Chapter 4 Realization, Healing, and Hope
No one could seem to move. It was as if a nightmare just occurred. After what seemed like an hour, but really only 10 seconds, it was 7 that was the first to move and scream out.
"3,4!! WHY?! WHY DID YOU TWO HAVE TO--" Tear pouring down her face, hardly able to really think anymore, she gently lifted both of them into her lap and stroked their heads. She hurt them. She...hurt them. 8 seemed to have realized the same thing to because he threw down his weapon, and tore off the other one off his back before joining 7 on the floor with them.
6 just stood there behind 9 still in shock about the whole thing. The children, the smallest of them all, just got hurt. 2 got over he shock and walked over to the others, eying the damage. After a few minutes, he spoke softly.
"7, 8, lets get them to the Workshop. I'm sure we can repair them."
7 and 8 just nodded. 8 Picked up 3 and 7 took 4. On the way out 2 looked at 9 and smiled weakly.
"Bring 5 with you 9 so I can Repair his back first. After that, you can assist us to if you like."
9 didn't even look at 2 as he helped up 5, letting his lover lean on him for support. Instead his eyes were on 3 and 4 and the mess they were in. It looked horrible, and their Rods. God, their Rods! 6 just quietly followed them out, afraid to talk after what he just saw. As they all left to the Workshop, 1 just crumpled there on the steps of his Throne. Realizing what had happened, realizing what 7, 3, and 4 said, it hit him hard.
"Stupid....stupid idiot...Stupid fear!" He pounded the steps now in his anger. "Look at what happened...All because of a bitter fool. What have I done? I'm supposed to be Protecting them. Instead I hurt everyone. What have I done?...." He sighed as he just leaned his back against his Throne, closing his eyes and began to think. Think about everything.
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Meanwhile back in the Workshop, 2 had just finished up repairing the tear on 5's back. 8 had gone down the Elevator Bucked while he was repairing him and brought back a small pair of scissors like the ones they used to own before the fire. He found it earlier on that day while looking through the Library for Weapons he might be able to use. As 2 snipped the Red Thread, 5 hopped down and looked at the other two Tables where they had put 3 and 4 on. Now that this was over with, here came the hard part for everyone in there.
Everyone was tense as 2 pulled out what looked like a small pair of Pliers. It was something he made personally incase anyone got their joints bent up again. He looked at 7.
"7, I'm not going to be gentle about this because it's going to hurt them, but can you hold down 3 for me? And 8? Can you take 4?" After that, I want you ready 5 with the Thread. Then we can work on the gears that are out of place inside them.
All of them said yes and gently held down their arms. 5 got on standby with the Thread to sew them up. The rest were there mainly for support, and they knew the Twins could use all the support they could get right now. 2 approached 3 first, and after making sure that 7 had him held firmly, he inserted the pliers and began to pull. Once he began to pull, all hell broke loose in the Workshop.
3s eyes flew opened, and if he could scream, he would be right now. Tears were spilling out of his eyes again, and he was trashihng around like crazy. Seeing this, 9 rushed over and held down his legs. Both 7 and 9 were reassuring him everything was going to be okay soon.
"Shhhhh! It's okay 3! Your going to be fine soon and out of pain! Don't worry okay?! Have I ever lied to you before?!"
"Calm down 3! It's going to be okay! Hes almost done and then you'll be good as new almost!"
As 7 and 9 continued to comfort poor 3, 2 finished up a few seconds later. immediately after that, 5 began to sew up his arm. He was opening up his mouth and closing it like a fish out of water.
As 2 began to work on 4, 9 also having to hold down his legs while 8 and him were trying to calm him down, 5 had just finished up with 4 before heading over to 4. 7 was holding 3s hand and she knew by how hard he was grasping it what kind of pain he was in. She gently wiped his eyes, telling him the worst of it was over with now. 9 was doing the same thing with 4 as 8 stepped out of the way to let 5 patch up his arm now.
After all that was over with, 2 motioned that the worst was over with now, and everyone else could go for now while he finished up the Repairs. 5 wanted to help, but 2 just commented that he wasn't ready for this part of their work yet. 5 looked down casted a bit, but 2 smiled and patted him on his shoulder reassuring him he would be soon.
5 smiled back at his Mentor, and everyone left. As soon as everyone was outside the hall and began to walk down it a bit, 8 was the first to talk.
"I'm sorry." He mumbled. 7 looked up at him and smiled.
"8, you have nothing to be sorry for. We were all wrong in there, and the Twins knew it. They were hoping that we would see them before we hit, but unfortunately we didn't. In some way or another, all of us there were wrong. Except for 6." They shared a small laugh at this and she patted his head. He smiled up at her.
"I...I was just curious. Curious at what was wrong.."
9 smiled, but before he could get another word out, something rushed past all of them. Confused, they all looked at the end of the Hall and head a sound like a Door closing gently. Soon afterwards 2 came rushing up to them.
"Did...*Pant...You all see which way they went?" He was a bit out
out of breath from the short run he just had to endure. It didn't take everyone long to figure out what just happened. They just rushed down the hall and around the corner opening up and closing the doors hoping to find out where the Twins rushed off to.
