Chapter Text
IS THIS WHAT BRIGHTEYES WOULD'VE WANTED?!"
Those words rang through Hacklord's head. They were some of the last words said by a Shedletsky, right before his blade pierced through his head.
This was the right thing to do, he told himself. This was the best option. The only option. And yet, he couldn't stop thinking about it.
It irked him. This was pathetic!
He growled to himself, bringing a hand up and punching the wall next to him. Maybe it was his strength, or the fact that The Heights was already falling apart, but the concrete crumbled beneath his fist.
He dragged his hand across his face, letting his shoulders fall. Maybe… He could go back. Back to the other universes he had already visited once before. Just to prove to himself that BrightEyes was better without Shedletsky. Without him.
He hesitated for the entire day. Procrastinated, even. He couldn't even bring himself to go kill another Shedletsky in the meantime. His mind wouldn't let him.
"Stupid fucking.." He grumbled to himself as he grabbed his sword, slashing it through the air. A rift opened in front of him, green and crackling with rage he had put into it.
He stared at it for a second. He could see the blue sky of the universe peaking through. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh and stepped across the rift.
He fell a few feet, landing on a cloud. The white around him faded into black as his energy seeped into it. The rift closed behind him and he looked around.
He looked down below the clouds, his eyes spotting the bakery the chef once owned with her. It was their version of The Heights. It was quite literally called that, too. Hacklord found it stupid.
He hopped off of his cloud, landing on another one below to get a closer look at The Heights. His brows furrowed. Was the store closed? It was mid day, wasn't it?
He hopped down off the cloud, his wings giving a strong flap to soften his landing on the ground below. He looked at the shop and his brows only pinched further.
The lights were all off, and the "closed" sign looks like it hasn't been touched in months. There were even cobwebs in the windows.
Maybe they moved locations, he thought. He peaked in the window and saw that everything was still there. It just hadn't been touched.
There was still the scrapes and marks on the ground from his and Shedletsky's battle. Looking back towards the kitchen, it also looked like how it did then. Pans were strewn everywhere, the rolling pin was still on the floor from when it was thrown at Hacklord.
A frown tugged at his face. How come they didn't clean it up? Was the shop abandoned after what happened? Maybe they changed locations to save face?
He stepped back away from the window, his hands falling to his sides. This didn't feel right. BrightEyes should've been able to continue the shop better now that Shedletsky wasn't in her way. Her pastries looked better than his, anyway.
He looked around at the empty parking lot. There wasn't a single car here. The only thing was a lone bag occupying a parking spot. As soon as he looked at it, it was swept away by the wind.
A thought clicked in his mind. Maybe BrightEyes went and started her own shop somewhere! Somewhere where she didn't have to worry about the stuff Shedletsky did, how he decorated things. Maybe she found another partner to run it with, or she's by herself now.
He smiled a little at the thought despite himself. That's what he wanted. He wanted her to be happy and have her own life.
He told himself that he didn't have to find her now, and that he could accept that thought as truth. But yet again, his mind wouldn't let him leave.
He groaned at himself as he drew his sword once again. He created another rift and stepped through.
He looked around with confusion. Wait, where was he? He was supposed to go-
"Hey, Shedletsky."
A quiet voice startled him, his wings fluffing up as he ducked behind a nearby wall. Were they talking to him? Slowly, he peaked out from behind the wall, and realized where he was.
A man knelt down in front of a grave, flowers in hand. He wore a chef uniform himself, though he had his hat clutched in his hands. Hacklord immediately recognized him.
That was Legoseed. In his universe, he was practically the chef of the HQ, despite being an admin himself. He had to admit, he did miss his sweet treats.
Legoseed placed the flowers on the grave, his smile wavering. "It's been a while. Sorry about that. Builderman has been keeping us busy at HQ." He laughed, though it was humorless.
Hacklord's brows furrowed. Was that Shedletsky's grave? His heart clenched with.. guilt?
Legoseed sat down on his butt, crossing his legs. He obviously didn't care about getting his uniform dirty. Which was odd, for Legoseed. He was always a neat freak. Probably a germaphobe, if Hacklord was honest.
Legoseed frowned down at the dirt. "We really miss you. BrightEyes still hasn't opened the shop back up." He spoke as if Shedletsky could hear him.
BrightEyes closed the shop? Has she not opened one of her own?
"I keep telling her that she should. I think it would do her some good, get to talk to people again. But she refuses to step foot in the place after what happened." Legoseed explained. He began picking at the dirt.
"I can't blame her, really. I just…" Hacklord watched as Legoseed's expression began to crumble.
"I'm sorry. I wish we could've done more." His breath hitched. "I wish we were there."
Hacklord's chest felt tight as he listened. Every word from the chef was like a knife to the heart.
No one was there that evening except Shedletsky. He had ran the shop alone that day, Hacklord thinks. All he knows is that he was cleaning up alone when Hacklord struck. It was purposeful, of course. He couldn't have anyone interfere.
Legoseed pulled in a shaky breath, wiping at his eyes. "We never caught the guy. I'm sorry. I.. I think its a cold case now."
