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A heavy drizzle of rain poured outside of the child’s house. The night sky was darkened by stormy clouds as it continued to shower the neighborhood’s streets. Coolkid stared through the glass pane of his window. It blocked him from the outside world, acting as a shield that gave him a sense of security. He watched with a bored expression, picking a random trail of water to cheer for as he imagined the raindrops racing against each other; The average imagination you’d expect of a child.
The 10-year-old placed the end of his chin upon the palm of his hand. Lazily staring out the window after having just won his imaginary raindrop race.
Waiting.
He remembered his father’s words. He said that he wouldn't be gone for long. He was just running a quick errand and that he’ll be back with food for the both of them to enjoy.
He thinks about the idea of enjoying a nice bowl of mac & cheese or a warm plate of spaghetti— it made him hum cheerfully in excitement as he continued to listen to the pitter-patter of the rain that continuously came from outside.
Whether it’s mac & cheese or spaghetti, he didn’t mind either way. Since whatever his dad made was the best.
The sound of scuttling appears from beside him. He glances down towards the edge of the windowsill, the sight of one of his dad’s little friends greets the child. The little yellow spider head would look up at him with a tilt of its head. Its 8-legged self readjusts their position on the window’s edge. It had a little comforting smile on its face as it kept the kid company.
He goes to pick it up gently, a wide smile spreading across his face.
He reminds himself that he needs to focus on being gentle. Being gentle is important.
It was something his father taught him in the past. He was stronger than the average child— something that went against the very rules of nature. He learned that the hard way when he recalled a memory from the past.
He doesn’t want to hurt anyone.
The memory comes back to him, remembering how he accidentally tagged one of his classmates too roughly, causing them to be pushed to the ground. The kid screamed and wailed in agony as they held their knee close to their chest in pain.
That day, he stared at the red pooling from their knee, not quite understanding what it meant.
He remembered the way his father profusely apologized to the parents and teachers after the incident before taking him home early that day. Holding a piece of paper while mumbling about suspensions.
When he got home, he remembers his father sitting him down on the couch and holding his hands; Telling him in a calming yet enlightening tone, “Son, you have something that none of the other kids do. You need to be careful when it comes to playing or else someone can get hurt again.”
Coolkid would only blink in confusion as he clutched his father’s hands, tightening his hold; Like a child holding their parent’s hand to find comfort, “Hurt? I don’t understand, what makes me so different, Papa?”
His father winced, but it was only for a split second as he quickly changed his expression so he didn’t alarm Coolkid, “kiddo, slowly look at my hands.”
He would look down at his dad’s hands, revealing them to be a bright red from where his hands were wrapped around them, “Wha- Why is your skin red? Like mine? Papa, does it itch?” he spoke confusedly.
His father nodded slowly as he gently spread Coolkid’s fingers apart from each other as he explained, “Do you remember that tingling feeling you get if you scratched your skin too much?”
He would nod his head.
“That’s called pain. You don’t like pain, right?” his dad asks.
He frantically shakes his head, “No! It’s awful, and I hate how it feels… it doesn’t feel as good as itching…” he stops to think as he stares at his father’s now bruising hand. His eyes started to swell before realizing what that implied, “Dad.. did I hurt my classmate? Are you hurting too?”
His father gave him a comforting smile as he held his son’s hands again, “Yes, it hurts, but it’s ok. The pain will go away.”
Coolkid’s voice would crumble as he wanted to reciprocate his father’s hold by lightly tightening his hands around his again, but he remembers how it turned his father’s skin red. Associating the red skin to cause pain– Something that he’s all too familiar with, as he sobbed, “I’m sorry Papa, I don’t want you or my friends to hurt. I’m really, really sorry.” he cries.
He closes his eyes as he feels his father wiping tears away from his face. His dad gently holds his cheek with a calloused hand, his tone soothing as he speaks, “Shh, it’s alright. Don’t cry kid, the pain will go away. It always goes away, so there's nothing to be worried about.”
The child only continued to cry, “But what if it doesn’t go away? Mine doesn’t go away, so what if yours doesn’t go away too?”
His father frowned, a look of hesitance was locked onto his face as he tried to find the words, “It’s… hard to explain. Sometimes the pain doesn’t go away– but at the same time… it can go away too.”
Coolkid would only sniffle with a bewildered expression, “I don’t get it.”
His dad would scratch his chin before seemingly getting up, as if an idea struck his head, “Wait here, I'll be back in 2 seconds.” his father patted his head before hurrying off to the bathroom.
In the time his dad went to grab something, Coolkid would rub the remaining tears away as he scrubbed his face with his hands. Only the sounds of sniffing could be heard within the living room before it wasn’t too long until his father came back.
His dad would kneel in front of him with a familiar medkit in his hands as he opened it, “You know how I would put these pieces of paper on your skin after I sprayed your skin with a weird bottle?” he explains.
He would nod his head.
“The reason I did that was to make the pain go away. Do you remember how it felt after a while I put them on?” he asks.
Coolkid silently thought it over as he remembered his father gently applying the things to his skin, even though it stung and irritated his skin. He remembers how the pain would go away after a couple of minutes, giving him a couple more hours of relief before starting to itch again, “It makes the hurt go away..?” he recalls.
His father nods attentively, moving to give his son a sort of ointment, “Do you want to help me make the pain go away?”
He aggressively nodded his head, “Yes, of course I do! I want to help Papa feel better!” he held the ointment excitedly. Looking down at the container in his hands, he twisted it open to find the cream his father would occasionally put on his skin, “Do I put it on your skin? Like mine?”
“Yes, that’s right. But remember to be gentle. It’s important to be gentle." He states whilst standing up to sit beside Coolkid. He extends his fingers into the ointment to apply it to his injuries, “Here, watch how I do it.”
Coolkid would flutter his eyes open as the memory faded, coming back to the present. The rules his father has established for him at a young age still stuck to him. He was about 5 years old at the time of the incident, and from then on, he made extra sure to keep in check of his own strength. Of course, getting assistance from his father and learning how to control it was all part of the process.
He finds himself lying on the couch with the little yellow spider head snuggled on top of his head as he remembers bringing it over to the seat with him.
Turning his head over, he stares at the door and wonders what was taking his father so long.
He grumbles out of boredom, flipping over on his side once more before gently plucking the spider off of his head. He moves to sit up straight, “How long do you think Papa is going to take? He usually doesn’t take this long to come back from his errands.” he yawns.
The yellow head would shrug, not knowing very much of its creator’s whereabouts.
He suddenly feels an itch tingling down his arm. It buzzes at him, urging him to give it a little scratch. But he managed to hold back since he was holding the little spider in his hands. It helped him resist the urge to itch his skin since his father said scratching would only make his condition worse.
The storm continued to pour outside. Individual drops showering against the household’s walls. Amongst the sound of raining, he heard a faint thud from outside their family door.
Coolkid upon hearing this, looks towards the entrance with excitement. With a burst of energy, he gently puts the yellow spider down on the coffee table before bolting towards the door. He stands on his tippy-toes to see through the peephole— recognizing his father’s brandishly infamous burger hat. He proceeded to fling the door open, “Papa!” He cheered happily.
007n7 was in the middle of fumbling for his keys before realizing his son had already opened the door for him. The child radiating in warmth, the single father prepared himself to be tackled into a hug by the kid, “Woah, hey! I’m still soaking wet from the rain, don’t hug too tightly! I don’t want you to get sick.” he chuckles as he pats the kid’s head.
He snuggles his face into his father's chest before looking up with a pouting expression, “What took you so long, Papa?” he exclaims with a cheerful yet befuddled face.
His father's expression slightly wavers before simply smiling, “Sorry, I was just chatting with an old friend and lost track of time.” he pauses before kneeling to grab a couple of grocery bags and dangling them, “But guess what I got?” he hums casually.
“Oh, oh! Is it mac & cheese?” Coolkid shouts in joy.
His father nods, “Yup! And I got us some snacks as well.” he ushers the kid inside as he closes the door behind him. The door creaked shut as he made his way to the kitchen counter, putting the bags down to discard his soaking coat.
