Together

2:

When I first woke up, I could only think about myself and how badly it hurt to move around. I wondered if the walker was still active but since it was silent I assumed otherwise. Then it came to me...

"PRO!" 2 called. He was tarnished and his bare armature was getting colder by the second. The dust was starting to clear but it spared so little in sight. 2 tried to climb up a pole or a thin stack of bricks, but he couldn't see the pipes anymore. "Pro…Pr-Prooooo…." the exhausted stitchpunk wailed. Just as he was about to call her name again something flew in his face and made him fall backwards. It was part of a thin, bluish grey tablecloth. About ten feet away was a ragged mound of body and fabric.

"Pro!" 2 yelled having his energy rebooted by seeing his friend in peril. He ran strait for her, ignoring all pain in his wake. Each step felt longer and more painful then the next in fear of finding Pro. long dead. When 2 did arrive he could barley fathom the horror in front of him. "P-P-Pro? Can you hear me?" 2 whispered hoping her circuitry would pick up and she'd hear his pleads. Her right arm was gone and her legs were destroyed, leaving nothing but one twisted armature. She was shot right through the torso exposing her speaking devise and spilling her inner wiring everywhere. 2 knew just by looking at such a horrible sight that it would be useless to-

"T-t-tttwwooo?" A scratching voice trembled from her chest and up her mouth, "T-tttwo…I…at…ooo?"

2 gasped, "Your alive! Oh Pro I'm so sorry. How could I let this happen?"

"2…tis…is…I fault…" Pro. tried to say as she groaned in pain, "Is…i…I fault…"

2 could barley understand but he knew she was trying to say 'this is my fault'.

"Sssh," he said pushing his fingers against her lips and pulling the sewing needle he remembered carrying with him out of his vest. "Don't talk. You'll only damage your speaking device more. Now let me help you."

2 didn't know where to start. Before he began sewing her back together he tried to put the wires back in place. He never had the time to see what went where in their bodies and even then the scientist probably used different parts on each of them. He picked up a stick and tried to nail a gear into her chest hoping that's where it belonged. After the first few tries he sighed and went on to sewing up her lower body.

He took the blade he found lying around and tried to saw what remained of her legs off Pro's body when she yelled in pain.

"I'm sorry Pro. but you can't walk any more. It's all I can do."

Pro. refused to listen and shook her head, "No! No! Augh! It hurts, stop it!"

"Pro just relax!" 2 said pushing her down. "Your making it worse!"

Soon Pro's dangling optic snapped from its cord and onto the ground. 2 sighed, "Your lucky to have lived through any of this. Now please let me help you." At last Pro. settled down and breathed slowly. "Forgive me for raising my voice like that," 2 said. "I sounded like 1 for a minute."

"Where is 1?" Pro. asked closing her optic. 2 looked up from his work in hopes that he'd see 1's figure in the distance, "I don't know. Don't worry I'm sure he's all right. We'll find him as soon as we get you fixed up."

"Y-you…c-can fix me?"

"Of course I can," 2 said holding her Pro's hand. "Everything's alright. And we're together. I might even be able to get you some new legs if I work hard enough that is."

Pro. smiled keeping her eye closed, "Why…is there a machine still about?"

"I guess we were wrong. The machines still are active. We might have to go back into hiding."

Pro. stopped his rambling by taking her one arm and stroking his face. Her smile was big and bright and she briefly opened her optic for him to see. "2…my dearest friend…2." She took her hand away and began to breath slowly in and out. 2 reached inside his vest and miraculously found a long piece of thread.

"Ah, luck still shows its face," he said. 2 thread his needle in and out of her stomach piecing her torso back together blindly. He continued to sew merrily until he looked over at his silent friend. The smile on his face slowly faded.

"P-pro?" he asked the smiling stitchpunk. He quickly undid the stitching on her chest and put his head to her vocal device. The scratching and breathing sounds were gone and was replaced by a thin rustling. The same rustling made by the box he heard the human speak from not long ago, "Pro…no! No! Get up! Are you hearing me? Pro!"

2 shook her body in hopes of getting just one movement. He felt her remaining wire hand and lifted her head up only to have it tilt to the side. 2 let go as Pro. fell over with a thud. Shattered and knowing there was nothing to be done he curled next to his friend. "Oh Pro…"

This…wasn't real…was it? I'm suppose to wake at any moment. It couldn't be happening! Pro. isn't gone, she's sleeping next to 1 and I in the pipes. This is just a bad dream. Just a bad dream…

Broken in more ways then one, 2 reluctantly continued to live through the day. "1!" he said running towards the narrow pipe expecting to see his friend in hiding. He searched high and low but all he found was a bullet cap stuck underneath one of them.

