tw: mentions of suicide, gore, violence, and foul language.

bold: writing

'single quotation': thoughts

slanted/italics: memories.

underlined: underlined sentences are basically commands and thoughts of those who's thoughts are still completely controlled by the mask.

single quotation dialogue is basically belongs to a person who isn't a mask or has gained a bit of freedom from the command and can retain their own thoughts..

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~" 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘺 "~

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3rd pov:

Butcher mask had been staying by Baker mask for a weeks now. Even though it had only been a short period of time, they already felt as if they had known each other for a lifetime. Or at least Baker mask felt that way. Ever since she had that memory when they first officially met, bits and pieces have been coming back to her, slowly but surely.

A tap on her shoulder pulled her out of her daze. They were in their usual meet-up building that was just rope bridge away from the hideout.

'what's wrong?' was written on the paper that had been held up to her face.

"Oh, it's nothing, really. Say, do you think I'll ever get a boyfriend in this world? No one seems to be interested in mask wearing girls. Maybe it's the tacky apron that puts them off?" She finished, steering the conversation and lifting her apron to examine the red, sewn letters.

Over these past few days, she'd started to notice a change in him. At first, it was just small things, like how he started to imitate a few gestures she often did to express an emotion, or lack thereof. But recently, she'd started to observe new expressions that seemed to chip through.

Hesitation. It was only a second-long delay, but even after pushing someone to the edge of despair, Butcher mask seemed conflicted.

Remorse. Something was definitely off.

How was he able to show so much emotion when his mask was still perfectly intact?

She was only able to regain a fraction of her conscience after she cracked her mask in a fight.

She clicked her tongue and brought an uncovered hand up to her chin in deep analysis, deciding it'd be best to put these thoughts aside.

He  titled his head in confusion and flipped a page of his notepad. 'I don't understand.'

Ah, well, maybe he still wasn't completely controlling of his thoughts.

'Still as dense as ever...'

'I have something to ask when we return to the hideout.'

He shifted his feet before putting the notepad in his pant's pocket and moving to grip his cleavers.

She spoke out as he stared at her. "Sure! Let's meet here in two hours. That should be enough to do our usual rounds without arousing suspicion from the Command." She started moving forward.

He turned his feet to trail behind her.

"I meant that we would have to split up." She spoke, putting mitt to her chin.

He handed her the lined paper. 'I want to follow you.'

"Mm, alright, how about we split up when we get to the next building?"

He nodded his head eagerly.

'He's like a dog.' She sweat dropped.

"Let's go." She stated as she started walking down the brightly lit corridor. Butcher mask gazed out the windows momentarily before he followed suit, down the spotless hallways of an office building.

(Flashback)

"Alright, you stay here while I go grab something." She scurried off to an unseen room while removing her mitts.

Butcher mask was now in a cushy room in a tall apartment complex. Seated on the one of the strewn coaches, he began to observe the room.

Where the open kitchen was (to the left of the door), there were stacked cans of food and water all to a corner, but he assumed that it was because she had run out of space in the cabinets. In the common room where he was, he saw first aid kits and bandages scattered rather messily on a center table. The walls of the room were a beige color and everything else was varying shade of grey.

Specks of dry blood were on various newspapers spread out on the ground beneath the table.

Not too long after, the Baker came in with a notepad and pen.

"You can use these when you need to say something that you can't nod or shake your head to."

Pushing the items into his hands, she stared intently at him.

"...You do have enough control to remember how to write, right?" she said sheepishly.

He only sent her a look before scribbling down on the paper.

'Obviously' he wrote.

"Alright! Now with that out of the way, we should set up a system for when you need to grab my attention. Are you able to whistle?"

(Present time)

They moved down the hallways without incident and continued to the stairs. The building they chose to be their marker seemed to be some kind of office building, with individual offices lining the hall. Big windows were on they opposite wall, giving the hallway a calming lightness to it amidst the atrocities that would surely take place throughout the halls.

'That's the way things should be. Only the strong deserve to live.' Nagged an emotionless voice somewhere in Butcher mask's head.

'Why is that?' His grip on the cleavers loosened a bit as he felt some dormant part of his mind begin to open up.

'It is the rules set by this world. As an angel, you must comply with every single one. You must push humans to the edge of despair. Kill anyone who doesn't follow these rules.'

Butcher mask stopped walking as a splitting headache overwhelmed his senses. He gripped the handles of his knives in pain.

'If that's the way things go, why shouldn't we do something to change it? All life is precious.' The small voice spoke out, now clearer.

"Hey, leave it alone!" A child yelled out.

His headache only worsened.

"Huh? It's just a stupid cat. There's plenty strays in the neighborhood, we're just helping get rid of 'em."

The group of middle schoolers sneered mockingly as they looked down at the kid in front of them.

"That's not true! All life is precious."

"I'll show you what's precious." Snarled the head of the group, pulling up his sleeves and signaling the rest to surround the boy.

