Chapter Text
Zero4 made his way down the stairs, thinking of what to say. They didn't go and comfort Zero0 like everyone told him to but Fifteen was already with him and he'd much rather stay speechless than to try and interact with Fifteen.
They didn't understand how Zero0 even managed to get in touch with Fifteen. That day when him and his siblings went to go look for Zero0 after he was missing for days is something that he often thinks about. Fifteen was literally burning Zero0. And the multiple wounds that she did to him? Something was just not adding up in his head. The fact that Fifteen liked Zero0 back too! One month she was trying to kill him and the next their dating?
When the numbers that were in the 2763 incident were telling the Zeros about what happened, all of them didn't believe how they described Fifteen. She was crying, they said. And she screamed so loud when she saw Zero0 in that bloody state. It honestly gave them chills.
Zero4 sighed, walking into the living room. Five was the first one to notice his arrival.
"You're back? Did you even go to Zero0?" He asked, bringing the others attention to them.
Zero4 shrugged, "I tried...?"
"What do you mean?" Zero1 asked.
"Well..." He fidgeted with his hands, "Fifteen's awake so I didn't end up going in..."
Six spoke up, "Reasonable. She scary."
"You find her scary?" Nine smirked.
They turned to Nine, her expression darkening before she pounced on her.
"HEY! NO FIGHTING!" Zero3 got up to hold back Six, Five attempting to defend Nine.
Zero1 went over to Zero4, "Was he crying?"
Zero4 turned his head to him, biting the inside of his cheek and looking away, "...Yeah... He was..."
Zero1 mentally face palmed, "This is why I told you-"
"Okay! Okay. I get it." Zero4 crossed his arms, "You telling me this isn't going to change anything. I already feel as if I'm in the wrong and I know I'm in the wrong. Okay?"
Zero1 hesitated before nodding, "Just... Be careful next time."
Zero4 nodded, "I know..." They left the living room, going to the kitchen to think for themselves.
Zero1 stared at them as they left then turned back to the others, realizing that someone wasn't present. There's Ten, Eight, and Two... Seven, Five, Six, and Nine... Zero2 and Zero3 ... Zero4 is in the kitchen. Wait... Where was Fourteen...?
The door creaked open from Zero0s room, a green haired individual peaked in. Zero0 heard the noise as Fifteen let go of her hold on him. He sat up, rubbing his eyes and expecting one of his siblings being the one that came in.
His expression changed, seeing Fourteen peaking in the room. He slowly and hesitantly waved at them, not knowing his intentions. Not to mention his cat-like eyes starring at him, his pupils in big circles you can barely see his yellow scarla, creeping him out.
"What do you want, Fourteen?" Zero0 stoped waving, tilting his head.
The fact that Fourteen was here sparked Fifteen's attention. Her gaze locked on them, who was walking towards the pair. She did have some sort of background with him, being her closest ally in the past.
She thought back, how him and her ended up in a bloody mess around 6 or 7 years ago because of a stupid fight with each other. The reason Fifteen had the metal pieces and the reason Fourteen had rotten skin and a missing finger. Since that day, he'd been coming to Fifteens cabin more often and she didn't feel like taking him out since at least it wasn't indoors. He kept going to her, updating her with any drama going on in the Grasslands or just to yap about random things. They sometimes even stayed at the cabin and slept on the porch at night. After 3 years of them being on the loose and eating people's skin, the single digits trapped him in a cell in the Grasslands so they couldn't go to Fifteen anymore.
She sees him more like an animal than an Algebralian if she was honest.
Zero0 and Fourteen weren't really on negative terms. Fourteen found Zero his favorite from the zeros, and second best skin-tasting number, too! Ten obviously being first. Fourteen didn't usually chase Zero because of his skin, but mainly for his cap that he kept successfully stealing. He liked the colors and it fit him more than Zero, he believed.
Fourteen shrugged at Zero question, "I don't know. My mind led me here."
Zero held a confused expression, "Huh.." he blinked, "...Why?"
Fourteen unintentionally ignored Zero. He tilted his head, reaching over to Zero's bandage on his face.
Fifteen instinctively swung her arm, smacking Fourteen's hand away from Zero, 'Don't you dare touch him.'
Zero twitched from the sudden geuture, turning to Fifteen. His eyes slightly widened, "Wait," He gently placed his hands over her arm, "You're hurting your arm."
He wasn't lying. Fifteens arm felt like it was burning in a fire that couldn't be extinguished. She sighed, nodding and putting her arm over the blanket. She adjusted herself to sit up, not making any eye contact with Fourteen.
"Hey..." Fourteen whined.
"Fourteen. Seriously. What do you need?" Zero turned his attention to them.
Fourteen shrugged, "Like I said. I don't know and I don't wanna leave."
Rapid footsteps were heard coming from the hallway. It got closer till Zero1 showed up by the door frame, seemingly out of breath.
"Fourteen! What are you doing here?!" Zero1 yelled, still trying to breath properly as he rushed over to him.
Fourteen turned his head, his pupils slitting more and more for every step Zero1 took.
