Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The crashes of thunder filled the grim atmosphere as rain ran down the streets. Buildings loomed over the scene as the sound of a Static TV could be heard from an open window in the alleyway. Water trickled down the awning above the broken shop window, making a light tapping sound as it dropped. Mono watched the rain fall, letting his foot sway out of the broken window.

Slow breathing lay next to Mono, Six’s yellow coat was drenched, but was better than Mono's rain-drenched paper bag. It irritated his hair and was so watered down it nearly fit the shape of his head. He had his eyes locked in Six’s sleeping figure, watching closely as he slowly slipped the paper bag from over his face and set it next to him. He thought about what Six asked him yesterday, about his paper bag.

“Why do you wear that bag?” They said, not looking at Mono but he could tell at they were still paying close attention to him.

He knew the answer, it wasn’t creepy or anything. Mono was just self conscious, is all. He doesn’t want anyone he has angered to know his face, if they find him years later and remember his face he could get in real trouble. But other than that, he just didn’t like his face. He always struggled with himself and his identity. Hell, he didn’t even know if his name was ‘Mono’, he didn’t remember his name so he told whoever he could that was his name.

Tossing the wet bag in the space separating him and Six, he continued to watch them. Mono has ran away from Monster after Monster, but Six was the one that most amazed him. For someone with such a small frame, they were almost stronger than him, they survived the hunter’s cabin and the Paled City with him, now still managed to stay by him years later.

Six’s long bangs always covered their face but with the shop’s flickering light inside showing in the window Mono could see them more clearly. Six were sleeping in the fetal position, dipping their knees into the oversized hoodie. They had to find another coat for them after a while because the first one got too big, but it was surprising we could find one that was almost the same. Color wise, that is. Six was quietly snoring as they slept, their mouth agape showing their sharp fangs. Mono felt a chill go down his spine as he saw their knife-like fangs peeping out their mouth. He still remembers the first time Six’s hunger got the better of them, they chased Moni around for hours before they came across a very unlucky mouse. Mono was covered with cuts and bruises, and once Six came back to their senses they apologized over and over again. Mono was bit while being chased, he tripped and Six got a good taste before he pulled away. But after, Mono always wondered what it would feel like if he got bitten again.

Obviously, it would hurt and he could maybe be killed. But possibly, if he fed Six ahead of time it would only leave marks on his body. His face started to heat up at the thought as he shuffled uncomfortably in his seat. Even if it was wet, he shoved his paper bag back on his head hoping to empty his brain of such thoughts. He spotted a Paled Woman at the end of the alleyway, Mono flinched as he caught sight of her but relaxed as he realized the woman didn’t care about him. She was much too preoccupied with the static-filled TV, she never tried to turn around even after Mono made a little noise to make sure.

He has seen Six’s face before, not just their mouth but the whole face. While Mono was dangling off the crumbling ledge in the Tower, holding onto Six’s hand for dear life, he caught a glimpse of their eyes as their bangs dropped from their face. Six had long eyelashes, pointed elf-like ears that hid under their hood, and their eyes…

Six had big, deep scarlet eyes. They shined in the light of the static door behind them.
Mono has kept that image in his mind after all this time, Six’s eyes were so bright, so full, so — pretty.

Mono shook his head trying to take Six’s face out of his thoughts. He would always think of Six before now. They could kill him, of course he would think about them. But as of recent years, his thoughts were different, they were… dirtier. Before, he wanted them around for survival, they had a slim figure and could fit into small spaces. Then, after the Tower, Six’s presence was more calming to him. But now, he wanted them with him all the time. Did he know why? No, but he knew he wanted them. Wanted to hear their voice, see their rarely-shared smile, feel their touch like when they would hold hands as children. Like when Six pulled Mono off the ledge.

When Six finally pulled Mono up onto the ledge, they put their hands on Mono’s cheeks to check for any injuries. Mono didn’t have his bag, so this was the first time Six saw his face and the first time Mono felt vulnerable around Six. His face was burning up, he was only held by Six for a few seconds before they pulled him off the now-crumbling last edge of the ledge.

He remembered Six’s face as they pulled him up, the only time there was easily-readable concern he’s ever seen on their face. Their eyes lit up as their fangs revealed in a smile when they realized Mono was okay.

