sometimes. I mean, heck, we mess up and don’t know why things feel wrong sometimes.”

“Speak for yourself. I always know when things are wrong.” 007n7 said, half-joking. Then, softer. “Sorry, not the time.” 007n7 mumbled.

C00lkidd hiccupped. Then hiccupped again. Noli swayed him gently, humming something tuneless and calming. 007n7 reached over with a tissue and gently wiped the tears off his cheeks.

“Hey. It’s okay.” 007n7 murmured. “We’re not mad at you, you tiny emotional grenade. We just… don’t wanna lose you to a lamp cord.” 007n7 gave a small kiss on C00lkidd’s forehead.

C00lkidd gave a small sniffle, eyes still watery, and reached one hand toward 007n7.

007n7 blinked. Then took the hand and squeezed it gently. “We’re good, okay kid?” he said. “Just.. don’t chew wires. I don’t know what I’d do if you got electrocuted.”

The baby leaned forward and slumped into 007n7’s chest. A red, damp, hiccupping mess. But no longer sobbing.

Noli exhaled slowly. “We’re so in over our heads,” he sighed, his head leaning gently against 007n7’s shoulder.

007n7 didn’t shrug him off. He didn’t say anything clever or sarcastic. He just sat there, letting the weight of the moment settle around them like a heavy blanket. C00lkidd’s little chest rose and fell against him, soft breaths puffing onto 007n7’s hoodie. The kid had finally cried himself out, now in that blurry space between hiccuping sleep and exhausted daze.

“Yeah,” 007n7 murmured, eyes half-lidded, head tipping back against the couch.

The trio stayed like that– leaning into each other, stitched together by a shared exhaustion, guilt, and something that might’ve been love, but was too quiet and too complicated to name.

There were mismatched socks on the floor. A chewed-up plastic spoon on the coffee table. An empty bottle of formula that someone forgot to rinse out; And yet, here they were– still surviving. Barely. Together.

C00lkidd shifted in his sleep, a small hand twitching against 007n7’s chest. A little sigh escaped him, like even his dreams were winding down after the drama of the day.

007n7 slouched as he thought deeply about how he treats C00lkidd. He’d always be the one telling C00lkidd off, or the one grounding him; Sometimes 007n7 would wonder if he was too harsh with C00lkidd.

Noli peeked up at 007n7, noticing his somber expression. Noli felt like he had to say something. He sighed, catching 007n7’s attention “You’re doing good, Sev.” Noli smiled, his hand caressing C00lkidd’s head.

007n7 didn’t respond right away, but he swallowed hard, his throat working like he was fighting to keep something down.

“…You too.” 007n7 smiled softly, his eyes feeling heavy.

Despite the panic and guilt, there was something grounding about the way the baby now lay limp and safe between them. Even through the misunderstandings, the baby still trusted them.

And that had to mean something.

–+⟡+–

The duo hadn’t even noticed it– they both fell asleep from the previous night.

A pale sliver of morning light crept in through the cracked dorm blinds, illuminating the landfill that was their living room floor. 

Noli was the first to wake.

Groggy, stiff, and dangerously close to drooling on the carpet, he blinked awake to find C00lkidd snuggled on top of 007n7’s chest like a sleepy heat lamp. 007n7 remained out cold, mouth slightly open, hair mussed, one hand still loosely draped over the baby.

“Shit..” Noli muttered, rolling over with a groan. His eyes wandered on the clock. “I was supposed to be up thirty minutes ago.” Noli stretched, his back popping loudly.

The panic didn’t hit all at once– more like a sluggish realization crawling over his spine. He sat up, checked his phone, and winced.

“Sev…” he nudged 007n7’s leg with his foot. “Seven, I gotta go. I’m gonna be late..”

007n7 didn’t move. C00lkidd stirred slightly on top of him but stayed asleep, his cheeks puffed out in cartoonish peace. Noli reached over and shook 007n7’s shoulder a little more firmly.

“M’up..” 007n7 rasped, eyes still closed.

“You’re not.”

“I am in spirit.” 007n7 croaked.

Noli huffed and stood, brushing carpet lint off his hoodie and glancing down at the pair with something oddly fond behind his exhaustion. “He’s still out. You should be good for an hour or two.”

“Cool.” 007n7 mumbled, finally cracking one eye open. “Just me and the ticking time bomb.”

Noli grabbed his bag, a granola bar from the desk, and his keys that hung near the door. “I owe you big time– again.”

“You owe me my soul back,” 007n7 grunted, carefully shifting as not to wake the baby.

Noli offered a lazy salute and a crooked smile. “See you tonight, Sev.” And then he was out the door.

007n7 stayed still for another minute, eyes on the ceiling, brain booting up like a ten-year-old laptop. Eventually, C00lkidd snorted in his sleep and let out a hiccup, signaling the countdown had officially begun.

007n7 sat up slowly, cradling the baby against his chest as he made his way over to the desk. His laptop was already open– an untouched essay still blinking at him from the document he swore he’d finish yesterday. He gently set C00lkidd down in a makeshift pillow nest on the couch, making sure he was snuggled under a blanket and surrounded by soft plushies like a tiny prince.

"Okay.." 007n7 whispered to himself. “You write a paragraph, then you breathe. Maybe even blink. That’s the deal.”

He cracked his knuckles, stared at the screen, and began typing. The baby stayed asleep. For now.

Somewhere between citing sources and rephrasing a run-on sentence, 007n7 glanced at C00lkidd again. The kid’s arm twitched in a dream. His little teeth peeked out beneath a scrunched-up lip.

“Hope you’re sleeping well, kid.” 007n7 muttered.

The essay wasn’t perfect. It probably wouldn’t be. But it was getting written, C00lkidd was still snoring, and Noli had made it to work. For a moment, in that fragile pocket of calm, everything was holding itself together.

 –+⟡+–

Noli stumbled through the back entrance of his workplace, the door slamming shut behind him with a rattle that echoed through the kitchen. He muttered a breathless, “I’m here, I’m here!” as he tossed his hoodie into a corner and grabbed the branded visor hanging from the hook by the lockers. His eyes snapped at the clock, 6:58 AM, it said. Technically, he was two minutes early.

“You almost missed your morning shift again.” His manager, a wiry woman with too many pens clipped to her apron, said without looking up from the register screen.

“I like to live on the edge.” Noli replied with a lopsided grin, slipping on plastic gloves.

The smell of grease and overused fryer oil hit him instantly. It wasn’t a glamorous job– half the time the soda machine jammed and someone was always fighting the ice dispenser– but it paid for half the rent and C00lkidd’s endless stream of chewed-through pacifiers.

He stepped onto the line, sliding in next to another coworker who handed him a spatula without a word. Noli was still mentally waking up, replaying the night before like a fever dream– him and 007n7 passed out on the floor, C00lkidd draped over them like a warm, drooling paperweight.

He smirked to himself while flipping chicken patties. 007n7 was probably at home typing out that essay he’d been procrastinating on for a week, trying to balance the baby on one knee and his sanity on the other. Poor guy.

Noli’s smile faded slightly as he glanced at the time clock. Four more hours until break. Then he’d go home, probably trade places with Seven like tag team wrestlers in a never-ending match of parenthood. But for now, he flipped patties, filled bags, and tried not to fall asleep with his eyes open.

–+⟡+–

This is their dorm room btw, excuse the horrid sketch (OR. author keeps forgetting what their dorm looks like, so they had to draw their dorm so there wouldn't be any continuity errors when writing about their dorm/ them in their dorm)

Chapter Text

They actually didn’t know how old C00lkidd was.

They probably should’ve figured that out earlier– especially since their search history had become a spiral of vague and desperate questions like “Is biting everything normal for a baby?” or “is it normal for babies to cry for no reason?”

Now that C00lkidd grew his first set of teeth, he would be around 12 months now, right? Noli and 007n7 really didn’t know. 

Noli and 007n7 could only speculate that C00lkidd was now an one year old. Which means, it would be his birthday some time soon. Do they know his birthday? No– No, they don’t. Will they make up a birthday for him? Yes– Yes, they will.

The dorm was unusually quiet, save for the soft whir of the fan and the occasional babble from C00lkidd, who was busy gnawing on a plastic spoon like it owed him money.

007n7 sat cross-legged on the floor, laptop open to a tab labeled “baby development milestones”. 

Noli, lying on his back beside him with a pillow over his face, groaned. “We’re the worst.” Noli said, voice muffled. “We literally don’t know our child’s birthday.”

“We’re not the worst.” 007n7 replied, typing something into the search bar. “We just found a demon baby in a box and forgot to check the manufacturer’s label.”

“He’s not a demon.” Noli peeked from under the pillow. “He’s a gremlin. There’s a difference.”

“He’s literally breaking everything in sight.” 007n7 deadpanned.

Noli gave a long sigh, sitting up. “Fine. Demon-adjacent.”

C00lkidd let out a triumphant squeal as the spoon finally broke in half. He held the pieces up to Noli and 007n7 like trophies. Noli gave a proud smile, patting C00lkidd on his head.

007n7 closed the laptop and leaned his head back against the couch. “Okay.. We’ve established he’s probably one– or close enough.”

“So that means today’s his birthday, won’t it?” Noli said, turning to face 007n7.

“Wait– why today?” 007n7 raised an eyebrow, his lips perking.

“Because I decided it.” Noli shrugged. “Unless you remember what day it was when he magically appeared in our dorm?”

“What do you mean you decided it?” 007n7 frowned. “Don’t I get a say in this? I’m his pare–” 007n7 coughed, briefly coughing himself off. “–guardian.. Too!” 007n7 corrected himself.

“Yeah but I’m the cooler one.” Noli joshed, pulling some sort of pose you’d see in an anime.

007n7 rolled his eyes but let out a small, reluctant laugh. He didn’t say anything, but the corner of his mouth twitched up. He looked over at C00lkidd again, who was now gnawing on an empty tissue box like it had wronged his family.

“Okay, whatever.. But that’s not a real birthday, though.” 007n7 muttered. “It’s a random day we made up.” C00lkidd looked back up at 007n7, putting the chewed up empty tissue box down. C00lkidd gave a toothy smile– if you can even call it that; The kid only had one set of teeth.

“I mean it’s better than not having a birthday!” Noli flung his arms in the air, exaggerating his emotions.

007n7 stared long and hard into C00lkidd’s eyes. No kid deserved having no birthdays or parties about all about them. After a long while of pondering, 007n7 sighed. “Then it’s settled– C00lkidd’s birthday is now officially today.” 

“That’s it, then.” Noli said solemnly. “Happy birthday, C00lkidd. May your chaos reign forever.” Noli gave a solid thumbs-up.

007n7 leaned over and poked the baby’s cheek. “Congrats, you’re one. Probably.” C00lkidd looked up at them with wide, unbothered eyes– until he sneezed directly into Noli’s face. 007n7 couldn’t help but snort at this.

“...Okay.” Noli muttered, wiping his face with his sleeve. “Birthday canceled.”

007n7 laughed, grabbing a napkin and handing it over. “Too late. We’re making this official. We’ll get him a cupcake or something.”

“Do you think we should get him a present?” Noli took the napkin, wiping his face thoroughly with it.

“What do you get a teething menace with no concept of value?”

Noli tilted his head, thoughtful. “A box– maybe filled with more boxes.” C00lkidd clapped like he agreed.

007n7 took his phone that laid beside him, opening it. As 007n7 updated the calendar on his phone, he couldn’t help but smile. And so it was settled– C00lkidd’s official birthday today, a random date his best friend picked out.

“So who’s going out to get the cupcakes and the boxes stuffed inside another box.” 007n7 placed the phone back down. “It’s gonna get late soon.” 007n7 hummed, shifitng to adjust how he sat on the floor.

“I don’t know– but we can’t leave him alone in here, that’s for sure.” Noli cupped his chin, gears visibly turning in his head.

007n7 shot a glance at C00lkidd, who had somehow managed to wedge himself underneath their desk and was now gnawing suspiciously close to an electrical outlet. Again.

“Nope.” 007n7 said flatly, already moving to pluck the child out from under the desk. “Not unless we want his birthday to end with a power outage and a hospital trip.”

C00lkidd flailed in protest as he was extracted, making high-pitched squeals that sounded somewhere between furious and delighted. He immediately latched onto 007n7’s hoodie string and began chewing with the ferocity of a small, sentient paper shredder.

Noli watched this with mild horror. “You think they make baby-sized muzzles?”

“Don’t say that out loud.” 007n7 muttered, though a smile tugged at his lips as he tried to wrestle the soggy string from C00lkidd’s grip. “Someone will actually try to sell us one.”

“Alright, alright.” Noli stood up and stretched, arms cracking overhead. “Rock-paper-scissors for who goes out?”

“Fine.” 007n7 shifted, careful not to disturb C00lkidd too much. “But if I win, I get to stay home, and pick the cupcake flavor.”

“Deal.” Noli grinned, rolling up the sleeves of his hoodie like this was some kind of high-stakes showdown.

They counted off together. “Rock, paper, scissors– shoot!”

007n7 threw scissors. Noli threw paper.

“Hell yeah.” 007n7 smirked. “Make the cupcake, vanilla, m’kay?” 007n7 gave a smug smirk.

“Damn it.” Noli slumped. “Alright, alright. I’ll go.”

007n7 snorted. “Thanks. Get something soft. If we give him anything too crunchy, he might try to weaponize it.”

“Got it. One cupcake and empty boxes inside a bigger box.” As he slipped on his sneakers and grabbed his keys, he paused by the door. “Hey, Sev?” 007n7 looked up.

Noli hesitated. Then, quietly, “Nothing, sorry.” Noli chuckled sheepishly, shaking his head.

007n7 blinked. C00lkidd was still chewing on the sleeve of his shirt. “Oh! Okay.”

Noli gave a small nod and disappeared out the door.

007n7 sighed, glancing down at the baby. C00lkidd blinked up at him, tired now from the chewing spree, 007n7 couldn’t help the way his hand came up to gently pat the kid’s ridiculous little horns.

“Happy Birthday, you tiny gremlin.”

“Okay, kid.” He extended his arm, causing C00lkidd to frog blink at 007n7. “How do you wanna spend your birthday?” 007n7 gave a sincere smile. C00lkidd seemed to think long and hard. 007n7 waited for C00lkidd to do something, he waited for a while. C00lkidd babbled, looking at the couch.

“You want to sit of the couch? Okay, kid..” 007n7 hummed, walking over to the couch and placing him down. He sat down next to the kid, getting the TV remote. He opened a streaming app, immediately navigating to Bluey. Once 007n7 put Bluey on the TV, C00lkidd immediately locked in to watch.

C00lkidd then crawls over to 007n7’s lap, making himself comfortable. He sighs, petting C00lkidd’s hair. They’d just watch the lovely show about dogs that made 007n7 cry one time. Noli had teased him for the rest of the week because of it.

007n7 glanced at the clock. Noli had been gone for maybe ten minutes– fifteen, tops– but time had already slowed to a crawl.

He stared down at the barely-snoozing baby gremlin slumped on his hoodie. C00lkidd had that peaceful, post-chaos glow to him. His eyes were half-lidded, his chubby fingers twitching like he was dreaming about biting Noli’s fingers again.

007n7 shifted slightly so they were more comfortable. The moment he moved, C00lkidd’s eyes cracked open just enough to glare at him. It was a look of betrayal. Pure, unfiltered, judgmental betrayal.

“Oh, you’re dramatic.” 007n7 muttered, adjusting him again. “You get that from him .”

He didn’t have to say who him was.

007n7’s fingers absently combed through C00lkidd’s weird little tuft of hair as he watched the TV. It was stupid how used to this he was. “Didn’t even like kids,” he said out loud, as if C00lkidd could appreciate the irony. “Thought they were annoying. Thought they were loud. Still think they’re loud, honestly.”

C00lkidd snorted in his sleep. “And yet here I am,” 007n7 murmured. “Not hacking. Not griefing. Just… stuck with a baby who thinks everything is edible and a roommate who…” He trailed off.  “Ugh. Never mind.”

He wasn’t about to say it. No way. He wasn’t about to admit that sometimes when Noli laughed, it made something ache in his chest. Or that the way Noli always wiped drool off the baby’s face without hesitation kind of made his brain short-circuit. Or that when he woke up this morning and realized Noli had fallen asleep on his shoulder while they watched cartoons, his first thought wasn’t to move– it was to stay. Stay right there. Warm. Safe.

It was pathetic. He looked back down at C00lkidd, who had now somehow begun to chew on the sleeve of 007n7’s hoodie in his sleep.

“Do you think he likes me?” 007n7 asked. C00lkidd made a squishy chewing noise. “I’ll take that as a maybe.”

He leaned his head back against the couch again, trying not to think too hard. He wasn’t good at that stuff– feelings, relationships, anything that required actual emotional vulnerability. It was easier when they were just griefing noobs in games and dunking on that Pizza Guy called Elliot. Life was simpler. Noli was just a screenname, a teammate, a room mate.

And now? Now he was this person– this person who left to go get cupcakes and boxes inside boxes for a fake birthday. This person who picked up the baby without complaint, who stayed up late finishing homework next to him, who laughed at his dumb jokes and never treated him like a screw-up even when he kind of was.

007n7 closed his eyes. He didn’t know what this was. But maybe it didn’t have to be labeled yet.

 –+⟡+–

Noli hummed, walking along the cracked pavement, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows behind him. The plastic bag in his hand rustled with every step– a singular vanilla cupcake with extra frosting and a set of three stackable cardboard boxes from the campus supply store, which he begged the cashier to let him have for a dollar.

He glanced down at the plastic bag and sighed. “Happy birthday, C00lkidd.” he muttered, the words feeling both silly and strangely sacred. The air smelled faintly like gasoline and hot sidewalk. 

Noli’s hoodie clung to him weirdly, but he didn’t mind. His mind was far too occupied with something heavier– well, someone.

007n7.

It was ridiculous, wasn’t it? Getting cupcakes and boxes for a baby they accidentally adopted from a mysterious box on their bed was one thing– but falling in love with your best friend was another thing entirely. Noli kicked a pebble off the sidewalk and shoved one hand into his hoodie pocket. He felt stupid for even thinking about it.

"I love you."

What kind of loser says that to their roommate on their fake baby’s fake birthday?

He let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. They weren’t even dating. 007n7 still wouldn’t admit he was a dad. Half the time, Noli wasn’t even sure if 007n7 saw C00lkidd as more than a weird demon baby– But yet, 

He always held C00lkidd the softest when he thought no one was looking. He kept that one silly ringtone on his phone just to make the baby laugh. And he updated the calendar without saying a word, quietly marking today as “C00lkidd’s Birthday” with a smiley face emoji.

That was what got to Noli the most. The silent affection he gave when he thought no one was looking. Noli wished it was him getting those forehead kisses. Noli wished it was him getting cuddled until he fell asleep. But they’re just room mates, partners in crime, best friends.  

“Oh Telamon..” Noli muttered under his breath. “I am so down bad.”

He paused at the crosswalk, the bag of nonsense swaying from his fingers. The cupcake was starting to tilt in the container, dangerously close to being frosting-first on the lid. He straightened it.

“I got you a cupcake, you chaotic gremlin.” he murmured like C00lkidd was walking beside him. “And a bunch of boxes. Happy birthday kid..”

The light turned green. He crossed the street, tightening his grip on the bag as the wind picked up.

He didn’t know what tonight would look like. Maybe they'd put a candle on the cupcake, let C00lkidd try to eat it and inevitably smear frosting all over the couch. Maybe 007n7 would tease him about how he got the boxes. Maybe they'd all fall asleep again in a heap on the floor, exhausted and a little happy.

But maybe– just maybe– he’d tell 007n7. Not everything. Just something small. Something honest. Like “Hey, I’m glad we’re doing this together.” Or maybe, if he was brave enough.

“I like us. You, me, and the little guy that came into our life suddenly.”

Noli smiled a little at the thought, speeding up as he saw the faint outline of their dorm building ahead. He entered the building, slipping his key into the lock.

“Guess who’s back!” Noli squealed, opening the door in excitement. His eyes landed on a sleeping C00lkidd and a sleepy 007n7, sitting on the couch. “Did I take that long? Hehe, sorry!” Noli’s voice became quieter, closing the door gently.

“Nah, you’re fine. We’ve just been watching Bluey ever since you left.” 007n7 chuckled. As soon as the door clicked, C00lkidd woke up like a sleeper agent. “Oh Telamon.. He’s awake.” 007n7 groans.

“Is little C00lkidd ready for his birthday treat?” Noli cooed, taking the cupcake out of the bag. Upon seeing this sweet treat, C00lkidd squealed excitedly, patting 007n7’s chest as if asking him to bring him to the table.

“Okay– okay kid, I’ll take you to the table.” 007n7’s lips couldn’t help but form a smile as C00lkidd bounced impatiently in his lap, eyes locked on the cupcake like it was some kind of divine artifact.

He stood up carefully, adjusting the squirming baby in his arms. C00lkidd squeaked and reached out like the cupcake was a long-lost lover. Noli was already at the table, clearing off textbooks and mystery wrappers to make room for the tiny birthday celebration.

Noli glanced up and grinned. “Look at him. He’s foaming at the mouth like he’s about to devour a small kingdom.”

“Maybe he thinks the cupcake is alive and he has to defeat it.” 007n7 said as he set C00lkidd down in his designated chair. C00lkidd immediately tried lunging for the cupcake.

“Hold on, you tiny beast!” Noli laughed, pulling the cupcake just out of reach. “You gotta blow out the candle first!”

“You brought a candle?” 007n7 raised an eyebrow, half impressed and half horrified.

Noli beamed, pulling a tiny sparkly candle from the bag like it was a magic trick. “Of course. What kind of chaotic parent would I be if I didn’t do this right?”

“You mean chaotic guardian.” 007n7 corrected, though his voice lingered with a hint of playfulness. 

The duo watched C00lkidd vibrate with anticipation. Noli lit the candle, gently pressing the base into the soft icing. C00lkidd’s eyes widened as the flame flickered, his chubby hands twitching.

“Okay, okay. Everyone shut up.” Noli said suddenly, overly serious. “We have to sing.”

“We don’t have to–”

“We have to, Seven.”

007n7 sighed dramatically, but his smile gave him away. Together, the two of them broke into a lopsided, half-laughing version of the Happy Birthday song– off-key, chaotic, and loud.

“Happy birthday dear C00lkidd..” Noli sang with jazz hands, “Happy birthday to you!” C00lkidd blinked at the flame. Then he sneezed directly onto it. The candle went out with a dramatic sputter.

“...Close enough.” 007n7 said, already reaching for the cupcake to break it into manageable bites. “Honestly, I’m impressed.”

“I call that a success.” Noli pulled out the box– the one where more boxes where stuffed inside– and slid them toward C00lkidd like an offering. “Here you go, future menace. May your kingdom be cardboard and your reign be long.”

C00lkidd didn’t even look at the cupcake as he reached for the first box, squealing in delight at the rustling sound. He tore into the packaging like a puppy on espresso, immediately stuffing part of the lid in his mouth.

“Cupcake is forgotten.” 007n7 observed as he poked at the icing with a plastic knife. “You know, we could’ve just wrapped our textbooks in paper and he would’ve lost his mind.”

“We still can for next year.” Noli said, resting his chin on his palm as he watched the baby play. “A yearly tradition, if you may.”

“Can’t wait.” 007n7 said sarcastically, though he looked oddly fond. “I’m already prepping for life after college.”

They sat there for a while, watching C00lkidd try to climb inside a box that was far too small for him, icing now smeared across his cheek like war paint. It wasn’t perfect. It was messy and weird and made-up.

But for a fake birthday, it felt kind of real.

“You think he’s happy?” Noli asked quietly.

007n7 looked at the tiny gremlin babbling in his cardboard throne, crumbs stuck to his face, flailing with joy. “Yeah.” 007n7 said. “I think he’s happy.”

And maybe, despite everything, so were they.

Chapter Text

“Hey, Noli. I’m headin’ out now!” 007n7 yelled out, lingering near the front door of their dorm.

“Okay, bro– study well!” Noli yelled back from the bedroom, currently wrangling C00lkidd out of a food-stained onesie that looked like it had been through four natural disasters.

And with that response, 007n7 gave a short sigh and adjusted the grip on his almost-dead laptop, his textbook awkwardly wedged under one arm. “Don’t do anything stupid!” he called, unlocking the front door.

“No promises!” came Noli’s voice, followed by the unmistakable sound of a baby shriek-laughing.

007n7 rolled his eyes fondly, stepping out into the hallway. “I swear, if I come back and you’ve taught him how to do something stupid something again–”

“Hypothetically!” Noli called back, clearly trying to hold back laughter. “It was a hypothetical lesson, Seven!”

The door shut behind him before 007n7 could argue. He paused outside the dorm, rubbing his temple and muttering to himself. “I’m never gonna have a normal life again, aren’t I?”

He stepped out into the hallway and locked the door behind him, tucking the key into his hoodie pocket. The air outside was warm, the kind of warm that made you squint and wish you’d brought sunglasses. He could hear the faint hum of someone’s music blaring from a dorm window, and from somewhere distant you could hear a lawn mower.

His steps echoed faintly through the concrete stairwell as he descended, the textbook thudding softly with each motion. Honestly, he wasn’t even sure why he was bringing it. He’d flipped through maybe three pages before C00lkidd mistook it for a chew toy and drooled over the margins. Still, it felt like a required accessory– it was like a small reminder that he was still a college student.

As he crossed the campus, he took in the scenes of someone skateboarding past with a smoothie in one hand, a group of theater kids singing off-key on a bench, and a chicken that had, once again, claimed dominion over the quad fountain. He briefly made eye contact with it. The chicken did not blink.

007n7 muttered. “Not today, you winged menace.” and veered sharply left. Honestly, what deranged kid would bring a chicken to a college?

His class starts in around an hour and a half, but he needed a breather from C00lkidd. 007n7 needed a breather from everything in general.

As he slipped into the student lounge– a half-deserted room filled with aging furniture and exactly one working vending machine– he didn’t expect much. Maybe just a quiet place to pretend to study until class.

007n7 dropped onto the nearest couch, laptop balanced on his knees, and muttered to himself. “Okay. Class. Right. Responsibility.” He opened a Word doc. It blinked at him. He blinked back.

“What the fuck do I even note down.” 007n7 bounced his leg up and down, deep in thought. The blinking cursor mocked him. His fingers hovered over the keyboard like they were waiting for divine inspiration to possess them.

007n7 been staring at the screen for some time as if he was waiting for something to happen. 007n7 leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “I should just really go back to hacking.”

A notification pinged on his laptop– his professor dropping some two hundred-slide PDF reading titled "Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.”

007n7 clicked it open, saw the words “Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a broad field that encompasses the–” And that’s where 007n7 immediately stopped reading, closing the tab.

“Nope.” 007n7 said out loud. “I’m going to read this tomorrow.” 007n7 gave a strained smile, letting his head drop back against the couch cushion and groaned in defeat. “I need a coffee. Or a new major.”

He quickly glanced over to the lobby’s door as it creaked open. It was a woman, not just any woman– his classmate. 007n7 knew her name, it was 118o8. She was smart, very outgoing, and helped her debate team win. 007n7 wasn’t really friends with her, but he found her to be cool. It’d be nice to become friends with her.

Their eyes met for a split second. 007n7 might have just looked away if it weren’t for the sound that followed.

“Mama!” A weird distorted voice squealed from the oversized gym bag that slung over 118o8’s shoulder, a bright blue demon baby popped his head out like an unholy jack-in-the-box, drooling and giggling while gripping a pen like it was a weapon.

007n7 froze, his eyes glued onto the blue version of C00lkidd. “Bluudud– please stop.. You’re getting us weird stares” 118o8 mumbled as she tried to keep Bluudud inside the bag. 

007n7 blinked once. Twice. Then pointed. “Is that–”

“Please don’t freak out!” 118o8 interrupted, her voice sounding distressed. She slowly approached 007n7’s table, cautiously placing the gym bag on the chair across 007n7. 

007n7 peeked over at the bag containing the kid, Bluudud, then looked at 118o8. “...Is he yours?” 007n7 asked cautiously.

“Would you tell our batchmates if I said yes..?” 118o8 half-laughed sheepishly, trying to pry the pen out of Bluudud’s hands.

There was a long pause before 007n7 exhaled through his nose in a half-sigh, half-laugh. “Holy crap. I thought I was the only one.”

That got 118o8’s attention, momentarily stopping her actions. “Wait– don’t tell me. You’ve got one too?” 118o8 asked, her excitement seemingly seeping through.

007n7 slouched lower in the seat. “Red. Horns. Bites like a piranha. Mine’s name is C00lkidd.”

“No way.” 118o8 nearly lost her balance from the relief she felt in that moment.

“Yes way.” 007n7 gave a small smile.

They both stared at each other for a second, processing the absurdity of it all. Then– slowly but surely– 118o8 snorted.

She placed the gym bag on the floor, now sitting across 007n7. “I’ve been hiding him in the laundry room during my comp sci class. The TA thinks I’m just really obsessed with checking the dryer.”

“I actually have a friend that helps me handle mine.” 007n7 smiled, thinking about Noli. “His name is Noli– we rotate. Noli watches him when I’ve got back-to-back lectures.”

“That must be nice having a second parent to help you.” 118o8 said, looking like a huge burden was taken off her shoulders. “I had to sneak him everywhere and pray to Telamon he won’t make a peep.”

They laughed– actual, cathartic laughter. It felt weirdly nice to talk to someone else who understood the absurdity, the exhaustion, and the weird joy of raising a demon child that didn’t even belong to you.

“Bluudud’s got teeth like a bear trap.” 118o8 said, combing through Bluudud’s thick hair. “How about yours?”

“C00lkidd just grew his first set. We had to throw out a mountain load of plastic utensils and a shampoo bottle.” 007n7 sighed.

“Ughh.. Had to sacrifice my hairbrush just so he’d stop crying.” 118o8 laughed bitterly. 

“I get that..” 007n7 brushed his hair back, glancing at the clock on his laptop. “Damn. Classes starts in fifteen minutes.” 007n7 looked back at 118o8. “Wanna head there together?” 007n7 gave a small smile.

“Yeah– though I’m gonna have to give Bluudud his bottle so he won’t cry mid-lecture.” 118o8 smiled back, grabbing a bottle from the bag and feeding it to Bluudud.

By the time they left the lounge together, they were already exchanging parenting hacks like war veterans swapping stories– what foods were least likely to be weaponized, which fabrics were hardest to chew through, and how to negotiate with a creature who couldn’t talk but had a vendetta against cabinets.

They weren’t friends before– but they’re for sure friends now.

 –+⟡+–

Noli and C00lkidd sat there in their dorm room, each doing their own thing. C00lkidd sat on the floor playing with the toys Noli and 007n7 worked hard to get, while Noli was just there browsing through random shows he could watch on the TV.

Noli groaned loudly, slouching down on the couch. “Staying cooped up in here probably ain’t good for your growth, kid.” He glanced over at C00lkidd. As if agreeing, C00lkidd clapped his hands excitedly. 

Noli hummed to himself as if he’s deep in thought. After moments of thinking, he slammed his fist onto his palm. “I got it!” C00lkidd jumped at the sudden voice. “I’ll sneak you outside!” Noli gave a smug smile. C00lkidd seemed to think about this, then squealed in excitement.

“It’ll be beneficial to both you and me!” Noli was quick to grab C00lkidd off the floor. “Whadda’ ya’ say, kid?” Noli smiled, bringing C00lkidd close to his face. C00lkidd’s tiny hands drummed on Noli’s nose, babbling as if he was agreeing.

“Awesome.” Noli smirked, glancing at his backpack he used to bring his books. “We’ll go outside if you promise ya’ won’t be too noisy.” Noli raised an eyebrow, looking back at C00lkidd. The red baby solemnly nodded as if he understood what Noli just said. 

“Perfect! Just.. don’t tell Seven about this– We’re both gonna get in trouble if he ever finds out I snuck you out.” Noli chuckled sheepishly.

“Keep it our little secret, kay’?” Noli held out his pinky, initiating a pinky promise. C00lkidd then also held his tiny pink out and intertwining it with Noli’s.

And with that settled, Noli grabbed his backpack, emptying everything in it, then placing C00lkidd inside. Noli placed his pointer finger over his mouth, gesturing C00lkidd to be quiet. C00lkidd nodded slightly, copying Noli’s gesture. Noli then zipped his backpack halfway so air was still able to get in the bag.

Noli adjusted the straps of his backpack, giving it a slight bounce to make sure C00lkidd was settled. “Alright, buddy. Let’s roll.”

The campus grounds were relatively quiet this late in the afternoon– students either in class, napping, or glued to overpriced iced coffee. Noli walked with the casual swagger of someone who definitely wasn’t hiding a mysterious horned baby in his bag. 

Occasionally, C00lkidd would let out a quiet gurgle or wiggle too much, and Noli would thump the side of the backpack gently like he was burping it. “Shhh, you’re gonna get us caught, dude.” he whispered.

They reached a small shopping strip just off campus. Noli wasn’t sure what he was looking for– maybe snacks, maybe something to distract C00lkidd– but he was for sure relieved being able to walk someplace else other than inside the campus.

The breeze felt nice, and for once, Noli wasn’t being bombarded with student stress, assignment deadlines, or the constant threat of 007n7 judging his sock choices. It was just him and a backpack with a baby in it.

As they passed by a novelty store, Noli couldn’t help but pause at the window. It was cluttered with weird plushies, joke mugs, and those bobblehead figures that always stared directly into your soul. “Think they got anything for babies with a chewing problem?” he muttered, peering inside.

C00lkidd let out a soft “mrh.” which Noli took as a yes.

He stepped in casually, pretending like he was just a guy browsing and not the guardian of a demonic toddler. The cashier barely looked up from her phone. Good sign.

Noli wandered the aisles, eyeing a weird rubber chicken, then a squeaky donut toy. “Would this explode if you bit into it?” he murmured, giving it a test squeeze. It squealed so loud C00lkidd mimicked the noise right from the bag. Noli winced and bolted out of the store with a muttered, “Yeah, never mind.”

Their next stop was a small park bench near a koi pond. Noli sat down with a sigh, unzipping the backpack just a little so C00lkidd could poke his head out. The baby squinted at the sunlight and then let out a noise somewhere between a coo and a threat.

“Don’t bite the wind,” Noli warned with a smile, watching as C00lkidd’s little fangs glinted in the sun. “It’s not edible.”

They sat there for a while– Noli watching the koi lazily swim around like they had no idea what midterms were, and C00lkidd chomping on his own fingers like they were gourmet. A few people walked past, but no one really paid them any mind. For once, Noli wasn’t dodging questions or cleaning spit off anything.

Eventually, a growl came from somewhere. Noli blinked, confused, until he realized it was his stomach.

“Guess that walk worked up an appetite.” he mumbled, glancing down at the baby. “How ‘bout we get something to eat?”

C00lkidd’s eyes lit up at the word “eat.” his stubby arms wiggling with excitement.

“Alright, alright.” Noli zipped the bag back up gently. “No chewing the food wrappers this time. Or the napkins. Or anything you’re not supposed to. Please.”

And with that, he stood up and made his way toward the food stalls nearby, the scent of fried dough and grilled meats leading the way. 

But what he didn’t expect was to see some guy at the corner of the chicken joint, holding a bucket of fried drumsticks like it was a sacred artifact.

“…Shedletsky?” Noli blurted before he could stop himself.

The man turned, sunglasses reflecting the late sun like a divine beacon. “Huh? Oh hey, Noli!” Shedletsky grinned with a mouth full of chicken. He was wearing his usual “Blame John” shirt, flip-flops, and absolutely zero awareness of his role as an authority figure. “Long time no chaos.”

Noli froze mid-step. “I– uh. Fancy seeing you here.”

“Yeah, I was craving fried chicken. Asked Builder if he could buy me some, but he told me I could do it myself .” Shedletsky said, doing air quotes with greasy fingers. “Also told me to look out for hackers.” He chuckled to himself, clearly not looking out for anything.

Noli gave a nervous laugh, gripping his backpack slightly tighter. C00lkidd let out a muffled “Hughmgpf..” sound from inside.

“What’s that noise?” Shedletsky raised an eyebrow. “That sounded… baby-ish.” He took another bite of chicken.

“Uhhh… ringtone?” Noli’s eyes darted nervously. 

Shedletsky squinted at the lumpy, wriggling backpack. “Your ringtone sounds like a baby with bronchitis?”

 The zipper twitched violently. Noli quickly glanced at his backpack, nudging the backpack. “…Dude, what’s in the bag.” Shedletsky pointed to the Noli’s backpack.

Noli, panicked, turned on his heel. “Gotta go! Midterm emergency!” he called over his shoulder, power-walking away.

“Oh– Okay dude.” Was the last thing Noli heard before slipping away. Noli didn’t hear Shedletsky run after him and he was grateful for that. Noli could only guess that Shedletsky stayed there and watched him leave.

“What the fuck– What the fuck– What the fuck!?!” Noli murmured, clenching the straps of his backpack. Noli’s sneakers slapped against the pavement as he power-walked like his life depended on it. His heart beat like a war drum in his chest.

“Midterm emergency? Midterm emergency?!” he hissed under his breath, gripping the backpack like it might grow legs and sprint off on its own. “That’s the best you could come up with?! You absolute clown, Noli!”

C00lkidd let out a small curious squeal from inside the bag, completely unbothered.

“Oh no. No no no no no.” Noli rounded a corner and ducked behind a vending machine, breath short, chest heaving. “I just made eye contact with Shedletsky. Shedletsky! The admin! The guy who can literally ruin my life if he so wishes!” He slapped a hand over his mouth, muffling a very unmanly whimper.

He slid down to a crouch, placing the bag carefully on the ground like it was a live bomb. C00lkidd stared up at him with his big round eyes and let out a soft gurgle, tilting his head.

“I know, I know, I panicked.” Noli wiped the sweat off his brow. “You’re not supposed to be outside. I snuck you out. I— oh my Telamon, I committed a baby felony.”

C00lkidd babbled and smacked his own cheeks. “And you were wiggling! Why were you wiggling?! You couldn’t sit still for ten minutes?!” The baby just yawned in response.

Noli paced in tiny, frantic circles behind the vending machine. “Okay. Okay. Calm down. Maybe he didn’t recognize me. Maybe he just thought I was some other guy with a suspiciously lumpy backpack and stress in his eyes.”

The memory flashed again in his mind– Shedletsky turning around with his bucket of chicken. “Huh? Oh hey, Noli!” 

Noli practically recoiled at the recollection. “What the fuc– “ Noli cut himself off, peering over to C00lkidd in the back. “Frick– Sorry I shouldn’t swear.” Noli gave a strained smile. “He remembers me! He remembers my name.. He even called me out by my name !!” Noli was practically pulling his hair out.

He turned to the baby, voice barely a whisper. “You better not be logging this. You better not be recording this for your future villain origin story.” C00lkidd sneezed inside the bag.

“Great. You’re leaving DNA evidence now.”

After a long pause, Noli groaned, tugged his hoodie hood over his head like a veil of shame, and picked the bag back up.

“Alright. Let’s just get home and pretend nonna’ this ever happened.” Noli chuckled to himself, still trying to calm himself down. And with that, Noli stepped back into the path toward the dorms, his steps fast and silent, his nerves frayed, and his backpack suspiciously quiet.

Too quiet.

“…Please don’t poop in there,” he muttered, already regretting everything.

Meanwhile, when Noli walked away from Shedletsky– his shoulders stiff, and his pace just a little too fast– Shedletsky didn’t move to chase after him. He just stood there outside the chicken place, chewing slowly, eyes tracking the retreating shape.

Grease stained the little paper bag in his hand, and a half-eaten drumstick drooped lazily between his fingers. “Huh.” Shedletsky muttered around a mouthful. “Was that a red baby with horns...?” He stopped chewing.

For a moment, the usual easygoing slack in his posture straightened ever so slightly. The street around him buzzed with distant chatter, footsteps, traffic– but he stood motionless, still as a statue, eyes locked in the direction Noli disappeared.

His voice dropped into something lower. Quieter. “So that’s where you went.” He didn’t sound surprised. The paper bag crinkled in his grip. He licked barbecue sauce from his thumb, face unreadable.

“Good to know.”

And just like that, his eyes softened, and he took another massive bite of chicken, crunching through the bone with casual carelessness. He turned, walking the other way, whistling a tune that didn’t quite sound right.

Chapter Text

The room was quiet; The only source of light was by the soft glow of 007n7’s monitor. The cursor blinked at him like a ticking clock, each flash a reminder that time was running out. Graduation was weeks away. Just weeks. That number used to sound exciting– liberating, even.

But now ? Now it felt like a guillotine.

Noli was working late again, as usual. His shifts were usually very early in the morning or late in the night. Noli’s manager was really shitty for putting a teenager on those work hours. 007n7 knew it, hated it, but couldn’t do anything about it. Not when they needed the money. Not when that job was the one paying for their baby’s diapers and food.

C00lkidd was asleep in the other room, bundled up in a mountain of somewhat clean clothes and whatever stuffed animals they’d managed to find at thrift stores. 007n7 had checked on him three times already. Just to make sure he was still breathing. Just to see him resting peacefully.

007n7 stared at the Word doc again, empty as it was an hour ago. "Do you think we’re gonna be okay?” 007n7 whispered to no one, hands hovering above the keyboard, unsure whether to type or tremble. 

007n7 leaned back in his chair, hands trembling slightly over his keyboard. The document on the screen remained blank. 007n7 couldn’t focus. His head was full of static. The kind that buzzed behind his eyes and made his chest feel too tight, like the whole world was slowly shrinking.

“Okay.” 007n7 muttered to himself. “Okay.. Just finish this. Then maybe you’ll feel better. You’ll get through this.” Though 007n7 didn’t move. His fingers curled inward, digging into his palms until they hurt.

007n7 wasn’t even thinking about the assignment anymore. All he could see was the future– a gaping, unknowable void with no guarantees. What would happen after this? After the classes stopped? After they were no longer supposed to live here?

What would happen to C00lkidd?

What would happen to him and Noli?

007n7 shut his eyes and buried his face in his hands. His breathing grew shallow. Shaky.

“We’re not ready–” 007n7 whispered. “We’re so not ready.” 007n7 cracked under the pressure.

007n7 knew how to write a killer essay under pressure. 007n7 knew Noli liked his eggs overdone and that C00lkidd would chew on power cords if left alone for ten seconds. 007n7 knew how to fix the microwave when it freaked out. 007n7 knew how to make the baby stop crying at three AM.

But none of that taught 007n7 how to be financially stable– or how to properly raise a child– Or how to tell Noli that maybe– just maybe – he was in love with him.

007n7 pushed away from the desk and stood abruptly, pacing across the room like it would help shake off the feeling pressing against his ribs. That awful sense of being behind, like the world was accelerating and he’d missed the off-ramp. Everyone around him was talking about jobs and internships and moving out. Everyone seemed to have a plan.

007n7 didn’t.

He only had this . This dorm. This baby. His best friend.

And he didn’t even know if that would last.

007n7 dragged a hand down his face. He could still remember the day they found C00lkidd. It was burned into his brain– how absurd it had been, how funny, at first. A cursed little baby in a box on their bed– like Telamon decided to prank them.

But now it was serious. Now it was real. The kind of real that meant figuring out how to file taxes and schedule pediatric checkups and somehow– somehow – figure out if he was even a good enough person to raise a kid who didn’t ask to be here.

007n7 sat down on the floor, his legs too wobbly to keep standing. The silence in the dorm was deafening. He could hear the low hum of the fridge. The occasional passing car. The muted tick of his analog clock, counting down his time like a warning.

What if Noli left after graduation? Got a real job, moved out, moved on? What if 007n7 had to raise C00lkidd alone? What if C00lkidd hated him? What if they grew apart?

What if– what if everything was already falling apart and he just hadn’t noticed it yet?

007n7’s breath caught in his throat, tight and shallow. His chest felt like it was caving in. “I’m not cut out for this.” 007n7 whispered, voice shaky, barely audible.

007n7 swiped at his eyes, angry that they were watering. 007n7 hadn’t cried in a long time, he always told himself he didn’t have time to. But now, alone in a room that felt too big and too small at the same time, he couldn’t stop it. The tears spilled over, hot and silent.

007n7 curled in on himself, arms wrapped tight around his own shoulders, like that could hold him together. 007n7 stayed like that for a while. “I can’t do this.” 007n7 muttered, voice thin. “I don’t know how to do this.” 007n7’s vision blurred. 

He wasn’t sure if it was from exhaustion or the tears that pricked at the corners of his eyes. 007n7 hadn’t cried in a while. Didn’t really let himself. But tonight, it all came up in a choked gasp. A sob he barely managed to muffle against his sleeve.

C00lkidd . What if they messed him up? What if they were already messing him up? What if Noli left after graduation and took the kid, or worse– what if he didn’t, and they were both stuck pretending this wasn’t tearing them apart?

“I’m not a parent.” 007n7 muttered. “I was never supposed to be a parent.”

But then again, he was, wasn’t he? 007n7 may not say it out loud, but the way 007n7 watched over that kid, the way he worried about him– there was no denying it. Somewhere along the way, he'd stopped being just a guardian. He just didn’t want to admit it.

007n7 curled up on the floor, knees to chest, the room too quiet now. Too still. He felt like he was unraveling in silence, thread by thread. 007n7 stayed like that seeking comfort from the silence. The room was quiet. The sound of 007n7 sniffling and crying to himself filled the somewhat empty dorm.

007n7 let his head rest against his knees, eyes shut tight, trying to make the tightness in his chest to go away. It didn’t. He wasn’t sure it ever would.

“Get it together..” 007n7 whispered into the space between his legs. 007n7’s voice was hoarse, like he hadn’t spoken in days. “It’s fine. You’re fine. You’ve done harder stuff than this.”

But this wasn’t like anything else. This wasn’t a boss fight or a glitch to exploit. There was no script, no shortcut, no C00LGUI. Just reality. Just him, Noli, a baby who needed him, and a future he couldn’t see clearly anymore.

007n7 breathed in through his nose, slow, shaky, like he was trying to inhale the strength to stay sane.

“You’ve made it this far.” 007n7 said again, more to fill the space than to convince himself. “You kept the kid alive. You didn’t… you didn’t drop him– or mess up too bad. Right?” There was a long pause. 007n7 dragged the sleeve of his hoodie across his eyes. It didn’t help. They just watered more. 

“What if Noli leaves?” The question slipped out before he could stop it. It hung in the air, cold and ugly. “What if he moves on, and I’m just... here. With a demon baby and no clue what to do.” 007n7 bit down hard on his lip, trying to push the thoughts away– but they were loud, louder than his breathing, louder than the quiet hum of the fridge in the kitchen.

Eventually, the door creaked open. 

“Seven…?” The voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through the silence like a thread pulling him back. It was soft, caring, safe.  007n7 flinched but didn’t look up. He curled tighter into himself, arms wrapped around his legs like he could disappear into them.

“Oh, Seven…” the voice repeated, and something about the way it was said made 007n7 finally glance up through swollen eyes. He squinted into the light, barely making out the figure by the door.

There he was. Noli. Wide-eyed and worried, clutching takeout bags that now seemed forgotten in his hands. “Seven.. My Seven... ” Noli murmured, looking like he was on the verge of tears just by seeing 007n7 in this state.

That name– “My Seven”– landed softly in 007n7’s chest, cracking something open. He hadn’t even registered it until it was too late. His mouth opened, but only a breath escaped.

“N-Noli…?” 007n7 choked out between shallow sobs.

Noli dropped the bags without a second thought. They hit the floor with a dull thud. He crossed the room quickly but not hurriedly, like he was afraid to scare him. He knelt down slowly, carefully, not saying anything for a moment– just observing the shaking figure in front of him.

“D-don’t…” 007n7 turned his face away, voice crumbling. “Don’t look at me like that— I’m fine, I’m fine–” 007n7’s voice cracked hard on the last word.

Then– cool fingers, gentle and steady, touched his cheek. 007n7 tensed. The touch made him realize how hot his face was. It was wet from his tears– sticky from the dried ones.

Noli didn’t pull away. “You don’t have to hide how you feel, Seven.” Noli said softly, his voice low and steady like a lifeline.

007n7 shook his head. “I–I didn’t want you to see me like this.”

“Oh Seven..” Noli said, brushing a lock of hair away from 007n7’s eyes. 

Noli gently cupped 007n7’s face, thumb smoothing away tears like it was the easiest thing in the world. He wasn’t startled by the tears, or the shaking, or the exhaustion in 007n7’s eyes. Noli just accepted it– held it.

“It’s okay to cry, you know?” Noli added, coaxing Seven to look at him. “You don’t have to hold everything together all the time. Not with me.”

007n7 blinked hard, trying to bite back another sob. Noli brought that hand– still cradling his face– down to rest gently on his shoulder.  “You don’t have to shoulder this alone.” Noli said again, quieter now. “You’ve got me. I’m not going anywhere.”

Something about the way he said it made 007n7 break completely. He lunged forward before he could stop himself– collapsing into Noli’s arms. It wasn’t graceful. It was desperate.

Noli didn’t hesitate, catching 007n7 like he’d been waiting to. “I got you.” Noli whispered, wrapping his arms tight around him. “I got you, My Seven .” 007n7 trembled in his arms, crying quietly now, like a balloon deflating slow.

They stayed like that for a while. No rush. No expectations. Just warmth. Noli’s fingers threaded gently through 007n7’s brown hair as he murmured soft reassuring words, hoping to further console his best friend . 

Eventually, Noli pulled back just enough to rest his forehead against 007n7’s. “You mean a lot to me.” Noli felt like he needed to say that. “Way more than I think you realize.” Noli wanted to kiss 007n7 right now. He wanted to show 007n7 how much he meant to him– but they weren’t dating. Best friends don’t kiss each other.

007n7’s eyes fluttered closed. He didn’t respond– but he didn’t need to. He just took a deep breathe. Remembering the words Noli once said to him months ago. 

“Then shatter. I’ll be here to pick up the pieces. Every time.”

And for the first time in a long time– 007n7 felt like maybe it was okay to fall apart– if Noli was going to be there to help put the pieces back.

“ I love you… ” 007n7 mumbled, the words slipping out like breath– unguarded, half-conscious, and achingly sincere.

Noli froze. The weight of those words landed in the middle of his chest like a heartbeat skipping a step. His arms were still wrapped around 007n7, whose breathing had finally evened out against him. 

For a second, Noli thought he’d imagined it– some desperate daydream flickering in the quiet– but then he felt it. 007n7’s hand was curled weakly into the fabric of Noli’s shirt. Noli’s lips parted in surprise, his breath catching. His heart stuttered hard.

007n7 had said it like he didn’t even realize it. Like it was muscle memory. Like the words were lodged deep in his bones and had finally tumbled out now, when his guard was down and his soul was laid bare.

It felt too good to be true. Noli sat there, frozen in place, heart pounding against his ribs like it was trying to crawl its way out of his chest. The words echoed in his ears on a loop– “I love you…”

Noli knew what it probably meant– of course he did. That had to be platonic– a bro thing– a sleepy, emotional, “we’ve been through so much together” kind of ‘I love you’. That’s all.

Right?

But no matter how much Noli tried to convince himself, he couldn’t stop the hope from curling in his stomach, warm and dangerous. His brain screamed platonic, but his heart clung to the words like they were oxygen.

Noli looked down at 007n7, fast asleep now, eyes puffy from crying, curled against him like he belonged there. And maybe he did .

Noli bit the inside of his cheek, trying to chase away the flush creeping up his face.

Why did it sound so real? So raw? So much like how he feels?

He wanted to believe it. He wanted to believe that maybe– just maybe– that I love you meant more. That maybe, 007n7 felt it too . That under all the teasing and denial and chaos, there was something real between them.

“…Oh.” Noli breathed. He stared down at 007n7– this exhausted, messy, beautiful boy curled against his chest like a wilted flower finally safe in the shade. “I love you more.” Noli whispered, almost like a prayer.

But by the time the words left his mouth, 007n7 was already asleep– his breathing slow, his face buried into Noli’s hoodie, completely and utterly unaware of what he’d said. Noli let out the softest laugh, more air than sound, and pressed his cheek against the top of 007n7’s head.

Noli smiled– small and aching– and gently brushed a few strands of hair from 007n7’s face. Even if he’d never hear it, even if it never meant what Noli hoped it did, he still wanted to say it. 

“You don’t even know what you do to me, huh.” Noli whispered, eyes fluttering closed too. For now, Noli just held 007n7 closer– because if this was all he could have, if this moment was it– it was enough.

  –+⟡+–

“Ohh Builder!” Shedletsky’s sing-song voice rang out as he kicked open the office door like he owned the place. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered slightly– probably in fear.

Builderman looked up from the stack of papers on his desk, expression tired and unimpressed. “Shedletsky.” His tone was flat. “Why are you yelling.”

Shedletsky strolled in with zero urgency, holding a mostly empty bucket of chicken in one hand, a lone greasy drumstick in the other. “Guess who I saw..” Shedletsky grinned, chicken grease shining like war paint on his cheek.

Builderman narrowed his eyes. “Unless it’s an exploiter or the intern who locked himself in the server room again, I don’t care.”

“I found one of the griefers.” Shedletsky said, still chewing. He flopped onto the nearest chair like he had no bones in his body.

Builderman sat up straight. “What? Where? Did you catch them? ”

“Nah..” Shedletsky waved his drumstick nonchalantly. “He had a baby with him. And plus, y’know, I needed my chicken.”

“You what.” Builderman blinked. “Back up. A baby? ”

“Yeah. Popped right outta the guy’s backpack when I asked what was inside!” Shedletsky said, leaning back lazily in his chair like he owned the entire room. A smug, almost too-relaxed grin tugged at the corner of his mouth, and he twirled a half-eaten drumstick between his fingers with the nonchalance of someone explaining a mildly interesting grocery store story.

“Real dramatic, too. Like– bam. Baby. Tiny red gremlin thing. Horns. Just blinked up at me like I was the one being weird.”

Builderman didn’t react at first. He just stared, face flat, unreadable. His brow barely twitched, but his eyes narrowed ever so slightly behind his thick frames. The silence stretched. His voice finally came low and dry. “You’re joking.”

Shedletsky’s grin faltered for half a second– offended, maybe, or just pretending to be. He raised both brows and gave a half-hearted scoff, like the very idea that he could be making this up was more insulting than it was funny.

“Builder…” Shedletsky said, drawing out the name like a teacher scolding a student for not paying attention. His voice took on a slightly dramatic tone, like he was trying to be serious but couldn’t quite let go of the performative flair. “Have I ever joked?”

Builderman stared him down without missing a beat. “…Yes.” Builderman muttered, deadpan.

Shedletsky paused, then let out a small chuckle, lifting a shoulder in a lazy shrug. “Fair…”

Shedletsky slouched deeper into the chair, propping his feet up on the nearest table leg, still spinning the drumstick like it was some kind of divine artifact. His voice dropped just enough to feel weighty this time– less performative, more real. “But this one’s real.”

Builderman’s face didn’t change much, but his posture did. He sat up straighter. Slowly, his fingers curled in, tightening around the edge of his desk. His knuckles turned pale from the pressure. His mouth pressed into a thin line, and his eyes bore into Shedletsky’s as if trying to catch even the slightest hint of a joke hiding in the words.

“Why are you telling me this like it’s a casual lunch update?” Builderman said, voice low, tight, and simmering with tension.

Shedletsky’s eyes glinted behind the veil of his usual lazy grin, half-lidded and unreadable. There was always something slippery about that smile– too casual, too practiced. He tilted his head slightly, as if amused by his own train of thought.

“Oh, I dunno…” Shedletsky said with feigned innocence, drawing out the words like he was leading into a punchline. “Maybe because it reminded me of that green guy that escaped our containment.”

Builderman’s expression shifted instantly, like a switch had been flipped. His jaw locked tight, the muscles ticking beneath the surface. His easy posture went rigid, and the faint warmth in the room evaporated in an instant, sucked away like a sudden drop in pressure. His voice came sharp and low, laced with restrained anger.

“Why are you bringing that up now.”

The silence that followed was thick.

Shedletsky didn’t flinch. Instead, he slowly dropped the half-eaten drumstick into the greasy chicken bucket with a dull, moist thump. His expression didn’t change much, but something behind his eyes darkened– his tone lost its usual teasing edge, dipping into something quieter.

“Remember when 1x1x1x1 escaped?” Shedletsky said, almost too casually for the weight of what he was saying. “A lot of our prototypes disappeared along with him.”

Builderman straightened slowly, like the movement was a subconscious reaction to a threat. His eyes sharpened, brows knitting together as a chill seemed to settle into his spine. “You’re saying this weird baby and that incident are connected?” Builderman’s voice was suspicious, skeptical– but there was a flicker of unease behind it.

Shedletsky gave a shrug, small and smooth, his lips quirking just enough to hint at that eternal smugness. “Not just saying it.” He tapped two fingers against the side of his head with deliberate flair. “It’s just an instinct. My personal spidey sense– if you will.” The smirk he wore wasn’t playful anymore. It was sly- knowing.

Builderman didn’t respond right away. He stared at Shedletsky with hard eyes, calculating. Then, with a sharp exhale, Builderman asked. “So what’s the connection then?” The words came clipped, tired, like he already knew he wasn’t going to like the answer.

Shedletsky leaned forward in his seat, resting his elbows on the table. His voice dipped again– still casual, but now tempered with something colder. “Because I think that griefer’s walking around with one of our prototypes.”

Builderman’s chair screeched violently against the linoleum floor as he stood up, the sudden motion slicing through the tension like a blade. “What.” He didn’t shout it, but the weight of the word crashed like thunder in the too-bright, too-silent room. The buzzing fluorescent lights hummed above them, suddenly oppressive.

Shedletsky didn’t move. He just grinned, slow and wide, like someone who had been waiting all day to drop that exact line. Without a word, he picked up the last piece of chicken, popped it into his mouth, and chewed– calm, unbothered, and maddeningly confident.

“Thought you’d wanna know.”

Chapter Text

The graduation ceremony was loud. Airhorns, plastic clappers, and overly enthusiastic families filled the stadium seating. Students shuffled in neat rows of wrinkled gowns, some with decorated caps, others like 007n7–  who had forgotten to even iron his.

007n7 didn’t see any of his family members show up to watch him graduate. It was sad, yeah– but 007n7 couldn’t say he didn’t expect it. Ever since he mentioned wanting to code to his family, they coldy shunned him. 007n7 knew that his family was all about being traditional  but 007n7 never did get why he was thrown out so easily. 

“I can’t believe they actually let us graduate.” Noli whispered from beside him, nudging 007n7. Noli’s cap was slightly crooked, and he looked like he hadn’t slept, but the grin on his face was radiant. “Guess turning in three years’ worth of missing assignments at three AM paid off.”

“Barely.” 007n7 muttered. “I was this close to being one credit short. Literally one. The system glitched, and the registrar took pity on me. I don’t think I’m supposed to be here.”

“Who cares? We made it.” Noli slung an arm around 007n7’s shoulder as the line started moving toward the stage. “You hear that? We made it, man.”

The crowd was deafening as names were called one by one. And when the name “ 007n7 ” rang through the speakers, you could hear a loud supportive cheer from Noli and his new friend, 118o8. 007n7 walked across the stage with stiff, robotic steps, accepting his diploma with the surreal numbness of a fever dream.

He smiled for the photo, diploma in hand, but inside, panic clawed at his chest.

This is it.

No more dorms. No more dining hall garbage food. No more student excuses. The world was looming just past the edge of the stage, and it had sharp teeth. Back in the crowd, 007n7 found Noli again. The two stood side by side, caps slightly askew, gowns brushing against each other in the breeze.

“We’re really done, huh?” 007n7’s voice was barely above a whisper.

Noli didn’t answer right away. His gaze was fixed ahead, where the crowd buzzed, where parents took photos, and friends cried into each other’s shoulders. Noli looked excited– nervous, but buzzing with energy.

“I mean.. I guess? It doesn’t feel real yet.” Noli said, adjusting the strap of the backpack he’d slung over his shoulder. “But I suppose it feels nice being free from college hell, yeah?.”

007n7 chuckled softly at that, then his expression dropped again. “Where are we even gonna go?”

Noli turned to him. “We’ll figure it out.” Noli gave a reassuring smile.

“But what if we don’t?” 007n7’s voice cracked slightly, all the fear he’d been bottling up leaking into the open. “What if we mess it all up? What if we can’t afford anything? What if I suck at being a real person? What if we can’t keep C00lkidd?”

Noli’s brows furrowed. “Hey, hey. You’re not alone, okay?” He placed both hands on 007n7’s shoulders, grounding him. “I’m terrified too. But that doesn’t mean we’re doomed. You and me– we’ve gotten through so much worse. We’re not gonna let some landlord or scary taxes tear us apart.” 007n7 blinked rapidly, trying not to cry again. He was too tired. Too emotionally fried.

“Besides!” Noli added with a faint grin. “C00lkidd would probably incinerate our landlord if they even thought about taking him.”

That got a small laugh out of 007n7, weak but real. Noli pulled him into a hug, warm and solid in a sea of chaos. “We’ll figure it out, Sev. We’ve always figured it out.”

And in that moment– surrounded by drifting confetti, the thunder of applause, and names still echoing from the loudspeakers like fading fireworks– the future still felt terrifying.  But with Noli beside him– shoulder to shoulder, real and warm in a sea of chaos– it didn’t feel impossible. Maybe still scary, sure. But not impossible.

“Hey, Seven!” a bright, familiar voice called out through the noise.

007n7 turned toward the sound, blinking past the flash of someone’s camera. His face lit up as he recognized the voice instantly.

There she was– 118o8, weaving through the crowd in her gown, diploma clutched under one arm, the other waving enthusiastically. Her cap sat crooked on her head, like it had been through several celebratory hugs already.

“Eight!” 007n7 grinned, stepping forward to meet her. “Congrats on graduating with high honors!” He patted 118o8 on the back, giving her a small but genuine smile. There was real pride in his voice– warm and easy, the kind reserved for people he actually gave a damn about.

118o8 laughed, a little bashful. “Aw, shucks. I really couldn’t have done it without your help, Seven.” She bumped her shoulder lightly against his. “Seriously. Wouldn’t have made it through that last project if you didn’t check over my code a dozen times.”

“Yeah, well.” 007n7 shrugged, crossing his arms with mock coolness but soft eyes. “Coding’s kind of a passion. I’m always ready to help a friend.”

Noli stood there while the two joyfully interacted. He couldn’t help but feel a tad bit jealous of this new friend 007n7 never told him about. Noli peeked into the backpack that was on his shoulder. As soon as Noli zipped the backpack open, C00lkidd immediately popped his head out, blinking at the sunlight like a confused gremlin freshly summoned. 

C00lkidd’s little horns wobbled with each movement as he looked between the three adults like he was trying to understand the vibe. Noli didn’t say anything. He just quietly lifted the backpack a little higher so the kid could see better, his eyes still flickering over to where 007n7 and 118o8 were talking and laughing.

