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Exhausted. That’s…. One word to describe how Parker felt. They slid down the wall, sitting on the floor. It was overwhelming how everything went. From sword to sword, enemy to enemy… Parker had a lot on their plate.
They shut their weary eyes, their mind blank before they finally got the energy to think again.
“That fight was horrible.” They reflected mentally, “I’m out of healing items now.” They ran their hand down their face. God why now? Why couldn’t they be tired in a few hours?
But noooo they just had to be exhausted and flub all their shots and— and now they’re crying! Great! Fabulous even!
They covered their face with their head wings, curling up into their knees with their arms over their head.
“Don’t cry don’t cry don’t cry…” they whispered to themself…. But they know themself to be redundant in doing that.
Quiet sobs filled the empty room as they sat there, desperate to not make a sound, like someone would just pop out of the ground and judge them for feeling things.
And that wasnt far from reality given everything they had been through.
Eventually they untangled themself, just laying there on the dusty floor, occasionally sniffling like a pathetic bird who broke a wing.
They didn’t want to move, not now. Maybe not ever…. No. That’s too melodramatic. Whatever they were feeling, it was all too much.
With a sigh, they shifted to lay on the floor. The dusty, dirty floor. They were definitely taking a shower if they went to their hotel room.
They shut their weary eyes, for now, a nap will do for them. Something to heal them mentally they’d hoped.
… everything felt heavy. They couldnt even lift their eyelids. It felt redundant to anyway…. Though, after floating into abyss that was their dreamscape, they were awoken by a bright light shining over them.
“….wheremi??” They mumbled, putting their head wings over their eyes.
“I’ll be right with you honey!” The familiar warm voice of Parker’s beloved rang out in the small room.
Kyoko opened the curtains, turning down the lights “hey….” She smiled, running her hand over their forehead, which they leaned into. “Brad found you in a pit, all beat up… so he brought you to the hospital”
“Am I still in bizville?” They asked weakly
“No, they’re transferred you over here after making sure your head was okay. You were *out* for a few days!”
“Oh shit…did anything happen while I was out?” They blinked, almost moving to sit up if it weren’t for their girlfriends hand stopping them
“No, not much happened. Shedletsky and his assistant… haven? I think? Came by to drop off some flowers and cards, and Brad came back with a pack of bloxy cola for you” she explained
“Mm….okay….” They sigh, “haven is my sibling…. They uhm…. Don’t like me too much.”
“…oh”
“S’okay….” Parker uncovered their face, closing their eyes, “I don’t wanna be a downer on you, sunshine…”
“Well” she began, “it’s kind of hard not to when you’re aching all over, right?” She smiled
Parker opened their eyes to really look at her. There was a reason they called her sunshine— her smile could light up a room that was full of gloom a minute ago.
They reached up and took her hand to hold. A sigh of relief escaped them as they felt her hand, warm and soft…. Just like the first time they held it.
“Parker?” Kyoko shyly leaned in, suddenly worried about their lack of response
“Hm? Oh, right…. Uhm… yeah, you’re right” they tried to smile, their entire body still wracked with fatigue somehow.
She frowned in response, were they not doing this right? Their thoughts would’ve scrambled if they weren’t feeling a dull ache everywhere right now. They looked down at their left wrist to see the IV that was as in it.
“How long was that there?” They asked her, making conversation
“That? Oh the doctors in bizville recommended I put you on that just in case. You weren’t showing signs of waking up and… we were worried you fell into a coma.”
“Mm.” They nodded, “I’m up now…. We could call Brad over here and have you two play something while I watch…”
“That’s a good idea! Though brads busy cleaning up around town”
“His dad have him do community service….?”
“Something like that, heh!”
Parker covered their eyes again, the lights in her clinic making their head throb.
“??” She turns her head before looking back at them, “do you want me to turn off the lights?”
Parker gestured with their hand, yes. “If it’s not too much… to….” Before they finished their thought Kyoko had already got up and turned off the lights, returning to them using a flashlight.
She closed the curtain behind herself, “don’t worry. Nobody else is in tonight. …. You’re lucky you came in at a time when turitopulis decided to be healthy, heh!”
“Pff… glad everyone’s doing okay without my assistance….”
“Of course! We all do our best for our favorite hero”
“…hero, huh…?” They breathed, “not sure I like the sound of that….”
“Oh! Why not? You’re always doing things to help people….”
Parker paused. She was correct in saying that. Every little task they did, subquests, or even the things that happen while they travel…. It helps someone.
And their mirror has yet to crack.
“…I don’t know. I don’t think I want the grandeur of what a hero gets. It’s too much for me.”
Kyoko nods, feeling a relief of sorts. “I get that!” She holds their hand again, “on a lighter note, you got some energy back it seems!”
“I guess so!” They smile at her, before deflating a little, “still feels like my spirits got knocked out of me…”
“I’ll whip you up something then. Does curry and rice sound okay?”
“Sounds wonderful actually…. And you can make it as spicy as possible, I as an avian can’t really taste it” they chuckled
“Then I’ll make my dad’s old recipe, you’re gonna love it!” She practically bounces away, leaving Parker to rest for a little more in the dark.
They stared up at the ceiling, a dull ache throbbing through their entire body. They couldn’t get over the things she told them. Passed out for a few days? HAVEN CAME BY??? What if haven was rude to kyoko? What if— no. They flapped their head wings in protest to their spiraling mind.
They couldn’t believe though how much they managed to burn themself out. Maybe taking a break from the pit is a good idea…..
Smelling the faint scent of curry made them halt in their thoughts. It was a welcome sensation— smelling good food.
Kyoko came back, turning on the lights before putting a tray over their lap
“That smells amazing… thank you” they sat up, carefully eating until they felt the strength come back in their hands.
Warm food… just what they needed… and from her? Even better!