I think the worst part about being on the aro-ace spectrum is knowing you’ll probably never be anyone’s first choice. Like. I love my friends and I’d like to think they still love me, but compared to their partners (current or hypothetical future ones) I’ll always be at least second. And it’s fine, I don’t expect to be above someone who they love so much they want to spend the rest of their life with, but just knowing every allo person is a first choice to someone else and I never will be? ,,, kinda sucks,, :/
oh humble jester, i carry a request for thou. invision this, a survivor!reader who is the accidental "child" of 77noli excpet they were made by remenants of their magic/hacker stuff during their college days and were abandoned by 007n7 and raised by noli's cult. how would the survivors, noli and c00lkidd react to them? anywho, have a great day and happy halloween (everyday from august to december 24 is halloween to me)
Do You Remember Your Promise?
Survivors, Noli and c00lkidd + Reader
Summary: Abandonment and being raised by a cult does things to a growing child, the question you've been wondering is why. Thankfully, you won't have to wait much longer to get your answer.
Word count: 3750
Oh you're evil, I like that! Happy late Halloween, Christmas, and happy new years, strangely time accustomed friend!
Of course, due to the nature of this request, this story not only uses Old-Lore Noli, but is also purely platonic. Now onto the show!
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It was obvious you were treated differently than others were.
You saw it in the way the other people were talked to compared to you. In the way they talked to you.
Reverent, patient, admired and worshipped.
You were important to these people, you knew that much.
The way they sang praises to you, and your father, Noli. They'd call you his 'Messenger', his one true 'Prophet'. You had them at your beck and call.
If only you could say the same about your father. He wasn't around much, but you couldn't blame him much for that. He was of the busy sort, he always had something to do— Causing mayhem and whatnot. You did enjoy the times you were able to spend with him.
But sometimes he'd come back frustrated, and he'd rant to you about your 'Creator'. How he abandoned you, how he decided he was too good for him— For you. And how he replaced you with some baby that randomly showed up on his doorstep one day.
Needless to say, you weren't the biggest fan of your Creator.
So when you were transported to this strange place and saw him, you couldn't help but be a little antagonistic toward him. Not that he recognized you anyway.
You were a Sentinel, which was useful enough. You could conjure a mask to throw at the killer to both stun and reverse their movements, and you could send clones to hold the killer in place. Not only that, but you're also able to stun the killer by inducing hallucinations.
It wasn't hard to see how much they needed someone like you, if their countless pleas of gratitude were anything to go by.
Some had their suspicions, especially when you'd clasped your hands at dinner in prayer. One of them— You believe their name was Two Time— Asked who you prayed to, and you unabashedly said 'Father Noli'.
Your Creator had choked on his food at the response, while the rest at the table looked uncomfortable. They'd become more uneasy around you after that.
It was funny to see.
You mostly spent your time in the cabin, doing something weird and nonsensical. Anything that would get on the survivors' nerves, to keep them on edge.
Mainly 007n7, just to see his reactions.
Definitely just that, not for anything else.
It was another one of those nights, where you sought out someone to annoy. But they'd all taken up company with people that aren't that fun to tease, all except for one of them.
Your Creator.
Sat alone at a booth, a longful look on his face with his c00lgui pulled up in front of him. Much too invested on whatever was on his screen to pay attention to you— His surroundings.
You let out a sigh and rolled your eyes as you approached him. Your fingers wiggled in preparation.
Then snagged his c00lgui.
"Yoink!"
And he was quick to react— Head snapped to your direction, wide eyed and taken off guard, while his hand shot out to take back what was his.
"Hey! Give that back!"
You dangled it away from reach, a cheeky grin on your face and a hand flat to his chest to keep his own from reaching his tablet.
"Or what? Unlike me, you can't do anything without this dinky little thing!" With a chuckle to your voice, you turned your head. "Now let's see what's so important to—"
Your grin fell.
On the c00lgui, was a picture, of him and that brat of his.
A ninth birthday celebriation. At least, that's what you assumed it to be. With a 9 shaped candle that's been captured flung in mid-air, the brat's hands were blurred, having slammed into his birthday cake in his excitement. With your Creator's white smile being that of pride, seemingly unaware of what happened right next to him.
Usually, you'd laugh at such a scene. But instead, your shoulders slumped down. Any mirth that you would've felt was replaced by a hollowness in your chest.
Your hand lowered, before a chuckle made its way past your lips.
Bitter, halfhearted, and forced.
Much like the way the corners of your mouth lifted up as you handed the c00lgui back to your now-confused Creator.
"Huh—?"
You cut him off with a huff. "Bo-ring, I thought it'd be something cool."