Noli bit the inside of his cheek.

She’s pretty.

Smart, too.

She gets him.

Was he always this open with her?

Their banter was effortless, natural– easy in a way that made Noli’s stomach twist for just a second.

There was something about the way 007n7’s eyes crinkled when he laughed with her. The way his posture relaxed. Noli didn’t like it. Not because 118o8 was mean or annoying– she was actually kind of cool– but because something in his chest curled up, anxious and cold.

But before the jealousy could sink its claws in deeper, 007n7 turned to glance at him– and immediately noticed the slight slump in Noli’s shoulders. His brows furrowed, ever so slightly. Without missing a beat, 007n7 threw a casual arm around Noli’s shoulder, tugging him closer like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“This guy right here?” 007n7 said to 118o8 with a smirk, giving Noli a little shake by the shoulder. “This is the one who helps me co-parent my gremlin.”

Noli blinked in surprise, then looked at 007n7, stunned by the sudden praise. But 007n7 wasn’t looking at him– he was proudly watching 118o8’s reaction, as if showing off something important.

“And speaking of my kid…” 007n7 reached over to ruffle C00lkidd’s hair as the little red baby wriggled fully out of the bag. “Here he is. C00lkidd, say hi.”

C00lkidd immediately let out a proud screech, throwing his arms up and flashing a mischievous grin full of small, concerning teeth.

118o8 blinked. “Oh Telamon. He’s… energetic.”

“You don’t know the half of it.” Noli muttered under his breath, his voice low, laced with a tiny thread of venom. 007n7’s arm stayed firm and steady over Noli shoulder. In fact if Noli wasn’t imagining it– 007n7 might’ve pulled him a little closer. A little tighter. Though Noli didn’t dare glance up to check. His heart wouldn’t take it.

“I actually had my friend handle Bluudud while I graduate right now.” 118o8 said with a light chuckle, fiddling with the edge of her gown. She shifted her weight to one foot, her smile soft and tired in the way only parents knew. “They already graduated last year, lucky them...”

“That’s nice.” 007n7 replied, his voice gentle but curious, still warm against Noli’s side. His arm remained where it was, thumb absently brushing against the fabric of Noli’s sleeve– an unconscious, soothing touch. “How’d you meet them?”

“Oh! It’s a weird story, actually.” 118o8 perked up slightly, straightening her cap with a laugh. “We met near the principal’s office, of all places. They were there to pick up their diploma since they couldn’t make it to last year’s ceremony.”

Noli watched her as she spoke, noticing the way her eyes brightened, the way her words spilled out more eagerly. 118o8 seemed to have really liked this friend, whoever they were. Noli found himself glancing sideways at 007n7 again, wondering if he’d ever light up like that when talking about him.

“How wonderful for you, 11808.” 007n7 said smoothly, the tiniest hint of distance creeping into his polite tone.

“Yeah... I got lucky with them.” 118o8 admitted with a nod. Her smile stayed, but her gaze flicked past them toward another small cluster of friends at the edge of the crowd. “Anyway... I should go and congratulate the others before they all vanish. It was nice chatting with you, Seven.” She gave a warm, genuine smile– and just a quick nod to Noli– before turning on her heel, her robe swishing behind her as she disappeared into the noise and laughter of the crowd.

As she walked away, the space she left behind filled with silence. Noli let out the quietest sigh, feeling 007n7’s arm still solid around him, still real. Still there.  For a long breath, they simply stood like that, the future creeping at the edges of their thoughts– but for this moment, held off by the warmth between them.

“Still didn’t answer my question though…” 007n7 finally murmured, breaking the delicate quiet between them. His voice was soft, like he didn’t want to break whatever spell hung in the air. “Where are we gonna go after this?” He let out a sheepish chuckle, his arm reluctantly sliding off Noli’s shoulder, the warmth fading too soon.

Noli shifted C00lkidd gently in his arms, the little gremlin blinking sleepily up at him with a soft, content gurgle. Noli tapped a finger on the baby’s tiny red nose and smirked. “Well…” he drawled, drawing out the word on purpose. His smile turned slow, mischievous, familiar in the worst way. “I may know a guy.”

007n7 squinted. “Noli…”

“Trust me, bro.” Noli flashed that grin again– the one that meant trouble, the one that always made 007n7’s stomach twist in nervous knots. “It’s a surprise.”

“I hate your surprises.” 007n7 muttered, rubbing his temple. “Last time you said that we almost got banned from the student lounge for life.”

“Yeah– well how was I supposed to know C00lkidd was going to gnaw the vending machine’s wiring?” Noli shot back, adjusting his grip on C00lkidd. “This is different! This is… a good surprise.”

Suspicion flared in 007n7’s chest, but before he could protest further, Noli was already dragging him down the street.

 –+⟡+–

“...You brought me to a casino?” 007n7 said flatly, halting just outside the glowing, overly inviting entrance. His expression was a mix of tired disbelief and quiet panic. “A casino? With our baby? ”

“Hey, trust me!” Noli grinned, bouncing C00lkidd lightly in his arms. The baby squeaked with delight, completely unbothered by the flashing neon signs or the vague smell of cigarette smoke wafting from the automatic doors. “This isn’t your normal shady casino. It’s Chance’s casino.”

“Chance…?” 007n7 raised a brow, crossing his arms tightly against his chest. “That one guy you told me about? The guy who’s friends with the Itrapped?”

“The very same.” Noli gave a little dramatic bow. “And he owes me a favor.” C00lkidd gurgled and blew a bubble.

007n7 looked from the flickering casino sign to Noli, to the grinning demon baby, then back to Noli. “...I hate how you say that like it’s normal. Why does Chance owe you a favor?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Noli winked. “Long story. Totally legal. Mostly. ”

 “Oh Telamon, we’re gonna die broke in here. Or worse, gambled away into debt slavery.”  007n7 muttered under his breath.

They stepped inside. The air was thick with the scent of polished leather, expensive perfume, and the faint hum of slot machines. The carpet was predictably gaudy, and the walls shimmered with pixelated animations too smooth to be real life.

And sitting behind the main floor desk– gold tooth flashing as he grinned– was an extremely posh guy wearing a red suit with a white vest, a red and white hat, and star glasses.

“Well well... look who decided to visit me after graduation day.” The man said, leaning forward with fingers steepled under his chin. His bright, unnerving eyes flicked to Noli, then slid to 007n7, and finally down to the small demon head peeking curiously from Noli’s arms.

“Congratulations, boys. I heard you barely scraped your way out of college alive.” Chance’s grin widened, somehow both welcoming and dangerous. “To what do I owe this honor? Come to gamble away what little future you’ve got left?”

“Long time no see, Chance.” Noli gave a smug smirk, greeting his friend back. 007n7 stiffened beside him. This was Chance?

  Chance’s sharp gaze to the bundle of red that was C00lkidd blinking lazily from Noli’s hand, then over to 007n7. “And who’s this?” Chance purred. “New friend of yours? Or something… more ?” His smile curled knowingly.

Noli jumped at this, a tint of red creeping up on his face. “Actually…” Noli coughed out, seemingly avoiding the question. “We came to ask for a favor.”

Chance’s eyes gleamed. “A favor, huh? Let me guess. You two need a place to crash now that the school’s kicking you out of those cozy little dorms, yeah?” 007n7 stiffened. How did he know that?

Chance laughed softly, his voice silk over knives. “I can smell broke college kids from a mile away. Don’t worry, you’re not the first poor souls to come begging for a roof over their heads.”

007n7 opened his mouth to speak– but Noli beat him to it. “Yeah. Just for a while. Somewhere safe, for us and C00lkidd. You did say you owed me one.”

Chance leaned back in his chair, tapping his gold ring against the desk in slow, thoughtful beats. His gaze drifted to 007n7, who felt a cold sweat starting at the back of his neck.

Then Chance grinned wide. “For you, Noli? Sure. My spare rooms are always open for old friends… and their mysterious demon babies.” He winked.

The way Chance didn’t even blink at the fact that Noli and 007n7 had a horned, crimson demon baby made 007n7’s skin crawl just a little. How casually he said it. How normal he made this feel.

“Come with me.” Chance said smoothly, rising from his velvet-lined chair with the grace of someone who always expected to be obeyed. His golden-toothed smile gleamed. “You two can stay at my mansion for a while. No charge. Consider it... repayment . For old times’ sake, Noli.” He gestured lazily for them to follow.

Noli grinned, adjusting C00lkidd in his arms. “Told you I knew a guy.”

007n7 hesitated. His eyes flicked from Chance’s outstretched hand to Noli’s easy smirk to the gaudy, shimmering casino behind them. Everything about this screamed too easy. Too convenient. And Chance’s perfect, unfazed attitude about their demon baby only made his nerves itch worse.

“You sure this is safe?” 007n7 muttered under his breath, leaning closer to Noli as they trailed behind Chance, who strolled ahead without a care in the world.

Noli chuckled softly. “Safer than sleeping in the park, bro.”

“Yeah, until we wake up missing a kidney.” 007n7 muttered, but he kept walking.

Out through the back of the casino they went, past loading docks and quiet service corridors that smelled faintly of old cigars and floor wax, until the noise of the machines and chatter faded behind them.

A sleek black car– long, shining, too expensive– waited at the curb. The driver, a silent figure in dark sunglasses, opened the door without a word.

“After you.” Chance said with a grin, waving them in like they were old friends.

007n7 hesitated again– but Noli was already climbing in, C00lkidd gurgling happily in his arms, completely unbothered. “Relax, Seven,” Noli said over his shoulder, eyes playful but warm. “We’ll be fine.”

“I am relaxed.” 007n7 lied through his teeth as he climbed in after them.

The drive was quiet, smooth. Chance hummed some strange tune under his breath in the passenger seat, fingers idly drumming on his knee, like none of this was unusual.

When they finally pulled up to the mansion– if you could call something with marble pillars, iron gates, and actual golden statues a mansion– 007n7 nearly choked.

“Welcome to your temporary kingdom!” Chance said grandly, sliding out of the car and turning with a grin. “ Mi casa es su casa . Everything you need is here– Rooms, food, safety–  for as long as you need it.”

007n7 stepped out slowly, eyeing the sprawling house, the acres of garden, the huge, empty front steps that stretched like the jaws of some rich beast waiting to swallow them whole.

“Why are you being so nice to us?” 007n7 finally asked, his voice low. Suspicious.

Chance only laughed softly, throwing a glance over his shoulder, his gold tooth flashing. “Oh, Seven . Let's just say... I enjoy having lucky people in my debt.”

007n7 tensed but Noli patted him on the back. “Relax, bro. I told you. He’s a friend.” 

Despite Noli reassuring 007n7, he still couldn’t shake the feeling that this mansion was just another kind of trap. Still for tonight – they’d finally sleep under a real roof.

As Noli and 007n7 stepped into the mansion, they were immediately hit by the sheer glow of the place. Every surface gleamed like it had been polished three times that morning. The marble floors reflected the golden chandelier light so brightly that 007n7 squinted, adjusting his pink glasses with a mutter.

“Is this a house or a museum?” 007n7 whispered to Noli, eyeing a grand marble statue of some faceless angel in the foyer. Even C00lkidd peeked out of the backpack on Noli’s shoulder, letting out a tiny curious huff as his small horns poked into view.

Chance strolled ahead of them like he owned the world– which, judging by the mansion, he might as well have.

“Right this way, boys. Your quarters are ready.” Chance said, his voice smooth like velvet on tile. He led them down a wide hallway lined with massive gold-framed paintings of strange figures– some looking too real, some unnervingly alive. 007n7 walked a little faster past those. Finally, Chance stopped at a large double door and pushed it open.

“Here you are. A comfortable guest room. Two beds, big enough to stretch, a fully stocked mini fridge, fresh sheets, window with a view of the garden, and most importantly–" Chance grinned over his shoulder. "--privacy.” Chance gave a knowing look over to Noli. Noli coughed, dismissing whatever Chance was implying.

 The room smelled like lavender and expensive detergent. Two queen-sized beds sat on opposite sides, a small lamp cast a soft, warm light across the room, bouncing off pale gold wallpaper. There was even a couch and a low coffee table piled with unopened snacks and bottled water.

Noli place C00lkidd down on one of the queen-sized beds. The little demon baby squeaked happily, wriggling on the bed. “See, kiddo? Told you we’d land somewhere nice.” Noli cooed, smiling wide.

007n7 stood stiffly near the door, taking it all in with cautious eyes. “This is… weirdly nice,” he muttered. “Suspiciously nice.”

Chance laughed. “No tricks. You’re safe here. For as long as you need.” He gave a playful two-finger salute. “I’ll let you settle in. Call me if you want anything– anything at all.” Then, just like that, he slipped out, the doors clicking softly behind him.

Noli gave a soft sigh of relief and flopped onto one of the beds, bouncing lightly against the mattress. “Holy shit… this is the comfiest thing I’ve touched in years.” C00lkidd giggled, crawling onto the sheets beside him, his little horns bobbing.

007n7 slowly placed his laptop bag on the desk, still eyeing everything warily. “I feel like I’m dreaming. Or maybe dying.”

“Bro. Chill. It’s just a rich friend being rich,” Noli said, grinning as he watched C00lkidd burrow into the pillow like a tiny sleepy gremlin. “At least we’re not on the street, right?”

007n7 sighed, rubbing his face. “…Yeah. You’re right. This is better than.. well? Everything else.” 007n7 finally sat on the other bed across the room, the tension in his shoulders loosening ever so slightly as the mattress gave under him.

For a quiet minute, neither of them spoke. C00lkidd made soft snuffling sounds in his tiny crib, curled up and already drifting off. Noli stretched out on his bed, arms folded behind his head, watching the ceiling. “Y’know? This isn’t so bad. Not knowing what’s next. As long as you’re here.”

007n7 blinked at him, cheeks pink behind his glasses– but Noli didn’t look over. Just kept smiling at the ceiling like it wasn’t the scariest thing he’d said. “Yeah..” 007n7 muttered softly. “Same.”

The mansion outside might have been huge and strange and filled with unknown dangers. But for tonight? The room felt warm. It felt nice being the one taken care of for once.

“Our suitcases are still in our dorm by the way.” Noli snickered playfully. 

“You just had to remind me.” 007n7 groaned, dragging his hands down his face.

Chapter Text

The morning sun spilled gently into the room, casting golden light across the beds and warming the air. Somewhere far off in the mansion, a clock chimed softly– but Noli didn’t hear it.

He was dead asleep, limbs sprawled out on the impossibly soft mattress, face half-buried in a pillow that smelled like lavender and luxury. His hair stuck out in every direction, a droplet of drool clinging stubbornly to the corner of his mouth. It was the best sleep he’d had in years.

007n7 stood at the foot of Noli’s bed, arms crossed, tapping his foot impatiently on the polished floor. His pink glasses slid down the bridge of his nose as he sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that morning.

“Noli.” 007n7 sternly called out. “Noli, wake up.” 007n7 said, nudging Noli’s foot with his hand. Noli didn’t wake up or anything, only scrunching his nose as he muttered something incoherent.

“ Noli.. ” 007n7 said louder, shaking his leg a little more firmly this time. “Your job, remember? You do need money unless you plan to rob Chance’s casino.”

Still nothing. Just a quiet, content snore from Noli, who shifted and hugged the pillow tighter, mumbling something unintelligible that sounded suspiciously like “five more minutes, boss…”

“Unbelievable.” 007n7 muttered under his breath. “You’re going to get fired because you fell in love with a bed.”  C00lkidd, watched curiously, his tiny horns wiggling as he gave a soft giggle. To him, this was morning entertainment.

007n7 leaned down closer to Noli, tapping his cheek gently. “Hey. Noli. Wake up. Your boss is probably flipping out wondering why their favorite fry cook isn’t there flipping grease yet.”

One of Noli’s eyes cracked open, groggy and glassy. He stared at 007n7 blankly for a long moment before slowly mumbling, “…Why’s the mattress made of clouds?”

“Because we’re living in a rich guy’s house, that’s why. But if you don’t get up right now, you’ll be late. As in– ‘your paycheck is gone’ late.”

At that, Noli’s eyes shot open, panic dawning as his sleep-fogged brain finally rebooted. “Shit– Shit! What time is it?!”

“Past the time you were supposed to be up.” 007n7 stepped back as Noli bolted upright, hair sticking up like he’d been electrocuted, blanket tangled around his legs. He flailed wildly, nearly toppling off the bed.

“Where’s my uniform?! Where’s my bag?! Where’s my–”

007n7 held up Noli’s work vest and crumpled hat like some disappointed parent. “Here. Because someone forgot to unpack.”

“Oh my god, this mattress is evil…” Noli groaned, yanking the uniform from his hands and pulling it over his head. “It’s too soft. I almost died of comfort.” C00lkidd gave another amused giggle as Noli stumbled to find his shoes, hopping on one foot while dragging them on.

“Where’s Chance?” Noli mumbled, eyes wild as he looked around for his phone.

“Out doing casino things. Probably rigging slot machines or swimming in a vault of gold or something.” 007n7 said, sitting on the edge of his bed, watching the chaos with mild amusement. “He left early. Probably figured you wouldn’t need help waking up like a normal human. ”

“I’m never gonna make it,” Noli groaned dramatically, stuffing C00lkidd’s favorite toy into the baby bag just in case. “This mattress betrayed me. I was seduced by the enemy.”

007n7 chuckled softly, handing Noli his phone with a raised brow. “Next time I’ll dump cold water on you. But hey– at least you finally got some actual sleep.”

Noli smirked, already halfway to the door, C00lkidd giggling on his hip. “Best sleep of my life. Worst morning panic ever. Thanks for waking me up, Sev... Seriously.”

007n7 smiled faintly, adjusting his glasses. “Anytime, Noli.”

With one last rush of footsteps and the sound of the front door swinging open, Noli was gone—off to face another miserable diner shift. 007n7 sighed and glanced at the now-empty bed. “Told him that mattress was dangerous…”

007n7 stood in the middle of their absurdly large room, arms crossed, glasses slightly slipping down his nose as he stared at the expensive wallpaper. 

007n7’s eyes landed on C00lkidd who was also now looking back at him. “So what do we do now, kid?” 007n7 chuckled, picking C00lkidd up.

A soft giggle snapped his attention downward. C00lkidd lookedd up, tiny horns poking out of his messy hair, round eyes blinking curiously.

“You look like you wanna explore this place.” 007n7 sighed as he smiled. C00lkidd squeaked happily, grabbing onto the strings of 007n7’s blue hoodie and tugging like they were the greatest toys ever made.

“Careful, you maniac. This hoodie’s my favorite.” 007n7 said, gently prying the strings from C00lkidd’s tiny claws. “No chewing on these. You already cost me one laptop charger last month.”

C00lkidd just giggled louder, tail flicking with mischief. 007n7 sighed again, but this time softer. “Guess we better explore this fancy rich guy house, huh? Gotta make sure there’s no death traps or secret pits or robot butlers that want to kill us.”

So, baby in arm, he stepped out into the massive hallway.

Everything was huge. The floors gleamed like glass, marble stretching endlessly in all directions. Every few feet there was some kind of golden statue or ridiculous vase that probably cost more than 007n7’s tuition. The walls were lined with fancy paintings of strange places, eerie cities, and people who looked way too smug.

“Who needs this many rooms?” 007n7 muttered as he walked, passing yet another door that looked identical to the last ten. C00lkidd babbled softly, pointing a stubby finger toward a suit of armor standing ominously in the corner.

“No. We’re not going near that thing.” 007n7 muttered, hurrying past. “I’ve seen enough horror movies to know how that ends.”

They turned a corner.

Then another.

Then another.

“…Where the hell are we?” 007n7 muttered, stopping in the middle of yet another endless corridor. He adjusted his glasses, glancing left and right. Every hallway looked the same. Every door looked the same. Every overly dramatic chandelier sparkled the same way.

“For Telamon’s sake– we’re lost in the mansion.” 007n7 sighed, rubbing his face with one hand while holding C00lkidd against his chest with the other. “Noli’s gonna come home and find our skeletons in a broom closet.”

C00lkidd let out a tiny giggle, like this was the best adventure ever. “Oh sure, you’re having fun.” 007n7 grumbled. “You don’t have to figure out which one of these seventy-four doors leads to the kitchen.”

“...Maybe the kitchen’s that way?” 007n7 mumbled, his gaze set on an ominous-looking door at the end of the hallway. “Or the murder dungeon. Fifty-fifty...” 007n7 trudged carefully, C00lkidd clinging to his hoodie and making soft little baby noises in his ear.

Finally– after what felt like forever– 007n7 pushed open the door to reveal a massive kitchen. Stainless steel counters, racks of spotless utensils, and a fridge so big it could probably fit an elephant inside.

“Holy hell. Rich people kitchens really are real.” 007n7 muttered, stepping inside. He set C00lkidd on the counter while rummaging through the fridge. “What does Chance even eat? Truffles and gold bars?”

Instead, he found surprisingly normal food– eggs, milk, juice, even instant noodles. “Oh thank Telamon.” 007n7 grabbed a juice box and poked the straw in, offering it to C00lkidd, who latched on immediately and began slurping noisily.

“For a demon baby, you’re weirdly low-maintenance.” 007n7 said with a soft smile, leaning on the counter next to him. He glanced around the luxurious kitchen again, shaking his head.

“Still feels weird. Being in a place like this. Like I’m trespassing in a dream or something...” he murmured. His fingers absentmindedly smoothed down C00lkidd’s fluffy hair. “But I guess if I gotta get lost in some rich guy’s mansion..” 007n7 stopped to look at C00lkid. “..At least I’ve got you with me.”

C00lkidd blinked up at him with wide red eyes, juice box clutched tight in his tiny hands. 007n7 sighed, feeling the tension in his chest loosen just a little. “We’ll be okay. Probably. Hopefully. Unless I really do die in a broom closet.”

C00lkidd giggled again, tail flicking happily. “Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, gremlin.”

They sat there like that for a while– 007n7 sipping stolen orange juice, C00lkidd content with his box– and for once, the terrifying unknown of the future felt a little less heavy.

007n7 looked around the absurdly big kitchen, eyeing the spotless counters, the gleaming fridge, and the polished marble floors that didn’t even have a single smudge of dust. The whole place smelled faintly like citrus and expensive floor wax. Weird. Too clean.

“For a rich guy living in this big mansion, I’d think he would at least have one maid cleaning or serving meals…” 007n7 muttered, adjusting his pink glasses as he glanced suspiciously at the untouched fruit bowl sitting in the middle of the table.

C00lkidd sat on the marble countertop nearby, swinging his tiny legs as he slurped noisily from his juice box. His tail curled and flicked lazily behind him. Every now and then, his big eyes blinked slowly, watching 007n7 as if this kitchen tour was the greatest show on Earth.

007n7 sighed and rested a hand on the baby’s soft hair, ruffling it gently. "Guess it’s just you and me figuring this maze out, huh, gremlin?” C00lkidd let out a soft, content coo, hugging his half-empty juice box to his chest like it was treasure.

“Alright... mission time.” 007n7 muttered to himself, pulling out his phone. He opened the notes app and typed in all caps.

“ MAP SO WE ALL DONT GET LOST AND DIE
Room one: Kitchen. “

007n7 then took a picture of the room, then listed down the directions on how to get there. “Okay, next.. bathrooms. Gotta find those before either of us explodes.” 007n7 whispered, gently scooping C00lkidd into his arms again. "Let’s map this beast out before I lose my sanity in these hallways."

007n7 padded quietly down the marble corridor, peeking carefully into each room he passed. Another lounge. A dining room the size of their old dorm lobby. A weird music room with a grand piano. Weird flex, Chance... weird flex.

“Room three.. lounge. Room four... dining area the size of Texas. Room five.. evil music room?” 007n7 murmured, typing into his phone. C00lkidd gave a soft giggle, tail flicking as if entertained by his guardian’s growing confusion.

Another turn. Another hallway. He carefully memorized the pattern of the rugs and the strange paintings on the walls– mostly to make sure he could find his way back.

Finally, jackpot .

“Bathroom.” 007n7 sighed in relief as he gently pushed open the door and peeked in. It was massive. Sparkling white tiles. A shower the size of a small bedroom. Fluffy towels folded perfectly on racks. C00lkidd made a soft chirping noise of approval.

“Good. Very good. If you ever explode with juice box energy, at least now I know where to dunk you.” 007n7 grinned and typed it into his phone.
 

Room six: Bathroom. 

C00lkidd giggled again. “Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, baby demon. I’m keeping us alive.”007n7 gave him a playful poke on the cheek, earning a delighted squeak.

Next up– bedrooms.

007n7 made careful mental notes of the path. Left at the creepy vase, right at the golden armor statue, two doors past the suspicious marble bust of someone who looked like they wanted to kill him. Finally, their room. Familiar territory. 007n7 paused at the door and let out a relieved breath.

“Home base secured.” 007n7 muttered, adding to his phone.
Room seven: OUR ROOM.

He set C00lkidd down gently on one of the beds. The baby kicked his legs in delight, tail curling happily against the blanket.

“Alright, break time.” 007n7 flopped onto his own bed with a long sigh, staring at the ceiling. “No hidden murder pits. No ghost maids. No robot butlers. Chance is weirdly normal for a rich dude.”

C00lkidd crawled across the bed toward him, chirping and giggling. He tugged gently at the strings of 007n7’s hoodie again.

“Heh. You like this stupid hoodie more than I do.” 007n7 mumbled, letting the baby gently chew on the string this time. “Don’t rip it though, or Noli’ll laugh at me for baby-proofing my clothes.”

C00lkidd leaned against his chest with a soft hum, tail flicking lazily behind him. 007n7 smiled faintly. His hand gently smoothed the baby’s messy hair down, a quiet affection blooming in his chest despite the lingering nerves about the mansion and about the future.

“We’re okay, gremlin,” he murmured softly. “We’ll be okay here. Big dumb house or not. Noli’s working, I’m making maps, and you’ve got your juice box. That’s enough for today.”

C00lkidd babbled a happy noise, curling closer against him like a tiny heater. 007n7’s eyes slipped half-closed, a rare moment of calm settling over him as he gently scratched behind one of the baby’s tiny horns.

 –+⟡+–

The grand doors of the mansion creaked open with a soft groan. Footsteps echoed through the marble halls– slow, confident, unhurried. Chance was back.

“Home sweet home.” Chance muttered to himself with a smirk, tossing his keys lightly into the air and catching them again before pocketing them. The faint sound of jazz hummed from his phone, still playing in his ear as he casually strolled deeper into the mansion’s quiet belly.

But something pulled him off his usual route. He turned down the hallway that led toward the guest rooms– the ones where 007n7, Noli, and the strange little red baby were currently staying.

Chance paused just outside their door, listening for any noise. Faint shuffling. Muffled sounds– 007n7, probably moving around. With an amused grin, he knocked twice and slowly opened the door without waiting for a reply.

“Yo. Thought I’d check on my favorite freeloaders.” Chance said in a light, teasing tone as he leaned casually against the doorframe. His eyes glinted under his hat as he scanned the room.

Inside, 007n7 stood stiffly near the window, cradling C00lkidd in one arm, his free hand curled defensively into his hoodie pocket. The faint glow of suspicion flickered behind his pink glasses as he watched Chance carefully, like a cat eyeing a too-smooth stranger.

“...You’re back.” 007n7 said, trying to keep his voice neutral, casual. But he shifted on his feet, and his grip on C00lkidd tightened just a little.

Chance’s eyes flicked to the baby, who chirped happily and waved his tiny arms before giving 007n7 a small, easy grin. “Casino business wrapped up early tonight. Thought I’d pop in and see how you three were doing. Settling in okay?”

“Fine.” 007n7 replied shortly, glancing around like he was checking for exits without realizing it. “House is... big and quiet. No complaints.”

Chance chuckled, stepping into the room. “It is a bit of a maze, huh? Took me a month just to stop getting lost between the kitchens and the theater room. You’ll figure it out.” His voice was light, but his eyes were sharp– watching 007n7 like he was reading a file.

007n7 shifted again, fingers drumming silently on C00lkidd’s back. “So..” Chance tilted his head slightly. “Where’s Noli?”

“Work.” 007n7 answered without missing a beat. “He’s working a late shift today.”

Chance hummed thoughtfully, tapping his chin with a faint smirk. “Poor kid. You know...” He leaned casually against the dresser, folding his arms. “You two don’t need to work yourselves to death. You’re under my roof now. I don’t mind throwing a little money your way. My friends eat well and sleep well. Don’t stress about bills.”

There it was. 007n7’s chest tightened, the small prickle of dread sliding down his spine like cold static. His expression didn’t change much, but his eyes narrowed ever so slightly behind his glasses.

“...That’s generous.” 007n7 said carefully. 

Chance shrugged easily. “Call it a perk. I like having friends who owe me favors. Or maybe not even that.” He smiled. But there was something beneath that smile, something unreadable. “Just good karma. Y’know?”

007n7 didn’t smile back. His thoughts ran fast. What favor? When? What would he ask for later? No one offers 'free' money forever. There’s always a catch.

“We’re fine.” 007n7 said softly, brushing C00lkidd’s hair down. “We can manage. We don’t want to overstay anything.”

Chance gave him a long, unreadable look. Then laughed gently, waving a hand. “Relax, glasses. I’m not here to collect souls or sign contracts. Just making sure my guests are comfortable.” But 007n7’s wariness didn’t ease. Not completely.

Chance pushed off the dresser, heading for the door. “Tell Noli when he gets back that he’s working too hard. He should enjoy the free mansion life while it lasts.” His voice was light, but there was that strange, lingering weight behind the words.

“ Right… ” 007n7 muttered, eyes following him the whole way.

The quiet hung for a moment longer before 007n7 cleared his throat, shifting C00lkidd gently against his chest. His gaze lingered on Chance’s retreating figure by the doorway.

“..It’s okay, Chance.” 007n7 spoke up, his voice soft but firm, tinged with something almost like embarrassment. “We’ll manage. Noli and I are planning to save up enough to afford our own place someday. Our own house. Y’know... eventually.” 007n7glanced aside, adjusting his glasses with his free hand. 

“It’s a little embarrassing having you pay for all our expenses like this. Feels like we’re… sponging off you or something.”

Chance paused halfway out the door, turning slightly, that familiar half-smile curling on his face again– but this time, it was softer, less smug. Maybe even a little genuine. “Hey now.” Chance said casually, waving a hand. “Don’t sweat it, glasses. You’re a friend of mine now. Real friends help each other out.”

Chance stepped back into the room just a little, lowering his voice as if sharing something between old allies. “You’ve got enough to handle as it is. Raising a little demon baby like that…” His eyes flicked to C00lkidd, who giggled and gnawed happily on 007n7’s hoodie string.

 “…with a messy financial situation on top of it? That’s a whole other nightmare. Trust me- I’ve seen worse. You two don’t need that stress on your backs. Not yet.”

007n7 tightened his hold on C00lkidd without meaning to, his chest knotting slightly at Chance’s words.

“But I don’t want you two thinking you owe me some huge favor for this,” Chance went on, shrugging easily. “I like helping out the people I actually like. Rare thing, these days.” His grin flashed sharp again for just a breath, but it faded just as quickly. “So relax. Eat my food. Use my water. Sleep in my beds. Raise your weird little goblin in peace. I won’t bite.”

Chance ‘ actually’ liked 007n7? 007n7 get it if Chance would like Noli, but him? A stranger he just met a day ago? 007n7 studied him for a quiet moment, searching for the catch he was sure had to be hiding somewhere behind that easy charm. But if Chance was lying? He was damn good at hiding it.

“Thanks.” 007n7 finally said, voice low. His suspicion didn’t ease, but the tension in his shoulders loosened just slightly. “Still feels weird. But thanks.”

Chance gave him a wink. “Weird’s good. Weird keeps life interesting.” And with that, Chance stepped out for real this time, his footfalls fading down the polished hallway.

007n7 stood there a moment longer, rubbing small circles on C00lkidd’s back, his mind still turning. “Don’t get too comfy, gremlin,” 007n7 muttered to the baby. “We’re gonna save up. Get our own place. Somewhere small. Quiet. Far away from whatever this is.”

C00lkidd burbled happily in reply, gnawing harder on the hoodie string. 007n7 sighed softly. “Yeah.. soon. ” 007n7 exhaled slowly, brushing the baby’s tiny horn. His stomach still twisted with unease. “I really don’t trust that guy.” 007n7 grumbled. He couldn’t really do anything about it since this guy was the reason they’re going to survive life after college.

007n7 really wished Chance was an actually good Samaritan and not someone out to kill them.

Chapter Text

The late afternoon sun spilled lazily through the tall window, bathing the room in golden light. It was quiet and peaceful, even until Noli suddenly slammed both hands onto the soft bed like a man on a mission.

“That’s it. This ends today!” Noli announced with dramatic flair. “C00lkidd. My child– My gremlin. You are going to speak.”

Noli sat cross-legged on the carpeted floor of their room, C00lkidd plopped in front of him, holding a teething ring. A determined look crossed Noli’s face as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

Noli pointed at him. “Say Papa!” C00lkidd stared at him. It was a blank, unbothered, powerful stare.

Then the bedroom door creaked open behind him.

Chance leaned against the frame, soda can in hand, watching the scene like it was a play. “Hey, uh. Is this a seance or an exorcism?”

“Neither..” Noli huffed, standing to his feet. “It’s a linguistic intervention.”

Chance blinked. “...That’s the nerdiest thing I’ve ever heard in this house.”

“I’m serious!” Noli said, jabbing a finger toward the red baby on the bed. “He’s one year old now. He understands things. I’ve seen the way he reacts when we say ‘bath’ or ‘no biting.’” C00lkidd cocked his head at the word bath. He stuck his tongue out slowly and defiantly.

“See? He’s capable of selective comprehension!” Noli turned to Chance with a triumphant grin.

Chance snorted. “Selective gremlinry, more like.”

C00lkidd crawled to the edge of the bed and planted his hands firmly against the mattress. The sunlight haloed around his horns like he was some kind of corrupted cherub. He locked eyes with Noli.

“Alright, kid.” Chance said, crouching beside the bed now, one hand held up like he was coaching a toddler soccer match. “C’mon. Say ‘tax evasion.’ Or ‘cash.’ Or Noli. Just give us anything.”

“Baaaah…” C00lkidd babbled.

“Don't teach him that.” Noli scoffed.

"Aye, I'm tryna' help you out here!" Chance crossed his arms.

C00lkidd blinked. Then, with the most deliberate face imaginable, let out a smug little “bla bla blaaaaa……” complete with dramatic drool.

“He’s mocking me!” Noli cried, falling back onto the floor like he’d been hit in the chest.

Chance burst out laughing. “This kid’s got comedic timing. You sure he’s not your spawn, Noli?”

“I hope not.” Noli groaned into the floor. “If I created this, I need to go to jail.”

C00lkidd clapped his hands excitedly and bounced on the bed like he’d won the battle. He babbled something fast and incoherent, then stuck his foot in his mouth.

“Maybe we’re too dumb to understand him.” Chance said, standing up and brushing off his jeans. “Like that one regular show episode where Mordecai and Rigby become too smart–”

“Okay, nerd. You don’t need to bring your cartoons into this.” Noli interrupted. “I just want him to say one word. Just one. For my sanity.” Noli sighed and rubbed his face. 

From the floor, he glanced up at C00lkidd, who had now stopped bouncing, watching both of them with curious, mischief-filled eyes. His mouth opened. The two adults leaned in expectantly.

Then C00lkidd screamed.

Chance burst out laughing. “Now that’s a word in his language.”

“Well that’s suffering in mine.” Noli groaned, flopping onto the floor in defeat. C00lkidd crawled onto Noli’s back triumphantly, babbling in a string of nonsense that somehow sounded suspiciously condescending.

Chance took another sip of soda and nudged Noli with his foot. “You want him to talk? Gotta make it worth his while. Maybe threaten to take away his favorite wire to chew on.”

Noli growled into the floor. “I already tried that. He bit my hoodie drawstring in retaliation.” C00lkidd sneezed, then let out another screech like a final punctuation to his chaos.

“Yeah, well that’s children for ya’.” Chance muttered, looking at the baby with awe. 

Noli sighed, still lying flat on the ground. “Please kid, just say something.. Anything!” Noli practically begged, turning his head to somewhat face his kid. C00lkidd giggled like he understood exactly what frustration his father was feeling.

Then the door creaked open again.

007n7 stepped inside, hoodie sleeves pushed up to his elbows and his burger hat slightly askew. His glasses were fogged from walking through the mansion's weirdly humid hallway, and he looked approximately three seconds away from collapsing into a pile of hoodie and stress.

007n7 rubbed his face with one hand. “What happened with the kid this time..”

“Seven!” Chance yelled, clutching his sides and grinning from ear to ear. “You’re just in time. The kid just screamed at us and Noli thinks he’s being mocked.”

007n7 blinked, unamused, as he shuffled further into the room. “Cool. I nearly got lost in a hallway that just loops into itself. Again.”

C00lkidd perked up, his eyes locked onto the exhausted figure of his other father. Then, with all the confidence of a baby who had never spoken a word in his life, C00lkidd reached out and chirped.

“Mama?” C00lkidd innocently babbled, his small hands opening and closing, indicating that he wanted to get picked up.

There was a full three seconds of stunned silence.

Chance howled. He dropped to his knees, gasping for air, soda can clattering to the floor.

Noli screeched with laughter, absolutely losing it as he rolled over onto his back, cackling so hard it looked like he was in pain. “Mama!? Oh Sev–” Noli clutched his stomach from the laughter. “Good job– Hah– Good job, kid–” Noli was practically crying now.

007n7 froze. Visibly. He stared at C00lkidd, eyes wide behind pink-tinted glasses, brain short-circuiting. “What.” 007n7 croaked, stepping forward like a man approaching a ticking bomb. “What did you just say?”

“Mama!” C00lkidd repeated sweetly, completely unaware of the chaos he’d just unleashed. His little hands reached out for 007n7.

007n7 stumbled backward like he’d been shot. “He said a word?” 007n7 yelled, voice cracking with disbelief. “He- He spoke!? Finally spoke?!”

Chance was wheezing on the floor. “First word! First actual word and it’s– Mama! Oh my Telamon, it’s you!” Chance was running out of air with each wheeze.

“Why not papa? Or literally anything else?” 007n7 cried, pointing a shaky finger at the baby like he had just been betrayed. “I am not your mama!! I’m your– guardian!!”

“Mama!” C00lkidd giggled proudly, clapping his hands.

“He’s doubling down!” Noli shrieked, rolling off the floor in hysterics.

007n7 turned and dramatically leaned against the wall like he needed physical support to endure the emotional damage. “I work, I clean, I feed him green mush. I gave up my entire lunch break to sing to him when he wouldn’t nap– and this is the thanks I get?”

Chance was crying now. “Looks like you’re the mama now.” Chance teased.

“I am not the mama!” 007n7 barked back, but his voice cracked like he’d already accepted defeat. C00lkidd cooed, then yawned, as if proud of his little linguistic debut. “I hate this house.” 007n7 muttered into the wall, while Noli and Chance continued to fall apart laughing behind him.

But still– despite all the yelling and embarrassment, 007n7’s heart fluttered a little. Even if it was “Mama.” his weird demon child had finally spoken.

007n7 then turned back to look at C00lkidd, still perched triumphantly on the bed like a gremlin king who just conquered a language.

“How about… Papa?” 007n7 tried again, his voice tight but patient, like a man bargaining with a fire alarm. He crouched slightly, offering a small, hopeful smile. “Can you say it with me? Paa–pa.” He sounded it out, slow and deliberate, nodding encouragingly.

C00lkidd blinked once. Then, with defiant joy, C00lkidd chirped again. “Mama!” C00lkidd clapped his hands.

From the floor, Noli let out a wheeze so loud it echoed. He was curled into Chance’s side, practically howling into his hoodie sleeve. “Dude–” Noli gasped between laughs. “I can’t take this, bro– you’re his mama!”

Chance clutched his chest dramatically, barely staying upright as he leaned into Noli for support. “He knows what he’s doing, too. Look at that smug little gremlin face. He’s doing it on purpose.”

007n7 exhaled slowly through his nose, trying to remain composed. He pointed at himself gently, trying again. “Papa. Say it with me– papaa .” He exaggerated each syllable with hand gestures, as if trying to summon the word into existence.

C00lkidd stared, squinted slightly like he was trying to compute it and then his lip quivered. “…Mama?” C00lkidd whispered.

007n7’s eye twitched. “No.. Papa.” 007n7’s strained smile was slowly drooping.

C00lkidd’s face scrunched up. “Mama!” C00lkidd cried, louder this time.

007n7’s arms fell limp at his sides. “No no no, we just said– Papa.” 007n7 reiterated once more. 

“Mama!!” C00lkidd yelled, now bouncing slightly on the bed, tears welling in his big cartoonishly round eyes.

007n7 backed up a step. “Okay, whoa. No need to cry, we can–”

“Mama! Mama! Mama!” C00lkidd wailed, crawling to the edge of the bed and holding his arms out in pure baby despair, his whole little demon body trembling with the effort.

“Dude.” Noli sniffled, half-laughing, half-concerned. “You broke the baby.”

“He wants his mama.” Chance said, both hands dramatically clasped over his heart like he was watching a tragic romance unfold. “You have to embrace it.”

007n7 froze. His shoulders sagged in defeat. He ran both hands down his face and mumbled into them. “Fine.” he finally groaned, walking back over and scooping up the sobbing red baby. “Fine. I’m Mama now, I guess..”

C00lkidd immediately stopped crying, cuddling up into 007n7’s hoodie like nothing had happened. “Mama.” he sighed contentedly, tiny claws gripping the fabric as he snuggled in.

A beat of silence passed.

007n7 sat down on the edge of the bed, expression blank, baby latched to his chest like a barnacle. “This is my life now.” 007n7 whispered. 

C00lkidd let out a tiny snore, his little claws still gripping the fabric of 007n7’s hoodie. His red horns nestled perfectly under 007n7’s chin like he belonged there. And unfortunately, he did.

Across the room, Noli was still collapsed onto the floor as he buried his laughter in his hoodie. “I can’t– I can’t breathe, man.” Noli wheezed out softly.

Chance was lying flat on the floor now too, arms and legs splayed like a crime scene chalk outline, trying to steady his breathing. 

“Stop laughing so loud.” 007n7 muttered, deadpan. “You’ll wake him up and I’ll cry.”

That actually did it. Noli slapped a hand over his mouth mid-laugh, eyes widening like he’d just remembered he was in a library. “Oh right– right, right.” Noli hissed between his fingers, glancing nervously at the sleeping baby on 007n7’s chest. “He’s finally out. We do not mess this up.”

Chance dragged himself up from the floor like a reanimated corpse, tiptoeing over with the exaggerated silence of someone who had definitely been yelled at for waking a baby before. He perched himself on the edge of a footstool, resting his chin in one palm and peering at the demon baby.

“…It’s kinda cute.” he admitted after a beat. “In a, like, horrifying gremlin way.”

007n7 sighed, gently adjusting C00lkidd’s position as the kid let out another soft snore. “You weren’t saying that ten minutes ago when he screeched ‘Mama’ like his life depended on it.”

“I was saying it.” Chance whispered. “Just through intense laughter.” Chance snickered.

“I still can’t believe it.” Noli whispered from his chair. “I really thought his first word was gonna be, like… ‘box.’ Or ‘kill.’ Or ‘chew.’ Something evil and fitting.”

“But no–” Chance said, pressing a hand to his heart. “He said Mama.”

007n7 groaned, tipping his head back against the wall. “I’m gonna have to live with this forever, aren’t I?”

Noli shrugged with a grin, now whispering. “C00lkidd said it, so it’s law now.”

There was a soft moment of silence. The kind that settled over a room like a blanket after the chaos had finally burned out. The three of them– roommates, ex-griefers, gambling millionaires– sat there in the bedroom.

007n7 blinked slowly, finally mustering the energy to speak. “…Is this what you guys have been doing while I was out?” 007n7 asked, voice dry but curious, one eyebrow raised.

Noli glanced up at him from where he was flopped in the chair, arms draped like laundry. “At first we were just trying to get him to say anything. Anything at all– but it was completely unsuccessful...” Noli whispered, with exaggerated drama.

Noli then gestured dramatically toward Chance. “Then this guy joined the cause.”

“I was very helpful.” Chance smirked with a solemn nod.

“Sure you were..” Noli scoffed. “But nothing worked. Until you walked in.” Noli pointed at 007n7. “ Then he decides to bust out a full word. Just drops a ‘Mama’ like it was the easiest thing in the world.”

“I think it was planned,” Chance whispered with faux seriousness, stroking an imaginary beard. “Calculated. He knew it would emotionally destabilize you.”

007n7 gave them both a long, exhausted stare. “I’m emotionally stable.” 007n7 said, despite the tiny demon still clinging to him like he was a tree branch.

“Sure, Mama.” Noli grinned.

“Don’t.” 007n7’s voice cracked slightly. “Don’t start that.”

Noli tilted his head, watching him with a soft look. “You handled it pretty well, though, when our kid called you that.” Noli teased playfully.

“That’s because I’m already too tired to scream.” 007n7 groaned softly, letting his head fall forward until his forehead lightly thunked against C00lkidd’s tiny horns.

There was a soft chuckle shared between them, all three finally growing quiet again. The kind of quiet that only came when a baby had fallen asleep, the weight of the day had settled, and laughter had drained every last bit of tension from the room.

“Okay..” Noli whispered finally, his voice barely audible. “Now that we’ve calmed down, what’s for dinner?”

“Whatever I see in my fridge.” Chance shrugged, pushing off from the wall and stretching his arms over his head. “You coming?”

Noli gave a nod and slowly stood, throwing one last glance at 007n7, who was still glued to the bed with a sleeping demon-baby latched to his hoodie.

“If any of you plan on making or heating up food, bring some up for me, please.” 007n7 mumbled, barely moving his head as he spoke. His eyes were fixed forward like a man staring into the void. C00lkidd drooled peacefully across his chest like an innocent criminal.

“Yeah, yeah, ‘mama’ needs his sustenance.” Noli snickered under his breath as he followed Chance out of the room.

“Whatever, jerk.” 007n7 scoffed. Noli gave a wink, then finally exited the room.

The duo walked down the massive hallways leading towards the kitchen. Noli was definitely never going to memorize this mansion. Chance then stopped in front of a big wooden door, pushing it open.

The kitchen, despite its massive size, felt oddly quiet without any of the usual sounds that filled their dorm. No dormmates yelling in the halls, no microwave beeping constantly, no late night ramen slurping. Just the soft hum of an industrial-sized fridge and the occasional click of utensils.

Noli opened the fridge while Chance leaned against the marble counter, arms crossed. “You really don’t have a single maid?” Noli asked, peering in at the neatly arranged containers.

“Don’t need one.” Chance said. “Too many people around makes it feel like a hotel.”

“You live in a hotel.” Noli muttered, grabbing two boxes and popping them into the oversized microwave. Chance grinned but didn’t argue.

They stood in silence for a bit, the microwave humming low in the background. Noli leaned against the fridge, arms crossed, waiting. Chance watched him for a moment before finally breaking the quiet.

“So..” Chance started, casually, but with that unmistakable edge of curiosity. “Where’d you even get that baby from, anyway?”

Noli blinked, then slowly turned his head. “What?”

“That little red gremlin. C00lkidd, right?” Chance tilted his head. “I figured I’d ask earlier, but then y’know, there was the crying, the laughing, the emotional breakdown– the usual.”

Noli rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly quiet. “Oh. Right.” The microwave beeped. Noli opened it and took a moment too long to stir the contents of one container before speaking.

“We didn’t exactly get him . He kinda just.. kinda showed up.” Noli looked down, unsure if he should laugh or cry. “One day, Seven and I get back to our dorm from class, right? And boom– there he is. Sitting in a cardboard box. Right on top of our bed.”

Chance raised his eyebrows, clearly not expecting that answer. “On your bed?”

“Yup.” Noli popped the ‘p’. “Just sitting there. Sleeping soundly without a care in the world. We thought it was a prank at first.” 

“Did you at least call someone?” Chance blinked.

“And have people freak out over a red demon baby?” Noli chuckled softly. “We’d rather not..” Noli got a plate, moving the leftovers over onto the plate.

“So why didn’t you leave him somewhere?” Chance muttered, then his shoulders stiffened. “Not saying I stand for abandoning infants or anything!” Chance waved his hands defensively.

“Nah, you’re good.” Noli chuckled. “Well at first we wanted to, though something about him just stuck. He looked so... helpless. Like, he could set fire to our bedsheets any second, but also like he needed someone.”

Chance didn’t reply right away. His eyes were fixed on Noli now, face unreadable. Noli went on.

“We tried looking for someone– anyone– who might’ve lost a baby, or dumped him, or something.” Noli ranted, his hands busy fixing the leftovers on the plate.

“And you just… kept him?”

Noli looked down at the now-steaming leftovers and gave a half-smile. “Yeah. We didn’t mean to. But he kinda grew on us..”

Chance was quiet for a beat. Then, he let out a low whistle. “That’s some weird backstory shit you got there, Nols.”

Noli laughed. “Yeah. I guess it is.” Noli then grabbed the plates, balancing them with practiced ease. “Come on. Mama’s waiting.”

“Oh Telamon, don’t say that.” Chance snorted as he followed Noli out. 

“Too late.” Noli smirked. 

Chapter Text

Despite Chance telling both 007n7 and Noli to stop working themselves to death, they still worked themselves to death. It felt so wrong to the duo to live off of Chance’s hard earned cash. 007n7 had already convinced Noli that once they’d save up enough money, they’d buy a house; A small house for them and their kid.

So these past few weeks, they’d just been playing a game of tag team, though the difference is that they’re not wrestling; they’re just switching up who’s going to work a soul-crushing ten-hour shift at a stupid fast food joint.  At first, their job they were only part time, and now that they need the money to save up for a house, they’re working overtime almost every day of every week. 

A loud groan emits from the hallways. The door creaks open, revealing a disgruntled Noli. Noli collapsed face-first onto the bed with a groan that sounded like it came from his very soul. The mattress bounced slightly beneath him, plush and too forgiving– it almost mocked how exhausted he felt. 

He didn’t bother changing out of his grease-smelling uniform, or even kicking off his shoes. He just laid there, like a puppet with its strings cut.

The room was dim, curtains still drawn from the early morning when 007n7 had left for his shift. The silence was thick, only broken by the gentle whir of the mansion’s air vents and the distant sound of someone moving through the hallways.

Noli turned his head to stare blankly at the wall. "Idiot." Noli muttered, though whether he was talking to himself or to 007n7, he wasn’t sure.

Despite Chance’s very clear warnings to slow down, to rest, to not kill yourselves trying to be independent, here they were– tearing themselves apart shift by shift, trying to make some future dream tangible. It wasn’t like Noli hated the idea of having a house with 007n7 and C00lkidd. In fact, it was all he ever thought about.

But that was exactly the problem. What if 007n7 didn’t want the same kind of future?

What if he just wanted a house to raise the kid in–

–with whoever he ends up dating?

What if Noli was just the temporary friend? Just the guy who got stuck with the baby too?

Noli’s fingers curled into the sheets. His chest ached in a way no amount of sleep could fix.

He knew 007n7. He knew how he could be– how closed off, how quick to change the subject whenever the conversation got too emotional. And Noli could never tell if 007n7 was just dense, or if he was purposefully avoiding the truth.

Noli turned over slowly, lying flat now, staring up at the ceiling. His eyes stung, not quite from tears, but from exhaustion that tugged behind his skull like a thread ready to snap.

Noli whispered into the empty room, “You’re probably not even into guys…” Noli hated how it cracked coming out of his throat. He hated how much it hurt to say it aloud.

And the worst part? He couldn’t even be mad at 007n7 for it.

007n7 was kind, responsible, funny in a weirdly specific way. He didn’t ask to be adored. And yet here Noli was, ruining his own heart like it was some sort of part-time job too.

He let his eyes close.

Maybe I’ll just sleep for ten years.

Maybe by the time I wake up, it’ll hurt less.

He didn’t notice that C00lkidd had crawled up onto the bed and nestled himself against Noli’s side. The baby let out a small gurgle, one stubby hand grabbing at Noli’s sleeve, grounding him in the now, no matter how tired or how heartsick he was.

“…I love you too, you little gremlin.” Noli mumbled without opening his eyes. “Just.. not the same way I love your other dad.”

And Noli just stayed like that for a while, with dread in his chest and a baby pressed to his ribs– waiting for 007n7 to come home.

“Knock knock.” Chance’s voice could be heard from the doorway. “I sense dread in this room.” Chance gave a weak shot at a joke. Noli didn’t bother sitting up to look at Chance, only just giving a quiet groan. “Okay.. Nols– What’s wrong?” Chance sighed, sitting on the bed Noli laid on.

“It’s..” Noli bit his lip, hesitating for a bit. “..Can I vent about Sev, real quick?” Noli gently grabbed the sleeping C00lkidd, setting him aside just so he could sit down.

“Of course, dude. You’re a pal of mine.” Chance gave a solemn nod. “I’ll listen to whatever you need to say.” Chance then went quiet after this last sentence, seemingly wanting to hear what Noli needs to let out.

“It’s just…” Noli rubbed his face with both hands, like trying to wipe the feelings off. “It’s Sev.” Noli paused. His hands slid down slowly, fingers pressed to his mouth for a moment before he finally let the words come out.

“I think I’m in love with him.” It felt ridiculous to say out loud. It felt heavy.. It felt ugly.

Chance didn’t speak– he just gave Noli that calm, listening gaze of his. The kind of look that said yeah, man, I’m here. Keep going.

Noli laughed bitterly, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “And, like, I know I shouldn’t be. We’re roommates, we raise a kid together, we share shifts like we’re tag-team wrestlers in hell. But it’s not just that. It’s the way he brushes C00lkidd’s hair back, or how he always makes sure I have a snack in the fridge before I leave for work, or– or how he smiles sometimes when he thinks I’m not looking.”

Chance hummed, thoughtful, but stayed quiet. Noli glanced toward C00lkidd– still fast asleep, curled up in a bundle of blankets like a little red bean. His chest tightened.

“But I see how he talks to Eight. How he lights up when she’s around. I don’t think he even notices it, y’know? And I don’t blame him. She’s smart and cool and she’s not a whole mess of unresolved emotions like I am.” Noli swallowed.

Chance blinked slowly, taking that in.

“I guess…” Noli exhaled hard, like deflating. “I guess I’m scared. What if I’m just the guy who happened to be there when the baby showed up? What if I’m not.. special? What if he’s just holding onto me out of habit or comfort or– Telamon, I don’t even know.”

He dragged a hand through his hair. “I’d give him anything– literally anything. And it sucks because I know he doesn’t owe me anything back. But it still hurts like hell when I think about him falling for someone else.”

Silence settled for a moment, the only sound in the room being the soft hum of the mansion’s air system and C00lkidd’s sleepy breathing.

Noli leaned back, staring at the ceiling, voice quieter now.

“I think I loved him since the day he looked at C00lkidd and said ‘I guess I’m the parent now.’ Not because he wanted to be, but because he chose to be. Because he stayed.”

Chance sat with that for a long breath. Then he finally spoke, voice lower, more serious than usual. “You know..” Chance said slowly. “Some people take forever to realize what’s right in front of them. Doesn’t mean they don’t see it. Just means they’re scared to admit it.”

Noli looked at him, lips parting slightly.

“And Seven?” Chance shrugged a little. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you when you’re not watching. I think you’re more than just habit, dude.”

Noli’s heart clenched. “..You really think so?” Noli whispered.

Chance gave a small, crooked smile. “I know so.”

Noli tried to laugh, but it cracked in his throat and came out sounding more like a sob. He wiped his face with his sleeve, blinking quickly. “Telamon, sorry.” Noli muttered. “I don’t even know why I’m crying.”

Chance didn’t answer immediately. He stayed seated beside Noli, giving him space but not moving away either. He could tell this was the kind of storm that needed to pass on its own.

“I just…” Noli inhaled sharply, voice trembling. “I love him. I love him so damn much, and I don’t know how to deal with it anymore.”

Chance raised an eyebrow, but didn’t interrupt.

“It’s not just crush stuff, y’know?” Noli kept going, voice low and choked, eyes fixed on the floor like if he looked at Chance, it would make everything worse. “It’s not just about thinking he’s hot in a blue hoodie or liking the way his glasses sit on his nose. It’s everything.”

His fingers curled around the edge of the bed.

“I love how he snorts when he laughs too hard. I love that he still calls C00lkidd a ‘little gremlin’ but tucks him in every night like he’s made of glass. I love that he tries to act all tough and cool but can’t handle horror movies. I love the way he types too fast and has to backspace half his code. I love that he still tries.”

Noli’s voice broke, tears finally slipping down his cheeks. “I love how he never asked to be C00lkidd’s dad, but he’s the best damn parent that baby could’ve ever gotten.”

Chance blinked slowly, his expression unreadable– but not cold.

“I love how he makes space for me without even thinking. Like– like the way he always buys extra milk because he knows I always drink it too fast. Or how he keeps my name on the calendar for our work shifts just so I don’t forget. Or how he asks if I’ve eaten like he’s not also starving.” Noli’s breath hitched.

“And it’s all these little things– every single day – and it’s eating me alive because I don’t know if he’ll ever feel the same way. I don’t even know if he can.” Noli pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes, trying to stop the flood of emotions. He didn’t even realize his shoulders were shaking until he felt a light pressure on his back.

Chance, carefully, had extended a hand and was giving him a single, slightly awkward but sincere pat. It wasn’t a hug. But it was something.

“…You good?” Chance asked after a moment, voice softer than usual.

Noli let out a small, broken laugh. “No. Not really. But thanks for asking.”

Chance gave him another pat on the back, just once. “I’m not really the emotional advice guy.” Chance admitted bluntly. “Feelings make my brain itch.” That pulled a genuine snort from Noli. “But..” Chance continued, “I think anyone who loves someone the way you just described… deserves to be loved back just as much.”

Noli sniffled, rubbing at his eyes again. “…Thanks.”

“No problem.” Chance leaned back again. “And hey– if you ever lose it again and need to ugly cry, don’t do it near the fridge. I keep my good leftovers there.”

Noli cracked a small smile. “You’re a terrible person.”

Chance grinned. “Takes one to know one.”

The room quieted. Noli’s breath slowed, the rawness in his chest finally starting to settle. He sat there, still sniffling occasionally, but lighter– like something heavy had finally been set down.

Chance stood up with a dramatic stretch, cracking his neck as if he’d just completed an exhausting emotional quest. “Well then!” Chance said, clapping his hands once. “Now that you’ve cried all over my perfectly clean linen bedsheets, I think it’s time we made some moves.”

Noli blinked at him, confused. “Moves?”

Chance’s grin returned, sharp and mischievous. “Yeah, moves. I mean, come on, you just dropped a Shakespearean-level confession. It’s a crime for that to go to waste. So what do we do, my heartbroken buddy?”

“Uh..” Noli sniffed, frowning. “Nothing? We do nothing, because he probably doesn’t like me back and this is a recipe for embarrassment?”

“Wrong!” Chance pointed at him dramatically. “We do something. I do something. As of this very moment, I am officially declaring myself your wingman.”

“Please don’t–” Noli shook his head disagreeably. 

Chance slung an arm over Noli’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, pal. Trust me!” Chance smugly grinned. “I’ve got you. Before long, you two’ll be sharing a mortgage and picking out matching socks.”

“…We already kinda do that.” Noli mumbled.

“Then my job’s practically done!” Chance beamed. “Let the matchmaking games begin.” Noli groaned again, but this time he smiled a little too.

Maybe this was stupid. Maybe this was doomed.

But with Chance on his side– even in the most chaotic way– he suddenly felt a little less alone in it all. And who knows?

Maybe 007n7 really would notice.

 –+⟡+–

The front door creaked open with a familiar rhythm– slow, then a thunk as it closed with 007n7’s usual brand of dramatic exhaustion.

His hoodie was slipping off one shoulder, his hair was sticking up in new directions, and his backpack was clinging to him by a single desperate strap. He dropped his stuff near the entry like it physically pained him to carry it one second longer.

Noli, who had been hovering nearby like a cat waiting by a food bowl, perked up immediately. “Hey, Seven! You’re back!”

007n7 groaned something that might’ve been “Hello.” though it sounded closer to a sigh with extra syllables. He staggered into the room like a drunk man, shoulders slumping even more than usual.

“So I was thinking..” Noli started quickly, moving in sync beside him. “Y’know we’ve been working non-stop and, like, I just thought maybe we could hang out tonight. Like just us. Something chill? We could go somewhere? Or-or not even go anywhere, maybe just like sit on the roof or–”

007n7 sat down on the couch halfway through Noli’s sentence and immediately slumped forward like a puppet with its strings cut. His arms folded lazily across a pillow. His eyes fluttered shut.

“Uh… Seven?” Noli blinked.

“Seven, what do you think?”

The only answer he got was a soft, tired snore. 007n7 had completely and utterly passed out. “…Bro.” Noli whispered, stunned. “I didn’t even get to the hang out part.”

From the doorway, Chance leaned in with a raised brow and a deadpan look. “Dude didn’t even make it five steps from the door. Let him sleep.”

Noli groaned quietly and sat on the floor in defeat. “I rehearsed that in my head like fifteen times.”

“Well.” Chance shrugged, strolling in with a glass in hand. “You can rehearse it sixteen now. Come on, lover boy– let the poor man sleep before he collapses into the drywall.” Chance gave Noli a pat on the shoulder and nodded toward the kitchen. “Let’s wait in there. When he wakes up, we’ll hit him with another one.”

Noli cast one more glance at 007n7– peacefully passed out, cheek smushed into the couch cushion, looking the least ready for romance he’s ever been. “…Fine.” Noli muttered, standing up and dragging his feet behind Chance. “But next time, I’m not letting him nap until I get my question out.”

Chance snorted. “Bold of you to assume you can force a man running entirely on spite and caffeine to stay awake for more than ten minutes.”

They disappeared into the kitchen, letting the quiet snores echo behind them. The mansion’s kitchen smelled faintly like reheated noodles and awkward tension. Noli flopped into one of the high stools by the counter, chin resting in his palm. The tile felt colder than usual tonight, or maybe that was just his mood.

Chance leaned casually against the counter, sipping something fizzy from a glass and eyeing Noli like a chess piece he was about to move across the board.

“So…” Chance drawled, breaking the silence. “That went well.”

Noli let out a groan, muffled by his sleeve. “He didn’t even hear me, man. I was being so normal.”

“You were twitching like a raccoon on espresso.”

“I was being normal.” Noli snapped, his eye twitching.

Chance held back a smirk and set his glass down. “Relax, lover boy. You’ll get your shot. I mean, you’ve only been mooning over him for, what, months now?”

“Okay!” Noli grumbled, dragging his face across the counter. “I get it. I’m tragic.”

