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James couldn’t, he couldn’t, he did it, he ended his beloved wife's life. The tape, the memories, the pictures, every last moment of Mary in the hospital and in their bedroom; he tried to forget but every memory of her came back to reality and hit him hard. He took her life; he took it out of so much stress and seeing her in pain. He stood tense sitting in a chair. The tape loops in his mind over and over, his fingernails scratching deeper and deeper onto the cotton of the armchair.
Delusion becomes reality as the inside of the hotel room becomes dirty, rotting away, water flooding the floor, the glass windows shattered, and eerie silence fills the room. He couldn’t move; he didn't want to move; there was no reason to move. He rather rot inside slowly letting any creature come and kill him.
So he waits…
Pyramid Head watched James sleep, a very, very rare occurrence. He listens, he could hear him breathe. Deep breathing. Slow and gently. Peaceful in fact. He’s been so unsure, restless, and so scared. He himself shouldn’t have been there. He was only here to judge and punish James Sunderland.
James curled on his side, face buried in Pyramid Head’s chest.
It had been cold and the buildings of each room rotted ever since they first met. His task is to guilt, judge, punish, and kill everything around to make a bloody path for James Sunderland. He had been stalking his prey for as long as James kept moving, learning every move, every little memory he’s encountered. It could have been a clean stab, easy. He could have done it as James is dead asleep. What he’s meant to do by James' deepest desire.
He could have killed James. He could have pierced his great knife against his heart and watch as he falls down limp and lifeless. But James fought every corner to get to his once living and breathing wife. It was something that once eventually died down and faced true reality upon remembering the truth.
There would be no reason in killing a broken man.
A broken man that stopped him from piercing himself underneath his metal head.
He listened as James' breathing became rapid, panicked. Pyramid Head shook him by shoulder. Green eyes greeted him, and for a moment James was forced to remember what had happened. This thing in the bed was not human. This thing was not Mary.
He saw a flash of instinct in James' eyes, and he was able to quickly grab him by both wrists and push his body closer before James started pushing or kicking. Pyramid Head growls keeping his growl gentle and even. Dealing with a panicked James was not unlike handling a lowly mannequin or a bubble head nurse.
James' breathing slowed once more, and the flash of panic had drained from him. He let him go, “S-sorry!…I-I just…” he took a moment and just looked down holding his hands together on his lap and nodded. It had been surreal at first. James had been in pace from finding memories of his past life to a sudden stop of huge guilt. But after everything he went through, it seems he could only look down and say less words.
Pyramid Head wrapped his arms around him, James abruptly stopped in thought but stood still in place. He was no stranger to nightmares because he knows he's one for James.
He moved to intertwine his hands with James giving them a gentle squeeze, giving him reassurance to calm him. Calmness that he shouldn’t give, only should be punishment and guilt. James whimpered, Pyramid Head tilted his metal head. It had been the first sound he had heard since it was purely just little sentences or no words.
“Y-You…know that there’s no need to…” James stares at their hands intertwined. His hands are very hidden away from Pyramid Head’s bigger hands. Just looking and staring down at their intertwined hands makes him feel so small and delicate compared to huge strong hands that can easily crush him. Maybe he should crush them.
Pyramid Head growls gently squeezing and encouraging James to go back to sleep. James shook his head and lay on Pyramid Head’s chest, looking up, seeing underneath the metal head not scared but looking as if everything didn't matter anymore.
A silent moment hangs between them, a silence full of guilt and lifelessness, hate and brokenness. James gave a light soft squeeze back, and Pyramid Head can sense and feel the dead life out of him. What was truly once life, it faded away. But a small part inside of him still has some life.
He let go of his hands and wrapped his arms around James comfortably letting him lay and rest. He shouldn’t but he’s broken what James desired. After all, James stopped him from taking out his own life compared to the other.
James looks down, seeing many scars and reaches Pyramid Head’s arm and runs his thumb down to a scar of many scars. He didn't say anything but he felt him move. It's a couple of days old. It’s from him when they encountered each other back in the labyrinth, he slashed him with the knife that Angela had.
He growls softly, taking James’ hand and turns it over revealing a huge scar. James stares at his nasty scar on the palm of his hand that he remembers was right when he slashed Pyramid Head only for him to quickly slash him back, almost piercing him losing a hand. Made him lose Angela’s knife in the process as he ran.