2 picked up the wear thinking it was all that was left of his comrade. "1…" he quivered feeling useless and alone. The young stitchpunk was sure the glass would break from his optics and out would flow a watery substance in the place of tears. He wanted to cry. He couldn't handle being alone.

"2…?"

2 lifted his head and ran for his brother figure. Much to his surprise 1 actually excepted his embrace. "Where were you?" he asked like a concerned sibling. "What happened? Why is your arm destroyed?"

2 looked at his skinned arm with little concern, "that's nothing. 1…listen I-"

1 held onto his shoulders, "Do you have any idea of what I went through this morning? I awoke to find myself all alone and with no comrades, first off. Then I try to look for you two and I'm forced to hide under the pipes where I lose my helmet-oh you found it?"

"Yes," 2 said handing his friend the bullet cap. "1 I have some very bad news to-"

"Thank you," 1 said adjusting his helmet. "As I was saying…I tried to look for you and Pro only to be scared by an explosion and hide under the pipes. After that I had to run for my life! I was nearly killed 2! I was almost crushed!"

"Well you weren't," 2 said feeling like smacking him upside the face for such pathetic behavior. "Quit it, that wont help the situat-"

"Where is Pro?"

2's optics grew heavy. "2 answer me," 1 asked. "Is she alright?" 2 motioned for his friend follow him down the path and up to a dusted box, "I-I was hoping you didn't have to see it for yourself."

"See what? What are hiding from-"

1's triangular optics grew into wide octagons as his comrade pulled Pro. out of her coffin. The very sight of her mutilated body wrapped in cloth and sewed together made 1 feel like falling backwards in pain. He shook his head in disbelief, "n-no." 2 handed Pro. too her heart broken friend. "H-how did this happen?" 1 asked falling down on his knees.

"It was early morning and you didn't wake up right away so Pro and I decided to explore. She saw this building and led me to it but we were separated. Sh-she tried to save me and …oh 1 I'm sorry this happened." 2 said patting his friend's shoulder. After a few moments 1 stood up and gave him the most devious glare possible.

"This is your fault."

"What?"

"This is YOUR fault! Do you hear me?" 1 hollered in 2's face.

2 stepped back in fear, "What? No it's not, Pro's death was a complete accident! I had nothing to-"

"You made the decision to come out here in the first place! What was I thinking? I wouldn't have come if I knew this would happen! You're a killer in your own right 2," 1 said looking down at the female body. "Pro…why would you do this to yourself? Were you expecting something like this to happen? Were you hoping you'd die?"

"Now just a minute!" 2 said, "I had nothing to do with Pro's death what so ever! She died and there's no use to blame any one else. Besides she wasn't seeking out her own death!"

"Oh really?" 1 asked. "Well make no mistake 2. One day, if it doesn't catch up to you first, I'll send you to your death!"

2 stared at his enraged friend blindly. "1…y-you wouldn't really do that to me right? I mean we're…well we're-" 1 turned his back at him stiffly and sighed with grief.

"Come along Pro," he said carrying the body away. "Lets leave this traitorous fool to wallow in his own misery. I'll stay with you."

I was frightened by 1's threat. Not that I believe he'd ever do it. I'm almost positive that wont happen. For once in my life I thought we'd get along. I thought that he'd finally except me as a comrade, as a brother even. He didn't want me to be at her burial, claiming it was personal. I don't see anything personal about giving a memorial to a comrade who was close to both of us. While 1 was off to find a relaxing burial spot I had the chance to fix my arm and get some rest. I had no extra burlap so I went for a thin canvas to cover the wound, but it took up my whole arm as well.

Far away from the pipes were the sounds of gunfire, missals and screams. The war was not over, the machines were not destroyed and they lost a friend in the process of finding it out. Thinking of which, 2 was curious about where 1 was at this moment. He crept out of the pipe, still limping a bit, and saw a thin tower of smoke piling up not far away. He climbed over the mountains of ash and brick until he came to clearing. In plain sight was a tan stitchpunk holding a match. His head was bare and by his side was copper bullet cap, next to that was a Christmas bell. 2 stayed at a good distance so he didn't disturb the moment. 1 had purposefully rubbed oil around Pro's chest so that she would burn faster. He also tied the scarf around her optics so he couldn't see her face anymore. The male rag doll was moments away from igniting the fire when he gently stroked her remaining hand.

"Why did you leave me? You know I would have protected you." 2 watched as 1 leaned over her face but couldn't tell what he was doing. Finally 1 set her aflame and placed his hands over his soar optics as if he was weeping. His younger comrade could no longer watch him from afar and walked toward the fire. 2 knew he could hear him but strangely the strict leader did not even spare him a side-glance. At first, only Pro's chest was burned. Eventually though the flames found their way up the neck and incinerated the rest of her body. Her smooth burlap body became flickering pieces of ash right before their very eyes. It felt bad to send her off like so but 2 felt better if she left with all the belongings she had originally. He leaned over for the bell by 1's foot.

