Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

How long had it been since it started?

It was hard to say, days? Weeks? Months? It was hard to keep track of time after so much time hidden away.

“We’re running low on food…again.” Truthless Recluse said with a frown on his face, he didn’t exactly want anyone to go out..it’s not like it was safe out there.

“Already..?” Sage asked, peering over his shoulder, only to be disappointed by pathetic sight of one half eaten can of corn- 

It was getting harder and harder to find food out in the waste lands…eventually they’d run out completely. 

“I can go out!” Apple Faerie Cookie chimed in, wanting to be helpful

“No, no you won’t Apple Faerie.” Sapphire Grape Cookie said…not wanting to risk his younger sister being endangered. 

The sound of the apocalyptic monsters from outside their hideout grew louder…only reminding them how unsafe it was.

“Tch, i’ll go then.” Truthless Recluse said as he stood, clearly just annoyed and wanting to get it over with.

“Hmm..you sure, Recluse?” Sage inquired, slightly concerned for the others wellbeing.

“Yes, plus, if anyone’s dead weight here it’s me.” He smirked.

He was the only one laughing, his self deprecating jokes were becoming more concerning then funny…

“…I’ll just go look for something to take out with me.” He coughed out awkwardly, deciding to just grab the closest thing that could be used as a weapon, which was just a frying pan, and going out with it. 

“I’ll be back soon…” he said with a small huff, moving to slip out the warehouse they took shelter in.

“Be careful out there!” Sage hummed as he peered up from his scrolls, still concerned. 

“He’ll be fine! You know him, he’s resilient! He can face off against some brainless monsters…” Apple Faerie said cheerfully.

Maybe she was right, He could handle himself, right?

                     ________________

The harsh heat hit Truthless Recluse’s face the moment he stepped out from their hideout.

After a mass disease spread it was just…barren, any creatures or cookies that got infected now wandered the lands like zombies, searching for flesh or any living being to attack and feast on..hell even if you didn’t get eaten alive, just being bit could leave you with some less than ideal side effects.

“Ugh…” Truthless Recluse groaned, already sweating from the intense heat, as far as the eye could see it was orange dead lands…some abandoned stores as well, though that was the best he could find out if this wasteland.

Truthless Recluse decided the best place he could go now was the store in the distance…he gripped the frying pan he grabbed tight as he walked slowly, trying his best to stay quiet.

The growls of the creatures running and feasting admittedly sent shivers down his spine…

The stores windows were completely shattered and busted open…and the shelves were almost completely empty from other survivors that got their hands on things first, but he’d make do of what he could find. 

With a groan, Truthless Recluse crawled through the busted window, being careful of the glass shards that litter the floor. 

“It’s barren in here…” he muttered to himself, glancing around at the rotting floors and peeling paint. 

Truthless Recluse searched around the store…he had gotten a few lucky finds, a  few bottles of water that had been in the storage rooms, some canned foods that got kicked under shelves, and a small box of bandages that had been hid behind some rotting foods, it wasn’t much…but he’d take what he could find.

Truthless Recluse grabbed a half broken basket and threw everything he found in it, the growls of the monsters grew nearer…it was best he get back soon, before it got dark.

As the sun began to set Truthless Recluse felt his unease grow…he didn’t know why, after all he was steering clear of the monsters path..but he still felt uneasy.

Crack-!

He felt the branch crunch beneath his feet…he hadn’t been paying attention. 

Truthless Recluse could practically hear the creatures turn at the noise…their glazed over eyes and hunched form now focused solely on him..and he had a feeling he may turn up as their next meal. 

He dropped the basket as one charged at him, holding onto the frying pan tight he swung at it, managing to knock it back…but it wasn’t easy more were charging at him and his fatigued state didn’t help.

He swung at these monsters charging at him for what felt like forever…there were just to many of them. But finally…it seemed like they died down. He straightened up, reaching up and trying to assess the scar on his face he got from being scratched.

Then…

A sharp pain in his shoulder.

Truthless Recluse whipped around, hitting the creature that attacked him straight in the face, watching as it scurried off quickly.

But..he had other problems, his face paled and his hands shook a bit as he stared at the deep bite mark engraved within his shoulder.

