Work Text:
The wind howled in the distance as the Algebraliens hurried back to the Equation Playground.
Their home. Where their existence is at stake, complete, true..
Three quickly expanded the tree’s branches, a vermillion glow temporarily colouring its evergreen crown.
One by one, each number sat beside eachother, yearning for warmth amid the storms, a warmth that bloomed once they all harmonised with eachother, at last.
Everyone was there.. everyone except.. One.
Trailing behind, steps wobbly as her vision blurred, tears streaming down her cheeks.
They had forgotten about her. AGAIN.
And Three, even Three… she did too..
They all did.
Looking up at the stormy night sky, One shivered, feeling its gaze burning into her, making the integer want to shrivel even further away into isolation.
Until, she finally reached the Equation Playground. Its familiar appearance made One’s heart ache intensely: a gaping hole that pulsated whenever in proximity to the other numbers. A void of insecurity, solace, and utter despair.
“One! There you are!” Three’s cheerful voice echoed through, piercing the silence One had been entertaining long before.
“Come! We saved a spot for you!” She chirped, patting the clearly empty seat beside her, beckoning One near them.
The blue integer hesitated, unable to meet the other’s expectant gazes. No, she was unable to meet Three’s specifically.
At that, they noticed. She noticed.
One was unusually stiff, almost scared to move, to make the first step towards her acceptance in their collective. Subconsciously, the blue integer backed away slightly, as if she were ready to flee.
Stubbornly, Three pulled her down, enveloping One in a warm hug, as she wrapped her arms around her shoulders.
“Why so cold, huh?” She teased, poking One gently, earning a small smile from the latter. “You could’ve gotten sick out there!”
It was a strange feeling, really.
A sense of belonging? Where One was a piece of the Equation Playground’s puzzle, not a spare part, a backup waiting to shine.
Under the tree’s branches, hearing the other integers chatting away.. she felt happy. Complete at last.
And yet, something was nagging at her.
Why didn’t Three mention her? Why didn’t she wake her up? Was she ashamed of her? Of their time together?
“Hey, Three..?” One whispered as she gently rested her head on Three’s shoulder, nestling into her side. “Why-“
“WAIT! EVERYONE LISTEN UP!”
Each integer’s head snapped towards Three’s loud announcement, gazes puzzled, yet interested.
“I’ve actually been meaning to tell you all something.” The vermillion integer interjected. “I actually wasn’t the one who found the meteor.” Three sheepishly continued, eyes locked onto One’s. “One did! She was the one who showed it to me and taught me how to use my powers..I owe it all to her!”
Three smiled , resting her head atop of One’s.
“Wait, so One knows more about those things? And what they do?” Six inquired skeptically, looking down at her hands, then up at One.
The blue integer’s cheeks flushed, adjusting to the newfound warmth she had finally received.
The one she had been longing for.
“Yes, I do.”
.
.
.
And so, a new era began.
An era of harmony, acceptance, and joy in the Equation Playground.
Gone were the days when loneliness plagued feeble souls, igniting flames of vengeance that burned tirelessly.
They had eachother. At last.
Birds of a feather flock together.