Tangled Up

Chapter 1 The Beginning Of It All

I don't own 9, Shane Acker does. I'm just doing this for fun since I'm stuck here in the Hospital for the next Month and a Half. XDDDD

(This Story was first Published on the 9 Forums, and it's updated there First before I put New Chapters up here. It's a 9x5 Story, so if you don't like Gay or Yaoi, better turn back now. XD I did this for all the Fans that love this Pairing and this Story has turned into something even more than I could have ever Imagined myself. I hope you all truly enjoy it and leave me comments to on your thoughts. :3)

It was another day like any others. After 9 found a way to bring back the others a few weeks back, things seemed to return to normal at long last. The first thing 1 decided was to find everyone a New Home. But like always, he insisted they travel at day and hid during the night to avoid the few remaining Machines that were still out there and on the loose. But to make matters worse, since the Life Giving Rain, it made things a lot harder for the stitchpunks. One thing was the mud, the other was the puddles. Some of them were deep, and others they could just walk over.

After traveling for a few days with 8 and 7 keeping watch shifts at night, 1 finally found a place. It was an old Library that was still standing in the City, and even before he could get a word out of his mouth about the dangers, 3 and 4 were gone in a flash. 7 just laughed about it along with 2 and 5, 1 said something about little brats not listening to their elders, which 8 just grunted in agreement with him, and 6 being jumpy as he always was, just carefully peeked around the door to the opening to it.

After a day of looking around it and the rest of the rooms, it was discovered that it was very well intact and very favorable to stay in. The whole day everyone, except 1 and 8, who were at the top of it in another room setting up themselves, went out and gathered up supplies to set up their own rooms. 2 and 5 were working together to find supplies to set up another Work Shop for their work and repairing the others in case they got hurt again, 3 and 4 were in the Main Part of the Library looking through the many books to find info on things that might help out the others, 9 was with 6 and 7 helping them look for paper, ink, and light bulbs for his staff.

By the end of the day, it proved very fruitful in the end. 2 and 5 had 3 carts full of supplies, 9 found five replacement light bulbs for his staff, and 7 found two jars of ink for 6. 9 and 7 didn't manage to find any paper for him, but 7 reassured him that tomorrow morning she would personally go out early and look around. 9 smiled to himself as he saw how happier 6 looked after that. As darkness was falling, they all pulled the carts inside and everyone went to work in their respected rooms to set things up.

9 really didn't have much to do, and 7 was at the top keeping watch till they could set up another Telescope somehow, 3 and 4 were in another part of the Library looking through the many books there, 6 went to the Fire Place probably to set up again, and he didn't go dare bother 1 or 8, so that's how he found himself going to 2 and 5's New Workshop to see if they needed any help with anything. He stopped at their door and knocked on it waiting for a reply. After hearing a few things being moved from the inside of it, he could hear 2's faint voice call out from the inside.

"Come in, but be careful where you step."

9 opened the door slowly and peeked his head inside, and almost feel on the floor laughing at the sight. 2 was there leaning on his cane and bent over a bit, while from the looks of it, he was trying to untangle 5 from a mess of red thread that he somehow gotten wrapped up in. All the while 5 was using his binded up legs to kick the wall every now and then. 9 realized that's what the noise he was hearing from the outside of the door. It was 5's moving legs. Various other things laid scattered over the floor, and he could see why 2 warned him about being careful. 9 walked over to the both of them carefully still trying to hide his laughter, but failing miserable.

"I take it things are *snort* going well in here?"

5 just glared up at him while 2 just laughed.

"9 my boy, what brings you here?" He said as he moved aside to let 9 help out poor 5.

As 9 began to untangle 5 while smiling and talking, he began to look around for anything sharp that they might have found to maybe cut it with.

"I came up here to see if you two needed any help since everyone else is busy with other things. Good thing I did to. You wouldn't by chance have found anything sharp out there that could cut this with did you? Like a blade or another pair of scissors?"

2 put one of his hands under his chin in though as 5 just fussed on the floor. Suddenly, he got an ideal.

"I really hate this. Why does it always have to be me that gets into these things?!" 5 just fumed as 2 headed for the door to their Workshop.

"Wait! Let me go get 7! I know shes on duty, but it's just for a second and we can search in here later for scissors or something. I know she can help us out and then return her duty before 1 finds out."

With that 2 left out the door, leaving 5 and 9 alone. 9 just continued to try and untangle 5 when he decided to ask the question that was bugging him ever since he came in here.

"Ummmm 5?" 5 looked up at him with an annoyed questioning look. 9 began to fiddle with a string around his waist as he avoided his gaze and popped it on him. "How in the world did you get this around you and even get tangled up in it?"

5 just sighed and looked towards the wall. "Well, as were were unpacking one of the carts, I just happened to pick out a random box and forgot that we tied the red thread around this lens we found. So when I went to pick up the lens, the thread had somehow came unwound a bit. Next thing I know, it was around my hand." He looked up at 9 sheepishly at this point. "I panicked thinking something had grabbed me, and before you know it, well..." He trailed off at this point and 9 just smiled at him gently and put his hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay 5. We'll get you out of this soon. Don't worry. 2 will be back with 7 soon enough."

