9: Beyond the Horizon ch25

Beyond the Horizon
Written by *pieface123 and *Tifa-the-Strange

The Leader's Wish, Part 1

1 sat in his chalice throne, his red cape and his hat with the penny intact on his head and shoulders. The light of the cathedral, their Sanctuary, shone brightly through the mosaic window of the angel and the clock above his throne. 8 was sharpening his newly found knife in the corner as he saw 5, 2 and 0 ascend to the watchtower to work on the telescope.
It was the third day since the new doll, the girl named 13, had awakened and was imprisoned in the metal box he told 8 to create for such an occasion. Although many of the stitchpunks disagreed of his choice, they didn't do anything about it, with his threat to throw her out they couldn't do anything.
The leader kept looking at the prison so many times that sometimes he would just look at it for long periods of time, the girl was... interesting in a way... He couldn't put his finger on it, but something about her caught his attention. He cleared his throat, "Um... 8... Stand lookout, I need to get something... Make sure no one gets close to the prison..."
The guard nodded, unsure of what 1 was going to do but followed his instructions. The Eldest stitchpunk walked towards the metal box, odd enough he was adjusting his cape and hat along the way, even brushing off some dirt off his shoulders before stopping in front of the door to the box. He picked on the lock with the end of his staff, hearing a soft click before gently placing the lock on the wooden floor.
The leader looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching, and then cracked the door open to peek inside.
His heart was racing; excitement ran through his systems, it was odd for him. Hell, it was odd for him to come to the prison!
The inhabitant of the metal box looked up to him with curious yet frightened eyes; she was wearing a blue dress he had never seen before. Two shades of blue covering her body with a purple stone joining them. She covered herself with the old sock that acted as her blanket in the prison; she didn't say anything, waiting for the leader to do something.
Unluckily for her, the leader didn't know what to say or why he was even here. All he knew was that he wanted to get a better look at his prisoner.
13 relaxed a bit, he just stared at her, she wondered why he was doing that. Something about her frightened eyes made his heart skip a beat, they were so innocent.
"... o-o-1...?" she asked hesitantly but she couldn't pull herself together to ask her question thoroughly.
It was getting really uncomfortable and awkward.
13 let a small gasp escape when he cleared his throat, standing up straight and formal. "Umm... Uh..." he stuttered, clearing his throat again.
"... Y-yes...?" she asked.
He stood up straighter, messing with his cape. "W-what... d-d-do you need?..." she asked quietly.
"I, um... I just... I just wanted to... check up on you..." he muttered, looking around the very small space within the box, it felt cold as well from the window that led to the outside, he adjusted the cape over his chest to keep himself a bit warm.
13 shivered with the cold gust of wind that got through, shaking under the old tattered sock.
He noticed how she shivered, how she rubbed her legs and arms in a desperate attempt to stay warm. It was really sad how the rest of the cathedral was heated and here it was a freezer.
The leader saw how she only did that instead of running out from her prison and escape, just like how he thought she would do, it was her third day in the metal box and yet she did nothing to find a way to escape.
He had read countless times how bad things happened with unlucky numbers, like hers. 13 was always a bad omen among the books, but nothing bad has happened.
"Listen... Um..." he began, "I'm sending the others off to gather supplies soon... and... uh..."
13 listened attentively.
"Just... don't try anything to escape..." he grumbled, it wasn't as near as angry. "... Because no one will be in my way to throw you out to the beast..."
He looked uneasy, nervous even with just her being his audience while giving out his order. "And, um... If you'd like... Y-you may accompany me to, uh... Get a bit of warmth from the fire while they're out... It's rather cold in here..."
13 looked at him curiously, he sounded very calm, not angry nor demanding like he was when she had awakened.
"S-shall we?..." he cleared his throat, staring at his feet as he extended his hand out to her.
13 looked at his hand before gently placing hers in his. It felt soft to him, "W-where are w-we g-g-going...?" she asked, still holding the old sock around her with her free hand.
1 didn't answer her; only lead her out of her prison to his throne room. "Just don't run away, my dear..." he threatened, "It's hopeless..."
Why would she run away? She had nowhere to go, this was the only home, or at least what she could call a home that she ever had. But maybe he had his reasons to threaten her with this warning. 1 looked through the corner of his eye, everyone was leaving except for 8, like he ordered, everyone was taking an earlier hour to have a chance to explore, odd for him he felt more relaxed when they left.