Hell, they had almost nothing to go off of. The camera's corrupted as soon as Hacklord appeared in the building. And with no one there, there was no lead.
Hacklord slumped down on the ground, his expression the softest it's been in a long time. Out of everyone he expected to see here, Legoseed wasn't one of them. But he thinks that just hurt even more.
Before he could think much of it, Hacklord stood up. He sauntered over to the chef, who perked up as soon as he saw the glow approach.
His eyes widened as he looked up at the man. "Hello. Sorry, am I in your way?" He began to move.
Hacklord shook his head and held out a hand. "No, you're fine." Legoseed paused.
Hacklord looked down at the gravestone, reading the carvings.
" In loving memory of
John Shedletsky
1983 - 2025
A beloved husband, chef, and admin. Champion of The Culinary Heights.
Soar with the birds, my love - Your loving wife, BrightEyes "
Hacklord's breath caught in his throat. He suddenly regretted coming over. He wasn't sure what being 'Champion of The Heights' meant in this universe, but he could assume that Shedletsky labeled himself the best chef. Or perhaps that was a label bestowed unto him by the public.
His eyes were trained onto the message from Brighteyes. It was obviously carved in her handwriting, too.
He swallowed hard, and finally willed himself to speak. "This is Shedletsky's?"
Legoseed nodded, relaxing back against the earth below. "Yeah," He muttered, looking back at the grave. "Did you know him?"
Hacklord hesitated before shaking his head. "No. Only heard of him." He tucked his hands into the pockets of his coat.
He shouldn't be here.
"How did he die?" Hacklord asked, his voice low.
Legoseed frowned, chewing at his lip. "He was murdered in his shop. The Heights. You've probably heard of it."
Hacklord stayed silent.
Legoseed continued. "We never found out who did it. There was no trace of them."
Hacklord looked down at Legoseed. His hands shook as he held onto his toque. He had to pull his eyes away entirely, looking around at the other graves.
"How's Br- .. His wife. How is she doing?" Hacklord forced the words out.
Legoseed shrugged. "She's.. doing," He said simply. "She's as good as she can be."
Hacklord nodded idly. "I saw that the shop is closed?"
Legoseed nodded. "Yeah. BrightEyes hasn't had the heart to reopen yet." He looked up at the scary man. "Sorry if you were interested in going." He smiled softly.
Hacklord looked down, meeting the chef's eyes. He frowned deeper. "No." Was all he said. Legoseed's smile fell.
Suddenly, Hacklord turned around, his back to the grave. "Keep and eye on BrightEyes for me. For.. him."
Legoseed stared up at him before giving a nod. "I will." He didn't know who this guy was, but he seemed to care.
"Hey, wait." Legoseed stopped Hacklord before he could leave. He reached into his bag and pulled out a small ziplock bag with a pale blue macaroon in it.
He held it out to Hacklord. "BrightEyes made them. You can have it, if you want. It's blueberry."
Hacklord's breath caught thickly in his throat as he stared at the offered pastry. Blueberry, and BrightEyes made it. There was no doubt they were made with Shedletsky in mind.
Slowly, he reached a shaky hand out to take the bag. Legoseed handed it over with a kind, sad smile.
He pastry was a little crumpled, though it looked like that was done during baking. As if it was rushed or done sloppily.
He didn't understand. Why was he being given this? He didnt deserve it. He was the one that killed Shedletsky. Legoseed shouldn't be this kind to him.
"Thank you," Hacklord replied despite his thoughts. Legoseed smiled a little wider.
"She would've wanted you to have it," He said. "BrightEyes always loves sharing her treats."
Hacklord stared. The wings on his head gave a sad little twitch against his hair. "Right." He gave the grave a final look before he turned around. "Have a good day. And… I'm sorry for your loss."
"You too. And thank you." Legoseed replied, giving Hacklord a small wave as he began walking away.
Who the hell was that??
Hacklord dragged his feet as he walked, his wings drooping behind him as he stared down at the bag in his hand.
He shouldn't feel bad. It was his fault, after all. But something about Legoseed being there, and BrightEyes's message on his grave.. It struck something in him.
Once he was away from the graveyard entirely, he paused. He wanted to see BrightEyes, but he honestly wasn't sure if he could handle it.
He debated with himself in his mind before ultimately, with a heavy sigh, he decided to just go home.
He stepped through the rift he created, sparing a final glance to Legoseed. He frowned before he turned back around.
He found himself back on The Heights. His Heights. He wasn't too fond of this place anymore, but he was glad he was back.
He looked down at the bag still laying in his hand. He didn't know what to do with it. It felt wrong to eat it. But would it be wrong to save it?
For now, he slid the coffin off of his back - setting her down very gently - and sat down on his bed (which was just a mattress on the floor).
Was every universe like that? Were they all mourning their Shedletsky?
That couldn't be. It was a one time thing, surely. Brighteyes will be better off without him. She'll be happier, and that's what matters.
He has to do this. But maybe he could check out a few others, just to see.