Your Creator looked down at it, then back up at you as he quickly took it back into his arms. Hugged it like it was his own child—
Your smile twitched. And you promptly turned on your heel to leave the dinning area with a wave over your shoulder.
"Welp, bye-bye!"
Said in the same tone that your father used when he bid you fairwell.
And although you couldn't see it, you were sure by the sharp gasp that that fairwell earned you a good reaction. Perhaps even a funny one.
But you were no longer in the mood for such things.
For the image your Creator held so dearly remained burned in your mind, even as you stoked the flames in the fireplace with a fire poker.
'That could've been me.. It should've been me..'
You shook your head, and decided to sit there to warm up for the time being.
.
.
.
A round had started a while ago, and you couldn't be more ready to cause some mischief.
To get rid of whatever thoughts raged on in that head of yours.
Though when you roamed the forested area, alongside the screams of Elliot— That dumb pizza boy— You felt a rather familiar buzz in the air. One that pulled your feet toward it with a certain level of urgency.
Laughter rang through the air, glitched, mocking and so very familiar.
And just as you rounded a corner, you saw him toss Elliot to the ground, a wide grin on his mask as he raised his hand—
"Father Noli!"
He stopped just like that, void star hovered still above his hand, head whipped to your direction as you stood there with heavy breath.
And unlike every meeting you've had with him, he was quiet. No laughter, jabs, or jokes.
He simply stared.
His head tilted a second later.
"L1ttl3 M3ss3ng3r..?"
Elliot passed the both of you a look that spanned from a furrowed confused brow, to wide eyed horror as he took this chance to get up and escape, his arm clutched hard.
Noli didn't follow after him.
You began to approach, slow, before you broke into a sprint into his arms. Your arms wrapped tight around him like a coil, and you had to bite back the urge to cry, even then your relief was felt as you pulled back to look up at him.
"Father– I– You're here–! You're actually here.."
Gentle, like you'd shatter if he grabbed you too harshly.
There was a long second that passed by, his hands stilled around your shoulders. But eventually, he took hold of your face.
The masked half of his face held a frown. There was a crackle to his staticy voice as he tilted his head.
"[W—WHY].. Why 4re you here..?"
That's when your hope began to wither, your relieved smile faded into a shaky line.
'Did he.. Not know I was here..?'
"I.. Wish I knew.." A glance over to where Elliot ran, your grip on Noli's robe tighter. "I went out to look for you, but it got too foggy and next thing I knew, I was in a cabin with these people.."
"Didn't I tell you not to [le–le–leave] the community?"
"You did, but— But you've been gone for months! The members were starting to ask ques—.."
You paused mid-sentence, gaze darted to the ground.
There was no reason to hide how you truly felt, not to your father.
But even then, you leaned into his hand to avoid the obligation to face him— Didn't want to out of a fear you couldn't understand. Your voice shaky, quieter.
Vulnerable.
"I.. Thought you left me too.."
And while you didn't see it, Noli's heart very nearly broke. His eye wide, before he brought you back into another hug.
"Oh, [N–NO NO NO]..! I wo–wo–wouldn't— You know I wouldn't abandon you."
The corners of your eyes stung with tears, the frown you held a shaky one as you shook your head against his robe, in an attempt to hide your fears.
How you wished this were the end of this horrid experience, and that he'd sooth away the rest of your worries. But it felt like something else was amiss, the static around him felt heavier, more prickly, more dizzying.
You pulled back after a moment, and caught the briefest second of anger on the masked half of his face before concern took its place.
You tried to ignore it, in hopes of it not being directed at you.
"I was.. Hoping, you'd come save me from this place.."
You finally looked back up at him, and from this angle, the bags under your eyes were obvious enough for him to notice.
Especially when you refused to let go of him, quite the opposite— Held on tighter. Not that he made any moves to pull away. You continued, shoulders sagged while your voice held a level of fear and uncertainty that he rarely heard from you.
"You were.. Here, this entire time, weren't you..?"
His grip on your shoulders tightened, before he reached out to cup your face again.
"I—"
—The round was over, much sooner than you would've liked.
You stared at the table in front of you in wide eyed disbelief, before you brought your hands together, as though in prayer. Face down while you ruminated over the last round.
Truly, you didn't know what to pray for.
"..."
One of the chairs scraped loudly against the wooden flooring, an ear-grating sound to you.
And when you looked, it was that pizza boy again, stood next to you, who looked near scandalized with how his arm crossed over his chest.
"You're- You actually know Noli?!"
All eyes were on you, you could feel it. Much like the eyes of the community members, who'd wait and hang onto your every word in the sermons you'd hold after a meeting with Noli.