They both took a seat by the make shift furnace. 1 groaned slightly and rubbed his shoulders. "There... t-that's better..." he grumbled, looking at the girl. "Right?..."
13 nodded, stretching her hands out to the warmth, once her hands got warm enough she rubbed her arms under the sock, she kept shivering for a while before the warmth took away the cold. She smiled softly, "It feels b-b-better..."
He nodded, tapping his finger on the dark wood floor. It was silent for a while before he asked, "You're out of the prison... my guard is not here... yet... you still do not run?..."
13 looked at him a bit puzzled, "W-why s-should I...?" she replied with a question of her own, "This is m-my h-home... i-isn't it?" she asked innocently.
"Well... it may be a place you reside..." 1 said, watching the furnace. "But at this home, you're a prisoner..."
13 sighed sadly at the fact, "I'd l-like to b-be free... But, I g-guess... It's b-b-better t-to be a p-prisoner that to n-not have a h-home... r-right?"
1 sighed, then nodded slightly. "I suppose..." he was actually starting to feel a little guilty over this.
13 rubbed her arms again after retreating her hands from the fire, she gasped as a small rush of wind removed her sock blanket, "N-no...!" It burned quickly, the sock landed right in the burning furnace. She looked at the remains, frowning; now she had no blanket to keep her warm tonight.
1 noticed, his eyes widened slightly as he looked at the girl. She was frowning and hugging herself. It took a while, but 1 sighed, unclasping his cape. 13 jumped when he draped it around her shoulders without a word.
She touched the soft fabric of the scarlet cape gently, she turned to 1, he gave her something that was very personal to him, but why, she wondered.
"W-wh-" he held up a hand and for the first time, saw him smile slightly. "You looked cold... I'll have 8 find you a spare blanket later..."
She smiled slowly, "T-t-thank you... 1..."
"... You're welcome... 13..." it was odd, calling her by her name other than, the unlucky one or the curse. He stared at her again, how she smiled was almost contagious.
They stayed there in silence, her smile never faded away as she stared back at the fire, it felt warmer to him, she held his cape gently in her grasp, the scarlet red over her calm sky blue side of her dress.
It was like that for a while, 1 had to fight to not stare at her. It was almost insulting not to stare at such... beauty. He intended to keep her locked up for the danger she caused their "family", but he also saw how innocent and beautiful she was, did she really deserve it? 1 jumped out of his thoughts when 13 unknowingly leaned her head on the edge of his shoulder.
The fire cracked slowly in their small moment, 1 could feel how cold she was even if the fire was warming her up. She wiped her optics, "O-ow..." she kept rubbing, "Ow... T-there's a-a-ash in my e-eye..."
"Here... let me see..." he would never understand why he was being so kind to her. Wasn't she a disgrace and curse to their kind? He gently took her face in his hands, tilting her chin and staring into her eyes. Looking for the ash... which was hard to look for, her big eyes were a distraction.
13 tried not to close the optic he was looking at, closing the other. There was a small smudge in a corner of her open optic, "O-ow..." she blinked once, the smudge grew.
"Here... s-stay still" he grumbled, using his thumb to get the smudge off of her lens.
It took a few seconds until he removed the smudge, 13 rubbed her eye one last time, looking up to him, blinking her eyes until they adjusted. "Thank y-you," she smiled, grateful for what he had done.
He sighed, "You're welcome..." he didn't let go of her face though, his fingers lingered on her cheeks.
Her cheeks felt soft against his metal hands, even the scar that ran all over the back of her head to her right cheek felt soft, he could have sworn that she was the softest thing he had ever touched.
13's smile vanished, looking at him curiously, the leader hadn't let go of her.
Instead his thumbs started to rub her face, it didn't hurt and his face showed that he did not want to hurt her. It showed, somewhat curiosity and some awe.
13 was wondering what he was doing yet kept to herself, it felt nice. He wasn't yelling at her, he wasn't hurting her; he just stood there, rubbing her cheeks.
His other fingers rested on her neck, they tickled slightly and caused the girl's mouth to twitch a bit. 1 was lost in her optics for a long time; he leaned forward until their faces were inches apart. He then realized what he was about to do and pulled away. "U-uh..." he grumbled, "... Y-you c-can... keep my cape on until 8 can fetch you a blanket... we wouldn't want you freezing in there..."