007n7 slightly sniffles, rubbing the edge of his nose as he blinks warily from the sudden chill, ‘Uh oh, that’s not a good sign…’ he thought to himself. He walks over to a closet and opens the shutter, reaching in to grab a couple of towels. “Kid, c’mere real quick,” he beckons to his child.
Said child would come barreling over as he gleaned up at him, “Yes, Papa!?”
The father would lean down and wrap the towel over the kid’s head, making sure he isn’t wet from hugging him. He lets out an amused chuckle as his son groans from his father’s ruffling; The adult playfully scrubbing the child’s face dry, “Daddd, I’m dry! I’m dry! You can stop noww.” he complained as he tried to shove the towel off.
His dad would only snicker in response before removing the towel, “Pftt, alright, alright. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t get sick. You remember how it feels to be sick, right?” he raises a brow towards the kid.
He pauses before nodding his head in understanding, “Yeah, of course, Papa! Getting sick is the worst…” he mumbles, recalling the terrible feeling he had when his skin was inflamed whilst he was suffering from a fever. It was not a good time for either of them as he recalled how his skin’s condition only got worse after that incident.
He also remembered how much his father worried and cared for him by his side as he struggled to comprehend the pain that went through his body. He never saw that kind of expression on his father’s face before. One of concern and on the verge of breaking down. He never told his father, but it was an expression he never wanted to see his father adorn.
Coolkid clenches his hands together before jumping up to grab the towel from his dad’s hands and rubs the towel over his dad’s face with a sudden surprise, “I don’t want you to get sick either! So I will take care of you like you did for me if you get sick!” he proclaims.
007n7 blinks in surprise amidst the aggressive scrubbing before letting out a soft snort. He pats his son’s shoulder with a chuckle, “Thanks Coolkid, I'll be counting on you then if that happens.” he smiles, “Now then, let’s go eat that mac & cheese. It isn’t going to eat itself, now is it?” he jests before putting the towel into the laundry. He ushers the kid to the kitchen to unpack the groceries.
Coolkid slowly opened his eyes before sluggishly sitting up. He rubs his eyes lazily to get rid of the built up sand, letting out a yawn before stretching to wake himself up.
He recalls the date, remembering that it was the weekend, so he didn’t have to go to school today! With that thought in mind, he blinks his eyes more excitedly. Pushing the covers off of himself, he steadily steps off his bed to rush over to the bathroom to get a jump at the start of his morning.
He hums a tune to himself, proceeding with the usual routine given to him by his dad.
Brush your teeth, clean your face, apply ointment or a spray, and make sure not to scratch at your bandages even if it feels like a terrible itch.
He's in the middle of applying an ointment— gently spreading the cream across his sensitive skin and making sure not to irritate any terrible rashes. He's still humming the same tune he was humming from earlier before pausing.
The only sound that echoed within the bathroom was the dripping of the sink, having not been fully turned off by the child. But other than that, he couldn't hear anything from beyond the bathroom walls. Not the usual sounds he is used too anyways.
It wasn’t alarming, per se, but he felt like something was off— Strange even.
He tries to readjust his hearing, but still hears nothing.
He quickly finishes applying the ointment and storing it away before swiftly opening the bathroom door to wander the corridors of their house. Listening closely for any sounds.
None, Nothing. It was almost as if the house was abandoned.
It was always a part of his daily routine to hear something at the start of his morning— or more so the moment he wakes up. He didn’t hear the usual clicking of the stove, or the sizzling of eggs he hears in the morning. It wasn’t much but it was comforting in a way. Just the thought of someone’s silent presence meant that he wasn’t alone. His father has always found a way to make sure he wasn't by himself. Whether it be through the usage of clones, his little spider buddies, or even a babysitter.
It was a bit off-putting to say the least. To hear nothingness.
With that thought in mind, it’s odd. It wasn’t like for his dad to not be up earlier than him. If more than anything, his father was quite the early bird. He never really understood why his father preferred the morning over the night— but everyone is entitled to their own opinions. So he wasn't one to judge.
Generally, his father would be making breakfast in the kitchen for the two of them. A big smile plastered on his face as he served up eggs and bacon, or if he was feeling lazy, he would make a bowl of cereal for them to munch on.
But as Coolkid curiously glanced into the kitchen, it remained to look the same as it had last night.
Maybe he overslept?
He makes his way down the hall again, but this time towards his father’s bedroom. He takes a peek inside, the door slightly creaking on its hinges. The silhouette of his father's form underneath the covers presents itself.
He giggles to himself, holding his hands up to his mouth at the thought of surprising his dad before swinging the door open, “Papa! I woke up earlier than you for once! Did you sleep in?” He laughs aloud.
He can see the tip of his father’s head poking out from underneath the comforter, he lets out another small giggle before approaching the other. He shakes his father’s shoulders, “Dadddd, how long are you going to sleep for?” he whined, “So much for calling me a sleepy head when I sleep in!” he teases before coming to a full stop.
His hearing finally catches on. It was subtle, but present.
Heavy breathing.
Coolkid paused in his movements, listening to the pattern in his father’s breathing.
He hears subtle panting from underneath the covers. Looking closely, he noticed the way his father’s body shook from underneath the sheets, like a slight tremor working its way up his body with a foreboding sense of chills. He goes to gently shake his father again, “Papa? What’s wrong?” he asked worriedly.
He gets almost no response. Just a tiny groan from the man.
Coolkid’s eyes squinted tearfully, on the verge of crying, “Dad?”
Almost as if he was sensing his child’s distress, 007n7 blearily opens his eyes to see the red-skinned child, his eyes glazed over with a fog, “...Coolkid?” his voice came out rather scratchy, it was hardly over a whisper. Like his throat was rubbed against by a cheese grater.
The father takes a moment to process his surroundings before noticing Coolkid’s expression. Worry struck him like a hammer upon seeing the watery eyes of his son. He instantly tried sitting up, but ended up doubling over into a coughing fit as he struggled to breathe, causing a sudden racket.
Coolkid slightly jolted from the sudden coughing, swiftly wiping the fresh tears away from his own eyes; He flailed his arms around in a panic, “Papa! Are you ok?! Are you sick?!” he exclaims, fully distressed.
His father stretches out an arm towards the child to prevent him from coming any closer. He continued to cough into his other arm before responding weakly, “D-Don’t come any closer… I don’t want y-you to get sick too.” he heaves, sweat practically dripping from his forehead.
Coolkid couldn't help but feel helpless upon the sight of his father suffering, he goes to beg, “Papa, does it hurt?! Do you want me to get the medkit?” He frets worriedly.
His father warily looks around the room before turning to his son, “Can you... grab my phone? I think–” another cough, “I left it in my coat pocket from last night..” he murmurs.
He frantically nods his head, giving a short salute before booking off, “I’ll be right back!” he shouts, practically halfway down the hallway.
He makes his way into the living room with a burst of energy before catching a glimpse of a bright yellow head in the corner of his eye. He comes to a full halt, fully noticing the spider from last night was still sitting on the coffee table from when he last placed it. The creature seemed to be asleep, remaining stationary.
With a blink, he snaps his fingers as an idea strikes him. He goes over to it, kneeling in front of the creature, “Hey, can you watch over Papa for me? Pretty please?” he asks the small critter politely.
The spider innocently blinks up at him. Almost as if it was processing the request as a command before giving a little affirmative nod, hopping off the table. It scutters its way towards his father’s room. Coolkid confidently smiles to himself, knowing that his father wouldn’t be alone while he was looking for his phone.
He enthusiastically pumps his fist in determination, continuing his search for his father’s phone before recognizing the familiar brown leather from across the room. It kindly hanged on the edge of one of the kitchen’s bar stools, he rushed over to snag it.
He rummages through his father’s pockets before pulling out the other’s phone. He cheers to himself successfully before bolting his way back into his father’s room.
Coolkid comes back to the sight of his father with his head in his hands. 007n7 looked as if he was struggling to think of something. He was rambling to himself under his breath before realizing his son had come back sooner than he realized; Looking up in surprise. Additionally, the yellow spider head from before was comfortably sitting on top of his father’s head.
He shouts cheerfully, “Ohhh Papa! I got your phone!” he triumphantly holds it up.
