9 RP Chapter 14

9 RP
Written by *pieface123 and *Tifa-the-Strange

Escape - The Artist and the Dancer

"We barely found him before the beast could do anything else..." 2 spoke after they were halfway done. "If weren't for 7 we would have never found him..."
He rubbed his neck before he grabbed a smaller needle, tying up a thin piece of thread and sat down near 0. His hand held her face sweetly, "Stay still, my dear..." the needle went through her burlap skin, the thread followed as he sewed her cheek.
0 winced slightly but sighed, "H-his words hurt more... than that slap..."
He placed his fingertips on her lips, "It doesn't matter what he said... He's clouded by his own anger..." he assured her, the old inventor smiled as he finished up sewing her cheek. He cut the thread and caressed her cheek. "There. Good as new..." She wasn't sure if it was time to tell him about what 1 said... not because of her failure... But of a certain 'prize'...
0 knew she failed, and even 2's touch could make her forget the harsh words and calling 13 a prize. "O-oh 2... You just don't understand how much I love you... even though I don't deserve you...."
That last statement made 2 confused, "What do you mean? I'm the one who doesn't deserve a sweet angel like you, yet I'm thankful that you're here by my side as I will always be with you, through thick and thin."
0 was almost in the verge of tears, "I-I'm not an angel... I'm 0!!! And that means I'm nothing!!!" she squeezed her eyes shut and turned away and sobbed softly. "Why love a nothing?... you can't possibly love me...."
"0... You are not a nothing." he held her shoulders, "You're a wonderful woman, a caring mother figure and you would do anything to protect those you hold dear. Whatever 1 said that made you think that is nothing but a lie. He despises what he can't have..." he gently made her face him. "No matter what... I will always love you. Never, ever forget that..."
0 burst into hysterics and sobs, covering her face and shaking her head, "I-I love you too... b-but you can't!!!! You could do better than m-me!!! I failed to save 13!!!! You can't love a failure!!!"
2 wrapped his arms around 0, holding her close to him, tight yet gentle. "Don't you ever say that again, 0... You are no failure; you did your best... I can never find anyone else like you..."
0 sobbed in his neck as she weakly pushed at his chest to try and get him to let go, she wanted him to hold her but she wasn't worthy. "N-no... S-stop... I-I..." she whimpered.
"Shh... You're scared, I know... Don't let his words get to you... He's nothing but a fool..." 2 muttered, rubbing her back and caressing her newly sewn cheek. "My poor angel..."
0 sobbed more, finally hugging him tight, "I-I love y-you... b-but... n-n-nothing..." she whimpered softly, leaning her head on his chest.
"You are not nothing..." he whispered before he kissed her lips gently.
0 sobbed softly in his mouth but soon calmed down slightly, her eyes falling.
He exhaled softly after sharing their kiss. "Tell me what happened..." 2 stared into her eyes, he wanted to know, and he wanted to help with whatever he could.
0 nodded, and started with a shaky yet controlled voice, "Well, I tricked 8 to get into 13's prison and after I calmed her down I told her I had enough of 1 and I was going to get her to safety," she took a small terrified breath. "T-then... when I was leaving e-e-8 caught me and 1 and I got into another fight... I-I called him an idiot a-and he slapped me..." she paused for a second to sigh.
2 shook his head, "That was uncalled for..." he looked at her, "Anything else...? What about 13?"
0 nodded, "After 1 called me a nothing he called 13 his 'prize'...."
He stayed silent, "... What...?" Everything fit once she told him.
0 sighed and rubbed her sewn up cheek that still tingled a little. "...we have to ask 6 what happened..." 0 looked at the ground sadly. "S-she called me mother...." she whispered.
"She did?" he smiled sweetly. "0, that's wonderful."
0 nodded and smiled slightly, "She looks up to us, 2... She's just so scared."
He gave a proud smile, he was so proud to know that the 'unlucky' doll thought of them like family. "We will get her to a safe place... But first we have to know what happened once 6 wakes up."
