Archive of Our Own ^beta

Shedletsky lets himself be taken away by 1x1x1x1, enjoying the way their tattered wings flutter when they’re annoyed. Which is basically all the time.

Maybe it’s… fondness? He notices that it only really happens when they’re around him, but maybe he’s giving too much credit to himself.

They’re the manifestation of his own self, all the nasty and gritty parts that he tried so hard to hide that it literally became an actual being.

In the face of all his worst fears (becoming the terrible, no good fraud he secretly is), Shedletsky keeps his smiling face.

He is a little more nervous now, though.

”He—eey!” He chirps, eyes darting from side to side for a way out. These days, he has come to find that he’s very hypocritical and does nothing to fix it. He can’t really bring himself to care about what he does anymore. As long as everyone else is okay.

”Shedletsky, silence.” They say, narrowing their eyes and digging their claws into his wrist.

”Ow, jeez, fine!” He complains. “Can you let go?”

1x4 ponders this for a second, and to his surprise, listens.

”I want something from you.” They growl, grabbing a fistful of his hair.

Oh?

The kiss is… something. It’s messy, and a fair amount of drool dribbles down Shedletsky’s chin, which is absolutely disgusting (typical of him and probably 1x too). He lets a out a slight groan into 1x4’s mouth, humming when they bite him.

Their taste is the same as always. Bitter, acrid, and poisonous. It makes him delirious, his head spinning as they swirl their tongue around his lower lip. It’s intoxicating—probably the opposite effect that 1x1x1x1 should have on him.

They should disgust him, down to the deepest parts in his core, and to some extent, they do, but Shedletsky knows there’s something else there, too.

It’s something akin to desire. They’re supposedly everything he hates, boiled down to a four dimensional being. They’re literally everything that disgusts and repulses him the most, yet Shedletsky can’t keep himself from obediently following them around like a dog.

Everything they do is strangely logical. It makes him insanely jealous, loathe he is to admit it. Huh. Maybe that’s why?

”Mmm,” he says stupidly as they pull away. Shedletsky smiles. “Did’ya just pull me away to do that?”

1x frowns (more than they already usually are). “You are strange.” They murmur against his skin, the cool metal zipper around their mouth tickling his neck.

”Wha—?”

1x4 brushes their own hair back, pushing aside their locks. Shedletsky comes face to face with their startling clear eyes. They’re red, in a familiar shade he recognizes. It’s Telamon’s red. The red of the deity’s eyes and ring of fire, before it split into two.

It looks just like his own.

”I see.” They say, eyes glinting maliciously. It’s strange to see his face hold such maliciousness.

Shedletsky snorts. “Is that a pun or something?”

In an instant, their sword is at his neck. Oh, should’ve predicted that.

”I find myself not really holding any hatred for you,” they start, furrowing their eyebrows. “Yet I am still drawn to you. I truly could not care less about you, Shedletsky. You are an insignificant speck in my world, but killing you feels so right. You are strange, indeed.”

”Ouch,” he pouts, feelings slightly hurt. “Am I really just another one night stand to you?” He asserts dramatically.

1x blinks, and in a second, Shedletsky respawns in the lobby of the survivor cabin.

Builderman is sitting on the couch, laid across it with his legs hanging off the armrest. He perks up when Shedletsky returns.

”Where’ve ya been?” He asks, tone curious.

”Nowhere important.” Shedletsky sighs, plopping down next to him. “Just some wandering and understanding parts of myself better… if you will.”

”Hah,” Builderman rolls his eyes, laying his head in Shedletsky’s lap. “Like I believe that.”

”Believe what you want!” The swordsman says, shrugging.

Builderman returns his comment with the raise of an eyebrow, and Shedletsky laughs. It’s nice. He almost forgot what people being nice to him felt like.