“That was quick,” His father spoke gleefully, trying to play off the fact that he was sick with a slight chuckle, but it came out more like a rough chortle. He reaches for the phone as Coolkid gently places it in his hand. He speaks, “Thanks kiddo, can you give me some space to myself so I can make a quick phone call?”
A slight frown appears on his face, “But.. what if something happens to you while I’m not here?” He looks up at his father with beady eyes.
His father blinks in surprise, before gently smiling, “It’s alright, I have this little guy with me, so I will be ok.” he gestures towards the spider on top of his head.
“Well, ok… If you say so.” he speaks hesitantly before making his way towards the door. He takes one last look at his father with a concerned expression— His father waving to him as if to emphasize that he was totally fine, before closing the door.
It closes behind him with a soft shut; Coolkid would place his back against the wood of the door. Sliding down to the floor, bringing his knees up to his chest, he lets out an exaggerated huff— The child felt like he was worry rampant. Wondering if there was more to what his father was leading on.
He leans back and tries to listen in on what his father was saying. Albeit, it was hard to hear through the thick wooden frame, only being able to pick out certain words in between sentences.
“...Need someone… watch over the kid…”
“Sorry…don’t want… sick…”
“...Noli… don’t have to… wait—”
Before he knows it, he hears a deep, exaggerated sigh on the other side. Perking up, he takes that as an initiation for his father being done on the phone before standing up to slowly open the door. Peeking his head inside, “Papa, are you done speaking?” he asks curiously.
His father has his phone placed on his lap as he turns to his son, “Yeah…I’m done now,” he speaks tiredly, his posture teetering on the edge of falling asleep.
“Who were you talking to?” he asks whilst running over to his father’s bedside to clutch onto his father’s bed sheets with a wondrous gaze.
“Just an old friend,” his father replies, “He’ll be coming over soon,” he says with a yawn.
Coolkid blinks, “You look like you need some shuteye, Dad!” he points out.
“Just a little…” his father mumbles, rubbing his eyes.
The child beams as he gently pushes his father to lie down, “Then you should sleep more! I will take care of you now, so don’t you worry!” he insists, patting his father’s sheet with a determined expression.
His dad looks up at him from where he laid and lets out a little chuckle, “Alright, just make sure not to let any strangers in while I'm asleep…” the yellow spider head that was on his head previously, was now sat on his chest before 007n7 goes to look at it, “My friend, can you let the kid know when Noli gets here? I can’t guarantee I'll be awake for when he arrives…” he states.
The spider nods before jumping onto Coolkid’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, Papa! Just focus on sleeping for now!” he enthusiastically proclaimed.
It was raining again.
He arrived a lot later than he wanted. It had gone to the point where the sun had long set. The neighborhood was enveloped in darkness with nothing but the lamp posts guiding his way. He would’ve arrived sooner if it wasn’t for the fact that he had to deal with the members of his cult following, but he’ll make up for it in due time. The void star floating benevolent above his head, he makes his way down the street, falling into familiar steps.
Noli held an umbrella in one hand whilst holding a bag of groceries in the other. He listens to the water hitting the roof of his cover, the sound of drizzling drowning out his hearing. There was a steady stream of rain, but it wasn’t as heavy at the moment. The hacker remains unbothered by the weather; He makes his way towards a cozy little house, with its lights warmly lit from inside. He double checked to make sure he was at the right address before ringing the doorbell.
He hears a rush of footsteps from the other side, a pause, and then the door flying open to reveal 007n7’s young red-skinned child along with a little yellow head spider sitting upon his shoulder, “Hi Papa’s friend! You came here just like he said you would!” he exclaims excitedly.
He laughs at the kid’s hyperactivity, “You bet I did. Say, where is your father right now?” he leans down to meet Coolkid at eye level.
“He’s sleeping right now!” the kid hums.
Noli nods his head, “Ah, I see I see. Well let’s go inside before it gets too cold. Wouldn’t want the rain getting in now would we?” he beckons the child forward whilst folding his umbrella; Shaking the ends of it to make sure he didn’t leave puddles inside of the house.
He closes the door behind him before taking a couple of steps inside. He couldn’t help but think about the number of times he’s been inside of 007n7’s house, but it never ceases to amaze him how such an ex-chaotic colleague of his would suddenly turn to the life of fatherhood.
Noli places some of the bags on the kitchen counter before turning to the child, “I’m going to check on your father, can you unpack these for me while I do that?” he asked with a clap of his hands.
“Ok! You can count on me, Papa’s friend!” Coolkid cheers before bouncing forward to take a look at the bags.
“You can just call me Noli, by the way,” he offers, “Better than ‘Papa’s friend’ if you ask me,” he laughs.
The child paused, thinking the name over in his head, “Oh— Ok, Uncle Noli!” Coolkid would then call out with a nonchalant grin before continuing to rummage through the grocery bags.
He chuckles before taking that as an opportunity to make his way down the hallway towards 007n7’s room. He observes the multiple family photos of just Coolkid and 007n7 that dangled on the walls of the hallway before standing in front of the other’s room. Noli gently knocks on the door before slowly opening it, “Heyy, are you still alive, Seven?” he asks whilst taking a peek inside.
The first thing he notices was the figure before him being practically buried in a mountain of blankets. There was also a couple of stuffed animals snuggled beside the father’s head. The hacker assumes the unified mess to be the kid’s doing, but more notably, Noli notices 007n7, who was breathing heavily with his hands close to his chest underneath all that chaos.
Making his way towards the other’s bedside, he leans down to gently place the back of his hand against 007n7’s forehead. He could essentially feel the heat radiating off of the other’s face, his expression grimacing, “Oh, Seven…” he quietly whispers.
007n7’s eyes squinted open as he mumbled something, “Noli…” he mutters, “You’re here?” his voice sounded worse compared to when he was speaking with him on the phone. It sounded more worn and dry, and it was very likely that the other was under the full effects of a long drawled out fever.
“Just as promised.” Noli hums nonchalantly. He softly brushed sweat away from the father’s forehead before he spoke, “How funny, you used to be such a feared hacker. Now reduced to this .” he teases.
The ex-hacker would only groan, “Lay off on the jokes will you?” he mumbles tiredly. Clearly not amused by Noli’s antics. Yet there was a hint of playfulness.
He smirks blithely, continuing to brush the other’s forehead, “Did you take any medicine or eat anything?” he asked with a hum.
“Medicine… No, but I ate a little bit a while ago.” the sick responded hoarsely, “The kid tried his best to cook something, and I didn’t want him burning down the kitchen, heh,” he chuckled feverishly.
The hacker raised a brow, “Why didn’t you take any medicine?”
“...Forgot to restock on some,” the other responded with an embarrassed expression.
Noli scoffed, “Idiot,” he whispered with a chuckle, “Be glad I bought some,” he reprimanded.
007n7 would slightly chuckle, but it came out more like a wheezy cough rather than a soft laugh. He shuts his eyes again, his breathing rather irregular as the rise and fall of his chest stuttered. The other goes to try and say something, but he only erupts into a coughing fit as he suddenly turns on his back to make an airway.
The notorious hacker’s eyes would go wide in surprise, going to grab 007n7’s shoulders to help him sit up straight, “Woah Seven, take it easy. Don’t try to move so suddenly,” he frets.
He watches as the young father struggles to heave. Feeling a tug at his hoodie, he looks down to find the other had subconsciously clutched a handful of his hoodie in his hand— His face fully flushed, with every cough wracking his body.
Noli’s expression turned to that of a worried one, gently patting the other’s back as a form of comfort.
The coughing settled, the father gasped,“...S-Sorry.” 007n7 managed to croak out, trying to compose himself.
Noli's lips tightened, “It’s nothing.” he pauses to take in their surroundings. The father’s room was nothing more than neat. Which was ironic, considering back when they were in college, they were practically living in something akin to that of a dumpster. But getting back to the topic at hand, Noli gently lays the other down to rummage around, “Do you have a thermometer somewhere?” he asks with a hum.
“Mmm… Probably somewhere in the bathroom. I usually keep my medical supplies there for the kid.” 007n7 replied sluggishly.
He nods attentively, “Alright, I’ll go grab it along with a few more things. Try to keep it together whilst I’m gone. It’ll only take a few minutes,” he states whilst gently patting the other’s head one last time.