            ____________________

Truthless Recluse found himself sprinting across the wastelands, he had dropped the frying pan…it was too much weight for him to carry while sprinting but he kept the food with him.

Truthless Recluse burst through the entrance of the warehouse, panting as he looked up with a pale face

“Why so pale Recluse? Did the wall tire you that much?” Sage teased with a smirk, though his demeanor soon fell as he saw the genuine horror on the others face. 

“What..? Don’t tell me you got yourself hurt out there…” Sage said, his expression worried again as he stood up and came closer. 

Truthless Recluse slowly took his hand off his shoulder..the deep mark standing out like a sore thumb.

“It can’t-“ Sage stopped himself mid sentence, his own face paling a bit as he mouth fell slightly agape, “did you..?”

Sage stammered for a moment…not sure if to come closer or step back.

“You…oh witches...”

Chapter Text

Sage paced around the room, back and fourth and back and fourth…the horror on his face clear, Apple Faerie Cookie and Sapphire Grape Cookie ran around the room, getting whatever they could to ease and try and help the wound Truthless Recluse had gained.

“You…you got bit?” Sage said worriedly as he paced, practically ripping out his hair as he paced.

The horror on Sage’s face was almost surpassing how worried Truthless Recluse was…which was a bit ironic considering he wasn’t the one who got bit.

“Are you okay? Does anything feel strange? Are you feeling any strange urges..?” He asked as he walked closer to Truthless Recluse and tried to reach out and touch him…

Truthless Recluse moved away…he wasn’t exactly feeling the best about himself right now.

Sage coughed and pulled his hand away “come on, you need to sit.” He tried to act casual, like he wasn’t internally freaking out.

Truthless Recluse sat down, a troubled expression on his face as he bounced his leg. Apple Faerie Cookie and Sapphire Grape Cookie both flocked to his side, trying to disinfect the wound, cover it up, do anything they could…

After all, it was an apocalypse…they couldn’t afford to lose anyone. 

“I’m fine…I’ll be fine.” Truthless Recluse said, trying to convince himself there was no need to worry he’d be okay..?

Sage’s voice cut through his thinking with a stern reminder. “No, no you’re not Recluse! You got bit out there!” He said, he sure didn’t try to sugarcoat anything.

Truthless Recluse sat there quietly, Sage was going on a rant again…he messed up again, he found himself tuning Sage out, that was until he got a finger snapped in his face.

“Are you listening? We can’t afford to lose someone right now, why weren’t you being more carefu-“

“Do you care at all?” Truthless Recluse said with narrowed eyes, the tension in the room was uncomfortable; the two already had a pretty strained relationship, this wasn’t helping.

“I- of course I care! I’m just saying it like it is!” Sage shouted, trying to defend himself, but it only seemed to make things worse. 

“Well it’s not helping Sage!” Truthless Recluse said “think about someone other than yourself for once…” he mumbled, his words catching Sage more off guard than he thought he word.

Truthless Recluse stood up, whatever, he’d be fine, he didn’t need reassurance..or Sage’s lies. 

“Don’t- don’t just walk away!” Sage hissed, but he found himself not trying to go after Truthless Recluse this time. 

Sapphire Grape Cookie and Apple Faerie Cookie stood awkwardly, Sapphire speaking up hesitantly.

“Maybe…you should apologize…?” Sapphire commented quietly, trying his best not to set off anything else.

Sage shot him a glare, suddenly the wall seemed very interesting to Sapphire…

“He doesn’t need an apology, I was just telling him the truth, doesn’t matter if he can’t take it…” Sage huffed defiantly, though there was a slight hint of uncertainty in his expression. 

                     ________________

There wasn’t really enough damn room in the warehouse to have real privacy, but he could at least walk off, which was a plus…he supposed.

Sage’s words weren’t what Truthless Recluse needed, he hated to admit it..but he was terrified of what was going to happen..and Sage just seemed to barely care. 

But deep down, perhaps he knew Sage’s words were the truth, but he refused to admit it…plus, could he not have been a bit more emphatic?

He was just making it harder than it already was…

Sage on the other hand sat quietly, both annoyed and maybe just slightly concerned.