13 nodded, a small hint of red on her cheeks as she kept her gaze on him.
1 stared at his feet, becoming irritated that he would give in to her so easily. His face burned against his sour expression as he snapped, "What are you looking at?!"
She jumped at his outburst, her calm and curious face turned frightened and upset. "... n-nothing..." she muttered, rubbing her thumb on the scarlet red cloth draped over her shoulders, the girl looked up to him nervously. "... D-d-do... d-do you... w-want your c-cape back...?" she asked.
He glanced at her, then back down. He held out his hand and nodded slowly. She handed it to him and their hands brushed against each others, they looked up at their optics.
1 saw sorrow in her optics when she gave his cape back to its owner, "... S-s-sorry... f-for upsetting y-you..." she said.
1 looked at the cape now in his hands, then to her. "N-no... it's fine... y-you didn't do anything..."
Her sad expression softened a bit, giving him a small smile. They turned their heads to the bucket, hearing footsteps.
"With another trip like this, the map will be done in no time!" they heard 5's voice, it meant 'back to the prison' for 13. She sighed, placing her hands near the warmth of the fire one more time, trying to gather as much warmth as possible for the cold night ahead.
1 got up with her, holding her arm and escorting her to the metal, cold prison. 13 looked like she was about to cry, 1 looked at her then down at his cape. 1 draped the cape back over her shoulders, smiling when she looked up at him. "You... you need it more than I do..."
13 touched the cloth again, smiling. "... T-thank you..." she wanted to say a bit more, to tell him how grateful she was of his kind gesture, but it was everything she could say.
"Yes... j-just get inside before I change my mind..." he muttered, opening the metal door. He looked at her one more time, he always felt happy when he looked at her. Perhaps this was the reason of his sudden urge for kindness?
13 nodded, "... G-goodnight..." she said to him, getting inside the cold prison. 1 couldn't help but take a peek through the door when he almost closed it, he saw her sitting on the matchbox bed full of hay, she touched the soft cloth of his cape, smiling before lying on the bed, holding the cape over her fragile frame.
With a small sigh, he closed the door and locked it tight. His rash, loathsome self had returned as soon as she was out of his sight. She was perfect and beautiful, yet a cursed one... but he didn't care, from that moment on... 1 realized he let love take him. And he would do anything to achieve it.

"M-m-mom... W-why is 1 sending u-us out again?"
"I've been asking myself that same question, we have enough supplies here for at least ten months." 5 said after 6 asked his question to 0, the female elder.
She sighed, shaking her head. "I-I'm not sure, 6..."
This was about the fourth or fifth time 1 sent them out, with the excuse that they really did need the supplies. "Don't question my orders, just do it," he said to them.
"1's up to something..." 2 muttered.
Everyone nodded in agreement at his statement. "What do you think he's got up his sleeve?..."
"I'm not sure... But maybe the twins should stay behind, so they can record what 1's doing..." 2 said, "We'll get to hear and see everything 1 is doing when we're out."
"That's a great idea, 2" 0 nodded. "Yeah, just make sure they stay hidden whole they do" 5 warned.
"Agreed." he nodded to the mechanic. Both elders told of their little plan to the twins, 3 and 4 nodded and hid in the shadows as the group left to the outside.
'I wonder what we'll see,' 4 muttered, keeping her eye on 5, blushing.
"I'm not sure... but if it gets dangerous... I want you and your brother out of there..." he said seriously, patting her hood. "alright?..."
4 giggled, nodding as both twins ran up the tall staircase leading to another side of the throne room, one step at a time.
High above to where they were heading, 1 adjusted his hat, checked that no one was around and left the throne room towards 13's prison.
He strafed to mess with the lock and didn't notice the two flashing optics in the corner of the room.
1 opened the door, "Good evening, my dear..."
"H-hi, 1..." they saw her smile at him.
'He's letting her out...!?' 4 asked her brother in shock. 'Wasn't he the one who said that we would meet our demise if we tried to get her out?'
3 flashed rapidly, 'That...hypocrite!'
"W-where are we g-going today?" 13 asked as the twins recorded every second in the shadows.
"I'm not sure... where would you like to go?..." 1 replied.