“K…” was all 007n7 could muster before shutting his eyes again.
He takes a couple of seconds to make sure the young father is comfortable before strutting his way back to the door and navigating his way through the house. He enters the bathroom to find a cabinet labelled ‘medical supplies’ and finds the thermometer inside.
He snorts at the abundance of medical supplies that were well stocked for Coolkid, but not for the father himself.
Noli peeked his head into the kitchen and found Coolkid sitting at the bar table, doodling away with all the items taken out of the bags. With a chuckle, he walks over to lean over the kid. Looking to see what he was drawing, “Watcha doing little one?” he hums.
Coolkid cheerfully looks over his shoulder as he exclaims, “I’m drawing me and Papa!” he pauses before pointing towards the groceries, “Also, I took everything out of the bag, just like you asked!” he proudly sparkles. His face practically read, ‘Praise me!’ all over it.
He smiles, patting the kid's head, “Good work. I knew I could count on you,” he praises before making his way to the items. They were laid out neatly on the counter, quite a surprise for a kid who's known for his chaos. Noli wasn’t complaining though, since it was a lot easier to grab things. He makes sure he has collected the right items before placing them onto a tray to take back to 007n7’s room.
Coolkid would follow after, falling into step with the hacker, “Are we going to help Papa feel better?” he eagerly inquired.
“Yeah, of course, but try not to stand too close to him. Don’t want you getting sick too, now don't we?” he hums playfully before shouldering the door open with his hands full.
The father remained the same from when he last saw him, his breathing heavy with his face flushed with a hint of red to his skin. The poor man seemed worn out, despite having just interacted with Noli a few minutes ago.
The duo make their way towards his bedside whilst Noli places the tray on the counter next to 007n7’s bed, he gently lays his hand on the other’s forehead again, a small gesture to let the other know that he was there, “Hey Seven, gonna need to take your temperature real quick,” he beckons.
Groggily, the other complied, opening his mouth so Noli could stick the thermometer under his tongue. He closes it after it was placed. A beat of silence passes by, and it wasn’t long until it made a light beeping sound and he leans down to remove it.
The reading 101°F (38.3°C) stared back at him.
Noli felt himself suck in a grimace, trying not to show the severity of the situation when the kid idly stood by, clearly worried sick for his father. He hides the concern in his voice as he goes to speak, “Yikes Seven… Whatcha do to garter this?” he laughs nervously.
He gets no response from the father, only heavy panting; He stared up at him with a weary gaze.
Noli makes a wry face before turning to Coolkid with a masked smile. He puts a bowl into the child’s hands as he gently asks, “Hey kid, can you do me a favor and get some cold water for me? Try not to spill it on the way back— Oh, and not too cold if you get what I'm saying.”
“Okie dokie Uncle Noli! I’ll be right back!” he says with a slightly raised but not too loud voice before vigorously making his way out of the room. Determination written on his face.
He gives the kid a thumbs up before turning to 007n7, softly kneading the other’s forehead to try and lessen the other’s headache, well if he even had one, but the way he was looking at him made him assume so, “Try taking some medicine. It’s better to take it after you eat but… You said you didn't take any medicine all of today so it’s probably best to take it now rather than later.” he ushers.
Noli pops the cap off of a fever reducer, something he bought from earlier before coming to the family’s home, and pours a small amount into the cap. He maneuvers his arm behind 007n7’s back and gently assists him in sitting up. The single father struggled to hold himself up, having to rely on Noli's hold to keep him up-straight. The hacker would slowly bring the medicine up to his lips.
007n7 would try his best to swallow, albeit with a bit of choking and a few coughs, but he manages to bring it down after struggling like a fish out of water.
Noli lays him back down before Coolkid comes back with the tub of water in his little hands, handing it back to the hacker, “I did what you said, Uncle Noli, and I didn’t spill a single drop as promised!” he puffs out his cheeks proudly.
“Thanks kid. Now, I’ll take it from here. You should go back to drawing in the kitchen,” he recommends whilst patting the kid’s head. Noli goes to soak a rag in the cold water but stops in his tracks after feeling a tug at the end of his shirt.
Coolkid looked up at him with a pout, “But… I want to stay with Papa. He’s hurting, isn’t he?” he nervously points his fingers together as he glances at his father’s demeanor.
Noli frowns, unsure on how to console the child before kneeling to meet Coolkid at eye level, “Yes, I won’t lie to you, he’s likely in a lot of pain right now. But do not fret little one, because I’ll be taking care of him,” he hums softly, “Maybe in the meantime, you can make a gift for your father so he can feel better.” he gestures with a hand, “Who knows! Maybe he’ll be so happy to see your gift, that it’ll cure him of his sickness!” he jests playfully while ruffling the child’s head.
Coolkid giggled, brightening up at the idea, “Okay! I’ll make something SO awesome, that he’ll have to stop being sick to fully appreciate my art skills!” he states with a determined expression.
The hacker grins, “I’m sure you will!” he expresses placidly, “Now get going before it gets too late.” He gently nudges Coolkid towards the door.
The child hesitantly takes one last glance at his father with a complicated, halting expression; Before heading out, holding the little spider head close to his chest as he leaves.
Checking to ensure the child was occupied, Noli adopts a more somber expression. Letting out a sigh, he takes a look at what he has to deal with.
As much as he understands the child’s desire to help his father, it wouldn’t be good if Coolkid caught a fever. If he remembered correctly, it wasn’t long ago that the child’s skin condition had another one of those episodes. He imagined how difficult it was for 007n7 that day.
He vividly remembered that day— He recalls the instance of waking up to his old colleague erupting his phone with text messages; Asking for advice on how to care for a sick child. It was a pretty chaotic and worrying day to say the least. He had to calm down the poor man and guide him through the process of caring for a sick person.
Speaking of said man, Noli goes to move closer to 007n7, brushing the other’s bangs to the side they stuck to his skin due to the sweat. His breathing was tense, and it seemed like he was jumping between consciousness from the way his eyelids fluttered.
The hacker gently held the father’s cheek. A small sense of yearning that he still held slightly lingered. Unbridled, hidden, unrequited love.
Briefly, 007n7 nudged his face closer to Noli’s hand, relishing and relaxing in the hacker’s cold touch as it made contact with his burning skin.
Noli felt something warm run up to his cheeks as he used a free hand to cover his face. Lightly petting the other’s head, he moves to distract himself from doing anything stupid. Practically wrangling with his untangled emotions festering within him, he wringed the rag that was placed in the bowl of water. Gently placing it on the older’s forehead. He watches as the other visibly sighed in relief upon contact.
The young father was still struggling to breathe, but Noli was sure it would eventually even out after a couple of hours. As long as he checks up on him every now and then, he should be fine.
Hopefully.
Not wanting to stay standing for the next likely few hours, he grabs the nearest chair and drags it over to the bedside.
An hour ticks by, and 007n7’s temperature is less threatening in comparison to what it was previously— Still relatively high… but it was better than nothing, so Noli will consider it a win.
His breathing was now a calm rise and fall of his chest. An indicator of his bettering demeanor.
Noli swipes sweat away from his forehead. Letting out a sigh of relief at the sight of the father having a more saturated stature. He recounts the last hour he spent simply removing the dry rag, reapplying it after dipping it in the tub of water, and making sure the young father didn’t boil himself alive.
He readjusts 007n7’s blankets to make sure the former hacker was comfortable before standing up to leave the room.
Gently shutting the door behind him, he makes his way towards the kitchen to find Coolkid still drawing from where he sat. The kid had a laser focused expression and a near death grip on the poor crayon. Of course, a grip gentle enough to not break, but it was amusing nonetheless for Noli to see such a serious expression on the child’s face. He walks over to hover over the child’s shoulder with curiosity, speaking in a playful tone, “It seems like you’ve made a lot of progress while I was gone.” he hums.
Coolkid would look up happily, eagerly showing the drawing in its full glory to the hacker, “Mhm! I added wayyy more details, so it’s going to be better than the last drawing I made for dad!” he cheerfully says.
Noli lets out a soft chuckle, ruffling the kid’s head before heading over to the kitchen counter to access the groceries, “What did you feed your father by the way? He told me you attempted to cook him something earlier.”