Zero1 grabbed onto Fourteen's arm, basically dragging him out of the room, "We'll put him in chains this time." He momentarily turned to Zero0 before back at Fourteen, "Come on. You're not supposed to be here."
Zero0 watched as his sibling dragged out Fourteen, who surprisingly wasn't fighting back, and closed the door when he left.
Zero1 spoke to Fourteen, "Why did you leave without telling us!?" He continued to drag him down the hall.
"I was bored." Fourteen replied.
Zero groaned, "Then tell us to make you do something! Not just go straight to Zero0 and Fifteen!"
Fourteen pulled his arm back and crossed his arms in annoyance as the two got to the stairs.
"You go first." Zero pointed down the stairs. He was not risking to be pushed down the stairs if Fourteen was behind him.
Fourteen stared at Zero, zoning out. He felt ... hungry? He began to slightly smile at him. How would his skin taste like? Is it like Zero0s? What would be the best way to devour him? Is there any witnesses if they did right now? Can he eat him without being caught?
Zero1's eyes widened. Fourteen was acting strange. His eyes were in sharp vertical lines and they were grinning, their sharp teeth making him look more sinister.
Zero took a step back.
Fourteen took a step forward. His head twitched to the side.
'Shit... I shouldn't have acted care free around a fucking cannibal..!' Zero thought, taking multiple steps back until his back touched the wall.
Fourteen got closer to Zero, now only a third of a meter away from him. Fourteen's smile grew.
He swung his arm towards Zero, who was quick to dodge his attack. He ducked under the cannibalist's arm, not wasting any time and bolting away. Zero ran down the stairs, not daring to even take a glance behind him. He tripped on the last two steps and landed on his side, his breathing uneasy from the sudden panic and the impact. He quickly took the slim chance to look and see Fourteen behind but was surprised when he didn't find him. Not even at the top of the stairwell.
"Did you fall down the stairs?" Zero4 came from the kitchen after hearing a thud.
Zero1 looked at Zero4 in confusion and terror. Where is Fourteen?
Zero1's head lowered as he sat up, his hands in fists, 'Shit. Did they go back to Fifteen and Zero0!? THAT DIPSHIT!'
Zero0 blinked after Fourteen and Zero1 left. Does that mean everyone's here? Was anyone else injured or just him and Fifteen? He turned his attention to her. She leaned onto Zero's shoulder, wrapping her right arm around his waist. Zero smiled, leaning his head on hers. He felt... Dizzy? He didn't know if he was tired or dizzy. He slowly closed his eyes, resting his body.
Their peaceful moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming closer to the room... Again...
He sighed, sitting up as Fifteen let go of him, laying down on her left and pulling the blanket over her face. Zero hated the amount of times the numbers were coming here. Not because he finds it annoying, but because she finds it annoying. Also, if someone is injured, why would you keep bothering them!?
The door creaked open again. Zero was caught off guard as Fourteen entered, observing that they locked to door behind him. He furrowed his brows at the Algebralian. Didn't Zero1 take him away?
"Fourteen. If you don't have a reason to be here, just get out." Zero0 dead panned.
Fourteen faced Zero, frowning and crossing his arms like a child whose parents refused to buy them a toy.
Zero groaned, "I'm assuming you ran away from Zero1 since you locked the door, right?"
Fourteen's eyes widened slightly before looking to the side, "No..."
Zero face palmed, seeing through his response, 'This damn cannibalist...'
Fourteen made his way to Zero as he spoke, "Where's your cap?"
Zero rolled his eyes. Of course he was looking for his cap, "I don't know. I think it got burnt by the la-"
"Oo! Here it is!" Fourteen smiled, taking the cap that was on the floor next to the nightstand. It seemed like it was on the nightstand but fell.
Zero watched as Fourteen held his blue and yellow cap. The back of the cap where he'd adjust its size was burnt off and the visor was broken in thirds.
Zero frowned at the sight of the cap. The last time it was ruined that badly was when he got chased by that bear.
Zero sighed, "Okay. You got the cap. Now leave."
"I didn't come here for the hat. I wanna stay." Fourteen put on the cap then turned his attention to the window, "Did you ever see how this place looks like right now? The grass is all burned up and the trees are all knocked down," Fourteen slightly smiled, "The Lorax must be so mad right now."
Zero breathed out a laugh, slightly amused that Fourteen even knew about that movie, "No, I haven't looked. How can you even see? It's pitch black outside."
Fourteen turned to look at Zero, blinking.
Zero tilted his head, "What?"
Fourteen pointed at his eyes, "I can see in the dark."
Zero nodded, "Oh... That explains why your eyes look like a cat's."
Fourteen gave him a thumbs up with both of his hands, "Yup!"
The slight realization of Fourteen's eyes working like a cats kind of made sense. Why else would everyone kept him trapped outside and he never complained? They've only ever complained why they were in the cell, nothing else. Also the fact that his pupils were rounded when he looked at him gave him a sense of comfort knowing he wasn't pray to Fourteen... Yet.
A knock was heard coming from the door. Zero and Fourteen turned their heads to it and heard Zero3's voice, "Zero? Is Fourteen in there?"
