Chapter four's here. ^_^ I'll tell ya; this was one of the hardest things I've written. I've never done this before. 7's used to going out to the Emptiness, but after her injury, she gets 'punished.' I know it sounds out of character for 7, even for 2. I never thought I'd see him like this, especially towards 7. But secrets are being kept; he worries about her. What do you expect?

I suck at this, I know. B[ I'm not good at being an authority figure. :\

Five days passed since 7's return. She spent five days in the library. Apparently, when 2 said she wasn't going out, he meant it. 7 was losing her mind. She missed Null. During those five days, she thought about him and wondered what he was doing or where he was. She often wondered about the Stag and where he might be. Maybe Null managed to kill it on his own. 7 would love to hear it when she's able to go out to the Emptiness again.

Being inside the library for five days gave 7 a chance to reconnect with her friends. She spent her free time with the twins. She took them to play outside in the courtyard. The games they played were usual ones like hide-and-seek and tag. 3 and 4 even unearthed a rope to use for jump roping. They tied it to a column outside the library's entrance and 7 joined in. She'd only seen this in the picture books she's seen in the library, but actually doing it was fun. Different from what she's seen in pictures. The twins were glad to have more time with 7.

But that didn't mean they weren't ignorant about 7's injury. When they saw the stitching on her left leg, the twins asked her what happened. 7 told them that she got injured killing a Cat Beast. The same ruse she used on 2. Luckily, the twins believed her and didn't question her further. They knew 7 was an unstoppable fighter. The white stitchpunk felt sudden guilt about lying to them, wondering whether she should've told them about Null. Would they understand? 3 and 4 were resilient to changes in their lives, and they've gotten through it with grace and humility. But if she introduced them to Null, how would they react? Would they like him? Would they get protective of 7 and try to drive Null away? That actually sounded silly to 7, but she knew not to underestimate the twins.

Like 2 said, 8 took 7's patrol route. 7 often wondered if Null was spotted. It could happen. But Null was serious when it came to keeping himself out of sight. Camouflaging was like breathing to Null. A survival instinct, and very useful at that. But 7 wondered about what Null might be doing when she was here in the library. He might be having more fun than her. Not that spending time with twins was tedious, she just wished she could be out there. Killing beasts, climbing buildings, jumping from mountains of rubble, finding new weapons for herself or bringing trinkets for the twins.

Even though she was cooped up, 7 came up with a plan to sneak out. She couldn't waltz out through the main gates. She would give herself away. She couldn't sneak out during the night. She could, but she needed to find another way out. In one of the upstairs rooms, 7 was idly killing time and went in one of the empty rooms to find one of its windows broken. Using the opportunity, she took a long piece of rope and tied it to a lamp that was on the end table beside the window. 7 kept it there, and continued thinking her plan through.

Day five of her confinement. 7 sauntered down the stone steps, catching sight of the twins with 6 joining them. It touched her soul to see 6 engaging with the world. Seeing him and 3 together just warmed her soul even more. 7 watched them step into the garden. The twins flickered their optics, recording every detail. 7 smirked and sat back, glancing up at the sky. The sun was out today. The white stitchpunk enjoyed days like this. The sun, the fresh air; she was feeling on top of the world. Though she wasn't on the rooftop of an abandoned building in the Emptiness, she figured this would do just fine.

Footsteps echoed behind her. She glanced over and saw 2 coming down.

"Good day to you, 7," he said, stepping down next to her.

"Hi," said 7.

2 took a seat next to her. He glimpsed at the twins before facing 7. "It's a beautiful day out, isn't it?," he commented.

"It sure is," said 7, hanging her head back. The inventor smiled at her. Then 7 asked him more innocently, "Can I go out for a walk in the Emptiness for just an hour?"

"Are you ready to talk about what really happened?," asked 2 in a teasing tone. When 7 looked away, the inventor sighed. "I'm not going against the rules."