"No!" 1 said swatting him away. "Get back you little pest! You're the cause of all this!"

"But it was hers wasn't it?"

"She gave it to me so I will do with it as I like." 1 held the bell close to himself and glared at his friend for the ump-tenth time that day. 2 didn't argue, respond or even glare back. He just sat down watching what remained of their friend be destroyed by fire. The grief was so bad and the pain was so deep that it felt like someone walked right by him and patted his shoulder in sympathy.

"Wha!" 2 asked and turned his head. "What was that?"

"Quiet you idiot, don't you have any respect?"

"But I felt something pat my shoulder…it wasn't you?"

"Course not…" 1 said. 2 looked into the silent night and the bright crescent object that glowed far above them.

I wish the last time we got along we hadn't been picking on each other. Before, as much as I knew he could get annoyed by my presence, 1 still was like my brother and didn't want to see anything bad happen to me. Now, I might as well be dead and it wouldn't matter.

By morning nothing remained in the fire other then burnt fabric and some scorched optics. It was a ghastly sight to wake up to. 2 looked at his broken comrade sleeping head first in the dirt with the Christmas bell still locked in his grasp.

"1…1…?" 2 said shaking him by the shoulder, "We should really be awake now."

1 grumbled and opened his optics very lightly. "P-pro?"

"No 1 it's me." 1's optics flashed wide open and he kicked 2 away. Much like the morning before no man nor machine were in sight. A few miles away from the burial sight however were freshly dead bodies so they knew the machines had done their business. 2 limped about on his soar leg adjusting the straps that held his sack close to him. Even though 1 was not injured he too limped about in anguish. Something about this behavior made 2 believe it would take awhile for his grief to disappear. And it did.

For days 1 refused to speak to 2 unless the words were insults. He never was active unless he was running away. Above all things he did not utter the word Pro. once.

One day, 2 was searching the area for shelter when he saw raw brick in the light of his candle helmet. It was another destroyed building like they always saw. As he walked along side of it however something about the structure felt very familiar and before he knew it there was a hole leading inside. "1!" 2 called franticly, "1 you wont believe it!"

"What?" 1 asked, "Are you hurt?"

"You must come with me! Guess what I found?"

1 glared, "You called me over because you wanted me to see something? I thought you were in…well don't do that again!"

"Listen 1 I found it!"

"Found what?" 1 asked as 2 dragged him over to the old mansion they left about two weeks ago. "Can you believe it? All that destruction and it still managed to stay up? Come on let's stay in there one night, for old times sake?"

"NO!" 1 said wriggling from 2's grasp, "I'm not going back there!"

2 watched him scurry away, "1…you said we need shelter-"

The leader briefly stopped and turned around, "No! I'd rather die then see this place again. It-it's too much for me to handle."

1 stared at 2 until he finally hopped down the path. Despite being incredibly worn out and wanting to rest in a familiar location 2 followed him obediently. 1 was starting a fire with one of their spare matches when he retuned to their camp sight. Not out of the ordinary, the older stitch punk refused to look at his comrade. The most he spared was a head motion the first time his number was called and a rustle of the feet. "1…I'm sorry about doing that to you."

…

"It's alright I miss her to. We were all comrades. Perhaps, if you want to anyway, we can remember Pro for all the things that-" 1 turned around so rapidly that the match he held in his hand nearly burnt 2's face.

"Shut up you rotten ingrate!" he scolded. "I want no more talk of this subject!"

He stepped downward leaning closely to 2 as he was going to stab him through the chest, "What happened here, from the moment we first stepped in that building to our last few days of living, NEVER happened. Pro never existed!"

2 glared, "I'm sorry 1 but I can't keep that promise. I am true to my comrades, that includes the departed ones."

1 picked up a piece of ash and tossed it into the fire with frustration, "Have it your way then!" he said startling his friend as the campfire roared behind him. "You are no friend of mine…you never were." Upset and trying to hide his pain with anger, 1 walked away from the fire and huddled in a corner. 2 heard him tapping against the silver bell all night. 2 thought of Pro. never existing in their lives. Of never having someone fill their lives with as much joy, and they in return gave such a lonely person the compassion she had been denied. It was impossible to forget. In many ways, he knew 1 didn't really want to forget either. He just didn't want to dwell on her loss. And for someone as ill tempered as 1, the only way to forget is to pretend it's non-existent. By morning, neither stitch punks felt like sitting up but something shot 2 awake.

