tacenda || f.hargreeves (0): A PREQUEL (COMPLETE)

Part 14: Desiderium

~

It's been months since Nine left. Three months.

Five has been a mess. He couldn't adjust to his surroundings, knowing that Nine could be anywhere. He doesn't know what might've happened to her. Where was she? When is she coming back? He couldn't wait.

Five lets out a deep sigh, the cold air making him shudder. He's been far out of his usual campsite. Well, their campsite. He's "hunting down" for some food, or at least trying his best to look for some since everything's burnt or rotten. He hopes to himself that she was doing well, wherever she was. 

"I hope you're safe, Nine..." He whispers to himself, rubbing his hands together to keep himself a little bit warm. He forces himself to walk, too tired to even teleport back to his campsite. At least he found a few scraps to keep him satisfied tonight. 

His eyes stung as the cold wind blew on it, causing him to rub it in the process. He sneezes and coughs, it was like that for a while now. Was he getting sick?

"Ohh..." He softly groans, sneezing once more. "Fuck this."

Suddenly, not far from where he's standing, a familiar glow can be seen. Soft crackling from what seems to be a campfire was heard, and Five felt his heartbeat skip in excitement. Could it be...? Could it be Nine? After three months of isolation and agony, will he finally get to see his fiancé? 

Fiancé... I mean, of course, she was his fiancé. They aren't married yet. No one was around who can officiate the wedding. They both decided to wait, even if Dolores was present. Sure, she can officiate, but... she's a mannequin. Wouldn't that be... awkward?

"Nine..." Five breathes out, a small smile creeping on his lips. He forces himself to run towards the light, praying, hoping that she'd be there. He calls out for her name once again, but nothing ever responded to him. "Nine!"

"Nine--" Five stops in his tracks, finding no one on the campsite. Just scraps, items of clothing, campfire, and half-burnt paper. The debris around him was filled with equations. Nine must've been busy calculating for their escape. Well, hopefully, it's for both of them. 

He can tell she was in a hurry by her handwriting. Scribbles and scratches were visible in each equation. She must've been so frustrated. Five analyzes each equation, some familiar to him and some not. "Impressive," he whispers to himself, grinning from ear to ear. "I can't believe she--"

"Five?" 

Five quickly turns around, his eyes widening in surprise. Standing right in front of him was Nine. 

She's finally here. She's alive! She's come back! 

He drops everything he's holding, causing them to fall and scatter all over the ground. Relief washes all over his body, tears brimming his eyes. He felt silly. He thought his tears had dried from all that crying over the span of three months. But, more are falling now that Nine was standing in front of him, looking well and alive as ever. 

"Nine..." Five chokes out, hesitating on raising his arms for her to ran up to him and hug him. He wants to hold her in his arms. But, why can't he do it? Why can't he just go to her and embraced her right there and then?

Nine smiles at him, which made him cry even more. She slowly walks up closer to him, taking his face with her hands. Five kisses her hands, still crying. He couldn't believe it. He was holding her once again. It's been so long. But now... now, she's back.

"Hey, sweetheart, don't cry," Nine whispers, kissing his eyelids. Five gently pushes his forehead against hers. He finally took the courage to wrap his arms around her, doing it ever so gently because he's afraid he might break her. Afraid that she might disappear once more.