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

Part 9: First Stage

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Five observed his wife. He's been staring at her for a solid 20 minutes now, and she still hasn't moved an inch from her spot. This has been going on for days now after his nightmare. It was odd. Very odd.

Nine stared ahead of her, seemingly in a trance. He can see her mouth moving as if she was talking to someone rather than herself. 

"...I don't know..." Five heard her say. He slowly moved closer to her, but not too much to startle her. Nine's mouth kept moving, "No... Not true..."

"Don't..."

"Nine?" Five whispers and slowly raised his hand towards her figure. 

Nine's breath immediately hitched. Five continued to observe and wait on what she's going to do next. He mentally prepared himself whilst he instinctively moved his feet in a fighting position.

He wasn't going to hurt her--No. Of course, he wouldn't do that. But he was preparing himself to block any of her sudden attacks as she does so unintentionally.

"Nine--"

"Did you hear that?"

Five seemed startled by her words, "What?"

"I..." Nine turned around to face him. He noticed her eyes changed from looking hazy and slowly back to normal. She jolted, and quickly held her large stomach with her right hand as her body fell backwards.

Five's eyes widen in surprise and immediately warped himself towards her before she took a nasty and dangerous fall. "Shit! Are you okay?!"

Five held her closely to his chest, his arms tightly wrapped around her. He can hear his heart pounding in his ear as his breathing quickens. "Nine--"

"I'm--I'm alright. Thank you, Five." 

Nine looked up at him and smiled. Suddenly, her expression changes and she stared at him in confusion. "What? What happened? Did something happen?"

"What?" Five looks at her in disbelief. 

'What the hell...?' he thought to himself, 'Did she forget what just happened seconds ago?'

"Five?" Nine's voice echoes in his ears, "Why are you holding me?"

"I... I--you don't remember?"

"What?"

"..."

"Five, what happened?"

"..."

"I only remember getting up and suddenly turning to face you because I was about to ask you something. And then, you were holding me with a worried expression on your face."

"Uh--yeah. Yes." Five gently balanced her, his hand caressing her back while his other caresses her large stomach. Nine placed her hand on his cheek, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I am."

Nine frowns, and Five mirrors her reaction. "Seriously. What's wrong? You can tell me."

"I was just worried." He answered, his voice hinting a worried yet stern tone. 

Nine sighed in response, pushing away from him. "Alright."

"You seriously don't remember?"

Nine glares at him, but her face softens as she realizes he was frowning. Nine reached out her hand to him, and Five quickly took it with his. "I don't know what happened, Five. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Please, I..." Five whispers, "I just want you to be okay."

"I am okay," Nine pushed, "Are you?"