Part 2
7 woke to find herself staring at a wooden ceiling with strange objects hanging down from it. Confusion came over her and she blinked a few times before she realized that she was lying on the table in the infirmary.
Huh? How did I get here?
7 thought back to the very last thing she remembered.
She'd fallen unconscious just outside the church doors, her injured body sprawling across the cold stone steps. She'd been trying to get back home but had been unable to take another step because of the extent of her injuries as well as exhaustion. When she'd gone down the last thing she remembered thinking was she would never make it.
So what happened? Had somebody heard her and brought her inside? Is that why she was in the infirmary now or had she been so delusional that she'd actually come inside after all and made it there only to collapse on the floor?
For some reason she thought of 5. It must have been him. There was no way she could have done this herself and he seemed the most obvious choice for it.
And who else would it be? 5 was always worried about her and always checked to see when she'd come back. Once she'd found him sitting outside the door waiting for her, much to 1's open discontent. Yes, it had to be him.
She smiled at the thought.
The sound of the curtain moving back made her turn her head. The female stitchpunk spotted 2 coming into the infirmary. When he saw her looking at him, he smiled. "7!" he exclaimed, walking over to her, his expression telling her he was relieved to see her conscious. "I'm glad you're finally awake."
7 smiled at the kindly old stitchpunk. "Hello, 2," she said, attempting to sit up.
2 stopped her. "Stop!" she froze. He ran over to her and pushed her down. "You're not totally recovered yet."
He was right. She still felt a little worn out now that he mentioned it. She lay back down. "How did I get in here?" she asked him once she was laying flat on the table once more.
It seemed like the older stitchpunk didn't want to tell her. He crossed the room and started organizing his things. She watched him, wondering why he hadn't answered her question. "2? she asked. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he replied, still refusing to meet her gaze. He picked up a needle that was tied to some thread and began to scrutinize it. "I'm going to need to replace this one. It's getting rusty.."
He was avoiding her question and she wanted to know why. "Then why aren't you answering me?" she asked. "Who brought me in here? Was it you?"
2 set the needle down and sighed. "No," he replied, carefully. "It was 1."
She stared at him in shock. "1?" she asked as if she hadn't heard him correctly.
The stitchpunk nodded.
She laughed. "You're kidding, right?" she asked. "1's a coward. He would never leave the safety of the church for anything, especially not to help me. He doesn't even like me."
2 smiled to himself. She'd sounded like a sulking little kid when she'd said that. He turned to face her. "You shouldn't be so judgmental, 7," 2 replied, coming toward her. "1 might come off as heartless but he does care."
Her face told him she didn't believe that. "Then why does he insist on locking us all away in this place and not even bothering to do anything about the problems outside?" she demanded. "Does he really think hiding will solve all of our problems?"
2 didn't answer. Instead he reached over and touched the seam on her arm that 1 had worked so hard on. It seemed to be holding nicely which meant he didn't need to redo it. He put a lot of care into that.
7 watched him, wondering why he was focusing on that seam so intently. She reached up and touched it herself. When she did this 2 smiled and turned away as if that action had given him an answer.
"If I ask you something do you promise not to get upset?" he questioned.
Why was he inquiring such a thing and why had he been so focused on that one seam? "What is it?" she asked him.
"Why do you feel you need to insist that 1 does not care so much?" he questioned her.
"You know why," she told him. "He's a stubborn, egotistical, control freak and he's always making 8 bully everyone so they don't get out of line." she fixed him with an intent stare. "He's done it to you too."
2 frowned. "I know," he said quietly.
"Then why are you always defending him?" she asked him. "Why do you feel as if he deserves it? Didn't you see what he made 8 do to 6 the other day?"
"I saw," he conceded. "But I also saw what you did. You stood up to him and actually convinced 1 that 6 had done nothing wrong. I saw that he'd actually listened to you and how he ordered 8 to stop and leave."
"But didn't you see what happened afterward?" she asked. "He gave me this look that said he thought he was better than everyone else." she tried to imitate it but didn't do a very good job. "He was sneering at me." she clenched her fists. "He's such a jerk, that's how I know he would never do anything to help me. He hates me."
2 noticed her anger at 1 was giving her strength. Good. That meant she was feeling better. "You seem upset that he does," he observed. "and you also seem to want to insist on that all the time."
