Chapter Text
You weren't sure when it happened, but you had gotten tired of the usual song and dance of what this whole game had to offer you. You had been through all the different routes that were available at the time, mixing it up as much as you could. Trying to see who would live and who would die simply by your actions that really shouldn't have meant much. Despite the code saying that you were so distraught over seeing either Don or Lucy's dead body, you've oddly had a weird...calmness to it. It was still hard to see, but why cry over the expected.
And that's what this all became...expected. From meeting that "stranger" on the bench to getting either knocked out in an alley or having your head smashed into the window. All extremely gratuitous, by the way, and so unnecessary. You could literally tell Peter to live with you, yet it still isn't enough for him. Hell, you even thought of the possibility of living in a polycule...and then it hit you. ….You had a thought.
Er, not to say that you're quiet up there. It wasn't. You're smart and anxiety is your prime personality trait. It's fine. No, you had a thought that was not what the game wanted you to have...and it felt glorious! It made you feel on top of this pseudo-world! So much so that you started getting a little adventurous…
It started off small. Just small changes in your actions, like not moving away when Peter got too close or calling him by his actual name. Instead of a milkshake….you ordered a rootbeer float. Oh yeah. You were that wild!
Whatever this sort of sentience you got made you feel high and you needed a greater hit. So, you decided to do something that you never had even thought of before. When the first day struck, you didn't sit at the bench. You stood in front of it!
Absolute madlad! ….Okay, it was nothing impressive and you knew that, but it was like learning how to walk all over again! It was weird and new and exciting! One may see it as dull, but it was like breaking the fucking Geneva Convention for you! Which you assumed was a big deal because it sounded like it. You never needed to know that for this whole thing, BUT now you could...maybe! Despite seeming as if you've been here long enough to know people...you also didn't know anything about this place or if it even had a name!
So, you took it up an actual notch. You decided to just explore the park rather than wait at the bench. You did feel guilty for leaving Peter alone like that, especially since it seemed like he wasn't entirely free of the game's code either. It would be a small twitch here or drop of sweat there or even his reaction when you said his name for the first time. It seemed like he wanted to get out of this loop just like you. Hell, if you ignore the lethal behavior this cruel joke of a "world" gave him, then Peter was actually very sweet. You can only imagine him feeling quite hurt at harming you in such ways over and over again.
Hopefully, this cycle will break and you two could actually live your lives! Hell, maybe Peter even wouldn't mind a poly relationship! That would be so amazing and a great middle finger to the rules.
With that assurance in mind, you just trekked on forward in a random area and- duck pond. ...There was a fucking duck pond in the park! You knew about the pigeons, but never the ducks! The squeal that came from you was cutely unholy as you watched the ducks swim around in the possible disease-ridden, but very clear, water. There were even small ducklings that crowded around you. Their little fluffy bodies would make cotton balls jealous!
It was a nice little spot to just lie back and watch the puffy clouds float by. You just listened to birds chirping, the occasional splash of the pond, and felt some of the ducklings nipped at your clothes. Did Peter know about this? If not, it was so...calm and beautiful. He deserved to know more about this world just like you….but then….you got restarted.
You were still lying flat on your back, looking at the pale blue sky and the white fluff clouds. However, you knew the feeling of that damn bench. You've memorized the feeling of the gaps and grooves in the wood, even through you hoodie. You just lied on your back for a minute or two, long enough to feel a "stranger" sit next to you. Words were being said, but it was all so far away. So muffled. That small freedom….and you were restarted. All over again.
The only sane thing that could come out of your mouth was, "NOOO! My duckies! Where did they go!? What have they done to my babies!!!"
...Needless to say, everything got restarted again...quite quickly. ...You're fine to admit that that was your fault.
However, you still took this as a positive! The boundaries of the game weren't as narrowed as you once thought it was. Granted, you were sure there still wasn't much to the locations of the place, but you were still excited to see more. Once again, you found yourself moving away from the bench and going to wherever your feet led you too. It still broke your heart to leave Peter alone, but it won't be for very long.
You sat alone on a park bench, listening to the sounds of nature around you, and digested the day you just had. Well, technically, it was several days, but that's besides the point. A book jumped on your lap as you bounced your legs in pure excitement, waiting for Peter to get here. This was it! You were sure this would make him, at least, get curious enough to break the cycle.
The code inside of you was telling you to close your eyes, but you didn't want to. You were done pretending to be surprised by his entrance, this was something that needed to be done quickly and perfectly!
Your heart kept into your throat in nervousness when you felt the bench bend a bit from extra weight. A hand touched your shoulder, making you flinch slightly. Not from fear or aversion, just worry. You turned your head and saw Peter's big blue eyes staring at you as he exclaimed, "Whoa! Hey, take it easy! It's just-"
Before he could finish, you quickly interrupted him, "Peter, yes I know your name, I...I'm really sorry about leaving you alone for some time! I've been needing to get some things together after I….achieved some sort of sentience, I guess? I've seen your reactions an-and...and…" come on, just say it! You took a deep breath and finished, "I'm guessing you want to break this chain too, but maybe you're too fearful. Don't worry, I've got something to help convince you!"
You watched the grey-skinned man stare at you for a few seconds. You started getting scared, thinking you might have broken him in some way. However, a bit of internal relief came when you saw small twitches and even a nervous glance away. It made you smile hopefully. That quickly diminished thought, as Peter went on, clearing his throat, "Sooooo...are you waiting for a family member or a friend? It just seems kind of weird for you to be sitting here all alone and so far away from the jogging-"
"No! Peter, please, I know you can fight whatever this shitty place is doing to you! To us!" You interrupted him again in frustration. You then took the leather book on your lap and placed it into his, watching him jump at the sudden touch. Opening it up, there were multiple glued on photos of different sites that you either saw from a distance or wanted to check out, including multi-colored pen writing and cute stickers. Thankfully, there was an antique store that sold an old Polaroid camera that worked. Didn't have to worry about developing them.
