One was beyond pissed. Six was cowering in front of the throne, held there by Eight.
"If I hear one more word about your damned hallucinations, you are out!"
"One!" Two gasped. "You can't mean it!"
"I can and I do, Two!"
"B-but One!" Six whimpered. "They're not hallucinations, they're visions, like the ones you have, only future, not present, and—"
"I DO NOT have visions! Er, hallucinations! Now, don't you dare mention them again! And unless otherwise asked, keep those damned drawings to yourself!"
Six was thrown toward his room and he scurried in, sitting down on the floor and crying. Nine walked over and reached out to touch him, but he was suddenly shaking…
Nine gasped, sitting up to see Five and Two staring at him.
"There you are!" Two exclaimed, helping him to sit up.
"Where am I?" Nine asked blearily as Five took his arm and heaved him to his feet.
"You're in the Watchtower. Did you sleepwalk or something?"
Nine stretched and thought about the night before. As memory caught up to him, a sullen look appeared on his face and he crossed his arms.
"One is an ass!" he growled.
"Oh…I had better go tell him where you are," Two said, turning to the lift.
"What happened? One said he had to get onto you, but he didn't go into detail," Five said after Two was gone.
"He yelled at me because I told the truth."
"About what?"
"That poof on his head."
Five cringed. "Ooh, bad move. He's very sensitive about that. It's the whole reason he wears the hat."
"But you think it's unnecessary, too, right?"
"Yes, but One is adamant. He's so embarrassed about it. We all think it's cute, and that it sets him apart from us. I think he well and truly hates it."
Nine nodded and the lift clicked into place. Two stepped forward.
"One…would like to see you, Nine. Immediately."
They went down to find One pacing in front of the throne. He spun to face Nine when Two cleared his throat.
"You left me last night to go to the Watchtower?" he demanded.
"You yelled at me."
"You touched…Never mind."
"Go on. Say it."
"Wait, you actually touched it?" Five asked in surprise.
"Yes. And One shouldn't be embarrassed about it. Especially not to the degree that he is."
"Well we all can't be perfect like you!" One spat.
Nine blinked. "I'm perfect?"
"Well, you're the closest thing to perfection that any of us will ever reach," Two put in.
"Yeah," Five said with a smile. "In fact, Two and I would like to look you over."
Nine stared at them then nodded. "Alright…"
"Good. Now, that's the end of the discussion," One said hurriedly, subconsciously adjusting his hat.
"I still think it's stupid that you wear that," Nine growled as Two and Five pulled him back to the hospital.
One looked embarrassed, glancing away as he sat on his throne. Nine lay on the bed as the healer and the doctor went over his insides. Again they commented on how perfect he was. That bothered Nine. He didn't feel perfect. But judging by everybody's reactions, they expected him to be perfect. So perfect he would strive to be.
That resolution nearly drove Nine insane. He always seemed to be getting in trouble for one thing or another. Slowly he became sullen and moody, snapping at the others for minor things. One day, it was just too much. He nearly blasted Five through the wall with his soul energy. The wave of green light had dislocated several of the healer's gears. Two spent two long hours putting him back together again. When Five was up and walking, One called everybody before his throne. He sat there, staring at Nine.
"Why have you been acting so childish lately?" he finally asked. "You are acting nothing like the Stitchpunk we first met."
Nine felt hurt. "Well, I guess I just can't be perfect…"
"Perfect?"
"You said I had to be perfect when we first met, so…yeah."
"I said no such thing!"
"Yes, you did," Seven said. "But you weren't referring to what he thinks you were."
"When did I…Oh." One's face became wonderfully gentle and understanding. "Nine, I meant your design was perfect. You are the last one Maker made. Your design, even according to Two and Five, is as flawless as they come."
"So I don't have to be perfect for you?"
"No. I would never demand that on you. I used to demand it on myself, and it didn't end well."
Nine was so grateful that he sank to the floor, shivering. One was there immediately, stroking him and kissing his face lightly.
"There, there. Just let it out."
Nine found himself crying as relief swamped him. Five embraced him, as did Two, and they rocked him back and forth gently until his tears were spent. He cuddled Five and apologized again and again for hurting him.
"Really Nine!" Five laughed, patting the distraught Stitchpunk's head. "It's fine. Trying to be perfect would grate on anybody's nerves."
Nine smiled and yawned. He hadn't been sleeping well. Sure, he had his own room now, but those visions he had would tear at him in the night, and he had little relief until some unknown factor decided he'd had enough.
But, he thought as he was led to his room for a nap, I'll be damned if I let One yell at me for something I can't control.