13 turned bashful, it was the first time he asked her where she wanted to go. "... C-can... C-can we go t-to the w-watchtower?" she asked shyly, accepting 1's arm when he offered it to her. "I-I've never b-b-been up there..."
1 smiled slightly and nodded, "Of course, to the watchtower then..." the twins recorded them going to the elevator, puzzlement all over their faces. Why was 1 being so kind to her all of a sudden?
That question was replaced with the sheer slap on the face thanks to reality, how will they get up to the watchtower without being seen?
The small twin dolls panicked once they heard the elevator start to creak, then clang from moving up.
"Hang on, my dear." 1 said, 4 shook her brother, 'H-how are going to follow?!'
'I don't know! I'll think if something!' her brother flashed frantically.
1 held 13's hand, helping her climb onto the bucket, "It's going to be a bumpy ascend."
'You better think quick!' 4 urged.
3 suddenly bolted to the elevator, looking up the shoot to see it going up. 'Uh...' he cataloged the cables. 'Maybe we can climb up?'
'Well, if you want to burn your glove skin off...' she muttered insecurely, 1 and 13 were halfway there, 'Wait!' she saw how the rope pulling the bucket up was ascending along with it. 'Maybe we can climb halfway! The rest of it will be done by our hypocrite leader.' she told mischievously.
'Ah, great idea sis!' they both clicked happily before high-fiving themselves.
'Alleyoop!!' 4 threw herself onto the rope, holding tightly as 3 followed, climbing up a short distance before letting 1 carry them up to the watchtower, grins on their faces when they heard him mutter, "I could have sworn that this thing got heavy..."
'Twins, Uno. Old Hypocrite, Nada,' 4 chuckled.
3 giggled along with her, nuzzling her hood.
They relaxed but kept to their recording duty until the bucket stood to a halt, their eyes turning to the small opening and noticing 1 walking out of the bucket, extending his hand to the girl, she thanked him, but the twins saw her foot hit the edge where they were looking at. 13 let out a horrified gasp, tripping.
1 leaned down and managed to catch her before she hit the cold floor. "I got you..." he muttered.
13 slowly looked up to him, staring into his eyes as he kept holding her, the hints of red on her cheeks grew, her cheeks glowing scarlet, he didn't let go of her.
"Are you alright?..." he asked gently. The twins kept recording in awe.
"Y-y-yes..." 13 looked away for a moment, "T-thank you..." she smiled at him, still red.
'Talk about completely weird...' 4 muttered.
3 made a gagging motion with his finger pointing to his open mouth as a response. 1 helped her stand, smiling back. "It's no trouble..."
13 rubbed her arm gently after he let go of her, her smile didn't go away. "Y-you've been s-so nice to m-me... T-these last f-few days... W-why?" she asked, she wanted to know why a leader like him, sent her to her prison when she had awakened, only to have her out four or five nights in a row, he was so kind when he first began just yelling and frightening her.
1 gripped the sides of the wire rail, looking toward the sunset, he sighed and lowered his head. How would he tell her if he didn't even know why he was doing it himself? "W-well... to tell you the truth, 13... I'm not sure why..."
13 walked to him, standing by his side. "W-well... f-for whatever the r-reason... I r-really like it w-w-when y-you're nice t-to me..."
For some reason, that made 1's face heat up. "U-um..." he cleared his throat. "R-really now..."
"Of c-course..." she gazed at the sun shining over the horizon, "... It's beautiful..." 13 said softly, placing her hands on the rail, one of her hands unintentionally placed itself over his.
He jumped at her hand, but stayed calm and sighed. "Y-yes... it really is..." he would have liked to say that the sky wasn't as beautiful as her, but he kept to himself.
13 smiled, the sunlight felt warm against her burlap skin, she removed her hand and giggling nervously once she saw where her hand was, "S-sorry."
"O-oh no, you're..." he stopped when he saw her in the sunlight. "... fine."
Her burlap skin and the light blue side of her dress shone brightly against the sun, she looked like an angel.
He immediately smiled at her, getting lost in her beauty.
"O-1...?" 13 looked at him. "W-what are you l-looking at...?" she asked, her scarlet cheeks and bashful question made her all too adorable for him.
"Your beautiful face..." he said before he could stop himself. 3 and 4's mouths dropped.
What did he just say?
He, 1, their obnoxious and selfish leader, calling the girl whom he had locked up for being accused to attract bad luck... beautiful?
