Ashswag (I Made This On Whatsapp)

ashswag (I made this on whatsapp)

>_<

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when minute and the rest of the foundation call the abyss for a meeting, moments before the machine is set to run for it's final time, zam's mind whirs into action. he's afraid this is a setup, a ploy for the foundation to take the hearts from their chests in a final act of desperation to save spawn and the entirety of lifesteal from its voiding.

he gears, rifling through his shulker boxes in an anxious panic, dread that looms over him as he anticipates his own death. it'd be unfortunate, of course, that minute and the others would resort to this when they'd worked so dilligently at solving their clues, but it isn't unexpected. the one thing he doesn't expect, however, is for the foundation to already be finished. he doesn't expect them to be handing them a task this time, and when he realizes that the abyss will die, but because they've actually lost, he feels his heart sink into his stomach. because of course, minute directs them to jump into the void they've worked tireless to uncover.

but this is what they wanted right? they'd been expecting this - a defeat. he's known it was coming since the day they compromised on a deadline. hell, he had always maintained the fact that he wanted the foundation to win, despite his efforts in breaking the layers of the earth's heart wide open.

after all, zam wasn't a bad guy. he had a goal and he'd do whatever it took to get it, even if it meant looking like a villain. minute had taken his dutiful role as the hero, rallying not just the PMC, but everyone possible to destroy the abyss' collective efforts. it was just as he'd hoped - expected - so when minute provides the final symbol, the declaration that now he's in control, zam ignores the dejection in his chest at the loss, and accepts the defeat with grace.

zam takes his place at the edge of the void hole. standing in front of it now, it feels like it's already begun to swallow him whole. the void has been more than just an ally these days, and he finds that even as he faces his own mortality's end, there's only a comfort in the stagnant air of the void. it begins filling the cavern in an eery darkness. zam watches as mapicc stares into the abyss, jaw set in anger and a temptation to flee, but when they meet eyes, he deflates. zam knows that no matter what, they have to abide by their word.

the void hole feels bleak now that no mobs spawn in spite of the complete darkness, likely thanks to wemmbu's interference, but the presence of the foundation on the other side of the vast expanse is enough to raise the hairs on his neck.

minute provides a rallying speech that zam tries not to tune out of and when the moment comes, zam is the first to fall. he doesn't hesitate, though maybe he should, but it just feels right to sacrifice himself for the good of the others. it's what comes natural to him, and for once he's grateful to die a painful death.

he sees it so quickly he thinks his mind is tricking him at the last chance it can - jumper standing at the edge of the void, locking eyes with zam as she watches him fall.

"i'm sorry, zam," she says, "but the server needed a hero."

and it clicks. two months of work. two months of friendship and loyalty, less than the nothingness alongside him.

zam can't bring himself to look away, even as he continues to hurtle towards nothing and jumper's face becomes harder and harder to make out through the distance. he feels his vision slipping, his breathing grow labored, but he fights it. he's always considered himself lucky to have called jumper his ally over these past months, working towards what he thought was their common goal, but now he can see the look on her face. there's not a hint of remorse, no signs of sympathy for what she's done to him.

a hero? is that what she thought she was? she wasn't a hero for this. she never would be. stopping the abyss as a double agent wasn't heroic when all that she'd gained from it was the thrill of a betrayal.

his mind races, and he feels the familiar burning pain that comes with each of his atoms being torn from his body. he can barely see a heart being torn from his chest, shimmering bright against the darkness that starts to drown his every sensation. its with the final firing of synapses that he makes a promise to himself - in the next life, he's going to stop at nothing to make jumper's life a living hell.

vsz week day 2, au / roleswap basic canon divergence - no betrayal au meow

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