Chapter Text
Mono had been floating in a sea of gentle dreams when the first threads of reality began to pull him back to the waking world. He felt a warm presence next to him, assuming it was Six, who had a knack for curling up uncomfortably close while they slept.
He blinked his blue eyes open to the dim light filtering through the makeshift bed they'd assembled out of old blankets and cardboard in their hidden nook, at the edge of the Pale City.
When his hand brushed the source of the warmth, he felt the silk of a blanket. He frowned. Where was Six?
Mono opened his eyes and found her immediately. Six’s face was mere inches from his, her brown eyes scrutinizing him from under her yellow raincoat. "This morning," she said with a hint of sarcasm, "you were snoring like a bear with a head cold."
She flicked him in the nose. "God, I'm not even a morning person like you and I managed to get up earlier than you did today. What the heck happened to your internal alarm clock? And you sleep in on your birthday, of all the days!" Six gave Mono a small smile.
He blinked a few more times, trying to shake the sleepiness from his brain. "Wait, is it... today?" The paper bag rustled as he sat up, eyes wide in shock. "You remembered? I don't even remember my birthdays!" He threw his arms around Six, nearly knocking her over. "You're the best!"
Six rolled her eyes at his enthusiasm. She wasn’t stopping him, though. She squirmed, trying to maintain some semblance of coolness. "Well, someone had to," she muttered, her cheeks tinging with a slight blush.
Mono felt Six stiffen up in his arms, and in response he backed off, feeling awkward. "Er... sorry, I didn't mean to... you know, just got excited." He quickly changed the topic, hoping to ease the sudden tension. "So, what's the plan for today? Will we be going scavenging? Maybe we'll find something cooler than a half-eaten apple for my birthday feast?"
"Of course all a glutton like you can think about is your stomach," Six quipped, though the playfulness in her voice was palpable. She had indeed remembered Mono's birthday, and she had something up her sleeve (or rather, hidden in her raincoat pocket).
She had managed to find a small, untainted chocolate bar during their last venture into the abandoned city streets. It was a rare treat in the Pale City. She had kept it a secret, waiting for the right moment to reveal it.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the small, wrapped square with a flourish. "But I suppose if it's your birthday, you do deserve better than a half-eaten apple. Happy Birthday, Mono," she said, holding out the chocolate with a smug smile.
Mono's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates when Six presented the chocolate bar. "You... how did you... this is epic!" He squealed. Before Six could react, Mono charged at her, wrapping his arms tightly around her in a big ol' bear hug. His paper-bag-mask crumpled against her raincoat. "You're not just the best, you're the greatest!” His joy was unmistakable.
Six stumbled backward, the chocolate bar slipping from her grasp and landing on the floor with a soft thud. "M-Mono, what the heck?!" After the first wave of shock passed, she reluctantly laughed, her cheeks a rosy shade of pink. She pushed him away gently, her eyes flicking to the forgotten treat. "You almost killed me, dude!"
Once he released her, she bent to retrieve the chocolate, her eyes shooting him a look that was half annoyed, half embarrassed. "You even made me drop your present!" She handed the slightly crumpled bar back to him with a smirk. "Now, don't eat it all at once, gremlin."
Mono took the chocolate bar with a sheepish grin, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Thank you, Six! This is the best present ever!" He began to peel back the silver wrapper, the scent of chocolate wafting through the air. "But seriously, what are we doing today?" He popped a chunk of the chocolate into his mouth, savoring the sweetness that had been so scarce in their lives lately.
"We're celebrating your birthday! Not every single darn day has to be a big adventure, y'know. Today is one of the only days when we have an excuse to not risk our lives going out and facing another one of those Big Bad monsters."
Mono put on an exaggerated British accent. "Relax, sweetcakes. It's not like we're unable to fight back. Need I remind you of the fate of each beast we've faced? They're all dead, and here we are, as spry as ever!" He took another bite of the chocolate, savoring the rich flavor.
Six rolled her eyes, her cheeks still flushed from their exchange. "Yeah, because we're totally invincible. And let's not forget that charm of yours," she said with a smirk, poking fun at his unshakable optimism. "Stop complaining and just... enjoy your birthday for once."
Mono recoiled in theatrical surprise. "You mean no sneaking around, no fighting monsters today?" He paused, a large grin plastered on his face. "Ma'am, I'm sorry to inform you, that sounds awfully boring."
Six managed to form an even larger eye roll than before. "Oh, you big baby. Grow up. Boring is the least of the problems. Keep up the whining, and I'll ensure you never have children." She smirked, her brown eyes gleaming with mischief.
Mono groaned. "Don't remind me of that," he complained. Recently the two friends had stumbled across a book titled 'Human Anatomy: Reproduction'. Ever since reading it, the two of them had agreed it was a horrible, disgusting concept, and they would be much happier if they could just... remain kids forever.
"You're such a doofus." Six remarked.
"Trust me, babe, I know." Mono winked at her, the crinkles at the corner of his eyes peeking out from the peepholes in his paper bag. "But, if I'm gonna be stuck with you forever, I'd rather not ruin this friendship by turning into a boring adult." He took another bite of the chocolate, his grin growing even wider.