7 groaned. "You're starting to sound like 1," she said, laying back. She could always go to 2 to talk to about personal things, but after she returned home with an injury she was on a tight leash. It was like when they took shelter in the cathedral all over again.

"You know I love you, don't you?," crooned 2. The white stitchpunk turned to him, like she had snapped out of a trance. 7 didn't want to leave him without an answer, so she responded.

"Right," she said, not sure where this was going.

"And you know I care about you about what you have it say," said 2. 7 was picking up suspiciousness in his voice.

"Yes," said 7, getting mildly annoyed.

"Well, I know you don't want to, but I really would love it if you tell me what's on your mind," said the inventor. Tell him what's on her mind. That didn't sound so bad to 7, but she was going to make sure she didn't say anything about Null.

"Um...," uttered 7, not sure how to word it.

"Take your time," said 2. "You don't have to say it all at once."

He got her there. 7 hugged her knees, mulling her words over. Sighing, she felt ready.

"I...," she began, training off, as if she'd forgotten something. She furrowed her brow, careful not to reveal anything about Null. "I guess it's because everyone's paired off." She looked at the ground, sudden sadness flowing over her.

"And you want what they have?," asked 2. 7 nodded, unable to respond vocally. The inventor mulled this over. "I see, it can be frustrating, though." 7 couldn't argue with that.

"It would be nice to meet someone," said 7, resting her chin on her knees. She glanced up at 4. She saw her holding 6's hand as she tread with him down the flourishing greenery. The white stitchpunk smiled. She glanced up at the sky, sighing like a lovesick schoolgirl.

2 eyed her curiously. He observed her swooning, raising a brow. Titling his head, he read her facial expressions. He darted his optics from left to right. That's when he came to a conclusion.

"Oho, 7, this is—this is smashing," said 2 between chuckles.

7 snapped her head to him, pupils blinking. "W-what?," she uttered, straightening up.

"This is incredible," said 2. "I-I—I can't believe it. You're in love."

At that, 7 bolted up, stitched brows raised. She darted her pupils in both directions, as though she was trying to find an escape route. She looked over at the twins and 6, hoping they didn't hear anything. Lucky for 7, they were distracted observing the grass. 7 struggled to gather up her words.

"I-I...I'm...I'm not in love!," she sputtered. If she was human and could blush, her whole face would be red by now. But 2 was unfazed and merely chuckled.

"It's alright, 7," said 2. He slowly got on his feet. "In fact, I'm proud of you." The white stitchpunk blinked, flattered. She smiled quickly then looked down at the ground. "Care to tell me who it is?," queried 2.

7 glanced up, pupils wide. "I...I..." She trailed off, remembering her promise to Null, but she felt trapped in the the middle.

"I understand, my dear," he said. He patted her shoulder. "You just tell me when you feel ready." He peered at her left leg, where the stitching was. "From the looks of your stitching, I'd say that, whoever it is, cares about you a lot." With that being said, he sauntered down the steps to join 3, 4 and 6. 7 watched him.

She stood there. What 2 said brought up a lot of questions. These days she's been here she'd been thinking about Null more and more. The humans said that absence makes the heart grow fonder. 7 hasn't seen Null in these five days and she was missing him like crazy. She wanted to be with him.

I can't be in love with him, thought 7 smirking. No, Null is just a friend. Then she thought more seriously. But...what if he feels the same about me? What if he doesn't? I... I don't know. Maybe this is nothing. I've been here for almost a week. I'm dying to see him again. I can't wait to see him again. And talk to him, and help him kill the Stag.

7 paced around the step, letting her thoughts flow. She wanted to see Null again and see if he was alright. She was going to do it. She was going to sneak out tonight. She was going to sneak out through the broken window in the upstairs room. She was going to do it.

Having that fantasy in her head, she felt a flutter as she imagined seeing Null's expression when she finds him. 7, with no doubt about, knew Null would be surprised to see her, too.