She looked to the artist sprawled out on the skate. She sighed, "Is he going to be okay?"
"Physically, yes. Emotionally..." he paused, "Emotionally... Maybe... I don't know..."
0 stared at 6 and touched her sewn cheek, she glared. "1... he's gone too far..."
2 held her shoulder, "We'll get to the bottom of this."

6's optics slowly flickered, a moan escaping his voice box.
The elder's heads perked up and looked over to the skate. "6!?" 0 gasped and went to edge of the skate to move some yarn hair out if the artist's optics. 6's eyes darted around the room; he flailed slightly and yelled, was the beast still attacking him? 0 held him down before he hurt himself. "6! 6! Calm down!! Shhh, your fine, your alright!!!"
6 hid his face with his arms, trembling. "6, you're safe." he heard before he stopped.
The artist took in a few shaky breaths before his shoulders shook as he began to sob in shock. 0 released him and sighed, taking his hand and petting it. "Shh it's alright..." she whispered. "You're okay..."
"D-d-don't w-want to r-remember... N-n-n-no r-remember...!! B-b-b-ad t-things...!!" he whimpered.
0 frowned and talked softly, "6, you have to tell us what happened..." she continued to shush him softly.
"B-b-bad... B-bad th-things..." he was calmer now yet he kept crying, holding his key.
0 sighed and closed her eyes, patting his hand. "Y-yes...we know bad things 6... b-but what is happening with 13 and 1...?"
6 lowered his head in shame, "Don't be shy, 6... We just want to know..." 2 assured him, 6 sighed sadly, his lip quivering.
"H-he... d-d-did... w-what y-y-y-you two do.... w-when you..." 6 whimpered and cried gain just at the horrible reminder of it. 0 nodded in thought as she rubbed his back. "6... I don't understand... what do we do that he did to her?..." 6 was sobbing now and curling up in a ball, that was all he could say.
"That doesn't really say much..." 2 muttered yet accepted the little information 6 could tell them.
6 managed to whimper out, "H-h-he d-did w-w-what y-you d-d-do w-when y-y-you... l-l-ove..." he broke down in a lifeless ball of tears, crying and whimpering out her name, his Roxanne, his dancer, why couldn't he have her? 0's optics shrunk, "Y-you mean... a kiss?" she almost whispered in disbelief.
2 couldn't believe it, "1... Did that...?" he shook his head, no wonder 6 was out in the Emptiness. The elders knew how delicate both 6 and 13 were, and 1 kissing 13 broke 6's heart.
0's face was filled with disbelief and shock, she held her head for a minute before her face twisted in anger, and she began to storm out of the room. "That's it!!"
2 pat 6's shoulder, "Stay here. We'll be right back." He went off and followed 0, almost running in order to catch up, using his cane for support.
0's hands were in fists as she stomped to the elevator, "I have had enough of this!!"

1 fiddled with a bell attached to his staff. He thought it would be a good accessory as he let his mind wander. He destroyed 0's spirit, it made him feel powerful. Maybe 13's bad luck is affecting the others to his advantage. Maybe it was thanks to him stealing her first kiss.
The leader's thoughts were interrupted to the elevator door slamming open and 0 pointing at him, "YOU!!!!" she stepped out and growled, stomping up to him.
"Ah, 0. So glad to see you again." he grinned, still attending to the bell.
2 caught his breath, almost exhausted. "No more running for me," he muttered.
"DON'T YOU ACT SO INNOCENT!!!! I KNOW WHAT YOU DID!!!" she grabbed his staff and threw it aside so he would look at her. "HOW DARE YOU!?!?!?! HOW CAN YOU EVEN LIVE WITH YOURSELF!?!??!"
"I have no idea what you are talking about," he held his chin high before looking at the staff, "I was working on that, by the way."
"CUT THE ACT!!!! WE ALL KNOW WHAT YOU DID TO HER!!!" she screamed in his face, shaking with anger. "AND YOU BETTER STAY AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER!!!!" 0 glared at him, just realizing what she said.