Chance raised a brow. “You’re a sitcom character with emotional damage. But listen– don’t take it personal. He looked dead. Like, full system shutdown.”

Noli sighed and turned his head to the side, still resting against the counter. “He’s been working so hard. We both have. I just… I really wanted to talk to him while we weren’t clocked into hell.”

Chance watched him for a second, his expression losing a bit of its usual sarcasm. “You care about him a lot.”

“Yeah.” Noli muttered without hesitation. “I do.”

The fridge hummed. The silence sat between them for a bit, just long enough for Noli to start zoning out again.

Then Chance spoke, lighter this time. “Alright, listen.” Chance’s voice was low, conspiratorial. “All you gotta do is ask him to hang out. Casually. Nothing weird, no grand speeches. Just you, him, maybe some street food and romantic tension.”

Noli looked like he wanted to crawl into the fridge and disappear. “He’s not gonna say yes, dude.” Noli sighed exaggeratedly. “He’s just gonna leave me, bro!” Noli dragged his hands down his face.

“He lives here.” Chance deadpanned. “Where’s he gonna go? Antarctica?”

Just then, 007n7 wandered in, rubbing the back of his neck, hoodie sleeves bunched at his elbows. “Hey–” 007n7 said, not even looking up as he opened the fridge. “Did someone finish my leftover spaghetti?”

Chance shot Noli a look, mouthing out the word “Now.” Noli cleared his throat awkwardly. “Uh… hey, Seven. Had a nice nap?”

“Guess so.” 007n7 turned, nodding once. 

“So like… uh…” Noli’s eyes flicked toward Chance, who gave him two big thumbs-up behind 007n7’s back. “You, me.. later. Want to go out?”

007n7 blinked. “Go out…? Like grocery shopping?” Hearing this, you could see Chance’s soul visibly leaving his body.

“No! No-no–” Noli rushed, waving his hands like a malfunctioning propeller. “Not groceries. I mean like– we hang out. Not hang out like we usually hang out, but like, hang out-hang out.”

007n7 stared at him, expression neutral. “…Like you want to go exploit with me kind of hang out?”

Noli made a noise that could only be described as a high-pitched panic exhale. “No! Well, not right now– But like..” Noli stammered over his words, his face flushed from embarrassment. “Like– like a date?!” Noli blurted. 

Chance spat out his drink. 007n7 blinked, hard. “Oh.”

Long pause.

“Uh… Noli.” 007n7 looked away, clearly trying to think. “I–I didn’t know you meant it like that. I just thought you were being weird. Like usual.”

“Ouch..” Noli muttered.

“No, I didn’t mean it bad! I’m just… not really used to people asking me stuff like that. Like seriously asking. I gotta think about it.”

“Oh,” Noli said, voice small. “Yeah. Of course.”

Chance watched the whole exchange like someone witnessing a very slow car crash. “Y’all need subtitles.”

“I tried!” Noli hissed quietly at Chance.

007n7 rubbed the back of his neck again. “I’m not saying no. I just… give me a bit, okay?”

“Yeah.” Noli nodded too quickly. “Yeah, no problem. Totally casual. It’s cool.”

007n7 awkwardly walked out of the kitchen, still half-confused and now suddenly rethinking every interaction he’d ever had with Noli. Once he was gone, Chance slowly looked at Noli.

“…So that went great!” Chance said flatly.

“Don’t.” Noli muttered, burying his face into his arms on the counter.

“Hey, if it makes you feel better.” Chance patted his back. “He didn’t not say no.”

“New low.” Noli groaned into the countertop. “I just unlocked a new emotional low.”

Chance smirked, already scheming. “Round two’s coming, buddy. We’re not done yet.” Chance then stood up, placing his glass down. “I’ll be back.” Then without waiting for Noli to respond, he leaves the kitchen.

The hallway was quiet, Chance’s eyes scanned for 007n7, checking to see where he went. Upon seeing 007n7, Chance immediately snuck up behind him. 007n7 turned around, his shoulder stiffened upon seeing Chance.

“Yo.” Chance said casually, hands in his pockets like he hadn’t just appeared from thin air. “Got a minute?”

007n7 narrowed his eyes. “If this is about your stupid dice game in the garage again, I swear–”

“Nah, nah.” Chance waved him off, grinning. “I’m giving you a day off.”

“...What?” 007n7’s eyebrow raised ever so slightly.

Chance stepped closer, tone light. “You, my friend, are not working, babysitting, or stress-spiraling tomorrow. You’re gonna hang out. With Noli.”

007n7’s brows drew together. “Why?” 007n7 crossed his arms.

Chance gave a faux-shocked gasp. “You two have been busting your asses way before you moved in. No breaks, no downtime, just work and demon parenting. You’ve earned at least a singular day to not collapse.”

007n7 rubbed the back of his neck. “So, this was his idea?” 007n7’s expression softened for a moment.

Chance gave a lazy shrug. “Sorta.”

007n7 stared at him, tired eyes squinting slightly. “...So what’s he talking about a date?”

Then there was a beat of silence.

Chance blinked, then burst into laughter like it had genuinely caught him off guard. “Pfff– Hah! Noli? Yeah, he’s a weird fella, huh?” Chance clapped a hand on 007n7’s shoulder, suppressing another laugh. “Probably got those two things mixed up. Y’know how he is– mashes his brain and mouth together without filtering. Probably meant hang out. Chill. Maybe get food. Normal stuff.”

007n7 didn’t answer right away. His face remained unreadable, but something in his expression flickered- curious? Nervous? Tired? “...Right.” 007n7 finally muttered, brushing Chance’s hand off. “Just hanging out.”

“Exactly!” Chance said, his tone cheerful but sharp-eyed beneath the grin.

007n7 stared at him for another long second. “Who’s gonna take care of C00lkidd then?” 007n7’s lips settled in a grim line.

“I will!” Chance placed his hand over his heart, proudly stepping up.

007n7 squinted his eyes, processing this information. “How will I know you’re not about to teach my baby how to gamble or swear?” 007n7 finally spat out.

“I’ll be as pure as a saint around your kid! I swear on it.” Chance gave a smug grin.

“Where does Noli– or what does Noli even what to do while we hangout?” 007n7 grumbled.

“Well..” Chance drawed the word out, reaching into his pockets. He pulled out two tickets to what seemed like a fair. “ He planned out a day for you guys at a fair happening tomorrow.” Chance gave the tickets to 007n7, smiling as he did.

“A.. fair?” 007n7 muttered skeptically. He took the tickets cautiously, inspecting it to see if it were actually real tickets. “Okay..” 007n7 mumbled quietly to himself. Then he turned toward the kitchen and walked off without another word.

Chance watched him go, then leaned back against the wall and smirked to himself. “You better pay me back after this, Nols..” Chance muttered under his breath. “Let’s see if you weirdos finally pull it off.” Chance gave a proud smile.

Chapter Text

The late morning sunlight filtered lazily through the tall windows of the mansion, pooling in golden squares across the tiled floors. Somewhere in the background, a kettle hissed and clicked off, and faint baby babbles echoed from the living room.

Noli adjusted his outfit in the mirror for the fifth– no , sixth time, running his hands down the front of his shirt and immediately pulling at the hem like it didn’t sit right. He let out a groan and tousled his own hair in frustration, undoing the effort he’d just spent fixing it.

“Okay, okay… casual.” Noli muttered to himself, hands gripping the sink edge. “It’s not a date. It’s hanging out. Just hanging out. At a fair. With rides. And snacks..” Noli slapped his cheeks lightly, trying to center himself.

From the hallway, footsteps approached, followed by the unmistakable creak of the old floorboards. 007n7 appeared, tugging down the hem of his slightly wrinkled black shirt, his usual blue hoodie abandoned in favor of something lighter. 

He wore khaki shorts and, of course, his beloved burger hat sat proudly on his head like a crown of ironic majesty. His pink glasses were slightly crooked, and he looked like he had maybe four hours of sleep at best, but he still looked really good.

“You ready yet?” 007n7 asked, adjusting his glasses and peering into the room. “Or are you still beefin’ with your outfit like it owes you money.”

“I’m ready!” Noli said way too fast. He spun on his heel, standing stiffly like a robot freshly booted up. His face was already heating up. “You look... fair-ready.”

007n7 stared at him blankly. “That’s not a real phrase.”

“It is now.” Noli replied, immediately avoiding eye contact.

007n7 squinted at him suspiciously. “...You okay?”

“Yup!” Noli said, voice cracking slightly. “Just excited! Very normal. Very chill. Very not-overthinking-anything.”

“Right..” 007n7 raised an eyebrow, not pressing further, but definitely clocking the weirdness. He gave a lazy stretch and looked toward the hallway. “Should we head out? Before Chance gives C00lkidd a lollipop again and blames it on us?”

As if on cue, from the other room, Chance’s voice called out in a booming, sing-song tone like he was hosting a gameshow. “Alright, lovebirds, get in here before I start charging babysitting fees!”

Noli visibly flinched. “He’s joking. He’s totally joking..” he muttered under his breath, running his fingers through his hair again.

007n7 smirked. “You’re really jumpy today. You sure you’re not the one who needs babysitting?”

“I will push you into a cotton candy machine.” Noli scoffed, walking towards the direction of Chance’s voice.

“Promises, promises.” 007n7 chuckled playfully, closely following Noli.

They found Chance in the living room, holding a squirming C00lkidd upside down by the ankles with one hand and a juice pouch in the other.

“Say goodbye to your incredibly hardworking and emotionally confused parents, little gremlin..” Chance said brightly, flipping the baby right-side up and setting him against his hip. “Now go on. Shoo. Have fun. Do whatever not-a-date things you’re planning.”

007n7 eyed him suspiciously. “You sure you’ll be okay with him all day?”

“I’ve raised a demon casino full of sweaty adult men. I think I can handle one red goblin with horns.” Chance said dryly, ruffling C00lkidd’s tiny curls. “Besides, you two need this. Go unwind, before your eyeballs fall out from burnout.”

Noli grinned, trying to hide the excitement bubbling in his chest. “Thanks, Chance.”

007n7 nodded. “We won’t be long.”

“You better not. If this kid pees on my carpet, I’m charging you both for spiritual damages.” C00lkidd let out a delighted screech, flailing in Chance’s arms as if cheering them on.

“Okay, okay, we’re going!” Noli laughed, lightly nudging 007n7 toward the door.

With that, 007n7 turned to walk toward the front door, leaving Noli to take one last deep breath before following. His heart thumped against his ribs as he trailed behind– because today might not technically be a date

But to Noli, it still felt like one.

As they stepped outside into the sunlight, Chance leaned against the doorframe, watching them go with a sly grin. “Go get him, loverboy.” Chance muttered under his breath to no one in particular. “You’ve only got the whole day.”

 –+⟡+–

The fairgrounds were alive with color and sound– neon lights blinking against the late afternoon sky, the air thick with the scent of popcorn, cotton candy, and grilled meat on sticks. Children zipped between booths with sticky fingers, music blasted from rickety speakers, and every now and then a scream would ring out from the direction of a roller coaster that sounded one screw short of collapse.

Noli’s eyes sparkled as he looked around. “Oh my god. I haven’t been to a fair in years. This place is awful. I love it.”

007n7 shoved his hands in his hoodie pockets, glancing around skeptically. “There are so many people. And colors. I feel like I’m gonna get motion sickness from just standing here.”

“Perfect!” Noli grinned. “Let’s do something dumb.”

Before 007n7 could object, Noli grabbed his sleeve and dragged him toward a booth with ridiculously oversized stuffed animals hanging above it. “Let’s win something. For C00lkidd.”

007n7 eyed the game suspiciously. “This is so rigged.”

“You’re just saying that because you’re a noob and not a pro like me.” Noli gave a smug smile as he handed over some tickets to the teenage boy who manned the booth. The teenage boy then took the tickets, sliding a dray of darts over to Noli. “Watch and learn.” Noli confidently took a dart from the tray.

He aimed. He threw. He missed. 

“Okay– okay– warm-up shot..” Noli muttered, eyes narrowing. “You try.” Noli coughed, sheepishly sliding the tray to 007n7.

007n7 took the dart, holding it like it was part of some delicate science experiment. “The trick..” 007n7 aimed, squinting his eyes slightly. “..Is not to care if you win or not.” 007n7 then flicked his wrist and hit a balloon dead-center. It popped with a satisfying snap.

Noli’s jaw dropped. “Okay. That’s actually hot. I mean– I mean– good job. Yeah.. Nice one, Sev.” Noli looked away, embarrassed. 

007n7 smirked a little, still not quite making eye contact. “Should I try again?” 007n7 chuckled, a slight tint of red creeping up on his face from the compliment.

“Win him a bear so big it can’t even fit in our room.” Noli challenged, crossing his arms.

“Even if we win all of these ridiculously big stuffies, they’re still going to fit in our room and then some.” 007n7 scoffed playfully, picking up another dart. “That room is bigger than our dorm room.” 007n7 then threw the dart, hitting another target’s balloon dead-center.

They ended up with a medium-sized red dinosaur plush that Noli immediately cradled like it was a sacred offering. “We’ll tell C00lkidd you fought someone for it.” Noli said, hugging it close.

“You seem like you’re gonna enjoy it more than C00lkidd.” 007n7 teased.

“Well I have to keep it safe until we go home!” Noli argued.

“Sure you do, Bud.” 007n7 sighed, giving in.

They moved on, weaving through the bustling crowd, shoulders brushing as they navigated the maze of colorful tents and shouting vendors. The air was thick with the scent of fried food and spun sugar, laughter rising above the blaring music in waves. 

They took turns pointing out which booths to hit next– Noli’s eyes lighting up at every flashing light, 007n7 quietly taking mental notes on which stalls had shorter lines.

Without warning, Noli grabbed his wrist and tugged him toward a spinning ride– one of those violently rotating machines that looked like it defied basic laws of physics. 007n7 didn’t even get a chance to protest before the harness clicked into place.

Several nausea-inducing rotations later, 007n7 stumbled off the ride with the grace of a baby deer learning to walk. His burger hat was slightly askew, glasses fogged from the rush of air.

“I hate you.” 007n7 groaned, clutching his stomach like it had betrayed him.

“You’re smiling…” Noli teased, grinning like the devil as he pointed at 007n7’s face.

“That’s a grimace of pain.” 007n7 shot back, but his voice was breathless with half-laughter, eyes crinkled at the corners.

After that ride, the duo decided it was time to munch on whatever unhealthy grease and sugar the fair was selling. At first, they went to a cotton candy stand. Noli insisted it would give them more energy to look for more sustaining food. 007n7 sighed, not really wanting to argue back, just went with it.

They wandered toward a cluster of food stalls, drawn in by the scent of deep-fried everything and artificially colored sugar.

“Cotton candy.” Noli declared, pointing at the bright stand ahead like it was the answer to all life’s problems. 

“That’s not real food.” 007n7 deadpanned, eyeing the neon pink clouds being spun with all the skepticism of a man who hadn’t eaten since breakfast.

“Nothing here is real food.” Noli’s lips set in a grim line. “And besides.. It’s brain food!” Noli insisted, already pulling him by the sleeve toward the stand. “Think of it as... pre-food! Energy for the hunt for “real food”.” Noli put in air quotes, the medium sized plushie snugged between his armpits.

007n7 let out a long-suffering sigh but didn’t resist. He had long since learned that arguing with Noli in public just made them look like a sitcom. A few minutes and a stick of violently pink cotton candy later, they were leaning against a wooden picnic table, sharing the puff like a weird little campfire.

Without warning, Noli grinned and reached over with a tuft of the fluff. “Hold still.”

“What are you—” Before 007n7 could move, Noli carefully stuck the wad of cotton candy to his bangs, right near the hairline. “What the hell.” 007n7 muttered, blinking up at it cross-eyed.

Noli tilted his head, trying not to laugh. “It’s not sticking. I thought it’d fuse with the grease in your hair.”

“Thanks.” 007n7 said dryly, plucking it off and smearing some of it onto Noli’s cheek in retaliation.

Noli snorted, wiping his face with the back of his sleeve, grinning wide. “Totally worth it.”

After finishing their cotton candy, 007n7 flicked the empty paper stick into the nearest trash bin with surgical precision. There was a second of silence before he finally spoke again, like he’d been waiting for the sugar in his blood to hit critical mass.

“Let’s get some corndogs now.” 007n7 declared with unshakable certainty, already turning toward the next stall.

Noli blinked. “Well that’s sudden. You okay?” Noli tilted his head, caressing the red plushie slowly.

“I need real food.” 007n7 said, pulling his hoodie sleeves up like he was preparing for battle. “Not a cloud of artificially dyed spiderwebs masquerading as a snack. You don’t even need to chew, it just melts. Do you realize how pointless it is to eat something that disappears on contact?”

Noli raised an eyebrow, walking alongside him as they joined the line for the corndog stand. “I didn’t think you’d like corn dogs.”

“Its better than pure sugar air.” 007n7 argued, waving a hand. 

“You’re so dramatic about food.” Noli said, but his smile was fond. He liked when 007n7 got like this– opinionated, fired up over something objectively dumb but in a way that made Noli’s chest feel a little warmer than it should.

“It’s because I know I’m right.” 007n7 smugly adjusted his pink glasses with his middle finger, almost as if he’s subtly flipping Noli off.

“Sure you are.” Noli said, not catching 007n7 subtly flipping him off. “Now let’s get you a corndog before you start a cotton candy revolution.”

007n7 made an indignant little scoff but didn’t argue back. He tucked his hands into his pockets and fell into step beside Noli, the two of them wandering deeper into the warm chaos of the fair.

Colorful lights blinked overhead like lazy stars, casting everything in hues of blue, red, and green. The crowd swelled and shifted around them, voices overlapping with the hum of machinery and bursts of distant laughter. Somewhere nearby, a cover band was butchering a pop song from five years ago. Then, there it was. 

The corndog stand stood like a greasy temple in the middle of the chaos, its yellow sign buzzing faintly under flickering bulbs. A scent like heaven– if heaven were fried and coated in cornmeal– drifted through the air and hit them both at once.

The corndog stand was blissfully close. A greasy smell hung heavy in the air, laced with salt, oil, and just a hint of deep regret.

007n7 picked his corndog with intense scrutiny– he scanned the tray of corndogs that had been fried two hours ago like he was choosing a weapon in a video game. “This one.” 007n7 said, lifting it like Excalibur from its foil-lined sheath. “Looks sturdy.”

“...It’s a corndog.” Noli deadpanned, already halfway done with his own.

“A corndog you can chew and not melt in your mouth.” 007n7 said, taking a decisive bite.

They chewed in peace for maybe a minute before a new scent hit them. Something stronger. Something even worse. Something deep fried and sinister. They both turned their heads in perfect, synchronized dread.

“…No way.” Noli whispered in awe.

Across the path was a sign in bright neon letters

‘DEEP FRIED OREOS’

007n7 staggered like he’d been physically hit. “They’ve gone too far.”

“Who– who allowed this?” Noli muttered, already walking toward the stand like it was calling to him in a dream.

“They’ve tampered with the natural order.” 007n7 continued, picking up speed. “You can’t just deep fry an Oreo and expect no consequences– what next? Deep fried Mountain Dew?”

“I’d eat that.” Noli interjected, his mouth still full with food.

“Yeah, ‘cause you’re a weirdo.” 007n7 flicked Noli’s forehead, earning a dramatic huff and a swat at his wrist. Their playful banter didn’t slow their pace as they neared the deep-fried Oreo stall, both half-horrified and half-enchanted by the sheer audacity of what was being sold.

But just as they stepped forward, something made them both freeze.

It wasn’t the smell of batter or the absurdly cheerful signage– it was the figure standing just ahead in line, holding a paper tray piled high with golden-fried sweets. He wasn’t wearing an apron, no delivery bag slung over his shoulder, still had that stupid red visor on his blonde hair.

But the slouch in his shoulders. The vaguely irritated aura. The familiar face. They knew exactly who it was.

  Elliot.

Apron-free, but unmistakably Elliot. Next to him was a tiny girl about eight years old, tugging on his hand with glee. “Come on, Elliot!!” the girl said excitedly. “I want the chocolate ones!!”

Noli immediately ducked behind 007n7 like a cartoon villain dodging a spotlight. “Oh my Telamon. He’s here.” Noli hissed.

“No sudden movements.” 007n7 said stiffly. “He might not see us.” But Elliot turned, glanced casually around– then paused. His eyes locked onto them. 007n7, frozen mid-corn-dog-bite. Noli, very obviously hiding behind him.

Elliot narrowed his eyes, mouth slowly pressing into a neutral, almost tired line. He took a deep breath like a man reliving a past trauma. “…No way.” Elliot said under his breath.

007n7 coughed, pulling his arm from Noli’s grasp. “Pizza guy! Long time no torment, ey’?” 007n7 pretended to act smug and nonchalant. 

Noli shook his head, straightening his posture. “It’s your day off today, huh?” Noli followed 007n7’s lead, pretending to act unbothered.

“Oh.. you two are here too.” Elliot gave a strained smile to the duo. “Gonna ruin this fair for everyone too? Like you ruined my–” Elliot cut himself off, glancing at his little sister, Mia, who looked confused at the tension. 

“Are these your friends, Elli?” Mia observed both 007n7 and Noli. “They seem cool.” Mia gave a thumbs up, daring to take a step closer.

007n7 and Noli’s smug smiles widened upon hearing this. “Yes, we’re cool aren’t we?” 007n7 crossed his arms, leaning on Noli.

“Haha.. You shouldn’t talk to strangers, Mia..” Elliot began urging Mia to walk away with him.

Mia refused to walk. “But aren’t they the guys you always mutter about during work?” Mia asked so innocently.

Elliot’s shoulders stiffened. “Hahaha! Let’s go now, don’t you wanna ride that pretty pony ride?” Elliot began pushing Mia away. Eventually the brother and sister retreated in the busy crowd, holding their deep fried oreos. Although Elliot made sure to give both Noli and 007n7 a mean and toxic glare before leaving.

“That.. that was weird.” Noli coughed out.

Eventually, the sun began to dip, and golden hour stretched across the fairgrounds, casting everything in a warm, soft light. They walked toward the Ferris wheel– the Big One at the center of the fair.

Noli stared up at it. “Wanna ride it with me?”

007n7 hesitated. “Isn’t this, like... the most cliché romantic thing to do at a fair?”

Noli shrugged with a grin. “It’s not a date, right?”

007n7 stared at him for a second longer. Then snorted. “Right.”

They got on the Ferris wheel and sat side by side in the little gondola as it creaked upward. Below them, the fair glittered like a dream. Neither of them spoke at first– just sitting across each other, watching the sun and sky slowly dipping.

“…Hey.” Noli said, voice barely above a whisper. “Thanks for coming with me.” Noli didn’t look up at 007n7, his eyes were locked onto the plushie they won. Noli didn’t ever let it go once.

007n7 glanced over at him, seeing Noli caressing the red dinosaur plushie so carefully and gently. His expression was unreadable– but soft around the edges. “Yeah.” 007n7 said. “Thanks for dragging me out.”

For the rest of the ride, they just sat in silence, taking in the scene below them. 

After the Ferris wheel and a few more booths, the fair started to wind down– music mellowing, the crowds thinning into scattered groups of people clutching prizes and half-eaten snacks. Just as they were about to call it a day, Noli stopped mid-step, his eyes landing on a booth tucked behind some food trucks.

“Dude.” He elbowed 007n7 gently. “Beer.”

007n7 squinted. “Like... for adults?”

“Yes. Like beer beer. ”

007n7 frowned. “I’ve never actually had beer before.”

“I have.” Noli said casually. “Once. Okay, like twice. Alright, it was a phase.” Noli shrugged. “You’ll be fine.”

007n7 eyed the sign above the booth.

 ‘ COLD BREWED LOCAL ALE – 18+’ . 

007n7’s eyes narrowed behind his pink glasses, watching a pair of teens ahead of them giggle their way through a beer purchase with zero resistance. “It doesn’t even look like they’re checking IDs.” 007n7 muttered under his breath, the skepticism thick in his voice.

Noli leaned in slightly, his grin crooked, playful. “That’s the fair’s way of saying ‘live a little.’” His voice had that familiar teasing lilt– like he was daring 007n7 to lighten up for once.

Still frowning, 007n7 glanced at the makeshift sign above the booth, tilted at a precarious angle and held up by duct tape and a prayer. The lettering was faded, the neon flickering like it was gasping for life. Everything about the booth screamed “liability.”

But Noli had already stepped forward, sliding a few crumpled bills across the counter with practiced ease. “Two.” Noli said casually, and the vendor didn’t even blink before handing over two cheap plastic cups sloshing with amber liquid.

He turned and handed one to 007n7 like it was some rare, sacred artifact– arms outstretched, exaggerated reverence. “For you, my liege.” Noli said with a mock bow.

007n7 took the cup with the delicacy of someone receiving a ticking bomb. He held it up, sniffed it warily, and recoiled slightly. “It smells like bread and regret.”

“Sounds about right.” Noli snorted, raising his own cup. “To, uh... surviving college.”

007n7 rolled his eyes, but he clinked his cup against Noli’s anyway. The soft plastic gave a pathetic little clunk, and for a brief second, the moment felt oddly ceremonious. “And to C00lkidd hopefully not setting Chance’s mansion on fire while we’re gone.” 007n7 muttered under his breath before hesitantly taking a sip.

The reaction was instant. 007n7’s whole face scrunched like he’d just bitten into a lemon made of metal. He jerked the cup away from his mouth and made a noise that was somewhere between a gag and a gasp. “Oh my god. It tastes like sadness and metal.”

Noli burst out laughing, nearly doubling over as he tried not to spill his drink. “You’re supposed to sip it, not try to inhale the whole cup!”

007n7 stuck out his tongue dramatically, rubbing his chest like the taste physically hurt. “I think my mouth is dying.”

“You’ll live.” Noli chuckled, nudging his shoulder playfully. “Barely.”

They stood there for a while, cheap fair beer in hand, letting the noise of the carnival swell and dip around them like waves. The lights blinked in too many colors, the air thick with sugar and sweat and the distant scream of people on rides.

But eventually, the chaos became too much– or maybe they just needed a quieter place to breathe.

Without really talking about it, they wandered away from the heart of the fair, their steps slow and a little aimless, like neither wanted the night to end just yet. The sounds of the crowd grew fainter with every step, replaced by the low hum of a generator somewhere in the distance.

They found a spot– just a small hill near the edge of the fairgrounds, half-lit by string lights swaying lazily above. The grass there was cool and a little damp, but neither of them cared. It felt private. Safe.

They sat down shoulder to shoulder, plastic cups still in hand, letting the silence stretch between them, easy and unspoken. The fair was still there, buzzing quietly behind them, but it felt miles away now.

“…You ever think about how weird life is now?” Noli murmured, swirling the last of his drink. “Like, we graduated. We live in a mansion. We have a demon baby. This isn’t where I thought we’d end up.”

007n7 blinked slowly. “It’s better than where I thought we’d end up.”

Noli turned to look at him. “Yeah?”

007n7 nodded, eyes a little glassy. “Yeah. I mean... you’re here. That’s what matters.”

Noli’s heart made a noise. He looked away before his face could give it all away. “I’m glad you’re here too.” Noli said, smiling down at his shoes.

007n7 rested his head on Noli’s shoulder with a heavy sigh. “Yeah.”  Noli stayed perfectly still. Because if he moved, even just a little, he might break.

It started with one sip.

Then another.

Then a third.

And by the time 007n7 was halfway through the plastic cup, Noli was staring at him in quiet disbelief .

“Why does the sky look like it’s breathing?”

Noli tried not to snort-laugh. “You’re drunk? Already? You’ve had like eight sips.” 

“It’s strong sips!” 007n7 argued. 

“Okay.. okay.” Noli chuckled sweetly, placing a hand on 007n7’s shoulder, seemingly pulling him closer.

007n7 turned to him again with the most serious, glassy-eyed expression in the world. “Noli… did you know the moon is just a big rock?”

“Yeah, bud. Most people do.”

007n7 frowned, like that answer somehow disappointed him. “But like… why’s it watching us? It’s creepy.”

Noli snorted and had to take a quick sip of his beer to stop himself from laughing. “You’re so gone, aren’t you?”

007n7 leaned forward slightly, clutching his cup like it might float away. “I’m fine. ” 007n7 wobbled in place, despite being sat down. “This is normal. I’m in control of my body.”

“You just tried to high five the dirt.” Noli said flatly.

007n7 blinked at the grass beneath him. “It was being supportive.”

Noli raised his eyebrows but didn’t argue. If anything, he found himself smiling. A lot. Like stupidly smiling. There was something about seeing 007n7 like this– unguarded, slouchy, loose-limbed and soft-eyed. Normally he was so uptight, always on edge about work or their finances or whether the demon baby had grown another tooth. But now?

Now he was giggling.

“Hey, Noli?” 007n7 asked, turning his head toward him, face inches away now. “If a bird sneezes while flying, will it fall?”

Noli blinked. “...You’re adorable. ” 

007n7 blinked slowly, visibly processing that word like it had just been added to his internal dictionary. Then he smiled. It was crooked, tired, and utterly genuine. “I’m glad I came with you.” 007n7 mumbled. “This is… nice.”

Noli looked down at him, heart skipping a beat. “Yeah. It is.”

They sat in silence for a while. 007n7 didn’t ask any more weird questions. He didn’t move much. He just laid there on the grass, eyes fluttering open and closed, like he was trying to memorize the feeling of now.

Eventually, 007n7 let out a soft sigh, eyes unfocused. “I feel like... my bones are soup.”

Noli held back a laugh. “I’ll carry you if I have to, you big noodle.”

007n7 didn’t answer. The beer 007n7 held was slowly slipping from his hand, his eyes seemingly fixated on the sunset. Noli gently took it from him and set it aside.

“You’re lucky you’re cute.” Noli murmured to the drunk 007n7. “Jeez.. I’m so gone for you, it’s embarrassing.”

And with the sky slowly turning darker, Noli just sat there beside him. The fairgrounds had mostly emptied now. The once-noisy chaos of children, food stands, and flashing lights had dulled into soft echoes and half-packed booths in the distance. 

Noli and 007n7 sat in the quiet– Noli never once took his eyes off of 007n7, who looked like he was trying to form a thought. “I think I’m gonna fall asleep right here.” 007n7 muttered, the exhaustion plain in his voice, slowly laying down on the grass.

Noli hummed in response, watching the flicker of neon from a food stand reflect against his friend’s pink glasses. Then silence again.

Noli’s heart thumped hard in his chest. He stared forward, but his eyes weren’t really seeing anything anymore. Just hazy outlines, like everything else in his life lately. This was stupid. But he was tired of carrying it in secret.

Noli swallowed, voice barely more than a breath. “Hey, Seven…”

“Mmh?” 007n7 blinked slow, turning his head just slightly toward Noli. He didn’t sit up, didn’t frown– just watched him in the lazy, half-present way he always did when sleep was tugging at the edges of his mind.

“You probably won’t think anything of this, but…” Noli smiled weakly. “I like you.”

007n7 blinked again. “I like you too, bro.” 007n7 gave a weak laugh, assuming what Noli said was just platonic.

“No.” Noli's voice came out shakier than he wanted. “Not like that.” Noli paused, watching for a flicker of understanding. “I mean– I really like you. Like... like like you.”

007n7 blinked again. The gears in his head turned, but it was slow– muffled by fatigue, maybe by fear. He didn’t look away from Noli, just stared at him, unreadable. Then his lips parted. “You mean like... romantic like?”

Noli forced out a laugh, light but filled with so much tension it felt like a thread ready to snap. “Yeah, Seven. That kind of like.”

007n7 didn’t answer right away. He sat up slightly, running a hand through his hair. “Huh.”

That was all he said. Noli nodded, his throat tight. “You don’t have to say anything. You probably didn’t even wanna hear that. I just– needed to say it–” Noli's voice wavered near the end, curling into itself like it wanted to disappear. 

His palms were damp, fingers clenched into the grass beneath them as if grounding himself would stop his heart from trying to claw its way up his throat.

007n7 sat up, wobbly from the beer still thrumming in his system, and leaned forward to give Noli a small, clumsy peck on the lips. It was light. Barely there. A blink and you miss it kind of kiss. But it sent Noli into full internal meltdown.

Noli’s entire brain short-circuited, His heart stopped, then started again at double speed. His mouth hung slightly open like he’d just been punched with a feather. His face lit up in red so fast it was almost cartoonish. “I– uh– wha..”

007n7 blinked at him slowly, a faint smile on his lips. “You’re really warm.” 007n7 slurred, then promptly flopped backward onto the grass with a content sigh.

Noli sat frozen, his face still inches from where 007n7 had been a second ago. His brain had gone completely offline, sputtering sparks as he tried to process what just happened. His fingers twitched on the grass beside him, his breath caught halfway between a gasp and a prayer.

“Wh– Why did you–? Are you even drunk?” Noli stammered. “Did I just mess everything up? Did I ruin us?”

007n7, still sprawled on the grass, gave a noncommittal shrug and let out a quiet burp– probably from all the junk food they’d eaten earlier. “Dude.. relax.” 007n7 chuckled, sleepy and loose-limbed. 

“You looked miserable. Think of it as, like… a bro kiss.” 007n7 laughed– giggled, really– like it was the funniest thing in the world. “What kinda friend would I be if I let my best friend spiral alone, huh?” 007n7 sat up slowly, uncoordinated but trying to be sincere, now face-to-face with Noli. His eyes were glazed but kind.

Noli’s brows knit together, heart pounding. “Wait... Are you messing with me?” he asked, voice just above a whisper. “Is this– Is this your way of rejecting me–?” But before Noli could spiral further, 007n7 leaned in again– and this time, the kiss lingered. It wasn’t sloppy or unsure. It was quiet. Intentional.

And Noli, breath hitching, didn’t pull away.

Instead, he reached up, fingers curling into the back of 007n7’s head, grounding himself in the impossible reality of the moment. The fair, the noise, the spinning lights– all of it blurred into the background.

For just that second, the world narrowed down to just them.

The lights of the fair shimmered faintly in the distance. The plastic cups lay forgotten in the grass beside them. Noli felt the warmth of 007n7’s mouth on his, it felt nice. Then, 007n7 pulled back, blinking as if coming out of a dream. He smiled– soft, sleepy, sincere. The kind of smile that made Noli’s chest ache.

“Don’t– hah…” 007n7 huffed a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Don’t be sad, okay?” 007n7 spoke so gently, like he just got done helping Noli out with something. Even though 007n7 just got done kissing the raven-haired individual. “I’m still gonna be your friend no matter what.”

Noli stared at him, throat tight. He wanted to say something. Anything. Something real and raw and brave. But all the words he had melted on his tongue. Instead, he just nodded, eyes lingering on 007n7’s face a moment longer. Then he stood, brushing invisible dust from his jeans as he exhaled the moment.

“Come on.” Noli said, voice low, steady. “Let’s go home.” He extended a hand.

007n7 took it without hesitation, letting Noli pull him up. They didn’t speak as they started walking– just let the cool air settle around them, the fading music of the fair drifting behind them like a lullaby.

Their shoulders brushed now and then. Sometimes, one of them would lean a little closer. Their hands hung at their sides– close, but not quite touching. One thought lingered in Noli’s mind though.

“Would Seven remember this?” Noli mumbled to himself, still holding the red plushie ‘they’ won for C00lkid.

Chapter Text

Morning light filtered through the mansion’s high windows, soft and golden as it slipped across the room. Dust motes floated lazily in the quiet, and the only sound was the faint whirring of the ceiling fan above.

Noli laid in his bed, eyes wide open, blanket tucked awkwardly around him like it could shield him from his own thoughts. His back was to 007n7’s bed, but he could hear his soft, even breathing from across the room. Still asleep. Noli exhaled through his nose, sharp and unsteady.

The kiss. That kiss.

Noli couldn’t stop thinking about it. The heat of it. The way 007n7 had leaned in with no hesitation. The second kiss, too– longer, slower, almost tender. But then came that strange, disarming smile.

“What kinda friend would I be if I let my best friend spiral alone, huh?”

Noli frowned. His fingers curled over his blanket. Friend. That word had never felt more complicated. Was it just a bro-thing to him? A comfort tactic? A reaction to the beer and adrenaline and Noli’s emotional spiral? Or did 007n7 mean something more and just didn’t know how to say it?

Noli rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, face twisted in tired frustration. “I confessed.” Noli muttered under his breath. “I actually confessed. And he just– kissed me and laughed.” Noli’s hand came up to cover his face. He was still burning.

Why couldn’t things be simple? Why couldn’t 007n7 just say something like, ‘I like you too’ or ‘That was a mistake’ or ‘You’re a disaster and I never want to do that again.’

At least something.

Instead, Noli was left dangling– suspended between hope and humiliation.

C00lkidd shifted in his sleep in the bassinet Chance provided, letting out a tiny snore that almost startled Noli out of his spiral. Noli turned toward the sound, then glanced at 007n7’s still-sleeping form across the room. Noli watched him for a moment, face calm and soft in sleep, burger hat askew at the edge of his pillow.

Noli sighed. “Are you playing with my feelings, Seven..?” Noli’s voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried across the stillness like a prayer no one would answer. Noli turned over again, burying his face in his pillow, heart full and heavy all at once.

Noli’s whisper disappeared into the quiet morning air, unanswered. Eventually, exhaustion won. His breathing slowed, soft and steady, as he drifted into a long-overdue sleep, curled around the weight in his chest.

Across the room, the lump under the other blanket shifted.

007n7 stirred with a groan, squinting up at the ceiling through the harsh sliver of morning light breaking through the curtains. His head throbbed, the kind of headache that felt like his skull was being slowly cracked open from the inside.

“Ughhh– what the fuck.” 007n7 muttered, sitting up with a hand pressed against his temple. His glasses were hanging lopsided off one ear. His burger hat had fallen off at some point in the night and was now crushed beneath his pillow.

007n7 blinked slowly, trying to get his bearings, when his eyes drifted across the room– landing on Noli. Blanket half-draped over him. His brows were still slightly furrowed even in sleep, and the morning light softened the edges of his face.

007n7 stared for a second too long. “...Damn. Holy fuck.” 007n7 whispered, eyes wide. “He looks... hot.” The thought escaped before he could slap it back in. 007n7 immediately grimaced, squeezing his eyes shut and dragging a palm down his face. “No– headache first. Delusions later.”

With another painful groan, 007n7 swung his legs over the side of the bed and stumbled to his feet, clutching his head. He carefully tiptoed out of the room to avoid waking either Noli or C00lkidd, who was blissfully passed out in his blanket cocoon.

The hallway outside was cold and silent. The quiet kind of rich-house silence that made his footsteps feel too loud.

By the time he made it to the kitchen, the smell of cold leftovers and faint soda fizz greeted him. There, seated like he owned the atmosphere, was Chance– already awake, sipping something suspiciously carbonated from a glass like this was a perfectly normal breakfast routine.

007n7 squinted at him, wincing as he opened the fridge with a sluggish tug. “Awake this early?” 007n7 croaked, eyes bleary.

Chance raised an eyebrow and took another obnoxiously loud slurp. “Morning, sunshine. Sleep well?”

“No.” 007n7 said flatly, rummaging through cabinets. “Got a migraine the size of Robloxia and a bunch of weird dreams I can’t tell were real.”

“Mmm. Hangover dreams’ll do that.” Chance leaned back in his chair. “Try under the sink. Might be painkillers there.”

“Thanks.” 007n7 bent down, still holding his head like it might fall off. “Also– seriously? Soda?”

“It’s a lifestyle.” Chance said, dead serious.

007n7 glanced up at him, holding a bottle of generic painkillers like it was holy water. “You’re the weirdest rich guy I’ve ever met.”

Chance grinned. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

007n7 shook two pills into his hand and downed them with tap water, eyes still half-closed. The ache in his head hadn’t even started to fade, but for some reason, standing here with Chance in the morning light didn’t feel as unbearable as it should.

007n7 leaned on the counter with a heavy sigh. “Oh Telamon.. I need a nap.”

Chance just sipped his soda. “You might wanna take one before Noli wakes up. He’s got plans for you, y’know.”

007n7 blinked slowly. “...What kind of plans?”

Chance smirked behind his glass. “Oh, you’ll see.”

007n7 narrowed his eyes, but the pain was too loud in his skull to argue. “You’re being weirdly cryptic about this..”

“Sure, mama.” Chance said with the casual menace of someone who definitely knew more than he let on.

007n7 groaned again. “Don’t call me that.”  007n7 muttered, rubbing his temples. But then– 007n7 paused. Noli was still asleep upstairs. Probably drooling into his pillow like a sleepy, beautiful idiot. 

007n7 straightened up, heart suddenly thudding louder than his migraine. His hands flexed at his sides like they were preparing to grip something dangerously emotional.

Chance sat at the island, legs crossed, sipping his usual criminally carbonated soda like it was morning coffee. 007n7 hovered by the fridge, not even pretending to look for painkillers anymore. 007n7’s migraine still throbbed somewhere behind his eyes, but that wasn’t what was keeping him tense now.

“Hey, Chance…” 007n7 finally said, voice a little quieter than usual.

Chance raised a brow, the soda can still to his lips. “Yeah?”

007n7 hesitated. He turned around slowly, back pressed to the fridge like he needed the cool metal to keep him steady. “Can I… trust you with something?”

That made Chance pause. He lowered the can, smile fading into something more sincere. “You kidding? I keep secrets to my grave.”

007n7 stared at Chance, eyes narrowing just slightly behind his pink glasses. He was trying– really trying– to gauge just how serious this guy was being. But it was hard. Impossible, almost.

Chance’s face was unreadable. Too smooth. Too composed . That same easygoing grin he always wore clung to his lips like it was stitched there– harmless on the surface, but a little too practiced for comfort.

And that was the problem, wasn’t it?

007n7 didn’t fully trust this man.

How could he? He barely knew him. Chance was, by profession, a gambler. A poker-faced opportunist who made his fortune in a building full of blinking lights and bluffing. Every word, every nod, every smile– there was always the creeping thought that it could be part of some performance. Maybe Chance really was just being kind. Or maybe this was some long con for a favor down the line, hidden behind a wall of soda fizz and flashy teeth.

007n7’s fingers curled slightly against his arm, tension bristling underneath his otherwise tired posture. He’d been sleeping under this guy’s roof for weeks now, eating his food, letting him babysit their literal demon child– but still, something in the back of his mind stayed sharp. 

007n7 wanted to believe Chance meant it– that the promise to keep quiet was genuine. But suspicion didn’t melt easily. Not for someone who spent years surviving off mistrust, dodging consequences and hiding behind aliases.

If 007n7 were being honest, he would’ve much rather vented to 118o8 about all this.

118o8 had understood 007n7– always had. Out of everyone he knew, she was the one person who could match his chaos and still offer some good advice– usually while holding a juice box and wrangling a demonic toddler.

But lately, she’d been busy. The last time they properly talked, they were sitting together in a small corner cafe, rain tapping softly against the windows. They were waiting for the storm to pass, sipping lukewarm drinks, and 007n7 had finally let it slip– something about how Noli made him feel. He didn’t even know if it was a crush or something worse. Just that it felt loud inside, whenever Noli was near.

She’d smiled, warm and patient, but even then, her eyes had flicked toward her phone every few seconds. There was someone else– another chaos parent, apparently– someone she'd been talking to more and more. Even Bluudud had started calling that person “Six.”

And yeah, 007n7 got it. People moved on. Got busy. Fell in love. That didn’t mean she didn’t care. But these days, she was juggling new feelings, and a growing toddler who occasionally got himself in trouble.

So he hadn’t wanted to burden her again.

Now, standing here with Chance– the literal casino man– wasn’t exactly his ideal Plan B. But when you’re spiraling over your feelings for your maybe straight best friend while hiding in the kitchen before sunrise your options get weird fast.

So, yeah . This was his only option.

007n7 stared harder, like he could will the truth out of Chance’s expression. But the man just sat there, sipping soda, calm as ever. That same glint in his eye– unreadable.

“You swear you’re not going to tell Noli?” 007n7 cautiously asked.

Chance shrugged, tapping the edge of the counter. “Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.”

007n7 winced. “You didn’t have to say the whole thing.”

“You asked for commitment. That’s commitment.” Chance leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter now. “Go on. What’s eating you, burger boy?”

007n7 groaned softly, dragging a hand through his hair. “Ugh... I really don’t wanna say this. Like at all. You better not tell Noli.”

“Not a word.” Chance promised, holding up three fingers. “I swear on Telamon himself.”

007n7 sighed deeply, looking like he was about to dive into lava. He was really about to say this wasn’t he? To someone he didn’t trust that much all too well. “I think I’m…” 007n7 swallowed, second guessing his actions. “I think I’m developing feelings for…” 007n7 went quiet for a bit, until he opened his mouth to speak. “Noli.” 007n7’s voice was quieter than a mouse when he said this.

Hearing this, Chance went very still. Then his grin returned like a storm behind glass, but this time, he was clearly trying to hide it. “Ohhhhhh.” Chance said, nodding very slowly, voice barely containing his excitement. 

“You don’t say. Feelings? For your bestie? Your ‘roommate’?” Chance gave a knowing smirk, his fingers doing air quotes.

“Don’t be annoying.” 007n7 muttered, rubbing at his temples again. “This is hard enough to say.”

Chance bit back a laugh, barely. “Okay, okay, I’m cool. I’m chill. Look at me, totally normal and composed.” Chance took another sip of soda to hide his giant grin. “So what made you realize?”

“I don’t know!” 007n7 huffed. “He just– I think about him. Like, a lot. And when he’s not around, everything feels quiet. And last night– Telamon, I even had a weird romantic dream about me and him kissing!” 007n7 raised his hands in the air, further more exaggerating his words.

Chance nodded along solemnly, like a priest listening to confession.

“Anyway.” 007n7 muttered, crossing his arms. “Just… don’t tell him. I needed to say it to someone. I think if I kept it in my head any longer, I would’ve exploded.”

Chance raised his hands in surrender. “Your secret’s safe with me. Zipped lips. Iron vault. Buried under ten feet of concrete.”

007n7 squinted. “I feel as if you’re a little too excited about this.” 007n7 raised an eyebrow.

“I’m just a fan of romance.” Chance said innocently. “I think you two are cute. No reason.”

007n7 narrowed his eyes suspiciously but let it drop. “We’re not a thing . I just needed to vent.”

Chance just smiled, sipping from his soda again like he hadn’t just witnessed the greatest development of the week. He wouldn't dare break Noli’s trust– but man oh man, watching these two idiots orbit around each other was becoming the best soap opera he’d ever starred in.

“Sure…” Chance drawled, lips curling into a lopsided grin, soda fizzing in his hand. He winked at 007n7 with the ease of someone who had absolutely no regard for subtlety. “Just roommates. With unresolved romantic tension . What a concept.”

007n7 gave him a long, slow stare. “Chance.” 007n7 deadpanned. That one word carried the weight of a thousand unspoken threats. But Chance, being Chance, only looked more amused. 

“Still not telling!” Chance sing-songed, taking a smug sip of his soda like this was all part of a well-written sitcom and he was the audience’s favorite character. “Loose lips sink ships, mama.”

007n7 groaned, dragging both hands down his face until they clutched at his jaw like he was trying to hold his soul inside his body. “I am so, so doomed.” 007n7 muttered, muffled behind his palms.

“Yup.” Chance chirped, entirely too cheerful. “But at least you’ll crash and burn in style.”

007n7 stared at the floor for a moment like it might offer him guidance. It certainly didn’t.

 –+⟡+–

Later that afternoon, the soft creak of a door signaled movement upstairs.

007n7, halfway through pouring apple juice into a mismatched mug he found in Chance’s cabinet, turned just in time to see a familiar mop of dark hair stumble into the kitchen.

“Good morning.” 007n7 said, lips twitching up into a grin. Then he added with theatrical emphasis. “Or should I say.. good afternoon, Sleeping Beauty?”

Noli squinted at the light and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, yeah…” Noli muttered with a groggy smile, voice hoarse from sleep. “My sleep schedule’s fucked, I know.”

“Chill out, Noli.” 007n7 said, sliding a plate across the counter. Toast, some scrambled eggs, and leftover sausage. “Eat. Before Chance shows up with carbonated shrimp or some other cursed meal idea.”

Noli chuckled, sitting across from him, still blinking the sleep out of his eyes. The silence between them was comfortable now– settled into something warm and familiar, the kind that didn’t need to be filled.

That was, until 007n7’s phone buzzed across the table. 007n7 glanced at the screen. His face lit up. “It’s Eight!” 007n7 said, immediately answering with a brightness Noli hadn’t heard all morning. “Yo, hey! What’s up?”

Noli, mid-bite, paused. His eyes flicked to 007n7, watching as his expression softened into something fond and easy.

“Yeah?” 007n7 said into the phone, smiling wider. “Yeah, sure. I’m free. Wanna hang out? That sounds great, actually. It’s been a while!”

Noli’s appetite faltered.

“Oh yeah? Haha– no, Noli’s here, we’re just eating brunch.” 007n7 continued, glancing briefly at Noli, completely unaware of the subtle shift in the air. “But yeah, I can head out after this.”

Noli stabbed at his food with a little more force than necessary.

Jealousy wasn’t unfamiliar, but it still sucked. The way 007n7’s face looked brighter when talking to her. The way his voice went all soft and familiar. Noli didn’t hate 118o8, not at all. But in moments like this, he couldn’t help the quiet ache that bloomed in his chest like a bruise.

“Cool, yeah. I’ll see you then!” 007n7 chirped, ending the call.

Noli forced a smile as 007n7 looked back at him. “Eight wants to hang out.” 007n7 explained cheerfully. “You good to hold down the fort here?”

Noli nodded, managing a playful tone, even if it sounded a little thin. “Sure. Someone’s gotta keep Chance from teaching C00lkidd how to gamble.”

“Right?” 007n7 laughed, standing up to grab his shoes. “Be back in a bit!” 007n7 left the table, slipping his shoes on with a lazy little hop and strolled out of the dining room, bringing the warmth along with him. Noli looked down at his plate. He wasn’t hungry anymore.

Noli then heard front door opened and closed with a soft clunk, and then he was gone.

007n7 adjusted his glasses as he stepped into the front yard, phone already out to message 118o8. He paused for a second, blinking toward the window where movement flickered behind the curtain. Inside, Chance and Noli were talking– but he didn’t catch what they said.

007n7 assumed Chance had just gotten there. Probably to tease Noli about something again. Honestly, he wasn’t in the mood to think too hard about it.

“Let them talk..” 007n7 muttered to himself as he typed in a reply to 118o8.

Noli stayed at the table, fork limp in his hand, staring down at his half-eaten brunch like it had personally offended him. The eggs looked soggy now. The toast felt like cardboard in his mouth. He swallowed hard, pushing the plate away with a sigh. The warmth 007n7 left behind had vanished with him– like it was something he carried and never noticed.

From the hall, there was a soft creak.

Noli didn’t look up. “..You gonna keep brooding or should I come back later?” came a voice, light and a little too smug.

Noli startled slightly, head snapping to the doorway– where Chance leaned, arms crossed, one brow arched like he’d just wandered in. “Telamon, Chance– how long have you been standing there?” Noli asked, clearly flustered.

Chance gave a shrug so casual it had to be suspicious. “Long enough to know brunch got real sad in here.”

“I’m fine.” Noli lied quickly, turning his gaze away. “You can go drink soda in the dark or whatever you do when you're not being weird.”

“Mhmm.” Chance stepped inside and took a sausage off Noli’s plate. “You know, most people cry into ice cream. You do it into eggs.”

“I said I’m fine.” Noli groaned, slumping forward to bury his face in his arms.

Chance popped the sausage  into his mouth with a knowing grin. “Uh-huh. And I’m just now walking in.” He winked. “Totally didn’t hear you sighing into your food.”

Noli sat stiffly, his eyes kept flicking back toward the door, where 007n7 had just left a few minutes ago– grinning, even laughing a little, when 118o8 had called in to ask, “Hey, wanna hang out for old times’ sake?”

And of course, 007n7 said yes.

Of course he did.

Noli didn’t even know he was grinding his teeth until Chance spoke up again. “Dude..” Chance said through a mouthful of soda. “You’re practically burning holes in the floor with your jealousy.”

“I’m not jealous.” Noli snapped, far too quickly. “I’m just… concerned. What if- what if they’re not just hanging out?”

Chance blinked, then gave him a look. “Bro. It’s just a girl.”

“Yeah, exactly! She’s smart, cool, cute, funny– everything! They get along so well. And what if– what if Seven isn’t like me?” Noli’s voice cracked at the end. “What if he’s straight, Chance? What if I’ve been imagining all of this in my head? What if he– what if he really likes her?”

“Hey, hey, whoa.” Chance set the soda can down and approached Noli, hands up like he was trying to calm a skittish cat. “You’re spiraling, man.”

Noli couldn’t hold it in anymore. He turned away from the door, shoulders trembling. “I’m so tired of pretending I don’t feel anything. I do. I feel everything. I love him, Chance. I love him more than anything. I think about him every day. I—” His voice broke again, and this time, he didn’t try to hide it. “I wanna spend the rest of my life with him. I want us to raise C00lkidd together, just us. I want to build a home together. I want a future, but–” His fists clenched. 

“But what if I’m not even in his future?”

Chance’s playful expression softened– not gone entirely, but buried beneath something more understanding. He gently patted Noli’s back, the most physical comfort he could offer. “Listen, bro.” Chance said, tone softer now. “Seven’s just slow with stuff like this. But I promise you, he’s not walking away from this. He cares about you. A lot. You just gotta trust me. Okay?”

Noli didn’t answer right away. He looked down, biting the inside of his cheek. “...I do trust you,” he finally said. “I just don’t trust me.”

Chance grinned. “Then let me do the trusting for both of us. You’re not out of the game yet, lover boy.”

Easy for you to say.” Noli grumbled, his voice sharp enough to cut glass– sour, bitter, and laced with something ugly he didn’t want to name. His fingers curled into fists in his lap, nails pressing half-moons into his skin.

Fine.  

If 007n7 wanted to play this game– wanted to smile and laugh and kiss him one night, only to run off the next day like it meant nothing– then Noli could play too.

Even if it tore him apart.

Even if his chest already ached just thinking about pulling away.

He wasn’t going to let this slide.

He’d start freezing him out.

Short answers. Avoiding eye contact. No more late-night talks. No more sharing headphones or splitting snacks. No more waiting up for someone who couldn’t decide if he wanted to be a best friend or something more.

If 007n7 couldn’t figure out what he wanted, then Noli wasn’t going to hand him his heart just to be ignored.

Even if every cell in his body screamed not to do it.

Even if he still wanted to sit beside him and pretend it didn’t hurt.

He wouldn’t.

He couldn’t.

Not anymore.

Chapter Text

The sky had turned soft with golden hues, the kind of light that stretched long shadows and made everything feel like the ending of a warm memory. 

118o8 let out a gentle sigh, her laughter finally tapering into a fond smile as she sat down beside 007n7 on a weathered park bench, their legs barely brushing. “It’s been really nice hanging out again, Sev.” 118o8 said, voice softer now, more sincere. 

118o8’s posture was relaxed in a way it rarely got to be these days, her shoulders slumped in a comfortable ease instead of stress. “Feels like it’s been forever since I had fun like this without worrying about whether or not my toddler’s setting something on fire.”

007n7 chuckled, eyes still watching the sky but his smile tugging upward at her words. “Yeah… same here.” 007n7 said, running a hand through his hair with a sigh. “I haven’t had time to breathe since college ended, honestly. It’s just been non-stop work, parenting, barely sleeping..” 

007n7 let out a dry laugh, tilting his head back. “And don’t even get me started on the love life stuff…” His voice cracked a little on that last part, bitter but tired. Like someone who’s to exhausted to be angry anymore.

118o8 gave him a knowing glance. “Still complicated?”

“Beyond.” 007n7 replied, scrunching his nose. 

118o8 snorted. “Seems so.” They both smiled at that. A pause settled between them, not heavy, not awkward– just peaceful. Content.

“But I should get going soon.” 118o8 said after a beat, standing up and brushing off her pants. “Bluudud’s probably already started his reign of terror again and Six might not be able to hold him down.”

“Yeah… I should head back too. Noli’s probably…” 007n7 trailed off before finishing the thought. He didn’t know what Noli would be doing. And he wasn’t sure he was ready to find out.

118o8 glanced at him, a little smile playing at her lips. “Don’t overthink it, Sev. Just go home.”

007n7 nodded slowly, rising from the bench and shoving his hands in his pockets. “Thanks, Eight. Really.”

“Anytime.” 118o8 said, already walking backward. “We gotta do this again before our kids become teenagers and destroy the universe.”

“Deal.” 007n7 laughed, waving.

They then parted ways with the last rays of sunlight casting a golden farewell across the horizon– two exhausted, yet warm-hearted parents, retreating to their own corners of chaos. The world around them seemed to settle into dusk, the air cooler now, touched by the promise of evening.

007n7’s commute back to Chance’s mansion was uneventful– same route, same flickering streetlights, the occasional passing car and the soft hum of the city shifting into nighttime. But there was something unusually heavy about the way the sky darkened above him, like a weight pressing just behind his ribs.

By the time he reached the mansion, the last of the sunlight had vanished, leaving behind only deepening shadows and the faint glow of the porch light. The towering structure of Chance’s estate loomed in front of him– grand as ever, but somehow it felt off, too still, too quiet.

007n7 pulled the spare key from his pocket– one of the two Chance had cut for him and Noli after they’d moved in. He slid it into the keyhole, the metallic click of the lock disengaging echoing a little too loudly in the silence. He hesitated for just a moment before pushing the door open.

The interior greeted him with dim hallway lights and polished marble floors that reflected his shape like a ghost. Everything was exactly where it should be. The tall vase by the entryway, the faint scent of leftover food lingering from an earlier meal, and the distant ticking of a wall clock. 

But something felt wrong, it felt like an itch at the back of his mind he couldn’t quite scratch. 007n7 stepped inside, the heavy door clicking shut behind him.

Not the peaceful kind that settles after a long day– but the charged kind. Like the mansion was holding its breath.

007n7’s brows furrowed as he walked, footsteps muffled by the carpet. There was no sound of a TV playing in the background. No chatter from Chance. No soft cooing or chaotic babbling from C00lkidd. Even the usual clattering sounds from the kitchen were missing. It wasn’t just quiet– it was unnaturally quiet.

007n7’s instincts, sharpened from years of chaos and griefing, were tingling. “ Okay… ” 007n7 muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing as he scanned the darkened hallway. “Why does it feel like the house is haunted all of a sudden?”

007n7 voice, small and joking as it was, didn’t echo back. That somehow made it worse. Usually, this would be the part where Noli chimed in with something stupid to shatter the tension, replying with something stupid like..

“It’s all the souls Chance collected from those who were unable to pay back their debt from the casino!”  Followed by that snorty little snicker of his, the one that always made things feel a little less serious. A little less heavy.

But there was no snickering this time. No quick-witted comeback. No sarcastic remark hanging in the air like a firecracker.

Without Noli by his side, filling the silence with dumb humor and remarks like those, everything felt heavier.

007n7 sighed, his pace slower now as he made his way through the hushed corridors. His footsteps padded softly against the plush carpet, the dim overhead lights casting long shadows on the walls. He didn’t bother turning any more of them on. Something about the darkness felt earned. Like it fit the mood.

When he finally reached the familiar hallway that led to their shared room, he hesitated for just a second before pushing the door open. The room was dim– just the faint blue of the nightlight casting long shadows across the floor. But what immediately caught 007n7’s eye was the beds.

Their two beds, which had usually been scooted close together to make it easier to reach C00lkidd in the middle of the night, were now farther apart. Like a silent argument had taken place and the distance was the result.

His eyes moved to the sleeping forms. C00lkidd was sprawled out like a starfish in his crib, one sock barely clinging to his foot. Noli was curled on his side, facing away, brow faintly furrowed even in sleep.

Noli looked angry. Not the usual cartoonish pouting kind of angry, but something quieter. Colder. The kind of anger that brewed while someone tried to pretend they weren’t hurt.

007n7’s stomach turned, guilt creeping in like a slow leak. Something had clearly happened while he was out.

Did I say something before I left?

Was it because of the call?

Was it because I went out with Eight again?

The questions lingered in his chest, poking holes through his earlier contentment.

007n7 figured he’d ask in the morning. Whatever this was, he’d fix it then. Right now, he was exhausted, too weighed down by the day, by everything, to do much else.

Still fully dressed, 007n7 trudged to his bed. He didn’t bother changing or pulling the covers back– just flopped onto the mattress and let his body go limp.

Flipping over onto his back, he stared at the ceiling for a long minute. The space between their beds felt like a canyon now. He glanced sideways toward Noli’s form.

“You better still be mad in the morning… Because if you’re just pulling some dramatic sleep pose for attention, I swear to Telamon.” 007n7 mumbled angrily. 007n7 closed his eyes. Everything felt off.

And 007n7 hated it.

–+⟡+–

Morning came slow, golden light bleeding in from the half-closed blinds and pooling on the wooden floor like soft honey. 007n7 blinked awake with a groggy groan, the weight of sleep still heavy in his limbs. His joints ached slightly from sleeping in his clothes, but what else was new?

007n7 rubbed his eyes and sat up, stretching with a quiet yawn. He grabbed his glasses just so he could see clearly. For a moment, the room was still quiet. 007n7 glanced over to the other side of the room, expecting to see Noli still half-buried under the covers, drooling into his pillow like usual.

But the bed was empty. And not just empty– it was made neatly, too neatly. The blanket was smoothed down, pillows fluffed. Not a wrinkle in sight. 007n7 stared at it for a moment, the gears in his brain slowly turning.

“Huh. That’s weird.” 007n7 couldn’t help but mutter out. Noli never made his bed. He always claimed there was no point since he was just going to mess it up again later.

007n7 swung his legs off the bed and stood up, a mild pang of worry settling in his chest. Maybe he’s in the kitchen. It wouldn’t be out of the question– Noli sometimes woke up early to sneak snacks. And with how off he seemed last night, maybe he just needed some space.

007n7 made his way down the quiet hall, footsteps soft against the floor. As he entered the kitchen, the familiar smell of leftover reheated breakfast and instant coffee greeted him. There, leaning against the counter with a mug in hand, was Noli.

He wasn’t eating. Just standing there, sipping mechanically. His hoodie was pulled halfway over his head despite the morning warmth, and he didn’t even glance over when 007n7 entered.

“Morning.” 007n7 offered gently, testing the waters. And in response Noli just barely hummed. It was more of a noise than a response.

007n7 walked further in, scratching the back of his neck. “Did you, uh, sleep alright? You weren’t in bed when I woke up…”

“I got up early.” Noli said flatly, not even looking at 007n7. The hum of the refrigerator seemed louder than usual.

“Oh.” 007n7 tried to keep his tone light, undeterred. “Well… that’s cool. Just wanted to check on you. You seemed kinda off last night.”