7 pushed the curtain aside, looking from left to right. She saw no one and heard nothing. She had to make sure no one was awake lest they hear her sneak out. Looking over her shoulder, her bed had a bundle of fabric underneath the blanket. It was to make everyone believe she was sleeping under there. Hoping for the best, 7 sidled out of her room.

With her spear in her hand and her bird skull on her head, 7 made her way to the bucket elevator, which was located near the fireplace. Jumping in, she pulled the on the rope, feeling the tin bucket lift from the floor. She reached the stair railing. She squeezed through the railings and ambled on to the room she found. Jogging inside, she spotted the end table and jumped on to the cardboard boxes that incidentally worked as stairs. 7 jumped and held on the the edge. Using her body weight she hoisted herself over the table. Rising to her feet, she walked over to the broken window. Peering down, she calculated how far the drop was. This was the second floor, so it wasn't a deep drop. Keeping that in kind, 7 made her descend.

Once she was a few inches above the ground, 7 leaped. Looking from left to right, she saw that the coast was clear, and she searched for another exit. Heading down the back, she looked down the stone wall, looking at the cracks, hoping one of them was big enough to squeeze through. She sidled closer, keeping her optics on the wall. In the far left, she found a crevice. She observed it. It was triangular and looked like it was made with a knife. Whoever made it, 7 was glad it was there. She got on her hands and knees and crawled in. Getting out was harder than going in, but luckily she made it out.

7 took a good look around the desolated terrain. Nothing but the same mounds of debris. Seeing nothing there, she looked around and headed down the left.

7 wished she had a small candle to light her way. She almost wished she'd taken 9's light staff, but she knew he would notice it was missing. For the time being she relied on the moon to guide her. Nevertheless, 7 was capable of finding her way around even in the dark. She was almost close to Null's dwelling.

In the meantime, she hid behind a mountain of cinder blocks. 7 surveyed the area. She almost gave herself away to a Cat Beast on the way a few blocks back, but managed to throw it off the route. She made a makeshift slingshot and threw a small pebble which ricocheted off a dented mercury lamp. It took off in a chase, leaving 7 free to continue on. Normally, she would've killed it, but she needed to get to Null. She figured she would kill it later if she had the time. After a careful inspection, 7 saw that it was safe to come out and jogged to Null's home.

Charging up the steps, she huffed a breath and called out Null's name.

"Null?" She swiveled her head, surveying the ceiling, the shelves, the cracks in the wall. "Null!" She went up the stairs to check on him, see if he was up in his room. Turning left, she waited to hear Null's voice call out to her.

After a few moments, 7 ventured on. She walked towards the open doorway, leading to Null's room. She saw a figure moving. Despite the darkness, it was Null. She recognized his dark grey fabric anywhere.

"Null..." 7 uttered, brows scrunched together in confusion mixed with slight anger. She wasn't necessarily angry at him more at herself. She felt her anger melt away and be replaced with confidence.

Null looked pained, like he was upset to have her here. She could see that he was disappointed that she arrived here. But the grey stitchpunk was also glad she made it here safe and whole. He was willing to let it go, on account of the days he spent without her.

"You came," he said. 7 smiled, missing hearing his voice. She walked up to him, wrapping him in a hug.

Null's hexagonal pupils blinked. "This is...unexpected," he said. He flung his arms around her, happy to have her here.

"What happened?," asked Null. "I've waited outside the library's walls, but you never showed up."

"It's a long story," said 7.

Null and 7 settled in the corner to the right of the bed and laid down on some cushions Null found. 7 told him how 2 suspected something when she came home with the stitching on her leg. She assured Null that she did not mention him to 2 or anyone. Null was placated upon hearing that his existence remained that: secret. But 7 didn't have it in her to tell Null what 2 deduced out of this.

"Sounds like he runs a pretty tight leash," said Null. He rolled over on to his stomach, perching himself on his elbows.