"Pfeh! That doll isn't one of us." He rose from his seat, "You're pretty attached to her for someone who's been locked away all this time, calling her your 'daughter'."
"WELL, WHOSE FAULT DO YOU THINK THAT IS!?!?!?!" she poked his chest roughly. "WHY DON'T YOU PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR ONE SIZE AND STOP SCARING HER!??!?!"
1 was unmoved by her yells, he chucked, amused. "And so the failure regains her strength..." he growled, "May I point out that everything that has been happening was the cause of all of you and that curse?! At first I thought she would curse all of us, but as the days progressed and I 'scared' her, like you call it, I prevented the bad luck from rubbing off of me, yet it affected the rest of you. 7 is more defiant, 5 is more of a coward and 6 has gone completely mad that he abandoned all of you while scavenging for supplies."
0 stood her ground by keeping her glare, but said nothing. She really didn't know how to counter that, even though she knew it wasn't true. 2 watched the fight roll out in front of him, the silence almost unbearable. He wanted to say something but just didn't want to make anything worse.
The leader grinned, "I again prevail..." he walked towards his staff, giving a small flick of his finger on the bell, hearing it jingle. "Due to what you said, it is enough for me to know that you two had been planning against me, taking the girl out of her cage, nothing but bad things happening to you. You are thankful that I have not yet sent 8 to dispose of her, along with her cage so she would never escape ever again."
0 glared at her feet, her fist so tight she thought her hand would fall off. She turned and spoke in a menacing tone. "You're such a coward... you make others feel bad about themselves so you can have the upper hand!!! You make them feel as if you're better than them when you're nothing but a selfish power hunger tyrant!!!!" 0 glared and approached him so she was up in his face, poking her finger in his chest roughly. "And I'm not scared of you anymore...."
"You dare challenge me?" he growled.
0 proved her point by pushing him slightly, growling. "Try me..."
1 lips formed into a malicious grin.
2 grew worrisome. "Oh dear..."
0 was a little intimidated and worrisome too but kept on glaring and tensing herself, "What are you grinning at!?!"
"Get me the unlucky one, 8..."
2 gasped but 0 pointed at him with a little stutter, "N-NO THIS IS BETWEEN YOU AND ME!!! DON'T BRING HER INTO THIS!!!"
"You wanted me to see if you dare question and challenge what I do... She is the reason why you're acting this way, 0. Now we'll get to see what you really are, once she's here to witness it all."
0 gave him a look, "You're insane... all your going to prove is that we want to keep her safe and that you're scaring her..." 0 crossed her arms. "As I said, I'm not afraid of you anymore..."
"Whatever you say, ZERO..."
The elders turned to the hole that lead to the metal prison, hearing cries for help before they saw 8 dangling 13 by her dress, the girl holding on to the blue garment.
"PUT HER DOWN NOW!!!!" 0 growled.
1 snapped his fingers once 8 was close enough, the brute obeyed and let her fall just a small distance away from the leader. 13 looked up and saw 2 and 0, completely terrified, she yelped as 1 pulled her towards him by the hook of his staff. "Remember what I told you, girl..."
"1, LEAVE HER ALONE!!!" 0 yelled, she looked at 13 trying to calm her down with her stare.
"1, please, don't do this...!" 2 pleaded.
"Do as I say, and they'll live, my dear..." 1 whispered to 13, who only let out a small whimper. "Now then, why don't you tell us what would you do if I do this, 0?" 1 asked as he wrapped his arm around the girl's waist, still holding his staff.
0 was starting to get creeped out a little, she still was steaming mad. "YOU'RE A COWARD, BRINGING HER INTO THIS!!!" she stepped forward a little. "13, don't listen to him, just come over here..." she held out her hand.
"Uh uh uh." he shook his finger, "She stays with me, 0."
