Chapter Ten: Everything Stopped
I lived my life,
In my brother's shadow,
So no one can see my tears.
It wasn't so bad though…
I just always thought,
That was my place.
I didn't really fit in anywhere.
But I was wrong all along,
Wasn't I?
… 002 and 0020 walked hand in hand down the city streets. The group had decided to split up so they could get done a lot faster and get back home sooner. It certainly made 004 and 009's mission to find 0020 a present a lot easier- not to mention that the blonde cyborg was helping them. However, poor 002 didn't have the same luck as they did. He was on his own.
"Look at this figurine, 002!" 0020 cried out excitedly; pointing to the item on display.
002 quickly clamped his hand over the female's shoulder. "How many times do we have to tell you to use our real names when we're in public?!" He hissed at her in a frantic tone; looking around to make sure no one was listening.
0020 looked away in shame. "I'm sorry… Jet…" She said with a hint of shame. "It's hard for me to remember things like that when I've always known you guys by your numbers."
002 sighed and let go of 0020's shoulder. "It's alright, Kole. Just make sure to remember to call us by our names out here, 'kay?"
After 0020 paid for her things, the duo walked out and settled down on the bench. 0020 couldn't stop smiling at the sight of all the decorations that hung all over town. She looked across the street and smiled at the children playing in the snow.
"So, how is your first Christmas with us so far, Kole?" 002 asked in a fond tone; looking down at the girl beside him.
0020 turned to look at 002 with a dazzling smile so beautiful that would've melted his heart if he still had one.
"I'm having a wonderful time! It's positively the best Christmas I've had in such a long time I almost forgot what it was like!" She said in a happy tone; giving 002 her best smile. "Is there any place you'd like to visit before the others come looking for us?"
002 nodded and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, there's this old antique shop not too far from here that I'd like to check out if that's okay with you." He said in an embarrassed tone; looking away from her. "…I… I like going in there and seeing a bunch of stuff that I remember using back in my time. I just find it fun to travel back in time and see all that old junk. That's all."
0020 jumped up to her feet and pulled 002 up with her. "Well, come on, Jet! Let's go check it out!" She said happily; dragging him along the way.
002 laughed and grabbed her bag. He smiled and threw his arm around her shoulder, and guided her down the street. He couldn't help the warm feeling he got when he held her close to his side. It felt natural when he was close to her. It was almost as if she was a magnet, and he was the metal that gets drawn to its magnetic field. And he couldn't be any more willing to be pulled to her…
They spent a bit of time in the shop. 002 caught 0020 looking at a pack of strange-looking cards. There a lot of them and he noticed they weren't like anything he had ever seen before.
"What kind of cards are those, Kole?" He asked in a curious tone; pointing over to the cards in her hands.
"These? They're Tarot Cards. Psychics sometimes use them to either learn something about themselves or even predict the future." 0020 explained in a logical tone; holding the cards up to show 002. "There are many variations, but they are all connected to one another."
"How do you know that?" 002 asked in a skeptical tone; staring at the cards in her hands.
"I used to have this exact same deck when I was younger." 0020 replied in a blunt tone; placing the cards back on the stand. "I used to play with them when I was going to my competitions or practices with Jasper."
0020 looked up at the male with a wicked smirk. "I got so good at using them that I could tell you the secrets you wouldn't have told your own mother."
002 smiled and nudged her with his shoulder. "I bet you couldn't do that with me!" He declared with an arrogant tone; placing his hands on his hips. "I'm a man if mystery!"
0020 shrugged her shoulders. She then gasped and placed her hands on either side of her head.
"Everyone is getting worried about us." She said in a panicked tone; turning to walk out the door. "Let's hurry up and find them before they start looking for us."
And with that, 0020 walked away and 002 looked down at the cards for a moment. Then his eyes lit up, and he snatched the cards up from the display. He rushed over to the counter and paid for them; before he darted off after her…
'…Walk the distance from fear! …'
The two quickly found the others and they all went back home. 003, 004 and 009 placed their bags aside and 003 dragged 0020 up the stairs to change out of their wet clothes. The men stayed behind in the Common Room.
