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Builderman climbed the last building’s stairs and finally reached the roof floor that was high, high, high above the ground. It was one of the newer buildings that he had built for the God - Telamon - who was also his closest friend and right hand man.
“Alright, alright. I’m here now,” Builderman scoffed, his posture bent over with his hands pressed to his thighs in his successful attempts to breathe. The tower was hellishly tall; just how Telamon liked it. He said ‘it reminded him how small the world was’ and how that’s why they needed to tread the world with a purpose to not seem as small. It was wise in Builderman’s view, but for the god it was just normal daily formality. He was always the wiser one. Which is why Builderman followed him blindly up this empty building.
“Builderman,” Telamon’s clawed hands tapped in a rhythm on the cold bricked railings as he called out the robloxian’s name syllable per syllable. His back was turned to Builderman, his sights were on the clouds in front of him. His wings flapped in the soft flowing wind like a bird preparing to fly.
Builderman leaned back in his posture, finally taking inching steps forward. He didn’t favouritize when Telamon had his moments of ‘mysterious clarity’ but he couldn't hate him for that. Rather, he felt the opposite. He loved Telamon - any version. “Heya Telamon,” Builderman spoke up, resting his crossed arms on the railing, his shoulders barely grazing Telamon’s cold and stiff shoulders. What was up with him? “You uh.. ‘You alright?” Builderman asked a head turning to meet the masked God’s face.
“The sunset is beautiful, isn’t it?” Telamon whispered, his eyes batting away tears as he turned away from Builderman’s worried gaze. His eyes were barely visible, only a gentle whisper of light revealing his eyes that normally remained hidden. He had a stone cold frown, as if he was trying to reveal no emotion. Like a solid ice cube trying to hold it in.
Builderman turned his head and looked at the sunset. It was without a doubt that the sunset was magnificent. The rich yellow fading into a ripe orange colour, then a vibrant velvet red, then a flourished hot pink, then a bright purple that settled finally at a moody indigo where freckles of stars appeared. The stretched clouds that followed through it like a trail only gave it a more surreal effect. Now, Builderman understood why Telamon wanted his presence. This sight was a gem.
“Of course,” Builderman answered, letting out a low chuckle as his eyes danced around the sunset, jumping from hue to hue. “Is that why you needed me here?” Builderman found himself asking and his eyes landed onto Telamon’s face, the sunset’s light ricocheting off his features.
“No,” Telamon’s voice shot out in a faint whisper. “That's not why I brought you here.”
Builderman stared at him with an eyebrow raised. His face illuminated the confusion of a child. The sunset was magnificent - truly a worthy subject to stop everything and admire for the time it was here.. So what else?
Telamon turned his body around, letting go of the bricked railing completely. Builderman did the same, curious about every next step with the purpose Telamon took towards him.
With sharp yellow claws, Telamon clasped Builderman’s hands in his, the soft warmth of Telamon’s tightly closed fists in comparison to the builder’s cold and rough hands were no match.
Builderman’s eyes glued to the god’s clawed hands. They were meant to seem scary. Dark. dangerous. But now? Now they seemed caring. Gentle. Nothing like any intimidating God would ever want.
“You’ll forever remember me?” Telamon’s low voice asked barely above a whisper. A bird’s choir could be louder tenfold than that blatant whisper.
Builderman was stunned at that. Why would he need to remember Telamon, let alone ever forget?
“I’d never forget you.” Builderman answered, his head leaning forward in a reassuring glance.
“Don’t let go of me.” Telamon whispered again, this time his grip tightening. He didn’t say it in a statement like the usual formal side of him would - no - he asked like a teenager holding onto their childhood toy for one last goodbye. “I love you forever.”
Builderman didn’t notice the faint and gentle pink hue appearing on Telamon’s face. The overcasted shadow was dark and dull, but the pigmented look couldn’t be ignored.
“Death may do us part, but memory lasts forever.” Telamon whispered, his voice tired as if that was his last and final blow. There wasn’t ever an opponent in Builderman’s eyes, but really, the opponent was unseeable.
It was time.
