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Halloween was a concept that A-14 was vaguely aware of. The cover of night with swarms of costumes always made his missions easier when he was with his previous organization. However, there was apparently more to the holiday than just dressing up. Dr. White had told A-14 that Halloween was less of just a holiday, and more of culture.
There were traditions in place that people completed during fall to celebrate the season. A-1 had been a lot more excited about the prospect of festivities and new experiences than A-14 was, though A-14 didn't tell him that.
As soon as they had been reunited, A-1 had set it upon himself to make up for A-14's lack of childhood. Though A-1 had also never had a childhood of his own, both of them suffering from the same intense upbringing, he said that doing things to improve A-14's life experience made him happy.
A-14 could count on one hand the number of people in his life that stood beside him, and A-1 had always been there. So, if doing the silly things A-1 brought him too made him happy, A-14 didn't mind it too much.
That being said, the idea of going out into a crowd of people to partake in odd events he hadn't ever heard of wasn't exactly A-14's idea of a good time. Still, when A-1 had come over to A-14's room, an excited smile on his face, A-14 couldn't bring himself to refuse.
“I know you don't really like being in places with lots of people, but I promise I'll be with you the whole time.” A-1 said, grabbing a big brown coat out of a paper shopping bag and handing it over to A-14. He met A-14's eyes nervously, looking small and awkward in his own too big coat. “Plus, Dr. White got us some coats, so the cold shouldn't be too bad.”
A-14 nodded, carefully pulling on the coat he was given as A-1 continued to talk, rambling on anxiously. “I don't want you to be uncomfortable, and since Dr. Young is coming with us, I asked him and he said if you decide you want to leave early, he'll take us back.”
A-14 stared up at A-1, waiting for him to stop talking before responding. “I'll be fine, One. I already said I was going to go with you.”
A-1 takes a breath in, exhaling slowly before offering a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I just want this to be a good experience for you.”
A-14 pats the side of A-1's arm in an attempt at comfort. “It's fine. I know what you're trying to do.”
A-1 nods, still smiling faintly as he offers A-14 his hand.
A-14 takes it without comment, letting A-1 lead him out towards the main lobby. Dr. Young is standing over by the door in the lobby, his blonde hair tied back in a short ponytail. He wasn't wearing his usual white jacket, instead having on a thick fluffy looking sweater.
Dr. Young glanced up at their arrival, his eyes lingering on
A-1 for a moment before looking away. “Hello. You're right on time. The festival starts in half an hour.”
A-1's smile softens at the sight of Dr. Young, a look in his eyes that A-14 doesn't bother to analyze. Ever since Dr. Young started his classes with A-1, they had gotten closer. A-14 didn't really understand their relationship, what with their past and Dr. Young's profession, but as long as it made One happy, A-14 didn't see any need to say anything about it.
Dr. Young clapped his hands together, startling A-14 out of his thoughts. “Are you two ready to go then?”
A-1 looked down at him, smiling brighter when A-14 nods. “Yes. We're ready.”
With that confirmation, Dr. Young leads them out a set of keycarded doors and into a large parking facility. It wasn't the first time A-14 had seen the facility, but it surprised him every time how big it was. He knew Winter's base had been pretty big as well, but he had never been allowed out of his cell or training rooms unless it was for a mission.
It was just another thing that was different from then to now. A-14 was allowed to go to a festival now for no other reason than to have fun. It was odd to have permission to act like a person, but A-14 was learning that lots of things from Winter's base were wrong. Dr. White had told him outright during his first week that what he and One went through wasn't right or normal.
A-14 was starting to believe him.
They got into a large black car, Dr. Young taking up the wheel while both him and A-1 took seats in the back. The drive was quiet but comfortable, some of Dr. Young's instrumental music playing from the car's speaker. A-14 wasn't familiar with any of the songs yet, having only really discovered the concept of music a month or two ago. He decided he liked it anyway.
A-14 stared out the window as Dr. Young drove, taking in the scenery. There were lots of trees and plots of farmland dotted in between. It was something Fifteen would have appreciated. He had always loved when their missions brought them out in nature. Even if A-14 didn't share the sentiment, the memory of Fifteen's enthusiasm for it made him smile.
Fifteen would have loved the opportunity that A-14 had right now. It was a bittersweet thought, but A-14 couldn't help but think about it anyway. He wondered if Fifteen would be proud of him, if he was here today.
He was drawn out of his rumination by the car stopping. The sight of a large tent and people crowding around stalls and booths greeted him when he looked outside again. Dr. Young turns back to look at them. “We're here.”
A-1 turned towards him, his voice lowering. “Are you going to be okay?”
A-14 nodded. “I'll be fine, One. You don't need to worry.”
A-1 looks unsure for only a moment before smiling. “Alright.”
The festival was just as crowded as it looked from the car. It made A-14's stomach roll uncomfortably, but he pushed it down. He reached out for One's hand, grasping it in his own firmly. A-1 glanced down at him, but thankfully didn't say anything this time. A-14 looked around at all the booths, his eyes landing on a bright sign, cartoon apples painted on it with large white lettering.
“What's an apple bobbing?” A-14 whispered, looking over at A-1 questioningly.
A-1 looked just as confused by the term as he was, glancing over at Dr. Young for the answer.
“Apple bobbing is an activity some people do during the fall season,” Dr. Young explained. “You dunk your head into a tub and try to bite an apple.”
A-14 raised his eyebrows, looking back over at the sign. A-1 notices his gaze. “Do you want to try it, Fourteen?”
A-14 hums a non-answer. It was a weird concept, but he guessed it had to be some sort of fun if people came to do it at a festival. “Alright.”
They walk over to the booth as a group, A-14 slipping behind A-1 as Dr. Young talks to the woman behind the booth counter. She directs them over to a large plastic tub, full of water and apples. A-14 looks down into the tub curiously. The woman smiles at him.
“If you manage to catch an apple, there are prizes you can win over at my booth. Have fun.”
A-14 watches A-1 thank the woman as she walks back over to her booth, before he too turns to the apple bobbing tub.
“This is a pretty strange tradition, isn't it?”
Dr. Young nods at them. “It is a bit strange, but it's been around for hundreds of years.”
A-14 looked back up at Dr. Young. “What’s the point?”
Dr. Young tilts his head. “There isn't really a point but to have fun. When it first originated it actually used to be a courting ritual, but people don't do it for that anymore.”
A-14 hums quietly in response. “Can I try it?”
A-1 smiles at him. “I mean, we are here to enjoy the festival, aren't we?”
A-14 nods, looking over at Dr. Young again. “Are there rules to this apple bobbing?”
“Not really. You just can't use your hands.”
A-14 nods again, clasping his hands behind his back. It feels like the position should be embarrassing, but A-14 has long gotten over shame. He dunks his head into the tub, closing his eyes and biting at the moving apples.
He manages to bite down on one and the laugh One lets out at A-14's attempt is enough to make the activity more than worth it.
A-1 smiles brightly at him. “You won!”
A-14 nods, dropping the apple into his hand. “I did. Do I win a prize now?”
Dr. Young looks amused, his eyes gleaming. “That's what the woman at the booth said. Let's go see what they have.”
The booth has a lot of options for prizes, most of them tacky Halloween toys. A-14 ends up picking a small black stuffed cat. He hugs it to his chest as he walks beside One, a small smile pulling at his lips.
Maybe this festival was going to be fun after all.