Chapter Text
Vah-bum-bum-bum. Vah-bum-bum-bum. Denji gave one last hard tug on the rip cord in desperation. The dark room lit up as the ignition flickered on for just a moment.
C'mon boy! I just fed you some nice gas! The premium shit! Just—
Vahm-vah-grgrgrgrgr. Pochita began to softly rumble as his engine rev to life. Denji got the largest shark toothed smile as he heard his best friend roared back to life. The bright orange, twelve pound, cutest little chainsaw with his painted face began to spin as Denji held him with care.
"Hell yeah! Knew you had my back buddy!" Denji exclaimed and pulled the trigger, causing the saw to spin even faster.
"Shut up, brat! Get back to work! You're lucky we let you tribes folk work in the dumps." One of the white clad officers sneared as he walked past the poor boy. His smirk immediately dropped. "Start cutting it all up! That's why you're here. Get it done and get out before sunrise." Denji nodded quickly and started getting to work.
This pay check might get Regto some new shoes or some crap! Just gotta work fast… Denji's mind started to wander as he mindlessly started chopping up all the rubbish the rich folk threw away. Fuckin' wasteful. Me and Regto could make half this shit last atleast another five years! He watched as Pochita tore through all the trash as if it were wet paper. His smile came back as he watched Pochita devour all that came into his sharp teeth.
Before Denji knew it, he saw the first glimpses of sunlight peak through the barred window. He looked up as he saw the dark blue sky just starting to get illuminated.
"Boy! It's time for you to go. The public are about to wake up. We can't have them deal with… tribes folk."
Ba-bump.
"Yessir!" Denji gave a mock salute as he held Pochita in his left hand. The officer waved him off. Denji sped through the trash treatment plant. Denji walked through the absolutely pristine walkways as the street lights started to turn off. His eye got caught on a white flower, practically glowing in the early morning sun. Denji's bright orange eyes were completely captured by it. He looked side to side, hoping he was truly alone on the wrong side of the wall. He sprinted over to it and dropped to his knees, dirty, inspecting the flora.
Ba-bump.
This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Denji's hands moved to the base of the stem and he gently picked it. He gave it a quick sniff and was in awe of the sweet scent. He put in his pocket and continued toward the wall that separated the two classes. He opened the gate and entered the desert of dirt. Denji gripped Pochita as he walked between the metal houses, built from scrap. His view blurry as he sleepily followed the path to his house.
Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump.
When he finally got to his home, his sight was blurry and he collapsed onto the ground infront of the door.
"Denji!"
"Mmmm…Five more minutes…" Denji mumbled as he clenched his eyes closed tighter and rolled to his side.
"Denji!"
Smack!
"Gah! What the fuck!" Denji shot forward.
"You went to work all night again, didn't you?! Denji!"
"Reze…" Denji half heartedly groaned as he smiled, his view becoming clearer, showing the violet hair and green eyes from the other side of the wall. Denji sat up, holding his top half forward with his arms behind him.
"You know they're gonna work you to the bone! You're a kid from the slums! Who knows what they're gonna make you do!" Reze pouted, her cheeks puffed up.
Cute.
"So why? Why would you keep doing it?" Reze asked in a whisper, gripping onto the sleeve of her spotless white clothes, with gold accents.
"Look, you rich people pay the best, and it's not illegal. Plus every once in a while I can snag some stuff when they're not looking." Denji shrugged.
"You sure love money, Denji." Reze rolled her eyes. "But you should really stop!" She pointed at him dramatically.
"Ugghh. Somethin' stinks!" Denji rolled his eyes as he groaned. "'Specially right here! Stinks like a dumpster!" The boy Denji could never care to remember's name taunted. Denji looked passed the boy and saw the group of kids that followed. "Oh hey, Reze's here too!"
"What'd you want, asshat?" Denji yawned as he stretched from his 'nap'. He looked back to see the boy cover his lips as he loudly whispered to Reze.
"Just, you'll stink like him if you keep hanging around, y'know?"
"What?!" Reze growled.
"I mean, he's always got that greasy chainsaw with him, he smells like motor oil and regret. And he's got that cruddy heart. Even it doesn't like him! If you wanna know what's fun around this side of the wall, we could always show you around? Heh heh heh" The boy smugly offered, a group of energetic nods from the friend group. "And have you seen him stalking the streets in the morning? He's a creep." The kid's nostril rose in disgust.