009 sighed and relaxed his shoulders. "Did you find 0020 a present?" He asked as he looked over at 002.
002 looked over at the others with a bright smile. "I think I found her something. I just don't know if it's good or not." He said in an unsure tone; getting up from his seat. "I'm going to go on ahead upstairs and wrap it before we start the party!"
004 and 009 looked over at one another with happy smiles on their faces.
"I hope 002 will work up the courage to tell 0020 how he feels about her." 009 said in a thoughtful tone; looking up at the stairs with a kind smile.
004 sighed and looked in the direction 009 was looking. "002 had better make 0020 happy… I swear he'll be in for a world of hurt if he makes her cry." He said with a fatherly warning in his voice; folding his arms over his chest.
009 chuckled at the older cyborg's comment. "You must really take this whole, "fatherly role" pretty seriously, don't you?" He asked in a warm hearted tone.
"Well, yeah," 004 said as a matter of fact, "0020 means the world to me… I've grown to love her like the daughter I never had. I don't know what I'd do without her."
009 smiled kindly at the older cyborg. "I know the feeling. Believe me." He said in a kind tone. "She kinda grows on ya, doesn't she?"
004 was about to answer him, when he saw 003 walking down with 0020 in tow. 0020 was dressed in a simple dusty rose dress and a pair of tan colored character shoes. Her long gray arm warmers had become her trademark, so that was nothing new, but it made surely made her stand out from the others. She had let her hair down so it cascaded in waves off her shoulders and down her back, but kept her glasses on. So, she's going to keep wearing the glasses because 002 liked how she looked with them on? Interesting.
"Wow, 0020!" 004 said in amazement; giving her an impressed smile. "You look better than before!"
0020 blushed and looked down at herself. "Thanks, 004! 003 loaned me the clothes! I just put the outfit together!" She said in a happy tone; twirling around to show off her look.
003 smiled and placed her hands on the cyborg's shoulders. "0020 and I are going into the kitchen to make dinner now. We won't want everyone to go hungry on Christmas, do we?" She asked in a sisterly tone; pushing 0020 out of the room.
"Would you ladies like some help in there?" 004 offered in a smooth tone; getting up from his place on the couch.
003 giggled and shook her head. "That's alright, 004. We can handle this by ourselves." She said with a wink; pushing 0020 into the kitchen. "We'll call for you guys when we're done!"
Not long after the two females left, 002 came walking down the stairs with a box wrapped in wrapping paper. He placed it under the tree with all the other presents.
"Boy, I think I'd rather face Black Ghost myself than wrap presents again! Next year, I'm going to stick my presents in a bag and cover it up with tissue paper!" He said in exaggeration; wiping sweat from his brow.
009 chuckled and stood up from his seat. "Since you're bringing your gifts down," he said with a careless smile, "I think I'll bring mine down, too."
002 watched him walk up the stairs and sat down on the couch. "So, where are the girls?" He asked in a curious tone; looking around for 003 and 0020. "I could've sworn they were here when I went up the stairs a few minutes ago."
"0020 is helping 003 cook Christmas dinner for all of us." 004 answered in a lazy tone; getting up from his seat. "I'm gonna go bring down my own presents and see if 009 needs any help with his."
'…Times will never change! …'
And with that, 004 went up the stairs with his hands in his pockets. 002 leaned back in his seat and sighed. Not long after he finally relax, had his mind drift off in all different directions. He thought about what would happen if 0020 didn't like the gift he got for her. Would it remind her of her past and bring back painful memories? Or will she like the gift? Will he take this chance to finally be able to tell 0020 how he feels about her? Or will he let this opportunity pass him by?
He was so busy lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice 004 and 009 bringing down their gifts or the two humans placing theirs along with them. The only thing that seemed to have the desired effect was 0020 walking into Common Room.