"Boring?" Six's eyebrows shot up. "You think I'd let you get boring?" She snatched the chocolate bar from him. "You're the one who can't sit still for two minutes without causing a ruckus." She took a bite herself, chewing dramatically. "This is good. I declare it my property now."
Mono only let Six take one bite. The next time she tried to take a chunk out of it, he tackled her. "Hey! I thought you said it was mine!" He giggled childishly. They rolled around in their makeshift bed, the paper bag fluttering with their movements. Six's raincoat got a bit wrinkled, but she was too busy trying to get the chocolate back to care.
Eventually, Mono pinned her down, holding the treat just out of her reach. "If you really want this?" He taunted. "Say it's my birthday and I get to decide what we do.”
"Nope. I'm the event manager, so my word goes!" Six attempted to escape the boy's grasp, squirming under his weight. She tried to tickle him, but her fingers barely brushed the fabric of his shirt. "I've got a whole schedule planned out!"
"Schedule? You?" Mono paused. "I suppose that's more likely than me making one."
"What? I can be organized when I want to be." Six rolled over, flipping their positions so that she was now on top. "After the thought and hard work I put into the planning, I refuse to throw it all away for some boy who thinks he's oh-so-mighty when, in truth, he isn't."
Mono sighed dramatically. "Okay, I surrender."
Six's eyes narrowed suspiciously at Mono's sudden capitulation. "You're giving up that easily?" she asked, not quite believing it. She sat up, her short raven hair sticking out in every direction. She hadn't expected him to be so... obedient.
Mono nodded solemnly. "Yes, ma'am," he said, his voice so serious it was almost comical. He held out the chocolate bar to her. "You win. Happy Birthday to me, right?" He lounged back, giving her a carefree smile. "What's the plan for today?"
Six took the chocolate with a smug look on her face. "Finally, some sense in this conversation," she said. She took a moment to appreciate her victory before her expression softened. "Well, I figured we could stay here for the day, maybe play some of our card games, tell stories..."
* * * * *
Six was quickly growing to regret that decision. "How are you so good at Uno?!" She exclaimed, slapping the cards down on the makeshift table after her hundredth loss.
Mono threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing through their hideout. "It's all about the surprise factor, Six! You see, you expect me to be all clumsy and silly, but deep down, I've got a tactical genius mind!" He whispered the last part.
Six stormed over to her bed, grabbed a pillow, and tossed it at Mono. "Tactical genius, my butt," she said with a huff. She was grumpy because she'd lost every game, but she couldn't help the twitch of her lips that hinted at a smile. She sat back down, her raincoat shifting with her movements. "Fine, you win. But we're playing Poker now, and I never lose Poker."
Mono caught the pillow in midair with a flourish, his grin unshaken. "Ah, but the game isn't just about winning, it's also about the thrill of the chase!" He winked.
Six smiled the first genuine smile of the day. "Alright, hotshot, let's see if you can keep that smug look on your face when I take. You. Down." She dealt the cards with a flair, her competitive spirit revving up. She was ready to rock his world with her unbeatable luck.
Mono's eyes gleamed as he picked up his cards, shuffling them in his hands. "Oh, you're on, Six. I'm going to make you eat those words with a side of humble pie!" He wasn't truly all that confident in his ability to best her at poker, but he loved the thrill of a challenge. Plus, it was his birthday. If the rules of Birthday applied, Mono was going to be the luckiest being in existence for the day.
Six had watched him with a skeptical eye, shaking her head. "Keep dreaming, Mono," she said, trying to hide the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. She had noticed that Mono had a habit of getting over-confident, especially when it came to games. It was something she had picked up on over the months they had spent together.
She leaned back, crossing her arms. "Soon you'll see who the real champion is around here."
Mono had shuffled the makeshift cards with a flourish, his paper bag rustling with his excitement. "You're on, Six!" He had said, his blue eyes peeking through the small holes in his 'mask'. He had dealt the cards with a grin, eagerly watching her face for any signs of a tell.
Six studied her hand carefully. As the game progressed, she had noticed that she was actually enjoying herself more than she expected. She had to admit, she had missed these moments of normalcy. They were scarce in the world they lived in.
Her eyes narrowed as she placed a card down with a smack. "Don't get too cocky," she warned, her voice playful despite the scowl. "You're going to be crying to your mother in just a few seconds."
* * * * *
A few minutes later, Mono was laughing his head off while Six swore angrily under her breath. "You aren't nearly as impressive as you led me to believe, Miss 'I Never Lose at Poker'!" He had managed to bluff his way through the entire hand, and she had fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.
Six glared at him, her cheeks a fiery red. "You cheated!" she accused. They both knew the truth, though: Mono had beaten Six fair and square, and there was no denying it. Six decided to write it off as a simple dose of beginner's luck.
Mono put a hand to his chest dramatically. "Cheated? Me? I'm hurt, Six. Truly. Have you considered that you might not be as good as you thought?"