He gently places James hand back down and continues to hold him. He stares at the tear edges of the walls that were once full of life when people lived here. A memory of what James had known. He stares at the once nice floral walls now teared and torn apart just waiting for James to calmly go back to slumber. James blankly stares at the wall as well remembering that people used to live here, people who were his neighbors for a bit as both him and Mary were staying. When both of them were happily laughing together, playfully chasing each other.
Pyramid Head heard James make a noise and he felt him tense up. He rocked James back and forth gently, purring to calm him. He felt him turn still. James forgot why this thing hasn’t killed him or why he is here in the first place.
James paused for breath, chest heaving, he didn’t want to fight not after what he’s done. What kept replaying in his mind but he had to consider his opponents. They didn’t deign to show a single sign of exhaustion, despite the fight dragging out for minutes in a half dim lighted area they continued to push forward to land a spear and a huge knife towards him. He tried to collect them, tracking their movements as he reached to reload his ammo.
Both Pyramid Heads didn’t flinch nor stop when he shot out multiple shots at them, they continued to attack forward. He decided to switch it up with the rifle hoping to do at least some damage. He shot, aiming low at both his opponents; it did absolutely nothing to them besides opening another wound.
He tried to follow up with a kick but his opponent didn’t flinch, it grabbed him by the neck and threw him back to the ground. James transitioned into a roll, and used his hand to boost himself up and grabbed his gun. He shot it connecting right onto its leg.
It immediately threw his spear at him but James rolled in time. He looked to the side to see an incoming huge knife. Quickly pulls his legs towards his stomach avoiding the huge knife from piercing him as his breath increases.
The knife was big, but that was both an advantage and a disadvantage. He had time to react from the distances between the other, and if he was close enough he would’ve lost both of his legs. James pushes his legs back spreading them and aims towards the thing, the bullet hits his hip but its physical strength didn’t stop him from walking towards him. For any human, a huge knife weighing so much like that wouldn’t be as maneuverable, but this thing is a creature. It was actually his guilt weighing and this thing doesn’t have physical limitations, nothing really stops him.
He tried shooting more but it was useless. He made a misstep, a half-second too slow in retreating, and instead of quickly getting up, the other grabbed his face lifting him up the ground. James choked as the thing began to put pressure on his face. He immediately began to shoot towards it and the thing growled and threw him towards the wall. James accidentally let go, wincing as both his guns clattered somewhere in the distance as he protected his head from clashing towards the wall.
He felt himself getting so exhausted, loss of blood, bruises, broken bones, muscles ache, heart racing, and breathing heavily to the point of snorting he could feel he might pass out.
James knows why they are both here; he knows what they are meant to do. He knows the truth and it keeps replaying in his mind.
Both Pyramid Heads grabbed their weapons, James took a deep breath causing a snort making it harder to breathe and pushed himself up, swaying with the effort of it. He couldn’t make it all the way up and with one hand he grabbed the wall pulling himself up was a feat of endurance and he ended up slumped against the wall, panting.
He stood there trembling, hand spasming on the wall, staring at the two. He squeezed his eyes shut, mumbling to himself. He heard them getting closer and he couldn't do anything. Everything hurts.
At this point he lost. He couldn’t keep up any longer. There was no point anymore.
If he had tears, he could’ve wept. He felt them right next to him. He slightly opened his eyes, blurry vision met reddish color; he squinted up - red and off-white was all he could make out in his wavering vision, “I know what I did. I…I killed her.”
He huffed feeling a sharp blade resting right underneath his jaw. The Pyramid Head with the great spear focus was squarely on him. James snorted among his breaths, it was not careful to press the spear hard against his skin, little drops of blood went down onto the great spear. His vision finally clear, green eyes glared up at the Pyramid Head.
The other Pyramid Head was careful not to press too hard against James' chest. This Pyramid Head has known him since the Wood Side Apartment. Though, throughout this fight he's realized that this Pyramid Head actually helped him create a path, a guide, and a realization of both Mary and Maria that led him all the way up to here.
This Pyramid Head knows him more than the other but something about him looked to be conflicted. Whether or not he should pierce his great knife closer to make him bleed.
Both Pyramid Heads stood in front of him with their weapons at the ready, this is what they are here for. The guilt that he has and has created. The punishment he's wanted. The punishment by his own admission.