He didn't see her since they all came back to the house, and even then, 003 dragged her off to the blonde's room to change out of their clothes. So, seeing her in that dress now would've made his heart stop.
"Wow, 0020!" 002 cried out in a shocked tone; not being able to take his eyes off of her. "You look smokin' hot tonight!"
"Thanks, 002!" 0020 said with a modest blush. "It's really not me color, but 003 said it will help bring out the colour of me eyes."
002 blushed and tore his eyes away from her. "Well, I think she's right on the money with that." He said in an honest tone.
"003 'n' I are done cookin' dinner an' wanted me to round e'eryone up. So, com'on then! Let's eat!" She said excitedly; darting behind 002 and pushing him towards the kitchen.
0020 didn't leave 002 any room to argue when she gave him a gentle shove through the door. She then stopped pushing him and went over to sit down at the table. 004 took his normal place by her left. 003 sat together at the end of the table like they always did. The two Doctor Gilmore and Doctor Kazumi took the ends of the table and 002 sat across from 0020 like he always does when they'd all eat together.
After everyone ate their dinner, 0020 gathered all the dirty dishes and placed them neatly on the sink. 003 than ushered everyone into the Common Room to open up presents. Needless to say that everyone was happy to see that they were finally able to kick back and relax on such a busy season.
0020 had made a faint blue sensory bottle with blue and white glitter for 001 to look at whenever 003 would feed him or put him to sleep. He nodded to her and thanked her gift before going back to sleep.
0020 had made 003 a homemade frosted glass candleholder. She also bought her a musical ballerina figurine that spun around in a snowy scene. 003 loved the gifts and couldn't hold herself back when she gave 0020 a bone-crushing hug; thanking her over and over again. 0020 laughed and returned the hug before she turned and gave the rest of her gifts out.
She had the two humans a few jars similar to 003's, but she told them that she wanted to show off her artistic talents by giving everyone jars and bottles as a little piece of herself. The humans thanked her for her thoughtfulness and accepted the gifts graciously; saying that she was very talented.
0020 had given 009 a homemade snow globe she made out of an old canning jar, and an action figure that she had made out of clay. She had also given him a book on martial arts; saying that it would be a perfect chance to try learn them so he could fight better. (Not that he'd ever need the help!) He smiled and thanked her for his gifts; looking at the globe and praising her for her work.
She had given 004 an ocean in an old salsa jar. She had also given him a golden pocket watch with his first name engraved into the outside of the lid, and engraved the word, "father" inside the lid. It was needless to say that he was overjoyed at the thought that 0020 felt the same way he did about the girl being his daughter, and gave her a caring smile and warm hug.
And finally, 0020 had given 002 basically the same thing as 004's gifts. The only difference was, she had made him a red- colored sensory bottle with golden and white glitter. She had told him that she had one when she was younger and explained that it helped calm her down greatly whenever she was upset. She had told him that she didn't really know what to get him, but never told him that she already had decided to give him her old pocket watch. But she was going to wait until everyone left to give it to him.
003 had given 0020 a new outfit – which 0020 was secretly thankful for it not being something 003 would wear. Doctor Gilmore and Doctor Kazumi had given 0020 a laptop so she would have something to occupy her time while she was patrolling. 009 had given her a new pair of pink arm warmers so she wouldn't have to wear the same ones all the time. 004 had given her a custom made bracelet that had the words, "Father and Daughter" written in German on it. She gave each of them a fierce hug and thanked them for giving her a very special Christmas. 002 quickly snatched the present out from under the tree and handed it to 0020.
"Here, 0020," he mumbled in an unsure tone; not looking over at the girl, "this is my present to you."
0020 took the poorly wrapped present from him, and gave him a soft smile. "Thank ye 002!" She said in a gentle tone; opening the gift and looking down at it.
She gasped and looked up at the American teen in front of her. "But this is…" She said in surprise; not taking her eyes off the gift in her hands.
004 leaned over the girl sitting next to him. "What is it, 0020?" He asked in a curious tone; looking over her shoulder.
