Chapter Text
Mono's feet carried him as fast as he could through the twisted and distorted dimension that was the singal tower. His heart hammered in his chest, knees still shaking from his encounter with the Thin Man and fingers still buzzing with the electric feeling of his new found powers.
Worry and fear clung to him like a heavy weight. Making his steps feel heavier and slower then they actually were. Like he was trapped him a nightmare.
He needed to find her. He needed to save her.
He had frozen at the worst possible time. Stuck in fear as he did nothing but watch his best friend get snatched away but the Thin Man.
Why hadn't he done something? Why had he let that horrible creature take Six away?
She had to be okay. He needed her to be okay.
The eerie tune of her music box was the only thing that was giving him any indication on where to go. He followed it like a life time, praying that it would take him to her.
The music was loud now, louder then it had ever been and as his feet stepped through yet another doorway he felt his heart twist and drop to his stomach.
There Six stood...but she wasn't how he remembered her.
Her form was as distorted as the tower around him, arms unnaturally long and twisted, hair matted and tangled, eyes scared and wary.
She looked up at him, protectively pulling her music box closer to her body.
At first Six's gaze was cold and hard, glaring at him like he was an intruder that meant her harm. But then after she had gotten a decent look at him, her eyes flickered with something that looked like relief, her posture going from defensive to relaxed, and her hands loosening their grip on the music box.
She recognized him, Mono realized.
Even if she looked different this was still his Six.
"Hey," he whispered to her, a familiar greeting low and soft.
The cornor of Six's lips twitched up in a faint smile and slowly she reached her hand out towards him.
"Hi."
Her voice was hoarse and scratchy, as if she hadn't used it in months, it wasn't loud either, it was a nothing more then a whisper.
Mono took hold of Six's out scretched hand and felt his eyes sting with tears.
"Six," his voice shook dangerously "I'm so sorry," it came out as a sob.
Six tilted her head at him yellow glowing eyes slowly blinking, as if she didn't understand.
"I'm so, so, sorry," Mono hiccup "this is all my fault, all of this!"
Mono's voice raised slightly and his grip on Six's large hand tightened, his hand only being able to grasp fruitfully at her fingers.
"I should of stopped the Thin Man, I should have done something! Anything!"
Six made a small noise, it sounded distressed.
Mono gasped suddenly as Six pulled her hand away from his grip and quickly placed it to his back, gently pushing him towards her.
Mono stiffened as Six brought him to her, it wasn't a hug- at least Mono didn't think it was. She was bringing her closer to him as if simply being near her would take the pain away.
Perhaps she was trying to make him feel safe.
Once Mono was tucked under her she grabbed hold of her music box and and began twisting the handle, the eerie tune filling the room.
Mono looked up at her.
She brought her head down to his hight, Mono feeling her breath on his cheek.
"Safe," Six's distorted voice croaked.
Mono blinked at her.
Six continued to play her song for him.
...
She was trying to make him feel safe. She was playing her music box for him, sharing the item that brought her the most comfort in an attempt to bring him the same sense of security.
"Oh Six," Mono's voice was still watery but there was something warm in it now.
The next thing Six knew Mono had latched himself around her midriff in a tight hug.
"Six," Mono cried again "thank you."
He wasn't sure what he was thanking her for.
Maybe for being okay, maybe for not being angry with him.
Maybe for still being his best friend.
Six awkwardly brought her her large hand and patted his back.
Mono laughed shakily at that.
Six had always been awkward with physical affection.
The first time he had hugged her was after he had rescued her from the bullies. He had latched himself onto her and would not let go, blabbering about how scared and sorry he was.
Six had awkwardly patted his back in the same way and thank him genuinely for rescuing her.
Now Mono found himself once again not wanting to let go.
A large finger tapped his shoulder.
Mono reluctantly took a stepped back, looking up at his friend in confusion.
"Mono," her voice rasped as she raised a finger and pointed at his face "bag?" She tilted her head.
"Oh," he realised "I uh I lost it when I fought the Thin Man."
Six's eyes went wide and fear flicked wildly acrossed her face.
"He hurt Mono?!" She asked suddenly, hand releasing her Music box and gently prodding at him.
At her words his side throbbed painfully.
"I'm okay," he wrapped his hand around one of her fingers "I got a little banged up but I'm okay now...we're both safe," he reassured with a soft smile "the Thin Man is gone now."
Six looked at him unsure, her frown deepening when her inlarged thumb brushed against the deep bruise on his side and he visibly flinched.
"Mono hurt," she whimpered her hands working to try and lift his coat up to get a look at the injury.
Mono's much smaller hands grasped at her own.
"I'm okay really!" He smiled brightly at her "we're together again that's all that matters."
Six still wore a heavy frown but her hands released his coat and she backed off.
Mono smiled warmly at her before taking a few steps back.
"We should get going," his hushed voice called and his smile fell slightly.
They needed to get out of here. Without the Thin Man the signal tower wasn't stable and Mono wasn't sure just how much longer it would hold up.
Whether Six was her original self or if she was...as she is now it didn't matter. All that did was they get out of here, together.
Six shook her head.
"Safe here."
Mono bit his lip
"The signal tower isn't stable anymore Six," he tried to explain "we won't be safe if we stay here any longer."
Six looked around the room, hands reaching for her music box.
"Room is safe and warm."
She began winding up her music box.
Mono took a few steps forwards now, hesitating for a moment before placing his hands on Six's music box.
