Chapter Text
The cold autumn breeze chilled 007n7’s body as it hit him, pricking his skin. He breathed heavily, the rhythm of his still beating heart rang in his ears. The icy air froze his throat and made it hard to breathe. But at least it ever so slightly numbed the pain, the burning hot pain. His pooling, bleary eyes still made out the red fleshy form before him, holding him up easily by his neck as if he was just a thing in the way of his terror and chaos.
“Looks like you need some shuteye, dad!” The crimson monster chirped, no, his son, as he giggled to himself. His son squeezed his neck with a sickening snap that echoed throughout his body as he felt himself go limp. He wanted to call his name out, to see his big, dark eyes filled with curiosity again, not malice. He wanted to do something, anything. But he was helpless, limp, and his world slowly began to fade to black. He felt a small squeeze of an embrace from his son as he was gently placed on the icy cold ground, his body cooling along with it.
He remembered the first time he felt the warm embrace from his son… and the first time he met him. It was early July, just at the start of summer, he recalled.
…
He was letting his mind wander, again.
He looked around in the familiar place, he, along with everyone else, would always seemingly get teleported to after either dying or surviving a round. This time he was the first dead, so it wouldn’t hurt to reminisce, right? He thought to himself.
It had been a month since he moved from his shared apartment with his… friend? Partner in crime? Not like it matters anymore. Before he left he remembered they wanted to do something big, something to really mess with the admins. A parting gift, one could say. They went overboard. He went overboard.
“…You sure about this, Sev? I don’t know—“ He remembered the conversation like it was yesterday, he’s sure he does too. Even under that mask of his, 007n7 could tell how apprehensive he was. He had known him for quite awhile… how long was it? He couldn’t remember. But he could easily tell what his.. friend was thinking.
“Oh come on Noli—you seriously gonna chicken out now? After getting so far?” That was right, they were whispering. They had snuck in somewhere they weren’t supposed to be, like two high schoolers up to mischief, but this was way more ambitious than a piddling prank. He could tell Noli was distraught. He didn’t care. He pressured him into it. That… 007n7 clutched the side of his head, that was the last time he remembered seeing him. He stole it; the Voidstar. And just… disappeared. My fault. 007n7’s brows knit together. He felt sick just thinking of it. His old ways disgusted him. He couldn’t blame a soul for detesting him.
He was packing boxes from the too empty apartment, was he ever guilty? He can’t remember now, every little memory of his before entering this realm seems so distant, like they could easily dissipate one day, never to be found again. But he knew that would never be the case, at least for him. His guilt rooted itself far too deeply within himself, forgetting would revert him back to his old awful ways. He shook his head. July. There was a ding that echoed throughout the untidy house, someone had rung his doorbell, late too. The digital numbers from his memory flashed across his vision: 12:09am. He’d never forget. He heard whoever rang the doorbell scurry away, but 007n7 wasn’t in a rush, must be those neighbourhood brats again. He remembered thinking to himself.
Until he heard crying.
A baby crying.
…A baby crying? He slowly walked to his front door, holding his breath. No.. surely not? He unlocked the door, turning the knob as he ever so slightly cracked it open, just enough to look out of. His watchful gaze darted along the streets for any trails of a person, there were none. His eyes quickly fell on the small cardboard box that sat atop his doorstep with the little cause of the noise inside, wrapped up hastily in a small cotton blanket. He opened the door fully as he tried to look around the street, shouting out.
“This isn’t funny.” He called out. No response. He looked down at the wailing little bundle who was squirming around in the box. It was summer now, sure, but the night froze the grass, and it was night. He bit his lip, wincing.
“What the hell man…” he cursed under his breath before letting out a loud sigh as he picked up the box and, he will admit, carelessly held it in one arm as his other shut the door closed behind himself. It wouldn’t survive the night. He told himself as he sat the box down on his cluttered island, shoving stuff to the side to make space. He turned back to click the lock in place. I’ll bring it to the adoption center tomorrow. Yet as he turned his gaze to the kid, he couldn’t help but feel nauseated at the mere thought of giving up this baby he had just found… he felt responsible in a weird way. He slowly inched forwards to the box. He reached out a hand into it once he had gotten close enough, peering in. He parted the blanket from the kid’s head and saw its face stare back up at him. Its large, round, beady black eyes looked at 007n7 with curiosity. It seemed to have calmed down when he brought it inside as it was no longer sobbing. Two rather red, chubby little hands reached out. Is it sick? 007n7 flinched. The kid reached further and he let it entangle its little fists around his finger. His gaze softened at the sight and he felt a smile tugging at his lips. How innocent. He hummed to himself. This baby’s known nothing but rejection, yet it still reaches out. He decided to pick it up, carefully. He was afraid he was doing it wrong. Why do I suddenly care so much? Looking down at the little baby in his arms gave him his answer immediately.
“Am I really doing this?” 007n7 grimaced as he held the baby in front of himself. The baby gave a gurgled coo in response. “Ah, screw it.” His mouth cracked into a smile.