002 blushed and looked down at himself. "I saw the way you were looking at them in the store and you said that you enjoyed playing with them when you were younger. So, I thought it was a good idea at the time." He said with a simple shrug of his broad shoulders.
0020 carefully pulled the cards out of the box, and held them up to her chest. "Thank ye, 002… Really. I really like the present." She said in a grateful tone; giving him her kindest smile.
She stood up from her seat on the couch, and gave him a hug. He blushed madly at the contact, but gladly returned the embrace; pulling her as close to his own body as he could.
'… Nothing is impossible! …'
"What kind of cards are those, 0020?" 004 asked in a curious tone; pointing over towards the cards in her hands.
0020 held the deck of cards up so everyone could see them. "They have many names, 009. But the name they are most commonly known as, 'Tarot Cards"!" She explained in a simple tone; flashing him a bright smile.
"Oh, I know what those are! Psychics sometimes use them to predict the future, right?" 003 wondered in a curious tone; tilting her head to the side.
009 chuckled and folded his arms over his chest. "Do you think you'd be able to predict when our fight with Black Ghost will be over?" He asked in a joking tone; giving her a playful wink.
0020 giggled at the man sitting on the couch. "I'm good, but I'm not that good, 004!" She said in a lightened tone; smiling playfully at him. "I used to play with this exact same deck when I was younger on my way to places like my competitions or to practice! Jasper used to play with me all the time when we were younger, so it brings back a lot of fond memories for me. I'm actually surprised you listen to me, 002."
002 huffed and placed his hands on his hips. "Hey! I listen… most of the time…" He said in a sheepish tone; scratching his cheek and making everyone giggle/laugh at him.
003 looked over at the girl with a bright smile. "You'll have to make sure to show us what you can do with them sometime, 0020!"
"Yeah, you can read my fortune!" 009 added with a lazy smile. "I think it'd be fun to see what the cards have to say about my future!"
0020 looked down at herself for a moment. "It's been so long since I've actually used Tarot Cards… I don't even know if I can do it now." She said in a modest tone; trying her best to hide her blush. "Besides, they're really not meant for telling the future. They're mainly used to tell the reader about the inquirer. And that was all I know how to do."
"You'll know if you still got if you don't try, 0020." 004 suggested in a fatherly tone; giving her an encouraging smile. "Besides, I'm curious as to know what they cards would say about me."
0020 smiled over at the German cyborg for a moment. "I'd be more than happy to give you a reading sometime, 004!"
After everyone had sat around and laughed and swapped stories with everyone, they all decided to turn in for the night. The humans were the first to tread up the stairs; wishing the cyborgs a Merry Christmas and that they will see them in the morning. 003 was the first among the cyborgs to walk up the stairs; bring 001 with her and wishing everyone a good night and Merry Christmas. 009 followed shortly after; saying that all the excitement had finally worn him out. So, that only left 002, 004, and 0020 to themselves.
004 watched 009 disappear from his sights, and turned back to the remaining two cyborgs with a lazy smile. "Well, this has turned out to be one of the best Christmases I've had in a very long time!" He announced in a proud tone; giving 0020 a fatherly smile. "I especially like the gifts you gave me, 0020. The jar is a very nice gift."
"Yeah, 0020, I think your sensory bottle will come in handy in the long run!" 002 said in a proud tone; smiling sweetly at the girl, as he took a seat right next to her.
0020 blushed and returned their smiles with one of her own. "I can't take all the credit, guys! 003 was the one who gave me the idea in the first place. "I'm just glad I was able to share such a special day with everyone!" She said in a modest tone; rubbing the back of her head.
"Well, this is your first Christmas with us after all," 002 said in a logical tone; giving 0020 a bright smile, "we just wanted to make it a special one for you!"
"That's what families are supposed to be like…" 004 said proudly; giving 0020 a warm smile. "And weather you like it or not, you're stuck with us for life!"
