Mable: This chapter took WAY too long… Again. It only took a burst of force that I could get it posted so that I can start working on the next. I'm not going to stall with any message beforehand; I don't own 9, I only created Moss, Enjoy!

Without A Sound

Chapter Ten: Poignant Nights

Two wasn't sure why but he felt a rush of relief surge through him when the others arrived back at the Sanctuary. They were tired and caked with both dirt and snow. The twins were being carried by Eight and seemed to have either gotten too cold or had fallen asleep. The only one looking alert and somewhat eager was Nine who quickly sputtered out, "Is Moss awake?" Two nodded and gestured back to the Workshop door. "He's been up for a little while. You can go visit if you'd like, just make sure he doesn't get out of bed."

He gave a friendly smile and Nine returned it before hurrying off. Now Eight passed by to take the twins to the room, Six following. "Oh, Eight." Two stopped him, "I, well… One has switched the sleeping arrangements a bit. The twins will be in that back room, it's warmer." The Guard raised a brow but didn't argue. He knew Two well enough and knew that he wouldn't lie about this. He continued on his way as Six awkwardly entered into the other room to possibly draw. Seven stayed behind with a very annoyed look. "Now he's changing sleeping arrangements? He's already turning back into what he was."

"It's not like that." Two defended in an unneeded and somewhat uncomfortable manner, "He said that he thought three Stitchpunks per room would work better for the time being. Until Five and I can make more sleeping quarters. It also allows Moss to sleeping in the medical cot at the moment." The female arched a brow and slightly challenged, more towards what One said that Two himself, "Really? So where are you going to sleep?" Two didn't word his answer carefully enough, "With him in his bed." He was supposed to leave the last part out but slipped and quickly looked to Seven for a reaction.

It was immediate; her annoyance dropped and her optics were as wide as saucers. Two received his confirmation of One's motives by Seven's obviously similar suspicion. "It's not what you think." He tried to insist in obvious denial before looking downwards, his face daring to grow warm. "I should… I should set up the other bed or something." With that he hurried into One's room and left Seven standing there in confusion, unsure what to say or do in the situation. Meanwhile Nine entered into the workshop with a need to speak with Five. He could see immediately that Moss was, indeed, awake as well.

The two were playing some sort of card game that they both seemed to know the rules to already. Ergo, communication could be stunted and yet the game could continue, which pleased Nine. It made him feel a little bad that he needed to draw the one eyed one away though. "Hey Five." He called over before waving to Moss. The two looked over and gave their own smiles with Five greeting verbally, "Hey. How'd it go?" He asked with interest and Nine smiled with reassurance, "It went well. We got a lot of work done and the plants are looking good."

He was unsure if Moss understood fully, but the male seemed to catch his pleasant tone and relaxed some. He was feeling quite a bit worried about how the greenhouse was doing without him. Though this may have been because he felt so restless when he wasn't doing anything, which he did. It was slightly frustrating in a way that his own body forced him to stop but Moss didn't get too worked up. Instead he had merely spent the entire day sleeping and was only awake now because his body was too awake to do anything else such as that. It was now that Nine spoke, "Five, can we talk? Just for a second."

Five seemed confused but looked to Moss and raised a finger as though asking for a moment. Moss nodded and the buttoned male headed to Nine's side who headed out. In the hall the zippered male could see Eight standing nearby and called over, "Eight, do you think you could stay with Moss for a minute? He's alone in there." He expected the Guard to put up some sort of resistance of some kind or something, but actually he went along without arguing, entering into the Workshop where the Cultivator was still sitting. "Hey." He greeted, though had to catch the other's attention and repeat for it to be noted.

Moss was relieved to see that he hadn't been alone for long. It was obvious that he was growing more and more uncomfortable with the lack of things to do when confined to bed. The card games were a decent outlet, but not much when alone. It wasn't as though he could substitute work for it when he couldn't work. The Guard sat down on a stool beside the cot and looked to the Cultivator before beckoning for Five's set down cards. The thin male raised a brow before handing them over and the Guard glanced the set over. After a look he gave an amused snort, "Pretty poor hand he's got here."

