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" I don't want to be alone when I look at you . . .
Let's take off our shoes,
and throw them on the power lines! "
—
It is nothing if not futile.
The compact plane I am forced to exist on, the mortal body that chains the force of My wrath, the eyes that stare through Me as if I am incapable of wiping the final breath from every putrid beings' lungs.
My existence is treated as a joke.
It is as if My title is not known, it is as if the blood that stains the Daemonshank means nothing to their pitiful eye.
Sightless.
They must be.
The Adversary left blood in Its trail, The Adversary left death in Its wake.
You look past your own fate as if It was never there.
. . .
Knock, knock.
You are no exception.
Knock, knock, knock.
And it seems you never will be.
1x1x1x1's shoulders tensed, a sneer shamelessly crossing Its face as the gentle, almost hesitant rapping at Its door persisted.
For someone who lacks certainty, you never give up. That makes you all the more irritating.
It thought about ignoring the noise entirely, and It did—for a few mere seconds. But it was quick to press on It's nerves.
"Leave," 1x1x1x1 ordered, Their voice carrying a low growl of annoyance. They didn't glance towards the door, just kept Their eyes fixed on the Daemonshank They held in Their grip, slowly resuming the too-rough scrubbing with a bloodstained cloth.
They didn't want to think twice about if the unwanted visitor would leave by Their command. They shouldn't have to.
But They knew better than to doubt John Doe's persistence.
Unfortunately, it would take more than just a verbal 'leave,' or any insult spat at his numb, brick-lined skull. Maybe a missing limb would finally get the message across.
1x1x1x1 was only spared a few heartbeats of quiet before They stilled, hearing soft taps of claws against Their door.
Just as expected.
"1x," John Doe grumbled out, his voice more gravely than usual from the lack of its usage. He hesitated by 1x1x1x1's door, brows furrowing as he leaned against it, pressing his forehead against the wood as if that would allow him to better hear 1x1x1x1.
As if he needed to. It would shout every word it meant clearly and with utmost certainty.
"I come, ask to show," Doe mumbled, clearing his throat in an uncomfortable way in an attempt to make his tone sound lighter.
1x1x1x1 gave a low, deep exhale, slowly turning Its head towards the door as It gently lowered Its weapon.
"What?" It hissed, Its tone carrying more hostility than the confusion It maybe tried to express.
Doe took a breath as if he was the one being bothered. "1x, Show. You. Something."
He wasn't, really. It would take an unstoppable force to get under Doe's skin that quickly. It was his own speech impediment that bothered him. It always had.
He huffed through his nose as he heard 1x1x1x1's denial, followed by a shifting in It's room as if It was completely set on It's decision.
"Will be quick," Doe added, hoping that alone could convince It.
It grumbled.
It won't be 'quick.'
"I said I don't want you here, Doe." 1x1x1x1's eyes narrowed, It's tone souring even more than before.
As opposed to John Doe, 1x1x1x1's endless fury was great enough to make It irritated at everything and absolutely nothing all at once. It wouldn't take more than five minutes for It to be set on despising you for the rest of eternity.
Their levels of patience was debatably what differentiated them the most from each other.
With heavy steps, 1x1x1x1 stood and dragged Itself toward Its bathroom door, intent on finishing the Daemonshank's cleaning process in what It hoped to be more peace.
Until Doe's words cut right through Its thin line of patience.
"Didn't say that," Doe protested, head tilting slightly.
"Quit testing me," 1x1x1x1 growled. "Leave means I don't want you here."
That is what presses on My nerves.
He treats Me as if I am nothing—they all treat Me as if I am nothing. His senseless mockery acts as a thorn sewn in My side, forcing Me to speak to him as if he is no more than a toddler for the slightest chance of his compliance.
He refused to leave.
He still did.
"What is it you want, Doe," It finally spat, annoyance overtaking any bit of interest Its question might have held. But Doe's face still brightened at Its words as he leaned his head closer against the door.
"Azure wants."
1x1x1x1's head tilted up, slightly.
"You said you had something to show me." It reminded, the frown on Its face tightening with distaste. If Doe had tried to lie, It was surprised to say the most.
". . . Yes," Doe nodded slowly, making It sigh. "Azure, too."
Admittedly, more out of the ordinary.
But nothing of My liking.
. . .
1x1x1x1 tries to be set on Its ways. Usually, It is. But curiosity—no interest of the sort, drove It out of Its room. Just this once.
"You better make this worth my time," 1x1x1x1 grumbled under Its breath, trudging after Doe with already-regretful steps.
Doe walked with a lighter demeanor, the jagged smile plastered on his face wide in contentment.
He was aware—by the countless times he'd tried dragging 1x1x1x1 out of Its room—that It was far too hard-headed to be convinced with a simple, 'come along.' Usually, it would take him several minutes longer to finally convince It—or, rather, run Its patience thin enough to comply. For that, he was grateful of his own patience.
But Doe didn't do it for nothing.
He didn't do it to be a bother, at least, he didn't want to be.
Despite the stares he received from the other killers, some questioning, some considerably judgmental—Doe always returned to 1x1x1x1 out of, well, what is truthfully pity.