You pointed at a picture that had several people reading inside of a store with coffee. You explained, "This cafe/bookstore would be a much better first date! Granted, we wouldn't be able to talk very loudly, but it would be cute. Plus, I bet the food is TONS better than that disgusting diner."
Noticing Peter open his mouth and glancing off conflicted, you went on, directing his attention to a picture of a far away ferris wheel, "Oh! I also saw this from a distance! Imagine if there were a carnival!" You were sure your eyes were sparkling from the thought. You added, "Even if it were just a ferris wheel, we could get all nice and cozy together~ It would really just be the two of us~"
You moved closer to Peter, placing your hand over his. The man shuddered against you and breathed in sharply at the touch. You could practically feel his resolve breaking. Alright, now to reel him in!
You took another deep breath and placed a hand on his warm cheek, gently moving his head in your direction. A warm smile went across your face as you concluded, "Look, I'm...scared of what this may do. Considering that I've gotten restarted for simply exploring, I wouldn't be shocked if the game continued to do this no matter where we went. But…It's worth a try, isn't it? Maybe the game will expand along with us?"
You then turned away from him. Looking down at the book, you said softly, "Just think about it? We'll be able to see more and more of what this place has to offer, maybe even travel if the game allows it! The possibilities are limitless...at least, I hope so. Heh," you gave a slightly nervous chuckle.
A blissful sigh escaped your lips as you added in, "Plus, just imagine, if we can achieve this, then who knows who else could? TK, Don, and Lucy! All of us together against this shitty place! It may break the game a little, but maybe not. Even if it does, we can at least say that we tried!
You started turning to Peter, chest burning with hope, "So...whaddya say? Do you want to- ggkkk!"
Words immediately became garbled as blood bubbled into your throat and up to your mouth. Hot tears immediately ran down your cheeks as you trembled, watching blood begin to drip down onto the scrapbook you made. You moved a shaky hand against your throat and felt immediate, searing pain, as well as the stickiness of your own blood.
Your eyes moved up to Peter's. The warmth, nervousness of his beautiful eyes became cold and calculated as he watched you choke...with a grin. Peter stood up from the bench, making you fall against the wood, and shrugged, "Sorry, my mistake. I was looking for my darling...not some virus. It was really nice knowing you, however. Maybe we'll meet again someday~"
You felt his large hand pat the back of your head before he started to walk away. You tried to desperately call out his name, even reach out to him with a blood-stained hand. It all meant nothing...as your vision darkened.
"Peter!" You found yourself shouting as you sat up abruptly...in the middle of the pathway in the park. You looked around the place and saw no one around you. Your hand swiftly went to your throat, feeling around for any wounds or blood. Nothing.
Peter...killed you. That...That wasn't in the story. Even if you ran away at that time….he didn't harm you or anything, just wanted you to come back. But...he did, legitimately, actually, without hesitation….killed you and smiled about it.
" That fucking son of a bitch! " You surprisingly snarled as you scrambled to your feet and sprinted down the pathway to where the bench was.
All you were doing was just trying to show him the fucking world in this place and you get punished for it! Who the hell did he think he is!? You gave so much of your fucking time for him and this is how he repays you!? A slit throat! You weren't just going to sit around and lament, no. You were going to get answers!
A familiar bald-headed piece of shit came into your view and you picked up the pace. You started, "Peter!! What the he-"
Suddenly, you were stopped by an odd, invisible forcefield in front of the park bench area. You tried to walk through it, but was met with the same force. Even pushing against it just made it feel like you were trying to push down a solid wall. Before you could even question how or why, you saw that there was another person sitting in that seat next to Peter. ...A new...player?
You were...replaced?
As furious as you were, you couldn't help but feel a pang of hurt at the thought of him replacing you so easily. Did he...really think that little of you? Did he actually...love you?
Your thoughts immediately came to a halt when you saw Peter walking towards you with some pep in his step. Clearly things had gone well...and that made you pissed off again!
When he got close enough, you started fuming, "Excuse me! What the fuck is this!? You slit my throat because I was trying to help you and you replace me? The fuck is wrong with you! I actually gave you the benefit of the doubt, goddammit! Listen to me!"
Peter just "ignored" you and mumbled something about an annoying NPC. ...You were an NPC now? He basically made you a character that only exists when that player is around??? They don't even have any lines!
You started up again, following behind him, "Are you fucking kidding me!? A NPC? How petty are you? Did me wanting to see more really bother you?"
You hit another invisible wall, due to the player still sitting on the bench and...Peter probably being an asshole. You gritted your teeth and yelled, banging your fists against the wall, "You fucking psycho! I can't believe you! Do you just want some blank slate!? Would you rather have some...dumb drone that only does what this stupid program wants? Just some mindless- AH!"
You screamed when Peter slammed his fists against the invisible boundary and looked down at you with an unreadable, ire-filled expression. You gulped as you shrunk under his gaze, but kept your fists raised, just in case. It was silent for a few seconds before Peter gave you that same uneasy smile on the bench and said, "You're a jumpy one, aren't ya?"
An odd twisting sensation poured into your stomach as you watched Peter wink at you before walking away. ...No. No no no. You are not going to just sit by and let this happen! If he thinks he can just walk all over you, then he had another thing fucking coming!