"Get up," 1 said hovering over his comrade. "Get up or I'll kick you again."

2 turned over to show 1 he was awake which was apparently the same as 'getting up' for two exhausted individuals. "Are we…going back into hiding?" He asked expecting to be answered correctly. "No," 1 said as cross as possible. "We're heading back to the laboratory the man in white lives at. There are probably made more of us by now."

"What? Don't you even remember the building 1?" 2 said. "We were separated from him remember?"

"Who's to say that will stop him? Knowing the antics of our creator we'll arrive to find a group of seven. Know while we make our way across the landscape I think it's about time to discuss my new rules. After all, you never know when another attack made by the machines will accure," 1 said as 2 grabbed the last of their supplies. "First off, unless we are in hiding, I want no more of your scavenging. You should know better then to get yourself in these predicaments. Second-"

2 couldn't listen to 1, all he could listen to was the jingling the bell he hid in his chest made as they walked onward. Just before he left the area for good 2 took one last glance over the hills of debrief at what remained of the mansion. He remembered being a two week old and carrying his injured friend over the hill the same way they were exiting from now and finding a temporary home there. Much like at the burial, as he watched the building from afar it felt as if someone was in their presence ready to bid them farewell.

"2, hurry up!" 1 called. 2 ran after his remaining comrade leaving the mansion behind.

Epilogue

8 years later…

"I don't know 9," The female said as she adjusted the hoods of her tired companions 3 and 4. "It's safe up here but do you really think this place will make a good hide out?"

"It will only be for a night 7. Besides, do we have any other choice?" 9 asked. Four young stitchpunks, 7 a sturdy warrior, 3 and 4, two energetic twins, and their new leader 9 had been wandering the abandoned city for a few months looking for shelter from the rain that returned to the dead earth. The world around the four became an endless river with a predicable flood each day. No matter what consequences they stayed together as a family. Especially after previously losing half their clan to a now destroyed machine. Their casualties consisted of three of their age group named 5, 6 and 8 and two elderly males named 1 and 2…

When a rainstorm could be seen forming in the distance 9 lead the reluctant group through a hole in the side of a gigantic building. Inside it was cold and dark and full of ash, but at least it put a roof over their heads. 9 watched the rain fall outside from the windowsill he perched his family on. "What's on your mind 9?" 7 asked. "You look upset about something."

"Nothing it's just…I feel like someone's here. You know…someone's watching us."

7 grew cautionary and grabbed her spear, "How so?"

"No 7 not like a machine," 9 said. "Just…someone."

7 shook her head and closed her optics, resting with the twins, "I don't understand you 9," she breathed. "Sometimes your just too out of touch." 9 smirked at her. While he defiantly cared for 7, she barley understood his unusual beliefs. Carefully he hopped off the windowsill to see the rest of the house.

"Where are you going?" 7 asked after hearing him depart. "Aren't you tired? You worked so hard today."

"I'm fine, " 9 reassured. "I'm just going to explore a bit."

"If you get in trouble I wont be there to help you!" 7 called after him as if he was her son.

"Understood Miss 7!" 9 playfully called back to her. The more the stitchpunk walked through the halls and up the stairs the more he felt like he was being watched, followed or listened too. There wasn't much to see in the rooms by now either. One room had a broken radio smashed on the floor. Up a flight of stairs was another room, which held nothing but a pile of colored glass. The main ballroom was destroyed by holes in the ceiling, obviously made by machines. Just as 9 was about head back to his companions his curiosity lead him to brick doorway. He unzipped himself and pulled out a match just in case.

"Maybe the ceiling with cave in. Then you can have all the sun light you want"

-Pro.

9 had never seen such a plant. After walking through some dark corridors he found there really was no use for keeping a match lit. It was also where he noticed the rain stopped coming down. Almost the entire ceiling of the brick room was torn off by the machines, opening it up to a flowing beam of sunlight. Beneath a layer of muddy water were thin vines and leaves. Sprouting from those vines were flower buds, some barley opening, some barley sprouting. In direct sight away from where 9 was standing was the center of the entire plant: an enormous blooming flower. Carefully he hopped across a few rocks that acted as steppingstones until he finally stepped onto the damp soil. The flower was a faded blue color like that of old fabric and a simple touch was so smooth and delicate.

Once again, though this time to the point of turning around startled, 9 felt like someone was there. It was a strange feeling that even took on the form of a sound. A ringing sound. Like a ghost carrying bells. Finally he hopped back to the corridor entrance and looked back at the plant. The light from outside faded away until it was no more then three beams. "9?" he shot up when he heard 7's voice call him. "Are you in there?"

"Ugh ya," he called. "I'll be out in a minute!" 9 turned around and left the three souls alone and together.

The End