She didn't push him away or make any move to show that she was unhappy with him.
"It's not safe Six, I know it feels like it because your comfortable here but if we don't leave then will both be destroyed," he glanced from her music box to her face "so will your music box."
At his words Six stiffened. She glance down at him, her large hands tightening around her music box.
"Can Six take?" Her voice was small and fearful.
Mono wasn't sure what she meant at first, but it quickly clicked when Six lifted the box off the ground and brought it close to her chest.
"Oh!" He smiled "of course!"
Six nodded at him and seemed to wait for Mono to lead the way. Mono took a few steps towards the door, looking back to make sure Six was following and feeling relieved to find she was.
Picking up the pace a bit Mono began steadly leading his friend towards the door, he wasn't sure how much longer the tower would hold and he didn't want to push his luck anymore then he already had.
But when Six suddenly let out a loud and distressed noise- far to similar to the scream she had made when the Thin Man had taken her he stilled in his tracks.
"Six!?" Mono cried spinning on his heels determined not to let anything happen to her again.
When he turned though he didn't find Six in any direct danger, rather she was desperately pulling at her music box which some mysterious invisible wall was preventing her from taking with her.
"Mono!?" Six turned to her friend "help!?"
At her plea Mono didn't hesitate to run back into the room and place all his weight onto the large music box- trying to force it through the opened doorway.
"Come on," he grit his teeth as he pushed with all his might.
"Music box," Six cried her voice becoming watery as she was separated from her beloved comfort item.
The tower began to shake.
"Oh no," Mono breathed.
They had run out of time.
The tower groaned and cracked in distress, walls melting from wood to a disgusting irony smelling bulb of flesh.
"Mono!?" Six asked in distress gaze flickering to the wall of meat and eyes behind him but hand remaining on her music box.
Mono jumped out from behind the music box and ran to his friend.
"Six we have to go," he pleaded gripping her jacket in his fist.
"Six's music box," she sobbed.
Mono felt his heart shattered as he watched tears fall down her face. This music box meant so much to her, it was her constant sense of safety...leaving it behind to be destroyed must brake her heart.
"Six I'm so sorry," Mono hiccuped "I'll find you a new music box I promise I will by we have to go!"
"Not Six's!"
"No I know," the ground shifted beneath his feet "I know nothing will replace it but I still want you to have something that makes you feel safe."
Finally Six tore her eyes away from her music box and looked at him.
Despite his fear and desperation he managed a smile for her.
"And if you want and I can hum that song for you, whenever you want to hear it just ask I promise I'll sing it for you!"
...
Six looked at him her expression unreadable.
"Mono...is Six's music box?"
"Yeah!" Mono nodded repeatedly "I'll be your music box!"
And just like that something seemed to click in Six's mind. Her face went blank and without another word she let go of her beloved music box.
Then she raised her massive fist and brought it down on the trinket.
Purple light flooded from the box and Six howled loudly as though crushing the object had physically hurt her.
"Six!?" Mono cried loudly watching as she seemed to twist in agony her massive form twisting and distorting in the purple light.
And then just like that it was over.
And Mono was staring right at Six.
His Six.
She was back to normal.
"Six!?" Mono cried again, forgetting the fear of the tower around him and launching himself into his arm.
"Mono!?" Six gasped as she was knocked off her feet, and for once she returned his hug.
"Six," Mono sobbed into her shoulder.
Six opened her mouth as if to say something but was rudely interrupted by the towers fleshy mass looming towards them.
Six and Mono stared at the wall that stared back at them before they both scrambled over their feet and stumbled for the exit.
It was Six who got the lead, she had always been faster on her feet then Mono had been, not only that but he had frozen for a split second locked in the gaze of the eyes before he heard Six call for him and shake him out of his trance.
Mono ran after his friend, the towers flesh creeping up beneath the floor and nearly destroying the path before him.
He leaped and bounded over the disgusting obstacles honing in on Six's bright yellow jacket.
A door was ahead of them. One that crackled and sparked with signals.
Mono's hands twitched at his side, his finger pads buzzing as he felt the tingle of the singal.
He could tune it. If he and Six got to that door then he could get them to safety.
The floor cracked and shattered like glass.
Six stumbled, hurriedly regaining her balance before making a leap to safety.
Mono felt relieved to see she had made it but before him was one hell of a drop.
"Mono!" Six called.
Mono's eyes snapped up from the darkness below him, locking onto to Six's-once again red eyes.
She had her hand extended towards him, beckoning him to jump, to trust her.
He leapt without a second thought.
He was free falling for a moment before he felt Six's hand latch onto his own.
Her grip was tight, she didn't hesitate, they'd done this a hundred times over.
Six pulled him up.
She didn't release his hand- he didn't release hers.
Together they ran towards that door that held salvation behind it.
Together they leaped through it, Mono's free hand lifting up to channel the signal and guide them safetly through the buzzing current.
Together they fell out of the TV.
They lied their for a moment, shaking and panting.
Then Mono started to laugh.
Six glanced up at him through her bangs and hood, eyes confused and still flickering with anxiety.
Mono's laughter though was contagious, and soon Six found that a smile broke out on her face, then a small giggle and then a bellowing laugh.
Neither of them had heard the other laugh so loudly or so freely before. It was a beautiful sound that they both relished in and found the deepest of comfort in.
More comfort then any music box could ever hope to bring.