She met his gaze. "What is that supposed to mean?" she asked.
He smiled at her and started rewinding some thread that had come loose from a spool. "Nothing," he responded. "It just seems to me you like to state that fact a little too much, as if you're trying to convince yourself of it." he finished with the string and looked at her. "Almost as if you think repeating it will make it true."
Why was 2 being so nosy all of a sudden and what exactly was he getting at? It almost felt as if...
"What are you trying to imply?" she asked him.
His smile said more than his words. "Nothing."
She sat bolt upright. "Well you're wrong," she informed him. "It's not like that!"
"Not like what?" he asked innocently.
"Not like whatever you're thinking," she replied, feeling her face grow hot. She looked away from him and folded her arms. "We both know how 1 is. He doesn't really care about anybody. He just wants us all here so he can have people to boss around. He doesn't like you and he most certainly doesn't like me."
"If he didn't care he would have left you to die," he answered. When he saw the look on her face he went on. "I know you already don't believe he was the one who brought you in here but he was. Nobody else knew you even came back yesterday and none of us even bothered to check the doors, not even 5 because he was helping me," he added. "1 did because he was worried about you and happened to be at the right place at the right time. He told me he saw you lying on the steps and he also said he went out and carried you in here. By that time I had finished my own task and came down and that's when I noticed the candle was lit in here and when I came in." he pointed at the seam on her arm. "I saw him repairing you."
That little piece of news sent a shockwave through her. She stared at 2, unable to say anything as his words sank it. Unconsciously her hand reached up and touched the seam. It now seemed to burn under her touch, as if it would burst into flame and consume her.
2 noticed her flinch, as if the mere thought of 1 doing something nice or even touching her was causing her pain. Maybe she was so intent on not wanting to believe it that any proof of the opposite made her nervous. As if realizing that 1 actually did care would force her to change her way of thinking about him.
Or...
Or maybe it had to do with something different entirely.
"So he did this?" she finally said, her attention not on 2 but on the seam.
"Yes," he replied, nodding. "I saw him working on it."
An odd look crossed her face fleetingly then vanished. She tore her gaze from the seam and looked back at 2. She was frowning. "No.." now she stood. "I don't believe that."
2 chose not to debate with her further about it. He turned to his tools, taking down a pair of scissors and testing them. He heard her start toward the door. "One more thing," he added. Her footsteps stopped. "1 told me to tell you once you got up that he wanted to speak with you, alone."
He heard her sigh. "When doesn't he wish to speak with me?" she asked before parting the red curtain and stepping outside.
He listened to her footsteps fade away then smiled once more. "I wonder why I feel as if something different might happen this time?" he said to himself before re-hanging the scissor. He chuckled. "I just hope they don't kill each other..."
"Who are you talking to?"
2 turned to see 5 standing in the doorway. He smiled at him nervously and waved him off. "Nobody," he said. "Just thinking out loud."
5 stared at him a moment then looked at the table. "Where is 7?" he asked.
"Probably on her way to speak with 1," he replied. "He told me to tell her that once she was awake."
5 cast a worried look back the way he came. "Are you sure that was a good idea?" he asked.
2 gave 5 an odd smile. "I'm sure," he said. "I don't think it's going to end the way it usually does. Something tells me that.."
"What do you mean?" the younger stitchpunk questioned curiously.
"Oh nothing," he said, turning away and picking up a spool of thread. "I just have a hunch."
Something about 5's expression told the older stitchpunk that he wasn't happy about it but 2 chose not to get into it with him. Whatever else was bothering 5 would have to wait.
"They're just going to argue with each other," he told him as if he was trying to convince himself of that. "We both know that's what always happens."
"5," 2 said, setting down the spool and walking over to the one eyed stitchpunk. "Even if I hadn't told her now she would have had to go see him anyway."
"I know but-"
"The sooner they both get this out of their systems the better," he went on. "They both have a few things to talk about and I feel it's better if they do it right away instead of waiting."
For some reason 5 felt something else was going on and he got an inkling that 2 knew about it. 5 didn't like it. It gave him a horrible feeling in his chest. "What aren't you telling me?" he questioned. "What happened?"
2 just smiled and patted his arm and he headed out of the infirmary. "Nothing you need to be worried about, son," he said and then he was gone, leaving 5 standing in the middle of the room feeling as if he'd just been lied to.