(For this next part, I bring you all another Song I love and it is for everything in the closing of this Chapter. Amazing by Jenelle .com/watch?v=W-xmLD85M8o)
Meanwhile back in 1s Room, he was still in the same place and position. Still thinking and wondering what he could do to be a better Leader to the rest of the stitchpunks. Sure, he might have been wrong about the love thing, but could he really be taught about such Emotion? Maybe he should stop hating so much. Maybe he should stop fearing the past. But look at what happened though. How could he really learn? Suddenly he was jolted out of his thoughts by something snuggling up close to him. No, make that two somethings from both of his sides. Eyes flying opened, he looked down, and for the second time in less than a few hours, his mouth dropped opened. There on both sides of him, was none other than 3 and 4 themselves.
Not really understanding it, not knowing out of all the others, why were they back here with him? Especially after what happened? Curious and since it was eating him up, he had to know! For Gods and the Creators Sake they just got hurt because of him and 8! So why him?! Calming down a bit, remembering that they just had to endure some more trauma most likely, he asked them softly, but his voice still had some grumpiness to it.
"Why? Why come back here? Is it to make me feel bad? Or is it something else?"
They just smiled and snuggled up closer to him and then opened up their eyes. They played a video of a mother and father hugging their children close and letting them sleep with them after they had a bad dream. After that they reclosed their eyes, still with smiles on their faces.
1 just shook his head. Knowing the Operation scared them, anything would scare a child like that, he still couldn't figure out why they choose him. After another moment of thinking, he realized why. Was this part of the love thing they were talking about?
He looked down at them again before deciding to make his move. He very carefully got up and gently picked up both of the twins. Next he carried them over to his bed and put them in it. After all, it was the least he could do for them after what he caused today. But if anyone asked about it or asked him about why they were there, of course he would say he didn't know and didn't know anything about it.
That's just 1 for you. After all, he did have to keep up his appearance as well. Even if he did learn about love and what it was, he was still their Leader and couldn't let it control him or get to him either. After he did that, he walked over to the Balcony in his Room and looked out at the waste land going back to his thoughts. 3 and 4 discovered that the Library had Balconies in it to let in Extra Light and for people to go out on and read as well. When they first got in here no one could figure it out at all. It also made spotting the Beasts better at night for 8 when he was watching along with 7 at the top floor. Having to Watch Places was better than one any day.
Unknown to him, everyone else was at his door peeking in. As 9 closed it softly, and the rest of them were in the Bucket heading down to the bottom floor, it was then the laughter started. First it was 9, followed by 7, then 8, 2, 5, and lastly 6.
"Did you see that?! I was about to die from laughter right then and there! I knew 1 had a soft spot in him somewhere!"
"Who would have thought! That was definitely one of the cutest things I have ever seen the Twins do in a long time!"
8 just grinned. "I think Leader might be softening up a bit."
"Whatever the cause may be, he certainly can be nice when no ones around to see! That old chap I think might be learning and catching on quick!"
"I'm just glad he realizes his mistake and what he did to! Maybe this will be good for the rest of us in the future as well?!"
6 gave off a shy smile. "I might draw a picture of that later to give to 3 and 4 as a gift. I was surprised when they didn't wake up."
As they continued down to the bottom floor and talk, it seemed life was once again restored in their Family. Once they reached the bottom of it, 2 decided since it was still early afternoon he would go out and look for supplies. 6, 7, and 8 decided to go with him while 5 and 9 stayed behind to look over a few things in the Library in the Books Section.
As soon as they were gone, 9 smiled at 5 and took his hand. "Shall we start looking my love?" 5 sighed happily as he followed his lover. Everything 9 said seemed to be romantic in some way when he was around him. It just made him feel complete in some way or another. And that was why he loved him so much. 9 didn't seem at first to be the Romantic type, but boy did he ever surprise him. Sudden;y, he was tore out of his thoughts as he let go of 9's hand. Alarmed a bit, 9 turned around and looked at him. He was surprised to see 5 holding his stomache with one hand and not looking to well. He quickly walked over to him and gently put one of his hands on his back to help support him.
"5?...Are you okay? Is everything alright?
5 smiled up at 9 weakly.
"Sure...I just felt ill for a sec there all of the sudden. I wouldn't worry about it. It's probably-" But he was cut off mid sentence as he suddenly pulled away from his love and rushed over to a nearby corner, promptly throwing up Oil. Alarmed and scared, 9 called out to 5.
"5!! Are you okay?!"
Meanwhile in the Waste, the others were seemingly having a great time. 2 had found a lot of useful things he could use. Old parts of Toy Cars, Springs, Coils, and other things. 7 and 8 had even found a few old Metal Files, and with a bit of work, they could turn them into great weapons to use. 6 had found more paper, and even a few News Paper Clippings as well in the trash. It wasn't about the War, but it was about something called a Festival and he knew 3 and 4 would love to read it and learn about it. Then they could share their findings with everyone else and tell them what it meant.
It was nice outside today, and the Weather was good to. Everything seemed to have picked up pace once more now that the Twins were okay. Even after all the fighting, everyone seemed to be doing better than ever. It was as if a new light was casted on their whole group. But, unknown to the Stitchpunks out there, a Pair of Red Eyes was tracking their every move. Carefully moving, silently, watching and waiting.