13 was desperate to get away from his grasp and hide behind her mother figure yet stayed where she was. "See what you've become? All because of her." 1 grinned, "Now, what will you do if I continue?" he caressed the girl's face, she whimpered as 2 shook his head.
"1, stop, leave her out of this...!" 2 pleaded.
0 stepped a little closer, suddenly getting a little more nervous but kept her gaze on 13, her hand still out. "Just... grab my hand... it'll all be okay...."
"Yes, 0... Lie to her like all of the promises you made yet failed to keep..." the leader chuckled, holding 13 closer. "I've also made a small discovery; I found how to prevent the bad luck from rubbing off on me... Be the first to witness it." he said proudly before he held 13's chin, kissing her neck with a soft growl.
0 gasped slightly, "o-1...." she couldn't believe how someone could be so cruel and hateful. Her anger was turning to fear, yet she stepped closer until she could almost touch them. "1...stop...please..."
"Now you see? You dared to challenge me... Only to fall back in defeat..." he muttered, "Yet I'm not letting you go off that easily..." he turned to 13, whispering to her hearing sensor, her trembling figure trying to stay calm. "See? She doesn't care for you... If she were she would have been bolder... Yet she is not... Your 'mother' failed you..."
13 shook her head, "N-n-n-no...! St-stop...! Please...!"
"I'LL SHOW YOU BOLD!!!!" it all happened too fast, 0's fist connected with 1's jaw, sending him sprawling back. Surprised by her reflexes 0 had grabbed 13's arm to prevent her from falling with him, she hugged her daughter close. "THAT WAS FOR EARLIER TOO!!!!"She pointed at her sewn up cheek.
1's surprised and shocked expression turned to anger, growling.
He rubbed his jaw, not bothering to get his fallen hat as he almost charged at 0. 2 stood in front of them, "Get her out safely, now...!" he whispered to them. 1 managed to hear, yelling out, "8!! GET THE UNLUCKY ONE, LOCK HER UP AND SEND HER OUT TO THE EMPTINESS!!!"
0 grabbed 13's hand and ran to the elevator as quick as she could.
2 stood in 8's way, "You will do no such thing!" he said, only to get thrown across the room as the giant chased after 0 and 13.
0 had just slammed the elevator door when she heard 2 crash against a wall. "2!!" she gasped.
2 had motioned for them to keep going and 0 nodded with a small whimper, pulling the elevator down.

6 jumped at the sound of 0 yelling, he wanted to peek outside the workshop, too afraid to even move from the earlier yells.
6 heard running down the hall and jumped as soon as 0 entered, with 13. 0 grabbed the startled artist's hand. "Come on!!!"
He yelped as he was pulled by 0, running down the hallway towards the exit. He wanted to ask what was going on, but the sight of 13 made him speechless.
0 stopped right at the exit, pushing them towards it. "You two keep going!!! Hide and be safe!!" she grabbed her long nail. "I'm going to hold them off."
"B-but M-m-mother...!!" 13 tried to object.
"Go!!!" 0 hissed in fear, nodding towards the library. "Go find 7!!! She can help!!" 6 shakily grabbed the girls hand and stumbled forward toward the library. 0 watched them go before turning. "I'm coming 2..."
13 looked at her surroundings as they kept on running. She wasn't just gazing at the outside world like she hoped, but she was running for her life. She didn't dare stop, 0 told her, yet the girl wanted to go back and help, but she was too scared.
"R-run!! R-run!!!!" 6 urged, gripping her hand. He was so glad to feel that hand wound around his again. Yet he had to get her to safety, he didn't want to mess this up.

0 held up the long nail in defense as 8 stood in front of her, trying to get by. 0 thrust it toward him in a threatening manner. "Stay back!! I-I'm warning you!!"
8 chuckled, she was so small compared to him, and he held his knife high, swinging it playfully at the female elder. 2 tried to get up, yet 1 held him to the ground with his staff. "That good for nothing woman had to intervene, didn't she?!"