"It's not so bad," said 7. "He just wants me to be safe." She sighed. "I know he worries. Sometimes I get sick of it." She laid down on her left side. "I wish he could understand."

"It'll all work out in the end," said Null. 7 shrugged, unsure what to make of this.

"By the way," quoth 7, "have there been any signs of the Stag?"

"Actually," said Null, "now that you mention it; yes. I've been watching through my telescope. I've seen him roaming around. He came back with two new legs, but I managed to dismember two of them. Wonder who fixed 'em up; he couldn't have fixed himself up."

"You'd be surprised," said 7, laying on her back.

Null cocked his head. "Tell me something," he said, "what did the B.R.A.I.N. look like?"

"Haven't you gone out to find him?," asked 7.

"Come on, tell me," insisted Null. 7 saw he wasn't backing down, so she decided to get it out of the way.

She told him how the B.R.A.I.N. was created by the Scientist, her creator. She then told Null how the whole war on the machines started when the B.R.A.I.N. snapped and turned against humans. 7 then told him about the Scientist's desperate attempt to save the world. She explained to Null how the Scientist created her and the others, with 9 being the last stitchpunk created. Twenty minutes in, she told Null where she had spent her first few years in the library, which was after she left their first sanctuary, the cathedral. Then came part when 9 arrived, that she met him while helping him and 5 save 2. Then came the hard part. It was hard saying this, but she needed to tell him. So she did.

"He did what?," asked Null in disbelief.

"He didn't know," said 7. "He was new, and how was he suppose to know?" Pausing to rein in her temper, she continued more calmly. "I took them to see 3 and 4, the twins; they had information on everything. They showed 9 clips from the war. Unfortunately, they didn't have any information on the talisman—the device the Scientist used to bring us to life.

"5 and 9 went back to the cathedral to get the drawings 6 made of the talisman. I got a bad feeling so I followed them. I came in just in time; a Winged Beast was attacking. It shot an arrow through my leg, that's how I got these stitches." She pointed at her right leg, at the stitches.

"Then?," said Null.

"Then," repeated 7. "The Winged Beast got caught in the plane's propellor. 6 and 5 cut some wires and caused it to explode. We retreated to the library. The twins found some information on the symbols on the talisman. That they were used to transfer the human soul into a stitchpunk. Then 1, deeming it 'dark science,' revealed he purposely sent 2 out to die. I was furious. I wanted to lash out at him. I calmed down, still hating him and went off to help out 5 and 9. Then a new beast arrived. The Seamstress created by the Fabrication Machine. She caught 8. She almost caught 1 until 5 shot at her. She almost took 5, but I stopped her. Only, she took me.

"Luckily, 9 and the others sought the Seamstress out. 9 saved me, but it was too late for 8. 9 and I escaped the factory—and just in time, too. 5 and the others were rolling a lit barrel of oil into the factory. We got out and the whole factory exploded. It was over...or so we thought. With the souls of 2 and 8 keeping it alive. It got 5 and 6, we were down to five. I didn't believe what 6 told us before he died, only 9 did. While I was helping 1 kill the B.R.A.I.N., 9 returned with news he found. That we were all parts of the Scientist, and that we could use the talisman to save the souls and kill the B.R.A.I.N.

"Well, we went with 9's plan, and 9 was about to sacrifice himself to the Machine. Only...1 pushed him out of the way and took the fall. And it was just the four of us. 9 used the talisman to siphon out the souls. The B.R.A.I.N. was gone. We built a memorial for them and we set their souls free. And then the rain started. It was raining, for the first time in years. I had never seen rain before, so it was a moving experience." She chuckled at the memory.

"What happened?" Null asked. "How did they come back from death?"

"Oh well, that was the obvious part," said 7. "The life-giving rain. It brought them back. We didn't know until a few days later. 9 and I, we found each of them. We found them in the same places they died. We brought them home, tended to their wounds. They've been through so much, I'm surprised we've made it this far." She stopped there and looked up at the open window.

