Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The pizzeria was quite busy today, Elliot was absolutely sweating after his last shift. He had been working really hard, serving one order after the other. In any case, Elliot was relieved that his work day was over. He loved his job, genuienly, but sometimes he felt it was too much, bringing Elliot to his limits. He walked with the objective of reaching his home, Elliot could already imagine the feeling of when he would lay down in his bed after such long day, but while he was heading over to his destination, he saw something that sparked his interest.

It was 007n7, a man Elliot had grown to dislike over time due to his actions, using exploits to torment the pizzeria, And his son didnt seem to be much better. It all eventually lead for those two to be blacklisted and completely banned from the pizza place. Which is something they sadly deserved. Elliot would not forgive them, never, but that doesnt mean Elliot would stop feeling worry towards 7n7, which was currently hanging up missing posters.

Missing posters? It had ceirtainly been some time since he had even seen 007n7, so he wondered who the posters were for, must be important if 07 out of all people is hanging them. Elliot steps a bit closer to the scene, just barely catching a glimpse of the person in the picture.. It was C00lkidd, 007n7s one and only son. Elliot was decently surprised, he started thinking on how 7n7 would even be feeling right now.

He couldnt imagine how painful it could possibly be to have someone so close to just simply dissapear one day.

...

Elliot hesitates on what to do, but eventually decides to approach the father. No matter how much Elliot disliked him, he still felt the urge to help, to listen, to be there and reassure everything will be alright.

"Hey.. 007n7?" Elliot said gently, with a hint of pity in his voice.

"Wha-- Elliot..? Is that.. Really you?" 7n7 was clearly surprised, but quickly forgot about anything else he felt at the moment, and suddently felt heavy with pure shame. "Look.. Im-- im really sorry about.. Everthing basically--"

"This isnt about me, 007n7," Elliot quickly interupted, apologies were nice, but they wouldnt change anything. In any case, he takes a quick glance at 7n7. The exploiter was acomplete mess, his brown hair had grown quite a bit, yet it was visibly not properly taken care of. 7n7s eyes were drooped down, his expression showing sadness, and his eyebags demonstrating the lack of rest and amount of crying he had done. "Are you.. Are you alright, 07?"

Stupid question, the father was clearly not alright at all. But 007n7 didnt have any wishes to fully accept it just yet. "Ah, no.. Im all.. Good, everything is fine--it will be fine.. Soon." No one believed his naive lies, not even himself. Yet it was worth a try, wouldnt like to worry others.. But would they even be concerned about him in the first place?

"007n7, dont lie to me. Its really obvious when you lie," Elliot said.

"Okay- Okay.. No, I am not doing.. that good, but I can get through it, I swear." 7n7 replied.

"Alone?" Elliot asked, "At times like this, having someone be there by your side will help you remain positive, talking from experience."

007n7 stood frozen in place, not because of shock, or surprise, but because Elliot was just pointing out things that were absolutely true, yet harsh in front of his face. Yes, he was indeed alone, he was always alone, he remembered the light and warmth C00lkidd had brought into his life, it helped him slightly ignore how the others looked at him, it helped him smile even in moments where he couldnt bring himself to do it, and ultimately, it gave him a reason to continue living, to continue and try to change for the better. But now it felt all in vain, he had failed as a father, and lost whatever he had left--

"Hello..? 7n7? Are you still there?" Elliot gently shaked 007n7s shoulder with a worried expression, the silence and the empty stare 07 had gave Elliot reasons to be concerned. It seemed like 7n7 had just simply zoned out, but the way he looked in the meanwhile, drained, miserable, like he was on the edge of crying, just somewhat.. disturbed Elliot.

He snaps out of it the second Elliot brings him back to reality, blinking a few times like he was trying to hold the tears in. He was upset, not at Elliot, not at C00lkidd, not at any other than himself. 007n7 had always managed to do something to affect those around him negatively, most he did on purpose in the past, yet regrets in the present. It felt like it all had came back to kick him in the ass, which he honestly deserved, he had to be one if not the biggest assholes on earth.