The child would scratched the back of his head, looking down with a whistle, “I tried to make him some mac & cheese since we still had some from last night… but following the instructions was hard.” he mumbled, “It didn’t taste as good like the stuff papa usually makes.”
The hacker would only chuckle in response, moving the pot he found onto the stove, “Well at least we know your father isn’t dying of scurvy.” he jests.
“And he won’t be dying anytime soon! Not on my watch,” Coolkid would let out a huff, crossing his arms with flare before walking over to see what Noli was doing. He stands on the tip of his toes, giving the purple man a look of doubt, “Are you going to cook for Papa too?”
Noli would look down at the kid, observing the child’s expression with a laugh, “Don’t give me that look, I’ve cooked plenty of times before. I actually cooked for your father during our college days!” he wiggles his finger before pausing, “Yknow, your father kinda has a track record for getting sick back in the day. I thought he grew out of it, but here he is getting sick once again years later. Maybe he got unlucky.” he thought aloud.
The hacker would chop up vegetables and put them to the side. Coolkid watched curiously before bringing over a mini stool to stand on so he was able to see over the counter to observe the other’s actions, “What was Papa like in school? He never really told me anything, said he’ll tell me more when I get older.” the child hummed while crossing his arms over the counter.
“Oh believe me when I say this, but your father used to be the most care-free person I used to know. Didn’t care nor showed any signs of stopping when it came to rules. A complete edgelord too,” Noli spoke nostalgically, “He was a charming man.” he laughed.
“Woah! Papa not caring about rules? That doesn’t sound like him,” Coolkid replied, a surprise expression on his face.
The hacker moves back to the stove, dropping the ingredients he had into the pot with a hum, “To you it would, but to me it was more of a surprise when he did start caring about the rules.” he slowly stirred the pot with a complacent expression, “He… got caught by an admin and was put on house arrest. Had nothing but an ankle monitor when I came to visit.” he paused in his movement.
Noli recalls the memory. The way 007n7 stared at him with a troubled expression as he held the red-pilled baby in his arms with a sort of care he never knew he had.
He offered to give the child up for adoption but the other surprisingly refused with the lower of his head. At that point in time, he was left bewildered and confused; telling the now single father about the insanity it came with raising a child on his own, but the other would simply not care, like he usually did.
He noticed a slow change in behavior after that day. The ex-hacker started to become orderly and mundane, and he started to lose that chaotic flare he once had.
Maybe it was because of the fact that he was caught that forced the ex-hacker to rethink about the harm he has caused, or the fact that he was now looking after a child with little to no experience. He changed in a way that Noli didn’t know if he should be happy or upset about.
All he knew was that his feelings were complicated as time moved on, but he came to accept the fact that 007n7 was now a changed person as he grew further and further away from the ex-hacker. He simply was too busy to visit during his earlier years, but he was able to reconnect their friendship after he was able to achieve his goal.
Friendship… huh. Such a funny word, he thought.
Noli would snap out of his reminiscing when Coolkid spoke up, “Wow, dad must’ve been really cool back then, right? I want to be just like him when I grow up!” the child laughs with the brightest smile.
The hacker remained silent, his emotions still sitting in the pit of his stomach, unsure of what to do with them as he went to put on a smile for the energetic child, “He sure was.”
Another hour ticks by, the rain still not letting up.
Coolkid is currently staring out the window before feeling a tap on his shoulder. He looks up to see Noli with a grin on his face as he beckons him over to the kitchen, “Soup’s done.” he gestures.
The child lights up, heading over to the kitchen with his feet clattering against the smooth tile to step up on the stool once again. He’s unable to see the contents in the pot due to being too short, but he could smell the ravenous smell of homemade soup; He's turning towards the hacker, vibrating impatiently from where he stood, “C’mon already! I wanna see!” he whines.
Noli lets out a chuckle, making his way over to the pot. He grabs the ladle and scoops out a generous amount into a bowl and hands it to the kid, “Here you go. Make sure to blow so you don’t burn yourself~” he hums casually.
The child takes a huge whiff of the food, his mouth practically drooling at the smell. He pauses for a second to stare at the contents before glancing up at Noli, “This looks and smells so familiar.. Isn’t this Papa’s recipe?” he inquired with a raise of his brow.
The hacker blinks in surprise, “I’m shocked you realized.” he's scooping out another portion out of the pot into a bowl as he continued, “Yeah, it is... Your father made this as a luxury back in the dorm. Usually we would eat something good during the holidays or whenever one of us got sick. And at some point, he lent the recipe to me so I dedicated myself to memorizing it.”
“Really? You didn’t seem like the type of guy to cook.” Coolkid replied rather bluntly. Paying no mind to how Noli reacts; He innocently lifts the spoonful of soup into his mouth as he hums, “Papa can cook it better, but I guess this is okay.” he hums gleefully.
“Y’know you didn’t have to say it like that..” Noli felt a single tear drip down his mask out of offense. Kids are brutally honest with their comments nowdays.
Noli finishes plating up another bowl of soup, placing it onto the so-called “sick tray” (deemed by Coolkid), and makes his way down the hallway towards 007n7’s room. As per usual, the kid follows along, eating his own portion as they make their way inside the father’s room.
Surprisingly, the duo was greeted with 007n7 trying to get out of bed himself. He was leaning on the edge of the bed with both hands gripping onto the sheets steadily so he didn’t tip over, before looking up to see the hacker and his son staring at him from across the room, “Uh– Good morning you too.” he smiles nervously.
The father’s face was still a sickly hue, but he seemed well enough to at least get himself out of bed. He raises an arm to cover a cough, still struggling to get up on his feet.
Noli walks over to help the other up, placing the “sick tray” on the cabinet next to the father’s bed. He placed 007n7’s arm over his shoulder, “More like good afternoon,” he chuckles, “Anyways, do you need to use the bathroom?” he raises a brow questionably. It was the only reasonable response he could think of that could possibly explain the reason for why the other was trying to leave the comfort of his bed despite being sick.
“Something like that,” the single dad sighs, “Just a quick trip— I’ll be right back, promise.” he assures.
“Oookay, if you say so Seven.” he draws out merrily, helping the other man down into his slippers.
007n7 takes a moment to adjust, trying to let the dizziness fade into the back of his mind, having spent the entire day just laying in bed. He proceeds to guide himself down the hall, hand pressed against the wall to balance himself, he feels the intense stares of judgement radiating from behind him, boring their way into the back of his neck.
He turns to see his 10-year-old son and a fully-grown man staring at him with worried puppy-dog-like-eyes. He awkwardly waves at them before heading inside the bathroom.
Couple of minutes fly by, and they hear the sound of the toilet flushing along with the faucet running. The father exits out of the bathroom and makes his way back to the two, the duo clearly giving him a look of concern. He tries his best to comfort them, a clumsy smile plastered on his face, “I’m fine you two… really.”
Coolkid is not amused, his arms crossed and staring up at his father, “Uhuh, sure, that’s what you told me last time!” his child narrows his eyes at him. Moving to take his father’s hand, he pulls him over to the bed with a resolute expression, determined to make his father feel better.
The man lets out a small chuckle, allowing his son to guide him over to the bed as he slips off his slippers to make his way back into bed. He notices in the corner of his eye, the way Noli looks at the both of them. He sees a small glint, the tip of the other’s mask slightly curved down into a small frown, a fraction of a second, before changing back into a smile after noticing 007n7 gaze.
What was the other thinking? He wonders.
Noli on the other hand was trying his best to keep it together. He couldn’t help but watch as the child cheerfully chatted with his father. Happily pretending to play the role of doctor as he orders his dad to take plenty of water and to eat as much as he could.
Noli’s mind wanders, yearning, wondering.
He wishes he spent more time with the father and son. He wanted to hang out with them more, experience new things with them more, do what a family does… but did he deserve to be a part of that?
He missed so many years— missed so many significant moments, having to cut contact with 007n7 long ago in order to devote himself to acquiring the void star. An item he swore to the other that he’ll achieve so he could rule the world upon the grand scheme of things.
In a way, he was sort of negatively influenced by 007n7. The ex-hacker feeling extra that day, he joked about how Noli should acquire the Void star for him. Dared him even. He didn’t actually think he would take it seriously.