Except they weren't part of your community.
The displeasure must've been clear on your face, as Elliot's wary expression faltered when you barely turned your head to look at him.
"I never hid it."
Disdain coated your words, no longer in the mood for such displays of shock and awe. You lowered your hands onto the table, eyes narrowed as you straightened up in your seat. You gave him the same stare of disapproval Noli would give those that interrupted your chats.
"Why didn't you tell me he was here?"
That's when he dropped the surprised act, which turned into a sidelong glance at the others with a quiet 'Uhh' , his hand slowly lowered to grab at his arm.
"I, uh.."
A look around the table made whoever survived the round turn away from you with.. What was it? Disgust? Embarressment?
Distrust?
It reminded you too much of the day Noli introduced you to the rest of the Star Void community. The doubt in their eyes, the whispers they exchanged.
You really didn't want to stay any longer than you needed to.
With the roll of your eyes, you pushed yourself from the table, made a show of it with a groan.
"Ugh, some team you guys are.."
Elliot reached out for you when you stood up, only to pull back when you shot him a look. And walked past him, but not without another interruption— From Builerman this time, who stood up from his seat.
"Wait, we need ta talk about this—"
"—I need time."
You cut him off, only you would decide when it was best to discuss this news.
Frankly speaking, you lost the energy to talk.
You went off, out of the dining room and up the stairs.
Only to find yourself tucked away in a corner by the railing in the game room, the pages of a random book flipped in your hand mindlessly. The words didn't register, far too distracted by the fact that Noli was here.
He didn't leave you.
And while that was a much needed reassurance, it left you with a dreadful realization that settled deep in your thoughts.
Sure, the admins were here too— Though you'd always had your doubts about their true power level— But Noli? Your father, here?
Whatever brought you all here, was stronger than Noli. Him being in this realm was proof of that.
Your hands still shook as you wheezed out something between a laugh and a cry.
".. This is a biiig problem.."
.
.
.
Another round, one more and it'll be over for the night for all of you.
Some of your teammates had already fallen at this point, if their screams that cut off far too early were anything to go by.
At least it's somewhere with an indoor area. These nights can get pretty cold in this realm.
What was this place called again? You didn't really care that much, the ballpit in one of the rooms did peak your interest though.
Oh, what you would do to get a chance to dive right in there.
Unfortunately, the last round put such a hamper on your sense of wonder and fun, that you couldn't bring yourself to put in any effort this time.
'I should just let the killer get me, this isn't fun..'
But it seemed the world— Or rather, whatever took you to this glorified hell, had other plans. As an obnoxious cackle made you shiver involuntary with how loud it was.
You knew that dumb laugh all too well at this point.
And as you went into one of the bigger rooms in this place, your eyes lit up.
Your Creator, hidden behind one of the stand-alone walls, while his brat of a son called out to him.
He'd taken quite a beating, his breath sharp while he held onto his arm.
A giggle left your lips at the sight.
"Jackpot.."
A wide grin spread upon your face as a plan began to form in your mind.
And you took that chance to perform it the moment c00lkidd spotted him.
Without a second thought, you ran over to the two— To your Creator, and clung to him like glue. Feigned a great sadness and fear as you buried your head in his shoulder with a cry.
"D—Dad! I'm scared..!"
That stopped both of them in their tracks. Your Creator's hands hovered over your shoulders as he looked down at you in surprise, then in shock after he processed what you'd said.
"Wha—"
"'Dad'? He's not your dad, he's mine!"
That brat of his stood a little far away, confused as he pointed at himself.
You, however, turned your head and stuck out your tongue at him.
"Well, I was here first!"
His face contorted into one of frustration as he stomped his foot with a yell.
"No you weren't! He's my dad!"
Just when you were about to shoot off another quip, a hand gently patted your head.
Your Creator's hand.
It was near impossible to pretend like that simple action didn't throw away all your thoughts, let alone keep yourself from the urge to look up at him.
The back of his shirt wrinkled in your grip.
And it looked like you weren't the only one affected by his action, as his child's face flared up in anger. Only then did he start to run toward the two of you.
"Hey—! Stop that! Let go of him!"
You'd snapped out of your trance, and pushed yourself out of the hug you inititated. Your Creator's expression went from confusion to a mix of both worry and hurt.
But you kept your eyes away from his. Didn't want to get distracted any further than earlier. As one moment, you were stood next to him.
And the next, you'd gone and tackled his brat of a son to the ground.
Claws near immeditately flew up to scratch at your face, as did your own nails against his. A tumble and a struggle to keep the other down as you exchanged punches.