They were both ignoring the problem here, after all, Truthless Recluse had been bitten…that wasn’t exactly something to be ignored.

But they were both too petty to put aside these grudges to focus on the bigger problem.

In reality though, they were both terrified, even if they refused to admit it. 

                     ________________

The little light they had eventually went away as the sun set.

Maybe if he slept it off it’d all be gone, maybe this was all just a big dream? 

Truthless Recluse refused to admit the truth to himself, why would he? There was a mortifying, gut wrenching feeling any time he even glanced at the bite imbedded in his shoulder, the small thing feeling like something out of his hands that towered over him.

Just sleep it off, right?

But he couldn’t, he tossed and turned on that cold, unforgiving floor for what felt like hours.

An insatiable, unwavering, non-human…hunger waved over him, he felt almost like a starved animal..an urge, an instinct that suddenly seeped into him and couldn’t be shaken.

He pushed himself up, though he felt sluggish and almost unmotivated.

He felt around, finding a half broken mirror that had been discarded in this place. He narrowed his eyes to see himself in the dark…he felt sickly and his head pounded as if he had been whacked in the head with a metal pole-

But as his eyes adjusted to the dark, a true horror swept over him.

His face was pale and sick looking, along with slightly red patches that were spotted and speckled around his face and neck…

One of his eyes seemed milky and unfocused, looking as if the life had been drained from it completely..undead even.

If he thought he had felt true unbridled horror, fear, terror before, oh was he wrong…so so wrong.

He stared at himself for a long while, his hands shaky as he touched his face hesitantly. One question ran through his mind endlessly, over and over again like a broken record.

What have I become..?

Then…footsteps, footsteps that felt looming, like a ticking clock. Truthless Recluse whipped around.

“Recluse..? Are you awake?” 

Sage, of course it had to be Sage. He held a small candle, only just bright enough to illuminate the space around him. 

He walked closer, Truthless Recluse’s heart pounded in his chest like a drum, it felt like it burst out of his chest at any moment.

Don’t come closer…you can’t see what I am…

“I thought…I should apologize, I guess.” He said quietly, clearly haven just woken up and spontaneously made this decision. “I know you’re probably nervous- but we’ll make everything alright….” 

Sage’s voice trailed off as he finally met Truthless Recluse’s face. A defending silence fell in the room, Sage seeming to choke on his own breath, the candle fell from his grip.

The room went dark once more.

Chapter Text

The room was dead silent, neither of the two dared to say a word…as if a silent agreement to stay silent.

They just stared, their breath being the only thing breaking the silence before Sage finally broke the deafening silence.

“No…” were the only words that left his mouth as he stared at Truthless Recluse, his hands trembling slightly.

Truthless Recluse wouldn’t look at him, only curling up slightly on the cold floor.

What could he say? It was too late? That they hadn’t been fast enough? 

He didn’t feel like explaining, it wasn’t worth it..so he just sat there.

“I…it’ll be okay..! We’ll fix you right up!” Sage sputtered walking closer, though he did seem to hesitate. “H-hey! Come on…talk to me..? It’ll be all right.”

Truthless Recluse knew he was just saying that…after all there was nothing ‘right’ about any of this, he was a monster now. 

“Sage..it’s not worth it to lie to me right now.” was all Truthless Recluse said right now, his voice rough and tired.

Sage fell silent at that, because well..he had been more saying that to reassure himself than to reassure Truthless Recluse…he knew he was sugarcoating the truth, which was ironic for someone named ‘Sage of Truth’.

“I…just come on, you’re not sleeping I’m that hard ground…” He sighed as he slowly turned toward the door.

Truthless Recluse hesitated..he didn’t know what this ‘new form’ was like really but he was scared of…himself. 

But seeing Sage’s concerned glance over his shoulder, he caved, standing up slowly and wobbling a bit..but he managed to stand up.

Truthless Recluse slouched as he walked, admittedly though it wasn’t much worse than his normal one. 

Sage grabbed the few blankets they had in the main room and threw them on a chair..he thought it would be better that Truthless Recluse at least didn’t sleep on the hard ground..not in the state he was in at the moment at least.

