Chapter Ten- Bruised
Ralph was having a hard time staying awake as he stood in line with the other Nicelanders at the church in Hero's Duty. If he were in his right mind, he would have been able to come up with some excuse, ANY EXCUSE, to skip out on the wedding rehearsal but there he was, right at the end of the line, trying his best NOT to nod off where he stood.
"Stupid, snarky Gene…." He thought to himself "If he didn't have me running around all day I could actually concentrate on pillows on my face I want to fall asleep tired so tired."
And it wasn't as if the setting in the sanctuary was helping either. It was so warm, the light dimmed and the music set at such a soft, gentle tone.
"AAAAAUUUUUURGH!"
"And then I take your hand…." Gene cooed to Mary as the Mayor took ahold of his fiancée's hands daintily "And place the ring upon your finger."
The worry that Mary had carried with her for the past few days were long blown away as Gene stood with her at the altar. She knew better than to be so excited, so giddy; she knew it was just the practice run but it felt like THE DAY. She was blushing madly, Gene's smooth tones only adding to how she felt.
"Oh…Gene!" she finally piped in "I get it! You don't have to play it like we're getting married today!"
"I just can't help myself!" Gene laughed as he took Mary into his arms, breaking out of act "Mmmm, if I had my way this would be the day but we don't have the cake and everything else set up!"
Ralph gave a heavy snort, his brain missing the beat "What?! WHAT!? Did I miss it?! Did Mary do the garter belt toss yet!?"
"Um, Gene it is getttin' a lil late." Felix smiled nervously, looking down at the Sugar Rush racers sitting on the pews "Tha kids need ta get ta bed!"
"Don't tell me you want to call it a night!" Gene scoffed, giving Felix a rather heavy slug on the shoulder "The night is still young! We have so much we can do after this!"
"From what I've been hearin'…." Calhoun slid in, a brow arched towards the Nicelander "You've been throwin' down a lot more than usual."
Gene returned the cocky grin to the woman, a twinkle in his eyes "Looks like you finally have someone that can keep up with ya, SAAAARGE. Maye we can both show these babies how to have a night on the town."
"GENE!" Mary huffed, giving the man a good pinch on his side "Simmer down, my goodness!"
"Didn't I tell ya he was actin' weird, Taff?" Vanellope whispered to Taffyta, the strawberry racer nodding.
"Yeah. It is kinda weird seeing him like this. But did you see when he juggled four Toads in front of Bowser?"
Vanellope turned her head quickly towards her friend, eyes as wide as dinner plates "WHAT!? When did THAT happen!?"
"We've gotten everything taken care of here." The Mayor said in a soft tone towards his wife "We just have to wait for Nel to put the finishing touches on our outfits, get the cake ready and…."
The man found himself chuckling rather loudly, everyone around him watching.
"Ah, to count away the days! I can hardly wait!"
There was something to Gene's laugh as it echoed through the church that made everyone feel a bit out of place around him. They were all familiar with his conduct but he was pushing it towards a level that just was out of character, even for him. Despite this, Gene carried on as if it were nothing out of the norm, as if everyone else around him were the ones acting odd.
"So, does anyone want to join me for a round at Tapper's?" the man smiled "My treat!"
The others exchanged glances, feeling their feet taking them away from Gene.
"Er, not really…." Felix finally spoke up, putting a hand behind his head "T-Tammy an' I wanted ta just stay in tonight."
"Aw, REALLY?" pouted Gene "Even you Ralph?"
By now, Ralph felt that it might be better to just drop on the floor and sleep in the church "I need bed. NOW. Like…RIGHT NOW."
"Bunch'a ol' duddies, that's what the lot of you are." The Mayor puffed in an arrogant tone, crossing his arms against his chest "Any other day, you'd be getting on MY case for not being able to keep up but now-?"
"Now…." Mary sighed, pulling Gene towards her "Now, it would probably be the best for everyone if we got back. Okay, dear?"
"But I dun wanna go home!" Gene said, playing with his love "I wanna have FUUUUUUUN!"
"See? I told ya they're babies with fake mustaches!" Calhoun whispered as she leaned over to the confused priest.
"How about this then." Mary said, bopping Gene on the nose "We'll go in, but if you promise not to whine like that again I'll make you enough caramel sea-salt brownies until you explode."
"And we can watch my Godzilla movies?" Gene grinned cheekily, loving just how flustered Mary was getting "Pweeeze?"
"I won't have any brain cells left by the end of this…."
"Mmmm, I take that as a yes then!" Gene said again as he went in for another hug, making certain that Mary was lovingly squished. It was quite the turn considering it was Gene who was the one who everyone made certain was squished.
The group then made their way out of Hero's Duty, Gene leading the fray with still so much energy fired up inside of him.