At least she was holding him off, 0 shivered slightly. She held the nail up and glared. 2 coughed slightly, looking up at him, "That 'good for nothing woman' happened to put you in your place..." he said weakly.
1 pushed his staff roughly on 2's throat. "Everything was going according to plan...!! And she had to ruin it! Calling herself that curse's 'mother'..."
2 coughed again, wincing as he tried to grab the staffs handle to pull it away from him. "S-she is a mother... she'd be a better leader than you ever were!!"
1 growled and pushed harder, hearing 2 cough. "Say that again, I dare you!!"
They both looked towards the elevator as they heard it coming up. They could hear the female elder screaming, "PUT ME DOWN!!! RIGHT NOW!!! UGHH!!!" 8 entered the throne room, 0 slung over his shoulder. She thrashed and pounded at his back. "LET ME GO, YOU BRUTE!!!"
"Dispose of her, 8. And then go find the girl...!!" 1 ordered.
8 nodded with a grunt and started to walk away, 0 saw 2 and reached out to him with a scared expression, not only for her but for him. "2!!!"
2 tried to push the staff off his neck, only to cough roughly. "Any last words, brother?" the leader asked darkly.
"Y-yes..." 2 strained, trying to get air. "P-please don't hurt 0... Just spare her please…"
"That's a promise I will never-!!"
2 no longer felt the staff on his neck, hearing a thump along with a metal clanking on the ground. He rubbed his neck before noticing 5, holding a metal bar in his hands, shaking nervously as 1 lied on the floor.
2 stared at 5 like he just sprouted an extra head. 5 gulped nervously and looked at 2 sheepishly, "I-I've
wanted to do that for a long time..."
"That was a horrible thing you did, but it was necessary, so I'll let it go." 2 chuckled as 5 helped him up, they heard 1's groans. "We better get 0...!!"

0 growled and tried to wriggle free of 8's grasp only to get a chuckle in her attempts. The giant bumped his shoulder up causing her to let out yelp as she bounced on his shoulder. "Ugh put me down!!!"
"Defied 1's orders, that was pretty bad." 8 chuckled, "Now you won't get to see your 'hubby' and the voodoo doll ever again."
0 growled and pounded his back with no prevail. She sighed sadly and leaned down, giving up completely.
She heard a clank before she fell down, landing on the big doll. 0 felt arms around her, hugging her tightly, "0... My lovely 0...!"
0 looked around before noticing who was holding her, "2?!" she hugged him back tightly. "I-I thought you... a-and 1..."
"I saved him from 1..." 5 said bashfully, "I had to knock him out... Or else 2 would have had his throat damaged... And would have lost his voice... Or worse, his head..."
0 smiled at the mechanic, "Wow 5, I didn't know you had it in you... Thank you." she looked at 2, "Are you alright?"
5 smiled at the praise.
"I'm alright, just a few wires loose. Did 8 hurt you?" 2 asked worriedly.
0 shook her head, "No, I'm fine..." she hugged him. "I'm just glad you're okay..."
5 looked at 8 who groaned on the floor. "Sorry to interrupt, b-but we better get moving..."
0 and 2 looked to the giant before nodding, getting up and running back to the elevator.

13 huffed her breaths, panting as they came to a stop; it felt as if they were running for hours. She held her chest, trying to calm herself down. They sat inside a wooden box which covered the music player, hearing the loud winds picking up, forming into a sandstorm.
6 sat down next to her, shocked about this whole thing, but it all was better because at least he could see her. He gripped his key and only glanced at her slightly.
With the presence of 6, 13 never felt so at ease. Her breaths calmed down, yet she was worried sick for 2 and 0. She clutched her dress before wrapping her arms around her, cold winds entering through the cracks from the sandstorm outside.
6 noticed her shivering and clicked his key with his fingers. "c-cold?" he asked timidly, scooting a little closer to her.
She nodded, whimpering as cold rushes of wind lifted her dress slightly. They were lucky enough to find the box and use it as a shelter under the music player.