“Sit.” Sage said, not a request but a order as he pointed at the chair

“Tch…bossy.” Truthless Recluse huffed, though it was halfhearted at best as he curled up on the chair…seeming a bit more comfortable now that he wasn’t curled up on the floor having an existential crisis. 

Sage threw a blanket over him and shoved a slightly dirty pillow behind his head. Truthless Recluse seemed to instinctually pull the blanket closer as its warmth enveloped him, his body feeling cold after whatever happened to him.

“Just..sleep it off, yeah? Let’s…see how you do in the morning.” Sage said with a slight frown.

Sage was taking this surprisingly well, though Truthless Recluse had a feeling it was just on the outside. Truthless Recluse shifted on the chair, getting comfortable, his eyes beginning to droop as he felt exhaust from..everything, being to wash over him like a tidal wave.

He felt his eyes close and the world slip to black.

                     ________________

His eyes snap open, how could forget? Every morning he was serenaded with the sounds of zombies banging on the walls of the warehouse…their hunger unable to be fulfilled as they search for more flesh to feast on. 

Was he like them now? No…he refused to believe he was that far gone, not now at least.

His head hurt and pounded in his head like a thousand drums…though everything kind of hurt at the moment…his body ached. 

While he sleepily blinked, trying to shake off his headache. He gazed sleepily at Sage…who was still awake. 

“…did you get any sleep at all..?” Recluse called out with a sigh, Sage had been up all night again, it wasn’t an uncommon thing of course…though it had been happening more often.

“Well….no.” Sage shrugged casually and Truthless Recluse gave him a deadpan look. “It’s fine, I have to research about your…” he danced around some words, trying to say something without sounding overly judgmental. “Your..transformation.” He said awkwardly, earning another sigh from Truthless Recluse.

“I see…” Truthless Recluse said, his voice rather unamused still, he moved to sit up..though he was wobbly and unable to walk properly…working with these limitations wasn’t the best. “Ugh…” 

“Hey-! Sit down-“ Sage scolded, though Truthless Recluse simply ignored his words and stumbled his way towards Sage and peered over his shoulder.

“…” Truthless Recluse fell silent for a moment as he say Sage’s sleep deprived face and frantic scribbling from the night before. “Really?” Truthless Recluse asked as he eyed the messy writing. “Reverse spells? You know those are just fantasies.” 

Sage gave him a look that, miraculously, quieted him. “Oh yeah…because an infectious zombie apocalypse break out is just an everyday thing, and spells are far-fetched.” Sage drawled with a sarcastic edge to his tone. “But still, how do we know they’re fantasies..? I mean if a zombie apocalypse can happen maybe if we keep trying we can find a ways to fix- or uh…cure you.” Sage said, scribbling down some more notes.

Truthless Recluse raised an eyebrow. He had better things to do than get into another argument…plus he had other things worry about now, as he could hear Apple Faerie Cookie and Sapphire Grape Cookie beginning to wake up, and Truthless Recluse had a feeling Sage hadn’t told them of his..predicament.

“Ugh…my back hurts…” Apple Faerie Cookie groaned as she sat up letting out a yawn, the coarse concrete ground scrapping her hands a bit.

“Stop your whining, we have important things to do.” Sapphire Grape Cookie said groggily, standing up with a slight tired look.

As Sapphire Grape Cookie began to turn around, speaking as we did. “I heard you shuffling around last night before I went to sleep, Sage.” He said as he tried to smooth down his clothes.  “How is Recluse doing? He didn’t seem well after …” He looked up, only to be met with Truthless Recluse’s…appearance. “sweet child of the Witches-!” 

Sapphire Grape Cookie’s shout echoed through the warehouse as he stumbled back, grabbing a book and holding it out with wide eyes.

Sapphire Grape Cookie’s yell drew Apple Faerie Cookie’s own screech from her as she immediately clung to his leg even though she hadn’t even seen what he was yelling about…a chain reaction of sorts.

Truthless Recluse stood there awkwardly, shifting his weight from side to side as he let out a cough.

Witches this was awkward. 