Mono’s face was dusted red at this point. Pulling his bag down so he couldn’t see through the holes, the boy let out an exhausted sigh. Realizing he just spent the whole night thinking about the child next to him instead of sleeping. The sunlight reflected off the rainfall as he heard rats scurrying away from the now-revealing sun.

Oh well, another day, another disaster.

Chapter Text

Mono held Six's hand as they quietly slipped past the Paled Resident, hoping the food on the diner table would still be edible. Watching the Paled Lady, Six waited for Mono to give the signal. Compared to Mono, Six was much simpler. Mono would always wonder why the Pales were compelled to watch TVs, why do they become hostile, and why do they lose their faces? All Six cares about is if they could kill it, or if it could kill them.

Although six never understood Mono's brain, they always wondered why it was so stuffed. There was always something he was afraid of. They found it fascinating how Mono's leg bounced whenever he was nervous. In a tight spot, he instinctively gripped Six's hand, and he panicked when Six left his sight for even a moment. Maybe ‘intrigued’ isn’t the right word… maybe — cute.

A sharp whistle pierced Six’s eardrums, signaling Mono was done. Six jumped up and grabbed Mono's hand after he dangled his hand from the edge of the tall table. Even if it’s been years, Six hasn’t grown very much. Unlike Mono, who was a sturdy 5’10 now. Even if Six’s strength was equal to Mono, they still needed help up the table and out the open window.

Mono navigated the streets, while Six slowly followed, gripping Mono’s hand.

“Mono, I’m hungry again.” Was the only thing Six had to say before Mono jumped out from the window sill and started looking around for a full table through an open window, or a very unlucky bird. Six kept their heads down. They still remember the last time their hunger got the better of them. The deep desire to feed fogged their mind to the point where even Mono wasn't safe, and for some reason Mono was the first thing that came to their mind.

While hungry, Six's senses are heightened. Their sense of smell and taste were amplified more than anything else, and while Six was almost starving Mono was the most alluring. His smell, his voice, all pulling them closer. But for some reason, that feeling doesn't leave even when they aren't hungry.

Six has never acted upon those feelings though, it might end up hurting Mono... again.

"Found something!" Mono shouted from behind a dumpster he found in the alleyway. Six looked up as they spotted Mono strangling a caught rat, thrashing for deer life as it saw Six's predatory eyes. Mono was holding its head in the 'head-lock' position, ready to crack its neck. Remembering Six needs them alive.

Mono set the doomed rat in Six's lap before jumping back as Six's claws dug into the rat, keeping it still. Mono never knew what to do while watching Six eat. Usually he would keep watch but still try to tune out the noises of whatever Six was feeding on. Now he just pulls his bag down, making sure he can't see through the holes. Once Mono couldn't hear the screams, he peeped out of his paper bag to see Six licking off the excess blood from the meat.

Once again, Mono caught himself peeking a glimpse of Six’s fangs. Why were they so fascinating to him, they could KILL him! But now that Six has been fed, maybe… NO! Not that again Mono thought while slightly shaking his head.

“You okay, Mono?” A soft voice asked him.

“Yeah.. yeah, i’m fine!” Mono chuckled, dodging eye contact with Six.

“Good, you seem distracted.” Six muttered, licking the last of the blood from their hands.

“It's nothing, I just have to find a place to sleep tonight again.” Mono mumbled, stretching his arm behind his head.

“Maybe Mono could be my shelter, since you're so tall.” There it was, there was the smile rarely-shared with anyone, even Mono. Even the sight of it made Mono chuckle lightly, before he was brought back to reality by Six pulling on Mono’s coat.

“Cold.” Six muttered, Mono shook his head in agreement. Six started to sway tired as they walked with Mono, after eating Six would get tired very quickly. Mono called it a “Food Coma”. Well, whatever Mono called it, Six was getting tired quickly. Mono watched as Six nearly fell over holding his hand walking down the streets, before he crouched down in front of Six. They stumbled for a second, before giving in and climbing onto Mono’s back.