Noli took a slow sip from his mug. “I’m fine.” That was it. No teasing, no sarcastic remark, no snarky jab about how he was being dramatic. Just “I’m fine” in a voice that didn’t sound like his Noli at all. 007n7’s stomach twisted.

007n7 shifted awkwardly, waiting for something else, anything, but Noli didn’t speak again. Noli didn’t even look at him. He just stared down into his mug like it held the answers to the universe.

“…Okay.” 007n7 said quietly, backing toward the counter. “If you need anything, you know... I’m around.” Noli gave no reply, not even a grunt or anything.

The silence that followed was thick and uncomfortable, pressing down like a weighted blanket. 007n7 stood there a moment longer before slowly turning away, walking to the fridge as if pretending to look for food would make this feel less awful.

007n7 didn’t want to admit how much it hurt. How much that coldness stung. Two days ago, they were closer than ever– sharing laughter and pain during the fair. Now it felt like 007n7 had been iced out of a room he didn’t know he was locked out of.

007n7 bit the inside of his cheek, grabbing a juice box instead of actual breakfast. His appetite was gone anyway. Noli’s silence filled the kitchen like fog. And 007n7 couldn’t help but wonder what he’d done wrong.

“Have you eaten anything..?” 007n7 asked, his voice soft and careful, almost unsure if it had permission to exist in the same space as Noli right now.

It was a sad attempt at small talk, but it was all he had. He wasn’t good at this– at confrontation, at fixing things with words– but he still hoped, foolishly, that the right question might somehow smooth the jagged tension hanging between them.

Noli didn’t answer right away. He stared down at the almost empty mug in his hands, the last swirls of lukewarm coffee pooling at the bottom. The light from the window cast a dull sheen across his face, but it couldn’t hide the exhaustion carved into Noli’s features– the tightness around his mouth, the way his eyes looked almost bruised from lack of sleep.

With a heavy sigh, Noli tilted his head back and drained the last of his drink in one go. He set the mug down on the counter– not gently, not with a crash, but with that heavy-handed clunk that said “ I don’t want to be here anymore.”

007n7 flinched at the sound anyway. He stayed where he was, frozen in place, watching Noli like a shadow afraid of being chased off by the light.

Noli didn’t meet his gaze. Not even a glance.

Then without a word, Noli brushed past 007n7. Not roughly enough to shove, but not soft enough to be neutral either. His shoulder grazed 007n7’s arm in a way that felt deliberate, cold, dismissive .

007n7 didn’t move. He stood rooted to the spot, chest heavy, breath caught somewhere between inhale and apology. His fingertips twitched at his sides, wanting to reach out, to grab Noli’s sleeve and say “ Please don’t walk away like that.”

But the doorframe swallowed Noli up.

And the silence left behind hit harder than any slammed door. It hung in the air like smoke after a fire— still, heavy, and suffocating. 007n7 stood alone in the kitchen, eyes fixed on the spot Noli had just vacated, his brows furrowed in quiet confusion.

What did I do?

He replayed the morning over and over in his mind, desperately scanning for something– anything– that could explain the coldness in Noli’s voice, the look in his eyes, the way he wouldn’t even look at him. But nothing came to mind. There was no fight. No argument. No cruel words exchanged.

And yet something was wrong. That much was clear.

007n7’s shoulders slumped a little, the weight of invisible guilt crawling its way onto his back. “Noli…” 007n7 muttered under his breath, barely audible. He hated this– feeling like he’d broken something without even realizing when or how.

Then, just when the silence was about to swallow him too.. “ Yeesh.. Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.”

007n7 nearly jumped, whipping his head to the side.

Chance stood in the far corner of the kitchen, casually leaned against the counter like he’d been there the entire time. A chilled bottle of some neon-colored soda fizzed lazily in his hand. His usual smirk tugged at his lips, but it was softer now, less mocking— like he knew exactly how tense the air had been but couldn’t resist the opportunity to lighten it anyway.

“ Chance..? ” 007n7 blinked, startled. “Since when–?”

“I’ve been here long before you two hopeless losers entered.” Chance sighed, taking another noisy sip of his soda. “You guys have zero spatial awareness. Noli didn’t even notice me when he came in, and you looked like you were too busy guilt-tripping yourself into an early grave.”

007n7 opened his mouth, but no words came out. He closed it again, expression caught somewhere between sheepishness and frustration.

Chance tilted his head. “You wanna talk about it, or you just gonna keep sulking?”

007n7 looked away, toward the empty doorway Noli had vanished through. His voice came quieter now, barely rising above the fizzing sound of Chance’s soda. “…I think I messed up. I just don’t know what I messed up.”

Chance raised a brow, the beginnings of actual concern slipping into his face– even if it was still wrapped in the usual wrapper of sarcasm and soda fizz. “Then lucky for you, you’ve got a certified emotional support gambler right here.” 

Chance clacked his bottle gently onto the counter, arms crossing loosely. “Let’s figure out what trainwreck of feelings we’re dealing with today, huh?” 007n7 hesitated. His fingers fidgeted with the hem of his sleeve. But eventually, he gave a small nod.

“Well then, go on, lover boy.” Chance said, smirking just enough to keep the tension from swallowing them both. “What happened? Did you forget to do something? Eat the last slice of pizza? Tell him he can’t pull off his stupid little shorts?”

007n7 gave a tired sigh. “I don’t know! All I did was just hangout with Eight..” Chance’s smirk flattened into something more neutral. He didn’t interrupt.

“She called me up while me and Noli were eating brunch. She wanted to hang out. We hadn’t talked like that in a while, so I thought– what the hell , you know?” 007n7 rubbed the back of his neck.

 “We just talked, caught up on life. Got some street food. I came home and– boom. Noli’s a whole different person– Cold – almost like he wants to avoid me ..”

Chance nodded slowly, like it all made too much sense. “Ah.. I see.”

007n7 blinked. “What?” 007n7 tilted his head, clearly not getting what Chance was hinting at.

Chance waved him off with a shrug. “Don’t worry about it. Classic case. Anyway– solution time.” Chance clapped his hands together. “We’re fixing this. Today.”

“What does that even mean?”

“It means..” Chance said with dramatic flair. “I’m gonna shove you two back into the same room as many times as it takes to get you to talk like human beings again!”

“Do you really think this’ll work..?” 007n7 asked, afraid of making things more awkward with Noli.

“I’m literally your unpaid wingman! I know what I’m doing.” Chance scoffs, sounding offended. “Now come on, lover boy!” Chance pushes the awkward young adult out the kitchen.

 –+⟡+–

The plan started simple– subtle even , at least by Chance's standards. Shared chores. It was easy and natural. Nothing suspicious about that.

“Hey, guys?” Chance called, popping his head into the hallway with his trademark soda in one hand. “Mind helping me reorganize the living room? Just a couple shelves, I swear. My back’s killing me.”

Noli muttered a quick “fine.” while 007n7 gave a quiet nod. Both followed him in with the kind of begrudging energy that only tired young adults and part-time parents could summon.

And the moment they stepped into the cluttered lounge, Chance tossed the duster at Noli, handing a box of assorted wires and trinkets to 007n7 with a smile that screamed definitely planning something, before disappearing down the hallway with an exaggerated yawn. His footsteps grew quieter. A door clicked shut.

They were alone.

The silence that followed was suffocating in how normal it was– too normal. The air smelled faintly of furniture polish and lingering tension.

Noli immediately turned his back and got to work, dusting along the cluttered bookshelf. His movements were robotic, mechanical, like he was trying too hard to look busy.

007n7 stood still for a moment before quietly setting the box down beside a crooked coffee table. He ran his fingers through his hair, debating whether or not to say anything. Then finally, he tried.

“Hey.” 007n7 said, casually– but gently, trying to open the door for small talk by just a little. “You ever think about getting rid of some of this junk?” 007n7 asked sheepishly. It was a dumb way to start some small talk, but it was certainly better than nothing.

Noli didn’t look up. His duster never paused. “S’ not mine, why should I?” Noli muttered, tone clipped.

“Yeah—! Yeah..” 007n7’s reply came out quicker than he meant. It landed like a dropped stone in a still pond. He turned toward the shelf on his side of the room and started sorting through old books and knickknacks. 

His fingers moved, but his mind wasn’t in it. He kept glancing across the room, watching Noli out of the corner of his eye. Watching the way he avoided eye contact. How he flinched when their hands got too close on the same shelf.

They worked in silence. Not the peaceful kind– this one buzzed like a broken lightbulb. Like static trapped between them.

A few minutes passed, and the only sound was the soft swish of the duster and the occasional soft clink of glass or wood as items were shifted. Then, from the hallway, a faint shuffle. 

 Chance peeked around the corner with the slow precision of a cartoon villain. His eyes scanned the room.

007n7 was crouched near the floor, carefully untangling a mess of cords, eyes downcast and lips pressed tight. Noli stood at the other end of the room, gently dusting the same shelf for the third time, shoulders drawn inward, guarded.

Not a word. Not even a glance exchanged.

Chance scowled, slowly drawing his head back behind the doorway. He took a deep, dramatic breath, cracking his knuckles. “You both are so stubborn..” Chance muttered to himself, turning on his heel. “Plan B.”

 –+⟡+–

Noli stayed in their room, sitting cross-legged on the floor, a soft baby blanket bunched around him like a nest. The faint glow of the afternoon sun bled in through the curtains, casting a sleepy warmth over the space. C00lkidd sat in front of him, a toy in each hand, babbling happily and clumsily smashing them together like it was the funniest thing in the world.

Noli smiled faintly at the chaos, gently fixing the baby’s bib as he let out a chuckle under his breath. Around C00lkidd, he could still be soft. Still be present. But the weight in his chest didn’t go away.

“You’re growing up so fast..” Noli sighed, petting C00lkidd’s hair gently.

Outside the room, Chance leaned in the doorway beside 007n7, sipping on yet another can of soda— something orange and fizzy this time. “Why don’t you just be yourself?” Chance muttered, voice low enough so only 007n7 could hear. “I mean, it’s how you two always clicked, right? Don’t think too hard. Just talk to him like you always do.”

007n7 hesitated, staring past Chance into the bedroom. “Be myself..” 007n7 repeated, almost as if trying the phrase on for size.

“Yeah!” Chance said, nudging him forward with his elbow and a sly smile. “What’s the worst that could happen?” That sentence echoed unpleasantly in 007n7’s head as he stepped into the room.

007n7 made sure to make his presence known. 007n7 stepped foot into the room with loud footsteps, sighing as if he just did something tiring.

Though even after that Noli didn’t look up. He didn’t flinch or pause or even glance toward the doorway. He just kept stacking soft foam blocks in front of C00lkidd like he hadn’t even noticed 007n7’s arrival.

“Hey.” 007n7 tried, voice light. “You teaching the lil’ gremlin the fine art of demolition?”

“Mamaa!” C00lkidd babbled, looking at 007n7.

“Hey, kid.” 007n7 smiled, though still not daring to come closer to Noli— in fear of scaring his best friend off.

C00lkidd let out a triumphant shriek as he knocked over the little tower. Noli let out a small chuckle for his son, not for 007n7. His expression didn’t shift. His eyes remained on the baby.

007n7 crossed the room slowly, not daring to sit just yet. “You sleep okay last night?” 007n7 asked again, trying to latch onto anything— anything at all that might start a conversation.

Noli’s hand froze for the briefest second, barely noticeable. He hummed quietly, like he hadn’t fully heard the question— or like he didn’t care to answer. His gaze never lifted.

Undeterred, 007n7 scratched the back of his head. “C00lkidd kept kicking me in my sleep again..” 007n7 said, attempting a joke. “Little guy’s gonna take someone out one day.”

Still, Noli didn’t laugh. He didn’t smile. He just picked up a rattle, shook it for C00lkidd’s entertainment, and muttered. 

“You play with him then.” The words came out sharp, quiet, but cold. Like he was clenching his teeth behind them.

007n7 blinked, a little stunned.

Noli finally stood up, dusting off his pants, and moved toward the doorway without a second glance. He paused only briefly near the threshold—just long enough to let out a sigh that sounded heavier than anything else in the room—and then he left, leaving C00lkidd in the middle of the floor and 007n7 standing there in stunned silence.

007n7 looked down at the babbling baby, then at the doorway Noli had just vanished through.

“…Right.” 007n7 whispered to no one. “Just be myself.”

You could hear a slap from the hallway, as Chance loudly face palmed. Chance dragged his hand down his face, groaning. “This is so hopeless.” Chance turned on his heel, ready to execute another plan.

 –+⟡+–

“Hey, Noli, Seven. C’mere a sec.” Chance’s voice was casual and light as if it’s just another lazy afternoon tone as he leaned against the open back door, twirling a little pink watering can by the handle like it was no big deal. “Figured we could give the garden a little love.”

Noli glanced up from the couch, squinting suspiciously. “Since when do you garden?”

“Since I realized I got free labor in this mansion.” Chance grinned. “Also, fresh air’s good for the soul. Come on, I’ll hold the gremlin.”

007n7 blinked. “The baby has a name.”

“I forgot it.” Chance said breezily, reaching out and plucking C00lkidd from Noli’s lap like he was grabbing snacks from a shelf. “Now go. Water stuff. Stretch your legs. Don’t question it.”

So they followed– somewhat reluctantly – out into the golden sunlight of the back garden. It was quiet out there, a bit too quiet. The breeze stirred the leaves gently. The place had the peaceful, smug energy of somewhere that knew people were about to feel things whether they liked it or not.

Chance handed Noli the lone watering can. “Now get to watering, boys.” Chance said, grinning faintly. 

Noli narrowed his eyes. “There’s only one can.”

“Guess you’ll have to pass it back and forth, huh?” Chance’s expression didn’t budge. “I’ll be inside. C00lkidd’s due for a snack.” And just like that, Chance turned and strolled off toward the mansion with C00lkidd cooing in his arms.

Once inside, he passed the kitchen window, pausing briefly. Chance watched as Noli and 007n7 stood awkwardly in the garden, watering can suspended between them like a bomb neither of them wanted to touch first.

“Play it cool…” Chance muttered to C00lkidd, who was happily chewing on one of his fingers. “Let them marinate.” Chance sipped from a suspiciously carbonated bottle of something inside. 

Outside, 007n7 cleared his throat. The silence between them had gone on too long, hanging heavier than the sun’s glare. “H-how about I go and fill the watering ca—”

Noli groaned loudly and deliberately. The sound sliced through 007n7’s sentence like a knife. Without so much as looking his way, Noli snatched the watering can from his hands and stomped toward the outdoor faucet, each step stiff and clipped.

007n7 blinked, frozen in place for a beat before quickly following behind. “Or not.. It’s okay! I can just– uh , water the plants while you refill the can!” 007n7 stammered, voice cracking under the weight of his own nerves. 

007n7 wasn’t used to sounding awkward, nervous, and uncertain. He was usually the smug and cool-headed one. But something about Noli’s cold shoulder was unraveling him fast.

Noli didn’t say anything. He just twisted the rusty faucet handle hard enough that it creaked, letting the watering can fill under the sputtering stream. The silence was brutal. The only sound between them was the gurgle of water and the faint whistle of wind through the trees.

“I—” 007n7 tried again, fidgeting with the hem of his hoodie. “Did I… do something?”

“Don’t start.” Noli cut him off again, sharp and low. 

That shut 007n7 up quick.

The watering can overflowed slightly, water spilling over Noli’s hand. He didn’t even flinch. He just shut the faucet off with a snap, then turned on his heel and walked right past 007n7 without a word.

007n7’s stomach twisted. He stared after him, lips parted as if a better response might materialize if he waited long enough. But nothing came. 007n7 stood there for a second longer, watching Noli’s back retreat across the garden, sunlight catching on his hair, painting gold into his scowl.

007n7 finally looked down at his feet. “…Cool. Awesome. ” 007n7 mumbled under his breath, dragging a hand down his face.

From inside the mansion, Chance and C00lkidd seemingly exchanged stares as they both sighed– collectively agreeing that this duo was blind and insufferable to wingman. “Are your dads really this oblivious to love?” Chance couldn’t help but ask the baby, assuming it would answer.

C00lkidd just stared at Chance, and gave a slight nod, along with a disappointed look. “Do you ever wish you could tell them up front that they both like each other?” Chance asked another question. This time, C00lkidd shot a confused stare. Chance frowned, opening his mouth again. “You probably didn’t understand me just then.. Huh.”

Chapter Text

For the first time in a long while, Noli woke up before 007n7.

The early morning light spilled faintly through the window, casting a soft gold over their shared room. He lay there in silence for a moment, eyes half-open, unsure of what pulled him out of sleep so early. He turned his head slightly– and there he was. 007n7, sound asleep, half-tangled in his blanket, hair messy and mouth slightly open like always.

Noli’s brows furrowed just a little. It was weird, waking up without the familiar sound of 007n7 grumbling about being late, poking his shoulder to wake him up, or rambling about whatever new interest he picked up on. Noli had grown used to that– maybe too used to it.

Noli exhaled quietly, eyes lingering on 007n7’s sleeping form. It felt off. Like a routine had been broken. A piece of something important knocked loose.

But still, he told himself this was the right thing. That pulling away was necessary. That giving the cold shoulder, the short replies, the distance– it was justified. After all, 007n7 went out of his way to hang out with someone else. Someone who wasn’t him. Someone who clearly made him smile the way Noli hadn’t seen in a while.

Was it stupid to be jealous? Probably. But the sinking feeling in his gut didn’t care for logic.

Noli sat up, rubbing at his tired eyes. He refused to look back at the bed again. If he kept looking, he might start feeling soft, and if he started feeling soft, he might cave, and if he caved?

Noli shook his head, ridding himself of that thought as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. He steadied himself with a long breath. Without another glance, Noli quietly left the room.

The hallway outside was dim and still, save for the quiet creaks of the house settling. Noli walked with light steps, barefoot against the cold flooring, his mind still foggy from sleep and the weight of everything he’d been holding in.

As he rounded the corner toward the bathroom, he nearly bumped into Chance.

Chance was already awake, dressed, and sipping from a bright orange can of something suspiciously fizzy at six in the morning. He blinked, clearly surprised to see Noli up before the rest of the house.

“Hey, Nols!” Chance greeted, raising the can slightly in an informal toast. “Up early, eh? Planning to clock in early today?” He gave a weak attempt at a joke, his usual smirk in place.

Noli didn’t even flinch. His eyes drifted to Chance for a second, unreadable, before he exhaled through his nose. “It’s to make up for all the late clock-ins I’ve had.” Noli tried for a smile, though it came out looking crooked and shallow.

Before Chance could get another word in, Noli stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind him with a soft click of the lock. Chance stood there for a second, the corner of his mouth twitching down as he took another sip of his soda.

“…Man.” Chance muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing at the closed door. “These two are taking years off of my life.” He gave the doorknob one last look before shaking his head and turning away, his footsteps echoing softly down the stairs and fading into the stillness of the early morning.

Inside the bathroom, Noli let out a long, quiet sigh. The fan above hummed faintly, the only sound accompanying his breath. Noli stared at his reflection in the mirror, the bags under his eyes, the creases in his shirt collar. He looked exhausted. Not just tired from waking up early– but tired in a way that had been collecting over the last two days.

Noli turned on the faucet. The sound of rushing water filled the space as he cupped his hands under the stream, splashing cold water onto his face. He reached for his toothbrush but that stirred something.

Noli remembered a night back in their college dorm– when 007n7 had run out of toothpaste and shamelessly used Noli’s without asking. Noli had yelled at him for it, of course, calling him gross and dramatic, but 007n7 had just laughed, mouth still foaming, saying 

“C’mon, germs build character!”

Noli scoffed at the memory, but the small, involuntary smile that curled at the edge of his lips was gone before it fully formed. He brushed his teeth in silence, shoulders tense.

The two of them are both standing shoulder to shoulder in their tiny dorm bathroom, rushing to get ready for class after sleeping through alarms. 007n7 had toothpaste on his shirt, Noli had shaving cream in his hair, and neither of them were really awake. It was chaotic, dumb, and for some reason, kind of perfect.

Noli spat as he took the cup of water, rinsing his mouth out with it. He gripped the sides of the sink for a moment, just breathing. Inhale, exhale. He dried his face and grabbed a comb, running it through his hair slowly.

He remembered 007n7 behind him again– an older memory this time – trying to help him style his hair for some college party neither of them wanted to go to. Noli had been so annoyed at the time, swatting 007n7’s hands away as he tried to gel a chunk of hair upward ‘for the aesthetic’ ’.

Though they somehow ended up on the floor, crying with laughter over how dumb it looked. They skipped the party. Got takeout instead. Fell asleep on the couch. 

That had been years ago. But now it stung– stung hard .

Noli set the comb down a little too hard. The quiet clack echoed in the small space. He stared at himself again in the mirror. “This is stupid.” Noli muttered to himself. “He just hung out with her. That’s it.” Still, that ache in his chest didn’t go away.

Noli turned, opening the cabinet for deodorant– only to pause when he saw 007n7’s razor still tucked beside his own. He closed the door– harder this time.

Noli couldn’t let this keep affecting him. This whole “cold shoulder” act was supposed to protect him– keep things from spiraling. But all it was doing now was making mornings like this feel heavier than they needed to be. Like everything was dragging just a little slower– like even breathing required effort.

With a quiet, bitter breath, he stepped out of the bathroom, the door clicking shut behind him. No more lingering. He had a job to get to. If he kept moving– if he just focused on the steps in front of him– maybe he wouldn’t have to think too hard about what he was really running from.

Noli quietly walked back to his room, His heart thudded a little faster the closer he got– tension curling tight in his chest. He wasn’t even sure why he felt so nervous. Maybe it was the thought of facing 007n7 again. Seeing those tired, confused eyes looking back at him, hearing his voice try to sound normal when everything wasn't.

Noli hovered at the door for a second too long, hand resting on the knob, eyes darting between the floor and the frame. “It’s fine.” Noli whispered to himself.  “I’m just grabbing my bag. I need to leave early anyway… clock in before the rush starts.” With a quiet inhale, Noli turned the knob and pushed the door open.

Inside, the soft rustling of bedsheets greeted him. 007n7 was still asleep, half-curled under a tangled blanket, his hair sticking out in every direction like it usually did after a restless night. Noli stood frozen in the doorway for a second, gaze lingering on the peaceful rise and fall of 007n7’s shoulders.

A sigh left Noli’s lips– quiet, almost guilty.

Was he pushing this too far?

Noli’s shoulders tensed as he shook the thought from his head, padding across the room with careful steps. Noli grabbed his bag from beside the desk without making a sound, he slung it over his shoulder, gave 007n7 one last glance– then quietly slipped out the door and made his way down to the front entrance.

He descended the stairs in silence, footsteps soft against the wood. The house felt heavy in the early hours, like the walls themselves knew something wasn’t right. As he rounded the last step and made his way to the door, he came to an abrupt stop.

Standing squarely in front of the door was Chance, arms crossed firmly over his chest, back leaned casually against the frame like a bouncer waiting to turn someone away. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp with intent. As Noli approached, Chance tilted his head slightly, a lopsided half-smile forming on his face– but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Noli blinked in surprise, his footsteps slowing. His brows pulled together faintly before he sighed, already feeling the familiar weight of irritation creeping up his spine. “Chance..” he said, voice clipped and low. “Could you move, please? I need to get to work.”

But Chance didn’t flinch. He didn’t even shift his feet. “And I need to say what’s been on my chest before you pretend everything’s sunshine and rainbows and disappear into your little wonderful job.” Chance said, his voice laced with irony. 

His tone wasn’t mocking– it was deliberate, like a slap with a glove. Noli stiffened at the jab, and the quiet tension that hung in the air between them thickened.

“Look, Noli.” Chance continued, his voice losing its usual levity. “Whatever this cold-shoulder act is, it’s not working. Not for your relationship with Seven– and not for you .” Chance’s voice softened just a fraction, though the words still hit like a blow. 

Noli’s hands curled into fists at his sides. His jaw clenched, the muscle twitching. There was something about hearing ‘you’ that made it feel personal– Too personal . He wanted to argue, to throw back some kind of defense, but the words stuck to the back of his throat like glue. Because deep down, he knew Chance was right. That stung worse than anything.

“You think you’re being subtle?” Chance went on, eyes narrowing just a touch. “Please. I’m a professional at reading faces, I own a casino for Telamon’s sake.” Chance scoffed. 

Noli took a sharp breath through his nose, tearing his gaze away. “It’s not your business.” Noli snapped, voice low but heated– like a warning before a storm.

Chance raised both eyebrows slowly, unimpressed. “No.” Chance said plainly. “But as both of your friends, I can’t stand still and watch you both crumble into pieces.” There was no sarcasm there– just the weight of honesty.

“You and Seven have been walking around like two strangers trying not to flinch when you brush shoulders. Like this whole mess doesn’t hurt. And I’m telling you right now– I’m so tired of pretending not to notice it.”

Noli stared at the doorknob beside Chance’s arm, suddenly far more interested in leaving than continuing this conversation. Without another word, he reached out and grasped the handle.

“I’m going to be late.” Noli muttered, as if that could excuse the silence in his chest.

Chance didn’t move. He simply raised one brow, gaze fixed on Noli with quiet disappointment. “Right. Just keep walking like nothing’s wrong. I’m sure that’ll solve everything.”

Noli didn’t answer. He opened the door and stepped out, the chill of the morning air brushing past his cheeks like a slap. It was cool outside, almost too crisp for comfort. The sky above was a pale, sleepy gray, still shaking off the last bits of dawn. 

Noli sternly adjusted the strap of his bag across his shoulder and tucked one hand into his jacket pocket, his steps quick but quiet as he slipped out onto the sidewalk.

Still, as he walked off down the street with his bag slung over one shoulder and his eyes downcast, Chance’s words echoed after him– unshakable, heavy, and painfully true.

The commute was the same as always– unremarkable in every way except for how familiar it felt. He caught the same old bus, took the same seat by the window, and let the passing buildings blur into a motionless gray. The world moved, but in his chest, something still felt stuck.

But his mind didn’t follow the schedule.

His eyes blinked past the glass, but all he saw was 007n7 awkwardly trailing behind him in the garden, nervously stammering some half-baked small talk while Noli completely shut him down. Noli closed his eyes, brow furrowing. Noli tightened his jaw.

By the time he arrived at the fast food place, the smell of fryer grease and lukewarm coffee hit him before the door even swung fully open. He tossed his bag in the staff cubby, pulled on his uniform cap, and clocked in.

Back to routine.

Noli tied on his apron and took his spot at the grill. The sizzle of oil, the clatter of trays, the beeping of fryers– it all blurred together. His hands moved out of habit, flipping patties, tossing buns, reaching for condiments without thinking. But his head– his head wasn’t there.

Noli pushed down on a patty harder than needed, letting it hiss against the grill. He remembered the way 007n7’s voice cracked– how he rambled about watering the plants, how he trailed behind him like a lost dog just trying. And Noli gave him nothing. Not even a crumb of patience.

“...You play with C00lkidd then.”

Noli muttered that coldly and bluntly. He didn’t even look at 007n7 when he said it. A small flicker of shame curled in his gut. Then there was that moment– the one Noli kept circling back to . The one that hurt the most to remember.

“…Did I do something wrong?”

007n7’s voice had cracked. It sounded vulnerable, a tone Noli rarely ever heard from him. Noli had pretended not to hear it.

Noli flipped the next patty with more force than needed, grease sizzling up like steam from his thoughts. A coworker passed behind him, but he didn’t register them. He just kept working. Noli tried convincing himself this was justified. That he was setting boundaries. That he was protecting himself from getting hurt.

Noli stared down at the rows of half-cooked meat in front of him and realized he had no idea which ones he had flipped already. With a sharp exhale through his nose, Noli set the spatula down and leaned against the counter, one hand gripping the cold metal edge. 

Noli looked down at his reflection faintly distorted in the grease-stained surface. His jaw was tight, his brows pinched. Tired– he looked tired.

This wasn’t working.

Not just the silent treatment. Not the distance. Not the pretending like everything wasn’t spiraling inside him every time 007n7 looked at him with that confused hurt in his eyes.

Noli raked a hand through his hair, fingers trembling slightly as they tugged at his roots. He needed space– that was the whole point, right? But even now, the space he had– the room, the silence, the mornings spent rushing out without a word– felt like walking through a house made of glass. One wrong step and he was going to cut himself open.

Maybe that’s why the thought came again, clearer this time. A whisper that had lingered in the back of his mind for days.

I should move out.

Noli swallowed hard.

The idea felt both terrifying and relieving. No more awkward silences in the kitchen. No more holding his breath when he walked past 007n7’s door. No more catching C00lkidd toddling toward him, arms outstretched– only to pull away before it hurt too much.

But it would hurt. Oh Telamon, it already did just from thinking about it.

Noli fought himself over it, frozen there in the back of the greasy kitchen like time had stalled. The distant noise of fryers, the clatter of trays, the low hum of fluorescent lights– none of it reached him. Everything outside his head felt like background static. His chest rose and fell with each shallow breath, each inhale heavy with the weight of a decision he didn’t want to make.

Move out , the thought repeated. You have to move out.

But where? Where would he even go?

Rent wasn’t cheap. He didn’t have savings. No backup. No plan. No guarantees. And worse than any of that was the image in his head. 007n7, standing in the doorway, confused– hurt– maybe trying to act like it was fine, like it didn’t sting, even though they’d both know it did.

Noli shut his eyes tight, the weight of that imagined expression tightening in his chest until it ached. He gripped the edge of the counter, knuckles white, breathing through the knot forming in his throat.

It’s not about punishment. It’s not about being cold. Noli told himself that over and over.

He was doing this because something inside him had worn too thin to keep pretending. He couldn’t keep laughing off the ache in his chest. Couldn’t keep swallowing the lump in his throat whenever 007n7 said something stupidly sweet like “You good?” or “You okay?”-- as if he couldn’t see Noli falling apart right in front of him.

Noli was tired. Tired of pretending he didn’t care. Tired of trying to read between the lines of 007n7’s jokes. Tired of hoping– just hoping– that maybe, maybe all those late-night ramblings and flirty one-liners actually meant something.

And then there was that day.

The fair.

Noli’s fingers twitched where they gripped the counter, his chest tightening as the memory flickered to life like a cruel replay on loop.

The air was filled with cotton candy and warm lights, laughter echoing from every direction, as they sat on a grassy hill not so far from the fair. 007n7 had leaned into him, breath sweet and voice slurred, rambling about whatever his brain mustered up. Noli had laughed, a real one, until Noli couldn’t help but confess his stupid feelings to his drunk friend.

007n7 suddenly went quiet– looking at him like he was the only thing that wasn’t spinning. And then it happened. A kiss. Just a quick one. Warm and clumsy. Fumbling. Too fast to process, too slow to forget.

That day haunted him. Not just because of the kiss itself, but because 007n7 never brought it up again. Not once. As if it was just another stupid memory to pile onto the rest. Like it didn’t stick in his head every time Noli looked at him.

Noli’s fingers tightened on the counter, his jaw locked tight.

He was tired of shoving down feelings for a boy who probably didn’t even like boys. Or maybe he did. Maybe he didn’t. The ambiguity itself was killing Noli. The way 007n7 got flustered and shy sometimes, only to turn around the next second and flirt with anything that moved. The way he smiled at him– just a little too long. 

Noli didn't know how much of it was real and how much was just wishful thinking. And that uncertainty was eating away at him.

Moving out felt like ripping out a piece of himself. But maybe it was the only way to stop this quiet heartbreak from dragging on. Because if he stayed any longer, he didn’t know if he’d survive watching 007n7 fall in love with someone else.

Another patty hissed behind him, snapping him out of the spiral. Noli picked the spatula back up with a shaking breath and turned the meat with a little more care this time. His mind was already running through possibilities– places to stay, what to say, how to do this without ruining everything that was left.

Noli didn’t know if it was the right decision. But he knew, deep down, he’d already made it.

He was going to move out.

And it broke his heart.

Chapter Text

007n7 groaned as his head slammed onto the table. Chance sat beside the rather distressed young adult, leaning forward– checking to see if 007n7 was okay. “I’m starting to think you don’t actually know how to solve this.” He sighed, burying his face into his hands.

Chance leaned back, scoffing in a faux offended tone. “Well at least I’m trying to solve it.” Chance crossed his arms together. “It’s better than moping around and overthinking– doing nothing.” Chance turned his head slightly to the right, glancing at C00lkidd who was playing on the carpeted floor.

“Yeah– well… It feels as if every failed attempt, Noli and I are growing farther apart.” 007n7 dragged his hands down his face, slouching into the couch.

Chance’s lips settled into a grim line, biting the inside of his cheek. Chance stared at 007n7 for a moment before standing up to get C00lkidd up from the floor. “How about you take a break from this..” C00lkidd stared up at Chance, looking eager to get picked up. Chance kneeled down, carrying the baby carefully with two hands.

Chance walked over to sit beside 007n7 once more. “..And spend some time with your son.” Chance held the red baby up to 007n7’s face, his face peeking from beside. C00lkidd blinked slowly, then giggled, his stubby limbs wriggling as he reached toward 007n7’s face.

007n7 turned his head to look at the two, his eyes lingering on C00lkidd’s big beady eyes. He sighed, the weight of the morning pressing heavier on his shoulders as he sat up straight and gently took the baby from Chance’s hands.

“Noli left before I even got up...” 007n7 murmured, more to himself than anyone else. His voice was softer than usual, distant. “Didn’t even say anything. Not even a note.” 007n7 exhaled through his nose and gave a half-hearted chuckle, brushing C00lkidd’s little horns with his thumb. 

“It wouldn’t hurt to spend time with you again, kid.. Just you and me.” 007n7 chuckled bitterly. C00lkidd giggled like he understood, immediately latching onto 007n7’s hoodie and burrowing into his chest.

“Good.” Chance nodded, his tone lighter as he stood and smoothed out his tuxedo. “Because I gotta head out. Gonna hang with Itrapped in a bit– dude’s been dying to play Russian roulette with me again. Y’know, a classic bonding activity.”

007n7 blinked slowly at him. “That sounds like the worst idea you’ve ever had.”

Chance shrugged. “And yet I keep surviving. Take care of the little gremlin while I’m gone, alright?”

007n7 let out a short breath, not quite a sigh but close. His eyes didn’t leave C00lkidd, who was now tugging lazily at the frayed hem of his sleeve. “Yeah.” 007n7 muttered, voice flat, almost bitter. “Like I haven’t already been doing that since day one.”

There was no heat behind the words– just the tired sting of someone who’s been shouldering more than he says out loud. His fingers absentmindedly reached up to fix C00lkidd’s shirt, not even thinking about it. “You think I just started playing house when we moved into your rich guy mansion?”

Chance raised his hands defensively, the usual grin on his face dimming just a little. 007n7 didn’t look at him. “Whatever. Just go hang out with your friend. Sorry for suddenly snapping.” 007n7 leaned back into the couch, C00lkidd already curling into his side like a weirdly warm weighted blanket.

Chance lingered a second longer at the door before saying, a little more gently, “You’re doing good, y’know.”

007n7 didn’t respond. Just rested his chin atop C00lkidd’s head, eyes half-lidded, and muttered under his breath, “Tell that to the person I’m failing at talking to.”

“Okay, mama ..” Chance smirked as he turned toward the door.

“Don’t call me that.” 007n7 muttered, but the bite in his voice wasn’t really there anymore.

The door clicked shut behind Chance. And the mansion fell into a familiar silence. The silence settled over the mansion like a thick blanket.

It was just 007n7 and C00lkidd now. The living room stretched out ahead of them, filled with sunlight, toy blocks, and the ever faint scent of whatever soda Chance spilled days ago but never cleaned up.

007n7 looked down at the baby now clumsily trying to climb his chest like a mountain. “Alright, little dude.” 007n7 murmured, easing the kid into his lap. “It’s just us today. Let’s try not to think about anything complicated.”

But of course, that was a lie.

Because Noli hadn’t texted him back.

Because Noli had left early this morning before 007n7 even woke up.

Because every time 007n7 tried to ask if he’d done something wrong, he got met with either silence or that same cold, tired look that made his chest ache in ways he didn’t want to name.

“I don’t get it..” 007n7 muttered out loud, gently bouncing C00lkidd in his arms. “Did I really mess everything up just by hanging out with 118o8? We didn’t even do anything.. It wasn’t even a date.”

C00lkidd answered with a raspy squeak and a fistful of 007n7’s hoodie strings shoved into his mouth. “I mean, you don’t think I did anything wrong, right?” 007n7 asked, looking down. C00lkidd stared back, blinking slowly.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” 007n7 leaned his head back against the couch, eyes falling half-shut. “Oh Telamon, I’m talking to a baby now. This is what Noli reduced me to. A broken man with a slobbery shirt and no idea how to fix things.”

And yet, even as he said it, he couldn’t stop the next thought from bubbling up. 007n7 wanted to fix things with Noli– he really did – but he just wasn’t sure how. C00lkidd snuggled closer and began to snore. 007n7 looked down at the baby– his weird, chaotic little barnacle– and gently traced a hand across his back.

“Let’s just survive today, bud. Like we always do.” And with that, 007n7 too had closed his eyes, the silence of the mansion pressing down around them once more.

Just for now, he let himself rest.

But deep down, the ache remained.

–+⟡+–

The walk home felt longer than usual.

Each step dragged behind him like an anchor. Noli’s legs moved, but it was as if his thoughts were trying to slow him down– tugging at the back of his collar, pulling him in every direction except forward. The sidewalk blurred beneath his feet. The sounds of the city– the faint hum of traffic, the call of birds, the chatter of distant neighbors– felt distant, unreal. Like the world was continuing without him.

As the tall silhouette of Chance’s house came into view, Noli’s stomach twisted. He could see the front door now. His pace slowed. His eyes stayed low, locked on the concrete as he approached the steps. His heart pounded harder with each movement, heavy and relentless in his chest. 

It wasn't just nerves– it was dread. The gnawing kind that had been living in his ribs for days now, biting deeper the closer he got.

Noli muttered excuses to himself, under his breath, like someone trying to memorize a script before curtain call. “It’s temporary,” Noli muttered, shaking his head almost immediately after. Even to his own ears, it didn’t sound convincing. It sounded too shallow, too rehearsed.

“Chance is probably tired of us now!” Noli added next, the corners of his mouth twitching into a faint, humorless smile. It was a weak attempt at levity– an excuse dressed in a joke– but the laugh that followed barely made it past his lips. 

Noli inhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair as if the motion could shake something loose. He searched for another line– something he hadn’t already said a thousand times in his head.

Then it slipped out, quiet but clear. “…I just need space.” Noli stopped walking. The words hung there in the air, like fog. Noli blinked, as if surprised to hear his own voice say it out loud. He hadn’t meant to– he wasn’t even sure where it came from.

Noli looked down at the ground, at his own shoes planted firmly on the pavement, and felt something shift deep in his gut. A part of him wanted to walk it back, pretend he didn’t mean it– but he couldn’t.

Because as much as he hated it– hated the way it made everything feel more real– he did need space. And for once, he couldn’t lie to himself about that.

Noli sighed, continuing to walk forward until he reached the front door. His feet stopped in front of the door. He didn’t reach for the knob right away. Noli stared at it like it might bite him. Noli’s reflection wavered faintly in the doorknob’s polished brass. He looked pale, tired, and stressed. His fingers twitched by his side.

“He’s probably awake…” Noli mumbled under his breath, jaw tightening. The words felt like gravel in his throat. “He’s probably going to be right there, waiting. Asking why I left so early. Asking why I’m packing. Asking why I’ve been acting like he’s not– like he’s not the most important person in my life.” A bitter laugh escaped him before he could stop it. 

Noli didn’t want to see that look. The one where 007n7 didn’t understand– where his smile faltered, his eyes flickered with worry, the way they always did when Noli pushed him away. And Noli always did push, didn’t he? Even when all he wanted was to stay.

Noli clenched his jaw. Forced a breath in, then another. With a stiff breath and a reluctant hand, Noli finally reached forward and pushed the door open. The hinges creaked softly– familiar, worn. He braced himself as he expected a voice to call out to him, though nothing came.

The mansion’s front hall greeted him with its usual silence– quiet, but not empty. There was the faint hum of distant electronics, the creak of the floor beneath his shoes. But no voice called out to him.

The house was quiet, and when he stepped inside, his breath caught in his throat.

In the living room, the light from the curtained windows cast a soft wash of gold across the couch. 007n7 was sprawled out, slouched back into the cushions with C00lkidd curled up on top of him like some strange little blanket. The kid’s cheek was squished against 007n7’s chest, and one of 007n7’s arms had wrapped around him in his sleep– loose, but protective. Their chests rose and fell in sync.

Noli stood in the doorway, completely still. His heart twisted. He hadn’t expected this. He hadn’t prepared for this.

007n7’s hair was a mess, his hoodie wrinkled from sleep, and yet he looked peaceful. Vulnerable, even. Like for once, the world wasn’t chasing after him and all he had to do was breathe. C00lkidd drooled slightly onto his shirt, and neither of them seemed to mind.

Noli swallowed hard, His anxiety slowly began to unravel into something else. Not quite relief, not quite sadness– just something heavy and soft that made his throat tighten.

“…They’re asleep,” Noli whispered to himself, voice barely more than a breath. There they were, sprawled out across the couch– 007n7 slouched back against the cushions with C00lkidd draped messily across his chest like a weighted blanket. A light rise and fall of their breathing was the only sound in the room.

Noli’s gaze softened in spite of himself.

007n7’s face looked different in sleep– unguarded. The usual sharpness was gone from his features, replaced by something quieter, something gentler. His brows weren’t furrowed like they usually were when he was talking, arguing, or making dumb jokes. His mouth was slightly parted, a sliver of breath escaping. The faintest twitch tugged at the corner of his lip, like he was mid-dream.

It was rare, seeing him like this.

Noli exhaled shakily, his throat tight. He didn’t even notice he’d been holding his breath.

Slowly, carefully, he stepped inside. His shoes padded softly against the floor, deliberate and hushed. He didn’t want to wake them. He couldn’t wake them. Not like this. Not with the weight sitting heavy in his chest and the decisions burning through his ribs.

The door closed with a soft click behind him, a sound that somehow felt too loud in the quiet stillness of the house. Each step away from the couch echoed like a guilty secret– slow, deliberate, as though the floor was warning him with every movement. The silence pressed in on all sides, thick with things unsaid.

He made his way to the staircase and hesitated at the bottom for just a moment, glancing back once. They hadn’t moved. Just the steady breathing. Noli turned back, jaw set.

The climb up the stairs felt endless. Each footstep heavier than the last, like his body was fighting him on the way up. Like some part of him wanted to turn around, to stay. But he kept moving anyway, one hand grazing the railing, the other clenched into a fist.

When Noli reached the top, he paused in front of ‘their’ door– though now, he couldn’t bring himself to call it that. Not in his head– not anymore . To him, it was now just a room. A place to gather what was left of his.

Noli stood there, staring at the door handle, his reflection faint in the glossy knob. His fingers twitched before they slowly curled around the metal. It felt colder than it should’ve been. His hands trembled. And still, he turned it.

The door creaked open, just enough to slip through, and Noli stepped inside the familiar room with a weight in his chest that felt heavier than any luggage he could pack. 

Noli shut the bedroom door behind him with slow, careful pressure, the soft click of the latch feeling far too final. The room was still– familiar even – and yet everything in it felt distant now, like it belonged to someone else’s life. His eyes drifted toward the closet, heart sinking with the realization of what he was about to do.

Noli hesitated for a beat. Then, with a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, he walked across the room and tugged the closet door open. The soft creak of the hinges broke the silence. Dust hung in the air like static. He crouched down and reached into the back corner, where an old black suitcase was tucked away, forgotten beneath a tangle of bags and tangled jackets.

Noli’s fingers closed around the handle. Dragging it out felt heavier than it should’ve. Noli set the suitcase onto the bed, the mattress dipping beneath its weight. Noli unzipped it slowly. The zipper’s sound sliced through the quiet like a blade, far too sharp, far too loud. Noli winced at the noise, as if the house itself might hear what he was doing.

Then came the packing.

One shirt, then another. A pair of jeans, socks, his charger, a small bag of toiletries, his scarf– the one 007n7 used to tease him for wearing even when it wasn’t cold. Noli folded it a little more carefully than the others, setting it gently into the corner of the suitcase.

With every item he placed inside, the knot in his stomach tightened. The space around him started to feel smaller, like the walls were pushing in. “This is the right thing.” Noli told himself. 

Noli reached back into his drawer for the next item, and his fingers stopped.

They brushed against something thicker, softer than the others. A hoodie. He tugged it out, expecting it to be one of his. But it wasn’t. It was 007n7’s.

The black hoodie with the cracked, peeling graphic print on the front. The one he used to steal on lazy mornings when he didn’t want to get dressed. The one that still smelled faintly like 007n7’s cologne– cheap, synthetic, familiar.

Noli froze. The hoodie hung from his fingers, limp but heavy, like it remembered being worn more than he did. His chest tightened all over again.

He didn’t mean to sit down, but his knees gave way, and suddenly he was on the floor, staring down at the fabric pooled in his hands. All the resolve he’d been clinging to started to slip, thread by thread.

That hoodie wasn’t just a piece of clothing. It was a piece of them. Noli pressed the hoodie to his chest for just a second, eyes squeezed shut. His throat burned.

Still, he shoved it to the side. He forced his hand to keep moving. Because if he let himself think too long, he’d stop. And if he stopped, he wouldn’t leave. And if he didn’t leave, then maybe he’d keep hurting. 

So Noli packed– and every time he placed something into that suitcase, it felt like a piece of himself chipped away.

Eventually, everything was folded into neat, trembling rows. He zipped the suitcase up with a slow, steady pull, pressing his palm flat against the top for a second before letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

Noli glanced back at the room– their room– one last time before he reached for the handle. He opened the door just as carefully as he had closed it, the hinges letting out the faintest squeak that made his stomach turn. He stepped out into the hallway, pulling the suitcase behind him. The wheels made a dull thud with every seam and nail in the old wood flooring.

“Noli?” A voice piped up quietly. Noli froze like a deer caught in headlights, eyes wide as he slowly turned his head toward the sound.

 There, just down the hallway, stood 007n7 at the foot of the stairs– holding C00lkidd in his arms. The baby was nestled against his chest, blanket askew, tiny hand clinging to the fabric of 007n7’s shirt.

007n7 looked up, smile tugging lazily at his lips, hair still tousled from sleep. His eyes were bleary, like he hadn’t been up long.

“I didn’t hear you come in.” 007n7 continued, shifting C00lkidd in his arms with a sleepy chuckle. 

Noli didn’t say anything, instead his grip tightened on the suitcase handle. He stood still in the hallway, shoulders stiff, trying to keep his face neutral. But he knew 007n7 was good at reading between the lines– especially when Noli didn’t want to be read.

007n7 didn’t seem to notice the suitcase at first. His focus was still on the baby, patting C00lkidd’s back in a gentle rhythm. “I was gonna ask if you wanted to split the last ramen cup. I didn’t eat yet.” 007n7 said, eyes flicking up to Noli with a hopeful look. “Could… I dunno , hang out? Talk maybe?”

That’s when 007n7’s eyes finally dropped down to the suitcase. There was a beat of silence. Just a second– but Noli could feel the weight of it settle in.

007n7’s expression didn’t shift all at once. It cracked in slow motion, the smile faltering, his mouth parting slightly like he wanted to ask– but didn’t know how. His eyes darted back up to Noli’s face, searching it. “..Where are you going?”

Noli looked away– just for a second – Just long enough to keep himself from falling apart. “Just out.” Noli said, voice too flat, too practiced.

007n7 didn’t look convinced at this. Noli adjusted his grip on the suitcase and kept walking. Not fast, but not slow either. Just enough to make it clear that he wasn’t stopping– not yet at least. 

“Noli…” 007n7’s voice was quiet, strained. “Why are you leaving.. me?” That last word fell out like an accident– soft, almost broken. Noli froze mid-step, his back still to him. His eyes fluttered shut. His throat tightened.

“I’m not..” Noli mumbled. “It’s just… for a bit. ”

“A bit?” 007n7 echoed, shifting C00lkidd higher in his arms. “That’s not an answer.”

Noli stared ahead, unmoving. “I just need space.” He didn’t even mean to say it again– but there it was, tumbling out like it had been sitting in his mouth all day, waiting for the right moment to escape.

“From me?” 007n7 asked, a sudden edge creeping into his voice. “Did I do something wrong? You’ve been acting like I don’t even exist lately, and now you’re walking out with a suitcase and telling me it’s just for a bit?”

Noli’s fingers gripped the handle tighter. He kept his gaze locked on the front door. “I don’t want to fight.”

“I’m not trying to fight!” 007n7 blurted. His voice cracked just slightly, the desperation finally surfacing. “I just want to understand, Noli. Please.”

Noli took a deep breath. His shoulders trembled, but he forced his tone to stay quiet. Careful. “It’s not about you.”

“You’re leaving me, but it’s not about me?” 007n7 stepped down another stair, voice rising despite how tight his chest felt. “Then what is it, Noli? Because from where I’m standing, it kinda feels like I woke up and everything’s falling apart and I don’t even know why.”

Noli turned a fraction, eyes still refusing to meet 007n7’s. “I can’t explain it right now.”

“You won’t explain it.” 007n7 snapped, but then his voice broke again. Softer now, almost pleading. “Why won’t you tell me?” 

That nearly made Noli turn around. But instead, he lowered his head, hiding the way his eyes shimmered. “…I’m sorry.” And then, he kept walking.

The silence that followed was brittle, suffocating– so thick it pressed against the walls and echoed in the spaces between breaths. 007n7 didn’t move, only stood at the base of the stairs with C00lkidd curled tightly against his chest, eyes wide with something that looked almost like fear.

That was when the front door swung open.

“Yo, I’m back! You would not believe how wild the weather–” Chance’s voice, bright and oblivious, cut through the quiet like a blade. He stopped instantly when he saw Noli, suitcase in hand, and 007n7– staring like the ground had been ripped out from under him.

“Did.. I walk in on something.” Chance blinked, the awkwardness seeping in. No one answered. Not right away. Chance glanced between them, his smile fading. He stepped inside slowly, the door creaking shut behind him. “Guys?”

Noli still didn’t say anything. He just kept moving forward, as if his legs were on autopilot. “Noli?” Chance called again, more softly now, his brows furrowed. “Dude. Talk to me. You're not seriously walking out like this, are you?”

007n7 finally looked up. “He won’t explain it.” he said, voice cracking like a snapped string. “He won’t tell me anything!”

Chance looked back at Noli. “You don’t have to run just because things feel heavy. If this is about the tension lately, we can talk it through. All of us.”

“I’m not running.” Noli said quietly, not turning to face them. His tone was flat, but his hands trembled at his sides. “I’m just done .”

“Noli.” 007n7 breathed, taking a small step forward.

“Don’t.” Noli warned, voice clipped. “Just leave me be, Seven.”

That tone– so cold, so unlike him– hit 007n7 like a punch to the chest. For a moment, it was like he was staring at a stranger. Someone who wore Noli’s face but not his warmth. The same Noli who once swore he’d never walk away.

Noli didn’t even look at him anymore, He just kept walking past him and Chance. And all 007n7 could do was stand there and watch as the boy he loves disappear one step at a time. “Don’t leave me..” 007n7’s voice cracked, thin and fraying at the edges. It sounded like it had been dragged from the deepest part of him, as if saying it out loud physically hurt. 

“Please.” He clutched C00lkidd tighter against his chest, as though holding the baby close would somehow keep the rest of his world from falling apart too. 

Noli stopped at the door, hand hovering just above the knob. His back was still to 007n7, but his shoulders had tensed. “I’m sorry…” Noli whispered. And then, after a beat– his voice barely more than a breath, as if saying it too loud would break him completely– “Sev.”

The nickname slipped out like a goodbye, and it felt like one too. A trembling, broken thread being cut in real time.

And in that quiet, it sounded like the last time he’d ever say it again.

Chapter Text

007n7 stood frozen, as though the world had stopped spinning around him. His breath caught in his throat, and the silence in his chest was deafening. It felt like his heart had shattered– splintering not just into pieces, but into dust. Each breath stung like glass shards lodged in his lungs. He could feel the burn behind his eyes before the tears even began to fall, swelling at the corners, threatening to blur out the only thing he wanted to keep clear. 

Noli’s retreating figure.

Chance’s brow furrowed deeply as he glanced between the two. He could read the pain in 007n7’s face, and it made his own chest tighten. Then, like an instinct he couldn’t suppress, he stepped forward. “Noli, you can’t just leave like that!” Chance called out, voice louder than he meant it to be– sharp with concern, trembling with disbelief. His feet hurried after Noli, frustration laced with the helplessness bubbling inside him. “You can’t just walk away.”

Noli paused at the front door, his hand on the knob, suitcase gripped tightly in his other hand. His shoulders were hunched, like the weight he carried wasn’t just physical. When he spoke, his voice came out quiet– steady, but frayed at the edges. “You’ve been a great friend, Chance.” He murmured, not turning to look at him, as if eye contact might break him. 

“But I don’t think I should live here anymore.” Noli hesitated. A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes, barely noticeable– but real. “Take care of Seven.” Noli added, softer than before– so faint that it almost didn’t reach Chance’s ears. The words tasted bitter, like finality. Like goodbye.

Chance took a step back, staring at him in stunned silence. He didn’t know what to say– he wasn’t sure if there was anything left to say.

Noli opened the front door slowly. A sharp gust of wind rushed in immediately, making the curtains flutter and the air inside turn cold. It cut through the room like the moment itself– unexpected and cruel. The sound of rain grew louder, pouring steadily against the world outside.

Noli turned around once, just before stepping out. And there he was– 007n7, standing, C00lkidd clutched tightly in his arms. His eyes were red and glassy, tears trailing freely down his cheeks now, unchecked and raw. His lips were parted like he wanted to say something– anything– but no words came. Just silence– painful, agonizing silence.

C00lkidd stirred slightly in his arms, his tiny brows furrowing as if sensing something wrong. Then, slowly, the baby pressed his little face deeper into 007n7’s chest, curling into the warmth and scent of the only comfort he could find. His small fingers bunched up in 007n7’s shirt, trying to disappear into him completely– because if Mama was hurting, something must be really wrong.

“I’m so sorry.” Noli muttered quietly as he turned around, not caring to check if 007n7 heard his pathetic apology. Opening an umbrella he picked up from the side, Noli stepped out into the rain with his suitcase. Chance stood defeated at the open front door, silently contemplating whether he should chase after Noli or stay to comfort 007n7.

007n7 didn’t move. He didn’t blink. He could only stare at Noli, watching as the person he had quietly, unknowingly built his world around turned the handle and opened the door wider.

007n7’s grip on C00lkidd instinctively tightened as Noli stepped out the door– but never closed it.

It creaked faintly as it swung ajar, letting in the cold wind and the sound of the outside world. That open door was a wound. It felt like a goodbye that never got the dignity of being finished. And somehow, that hurt even worse.

For a long moment, 007n7 just stared at the doorway– at the ghost of Noli still clinging to the air. His chest rose and fell, uneven and shallow, like he was forgetting how to breathe.

This was it. This was the moment he always feared.

Back in college, when the nights were loud and fast and full of cruel jokes and stolen glances, 007n7 had dared to believe he wouldn’t end up alone. Noli had sat beside him after a fight, after a breakdown, after the world felt like it was crumbling– and said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

And 007n7 had believed him. Like an idiot. But that promise was dust now. Blown away with the gust that crept through the half-open door.

Noli was a liar. A lying, selfish, deceitful idiot.

An idiot that was everything 007n7 ever needed. The only person who could make the world make sense, and now he was walking out of it. Without a backward glance. Without even the strength to shut the damn door behind him.

And 007n7 couldn’t stop it. He stared down at the baby in his arms. C00lkidd blinked sleepily, then stirred– his tiny face scrunching up as if sensing the sharp change in the air, the loss, the shift. Without thinking, 007n7 held him tighter, like holding him was the only thing keeping him grounded. Like the baby was all he had left.

Then he felt a presence beside him. He didn’t need to look– he already knew it was Chance. But when he did glance over, the expression on Chance’s face made his knees almost buckle. There was no joke there. No smug grin. Just quiet, heartbroken understanding. Chance didn’t say a word. He simply stepped forward– slow, careful– and gently lifted C00lkidd from 007n7’s arms.

Chance felt like he needed to say something to 007n7– something comforting– but nothing came out. He only held C00lkidd tenderly as he glanced back at the open front door. Noli’s figure was barely visible now, fading away with each passing second.

The baby whimpered in confusion, little hands reaching, but Chance hushed him softly. “It’s okay. You’re okay, little guy. I’ve got you.”

And when C00lkidd was out of his arms, that’s when 007n7 collapsed– not to the floor, but inward. His shoulders slumped. His hands trembled and hung uselessly at his sides. The tension, the fight, the desperation– it all fell apart.

The door remained open. 007n7 could still hear Noli’s footsteps. Leaving him behind, just like he said he never would.

007n7 brought his hands to the side, clenching his fists in both anger and sadness. He thought Noli would be there with him through thick and thin. He thought Noli would be there with him no matter what. But now what? He left because of a reason he wasn’t even sure of.

Gritting his teeth, 007n7 roughly wiped his tears away with the back of his hand. His chest burned, his breaths shallow and uneven– but he moved anyway. It was fast, determined, and most definitely furious.

He stormed toward the open front door like a man possessed, like whatever was breaking inside him could only be mended by catching up to Noli. The storm outside howled, but 007n7 didn’t stop to grab an umbrella. The moment his foot hit the pavement, the downpour slammed into him like a wall. 

“Noli!” 007n7 screamed, voice slicing through the night air like a blade. It was hoarse– shaky with a fury born of pain. “Noli!” 007n7’s voice was laced with venom and pent-up anger. 

He didn’t care how soaked he was. Didn’t care that the water clung to his clothes, hair plastered to his forehead, clothes sticking to his skin. His only focus was the distant figure just ahead– walking, walking, walking away like none of this meant anything. 

Noli stopped, though he didn’t turn around. He just stood there, motionless in the rain, umbrella trembling slightly in his grip. The silence between them was deafening– like the whole world had stopped breathing for a second, waiting to see who would speak next.

The ache in 007n7’s chest tightened into something sharp– something ugly.

“Look at me.” 007n7 demanded. His voice was lower now, but there was no less heat behind it. It cracked beneath the weight of held-back tears and everything left unsaid. “Look at me, Noli!” 007n7 scowled, tears flowing down his cheeks in a mixture of sadness and anger.

Noli still didn’t face him. But the subtle shift in his shoulders– the way his hand clenched tighter around the handle of his umbrella– betrayed the turmoil inside.

“Look at me for fuck sake!” 007n7’s voice broke completely then, not just with anger– but with heartbreak, with betrayal, with the sick, sinking feeling that this might be the last time he’d ever see Noli like this. Alive, breathing– still within reach.

He didn’t want explanations. He didn’t want another lie. But if Noli was going to walk out of his life–  Then he owed him the decency of doing it to his face.

“You’re a fucking asshole, Noli!” 007n7 roared through the rain, voice cracking as it tore out of his throat. “A fucking liar!” His fists trembled at his sides, dripping with rain and rage alike, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care about the cold, or how soaked he was, or how his voice was starting to break. He was done holding it in.

“You told me..” 007n7 seethed, taking another step forward, his footsteps splashing in the puddles between them. “You fucking told me you’d be with me through everything! That no matter how many times I fell apart, no matter how hard things got– you’d be there .” His voice cracked again– sharper this time, on the verge of a sob. 

“You said you’d pick up every piece. Every piece, Noli .” The weight of those words settled in the air like thunder. Noli didn’t respond. He didn’t even move, but 007n7 could see it– the slight flinch in his posture, the way his shoulders tensed, the way he gripped his umbrella like it was the only thing keeping him upright.

“You’re a fucking coward.” 007n7 spat, voice lower now, trembling. “Is that what this is? You just get up and leave? No explanation, no goodbye– just walking away just like this?”

007n7 let out a short, bitter laugh, though it sounded more like a sob. “You’re really just gonna dump everything on me? You’re gonna leave me alone with C00lkidd? Just like that?” His throat tightened painfully, and angry tears rolled freely down his cheeks, lost in the rainfall.

“I’m doing everything to keep it together, and you–” 007n7’s voice shook violently now. “You’re the one who promised. You looked me in the eyes and said we’d figure this out. That we’d be okay.”

“What happened to all of that, huh?!” 007n7 shouted, his voice hoarse from the rain and rising emotion. His soaked clothes clung to his trembling frame as he took another step forward, water sloshing beneath his feet. “What happened to us, Noli?! What the hell happened to all the promises you made?”

The words hung between them like thunder, and for a moment, all 007n7 could hear was the downpour hammering the street around them. But then Noli finally turned around– and the look on his face nearly knocked the breath out of him. Then there it was, the brutal truth– naked and undeniable, flashing in Noli’s eyes as he met 007n7’s gaze.

“You’re gonna leave..” 007n7 said, slower now, the weight of it sinking into his chest like an anchor. “You’re really gonna walk away for a reason you won’t even fucking tell me?” His voice cracked at the edges, wobbling under the weight of betrayal. 

“After everything we’ve been through– after everything– you still won’t look me in the eyes and just tell me why.” The fury in his voice was fading, replaced by something quieter. The kind of sadness that made his entire body feel hollow.

“Why are you leaving me?” 007n7 whispered. A broken sob clawed its way out of his throat, sharp and wet. His shoulders slumped, like the last thread holding him upright had finally snapped.

“You said you’d never give up on me..” 007n7 murmured. “You swore, Noli. You swore you’d be there.” The words came softer now, almost fragile, but no less devastating. His voice barely rose above the rain, like he was speaking more to the ghost of a promise than to the person standing in front of him.

For a moment, Noli didn’t move. The only sound was the rain, steady and relentless, soaking into his clothes, his skin, his bones. Then slowly, his shoulders rose with a shaky breath. 

And when he finally spoke, his voice came out rough, like he’d been holding it in for years. “Do you know how long I waited for you, Seven?” Noli’s voice trembled, low and raw.

“What…?” 007n7 whispered, his voice barely audible over the downpour. Confusion furrowed his brows as he stared at Noli.

Noli gave a breathless laugh– but it was hollow, bitter, soaked in the kind of pain that didn’t just sting– it lingered. “Of course you don’t.” Noli muttered, shaking his head as tears welled in his eyes. His voice was quiet, but each word landed like a blow. “You never fucking do.”

“What are you talking about?” 007n7 stepped forward, soaked to the bone, his tone sharpening. “Noli, don’t– don’t you dare spin this on me.” There was desperation laced in his anger now, the kind that only shows up when something you love starts slipping away.  “You’re leaving me over– what? Over practically nothing?!”