He then paused before clearing his voice box, "What game are you playing anyway?" Hearing or not, Moss understood, and got a look of amusement before scooping the cards together to shuffle them. Five and he could always restart their own game later, he was in the mood for something else. Preferably something that Eight and he both knew well enough that they didn't have to exchange rules.

Nine drug Five to a stop in front of the door that led into One's room. Thankfully One was in the throne room so they knew that he wouldn't be listening in. He unzipped himself and pulled out the map before unfolding it and handing it over. "I found this map on Moss' room while I was in the greenhouse." Five looked somewhat disappointed in a way, "You... Went into his belongings and took it?" Nine gave a guilty look before admitting, "Yes, I did… But look!" he pointed to the map, "He has the Bunker marked. Didn't he say something about his Creator being in or at a bunker?"

The Healer looked to him in surprise, "I… I think that's what One said…" He gave a somewhat suspicious look added with a slightly concerned one as well, "You're not thinking-." Nine perked and looked to the one eyed male, suddenly offering something else with a sparking curiosity. "No, Nine, we can't just…" Five started when Nine interrupted, "Don't you find it strange that even with communication he hasn't told us anything? We know that his Creator is different than ours, maybe he's not saying something… Maybe he's hiding something from us."

When Five didn't respond Nine added, "That's why he knew about the Cathedral, about us, but never approached. Trust me, Five, something's wrong here." He was sincere and convinced, and soon Five began to suspect as well, exhaling quietly. "What's the plan?" He asked and Nine was thrilled that his best friend agreed to it. "I don't want to cause suspicion and I don't want Moss to think we don't trust him… We'll leave whenever he feels well enough to go back to the Greenhouse and then we can stop by there if we find anything. Alright?"

The one eyed male nodded and the zippered one rested a hand on his shoulder, "Thanks. I don't know what I'd do without you." The buttoned male smiled back a bit, "No problem." With that the two started down the hall together. Only they knowing of the incoming plan.

They also containing Two, who was listening in from One's bedroom the entire time.

Back in the Workshop Moss and Eight had begun another game when the larger male started to partially doze off. Lost in thought and tired from the day he ignored his turn and, in concern, Moss shook his shoulder gently and Eight sparked to life once again. "Huh?" He asked as he looked to his fellow Stitchpunk. The Cultivator paused before looking into his cards and pulling one out in particular. It was a six of spades and Eight blinked before murmuring, "You trying to say something about Six?" Moss furrowed his brow and looked quizzical.

"I don't know what you want to know about Six." Eight responded simply enough before giving an accusing glare, "Unless you think I did something to him while we were out. Which I didn't." The other looked down to the cot in almost disbelief for some reason and the Guard shrugged and continued, "If you saw the mud on him that was his own fault. Halfway through the day he decides that he wants to climb and get some of the grapes before falling and going straight in the mud. He couldn't clean off, it was too cold out there to get wet." He explained simply enough.

The memory brought a small smile of amusement to his own face. It was amazing how Six managed to make himself look silly without little provocation. There came the daze again and for a few seconds Eight just sort of sat there. When his mind returned he noticed that Moss was still staring. "What? I said nothing happened!" Moss continued tapping the card. "Look, Moss, I don't know what you're fishing for-." Now Moss outright pointed to the male's cards repeatedly and it only occurred to Eight then that he was trying to ask if he had a six card. "Oh… Yeah, here."

Moss accepted the card before he broke down into actual laughter, which promptly left Eight feeling uncomfortable as he rolled his optics. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up all you want, I'm winning." The game continued in silence until eventually Nine and Five returned. The cards were reshuffled and a game of four people was began betwixt the group. Unfortunately it couldn't last forever. By the end of that game the others were nearly done for the night and it was obvious. Eight half gave in and laid down on the other cot to relax some while Five soon had to lead Nine to bed, who was starting to nod off while sitting there.

