One (A SPM AU BASED ON LN2)

The Factory: Part 2

He said destroy and not kill because they weren't technically alive. They didn't technically live, even if the doctor gave them life. Even if they seemed to be in pain as he hit them, he reminded himself that they weren't alive.

However, even if they weren't alive, he still felt bad, and desperately hoped they didn't feel too much pain. As he hit the hand the third time, it made a cracking noise, like bones breaking, which made One wince.

But once that was done it was quiet.

He let out a sigh of relief and dropped the hammer to the ground, checking to make sure he indeed had the key.

He took a moment to catch his breath, then wandered around, trying to retrace his steps and find his way back to me.

It didn't take him long to find his way back. Once he did, I was very grateful that he had returned. Waiting alone in the dark was almost worse than seeing all the fake limbs in that room. The worst part was not knowing if he'd return safely. The feeling of not knowing was probably the scariest part. The unknown and being alone were probably some of the most unsettling things I had ever encountered.

I remember sitting on the ground, hugging my knees to my chest in the dark, just hoping and praying to Grambi that he'd come back when I suddenly heard his voice.

It was weird... just hearing his voice now made me feel safer.

"Got the key," One chimed, taking it off his belt and showing me. He smiled through his eyes, then brought it to the first lock and unlocked the door. 

"One down, two to go!" He chimed, before snorting and giggling to himself. "Heh... get it. One."

"W-what?" I asked, confused as to what he was talking about.

"It's funny, because One is my number, and I said it in a sentence!" He laughed. "Looks like someONE doesn't get my jokes,"

I didn't realize then, but all he was trying to do was make me smile. 

"Um... okay..." I trailed off.

"Oh, come on. Puns are the number ONE form of comedy." He continued. "I've got plenty more ONE-liners just waiting to be used!"

Oh, Grambi, he was WAY to young to already be making dad jokes. I was already feeling bad for those future children he wanted so badly.

I just stared at him blankly as he seemed to wait for some kind of reaction from me. 

"Okay, in a perfect world that joke would have killed," He laughed. "Just you wait. After I bring the sun back, I'm gonna be like... a comedian or a jester or something. That way I could make tons of people laugh and smile all the time!"

"I don't think jesters wear trenchcoats...." I pointed out, before shaking my head and standing up.

"Fine. Then I'll just be a comedian." He shrugged.

"Well, you don't have to be a comedian or a jester to make people smile, you know. You do that all on your own, with or without your terrible jokes." I stated.

This seemed to slightly take him back for a moment. And this is what made me smile. Not his silly jokes, but the happy look in his eyes when I had said that.

A few moments later, after he made sure I was okay, he stood up and turned around, making his way towards the next section, alone again.

Only this time, I felt brave enough to speak up.

I quickly ran after him and grabbed his arm before he could make his way to the next area in search of the next key. "Wait," I told him.

He froze and cocked his head to the side, looking back at me. "Huh?" He asked.

"I wanna come this time," I stated, not allowing myself to stutter or sound afraid, even though I was afraid. I was terrified, but I knew he was too, and I didn't want him to have to go in alone again. 

And... I didn't want to wait alone again. It was unbearable, and the whole time I just felt guilty, feeling like I had hurt him. So, I wanted to make it up to him. I wanted to prove to him that I trusted him.

"You don't have to..." He trailed off. "It's really okay. I can handle-"

"No. I wanna come. I feel safer with you than I do waiting out here alone in the dark," I said, trying to sound calm and collected like he always had.

His eyes softened slightly as if he was touched. "Wait... really?" He asked me.

"Yes," I replied.

He paused, then pulled out his flashlight and pointed it towards the next room. "Well... then let's go."

So, I followed him into the darkness, less afraid than I was a moment ago.