“Because you’ve hurt me, Seven!” Noli exploded, voice raw and trembling as it broke. His fists clenched at his sides. “You’ve been hurting me for so long and you don’t even notice!” His voice cracked, and he took a shaky breath, but it didn’t steady him– it only made everything crash harder.

"Eight." Noli hissed, the name burning his tongue. "Hah! Oh Telamon, I hated the way you looked at her. Like she was everything. Like I didn’t exist when she was around." Noli’s hands clenched at his sides. Noli took a step forward, eyes burning. “Do you even realize how that felt?”

His hands clenched at his sides, knuckles white. But then, Noli inhaled sharply, as if reeling himself back in– just enough to stop from breaking down entirely. He took a step forward, his anger softening into something rawer– something honest.

“You were a good friend, Seven.” His voice softened for a heartbeat. “But even good friends can still break you without meaning to.” 007n7 flinched, as if the words physically struck him.

“You didn’t see it.” Noli continued, voice rising, trembling. “All the times I stayed quiet so you wouldn’t worry. All the times I swallowed things just to keep the peace. Every time you ran to someone else with your heart in your hands, and I stood back smiling, pretending I didn’t care.”

Noli’s hands shook at his sides. “I tried so hard to be enough. To matter. To..” Noli cut himself off, dragging a sleeve across his face.

007n7 opened his mouth like he wanted to speak– but couldn’t find the right words fast enough. His lips parted. Nothing came. Noli’s voice cracked one last time, and his eyes– wide and heartbroken– met 007n7’s through the downpour.

“You keep asking why I’m leaving?” His voice dropped to a whisper, barely holding together. “It’s because I realized.. I love you so much, I forgot how to love myself.”

There was silence, thick and heavy between them– just the rain to fill the space. Then Noli let out a shaky breath, as if the confession had cracked something open inside him.

“I love you, Seven.” Noli said again, his voice breaking. “I love you so fucking much.” He laughed bitterly, wiping at his eyes. “But you couldn’t see it. Or maybe you did..” His gaze lifted, sharp and aching. “Maybe you did see it– and just didn’t care. Just… toyed with it. Is that why you were always with Eight? Is that why I kept feeling like second best?” Noli’s voice trembled as he took a shallow breath, the pain clawing its way out now.

“I love you, Seven. So fucking much. And I can’t stand the way it kills me inside to see you with someone else– someone who isn’t me. ” Noli’s voice cracked, finally giving way as the tears spilled freely. “I didn’t want to lose my mind pining for someone who doesn’t even like boys.”

He raked a hand through his soaked hair, his breath hitching, shoulders trembling. “I didn’t want to keep chasing something I was never going to have.” Noli choked out, the words splintering as they left him.

“I’m sorry, Seven.. I’m so sor–” The apology barely left his lips when a sharp crack echoed through the rain.

Noli staggered slightly, blinking in stunned silence as his cheek stung with the heat of the slap. He instinctively brought a hand to his face, trembling fingers brushing the raw spot. Slowly, he looked up– eyes wide. 007n7 stood there, soaked and shaking, his hand still raised.

His eyes shimmered with tears, not of anger but devastation. “You’re going to leave me just like that because you thought I didn’t love you back?!” 007n7 shouted, the words ripped from his throat. His eyes locked with Noli’s, furious and heartbroken. “You’re so stupid!”

He shoved Noli, hands trembling– not hard enough to knock him down, but firm enough to make Noli stumble a step back, rainwater splashing under his feet. It wasn’t meant to hurt– but it carried every ounce of grief, confusion, and betrayal tangled in 007n7’s chest.

“Seven, I–” Noli began, his voice shaky, mouth parting like there was more he wanted to say. But the rest of the sentence caught in his throat. His eyes dropped to the ground. “I know…” Noli mumbled, the words soaked in shame and regret.

He looked up again, lips trembling as if he were about to try one more time– try to explain, try to make it right. But he never got the chance.

007n7 surged forward, cutting him off with a sudden, desperate kiss. Noli let out a soft, startled noise, eyes going wide as their lips collided. His breath hitched, mind racing– until the realization hit. Until it sank in just what this meant.

He kissed him back. Noli’s eyes fluttered shut as he melted into it, the cold rain soaking them both, yet everything warm between them. The umbrella above them shielded little from the storm, but in that moment, it felt like the only shelter they needed was each other. 

When 007n7 finally pulled away, his eyes stayed closed for a beat, breath ghosting over Noli’s lips before he opened them, full of something soft and unspoken. His voice came barely above the rain.

“I’m stupid too…” 007n7 whispered, arms slipping around Noli’s shoulders, clinging like he was afraid to ever let go again. “Stupid for not realizing how I really felt about you sooner.” Their foreheads touched gently, the sound of the storm fading into the background.

007n7’s shirt clung to him like a second skin, soaked through and dripping. Noli’s hoodie wasn’t any better– wet, cold, sticking to him from their shared embrace. But neither of them moved. Neither of them cared.

Not when it finally felt like something broken between them had begun to mend.

“I’m so sorry, Noli…” 007n7’s voice cracked, raw and trembling as he clung tightly to Noli’s soaked hoodie, burying his face into the fabric like it could hide his guilt. His shoulders trembled violently. “I didn’t realize I hurt you this much.. I didn’t know I made you feel so small. I-I never wanted that.” His voice dissolved into choked sobs, hot tears soaking into the wet hoodie as the rain poured around them.

Noli blinked slowly, heart squeezing. He could feel the way 007n7 trembled, the way his fists curled into the hoodie like he was afraid Noli would vanish if he let go

“Oh, Seven…” Noli whispered softly, breath ghosting against the crown of 007n7’s head. Carefully, he brought his free hand to 007n7’s cheek, fingertips gently brushing against his skin. His hand was freezing from the rain– but even so, the touch made 007n7 flinch, shiver, and lean in closer, as if trying to preserve the warmth that remained between them. Noli placed down the umbrella on the pavement, letting go of the thing that barely shielded them from the rain.

Then slowly and gently, Noli guided 007n7’s face upward with both hands, thumbs softly wiping tears from under his eyes. Their gazes met– glassy, vulnerable, full of things they had both left unsaid for too long.

“ My Seven… ” Noli said again, this time softer, more full of wonder. His lips curled into a faint smile, the kind that ached with too much tenderness. The nickname hit 007n7 like a sigh to the chest– something warm and deeply wanted. Something safe.

007n7’s breath hitched, his lashes wet with both rain and tears. “Say it again.” 007n7 whispered, voice small, broken open.

Noli’s smile grew just a little, his thumbs still brushing gently against 007n7’s cheeks. “My Seven.” Noli repeated, firmer this time– like a truth.  Noli pressed his forehead to 007n7’s, their noses brushing, breath mingling between them like fog in the storm.

“I never stopped loving you.” Noli murmured, voice fragile. “Even when it hurt. Even when it felt like I was breaking just by being near you.”

“I never stopped needing you.” 007n7 whispered back. “Even when I didn’t know what it meant. I just… I always wanted you close.”

They kissed again– not with hunger, but with relief. Like two souls returning home. The kind of kiss that made time pause, that made even the coldest rain feel warm. Around them, the world was grey and pouring– but with arms locked tight and hearts finally speaking clearly, it felt like sunlight was breaking through the clouds.

And for the first time in a long, long while, they weren’t falling apart.

They were falling together.

Just a few feet away, someone cleared their throat.

“Holy fu..” Chance stood near the doorway, frozen with C00lkidd in his arms and a wide, dumbfounded grin stretched across his face. His voice cut off the moment the baby turned to glare at him with an expression far too judgmental for someone in a onesie.

“Holy fart!” Chance corrected quickly, eyes wide. “Holy fart, I meant holy fart.” C00lkidd gave a satisfied blink. Chance chuckled under his breath, watching as Noli and 007n7 leaned into each other again– so close now, the distance between them fully gone. He sighed dramatically, bouncing the baby slightly. 

“Yeah, I better be getting paid for my wingman services. Premium matchmaking like this doesn’t come cheap.” Chance smiled as the rain kept falling, and love finally landed where it always belonged.

–+⟡+–

Builderman exhaled slowly, the weight of unspoken knowledge settling heavy in the room. “We shouldn’t involve Doombringer and Matt into this.” Builderman said at last, his voice low but resolute. “They're too dangerous."

Shedletsky leaned back, staring past the walls as if searching for something he didn’t want to find. His fingers drummed an uneven rhythm against the table’s edge– restless, conflicted. “They’re not dangerous.” He muttered, barely audible. “Not yet…” Shedletsky whispered so low, Builderman wasn’t able to catch it.

“But they will be if we don’t act.” Builderman replied sharply, his tone like steel snapping taut. “You’ve seen the reports, you know what’s coming.”

Shedletsky flinched– barely, but it was there. His jaw twitched, as something flickered behind his eyes. “I know what the reports say.” He said finally, his voice hoarse with something older than fear. “They’re just kids, Builder. They don’t have to turn into monsters. ”

Builderman tilted his head, voice colder now. “So you’re saying they won’t end up like 1x1x1x1?”

There was a long pause between them.

Shedletsky’s eyes slowly dropped to the table, to the stillness of his own hands. A flicker of something unreadable passed over Shedletsky’s face. “I’m hoping.” Shedletsky replied after a beat too long. “Maybe there’s still time to do it differently.” 

Builderman’s voice was unmoved. “Hope won’t stop another incident, you know that.”

“I know.” Shedletsky’s voice cracked at the edges. “But maybe if we act early– if we’re careful– they won’t have to become monsters.” Shedletsky looked up, the usual grin nowhere to be seen. Just the weathered face of someone still haunted. “Let me handle Noli and Double O Seven. I have a few threads I can pull.. No alerts, no mess.”

Builderman studied him for a moment, then gave a single, curt nod. “Do it fast. We’re already behind.”  Builderman didn’t say more, he didn’t have to. They both knew what the prototypes could become.

But only one of them truly understood what that meant.

Because only one of them had raised one. One of them had hidden it, lied about it, told the others it was just a rogue anomaly– just a glitch that needed watching. Just a mistake worth monitoring.

And over time, that mistake had learned to hate– not because of corrupted code, not because of some external force. But because one of them had taught it how to hate.

Not through lessons, not through design.

But through distance– through silence.

Through the walls he built, the affection he withheld, the fear he never admitted. And Shedletsky– no matter how much he laughed or smirked now– knew better than anyone what happened when you waited too long to face what you created.

Because the last time, he called it his son. 

And it called him father.

And then it escaped.

Chapter Text

Chance was sprawled across the couch, one knee propped up, the other leg stretched across the cushions. His arm hung lazily over the backrest, fingers drumming to some rhythm only he knew, a half-empty can of fizzy soda resting in his other hand. The hiss of carbonation was the only sound for a second before he tipped the can back for another long sip. When he finally looked at them, the grin on his face was almost offensively wide.

“Ohh my Telamon.” He drawled, pointing the can between them like it was a mic. “Finally. You two finally confessed. Took you long enough– I swear to Telamon , I thought one of you was gonna die first.”

Noli’s head ducked immediately, fingers hooking into the strings of his hoodie and tugging them until the hood started to close in around his face. “It’s not that ser–”

“–And..” Chance cut him off with perfect comedic timing, leaning forward. “Now you can get freaky in the sheets without pretending it’s all just ‘bromance.’” Chance placed his drink down for a moment, finger quoting his last word.

007n7’s head snapped toward him so fast it could’ve cracked something. “Excuse me?” 007n7’s voice was flat, but his eyes looked like they were already calculating how fast he could land a punch on Chance’s face.

“We don’t–” Noli started, his face turning a shade redder than his hoodie.

“Uh-huh. Sure, you don’t.” Chance took another slow, obnoxious sip, never breaking eye contact. “Three days– no, wait. Four days of drama over Seven hanging out with one woman?” He shook his head and let out a smug little chuckle. “Yeah. Totally normal friendship stuff.” Chance raised his brows, unbothered. “Honestly? I’d bet money you two kiss each other goodnight.”

“Why are you like this?” Noli groaned, dragging a hand over his face. 

007n7 scoffed, pushing off the couch. “Alright, whatever, man. I’m gonna check on C00lkidd. I’ll leave Noli here so you’ve got someone to listen to you while you yap about whatever you think we do when we’re alone.”

Chance’s grin widened like he’d just been crowned the winner of an argument. “Don’t be long– he’s blushing way too hard for me to stop now.” Chance moves his eyebrows up and down, about to tease Noli as soon as 007n7 went upstairs. 007n7 just snorted and headed for the stairs, footsteps creaking as he climbed.

The room fell into silence. Noli slouched further into the couch, hiding behind his hood like it could block out the heat in his face. Chance cracked open another can, the sharp hiss slicing through the quiet. He didn’t say anything. The smug look on his face said it all.

Upstairs, it was quieter– almost serene. The faint hum of the heater filled the hallway as 007n7 padded softly toward their room, the carpet swallowing the sound of his steps. He nudged the door to their room open and peeked inside.

C00lkidd was sitting in the bassinet, legs crossed awkwardly, head tilted slightly forward. They were staring at the wall with the kind of vacant concentration only a toddler could pull off– utterly lost in whatever strange, endless thoughts their little brain was spinning.

007n7 stepped inside, resting a forearm casually on the side of the bassinet. “Whatcha up to, kid?”

For a moment, C00lkidd didn’t react. Then, slow as a clockwork toy winding back to life, they turned their head upward. That blank stare broke into a sudden, almost toothy grin– like the whole world had just walked in wearing a funny hat.

007n7 smirked back despite himself. “Seems like you were deep in your thoughts, lil’ gremlin.. Wanna tell Mama what you were thinking about?”

C00lkidd didn’t bother answering. They just raised both arms toward him– fingers curling open and closed in that little “pick me up” motion that toddlers seem to be born knowing.

“Yeah, alright.” 007n7 muttered, scooping them up with practiced ease. C00lkidd nestled into the crook of his arm as 007n7 swayed on his feet, rocking them slightly out of habit. “You’re lucky you’re cute.” He added under his breath, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.

They stayed like that for a moment– soft, quiet, a rare pocket of peace in a week that had been anything but. 007n7 bounced C00lkidd gently, slow rhythmic movements that made the kid’s eyelids droop.

Then, without warning, C00lkidd shifted forward and buried their head against his shirt, nuzzling in with all the determination of a cat finding the perfect spot on a blanket. 007n7 didn’t think much of it– kids liked to tuck themselves away sometimes.

It wasn’t until a cool, damp sensation started seeping through the fabric that 007n7’s brows knit together.

“ …Wait. ” 007n7 glanced down. Sure enough, a dark patch was spreading across the front of his shirt, glistening faintly in the low light. “Are you– oh, for crying out loud..” 007n7 groaned, tilting C00lkidd back slightly. The kid beamed at him, mouth slack and drool shining on their chin like they’d just committed a masterwork prank.

“Great. Just great.” 007n7 muttered, though there was no real heat in it. He set C00lkidd gently down on the bed, where they immediately flopped onto their side, giggling softly like they knew exactly what they’d done.

007n7 peeled his shirt off with a wince at the cold, wet cling, then crossed the room toward the closet. He rifled through hangers with the efficiency of someone who’d had to do this far too many times before. “You know..” 007n7 called over his shoulder. 

“Most kids have the decency to wait until they’re asleep before drooling all over somebody.” C00lkidd only answered with a gurgle, kicking their legs against the blankets. 007n7 smirked faintly, casually pulling a clean shirt halfway from the hanger.

That was until he heard a loud thud from behind him. The sound was sharp, sudden, and wrong. It was then followed instantly by a high-pitched wail.

The shirt slipped from 007n7’s hand. He spun, heart lurching into his throat, and bolted toward the bed. His brain barely had time to register that C00lkidd was no longer on the blankets before his eyes caught up– tiny body sprawled on the floor, little hands flailing in panic.

“C00lkidd!? Are you okay?!” 007n7 practically screeched, the words coming out louder and shakier than he meant them to. He was kneeling before he even realized it, scooping the kid up in one swift, desperate motion. C00lkidd clung to him instantly, crying hard against his bare chest, hiccupping between sobs.

007n7 held him tight, one arm steadying their back while the other carefully supported their head. His eyes darted over the kid’s tiny form, scanning for any sign of injury. First the head– checking for bumps, redness, swelling. Then his hands skimmed down C00lkidd’s arms and legs, pressing gently here and there, trying to feel for any flinch or sharp cry that might mean pain.

“You’re okay… you’re okay, kid. Just hold still for me.” 007n7 murmured, voice low and urgent, though his heart was still hammering. The crying began to soften, not because the tears had run out, but because the initial shock was fading. C00lkidd’s little fists loosened their grip on 007n7’s skin, and their breaths came in uneven but calmer hiccups.

007n7 exhaled slowly, the knot in his chest loosening bit by bit. “You just scared yourself, huh? That’s all it was.” C00lkidd sniffled and pressed his face against 007n7’s shoulder, still clinging like a barnacle.

“Yeah.. no more acrobatics, alright? Mama’s heart can’t take it.” 007n7 stood, adjusting his hold so C00lkidd could hook one arm around his neck. The kid’s breathing evened out against him, warm and damp from tears but otherwise fine. 

When C00lkidd finally settled down, 007n7 crouched and gently set him down on the carpet. “I’m never putting you somewhere that high without supervision again.” He muttered, still feeling the faint thud of adrenaline in his chest. 

The little gremlin blinked up at him, lower lip still trembling but otherwise calm now. He gave a soft coo, then looked around as if nothing life threatening had happened just minutes ago. 007n7 huffed out a relieved breath, ruffling his hair before turning toward the closet.

The clean shirt was still dangling from its hanger, mocking him for having left it behind in the chaos. He grabbed it and tugged it over his head, smoothing the fabric down with both hands. Just as he was about to turn back toward C00lkidd, he felt the faintest tug at the hem of his sweatpants. 

“What now, huh?” 007n7 asked, glancing down. He expected to see the kid plopped on the floor, arms raised– nonvocally asking to get picked up. Though what 007n7 saw was something he didn’t expect. C00lkidd was upright and standing. For a solid three seconds, 007n7 just froze, his brain trying to catch up to what his eyes were screaming at him.

Then, slowly, his mouth pulled into a grin so wide it almost hurt. He dropped to a knee immediately, one hand bracing C00lkidd’s side just in case. “Would you look at that..” 007n7 said, voice warm and just a touch awestruck. “You’re standing now! Good job, kid!”

C00lkidd beamed up at him, a toothy smile that was more gum than teeth, tiny fingers curling into 007n7’s sleeve like they’d been waiting for this very moment. His legs wobbled a little, but he stayed up, swaying slightly like a baby penguin testing the ice.

“Guess all that crawling has been paying off, huh?” 007n7 chuckled, giving his arm a gentle squeeze. “Next thing you know, you’re gonna be running circles around me.” He reached up to give C00lkidd’s hair the lightest tousle, the kind that made the kid giggle. The sound was enough to melt away the leftover tension from earlier.

C00lkidd shifted his weight, wobbling again, and 007n7’s hands instinctively shot out to steady him. “Careful now..” He murmured, smiling despite himself. “We’ll save the walking part for when your legs aren’t made of jelly.”

Still kneeling, 007n7 let C00lkidd grip his fingers for balance. They stayed like that for a few quiet moments– just the sound of the kid’s happy babbling and the soft creak of the floor beneath them.

Finally, 007n7 sighed through a quiet laugh and scooped him up. “Alright, kid. I’m not risking another stunt up here without a safety net.” He rose to his feet, settling C00lkidd against his chest. The little gremlin immediately grabbed a fistful of his shirt.

007n7 carried him out of the room, careful on the stairs. He didn’t trust the kid alone upstairs anymore– not after today’s heart attack. Besides, the others were downstairs, and the idea of leaving C00lkidd up here unsupervised made his skin crawl.

When they reached the bottom, the murmur of conversation in the living room drifted toward them. Noli was slouched back on the couch, hood up again, though his expression seemed a little more flustered than before. Chance was leaning one elbow on the armrest, mid sip from a can, his smirk firmly in place.

Without a word, 007n7 crossed the room and settled C00lkidd onto the big, padded play mat in the corner– the one Chance had insisted on setting up. The mat was covered in soft foam tiles, plush toys, and a little baby-safe mirror.

007n7 crouched to make sure C00lkidd was secure. The kid was already distracted by a stuffed cube with rattling beads inside, whacking it like it had personally offended him. With C00lkidd settled, 007n7 straightened and turned back toward the couch. He caught the quick exchange of glances between Noli and Chance, and the subtle shift in the air.

“So how was Chance’s fan fiction about us?” 007n7 teased, one brow cocked, tone dripping with mockery.

Noli, who already looked redder than a tomato, let out an outraged noise and immediately shoved himself against 007n7’s side. “I never knew this guy was a freak!” He whisper shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Chance. 

“Hey, hey…” Chance raised both hands in mock innocence, though the smug grin tugging at his mouth destroyed the act. “I was just putting into words what you were probably dreaming about. Don’t tell me it’s actually real…” His grin stretched wide, sharp and knowing, as if he’d just scored some jackpot.

“You know exactly what you’re doing. Stop it.” Noli’s glare could’ve cut glass.

“Not my fault, you’re so easy to fluster.” Chance leaned back comfortably, throwing his legs onto the coffee table like a king.

007n7 leaned back beside Noli, his smirk softening into something warmer. “I don’t know… I think Chance might be right about you, Noli.” 007n7 teased again, chuckling. That got him a sharp elbow to the ribs from Noli, though 007n7 only chuckled and tipped his head lazily toward him in return. 

The teasing continued for a while after, the conversation devolving into harmless chaos– Chance teasing Noli about fantasies he probably had about 007n7, Noli sputtering denials that grew less convincing by the minute, and 007n7 occasionally cutting in with a dry quip that made Noli flush even harder.

Eventually, Chance reached for his soda, shook the can, and frowned. “Out already?” He sighed in defeat, dragging himself up from the couch. “Guess I’ll grab another.” He strolled into the kitchen, leaving 007n7 and Noli to their quieter, softer conversation.

The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable exactly– just heavy, like the air between them had thickened. Yesterday’s confession still hung over them, still raw and real, like the echoes of a storm that hadn’t quite passed.

Noli leaned back against the couch cushions, his arm brushing against 007n7’s without meaning to. Or maybe meaning to. He wasn’t sure yet. “So…” His voice came out softer than he intended, almost cautious. “We’re officially a thing now, huh?”

“Y-yeah. I mean.. unless you regret it already.” 007n7 blinked at him, then quickly looked away. 

That hit something deep in Noli, sharp and unfair. He sat forward, tilting his head to catch Noli’s eyes. “Regret it? Are you serious? You think I’d regret…” He trailed off, lips pressing into a thin line, searching for words. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted this.”

007n7’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his gaze darting everywhere except at Noli. The coffee table. The floor. His own hands twisting nervously in his lap. “I just… I don’t know how to be like this.. with you.” 007n7’s voice became quieter as he spoke.

That admission cracked something open. Noli let out a soft laugh, not mocking– just warm, relieved. “Then we’ll figure it out, like we always do.” Noli slowly and cautiously reached over and slid his hand across the couch cushion until it touched 007n7’s. 

When 007n7 didn’t pull away, he let his palm settle, wrapping his fingers gently around Noli’s hand. 007n7 finally looked at him then. His face was still pink, his mouth set in a line like he was holding back a dozen things he didn’t know how to say. 

The quiet stretched. And then, like something broke inside him, 007n7 let out a shaky laugh. “Oh Telamon, you’re still an idiot.”

Noli grinned crookedly. “Yeah, but I’m your idiot now.”

That got 007n7 to laugh again, quieter, more honest. He squeezed Noli’s hand, just barely, and leaned the smallest bit closer. Not enough to close the space, but enough to make it impossible to ignore.

007n7’s chest felt too tight, like his heart was pressing against his ribs. 007n7 leaned in carefully, closing the gap until his forehead rested against Noli’s. Neither of them spoke. 

For the first time since yesterday, there was no storm, no confession spilling out between sobs, no fear of being misunderstood; Just the soft weight of closeness, the warmth of skin against skin, the realization that after everything, they were finally allowed to hold onto each other without excusing it as a friendly gesture.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Chance had popped open a fresh soda and was halfway back to the living room when something tugged sharply at his leg. He froze mid-step. Slowly, with the hesitation of someone about to witness either a haunting or a prank, Chance looked down.

“Kid??” Chance yelp[ed in shock and excitement, his soda nearly slipped out of his hand. There, clinging stubbornly to his leg, was none other than C00lkidd. He had an almost toothy grin, his little legs wobbling dangerously but holding steady. He looked up at Chance with this smug grin.

“How the hell did you get over here, little buddy?” Chance raised an eyebrow, looking at both 007n7 and Noli, checking to see if either one of them had placed C00lkidd there. Chance’s voice cut through the living room, and both Noli and 007n7 whipped their heads around.

“What’s wrong with you now?” Noli called, exasperation lacing his voice. But then his eyes dropped to the floor– and his breath caught. He saw his son standing and clinging to Chance’s leg. “…Wait. hold on– how the hell did he–?” Noli sputtered, sitting forward so fast he nearly toppled off the couch.

C00lkidd looked up at Chance one last time, then– like he knew he had an audience– released his grip and wobbled forward. He took his first step, then another. His knees wobbled, his whole tiny body swayed, but he pushed forward, determination burning in his round little face. 

C00lkidd neared 007n7 and Noli, taking a second to decide who he wanted to go to– until he ultimately decided. “Mama!” C00lkidd babbled proudly as he clung onto 0007n7’s leg.

The word alone nearly destroyed 007n7. His throat closed up, and he pressed the heel of his palm to his mouth, laughter breaking out, ragged and shaky. “He– he’s walking.. He’s walking!” He could barely contain his tears.

Noli stared down at C00lkidd in stunned silence, his hood shadowing most of his face. But nothing could hide the shine in his eyes or the way his lips trembled before curving into the widest grin he’d worn in years. His arms scooped C00lkidd up instantly, holding him tight, as though his body was the only thing keeping this miracle grounded.

“You– you little menace…” Noli’s voice cracked halfway through, laughter mingling with the tears he was fighting back. “Couldn’t wait, huh? You wanted to surprise us first?”

C00lkidd squealed, smacking his tiny hand against Noli’s cheek as though proud of himself. The room filled with their shaky laughter, the kind that left their ribs aching, raw with relief and joy.

And then, of course, Chance ruined the moment.

“Alright, alright.” Chance cut in, striding over with his half-empty soda can like he was calling a timeout. “Before you two drown in your own tears, let’s not forget the real question here.” His grin turned wicked, eyes darting between them. “Now that he knows how to walk, we get to see who he walks to.”

Noli blinked, still cradling C00lkidd. “What?”

“To see who the favorite parent is, obviously.” Chance snickered, already delighted by the chaos he’d lit.

007n7 wiped quickly at his eyes, snorting wetly. “You’re insufferable.” But his trembling voice betrayed the laugh bubbling under his words. He shifted closer beside Noli, brushing a hand against C00lkidd’s head, his expression still glassy with tears.

“You’re just saying that because you think you’re gonna lose.” Chance prodded at 007n7, playfully teasing the brunette.

“Yeah right..” 007n7 rolled his eyes, pulling away from the finger that was poking him.

Chance’s eyes then traveled to C00lkidd. The baby looked back at Chance– and as if he knew Chance’s intentions– reached for Chance, making small groans as he opened and closed his fists. “Guess little baby man wants to go with uncle Chance!” Chance took C00lkidd from Noli without waiting for anyone to say anything. 

“Dude! We’re having a moment here.” Noli frowned as C00lkidd was taken from his hands. 

“Hey, what baby wants, baby gets.” Chance shrugged, already smirking as he bounced C00lkidd lightly in his arms. “That’s what makes me the cool rich uncle, ain’t it, ‘lil guy?”

C00lkidd babbled happily, almost as if he agreed. Chance’s grin widened. He crouched down a little, tilting the baby forward so they were eye level. His eyes flicked toward Noli and 007n7, mischief practically glowing in them. 

“We’re not gonna do this whole baby competition thing, Chance.” Noli furrowed his eyebrows as he crossed his arms.

“Why not?” Chance shot back with a snicker, Noli only groaned at this. He set C00lkidd down carefully on his feet, giving him a little pat of encouragement. The baby wobbled once, but stood steady, eyes darting between his parents.

007n7 adjusted his shirt and crouched lower, a sharp grin flashing across his face as he tapped the floor in front of him. “Alright, kiddo. Over here. Mama’s got you.” His voice softened as he held his arms wide open, tone low and coaxing. “Come to Mama!”

Noli narrowed his eyes instantly, dropping to his knees beside 007n7. “Don’t listen to him.” He said, his tone dripping with fake calmness. “I’ve got the good stuff..” Noli smirked as he shook a rattle toy

C00lkidd froze mid-wobble, looking from one side to the other like he was stuck between two gravity pulls. He babbled something incoherent, bouncing on his legs, then squealed.

“Where the fuck did you even get that?” 007n7’s eyes sharpened, whispering harshly to Noli. 

“No swearing in front of the baby, Sev..” Noli said in a sing song tone, waving around the rattle.

007n7 just scoffed as he looked back at C00lkidd. “Don’t you want to make Mama proud, kid? Just come over to me and I’ll scoop you right up.” His voice dropped to a softer tone. 

Noli scoffed. “Oh please. He doesn’t want promises, he wants results.” He shook the rattle again, louder this time, his grin turning sharp as C00lkidd’s eyes locked onto the toy. “That’s it.. That’s right... Come to me.”

C00lkidd rocked forward, legs trembling, taking one wobbly step– then another. He giggled, clapping his little hands as he toddled forward. “Ha!” 007n7 gasped, stretching his arms wider. “That’s it, come on–!”

But C00lkidd swayed sideways, eyes fixed on the toy, and with a squeal, he made a beeline for Noli. He crashed into his chest, arms wrapping around him in a triumphant little hug.

Noli nearly toppled backward, clutching him tight and letting out a laugh so loud it cracked. “He picked me! Did you see that?!” His voice wavered between smug and emotional, his grin almost too big for his face. “He walked straight to me!”

007n7 froze, arms still open, caught halfway between a proud smile and a gut-punched frown. His throat worked, eyes glassy, before he dragged a shaky hand through his hair and barked out a watery laugh. “Of course. Of course he’d pick you…”

Chance cackled so hard he nearly spilled his soda. “Favorite parent confirmed. Nice one, Nols.” 

“Take a look at that, Sev.. That’s right! I win!” Noli laughed heartily as he spun around with C00lkidd in his arms. Noli squinted his eyes as he smiled, whimsically giggling as he hugged C00lkidd again.

Beside him, 007n7 finally exhaled, lowering his hands and moving closer, brushing his fingers gently through the baby’s hair despite the sting of being second choice. His smile was fragile but real. “Good job, kid. You did it.” His voice trembled as he whispered. “You’re really growing up.”

And though the competition was over, in the end, it didn’t matter who C00lkidd chose first. 007n7 would’ve always been right there for his son, no matter what it was. 

But of course, Chance had something to say. “Hold up.” Chance leaned forward, squinting hard. “Is it just me, or does he look paler?” He rubbed his chin, narrowing his eyes at C00lkidd.

Noli’s grin faltered immediately upon hearing. His arms instinctively pulled C00lkidd closer, holding him out just enough to study him. His hood tilted, shadowing his expression. 

C00lkidd squirmed in his arms, distressed by the sudden intense stares. He babbled, patting at Noli’s hoodie strings, but Noli wasn’t looking at him– he was scanning every inch of his son, searching for something wrong.

“What do you mean paler?” 007n7 stepped up beside him, the warmth from before bleeding out of his face. His gaze sharpened, focused only on C00lkidd.

“Yeah no, Chance’s right.” Noli’s voice dropped low, worried. “He’s lighter. Kid’s usually a deep red, but right now..?” He pressed his lips together, frown deepening.

007n7’s heart jumped painfully in his chest. “No, no, no…” His calm and cool composure slowly shattering. “He was fine earlier!” His voice sped up, his panic starting to spill. “He doesn’t get sick. He can’t get sick. Can he?”

Noli’s throat tightened, his eyes darting from C00lkidd’s face to his arms to the faintly lighter shade of his skin. He’d never thought about what sickness even looked like for their son. He was not normal– Not like the other kids– and that scared him more than anything.

“Maybe it’s nothing..?” Noli muttered, though his voice wavered. He brushes his thumb gently across C00lkidd’s cheek. The baby leaned into the touch with a tired little squeak, and the sound sent a pang straight through him. 

“Maybe he’s just… tired? Overexerted from walking?” Chance piped in, trying to reassure everyone– even though he’s the one who started this whole mess.

“Tired doesn’t just suddenly changes somebody’s color.” 007n7 snapped, though his voice cracked halfway through, betraying the fear underneath. 

Chance, for once, looked uneasy, shifting his weight and glancing away. “Hey, don’t shoot the messenger, alright? I just pointed it out.”

Noli shot him a sharp look from under his hood, his chest heaving. “You had to say something.”

“Would you rather not notice?” Chance countered, though softer now, less smug. “If something’s wrong, better to catch it early, isn’t it?”

The room fell quiet again, the weight of his words hanging over all of them. The earlier laughter, the teasing, even the competition– suddenly it all felt far away.

“How are we supposed to get him checked up? No doctor in Robloxia will find our kid ‘normal’.” 007n7’s voice was dull, flat, but the concern and fear were plastered all over his face. His hands twitched uselessly at his sides, as if they were supposed to do something but couldn’t.

Noli hugged C00lkidd closer, one palm smoothing over C00lkidd’s back as though he could somehow feel the answer in his skin. “He’s breathing fine..” Noli said quickly, almost defensively, though his own voice cracked around the edges. He pulled back just enough to look at C00lkidd’s face again, searching desperately for signs that would tell him Chance was wrong. “He’s smiling.. Look at him. He’s fine.”

But the more he stared, the harder it became to ignore it. The shine of C00lkidd’s cheeks wasn’t the same shade of red as before. Noli’s stomach dropped, his grip unconsciously tightening. “..He does look different.” He muttered.

007n7 swallowed hard, his gaze flicking between Noli and C00lkidd like he could force the image in front of him to make sense. “No– no, it’s probably–” He ran a hand down his face, muttering more to himself than to anyone else. “It’s just the lighting. Or maybe he’s tired. Babies change colors all the time, right?” His words came quick, defensive, like he was trying to build a wall against the thought forming in his chest.

Chance didn’t say anything right away. His smugness was gone completely now, replaced by something heavier, older. His arms crossed, but his brow furrowed as he studied the baby with a seriousness he almost never carried. “I don’t know, man… I’ve seen him plenty of times now. This is the first I’ve noticed it.”

That silence pressed down on the room again, and it was Noli who broke it this time, his voice low and trembling despite how hard he tried to sound steady. “So what do we do? We can’t just– just sit here and watch him turn paler and paler.”

007n7’s hands clenched into fists, and for once, the man who always had an answer didn’t have anything to say. His throat bobbed as he forced down the fear clawing at him, and he finally looked at Noli, eyes glassy but determined. “Then we figure it out ourselves. If no doctor will understand him, then we don’t need one. We’ll find a way. I’m not letting anything happen to him.”

C00lkidd babbled softly, reaching a tiny hand toward 007n7’s face as though sensing the tension. That single, simple sound was enough to break through the tightness in the air– reminding them all of what was at stake.

Chapter Text

007n7 lingered by the kitchen counter, phone in hand, staring down at the glowing screen. His thumb hovered over 118o8’s name longer than he should’ve let it. He wasn’t the type to reach out first, not like this. Not when it meant exposing the gnawing edge of fear clawing at his chest.

007n6 pressed call before he could stop himself. The dial tone rang once and then twice; His jaw clenched with each hollow beep that echoed back at him.

“Come on, Eight..” 007n7 muttered, pacing the tiles like an animal caught in a cage. His free hand tugged at the hem of his shirt, nails digging through the fabric. “Pick up, damn it.” The fourth ring clicked over into voicemail.

007n7’s breath caught. His stomach churned. He almost hung up right there, but then he heard the beep and realized he couldn’t. He had to say something.

“…Hey. It’s me .” 007n7’s voice came out cracked, so he stopped, cleared his throat, and tried again. “Listen. It’s C00lkidd. He’s..” He pauses for a moment before swallowing the saliva that pooled inside his mouth.

“Something’s wrong.. He’s paler than usual. I don’t know if he’s sick, or if this is normal, or what. You’ve got Bluudud– maybe you’ve seen this before?” His hand pressed against his forehead, trying to wrangle his scattered words into sense. “Just call me back, alright? …Please. ” 007n7 knew he sounded pathetic asking help like this, but what more could he do to help his son?

The voicemail cut him off with a beep. 007n7 stood frozen in place, staring at the reflection of himself on the darkened phone screen. He hated how helpless he looked, how small. His hands trembled when he finally shoved the phone into his pocket.

When he returned to the living room, the atmosphere was softer, almost fragile. C00lkidd sat propped up on the couch, his little legs wobbling as he tried to balance upright. His small fists clutched the fabric like it was the only anchor he had. Noli sat right beside him, one hand hovering protectively behind his back, ready to catch him at the first sign of a slip.

Noli’s eyes flicked up when 007n7 came back in. They were wide, expectant. A silent question that 007n7 already knew the answer to.

“She didn’t answer.” 007n7’s voice was low, defeated. He dropped heavily onto the couch, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor. “I left a message atleast..” He gave a rather strained smile, hoping to somewhat lighten the mood.

Noli’s mouth tightened. His hand curled into the fabric of his jeans. He didn’t argue, didn’t complain– it wasn’t 007n7’s fault– but the frustration bled through his silence. 

After a moment, he picked up C00lkidd and gently placed the baby onto 007n7’s lap.  “I’ll take the day off to help monitor C00lkidd.”  

007n7 stiffened, caught off guard by the weight in his lap. But then C00lkidd leaned forward against his chest with a small whimper, clutching at his shirt with his little hands. 007n7 froze, throat aching, before he finally folded his arms around the child, holding him close.

 The fear that had been strangling him dulled just a little in the warmth of that fragile body against his own. For a long time, they sat like that– Noli at his side, 007n7 hunched over the baby pressed into his chest. The quiet wrapped around them– it was heavy but necessary.

From the hallway, Chance’s footsteps broke the silence. He reappeared, slower than usual, carrying an old book in his hands. Its cover was cracked and it’s was spine worn. He tossed it onto the coffee table with a sigh and rubbed at the back of his neck.

“Nothing. Not a damn word about demon kids or… whatever this is.” Chance’s voice was quieter than his usual smug tone, like admitting failure carried its own weight.

007n7 glanced up at him, jaw tight. “I’d assume so.” 

Chance looked between the two parents, his usual smirk gone. He felt bad that he wasn’t able to help out his favourite nephew with whatever illness he might’ve had right now. “..Sorry.” Chance quietly mutters out.

For a moment, the room stilled again, broken only by C00lkidd’s soft breathing and the faint creak of the couch when Noli leaned into 007n7’s shoulder.

Chance sighed as he dragged a hand through his hair, breaking the silent moment. “I’ll dig deeper. I’ve got more than dusty books.. I’ve got contacts, people who owe me favors– Someone’s gotta know something about… kids like him.”

“Kids like him?” 007n7 snapped, raising his head sharply. His eyes glinted with a dangerous edge. “He’s not– he’s not some category for you to poke at, Chance. He’s my son.”

Chance blinked, taken aback. Then, slowly, his expression softened. He raised his hands in surrender. “Alright.. Alright, I’m sorry.. I’ll find someone who’d know something about your son .” He corrects himself.

The words echoed, heavy in the air. 007n7 let out a shaky breath, lowering his gaze again to the small figure curled into him. C00lkidd had already started to doze, eyes fluttering shut, his tiny fingers still clutching his shirt.

For a while, none of them spoke. Chance leaned against the wall, his usual grin nowhere in sight. Noli stayed pressed close, his hand lingering on 007n7’s arm. And 007n7 kept his arms wrapped around C00lkidd, as if holding him tight enough could anchor everything back into place.

The silence was heavy, broken only by the soft, steady breaths of the baby in Seven’s arms. Then a rather quiet ringtone rang from 007n7’s phone, muffled in his pocket but enough to make all three tense.

Noli and Chance turned their heads at once, eyes darting between 007n7 and the baby– both silently hoping the sound hadn’t woken him. C00lkidd stirred faintly, his little tail twitching once, but didn’t wake.

Not wanting to risk another vibration, 007n7 fumbled for the phone and answered in a hushed rush. He hadn’t checked the caller ID, but his chest tightened with a hope he wouldn’t dare say aloud.

“Sev? I got your voicemail… I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to answer immediately! I was busy with Bluu and Pr3tty.”

“Eight?” 007n7 whispered cautiously, sounding relieved upon hearing her voice. Noli’s head snapped toward him at the name, eyes narrowing, but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he leaned closer and gently slid C00lkidd from 007n7’s lap, cradling him against his chest. His arms were careful, practiced, as though the child had always been his to protect.

“Yeah.” 118o8’s voice was softer now, but edged with concern. “You said C00lkidd was paler than usual?” 007n7 rose carefully from the couch, motioning silently to Chance and Noli— an unspoken ‘I’ll explain later’ . He slipped out of the living room and into the quieter hallway, phone pressed tight to his ear.

“Mhm.” 007n7 muttered. “He’s quieter, too. Not the same shade he usually is.” He hesitated, lowering his voice even more. “He’s.. not as red.”

A pause hummed over the line. 007n7 could almost hear 118o8 weighing her words. “…I see.” She finally muttered out.

007n7’s grip on the phone tightened. “And?”

“Well..” 118o8 began slowly. “I don’t want to say too much before I’m sure. But– Sev, listen. This doesn’t sound like he’s sick.”

007n7’s brow furrowed. “Then just say it, Eight. Don’t dance around it.” His voice cracked with impatience.

But instead of answering directly, 118o8 exhaled. “Bring him over. You and Noli both. I want Six to see him.” Her tone sounded more serious.

At that name, 007n7’s jaw tightened automatically. He let out a low sigh, rubbing at his temple. “Of course it’s Six…” Of course it would be. 118o8 mentioned them constantly every time they would speak– Six says this, Six thinks that, Six helped with Bluu when they were sick.

By now, 007n7 practically knew them by proxy, without ever meeting them. “…Why Six?” 007n7 asked anyway.

“Because they’ve seen this before. With Bluu. With Pr3tty. And it’s better if you hear it from them. They’ll know exactly what’s happening.” 118o8’s voice warmed at the edges, but it was steady. 

007n7’s stomach twisted, unease and hope tangled together. “You’re saying C00lkidd’s not–” He stopped himself, unable to finish.

“Not sick.” 118o8 cut in quickly, but her voice was gentle. “Not broken– Just… changing.” That single word lodged deep in 007n7’s chest. He pressed his back against the hallway wall, staring at the ceiling as if it might hand him a straight answer.

118o8 hesitated, then went on, softer now. “Sev, I… I was terrified the first time it happened with Bluu.. He used to be this somewhat dark shade of blue. One morning I noticed the shade wasn’t the same. I thought something was wrong, I was ready to—” She let out a shaky breath, cutting herself short. 

“But then Six told me it wasn’t sickness. That it wasn’t anything I needed to worry about.”

“…And what was it?” 007n7 asked, voice low, brittle.

118o8 was quiet for a moment. “They never explained it all the way. Just said something about how this is probably normal. Something about how they’re just growing and changing..”

007n7’s throat tightened. “…Changing.” He echoed at last, the word falling flat from his mouth.

“Yeah.” 118o8 said gently. “It sounds scary– Hell – It feels scary. But it doesn’t mean something’s broken. Bluu went through it. So did Pr3tty. And now… maybe it’s C00lkidd’s turn.”

118o8’s words lingered in the silence that followed, soft but not quite enough to quiet the weight pressing down on 007n7’s chest. 007n7 dragged a hand over his face, torn between wanting to believe her and hating how vague it all sounded.

On the other end, 118o8’s voice came again, steadier this time, as if she knew he was still wavering. “You should come over.” She urged. “Please. Let Six take a look at him. They know more than I do. Maybe… maybe it’ll help, seeing it for yourself instead of trying to carry it all in your head.”

007n7 exhaled shakily, the sound more like surrender than relief. His eyes slipped shut, shoulders sagging as though he’d been holding himself upright with sheer stubbornness. “…Alright.” His voice was low, reluctant, but the decision was made.

“Good.” There was a smile in 118o8 voice now, though laced with concern. “And, Sev? You’re doing fine. Don’t tear yourself up over this. Just bring him here.”

007n7 scoffed lightly, a hollow sound meant to disguise the way his chest threatened to cave in. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t get all sentimental on me.”

“You love it.” 118o8 teased, but her tone remained gentle. “I’ll see you soon, Sev.” When the line clicked off, 007n7 lowered the phone slowly, staring at it like it had just shifted the ground beneath him. He lingered in the hall for a moment longer, gathering himself, before returning to the living room.

Noli looked up immediately, sharp-eyed and searching. Chance pushed off the wall, brows raised. C00lkidd blinked sleepily in Noli’s arms, his tiny hand curled into Noli’s shirt.

007n7’s gaze softened at the sight before him– C00lkidd curled up against Noli, small chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. For a moment, he let himself watch, as though memorizing the scene would help him believe everything was fine. Then he lowered himself back onto the couch, rubbing both hands hard over his face before dragging one down to his mouth. 

“We’re going to Eight’s.” 007n7 finally speaks, his voice sounding rough. He pauses for a moment before speaking again. “Tonight.”

Noli blinked, startled by the sudden declaration. “Why?” His tone wasn’t sharp, but it carried the weight of someone bracing for a reason he might not like. Noli’s hand lingered protectively over C00lkidd’s tiny body, as if instinctively preparing to shield him from whatever the answer might be.

007n7 glanced at the baby, then back at Noli. “…She thinks it’s not a sickness. She thinks it’s just… a growing thing.” His voice dropped lower, like saying it too loud would break the fragile thread of reassurance 118o8 had given him.

For the first time in hours, something like relief passed over Noli’s face. His brows eased, the hard crease between them softening, but he didn’t let it bloom into hope. It was guarded– wary, like he didn’t want to give himself permission to believe in good news just yet. “A growing thing..?” He echoed under his breath, as if testing the words for cracks.

From across the room, Chance tilted his head. His grin hadn’t quite returned yet– what sat on his face now was curiosity edged with suspicion. “So how does she know this?” His voice carried that teasing lilt he always had, but the undercurrent was sharper this time. A little too pointed to pass as casual.

Noli hummed in agreement, his own suspicion rising. He turned his gaze on 007n7, eyebrow arched. “Yeah, Seven. How does she know this?” His tone wasn’t mocking, but there was a quiet insistence in it– a demand for more than vague reassurances.

007n7 shifted uncomfortably, fingers twitching against his knee. “I don’t know!” He muttered, though the way he avoided their eyes betrayed that he did know more than he wanted to admit. “She said her partner knew something about… stuff like this. That’s why she wants us to come over.”

“Her partner?” Noli repeated slowly. 007n7’s jaw tightened, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. He didn’t answer right away, and the silence stretched just long enough to make Noli’s brow furrow deeper.

“…Yeah.” 007n7 finally admitted, spitting the word out like it left a bad taste. He leaned back into the couch, staring at the ceiling as if he could shrug off the tension pressing into his shoulders. 

“Of course...” Noli’s mouth settled into a grim line as he tilted his head, gaze sharp. “And we’re just supposed to take their word for it?”

Chance nodded slowly, his eyes flicking between Noli and 007n7. “He’s right. What if they’re wrong, Se? What if this is more serious and we’re wasting time?”

007n7 dragged his hand over his mouth, exhaling heavily through his nose. “I don’t know, okay? But Eight… she sounded sure. And I’d rather go and hear her out than sit here guessing until I lose my mind.” His voice cracked slightly at the end, betraying the weight he’d been trying to hold back.

Noli’s gaze softened, but only a fraction. “And you trust her partner’s word over… anyone else’s?”

007n7 bristled at that, the muscle in his jaw tightening. “I don’t trust them.” He said quickly, almost defensive. “I trust Eight. She wouldn’t tell me this unless she really believed it. But…” He paused, fingers drumming against his leg. “Everything she knows comes from Six. And that’s what makes me–” 007n7 cut himself off, shaking his head. “…That’s what makes me wonder.”

Chance raised an eyebrow, smirk creeping higher now that he saw the crack in 007n7’s composure. “So what you’re saying is… you’re willing to haul all of us to her place tonight because of something you don’t even fully buy yourself.”

007n7 shot him a sharp look. “I’m saying I’d rather take a shot at answers than sit here waiting for nothing. If they’re right– if this isn’t sickness– then I’ll deal with feeling stupid later. But if they’re wrong…” His voice dropped, quiet and tight. “At least I’ll know I tried.”

Noli shifted his hold on C00lkidd, glancing down at the baby’s pale, resting face. The faintest crease returned to his brow, but this time it wasn’t suspicion– it was worry, raw and unshakable. He pressed a kiss to C00lkidd’s hair before looking back at 007n7. “Then we go. But I’m not convinced until I see it for myself.”

Chance chuckled low, though it wasn’t mocking– more like someone resigned to being pulled into chaos whether he liked it or not. “Well, this should be interesting,” he said, pushing off the chair. “Lead the way, Sev. Let’s see if your friend’s miracle partner has anything real to say.”

007n7 said nothing, but his silence spoke volumes. As they began to prepare for the trip, the unspoken tension hung heavy in the air. None of them trusted Six, but between fear, hope, and the thin thread of faith in 118o8’s words, they all didn’t have a choice.

 –+⟡+–

“Sundae? Who were you talking to on the phone?” 118o8 turned at the voice, startled for only a moment before softening at the sight in the doorway. 226w6 stood there, tall and quiet, wizard hat tilted slightly forward as always, shadowing their eyes.

 In their arms rested Pr3ttypriincess, the younger of their two demon babies, her small horns barely peeking from her hair as her tail curled lazily around 226w6’s wrist. She was babbling faintly, content in the safety of her parent’s hold.

“Oh!” 118o8 pushed her glasses back up her nose, tucking her phone into her pocket. “That was Seven. I… invited him and Noli over tonight.” Her voice wavered a little, but steadied as she added. “With their baby, too.”

226w6’s eyebrows rose, just a flicker of motion that most would miss, but 118o8 had learned to read them like a second language. “C00lkidd.” The way they said it was deliberate, slow, as though they were rolling the name around to test its weight. “Seven’s child.”

“Yes.” 118o8 said, watching 226w6’s face carefully. She crossed the room, glancing into the crib where Bluudud lay fast asleep. He was curled tight, chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Her heart ached with love. “Seven sounded… worried. He said C00lkidd had grown pale.”

226w6 shifted Pr3ttypriincess in their arms, careful, methodical. Their eyes lingered on the sleeping Bluu, then flicked back to Sundae. “And you told him what?”

“I told him… it wasn’t sickness. Just growth.” 118o8 exhaled. “Because that’s what you told me, when Bluu’s and Pr3tty’s skin shifted for the first time.. I believed you then, Six.”

226w6 gave the faintest hum, neither approval nor dismissal, as if they had expected her answer all along. “So you invited them here.”

“I did.” 118o8 hesitated, wringing her hands before quickly smoothing her hair back into place. “I wanted him to hear it from you. From us. He’s panicked, I can tell. He doesn’t know what to think. And Noli–” She smiled faintly. “They need reassurance.”

226w6 tilted their head, a shadow of a smile playing on their lips. “Ah.. Reassurance. You trust me to provide it?” Their tone wasn’t mocking, though it carried that soft amusement they always wore when teasing her.

118o8 stepped closer, brushing her fingers against Pr3ttypriincess’s little hand, then let her touch trail up 226w6’s sleeve. “Of course, I trust you.. You make sense of things I can’t explain.”

226w6 lowered their gaze to 118o8, and for a brief moment, the ever-present veil of mystery in their expression softened. “And I will do so again. For Seven, for his child, and for that raven-haired guy that always sticks around Sev.”

118o8 blinked. “You even remember Noli’s hair color? Six, do you just quietly take notes on everyone?”

226w6 didn’t answer right away, just adjusted their wizard hat to hide a faint smirk. “You learn a lot by watching.” They said simply. They shifted Pr3ttypriincess in their arms, gently rocking her until she let out a soft coo. “Three kids. All different… but none of them what you’d call ordinary.”

118o8 tilted her head, frowning slightly. “You make it sound like it’s all part of some big plan.”

“Maybe it is.” 226w6’s eyes caught the light. “Or maybe it’s just chance. Either way..” Their lips quirked, almost a smile. “Seeing a kid grow in ways no one expects? That’s exciting.”

118o8 laughed softly, though there was a nervous edge to it. “Excites you? That’s not what Seven needs to hear when he walks in the door.”

“And yet, beneath his panic, he will recognize it. He will see that his child is not an error, but a miracle in motion. The same as ours.” 226w6 turned their gaze back to her, steady and grounding. 

118o8 chest warmed at that– at the word “ours”, at the way 226w6’s voice dipped into something gentle, reverent. She stepped close enough that their arms brushed, careful not to wake Pr3ttypriincess. “You’re good with words when you want to be, you know.”

226w6 tilted their head toward her, lowering their voice. “Only with you, Sundae.”

118o8 heart leapt. Still, she pressed, “So… you’re okay with them coming? With having Seven, Noli, and C00lkidd here tonight?”

226w6 paused, their silence deliberate, stretching long enough that she worried they might say no. Then, finally, they smiled. “I am more than okay with it. I am… eager.”

“Eager?” 118o8 raised a brow at them.

“Why shouldn’t I be?” 226w6’s voice was calm, steady. “It’s not every day we get to see something like this up close..”

118o8 let out a breath– half exasperation, half amusement. “You’re making it sound like another one of your experiments again.” Her lips settled into a grim line.

226w6 shook their head, leaning closer, their free hand brushing gently against hers. “No. The world outside treats them like experiments. Me? I just see miracles. And I’m not going to apologize for being curious about them.”

Her breath caught, glasses slipping down her nose. She reached for their hand properly now, squeezing tight, grounding herself in their steadiness. “…Then I guess we’ll be setting another place at the table tonight.” She murmured.

“I will see that they leave lighter than they arrived.” 226w6’s eyes softened, their voice low and certain. 

118o8 looked from Bluu’s crib to Pr3ttypriincess asleep in 226w6’s arms, then back to the partner she loved– the mysterious, brilliant, frustratingly vague wizard who had never once let her down. Whatever fears 007n7 and Noli brought with them, she was sure that 226w6 would be able to reassure them.

Chapter Text

The car rolled to a stop along the curb, headlights dimming as Chance shifted the gear into park. The neighborhood was quiet at this hour, the kind of quiet that made the glow from porch lamps feel warmer, more inviting. At the end of the walkway stood 118o8 and 226w6’s house– a whole house.

It wasn’t as grand as Chance’s mansion, but it had presence. The porch steps were freshly painted, there were neat little flowerpots sitting in pairs by the railing, and curtains framed the windows inside where a soft amber light spilled out. It looked lived-in, cared for, and steady.

“Are you sure you don’t wanna come in with us, Chance?” Noli asked as he unclipped his seatbelt, voice low, like part of him already knew the answer. He cast a glance toward the other side of the car where 007n7 had already climbed out, cradling C00lkidd in the crook of his arms. The baby made a faint squeak of protest at the change in temperature, curling closer into 007n7’s shirt.

Chance tipped his head back against the seat, lounging as if the night belonged to him. “Nah..” He said, easy as ever, lips curved in that sharp, practiced smirk. “I don’t know them. Wouldn’t feel right showing up unannounced.”

 “You sure?” Noli blinked at him, then pressed.

“Positive.” Chance’s grin widened, as though he knew exactly how to put a bow on his exit. “Besides, I’ve got business. The casino’s waiting. They need me for a deal.”

There it was– the casual, larger-than-life kind of line Chance always tossed out like it was nothing. Maybe it was true, maybe it wasn’t. Noli had long since given up trying to tell the difference.

Biting his lip, Noli opened his door, cool air rushing in. “I see. Well…” He gave the gambler a faint, almost reluctant smile, throwing up a thumbs-up as he stepped onto the pavement. “Good luck on that deal, dude.”

“Luck’s for people who don’t know how to win.” Chance said with a wink, already shifting the car’s gear into drive. “And besides.. I know Lady Luck is already by my side.” Chance eagerly sipped his soda while Noli closed the car door. The headlights flashed briefly across the street before the vehicle slid away into the night. 

Noli stood on the curb for a moment, hands stuffed into his pockets, staring after it until it turned a corner and disappeared. The quiet that followed pressed heavier than he liked.

By then, 007n7 was already halfway up the path, C00lkidd snug against him. His strides were steady, deliberate, though his eyes couldn’t quite leave the house itself. A real house. Not a shared apartment with thin walls, not some dingy rental, not even a duplex split down the middle. 118o8 and 226w6 had carved out this place for themselves. Straight out of college, and here they were.

007n7 narrowed his eyes slightly, adjusting C00lkidd against his chest. He wasn’t bitter, not exactly, but the thought wouldn’t let go. How the hell did they manage it? A house wasn’t just four walls– it was bills, upkeep, stability. You can’t just stumble into that. Not at their age at least.

Noli trailed behind, quiet as ever, but he noticed. He always noticed. Where 007n7 let his thoughts sharpen into a kind of subtle suspicion– eyes scanning, questions pressing at the back of his tongue– Noli held his own surprise deeper, quieter. It amazed him, honestly, though he’d never admit it out loud. It was impressive, maybe intimidating. They had a whole home and two babies, and here he and 007n7 were, just figuring out how to raise one.

The sound of laughter drifted faintly through the windows, soft and genuine. It should’ve relaxed them, but it only made the contrast starker. Inside was warmth and stability. Outside, they hovered on the porch like two kids unprepared for what they’d find.

“Straight outta college, and they’ve already got all this…” 007n7 muttered under his breath, barely audible.

Noli looked at him, his lips twitching in something between a frown and a smile. He didn’t say anything. He just walked a little closer, his shoulder brushing 007n7’s lightly as if to ground him before they knocked.

The porch light glowed bright above them, and the front door loomed larger the nearer they got. Noli reached up instinctively, as if to knock, but hesitated, glancing at 007n7. C00lkidd had finally dozed off against his chest, and 007n7’s expression was unreadable– part suspicion, part admiration, part something else Noli couldn’t name.

For a long moment, the three of them– two ex-exploiters and a baby– stood in the golden spill of the porch lamp, staring at the door of a home that belonged to two people who somehow, against all odds, already had their lives together.

And then, finally, Noli let his knuckles fall gently against the door.

The knock barely echoed before the door creaked open. A sliver of warm light cut across the porch, spilling over Noli’s shoes and 007n7’s hoodie. When the door opened, they were greeted by 226w6 themselves.

The wide-brimmed wizard hat they wore almost scraped the doorframe, and the draping coat– robe? Garment?-- they had on gave them an air that felt half out of a fantasy novel, half out of an old painting. Their posture was calm, perfectly measured, as if they had been expecting this moment all day.

“Ah…” 226w6 said smoothly, their tone low threaded with a careful patience that instantly set Noli’s nerves on edge. “You’ve arrived. How refreshing. Please, come in.” They stepped aside with a flourish that might have been hospitable if it weren’t so theatrical.

Noli hesitated. Not for long, not enough for anyone to notice unless they were paying close attention, but still– his stomach gave a twist. Something in the way 226w6’s eyes rested on them made him uneasy. Their stare wasn’t rude, wasn’t hostile– it was studious, like they were taking in every detail and storing it away.

Noli forced himself to move, glancing at 226w6 for reassurance.

The house smelled faintly of cinnamon and polished wood, warm in a way that clashed against their host’s appearance. The entryway opened into a living room filled with soft-looking furniture, scattered baby toys, and shelves that stretched almost absurdly high with books, too many of them for a normal household. 

“Nice place.” 007n7 said after a beat, his tone casual in that careful, detached way he used whenever he was covering something else up. He adjusted C00lkidd in his arms, eyes flicking across the living room like he was looking for cracks in the walls.

“You think so?” 226w6 asked, shutting the door gently. The lock clicked into place louder than it should have. “It is a humble domicile, though sufficient for our… unique family.”

 “…Domicile?” Noli frowned slightly, unable to understand the word.

“House.” 226w6 sighed, their hand brushing briefly against their temple as though simplifying words was already a burden. “It’s a house.” 007n7’s lips twitched, but the grin that followed was more skepticism than amusement.

They followed 226w6 further in, and Noli found himself instinctively keeping a small distance, drifting closer toward 007n7’s side. The gut feeling wasn’t loosening. If anything, it tightened the deeper they walked into this house that should have felt ordinary but somehow didn’t.

“So…” 007n7 started, shifting C00lkidd higher in his arms. His voice was casual, but the edge underneath it was hard to miss. “Fresh out of college and you’ve already got a house, bills paid, two babies to wrangle. That’s… impressive.”

226w6 glanced over their shoulder, the corner of their mouth tugging in that almost-smile that carried more calculation than warmth. “Impressive? No.. It’s merely pragmatic. One must establish infrastructure before expansion.”

“Pragmatic?” Noli frowned, sharing the same expression and confusion with 007n7.

“It means doing what actually works instead of chasing after pretty little ideas that crumble the second you touch them.” 226w6 said with an airy sigh, like simplifying themselves was a weight they had grown used to carrying.

They tilted their head, the brim of their wizard hat casting a long shadow across their face. “Practical. Sensible. Not that complicated.” Their eyes slid lazily toward the pair, lingering with the kind of patience that wasn’t patient at all. “Or would you prefer I sketch it out with pictures?”

007n7 raised a brow, that crooked grin of his tilting sharper. “Right… pragmatic. Guess I’m just wondering how you managed it all. The house, the financial security. You don’t exactly–”  He gestured loosely at the draping robe and wizard hat.“…You don’t exactly look like you’re pulling graveyard shifts at a fast food joint.”

If that stung, 226w6 didn’t show it. Their voice remained steady and precise. “One must not conflate appearance with occupation. Stability is achieved not through toil alone, but through foresight. Through recognizing opportunity where others see only chance.”

“…What?” You could hear the couple whispering.

226w6 turned their head slightly, sighing once more as if repeating the obvious. “It means we planned ahead. Saved, invested, made the right choices. Luck favors those who prepare for it.”

“Oh..” Noli crossed his arms. “Could’ve just said that.” C00lkidd whimpered faintly, small fingers curling against 007n7’s hoodie, before dozing again.

007n7 looked down at him for a moment, then back up at their host. “Yeah, well.. Can’t argue with results. House looks sturdy enough. Smells… normal.” His gaze flicked toward the bookshelves, his eyes narrowing slightly. “But you don’t exactly make it easy not to ask questions.”

“Then ask.” 226w6 spread their arms in a loose, almost mocking invitation. 

That was the part that set Noli most on edge– their composure, the way they seemed to welcome scrutiny. As if they were perfectly aware they came across as strange and enjoyed watching others trip over it.

