Season's Change
Chapter Two
Darkness.
It surrounded her for what seemed like an eternity. Stephanie floated in in the dark æther, her senses deprived. Fuzzy slits of color split through the darkness as she opened her eyes. She blinked; her eyes adjusting to the bright lights beside her. 'I feel horrible.' She felt as if an anvil had hit her in the head just like in those Saturday morning cartoons she used to watch.
She was vaguely aware that she was laying on something soft. 'What happened?' She glanced around . 'And where am I?'
It was certainly not her room. She lay covered in a purple four poster bed. The rest of the room was sparsely decorated and covered in dust. The dark walls had no decorations save for a few paintings of what seemed to be clockwork people. A small wooden bedside table with a twisted lamp laid at her left. A chair sat next to her bed as if someone had been sitting at her side. The door across from her bed was partially opened.
Her memories suddenly flooded back. 'I fell', she though as reached up to touch the bandages wrapped about her head.
A small noise brought her attention to the foot of the bed. A fuzzy black and white cat jumped onto the bed and let out a soft 'meow'. The cat lazily waltzed across the bed and began to rub against her hand. "Hey there little guy." It began to purr as she scratched it under its chin. "Are you the little kitty that used to always get stuck in that tree? Who do you belong to?", she whispered. The cat purred in reply. A smile lit up her face.
The unearthly quiet of the house was interrupted by the sound of heels clicking on the hard wood floor. Stephanie's jaw dropped when she saw who walked through the door. It was none other than Robbie Rotten.
"Close you're mouth, Pinky, or a bird's going to nest in there," he sneered.
"R-Robbie?"
He ignored her shocked look. "How's you're head doing?"
"Um..." She looked uncertain. "It hurts a lot. I suppose I must have hit it really hard when I fell. Do I have a bruise?"
He snorted. "No, you've got a large gash in your head. Can you sit up?" She tried to sit up but dizziness pushed her back into the soft bed.
"Turn your head, I want to see how that gash is doing." Stephanie turned her head and he took the bandages off. He made a clicking noise with his tongue as he examined the wound. "You're going to need stitches." With that, he walked out of the room.
'I've never had stitches before...' She absentmindedly scratch the cats head. 'Why's he doing this? He wouldn't help anyone for any reason.'
He soon returned with a small medical kit. He opened it and took out a fresh stitching needle and silk thread.
"Um, Shouldn't I go to a doctor to have that done?", she asked.
"HA! Those fools haven't a clue what their doing. They're only in it for the money. You only truly know what your doing after you've had to stitch yourself up. I bet they never did that in medical school! " He threaded the needle. "Are you allergic to anesthesia or any other medicine?" She shook her head. "Hold still." He gave her a shot of local anesthesia and got to work.
She watched his face as he stitched. Gone was his usual nasty expression. It had been replaced with a look of the utmost concentration. His hands moved with a gracefulness that did not match his usual clumsy self. 'This is so weird...', she thought. Before Stephanie knew it, the stitches where complete.
He reached back into the kit, took out a small pack of medicine and handed it to her. "Take these after the anesthesia wears off."
"Alright." She paused momentarily, gathering her thoughts. " If you don't mind me asking, where am I?"
"I would think that would be obvious." He waved his arms dramatically. "You're in one of the spare bedrooms in my lair."
'I should have guessed that!' She mentally kicked herself. Her next question took Robbie by surprise.
"Why are you doing this?"
He hesitated.
"Because."
" 'Because' ...?"
"Just because."
She glared at him and he let out a barking laugh. 'That look really doesn't suit her...'
"Villain or not, I couldn't have left you to bleed out over those rocks." She nodded, accepting that explanation. Without another word, he packed up his kit and headed for the door.
"Hey, Robbie?"
He glances back at her.
"Thanks."
He fidgeted, obviously being uncomfortable with being thanked. He mumbled something that sounded a bit like 'You're welcome' and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Stephanie smiled and suppressed a laugh.
The cat moved to her lap, curled up and promptly fell asleep. It was not long before sleep claimed her as well.
Robbie all but ran from the room. 'That rattled me far more than it should have. Drat the girl's kindheartedness.' He sneered to himself in contempt.
He staggered a ways down the hall before leaning his back against the wall and slowly, he slid down to the floor.
'She's ok.'
Weariness crept over his face.
'Had it been anyone else, I would have left them to die.'
I hope your enjoying the story thus far! I know I'm having a great deal of fun writing it.
I'm having a bit of a debate with myself as to where this story is heading. This has the makings to be either a friendship or a Stephanie/Robbie story. Both of which I find to be in great shortage here.
As always, LazyTown is owned by LazyTown Entertainment.