7 wasn't looking forward to talking to 1. She already knew how the meeting would go. He would yell at her for going outside when he told her not to, she'd yell at him for making such a rule to begin with, they would get into a shouting match with both saying things they would never be able to take back and then.. then she'd storm out of the room vowing to leave and never come back the next time she went out.
Maybe she should do that. Just leave the church and stay out there, maybe that would fix his wagon.
But she couldn't do that. She couldn't abandon the others like that. She pushed the thought from her mind for now. Maybe if things didn't change she'd consider it again.
Right now she had other things to focus on.
The elevator 5 and 2 had installed stood before her with 8 resting his back against it like he was waiting for something or someone. She wondered how long he'd been standing there. He met her eyes and she knew he knew why she was there. For the briefest moment his expression changed and he looked like he felt sorry for her.
Don't. It won't do you any good.
"Hello, 8," she said when she drew near.
"1 asked me to wait for you," he said, opening the door to the elevator. "He wanted me to make sure you came up."
Of course he would and if I didn't you'd chase me down and force me to. She looked away. "I wouldn't run away, 8," she assured him. "I'm not afraid of 1."
If I do leave maybe I can convince them to come with me, she thought to herself as she climbed into the elevator and rested against the guardrail. 8 closed the door and started spinning the crank. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is tired of this...
7 folded her arms and frowned, everything saying she wasn't happy about having to see 1 right after waking up. Why was he so intend on talking to her so quickly anyway? What did he want to say to her?
She remembered the last time they'd spoken. Just before she'd gone out to make sure no beasts found their way to their home. He hadn't spoken or acted as if he understood why she was doing such things. He was trying to keep them safe he'd said to which she'd responded with so was she.
"It's one thing to hide all the time and hope the problem goes away," she'd said. "But it's another to make sure that the thing never comes in the first place and ruins everything. Yes you're trying to keep us protected and out of danger and so am I! Why can't you understand that?"
"What I understand," he shot back hotly. "Is that you're constant going out is going to eventually bring one of those beasts here! Have you ever taken into consideration that something might follow you without you knowing?"
Of course I have, she thought now. I'm not stupid, why do you always have to act like you're the only person with a thinking mind around here?
The elevator came to an abrupt stop, almost knocking her off her feet and cutting off her thoughts. 7 grabbed the edge to steady herself. 8 didn't seem to notice. He pushed the door open and waited for her to step out before he followed. Both stitchpunks walked toward 1's throne room, neither saying much.
8 probably wasn't talking because he didn't know what to say. 7 knew why. With 8 he had two options. Side with 1 and follow his orders or side with 7 and back her up. More often than not he did what 1 said without argument. She couldn't really blame him, though sometimes he made her angry as well. Why did he side with 1 so much anyway? What was that control freak telling him?
"You can leave, 8," 1's voice spoke up the instant the two stepped into the room. "I wish to speak with 7 alone."
The bigger stitchpunk nodded his head and silently made his way back to the elevator, leaving 7 standing in the middle of the room by herself. She raised her eyes and met 1's. He in kind returned the gaze, never breaking it.
After a moment he stood up and started toward her. 7 didn't move. She stood her ground and never broke eye contact, not even when he stood right in front of her and became the only thing she saw. She hated when he did that. It always felt that in doing so he was trying to make a point about something or trying to overwhelm her with his presence.
He smirked. "Hmm, still willing to play the test of wills," he said a note of amusement in his voice. "But there's really no need for that now."
"What do you want, 1?" she asked, unwilling to break the gaze.
He seemed to grow tired of their game and turned away and in doing so, letting her win. "You already know what I want to talk about," he told her, taking a few steps from her so there would be some space between them. "Why do you have to ask me?"
I don't know, she thought. Maybe I was hoping you would say something else. "2 said you wanted to talk to me," she replied. "He said you ordered him to tell me that when I woke up." she gave him a look of utter impatience. "If you wish to talk to me about it do it. Don't just stand there and drag this out. I'm sure we both have better things we could be doing right now."
1 looked back at her, his expression blank. For a moment neither spoke, they just stared at each other. It almost felt as if he was trying to gather his thoughts which seemed a little odd. 1 always knew what he was going to say so why was he acting like he didn't now?