So Noli kept quiet, retreating inward. If something felt off, better to keep distance. But 007n7 wasn’t built for distance– he never had been. And Noli could already see the curiosity sparking behind his crooked grin, suspicion sharpening like a blade.

226w6 stood in the center of the living room their robes shifting as if stirred by a breeze that wasn’t there. It felt out of place in every way, yet perfectly at home. 

A soft shuffle broke the air. From the hallway came 118o8, glasses glinting faintly in the lamplight. She had Pr3ttypriincess bundled against her chest, the baby’s dark little horns barely visible through tufts of unruly hair. At her side toddled Bluudud, clinging to the fabric of her pajama pants with stubby fingers, his skin a shade of blue that caught shadows in strange ways.

“There you all are.” 118o8 said, voice warm in contrast to the room’s sharp edge. She adjusted her hold on Pr3ttypriincess and tilted her head toward the couch. “Go on, sit down. You’ve been standing around like you’re waiting for a job interview.”

Noli blinked, thrown off. “Right.” He gave a quick nod and lowered himself onto the edge of the couch, the cushions dipping under his weight. His knees brushed together, tense. 007n7 followed more casually, C00lkidd settled comfortably in his arms as though nothing about this felt unnatural.

118o8 sat opposite them, one hand rubbing circles on Pr3ttypriincess’s back while Bluudud toddled over to lean against her knee. The scene was almost domestic– almost. The babies, though strange, fit into the room like puzzle pieces. It was the adults who didn’t.

118o8 shifted Pr3ttypriincess in her arms, letting the baby rest her chin against her shoulder. Bluudud pressed close to her side, as if sensing the gravity in the air. She adjusted her glasses, eyes fixed on the two men across from her.

“Go on.” She said firmly, though her tone was not unkind. “Tell Six what you told me. It’s better if they hear it straight from you.”

007n7, lounging but not relaxed, gave her a sideways glance before shifting C00lkidd in his arms. The baby was heavy against him, warmer than usual, and yet– lighter too, somehow. His skin was pale, his little horns stark against it.

“It’s C00lkidd.” 007n7 said at last, voice stripped of its usual grin. “Something’s… happening to him– look at him.” He tilted the baby slightly. “He’s not the same color.”

Noli nodded, stiff-backed, his voice low. “It feels like he’s changing– and it’s not just his skin. I’ve noticed that he gets tired easier.. I thought it was just normal baby stuff...”

226w6, who had been watching all of this with their usual unbothered stillness, leaned forward in their chair. Their wizard hat dipped, shadow cutting across their eyes. They looked directly at C00lkidd, gaze lingering for a moment too long. “I know.” they said.

“You.. know?” Noli’s tone changed, sounding skeptical.

“I have seen this before.” 226w6‘s tone was simple, as if they were commenting on the weather. 118o8 rubbed Bluudud’s head gently, eyes flicking toward the floor. She didn’t speak. She already knew where this conversation was going.

007n7 narrowed his eyes. “Alright, then start talking. Because me and Noli? We’ve been tearing our hair out trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with him. If you know something–” His voice sharpened, cutting through the room. “--you’d better say it.”

226w6 didn’t flinch. If anything, the pressure seemed to amuse them faintly, though their face never broke from their measured composure. They shifted, robes spilling like smoke around their chair. “The child is not ill.” They said carefully. “Nor is he dying.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” Noli muttered, his hands tightening against his knees.

 “He is becoming. That is all.” 226w6’s voice softened.

“ Becoming? Becoming what exactly?” 007n7 shot back, raising an eyebrow.

226w6 tilted their head, watching C00lkidd with an expression that was hard to read– something between recognition and regret. “Becoming… closer to you. To what you are. Flesh that tires, blood that pales. Fragile, but tethered. It is a path many of them take.”

“Many of them?” Noli echoed, tension rising in his throat. “You’re saying this happened before? To who?”

At that, 118o8 finally lifted her gaze, steady but shadowed. “It started with Bluu then to Pr3tty.. and Six told me it was natural. That it wouldn’t kill them.”

“And you just… believed that?” Noli’s head snapped toward her. 

118o8’s lips pressed thin. “Yes.” 

007n7’s jaw worked. His grip on C00lkidd was protective now, almost fierce. “So what– you’re telling me he’s turning into a human? Just… like that?”

226w6 finally looked up at him, eyes sharp beneath the brim of their hat. “Not human, not a cryptid.. Just that he’s… changing closer to us.”

“Closer to us..” Noli repeated slowly, as if tasting the phrase. His eyes flicked to C00lkidd’s horns, his tail– still there, still stubbornly part of him. “So he’s half and half.”

“A hybrid, if you need to name it.” 226w6 inclined their head. 

The reassurance did nothing for the twist in Noli’s chest. He shook his head, eyes narrowing. “Then why does it feel like you’re hiding something? You say it’s natural, but you talk like you’ve seen it a thousand times. Like you know where it leads.”

226w6 didn’t answer at once. They leaned back, the brim of their hat tilting so shadow swallowed their eyes. Their fingers tapped together, slow and deliberate, as if weighing which words deserved air. When they finally spoke, it was quiet. “It leads where it must.”

Noli’s jaw clenched. “That’s not an answer.”

226w6 tilted their head, gaze flicking toward C00lkidd– pale, drowsy, pressed against 007n7’s chest. For the briefest moment, something unreadable softened their face. Then it vanished, replaced by that same unreadable calm.

“Your kid is just growing.” They murmured, growing more impatient at the various questions. “That is all you need to know.”

007n7’s crooked grin twitched back into place, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “So you’re saying my kid’s not some eternal demon spawn. He’s just… what? Gonna end up with scraped knees and the flu like the rest of us?”

“If you wish to call it that.” 226w6’s lips curved faintly, not quite a smile. The words hung in the air– thin, evasive, and final. Noli let out a sound caught between a laugh and a choke, his chest tight. The more 226w6 refused to answer, the heavier the silence pressed on him.

118o8 stroked Bluudud’s back absentmindedly, voice low but certain. “When Six told me that, I took it as a comfort.. It meant I’d finally be able to bring Bluu outside without having to worry about anyone judging Bluu.”

007n7 pulled C00lkidd closer, his grin gone now, face shadowed with something harder to read. He looked at 226w6, eyes narrowed. “If he’s becoming human… then what happens when he’s done?”

226w6 held his gaze, unflinching. “Then you will have what you feared, and what you wanted. A child. Nothing more, nothing less.” 

The room was silent again, the weight of that statement heavier than any spell or curse.

007n7 was the first to break the silence. He shifted C00lkidd higher on his hip and cleared his throat, the sound jarring against the thick stillness that had settled. “Well..” He said, voice lighter than his face looked. “Um.. Thanks for your time. And for–” He waved a vague hand at the air. “–Whatever this was. Me, Noli, and the kid should get going before it gets too late.”

118o8 gave a small nod, gently rocking Pr3ttypriincess against her shoulder while Bluudud clung stubbornly to her pajama leg. Her eyes flicked between the two men, as if she wanted to say something more, but settled on a tired smile instead. “Of course. I’ll walk you to the door.”

007n7 shook his head quickly, his grin crooked but polite. “No need. We know the way.”

He lingered just long enough to glance once at 226w6. 226w6 hadn’t moved– still perched with their hands folded, their gaze steady and unreadable beneath the shadow of their hat. For a second, 007n7 thought about saying something else– something sharper, something that might cut through that veil of mystery. But the words never formed. Instead, he just gave the barest nod, then turned on his heel.

Noli followed, stiff-backed and quiet. The floorboards creaked under their steps, then the door opened to the night air, cool and damp against their faces. When it shut behind them, the sound was final, like a line drawn in chalk.

They walked for a while in silence, C00lkidd’s small tail brushing lazily against 007n7’s arm as the toddler dozed. Streetlights stretched their shadows long and thin across the pavement.

Noli cleared his throat, preparing to break the silence. “Well. At least he’s not, y’know… dying or something.” He tried to chuckle, the sound stilted and hollow. His hand rubbed at the back of his neck, then shoved itself into his pocket like he was trying to bury the awkwardness. “Guess that’s… something to be grateful for, huh?”

007n7 adjusted C00lkidd on his shoulder. The toddler gave a sleepy murmur but stayed curled against him, warm and limp with exhaustion. 007n7’s crooked grin flickered into place out of habit, but it didn’t hold– too tight, too brittle. “Yeah.. Something. ” His voice came out rougher than he meant, awkward in a way he never let himself sound. 

The word hung there, short and sharp, leaving nothing behind but silence. The night pressed close around them, cool and damp, the kind of air that clung faintly to the skin as though the rain had only just passed. The street stretched out ahead, narrow and uneven, lined with pools of light from the flickering lamps. Their shadows followed them, long and distorted, moving like strangers across the pavement.

Noli walked a half step behind 007n7, though not intentionally. His stride had shortened without him realizing, his body pulling itself inward like someone trying to disappear. The silence weighed on him, too thick, too loud. It rang louder than any words could have.

He heard himself again– his own voice replaying in his head, mocking him, tiny and pathetic. “At least he’s not dying!” His stomach twisted. 

Telamon, why had he said that? Out of everything– out of all the ways he could have tried to lighten the mood– that was what his brain had given him? He could still hear the brittle laugh that had followed it. The memory alone made his chest ache.

Noli shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, curling them into fists. He probably thinks I’m an idiot. He probably thinks I don’t care. 

The thought cut sharp and fast. It was almost believable. He pictured 007n7’s expression in the seconds after– how he’d tried to smile but hadn’t managed to make it all the way. 

“What if that kiss– what if he didn’t even want it? Sure 007n7 was the one to initiate it but.. What if he forced himself to do it just to prevent me from leaving?” His chest tightened. He bit down on his tongue as though the pressure could dam up the flood of thoughts, but it didn’t work.

007n7 was good at pretending. He always has been. He can laugh things off, brush them aside, and act like it doesn’t matter. 

“What if that’s all he was doing? What if it was just him… indulging me? Playing along because he felt sorry for me?” The thought tore at him.

Noli’s steps faltered, just for a heartbeat, his body slowing as though the weight in his chest had dragged his legs down. He forced himself forward again quickly, hoping 007n7 hadn’t noticed. He fixed his eyes on the pavement, on the cracks and scattered leaves, anything but the shape of the man walking beside him.

But the voice inside him was merciless.

“What if he’s already regretting it?”

“One day he’s going to wake up, look at you, and realize you’re not worth it. He’ll see you for what you are.. Too messy. Too clingy. Someone who’s too much yet provides so little. He’ll want someone else. Someone better. Someone that’s easier to love.” The voice whispered, cruel and certain. 

The words carved themselves into him, slow and deliberate. He clenched his jaw so hard that his teeth ached. Each step thudded like a countdown. His throat felt dry, but his palms were damp inside his pockets.

Ahead of him, 007n7 adjusted C00lkidd in his arms, shifting the toddler’s weight carefully so as not to disturb his sleep. The boy’s small tail brushed lightly against 007n7’s sleeve with each sway, and 007n7’s hand, steady and careful, kept him tucked securely in place.

007n7 glanced sideways, just for a second, catching Noli’s face in the lamplight. His brow furrowed. Noli’s gaze was far away, fixed on something invisible, something consuming. His posture was rigid, shoulders drawn tight, every line of him screaming distance.

007n7’s lips parted slightly as if he might say something– ask what was wrong, make a joke, anything to break through. But he hesitated. He knew that look– he knew what it meant to be drowning in a place too deep for words to reach.

Instead, he let the silence stretch, holding it steady. If Noli needed space to fight his demons, 007n7 would give it. The last thing he wanted was to push.

They walked on. Their footsteps echoed softly, steady but uneven, one heavy with thought, the other with quiet observation. The night swallowed them whole, the street behind them fading until only the sound of their breathing and the occasional hum of a streetlamp filled the air.

Eventually the couple saw a bus stop in the distance. 007n7 shifted C00lkidd to one arm, freeing his other hand to dig into his pocket. He pulled out his phone, the screen glowing against the darkness. His thumb hovered over a name, then pressed.

The dial tone rang, but no one answered. 007n7’s jaw worked silently. He exhaled through his nose and, with a slight tilt of his head, left a message. His voice was low, almost casual, but there was a weight beneath it.

“Chance? We’re done here. Pick us up when you can. We’re near a bus stop around Eight’s house.” 007n7 ended the call, slipping the phone back into his pocket. His hand brushed against the fabric there, lingering a moment before pulling free.

The silence returned quickly, heavier now that the distraction was gone. The only sounds were the hum of the streetlamp above them and the occasional passing of a car, headlights sliding across the cracked pavement before vanishing into the night.

Noli had already sat down on the weathered bus stop bench, his shoulders rounded inward, his hands resting on his knees. He didn’t look up. The quiet made it feel like even a single breath might break something fragile between them.

007n7 stood for a moment longer, staring out at the street. His thoughts were a knot, messy and stubborn, pulling tight each time he tried to unravel them. He hated this kind of silence– the kind that wasn’t restful but brittle, like a glass pane stretched between them, threatening to shatter.

Finally, 007n7 moved. The bench creaked slightly as he lowered himself onto it, careful to leave space between them. He wanted to be close enough to be there, but not so close that Noli would feel crowded. 007n7’s free hand folded loosely in his lap, and he exhaled slowly, trying to summon the words that kept catching in his throat.

“…Are you okay?” It took longer than he’d like, but at last he managed. His voice was softer than usual, quieter– as if the night itself had coaxed the edge out of it.

The question seemed to hang in the air, suspended between them. Noli’s head tilted the slightest bit, his gaze still fixed on the pavement at his feet. His lips parted, then pressed closed again before he forced out a small answer.

“Yeah… I’m okay.” The words were meant to be reassuring. They were shaped like reassurance, even delivered with a faint, strained smile. But they didn’t carry the weight of truth. They sounded thin, like paper stretched too tight, ready to tear.

007n7 caught it immediately. His chest tightened, but he didn’t push. Instead, he let the silence return for a beat, studying the side of Noli’s face– the curve of his cheekbone, the way his lashes cast faint shadows beneath the streetlight.

Then, after a moment, he spoke again. “…Do you feel awkward? About us? Now that we’re… officially… a thing?” His voice was lower this time, quieter still, like he was afraid of startling the moment into running away.

The question slipped out hesitant, edged with uncertainty. He didn’t look directly at Noli when he asked it, his gaze fixed instead on the dark stretch of road ahead. But he heard the sharp intake of breath beside him– the way Noli’s head turned almost instantly, snapping toward him like the words had jolted something deep inside.

“No, Seven.” Noli said quickly, his voice steadier now, almost fierce in its certainty. His eyes searched Seven’s profile as though trying to catch him in the act of doubting. “I… actually thought you were the one who was awkward with this.”

He hesitated, a pause stretching long enough for the sound of the wind to fill it. His throat worked before he asked, quieter, almost vulnerable. “…Are you awkward with this?”

At last, 007n7 turned to meet his eyes. His gaze was steady, unflinching, holding Noli’s with a warmth that seemed to cut through the cool night air. There was no hesitation when he answered. “No, Noli. I’m not.”

His voice was sure, solid in a way that left no room for doubt. “I meant what I said to you yesterday. Every word of it. I would never lie about something as serious as that.”

The air shifted between them, the tension loosening just slightly. The sincerity in his tone left no cracks to slip through, no space for the self-doubt that had been gnawing at Noli all evening.

007n7 moved then, slowly, deliberately, as though careful not to break the fragile balance they’d built. He shifted along the bench, closing the distance he’d left when he first sat down. Their shoulders didn’t quite touch, but the space between them had narrowed, enough that Noli could feel the subtle warmth radiating from him.

Noli’s chest tightened, but not with fear this time. It was something else– something gentler, softer, terrifying in a different way. His eyes flickered down to where their hands rested, not quite brushing, the space small enough that one tiny movement would bridge it.

Noli’s heart beat hard against his ribs, and for a long moment, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything. But007n7 didn’t rush him. He didn’t press. He simply stayed there, close and steady, his presence alone speaking louder than anything else could.

Finally, Noli let out a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly. “I thought… I don’t know.” He admitted, voice quieter now. “I thought maybe you’d regret it. That maybe you were just… being nice.”

007n7 turned fully toward him then, eyes narrowing just slightly in a look that was both incredulous and fond. “Being nice?” He repeated, like the idea was almost absurd.

Noli’s lips twitched in a half-smile, half-grimace. “Yeah. You’re good at that.. You’re good at pretending.. Laughing things off… Going with the flow. I thought maybe you were just… entertaining me.”

For a moment, 007n7 just looked at him– really looked at him, as if trying to understand how someone so close to him could still believe something so untrue. Then, with a soft huff of disbelief, he shook his head.

“Noli.” He said firmly, his voice warm but unyielding. “I don’t lie when it comes to things like this.. When it comes to you. If I didn’t want this, I wouldn’t be here.”

The words hit with the weight of truth, grounding and steady. 007n7 leaned in slightly, closing the distance until their shoulders brushed, the faintest touch of contact anchoring them both.

“I want this.” He said again softly, but no less certain. “I want you.” The words lingered in the air, warm and solid. Noli’s breath caught, his eyes stinging faintly, though he forced a small laugh to cover it. It was shaky, but real.

“Telamon, Sev..” Noli murmured, his voice almost breaking on the name.

007n7 didn’t reply immediately. He let his hand move, slow and deliberate, until his fingers brushed against Noli’s. The touch was tentative at first, testing, before he let his palm settle gently over Noli’s hand.

Noli didn’t pull away, instead letting his fingers curl back, fitting into the space 007n7 had left open for him. The contact was small, almost insignificant, but it grounded him in a way that words never could.

The night stretched on around them, the world quiet and still. They sat there, shoulders touching and hands joined loosely. 007n7 bounced C00lkidd gently in his free arm as he laid his head on Noli’s shoulder. 

“I love you, Noli.” 007n7 whispered out. It was quiet and soft, but he meant every word. 

Noli looked down at 007n7 resting his head comfortably on his shoulder. He reciprocated a smile as he leaned his head on top of 007n7’s. “I love you too, Seven.”

 –+⟡+–

Chance’s sleek car slid to a stop at the glittering steps of his casino, its polished chrome catching every stray reflection of neon. Employees rushed forward at once, as they always did– one opening his door, another standing tall in greeting.

“Good evening, sir.” A suited man said with a bow. “Your business associates are waiting for you in the meeting room.”

Chance smirked, stepping out with his usual air of ease. “Associates.” He repeated, his voice smooth as velvet. “That sounds important.” He adjusted the lapel of his jacket, gave a small nod of acknowledgment, and strode inside.  “I won’t keep them waiting.”

The main floor was alive with its usual symphony of clinking glasses, the whirl of roulette wheels, the jubilant cries of gamblers who thought Lady Luck were on their side. But the further Chance walked, the quieter it became. The grand corridor he walked towards to swallowed the noise until only the echo of his footsteps remained. 

At the end of the hall, the heavy doors to one of his luxurious meeting rooms were opened by the two people that stood beside it. Chance gave a nod to both of them as he entered the room. Upon entering, he was greeted by two figures.

Itrapped– as always– had positioned himself at the center of the table, lounging with his hands steepled. His face lit up at Chance’s arrival– or at least he made it look that way. His smile was narrow, tight, the kind of smile that concealed teeth.

Ellernate sat to the right, half-slouched, his gaze sharp and unimpressed. He had a dull look in his eyes, though Chance had often ignored. He didn’t even bother with courtesy; his arms remained crossed, his mouth set in something dangerously close to a sneer. Ellernate gave the smallest nod of acknowledgment but stayed quiet.

“Gentlemen. What a treat to see familiar faces in my own halls.” Chance, unfazed, walked towards the gentlemen with his signature grin.  Ellernate’s brow twitched at Chance’s voice. Only itrapped rose slightly to greet him, extending a hand.

“Chance.” Itrapped said smoothly. “Always a pleasure.” The handshake was brief, perfunctory, before they both sat.

Chance leaned back in his chair, legs crossed comfortably, the picture of casual charm. “So. What’s this urgent matter, hm? You drag me away from my free time, you’d better make it worth my while.”

Itrapped chuckled softly, but the sound lacked warmth. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t waste your time. This is an opportunity you’ll want to hear.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice just enough to sound conspiratorial. “It’s about Mafioso.”

Chance’s smirk flickered, just for an instant. He knew the name too well. Mafioso had a long memory, and blood debts ran deep. Their history was one Chance preferred not to visit again.  “And what of him?” He tilted his head, feigning nonchalance.

“His territory is ripe for the taking. Everything he controls could be yours, you know..” Itrapped’s eyes gleamed. “This is your moment to expand your empire.” He gave a sly grin.

“Or get gutted in the process.” Ellernate muttered, earning a sharp glance from Itrapped.

Chance drummed his fingers against the table, considering. He wasn’t stupid. He knew Mafioso wouldn’t forgive another encroachment. To cross him again was to declare war.”I’ve done that in the past. It’s too risky.” He said flatly.

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little fire, Chance. You’ve walked through worse before.” Itrapped smiled thinly. 

Chance’s eyes stayed fixated on Itrapped. “You always push.” He murmured, almost amused. “You set me up for fire and swear I’ll come out clean. What happens when I don’t?”

For the briefest moment, Itrapped’s smile sharpened– just a flash, a crack in the mask. “Then at least you’ll burn brilliantly.” He said it like a compliment.

Ellernate gave a small, humorless laugh. “Finally, some honesty.”

But Itrapped recovered at once, leaning back with feigned ease. “Come now, Chance. Mafioso’s not invincible. With your money, my strategy– we could make history. Don’t let fear make you small.”

Chance looked at him for a long moment. He should’ve walked away. Every instinct told him this was a trap, that Mafioso was a line better left untouched. But that damn look in Itrapped’s eyes– the mix of challenge and expectation– how could he say no to that?

Finally, Chance exhaled slowly. “Fine.” He said. “I’ll do it. But if this goes south, Trapped, the blood won’t just be mine. It’ll be on your head.”\

Ellernate’s jaw tightened, though his face stayed neutral. Itrapped only leaned back, victorious, his smile now perfectly in place. “Excellent. I knew you’d see reason.” And Chance, ever the fool for him, smirked in return– oblivious to the knife Itrapped was pressing closer with every word.

Somewhere deep down, Chance knew he’d just agreed to step into the lion’s den. But when it came to Itrapped, he always seemed willing to take the risk.

Even if it was going to kill him. 

But Itrapped wasn’t finished.

He tapped his fingers on the table, humming like a man searching for the right note in a melody. “You know..” He drawled, his tone deceptively light. “Business talk can be so dreadfully heavy. Why don’t we… lighten the atmosphere?”

“Lighten it how?” Chance raised a brow, amused.

Itrapped’s smirk widened. He slipped a hand into his coat, and for a moment Ellernate’s eyes flickered with suspicion. Then, with a deliberate slowness, Itrapped pulled out a revolver. The weight of it clunked against the polished table, black steel gleaming under the warm lights. “Russian roulette.” 

The room fell quiet.

Ellernate’s jaw set like stone, and he leaned forward, voice low and sharp. “Isaac.”

But Chance’s eyes lit up like a child at a carnival. “Oh, now you’re speaking my language.” He leaned in, grin spreading. Ellernate muttered something under his breath that sounded a lot like idiot.

Itrapped twirled the revolver in his fingers with practiced ease, then cracked the chamber open. He held up a single bullet, its brass casing catching the light, before sliding it in. The click echoed like a drumbeat. With another flick, the chamber spun, whirring before it locked back in place.

“Your move, Chance.” Itrapped pushed the gun across the table. 

Chance snatched it eagerly, twirling it once before pressing the barrel to his temple.  “Don’t cry if I win.” He winked at Itrapped. Chance pulls the trigger, and unsurprisingly, the gun did not go off.

A sharp exhale of relief passed through the room, though Chance was the only one laughing. He slammed the gun down and shoved it toward Itrapped. “Your turn, darling.”

Ellernate looked away, disgust shadowing his face. Itrapped picked up the revolver with no hesitation, pressed it to his temple, and fired.

The tension cracked like glass. Chance whooped, clapping his hands together. “Looks like Lady Luck’s on both our sides tonight, huh?” His grin turned more sly and taunting. “Though if I’m being honest, Lady Luck loves me more.”

 “We’ll see.” Itrapped’s smile thinned as he spun the barrel of the gun again, indicating that this was now the second round. Chance, eager as ever, snatched the revolver back. Without hesitation, he fired the again.

Nothing happened other than a soft click coming from the gun.

Chance threw his head back with a laugh. “Nothing again!” He tapped the gun against his temple like it was nothing more than a toy. Itrapped’s jaw flexed, the faintest crack in his composure. He then took the revolver, lifted it, pulled the trigger.

Nothing again.

Itrapped’s lips pressed into a thin line.

By the third round, Chance was on his feet, strutting with the revolver in hand like a performer before an audience. He pressed it under his chin, then against his chest, then back to his temple, drawing out the suspense before squeezing the trigger.

It should’ve been given by now that nothing happens every time Chance pulled the trigger.

“Unstoppable!” Chance shouted, throwing his free arm up. His grin was wide, manic, basking in his own absurd victory. “Do you see this? You cannot touch me! Lady Luck–” He kissed the revolver with a flourish. “--adores me!”

Itrapped’s fingers curled against the table. His expression was calm, but his eyes burned, hard and cutting. Each click of the empty chamber was another mockery, another insult. Ellernate watched quietly as he saw Itrapped’s facade slowly crumble.

Round after round, the gun fired nothing but silence for Chance. Each time, he grew louder, cockier, more animated in his celebrations. And each time, Itrapped’s composure slipped further.

By the final round, Chance spun the chamber dramatically, whistling a tune. “Last dance.” He said, his voice gleeful. “Let’s make it a good one.” He aimed, pulled the trigger and..

Of course, nothing happened.

Chance slammed the revolver down with a laugh so wild it echoed off the walls. “And that, my friends, is why you don’t gamble against Chance!” He leaned in close to Itrapped, eyes bright, grin infuriatingly smug. “Because I always win.”

The revolver still sat on the table, silent and mocking, its last empty click ringing louder than any gunshot could have.

Chance leaned back in his chair, laughing until his voice cracked, basking in the high of victory. His grin was feral, cocky, utterly unshaken. “What did I tell you? Lady Luck favors me. Always.”

Across from him, Itrapped sat rigid, his hand clenched so tight the knuckles blanched white. The mask of calm was slipping, shadows licking at his fingertips as if answering the boiling hatred in his chest. Every click, every arrogant laugh, every smug smile from Chance had been another needle driven under his skin.

With a flick of his wrist, darkness flared. The Darkheart coalesced, black steel bleeding into the world, humming with death. Itrapped’s gaze sharpened into a predator’s, all pretense of charm gone. He rose from his seat in one swift motion. The sword angled down, ready to carve through Chance before the man even realized his luck had run out.

But Ellernate was faster.

Ellernate was on his feet the instant the shadows sparked, his hand snapping forward to clamp down on Itrapped’s wrist. The Darkheart halted, flickering, it’s obsidian edge still half-formed. “That’s enough.” He hissed quietly.

Itrapped’s head whipped toward him, eyes blazing. “He mocks us. He mocks me!” He snarls, still making sure Chance is unable to hear their conversation.

“Let him.” Ellernate said sharply, his voice low but laced with iron. His grip tightened, holding the sword at bay. “You kill him here and now, and you ruin everything. The plan, the timing– it all collapses.”

Chance blinked at them both, still lounging in his chair, one leg draped lazily over the other. He didn’t hear what the two were talking about, nor did he know what Itrapped was about to do. Despite that, his smug grin still widened. “Aw, don’t fight over me, boys. I’m flattered, really.”

That only made Itrapped’s rage burn hotter. He strained against Ellernate’s hold, shadows seething around his wrist. “You don’t understand–”

“I understand perfectly.” Ellernate snapped, shoving Itrapped’s arm down. The Darkheart sputtered, its edge dissolving into nothing. “You’re thinking with pride instead of strategy. We need him breathing. For now. ” His voice became more quieter than before.

“Whatcha’ guys.. Uh.. talking about?” Chance awkwardly butted into their hushed conversation, only to be met with harsh and sharp stares from the two gentlemen. “Alright! Alright… Sorry for butting in.” He mumbles.

Ellernate stared Itrapped down, as if non-verbally telling him to back down. Itrapped’s teeth ground together audibly, but the sword finally dissipated, vanishing into smoke. His chest heaved with restrained fury, the hatred in his eyes never once leaving Chance.

Ellernate released him only after the last wisp of darkness had faded. Then he turned, his gaze cutting toward Chance like a blade. “This meeting is over.” Ellernate straightened, his voice cutting cold and firm.

Itrapped seethed, his fists clenched, his jaw tight. For a moment it looked as though he might resist, might lunge again regardless of Ellernate’s warning. But the older man’s stare was unyielding, brooking no compromise.

With a frustrated exhale, Itrapped jerked his arm free and turned away, shadows still swirling faintly around his form. His chair scraped back with a screech, nearly toppling.

Ellernate gave Chance one last look. It was measured, disapproving, and with an undercurrent of something unreadable. Then he reached for Itrapped’s shoulder, steering him firmly toward the door.

Their footsteps echoed as they crossed the room, boots striking like a slow countdown. Chance simply watched, reclined in his chair with that same infuriating grin, as though none of this had been an assassination attempt but rather a performance for his entertainment.

At the doorway, Itrapped paused, half-turning as though to spit one last venomous remark. But Ellernate’s hand tightened, pushing him forward. The door slammed shut behind them.

Silence rushed back into the room, heavy and absolute.

Chance stayed very still for a moment, staring at the closed door. His smirk lingered, but its edges wavered slightly. He couldn’t help but feel like he just narrowly avoided death. Then, with a soft exhale, Chance leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. He drummed his fingers once, twice, three times, before pulling out his phone.

A single notification blinked at the top of the screen. It was one voicemail from 007n7. Curiosity flickered, and he pressed play.

“Chance? We’re done here. Pick us up when you can. We’re near a bus stop around Eight’s house.” 007n7’s voice, rough and steady, filled the empty room. It cut through the silence, grounding him in a way nothing else could.

 For the first time that night, Chance’s grin softened into something small, quiet, almost wistful. He leaned back in his chair, phone in hand, staring at the ceiling. Alone now, without Itrapped’s seething glare or Ellernate’s cold restraint, the thrill of the game began to fade. 

The laughter, the bravado, the taunts– those were easy in the heat of play. But in the silence, with only 007n7’s voice lingering in his ear, something deeper pressed at the edges of his chest. And yet, after a moment, he chuckled. Low, to himself, shaking his head. “Still lucky as ever.” He murmured.

Chance slid the phone back into his pocket, rose from the table, and made for the door– still smiling, still humming softly under his breath.

Still, the weight of impending doom clung to him, and Chance could not understand why.

Chapter Text

Seven years was enough time for the city of Robloxia to grow, and yet it still felt like nothing had changed. The streets of Robloxia still buzzed with noise late into the night. But for those who had lived through the last seven years, life had shifted, settled, and, in some ways, grown heavier.

Noli was twenty-nine now. Sometimes he still looked like the same reckless boy who had run beside 007n7 through fire, but his shoulders carried a weight he hadn’t borne back then. Noli’d become a freelancer, never permanently working at one job. One moment, he’d tell you he did graphic design for a small company, the next he’d tell you he was helping out a multi-dollar on their cybersecurity.

007n7, who was now thirty, still grinned crookedly when he wanted to hide worry– seemed unchanged at first glance, until one noticed the subtle quiet in him, the way his laughter didn’t come as easily as it once had. 007n7 was able to secure a job that required him to be an ‘ethical hacker’, as he called it. His job had him breaking into systems on purpose, testing their defenses, and handing over reports to the very people who’d hired him to exploit them.

Chance, thirty-two, still strutted through life like a man untouchable. He wore his suits sharp, his casino sharper, his smirk sharpest of all. Yet the years had carved barely visible lines into his face, evidence of nights when even luck hadn’t been enough. Though for some reason, Chance had been feeling like he’d been escaping the grasp of death multiple times. More than ever now. He wasn’t sure where that dreaded feeling came from though.

And then there were the children.

Bluudud, now twelve, had entered that strange age where kindness was a sign of weakness. He tried so hard to appear unaffected and detached, though his protectiveness over his sister and his childhood best friend betrayed him constantly. A scoff here, an eyeroll there, but his hand was always the one steadying them when they stumbled.

Pr3ttyprincess, ten, had embraced her name. Dresses, crowns, all things glitter and lace– she wanted elegance. But beneath the tiaras and the bratty complaints was a child whose love was no less fierce than her brother’s– even if she expressed it with stomps and dramatic gasps. She was a brat, yes– but in the way only children could be, still lovable even in the tantrums.

And C00lkidd was eight now. His energy never stopped, but he carried with him a surprising softness, a compassion that both of his fathers had carefully fostered. He was endlessly curious, always asking questions that made even adults pause to think, always looking for ways to ease the hurt of others, even when he didn’t quite understand it himself.

The sun was barely peeking through the curtains when 007n7 stirred awake, blinking blearily at the dim light spilling across the room. Their house wasn’t big– just two bedrooms, a kitchen that doubled as a dining room, and a living room that always smelled faintly of coffee. It wasn’t as luxurious as Chance’s mansion, but it was home, and that made it feel grander than any mansion.

He stretched, arms over his head, and rolled out of bed with a groan. Noli was still asleep, tangled in the sheets, hair mussed and face buried in the pillow. 007n7 paused just long enough to grin down at him. He looked so peaceful like this. So unlike the grumpy Noli he knew would emerge in about fifteen minutes once coffee was in his system.

But first, there was someone else to wake up.

007n7 padded quietly down the hall and gently pushed open the door to the smaller bedroom. The curtains in here were still drawn, casting the room in a cool shade, but he could just barely make out the shape of C00lkidd bundled up like a burrito under his blanket.

“Kidd..” 007n7 called, voice low but firm. “You’re gonna sleep through the whole day at this rate.”

The lump in the bed groaned, kicking weakly at the blankets. “M’still tired, Mama…”

007n7’s mouth twitched upward. Mama. A nickname that had stuck years ago, one he had sworn he’d shake off, but never actually tried to. He pretended to hate it– Though he knew deep down, he loved it.

“Don’t ‘mama’ me.” He said, stepping into the room and tugging lightly at the blanket. “You’ll miss out on the fun. What if the world ends today and you were asleep for it, huh?”

That got the boy’s attention. C00lkidd cracked one eye open, squinting at his father suspiciously. “The world’s not gonna end…” He muttered, though his tail twitched, betraying curiosity.

“Maybe not.” 007n7 said with a shrug, smirk tugging at his lips. “But what if it does? Then you’ll have wasted your last day drooling into a pillow.”

“I don’t drool.” C00lkidd protested, though his cheeks turned pink as he sat up. He rubbed his eyes with his fists, yawning. “Fine… I’m awake, Mama.”

“Good.” 007n7 ruffled his son’s messy hair, ignoring the boy’s little growl of complaint. “Now brush your teeth. If you’re not downstairs in time for breakfast, I’m going to tell Papa to eat your share of breakfast.” He teased, his smirk turning smug and teasing.

“You wouldn’t..” C00lkidd frowned, his eyebrows furrowing.

“Try me.” 007n7 winked.

007n7’s tease worked like a charm. C00lkidd immediately scrambled out of bed, his little tail flicking behind him as he darted to the dresser. 007n7 then turned around, walking out of C00lkidd’s room to give him some privacy.

007n7 had joined Noli in the living room. Noli was curled up on the couch, still in his pajama shirt, mug of coffee in hand, scrolling idly through his phone. “Hey, Nols.”  007n7’s voice broke the quiet as he strolled into the living room, barefoot and loose-shouldered, hair still messy from the morning. 

The couch creaked as he dropped himself onto it, landing beside Noli with an unceremonious thud. His arm stretched lazily along the backrest, casual but close enough that his knuckles brushed the edge of Noli’s shoulder.

Noli glanced up from his phone, his expression softening almost immediately when he saw him. “Good morning to you too, Sev.” He murmured, his words tinged with that warm, half-sleepy affection that 007n7 had learned to recognize over the years.

007n7 tilted his head, watching him for a beat. “Sleep well?” he asked, voice light, but his gaze scanned Noli’s face as if to catch any trace of unrest that might linger there.

Noli nodded with a small hum, stretching his legs out lazily in front of him. “Mhm.” His answer was blunt, short, but he didn’t look irritated– just thoughtful. His thumb hovered over his phone for a moment before he set it aside on the coffee table with a soft clink.

“You know..” Noli began, his voice quieter now, almost tentative. “We’re really lucky.”

That made 007n7 glance at him, one brow quirking up. “Oh yeah?” he asked, trying to sound nonchalant, but curiosity edged into his tone.

“Yeah.” Noli turned toward him a little more fully now, and there was a softness in his expression that didn’t show up often– like he was letting his guard down just for a moment. “Not everyone gets this.” He gestured vaguely around the room, his hand sweeping from the couch, to the framed photos on the wall, then to the faint sound of C00lkidd’s feet padding upstairs.

“A house, a kid, a partner who puts up with all my crap.” The honesty in his voice hung in the air for a beat, settling somewhere warm and heavy in 007n7’s chest.

007n7 snorted, partly to cover up the way those words hit him, partly because he didn’t quite trust his voice not to give away the tiny swell of emotion. He tipped his head back against the couch, staring at the ceiling for a moment. “I’d say you’re more lucky than me, honestly.”

“Oh, really?” The teasing lilt in Noli’s voice made him glance over. There was a grin playing at Noli’s lips now as he shifted closer, elbow brushing against 007n7’s arm. “And why’s that?”

“Because you’re dating me.” 007n7 said without missing a beat, his grin widening into something crooked and self-satisfied.

Noli let out a soft laugh, rolling his eyes so hard it was almost theatrical. “You’re insufferable.”

“You love it.” 007n7 stuck his tounge out.

“Yeah.” Noli admitted, and his voice softened in that way that always caught 007n7 off guard. “I do.” He leaned in closer, closing the small gap between them, his smile carrying that gentle fondness that always made something in 007n7’s chest ache. “My dear ole’ boyfriend.” He teased, reaching up to pinch 007n7’s cheek between his fingers.

007n7 caught his hand before he could pull it back, holding it there just a moment longer. His grin wavered– just barely– but enough for Noli to notice something shift behind it.

“Yeah…” 007n7 said quietly. “Boyfriend.” Something heavier stirred under his words, an undercurrent that wasn’t quite hidden. His thumb brushed absently against Noli’s knuckles before he let go, but not before he’d leaned just a little closer, close enough that Noli could feel the faint warmth of his breath. 

“We’ve been that for a long time now, huh?”

Noli smiled at the question, completely unaware of the weight behind it. “For seven years.” He said easily, almost proud, as though saying it out loud made the number sound even more impressive.

007n7 hummed, but the sound came low, thoughtful, almost too quiet. “Feels longer.” His grin returned, but it was sharper now, carrying a trace of something that almost sounded like a challenge. 

“Kinda wonder how long we’ll just be ‘boyfriends,’ you know?” His voice dropped, passive-aggressive in that way only he could manage, like a joke wrapped in something real.

But Noli only tilted his head, expression puzzled, clearly missing the implication altogether. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing.” It came out too fast, too dismissive, and 007n7’s grin turned almost too bright– forced, in a way that only Noli might notice if he were paying close enough attention. “Forget it.” He leaned back against the couch, letting his arm fall casually back across the backrest, but his mind was already buzzing with thoughts he wouldn’t say out loud. 

It wasn’t that he minded being Noli’s boyfriend– he loves it, he loves him– but there was a restlessness that had been building quietly over the years. Seven years was a long time to love someone without moving forward, without making it more official, more permanent.

But Noli didn’t notice the shift in his expression, or if he did, he didn’t press. He just reached for 007n7’s hand again, this time giving it a light squeeze.

“You’re weird sometimes.” Noli said softly, but there was no judgment in it, just fond amusement.

“Yeah. You love that, don’t you?” 007n7 let out a breathy laugh through his nose. Noli didn’t argue this time– he just smiled, leaning his head against 007n7’s shoulder.

For a moment, the world went quiet. The hum of the refrigerator, the faint ticking of the clock on the wall, the sound of their own breathing– everything felt strangely in sync, like this little house and the life they’d built inside it was holding its breath right along with them.

007n7 let himself relax, tilting his head slightly to rest against Noli’s. The passive-aggressive remark from earlier still lingered in the air between them like a ghost, but for now, neither of them chose to acknowledge it. Not yet.

Noli frowned faintly at the sudden shift in 007n7’s tone, his brows knitting as if he could pry the meaning out of him just by looking hard enough. But after a moment, he seemed to let it go. Instead of pushing, he leaned in, closing the gap between them with an easy, unhurried kiss.

007n7 accepted it instantly, almost too fast, as if he’d been holding his breath for it. The kiss was warm, unhurried, yet there was an edge to the way 007n7 leaned into it– like he was trying to speak through it, trying to slip the words he couldn’t quite say past Noli’s obliviousness.

The kiss lingered. What began as a soft peck became something slower, more deliberate. Noli shifted closer, his knees brushing against 007n7’s, one hand coming to rest against his chest. His palm was warm, grounding, and 007n7 felt himself relax. 

His arm curled around Noli’s hair, tugging him in closer until there was no space left between them. He deepened the kiss with a quiet, desperate sort of tenderness– it wasn’t needy, but it was insistent, as though reminding Noli just how much he meant to him.

For a moment, the little house was perfectly still, quiet except for the soft sound of their lips meeting and the faint creak of the couch as they shifted toward each other.

“Eww!”  

Both men jolted apart as though someone had dumped a bucket of cold water on them. Noli’s hair was slightly mussed from where 007n7’s fingers had been buried in it. 007n7’s face was flushed crimson, ears bright red.

C00lkidd stood on the couch cushions, his little feet sinking into the fabric, both hands dramatically pointing at the scene he had just interrupted. His little horns glinted in the soft morning light streaming through the curtains, and his tail lashed back and forth like an angry cat’s.

“Bleeehhhhh!” He cried with the loudest, most exaggerated gagging noise he could muster. His little tongue stuck out and his nose wrinkled in pure theatrical disgust. “Why do you keep kissing Mama like that?! It’s so gross!”

For a second, Noli just blinked, as if his brain had frozen mid-thought. Then his lips twitched, and a moment later he burst out laughing, bending forward and clutching his stomach. “Gross, huh?” He managed through his laughter, wiping at the corner of his eye.

“So gross!” C00lkidd declared, stamping his foot against the couch cushion for emphasis. “You’re always kissing Mama! You don’t even ask me first!”

007n7’s face was burning now. “Kidd–! That’s– you don’t–” He stumbled over his words, flustered beyond belief. He buried his face in his hands, muttering under his breath about boundaries and privacy and how children should not have this much power to embarrass their parents.

But Noli, of course, was no help. He was grinning ear to ear, practically basking in Seven’s embarrassment. He leaned back against the couch, spreading his arms across the backrest as though he’d just won some great victory. “What can I say?” Noli said smugly, giving 007n7 a sidelong look. “Your mama’s irresistible.”

If possible, C00lkidd’s revulsion only grew. His whole body shuddered like someone had told him he had to eat a plate full of broccoli. With a little growl, he grabbed one of the throw pillows from the couch and hurled it at Noli with all the strength his small arms could muster. “You’re so icky, Papa!” He shouted.

Noli caught the pillow easily, laughing. “But playing with mud isn’t?” He teased, arching a brow.

C00lkidd crossed his arms with a little huff, glaring down at him. “Yeah, well– kissing is grosser than mud!” He punctuated the statement by blowing a big, wet raspberry, his cheeks puffing out dramatically.

That earned him a sharp look from Noli, who sat up straighter. “What did me and Mama say about blowing raspberries?”

C00lkidd’s glare faltered. “…To not…”

“And what did you just do to Papa?” Noli tilted his heads in the way parents do when scolding their children.

“Blow raspberries…” C00lkidd said, his voice a little smaller now.

“That’s right.” Noli leaned closer, a mischievous glint in his eye. “And because of that–” He grabbed 007n7 by the front of his shirt and kissed him squarely on the lips.

007n7 made a muffled noise of surprise against his mouth, but didn’t exactly resist. He let out a long-suffering sigh through his nose and kissed Noli back just to spite the little gremlin standing on the couch.

When they finally broke apart, Noli sat back with a victorious smirk, watching C00lkidd’s face twist into an expression of ultimate betrayal.

“Gross! Not again!” C00lkidd shouted, turning dramatically to face the other way and covering his eyes with both hands.

“If you keep blowing raspberries..” Noli said, utterly smug now. “..I’m going to keep kissing Mama like that in front of you.”

C00lkidd let out a long, frustrated groan, stomping his feet against the cushions again. “That’s not fair!” He cried, peeking through his fingers just enough to make sure they weren’t kissing again.

“Stop ragebaiting the kid..” 007n7 groaned into his hands. Though if anyone looked closely, they’d see the way his lips curved into the smallest smile behind his hands. His face was still red as a cherry, but his heart felt warm, full.

 –+⟡+–

118o8 pressed the heel of her palm against her forehead, fighting the throb that had started there somewhere around breakfast. Bluudud and Pr3ttyprincess had been at each other since morning– not a serious fight, just the constant, exhausting kind of bickering siblings did when they were bored.

“Bluu! Stop touching my stuff!” Pr3ttyprincess shrieked, stomping her foot for the fifth time that morning. She had her favorite pink plastic tiara clutched to her chest, glaring daggers at her older brother.

“I’m not touching it!” Bluudud shot back, scowling. He had his arms crossed, his spiky dark hair falling into his eyes. He looked every bit the picture of an angsty pre-teen, but his voice cracked just enough to remind 118o8 that he was still just a kid. “I just looked at it!”

“You looked too hard!” Pr3ttyprincess declared with all the self-righteous fury of a ten-year-old. She stood in the middle of the shared bedroom doorway, her arms crossed so tightly her frilly sleeves were bunching around her elbows, eyes blazing at her older brother like he had just committed a mortal sin.

“Both of you, please–” 118o8 pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled slowly, her voice trembling on the edge of weary. She’d been hearing variations of this argument for what felt like hours.

“Mama, tell him he’s not allowed in my room anymore!” Pr3ttyprincess pointed at Bluudud dramatically, her little finger stabbing the air.  “He was snooping!”

Bluudud rolled his eyes so hard it looked like it hurt. “It’s not your room, we share it!” He snapped back, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

“You share it because you’re my brother and Mama said we had to!” Pr3ttyprincess huffed, stomping one foot on the hardwood floor for emphasis. “But I should get my own room because you’re so annoying!”

“Annoying?” Bluudud scoffed, his voice already starting to carry that teenage edge, just a little lower and rougher than before. He jabbed a finger at her tiara. “You spend all day talking to your dolls and leaving glitter everywhere. My stuff gets covered in sparkles because of you!”

Pr3ttyprincess gasped dramatically, clutching the tiara on her head like he’d threatened to rip it off. “Don’t talk about my things like that! Mama, tell him he can’t insult me!”

118o8 rubbed at her temple now, her patience fraying thread by thread. “Bluudud, stop shouting at your sister. Pr3ttyprincess, stop calling him annoying–”

“But he is annoying!”

“I didn’t even do anything!”

“Yes, you did! You were looking at my diary!”

“I was looking for my hoodie, not your dumb diary!”

“It’s not dumb!”

The argument volleyed back and forth so fast it made 118o8’s head spin. Bluudud’s tail lashed behind him with every frustrated word, his little horns catching the light as he moved. He looked so much like 226w6 when he was mad that it almost made her heart ache. 

Pr3ttyprincess, meanwhile, had that imperious, bratty glare that only seemed to get stronger with every year. She looked like a little queen, chin lifted proudly, voice sharp and commanding as she tried to demand justice from her mother.

118o8’s breath hitched. For a second, she wanted to yell– wanted to raise her voice above theirs and demand silence. But the words caught in her throat.

Instead, she crouched down slightly so she was eye level with them, her tone dropping into something quieter but sharper. “Both of you, enough. Right now.” She rarely raised her voice, but today she was running on three hours of sleep and a single cup of cold coffee she hadn’t even finished. 

“Bluudud, go sit at the table. Pr3ttyprincess, if you can’t keep your things to yourself, I’m taking the tiara until you both calm down.”

 “You wouldn’t dare!” Pr3ttyprincess gasped dramatically.

118o8’s mouth settled into a grim line, her expression making it clear that, she very much would dare. With a loud groan, Pr3ttyprincess stomped off toward her room, muttering under her breath. Bluudud rolled his eyes so hard it looked painful, but he did as he was told muttering something about “always being blamed for everything.” 118o8 soon followed Bluudud into the kitchen.

When the house finally went quiet, 118o8 slumped against the counter and let out a long, shaky breath. She was exhausted.

It wasn’t just the kids.  It was everything. The house felt too big with just her in it. Too quiet when the kids weren’t screaming. Too heavy when 226w6 wasn’t there to share the weight.

226w6 had been gone since early morning. They’d said something vague the night before about needing to “meet an old friend.” 118o8 hadn’t asked too many questions at the time– she didn’t want to be clingy– but now, with the kids fighting and the chores piling up, her thoughts started spiraling.

Who was this old friend, anyway?

She trusted 226w6– she really did. They had been together for years, raised two children together. But the way they’d said it– too casually, like they were deliberately making it sound normal– stuck in her head.

What if this “friend” wasn’t just a friend?

The thought hit her like a sucker punch, leaving her standing there, clutching the counter so tightly her knuckles went white. She hated herself for thinking it. 226w6 had never given her a reason to doubt them, not really. But she couldn’t help it.

She thought about how distant they’d seemed lately. How their mind seemed to be somewhere else, even when they were home. How their phone lit up sometimes at night and they’d step out of the room to answer it.

And maybe that was all innocent. Maybe it really was just work or some secret plan for a surprise– they had done that before, after all– but her insecurities twisted it into something darker.

By the time she heard Pr3ttyprincess slam her bedroom door, she was sitting on the kitchen stool with her head in her hands, blinking back frustrated tears. She couldn’t do this alone. Not today.

118o8 reached for her phone and hesitated. There were plenty of people she could call, but only two she trusted enough to handle her kids without making her feel judged. She scrolled to 007n7’s contact and hit the call button before she could talk herself out of it.

The line rang twice before someone picked up. “Hello?” 007n7’s familiar voice came through, casual, maybe a little amused, like he’d just been interrupted from something not at all serious.

“Seven?” 118o8 said softly, her voice thinner than usual as she held the phone to her ear. She tried to sound casual, but the quiet strain in her tone betrayed her.

There was a faint shuffle on the other end of the call before 007n7’s voice came through, warm and curious. “Not really. What’s up?”

118o8 hesitated, thumb worrying against the edge of the countertop. She glanced toward the dining table, where Bluudud sat slumped forward, elbows propped on the surface, his face pressed into his palms. His tail curled and uncurled irritably behind him. The silence between them was heavier than it should have been for a quiet morning.

“I…” 118o8 swallowed, trying to find words that wouldn’t sound like weakness. “I could use some help.”

There was a pause– not long, but just long enough that she heard the faint creak of 007n7 shifting, maybe sitting up straighter. When he spoke again, his tone had sharpened, but not in a cold way– it was alert, concerned. “What happened?”

“Nothing serious!” 18o8 said quickly, a little too quickly, as if she could stuff the words between them before his worry grew. “Just… it’s been a long morning.” Her free hand moved up to pinch the bridge of her nose. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to breathe evenly. “The kids won’t stop fighting, and I’m–” She stopped, the words catching in her throat before she could admit it.

On the other end, 007n7 stayed quiet, giving her room. That was one thing she appreciated about him– he never pressed, never rushed her.

“I’m not at my best right now.” 118o8 admitted at last, her voice dropping to something raw. “I think they need someone other than me to be around for a bit. Just… before I lose my mind.”

There was no judgment in the silence that followed– only a faint hum, the sound of understanding. Then 007n7 spoke, tone steady and certain. “Got it. We can come over. Right, Noli?”

“Yeah!” A muffled voice piped up in the background– bright, eager, unmistakably Noli. Something in 118o8’s chest loosened, tension she hadn’t realized was there beginning to unwind.

“We’ll even bring C00lkidd.” 007n7 added. “Might keep Bluudud and Pr3tty busy for a while.”

At the mention of C00lkidd, Bluudud’s head shot up from where it had been resting on the table. His scowl didn’t disappear completely, but it softened, curiosity flickering in his red eyes.

“That… that would be nice..” 118o8 admitted, the words coming out on a slow exhale. Her shoulders sagged, the tight knot of frustration in her back easing just a little. “Thanks. Really.”

“No problem.” 007n7 said simply, with the easy confidence of someone who didn’t see helping her as a burden. “We’ll be there soon.” There was a beat of quiet before he spoke again, this time with a touch of hesitation. “Wait– before I hang up–” 007n7 said. ‘–Where’s 226w6? Are they not around to help?”

118o8’s teeth worried at her lower lip. She stared at the countertop as though it might provide a good enough excuse for her. “They…” Her voice faltered. She hated how small she sounded. “They went to meet an old friend.”

The line was silent. Not long, but long enough that she could picture the way 007n7’s brow must have furrowed, the thoughtful frown pulling at his mouth. She hated that she cared about what that pause might mean.

“…Right.” 007n7 said finally, careful and neutral. “Well, we’ll be there in a bit.”

118o8 nodded reflexively, though he couldn’t see it. “Okay. See you soon.”

The call ended with a soft click. 118o8 lowered the phone, staring at the blank screen for a long moment as though waiting for it to offer her reassurance. It didn’t. Slowly, she set it down on the counter, letting her fingers linger on the surface before finally letting go.

For a second, she just stood there. She let out a slow, steady breath, running a hand through her hair and forcing herself to straighten her spine. She was grateful that help was coming– she really was– but she hated that she needed it. Hated that she couldn’t just handle this morning on her own.

 –+⟡+–

“I can’t keep counting on these empty promises. I need results now.” Shedletsky’s voice cut through the room like a whip, sharper than it had been in years. The words came out before he could soften them, before he could twist them into something playful or sardonic the way he usually did. For a moment, his mask slipped.

It wasn’t Shedletsky who spoke, not really. It was Telamon– the cold, hard-edged administrator he used to be, the version of himself he swore he’d buried. He could hear it in the crisp precision of his own tone, in the way it didn’t leave room for argument or apology.

They flinched at the sudden shift in atmosphere. They looked like they wanted to say something, to justify themselves, but the words tangled on their tongue. “I’m truly sorry, Tela–”

The name caught in their throat, and their face went pale. They corrected themselves almost instantly. “Shedletsky.” They said quickly, as if the right name could rewind the last few seconds. “There are some difficulties happening right now, and it’s ultimately making it hard for me to–”

“Then you’ll be dismissed from this case.” The interruption was quiet but final. It was the kind of interruption that killed a conversation on the spot, that took the air out of the room.

Shedletsky stood tall, hands clasped loosely behind his back, every inch of him composed– but inside, Telamon still roared. That old, buried part of him wanted to slam his hands down on the desk, wanted to make the words sting.  “If you can’t handle this then I’ll do it on my own.” He said, his voice clipped and deliberate.

Their breath hitched. They stared at him, eyes wide, stricken– as if he’d struck them. Fear flickered in their expression before they lowered their gaze, bowing their head in a gesture of deference. Their hands curled against their sides, knuckles whitening as they tried to keep their composure.

“I… I understand the reasoning behind your decision.” They murmured, each word carefully measured. The apology that followed was quiet, trembling. “Please forgive me for my incompetence.”

The room went silent after that. Shedletsky didn’t answer right away. He could feel Telamon’s presence still in his chest, cold and coiled tight, demanding that he keep pushing, that he make an example out of this failure.

But the longer Shedletsky stood there, the harder it became to keep that posture, that edge. His jaw unclenched. His shoulders eased. Slowly, he exhaled. “Forgiven.” he said finally, and this time his voice was softer. The steel was gone, replaced with something far more human.

“Seriously..” Shedletsky added, the corner of his mouth twitching into a faint smile as if to take the sting out of the moment. “You don’t need to stand there like I just banished you to the Banlands or something. It’s fine.”

Shedletsky rolled his shoulders as though shaking off the tension, letting the sharp edges of Telamon’s authority fall away piece by piece. “Take a break from this for a while.” He said, his tone lightening by degrees. “I’ll handle it myself. You’ve been working yourself to the bone, and honestly…” He gave a little shrug. “This kind of thing’s easier for me to clean up anyway.”

They nodded quickly, still shaken but visibly relieved that the storm had passed.

Shedletsky’s smile widened just enough to seem like his usual self again–  breezy, easygoing, the man who’d rather crack a joke than start a lecture. “You’re dismissed.” He said at last, waving a hand toward the door.

They gave a small, respectful bow and hurried out, leaving the office quiet once more. When the door shut, Shedletsky sank back into his chair and scrubbed a hand over his face. For a moment, his smile faltered.

Shedletsky leaned back, staring at the ceiling, letting out a breath that was half a laugh, half a sigh. “Dial it back, Shed.” He muttered under his breath, as though talking to an old ghost. “You’re not him anymore…”

Chapter Text

Noli glanced sideways at 007n7 as they stood on the porch, the faintest smile tugging at his lips. 007n7 caught the look and returned it, crooked as always, before reaching out to press the doorbell.

The chime echoed faintly inside, followed by the sound of quick footsteps. When the door opened, 118o8 stood there, looking as though the morning had chewed her up and spit her back out. Her hair was a little messy, there was a smudge of something– possibly flour, possibly crayon– on her cheek, and her tired smile was clearly doing its best to hide the fraying edges of her patience.

“Hey.” 118o8 greeted the family, her voice softer than usual.

“Hey.” Noli greeted, gentle but warm. He could tell immediately she’d had one of those days– the kind where even breathing felt like a chore.

“You look like you’ve been through a war.” 007n7 remarked bluntly, though there was no judgment in his tone, only quiet sympathy.

118o8 let out a short huff of laughter, more exhausted than amused, and stepped aside to hold the door open. “Feels like it.” She admitted, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her face. “Come on in. I’ll head to the kitchen.” Noli and 007n7 exchanged a quick nod and stepped inside.

The house was warm, lived-in, and a little messy– blankets draped over the couch, toys scattered across the floor, the faint sound of Bluudud and Pr3ttyprincess arguing somewhere upstairs.

“Go on, Kidd.” Noli said, giving C00lkidd a gentle nudge forward. “Go see your friends. And be nice, yeah?”

C00lkidd nodded eagerly– though whether he’d actually behave was anyone’s guess– and darted toward the sound of shouting siblings. The thunder of little feet running up the stairs was followed almost immediately by the squeals and shrieks of reunion, and then the entire house seemed to become more chaotic than it was before.

Noli let out a breath, half amused and half resigned. “Well. That’s gonna get loud.”

“Better than them being bored.” 007n7 said dryly, stepping out of his shoes by the door before heading toward the kitchen.

118o8 was waiting for them there, hunched over the counter with a cup of coffee in her hands. Her shoulders looked tight, like she’d been holding herself together all morning, and the faint smudges under her eyes told 007n7 everything he needed to know before a word was even spoken.

“Hey.” Noli greeted softly, his voice carrying that careful warmth he used when speaking to friends who clearly weren’t okay.

118o8 glanced up, forcing a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Hey, Noli. Thanks for coming.”

“Of course.” 007n7 said. He moved toward the kitchen table, pulling out a chair before glancing back at her. “You want to sit? Or stand and stew in whatever’s eating you?”

118o8 huffed out a short, humorless laugh but did take the chair across from him. “Guess sitting wouldn’t hurt.”

Noli busied himself at the counter for a moment, grabbing two mugs and filling them with coffee before joining them at the table. He pushed one mug toward 007b7 with a little nod before sliding into the seat beside him.

“So..” 007n7 said, leaning back in his chair, one elbow propped casually against the table. “What’s going on? You called us here because you needed help, but I get the feeling it’s not just about the kids being loud and unruly.”

118o8’s fingers tightened around her mug, and she stared down at the steaming liquid as if searching for words there. “It’s…” She hesitated, her throat bobbing as she swallowed. “It’s Six.” Noli’s brow furrowed slightly, but he stayed quiet, letting her continue.

“They’ve been… distant. Not just today– though today was bad– but for weeks now. Maybe months.” Her voice shook a little as she spoke, but she pressed on. “Every time I ask where they’re going, they just say make a–” She stammered, struggling to contain her tears.

“They just– just give me vague answers and a quick exit.” 118o8 finally let out.

007n7’s gaze softened. “You think they’re hiding something?”

“I know they are.” 118o8 admitted, her voice cracking. “I just don’t know what. And when I try to ask, really ask, they just get quiet. Like I’m the one doing something wrong for even wondering.”

There was a pause, heavy but not uncomfortable. 007n7 stood up and sat on the chair beside 118o8. He placed a gentle, comforting hand over hers. It wasn’t pushy, just enough to bring her some sort of comfort.

“You’re allowed to be upset about that.” 007n7 said gently. “Even if they have a good reason, it doesn’t make what you’re feeling not valid.”

118o8 let out a breath that was half a laugh and half a sob. She took a moment before opening her mouth to speak again. “Sometimes I think I’m just paranoid. That I’m overreacting, but then they leave again, and I just..” She shook her head, frustrated tears brimming. “I can’t help but think they’re out there with someone else. That maybe they don’t–”

“Hey.” 007n7’s voice cut in, calm but firm. He scooted his chair closer until his knee nearly brushed hers. “Don’t go there. You don’t know that.” 118o8 bit her lip, staring down at their hands. 007n7 gave hers a light squeeze. “You’ve been doing this on your own all morning, right? No backup, just you and two kids going at each other’s throats.”

118o8 nodded. “That’d make anyone feel like they’re drowning.” 007n7 said. “So, yeah, your head’s gonna go to dark places. But it doesn’t mean those places are true.” 118o8 blinked at him, almost startled by the quiet certainty in his voice. For a second, she just stared at 007n7 like she didn’t quite know what to do with his words. 

Then, slowly, her shoulders dropped, a little of the tension she’d been holding bleeding away. “Thanks, Seven.” She murmured, softer now, and there was a faint, tired curve to her lips– something that wasn’t quite a smile, but close.

Noli sat across from them, silent. His mug was still untouched, the steam curling upward as if mocking his stillness. His fingers tapped against his thigh in an uneven rhythm he barely noticed, the small movement keeping his hands busy so he wouldn’t say something he might regret.

He watched them quietly– 118o8 looking smaller than usual, like the weight she carried had finally made itself visible, and 007n7 sitting closer than he had to, angled toward her in a way that made it clear she had his full attention. His voice was low, careful, the kind of tone he only used when he was trying to keep someone from falling apart. 

The kind of tone 007n7 had always used for him.

Noli told himself it was fine. 007n7 was just being supportive. That was what he did. It wasn’t like there was anything romantic about the way his hand rested lightly over hers on the table, or how his thumb moved in slow, almost absent circles against her skin.