5 looked up at 9 and had to smile back at him. That was one thing he always liked about 9. When things were at their worst, or someone was feeling down, 9 always seemed to know how to make that person feel better. It always gave him this funny feeling inside to. He didn't know what it was, but around 9, he felt more alive. He...He didn't know how to explain it. As 9 continued to try and untangle this one horrible knot around his neck, 9's hand on the floor beside him suddenly slipped, and then it happened.

9 gave out a small cry, but before he or 5 could move, 9's face met with 5's, and their lips were locked. For a moment, neither one of them moved. All of the sudden 5 began to kiss 9 back. Weather it was out of instinct or what, 5 didn't know, but somehow, this felt right to him. And 9, he used the hand that slipped to gently prop himself back up, breaking the kiss gently. He looked into 5's face, and they both held the same expressions.

All the time knowing each other, working together, helping out each other, it was like a missing piece of a puzzle for them both. 9 always felt bad for 5. After hearing how he lost his optic, and seeing how 1 treated him to 8 bulling him, he felt like he had to protect him somehow. But he always felt there was more to it than that. It was something like.....What did the humans call it? Love? Did he really feel this for 5?

Before he could think about it anymore, he heard voices coming up the way from the hall leading to the door. He quickly got off of 5 and just as soon as he did, the door opened and in walked 2 followed by 7. 7 took one look at 5 and just smiled as she lifted up her helmet and whistled.

"Whewww, you really did get yourself tied up huh 5?"

5, still lost in his thoughts and shock of what he just did, worrying about 9, and how he felt now to, snapped out of his thoughts quickly. He looked up at 7 and sighed, mumbling something 7 could hardly pick up.

"I didn't meant to. It's not like I planned this from the start."

7 just laughed as she positioned her spear and looked over at 9.

"9, be careful, but hold his shoulder down for me will you?"

9 gulped and did as he was told while, if it wasn't for 5's legs tangled up to, he would have really been thrashing around instead of barely being able to. Poor 5 was in hysterics.

"WAIT 7! YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!? THERE HAS TO-"

But he was cut off as after a few quick flashes and swishes, he was free. He looked up at 7, then at everyone else, before bolting from the room. 9 called out to him as he ran.

"5! Wait!" He bolted out of the room after him, hoping to catch him before he really lost it like 6 did sometimes when he was really bad into one of his fits.

7 just looked at 2 and 2 just smiled gently and put his hand on her shoulder in a thanking manner."

"Don't worry about it 7. He'll calm down later on and thank you. Hes just not used to things like that."

7 just smiled as she walked off going back to her post.

"I might have been the same way myself if I was like that, but I'm used to it now if you remember from our first fight with the Machines. Plus, I'm a Warrior. I've seen to many things to be scared anymore." She winked at him as she went out the door, and 2 laughed remembering hearing about it from some of the others.

Meanwhile, 9 was having a hard time finding 5. "Where could he have went?" He thought as he was heading down the stairs to the bottom floor. He heard yelling from down there, and it didn't take him to long to figure out who it was. As he reached the bottom, his fears were confirmed as he saw 1 there with 8 behind him, and 5 on the ground. 1 clanked his staff down on the floor again as 9 listened.

"I don't care what happened 5! Your yelling around here is going to bring the rest of those Machines to us and then what?! We'll all be dead again! Is that what you want?!"

5 just shook there on the floor staring up at 1 while 8 smirked behind him. 9 sighed to himself and though "Some things never change" before walking towards the three.

"1 hold up. It's not his fault."

1 looked over at 9 and glared at him. "And your just to blame for this to! Why is it everytime I turn around something happens and it ends up with someone screaming their head off?!" 9 just gently picked 5 up off the floor, figuring out 5 had told them both the best he could in his state of mind what happened, before looking at 1. "It won't happen again 1, I promise you." 1 just scoffed as he turned on his heels with 8 in tow. "Fine then! You keep him quiet!" As 9 watched them go, he lead 5 to his room on the bottom floor. He knew they were probably going up to the top back to their rooms, but not before stopping off at the New Workshop to yell at 2 then at 7 around the roof. He knew they could handle 1, so he wasn't to worried about them at the moment. He opened up the door to his room and lead 5 in. Once inside it, he gently put 5 on his bed and looked at him.

"You okay 5?" 5 looked at 9 again, and realized it happened once more. There he was, always coming to his rescue and protecting him. Even now, he was doing it. And the next thing you know, he blurted out something without even thinking, and quickly covered up his mouth after the words flew out.

"9, I love you!"

As 5 held his hands to his mouth, his eyes wide, 9 just smiled and gently took them away. 5 looked at 9 again, but instead of seeing him mad, he saw that 9 was actually smiling at him. 9 just gently held his hands in his own and spoke.

"You know 5, I love you to. I think I have for awhile now, but I didn't know what it was I was feeling. I remember the Twins talking about it before, explaining it to us from the books they have and the footage, but even then I really didn't understand it. I think now I do. And if this is what love is, I hope it never ends."

Before 5 could reply, for the second time that night, 9 closed the spaces between them and kissed him. This time though, it was slow and filled with tenderness and passion. 5 once more found himself kissing 9 back, but this time, he knew it was the right thing. 9 laid him on his side and then he himself got into the bed, intent on making this a night for the both of them to remember for awhile. Yes, this is what it meant to be in love.