Whoa. mouthed Null, glancing at the floor. He tapped on the cushion, imagining such wonders.

"What about you?," asked 7, laying on her side, a stitched brow raised.

"W-what," stuttered Null, pupils blinking in surprise.

"You," said 7. "I've told you my story. Now tell me about you. Who created you and where did you come from?"

Null glanced away, exuding a serious expression. "You're not ready to know everything about me yet."

"What makes you say that?" 7 retorted.

"You're just not," said Null.

7's lip curled in sass, seeing this as another way of playing hard to get. "Tell you what? I'll keep telling you about the Fabrication Machine and my friends, if you tell me something about you."

Null didn't respond. Perhaps the mention of the B.R.A.I.N. hooked him in, but he didn't answer vocally. He shrugged his shoulders, which seemed like answer enough. 7 smirked as she got into a comfortable position.

"Promise to wake me up before the sun rises," said 7. "I had to sneak out while everyone was asleep. 2 would have a fit if he found out I went out overnight."

"Fine," replied Null. He rolled over on his left side, his back to 7. There were no markings on him whatsoever, not even a number.

7 let out a yawn and rested her head on the cushion. Closing her optics, she drifted off to sleep.

The early morning sky shone with just a tiny gleam of reddish orange with a slate blue being the prominent color. Dawn was creeping its way, allowing the start for a new day. A few clouds scudded the sky, a few stars studded the sky, which will soon be gone once the sun rises. Inside the ruined house one figure was fully awake, looking around his habitat.

Null looked over at 7, who was still asleep. Looking at her like that, she looked very peaceful. He almost felt bad waking her soon, but he would have to if she planned on returning home. He stood up and walked towards the end table and climbed the rope. He hoisted himself over the edge, standing up, he approached the telescope. Taking a peek, he saw the same as usual: no activity. There was no sign of the Stag. At least not yet. Keeping that in mind, he jumped off the table, somersaulting in the end and stood up with graceful elegance. Walking up to 7, he knelt next to her, and gently shook her shoulder.

"7," he whispered. "7, wake up."

The white stitchpunk stirred. Slowly, her optics batted open. 7 yawned, stretched her arms and sat up. Scratching the back of her head, she looked around, gathering that she was in Null's home and not her own. Realizing that, she got on her feet, looking for her spear.

"What time is it?," asked 7 with a yawn.

"It's a bit before dawn," said Null. "Sun hasn't risen yet. You might make it in time before anyone notices you're gone."

"I better hope so."

She picked up her spear from the floor, which was lain across the bed. And her bird skull was right next to it. 7 placed it on her head. Null gave her a quick nod, as though giving her good luck. Though in this case, she needed it.

"Remember," uttered 7. "You tell me about yourself. I've blabbed about myself, now I think it's only fair."

"Alright, alright," said Null, like he was being lectured. "So, I'll see you...?"

7 blinked her optics, uncertainty clouding her face. "I don't know," she said. "Maybe I can sneak out again, or you can meet me at midnight and we sneak out together."

Null chuckled. "Funny." He folded his arms under his chest. "No, I'll find a way. Promise."

"Mhmm."

7 turned around and walked towards the open doorway.

She was surprised she made it home before the sun rose higher. Though it looked like the sun was already on its way to making its peaking point. Either way, she hoped no one was awake yet. After surveying the area for any rogue beasts, 7 sprinted to the stone wall. She wasn't going through the usual entrance, she was going to enter the same way she snuck out; through the crevice in the wall. It was better then the usual way. She got on her hands and knees, and before she crawled in, she threw her spear in, so she didn't have to hold it while crawling. Quickly, she made the crawl in just fine.

Picking her spear up, she ran towards the east side of the library, where she climbed out. Surprisingly, the rope was still there. Putting her spear in her mouth, she grabbed hold of the rope and made her ascend. She had to use all her might to not open her mouth or her spear would fall to the ground. Luckily, she was a few inches from the window. When she was in reach, she took her spear's polearm and threw it through the window. Planting her feet on the wall, she used her body weight to hurl herself over to the sill. Standing up, she brushed herself off and jumped on to the end table. Looking down, she spotted her spear on the floor.