Mono walked down the streets of the Paled City, the giant looming towers standing over him as he held his friend on his back. Mono was shivering, not from the cold air, but from Six’s breath hitting the crook of his neck. Mono could hear Six’s slow breathing as he stepped through the concrete sidewalk. An open cardboard box was the only thing he could find that would fit both him and Six, and wasn’t monster ridden. He sat Six down next to him in the cardboard walls, Mono’s legs stuck out from the box but he was fine as long as Six could fit, which they did, mostly. Six stayed laying against Mono, in their natural fetal position before slightly waking up while Mono tried to shuffle his body into the box more.

“...Mono…?” Six muttered, making Mono jump.

“Yeah, I’m here.” Mono shushed.

Six gave out a sigh of relief, before wrapping their arms around Mono and laying their head on his chest. Mono stayed motionless, he didn’t know what to do. He tried to keep his movements to a minimum while he watched Six drift back to sleep. He loved watching Six sleep, probably an old survival habit he couldn’t shake. He just loved to watch Six look so … peaceful. He wondered what Six’s face looked like, he had seen it before but he wondered if it had changed at all. ‘Maybe I could just move their hair back’ Mono thought, moving his hand close to Six’s face. Slowly, he moved their bangs to the side, watching to see if they woke up.

Oh, they haven’t changed a bit. Long eyelashes, the same pointed elf-ears, and those big eyes were still there. If only he could see them open again, not today though, he already didn’t sleep last night due to Six so today he was going to sleep for sure. Mono relaxed against Six as he let his eyes drift closed.

Six’s sleepy mutters were the last thing he heard before he fell asleep.

Chapter Text

After being woken up by the sounds of crashing and stomping, Mono looked around only to find himself alone. Panic set in for a few moments before he began looking around and found Six standing motionless a short distance away.

As soon as he saw Six, his worries dissipated. Six was really pretty, Mono thought, admiring his friend from a distance. Only after Six ran back to Mono and shook him awake did he really pay attention to his surroundings.

“Mono!” Six whispered. “Something’s happening to the People.”

Six was right, rows and rows of Paled Residents were lined up in the streets, marching away from the City. None of them were looking at Mono and Six, however, they were fixed on something at the end of the road. Maybe a big TV fell somewhere.

“Do you know what's going on, Six?”

"There was this really loud noise..." Six murmured, still staring straight ahead at where all the Paled had been heading for some time now—the edge of town, perhaps? The Paled usually never left the sight of a television set, except for when someone distracts them from it.

Even then, they would simply kill anyone who got too close to it. In the many years that Mono spent in the City, he started researching these creatures and their behavior patterns, He found that there are three things you need to know about them: one- never disrupt a Paled's viewing for any reason; two- avoid being around large groups of these residents; three- NEVER approach them when there is no other person nearby. But after he regained consciousness, he realized that they were breaking every one of those rules.

“Six,” Mono said, gripping Six’s hand. “Stand back!” A Paled Man stepped over the cardboard box, marching with the rest of the Paled nearly stepping on Six.

“Follow them.” Six muttered, tugging on Mono’s sleeve with their available hand.

“What?” Mono stuttered.

“No people, no food.”

Six was right, the only source of food Mono had was food Paled left on their tables, if it wasn’t spoiled. Six could run on just about anything, Mono needed cooked food. Six let go of Mono’s hand, walking into the rows of Paled. Before Mono could stop them, they were already next to the foot of a Paled Man, Waiting for a screech, a whisper, something. The Resident didn’t care, though. They just walked away, paying no mind to the small child next to them.

“It's safe, come on.” Six whispered, holding their hand out.

Mono reluctantly grabbed Six’s hand, slowly marching with the Paled, watching them closely. Where could they be going, Mono asked himself, before Six said what he was thinking.
"Where are the people going?" Six muttered, watching a Paled Man walk beside them.

"I don't know, maybe a super big TV fell somewhere," Mono muttered, trying to muster up a chuckle.

At the City limits, the reason for all this commotion could be seen for miles around. It was a large metal ship - bigger than anything else yet. As the Paleds made their way across it, down the ramps... not one of them said a word. Six and Mono shared another quick glance between each other, before looking back to where they had come from. The streets were empty behind them now; there weren't many people left who hadn't heard that loud horn call out. There would hardly be any food or water left in this town if they stayed, Mono couldn't leave Six in conditions like that…

Mono gripped Six’s hand harder. “Alright, let's go.” Without hesitation, SIx followed.