"An' I wouldn't 'ave it any other way!" 0020 said in a happy tone; giving him a sweet smile.
After a few moments, 004 pushed himself up off the couch and slowly made his way over towards the stairs. "Well, as fun as it's been hanging out with you two crazy kids, this ol' tin can needs to follow everyone else's example and head off to bed."
0020 jumped off the couch and gave 004 one last hug. "Merry Christmas, 004! Thanks again for the present!" She said in a happy tone; looking up at the man with a bright smile.
"You're very welcome, sweetie. And a very Merry Christmas to you, too." 004 said in a gentle tone; returning her hug with one of his own.
He looked over 0020's head and gave 002 a devilish smile. It was almost like he was trying to say, "Good Luck, 002!" with his smile. 002 blushed and looked away from him.
"Merry Christmas, 004!" He said firmly; waving his hand off to the man as he watched him move up the stairs.
0020 waited until she and 002 were completely alone before she made her way back to 002. "And now that no one else is around," she said in a gentle tone; holding her hand up to her lips, "I can give ye your other Christmas present! But we 'ave to be quiet so everyone else can sleep." She said in a teasing tone; handing 002 a tiny box wrapped neatly with golden wrapping paper.
"You didn't have to get me anything, 0020." He said in an unsure tone; taking the offered present from the girl. "I'm perfectly happy with the gift you gave me."
0020 blushed and sat down next to 002. "I know that, 002!" She said hotly; giving him a bright smile. "But I wanted to give ye something special since ye be special to me!"
002 looked up at 0020 for a moment. She shoved the present into his hands and commanded him to open the gift. And when he did, he got the shock of his life.
It was 0020's old pocket watch! It was silver and had an image of a gargoyle engraved into the lid with some strange Celtic design around the edge of the lid. He opened the lid and seen that it also had a phrase engraved inside the lid, as well. The message read, "Prove Them Wrong". The message looked like it was self-engraved and had a type of crystal-like glass that opened up so he could set the watch whenever it stopped working; meaning it was a wind-up watch.
"But, 0020! This is yours! I can't take this from you!" 002 cried out in protest; holding the watch out for her to take.
0020 smiled fondly at the boy next to her and pushed the watch back towards him. "Yes, ye can, 002." She said in a kind tone; nodding to him. "I want ye ta 'ave it."
'…Pick it up! …'
002 looked down at the object in his hand. "But… why?" He asked in a hopeless tone; not taking his eyes off the watch.
"That watched belonged to my da and my grandda had given it to Jasper who later on gave it to me before he died. It may be special to me, 002, but something told me that it was time I pass it on to ye."
"I don't know what to say, 0020." 002 said with a mad blush on his face; looking away from the girl.
0020 laughed quietly at the young man sitting next to her. "It was corny, I know, but I just wanted to give you as grand a gift as the ones you've been giving me all year long!"
Out of nowhere, 002 grabbed a hold of 0020 and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Thank you, 0020… You have no idea how much you mean to me." He whispered in a grateful tone; burying his face into her shoulder.
0020 wrapped her thin arms around 002 and smiled warmly at him. "I know, 002…" She whispered in a gentle tone; leaning her head against his.
002 gasped and pulled away from the girl in his arms. "You know?" He questioned in a shocked tone; giving her a shocked look on his to match his now beet-red blush.
0020 smiled up at 002 with light shining in her eyes. "I've always known, 002." She whispered with a teary smile.
"And you're okay with it?!" He asked in a shocked tone; trying his best to hide his surprise from her. "Why didn't you tell me you knew?!"
0020 giggled quietly, and got up from her seat to walk over towards the fireplace. "I didn' tell ye for the exact same reason I don' tell anyone else: They are your private feelings! I make up for my lack o' control over my Empathy by keeping the emotions I feel from others to myself."
002 got up from his seat and walked over towards her with an arrogant smirk. "So, you mean to tell me that you strung me along all this time; knowing how I feel about you?" He questioned in a mock angry tone; talking over towards her.
