Chapter Text
Quiet footsteps drifted through the hallway outside Elliot's office.
At first, they were barely audible. Soft, cautious and almost respectful. The kind of steps taken by someone who understood exactly whose territory they were entering. The sound echoed faintly against the polished marble floors, growing gradually louder with each passing second.
Closer.
Closer...
Then they stopped.
A pause followed. Long enough to feel deliberate.
A single controlled knock rang out against the heavy wooden door.
“Mr. Elliot?” a voice called from the other side, smooth and unnervingly pleasant. “May I come in?”
Inside the office, Elliot exhaled slowly, fingers resting against the edge of his desk. The room was dimly lit, illuminated mostly by the sprawling cityscape beyond the tall glass windows behind him. Neon lights bled into the darkness, painting the walls in muted reds and golds. His assistant remained behind him, silent now, the unfinished discussion abandoned the moment Elliot heard the knock.
He didn’t turn toward the door.
“Sure,” Elliot said at last, tone flat and bored. “But make it quick.”
The door creaked open and Elliot finally turned around.
Two Time stepped inside first.
They looked exactly as Elliot remembered. Immaculate, composed, utterly unsettling...
Their suit was pristine, black fabric accented with sharp purple details, tailored to perfection. Not a single wrinkle dared to mar its surface. Their face was stretched into a wide smile, far too wide to be comforting, frozen in a way that suggested it was less an expression and more a habit.
The kind that never faded.
The kind that made people uneasy without knowing why.
Behind him stood his guards.
To the left was Builderman, broad-shouldered and solid, posture stiff. He didn’t smile. Didn’t fidget. He looked less like a person and more like a reinforced wall given human form.
To the right stood Guest 1337, quieter, his head slightly lowered in deference. His hands were clasped together neatly, eyes sharp but obedient. He followed orders without hesitation, like he always had.
And behind them was someone else.
Elliot’s gaze flicked toward the figure at the back. They were slumped forward, partially obscured by the two guards. Their movements were unsteady, weight clearly being supported rather than carried by their own strength. Every step looked forced, dragged rather than taken.
Elliot’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting...
Two Time walked further into the office, spreading his arms wide as if they were welcoming an old friend rather than intruding unannounced.
“Greetings, Elliot!” they said brightly. “I recall not seeing you since our last business meeting, yes?”
Elliot turned to face Two Time, movements slow and deliberate. His blonde hair didn't move as he stepped forward, closing the distance between them with an unhurried confidence. His eyes flicked across the room, analyzing the guards, their stances and the unfamiliar figure in the back.
“Hm,” Elliot replied. “I recall.”
He stopped a few feet away from Two Time.
“What I don’t recall,” he added coldly, “is inviting you back.”
Two Time chuckled, unfazed.
“Well, my dear partner,” they said, placing a gloved hand against his chest in mock sincerity, “I simply couldn’t resist stopping by. After all, alliances thrive on...
... generosity.”
Elliot said nothing. Silence stretched between them, heavy and deliberate. Two Time’s smile widened.
“I’ve brought you a gift.”
That got Elliot’s attention.
Two Time turned slightly and snapped their fingers, sharp and precise. “Well?” they said to their guards. “Show him the present.”
“Yes, Mr. Two Time,” Guest 1337 replied immediately.
Builderman and Guest moved in unison, dragging the figure forward into the light.
The moment the person’s face tilted upward, Elliot’s expression shifted subtly.
He immediately recognised the person.
The figure was bound tightly, arms forced behind their back with thick restraints that dug into their wrists. Their clothes were torn and dirtied, fabric darkened with dried blood and grime. A cloth was tied firmly around their eyes, another gagging their mouth, muffling every sound they made into weak, panicked whimpers.
Their body trembled uncontrollably.
Elliot stepped closer.
“Well, well,” he murmured. “What do we have here... 007n7.”
At the sound of his name, the bound figure reacted violently. His body jerked, a muffled cry forcing its way past the gag.
Elliot crouched down and grabbed him by the jaw, fingers digging in without restraint. He tilted his head slightly, inspecting him with detached curiosity. There were buises along the jawline, split skin, signs of resistance that had clearly been punished.
“Tch,” Elliot muttered. “You look worse than I remember.”
Without warning, he shoved 007n7 hard.
The exploiter hit the floor with a dull, painful thud, breath knocked from his lungs as he gasped against the gag.
Elliot straightened and turned back to Two Time.
“I must say,” he said calmly, “you do give wonderful gifts.”
Two Time giggled, lifting a hand to cover their mouth in mock bashfulness.
“Anything for my dear partner,” they replied.
“After all, we are collaborating, aren’t we?” They tilted their head.
“A small gift like this is almost... insignificant.”
Elliot smiled, though there was no warmth in it.
