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Summary
From the Nest, to the City, to the Maw, these kids have overcome many obstacles. But now back on the mainland, their challenges lie in navigating a world they've become disconnected from, all to find Seven's home.
Series
- Part 5 of Safety in Numbers
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Taking that as enough assurance, he took one of the sticks from the pack and offered another to Seven. He took a bite. It was tough, but otherwise was fine.
Mono seemed to disagree, though, as his face immediately scrunched up. “It’s so salty. ”, he complained, even as he continued to eat it.
Seven hummed. “Not really.”
“You just think that ‘cause you’re used to that super salty cafeteria food.”, Mono argued.
“Or maybe you’re just used to bland food.”
“Wait.”, Six interrupted, making them both look at her. Her eyes were wide with realization. “The food’s fresh.”
Seven only frowned, confused, but Mono’s face also fell, apparently reaching the same conclusion she had.
“Someone’s living here.”
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Ducking through alleys and running across rooftops only gave her glimpses, but it was still enough for her to get a picture of what the world, the real world, looked like. It was brighter than she remembered, and louder. And foreign.That’s what it was, wasn’t it? Looking at this world, she did not feel connected to it. The sneaking around only pronounced this feeling, like she was just slinking on the edges, intruding on something she had no part in.
(She knew this was what they were heading towards when they agreed to find Seven’s home. Somewhere safe and normal and just like this. What if this feeling didn’t go away by then? What if she was out of place forever in a world she hadn’t been made for in the first place?)
---
It was a mirror. Rectangular and cracked, with the glass mostly covered in fog. Even so, she could still make out her reflection in it.She hadn’t realized how much of her form the raincoat took up. It was practically the only noticeable detail, everything else hidden underneath. She couldn’t even see her face until she stepped closer and brushed some of her hair aside.
It was odd, looking at her own face. She couldn’t remember the last time she had done it. It felt almost the same as looking at the town, a sort of disconnect to something she knew she was supposed to fit into.
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He ran his hand back and forth on the fuzzy blanket they were sprawled out on. The pile of sheets and pillows had just been sitting out, and the kids immediately took the chance to settle somewhere actually soft.As Mono fidgeted, his gaze drifted over to Seven.
During the whole walk, Seven seemed…sullen. Before, he had been looking around at everything with wide eyes, trying to take it all in at once. But his mood had abruptly plummeted, only being aware enough to go forward. They were all huddled in silence, but Seven’s silence was the most pressing.
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He didn’t know how much Seven liked that method, though. He had panicked like that before, in the Kitchen, clueless in the face of unfamiliarity. It was clearly something that scared him.
---
Right as Six had Seven cornered, Mono ran up from behind, hitting her with a second pillow. She whirled around, but he blocked the swing with his own weapon. They traded blows, more just smacking their pillows together rather than each other.A third abruptly came into the fray, breaking them apart as Seven swung with wild abandon. He was fully beaming now, even as the onslaught was targeted back to him. With hushed giggles and held back shrieks, they chased and fought all around the attic.
Mono couldn’t think of the last time he had played a game. A real game that wasn’t just to pass the time and stave off boredom, but to have fun. To feel joy and have friends and not think about the perils of the world.