0020 slowly backed away from 002's advance. "I-I'm sorry! But I didn't know how to tell ye!" She protested in a nervous tone; withdrawing away from him. "I was just happy ta be around ye!"
002 couldn't help but smile fondly at the girl, and quickly grabbed her before she could make a break for the stairs. He couldn't stop his smile from growing wider as he pulled her close to his body.
"I think you should make it up to me." He murmured quietly into her ear, as he held her tightly against his chest.
"Huh?" She asked in a blank tone; looking up at him. "What do ye want me to do?"
002 smirked dangerously at her and began to inch his face closer to hers. "You can make it up to me… by letting me give you a kiss…"
And with that, he sealed the deal with his lips planted firmly against hers. He moved his lips smoothly against hers, and projected all his feelings into that kiss. It was his first kiss, and something in the back of his mind told him that it was hers, too. So, he tried to make their first kiss as special as he could.
He pulled her as close to him as he possibly could and began rubbing her back gently; earning a contented sigh. It was a good thing cyborgs like them didn't really need to breathe air as much as humans did; otherwise they would've broken their kiss sooner than they both would've cared.
He couldn't explain the amazing feeling he felt when 0020 slid her hands off his shoulders and rested them neatly on his chest. He had felt so relieved when she returned his kiss that he could shoot straight up to the moon and scream his love for her to the Earth without a care in the world. He just couldn't get enough of her. She was like his own personal drug that he was more than willing to get addicted to! And now, he knew 0020 had felt the same way about him, too.
After a few more moments of being lip-locked with the girl of his dreams, he finally tore himself away from her. Both panting for breath. He opened his eyes to see 0020 with her eyes still closed, and smiled a dreamy smile.
"That was… that was… wow." He said in a breathless tone; looking down at the girl in his arms.
"My feelings exactly." 0020 replied in a hushed whisper; not bothering to open her eyes, as she rested her head against his shoulder. "Ye 'ave no idea how long I've waited to do that."
002 chuckled and shuffled them both to sit back on the couch. He smiled lovingly at her, as she rested her head against shoulder and leaned his head against hers.
"I know you already know this by now, but…" he whispered into her hair; giving her hair a gentle kiss, as he draped his arm loosely around her shoulder and rubbing the exposed skin with his thumb, "I love you, 0020… More than you may ever know."
0020 looked up at 002 with another teary smile. "I love ye, too, 002. Ye gave me the greatest gift of all… The gift o' the heart. Thank ye."
002 chuckled and shifted his hand to tangle it in her long light colored hair. "Trust me, 0020," he said in a husky tone; moving his face closer to his, "it was my pleasure."
And with that, the new couple fell into another blissful kiss. He pulled her so close to his body that he had her leaning in front of him, and buried both his hands around her waist and hair; keeping her from breaking the kiss.
After they pulled away from one another, 0020 pulled herself out of his arms, and had settled against his side; keeping her arms wrapped around his waist. She rested her head back on his shoulder, and stared into the fire in the fireplace.
"I could stay like this forever…" She whispered to herself as she snuggled closer to the man she loved.
"And who said you couldn't?" 002 challenged in a playful tone; looking down at the girl while he played with her hair.
"Ye 'ave to go to bed. I know ye are tired from the party and… well…" 0020 trailed off; not really knowing what to say to him.
002 looked at the girl for a moment. "But what about you?" He said in a concerned tone; rubbing her shoulder with her own.
"Ye know very well that I don' sleep, 002… I'll stay down 'ere like I always do. No problem." 0020 answered in a blank tone; looking over at the young man sitting next to her.
002 let her words register in his mind for a moment. "Well, how 'bout I stay up with you then?" He offered in a caring tone; not wanting to let her go. "I wouldn't mind staying up and keeping you company."
0020 smiled and shook her head at him. "Don't worry 'bout me, 002. Ye need more sleep than I do." She argued politely; pushing him away playfully. "Go on, now, I'll be fine and I'll see ye in marnin'."