Sage stood up with an awkward smile, trying to figure out how to explain…this. “So…lots of things happened…but there’s no need to worry! This just happened a bit faster than we…expected.” He coughed. “It’s not like he’s going to eat your flesh or anything! Right, Recluse?” He gave Truthless Recluse a pat on the back.

Truthless Recluse just crossed his arms and glared at him. 

Sage cringed. “I’ll take that as a yes-“ 

“ZOMBIIIEEEEEEEEE” Apple Faerie Cookie cried and shrieked, clinging to Sapphire Grape Cookie like he was the only thing keeping the whole world from collapsing.

“Let’s think rationally now.” Truthless Recluse said blankly, wincing and covering his ears as Apple Faerie Cookie screamed like a fire alarm.

Sapphire Grape Cookie sighed and placed the book down. “What even…happened?” He rubbed his face…he wished he could go back to sleep.

“We’re still trying to figure that out…” Sage admitted, scratching the back of his head. “But he’s holding up well, right, Recluse?” He said, trying to lighten the mood.

Another glare.

“…I’ll…I’ll just take that as another yes…” He said, coughing again. “But anyways-! We’re going to figure out something to do…eventually.” Sage rubbed his eyes..tired from staying up all night.

“Stop trying to be optimistic and get some sleep, Sage. Everything is fine so far, so don’t worry about it.” Truthless Recluse said with a sigh, noticing Sage’s fatigued state. 

Sage looked ready to argue, but as stubborn as he was, the idea of sleep seemed to send a wave of fatigue over him. “I….yeah…okay…” Sage yawned, sighing.

                   ________________

Truthless Recluse watched the hours tick by, the sound of the ticking clock hands leaving Truthless Recluse memorized for the time being.

The night did come by faster than Truthless Recluse would’ve thought…and once again he couldn’t sleep.

He didn’t feel tired, actually he didn’t feel much…just blank at the moment, perhaps this would be a routine feeing, either way he didn’t care all to much.

Truthless Recluse wanted out honestly. The walls of the warehouse felt oppressive and restraining.

He stood up, he would leave…only for a bit, but he was leaving nonetheless.

He decided perhaps he should be a bit more careful this time, considering what had happened last time he went out. Truthless Recluse grabbed an air mask, his jacket, goggles, and some tall boots just in case. 

Truthless Recluse sighed to himself and began to leave the warehouse, he kept his steps light and his departure swift..the others didn’t need to know he was leaving.

As he stepped outside he began to feel grateful he brought that air mask, it was particularly…well apocalyptic night, the smog, smoke, and decay was visible to the naked eye tonight…best not to inhale that.

Admittedly, Truthless Recluse didn’t know where he was headed, he hadn’t exactly explored much of the land since the apocalypse hit so he was going with the flow at this point.

The hot rays of the setting sun casted red and orange hues across the land, the sky lit up with hues of purple, pink, orange, yellow, and red all at once.

It was hot out, definitely hotter than the afternoon surprisingly, but…Truthless Recluse was unbothered. Dead trees and tumble weeds were visible in the horizon as monsters ran about, their screeches and footsteps being the only thing other than the howling wind to make a sound.

Rubble and debris of past towns and cities were scattered about, it was quite the sight to see the city buildings that were once like giants towering in the blue sky now nothing more than a mere pile of rubble that reflected a better time.

The world really had gone to shit hadn’t it?

Truthless Recluse stopped at a cliff, he stared for a few moments before letting out a long drawled out groan, the warehouse was far away and he didn’t feel like traveling back just yet. 

The cliff overlooked large craters, dried up ponds and rivers, skeletons of who knows what, and in the far far distance the sea..

Truthless Recluse hadn’t realized how much time had past, the moon now peaking over the horizon…making the sea glimmer with her beautiful rays of moonlight.

The previous explosive looking sky was now covered in a calming dark blue, night was really the only sense of normalcy someone could get anymore.

Truthless Recluse sat…he liked that the events of everything yesterday could be in the back of his mind. Perhaps this whole shit show was just one big dream? Though, he knew he was feeding himself delusions…not that was irregular or anything.

The moons light hit Truthless Recluse as the land cooled…the hot weather before now slowly being subdued into a freezing night. 

…perhaps he’d stay for just a bit longer.