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In order to avoid detection when boarding the ship, they had hidden in an open-ended crate. They waited inside, cramped together for hours before finally hearing silence and fearing discovery. The space was small enough for only one person, but Mono squeezed his way into it with Six nonetheless. Despite his feet sticking out from the side of the box, nobody suspected them at all.

It turned dark before long, and the sound of steps grew further. They both decided to sleep before Six smelled something…
"Food" was all they uttered before turning tail and squeezing out of the crate, from Mono. He set off after them, catching up to Six as they stared down at some kind of display on the bridge. There, food - everything from fruit to fish - lined the shelves until it touched the ceiling; other goods like bread and meat sat beside it. "Six!" Mono exclaimed as he approached his friend for what felt like the hundredth time. "Look!" His tone transitioned into something akin to awe when he realized just how much there was for them to take advantage of here. They should be fine as long as they stayed on this boa-

Boom

Boom!

BOOM!!

There was someone coming. Mono and Six ducked their heads down as the bridge door swung open to reveal a... chef? Some odd form of monster in an apron and chef hat. They had to duck under the doorway, yet they were still pretty heavy - almost obese. Their face didn’t look...right, it looked like some sort of mask, but when the Cook slightly pulled it up so he could scratch his cheek it seemed to confirm Mono's accusation. The Cook grabbed a crate full of meat and headed out of the room, leaving the door half-open. Perfect! An opportunity thought Mono…

"Hey, Six," Mono said admiringly. "Looks like this was a smart idea-" But before he could finish his sentence, Six had already run off elsewhere.

Quickly following, Mono watched as Six tried to open the bridge door further. Eventually failing and tugging on Mono's jacket for assistance. Opening the door, they saw the buffet in front of them. Six already started digging in before Mono could intervene.

Grabbing onto a wriggling fish’s tail, Six let out an eager growl that seemed to echo throughout the room. Six bared their teeth and started tearing into the struggling creature while Mono watched over the entrance. However after some time had passed, Six stopped eating for no apparent reason. That's never happened before, usually, if Six was hungry enough they would even eat the bone.

"Six?" Mono asked, catching him with the half-eaten fish bone in his hand. "What's wrong?"

"Something's wrong with the food." Six looked at him seriously, gesturing for him to eat it too.

"It makes me hungrier."

“Wait, what? Food can make you hungrier?” As if he didn't know something was off about this place - now that Six mentioned it, It smelled sweet in here - not sweet like candy though- sweet like appetizing, alluring, irresistible. Looking down at the half-eaten raw fish in his hand. He would usually cringe or even gag at the sight but sudden overpowering impulses to eat overtake him, he flinched at the sudden realization that he was about to eat raw fish.

"This food is poisoned." Six muttered, looking around the food-lined walls of the bridge.

Suddenly, the door began opening again. Six dashed out of the way before Mono could grab their hand, trying to find a hiding spot of his own. Mono ducked under a table, as another Chef came walking into the room, lumbering over to grab another crate. As Mono’s eyes watched the Chef, he caught sight of a familiar yellow hood almost poking out of a crack in the wood of the crate. Six were in there, in the crate. The Chef stacked a crate onto the top of the crate they were in, trapping Six inside.

Mono started to panic as the huge figure gripped the ends of the bottom crate as carried the crates and his Six with them. Once the door creaked behind the Chef, Mono bolted after him.

"Shit, shit, shit!" Mono cursed while rushing out the door and watching the chef go down a stairway. There were Paled Residents looking out at the sea near the end of the ship - his only hiding spot was behind random crates that he used as cover. As Mono watched the Chef from afar, keeping close enough to use boxes for cover if need be but still staying hidden. The boy closely followed the Chef while whispering curses every other breath as he ducked down on one of the steps leading to another flight of stairs.

Mono was terrified and barely able to move when he saw tables piled high with food made from meat, wine, and other items he couldn't identify. Seeing people devour so much food, he watched them relentlessly eat - never stopping or noticing anything else around them - while his stomach churned. What would happen if someone ate him?
Oh no! There it is - a chef moving towards some sort of set of kitchen doors- He saw his friend's hand just poking out of the crack in the wood, waving back in forth hoping Mono could see them.

Oh no, they're going to eat them…