"Don't think the fun is going to end once the wedding is over, m'dear!" the Mayor said proudly "Things are DEFINITLY going to heat up around here! We're never going to have a boring moment as long as I'm around."
Now MARY was the one feeling exhausted, Gene more or less CARRYING her at this point as he lead her down the halls.
"As much as I am happy to see you up and about, what did I tell you before?"
The man looked down, eyes fluttering innocently "Yes?"
"DON'T. OVER. EXERT YOURSELF." Mary said, giving Gene's cheeks a reminder slap with each word she spoke "I like my Gene to be ALIVE, thank you very much."
The man rubbed both his cheeks as he peered down at Mary "Come, come Mary. Don't you want me to have fun?"
"Well, YES but-!"
He took her hands.
"Then have some fun with me."
He began to dance.
"We can both take this arcade together."
He was now waltzing with the one he loved the most.
And everyone had stopped to look.
"Betcha forgot I could dance…." Gene said as he smooched the woman.
"Gene, they're watching us."
"Let them…" the man said, Mary noticing that the tone of his voice had dropped "They watch whenever something BAD happens to us. It's about time they had to watch us with something GOOD."
Mary scowled slightly as she pulled away "You're just showing off now! That's all you're doing!"
"Showing off? HA!"
"Gene, can't you be serious for a moment?" Mary asked, worry coming on her face "There is a time and place for everything but-!"
"Of course there is!" the man cut in, getting ready to turn and walk towards home "But we're allowed to enjoy ourselves just like everyone else here so I don't see the problem in just a little play now do y-!"
*BOOM!*
"NYAGH!"
"HEY!"
Gene stumbled on his feet as he hit something solid, his head in a spin for a moment or two.
"Clumsy…."
"Are you KIDDIN' me?!"
Gene squeaked in shock as he looked up, seeing none other than-!
Quasar.
Upon seeing the space-man Mary rushed over to her fiancé's side as if some sort of defense mechanism was triggered within her. She knew that after what had happened to him a few days ago, Quasar wouldn't be too keen on seeing Gene in the station and there was no way in the code void she was going to allow the man to touch him.
Even annoyances couldn't keep the Mama Bear side of Mary down.
"Why is is always Nicelanders?" the man growled in anger "Always Nicelanders ruining my day?"
Ralph and the others were close by and they headed near the man, the Wrecker shooting the space-man a look that could have knocked over a building.
"Okay now, don't start anythin'….." the big man warned as he looked Quasar right in the eye "I'm tired as all get out but I'm not too tired ta knock take ya over ta Surge if ta try to pull somethin'!"
"Oh, now Ralph there is no reason to be so violent." Gene said as he brushed off his cardigan "It was my fault anyway. I should have watched where I was going."
Whatever feelings of sleep Ralph had held were now blown out of the window with THAT statement.
Was Gene being…HUMBLE!?
IMPOSSIBLE!
"Excuse me, but WHAT?" Quasar growled towards the Nicelanders. Gene adjusted the cuffs of his shirt and his tie, not at all phased.
"I said, it was MY fault and I apologize for it. No amount of excitement I have is an excuse for bowling people over."
Quasar remembered what happened the last time Gene acted so calmly before him, the result being the utter humiliation of the man. His lips twisted into a grimace, his left knuckle popping as he balled it up.
"NO. No it isn't." Quasar snapped "Just like it was no excuse for you to toss me into the pond like you did!"
"From what I hear…" Calhoun said, hands on her hips "You were ASKIN' for it with tha way ya were behavin'."
"The only thing I have EVER asked for…." The space-man hissed "Is that these lil punks an' everyone else like 'em stay outta my way! WHY IS THAT SO HARD FOR YOU JACKASSES TO UNDERSTAND!?"
"Hey, hey, HEEEEEEEEEEEEY!" Felix shouted, pushing Quasar back "We do not say those things in an open station!"
"Will ya STOP actin' like my god damned MOM an' butt out, FIX-IT!?"
Felix jumped back, startled by the choice of words Quasar was using towards him but he quickly bounced back.
"You sir have been nothin' but a thorn in not only MY side but so many others an' so help me, I'll-!"
"FELIX."
Everyone turned and looked, Gene calmly stepping forward.
"You don't have to do this to yourself"
Felix was mighty confused, wondering just what his friend had meant "What was that sir."
Gene took in a deep breath as he looked at Quasar "You want to go home, don't you?"
The space-man's face went a little pale, his face dropping "What?"
"I said, you want to go home don't you?"
"Wh-what does HOME hafta do with-!?"
"I know since the day you went into the duck pond you've been avoiding out game…." Gene said "I've observed that much. But it's not the safest thing to do, young man. It is not. That's why I want you to come back home."
Wait.
Gene WANTED Quasar back in the game?