“Well then,” he said smoothly, “thank you for this wonderful surprise.”
Two Time clapped their hands together once.
“I’m delighted!” he said. “If you don’t mind, I have other important matters to attend to. I merely wished to stop by and deliver my token of appreciation.”
They turned toward the door.
“Until next time, partner,” Two Time added, waving casually as they left.
Builderman and Guest followed without a word.
The door closed behind them.
And only Elliot and 007n7 remained.
Silence reclaimed the room. It settled into the room like smoke, curling around the furniture and sinking into the cracks of the walls. Outside the windows, the city glimmered in the late-night hours, lights twinkling across streets and avenues like scattered fireflies, casting long shadows across the floor, one tall and unmoving, the other broken and bound. At this height, it looked both beautiful and cold, like a distant world that pulsed quietly beneath the dark sky.
007n7 lay on the floor where he had been thrown, body curled awkwardly on his side. The restraints bit into his wrists with every shallow breath he took, knots pulled so tight they might as well have been fused into place. Two Time had always been meticulous and professional. They didn’t deliver gifts that could crawl away.
Elliot stood over him for a long moment, simply watching.
Then he took a step forward.
007n7 reacted instantly, his body jerking in panic. A muffled, broken sound escaped from behind the gag as his shoulders tensed and he tried, futilely, to pull away.
“Now, 007n7...” Elliot said calmly.
The sound of his voice alone was enough to make the ex-exploiter freeze.
“We haven’t seen each other in a long time,” Elliot continued. His movements were unhurried, controlled, as though he had all the time in the world. “Isn’t that right?”
007n7 shook his head weakly, blindfolded eyes darting beneath the cloth. His breathing was uneven and shallow, bordering on hyperventilation. He didn’t answer, but the fear was loud enough to speak for him.
Elliot reached forward.
With a single sharp pull, he tore the cloth away from 007n7’s eyes and mouth.
Light flooded in all at once.
007n7 gasped, sucking in air like he’d been drowning. His eyes burned as they adjusted, tears spilling freely as he blinked rapidly, trying to focus. The room spun for a second before his vision cleared.
And then-
Elliot.
The moment his eyes locked onto Elliot’s face, all the color drained from him.
Those eyes.
That terrifying dark red.
They didn’t just look at him. They measured him.
“P-please...” 007n7 started immediately, voice cracking under the strain. “Elliot! J-just listen, o-okay?? I didn’t me-”
The kick came without warning.
Elliot’s boot slammed into his leg with brutal force, the impact echoing sharply through the office. Pain exploded through 007n7’s body, ripping a scream from his throat as he collapsed sideways, his breath knocked from his lungs.
He cried out, gasping, tears spilling faster now as his body trembled violently.
Elliot didn’t react.
“What kind of pathetic excuse do you have now?” he asked, voice flat and cutting.
He leaned over and grabbed 007n7 by the hair, fingers curling tight as he yanked his head up. The movement was rough enough to make stars burst across 007n7’s vision.
“Look at me.” Elliot said.
007n7 tried.
His gaze wavered, flickering everywhere but Elliot’s face. The red in those eyes, so dark it reminded him of blood, made his chest tighten painfully.
“L-look,” 007n7 stammered, sobbing openly now, “I know what I’ve done in the past hurt you a lot, but please! I really need to get back to-”
Smack.
The sound was sharp and unmistakable.
007n7’s head snapped to the side, pain blooming across his cheek as another cry tore from him. He sagged in Elliot’s grip, barely able to hold himself upright.
“I don’t want to hear the same sob story again,” Elliot said harshly as he released 007n7's hair.
“You have destroyed one of my restaurant locations,” Elliot continued, tone cold and deliberate, “seven or eight times.”
Each word landed like a sentence being passed.
“You are in serious debt,” he said. “So tell me.” Elliot crouched again, bringing himself eye level once more.
“How are you going to pay it?”
007n7 swallowed hard, chest hitching as he struggled to breathe. “P-please,” he whispered. “I just need more time. Please, Elliot... I... I have a son. I need to get back to him.”
That made Elliot pause briefly.
His expression didn’t soften, but something sharpened instead. Elliot reached forward again, this time gripping 007n7’s hair tighter than before, forcing his head back.
“Ah,” Elliot said quietly. “Yes.”
007n7’s heart dropped into his stomach.
“C00lkidd, right?” Elliot said.
The name alone was enough to make 007n7 freeze completely.
“I almost forgot to mention,” Elliot continued, voice casual, almost conversational, “my assistant recently informed me that the same place you used to ruin?”
He leaned closer, his breath warm against 007n7’s ear.
“It got burned down again. Second time this month.”
007n7's eyes widened in horror.
“How much is it by now? ” Elliot mused. “Nine? Ten?”