But now that he has it? He didn’t feel that much different.
He only just came back from his achievement. Not that long ago, maybe about a week or two back, he sent a text to 007n7 to let the other know that he found what he was looking for. The power equivalent to that of a deity.
And yet, the message felt empty by itself. Coming up short, he instead followed up the message.
“How have you been?” “How's that kid of yours doing?” “Did you miss me?”
All these questions about daily life, playfulness and curiosity in the last question. They felt more fulfilling, promising.
He just needed more time to process his time spent alone. The passage of time was a scary one, the fight against the clock. If just for a moment, if he spent more time with the single father— spent more time with the father and son duo. Would anything have changed at all? Or would they still be living peacefully? Leaving him behind like a lone sheep, separated from the herd, abandoned to another.
He also needed time to acknowledge that yes, 007n7 was different in comparison to the person he was in the past.
Sure, he wasn’t that same radiant and mischievous man he used to know… But he was still the 007n7. He still had that hint of cheekiness, playing tricks in his own little ways. Through words, he played along to Noli’s teasing and made his own little comebacks.
How could he not love him?
He snaps back into reality to the sound of 007n7’s coughing.
Coolkid was in the middle of patting his father’s back, trying to ease the pain as the man covered his mouth with the palm of his hand. The coughing fit refusing to let up, Noli rushes over to provide support as he kneels in front of the two. Gently sweeping the hair out of 007n7’s face, he notes the way the father’s eyes squeezed shut with every cough he sputtered.
It only lasted for a minute, but it felt like an eternity.
The cough diminishes. Leaving the poor man gasping for air as he tried to recollect himself from the fit. Subconsciously, he leans into the hacker’s side, placing the tip of his forehead into the crook of Noli’s shoulder.
Noli speaks softly, holding onto 007n7, “You good..?” he asks softly.
The ex-hacker shakes his head, unable to speak before glimpsing down to the sight of Coolkid holding a glass of water up to his father with a worried stiff expression. He holds it up higher, emphasizing the gesture, urging his father to take the glass.
Wordlessly, he gently plucks the glass out of his child’s hands, letting out a small ‘Thank you’ before taking slow, occasional sips. Trying his best to not rush the water down his throat even if he wanted to. He relished in the way the water soothed the inside of his esophagus. Finally handing the glass back to the kid.
Noli observes the man beneath him, placing a hand up to 007n7’s forehead to reassess his temperature. He frowns at the warmer contact. His fever was rising again, his progress from earlier basically being reset back to zero.
He moves to gently lean the man back against the bed frame, “Do you think you can eat a bit?” he asks quietly.
“I’ll try to eat a little,” 007n7 replies hesitantly.
“Don’t push yourself if you can’t finish it all. Just try to eat as much as your stomach can allow it,” He hummed casually.
The father would give a curt nod, watching as the hacker moves to grab the bowl and scoop a spoonful of the soup. The hacker holds a hand under the spoon to prevent any spills, gently blowing the steam. Noli hovers the spoon over to the other’s mouth, urging for the other to open up.
Was he…spoon feeding him right now?
For some reason, 007n7’s face turned a darker shade of red. The hacker couldn’t tell if it was still the fever or from out of embarrassment, “Uh.. Noli, I can feed myself y’know.” he stares at the spoon, dumbfounded.
“Really now? I think it would be much better if I fed you. Wouldn’t want you dropping the spoon considering how weak you are right now,” Noli teases with a devious smirk.
“...Really, you’re insufferable.”
On the other hand, Coolkid was watching as this all went down. He blinks innocently, his hands holding onto the edge of the bed’s sheets whilst 007n7 eats from Noli’s hand. His father grumbled softly as he got spoon-fed, clearly flustered by the manner.
Noli would feed 007n7 a spoonful, and then pause before scooping another. He waits patiently for the other to finish chewing or swallowing before moving to give him another spoonful upon permission. Some moments, he takes a bit longer to chew, clearly struggling a bit to keep it down, but manages to swallow after a few moments of hesitation.
He didn't want to push the other, but he also wanted to make sure the other was able to get through the night without hunger gnawing at him.
Suddenly Coolkid would climb his way onto the bed. He reaches for the bowl in Noli’s hand, his expression pleading, “I want to feed Papa too!” he begs.
Noli would blink in surprise before handing the bowl over to the kid without question, “Be my guest.” he hummed.
“Yayy! Thanks, Uncle Noli!” Coolkid cheered, gently grabbing hold of the food, he scoops a generous amount of soup and moves it towards his father’s mouth,
“Say ahhh,” the child giggled playfully, a bright smile spread across his face.
007n7 was more reluctant to open his mouth in comparison to Noli. Obviously wanting to make his son happy, he wears a gentle smile, opening his mouth “Ahh..” he says while Coolkid popped the spoon into his mouth with a surprisingly gentle manor.
Noli half expected for the kid to have shoved the utensil into the poor man’s mouth, but he was pleasantly surprised by the kid’s carefulness. The child had the same amount of patience as Noli did while he was feeding his father, and he waited for the other to chew before giving him another spoonful.
The 10-year old was a lot more smarter than he realized. It only took a few minutes before replicating the hacker's mannerisms by simply observing in such a short amount of time.
After a little while, 007n7 would start to refuse the food, moving his face away from the spoon when lifted towards him. It was very likely he had reached his limit as he gently pushed the spoon away, “I don’t think I can continue… Sorry.” he apologizes with the lower of his head.
In the end, he was only able to finish about half of the soup, but it was still something. He managed to eat a lot more than he initially thought, so Noli would take whatever he was given.
He gets the bowl handed back to him by Coolkid, placing the item back onto the “sick-tray” before picking it up to go do the dishes, “Alright then, try and get some rest, Seven. We'll see you again in the morning.” he hums softly.
The father nods his head before maneuvering his way back down into a resting position. He snuggles his head deeper into the pillow with a heavy sigh, his eyes remaining on the two in front of him.
“Nighty night, Dad!” Coolkid whispered cheerfully to his father before hopping off the bed, following after Noli.
007n7 watches as they left. Shutting the door softly behind them, he let's out a comfortable hum.
He closes his eyes, his heart full of warmth.
The next day, not much happened.
Or so Noli wished that nothing much happened.
Noli would wake up, staring up at the ceiling from where he laid on the couch. They didn’t exactly have a spare bed anywhere, so the hacker resorted to just sleeping on the living room furniture. Obviously not the most comfortable place to sleep in, but he didn’t want to bother the father and son duo for anything more. At the very least, Coolkid was able to find a spare blanket and pillow for him to have.
He checks the clock to take note of the time, letting out a yawn before begrudgingly getting off of the couch to get ready for the day.
He passed by the bathroom, the muffled sounds of singing could be heard on the other side, a likely indicator that Coolkid was up and also getting ready.
Noli makes his way down the hallway, his hand tracing the outlines of the walls, he reaches the familiar door to his friend’s room. Gently pushing it open, he peeks inside to see if Seven was still alive. Noting the faint rise and fall of 007n7’s form, he lets out a sigh of relief.
He casually makes his way over to the other’s bedside, gently placing the back of his hand against the other’s temples; He checks up on the other’s fever once again.
It was relatively warm, but it seemed to have gone down again, thankfully.
The room was filled with a warm light, the sun rising slowly upon the horizon. The room was oddly comforting. It had a subtle warmth— a pleasant, fuzzy feeling.
It was peaceful.
He doesn’t know what overcomes him, but he’s lowering his head. His face now inches away from Seven’s.
He stares at the details carved into Seven’s face. His eyes tracing his skin up to his resting expression. Noli notes the relaxation in his brow, the light snoring. On the outside, he looks like your stereotypical middle aged man— an awkward, clumsy old man looking out for his son.
But to Noli? He was still that same magnificent man. Dare he say, the single parent seemed even more beautiful from this angle.
He was caring for the other silently in his own ways. Patiently waiting for him.
How could he not love him?
He gently placed a soft kiss between the cress of Seven's brows. A quick peck to his dampened skin.
Silence.
…
Did he just?
He reeled back, realization hitting him like a bull in a fighting ring. He's shriveling away in embarrassment. Frantically covering his face between his hands from no one in particular. A light purple highlight spread across his face.
