Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The main cabin was horribly silent, wind deafeningly loud compared to the lack of talk.

it was only after noon when 7n7 went to go check it though, As rounds would usually start by then and he was also absorbed in his gui, only fully noticing something Was wrong when the ingrained alarm he had built up over the years went off and nothing happened.

After about 10 minutes of waiting he left his cabin, intending to meet up with the other at the main cabin, seeing as everyones doors were left ajar. He carefully stepped up to the main cabin, the door was closed- which wasn’t too odd, but that combined with the lack of chatter and the other open cabin doors worried 7n7.

He reached for the door handle and twisted it, the silence becoming more apparent. He cringed at the creaking of the hinges as he let the cool breeze open the old wooden door for him.

And there, by where pizza guy would stand on his occasional (though unwilling) visits. Was a litte græy cat.

Its eyes penetrated through him like he wasnt there, but even then its eyes followed him. His posture immediately stiffened as he locked eyes with it, his breath quickening as he tried to calm himself down.

‘It’s fine, it’s fine, not all cats will hurt you. It’s fine’ he thought as he tried to drown out the images of.. NO- no he was not going there. It’s different this time. It has to be. His breathing slowed as he decided to suck it up and go to check the kitchen (someone could be unconscious or stuck there his mind reasoned)

He cautiously stepped forwards, as the little græy cat stared at him, almost concerned. He shook it off, he knew cats were smart, but showing that much emotion wasnt something they should be able to do.

“I…Is anyone there?” he barely got out as he approached the kitchen, voice raspy and cracking with the knowledge that the cat was still there.

He then heard it. Or- not it, he heard them. Eight more cats ‘revealed’ themselves (and by revealed, 7n7 got close enough to the kitchen counter to see them all ‘curiously’ pawing at the fridge)

He half-gasped half-choked. Was this some sort of cruel joke? Sure- he could maybe handle seeing one cat. But nine?

Another græy cat (this one with many black markings instead of being fully græy) turned its head to look at him, it mewed in surprise, capturing the attention of all of the cats.

The græy one from earlier walked into the room, meowing, maybe trying to communicate something?

7n7 had never seen this sort of behavior in any cats before, though his mild astonishment and surprise were suppressed by the FEAR coursing through his veins.

His breath quickened as he stumbled backwards, attempting to make a run for the door (though his legs were not cooperating). He gave up instead opting to curl up into a little ball, his breaths getting shallower and shallower as tears stung at his eyes.

He was muttering things incoherent to himself, hands trembling as he felt something sharp etch into his back. He curled up tighter, he could feel the marks left by THEM burning, searing his flesh as his perception of reality warped and ripped and pulled.

( “Im sorry mom and dad dont treat you well” he said crouching down to ████. It hissed, it hadn’t seen love in years, not been fed in a week. )

( “Oh wait!” The kid said going to the kitchen for a brief moment, to come out with some apple slices. “Ive heard cats can have these as treats” he smiled, putting them in the empty food bowl. )

Maybe it was because he was too close to the food bowl. Or the cat.

( It lunged at him, ████’s claws raking into his skin. )

But no matter the cause.

( He grabbed at his shin, the blood seeping from in between his fingers. )

It still left a lasting mark.

( He cried, cried like a coward. His parents were furious at him, the cat was no where to be seen, the apples the same. )

And those marks added up.

7n7 was still shaking, his throat closing in as he coughed between choked sobs. He could feel another one of them resting against him, that was the motivation he needed to be able to get out of there.

He jolted back from the small furry mass as he got up, and headed straight for the doorway. His ankle landed the wrong way on the first step as he yelped in pain, but he kept going. He could hear them.

The soft mews of the crowd always at the same volume.

They were following him.

He quickened at this, twisted ankle forgotten about as not his only goal was to get outside, maybe they would stop.

He reached the doorframe as he closed the door behind him, the thud echoing, as he kept going. Eventually collapsing in a patch of grass by the docks. The cold dew covered blades gently brushed against him as he lay on the grass. Sobs eventually coming to a stop as his breathing steadied.

He just lay there, half conscious. Partially disassociated. He thought of his son. He thought of coding, and looking through his gui for the seventeenth time in a row. But those were all thoughts. In reality he just stood there.

Eyes half lidded, he watched the ever present sunset.

Eventually something rest atop of his back, it was small and warm. He knew it was one of them again. But there was a certain point where he couldn’t even move his eyes if he wanted to. He just breathed, eyes gathering tears.

And he hoped for his sake that it wouldn’t hurt him.

Chapter Text

Waking up as a cat- no not JUST waking up as a cat, but waking up as one and everyone else.. except for one survivor. Now builderman would have been concerned for 007n7 if he werent preoccupied by his new foreign body, and trying to help other people who had trouble walking.

Surprisingly enough though- noob was a natural.

“How come you can walk fine while the rest of us struggle to even stand” Shedletsky meowed(?) as he attempted to stand up, voice somewhere between jealousy and genuine curiosity, he lost his balance as he tried taking a step.