Fourteen turned back at Zero, shaking their head, "Tell him I'm not..!" He whisper- yelled.
Zero rolled his eyes, "Yeah, he's here and won't get out." He spoke.
"Hey!" Fourteen grumbled.
Zero3 turned the door handle, only to find out it was locked. He shook the door lightly a few times, thinking it might have just been stuck. He furrowed his brows in defeat.
Zero0 noticed the slight shake on the door then remembered Fourteen locking it after he came in.
He turned to Fourteen, "You gonna go?"
Fourteen crossed their arms, shaking his head.
'Oh my algebra, you are SUCH a CHILD.' Zero0 felt his eye twitch. He sighed in annoyance, uncovering himself from the blanket and sitting up, his feet on the carpeted floor.
"Zero0?" Zero3 spoke.
"One sec. Fourteen locked it." Zero0 answered Zero3's question before he asked.
Zero0 got up from his spot, annoyed from the feeling of losing the warmth of his bed.
"Nooo... Stay... I won't bother you! I promise!" Fourteen tried to reason, walking behind him.
"Too bad. I wanna be alone." Zero0 turned the key to the door, unlocking it and opening it.
Zero3 held a soft expression seeing Zero0, "Sorry about Fourteen. Zero1 said that they tried to eat him then ran off."
Zero0 nodded, turning his gaze to Fourteen, "Well what are you waiting for? Go."
Zero3 spoke, "Come on, Fourteen. We wanna stay with Zero0 too but he needs to rest." He grabbed onto Fourteen's wrist, trying to pull him out.
Fourteen pulled back his hand, putting his arms around Zero0 tightly, "No. I'm staying."
Zero0 whinced, a shock of pain spiraling through his body. Fourteen was holding him by his injury on his chest.
"Fourteen- let.."
Zero3 grabbed on Fourteen's arms, forcefully prying him away from his sibling, seeing him in pain. Zero0 slipped out of their hold, taking a few steps back as he clenched his shirt in pain.
"Fourteen!" Zero3 whispered-yelled, digging his nails in Fourteen's arms, "He's hurt! Don't touch him!"
Zero3 held the moment of Fourteen's slight shock and pulled him out of the room, "Sorry Zero0!" He quickly apologized.
Zero0 nodded, his eyes shut tight before shakily opening them and seeing Fourteen being dragged out by his sibling. Once he was completely out, he shut the door and locked it, not taking anymore chances of the Algerbralians barging in here. He tightened his hold on his shirt, turning back and walking back to his bed.
Fifteen turned, seeing Zero. Her expression changed to concern seeing Zero's hand clenched onto his shirt by his injury. He could tell she wanted to ask him what happened, her only hearing them bickering with Fourteen.
Zero smiled weakly, sitting on the bed and facing her, "Fourteen tried to hold onto me to try and not get out," He pulled the blanket over himself, "But thankfully Zero3 helped me." He laid his head on the pillow, facing Fifteen.
She gently placed her hand on his, tracing her thumb over the back of his hand.
"It doesn't hurt a lot, don't worry." He said, letting go of his hold and intertwining his fingers with hers.
Fifteen gave him a small smile, wrapping her arms around him gently.
Zero melted in her touch, burying his face on her chest. He cherished the feeling of Fifteen's hold, trying to forget the pain that lingered in his chest.
Zero3 chained Fourteen's wrists together, meeting up with the others, "I got them." He announced.
"Bring him over here." Five said to Zero3, holding on the chain and ball that Fourteen absolutely despised.
Fourteen's eyes widened and dilated, pulling back his hold with Zero3.
Zero3 tightened his grip, both of his hands on the cuffs, "Eight, help me here."
"I can't. Literally." He replied back, referring to Two and Ten both asleep on him.
Zero2 and Six got up to assist him instead, pushing him towards the corner of the living room where Five was.
They all managed to hold down Fourteen, adding an additional caged muzzle over his mouth. He pouted, facing the wall in front of them.
"That should do it." Five said, sitting back down on the couch with the others.
"Be grateful that Zero0 even let you take his cap." Zero1 jeered, holding an ice pack on his shoulder from falling down the stairs earlier.
Fourteen turned to the Zero and blew a raspberry at him before turning back and slouching to his original state.
Zero1 scoffed, furrowing his brows, "I swear to algebra he's so annoying."
Zero4 walked into the place, "I'm ordering take out. What should I get?"
"PIZZA!" Nine, Six, Seven, and Zero2 yelled out without missing a beat.
"Quiet! You're gonna wake these two!" Five whisper-yelled, pointing at the two asleep on Eight.
"Okay..." Zero4 typed in their phone, "Should I get like, what, six pizzas?"
"Get seven." Nine added.
"Me?" Seven questioned.
"No! Pizzas!" Nine and Six laughed.
"There's like, ten of us? Get six of them." Five argued.
"No there's..." Zero4 counted everyone, "uhh.. fourteen of us, counting Zero0, Fifteen, and the cannibal."
"Get seven then!" Zero3 said.
"Me?" Seven pointed to herself.
"No! Pizzas!" Everyone said in sync, followed by laughter that woke up Ten and Two.