Still, Noli felt that small, sharp twist in his chest, the kind that made his jaw tighten before he even realized it. He hated that it was there, hated how irrational it felt. 007n7 wasn’t doing anything wrong. Neither was 118o8. And yet watching them like this– close, quiet, sharing a moment he wasn’t part of– made something ugly and restless stir in him.

Noli leaned back in his chair, trying to look casual, though he could feel the muscles in his shoulders tightening. His fingers stilled against his thigh, curling into a fist before he forced them to relax. 007n7 said something low, too quiet for Noli to catch, and 118o8 let out a shaky laugh, brushing her hair back from her face.

Noli swallowed, his throat dry, his gaze fixed on the table instead of the two of them. He told himself again that it was fine, that there was nothing here for him to be jealous of. But the warmth in 118o8’s voice when she thanked 007n7 lingered in the air, heavy and impossible to ignore, and that sharp feeling in his chest refused to leave.

“Do you want us to stay for a while?” 007n7 asked after a beat, his voice gentle as his eyes stayed fixed on 118o8. “Help keep the kids busy so you can actually breathe for a bit?”

118o8’s shoulders loosened at that, the tension in her face easing just slightly. She nodded, her expression softening with quiet gratitude. “If you don’t mind.”

“Of course we don’t mind.” 007n7 replied, a small, lopsided smile tugging at his lips. His tone carried an easy warmth, as if to say there was never even a question about it.

Noli cleared his throat, the sound barely audible over the soft hum of the refrigerator. “I’ll… go check on the kids.” He muttered, almost too quickly, pushing back his chair. The legs scraped lightly against the tile, loud enough that 118o8 glanced up, her brows knitting faintly at the sudden movement.

He didn’t wait for anyone to respond. Standing felt easier than staying seated in that moment, easier than watching 007n7’s hand resting on hers, easier than hearing the quiet exchange that felt almost too intimate for him to sit through.

“Alright.” 007n7 said after a moment, his tone deliberately casual. But when Noli glanced back he caught the way 007n7’s eyes followed him until he was gone from the kitchen, and something about that look made Noli’s chest feel tight.

Noli turned away quickly, stepping out of the kitchen. The house felt smaller without the sound of voices filling it– just the muffled noises of the kids somewhere upstairs, the thump of something soft hitting the floor followed by a burst of laughter. Normally, that sound would have made him smile. Now it only filled the silence he was trying to escape.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, walking slower than necessary toward the staircase. His feet felt heavy, each step deliberate, as if rushing would make the gnawing feeling in his chest worse.

Why was he feeling like this?

It wasn’t like 007n7 was doing anything wrong. It wasn’t like 118o8 was doing anything wrong either. She’d asked for help, and 007n7 had given it– because that was who he was. Because he cared about people, about his friends. 

Because he cared about her.

Noli exhaled slowly through his nose, feeling the air burn a little in his chest. He knew he should be glad that 118o8 had someone like 007n7 to lean on, especially now, with 226w6 always going out and the kids acting up. He was glad. Wasn’t he?

Noli climbed the stairs, his hand sliding along the railing more to ground himself than to steady his balance.

This wasn’t fair to anyone. Not to 007n7, not to 118o8, and not to himself. He knew that. He’d told himself a thousand times that jealousy didn’t suit him, that it wasn’t rational. 007n7 had been nothing but good to him– loyal, steady, the one person who’d never turned his back on him even when the rest of the world had.

So why did it hurt to see him sitting so close to her?

Noli reached the top of the stairs and paused, his fingers tightening around the railing until his knuckles ached.

Maybe it wasn’t even about 118o8. Maybe it was just him– just the way he sometimes felt like 007n7 gave too much of himself to everyone else. The way it made Noli wonder if there’d ever be a part of him that was just his, just theirs. 007n7 had that way about him, of making everyone feel like they mattered. And sometimes, selfishly, Noli wanted to be the only one who mattered like that.

Noli dragged a hand through his hair, letting out a humorless huff of laughter. “Oh Telamon, I’m pathetic.” He muttered under his breath. Noli felt pathetic– He felt pathetic being jealous of a woman who’d just asked for help because she was tired. 

Noli kept walking, slower now, as if the extra seconds might help him shake off the feeling before he reached the kids. He passed framed photos on the wall– pictures of 118o8 with Bluudud as a newborn, of Pr3ttyprincess with frosting on her face at her fifth birthday, of 226w6 standing stiffly in the background in most of them, always slightly apart. Noli’s chest tightened at that, too.

Noli wondered if this was how 226w6 felt sometimes. Watching 118o8 handle things, watching her pour herself into their kids and still finding a way to laugh through it all. Maybe they felt distant not because they didn’t care, but because they were afraid they couldn’t measure up.

Noli grimaced. “You’re projecting.” He whispered to himself, pressing a thumb against his temple. “You’re so projecting.” But even admitting that didn’t make the twisting in his chest go away.

Noli stopped halfway down the hall, bracing a hand against the wall and bowing his head for a moment. He could hear the kids more clearly now– Bluudud’s voice, high and animated, arguing about something, Pr3ttyprincess cutting him off dramatically, and then a squeal of laughter that might have been C00lkidd’s.

For a moment, Noli thought about turning back. Just going downstairs, pretending to have checked on them, sitting back at the table and forcing a smile like nothing had happened. But the idea of walking back into that kitchen before he’d gotten himself under control made his stomach churn.

So Noli stayed there for another long breath, letting the sound of the kids’ voices anchor him, remind him why they were even here in the first place. It wasn’t about him. It wasn’t about whatever was festering in his chest. It was about helping a friend.

Noli finally straightened, rubbing the back of his neck before letting his hand fall to his side. He could feel the tension still coiled in his shoulders, but at least his heartbeat had slowed.

One step, then another, until he was standing outside the door. Noli hesitated with his hand on the knob, the wood cool under his palm. “Get it together.” He muttered under his breath. Then, taking in a deep breath, he turned the handle and pushed the door open.

The center of the room had been cleared out, and an old blanket had been spread across the carpet as a makeshift tablecloth. Sitting on it was a mismatched set of plastic teacups and chipped toy saucers, a pink plastic teapot standing proudly at the center like a crown jewel. Pr3ttyprincess sat primly at the head of the blanket, back straight, plastic tiara tilted slightly forward on her head like a queen.

“Bluudud, your elbows are on the table again.” Pr3ttyprincess said with exaggerated severity, pointing her tiny finger at him.

Bluudud, sitting cross-legged beside her, groaned loudly, but he obeyed. “This is so boring..” He muttered under his breath, though his hands adjusted obediently to mimic some version of proper posture.

Across from them, C00lkidd was practically vibrating with excitement. His horns bobbed as he bounced in place, holding his little teacup carefully between both hands.

Noli blinked at the sight, his lips twitching before a soft laugh escaped him. “Well, well, what do we have here?” He said, leaning against the doorframe.

Three pairs of eyes turned toward him. “Papa!” C00lkidd grinned brightly, waving him over so fast he nearly spilled his imaginary tea.

But it was Pr3ttyprincess who spoke first, her expression stern but undeniably pleased that she had an audience. “You’re just in time!” She declared, her tone the perfect imitation of a high-society hostess. “We were about to start discussing important matters.”

Bluudud rolled his eyes so hard Noli thought they might fall out. “This is just some stupid role play, not some important meeting.”

“Tea parties are important meetings!” Pr3ttyprincess shot back, tossing her curls dramatically before turning back to Noli. “Sit down. You have to join us.”

Noli grinned, unable to resist her imperious tone. “Well, if her Royal Highness commands it, I guess I don’t have much choice.” He crossed the room and lowered himself onto the blanket with exaggerated ceremony, tucking one leg under the other. “Shall I sit here?” He asked, gesturing to an empty spot beside C00lkidd.

“Yes.” Pr3ttyprincess said with a solemn nod, before smiling in satisfaction. “Good posture, please.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Noli said in his most serious voice, straightening his back. His lips quirked, and with very little effort he slipped fully into his inner theater kid persona, voice adopting a lofty accent. “I must say, it is an honor to be invited to this most prestigious gathering.”

C00lkidd giggled and passed him a teacup, which Noli accepted with both hands and a mock bow of his head. “You don’t have to play along, you know.” Bluudud glanced at him sidelong, unimpressed.

“Oh, but I must!” Noli said dramatically, lifting the empty cup to his lips and pretending to sip. “This tea is exquisite, Your Highness. Imported straight from the finest tea fields in all of Robloxia, I presume?”

Pr3ttyprincess beamed, clearly thrilled to have someone fully playing along. “Of course. Only the best for our guests.” She attempted to conceal the squeal but her excitement for someone actually playing along so well betrayed her.

“Indeed.” Noli said solemnly, setting the cup down delicately as though it were priceless porcelain. “You honor me with your hospitality.”

Bluudud groaned again, but there was a faint twitch at the corner of his mouth. “You’re so dramatic.” He muttered.

“Dramatic?” Noli gasped, pressing a hand to his chest in mock offense. “I’ll have you know I am deeply committed to the craft of tea parties.” That made C00lkidd giggle even harder, his tail flicking against the blanket.

For a while, Noli let himself sink into the role play completely. He kept his accent going, introduced himself as “Lord Noli” and even offered imaginary political advice to Pr3ttyprincess about how to keep her kingdom safe from danger.

But every now and then, when the kids’ attention shifted– when Pr3ttyprincess scolded Bluudud for holding his cup wrong or when C00lkidd pretended to refill everyone’s tea– Noli’s smile would falter for just a second. He’d hear the faint sound of voices downstairs, too muffled to make out but just loud enough to remind him of where 007n7 was, of how close he’d been sitting to 118o8.

His chest tightened, the ghost of that sharp feeling twisting through him again.

But then C00lkidd would shove an empty cookie tray in front of him with a grin, demanding that he taste test the invisible pastries, and Noli would plaster his grin back in place.

“Delicious!” Noli declared, miming a chef’s kiss. “Truly, I have never tasted finer. Why, I might have to commission a royal baker to learn your secret recipe, Your Highness.”

Pr3ttyprincess puffed up with pride. “It’s a secret recipe.” She said primly, holding her chin high. “Only the royal family knows it.”

“Then I am honored to have tasted something as elegant as this.” Noli said gravely, bowing again. He kept going like that, letting himself get louder and sillier until Bluudud was biting back a reluctant laugh and even Pr3ttyprincess was giggling behind her hand at his exaggerated flourishes.

It was a good distraction, he told himself. Good for them, good for him. If he could make the kids laugh, then maybe it would quiet that ache sitting heavy in his chest.

And for the most part, it worked.

By the time the tea party ended, Noli felt lighter than when he’d first stepped into the room. His shoulders had unclenched, and there was a faint flush on his face from all the ridiculous voices and fake bowing he’d done.

“Thank you for attending, Lord Noli.” Pr3ttyprincess said with great dignity, holding out her hand like she expected him to kiss it.

Noli grinned, taking it and bowing his head over it. “The honor was all mine, Your Highness.”

C00lkidd beamed at him, tail wagging. “Mama’s gonna be sad he missed this!”

“Don’t worry.” Noli said with a wink, his grin almost real this time. “I’ll tell him all about it.”

–+⟡+–

“Thank you, ███. Your services are… appreciated. You will soon receive what is owed.”

Chapter Text

The tea party continued in full force for a few more minutes. Pr3ttyprincess kept rattling off more etiquette lessons with the kind of authority only a child could muster– one minute lecturing them on how to pour pretend tea without spilling, the next assigning royal titles to everyone at the table. 

C00lkidd hung onto every word, ears twitching in excitement, while Bluudud slouched in his chair and pretended to die dramatically every time he was told to sit up straight. Noli matched their energy with ease. It was almost frightening how quickly his inner theater kid came back to life.

He leaned into the ridiculousness of the moment, sitting perfectly straight, pinky raised as he sipped invisible tea, offering loud and exaggerated– “Ah, exquisite, my dear Princess!”– after every pretend sip. The kids giggled so hard they nearly knocked over their plastic teapot.

Every so often, though, a faint flicker of something darker crossed Noli’s expression– a subtle tightness around the eyes, a second too long before he responded to a question, a wistful glance toward the door. But as soon as he felt it creeping up, he buried it beneath another theatrical flourish. He bowed so deeply to Pr3ttyprincess that his forehead nearly hit the playroom floor. 

Noli complimented C00lkidd on his posture until the boy nearly glowed with pride. He even coaxed Bluudud into participating by pretending to faint dramatically whenever Bluudud refused to play along, forcing the boy to save him with proper manners.

For a while, it worked. Noli’s chest felt lighter, and he almost managed to forget about the kitchen– about 007n7 sitting so close to 118o8, murmuring softly to her like the world might break if he raised his voice. Almost.

The sound of footsteps coming up the stairs broke the little spell. The door creaked open, and 007n7 leaned against the frame, eyebrow arched. “Hey.” He started casually. “Lunch is–” He froze. Noli turned in his seat. And that’s when 007n7 saw it– all of it.

Noli’s face was completely covered in sparkly play makeup– bright blue eyeshadow smeared nearly to his brows, streaks of glitter on his cheeks, lipstick applied with the precision only a child could manage. His usually messy hair had been divided into uneven little braids tied with mismatched ribbons. To top it all off, Pr3ttyprincess had somehow found a neon-pink tutu in her toy chest and forced Noli into it, and he was still wearing it proudly over his jeans.

For a beat, there was silence. Then 007n7 broke. He doubled over in the doorway, clutching his stomach, laughter ripping out of him uncontrollably. “Oh– my Telamon–” He wheezed between gasps for air, sliding halfway down the doorframe as tears started pricking his eyes. “You–” He pointed at Noli, barely able to breathe, “you look like– like–” He couldn’t even finish the sentence.

Noli arched an eyebrow and sniffed, trying to maintain his dignity. “Like royalty, perhaps?” He said in a perfectly overdone stage voice, sitting up straighter and spreading his tutu with a flourish.

That only made 007n7 laugh harder. He stumbled into the room, nearly tripping over a stuffed animal on the floor, still shaking with laughter as he crouched down. “You look so– Hah– So stupid!”

“Blasphemy!” Noli declared dramatically, clutching his chest as if wounded. “Such words in the royal court shall not go unpunished.”

C00lkidd was absolutely delighted by this exchange, laughing so hard he fell out of his chair. Pr3ttyprincess beamed with pride at her work. “He looks perfect!” she insisted. “He’s the prettiest king ever!”

“I agree.” Bluudud said with a smirk, though his tone was teasing. “Like a clown king.”

Noli gasped at the insult and flung himself back in his chair as though struck. “A clown king?! The audacity!” He glanced at 007n7, who was still wiping tears from his eyes, and stuck his nose in the air. “Well. I suppose I must forgive you peasants. I am nothing if not merciful.”

“Sure, Your Majesty.” 007n7 said, grinning ear to ear, still fighting back giggles. And for a few moments, it was easy for Noli to keep the mask on. Easy to grin back, easy to play the part.

But somewhere in the back of his mind, the jealousy still sat like a stone. Every time 007n7’s laughter softened into something warmer, something fonder, it tugged at him– because that was the same tone he’d heard in the kitchen, when 007n7 was speaking to 118o8. And no matter how hard he tried to drown it out with acting and glitter, it lingered.

Still, he wasn’t about to let anyone see that. “Fine, fine.” 007n7 said once he finally caught his breath, standing back up. “Come on, King. Lunch is ready.”

“Oh, but of course!” Noli stood with an exaggerated bow, the tutu swishing around his knees. “The royal feast awaits.”

Pr3ttyprincess clapped and cheered. “You have to wear it to lunch!”

Noli laughed softly, reaching out to ruffle Pr3ttyprincess’s hair. “As much as I would love to, my dear princess..” He said with a dramatic little bow. “I fear the royal court would be scandalized if their king were to arrive so improperly attired. Pr3ttyprincess pouted but seemed to accept it, gathering up the pretend teacups while C00lkidd groaned in disappointment. 

Noli kept the grin on his face until he’d stepped out into the hall, where it slid away as quietly as if someone had snuffed out a candle.Noli could still hear 007n7’s laughter echoing faintly behind him, that warm, easy kind that made his chest tighten.

‘It wasn’t fair.’ He thought bitterly. How effortless it all seemed for him– how he could slip from consoling 118o8 in the kitchen to laughing until he cried in the playroom, like it didn’t mean anything at all.

Noli’s footsteps were slow on the way to the bathroom, like he was walking through water. He could still feel the tutu swish around his knees, the ghost of glittery little hands smudging his face with makeup, the echo of 007n7’s laugh ringing in his ears. It had been fun, but underneath the acting to please the children, underneath the jokes, there’d been this gnawing feeling he couldn’t quite shake.

By the time he reached the bathroom, the weight of it all sat like a stone in his stomach. Noli closed the door behind him and leaned against the sink, exhaling slowly. One by one, he peeled away the mismatched ribbons, setting them carefully on the counter like they might break if he wasn’t gentle enough. His reflection stared back at him– hair sticking up wildly from the braids, streaks of glitter clinging stubbornly to his cheeks, the last smudge of lipstick staining the corner of his mouth.

For a moment, he let himself drop the mask entirely. His shoulders slumped, his jaw clenched. The smile he’d been forcing cracked and fell away completely, leaving him with something tired and a little bit raw.

It wasn’t that Noli didn’t trust 118o8. He loved her– she was his friend. But seeing her sitting across from 007n7, voice soft and brittle, watching 007n7 lean in like he was the only person who could fix it– twisted something inside Noli.

He hated feeling this way.

He hated how ugly it made him feel.

Noli splashed water on his face, scrubbing away the glitter and the makeup until it was barely visible. When he was done, he stared into the mirror again, forcing himself to straighten his posture. He fixed his hair as best as he could, wiping away every last sign of the playroom– every trace of the distraction he’d thrown himself into just to keep from thinking too much.

By the time he left the bathroom, the mask was back in place. And if his chest still felt tight when he headed downstairs, well– that was just something he’d have to swallow until no one could see it anymore. 

By the time he rejoined the others, the mask was firmly back in place. He walked into the kitchen with a casual grin, sliding back into his chair like nothing had happened.

“You took forever.” 007n7 teased, though there was a trace of lingering amusement in his voice.

“Royalty requires time to prepare.” Noli shot back smoothly, raising his chin just enough to look smug.

The kids erupted into giggles, Bluudud rolling his eyes while C00lkidd nearly spilled his juice laughing. Even Pr3ttyprincess cracked a smile behind her hand, pretending she was too refined to laugh but failing miserably.

Lunch carried on from there, the kitchen loud with conversation and clinking dishes, the table a lively, messy display of chaos and family. Noli played along easily, cracking jokes, feeding into the children’s antics, keeping his tone light and teasing. He leaned into his usual role– the fun adult, the dramatic voice of reason, the one who could turn even spilled soup into comedy.

And if Noli’s eyes lingered a little too long on 007n7 sometimes, well, no one seemed to notice. Or maybe they were just polite enough not to say anything. Because even as he laughed, even as he put on the easy grin and fired back with clever comments, something kept tugging at him, hard and insistent, like a thorn in his chest. 

The sound of 007n7’s laugh– that genuine, effortless laugh he’d had when Noli had been covered in glitter– it still rang in his ears. The image of 007n7 leaning across the table earlier, hand over 118o8’s, still burned in the back of his mind. He shouldn’t feel this way.

He hated that he felt this way.

The food on his plate had gone lukewarm by the time he realized he hadn’t touched much of it. He poked at it absently, nodding along to whatever 118o8 was saying, pretending he was listening even though his mind was miles away.

When 007n7 suddenly reached toward his pocket, Noli’s head jerked up, dragged back into the moment.

“Hold on.” 007n7 muttered, patting his pockets and then frowning. “Where did I– oh. Right.” He turned toward 118o8, his voice casual. “Hey, do you mind if I grab my phone from the living room real quick?”

Before 118o8 could even open her mouth, Noli’s chair scraped sharply against the floor as he stood. “I’ll get it!” He said, quick– too quick.

The table went quiet for half a second. 007n7 blinked at him, brows rising. “Oh. Uh… thanks.” His tone was light enough, but there was something in his eyes– a flicker of something sharper, something that saw straight through him.

Noli didn’t stay long enough to see if 118o8 looked confused. He didn’t even glance back as he left the table, just shoved his hands into his pockets and headed for the living room with quick, clipped steps. The moment he was out of sight, the act crumbled.

Telamon, what was wrong with him?

Noli could still feel the way everyone had gone quiet for that one second, the awkward weight of it. He hadn’t meant for it to sound so sharp, hadn’t meant to make it obvious that he didn’t want 007n7 and 118o8 having another moment alone. It had just slipped out, fast and instinctive, before he could stop himself.

And now Noli’d made it weird. He hated that. He hated how rude it must have looked– how petty. He wasn’t like this, not usually. He wasn’t the jealous type. At least, he didn’t think he was.

Noli stopped in the middle of the living room and pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment. His chest felt tight, too tight, like there wasn’t enough air in the room.

What the hell was he doing?

007n7 hadn’t done anything wrong. Neither had 118o8. She was hurting, that much was obvious, and 007n7 was just being himself. Supportive, reliable, good at reading people. He should have been proud of him for that, not sitting there wishing it had been him instead.

The thought of 007n7 leaning in close to someone else– even a friend– made something sharp and ugly twist in his stomach.

Noli ran a hand through his hair, pacing a few steps before catching sight of 007n7’s phone sitting on the coffee table. He grabbed it, but didn’t turn back right away. Instead, he sank down onto the edge of the couch, elbows braced on his knees, staring at the floor.

“Get a grip.” Noli muttered under his breath. His own voice sounded too loud in the quiet room. He wanted to tell himself it was nothing. That it was just a bad day, that he was just tired, that he was only wound so tight because he’d been holding the kids together with duct tape all morning.

But deep down, Noli knew better. This wasn’t just exhaustion, it was fear– fear that maybe he wasn’t as irreplaceable as he liked to think.

The thought made his chest ache.

Noli sat there for a moment longer, willing his breathing to slow, willing his face to look normal by the time he went back in there. He couldn’t let 007n7 see him like this. Couldn’t let 118o8 see him acting childish when she was already overwhelmed enough.

By the time Noli finally stood, sliding the phone into his pocket, his face was carefully neutral again– maybe a little too neutral, but it would have to do. He headed back toward the kitchen slowly, deliberately, giving himself those extra few seconds to smooth out the edges.

When Noli entered the room, the first thing he felt was 007n7’s eyes on him. The look was sharp, heavy enough to make Noli feel seen through. His steps faltered for half a beat, but he forced himself to keep walking, to sit back down and pretend he hadn’t noticed.

Lunch continued normally– or at least, that was how it would look from the outside. Noli kept the conversation light, even cracking a few jokes that got Bluudud to actually smile, which felt like a miracle in itself. But every time he risked a glance at 007n7, he caught those brown eyes already on him, watchful. Not suspicious in an accusatory way, but heavy enough that Noli felt his chest tighten.

Noli tried to shake it off– telling himself to focus on the food, on the chatter, on anything else– but his skin prickled every time 007n7 so much as shifted beside him.

007n7 leaned an elbow on the table, chin in hand. “You okay?” His tone was so casual that it nearly disarmed Noli.

“Fine.” Noli said quickly– maybe too quickly.

“Mhm.” 007n7 hummed, still watching him like he didn’t quite believe it.

Noli stabbed another bite of food with more force than necessary. “I said I’m fine.”

“Didn’t say you weren’t,” 007n7 replied mildly, but there was a knowing look in his eyes that made Noli’s stomach twist.

The front door opened a few minutes later, letting in a gust of air and 226w6. The energy in the room shifted immediately. 118o8 lit up, though there was still a trace of guardedness in her smile, and she moved to greet him. The conversation shifted, chatter filling the air, and Noli found relief in the noise.

Soon after, lunch wound down. Goodbyes were exchanged. C00lkidd resisted leaving at first, clinging to Pr3ttyprincess until Noli gently pried him off with the promise of cartoons when they got home.

–+⟡+–

When they reached their apartment, Noli let C00lkidd rush past him, practically bouncing up the stairs.

“Go ahead.” 007n7 said gently, ruffling the boy’s hair. “Don’t be too messy, okay?”

“Yes, Mama!” C00lkidd called, already gone. Then the door clicked shut, and the silence stretched. When Noli turned, 007n7 was leaning back against the door, arms crossed, gaze fixed on him.

Noli’s heart skipped. “…What?” His eyes blinked, nervously swallowing saliva under the pressure of 007n7’s sharp and intensive gaze.

“You going to tell me what that was about?” 007n7 asked quietly.

“What was what?” Noli played dumb, too fast, too defensive.

“You’ve been ever since we got to Eight and Six’s place.” 007n7 said evenly, pushing off the door and stepping toward him. “And don’t tell me it’s nothing– I know you.”

Noli backed up a step, scowling. “It is nothing.”

“Then why are you acting like it’s something?” 007n7’s tone was calm, too calm, and somehow that made it worse.

“I’m not–”

“You are.” The couple stood there, staring each other down. The air between them felt heavy, charged.

Noli broke first, running a hand through his hair. “Just drop it, Seven.” He glanced to his side. “You were like this too.. earlier this morning..” He mumbled low enough for 007n7 to not be able to hear it.

“Not happening.” 007n7’s voice was firm, cutting through the air like a blade. He wasn’t shouting– he didn’t need to. His tone carried enough weight to stop Noli mid-step, enough finality to make the room feel suddenly too small.

Noli’s chest tightened, but he hid it behind a sharp scoff. “Why do you care so much?” His voice came out louder than he meant, rough at the edges, like he was daring 007n7 to answer.

“Because it’s you.” 007n7 said simply, taking a slow step closer. “And I can tell when something’s eating you alive, Noli. You can pretend you’re fine all you want, but I know you.”

Noli’s stomach twisted. He wanted to look away, wanted to roll his eyes and laugh it off– anything to deflect from the way 007n7’s words hit him square in the chest– but he couldn’t move. “You don’t know everything.” Noli shot back, but the bite in his voice was weaker now.

“Maybe not..” 007n7 admitted, shrugging one shoulder, but his gaze never left Noli’s face. “But I know when you’re lying to me.” Another step closer, deliberate this time, until there was only a breath of space between them. “So stop pretending this is nothing. Talk to me.”

Noli’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, nails digging into his palms. His first instinct was to keep fighting, to throw out some sarcastic remark just to keep the wall between them standing. But standing there with 007n7 looking at him like that– not angry, not mocking, just waiting– made the words stick in his throat.

Noli swallowed hard, his throat tight. “I’m not–”

“Don’t lie to me, Nols.” 007n7’s voice softened, but the edge in it stayed. He lifted a hand, resting it lightly against Noli’s jaw, tilting his face up. “Talk to me. Or else.” It wasn’t a threat, not really– but it wasn’t a joke either. 

Noli’s breath hitched, his pulse hammering in his ears. For a moment, he almost said it– almost let everything spill out– but the words lodged in his throat. When he stayed silent, 007n7’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he leaned in until their foreheads brushed.

“Fine.” 007n7 murmured. “Have it your way.” 

The kiss was sudden, but not rough. Slow, almost deliberate– like he was going to kiss the truth out of him if he had to. Noli made a startled sound against his mouth, then melted into it, clutching at 007n7’s hoodie like he was drowning.

 The tension, the jealousy, the self-loathing that had been eating him alive all day– it all came pouring out, messy and desperate. 007n7 pressed him back until Noli’s shoulders hit the wall, deepening the kiss, his hands steady and grounding.

When they finally broke apart for air, Noli’s head was spinning. “Still want to tell me you’re fine?” 007n7 asked quietly, breathless but calm, like he already knew the answer. Noli didn’t bother with words. He just kissed him again, harder this time.

Somehow, they stum bled toward the couch, hands in each other’s clothes, the atmosphere between them turning charged and intimate until the rest of the world blurred out completely.

Noli was half-curled on the couch, knees pressed against 007n7’s sides as he straddled him, breath coming shallow. Their lips parted just barely, a thin glint of saliva catching the light between them.

“A-are you sure we should…” Noli’s voice came out soft, almost swallowed by the quiet of the room. His lashes lowered as he glanced toward the hallway, tension and hesitation pulling at his expression. “What if Kidd comes down and sees–”

007n7 cut him off with a low chuckle. “Then you’re just gonna have to be extra quiet.” Hr murmured, teasing lilt in his tone. His free hand traced lightly over Noli’s jaw, thumb brushing against his lower lip in an almost taunting gesture.

The touch made Noli shiver, a rush of heat pooling in his stomach at both the gesture and the way 007n7 said it– calm, sure, as if daring him to back down. Noli’s breath hitched, but then his grin curved, equal parts flustered and defiant.

“Oh, we’ll see who’s quieter.” Noli shot back, tone playful but with an edge of challenge. His hands tightened against 007n7’s shirt, dragging him closer. “Mr. Sensitive to my touch.” A smirk tugged at 007n7’s mouth, one that made Noli’s chest ache and his pulse quicken.

Not about to lose, 007n7 leaned up, closing the space between them and catching Noli’s lips in another kiss. It was slower this time, deeper, as if he was trying to coax Noli into melting completely. His tongue brushed against Noli’s lower lip, a wordless question.

Noli’s breath hitched again, but he didn’t hesitate long– his mouth parted, granting permission, and the kiss turned hotter, more urgent. His fingers slid from 007n7’s shirt to the back of his neck, pulling him closer as if to anchor himself. The warmth of 007n7’s skin beneath his touch felt grounding, but the pounding of Noli’s heart made him feel anything but steady.

The kiss deepened until it was almost dizzying. Small, unguarded noises slipped from both of them– quiet gasps, ragged hums, the kind of sounds that came from being too close and not close enough at the same time. 007n7’s hand threaded into Noli’s hair, tugging gently but firmly, guiding him closer still. The pull made Noli’s breath stutter against his lips.

When they broke apart for air, their foreheads stayed pressed together, both of them breathing hard. Noli’s lashes were damp, his expression soft but still tense in a way that betrayed how much he was holding back.

“You’re shaking.” 007n7 murmured, brushing his thumb over Noli’s flushed cheek.

“I’m fine.” Noli whispered back, though his voice was rough, low. “I just…” He trailed off, letting out a quiet laugh that wasn’t entirely amused. “You drive me insane.”

007n7’s mouth curved into a crooked grin, though there was nothing mocking about it. “Good.” His voice dropped to a near growl, low and teasing. “Guess I’m doing my job right.”

Noli rolled his eyes–  but 007n7 was already leaning in again, pressing their lips together like he was trying to prove a point. The kiss was hungrier this time, more desperate, as though he was trying to erase every ugly thought that had eaten away at him all day. Noli broke the kiss only long enough to breathe, a faint, breathless laugh escaping him before he let himself go completely, burying his face against 007n7’s neck.

“We really doing this here and now?” Noli chuckled, his voice low and breathy.

007n7 paused for a moment before slightly turning his head towards Noli. “Do you consent?” He smiled, his tone soft and gentle.

Noli blushed as he heard the gentleness and care in 007n7’s voice. Noli knew how much 007n7 cared about him and his feelings– and that was one of the many things he loved about him. “Yeah.” He finally said after a beat. “I consent.” His tone sounded eager before he pulled back to look at 007n7’s face. “Do you?” He tilted his head, returning the question.

“Of course, Nols.” 007n7’s voice was low, almost a murmur, before he leaned in and pressed a kiss to Noli’s cheek. It lingered before he let his lips trail just slightly toward the corner of Noli’s mouth. When he finally pulled back, his gaze searched Noli’s face carefully, almost like he was double-checking if this was what he wanted.

“You wanna take it slow?” 007n7’s words were soft, his hand sliding down from Noli’s side, knuckles grazing fabric in a teasing, unhurried path that made Noli’s breath stutter.

Noli swallowed, his pulse thudding in his ears. He could feel heat pooling under his skin where 007n7’s hand lingered. “If we go too slow…” His voice came out a whisper, half-choked with anticipation. “…I might actually lose my mind.”

That earned him a grin– crooked, sharp-edged– before 007n7 leaned in, their foreheads brushing together. The kiss that followed was slow, yes, but deep and thorough, as though 007n7 was deliberately taking his time just to push Noli closer to unraveling.

Noli’s fingers tightened on 007n7’s shirt, sliding up until they hooked around the back of his neck, pulling him closer. The kiss broke only long enough for both of them to breathe, barely an inch apart, before Noli let out a soft, frustrated noise and kissed him again, harder this time.

That seemed to flip a switch.

007n7’s hand, which had been resting just above Noli’s thigh, gripped tighter, pulling him flush against him. The shift made Noli gasp– quickly swallowed by 007n7’s mouth– as the kiss turned hungrier, faster, like neither of them had the patience to drag it out any longer.

Small noises escaped between them, breathless and desperate. Noli shifted in his lap, trying to get closer still, and 007n7’s answering laugh was low, breathless, almost disbelieving at how quickly this had escalated.

“Guess we’re not taking it slow after all.” 007n7 murmured against his lips, but before Noli could answer, his mouth was claimed again, deep and hot. 007n7’s hand made itself busy as it caressed Noli’s groin. Noli couldn’t help but groan at the touch, smirking as he did.

“You’re the one eager to touch all of me.” Noli teased the brunette, sliding his hand down to his crotch to meet 007n7’s hand, assisting him in removing his pants. “It’s okay, I know im irresistible.” He smugly smiled.

“You’re insufferable.” 007n7 groaned as if he was annoyed, but the look on his face betrqayed him. When he felt Noli’s hand helping him remove his own pants, 007n7’s face flushed almost immediately.

Noli licked his bottom lip. “Mmm, you think so?” His voice was a little higher, as he continued teasing his partner.

007n7 leaned in further in response to Noli’s tease, his lips barely brushing Noli’s ear as he spoke. “I know so, dummy.” 007n7 smirked as his hand squeezes the tent in Noli's pants really hard, making the raven-haired man’s eyes get half-lidded. 

007n7 rolled his eyes playfully. “You’re so needy today.” His fingertips trace the erection underneath Noli's pants.

“I’m not–” Noli tried to defend himself, but it was inevitable. He bucked his hips, wanting 007n7 to do it again. His face was hot, eyes wide and desperate. “Sev.. I–” He tried to say something, 007n7 couldn’t help but laugh.

007n7 brushed his thumb along the line of Noli’s jaw. "What happened to the teasing, Nols?” He smugly smiled.

“Oh you freak.” Noli scoffed, though his tone was rather giddy. 

“That hurts my feelings, Noli.” 007n7 frowned jokingly, taking his hand off of Noli’s groin, earning a wimpish whine from the man. “You gotta make it up to me, you know.” 

“How ever can I make you forgive me, my dear loving partner?” Noli put on his theatre kid accent, batting his eyelids.

007n7 hummed for a while, thinking to himself. He smiled– a smug and teasing one– as he spoke. “Take your shirt off, and lay face first.” He finally let out as he pulled away from Noli, giving him room to remove his shirt. 007n7 stood up, lovingly observing his partner.

Noli’s eyes widened, surprised at 007n7’s eagerness. “Not even gonna’ take me out to dinner?” He chuckled, though still obeyed what 007n7 wanted. He grabbed the hem of his shirt with both hands, and with one swift motion, was able to take his shirt off. Then finally he layed down on his stomach, swinging his legs in the air as he cradled his head. “I’m so wounded.” He said in a faux tone of hurt.

007n7 scoffed silently at Noli’s theatrics. He loomed over Noli– practically hgovering over him now, a palm flattening on the curve of his hip, then a fingertip tracing a line along his spine. “You’re not gonna theatre kid your way outta’ this, Noli.” 

Noli ground a little against the cushion, desperate for some movement, as he let out a breathless noise. “Really? So how do you want me to act then. Hmm?” He played along, his voice becoming softer.

007n7’s laugh was so small he wasn’t sure if Noli heard him at all. He caressed once more the small of Noli’s back. “Be a good boy for me, Noli.” His tone of voice made it clear to Noli that 007n7 was not going to give him an easy time.

Noli opened his mouth to argue, to tease– or at least to flirt his way back into mercy, but there was no point now. “Okay, Sev.” Noli mumbled It was enough to drive 007n7’s grin wider as he headed upstairs towards their bedroom, leaving Noli on the couch.

007n7 went to their bedroom and came back quickly, walking around the couch, pacing like he was deciding what to do next. 007n7 tilted his head, his fingers toying with the loose button of his own jeans, the other hand holding the lube.

“Look at you..” 007n7 murmured, his voice was soft but with a hint of smugness. “Being so good for me.”

Noli’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his chest heaving. “When did you get this–”

“Ah ah ah.” 007n7 cut him off with the smallest shake of his head, a cruel little grin tugging at his mouth. “It’s time for you to let me talk.” The way that 007n7 said those words, made Noli’s erection harder– and 007n7 knew it. 007n7 smiled at this as he continued. “You sound desperate. Very hot, honestly.”

Noli let out a groan, trying to turn himself to face 007n7. 007n7’s hand instantly flattened against his back, pinning him down. “If you move again without me tell you to– you’re not getting what you want.”

Noli sighed and his whole body locked up. There was no point in hiding at how desperate he was for 007n7’s touch. His jaw clenched, his voice breaking. “Please, Sev.. I’ll do anything–”

007n7’s smile widened “Anything?”

“Yes.” Noli’s answer was fast and eager.

007n7 chuckled low in his chest, touching Noli’s boxers that peaked above his jeans lightly. “If you say so..” He teased, tracing circles on it.

Noli nearly sobbed with how much more needy he was becoming, his voice coming out hoarse. “Sev, please. I’m so down bad for you right now.” 

007n7 got up, letting Noli feel the loss of warmth once again. He thought about doing something mean to Noli. He wanted to tease the man for lying about his feelings once more. 007n7 stared at Noli’s flushed face and the composure he ruined. “I’m down bad for me too.” He chuckled at his own joke. (Loser.)

Noli looked up with puppy eyes at 007n7 standing up, while he laid on the couch. He felt a little pathetic. Why was he so pathetic? From being jealous of their mutual friend, to begging 007n7 to fuck him. Holy Telamon was he such a loser.  

“You look so beautiful like this, you know that?” 007n7 suddenly said while his hand  started to pull down his pants. He slowly stripped Noli’s pants down– slow enough to make Noli feel every shift of fabric against his own swollen cock, until they bunched around his knees. The sight of Noli being naked, made 007n7’s own erection harden. 007n7 was quick to grab his own cock, slowly pumping himself.

“Sev..” Noli whined, growing impatient with the teasing. “Please get on with it..” 

007n7’s eyes were satisfied by Noli’s pathetic begging, his fingers pressing against the hips of the man beneath him. “To think I’ve got you begging this fast.” His tone was smug as his cock throbbed hard in his own hand while he stroked as slow as possible. 

Noli, growing frustrated with the lack of touch from 007n7, arched his back as his hips tried uselessly to hump into the couch cushion. “Nuh ah ah.” 007n7 clicked his tongue, sliding a knee between Noli’s legs to spread him open. “I want to see you lose your mind with how slow I’m going to make it.”

Noli bit back a whimper, his whole body trembling with restraint as 007n7 knelt behind him, one hand smoothing over the curve of Noli’s spine, down to his ass, spreading him just slightly more. “Sev.. Please– I need it– Please..” Noli pleaded, voice muffled into the couch.

“Please what?” 007n7 leaned forward, his lips ghosting the back of Noli’s neck.

“Fuck me please!”  Noli screamed out, his tone whiny as his fists clenched. Noli let out a sound that was halfway between a pathetic groan and a frustrated sob. 007n7’s cock twitched at the noise. He pressed a hand between Noli’s shoulder blades, pinning him down just a little harder, savoring the control. His hand lingered near Noli’s ass, fingertips brushing lightly over the bare skin, tracing the curve just enough to make him twitch. 007n7 didn’t grip, didn’t thrust, just hovered, teasing.

“Where’d the playful, theatric Noli go?” 007n7 murmured teasingly, voice low and rough, teeth scraping lightly along Noli’s shoulder. "I only took charge for once and now you’re this vulnerabe."  The raven-haired man facing down the couch whimpered, arching instinctively into 007n7’s touch, his ass finally feeling some pressure against 007n7’s cock. He gasped as he felt 007n7 pull away, a sharp edge of frustration. 

007n7 sighed, softly, teeth biting the back of Noli’s neck again. He pressed a finger briefly along the crease of Noli’s ass, just enough to make him gasp again and hovered there. He used some of the lube he got early on his own middle finger and spreaded Noli’s (booty)cheeks, pushing it down to his hole in a slow motion. 

Noli moaned softly, hips lifting without permission, letting the friction drag against him. “Seven.. fuck.”

007n7 smirked as he started to pour more lube and introduced another finger, slowly. His hand moved carefully while the other one held him down. “Does that feel good?” 007n7 murmured, chuckling low at his rhetorical question, since Noli was a whimpering mess already. 

007n7 brushed his lips along Noli’s neck, biting just hard enough to leave teeth marks. Noli gasped when 007n7 removed his fingers, now moving on to himself, spreading the lube in his own cock and stroking himself. Noli felt so warm and tight around his finger, it made him twitch at thought of how that would feel around him.

007n7 leaned back just a fraction, letting his cock press fully against Noli’s ass, teasing the entrance for a beat, making Noli squirm beneath him.  007n7 then grinded against Noli’s ass without penetrating. He did that a few times until Noli’s whines and whimpers started getting louder.

Noli felt tears prickling the edge of his eyes. “Just put it in, please, Sev.” He whimpered– begged, even.

After a few more seconds of teasing, 007n7 finally sank in slowly, giving both of them a moment to feel the stretch, the press of skin to skin, the way 007n7’s body shivered against him. Noli cried out, tiny noises muffled against the couch. “Fuck! Seven.. Fuck..”

007n7’s hands gripped Noli’s hips tightly, thrusting slowly at first. “You’re so whiny when I’m the one topping.” He started moving with steady, controlled thrusts, watching Noli’s back arch. 

Noli’s voice broke, a high, helpless whine. “Whatever, asshole– Hngh! Atleast I don’t–”

007n7 interrupted whatever sentence Noli was trying to form and picked up the pace, thrusting harder now, watching Noli’s entire body writhe beneath him, the helpless noises building into a mess. “I’m only simply returning– hah– the favor for whenever you top.” He groans, still surprisingly coherent. 

Noli’s back arched sharply, face pressed into the couch, a strangled cry escaping him. 007n7’s pulse was sharp and hot, groaning into Noli’s back, while the he let out another whine.

With a growl, 007n7’s hips snapped faster and harder. He tries his best to control his breath and to make this last longer– but with how tight Noli was, he felt how close he was to coming as the man beneath him cries of pleasure.  “Fuck.. Fuck– I’m coming..” 007n7 groaned.

007n7 gripped Noli’s hips, holding him tighter as he felt himself about to cum. After a few more seconds of hard and quick trusts, he finally finished, panting hard as he came.

Noli moaned against the couch, overwhelmed. He could feel his dick hurting from the pressure, the erratic friction against the cushion only making him want more. 007n7 collapsed for a moment, chest heaving, his face against the curve of Noli’s back. “You were so good for me.” He slowly pulled back his softening dick, pressing a kiss along Noli’s shoulder.

"Why are you so hot when you top.. fuck." Noli grumbled into the couch's cushion.

Chapter Text

The marble floors of Chance’s mansion gleamed just as Noli remembered. It felt strange being back here– not as someone crashing in a guest room with 007n7 and C00lkidd, but as a visitor. He and Seven had their own house now. A place they’d bought together. A place that actually felt like home.

That thought alone should’ve filled Noli with warmth. Instead, it pressed heavy in his chest. Chance strolled into the lounge in a silk robe holding his signature can of soda, looking every bit the smug aristocrat. “Noli! My favorite friend. Back to the mansion of dreams, I see!” 

“The mansion of… dreams?” Noli raised an eyebrow, glancing around at the gilded frames, polished banisters, and that ridiculous chandelier. “Pretty sure no one calls it that except you.”

Chance gasped, clutching his chest like he’d been wounded. “Correction, everyone should call it that! They’re just too intimidated by my brilliance.” Noli huffed out a laugh despite himself.

Noli adjusted the strap of his bag as Chance led him into the lounge. Everything looked exactly as he remembered– down to the tray of chocolates and fruit already set out on the coffee table.

“Let me guess.” Noli muttered as he sat down. “You’ve been waiting for me to visit?”

Chance smirked, dropping onto the couch with a dramatic flourish. “What can I say? I like to host in style. And besides–” He gestured broadly to the chocolates “–I knew you wouldn’t turn down free food.”

Noli rolled his eyes but reached for a chocolate anyway. He popped it into his mouth, leaning back against the couch cushions. It was easy to slip back into the old rhythm with Chance–  the familiar banter, the practiced dynamic of sarcasm versus bravado. 

Chance bragged about experiences that, somehow, kept making him richer. Noli rolled his eyes, as always, but he listened anyway. Then the conversation shifted. Chance asked about C00lkidd and 007n7.

And Noli found himself smiling before he realized it. “Things are… good.” He admitted, the words still foreign on his tongue. “Like– actually good. Kidd’s in school now, if you can believe it. First day he walked into class, I thought my heart was gonna burst. He was so nervous at first, but now? He won’t stop talking about his teacher, or the friends he’s making. He even brought home this– this crayon drawing of us, you know? Him, me, Seven. He gave me a big round head and stick arms, but still…”

Noli laughed, running a hand through his hair. “I hung it on the fridge. Seven said it was dumb but I caught him staring at it later.”

Chance snickered. “Look at you. Having an actual stable life! I never thought I’d see the day.”

“Don’t start.” Noli said, but he was still smiling. “But yeah, the house is good. Great, actually.” He hesitated, then added, softer, “And we don’t have to worry about Kidd anymore, not like before. His skin– it’s.. well, it’s still different, but not too different. He can go outside, make friends, and just live normally.” His voice carried a tone of relief. 

“We can finally show him off, you know? Without people staring. Without us worrying if someone’s going to ask too many questions.”

Chance leaned back, watching him carefully. “Sounds like a happy ending.”

“Not an ending.” Noli corrected quickly. “Just the start of something better.”

For a moment, they both sat with that. The weight of how far things had come. The nights they’d spent in Chance’s guest wing, patching things together, wondering if they’d ever have a life of their own. And now– look at them.

But Chance never let things stay serious for too long. He puffed his chest out, flashing his signature grin. “Well, I’m glad my investment paid off. Clearly, my generosity set you on this path of success. I’m basically your guardian angel.”

Noli snorted. “Guardian devil, more like.”

Chance laughed, grabbing a handful of grapes from the tray. He popped one into his mouth with theatrical flair. “Speaking of success– casino’s still booming, by the way. Place practically runs itself these days. Tables packed, slots ringing, people begging me to let them in for the high rollers’ nights. It’s thriving. But you knew it would be.”

“Uh huh..” Noli said flatly. “And how much of that is legit, and how much is you scamming drunk rich people?”

“Fifty-fifty.” Chance said with a wink. He shifted, though, when the topic turned from business to something else– something softer. “And then there’s… Itrapped.”

“Oh?” A weird look suddenly appeared on Noli’s face– he had that kind of look that said ‘Are you guys dating now?’. Chance seemed to notice it, scoffing as he did.

Chance’s grin stayed fixed, but beneath it there was the faintest flicker of something more fragile, almost vulnerable. “We’re just friends, don’t get it twisted. But we’ve gotten close, you know? They’re–” He paused, searching for the right words, unusual hesitation creeping into his tone. “–He’s something.” His grin turned soft, seemingly thinking about something.

Noli tilted his head, smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “So… you’ve got a crush?”

“Friends.” Chance shot back immediately, wagging a finger with exaggerated indignation. “Besides, they’re clumsy as hell. Constantly shutting the door in my face, accidentally elbowing me–” He broke off with a chuckle, shaking his head at the memory. “I can’t even get mad about it. Every time he just gives me that look and say it’s something he can’t control.”

“Sounds like a very healthy relationship.” Noli said dryly, one eyebrow arched.

Chance waved him off the way he always did when things started to scrape too close to real. “Don’t psychoanalyze me, doc. I’m fine. Thriving, remember? Still richer than you.”

Noli rolled his eyes, lips twitching with amusement. But Chance wasn’t done. His grin stretched wider as he leaned forward with that glint that always spelled trouble. “Besides..” He drawled. “You’re in no position to hand out relationship advice, Mr. I almost ran away because I thought my best friend wasn’t gay.”

Noli blinked. “Excuse me?”

Chance mimicked him in an exaggerated, pitiful voice, pressing the back of his hand to his forehead. “‘He probably likes Eight instead, Chance! He’s probably not even gay!’” He sighed dramatically, pretending to wipe away an invisible tear. 

“You’re never going to let that go, are you?” Noli groaned, dragging a hand down his face.

“Nope.” Chance shot back, grinning ear to ear. “Do you know how close I came to charging you rent just for the angst you radiated in my mansion? I should’ve billed you for damages.”

Noli huffed, trying to glare but failing when his lips betrayed him with the hint of a smile. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you–!” Chance said, wagging his finger with mock severity. “–Are lucky Sev is as obliviously smitten as he is. Otherwise? You’d still be sulking in my guest room writing bad poetry about unrequited love.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Noli muttered, though there was the faintest curl of amusement in his voice, his lips twitching as if he was trying not to smile.

The conversation wandered for a while longer. Chocolates dwindled, fruit picked over. They traded old stories, laughed about things that used to feel heavier, shared the kind of silence that only came from long familiarity.

And then Chance leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “So…” He popped another grape into his mouth. “You still haven’t proposed yet, huh?” He picked up his can of soda and sipped.

Noli froze, halfway to reaching for another chocolate. His hand dropped, and he let out a sigh. His throat went tight, and for a moment he could only stare. “…What?”

Chance smirked, swirling his glass of sparkling water like it was fine wine. “You heard me. You’ve got the house, the kid, the loving boyfriend. But still no ring.”

Noli shifted uncomfortably. “It’s not– we’re not–” He cut himself off, sighing. “…I want to. Of course I do. But–” He raked a hand through his hair. “I don’t know how. Everything I come up with feels… cheap. He deserves something unforgettable. And I don’t know if I can give him that.”

For once, Chance didn’t immediately joke. He studied Noli, the crease in his brow, the restless movement of his hands. Then his smirk returned, sly and knowing. “Sounds to me..” Chance said, puffing his chest out. “..Like it’s about time for the ultimate wingman to return.”

“Oh dear, Telamon..” Noli groaned into his hands. 

“No, no, don’t thank me yet!” Chance shot to his feet, spreading his arms like a stage actor. “You’re wondering.. ‘Chance, how can perfection be made more perfect?’ My answer to that is..” He poses dramatically. “Style!”

“Your help was literally just locking us in a room together and praying for the best.”

“Uh, yeah?” Chance shot back with a maddeningly smug grin, leaning back in his chair like he’d just won the argument before it even started. “And did it work, or did it work?”

Noli gave him the flattest look imaginable, his tone dripping with dry disbelief. “No. Not even close.”

Chance clicked his tongue, shaking his head like a disappointed teacher. “Correction! it eventually worked. You two are together now, aren’t you? Clearly, my methods are flawless.”

“Flawless?” Noli scoffed. “I thought I was going to die in there with how much Sev was glaring at me. You didn’t wingman me, you traumatized me.”

“Tomato, tomahto.” Chance grinned, utterly unbothered. “History will remember me as the genius strategist who set the stage for your love story.”

“…That’s not the point.” Noli glared.

“Exactly!” Chance declared, smacking the table for emphasis. “The point is.. You!” He drawled, pointing his finger at Noli. “..And Seven built a life together. You’re not struggling college kids anymore, you’re stable adults now. You’ve got a kid– and you’re practically married already! All that’s missing is the proposal– and lucky for you, I’m going to make sure it’s legendary.”

Noli sat back, torn between dread and relief. He knew he should say no– Chance’s idea of legendary usually involved fireworks, or skywriting, or both. But deep down, Noli knew he couldn’t do this alone. “…Fine.” He muttered, already regretting it.

Chance grinned like a man who had just won a war. “Excellent! Let’s get started!”

–+⟡+–

The mall was busy, full of chatter and footsteps echoing off tile floors polished so clean they almost reflected the fluorescent lights. Storefronts gleamed with bold letters and promises of sales, while kiosks barked out offers to anyone who passed too close.

Noli tugged the hood of his sweatshirt lower– like he was shielding himself from being noticed even though no one was looking. Chance, on the other hand, strode through the crowd like he owned the entire building. Head high, grin wide, sunglasses indoors. 

“Why do I feel like I’m about to regret this?” Noli muttered lagging behind CHance.

“Regret?” Chance scoffed, tossing his arms wide with exaggerated flourish. “My dear Nols, you’re about to make the smartest investment of your life. You’re marrying Seven! And lucky you, you’ve got me as your wingman.”

“Telamon help me..” Noli muttered, but his lips twitched despite himself.

They walked shoulder to shoulder, weaving past shops with tempting window displays. One boutique spilled the sharp tang of cologne into the air, the scent clinging as they passed racks of leather jackets that gleamed beneath fluorescent lights. Another shop displayed gleaming wristwatches, each ticking in perfect unison.

Noli shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, trying to look unaffected, but his eyes kept catching on reflections in the glass they passed. He saw himself beside Chance, the faint crease between his brows, the nervous set of his shoulders. He knew exactly where this was headed before Chance even slowed down.

And then Chance did. He stopped abruptly in front of a storefront framed by gold trim, its windows polished so clean they looked more like water than glass. There were rings lined up on the velvet stands in perfect rows, gemstones catching the light in flashes of fire and brilliance. The whole display glittered like a disco ball, impossible to ignore.

“Well…” Chance clapped a hand onto his shoulder, his grin wide and knowing. “Here’s step one! The ring. You can’t propose without it.”

Noli stared at the rows of jewelry, his chest tightening as though the weight of every glittering band was pressing down on him. He’d thought about this moment– of course he had– but thinking was different from standing in front of a wall of rings, each one screaming a promise he wasn’t sure he knew how to make.

“I know.” Noli muttered, staring at the display case. His hands flexed uselessly at his sides. “I just.. don’t know which one’s right.”

Chance smirked. “That’s what I’m here for.” He pushed the glass door open, already going inside. After some hesitation, Noli sighed and followed suite.

Inside, the air was cool and quiet, the kind of stillness that made Noli hyperaware of every step. He leaned over the glass case, staring at the rows of diamonds, silver, and gold. Some were simple bands. Others were flashy, covered in gems that caught the light like fireworks.

007n7’s face floated into Noli’s mind. That crooked grin, that unbothered way he carried himself even when the world was burning. The way his voice softened when he talked to C00lkidd. The way he reached for Noli without even thinking, like it was natural. Noli needed something that wasn’t just expensive or pretty. Something that fit.

As if reading Noli’s mind, Chance leaned on the counter. “Seven’s not a flashy guy. Don’t bother with the glitter bombs.” He pointed at a plain band with a subtle pattern etched into it. “Something like that. Strong, clean, but not boring.”

Noli picked it up, studying it carefully. It was silver, simple, but with just enough detail to make it unique. “Yeah. That… that feels right.” He smiled, imagining 007n7 wearing it. 

The purchase was made quickly, tucked into a small velvet box that Noli pocketed like it might burn him if he held it too long.

One step down, a thousand more left.

–+⟡+–

“Alright.” Chance said as they left the store, sliding his sunglasses up his nose. “Now for the fun part. The date.”

“Date?” Noli asked, distracted as his thumb brushed over the box in his pocket.

“You can’t just propose out of nowhere, Nols. You gotta set the stage! Build it up!” Chance spread his hands dramatically, nearly smacking a passerby in the shoulder. “I’m talking breakfast in bed. Start the day right. Easy, casual, sweet. He’ll melt before he even gets to the eggs.”

Noli gave him a look. “You want me to cook?”

“Yes, you. Don’t give me that face. You can scramble an egg without burning down the kitchen, can’t you?”

“…Probably.”

Chance rolled his eyes but grinned. “Fine. Toast, bacon, coffee. Keep it simple. The point is, it’s you doing it. Trust me, that’ll hit him harder than a five-star meal.”

“…Okay. So breakfast in bed?” Noli’s lips pressed together, but he nodded slowly.

“Yeah– and then..” Chance continued, pointing forward like he was charting a path only he could see. “You take him out! I already called in a favor at this fancy restaurant downtown– reservation under my name, naturally.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t sass me– it’s perfect! It has a romantic atmosphere and good food too! And I’ll even babysit the kid just so no one will tug at your sleeves, pestering ya’ for a juice box.” Chance snickered.

“He would, wouldn’t he?” Noli let out a small laugh at that, shaking his head.

“You know it. And then..” Chance slowed, lowering his voice like he was telling a secret. “The grand finale.. A picnic! At the end of it all, you should take Sev to a grassy hill, lay the blanket down, and enjoy some fine wine..” He paused for a dramatic effect. “Then boom! You pull the box out, and propose!”

“A picnic?” Noli stopped mid-step, staring at him.

“Yes, a picnic!” Chance threw his hands up. “What’s more timeless than that? You’ve got food, privacy, the sky doing half the work for you. The mood’s basically handed to you on a silver platter.”

Noli opened his mouth to argue, then closed it again. He could almost picture it. 007n7 sitting on the grass, legs stretched out, eyes catching the last gold of the sun. 

It reminded Noli of their first kiss. Where 007n7 couldn’t handle the alcohol he drank. Innocently giving Noli a ‘bro kiss’. How could Noli ever forget that moment?

“And here’s the kicker,” Chance said, snapping his fingers. “You make a speech.. Something from the heart– about how much Seven means to you, how far you’ve come together, all the dumb crap you’ve survived. And then you hit him with the ring.”

Noli’s stomach twisted. A speech? “Chance, I’m not–”

“You are.” Chance interrupted, smirking. “Don’t argue. You’ve got words in there, I know you do. Just think about everything you’ve been through. How he drives you insane but you’d never want anyone else. Put that into words.”

Noli exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “You make it sound easy.”

“It’s because it is easy!” Chance said. “We all know how true your feelings are for Sev– you don’t need to rehearse anything. Just pour it all out.”

Noli glanced down at the crowd of shoppers passing by, all moving in their own little worlds. Then his eyes flicked to Chance, smug as ever, full of confidence Noli wished he had. It was terrifying. It was overwhelming. But for the first time, Noli felt like it was possible.

“Fine.” Noli muttered, but his voice was softer than usual. “We’ll do it your way.”

Chance grinned like a man who had just won a bet. “Of course you will. Now come on! We’ve got supplies to buy– and we’re not leaving until we’ve bought it all!” Noli groaned, but when Chance grabbed his wrist and pulled him towards a random store, he didn’t resist.

Noli wanted everything to be perfect. Not just some rushed, half assed gesture that 007n7 could laugh off or brush aside, but something that would stay with him forever. For all the years they’d spent together, for all the mistakes Noli had made– the jealousy, the stupid walls he’d put up, the nights where he let silence hang too long instead of speaking his heart– this was the least he could do.

Noli loves 007n7 with everything in him. More than he’d ever managed to say out loud. This proposal wasn’t just about asking a question– it was about showing 007n7 just how much he meant. That he was Noli’s partner, his safe place, his soulmate.

Noli inhaled deeply, steadying himself. He wasn’t going to let fear or his overthinking ruin this. He clenched his fists once, grounding himself. No more running from his feelings, no more hiding behind excuses or humor. This was it– he was going to show 007n7 just how much he mattered– and he wasn’t going to hold back.

Chapter Text

007n7 stirred faintly against the sheets, one arm draped across the pillow beside him, hair sticking up in every direction from sleep. For once, there was no blaring alarm, no vibration of his phone against the nightstand reminding him of deadlines or code reviews or yet another client meeting. Just quiet– almost suspiciously quiet.

“Shh, Kidd, you’re gonna wake him up too fast!” Noli said in a hushed voice, low but still carrying that restless edge.

“I’m trying!” C00lkidd whispered back, the words nearly dissolving into a giggle.

007n7 cracked one eye open just as the mattress dipped slightly near his hip. Something warm and careful nudged against his arm, followed by the faintest clink of a tray being set down.

“Seven.” His name, spoken gently– far too gently for Noli, who usually woke him with a sarcastic quip, a shove, or on rare occasions, a pillow to the face. 007n7 blinked fully awake to find Noli crouched beside the bed, flushed and fidgeting with his sleeve, while C00lkidd stood at the ready, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet.

“What’s–” 007n7 started, only for C00lkidd to squeal excitedly.

“Surprise, Mama!” C00lkidd beamed, cutting 007n7 off. The tray was carefully maneuvered onto his lap. A plate of scrambled eggs, toast that was only slightly too dark on one edge, bacon curled into awkward little spirals, and a glass of orange juice that looked like it had been poured with serious concentration. The smell filled the air, rich and oddly comforting.

007n7 raised an eyebrow, looking between the two of them. “Breakfast.. in bed?” His voice was still rough with sleep, but the incredulous amusement was clear. “Alright, what’s the catch?” His tone sounded skeptical, yet his playful chuckle made it clear that he wasn’t serious.

Noli rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting away. “There’s no catch..” He muttered, though his ears were pink. “We just.. wanted to do something nice for you, that’s all.”

“Yeah!” C00lkidd chimed in eagerly, clambering onto the edge of the mattress and nearly knocking into the tray in his enthusiasm. “Mama made most of it, but I scrambled the eggs. Look!” He jabbed a finger proudly at the fluffy yellow pile, grinning wide.

“So this is why I heard noises from the kitchen.” 007n7 chuckled, the sound soft and genuine as he sat up against the headboard, adjusting the tray.

Noli scoffed under his breath, crossing his arms as though to shield himself from the weight of the moment. “You don’t have to make a big deal out of it. Just eat the food your loving family made you, Sev.”

007n7’s smile widened at that, the corner of his mouth quirking up in that familiar crooked way. He picked up the fork and took a bite, letting out a pleased hum. “Not bad.” He said between chews, looking at C00lkidd. “You did good, Kidd.”

C00lkidd’s tail wagged furiously, nearly sweeping a pillow off the bed. “Told you! I’m getting good at cooking.” He puffed out his chest proudly, clearly basking in the approval.

“And you.” 007n7 tilted his head toward Noli, eyes glinting with quiet amusement. “What’s this about, really?”

Noli stiffened, clearly caught off guard. His gaze dropped to the blanket bunched around his knees, then to the floor. “I told you already. Just wanted to do something nice!” He said, but the words came too quickly, too defensively.

007n7 didn’t push, not right away. He took another bite, chewing thoughtfully before asking again, this time softer. “Nols?”

Noli let out a slow breath, shoulders sagging under the weight he couldn’t quite hide. “You’ve been working yourself to the bone.” He started, his voice quieter than usual. “Long hours.. Always making sure the bills are paid.. Keeping us steady.” He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting away. “And me? I mean, yeah, I’ve been freelancing, but.. what I make barely covers a quarter of what you do.”