As the two younger males headed off while waving their goodbyes, Moss was starting to feel a little uncomfortable once more. It was still bothering him that he had nothing to do and was leaving him restless. He glanced over towards Eight and could see that the Guard's optics were closed. He let out a soft whistle following that and again the male didn't move. Even though Moss wasn't certain if he had actually whistled because he couldn't rightly hear it he was somewhat certain now that Eight was no longer awake, which left him practically on his own.

He lifted his bag off of the ground beside his cot and began to sort through it. Unfortunately he hadn't brought even the smallest jar of preserves, which he knew would ease his stress at least a little. With a soft exhale he sat upwards and climbed out of the cot before staggering over towards the Workshop and looking around on it. He didn't really know what he was looking for, but he just needed something to stop this discomfort, this overwhelming sense that something was simply wrong. Soon he began to pace a little in an attempt to tire himself out some.

Moss didn't hear Eight, naturally, but he did notice once when he glanced over that the male was now awake. He stopped in his tracks and wondered how long the other had been watching him. Eight responded by casually offering the magnet to him, holding it out silently. It had to have been some time if he had already realized something was wrong and was offering him this. For a split second he actually considered it as it seemed to help in relaxing Eight before now. However, his mind suddenly jolted as he remembered exactly what using the magnet was; a quick high. He couldn't have that on his conscious.

He raised a hand in a way to turn down the offer before tiredly heading back to his bed. His body was already starting to give out once more. Eight shrugged and put his magnet away again, "If you're sure. It'd take the edge off." Eight didn't even know what Moss' 'edge' could be but he knew that the magnet numbed a lot. Frustration, stress, pain, the magnet was the perfect weapon against anything that lingered, though Eight himself considered that he had a handle on it. He used it occasionally though could go without it and had backed away since the Incident.

Moss wouldn't touch it. Eight wasn't sure if he knew exactly what it was like but just shrugged it off. For a little while they just both sat there. Moss actually expected Eight to leave at some point, but he didn't. Finally he did sit upwards and leaned over to the cabinet at the foot of the cot before pulling the deck of cards back up and shuffling them. The other male watched him curiously before Eight stopped and offered the cards in the same way he had with the magnet. This time Moss accepted with a humble smile.

Eight didn't come to bed tonight and that left Two's position a lot more awkward. Nine and Five had went to bed early and the Workshop was off limits, so Two was stuck abnormally in the throne room, which was perhaps the last place he wanted to be. Seven had appeared in there as well and the two were keeping a conversation going, but the Inventor wondered if her sudden interest was spurred by a protectiveness. After all even as they were sitting there One was at his throne, peering over with optics like a Winged Beast. Two could practically feel his gaze and it caused shivers through his frame.

This was absurd. He was becoming uncomfortable around One, the only Stitchpunk he had known from birth. He and One had spent countless days together, lost and alone, before they had found other and during most of those days they talked together, bathed together when water was available, trained together even when neither was optimal for fighting, and even slept together every night. Back then it hadn't been a big deal when they were doing things together because they were all that they had. It was innocent and in that time One and Two were close.

So Two didn't understand why it felt so weird that they were becoming close again. Yet he felt strange and twitchy. Soon Seven headed to bed and Two moved to Six's side, the Artist scribbling at a paper in his secluded corner. One suddenly stood and was off to his own room as well. Naturally Two assumed that if he waited long enough the Leader would fall asleep, but Six was growing tired and soon he had to make him get some sleep, leading him to his room before having to drag himself back to One's room. He stopped outside the door for a few minutes before pushing the curtain open and entering.

