Chapter 10

Zero woke up in her bed.

The first thought that came to her was about the nagging pain in her leaft arm. She sat up, mostly using her right arm for support and looked down at her aching shoulder. A small patch of olive green cloth had been sew over most of the number on her shoulder, and looking at it brought memorys of last night flooding back to Zero.

The dream. The beast attack. The surgery. It all seemed like a blur, and an unpleasent one and, despite the fact that it was done and over, Zero felt a pang of guilt spread through her chest area. She had apparently been sleep walking, and had she not been, then maybe that beast wouldn't have attacked. Maybe then everyone could have gotten a full nights sleep. She sighed, gently lifting her free up towards the scar. The tip of her index finger bearly touched the stitchings before a burning feel shot through her entire arn and shoulder and she drew back her right had as though she had just burnt herself.

She could hear the sound of the others deeper in the sanctuary, meaning she must have slept longer than usual. She boldly decided that she had an apolagy she owed to the rest of them for the panic she was bone certain she had caused.

She stood from her bed and made her way out, ignoring the pain in her arm as best she could.

"Do you think it will happen again? Zero sleepwalking?" Five blinked down at his mentor before looking to Eleven.

Two sighed. "it's possibly a one off... But we could never be to certain. I'm most definatly sure One wasn't happy when he heard about what happened last night."

Eleven stepped. "He better not say Zero's a threat. It's not her fault if she sleep-walks and he can't burden her with it." Five placed a hand on her shoulder comfortingly to calm her.

"I think," Two began. "He's probably more concerned for everyone's safty, mainly Zero as well. If she does sleep-walk often we may have to find a way to make sure she doesn't cause harm to herself."

Eleven frowned, nodding. "Yes, of course. I'm going to do my best to keep her safe, but she's also got to learn to depend on herself more. She really lacks confidence."

"I suppose it's expected..." Two mused. "Being trapped for so long, believing the world is out to get you." Eleven nodded in agreement.

They sat there in the workshop until seconds later light footsteps entered and Zero emerged at the doorway, smiling meekly as she held her left wrist, rubbing it gently.

"Hi." She greeted softly. Two beamed.

"Good afternoon, Zero."

Five smiled gently, nodding at her in a greeting. Eleven stood, a gentle smile spread on her lips. "Hey, Zero. How's you're arm?" Zero briefly looked down at the scar and then back up at Eleven.

"It ache's a little..."

Two smiled. "Don't worry, child. That's perfectly normal. The pain will go away, believe me." Zero smiled and nodded.

"I will do." She then paused, frowning. "Wait... 'Afternoon'?"

Eleven chuckled. "You fell asleep after the operation. Me and Five carried you up to bed at around midnight and we hadn't seen you since."

Zero felt her cheeks grow warm as she lowered her head sheepishly. "Oh... Sorry..."

Eleven shook her head. "Don't be. You probably needed it."

"Oh!" Five suddenly cried as though he had figured out a puzzel in his head and he stood. "Zero, I just remembered, Eight said he wanted to talk to you." On the mention of Eight, Eleven became defencive.

"Why?" She snapped, Five, scratched his arm meekly as his eye averted to the ground.

"He wouldn't say. He just told me it was important."

Zero blinked slightly. "Well, I guess I shouldn't keep him waiting..." She began to leave, before Eleven gently gripped her by the unharmed shoulder, her single optic locked hard onto the taller female.

"Zero. He tries any funny buissness you come straight to me and say, understand?" Zero blinked in confusion, not really sure what to make of the statement 'funny buisness', but nodded gently.

"O-okay..." With that, she was excused. Eleven sighed, realeasing a part of annoyance and anger.

The three of them were silent before Two spoke. "From what i've seen..." He began. "Zero and Eight appear to get along well together." Eleven huffed.

"He is nothing more but a bad influence. I caught him trying to get her hooked on that-that stupid magnet of his! He was nothing but bully in the past and he's nothing but a bully now." Eleven's breaths were rageful and harsh, and remained that way until Five approached her, protectivly wrapping his arms around her waist. Eleven seemed to melt back into a far less hostile mode as she embraced him back.

"Personally." He finally began. "I think Eight has changed. I mean, he doesn't bully Six any more and he hasn't been rough ever since... um... the incident."

Eleven gave a gentle nod in response. She may have calmed down but deep down she felt that she had found Zero, therefore felt responsible to keep her alive and safe. No matter what.