Noli hesitated, chewing on his words before forcing them out. “It just… it doesn’t feel fair. So I thought… maybe the least I could do was this. Something small at least.” His lips pressed into a thin line, guilt flickering across his face. The confession settled in the air, raw and uneasy.

007n7 set the fork down carefully, giving Noli his full attention now. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes warm even as his expression sobered. “Noli.”

But before he could speak, C00lkidd piped up, voice small but earnest. “Papa’s right, Mama. You do, does a lot for us!” His little brows furrowed as he looked up at 007n7, tail slowing. “I’ve been very naughty and you still make me yummy lunches and give me good night kissies!” 

Noli blinked at him, caught off guard by C00lkidd’s sudden compliment towards 007n7. The words, broken and mismatched in grammar, landed heavier than anything polished ever could. Noli’s lips parted, then shut again as his eyes softened. 

“I mean it, Mama!” C00lkidd insisted. “You do manys of things, and I love you for it.” He glanced toward Noli, ears twitching nervously, as though searching for backup.

Noli doubled down, though, his voice trembling as he spoke. “He’s right. We’re not just saying this to flatter you, Sev. You’ve carried so much– more than I thought was possible. But I want you to know… I’ve tried, too. And I’ll keep trying. For you. For him.” He gestured gently toward C00lkidd. “For us.”

The room went quiet after that, except for the faint sound of the fork sliding slightly against the plate where 007n7 had set it down. He had gone very still, hands flexing once on his lap before curling into fists. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, eyes shimmering in a way that Noli rarely saw.

“Seven…?” Noli murmured, leaning in slightly.

007n7’s eyes broke, tears welling at the edges before spilling down his cheeks in slow, steady streaks. He didn’t sob, not at first–just shook his head once, laughing weakly through the wetness. “You two… you two are unbelievable.” His voice cracked halfway through, the kind of crack that said he hadn’t expected this, hadn’t braced himself.

C00lkidd’s eyes widened in horror. He scrambled onto his knees, tail puffing in panic. “Mama! Mama, don’t cry! I’m sorry!” His voice pitched high, frantic as he climbed straight into 007n7’s lap, nearly knocking the tray askew. Noli moved quickly, steady hands whisking the breakfast tray away to the nightstand before it could tip.

C00lkidd’s little hands grabbed at 007n7’s hoodie strings, tugging desperately as tears welled in his own eyes. “I’m sorry, Mama, I didn’t mean it! I don’t wanna hurt your feelings! Please don’t be sad!”

“Hey, hey..” 007n7 whispered, finally wrapping his arms around the boy and pulling him close against his chest. His voice shook, but it was soft, steadying. He pressed his chin to the top of C00lkidd’s head, ruffling the boy’s messy hair with one trembling hand. “You didn’t hurt me. You didn’t. These are good tears, kiddo.”

C00lkidd hiccupped, blinking up at him with wet eyes. “Good.. tears?”

“Yeah.” 007n7 smiled through the wetness, voice breaking as he kissed the side of his son’s head. “Happy tears. The best kind. Because I… I’ve never felt so lucky. Not once. Until you. Until both of you.” His voice cracked again, more raw this time, and he squeezed C00lkidd even tighter.

Noli sat quietly for a moment, watching the two of them. Something swelled in his chest that made it hard to breathe, like a mix of ache and relief. He reached out, placing his hand gently against 007n7’s arm, thumb stroking lightly in reassurance.

C00lkidd sniffled, looking between them with an expression still tangled in confusion and guilt. “So… Mama’s not sad?”

“No.” 007n7 said firmly, brushing the boy’s cheek with his thumb. “Not sad. Just happy. My heart’s so happy it’s leaking out my eyes, that’s all.” He gave a watery laugh, which only made more tears slip free.

“Leaky eyes…” C00lkidd echoed softly, processing. Then, with a shaky little smile, he nodded. “Okay. I like happy tears better.”

“That’s good.” 007n7 whispered, leaning forward to kiss the boy’s forehead. “Because you’re one of the reasons they’re here.”

C00lkidd melted into the hug then, tail flicking with something closer to relief. Noli leaned in too, wrapping his arms around both of them until all three were tangled together on the bed. The breakfast tray sat forgotten, the food cooling, but none of them cared.

Noli pressed his face into 007n7’s shoulder, whispering softly. “You deserve this. You deserve to be loved like this, Seven.”

007n7 shut his eyes tight, clutching them both closer. His voice came out hoarse but sure. “I know. Because you two already do.”

–+⟡+–

“Be good to Uncle Chance, okay?” Noli bent down, smoothing a stubborn cowlick from C00lkidd’s hair. The boy grinned, clutching his backpack straps with both hands as he nodded quickly.

“I’ll be good! I promise!” C00lkidd chirped, tail wagging slightly behind him.

Chance ruffled C00lkidd’s hair, grinning at Noli and 007n7 with mock solemnity. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep him alive. Can’t promise he won’t come back with a few new bad habits, though.”

“As long as you don’t teach him poker.” 007n7 snorted, rolling his eyes.

“No promises.” Chance said with a wink.

The couple lingered only a second longer–Noli tugging open C00lkidd’s backpack for the third time that afternoon, rifling through spare clothes, juice boxes, and the emergency plush toy, just in case– while 007n7 stood half-turned toward Chance, arms crossed, his expression radiating distrust. Chance only smirked back, waving them off with the ease of someone who had already won.

Noli’s worry didn’t ease until the heavy mansion doors clicked shut behind them. Even then, the muffled sound of C00lkidd’s bubbling laughter bled through the ornate wood, chasing after them down the steps.

007n7 stuffed his hands deep into his pockets, shoulders loose but eyes glinting with amusement. The evening air was cool against his face as he tilted his head toward Noli, a sly grin tugging at his mouth.

“So…” 007n7 drawled, dragging the word out just to watch Noli squirm. “What’s this surprise, hm?”

Noli blinked, stiffening like a deer caught in headlights. “N–nothing!” He blurted far too quickly, voice cracking in protest. A cough followed, then a desperate attempt at composure as he straightened his jacket and smoothed his expression. “I mean– if I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”

007n7 narrowed his eyes in exaggerated suspicion, his grin stretching wider. He leaned in, walking just a little too close, clearly enjoying the way Noli fumbled. “Very suspicious..” He muttered, tone playful but pointed.

Heat crept up the back of Noli’s neck, betraying him no matter how hard he tried to stay calm. He shoved his hands into his own pockets, gaze fixed stubbornly ahead. “Relax..” He mumbled under his breath, voice carrying just enough irritation to mask the embarrassment. “Just wait and see.”

And though Noli tried to look unaffected, 007n7 caught the faint curve of a smile tugging at his lips.

The drive into the city was smoother than usual, the streets quieter in that calm between rush hour and evening bustle. Noli kept stealing glances at 007n7 as he drove– his hand steady on the wheel, his mouth quirked like he was biting back a dozen teases. Noli’s chest tightened with both nerves and anticipation.

When they finally pulled up to the restaurant, 007n7 actually blinked. The place wasn’t just nice– it was the kind of fancy establishment that glowed with polished glass windows, valet attendants, and subtle music drifting out every time the door opened.

Noli cleared his throat as the car was parked, doing his best not to squirm under his boyfriend’s curious stare. “Chance.. uhm.. booked it for us– said we deserved something better than fast food and leftovers for once.”

“Chance did?” 007n7 arched a brow, smirking as they were led inside. “That explains the unnecessary grandeur.”

The restaurant swallowed them in warm light and velvet-lined seats, each table carefully arranged for privacy. A chandelier glittered overhead, soft jazz humming in the background. Their waiter guided them to a corner booth, presenting menus that looked more like bound novels than dinner lists.

“Wow.” 007n7 muttered, flipping through the thick booklet with a snap of his wrist. The laminated pages fanned out like wings, crinkling faintly each time he turned one. “I think this menu has more pages than my old textbooks..”

Across from him, Noli lifted his glass, hiding the curve of his smile behind the rim. The ice clinked softly, his fingers tapping against the condensation. “Just… pick whatever you want.” He murmured, trying for casual. “Don’t worry about the price.”

007n7’s grin tugged wider, like he’d just uncovered a secret Noli had been trying to keep. “You’re really trying to impress me, huh?” His tone was teasing, but there was weight behind it, something that made the air between them feel warmer than the flickering candles.

Noli coughed, setting his glass down a little too quickly. His fingers curled against the stem, betraying his nerves. “I just… thought you’d like it.” His voice trailed off, softer now, his eyes darting back to the maze of text on the menu instead of the person watching him so intently.

Their orders were placed– something elaborate Noli couldn’t even pronounce and a steak for 007n7, medium rare, simple as always. As they waited, the low hum of the restaurant– the buzz of voices, the scrape of cutlery– began to fade, replaced by the natural cadence of their conversation. With Noli, there was always something to talk about.

“Kidd had a project about community helpers.” Noli said, resting his chin in his hand as he leaned across the table, eyes bright. “He drew a picture of you as a fireman.”

“A fireman?” 007n7 snorted, reaching for the glass of water in front of him. “What part of me screams fireman? All I’ve ever done is set things on fire.”

“That’s why it was funny!” Noli grinned. “He even gave you a helmet. Said you’d ‘look cool saving people.’”

007n7’s lips twitched, betraying a reluctant smile. He tried to hide it with a sip of water, but the warmth lingered in his expression. “And what did he draw for you?” He asked.

“A teacher.” Noli’s grin softened into something almost shy.

“Well, that one makes sense.” 007n7 said. “You’re always nagging him about his homework.”

“Nagging is just another word for guidance.” Noli shot back, straightening a little.

They went on like that– teasing, nudging, back and forth until the conversation drifted again, this time to the little repairs around the house that never seemed to get done.

“I told you the door hinge squeaks!” 007n7 said, gesturing loosely with his fork– well, the fork that hadn’t yet touched food, but was already in his hand, as if ready to defend his side of the argument.

“And I told you I’d fix it!” Noli said.

“When? It’s been three weeks. That door screams louder than you do when you stub your toe.”

“I’ve been busy!”

“Busy with what? Staring at the ceiling?”

Noli opened his mouth, ready with a sharp reply, but then both of them cracked, laughter spilling out before either could stop it. Their laughter carried loud enough that a nearby table– an older couple dressed in muted, matching shades of beige– turned their heads with a synchronized look of disapproval.

By the time the food arrived, they were still recovering. The waiter, with impeccable professionalism, set down the plates as if nothing had happened. The dishes looked more like paintings than meals: colors arranged in precise swirls, sauces brushed like strokes of ink, vegetables stacked in deliberate angles.

Noli blinked down at his plate, baffled. “How am I even supposed to eat this?”

“With your mouth?” 007n7 deadpanned, already reaching for his knife. He eyed his own plate– his steak. It was perfectly seared on the outside, juices already pooling as he cut into it with cautious precision. The first slice parted easily, and when he brought it to his mouth, the flavor melted across his tongue in exactly the way he’d hoped.

A satisfied hum slipped past his lips before he could stop it. He set his knife down for a second, savoring the bite, and nodded. “Okay–” He said, almost reluctant. “I admit, this is worth dressing up for.”

Noli’s laugh was quiet this time, soft around the edges. “I told you.”

007n7 looked up, catching the way Noli’s eyes lingered on him, warm in the restaurant’s dim light. For a brief second, the chaos of the city outside, the endless grind of work, the constant pull of responsibility– it all fell away. 

“Don’t get used to it.” 007n7 said after a beat, stabbing another piece of steak. “Next time we’re ordering takeout.”

“Next time?” Noli said, raising an eyebrow. “We’ll see about that.”

As the meal stretched on, the nervous flutter in Noli’s stomach never left. The surprise wasn’t right now– not yet– but this was part of it. A memory to weave into the proposal he was planning. And sitting across from 007n7 now, seeing the way his boyfriend’s smile softened under the candlelight, Noli knew he wanted every part of it to be unforgettable.

007n7 tilted his head, a glass of wine balanced casually in his hand, eyes narrowing with suspicion that held more amusement than accusation. “What?”

Noli startled, too quick to defend. “Nothing.” His voice tried to flatten itself into nonchalance, but his lips betrayed him– curving into a small, helpless smile he couldn’t hold back. He let out a breath, softer this time. “Just glad we’re here.”

007n7 studied him, gaze lingering longer than Noli could handle. Then he chuckled, shaking his head with that little disbelieving smile that always made Noli’s stomach turn traitor. “You’re acting strange, Nols.”

“Strange?” Noli echoed, feigning innocence, though his ears were hot.

“Yeah.” 007n7 leaned forward, elbows resting lightly on the table, smirk tugging at his lips. His voice dropped, teasing, but there was an undercurrent of curiosity threaded through it. “Like you’re hiding something.”

Noli’s face went hot, betraying him immediately. He cleared his throat, fumbling for a defense that didn’t sound too much like a confession. “Like I said! If I told you, I’d ruin the surprise I planned out for you!”

007n7 grinned, satisfied by the deflection. He sat back, lifting his glass, the fire in his eyes still alight but tempered by fondness. “Fair enough. To whatever surprise you have prepared, then!”

Noli laughed, raising his own glass, the crystal ringing softly as they clinked them together. The toast felt more intimate than grand, quiet and personal, like a promise only they could hear. He took a sip, the warmth of the wine trailing down his throat, and tried to settle his nerves.

By the time dessert arrived– a towering creation of chocolate and cream, rich and extravagant– Noli felt the tension in his shoulders finally ease. 007n7, ever the opposite of careful, immediately speared his fork into the dessert with playful precision. Noli leaned forward, offering a bite off his own fork, and soon they were leaning close, sharing, laughing.

When 007n7 deliberately dragged a smear of ganache across Noli’s lip, Noli could only groan, half exasperated, half endeared. “Now that’s messy.” He reached for a napkin, leaning in. The napkin brushed against 007n7’s mouth, but then his hand lingered– longer than necessary, thumb brushing gently against the corner of his lips.

The grin that had been painted across 007n7’s face softened, melted, until it became something quieter, something that carried weight. His eyes searched Noli’s face, lingering on the closeness, on the warmth, on the hesitation that flickered there. 

“I love you, Noli.”

For a second, the world stuttered. Noli froze, fork still in hand, heart thundering so loudly he was sure the whole restaurant could hear it. His throat closed around a thousand unsaid words, the ones he had carried like a secret for longer than he wanted to admit.

But then 007n7’s smile– soft, real, unguarded– broke through the fog. Slowly, steadily, his lips curved to mirror it, the relief and joy threading through his chest in equal measure. “I love you more, Seven.”

The words weren’t dramatic, not rehearsed, not nearly enough to capture the weight of how long he had held them close. But they were true. More true than anything he had said all evening.

007n7’s hand brushed across the table, fingers finding Noli’s with a gentle squeeze. No one in the restaurant turned their heads, no one seemed to notice– but for Noli, the moment felt like it lit the whole place brighter.

The clink of silverware and low hum of conversation faded as the waiter cleared away the last of their plates. The restaurant’s chandeliers cast a golden glow over their table, catching in Noli’s hair when he leaned back with a satisfied sigh.

“That was… actually amazing.” Noli admitted, dabbing the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “But I swear if I eat one more bite, you’re carrying me out.”

007n7 smirked, loosening his tie just slightly. “You nearly licked the plate. Don’t pin this on me.”

“Yeah, well–” Noli reached for the basket at his side, the one he’d insisted on bringing even though they were already dining fancy. He tapped it with a grin. “Dessert tastes better outside anyway.”

007n7 raised a brow. “Outside? We’re in suits, Nols. You really want to drag me to the grass like this?”

“Yes,” Noli said flatly, standing and brushing his jacket smooth. “You’ll survive a little dirt. It’ll be worth it.”

007n7 muttered under his breath but stood too, smoothing his shirt cuffs with exaggerated care. He tossed a glance at the basket and shook his head. “You’re unbelievable.”

Noli only smirked wider. “Come on. The hill’s not far.” He offered his free hand, casual, but his eyes held that familiar spark of mischief. The same spark that had pulled 007n7 into trouble a thousand times before.

Reluctant but helpless against it, 007n7 followed. They stepped out of the restaurant’s warmth and into the cool night air, city lights stretching around them like stars scattered too low. Their footsteps echoed faintly against the pavement, a strange contrast to their polished shoes and formal clothes. They looked like they belonged at a ballroom, not on cracked sidewalks with a picnic basket swinging between them. 

The hill loomed in the distance. 007n7shoved his hands into his pockets, muttering, “You’re dragging me halfway across the city just for apples and sandwiches.”

“Not halfway! Just across the road,” Noli said easily. His smile softened when he added. “Besides… it’s not just any hill.” He drawled, insinuating something. 007n7’s heart gave a stupid, heavy thump. He knew exactly what hill Noli meant.

007n7 tried to cover the flutter in his chest with playfulness. “Great. Now all we need is some cheap beer so I can give you that bro kiss again.” He snickered teaasingly. Noli only laughed, pulling him along toward the crosswalk. There was a kind of restless energy in him today, like he couldn’t wait to get to that hill.

“Well we should get there before others do!” Noli smugly grinned as he began to walk swiftly, gesturing for 007n7 to follow him. 007n7, being a slow walker, had to sprint just to catch up to his partner.

“Noli– Hold on!” 007n7 panted, his breath catching in his throat. “At least slow down!”

In response, Noli only sticked his tongue out, walking faster.  “Come on, it’s not that far.” Noli’s voice was bright, teasing, carrying easily over the rush of cars. “Don’t tell me you’re already out of stamina, Gramps!”

“I’m in my thirties!” 007n7 retorted, catching up enough to tug lightly at Noli’s sleeve. 

Noli only laughed. He didn’t slow, didn’t even glance back– just kept walking, head tilted toward the hill ahead. That hill. The one just beyond the crosswalk, where, years ago, one sloppy, drunken kiss had turned the world on its head. A ‘bro kiss’ 007n7 had insisted. A dumb excuse, a defense against feelings he hadn’t been ready to name.

Now? That hill meant everything. And maybe that’s why his pulse had been doing ridiculous flips all morning, like his body already knew something he didn’t.

The traffic light blinked green for pedestrians, and they started across the road together. Noli’s pace quickened, almost impatient, as if he couldn’t get to that hill fast enough. Because of this, Noli was way ahead of 007n7. 

Then it happened.

The screech of tires, the blinding flare of headlights– the sudden, gut-twisting awareness that one car wasn’t stopping.

007n7 froze. His breath hitched, his chest caving in as panic split through him like a blade. For one wild moment, he couldn’t move– couldn’t think. The world slowed, dragging him into a nightmare frame by frame– the car hurtling closer, horn blaring, the smell of burnt rubber biting the air.

And in that unbearable stretch of seconds, his mind betrayed him. It didn’t give him escape, or courage, or a plan. It gave him faces– memories.

C00lkidd, laughing at the breakfast table, his cheeks sticky with syrup, proudly showing off the crooked little paper airplane he’d made. “Look, Mama!” He had said.

Noli, leaning against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, rolling his eyes at the chaos but unable to hide the fond curve of his smile. His voice, warm and teasing. “So am I the best cook or what?”

007n7 saw their house– the shoes by the door, the faint smell of laundry detergent, the creak of the floorboard in the hallway. He saw the hill they were walking toward, where his drunken mistake of a kiss had been brushed off as a joke but had changed his life in ways he’d never admit. He saw all of it, as if the world wanted to remind him exactly what he was about to lose.

007n7’s heart clawed against his ribs, frantic, but his legs stayed locked in place. He was a deer in headlights, caught, helpless, watching death come for him in blinding white.

Then Noli moved quickly.

The picnic basket hit the asphalt with a thud, forgotten, as Noli’s hand slammed against 007n7’s chest and shoved him back with all his weight. 007n7 stumbled, breath ripped from his lungs, and the next instant he was in Noli’s arms– dragged out of the street, yanked into safety with a force that knocked the air out of him. The car roared past, missing them by inches, its driver shouting something lost to the chaos.

007n7 collapsed against Noli’s chest, his heart pounding like it was trying to escape. His vision blurred at the edges, breaths coming too fast, too shallow. Every nerve screamed in aftershock.

“Seven.” Noli’s voice was sharp, panicked. Not the usual teasing lilt. He cupped 007n7’s face in both hands, tilting it up, scanning his eyes, his expression tight with fear. “Are you–? Did it–? Damn it, don’t scare me like that!”

“I–” 007n7 tried to talk, but his voice cracked. He coughed, clutching Noli’s wrist like it was the only steady thing in the world. “I’m fine. I– shit– I think I almost had a heart attack.”

“You almost got hit by a car!” Noli barked, shaking him lightly as if to snap him back to reality. “Don’t joke about this.”

“I’m not–” 007n7 wheezed, half laughing, half gasping. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

Noli’s eyes softened just a fraction, though his grip didn’t ease. His thumb brushed 007n7’s cheek almost unconsciously, lingering, protective. His other hand smoothed over 007n7’s shoulders, his chest, his arms, as though checking for injuries he couldn’t see.  “Stupid… Reckless… You’re okay, you’re okay…” He muttered under his breath– half curses, half reassurances.

007n7, still trembling, blinked up at him. The world narrowed, the roar of cars fading to nothing but the warmth of Noli’s palms and the thunder of his own heartbeat. “Nols..” He rasped. “You’re– uh– you’re kinda overreacting…”

Noli’s head snapped up, eyes flashing. “Overreacting? You nearly died! Do you have any idea what that would’ve–” He cut himself off, jaw tight. His voice dropped low, fierce. “Don’t you dare scare me like that again.”

007n7 swallowed hard, throat dry. He’d seen Noli angry plenty of times, but this wasn’t anger. This was something deeper. Fear, sharp and raw, bleeding out in every word. 

The realization made his chest ache in an entirely different way. “I..” 007n7’s voice wavered. He tried to laugh it off, to smooth the tension with one of his usual deflections, but the sound came out shaky. “…Guess I owe you one.”

“You owe me about a hundred.” Noli muttered. His hand lingered against Seven’s chest, feeling the frantic heartbeat beneath. For once, he didn’t pull away. “Can you stand?”

“Barely.”007n7 admitted, forcing his legs to straighten. Noli steadied him, sliding an arm around his back without hesitation. The contact was steady, grounding, like an anchor in storm water.

The picnic basket lay abandoned near the curb, a few apples rolling across the asphalt. Noli bent to retrieve it with his free hand, still keeping 007n7 close. “Forget the basket.” 007n7 mumbled, but Noli shook his head.

“No. We’re not letting some idiot driver ruin this.” Noli’s voice steadied now, quieter but just as firm. “We’re still going to that hill. You hear me?”

007n7 nodded, though his body still trembled. He leaned into Noli more than he’d admit. The sidewalk beneath his feet felt foreign, like he hadn’t truly touched solid ground until now. His chest still heaved, heart still racing too fast, but he was alive. Because Noli had been there.

They resumed walking, slower this time. Noli’s grip didn’t waver. Every few steps, he’d glance over, scanning 007n7’s face, like he couldn’t quite trust that he was still okay. And 007n7, for once, didn’t argue– didn’t push back. He let Noli fuss, let him be protective, let him hold on. Maybe because deep down, the truth was terrifyingly simple– he needed it.

The hill came into view again, sunlight spilling across the grass. 007n7 exhaled shakily. That hill, the one tangled in memory, the one that started everything. And here they were again, older, scarred, carrying more than they ever thought they would– but still together. Still making it across the road, one way or another.

At the top, they settled down. Noli spread the blanket with methodical care, setting the basket down beside it. 007n7 dropped onto the grass, still clutching his chest like it might burst open. Noli sat across from him, gaze intent, hands folded but restless.

“Stop staring.” 007n7 muttered, running a hand through his hair.

“I’m making sure you don’t keel over.” Noli replied flatly, though there was a hint of playfulness in his voice.

“I’m fine.” 007n7’s lips quirked, but the smile was weak. “Promise.”

Noli didn’t answer right away. He studied 007n7 a moment longer, then let out a sigh, the tension easing from his shoulders just slightly. “…Good. Because I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”

007n7’s chest tightened all over again– but not from fear this time. He looked at Noli, at the way his eyes softened even as he tried to stay stern, at the way his hands twitched like they still wanted to check him over one more time. And for the first time since the screech of tires, he let himself breathe deep. Alive. Here. With Noli.

“…Guess I’ll have to stick around, then.” 007n7 murmured, voice softer than he meant it to be.

Noli’s lips curved, small and helpless. “Yeah. Guess you will.”

The quiet stretched between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. The sun had begun its slow descent over Robloxia, staining the sky in shades of gold and orange that made the grass on the hill seem to glow. The world felt suspended, wrapped in an amber haze, as if time itself had softened to let them breathe.

They sat close, their knees brushing, the picnic forgotten for the moment. 007n7 leaned back on his hands, his chest finally steadying from the earlier scare. Beside him, Noli fiddled absently with the edge of the blanket, his eyes darting everywhere but Seven’s face.

“You’ve been weird all day.” 007n7 finally said, tilting his head. “Weird even for you.”

Noli’s lips twitched, but his gaze remained fixed on the skyline. “…Weird?”

“Yeah..” 007n7 drawled, though his tone lacked its usual bite. He let himself sink sideways, his shoulder resting against Noli’s. “Dragging me across town, acting like you’re on some kind of secret mission. What’s this all about, huh?”

For a heartbeat, the only sound was the chirping of distant birds and the faint hum of the city below. His fingers clenched around the fabric of the blanket, knuckles whitening. “I just.. wanted us to come here.” He said, and though he tried for casual, his voice faltered halfway through.

007n7 narrowed his eyes, catching it instantly. “That’s not an answer.”

“I wanted us here.” Noli repeated, firmer this time, but the crack in his voice betrayed him.

“Why?” 007n7 pressed, leaning a little heavier against him. He wasn’t mocking, not this time– just curious. Something about Noli’s tension made his chest ache.

Noli swallowed, throat working. He had rehearsed this in his head countless times, every version smooth and confident, but now– here, with 007n7’s head brushing his shoulder and the sunset painting his face in light– it all scattered like leaves in the wind. He opened his mouth, closed it, tried again.

“I– because– ” Noli cursed under his breath, dragging a hand through his hair.

007n7 smirked faintly. “You wanna get a bro kiss again?” He teased.

“Shut up.” Noli muttered, heat rising to his ears. He shifted, trying to find the words, but the truth clawed at him, begging to spill. He wasn’t ready yet, not this second. He needed 007n7 leaning on him, needed the steady weight there just a little longer before the ground gave way.

007n7, oblivious to the war raging inside him, sighed contentedly and let his head tip fully against Noli’s shoulder. His eyes fluttered shut, the lines of tension softening from his face. “Whatever it is… thanks.”

Noli blinked. “…Thanks?”

“For this. For dragging me out here. For not letting me.. y’know.” His voice dipped low, fragile, as if admitting too much. “I’d have been a pancake if it weren’t for you.”

Noli’s heart twisted. He turned his head slightly, catching the crown of 007n7’s hair in the fading light. “Don’t say it like that.”

“It’s true.” 007n7 murmured. “You saved me. I don’t think I say it enough, but.. I’m grateful, Nols. For all of it. For sticking around, for putting up with me, for..” He trailed off, exhaling softly. “..Just for being here.”

The words pressed against Noli’s ribs like a weight he couldn’t hold any longer. His chest burned with everything he’d hidden, everything he’d tried to downplay. He stared hard at the horizon, jaw tight, because if he looked at 007n7 right now, he’d break.

007n7, sensing the silence, tilted his head up to glance at him. “Nols?”

Noli sat up straighter, carefully moving out from under 007n7’s lean. The sudden shift made Seven blink, confused, his weight thrown off as he caught himself with a hand on the blanket. “What’s–?”

Noli didn’t let him finish. He turned fully, facing him, though his gaze dropped to his own trembling hands. His heart thundered so loud he was sure Seven could hear it. “Seven.” He began, voice tight. “There’s something I need to say.”

007n7 frowned, sitting up as well, brushing grass from his palms. “You’re scaring me.”

“No, it’s– shit–” Noli squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, then forced them open, meeting Seven’s gaze at last. His chest heaved with the effort. “I’ve been trying to keep it a surprise, but I can’t. Not after what happened just a few minutes ago.”

007n7 blinked. “…Surprise?”

Noli’s hands clenched in his lap. His whole body trembled, but the words surged forward anyway, unstoppable. “Do you wanna know why I was, well, weird? It’s because I’ve been meaning to tell you something. Do you wanna know why this place specifically? It’s because.. This is technically where we had our first kiss.”

007n7 froze, breath caught in his throat. The memory of that night flickered sharp and vivid– the taste of cheap beer, the reckless warmth of Noli’s lips, the clumsy excuse of a ‘bro kiss’. He had buried it in denial, in fear, but hearing Noli say it now made his chest feel like it might split open.

Noli’s voice cracked. “You’re everything to me, Seven. You and C00lkidd– you’re my family. And today, when I thought for one awful second I was going to lose you, I realized I can’t waste any more time pretending I’m fine just waiting. I want more. I want us to be more.” His hands fumbled with his pocket, and before 007n7 could fully process, Noli pulled out a small velvet box. 

Noli’s fingers shook as he snapped it open, revealing the ring glinting in the last rays of sunlight. 007n7’s breath hitched audibly. His vision blurred instantly, tears pricking hot at the corners of his eyes.

Noli’s voice wavered, but he pushed through. “So… Seven. My partner, my best friend, the idiot who makes me want to scream and laugh in the same breath. Will you marry me? Can I be your husband?”

For a moment, it felt as if time had stopped. No one said anything, no one did anything either. Noli trembled a little, scared of getting rejected. Then eventually,  007n7’s tears spilled over before he could stop them. His hand flew to his mouth, muffling the sob that escaped, raw and unrestrained. 

007n7 shook his head helplessly, overwhelmed, laughing through the tears. “You– you have no idea…” His voice broke. He reached out, grabbing Noli’s wrist, clinging like it was the only thing tethering him to the earth. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this.”

Noli’s eyes widened, the fear melting into something bright and unguarded. “Yes!” 007n7 cried, the word bursting out of him, hoarse and desperate and so full of joy it hurt. “Yes, yes, Telamon, yes!”

Noli let out a shaky laugh, his own eyes wet. He fumbled the ring out of the box, his hands still trembling, and Seven thrust his hand out impatiently, tears streaking down his cheeks. “Put it on before I start ugly crying harder.” 007n7 choked out.

With careful, trembling fingers, Noli slid the ring onto 007n7’s finger. It fit perfectly, glinting in the fading light. 007n7 stared at it, chest heaving, then flung himself forward, tackling Noli in a hug that nearly knocked them both flat.

Noli laughed, arms wrapping tight around him, holding him as though he never planned to let go. 007n7 buried his face in his shoulder, sobbing and laughing at once.

“I can’t believe you actually did this.” 007n7 hiccupped, his voice muffled.

“Believe it.” Noli murmured, kissing the side of his head. His own voice shook with tears. “You’re mine now. Officially.”

007n7 pulled back just enough to look at him, eyes swollen, smile trembling. “I was already yours.”

The sunset bled into twilight around them, the first stars flickering awake above. On the hill where it all began, where fear and love and fate had tangled their lives together, they held each other close. The city buzzed faintly below, but up here, it was just them.

007n7 pressed his forehead to Noli’s, tears still slipping free, but his smile radiant. “You have no idea how happy I am right now.”

Noli brushed a thumb over his cheek, whispering. “I think I do.”

And for once, 007n7 didn’t argue. He just leaned in, kissed him deep and certain, tasting salt and sunlight and the promise of forever.

The moment might have lasted longer– bwrapped in the warmth of the setting sun, the grass cool beneath them, their hearts beating as one– but then 007n7’s pocket buzzed, sharp and insistent.

007n7 groaned, forehead still against Noli’s. “Of course. The universe hates me.”

Noli chuckled, brushing at his tears. “You should probably answer it.”

Reluctantly, 007n7 pulled back and fished out his phone. The screen lit up with a name that made his brows knit together. “…It’s Eight.” Noli’s smile faded a little, something flickering in his eyes.

007n7 swiped to answer. “Hey, Eight. What’s–”

11808’s voice cracked through the speaker, raw and trembling, nothing like her usual steady tone. “Seven, I–” She broke off with a shaky breath. “They’re gone. Six is gone. They left me, and they took Pr3tty with them.”

007n7’s stomach dropped, his tears of joy turning to ice in an instant. He sat up straighter, clutching the phone tight. “Wait– what? Eight, slow down. What do you mean they left?”

On the other end, 118o8’s breath hitched, a muffled sob breaking through. “I came home– and all their things were gone. No note, no explanation. Just gone! And Princess..” Her voice cracked. “They took her. I don’t know where. I don’t know what to do.”

Noli’s hand immediately found 007n7’s shoulder, grounding him as his chest constricted. The ring on his finger glinted in the fading light, a stark reminder of the joy he’d felt seconds ago, now colliding with the weight of his friend’s devastation.

007n7 swallowed hard, voice low and urgent. “H-how about Bluu? Where is he..?”

For a moment, there was only the ragged sound of 118o8’s breathing through the phone. Then, through sobs so violent her words shook. “Bluu’s– he’s here. He was with me when I went out, so.. so they didn’t–” Her voice broke into a fresh wave of crying, raw and guttural. “They didn’t get him too.”

007n7 closed his eyes, relief striking through the tension in his chest, but it was tangled with guilt, with a deeper ache he couldn’t shake. His hand pressed over his mouth, muffling the tremor in his breath.

On the blanket beside him, Noli shifted closer, sliding an arm around his back, holding him steady. “It’s okay..” Noli murmured against his temple, though his words were meant for 007n7, not for the phone. His thumb rubbed small, grounding circles on 007n7’s arm, as if coaxing him to breathe.

007n7’s knuckles whitened around the phone. “Eight, listen to me.” He said, voice breaking despite his effort to sound firm. “I know it feels impossible right now. But you’re not alone in this. You’ve still got Bluu, and– you’ve still got us. We’ll figure this out together.”

118o8 sobbed harder, but 007n7 could hear her trying, choking on broken syllables that still carried meaning: “I–I can’t– Sev, they– they just left. How do I– how do I explain this to Bluudud– t-that his own parent took his sister!?” Her voice cracked even more at the last few words.

007n7’s throat tightened. He had no answers. Only pain. He looked to Noli helplessly, eyes glassy, voice cracking as he whispered. “She’s falling apart.”

Noli tightened his hold, pulling him in against his shoulder, his own face drawn with concern. “Then you let her. Let her cry. We’ll help her stand again later.”

007n7 nodded faintly, tears burning behind his lashes. He pressed the phone tighter to his ear, his voice gentler now, stripped bare. “Eight… cry as much as you need. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay on the line as long as it takes.”

Chapter Text

Chance ruffled C00lkidd’s hair, grinning at Noli and 007n7 with mock solemnity. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep him alive. Can’t promise he won’t come back with a few new bad habits, though.”

“As long as you don’t teach him poker.” 007n7 snorted, rolling his eyes.

“No promises.” Chance said with a wink.

The couple lingered just a moment longer. Noli crouched beside C00lkidd, tugging open the kid’s backpack for what had to be the third time that afternoon, checking for juice boxes, spare clothes, and a small plush toy tucked neatly at the bottom. 

Meanwhile, 007n7 stood with his arms crossed, watching Chance like he was leaving his son in the hands of a tornado. Chance only smirked back, waving them off like a man who had already won.

The front door closed, the sound of their car faded, and the house was suddenly quiet. Chance glanced down at C00lkidd, who stared up at him with bright curiosity. “So..” Chance said, crouching to meet his eye level. “What kind of fun are we having today? Responsible fun or chaos?”

C00lkidd blinked once, a mischievous smile forming. “Chaos!”

Chance grinned wide. “That’s my boy.” He ruffled C00lkidd’s hair.

Within minutes, the driveway was a racetrack. Chance dragged out two old shopping carts from his garage– his greatest questionable possession– and set them side by side like chariots at the starting line. “Behold!” He declared. “The fastest and most dangerous race in the neighborhood!”

C00lkidd’s jaw dropped. “We’re gonna ride those?” His voice could barely contain his excitement, bouncing as he grew restless.

“You bet we are!” Chance said, popping on a helmet that definitely wasn’t his size and strapping a much smaller one onto C00lkidd’s head. “Now, rule number one– if we crash, we laugh. Rule number two– if we lose a shoe, it’s part of the adventure. Ready?”

C00lkidd nodded, gripping the handle of his cart like a pro racer. “Ready!” He had a determined look on his face.

“Three, two, one– go!” They launched down the driveway with a rattle of wheels and a rush of wind. Chance whooped loud enough to startle a few birds. C00lkidd’s laughter echoed like a bell. 

They swerved, bumped, and barreled down the path, until Chance misjudged a turn and collided with the recycling bin. The clatter was deafening. C00lkidd burst into laughter so hard he fell out of his cart, rolling onto the grass with tears in his eyes.

Chance lay on the pavement for a moment, staring at the sky. “Okay.. Maybe your dads were right about me being a bad influence.” 

“That was awesome!” C00lkidd said, running over. “Let’s do it again!”

Chance grinned, pushing himself upright. “You’re gonna get me banned from babysitting duty forever.” They didn’t stop there. By the time they wheeled the carts back into the garage, their hair was windblown, their knees scuffed, and their faces flushed with laughter.

Still catching their breath, Chance wiped a smear of dirt off C00lkidd’s cheek, the kid still giggling uncontrollably. “Alright, champ.” He said, stretching their arms behind their head. “What’s next on our totally responsible, definitely adult-approved itinerary?”

“Lunch? I’m feeling kinda’ hungry, Uncle Chance.” C00lkidd frowned slightly, rubbing his stomach.

Chance smiled, placing a hand on C00lkidd’s shoulder. “Alright, Kidd. Let’s get some lunch.” He gave the kid a light pat and guided him toward the front door. The moment they stepped inside, the world seemed to exhale– gone was the midday glare and city noise, replaced by the low hum of the air conditioner and the faint scent of lavender.

C00lkidd’s sneakers squeaked faintly against the marble floor as they crossed the wide entryway, sunlight spilling through the tall windows and bouncing off polished tile. The interior of Chance’s house was big– too big, honestly– but with C00lkidd around, it didn’t feel as hollow. The kid’s curious glances gave life to every quiet corner.

“Whoa…” C00lkidd murmured as they passed through the hallway lined with framed movie posters. His reflection followed him in the glass– tiny, fascinated, like he was walking through a museum instead of someone’s home.

Chance grinned, shoving his hands into his pockets as he led the way. “Yeah, yeah. Cool posters, right? All authentic. I even got one signed by the guy who played the third background villain in Sharknado 2. Pretty much priceless.”

C00lkidd blinked up at him, unsure whether to be impressed or confused. “That’s cool?”

Chance shrugged dramatically. “Kid, everything I do is cool. You’ll learn.”

They reached the kitchen– a wide, open space with a long marble island and spotless counters that looked like they belonged in a magazine shoot rather than an actual home. The overhead lights gleamed softly against stainless steel appliances, and somewhere in the distance, the faint hum of the fridge filled the silence.

C00lkidd clambered onto one of the tall chairs by the counter, legs swinging freely, looking both out of place and perfectly at home. He rested his elbows on the counter and watched as Chance strode confidently toward the fridge, rolling up his sleeves like a man about to do serious culinary work.

“Okay, little dude.” Chance said, flinging open the double doors of the fridge with mock grandeur. “We could do boring old sandwiches…” He paused, pretending to yawn exaggeratedly. “Or…”

Chance turned over his shoulder, eyes glinting mischievously. “We could break every single rule your parents made and have dessert first.”

C00lkidd’s head perked up instantly. His expression lit up with the kind of delight only an eight-year-old could manage– wide-eyed, conspiratorial. “Dessert?” He whispered, as if saying it too loud might make it disappear.

Chance smirked, grabbing a carton of whipped cream and a tub of chocolate pudding from the fridge. “You didn’t hear it from me, but yeah. Dessert.”

Soon, the kitchen turned into a sugar-fueled war zone. They piled up scoops of ice cream, drizzled chocolate and caramel, and unleashed a storm of whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles– basically, everything that would make Noli faint on sight.

C00lkidd concentrated hard, adding a mountain of whipped cream to the top. Chance followed, balancing gummy bears one by one like ornaments on a chaotic little sundae tree.

“Quick!” Chance gasped dramatically, pointing at the quivering dessert. “The tower’s collapsing!”

C00lkidd dove in with a spoon, scooping the top layer just in time. “I saved it!”

“Victory!” Chance declared proudly, taking a huge bite of the melting masterpiece. “Tastes like a masterpiece.” Caramel streaked down Chance’s cheek. C00lkidd was absolutely coated in sprinkles. The counter looked like a dessert apocalypse– and somehow, that made it perfect.

Chance leaned closer and whispered. “Don’t tell your dads we skipped lunch.”

C00lkidd’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “It’s our secret.” He whispered back, giggling a little.

“Yes..” Chance said with a satisfied smirk. “You’re learning fast.”  Their secret sealed, the kitchen buzzed with the aftertaste of sugar and laughter. 

Before long, the joy spilled out into the rest of the house. What started as a quiet afternoon turned into hours of gleeful chaos. While rummaging through a closet, Chance stumbled upon a box of his old Nerf guns– and that was all it took.

Within minutes, the living room had transformed into a full-blown battlefield. The once-pristine space was now littered with couch cushions turned into barricades, blankets serving as makeshift trenches, and a toppled lamp that had barely survived a near miss.

C00lkidd crouched behind the couch, eyes narrowed in mock determination as he reloaded his Nerf blaster with the focus of a seasoned general. “You can’t hide forever!” He declared.

Chance ducked behind a chair, grinning as he peeked over the armrest. “You underestimate my power, Commander C00l!” he shouted dramatically, popping up to fire a volley of foam darts that sailed harmlessly past C00lkidd’s shoulder. “You’ll never get me!” He then laughed whole-heartedly.

“Yes, I will!” C00lkidd retaliated, launching three quick shots in return. Two missed, bouncing harmlessly off the curtains, but the third dart struck Chance squarely on the forehead.

Chance froze– then, with great exaggeration, stumbled backward, clutching his chest. “I’ve been hit!” he cried, collapsing onto the rug like a soldier in slow motion. “Tell my rabbit.. I love him!”

C00lkidd burst out laughing, his small hands clutching his stomach. “You’re so bad at this!” He managed between giggles.

“Bad?” Chance gasped, sitting up suddenly with a wicked grin. “You call this bad?”

Before C00lkidd could react, Chance lunged– fingers flying for the kid’s sides. C00lkidd shrieked and squirmed, trying to escape the tickle attack. The room filled with breathless laughter, darts crunching underfoot as they rolled across the carpet in a heap of chaos and joy.

When they finally called a truce, both were red-faced and panting, surrounded by Nerf darts, half-toppled cushions, and one very offended-looking potted plant lying on its side.

Chance flopped back against the couch, throwing an arm over his forehead like a defeated movie star. “Okay..” He wheezed. “I’m officially getting old.”

“You’re not old.” C00lkidd said, still giggling as he climbed up beside him. “You’re just lazy.”

Chance cracked open one eye. “Ouch. Brutal honesty, huh?”

“I get it from my dad.” C00lkidd beamed proudly.

Chance smirked, eyes softening as he ruffled C00lkidd’s hair. “Which one?”

C00lkidd tilted his head, thinking seriously for a moment. “Both!” He smiled wider.

A low laugh escaped Chance– fond and quiet this time. “Yeah.” He said, smiling. “Definitely both.”

The sun had begun to dip low, painting the room in amber light. The once lively battlefield now looked like the aftermath of a very cheerful apocalypse– cushions strewn across the floor, candy wrappers glinting on the counter, a few sticky patches on the table where ice cream had clearly staged a last stand.

Chance surveyed the chaos with his hands on his hips, letting out a long, theatrical sigh. “Alright.” He said, turning in a slow circle. “Before your dads walk in and think I turned the place into a daycare for germlins, we should probably clean up.”

“I’ll help!” C00lkidd declared, puffing up his chest with pride. He darted off immediately, scooping Nerf darts into his arms and crawling under chairs like a tiny soldier on a mission. Every few seconds came a triumphant “Got one!” or “That one went behind the couch!”

Chance leaned against the wall, watching him with an amused grin. “You’re doing great, Commander. Truly heroic.”

By the time C00lkidd finally stood up and dumped the pile of darts onto the coffee table, his hair was a mess and his cheeks were pink with effort. “Done!” he announced.

Chance looked around at the remaining clutter– half a blanket fort still standing, sprinkles glittering faintly on the rug, and one lonely spoon stuck to the counter. He nodded solemnly. “Close enough.”

C00lkidd giggled, collapsing beside him on the couch. The two of them sat there for a moment, letting the golden light spill across the room. Dust motes drifted lazily through the air, and for once, the usual noise of the city outside felt far away.

The laughter that had filled the house all day softened into quiet, contented breathing. For Chance, it was oddly grounding. No cards, no bets, no chaos– just this small, perfect calm.

“Hey, kid.” Chance said eventually, voice lower now. “You wanna end the day with a movie?”

C00lkidd perked up instantly, eyes bright. “Can we watch Frozen 2?”

Chance groaned dramatically, tilting his head back. “Didn’t we already watch that, like, a thousand times?”

“Please?” C00lkidd clasped his hands together in exaggerated pleading.

Chance held out for a second, pretending to think– then sighed in mock defeat. “Fine. But only because you called me the best uncle ever.”

C00lkidd’s expression turned sincere, the kind of soft, genuine honesty only a kid could manage. “You are the best uncle ever.”

For a brief second, Chance couldn’t think of a joke. The words hit him somewhere he didn’t expect– quiet and warm. His chest tightened a little, in the best and worst way.

“Yeah, yeah.” Chance muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, doing a poor job hiding his smile. “Let’s go fire up the home theater before I change my mind.” 

They retreated to Chance’s pride and joy– a dim, cozy room filled with plush recliners, a massive screen, and surround sound that could probably knock a door down. C00lkidd climbed into the middle seat, hugging a pillow twice his size. Chance dimmed the lights, hit play, and dropped into the seat beside him.

The opening notes of the movie filled the room. C00lkidd clapped quietly, his legs swinging, eyes glued to the screen. Chance made a face. “I can’t with these movies turning into musicals..” Then almost fifteen minutes later, he was humming along under his breath.

When Olaf appeared, Chance found himself chuckling despite himself. He threw a glance at C00lkidd, who was watching so earnestly it made something in him soften. The kid’s laughter was small and bright and full of trust. It filled the space between them like light.

Halfway through, C00lkidd leaned his head against Chance’s arm, eyelids fluttering. Chance froze for a second, then smiled, resting his hand lightly against the kid’s shoulder.

The movie kept playing, a soft blue glow painting the room. And for once, Chance didn’t feel like the reckless gambler or the showy friend who filled every silence with a joke. He glanced down at C00lkidd, whose breathing had slowed, the popcorn bowl slipping from his lap.

“Best uncle ever, huh?” Chance whispered quietly.

C00lkidd stirred, murmuring drowsily, “Mm-hmm… the best…”

Chance looked at him for a long moment, then turned back to the screen, his grin fading into something gentler. “Yeah.” He said softly. “Guess I’ll take that.”

Outside, the night settled around the house, calm and quiet after a day of laughter and chaos. Inside, Chance stayed still, watching the animated snow swirl on-screen, his arm around the kid who made him feel, for once, like he was part of something good.

C00lkidd was swaying a little to the musical, clutching his popcorn bowl, eyelids half-drooping. Chance leaned back, half-lidded himself, humming along under his breath despite pretending he hated the movie. For once, Cgance thought, maybe babysitting wasn’t so bad.

Then suddenly the doorbell ringed. The sudden doorbell startled him upright. “Stay here, kiddo.” Chance said immediately, already standing. C00lkidd gave a sleepy thumbs-up without looking away.

Chance rolled his shoulders as he walked down the hall. Who the hell was ringing his bell this late? Nobody just dropped by unannounced. He grabbed his phone from the counter, swiped to the camera app, and tapped the feed.

The image flickered– then steadied. Standing under the porch light was a tall, slim figure with their hair tousled from the wind and their coat drawn tight. In their arms was a small bundle of pink and white– a child, fast asleep.

Chance squinted. “…Six?” Even blurry through the feed, he recognized that calm, clinical stillness anywhere. 226w6 stood perfectly composed, expression unreadable, head tilted slightly toward the camera as if aware of being watched. 

The child in their arms– Pr3ttyPrincess– was nestled against their shoulder, fast asleep. Chance frowned. 226w6 didn’t visit; they only spoke when necessary. And definitely not while holding their kid at nine in the evening.

He tapped the intercom, static crackling before his voice filled the night through the gate’s speakers. “Six? Why are you here?”

226w6 looked up immediately, their voice carrying through the mic– soft, calm, deliberate, with that unnerving precision Chance had always found vaguely intimidating.

“Good evening, Chance. I apologize for the untimely disturbance.” 226w6 began, their tone as polite as it was detached. “I am aware of the hour, but I require a brief word with C00lkidd. It is of mild urgency.”

Chance blinked. “You… what?”

“I need to speak with him.” 226w6 repeated, adjusting the sleeping girl slightly in their arms. “It will not take long.”

Chance ran a hand down his face. “Six, you’re holding your kid, it’s way past bedtime, and you’re asking me to wake C00lkidd up just because you want to talk to him? You hearing how weird that sounds?”

226w6 tilted their head, unbothered. “I am aware of the unconventional nature of my request. However, there are… circumstances that necessitate my visit.”

“Yeah, no kidding it’s unconventional,” Chance muttered, then leaned closer to the mic. “What circumstances?”

There was a pause before 226w6 did anything. 226w6’s eyes flicked toward the gate camera, cool and steady. “I cannot elaborate at present.”

Chance stared at the feed. “Then you can’t see him.”

That earned him the smallest tightening of 226w6’s jaw. “Chance–”

“Nope.” Chance cut in. “You don’t just show up in the dead of night asking for someone else’s kid and then say ‘trust me, it’s complicated.’ You’re lucky I haven’t called Seven yet.”

226w6 stood silent for a long moment. The porch light buzzed faintly, illuminating their face in washed-out gold and shadow. They adjusted their grip on Pr3ttyPrincess, who stirred faintly but didn’t wake.

When they finally spoke again, their tone had softened, but the formality remained. “I have no intention of causing distress. My request stems from necessity, not malice. You have my word.”

“Yeah, see, that’s the thing about necessity– it sounds an awful lot like trouble,” Chance replied, his voice no longer friendly. “Whatever this is, it’s gonna have to wait till morning.” 

For a second, something flickered in 226w6’s eyes—something almost human. Regret? Frustration? Chance really couldn’t tell. They inclined their head slightly, an oddly graceful gesture. “…Understood.”

Chance watched them turn away, the streetlight outlining the faint silver in their hair. They shifted Pr3ttyPrincess closer, the little girl’s head lolling gently against their shoulder as they stepped off the curb and into the darkness.

Chance then waited until their silhouette vanished completely from the camera’s view before letting out a slow breath. “That..” He muttered. “..Was the creepiest parent drop-in I’ve ever had.”

The unease wouldn’t leave him, though. It clung to the back of his neck like static. 226w6 had always been strange– brilliant, careful, composed– but this? Showing up out of nowhere, asking for C00lkidd, with that look in their eyes? Something was off.

Chance thumbed open his phone, typing fast.

hey 

just a heads up

6 showed up at my place holdin pretty

 asking for kidd

said it was urgent or whtver

 i told them no

 they left but it was weird as hell

 thought you guys should know

Chance hit send and stared at the “delivered” mark for a few seconds. Then he sighed, muttering, “You’re overthinking it, Chance. They’re just… eccentric. Yeah. Eccentric.” Still, when he walked back to the home theater, he found himself glancing out the window once more, as if expecting to see a figure still standing by the gate.

C00lkidd was right where he left him, bundled in a blanket, half-asleep and smiling faintly as the movie played on. Chance slid back into the recliner, arm draped over the backrest, his chest tight in a way he couldn’t quite name.

“Who was it?” C00lkidd mumbled without opening his eyes.

“No one important.” Chance said softly. “Go back to watching the movie, kiddo.” C00lkidd hummed sleepily, turning back toward the screen. Chance watched him for a moment, the child’s face peaceful in the flickering blue light– and despite himself, that earlier unease crept back in. He didn’t know what 226w6 wanted.

But Chance had the sinking feeling that tonight had only been a warning.

Chapter Text

Noli glanced sideways, his fingers tapping against his thigh. 007n7 sat rigid in the passenger seat, staring ahead as though the steering wheel might bite him if he moved. Neither had said a word in the last few minutes. The radio had been turned off long ago.

Noli swallowed hard and finally broke the silence. “Let’s go?”

“Yeah.” 007n7’s voice was quiet, rough around the edges.

The house loomed in front of them, its porch light casting a dim halo that flickered every few seconds. From inside, there was no sign of movement– no shadows crossing windows, no flicker of television light. Just silence.

They stepped out of the car. The air felt cold for late afternoon– leaves skittered across the pavement, crunching under their shoes. Noli hesitated, his hand brushing against 007n7’s sleeve before they reached the door.

“Hey..” Noli said softly. “Just… let her talk, okay? You don’t have to fix it.” 007n7 nodded once, jaw tight, and knocked.

The door opened almost immediately– but instead of 118o8, it was Bluudud standing there. His hair was a little messy, his usual blue hoodie wrinkled like he’d been tugging at it all day. Normally he had that sharp, unimpressed look– eyebrows furrowed, tone clipped, like he couldn’t be bothered with anything. But now? His eyes were wide and red around the edges. 

There was something fragile about Bluudud, something that didn’t belong to the moody teenager they knew. “Hey.” He said quietly, voice hoarse. “Come in.”

Noli blinked at him, surprised by how subdued he sounded. 007n7 gave a small nod and stepped inside first, taking off his shoes out of habit. The house was dim, only one lamp was on– near the couch where 118o8 sat. She was hunched forward, elbows on her knees, clutching a blanket like it was the only thing keeping her grounded.

118o8’s hair fell messily over her face, and her phone sat face-down on the coffee table beside her. Bluudud shut the door behind them. “Mom’s been like that since she called you.” He murmured. “I tried talking to her, but she.. she won’t really say much.”

“Alright.” 007n7’s tone softened immediately. “I’ll try to talk to your mom, okay, kid?” He gave a reassuring smile to the teen. Bluudud tried to smile but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. 007n7 headed toward 118o8, slow and careful, while Noli lingered near the doorway with Bluudud. 

The air was thick– heavy with something unspoken. Bluudud rubbed his hands together nervously, gaze darting toward the living room and back again. Noli crouched slightly to meet his eyes. “Hey. You holding up okay?”

Bluudud’s jaw tensed. “I’m fine.” He shook his head, trying to convince the raven-haired man.

Noli gave him that quiet, knowing smile that always made people’s defenses crumble. “You sure? You look like you haven’t sat down since you and your mom got home.” He crossed his arms.

Bluudud huffed through his nose, trying for sarcasm but missing it completely. “You sound like my mom.”

“Good.” Noli said softly. “Someone’s gotta.”

That earned him a tiny smirk, but it didn’t last. Bluudud’s expression fell again as he looked down at his hands. “Mom.. She’s really messed up about it, you know? Pretty’s gone. And so’s–” He stopped, swallowing. “So’s them.”

“Six?” Noli finished gently.

Bluudud nodded, lips pressing together. “They said they were just picking something up, but then they didn’t show. Mom tried calling, but no one answered. Then she checked Pretty’s room, and it was empty. Her favourite blanket wasn’t even in her room.” He paused for a moment.

“She doesn’t go anywhere without that blanket.” Bluudud’s voice cracked a little on the last word. He looked away, blinking hard, pretending it was just the lighting stinging his eyes.

Noli’s chest tightened at this. He remembered when Bluudud had been smaller, always sulking behind his mom’s legs, pretending not to care when Pretty would tug at his sleeve. He’d been protective even then– pretending to be annoyed while secretly watching her every move like she was the most important thing in the world. 

Seeing Bluudud now, still trying to be strong despite losing his sister, was unbearable. “Hey.” Noli murmured. “You don’t have to be strong all the time, you know.”

“I’m not–” Bluudud started, then stopped, shoulders shaking slightly. “I just– what if something bad happened to them? What if– what if someone took them? What if they’re not coming back?” His breath hitched as he turned away, trying to blink the tears back. “Mom’s pretending she’s fine, but she’s not. I can tell. And I don’t–” He stopped again, voice breaking. “I don’t know what to do.”

Without thinking, Noli placed a hand on Bluudud’s shoulder gently. “You’re doing enough.” He said softly. “As a parent, and your uncle..” He slowly guided Bluudud’s head to look at him. “Being there for your mom is all she needs during this tough time.”

Bluudud’s lip trembled as his eyes met his uncle’s. “It doesn’t feel like enough.”

“It never does.” Noli said as he pulled his hand away carefully. “But trust me, your support is all your mom needs right now.”

For a long moment, they stood in silence, the soft murmur of 007n7’s voice carrying faintly from the living room. He was talking to 118o8 now– low, steady, careful. Noli glanced toward them.

118o8 hadn’t moved much since they came in. She was staring at her hands, tears glimmering on her cheeks but never quite falling. 007n7 sat beside her on the couch, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, speaking quietly. His usual sharp tone was gone. 

118o8 then leaned into 007n7 without warning, shoulders trembling in a way she’d been holding back for hours, and 007n7’s arm moved around her almost by reflex. She cried into the crook of his shoulder– quiet, ugly sobs that racked her body– and for a few long seconds there was nothing else in the room but that sound.

Noli hung by the doorway, hands stuffed into his pockets, feeling useless. Bluudud hovered at his side, his usual sharpness dulled into something fragile. 

007n7’s voice was low and careful, the words slow as if each might cut. “You did everything you could.” He said, as if reciting a rule they both needed to remember. “You couldn’t have known.”

118o8’s shoulders shook again. “But what if I should have?” She whispered, voice fraying. “What if there was something I missed– some sign I ignored because I was busy, or because I thought–” She stopped, overwhelmed by the thought. Her fingers twisted the blanket into knots.

“You don’t get to blame yourself for something that’s out of your control.” 007n7 answered, gentler now. He didn’t say it like a lecture– he said it like someone who had learned the lesson the hard way and wanted her to have it too.

118o8 lifted her head a fraction, eyes red and glassy. “That’s easy for you to say.”

“Not really.” 007n7 said, quiet enough that only she heard it. “I’ve been there.”

The line between them was thin– the kind of unspoken understanding that comes after surviving things that leave permanent dents. Noli watched it all with the ache of someone who wanted to help fix things but was unable to. And then his phone buzzed against his thigh.

It was small at first, an almost apologetic vibration, and for a panicking second Noli thought it might be more bad news from another direction. He pulled his phone out and the group chat lit the screen. A string of small sentences from Chance, raw and casual and threatening in their normality.

hey

just a heads up

6 showed up at my place holdin pretty

asking for kidd

said it was urgent or whtver

i told them no

they left but it was weird as hell

thought you guys should know

Noli’s heart slammed against his ribs. He read it twice, then a third time, as if the words would rearrange themselves into something less alarming if he looked long enough. He could feel the color drain from his face. He had to do something that didn’t involve panicking in front of 118o8.

He crouched down to Bluudud’s level, forcing his voice steady. “Hey, bud.”

Bluudud looked up. His eyes were red-rimmed but clear. “Yeah?”

“I need you to do me a favor, okay? Could you– would you go to your room for a little while? Just… give us some space to talk for a minute, yeah?”

Bluudud’s mouth tightened. “Is it because of them?” His voice was small, abbreviated– he didn’t say the names, but the meaning was huge in the pause.

Noli swallowed. “I don’t know for sure.” He admitted. “But we’re going to figure it out. Go on, come back when we call you, yeah?”

Bluudud blinked, then nodded. He moved like he’d been given an order and took it very seriously– he padded down the hallway, and the click of his door closing sounded too loud in the hush that followed.

Noli took a breath slowly, feeling the chill in the room creep deeper into his bones. He crossed to the couch, where 118o8 sat collapsed into herself, and waited until 007n7’s arm loosened a fraction before touching her shoulder lightly.

“I just got a text from Chance.” Noli said, voice low. He held the phone up so they both could see. Chance’s message was still warm on the screen, typed in that clipped way that made the content seem more casual than the mood demanded.

007n7’s eyes went hard at the sight of the message. The air around him shifted, like the moment before a storm steps closer. 118o8’s hands flew to the blanket, fingers worrying the fabric until it crumpled.

“What did he say?” 118o8 asked, small, the question almost a whisper.

Noli read it aloud, slow, each sentence landing with the weight it deserved. “…Six showed up at my place holdin pretty… asked for kidd… said it was urgent… i told them no… they left but it was weird as hell.”

When he finished, the room felt colder. 118o8 didn’t move at first. Her lips parted, then closed. A string of tears welled up again. “They were at Chance’s?” She said, a small, incredulous sound.

“Yeah.” Noli tightened his jaw. “He said he told them no and they left, but.. he said it was weird. He wanted me and Sev to know.”

For a second, 118o8’s face contorted in a dozen different directions– fear, confusion, then eventually anger. “But– why would Six be at Chance’s? What would–” Her voice broke, eventually coughing it off. “What if they were.. what if they left on purpose? What if they.. cheated? What if–” The questions tumbled out jagged, the possibility of betrayal striking her like a new wound on top of the other wound.

Noli felt something cold in his chest. He should have known she’d jump there; suspicion and grief and anger muddle together so easily. “We don’t know that.” He said softly. “We don’t know anything yet. Chance said Six said it was urgent. That’s all.”

118o8’s mouth twisted. “Urgent?” The word sounded like an accusation. “Urgent for what? To take our kid somewhere? To leave? Six wouldn’t–”

007n7’s jaw flexed. “We can’t assume Six walked away.” He said, cutting 118o8 off from her overthinking. “They’re Pr3ttyPrincess’s parent. If they took Pretty somewhere, we don’t know why. Chance turned them away. That’s the one concrete thing we have. If Six left on foot with Pretty, maybe there was a reason we don’t know about.”

118o8’s shoulders heaved. It was impossible to tell whether the motion came from hope or despair. “You really think–?” She broke off, fury and panic and longing all braided into her voice. “I called. I texted. No answer. My phone just rang and rang and then nothing. I–” She pressed her forehead to the blanket, as if trying to squeeze sound out of the stitches. “I thought maybe they’d slept at a friend’s. I thought maybe they got stuck. I didn’t think–” The last words were a whisper.

“Then we check.” Noli said, every syllable steady because he needed it to be. “We call Chance back. We call Six again. We check cameras. We retrace steps. We don’t immediately jump to assumptions.” 007n7 nodded, but there was steel in the nod, not the gentleness it had worn earlier.

118o8 rubbed the side of her face with the heels of her hands, as if trying to wipe away the memory of the day. “I keep thinking about the last time we argued.” She said, voice tiny. “We had that stupid fight about nothing. They said they’d go clear their head, and they left. I thought they’d be back in an hour. I thought–” She stopped again.