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“Fist Bump!”
Mono’s voice rang out in his usual excitement bringing Six out of her thoughts. She tilted her head, bangs shifting slightly to reveal slivers of her dark eyes to peer at her companion. Her brows furrowed as she studied the fist hanging in the air between them. Her lips turned downwards in a grown, wondering if Mono was trying to start a fight because they both knew she hit much harder than him when she put force behind her actions.
The fist lingered for a moment longer before Mono dropped it, the paper bag masking his facial features but Six could see the disappointment in those dark eyes. It wasn’t her intention to make Mono feel down, but she simply didn’t understand what he was trying to convey as she sat on the ground basking under the moonlight.
For once, the weather wasn’t bitterly cold or wet, there was a light wind but nothing the duo couldn’t handle. They were in an alleyway of the Pale City, taking a break before the inevitable travel to the Tower. This journey was definitely adventurous but the real journey was trying to figure out Mono who was so different from the others she has met once before. The others that no longer held names in her head and were nothing more than faint, blurred images.
Her hands rested in her lap as Mono’s shoulders dropped and he turned away. There was a twitch of something in her gut that she could not place, but she would ignore it and focus on herself. Mono was a strange boy, one she lacked the need to figure out but enjoyed his antics nonetheless. She hummed, and closed her eyes, listening to Mono rummage through whatever littered the streets for supplies.
She’ll help... eventually.
— — — —
When Mono brought up his fist again like an offering, it was after they tackled the mannequins. She had been more content to take a much needed rest by the fire created from the smoldering doctor, but Mono had wanted to disappear from the area as quick as possible. He had grabbed her hand and they ventured from the ruins of the hospital without much thought.
They had ran as far away as possible from the area, their bare feet pattering against the wet cement. After a few moments, they slowed down and she came face-to-face with the same motion from a few days ago.
Fueled by adrenaline, Six balled up one of her fist and hit Mono in the face. She was confused, forced to run due to his inert fear of what they endured (understandable), and now he had raised his fist to her. She bared her teeth like a feral animal and stumbled away from him. Why was he acting like this?
On the flip side, Mono went from the exhilarating mood and impulsive attitude of surviving the mess that was the hospital to pain. Six watched him cry out in shock and clearly pain, and hands moved to where his nose hid beneath the bag. It was only a moment longer that the scent of blood filled the air and her eyes zeroed in on him like a predator to its prey. Her stomach rumbled but it wasn’t loud for once, a twinge she was able to ignore in favor of trying to figure out her companion’s antics.
Mono removed the paper bag, a hand pinching the bridge of his nose where blood dripped freely to the ground beneath them. She blinked, watching for any more sudden movements feeling no remorse for her actions. Mono brought it upon himself for acting ridiculous and spontaneously after what they endured. He looked at her through tear filled eyes, the hit had hurt but he would not let the reactive tears fall from it.
He was confused, wondering why Six acted as she had when it clicked and he felt ridiculous.
“You’ve never had a fist bump before, have you?”
His words were partially muffled due to how he was keeping his nose pinched, but he knew Six could hear him well enough. She had uncanny hearing after all, most often stopping them before any true danger could be seen. But, that was besides the point, right now he had to focus on this event and the last time he had offered his fist to her. She must have thought it was some sort of attack! Playful or not, it only made sense for Six to lash out like she had without a second thought.
Six’s shoulders were still tense but she wasn’t baring her teeth at him. She reminded Mono of a feral cat cornered and no idea how to react to a kind voice. Mono sighed, a slight crooked smile on his lips and a shake of his head had him nearly laughing at the silliness of it all. They had just endured a deranged doctor and moving mannequins, only for the real threat to be this moment of miscommunication. It didn’t surprise him that Six wouldn’t understand what he was talking and it was his job to explain it lest he ended up injured again.
“Sorry, Six... I shouldn’t have assumed. But, I promise I wasn’t trying to attack you.”
He waved the hand holding his bag, in a partial sign of apology. He was embarrassed now, could feel Six’s eyes on him even with them hidden beneath her bangs. Six stayed quiet, always quiet, but her shoulders relaxed at Mono’s apology but now she was extremely curious of the gesture he’s been throwing her way recently.
She was expecting an explanation but she could wait until his nose at least stopped bleeding... and they cleaned up the mess. So, rather than press, they got situated in a safe place and Six was carefully playing a small bandage over the bride of his sensitive nose. When they’ve finished that, they found a can of peaches they struggled to break open for nearly an hour before Mono slammed the hatchet straight down the middle.
It was a sticky sweet treat, better than the partially molded food or berries lurking around the alleys and Pale City, itself. With their stomachs satisfied, Mono and Six sat in the corner of a worn down apartment. He had had mask back on now, but Six had her hood down, letting her hair bounce in all directions.
Once settled, Mono reached for Six’s hand to grip it reassuringly before releasing it and folding her fingers into a fist. She watched him like a cat following a toy, completely trusting him. Mono moved slowly lest he startled Six again, and she was grateful for that. She hummed when he tapped her fist, a sign to keep it closed. It was then that Mono formed a fist and bumped their knuckles together.
“That’s a fist bump. It’s typically done after a moment of accomplishing something great. Or, some kids use it as a way of greeting each other.”
Mono grinned beneath his mask, ignoring the slight pain his nose scrunching brought forth. Six nodded slowly as he pulled away and immediately went to follow after him with her own fist, still harder than need be. There was amused laughter and soon Six joined in as she wondered how something so benign stooped her. She held her fist out grinning at Mono as he did it in return, taking note that he didn’t do it as hard.
“See, not a threat.”
Six nodded, agreeing that there most definitely wasn’t a threat to be had.
— — — —
The next time Mono threw his fist out behind him as they successfully hid from the enemy, Six eagerly bumped their fists together.