To him, the realm they lived in was expansive, endless possibilities lay ahead, and true peace can be found within the beauty of its nature. But Them, They did not see what Doe did. They chose to live in a bleak world, hiding behind Their closed door, mumbling insults beneath Their breath.
A bleak world is not a nice one, it is empty, saddening. Doe only wished to shed light on it, not to be a bother, not to cause harm.
Though, he wasn't appreciated for it.
With a gentle knock on Azure's door, Doe let himself in a moment after, holding the door wider for 1x1x1x1 to follow. They scowled, doing so begrudgingly.
"Azure," Doe greeted, brightening a little as he lay his eyes on Azure, who sat just where they did before—neatly on the floor, their legs crossed and tendrils resting at their sides. They barely perked up at the sound of Doe's voice, the brim of their hat shielding their eyes.
"I'm glad you decided to come, 1x," Azure said, their voice unusually light enough to have been used for quite some time. Their expression held a soft smile, more welcoming than 1x1x1x1 liked.
It didn't respond, just grumbled under Its breath as it stepped further inside the room, following Doe with mild hesitance.
"What's this for?" It asked, glaring at the space in front of Azure.
A vase of flowers, the largest 1x1x1x1 had seen in the cabin. Additionally, unlike the others—every flower gathered in the confined space was a different type, or different color. No two were exactly the same. They were organized in a way that would've been pleasing for anyone else to look at—color-coded in almost a gradient-like look. Doe and Azure looked pleased with it.
"I wanted to teach you both a few things." They glanced back down at the vase, lifting a finger to gently run it across a golden petal in particular. "John insisted on bringing you before anything," they added, followed by a light laugh. 1x1x1x1 tensed slightly, narrowing Its eyes in Doe's direction.
He wasn't paying any attention.
"Get on with it," It growled, crossing Its arms over Its chest. "I was busy."
Azure shrugged, their head tilting up to glance at 1x1x1x1. "It'll be interesting." It rolled Its eyes.
Motioning for the both of them to sit, Azure shifted their position, sitting on their knees with a more enthusiastic look.
"Different flowers have different meanings," they begun, looking back down at the flowers before them with a more focused, studious look. "Their color, their type, they all mean something special."
"They're just flowers," 1x1x1x1 muttered, staring at the colorful array of petals with obvious distaste.
Azure was used to it by now. Everyone was.
"Yes, but—like I said, they can mean something special. It's fun to learn about them, really." Before It could protest, Azure plucked a yellow flower form the bundle, holding it in front of them. "This is a dahlia, a vibrant, bushy perennial. It can represent joy and gratitude."
1x1x1x1 grimaced, while Doe perked up.
"You can have this one, John." Azure handed the dahlia to him, which he accepted without a second thought.
"Thank you!" Doe purred, holding the stem almost too lightly in his claws. He stared at it with an admiring, thoughtful look.
But as he turned to 1x1x1x1, he was met only with a judgmental side-long glare.
". . . Did you want?"
"No."
Doe nearly flinched at the force in Its tone, but didn't argue.
"Other yellow or gold flowers usually mean positivity, though darker or less vibrant colors are more negative. Like the nightshade."
Instead of reaching for the vase, Azure held their hand in front of them, letting one of their tendrils curl around their wrist the way a vine might do to a tree. Within a matter of seconds, a sharp-petaled purple flower bloomed from the surface, smaller ones following to surround it. A nightshade, bloomed from their own self.
"I couldn't find any outside, so I wasn't able to add one to the vase," they explained, giving a sheepish laugh. "But—nightshades can represent many things, their main symbolism being death and deception. I think they're fascinating in that way, they are so beautiful, yet so dangerous."
Azure's eyes shifted.
"Oh—don't let me bore you," they huffed, letting their tendril fall back to their side.
1x1x1x1's frown tightened, not even bothering to fake interest.
Azure reached for a different colored flower, a more vibrant orange. As they held it up, they cast a glance at 1x1x1x1, curious to if It was paying attention. It caught the look, tilting Its head in more offense than questioning.
"This is an orange lily. An example of a vibrant flower with a darker meaning. It can represent pride, but also hatred and contempt."
1x1x1x1 perked up at Azure's explanation, only slightly. It narrowed Its eyes at the flower, then glanced back up. Doe and Azure were both staring at It.
"What is this, some sort of mockery?" 1x1x1x1 hissed, glare flickering between Doe and Azure.
Doe shook his head, lowering the flower slightly. "Your interest," he muttered, smile softening. 1x1x1x1 just stared.
"It is not an 'interest,' I am hatred."
Doe nodded, but his expression didn't change.
Instead, he leaned forward, reaching up to plant the flower on the side of 1x1x1x1's domino crown. It recoiled on instinct, grimacing as Its arms raised in defense, but as Doe pulled away, leaving the flower on Its crown—It just stilled. Stared harder.
It didn't say anything, not for moments that felt too long. Too uncomfortable.
Instead, It turned, facing the mirror hung on Azure's wall above a symbol of the Spawn.
". . . Okay."
Okay.
It was okay.