Introduction: Bruised and Scarred

"Hold still, soldier!" Nero held the man's shoulders down in an iron grip. "It'll hurt less if you do."

"That's not what I'm worried about," came the hoarse reply. Some of the man's cuts had disappeared, and Nero could have sworn that there had been burns all over the guy's leg not five minutes ago.

It was strange; how some of the soldiers came in looking like they'd been through a meat grinder, but let ten minutes go by and then they were fine. Nero had always been kept in the dark about certain parts of the military, even the division he worked with the D.M.C. I don't know why they even need doctors if they can heal like this, he thought. But then again, they shouldn't just be left to die.

Nero's own arm had been supposedly injured in battle, so he had woken up with a metal gauntlet that went from his fingertips to just above his elbow. He didn't know what the purpose was; maybe just to keep him from looking at it, but it didn't stop him from helping out the military however he could, like being in medical. He enjoyed the work, but sometimes it was more painful for him than them.

Like right now. The man on the table below him didn't even bother looking away as Nero dug out some of the shrapnel from his leg. Supposedly, the guy had thrown himself on top of a grenade to save his team. It was a miracle he'd survived, in Nero's book. He made quick work of getting most of it out, but there were still little bits and pieces so far in there that he didn't want to risk it all in one day; the man had lost a ton of blood already.

"Okay, I'm done for now... But you'll have to stay in the infirmary until further notice." The man looked disappointed at that."What's your name, soldier?" He looked at the bloodstained dog tags, but they were only printed with one word; DANTE.

"Most people... Most people call me Dante, but my name is Tony. Tony Redgrave... I think." He looked confused for a moment, as if he wasn't even sure of it himself. "I'm part of the D.M.C project... Is my team okay?"

"Honestly, sir, I don't know." Well, at least he has a good heart. "You shouldn't talk to much when you're recovering."

Tony was silent for a moment. "Would you find out for me?"

"Yeah." Nero nodded, "You healed faster than the other ones. Can you sit up?"

He rolled his eyes and lifted his back off of the operating table with a groan, popping his shoulder back into its socket as he did so.

Nero winced at the sound and started wrapping his bloodied torso and leg with bandages, wondering how the hell the guy managed to ignore the pain he must be in.

When he finished, he looked at the state Tony was in, and found that the soldier had been studying him as well.

"You look just like someone I used to know... Who assigned you to med? And what's with the arm?"

"I wanted to keep in the military however I could, and I don't know what's wrong with it. I got injured in the field, and I just accept it. Now be quiet or you'll end up messing your throat up, too."

"One more thing."

"Yes... Tony?"

"What's your name?" He asked with a weak smile.

"Nero."

Tony looked at him incredulously. "What do you remember about getting that 'injury'?"

Ohoho this is gonna be so fun. I'm not sure if this is gonna be a continuing thing or just a few chapters, but either way, I'll try to make it as awesome as I can. :)