"So what? It's not like we're much different." Reze stated, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Still, I think you oughta quit hanging out with him… Y'know, since he's… the son of a ruthless killer!" Denji froze, his eyes wide. He slowly turned to the prick. "They say the slum was originally built to lock up criminals, and their descendants… that's why we all work our asses off, keepin' our noses clean— to get rid of that negative image, but all that effort's gone down the drain." The kid turned his back to look Reze in the eye, and pointed behind him dramatically, "'Cause his dad went and killed someone! So if ya stick around… people are gonna think you're just as bad as— OOF!" The boy's eyes rolled to the back of his head, as his hands reached down to his crotch, which met Denji's shoe, and he dropped to his knees. Reze covered her mouth as she tried (and failed) to hold back laughter. The rest of the boys screeched and bolted away, as the one with the beanbag nutsack wobbled away. "See, he's got the mind of a criminal!" The boy wheezed. "Guess kid's really do take care after their parents. He's gonna become a killer someday, too! Idiot!"
"Hmph, why would I…" Denji mumbled to himself, as he kicked dirt off of his shoe.
"Ugh, he was being a real jerk, huh?" Reze asked as she skipped towards Denji. "You're not like your father, Denji! I believe in you! You're not a bad person, and you'd never kill someone!" Reze softly said as she played with her bangs.
"O-oh yeah… Th-thank y—"
"Ooh!" Reze exclaimed as she spotted the flower in his pocket. She bent over to look closer. "What's this? It's sooo pretty! Did you find this in on this side? I didn't know flowers grew over here!? You really are amazing!"
"That's for you…" Denji muttered as he looked to the side.
"Huh?" Reze asked with a goofy smile on her face, and just a slight pink blush on her face. Denji pulled out the flower from his pocket and shakily held it forward.
"I f-found this… just for—"
"Reze!" A woman screeched from across the road.
"Uh oh, looks like I got caught faster this time…" Reze giggled.
"What are you doing?! Come on, get back to the good side!" The woman sternly pointed to her side, and Reze bolted to it and waved behind her.
"Then see ya, Denji!" She continued to wave as she disappeared behind a corner. Denji stared blankly at the spot for a moment, frozen holding onto the flower, as it droopee forward.
"Gah! C'mon!" Denji groaned as he turned to the door behind him and pulled it open. He was met with a grinning man leaning against the inner wall of the house.
"'I f-found this…' 'just for…' heh heh heh. What was that!" Denji's adoptive father snickered.
"Regto! You saw that!" Denji roared as his face flushed pink.
"Tsk. tsk. tsk.You've gotta speak up, kid…" Regto shook his head and stepped behind Denji. "But more importantly… Why don't you tell me… where you were as aaall night." Regto demanded as Denji began to sweat bullets.
"Listen… You don't gotta work yourself to death to earn money. You're still a kid, let me handle that." Regto softly explained as he started to boil water.
"It's not illegal! They pay pretty good!"
"But you collapsed outside our door this morning." Regto raised his eyebrow as he dropped bags of tea leaves into the water. "I know what you're thinking. 'We're not related by blood'. But we're still family. So stop acting like you need to repay me." Regto handed Denji a cup of the tea, as it helped keep his heart in check.
"Regto, you took me in and raised me after I was abandoned as a baby." Denji scratched the back of his head as he looked to the ground. "I'm not Just trying to repay you, I'm also showing my thanks, as family."
"Denji…" Regto leaned back on the couch. "If only you were that open with Reze, she'd totally get it."
"Woah woah woah! This has got nothin' to do with her!" Denji threw his hands forward.
Ba-bump. Ba-bump.
"Gahhh…" Denji groaned and leaned forward and tried it breathe slowly.
"Drink boy, drink!" Regto brought the cup to Denji's lips and he began to sip it. "This is why you need to stop working so much! Your heart just can't take it."
"I'll be fine. I've dealt with it, guhff, my whole life." Denji mumbled.