EVERYONE around the Mayor was stunned by this statement; Calhoun, Felix, Vanellope, Ralph…
But MARY especially.
"I have no more anger towards you, young man." The man continued "But even so, what kind of person would I be to turn someone away like that? I would be back to my old self and I don't want to be that man anymore."
Was Gene being serious? Even Ralph did not know but there he was, offering the space-man, the same space-man who had not only hurt HIM and Mary but various other characters as well, BACK into the game.
"I'm sure Hailey misses you too and she wants you home. So stop running and come back, okay? I'll even rent you your own place to stay until things are reconciled between the two of you."
There was just something to Gene's tone that not only made Quasar stop…..
But made him angry as well.
Gene HAD to be mocking him, he had to be mocking him for his failures as there was no other possible reason for him to be this kind to him.
The space-man growled, Gene finally noticing the action and in a surprise case, suddenly remembering that Quasar was indeed much larger and stronger than him.
Perhaps this was the moment Gene realized he had taken on more than he could chew.
"Young man?"
"I don't care if you can throw me a mile away!" Quasar growled, reading his hand "I DON'T MAKE DEALS WITH NPCS!"
"Gene watch out!" Mary cried as she prepared to block the oncoming strike but once more, Gene was the faster as he caught sight of the move as well. He shoved Mary out of the way and in the split second-!
POW!
There was a scream, a few gasps, and a surprised shout of pain.
"Youch!" Quasar said, shaking his fist as he had not expected Gene to suddenly feel THICKER "Don't tell me you BLOCKED IT, Ralph!"
"Um, I didn't!"
Quasar opened his eyes and looked down, seeing Gene on his bottom on the floor but still posed with his arm in front of him while his other hand was out, pushing Mary behind him. He panted heavily, hair out of place and his suit a bit wrinkled….
But he was up.
He was aware.
And while he had been knocked down….
"W-was that necessary?"
He still got back up.
Everyone who was around was stunned to watch Gene, shakily, rising to his feet as they had not expected him to simply ABSORB the blow as he did, rather they had expected him to go flying back as he usually did. Gene knew he was being watched and despite quaking badly, his heart racing and his cheeks blushed he tried to push it back.
He HAD to keep up his appearance in the moment.
Quasar was SILENT, especially once he realized he had hurt his hand against an NPC. Gene on the other hand did not keep silent for long, clearing his throat and looking up ANGRILY at the larger Hero.
It was a stand-off like no other.
"You didn't have to do that."
"B-But-!? HOW!?"
"You didn't have to do that at all." Gene continued, his voice calm "And to think you could have hurt MARY as well."
Upon hearing her name, Mary jumped back a bit, eyes instantly going towards her.
Quasar was still searching his brain for an explanation to what had happened. He was a HERO! There was no way an NPC could have taken a hit like that, especially a NICELANDER! They always fell! They were the weakest of all the characters in the arcade!
Not this time.
Quasar had readied himself to say something with a bright flash popped in front of his eyes.
"Surge!" exclaimed Felix, surprised that the man had actually arrived on time on this occasion.
"Guess I finally caught you in the act." The glowing man said as he looked at Quasar with diligence "And boy, after all the infractions you've collected over the years…"
"Wait, I can explain!" Quasar stammered finding there was NO WAY he could explain anything now that he had been caught. He put a hand to his temple, feeling a might dizzy in the raising confusion "Ju-just give me a moment. I'm still trying to figure out what happened."
"Twenty counts of starting fights in the middle of the station. SEVERAL counts of vandalism? Oh, this is finally going to do you in!"
"Wait! NO!" the man protested "I-I'm a HERO! You can't send me in! Not after what-!"
"Surge?"
All eyes went down to the Mayor, the man trying to put his hair back in order.
"Drop the charges."
"WHAT!?" gasped Ralph "DROP THE CHARGES!?"
"He's angry Ralph…." Gene said "And I understand the reasons why."
"But Gene, this jerk HURT you!"
Despite the trouble he was in, Quasar still had enough energy in him to give Ralph and annoyed glare "Hey, now…"
"Yes, but I still stand by what he said. After EVERYTHING that has happened to him and his girlfriend, the last thing that he needs is to be locked up somewhere. He needs to go HOME, like the rest of us."
Ralph was now the one feeling angry; whatever Gene was trying to accomplish was not making any sense to him. Were these Gene's attempts to make up for what he had done to Ralph? Or was it something else?
Just what was Gene trying to prove in letting Quasar go?
"Are you sure you want me to drop these infractions?" Surge asked Gene, the Nicelander nodding.
"Yes, yes I do. I do believe Quasar has understood the consequences of his actions."
Calhoun and Ralph exchanged looks; unimpressed looks.
There was no way things would be that easy.