He pulled back slightly, a quiet, unsettling giggle slipping from his lips.
“And I thought you’d finally change,” Elliot whispered. “Looks like you can’t even raise your kid properly.”
Elliot straightened fully and let go.
“I’m sure my dear friend Two Time,” he added lightly, “wouldn’t mind bringing me that tomato as a gift.”
The room felt smaller after that.
Elliot remained calm and composed, while 007n7 remained bound on the floor, shaking so badly his restraints rattled faintly against the marble.
Elliot took one slow step forward.
Then another.
007n7 instinctively tried to crawl back, but his tied hands were useless behind him, his body too exhausted and damaged to obey. All he managed was a weak scrape against the floor before Elliot’s shadow swallowed him completely.
Elliot looked down at him and placed his foot on 007n7’s head.
Not hard at first, just enough pressure to make his presence undeniable.
007n7 let out a strangled cry as Elliot’s shoe pressed against the side of his skull, pinning his cheek to the cold floor. The marble was unforgiving, leeching warmth from his skin as panic surged through him all at once.
“Please!” he sobbed, words slurring as his face was forced sideways. “Please Elliot I didn’t-”
Elliot slowly pressed down harder, grinding his head against the floor inch by inch. Pain flared hot and sharp, radiating through 007n7's jaw, his temple and his neck. Tears spilled freely now, soaking into the polished surface beneath him.
“Quiet,” Elliot said calmly.
The word alone carried enough authority to crush any remaining resistance. 007n7 choked back his cries, breath coming in broken gasps. His entire body trembled, muscles screaming as fear took root deeper than pain ever could.
Elliot adjusted his footing slightly, ensuring he had perfect leverage.
“I don’t enjoy repeating myself,” he continued, tone almost bored. “So let’s not waste time.”
He looked down at the man beneath his shoe, eyes cold and unfeeling.
007n7 squeezed his eyes shut, tears streaming unchecked. His thoughts spiraled wildly, each one worse than the last. Pain blurred into terror, terror into something darker, something far more suffocating.
C00lkidd...
The name echoed relentlessly in his mind.
Elliot’s foot pressed down again.
“You have two options,” Elliot said.
The pressure became unbearable.
“Either you work for me from now on,” Elliot continued, “until your debt is fully paid.”
Another slow shift of weight.
“Or,” Elliot added quietly, “I kill you.”
007n7’s breath hitched violently.
Elliot leaned forward slightly.
“And your son.”
Something inside 007n7 shattered completely. He sobbed openly now, body wracked with uncontrollable shaking as despair flooded every corner of his mind. The pain didn’t matter anymore, not compared to the image forming in his head. His son alone... afraid... hurt...
...or worse.
“Don’t-” 007n7 choked out. “Please don’t touch him... please...”
As a last, futile effort, he tried to summon his C00lgui.
“And don’t even bother trying to use your GUI,” Elliot said flatly, cutting him off. “It won’t work here.”
He glanced toward the far wall briefly.
“Builderman made sure of that.”
007n7's last shred of hope died in that moment.
There was nowhere to run.
Nowhere to hide.
Elliot looked down at him again, waiting.
The silence stretched, heavy and merciless.
“I-I...” 007n7 tried to speak, but the words tangled in his throat. His chest burned with each breath, lungs struggling to keep up as panic threatened to overwhelm him completely.
Elliot’s foot pressed down just a fraction more.
007n7 broke.
“I accept,” he sobbed. “I accept! J-just please... please don’t hurt my son.”
The words tasted like ash in his mouth, but he forced them out anyway. There was no pride left to cling to. No dignity worth preserving.
Only his son.
For a long moment, Elliot didn’t move.
Then he lifted his foot.
The sudden absence of pressure sent a jolt of pain through 007n7's skull as he collapsed fully onto the floor, gasping desperately for air. His head throbbed violently, vision swimming as he sucked in breath after breath, chest heaving.
Elliot stepped back, straightening with calm precision.
“Oh, don’t worry,” he said pleasantly.
007n7 froze.
“I’ll make sure he learns his lesson while you’re gone.”
The words sank in too slowly.
“No...” 007n7 whispered, dread creeping into his voice. “No w-what... what do you mean...?”
Elliot didn’t answer.
He simply turned away.
The sound of his footsteps echoed through the office as he walked toward his desk, each step measured, unhurried, like a man concluding a routine meeting. He reached the desk and pressed a button without looking back.
“Take him.” Elliot said calmly.
The door opened.
Figures moved in from the shadows, already reaching for 007n7's restraints. He tried to resist, but his body was too weak, his spirit too broken.
“Please!” he cried as he was dragged away. “Please E-Elliot!”
Elliot didn’t turn around.
The door closed.
And darkness swallowed everything.