13 turned completely strawberry red, shocked just like 3 & 4, jet she didn't show disgust like the twins. She touched her face, "I'm... b-b-beautiful...?"
"Oh yes... very..." 1 muttered, he seemed lost in her face, but she could tell he meant what he was saying. "You're one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, really..."
"I-I... I-I've never s-seen myself... b-beautiful..." she told honestly.
"Well, you are... don't doubt it..."
3 and 4 couldn't believe what they were recording. 'Momma is not going to let this go... Mark my words...' 4 flashed to her brother.
'Are you kidding?! Dad is going to have to hold her back from tearing 1's head off.'
'I know!!' 4 gagged, 'Just think about it! 1 and 13?! Necks are gonna roll!' They saw 1 standing closer to the girl, holding her hand, it was unusual for the twins, even his tone of voice was way softer than it was when he spoke to the others.
"Why do you not think you're beautiful?..." he asked, rubbing his thumb on her hand.
"I... I d-don't know..." she blushed at his touch, "I j-just... n-never t-t-thought about it..."
He nodded, then he hesitantly reached up to touch her cheek.
It felt softer to him when his hand rested against her burlap skin, the red patches wouldn't go away.
He started to rub her cheek again, slowly.
'I think I'm going to puke...' 4 muttered, covering her mouth as if acting like she was going to vomit at any moment, even doing gagging impressions. 13 placed her hand over his that held her face, he kept rubbing her cheek as she looked directly into his optics with her big eyes.
He smiled softly, just looking at her as 3 agreed with a scowl. His optics clicked, 'When did this horrid thing happen? Last time I checked he was a cranky old coot!'
'He was getting a one way ticket into being a tyrant! But now look! That ticket expired and he's been sent to Cootieville!' even mentioning the last word made the female twin's face burned in embarrassment. She shook her head and kept recording.
'No one...' her brother flashed, 'will ever believe this...'
They kept staring and recording, 1 got even closer to 13, saying sweet and kind things to her as she replied many 'Thank you's and 'That's very sweet'.
3 and 4 almost looked away they were disgusted so much. It wasn't until 1 started to lean in slowly that they gasped. 'No...n-no that's not...' 4 breathed.
13 stood still, looking at him before closing her optics, cheeks scarlet red, shining brightly against her burlap skin.
'N-no way... there's just no way!!' 3 gasped, their eyes flashing rapidly like crazy.
'T-th-3!??' 4 suddenly gasped as she slipped on the rope, sliding down as she tried to hold on.
'Sis!!' his attention turned to 4, grabbing her hand. He groaned as he felt her weight on his arm, trying to hold on. 'D-don't worry, I gotcha!'
4 reached up to grip his arm in fright, clicking in fear. 'T-th-3 what's happening?!'
'I don't care!! I'm getting you back up!!'
'B-but, what about the-?' 4 protested.
'They won't care! Your wellbeing is far more important.'
4 smiled slightly, then made a silent yelp as 3 almost lost his balance to. The male twin huffed and pulled his sister up.
He sighed in relief once he got her steady on the rope, 'There... get a tight grip this time, ok?'
'O-okay...' she flashed shakily, hugging the cable close. She almost fell to her death.
'... Hey...' he put his hand on her shoulder after swinging himself to the other rope. 'Nothing bad is going to happen to you as long as you stick with me, okay?'
4 nodded rapidly, sniffling. They both jumped as they felt the elevator shake above them. 'Oh no! What happened when we weren't looking?!?'
'I don't know!!!' 3 panicked, swinging himself back to the original rope, 'Oh man, we're screwed, start climbing down!! Or else they'll notice!' 3 urged his sister.
They started to scramble down the elevator, almost falling as the rope began to pull the bucket back down towards the throne room.
Once they saw the throne room, they quickly jumped off and hid in the shadows long before the bucket reached the level. 3 and 4 took deep silent breaths. 'Crap! I can't believe we lost all of that information!' 4 whined.
'It's all my fault! If I only held on a little longer!'
'2 and 0 will understand, it was an accident.' 3 said calmly.
4 nodded slowly, wiping her optics. They huddled closer in the shadows as the elevator stopped at the throne room.