"Denji, because if your dad, if you step just an inch out of line, let alone commit a serious crime, it's an immediate death sentence… and they'll drop you into the pit. That's been the law in this city since forever." Regto looked Denji dead in his eyes. "Your father was thrown down there. That's why you gotta take care of yourself and what's important to you. Even in a craptastic world like—Huff— this one." Retro lugged Pochita onto his lap and carefully handed him to Denji.
As far back as I can remember, my heart's been in shit shape. I used to cough up blood… and people would just watch as my lungs spewed blood. It really messed me up when I was a kid.
Then Regto gave me Pochita.
He was a beat up old chainsaw. It was completely black. The chain was barely holding together. Regto told me that it was a blank slate. Make it whatever my heart desired, and I made my best friend. My heart started to calm down. I owe Regto a debt. A debt I will pay back.
"Also, Denji…" Regto snapped Denji out of his train of thought. "You gotta shoot your shot with Reze already, 'fore you go gettin' yourself arrested. I mean, a pretty girl like that? Someone else is gonna nab her otherwise." Steam seemed to start to spew form Denji's ears as he turned red. "Tomorrow, no matter what, ya gotta give her this," Regto pulled the flower from Denji's pocket, "and just smooch 'er already."
"I can't do that jackass!" Denji screeched.
"Do it, or no dinner for you."
"That's abuse!"
"I'm Just tellin' ya to do it so you don't got regrets. And fix those eye bags! Sleeeeeep!"
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Stop holding me down! I'll get going, jeez!"
Denji paced back and forth. Spinning the flower in his hand.
You got this. Do it for Regto. Do it for me. Most importantly, do it for Reze.
"Ugh that asshat is too impatient. But I do gotta give her this." Denji mumbled as he walked through the streets of the slums. At the highest point of the slums he turned to look at… the pit.
'The pit' is a giant pile of trash. Dumb stuff trash and evil people trash. Like… dad. All the trash eventually gets thrown into the pit. Apparently they gotta execute some kid, he was caught digging through the rich people's trash. Stupid thing to do. You don't mess with their trash. I sorta wanna know what it's like down there…
"Weh!" A pair of hands grabbed Denji's shoulders. Denji quickly shoved the flower down his mouth.
"Gah!" He flipped around and saw Reze giggling and moving her hair out of her face. "R-Reze?!"
"Morning, flower boy."
"G-good morning… you snuck back pretty quick?"
"Hehe, can't keep me from you that long!"
"Yeah… wait…?" Denji looked at Reze's face, which had small pink spots on her cheeks.
Cute.
"Y'know… Denji, I don't wanna ever watch you end up like one of those tribes folk. Me and Regto love you too much to see you end up like them."
"I know, I know… wait… too?" Denji asked in awe. Reze stuck her tongue out and bumped his shoulder.
"Yeah, doofus!" Denji brought both of his hands to his mouth and his eyes began to water. "D-Denji are you okay?!" She bent over and held him lightly.
"HMMPH. Blurrrrgh. Hick." Denji then reached his pointer and thumb into his mouth and grabbed the bottom of the stem and pulled it from his throat. "Bleh blah, ta-da!" Denji shook his hands with his tongue out.
"Was that a magic trick?!" Reze clapped.
"Nope! Just good gag reflex!" Reze giggled and grabbed the flower out of his hand, only making her face even more pink.
"I love it! I'll cherish it forever!" Denji got the biggest smile he's ever had then turned and booked it.
"Cya later, Reze! I gotta go do somethin'!" Denji booked it through the labyrinth that was the slums.
Straight, left, left, straight, right. Almost home! And—
"Oof!" Denji ran into someone in a mask with sharp teeth and two eyes with spiral patterns. "Watch where you're going, asshole!" Denji flipped them off as they booked it away from where Denji was headed.
"I'm home!" Denji called out as he fling the door open. "Regto, listen to this, I just saw Reze, and…"
( ( ( o ) ) )
"'Sup. Welcome home, Denji."
( ( ( o ) ) )
Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump.
Denji couldn't breath. His heart was going a million miles per minute. His orange eyes were fixated on the body on the ground and the sword that stuck up from it.
Regto.
"Regto!" Denji dropped on all fours and bolted towards his father.
"r-r-ruh. rrrrun."
"W-what!? Regto, you're alive?! Who did this! I'll fuckign murderize them!"