Oh god, what have he done?
Honestly, he has no idea why he felt the need to hide his expression like some flustered anime girl when it was just him and 007n7— Alone. Just the two of them. In 007n7’s room, alone.
He just couldn’t help it!
Maybe it was the atmosphere. Maybe it was the early morning fatigue catching up to him. Maybe it was an irresistible pull brought by 007n7’s charm.
And yet— he just casually… smooched 007n7 on the forehead! Yeah, no biggie! Not like he’s ever going to be able to erase that memory from his brain anytime soon!
He internally screams, his face still buried deep into his hands. He feels the urge to plant his head into the ground 6-ft under. Just to attempt at even forgetting about it all before pausing. He peeks through the crevices of his fingers, now taking note of the single father’s behavior.
There was a pause in the other’s rise and fall of his chest. It was almost as if the man was holding his breath. Almost as if he moved a muscle something was going to shatter. It was like he was awake...
Then he sees it. The brightening red hue ever so slowly creeping its way up 007n7’s face.
“...Seven, please don’t tell me you’re awake.”
“...Is there something you want to tell me, Noli?”
Coolkid waltzed into the room, humming cheerfully to himself before stopping in his tracks to stare at the sight beholding him.
His father was awake, but his face was buried in his hands. His skin was beet red, and he wasn’t quite sure if it was just his fever worsening or something else.
Noli was the same, his hands cradling his face; Back faced towards 007n7.
The child blinks confused, “Uncle Noli why is your face so purple— Do you have a fever too?!” he asks with bewilderment.
The hacker turned even redder— or rather, more purple in this case. But he waves a hand pathetically, sputtering out nonsense, “N-NO! I’m not– Just.. I’m just embarrassed, that's all.” he tries to pull excuses out of fried brain, “I was just… Remembering a really embarrassing memory- Yeah! Isn’t that right, Seven?” he awkwardly coughed.
“Y-Yeah! We were just reminiscing.” was all 007n7 could mutter out, his face still hiding into the palm of his hands.
The child only gives them a suspicious look, not entirely convinced, “Oookay, if you say so.”
Hours pass by.
Noli is on the couch, nonchalantly reading through a random book he found off the family’s bookshelf to pass the time whilst Coolkid was doodling away. The kid paid no mind to the hacker as he continued to draw, feet kicking and a hum settled on his tongue.
Silence.
The hacker buried his head into the pages of the book. A dramatic plume of smoke admitted from his face as a stream of heat ran up to his cheeks.
God he wishes he could just erase embarrassing memories from his mind.
Don’t get him wrong, the amount of times he playfully flirted with 007n7 back in their college days was like second nature to him. 007n7 flirted back to him as well, but it was clear as day to the both of them that it was obviously to be taken as a joke.
But now?
He can’t tell if it was because he was separated from 007n7 for so long, or if it was because he was so touch-starved— Or maybe both…That could explain the reason for why these flirtatious habits turned into something more serious. Like they had actual weight behind them.
Perhaps it was also because they were much older now. No longer in their childish, immature, whimsical wonderment of college life.
His heart festered and swooned for the single father more than he realized, but he didn't think he was that desperate…
…Was he?
Noli was unsure as he thought it over in his head.
He couldn’t help but recall the events that took place a few hours beforehand. Feeling a sense of gratitude towards whatever fate played a part in Coolkid’s timing, because if the child walked in while he was forehead smooching his father? He just knows the kid would’ve never live him down for it.
The clock hits exactly 10 pm, the night storming once again as the sound of heavy rain hits the roof of the house. Coolkid hoped the storm wasn’t going to start thundering since the sound and flashing light scared him a little bit, but right now he had something else to worry about.
He could worry about the thunder later.
Right now he was standing nervously in the doorway to his father’s room, watching as Noli accessed the sick who was laying in bed. The hacker supported the back of his father’s head with a gentle and caring hand. Heavy banging rang against the walls of the room due to the heavy rainfall.
His father’s breathing was erratic.
The child listened, he could hear the worry in the hacker’s voice. He could see the way Noli gently tried to shake the other awake, “Seven, hey, what’s wrong? You gotta speak to me man,” the hacker would say in a somewhat frantic and quiet voice. Trying his best to hide the panic in his tone.
Despite the hacker's efforts, Coolkid could tell something was wrong.
Severely wrong.
The kid moves to take a step back.
Noli on the other hand was internally freaking out, observing the expression on the father’s face as it pinched in pain, mouth agape in a silent anguish. He wasn’t waking up and sweat pooled from his forehead. He was struggling to get the air flowing through his lungs. His face back to a full flush, with heat coming off of him like a blazing furnace. The hacker silently curses, looking over at the items he left on the counter, he grabs for the thermometer.
He quickly apologies before stuffing the stick into his mouth, waiting nervously before hearing the beeping sound that came with the temperature check.
105°F (40.6°C)... Shit.
They needed to go to the hospital, now .
But how would he get there without making the other’s condition worse? He didn’t have a car since he made the terrible decision of walking here, but he couldn’t exactly carry the other to the emergency room. Definitely not in this weather either, the storm that was brewing outside made sure of that.
He could try calling someone… But who would he call?
Sure he could call up a cult member, but he highly doubts any of them are smart enough to keep this on the down low.
The hacker turned his head over for any solutions, racking his brain for ideas, solutions, anything, but came up short. Sure he could teleport, but he specialized in short distance teleporting. Not long distance teleportation— That was 007n7’s forte.
He wished he got the ex-hacker’s expertise.
He’s about to let out a string of curses before remembering that Coolkid was still idly nearby. He goes to assess the child, turning around to where he thought the child was.
The only thing that greeted him was the empty hallway. The door is still wide open.
Extremely stressed about the situation, he gently laid 007n7 back down before quickly standing up in a panic. He breaks out into a sweat, rubbing his head in silent frustration. Noli desperately looks around the room for any signs of the child. Hoping that the kid was just playing a prank for the hell of it, which was highly unlikely considering his father’s condition, but a man could dream. The idea of Coolkid disappearing was way worse.
He lets out a frustrated sigh, forcing himself to make his way towards the hallway before pausing. Glancing over at the single father’s sickly and fragile frame. His eyes stayed on the other, having to force himself to look away.
He wants to make sure the other was okay… but he knew Seven would never forgive him if something happened to his son.
Coolkid timidly stood at the entrance with the door wide open; The rain roared loudly along with the wind, overwhelming his senses with an ominous howl. He remained hesitant, shakingly still– the wind blowing and whirling, it made the wood creak with an eerie sound. He felt his heart tightening, gripping a handful of his raincoat in the clutch of his hands before shutting his eyes and storming out of the house.
His rain boots splattered against the pavement with a rush of adrenaline. He made a mad dash to the next door neighbor, he could hear the loud pounding of his heart echoing within his ears.
He didn’t know who he was, but he remembered his father chatting with the neighbor on a random day. He didn’t quite exactly get a good look of who his next door neighbor was; nor could he remember their appearance. But he was his quickest bet to get help. Even if he was unsure on whether or not his neighbor could be trusted.
And Coolkid knows his father said to never let strangers into the house… but what other choice did he have? He didn’t want to bother Bluudud and his mom, and they lived too far away to begin with. Prettyprincess and her guardian also lived too far away, so his safest bet was to ask the nearest neighbor.
He finally reaches the front porch of his neighbor’s door, his breathes heavy from having to run such a distance, but he could care less as he raises his arms to slam against the door. His fists rang heavy, banging frantically to grab someone— anyone’s attention that could possibly be living inside. He opens his mouth to scream, “Please! You have to help me! My Papa is in trouble and he needs help, please! I’m begging you, please!” he hysterically cries.
Oh, he's crying.
Coolkid felt the newly found rise in tears. Feeling as they streamed down his face as he continued to frantically bang on his neighbor's door. Begging for someone to answer his cries.
The banging lasted for a minute and Coolkid started to dread the possibility of the owner not being home before seeing in the corner of his eye, he saw the light turning on inside through the window. He felt a rush of relief wash over him.
In a matter of seconds he backs away as the door swung open to Elliot with a worried expression. His messy, curly hair, hurriedly tied back in a crude ponytail, “Coolkid?” the pizza boy would stare wide eyed.