'Hey... Here they come...!' 3 said, still holding his sister as both of their optics turned to the bucket. 1 looked bashful, smiling as if someone gave him a very meaningful present, along with the redness of his cheeks, like the red patches were contagious. 'What the heck happened up there?' 4 asked.
13 looked the same way, she glanced at the ground. Her face was burning.
13 accepted his hand as 1 offered it, she gave him a thankful smile as he helped her walk out of the bucket. She touched her lips with her free hand, she looked even more bashful than 1.
3 and 4 looked at each other, confused as their leader lead her back to her prison.
They followed them, it was so odd for the twins to see them hand in hand, and caught the most absurd thing, well, absurd to them. 1 stood in front of the door of the prison, he didn't pick the lock, instead, he just stared at it, deciding whether to open the door or not.
It was so weird to them. The 1 they knew would lock it with no thought on the matter.
1 then gently kicked the lock and smiled down to 13, "Let's wait for the others..." he said.
13 gasped, "B-but... s-shouldn't I..." she looked at the door, "Be i-inside b-b-before they c-come back...?" it was normal to her now to be inside her prison before the group of stitchpunks came back, under 1's orders. He shook his head.
She smiled immediately, jumping up and wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug. "T-th-thank you..." she whispered happily.
13 giggled nervously after letting go, "S-sorry... I g-got a bit c-carried away..." she said, rubbing her arm.
"It's quite alright..." 1 replied back, still smiling.
13 looked away bashfully when he held her hand, kissing it gently.
'This is INSANE...!' 4 muttered.
'This is disgusting!'
'This. is. ACKER!!!' 4 flashed with a grin, 3 stared at her. 'I dunno, it just came to me,' 4 giggled nervously, 'Just keep recording,' she said and pointed at the odd couple.
"W-why do you w-w-want me h-here when t-they c-come back?" 13 asked the leader.
"I'm not sure, 13..." he muttered with a smile, "You just... make me feel... happy..."
She smiled back lovingly, she was speechless. She made him feel happy, she felt happy as well, no longer in that dreadful prison, but his presence and his gentleness were a part of what made her feel this way.
"... You know I'm not usually like this..." 1 muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "You... change me... in a way... I suppose..."
"H-how...?" she asked curiously.
"I wish I knew... no one's ever made me feel this way before..."
1 was holding her hand gently when he said it, as if afraid to let go. 13 felt special, forgetting that he once accused her of being unlucky, that they would all be tainted with bad luck.
While it was true that they had run into the bad luck, it obviously was not her doing.
3 and 4 were at the brink of retching on the wooden floor beneath them, but when they head faint footsteps coming from outside, they stopped recording and began to run down the stairs they've found that led them to the throne room before, jumping every few steps to gain more speed and more time to reach down the floor below. 'We've got enough information! I don't want to ever do this again...!!' 4 muttered.
'Unless Mr. One eyed Fluffy Butt asks...' 3 told bitterly, 4 blushed and didn't reply once they've reached the entrance were the others were starting to walk inside the Sanctuary.
"Hello, 3, 4..." 2 greeted with a smile. 5 asked, "Is everything alright? Anything happened while we were gone?..."
'You have no idea...' both twins flashed, one twin in a tone, or in clicks of shock and the other in utter repulsion.
"What happened?..."
3 & 4 pulled the group inside the workshop where 5 cleared a wall as the twins began to project what they saw. everyone stood in silence from beginning to end, not daring to speak nor to interrupt the recording just in case they might miss any dire and vital piece of information, be it audible or visual. Both twins almost fell to the ground if it weren't for 0 and 5 catching them, the blue hooded pair of stitchpunks groaning before their heads cleared.
Everyone was speechless at what they just heard. 1 letting 13 out? Them talking and smiling together? What happened to their leader? 5 rubbed his forehead in confusion. "So... I'm not sure I'm getting this... 1 let 13 out?!"
"Seriously! 1, the most horrible old man we've known, letting 13 out?!" 7 told in anger, backing up 5's question.
"... Maybe he felt guilty?" 5 pondered, laughing nervously as everyone glanced at him. "Well... hehe... you never know..."
2 and 0 were really nervous at one small bit of information they all saw, the scene where 4 almost fell, what the twins were about to see intrigued both elders, they had a solid idea what 1 was going to do, but they weren't sure if it had happened. They were worried when they glanced at the striped stitchpunk, the artist amongst their 'family'.