002 groaned slightly, and tightened his grip around her waist. "But, 0020…" He trailed off in a weakened tone; looking away from her.
0020 giggled at the boy sitting next to her. "It's not like I won' be 'ere when ye wake up, 002." She said in a light scolding tone.
002 frowned at the girl in his arms. "I don't want to leave you alone…" He said in a stubborn tone; gently pulling at her bony frame. "The thought of you being alone when all of us are sleeping kills me. I can't stand seeing you suffer like this. Can't you at least let me stay up with you for just one night?"
0020 looked over at 002 for a moment. She had too many thoughts running through her mind to notice 002 had slid closer to her and pressed her as softly as he could against him; trying his best to coax her in submitting to his will.
After a few moments of silence, 002's patience ran out. He mildly startled her by letting her go and clapping his knees once before he rose to his feet.
"Alright, if you're so bent on making me go to bed," 002 said in a final tone; causing 0020 to look up at him, "then you're coming with me!"
0020 jumped away from 002 and gave him a shocked look. "Wh-what?!" She cried out in panic, leaning slightly away from him.
002 huffed and rolled his eyes at her. "It's not like I was planning on hurting you or anything, 0020." He said in a rough tone; folding his arms over his chest. "Surely you know me better than that."
0020 looked away from 002 for a moment; not saying a word. And of course, 002 felt a little out of his element. So, he tried to use some of his "New York Charm" to help smooth things over with 0020.
"You know I wouldn't hurt you for the world, right? And I haven't given you any reason not to trust me, have I?" 002 cooed in a soothing tone; reaching out to touch her arm. "I love you, 0020. Will you grant me my one and only Christmas Wish? Please? For me?"
0020 couldn't fight her blush, as she nodded her head at him, and walked into his arms. He smiled sweetly at her and pulled as close as he could; kissing her left temple.
"…Thank you, 0020…" 002 whispered into her hair; rocking her back and forth for a moment before he guided them both up the stairs to turn in for the night.
Too bad 002 didn't notice a door closing quietly from up the stairs.
004 had been watching the two from the top of the stairs. He couldn't deny that he felt a slight tug at his heart when he saw the pair kiss, but he felt an even bigger sense of protectiveness when he saw them arguing quietly. But after that, he was okay with what them being together. That just meant that 002 would be able to protect 0020 when he couldn't. So, he could rest easy that night knowing that she was in good hands.
"… Now I know how a father feels when he sees his daughter going to prom with her date." He muttered quietly to himself as he shuffled over to his bed, and threw himself onto it-a lazy smile playing across his lips as he drifted off to sleep…
TPW: And there you have it, everyone! Ch. 10 is finally complete!
002: Took you long enough! I thought I'd never get to see myself get together with 0020! And at Christmas, too!
TPW: *smacks 002 in the arm* I'm sorry I'm not a 15 year old without a life anymore. In case you haven't noticed, bud, I'm a grown woman and have a life of my own now. I have more responsibilities now. So, cut me some slack!
004: She DOES have a point, you know.
002: *points over at 004* And what about you, DAD! You and everyone else wanted to see me and 0020 get together, right? Well, it wouldn't happen if Wolf didn't write it out!
TPW: *sighes and walks up to the 002 and 004* Oh, boys?
002 and 004: *turns to look over at me* What is it?!
TPW: *Bangs both their heads together*
002 and 004: *both grabs their heads in pain* Ouch!
TPW: You know, it's not too late to kill you two off, right?
002 and 004: Meep! *runs away*
TPW: *Turns to 001* Learn from those two, 001: Never make the author mad, okay?
001: *nods and goes back to sleep*
TPW: Alright, guys, here's a fair warning to all of you reading: The next chapter will NOT be a chapter. It's gonna be a profile of 0020. Hopefully, you will be able to get a better image of who she is, her stats. Stuff like that. So, I hope you all enjoy the story so far! I won't update until I get at least 29 reviews. So, review if you want more! Until then, this is The Paper Wolf signing off!