And your Creator tried, tried to get you two to quit your fighting, but his shouts fell on deaf ears.
Meanwhile laughter filled yours. Manical, unrestrained, and free.
It felt better than you'd expected, all that pent up anger, expelled through your fists.
Neither of you used your abilities. Only raw strength and the words that poured out of you both.
It was more of a catfight than one of survival.
You pulled back for a moment, smile giddy with eyes that were wide open, while your hair was a mess.
The brat glared up at you, angry tears at the corners of his eyes.
He'd planted his arms to the ground, you thought of it as sign of his surrender, and was about to mock him for his weakness.
"Get—" He quickly drew back his legs under you and kicked you in the stomach. "—OFF of me!"
"ACK—"
You were flung off by the force of his kick.
The support beams for the stage behind you dug into your back when you landed, to which your Creator was quick to shout out your name. Your neck hurt from how fast you turned to look at him.
Not even a second after did he come take you by the arm, and pulled you onto your feet into a run, with him by your side.
And it was only for a moment, that he glanced back at you— More like he scanned your face— His brows furrowed before he looked back ahead.
"We gotta get out of here..!"
And right as you heard another call from behind you—
—Time had run out, and you found yourself seated at the 'Winner's' table.
You blinked a couple times, and took a second to catch your breath. Before you shook your head as you stood up and stretched your arms with a laugh.
"Woow! Finally got that out of my system. That was fun."
The rest of the table was confused and looked at you weirdly, though mostly uncomfortable— Probably due to the fact that you and Noli were connected.
Your Creator however, didn't even glance up, gaze stuck down at the table. When he spoke, it was slow, unsure.
"You.. Called me dad.."
"Yeah? And?" You gave him a sidelong glance, and waved a hand at him with a cheery tilt to your voice. "I wanted to make him mad, or jealous. Worked pretty well, huh?"
"Wait, you're.." His eyes went wide, a mix of both horror and pure fascination on his tongue as he stared at you. "There's no way.. You weren't a clone..?"
Your grin faltered, and turned into a frown when you slowly turned to look at him. Your hand twitched closed.
".. What.. Did you call me?"
It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.
Chance's hand flew to cover their mouth, their other hand on Elliot's shoulder, who looked like he was seconds away from a broken neck with how fast his head darted between you two. Noob had already left the dining room with a series of muttered 'Nope's.
Builderman and Guest exchanged a look, before the former stood up from his seat, just like earlier.
"'What' is right— Ya two are related?!"
Your Creator tensed up, pushed his hair out of his face as he began to ramble.
"From back in college— But I thought— Clones aren't supposed to last more than a day—!"
But you didn't— Couldn't control your anger as it slipped out.
"—A clone?!" An eye twitched as you facepalmed, before you pulled your hand away roughly. "You're telling me all this time I was wondering why you left, and it was because you thought of me as nothing but a damn clone?!"
The others were concerned now, and exchanged glances. Most of which were at both Builderman and to your Creator.
He got up and took a step toward you, arms up in a placating manner.
"Kid—"
"Don't you 'kid' me now! All these years— I thought it was that Kidd of yours that made you leave me." You threw your hands up. "But no! No no no, it was because I was a useless clone to you, wasn't it?"
He shook his head and reached out for you.
"That's not true— If I knew I would've—"
"But you wouldn't have done nothing! Father Noli was wrong about you— You're still as selfish as you were back then!"
That made him pull back, and he even looked hurt.
And while there were a million thoughts that ran through your mind, you couldn't find the words for them. So instead you covered your face and let out a frustrated yell, and stormed out.
Out of the dining room, out of that stupid conversation, and out of the main cabin.
Soon you found yourself back in your cabin, slammed the door closed. Leaned against it before you slowly slid down to the floor, and buried your face in your hands once more with an annoyed groan.
After a few minutes spent in silence, your anger finally dissipated. Faded into a faint and familiar feeling of bitter hollowness, one that made its home in your lungs.
But even then, you mentally chided yourself for how you acted, how you ignored the one other important rule your father taught you.
'Don't show your weakness..'
You sighed out a half depreciating laugh as your hands fell down into your lap.
"You are an idiot.."
You leaned back against the door. Stared up at the support beam like it were the star-littered sky.
Then, out of a strange compulsion, you slowly raised a hand up to your head, and while there was a moment where your fingers curled inwards in hesitation, it lowered onto your head with a short, gentle pat.
"Why.. Did he do that..?"
It felt— Odd. Not something you're used to.
But it wasn't bad either.
You just— Needed to think.
However, it flew down as though you were burnt, and you coughed into it soon after. You were still mad at him.