One was merely sitting on the bed, hands folded in his lap and quietly sitting to himself. He hadn't even made an attempt to lay down or anything. He didn't even look over when Two entered the room. He glanced over briefly as Two approached the bed and started to climb in. "I guess Eight's busy with Moss or something." He then laid down on the bed before looking over to the Leader's back. One glanced back before murmuring, "I think we need to talk." A few seconds passed and Two straightened against the pillow, resting his own hands in his lap before responding.

"Of course… Perhaps about why you changed our bedding arrangements?" One should have been content with Two being there and yet he seemed bothered by something. The Leader pulled back and stripped off his cape and crown before laying down on the bed beside the Inventor. A few minutes they sat there before One remarked with, "I just assumed that because we were spending so many nights together that you would be please at permanent bedding." He scoffed a bit and Two gave an amused smile, "I would be, but sleeping with you is difficult. You refuse to share the blankets."

The Leader scoffed and the Inventor was quite relieved that the tension was eased some. A few seconds passed before One exhaled, "Two, what happened to us? When did we lose the ability to speak?" Two paused before looking away, deciding to be harshly honest, "That was your decision. You just assumed at some point that I was trying to turn against you… or maybe we just were too busy to realize that we had drifted apart." The room seemed to be impossibly quiet for a short while before the taller turned towards the shorter Stitchpunk.

"Do you remember that night after your leg injury?" The Inventor blinked a bit and admitted, "Not… Entirely. I suppose I was tired that night." The Leader shook his head and scoffed, "Tired? Try feverish, very much so." He squeezed the blanket in his hands and toyed with it a bit as he explained, "That night you awoke and were half delirious. You prattled on endlessly and sputtered quiet nothings… Were deathly afraid of a shadow cast in the corner by the candle." A few seconds passed before Two partially remembered, "That was… That was when we were hiding in that pantry, the one filled with jars of fruit?"

"Indeed." One answered with a nod, looking towards the smaller. He could only stare at the Inventor beside him; just as soft and innocent as back then and his tongue continued to slip. "You thought it was a Beast's shadow and that it was outside trying to get in and were inconsolable. I had to put down everything and hold you for the rest of the night until you fell asleep. That was… The closest I think we ever were…" he cleared his voice box as a sudden anxious tick that seemed to randomly kick in. "Perhaps it was only some sort of irony that the next day was when we found Eight."

"…I didn't remember." Two softly responded, "Not until you told me… Creator, I never remembered that." He smiled to the Leader affectionately and yet the other seemed a bit hesitant. "I think… I have been a fool and that you were correct. This, this inability to share anything anymore, was caused by my action with the others. Especially before the war… I became a monster." Two wasn't sure why he was admitting all of this and One looked over a bit sadly, "I'm sorry." Two smiled once again, "It's all behind us, One. Perhaps this sharing a room is a good thing, we can catch up on what we missed out on."

This got a bit of an honest smile from One and Two felt a bit of a flutter in his chest. It was similar to the first time they were cuddled together in bed at Moss', brought on suddenly and climbing towards his face, but it felt more satisfying in a way. "Yes… You see, Two, I've been considering why we keep ending up bedding together and I… I came to the conclusion that perhaps we are both a bit lonely. Maybe we both need something in our lives." A few seconds passed as Two's facial expression betrayed surprise. One insisted a bit further, "Two, perhaps it would be best if we… rekindled our friendship."

Two inhaled sharply and One insisted, "Consider it, Two, us being friends again. Us being close again." Two blurted out, "One, the way you worded that certainly didn't sound like you wanted a friend!" His voice was breathy and aghast in surprise. The Leader took it as a rejection and scoffed before looking away in annoyance, "And what is that supposed to mean? Creator, Two, I just admitted that I was wrong and you couldn't even humor me with saying that a friendship was possible. Perhaps it was your fault that our relationship deteriorated."