6 looked her up and down before gulping slightly; he moved closer and hugged her to his chest, rubbing her back gently. "B-b-better?"
13 blushed; she missed his gentle, loving embrace. She nodded, "... Th-thank you..."
6 smiled sheepishly, "G-good..." he leaned his head on hers, glad to have her here with him again. He then had this urge, he had to know. "t-13?... I-I l-l-love you..." he muttered softly. "W-who d-do y-you love?"
He didn't know how much she wanted to hear those words again, yet when he asked her she didn't know what to say. The warm feeling in her chest told her to speak her mind. What was that feeling...? It was so new yet she felt it before when he first told her his feelings.
6 got worried a little, thinking she didn't love him back. He whimpered slightly, thinking he was making her feel uncomfortable. He let go and grabbed his key. "I-I'm s-s-sorry... I c-can't help that I-I love you... b-but if y-y-you don't... I-I won't b-bother you…"
"P-please d-don't say th-that..." she pleaded, touching his hand gently before resting her head under his neck. "I'm j-just s-s-scared..."
6 slowly held her again, talking softly. "W-why?... I-I'll protect y-you.."
She closed her eyes shut, desperate for affection.
6 ran his hand up and down her back, just wanting her to feel safe within his grasp. He hummed softly to her.
"S-sound..." she whispered, happy to hear him humming, she relaxed in his grasp. 13 jumped as their shelter hit the music player; the winds were growing fiercer outside.
"I-it's okay," 6 muttered to her, hugging her close, leaning his forehead on hers. "I-I'm h-h-here..."
13's heart raced, this wonderful feeling grew in her chest. Feeling safe... Happy... With no one but the stripped stitchpunk.
Go on, say it… Her heart told her. Say what you feel about him... Don't be shy...
But how could she? She was the very definition of shy.
6 smiled at her and hugged her close, he didn't mind if she loved him or not, as long as he kept her happy.
13 kept listening to his soft melody, smiling softly. It was as if everything that happened no longer existed, she didn't want that moment to end.
6 sighed happily and tucked her head under his chin, holding her close, humming as softly as he could.
She gathered up all of her courage and strength, blushing as she stuttered a whisper. "... S-s-6..." She closed her eyes, "... I... I l-love you..." she hoped that he didn't hear her yet wished that he did.
6 almost couldn't contain his excitement, "Y-yes... yes..." he whispered and nodding at her. "I l-love you t-too..." 6 got so overjoyed, he gently took her face and placed a gently kiss on the girls lips. Her lips were so soft.
This feeling she experienced filled her with an indescribable joy. His kiss wasn't rough and forced like the leader, but gentle and loving. She melted in his grasp, lost in this sensation.
6 pulled away with a wide smile, his hands rubbing her cheeks softly before hugging her tight. "t-th-13!!" he whispered out of pure joy. Hugging his love as tight as he could and never wanting to let go.
13 couldn't help but smile after he pulled away, she could just break in joyful tears, cuddling under his grasp, her head beneath his chin. She then knew what her feelings meant, what her heart felt. It was that very moment.
It was nothing more than love.
6 was so content and happy, he hummed to her softly while rubbing her back. Soon the couple fell asleep in each others arms.

1 rubbed his chin, holding his staff tightly. They escaped, made a fool out of him. Worst of all, they took his prize. He had her in his grasp, it was 0's fault. She was attached to the girl, which was enough for him to know that they had never obeyed his rules, taken her out of her prison. He couldn't stand letting them have her, she was his. She belonged to him. The artist was out there, 1 knew what 6 felt about the girl. He had an adversary on the outside.
He got up from his throne with a low growl, rubbing his sore head. For the life of him he couldn't realize how he had been knocked out. The leader paced the floor, anger boiling his mind. His detest for the female elder grew. 0 would pay for this. And he knew her weakness. Calling and making sure she failed. He will have 13 and 0 will suffer all the consequences!!!