He remembered him.
He remembered the other man from the pizza restaurant his father would usually take him to on good days. The worker was always friendly despite his chaotic antics— lightly scolding him for messing up the place, but he never raised his hand towards him, ever. Sure, he was somewhat scary when it came to berating him about messing up the place, but he was still kind to his father on rare occasions.
And that was more than enough for Coolkid to trust him.
The child goes to grab at the ends of the other’s shirt. He cries with teary eyes, sobbing, “Please! My Papa is sick and— And something is wrong, I don’t know what to do!” he begs his neighbor.
The pizza worker stares in shock as he gently holds the back of the child’s head in a side hug. He looked around to see if anyone was nearby, taking note of the weather outside before looking down at the hysterical child once more. He crouches down and holds him by the shoulders, making eye contact with the kid, “Hey, hey… It’s going to be okay. Let me get my keys and we’ll both head over to your house, okay?” he affirms, gently wiping the tears away from the child’s cheek.
The child, unable to let out any more comprehensible sentences, would only nod his head shakingly before waiting as Eliott rushed back inside his house to grab his items.
Noli felt dread upon seeing the front door being left wide open.
He’s about to pull out his commands, fully prepared to start a mad dog hunt, before noticing a car pulling up into the driveway of the family’s house. He sees a yellow man adorned in a red coat hurriedly step out of the car, umbrella in tow, he runs up to the entrance to greet the hacker.
Upon first contact, Noli grabs the pizza boy’s shoulders in a rush, unintentionally gripping a little too roughly, “Where's Coolkid?” he inquired with a dark, yet worriedly tone for the safety of the kid. He could only assume that the other knew about the child’s whereabouts if they were so confident in entering the family’s driveway.
The man winced at the sudden grab, but he kept a calm composure. Understanding that the hacker was likely in a stressful situation, “In the car,” Elliot would swiftly respond, “And you are…?” he asks with the raise of a brow.
Noli drops his hands from the other’s shoulders with a sigh of relief, letting out a little apology for suddenly grabbing the other before answering the man’s question, “Noli. I’m a friend of Seven’s. Did the kid bring you over here?”
“Something like that. But we can talk about that later, where's 007?” the pizza worker replies, making sure to be quick.
The hacker moves aside to allow the other to enter the house, “Not doing so good, his fever is high enough to garter an emergency visit,” Noli would make his way back to the ex-hacker’s room, he continues to explain, “You being here is a miracle in itself since I didn’t have a car with me when I came here.” he clarifies while opening the door to the other’s room.
Elliot would simply nod as he followed the purple figure into the father’s room. He takes notice of 007n7’s stature and winces at the sight he was greeted with. The young father’s rise and fall of his chest came out in sputters, with a deep rosy hue dusting his cheeks from the angle that the pizza worker could see.
Noli would make his way over to the bed to gently lean down and hook his arm under 007n7’s back, with the other arm placed under his legs. He rests the father’s head into the crook of his neck as he feels the way his ragged breathing feels against his skin, “Sorry seven, we’re going to have to move you. It might be uncomfortable for a little while..” He quietly apologizes before briefly picking up the limp body. A silent whine would be the only response he gets from the sickly man before nodding in Elliot’s direction.
The pizza worker would nod in return before heading back to the entrance. He promptly opens the umbrella he had earlier, and holds it out for Noli since he had his hands full with a limp 007n7. He tries his best to make sure none of the rain soaked neither of them before moving.
They made their way towards Elliot’s car, the pizza boy opening the passenger side to help Noli readjust 007n7 in his arms as he scooted his way into the back seat. He was greeted with a worried Coolkid staring at him with bleary eyes in the back seat. The child sniffed every now and then, likely having just finished sobbing.
The hacker gives the kid a wary but comforting smile before gently laying the father’s head into his lap. He subconsciously places a hand on top of 007n7’s forehead, feeling the warmth seep into his palm as he did. Noli watches as Elliot hurriedly takes a seat in the driver’s seat. Setting the umbrella aside rather uncaringly before starting the car up again to drive off.
007n7 wakes up to the muffled, distant sounds of a beating heart monitor. His head felt like it was full of lead, struggling to comprehend his surroundings. His limbs felt surprisingly numb, his mind starting to race upon the realization he wasn’t in his house.
Subtly moving his hand, he feels a tug.
He tries to force his eyes to adjust to the darkness, a little relieved to know the lights weren’t on— besides the hallway light filtering in through the door.
He looks down, his hand gently wrapped around another’s. He instantly recognizes the familiar crimson skin of his child. He softly tightens his grip around his son’s hand.
Coolkid looked… exhausted to say the least. A frown slowly forming on 007n7’s face, he turns over to find Noli sleeping in a chair beside him. His head was tilted down at an awkward angle, the void star humming silently above.
He tests his voice, a small croak, “...Noli.” he silently whispered.
It was almost instant, the hacker's eyes blinked open to stare at him. His eyes now wide awake.
They simply gazed at each other. Neither of them broke eye contact amongst the silence.
He opens and closes his mouth, unsure of what to say.
Noli does him a favor and speaks first, “...How are you feeling?” he whispers.
“A little light headed…” he answers honestly, “I’m guessing we’re in the hospital right now?” he mumbles faintly.
The hacker remained silent; His expression somber, “You really scared us, Seven.” Noli spoke with a delicate tone. Lowering his eyes, his brows creased.
He bit the inside of his cheek, guilt-ridden, “... Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Noli responds.
They remain silent again.
007n7 is still tightly holding onto his son’s hand, but with his other he would reach for Noli’s. Slow and calculated, he watches as the hacker gently brings his hand up to allow 007n7 to place his hand into his. It was then, did the father realize, there was an IV strapped onto the back of his hand. The wiring made its way up to the IV stand, dripping delicately.
His eyes lingered on Noli, finding himself unable to put thoughts to words. He feels a slight squeeze from the hacker, a small signal of comfort. A reminder to each other that they’re present, hand in hand.
He opens his mouth to speak, a little raspy, “How… Did you bring me here exactly? I don’t remember you having a car.”
“You have your son to thank for that. The little rascal almost gave me a heart attack before pulling up with your next door neighbor— Elliot, I think his name was.” Noli sighs.
He blinks in surprise, “Coolkid brought Elliot over?” he pauses, a complicated expression on his face, “Don’t tell me he ran over there by himself.”
Noli looked to the side with a guilty expression, “Cut me some slack. I only took my eyes off of him for 5 seconds and he was already out the door.” the hacker places a free hand up to his temples, he lets out a huff, “And, don’t be mad at the kid… he was only looking out for you. I’m honestly glad he did— I didn’t know how else I was going to transport you to the hospital, and I swear I was going to look for your son.”
He looks away, not wanting to see the father’s reaction, “I can promise you that if Coolkid didn’t come back within 2 minutes, I would’ve flipped the earth and back just to find him. I was just…relieved to know that he came back with your neighbor in tow.” Noli explained, slightly glancing in 007n7’s direction with a somewhat nervous expression, waiting for the other to scold him for being so careless.
007n7 stared into the hacker’s eyes, he softly sighs, “As long as he’s safe… I can’t be mad at either of you.” he gently squeezes Noli’s hand, his gaze wandering over each wrinkle of the other’s hand, “I want to be mad at you for losing sight of him for even a second… But at the same time, I can’t blame you. Not when you were both looking out for me.”
Noli stares back, his expression softening.
“Where’s Elliot?” 007n7 inquired, a raise in his brow.
“He’s talking with one of the doctors right now,” Noli hums softly, “He said he’ll give us a ride back after your fever goes down.”
He nods in understanding, “I see… I should really apologize to him after all of this dies down. I already owe him so much...” he mumbled.
Seconds tick by, the heart monitor silently beeping in the background amongst the silence that hung between the two of them. 007n7 felt his eyes starting to droop, fatigue pulling at him once more. He doesn’t want to sleep just yet, but his body was already spent. He wanted to bask in Noli’s cool touch just a little longer.
Almost as if he knew, the hacker uses a free hand to brush 007n7’s bangs to the side.
Gentle, mellow, loving movements.
Noli gently smiles at him, “Go to sleep Seven. I’ll be here when you wake up.”