Zero found Eight in his room. He was sharpening one of his knife's when she hesitantly shuffled in. He looked up at her and stopped his blade.

"Zero." He simply greeted. Zero gave a meek smile.

"Hello, Eight." She entered his room further, feeling a bit more invited. "Um..." She began. "Five told me that you wanted to see me..." She nearly mummbled, almsot scared that Eight hadn't wanted to see her and there had somehow been a mix up. She felt relieved when Eight placed down his knife and sharpening tool and said. "Yeah. We do need to talk." He pat the space next to him on the book he sat on, inviting her to sit with him. She found herself amazed at how unafraid she was as she sat besides him. She looked over at him, waiting for why he wanted to see her.

"Listen. To cut it short, I want you safe. We all do." Zero wasn't sure exsactly where the gurd was heading with this, but listened on. "But it's just, not everyone is gonna be around to save yer skin, Zero. You need to be able to defend yourself." Zero blinked slightly. Eight finally faced her.

"Whern yer arms better, and when yer up to it, i'm going to to teach you how to fight." Zero felt a rush of shock surge through her. Fight? With weapons? Could she be able to? Would she be able to? Should she accept this? Well, the way Eight had spoken it didn't sound like much of an offer but more of a command. Maybe that was just the way it had been worded. Immediatly she tried backing out.

"Oh, Eight. That is so generous of you but I-I just don't think I could, I mean-"

He moved in closer to her with a steel glare. She yelped slightly at how sudden his movement had been. "You can. You just don't know how. Which is why i'm going to help you. The sooner you know how to 'fend for yourself the better." He moved back and Zero stared at him, feeling a little trapped.

"You could've died last night, Zero." She flinched sightly, looking down at the floor. "It was pure luck I was able to save you. Next time..." He trailed off, looking over at her, quickly realising his point would have probably been realised by the female.

Finally she gave a gentle sigh. "I suppose i'm already a burden as it is... If I could fed for myself that would be one less thing to worry about." He gaze suddenly snapped up towards Eight, who was taken aback by the sudden bright gleam on her face. "What about the bow?"

His brows furrowed in cinfusion as he rummbled. "The... What?"

She giggled excitedly. "The bow! The bow I saw in the workshop! I could learn to use that." Eight blinked twice before he seemed to realise what she was talking about.

"Oh, that thing... Uh... Yeah, could be a start. You'd probably be better at fightin' from a distance anyways-" He grunted when Zero's body suddenly slammed against his, sending him falling back onto the book, her arms locked around his shoulder's as best they could fit. When he realised how close she was t him, he felt his cheeks burn as though they were on fire. He supprised himself when his large hands slowly closed against her back, huging her back.

"I owe you more than my life, Eight." She mummbled into his shoulder. He gave a gentle scoff and smirked.

"Yeah, but I'll let it slide." She giggled and pulled away. Zero could help but feel embarressed. She hadn't intened to tackle Eight like that, but she just flet so happy.

She coyly ran her right hand though her feathers, ignoring the ache in her left arm meerly because she felt so happy. "Sorry about that. I hadn't intened to tackle you. Just hug, you know...?" He shrugged one shoulder.

"Consider it the first part of training. Let's just hope beast's don't know how to get out of hugs." She giggled and he chuckled.

Zero sighed as her laugh came to an end. "Maybe..." She began, looking from the floor to Eight. "We could... start tommorrow?"

Eight blinked before smiling. "First thing if your up fer it." She nodded gently.

"I'm sure I will be."

"Alright then..." He nodded. Zero was about to turn to leave before Eight stood. "Hey, wait, Zero?" She faced him.

"Hm?"

"Uh..." He drew back the hand had stretched out when he stood, suddenly not sure of why he stopped her. Quickly, he pieced together a few words. "Uh, w-what are you doin' today?"

She blinked at him. "Not much. Why?"

He felt his cheeks grow hotter. Why? why, why, why, why? He needed to awnser. An idea clicked.

"Um. You know you were tellin' me about that story? With the Robin guy or somethin'?"

"Robin Hood?"

"Yeah, that one." He shuffled hi feet slightly. Eight really didn't understand why he was doing thins. He didn't like reading. He thought it was boring.. Which is why he supprised himself when he asked her:

"Do you think, maybe, you could read it to me...?"