She leaped off the table. The floor was made from carpet, not hardwood or marble, like downstairs. Plucking her spear, she sprinted out the doorway and immediately jumped into the bucket elevator. Pulling on the rope, she quickly made her way down, all while hoping no one would hear her or see her. When the bucket reached the floor, she jumped out and quietly sauntered to her room. She tried not to break into a run, but she also didn't want to draw attention. Once she reached her doorway, she sprinted in and took a deep breath. She made it. She was home, and without waking anybody up.

She removed her skullmet and placed it on a nearby cushion. She put her spear against the wall. Walking over to her bed, she lifted the blanket and grabbed the swathe of fabric she bundled together. Hiding it under her bed, she made a quick note to use it again in case she planned on sneaking out. Yawning, 7 realized she was still tired, so she decided to get in bed and sleep a little more. She could sleep until past noon if she wanted. She deserved it.

Hearing a pair of footsteps resonate outside her room, 7 perked up to see who might be coming. The curtain was pushed aside and 2 looked inside. His optics rested on the white stitchpunk looking back at him.

"Ah, awake already now?," he said, chuckling.

"Morning," said 7, smiling, laying on her back.

"Sleep well?," asked 2.

"Fine. Just fine." 7 stretched her arms.

2 stepped into her room. He walked up to her and sat on the bed. "Anything you want to talk about?" He clasped her knee in an affectionate way.

7 glanced away, knowing what he was referring to. She held her head high and faced him. She didn't want to leave him without an answer, so she fished around her mind for a suitable response.

"You were right," she said, grinning. The inventor gave her a confused look.

"What?"

"You were right," repeated 7. She chuckled and shook her head incredulously. "I...I might actually be in love." She glanced at her sheets, since it was the only place she could look without feeling judged. But the inventor didn't look upset, rather he was ecstatic.

"My, that's...that's great, 7," he said. He let out a chuckle. "I... I'm so proud of you."

7 smirked.

2 then asked, "Any chance I might be meeting him?"

At that, 7 was at a loss for words. She didn't know what to say to him. She didn't want to say anything on account of her promise. She felt trapped. Looking away, she couldn't think of anything to say.

"I understand," said 2 soothingly, patting her leg. "You're not ready to talk about it." He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "When you're ready, come talk to me," he reassured. He turned away, headed for the door, but before he could leave, 7's voice reeled him in.

"Do you think he feels the same way about me?"

2 glanced back, blinking. He smiled earnestly. "I'm sure he feels the same way."

"How do you know?" 7 asked.

"Oh, I know," said 2. "By the way he handled that injury." He pointed to her left leg, the one with the stitches. "And from the way he might act in the face of danger. And the way you defend him. So I know plenty. Don't forget that."

7 beamed.

2 strolled out of her room. When he was gone, 7 got to thinking. 2 was usually right about a lot of things, but this was something even he could not be accurate about. She had to consider Null's own thoughts on this one. Did he feel the same way towards her? Every possibility led her to believe he did. But that was just her. Then she thought again about how the others would react to Null. Would they accept him? Would they mistrust him? 7 trusted him, but that was only her. She had to make sure everyone else accepted and trusted him, too. That was what mattered.

She wondered if she would be able to see him again soon. If she behaved, then maybe 2 might lift the punishment and let her go without having her sneak out. 7 wondered if he knew she snuck out. Putting that aside, she pondered about what the following days might bring. Whether it was spending time here or out in the Emptiness.

She hoped she could do all those things.

I wonder what Null is hiding. *scratches head* Hmm. Maybe we'll get to see in the next chapter. Either way, 7 is falling for him, no matter how much she tried to deny it. ^_^

Don't go away. ;)