"I- Im.. im sorry, I just-" 007n7s eyes darted everywhere, his speech showcasing how nervous he was, nobody had came to ask about he was doing before, because just like Elliot said he was alone. "its so.. so hard- I cant believe.. he is- is missing.." Soon enough, his eyes get teary, and his body is filled to the brim with guilt and sorrow. It feels like gravity was against him, as he immediately falls down to the ground.

Luckily, Elliot reacts fast enough to be able to catch him before he completely hit the floor, helping him stand back on his feet. 007n7 felt weak, useless. He needed someone to aid him, 7n7 thought he was just wasting Elliots time. So he proceeded to wipe his tears, and try to gain back his composure. "Ah.. Thank you- you can.. can go now if you want, I dont want to waste your time.. after all," Honestly, he wished Elliot would stay. But he probably wouldnt, why would he? Elliot had no reason to.

That was until he felt Elliots arm around his waist, he was being pulled into a hug. A kind, soft, warm one. "Im here, 007n7. You arent by yourself. It will be okay, I swear." The words gave 7n7 some sense of.. relief, it made him feel lighter. HIs hands shaking, and his arms trembling, yet he managed to return the hug.

"Dont hold it in, trust me, letting it all out will make you feel better." Elliot reassured.

Each word Elliot let out of his mouth hit 007n7 like if it was a bullet, getting right through him. But in this case, it was probably a positive thing. The father seemed like he melted into Elliots grasp, hiding his face on the others shoulder, he started crying, sobbing his heart out. His whining being muffled by the red sleeve, the hug became tighter and tighter. Elliot could literally feel all the grief and pain 7n7 was going through, but it wasnt only agony, it was also frustration, anger even.

The tears would definetly leave a stain, but Elliot didnt mind.

...

They were there for a good 10 minutes, but neither of them cared how long it had taken. 007n7 actually felt better.. for now atleast, but still, it was nice to know Elliot was there for him. 7n7 slowly let go of the hug, his heart beat calming down by the second, it was like a weight had been taken off his back. Finally, the only thing 07 could do was say thank you. He appreciated the gesture a lot, truly.

"..Thank you, Elliot." A small smile appereared, but soon dissapeared.

"No need to say thank you, Its nothing. Everyone deserves to be heard," Elliot replied. "Ill start visiting after work, keep some company.. I suppose," He didnt believe he was going to do this for 007n7, but he had a firm belief that at times like this, even considering their past history, he could be there to support.

"Ah- No need.. I can manage.." 07 said, after noticing that Elliot was suddently staring directly at him in the eyes.

"It wasnt a question.. I firmly believe it could be good for you to have some company," Elliot voiced. "Wait- sorry if that sounds invasive.. If you really dont feel comfortable I wont-"

"No, no.. its fine, you can stop by if you would like. I.. I appreciate it, Elliot.." 7n7 answered.

And just like that, they go quiet. They both nod before awkwardly walking back to their homes, heading different directions. Elliot felt satisfied after knowing that he could check up on 07 once in a while, and 007n7 was happy to know that he wasnt going to be lonely anymore.. after a week filled of despair for him, there was finally some light at the end of the tunnel, there was some sort of.. hope? He wasnt sure, he wouldnt like to get his hopes up neither. It took one thing to go bad, and everything else could easily go downhill.

He was sure his heart was ready to die any time soon.

Chapter Text

007n7 wakes up really late today, he had been awfully tired these days, barely sleeping. So he guesses it would be normal for him to wake up at this hour, it was around 4:30pm to be exact. He stood up from his bed and looked in the mirror, it was the same as always. Maybe even looked worse than before, he remembered his interaction with Elliot, his words had hit 7n7 hard to be honest. They felt so.. comforting, while he slowly went through his memories of the other day, he got a sudden realization. Elliot would come visit, and just like 007n7, the place was a complete mess. Clothes all around the floor, plenty of dirty dishes that hadnt been cleaned, dust being basically everywhere.