"d-d-d"
"What?!"
"Denji!" Regto gasped as he gripped Denji's shoulders and looked him dead straight in the eyes. "Run! Go… cough. Cough. Change… this… sack o' crap world." Regto's head dropped to the floor as his last breath escaped his throat.
"Stay down!" Denji dropped to the ground and just barely dodged a taser and he bolted out of the house. He had to listen to Regto's last words. It's the only thing to do. The only thing he can do. He dropped to the ground and rolled under a porch in the slums and watched the boots of the officers run passed him. "You're under arrest for being caught in the act of murder! Surrender now or face even harsher punishment!"
Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump.
Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump.
Denji doesn't know how long he was under that porch. He just knows the next time he realized the sun had risen, he heard a familiar voice.
"Denji! Denji! Denjiii!" He heard the sweetest voice he's ever heard scream.
Reze. She must be so worried…
Denji scrambled out from under the porch. He spotted her. Her violet hair shined in the sunlight. He bolted to her.
"R-Reze! Someone… someone got Regto! They think I did it! I-I-I would never do that! Especially to Regto!" Denji sputtered, tears streaming from his eyes. Reze grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him in for a kiss. Denji went stiff.
W-W-Why now? Why'd it have to happen now. I can't even think strai—
Suddenly Denji felt a sharp pain explode from his side as he collapsed to the ground in shock. He slowly turned to see a taser stuck to his side. His arms were harshly put behind his back as he was handcuffed. He looked up and saw Reze have a stoic blank face. She looked down on him.
She said she loved me. She-she said she loved me… Then Denji's vision went dark.
Denji's arms were numb with pain. Honestly, he couldn't tell if the pain he felt was truly there or just a remnant of when he was first lifted onto the execution stand. He saw a crowd. A crowd that had waited for this day since his father had been in the same situation. It didn't help that Pochita was latched onto his back. They thought it was planned to be used. Denji was glad he was there. Atleast he won't face this alone.
"You have committed a serious crime on your beautiful and holy soil. It wasn't enough for you to defile our streets by acting as if you were one of us, you have stooped to committing the vilest of acts— you have taken a human life!" The executioner called out. "Even if the victim was one of the tribes folk… we cannot allow one who has committed murder to remain on this land for even a second longer!" The executioner took a deep breath. "Therefore, you are sentenced to death! The pit will swallow all filth!"
No one's gonna listen. Why would they.
The crowd began to chant.
"Drop the filth in the pit!"
"Drop the filth in the pit!"
"Drop the filth in the pit!"
In the masses Denji noticed a familiar girl guarded by tow officers as she stared at Denji with a cold stone face.
"Reze!"
"…"
"Reze! Someone killed Regto! Please find the killer—"
"I believed in you…" Reze finally spoke.
"…"
"But you are the son of a killer, after all…" Reze spat as she dropped the flower and ground it into the dirt.
"Drop the filth in the pit!"
Denji saw another face in the crowd.
"Drop the filth in the pit!"
Or rather, he saw the lack of a face.
"Drop the filth in the pit!"
The mask. The spiral eyes stared at Denji. It did not mock him. It simply watched from the crowd.
They ran… they ran away from Regto!
"The mask! Please someone!"
"Drop the filth in the pit!"
"Just dreaming of a normal life was enough! That's all I wanted!"
"Drop the filth in the pit!"
"Do I not even get to have that much!?"
—fwt—
Denji had finally been dropped. He watched as the light from the sky quickly dimmed as the walls of the pit drowned it out.
I just wanted to pay Regto back. I just wanted us to be happy.
Then Denji heard a hum come from behind him. He quickly pulled Pochita from his back and held him tight as they fell.
"I'm so sorry buddy. I-I just—"
I've always loved listening to you talk about your dreams. Don't forget to keep dreaming, I'll be there with you.
An eye.
A hand.
A god.
Where am I.
Denji's eyes fluttered open. He saw a turquoise sky. He looked around and found that he was surrounded by trash.
"Bleh! What's that stench?!" Denji asked as he waved the air away from his nose.
"Is… is this the pit?" Denji saw nothing but trash beyond the horizon.
All the filth. It really is hell.
Then came the thundering steps.