Finally the older stitchpunk sighed and began. "By now you should already know what I wish to talk about," he started. "It's about your behavior."
"I'm only trying to do what I can to keep us safe," she informed him.
"So am I!" he shot back. "But your way and my way clash way too much and it's only making things harder."
"Well maybe you should try changing your ways," she suggested.
"Maybe you should try obeying my orders for once."
Here they went again. Arguing about the same things. 7 felt the words spilled out as if she was reading them off a script. Nothing had changed. This was practically a normal event now. I guess 2 was wrong after all. "1, we've discussed this already," she told him. "I have no intention of changing. You can't lock me up in here and force me to stay when I don't want to!"
"Nobody is locking you up here!" he snapped. "If I wanted to lock you up I would have done so a long time ago!"
"But you can't," she responded, folding her arms. "You wouldn't have the guts."
He glared at her, his optics narrowing. Did she need to point that out to him? It was an obvious challenge, she wanted to see if he would try something like that. I could.. he considered for a moment. I could have 8 lock her in her room but, knowing her, she'd find a way out and it wouldn't do any good. "Don't change the subject, 7," he snapped. "That has nothing to do with this. The issue here is that you went out, against durect orders not to, and almost got yourself killed this time!" he pointed at her when he said this his finger purposely sighting down the seam he's stitched into her arm. "Which never would have happened if you hadn't gone out!"
Unconsciously she raised her hand and touched the seam. It once again felt like it was burning under her touch and she quickly withdrew it. That's when she decided to try something. "If you think it's bad to go outside how come you came out to bring me in?"
1 stiffened, the expression on his face losing its anger and once again turning blank but she saw his optic ridges widen slightly in shock.. She stared at him, waiting for an answer. For a moment she wondered if he was going to deny it.
Instead his shoulders slumped as if he'd been defeated. "Who told you that?" he asked her.
"Who else?" she asked him. "2 told me."
"2.." he shook his head. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Don't play that game with me, 1," she shot back. "It has plenty to do with this!"
He was being stubborn. "I don't see how."
"Why did you do that?" she demanded. "You could have asked anybody to come and get me yet you came out yourself and did it!"
1 seemed to be having a hard time coming up with an answer as if the change of subject was making him uncomfortable.
Why doesn't he just tell me? she wondered. What's the use of pretending he doesn't know what I'm talking about? What is he afraid of?
"What difference does it make?" he finally asked.
He was right. What difference did it make? Maybe she was hoping for something, thinking what he'd done would have a purpose behind it. Like maybe it could be the start of a change in their relationship.
Obviously she'd been hoping for too much. But why hope for anything? She'd get nothing from 1.
"Why should you even care who brought you inside?" he went on. "You should just be happy that somebody did! If I hadn't you'd be dead!"
7 was insistent. "But why did you?"
"Why do you want to know so much?" he shouted. "What do you want me to say? You already know how I feel about all of this and I couldn't just leave you out there!"
"Why not?" she pressed. "I'm sure it would have made things easier for you with me out of the picture. After all, you can't stand me anyway. I'd think you would have jumped at the chance-"
He stalked toward her, his expression changing back to anger. "How could you-" he cut himself off and forced himself to remain calm. He had no intention of proving her point. "You might not believe this, 7, but much as you wish that was so, you got it wrong. I don't like your attitude or the way you defy me but I'm not going to leave you out to die." he pointed into her face. "I don't even know why you would assume such a thing in the first place. Have I ever given any indication that I wanted you out of the picture?"
No... no he hadn't. She had to admit that. He'd never acted like he wanted her dead. He didn't like her disobeying him or standing up to him but he hadn't said he wish she'd just die or go away and never come back. If anything he seemed almost happy when she did return.
She looked away, unable to think of a response.
He's right. If he wanted me to die he could have left me outside and not bothered to come out and help me or... she touched the seam again. or repair my arm. Maybe..
"7." he voice made her look back at him. She noticed his expression had changed again. It looked vunerable for some reason. "Have you ever considered that the reason I don't want you going outside isn't because I'm trying to control you but because I don't want you to get hurt?"
A/N
and... I'll end it there for the time being. hehehehe..
Okay so I am continuing. I don't know how long it will be but I doubt it will be as long as some of my other fics. I'll do my best though to make it interesting. This could actually end many different ways.