“I.. i uh us-used to um.. practice qu-quadrobics bef-fore i ended u-up..” they made a vague gesture motion with their paw, curling into themselves seemingly out of embarrassment.

Builderman almost went to ask them before a mrow could be heard coming from upstairs.

“Oh, oh i think ive heard of that before!” Two time said from out of nowhere, clumsily approaching from atop the stairs, almost falling all the way down them multiple times as they descended.

“The practice of walking similar to an animal if I recall what a- what they told me” they mumbled the last part, their not quite visible smile dissapating.

‘Well guess that answers that’

Noob nodded enthusiastically, “ye-yeah!” They replied.

Shedletsky who just successfully managed to take more than one step before falling to the ground cut in, “thats cool and all but-“ he was immediately cut off as he fell over again. “I haven’t eaten in over twelve hours, and i dont REALLY want to die” he continued adding an exaggeration to his voice near the end but it was still clear that he was serious.

“Look shed, i dont think were getting any where near th’ fridge, let alone openin’ the darn thing” builderman chimed in, having given up on walking, just staying seated by the fireplace.

“What you say is true i fear, but we cannot remain over here” dussekar- having lost the ability to float- carefully stepped towards the kitchen. “The truth im afraid i cannot sweeten, but none of us today have recently eaten” the cat with a pumpkin hat took another careful but determined step.

Chance piped up “yeah- what the dussek car said!” The little græy and black cat giggled at the nickname, dussekar shooting the addict a glare.

“At least let me stay ‘ere to make sure no one Breaks in or any funny business like that” builderman said, also hoping he wouldn’t have to walk too much in this hopefully temporary body.

Shedletsky nodded his head in a circle, somewhat mimicking rolling his eyes. “Alright builds, you do you” the yellow cat smiled slightly at this but then turned his attention to making his way to the kitchen.

“Do you want me to help you- look out?” A voice said next to him, builderman let out a slight ‘mew’ of surprise as he turned to face a blue and blue-græy cat. “By robloxia you scared me guest” he let out a long breath.

The blue cat looked away neck retreating slightly as he flicked his tail, “sorry” he said simply.

“Oh yer all fine, and don’t worry about me, im all good by myself” he tried to mend the awkwardness he left.

Guest simply nodded in response, stumbling off to the rest of the group (who were all trying to get into the kitchen).

Unfortunately for them, the kitchen was tiled.

—

It had been a few hours, but from what builderman could hear they were too weak in their current state to open the fridge, though some (Shedletsky) insisted that they could open it given a bit more time. Builderman snickered at this, tail flicking subconsciously, though he didn’t dare acknowledge its existence.

He immediately stood to alertness, abandoning his lax spot leaning against the warm brick once he heard the soft thud of footsteps outside, he looked around, eventually eyes snapping to the door once he heard the quiet creak of the hinges. Behind the crafted wooden wall was-

007n7??

The man who refused to take any kindess towards him nor any attempt of inclusion.

He would have had a bewildered expression if he were still himself, but the imagined expression faded immediately when 7n7 locked eyes with him.

Fear.

Gutteral. VISCERAL.

fear.

007n7 looked surprised, though not pleasantly, he looked like he just found the corpse of a loved one. 7n7’s breath quickened as he shut his eyes, builderman watching with morbid horror realization hitting him like a brick.

Hes scared of cats.

7n7 continued forward, towards the kitchen, builderman letting worry and concern consume him as 7n7 looked back, expression less intense, but fear still clear behind his darting eyes.

He didnt move until it was too late.

007n7 had already called out for anyone as he saw the rest of the group vaguely being entertained by Shedletsky’s pride.

Chance was the first to look, exclaiming “007n7?”

The ref of them, one by one, all turned to look at him.

Builderman finally, FINALLY stepped in, managing not to trip as he rushed infront of the man. “Guys m’ pretty sure he has sum’ kinda phobia ‘f cats, i dont-“ he was interrupted by a lout thud, as he turned around he saw 7n7 curling into a little ball, choked sobs coming from him.

“#### “ builderman muttered as 007n7 fell more and more into a panic attack, he muttered over and over again “im so sorry mom i didnt meant to i didnt meant to i should have listened to you i know im so sorry please dont hurt me”. he watched as chance cautiously approached the man, attempting to pat him on the back, but forgetting about their unsheathed claws, lightly grazed his shirt.

7n7 went completely still, breath escaping his mouth with no words. Just stood there, breathing still audible as he somewhat shrieked, getting up and booking it for the door. But along the way his foot gave out, his ankle going almost completely sideways. 7n7 clearly didnt notice it as he kept running. Builderman started- not quite sprinting- but not quite walking, towards the former hacker, the other survivors either following suit or already ahead of him.

He eventually stopped and collapsed by the lakeside, and as they approached, they realized he wasn’t moving, still breathing, but not moving. Builderman approached after a minute or two and pressed his small back against 7n7s, the others soon following.

And it was quiet.