He knew he had to take care of it, but he couldn't possible bring himself to actually do it. He was lazy, drained, no motivation whatsoever. 007n7 lays down in bed once more, staring at the roof. He could notice a few spots that were clearly molded, this disgusted him, but he felt he couldn't do anything about it. Not like he had the money to fix it. Maybe he could just.. take a nap, he wishes it will all just go away, even if at the same time he knows it will stay. He closed his eyes just right after saying..

"Maybe later."

Lately, he had been saying that over and over. Hoping that he would eventually do whatever he was meant to, but that moment didn't seem to come. It had been not much more than a week since C00lkidd went missing, and he is already behaving like this. All miserable. Yet thinking about it further, he probably deserved this, right? He wasn't a good person, he never was, no amount of attempts of trying to change would help him. That's it. He deserved it.

...

Knock Knock.

The doorbell rings.

007n7's eyes Flutter open, he turned around to his nightstand, checking out what hour was it in his alarm clock. 8:30pm, he slept more than he planned on doing, at this point Elliot was already at his door, he hadnt changed clothes since yesterday, and the house wasn't in conditions to have guests. He suddently rushed over to his closet, grabing the first shirt and pants he could possibly grab. The doorbell continued to ring a few more times, he tried going as quick as he could, he felt bad just by leaving Elliot waiting. It was pretty cold outside, and that didn't make it any better. Yet soon enough, 7n7 ran to the front door and opened it.

"Lord- I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting, especially with this weather.." 7n7 rapidly apologized.

"Ah, no worries. You didn't take that long either ways," Being honest, Elliot had gotten a bit worried when no one answered the door.. wonder what he was thinking. "I'm just.. a bit impatient at times, yes.."

"I also have to say sorry before you come in.. the house isn't in it's- best condition.." 007n7's eyes looked away from Elliot's direction for a minute, before making eye contact again. "If you dont.. mind that, feel free to come in.."

And just like that, they both step foot inside. While 7n7 locked the door, Elliot takes q glance around and immediately recognizes what the he was refering to when saying the house wasnt at its best conditions, the place was pure disorder, it just showed how much 007n7 was struggling on the daily. He didnt know if to be concerned, if to feel pity, or both of the options. But Elliot wasnt here only to check up on 007n7, he was also willing to help him out. After all, he couldnt help but feel the need to do something about the situation.

"Need help cleaning up?" Elliot asked.

"Wha- Oh, I would be greatful.." 007n7 replied, yet quickly added, "But its no need- thats something I should do.. myself."

"Well, im offering because im willing to," Elliot said. "I dont mind lending a hand, really, plus I think having a clean house could make you.. feel better." He said while taking another look around.

"Haha.. I guess you are right.." 7n7 did a nervous, soft laugh. "I- I dont know.. where to even start-" He said with clear worry in his voice.

"We can figure that out in a minute," Elliot said while hanging his jacket in the standing coat rack near the entrance.

When Elliot was done with quickly putting his stuff down, he and 007n7 chatted for a bit trying to make a decision, which was where to start. Eventually, they opted starting with the kitchen, then the bathroom, then the room, and so on. The house wasnt the biggest, but it did have plenty of rooms. So they got to work as soon as they could, Elliot encouraging 7n7 to keep going, and not give up. The process was slow, and pretty quiet too.. it seemed like the tension between the two was still there, even if they were basically working together. Not even small chat occured, just.. silence.. it could be considered awkward, but at this point who cares anymore about that.

...

After a while, it seemed like things were atleast decent. There was still some things to take care of cleaning wise, but it was better than the house had been in the last week. 007n7 wanted to say thank you over a hundred times, yet it felt like his throat closed off and words didnt come out. He wasn't sure what was blocking him from speaking up, but in any case, the genuine smile in his face told Elliot everything he needed to know. Although after working for so long, both of them had gotten hungry. And since it was dinner time, 007n7 went to check the fridge.. Only to remember the only thing he had consumed the past days was instant ramen, frozen foods, and scrambled eggs.

He thought about what to do for a minute, before deciding to waste some money on take out, yet obviously, he asked Elliot first of he was okay with that. He had bothered with coming to visit, the least he could do was offer decent food to eat.

