Chapter Text
Every number has some spiritual meaning behind it, varying from single to triple digits, sometimes even quadruple digits. Some numbers connect to each other, meaning the same or a similar thing as another, but that only means a good sign for mortals who see both numbers at once. The numbers manifest themselves into others’ views so that they are almost haunting the mortals. It's for good, though, as they watch over everyone and allow them to know they are doing the right thing in their life. Actually, it's more terrifying if one were to not be haunted by one of these numbers as it meant they were doing something wrong.
Among these numbers, there was one who was a lucky spirit. They were a variable, but that wasn’t what one would see if they were being watched by this spirit. This spirit could let them see whichever number they chose, yet their true value remained as seven. The variable and spirit Seven helped each other out, as well as the variable being a huge help to the other spirits. Within this small world they stayed in, observing the others and living amongst themselves, they all lived in peace and harmony with each other. Everything nice and calm between the spirits under the watchful eyes of the higher-up, One.
Well, for most of them anyways.
Six stayed back as they saw the other spirits doing their jobs, frowning and crossing their arms. All those idiots, they thought. Doing something that holds no meaning to the mortals. They’re all wasting their time.
They sighed, sitting back against a tree and closing their eyes. They couldn’t remember the last time they laid their mark on a mortal. They surely remembered the last events though; they watched over Lollipop, who seemed to be struggling between business and her relationships. She had been having trouble choosing between these two things within her life, and it did a real toll on her mental health. Six tried sending her a symbol down, letting her know that she would find out how to balance the two things soon and live a better life, yet it didn’t seem to do anything for her. Actually, Lollipop chose business over everyone else, ignoring the signs and attempts of balance coming her way. The spirit hadn’t helped her out at all, and actually had her make a decision that would forever ruin her and haunt her.
Six seemed to not be able to help anybody, so they stopped trying altogether, hanging out in this one spot under the tree. The other spirits questioned it at first, but eventually stopped caring, seeing that it didn’t do much with anything. One checked up on them every so often, to which Six would retort “why do you care so much about me? Five has balance into his name as well! You don’t need me as much as you say you do.”
One frowned. “I need you as much as I would need anybody. Without you, there is an imbalance within the Playground. Without any of us, there’s an imbalance… You mean a lot more to us all than you think you do.”
“Don’t flatter me, One. You say nothing but lies.”
The dark blue spirit blinked before sighing gently and standing up. She looked over at them with an upset look before averting her gaze again.
“I don’t want you thinking that one mistake makes you horrible at your meaning, Six. Lollipop was destined to live that way, and it’s not your fault she turned out like that. It would mean so much to me if you tried again one day… I’ll see you soon.”
Six frowned, rolling their eyes and crossing their arms. One sadly walked away, sparing a glance back at the teal spirit before going to check on everyone else.
So that was what led to Six’s actions today. Whatever, if One was so worried about imbalance, she’d actually try and do something about it. It’s not like any bad things were happening in the Playground, or on the plain they were supposed to be protecting. Plus, there were 14 of them anyways, what’s minus one going to do? Isn’t 13 a lucky number anyways?
Six’s face hardened. They really weren’t needed… They groaned, burying their face into their palms.
They heard footsteps across the soft grass approaching them and coming to a stop, sitting down next to them. Six dragged out a groan, not bothering to look over at whoever made themselves present. They already knew who it was anyways, or so they thought.
“One, I told you to leave me alone,” Six muttered. “Why can’t you just do that?”
“Wrong integer, bro. I'm no higher-up to keep things in order.”
Their eye twitched at the voice. They knew exactly who was next to them.
“Oh great,” they muttered sarcastically, looking up at the integer next to them. “What do you want from me, Nine?”
“Just giving you some company, bro! Also, nobody needs my help at the moment…”
“So shouldn't you be focused on finding your next mortal?”
“Nah, bro.” Nine sat back against the tree, folding her arms behind her head. “I think I deserve the break.”
Six rolled their eyes. “You're more lazy than I ever was… How come I was the one who had to be such a failure?!”
“Failure? Nah, nah… I wouldn't call you a failure, Sixer!”
“Then what am I?”
“A lucky number! You don't have to do anything, bro! I envy you!”
They shot a glare at Nine. He grinned at them, shrugging and chuckling gently to himself.
“Anyways, I think it would be awesome to go for a spin on that sick bike I just got. Want to hop on?”
“Why?”
“To get your mind off of everything, bro!” They tipped their shades down so that Six could see their eyes. “You look like you need a brain break.”
Six looked her in the eyes before looking away again. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure, bro? You know I’m just trying to make you feel better!”
“Goodbye, Nine.”
“Six, I really think it would benefit you if you--”
“ Goodbye, Nine .”
Nine hesitated before lifting their sunglasses over their eyes again and standing up. They grabbed their skateboard literally out of thin air and started rolling away on it, leaving Six alone again. They sighed, getting up themself and walking away from the crowd in front of them; One being busy with her own things yet still watching over the others, Two and Three assisting One, Four and X sitting together while Four had been lost within helping someone, Five and Seven talking with each other, Eight being lost within helping someone as well, Ten struggling with focusing on his work and preventing Fourteen from eating his skin, and Fifteen seeming to try to be alone herself yet still working on helping different objects. Six frowned. A bunch of goody-goodies, were all those numbers are. Same thing with Nine.
They walked back to the small shack they lived in and slowly made their way inside, stalking over to the small couch that lay in the middle of the room, but stopping to gaze into a full-body mirror that met them on their way. Six looked at themselves in the mirror disgustingly. They hated the ring that laid on the top of their head. They hated the wings that were on their back, grabbing at one of them and looking closely at it. What was the point of keeping this look on them if it didn’t seem to apply to them at all?
They were no spirit. They were no good omen. They were just a waste of space.
Six grunted as they pulled at the wing they held, wincing at how much it hurt them. Pain didn’t stop them though. They hated this look and wanted it gone no matter what. So they kept pulling until they tore at their wing, doing the same thing with the other one and yelling out in pain and frustration. Now, Six’s wings weren’t consisting of feathers, it was made of a soft, skin-like material yet didn’t have any mimic of veins attached to them.
They groaned out as they pulled harder at their wings, knowing that they couldn’t afford to pull them straight out of their body. There were huge rips being formed, small holes as well. Six had stopped themself when the pain got too much for them, taking another look in the mirror. They were very disheveled now, looking beat up and tired. Small tears pricked their eyes as they growled, grabbing the side of the mirror and slamming it down to the ground. There was no telling if the mirror shattered or simply cracked, and quite frankly, Six didn’t care.
They plopped down roughly on the small couch, letting out a drawn out sigh and burying their face into one of the pillows. Six felt horrible, wishing they’d never even been “blessed” with this spiritual life that they had. They wished they could live like a normal mortal, or at the very least not have to toy with the fates of others’ lives and potentially ruin them for good. Actually, not potentially, Six did ruin people’s lives.
Six slowly closed their eyes, sighing and emptying their mind. It was hard to drift into a sleep as their wings pulsed and ached, but they could sleep through it fine. After all, things could always be worse. So they kept trying to rest, trying to keep all memory of the other spiritual integers out of their head for at least this small interval of time.