"One, no." Two insisted firmly, suddenly feeling a nerve overtake him like none before, "You keep saying we should be friends, but we still have a problem. Friends don't bed with each other like this. Friends don't look solely for friendship to fill a void like that..." One seemed to suddenly look dread-filled. Two had popped his temporary bubble of denial and he quietly asked, "Then… What are we?" The shorter felt anxious as he turned to let his legs dangle out of bed, sitting completely upright. For some reason he just needed to have his back between them.

Here they were yet again; somehow stuck in bed together and addressing awkwardness. Two wasn't sure how this could all elevate from one night of holding one another. He calmed himself before quietly admitting, "One… I don't think you realize it… But it sound quite a lot like you're looking for more than a casual friendship. You are looking for a companion. A mate." He had to force it out harder and harder the more he explained what was happening. "I don't know why you'd want me as a mate, One. I'm not… Mate material. I'm a dusty old Stitchpunk with going eyesight."

He paused further before adding in, "So you want either friendship or to be mates, but we can't very well be both in this specific nature…" He exhaled and sadly admitted what he didn't want to. He knew it would be easier just to slip the next words out. "This is about you wanting to be friends or… or more." Two admitted and bit his lip before murmuring, "And I'm not ready to be friends." A soft inhale from One suddenly alerted Two that he had slipped himself. He nearly gasped in alarm; he had meant to say that they needed to simply stay friends, that they wouldn't work as mates, and his mind wandered and twisted his tongue.

He couldn't take it back, though. Two could only sit there and wait to see what One said. "How ironic it will be if One is willing to bed together permanently and to be 'friends' but rejects a proposition like this…" Two wasn't even certain why something that was a mistake felt so sure to him. It was like he couldn't take it back because he knew that it was what he really wanted. He wouldn't deny that he was fond of One in the past, perhaps more than he ever realized, but to try a relationship now seemed nearly insane. Especially considering that hours before Two was avoiding One direly.

He couldn't look back to see One's reaction. If he did he would see the widened optics, the absolute alarm sketched on his face. One wouldn't consider himself a naïve Stitchpunk in the least and yet part of him hadn't even fathomed this being anything more than friendship, or, at least, he was too much in denial to admit if he did. Stranger still it seemed like this idea really had struck a chord as a sudden wave of interest shivered through his body. It was wrong to mate with another male, especially one like Two, and at the same time mating would allow a permanent situation of closeness.

One forced himself to admit that his recent need to be around Two was perhaps not from mere loneliness before slipping closer. Two could only gasp in surprise as he was pulled in against One's chest once more and was held tightly to him. The long, warm arms around his midsection, hands pressed against his vest ties, it was something that suddenly felt a lot more intimate. This was purposeful and without a covering story trying to hide its meaning. The shorter male shivered in delight at the action before turning back towards the Leader somewhat, his slanted optics already forced closed to ignore his gaze.

"One?" Two asked questioningly, trying to seek out whatever answer that the other was signaling. He couldn't tell if it was a comforting gesture to let him down easy or if it was a loving gesture of agreeing to be mates. In a way he wasn't even sure if One knew himself and knowing he wasn't getting any answers tonight he merely rested his head to the other's buckles with a soft sigh. "…Goodnight One."

"Pay your respects."

Moss took a few steps before staring down at the cornucopia in his hands. The vegetables and fruits seemed to shrink to fit inside of it. He paused and looked to the others behind him, waiting with their own sacrifices in hand, before facing the looming face above him. He then offered the bounty he had created and could only hope that he would be spared one more day. If it wasn't accepted then he would be shunned and tossed away from the land of wonder once and for all. His work was scrutinized before him and he awaited the answer. His siblings waited far behind him for the response. Then it came.

"It's not enough."

The world grew dark around him as the empty gazes locked onto his frame and all of the sound was sucked away once more…

Mable: The next chapter will be posted, hopefully, in the near future! It's just a matter of typing around 'Fabric Runs Shallow'. ^-^ I hope everyone enjoyed!