"Hey, everything alright?" Once he came back to his senses, he noticed Baker mask shaking a hand in front of him worriedly.

"Are you ok? You've been standing here for the past five minutes." She said with her hands on her hips, titling her head to the side.

Butcher mask blinked before nodding hesitantly. His head felt lighter and clear. He had failed to realize they they had already made it to the roof of the building.

"...Well," she started, unconvinced. "We should get moving. Tell me if you have trouble walking or need a break."

'That was...a memory...My thoughts. They seem to be coming through now.' His thoughts were once again buried underneath the command of his mask and he soon forgot about the ordeal.

"Alright, now comes the hard part." Baker mask said, effectively raising the mood and looked down at the long drop below the bridge.

Looking up, Butcher mask gazed at the familiar buildings and black tower.

"Oh, boy. Here, grab my hand and don't look down." She said breathlessly.

They had crossed this same bridge multiple times before, but the thought of being this up high seemed to nerve-wrack Baker mask. She grabbed the thick rope before hesitantly lowering herself on the wooden platform. Her words seemed to be directed to provide reassurance for herself as Butcher mask didn't really mind the high altitude.

He liked to take these moments to observe and analyze his surrounding. His eyes were drawn to a shine coming from a higher building to his left. There, a figure stood with some kind of rifle directed at them. It wasn't a threatening gesture, he was probably just observing them as well.

'Probably another angel.' He thought as he looked away.

He sensed movement at the building's roof they were heading to.

'A human.' He thought. 'Push humans to the edge of despair.'

'That sniper has probably already sensed them as well. There's no reason for us to intervene.'

He bumped into Baker mask, who stopped suddenly, before pushing forward with chainsaw in hand and dashed the rest of the way, toward the human.

'...I spoke too soon. I need to follow her.' He ran after her.

The woman on the roof didn't get to react soon enough to realize that one of her arms was gone.

She hollered out in pain and backed away quickly. Baker mask continued to inch closer to her as Butcher mask stood frozen in place behind them. The woman's back met the building's protective fencing and she reached to grip it. At this point, Butcher mask's command took over and he approached her slowly as well.

"Please! I have a girl waiting for me back home! Please have mercy!" She cried and grabbed a fistful of her hair.

'That expression again.' Butcher mask paused in hesitation. It was a look of true helplessness and sorrow.

'Why are you hesitating?' The mask's voice called out.

'Kill her. She is suffering. Free her. Give her freedom.'

Before he could do anything, the woman had already decided to toss herself off the roof. They both watched as her body landed with a sickening thud and crack.

Baker mask breathed out and walked out towards Butcher mask. She rested her head on his chest and shakily exhaled.

"Sorry, I need a minute." She muttered solemnly. Butcher mask stood there until she seemed to spring back up.

"Alright! I'm reenergized and rejuvenated! Let's get moving!" She struck a funny pose Butcher mask couldn't understand and waltzed forward.

'Weird...'

'Behind us.' A buzzing sensation caused Butcher mask to abruptly turn to the figure running straight at them. A mask.

He was targeting Baker mask. She seemed to notice too, but too late to give her chainsaw a few tugs in preparation for the incoming attack.

'So I'm finally gonna die. Man, this blows.'

The found of metal clashing rang. When she looked up, she saw the familiar tufts of (h/c) hair now in front of her. Butcher mask had sprinted to meet with the mask's daggers before they could make it to Baker mask. He kicked the mask back with a grunt and moved to get into a fight position.

'He's...protecting me?' Baker mask gaped.

The mask had gotten up and drew another dagger. It ran forward first and brought its weapon to slash butcher mask, but it was blocked fluidly. Butcher mask saw an opening for a brief second and struck the mask in the side. It stumbled back, but charged forward again. Butcher mask sent more slashes at it until it was farther back. With a swift movement of both blades, he brought the mask to its knees and crush its mask.

[(a/n) i'm horrible at fight scenes i'm so sorry]

Butcher mask's tensed stance eased a bit as he wiped the blood off his blades. Baker mask stood stunned, still staring at him.

Butcher mask turned with a questioning aura. Baker mask only stared in admiration before jumping on on him and squeezing him ruthlessly.

"UWAHHHHH I WAS SO SCARED! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'LL NEVER MAKE FUN OF YOU AGAIN!"

A few buildings away, a figure gazed at the scenes that had just unfolded through his rifle's scope. He lowered it bewilderedly.

"A mask protected another mask?"

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thank you all for reading. what do you think so far?

don't worry, we'll start getting into the anime's timeline in the next chapter. expect to see more of the main gang of characters.

I feel like baker mask is a bit annoying to you all. im trying to make her likable, but let me know what you think of her so far

ps. she isn't gonna be in the spotlight for much longer if you are bothered by her, and she isn't a rival fighting for (y/n)'s love or anything.

thank you for bearing with me.