Six shook a fist at her best friend. "You're lucky I don't have a second pillow to toss at you, you little rascal," she groused. When his gloating expression was too much to bear, she pushed back her chair and rose to her feet. "Know what? It's your birthday. We're going to go find a pub to visit and pour ourselves some Cokes in celebration!" She spread her arms wide in declaration.
Mono's eyes lit up at the mention of a pub. "Really? Cool! Aren't they, like... places where adults would go to get... what's the term...?" He paused, trying to remember the word.
"No, you're thinking of a bar. A pub is like a family-friendly version of that." Six paused to add one of her signature eyerolls for effect. "I can't believe you haven't heard of one until now. Anyways, we're going to head over there. Besides Coke, they've got some decent snacks. And, if we're lucky, there might be a jukebox or something for some entertainment." She would've started putting on her raincoat... if she didn't already wear it everywhere.
Mono's grin grew even wider. "Jukebox? Oh man, I've heard of those! They're like the ultimate party in a box!" He jumped to his feet, the paper bag bobbing on his head. "But, wait! Before we go, I need a new look for this special day!" He dashed to the corner of their hideout where he kept his collection of headpieces.
Six let out a long, dramatic groan as Mono began rummaging through his collection of hats. She knew he was kidding; the paper bag had been a constant part of his look since the day she'd met him. Despite his enthusiasm, she couldn't help but feel a pang of curiosity about what he truly looked like underneath.
But… she didn't dare voice it. The few times the subject had come up, Mono had shut down faster than a clam at high tide.
With a flourish, Mono emerged from the depths of the pile, his paper bag nowhere to be seen. In its place, a shiny plastic policeman's hat perched atop his head, slightly askew. He had a smug grin on his face, as if he had just pulled off the greatest magic trick of all time.
"See? My new look is epic, am I right?" His grin slowly faded when he realized Six could see his face.
Six's initial reaction was a gasp, her eyes wide and her cheeks burning as she took in the sight of Mono's uncovered face. She hadn't been expecting to see Mono's face ever, and now he'd just carelessly revealed it to her. There he was, with his unruly black hair and the most charming gap-toothed smile she had ever seen.
For a brief moment, she couldn't find words. She stared, her heart fluttering. He looked... handsome. "M-Mono, you... you're..." she stuttered, trying to find the right words. Her mind raced, trying to come up with something snappy to say, something that would hide the sudden rush of feelings she hadn't anticipated.
Mono quickly covered his face with both hands. In his rush, he knocked down the hat. "No, no, no, no!" he exclaimed, his voice high-pitched. "You can't see me! You're not supposed to see me!" He stumbled away from her blindly, feeling his gut twist in panic.
He waited for her response, bracing himself for the worst. "I'm hideous, aren't I?" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his heart. The room grew eerily silent. Great. Now he was feeling a mixture of fear and dread.
Six had to bite her tongue to keep from blurting out something embarrassing. "You... you're not so bad," she finally whispered. She tried to shrug it off, crossing her arms and looking anywhere but at him. "You just... took me by surprise." Her voice was a mess of emotions she didn't know how to sort through. She hadn't expected to see his face, but now that she had, she couldn't get the image of that charming smile out of her head.
Mono peeked at her through his fingers. He had never felt so vulnerable before. "Not so bad?" He repeated, his voice filled with skepticism. He couldn't believe she didn't see him as a monster. "That's it? You're not going to scream and run away?" He chuckled nervously, hoping she wouldn't notice the tremor in his voice.
Six took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "Mono, you're not 'not so bad,' you're... you're fine. More than fine." Six swore internally when she heard just how shaky her voice was.
She took a step closer to him, placing a tentative hand on his shoulder. "Why do you think you're ugly? You aren't. You're... you're really good looking, actually." She didn't mean to say the last part, but the words tumbled out nonetheless.
Mono's face went beet-red under her touch. He hadn't felt this kind of heat since that one time they had stumbled across a forgotten solar lamp. "Wha-what?" He stammered, his eyes darting around the room as if looking for an escape.
Panic filled his chest as the unfamiliar feeling grew stronger. He had never been called 'good looking' before, and certainly not by Six. It was like someone had just told him he could fly. "I... I don't believe you."
"What do I have to do to make you believe me? Kiss you?" Six meant it as a joke, but when the words actually came out, it felt more like a challenge than a jest. She regretted it immediately, her hand sliding off his shoulder like it had been burned.
"I-I mean, I wouldn't do that, obviously," she stuttered, her cheeks flaming.
Mono's eyes shot up to hers, his heart skipping a beat. He hadn't anticipated that response, and the idea of Six kissing him sent a thrill down his spine that he had never felt before. She was messing with him, right? Deep down, Mono hoped she wasn't. He hoped she truly meant it.
Six stepped back. "Er... we should probably go to the pub now." She whispered, her eyes avoiding his. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife, and she didn't know how to handle it. "Before I say something stupid," she added under her breath. Her thoughts were racing as she tried to process the emotions flooding through her.
Mono cleared his throat, his hands fidgeting. He knew he had to put the bag back on, but he didn't want to. The brief moment of vulnerability had been surprisingly liberating. But even if Six somehow found him attractive for now, it would wear off when she started to notice how hideous he truly was.
Right?