He took a shaky breath causing him to cough but then relaxed staring at both, “I…I know…what…you are.” He felt the spear jabbed more into his skin making him deep breathy. “I…I know…why…why I needed you.” He felt the knife move closer but not to the point to make him bleed.
His fingers curled against the wall, “But…it’s…all over…now.” blood dripped down on his neck leaving new stains of his blood from beyond dried blood. He felt dizzy from so much blood loss, chest heavy as the knife followed his breathing patterns but kept his eyes directly on them even if they dilated slightly.
“I don’t…need you. I don’t…need you any…more.” Both Pyramid Heads stilled, looked at each other for a couple of seconds, retrieved their weapons back and stepped back a couple of inches away from him.
James moved his hand up pressing it against his chest making him stagger in the process. He pressed his head against the wall heavily breathing and snorting trying to get more air in now that he didn’t have the great spear on his jaw or the great knife on his chest. He's so grateful that the Pyramid Head that has helped him throughout his search for his wife didn’t stab his chest.
They both took their weapons and faced the sharp blade towards them. James didn’t even have time to relax as he saw what they were about to do. He especially looks at the Pyramid Head with the great knife.
Is he about to do what he thinks it's going to do?
He didn’t care if he was so weak at this moment but something about this made him react and started running, “W-wait!…D-don’t!” he stumbles as he reaches for the great knife and starts pulling with all the strength he has. It was almost close to piercing him underneath the metal helmet.
He choked on his own breath from how much force it’s taking him to get that great knife away from him. The strength to this thing compared to him even with the help of his legs was embarrassing. He couldn’t keep tugging the great knife away from him any longer, “Please…don’t go!…I-don’t leave…me.” he didn’t have any more strength to keep pulling and so…he collapsed down onto the great knife.
Now he remembers, he saved Pyramid Head by piercing himself with the huge great knife of his. He stopped him. He saw Pyramid Head turn his great knife against himself ready to pierce the blade underneath his metal head. Before he could, he dashed grabbing the handle of the huge knife and tried his best to pull it away from him making himself fall to the ground and trying to push with his legs stopping the huge knife away with extra strength that he barely had. From there, he remembered everything went black, passing out from exhaustion.
Pyramid Head gently pokes James’ cheek giving a soft growl, he noticed James was staring at the wall this whole time instead of falling asleep he jumped a little causing him to look up at him, “S-sorry…” James twisted himself to the side and grabbed a fistful of Pyramid Head’s bloody apron, playing with it lightly, cautiously. He tilted his metal head curious what he meant by that.
“About your…hip.” James whispered.
He looks back moving a hand to his waistband feeling the bullet wound he endured. It really didn’t hurt nor affected him. He softly growled and gave him a soft squeeze making James sure it didn’t bother him. He doesn’t want James to feel even worse than now. He whimpered and nodded to the response, he could see the drowsiness in those eyes, the nightmare that had woken him up.
James yawned, feeling the exhaustion hit him once more, “Sleep…sleep with me?” It took no time for Pyramid Head to pull both of them down comfortably onto the bed even if he’s a little big for it.
Even if James knows Pyramid Head can’t sleep, at least he wants him to lay beside him. It was strange for him to care for him but it didn’t matter to him right now, not after knowing what he’s done. Then again, he did say to not leave him. It was a little embarrassing that he had said that but it doesn’t matter, Pyramid Head comforts him.
He doesn’t deserve it and well did he really? Now that he can think a little, did he want to save Pyramid Head from close to ending his life to have someone around him or stop him only so he can kill him? Or something else? Well, he doesn’t know it yet and it really didn’t matter anyways. He's right by his side and hasn’t done anything to hurt him. Only comfort him.
James shuddered against him before going still, taking deep breaths as he gripped onto him. Pyramid Head pulls the blanket over covering both even though he doesn’t need it. The cold never bothered him but for James it does. James’ breath finally evened out, his body going lax against him. Pyramid Head holds him tightly, going relaxed at the way James buries himself more onto him.
He wasn’t trying to kill James, only wanting to protect him from other creatures around. Yes he did hurt him but that’s only because James desired it. It was his punishment. He was supposed to do what he was forced to do by his existence and Silent Hill. Yet he found himself to be curious about James Sunderland throughout the time and days as he made a path for him. In the end he loves to be close, be near him being able to finally protect him even if James may or may not desire it.
James saved him and he saved him in return.