Chapter Text
007n7 was tired.
In fact, he was beyond tired.
He was absolutely exhausted.
7n7 hadn’t slept a wink in days and he knew it was catching up to him; he could feel it in his head, his muscles… hell, he even swore that he saw some sort of shadowy figure just outside his peripheral vision more than once.
He sighed, loudly, taking his time before eventually getting up in an almost drunken stupor. He yawned on his way over to the main cabin, clumsily tripping over his own feet occasionally. He opened the door to find the other survivors absentmindedly chatting about whatever as he sat down near the entrance so as to not bother anyone. He put his head against the wall, exhaling heavily at the thought of having to go up against another one of those… monsters again. But he knew it was only a matter of time until a round started.
He almost groaned at the thought.
“…7…”
a hand waved in front of him, trying to get his attention.
“You good, man?”
The ex-hacker almost jumped in his seat. Who was-
oh
It was Shedletsky. Of course… The admin had been checking up on him more as of late… he kept wondering why but he could never come to a solid conclusion. 7n7 didn’t deserve it, the worry, and he knew that damn well. He still wondered though.
“Hey, Shedletsky. ‘M good… just tired is all.” The winged man almost squinted at the response, especially because that was the same response that 007n7 had been giving him for about a week, maybe even more than that. He soon sat next to n7, silently inviting himself to talk. Misery loves company after all! Shedletsky took a brief pause before continuing; “You sure you don’t wanna take a break?”
God, he would kill for just a few minutes of leeway, to finally rest properly. For some reason though… he couldn’t help but deny the want, the need for just an inch of rest. He felt indebted to the other survivors, that much was abhorrently obvious. Even if most of them didn’t care for him in the slightest, he would still willingly fall beside them, no matter what happened.
“M’sure… don’t want to stay in one place for too long.” 7n7 chuckled lightly. looking at the admin. and Shedletsky just stared back, warmly. Almost like he was sympathetic to whatever plight he had. The avian simply cleared his throat in response, darting his eyes away, but still staying close.
“Round’s startin’ soon…”
Shedletsky murmured.
“If you ever need my help just… say so. ‘Kay?”
n7, still eye-to-eye with the admin, exhaled a little at the… invitation. Or was it a request? Regardless, he nodded curtly before making a conscious effort to sit up straight and breathe out; almost painfully. Shedletsky ignored the warmth in his cheeks and the fluffing up of his feathers as he watched.
Soon enough the round started, clock ticking, counting the seconds before they could finally go back to relaxing (as much as they can, anyway).
Funny thing, though, the more generators that n7 did, the sleepier he felt. He kept brushing it off, snapping himself awake whenever he could.
That was… until a certain sentinel ran straight toward him, opting to do a generator after being hurt. He then bit into chicken leg; ravenously so.
n7 stared at the admin as he chewed, maybe for a few too many seconds. Way too many seconds. The man shook his head before connecting another bundle of exposed wires.
He sat down.
He breathed out again. Heavily.
He then began to lean onto the side of the generator once it spurred to life, the stench of old petrol now lingering.
And despite the constant, uncomfortably loud whirring, the hacker still fell asleep. And his snoring was surely not ignored.
As a matter of fact, it was the first thing Shedletsky had noticed once he stood back up. He turned back around and sauntered over to 7n7, who was sleeping more soundly than any normal person would in such an uncomfortable position.
“Oh.” Shedletsky muttered to himself as he sat down next to n7, a faint red hue noticeable on his cheeks. He refrained from making any sudden moves.
Yeah, that’s what he’d do…
Nothing.
He’d just stay with him until he wakes up; not hard to do… at all…
Shedletsky gulps as he sits down. Audibly. It was too damn hot.
He tries to focus his gaze on anything but the now less tense father resting next to him.
He couldn’t help but look his way no matter how hard he tried to keep the man out of focus. How could he not? The mortal looked far more handsome than the former god would ever dare admit out loud. Hell, if Builderman were here he’d either giggle at his expense or continuously inquire about “what the hell could he possibly see in him”.
And in all honesty, he didn’t know.
Maybe it was a sympathy he had for the man.
Maybe it was how he made Telamon’s his hands shake the first time he saw him on top of the Natural Disasters tower, at that moment causing a goddamned riot; he looked so beautiful.
Or maybe the ways he’s changed over the years. His habits becoming more mundane, less life-threating… kinder. He had no distaste for the hacker before, but now that he’s had started softening up figuratively and literally… whatever he felt for him before seems to have multiplied tenfold. “It looks better on him”, Shedletsky thought. For he thought about it often. About him often. Too often.
Whether 007n7 felt the same way he did was a different story.
And, speak of the devil, he stirs! Shedletsky’s feathers began to puff out again; being made a habit by now.
The clock ticked down.
3…
2…
1…
And everyone was free for the next few hours. Of course, the others naturally began to ask Shedletsky where he had been as soon as every “participant” spawned in.
They were also curious as to why n7 spawned in… sleeping?