“Uhm.. Elliot? Would you like to order take out? I’m paying, obviously.. wouldn’t make you pay when you are the guest.” 007n7 asked.

“What do you mean? If you don’t have anything, we can always just cook something up,” Elliot replied. “I’m sure you must have a few ingredients.. right?”

“I have a few ingredients.. flour, eggs, stuff like that..” 007n7 said. “It should be in the cabinets, if i remember.. correctly..” he added.

After hearing that, Elliot walks up closer to the kitchen, going around and grabbing different things he could spot. Flour, eggs, oil, salt, some grated chesse and lastly a pretty old can of tomato sause.. he just wishes that it isnt expired, anyways, you probably know what he plans on doing by now. The good old Classic pizza, he, for obvious reasons, has a lot of experience in making them, and they never dissapoint. Plus, the ingredients are usually in most houses, so it’s not difficult to find them around. He moved his hand, basically telling 7n7 to come and help him with it. Making pizza is easier, yet it’s even more simple when more people work on it. He started saying the instructions on how to cook it..

“Firstly, we should focus on the dough.. pass over those ingredients,” Once 07 gave him what he asked for, he continued. “We throw them in a bowl, and mix them…”

007n7 was paying close attention to the instructions, making notes of them just in case the chance of making food by himself came up. “…I’m guessing we have to add the things that go on top now?” He quickly got told by Elliot that what he said was right, so he went to grab the cheese and tomato sause. Spreading those on top of the dough that had been quickly given a circle shape by Elliot. “Thats.. how I have to do it, right..?” He asked.

“You are doing great, just make sure you spread everywhere, or else some places may lack flavour.” Elliot adviced.

The both of them surprisingly worked together and suceeded in doing the task at hand, yet the moment they put the pizza in the oven, it seemed to just go quiet. They didnt have a topic anymore, just.. simply wait. It was bizarre, quite literally a minute ago they were interactiong just fine. Yet it seemed problems arised when it came to small chat, or just having a full blown conversation. What was the reason? No matter how many reasons they could come up with, the obvious thing was their past. Even if it happened long ago, it seemed like it always came back to make them nervous, upset, obviously Elliot had a big reason to feel like that, but 007n7’s case was just being filled with regret, pure and genuine regret. But it didn’t seem like he could spit out a Word about it. Yes, he had said sorry before, but it never felt fulfiling, it never included everything that had to be adressed about the topic.

“…Elliot, I-“

Ding!

“Huh…? What was that 007n7?”

“I.. the pizza is done, let’s.. take it out of the oven..”

“Oh! Yes, right.”

..Maybe later could be the chance, it seems like life it self is going against him, maybe he shouldnt open up, not yet. Is he even ready? He can bottle those thoughts and emotions for a bit longer.. It won’t hurt, he hopes an opening appears soon…

…

The food was delicious just like they both expected it to be, mostly because it was Elliot who did the most of the work.. but still, it was nice to have a new meal after so long of eating the exact same three things for days on end. Time seemed to go by quickly, which defiently threw 7n7 off, since usually he would feel like the day never ended, tortuting him even further with clouding his mind with thoughts. Anyways, a few slices were left so that was now what 007n7 would eat the next day, sadly, since things don’t last forever, Elliot hasd to go to his home. It was getting late, and he had a shift in the morning the next day as per usual. So, he grabbed his jacket, and said his goodbyes.

“Ill see you later, alright?” Elliot said, a warm smile forming in his face.

“…See you later then, Elliot.” 7n7 smiled back, just as he waved while Elliot walked away.

…

Elliot continues to care for 007n7, and the same goes for 7n7 caring for Elliot, yet none of them know what is the reason behind it. The only thing that connects them is the past, yet that’s not the only thing. Neither of them can let go of each other, neither can they move on. There are so many things that aren’t resolved yet, and they both want an answer, a solution, a conclusión. An ending to their suffering, to their lines of thought that just drag them Down mentally. One troubled by their own feelings, the other troubled on how to even get by the day.

“I’ll be there by their side.” they swear.