He was rubbing his fingers on the shaft of his key, looking down at his feet.
8 and 1 didn't know the artist had feelings towards the girl, not even she knew! Of course, they visited her at least twice, the first time to clear the little outburst 1 had about her being unlucky and when they gave her the blue dress, the second time when they saw her wearing it. After those two visits they couldn't do it again because of 1 sending them out too much, and they now knew the reason, he was seeing her! The first time they went out they noticed that 1 wasn't wearing his cape; he assured them that it was just drying out as he washed it.
It was absurd!
2 and 0 saw 6 confused, maybe even heartbroken.
"...6?" 0 asked, placing her hand on her shoulder. The artist flinched, but didn't look up at her. "Sweetie, are you... hurt?..."
He just looked away from them, holding his key tightly in his hands, 0 could feel him tremble.
"6..." she muttered sadly, pulling him into a hug.
He kept shaking, "... t-this... t-this... w-w-wasn't s-supposed... t-to h-h-happen..." he muttered, holding his head as 0 held him.
"Shhh... I know..." she rubbed his back slowly.
"V-v-visions... in m-my head... M-my h-h-heart... T-they told me... t-that t-th-13 and I..." he couldn't finish, everyone in the room finished bickering and listened to the tortured stitchpunk.
0 frowned and hugged him tighter as he sobbed softly.
"Th-13 and I...!! M-me and t-th-th-13... D-dancing... happily... H-h-how?!"
Everyone listened in sorrow. "W-we h-h-had... c-children..." he whispered shakily, hugging 0 tighter.
"O-o-1 tortured h-her... T-t-tried to r-rape her... B-but w-when we were s-safe... 13 and I-I... B-became one...!" he sobbed, "I f-felt it...!! T-13 and I... w-were going to b-be together... M-my heart t-t-told me s-so...! W-w-we had t-t-twins...! A b-boy and a g-g-girl...! N-named T-24 and M-M-Miu!"
Even though the other stitchpunks were confused on his visions, it felt real because of his desperate sobbing.
"I a-asked h-h-her to m-marry me... a-after y-your w-wedding...!"
"Who's wedding?" 7 asked.
"M-m-mom and d-d-dad's... Z-0 and T-T-2's w-w-wedding..."
0's face turned red, her eyes wide as she looked at 2, they get married?
2's face was redder than hers, he stuttered as he tried to make 6 say something else, "M-my boy... A-are you sure? I mean, sometimes visions could be just... you know... some may be true, some may be false... I mean..." he sighed, "We all saw what happened thanks to the twins."
6 trembled, sobbing and burying his face in 0's chest. "T-t-this w-was different... i-it w-w-was s-so real!"
The artist cried and cried, it sounded so convincing to them. "... I l-l-love 13... W-why is this h-h-happening...?"
0's face was still burning, but it showed a frown. Her hand ran through his hair as everyone bowed their head sadly. Not knowing how to help the artist. 6 whimpered. "S-she w-w-was supposed t-to love m-me..."
"W-why don't we check upstairs? Just to see if what 6 says is true?" 2 said, adding the last part quickly. The small bit of information 3 and 4 couldn't get made him worried, he could somehow picture what 1 and 13 did in the watchtower in those small seconds 3 and 4 missed. He wanted to know if it happened, 6 looked so sad.
"Y-yeah... that's a good idea..." 0 nodded, her face still red, but was still worried.
"I-I'll hold off 7 if she gets out of hand..." 5 muttered to both of them, scared stiff at how 7 bore an expression of utter repulsion and hatred.
7 glared at him, and he looked away with a uncomfortable cough.
They all got inside the bucket and 7 got them up to the throne room so quickly that it took a few seconds to get there; she kicked the door open and stormed into the room. "She needs anger management..."
"I agree, my boy..." 2 nodded alongside 5's comment.
The sound of the bucket's door made 1 and 13 jump; the leader had her hand in his grasp as he showed her his chalice throne before 7 interrupted them with her thumping footsteps.
And she did not look happy at all. 13 hid behind 1 slightly as she saw the angry warrior. She then caught a look at 6, still trembling in 0's arms. He saw her looking at him and whimpered, hiding his face.
"What. did. you. DO?!?!" 7 pointed threateningly at 1.
1's happy mood was replaced with annoyance and anger once again. "What are you talking about?! I have done nothing!"