*° ‹–« ‹–« ︎‹–« °*
Builderman shot awake with a twitch of his body. Holy, that- that wasn't something he wanted to be reminded of. Builderman sat up from his stiff bed, the hard logs under the small mattress of his bed seeming more like firm arms carrying beneath him. He rubbed away the dirt from his eyes, allowing him to actually open them fully.
He dropped his arms down and stared around the empty and still cot. Nothing. Nothing except the shining lights of the morning sunset- wait, sunset?
When was the round going to start?
He looked at his watch that was wrapped firmly (yet comfortably) around his right wrist. Ten seconds.
Builderman instantly shot out of bed, almost falling over as he dove to his coat that hung on a coat nook beside the front door.
As he grabbed a fistful of it, he fell to the floor and expected to fall splat onto the hard wood floor, only to fall onto a grass field.
The round has begun.
“Pfft, you alright Builds?” Shedletsky chuckled, standing above the man, his head tilted to meet Builderman’s tilted upwards face.
“I'm fine, shed,” Builderman grumbled lowly, collecting himself to stand. “J’st woke up a lil’ late.” Builderman answered, throwing on his coat. He let out a yawn before properly turning to Shed.
But.. But what replaced Shedletsky looked just like Telamon. The wings, his yellow skin, the cloak that covered his body-
“Uhh, Builderman?” Shedletsky asked. Shit, Builderman was staring. What? No, Telamon was just there. But, now there was Shedletsky?.. That was just his imagination. Whatever.
“Sorry,” Builderman shook himself conscious as he mumbled. He quickly ran off, building his sentry in the center of the map as per usual.
Builderman wasn't in the right headspace, clearly. He couldn't even see his teammate properly, only seeing Telamon. He let out a chuckle, oh, oh how Telamon had his clawed-finger wrapped around the robloxian.
His eyes almost lulled him to sleep twice throughout just building the sentry. As he was just wrapping it up, he felt a sharp pain across his whole body from a body-passing swoosh of green venom. And just like that, his progress was gone and his health docked thirty-five health.
He quickly stumbled to his feet. He scanned the area around the large tree. No one in sight. Probably doing generators? The round had just started after all.
He began to run, only to freeze in place. Computer pop ups clouded his vision. Ugh, it was too early for this. Maybe the death was worth it. He quickly tapped away at the pop ups as he heard that agonising melody approach him, getting louder and louder.
He sprang from his frozen position, his only plan being to run forward.
He ran as far as he could, but then he just froze. Not by any power ability, not by any barrier, just by his choice.
So what? 1x1x1x1 could just kill him. Besides, he did need that time by himself. And besides, it was always after one person died that the whole lobby ended up just ‘locking’ in and winning.
He clutched his arm, waiting for the next move. He turned his body, facing the killer that sprinted at him full speed. He stopped in front of Builderman, as if waiting for him to move - which he never did. So, he ended up slashing the frozen Builderman over and over again until Builderman re-emerged in that familiar lobby.
His body went through excruciating pain every time Builderman dared to even twitch. Ugh, it always hurt after a death. After laying there for about a couple of moments, he willed himself to stand up. He felt a sharp pain creep up his leg with each step he took, almost making him crumple to the floor. He let out a sigh of pure relief when he sat down on an armchair just beside the warm fire. He already could feel the pain dripping away.
Now all he needed to do was just wait. Relax. Bask in his own lonesome. Drown in the endless sea of his questions.
What happened with Telamon? Where'd he go? Why was he scared? Why did Builderman miss him so much?
Why did Builderman feel empty without the god?
Why did he want to be held, be reassured by the god? Be reassured that in no way it was Builderman’s fault he left. He so desperately wanted Telamon here beside him. He missed the flutter his heart used to have when hearing Telamon or talking with him. The robloxian could never replace the feeling of warmth that cloaked and feared god he got from him, but, alas, it is what it is.
Builderman didn't want to label anything to Telamon; gone, in love with, never coming back and more. Why? Because it'd make everything too real. Besides, everything here might as well have been fake.
He just needed to wake up. Right?
But even if he woke up out of this god-forsaken land, Telamon would still be gone. Of course he would.