"6 says that you've been torturing 13!" 7 implied, remembering what 6 was saying, thinking it herself as the truth and the reason why they've been sent out many times into the Emptiness. "Um, 7! Maybe you s-should-!" 5 interrupted yet 7 continued. "6 says that you almost raped her in one of his visions!"
13 gasped, confused. 1 had been nothing but nice to her ever since they had been sent out, she glanced at 6, he still didn't look at her. 1 looked appalled, "I have done no such thing!! Why must you believe everything that comes from that insane artists mouth!?"
"1, don't call him insane." 2 said in defense of the boy, "He just has these visions every now and then that we have yet to understand... But we want to know, what have you been doing every time you sent us out?" he asked calmly.
"Nothing of your concern," the leader growled.
"I'll make it of our concern!" 7 dashed towards a small spear that stood next to the furnace, running to the leader, jumping upward gracefully. The others tried to stop her yet they were too late, 1 held his staff in defense, narrowing his eyes at the warrior but gasped, 13 stood in front of him. "D-don't!!!" she pleaded.
7 gasped, landing in front of her and holding back her spear before she sliced the girl. 1's eyes widened as he looked down at her in front of him.
"D-did you just..." 7 was in shock, "Did you just defend him?! The man who locked you up, having no reason why?!" she asked bewildered. "Why did you defend this old-!?"
"... He... He c-cares for m-m-me..." 13 said, interrupting 7's question, blushing.
Everyone looked to 1, who looked just as surprised as they were.
"It's t-t-true..." the girl turned towards the leader with a hopeful expression, "... r-right...?" she asked, still blushing. She'd been wondering herself, was 1 telling her the truth, or was he just lying to her? She had to know.
1 didn't know how to respond. He knew that deep down, he cared for her. But if he admitted that in front of everyone, they might think he had gone soft and would try to rebel against him. 7 scoffed, "He doesn't care about anyone but himself!"
"7..." 0 scolded, hugging 6 closer.
"1...?" 13 asked again, his absent voice, his silence made it feel like her heart was breaking bit by bit.
It was silent for a long time, 7 was smirking. Just as if she knew she was right. While 1 was trying to think if what to keep. His pride... or the dancer...
"Pfeh...!" 7 scoffed, "I knew it...!" she walked to 13, "What did I just say? Our 'leader' doesn't care for anyone, he only cares for himself." she said pointing at 1.
1 glared at her, stabbing his staff at the ground. "I have enough decency to make sure you all stay in this sanctuary! Safe!"
7 crossed her arms, taking what she said as the answer, "Yeah, right... Making us feel like prisoners in your tower, just like you did to 13, locking her up for no apparent reason. And now you're playing with her like she's a ragdoll that can be thrown away!"
"SILENCE!!" 1 yelled, pounding his staff on the ground. He then caught a glimpse at 13's face. She looked heartbroken, her optics foggy with tears.
Just like he ordered, the deafening sound of silence reigned in the Sanctuary. 13 held back her sobs, not daring to break the silence between them all.
1 finally sighed, glancing at the ground, both letting anyone see his frown. What had he done? 7 hugged 13 as she leered at the leader. "...you're a coward...." was what she said before pulling 13 with her to the elevator. Everyone looked at 1 a last time before following the warrior.
The look on 13's face hurt him, they had just shared something special in the watchtower, he didn't let her go back in her metal prison, yet he denied that he cared for her, in front of the whole 'family'.
He heard the elevator go down, but felt a presence with him. He looked up and noticed 0 and 6 were still here with him. They didn't even look at him as they headed to 6's drawing corner. He could hear 6 sniffing and whimpering.
"... What have I done...?"
He muttered to himself sadly. He just got her to like him, they had proved it... and now he threw that all away for his pride. "6, you have to stop crying at sometime, sweetheart..." he heard 0 whisper softly from 6's drawing corner.
"T-this w-w-wasn't... s-supposed to h-happen..." the striped stitchpunk sobbed.
1 agreed in his own way of understanding why 6 was babbling out things he didn't know, taking it as that he shouldn't have not said anything, that he had to admit it in front of everyone despite his pride. Or else he would lose the girl and forever feel guilty, even more than he felt it right now. 1 took a breath and walked to the bucket, pulling on the rope until the bucket reached the throne room. He jumped inside and began to descend.