"Y-You have something up your sleeve, small fry." The space-man said, trying his best to regain his tough demeanor to scare Gene "I know ya do. There's no way you'd let me back in without a catch."
"A CATCH?" Gene said, walking closer to Quasar "Maybe not a catch. Just a warning."
"A WARNING?"
The Mayor nodded "Yes, a simple one at that."
Gene was smiling….but then he reached up and grabbed the man by his collar, pulling him down close enough for him to see the anger in his eyes.
"If you ever, EVER try to strike Mary like that again I will give you WORSE than what I did to you in the duck pond! Do you hear me!?"
Whoa!
As to be expected from ANYONE who found themselves threatened by a Nicelander, Quasar didn't know HOW to respond, especially given how he could still feel Gene's look going into him.
He was so used to scaring the other NPCs but now?
Now the show was on the other foot.
"NICELANDER GENE!"
"NYAAAUGH!"
Saved by the Mary.
Mary yanked Gene back and pulled him into the game, continuing to drag the man even after they got onto the trolley and AFTER they had returned into the main game.
"What is WRONG WITH YOU!?"
"Ah! AH! B-but honey!"
The front door of the apartments SLAMMED shut, a few of the East Niceland residence watching. A little monkey character whistled, wagging his brows as he smiled.
"SOMEONE is gonna be busy tonight!"
"Mary, what is the meaning of this?!" Gene grumped as the woman shoved him in the elevator "If you are still worried about what took place in the station then-!"
"OF COURSE I'M WORRIED! WHY WOULDN'T I BE WORRIED?!"
Gene squeaked, seeing just how upset Mary was.
"Dear?"
"Gene, what is WRONG with you?!"
The man smiled smugly, running his fingers through his hair "Wrong? There is absolutely nothing wrong, my dear."
"Yes, there is." Mary said "All week you've been acting strange and all week I've tried to ignore it but-!"
The woman put her hands to her head and growled, pixel puffs of smoke popping over her.
"First all this running around you've been doing, then all this showing off and finally? You act so brazenly in front of everyone because of that Quasar fellow! AND you get hit in the process!"
"Mary, why are you so worried about all of this?" his tone dropping as his smile disappeared "So what if we had a little tussle in the station. It's not like that was the first time that has happened."
Gene arched a brow as he pointed towards the lady in pink.
"Don't tell me even YOU expect me to fold upon the first hit."
"Are you kidding me?" Mary huffed, pushing herself away from Gene. The elevator reached the top floor, Mary rushing out in a huff.
"Mary-kins!" the man begged playfully, catching up with her but she continued to walk with her back towards him, her nose in the air.
"Why did you do that?"
"Because I wanted to protect you." Gene answered calmly.
"I can understand that. I can understand if you're worried but Gene? There is a difference between wanting to PROTECT someone and foolishly throwing yourself in danger!"
Gene let out a snort, "So you thought I was doing those things on PURPOSE?"
"YEEEES!"
The woman's loud shout was more than enough to shut Gene up for a moment, the man getting the clue in just how upset the woman had become. She was breathing hard and her face was redden, not looking any different from Gene himself whenever he had gone through one of his moods.
Realizing her own behavior, Mary straightened up and rubbed her arms.
"Look, I'm sorry but….Honey, I'm just worried."
"I told you, Mary. There is nothing you need to worry about me."
"There has been so much happening to us in the last year…" the Pink Nicelander said sadly "I-I know I try to keep my head above it but seeing everyone around me so upset, so sad….and me standing there unable to do anything to make it better…."
Gene's eyes widened; of course Mary would be concerned about him but he never knew she was THIS worried.
Gene took out the key and opened the apartment doors, pulling Mary inside with him. Once the two were alone, the Mayor felt much more comfortable to release. The shield he had put up had been lowered, the smugness gone and the worry up.
"So why worry so much about everything?" the man asked as he took Mary by her arms "Especially me?"
"Because I love you Gene! You know that!"
As always, Gene's heart flipped whenever those words passed his fiancée's lips.
"A-and I love you too…." The man mewled, all power replaced by vulnerability as he stood there with Mary "You know I always will."
"So please, Gene. Promise me this."
"Y-Yes?"
"No more fights." The woman whimpered "I'm happy that YOU'RE happy but nothing good will come to anyone if you go out looking for trouble. You KNOW who used to do that."
Gene glanced off to the side, shutting his eyes tight. Just thinking of that particular person made his stomach flip, his bile rise.
"Yes. Yes." The Mayor nodded, refusing to open his eyes "I know."
"And what happened to HIM?" Mary continued.
"Many things." Gene began, rubbing his arm "Currently, HE is sitting in the Hero's Duty prison stocks and hopefully he won't be coming out any time soon."
"HOPEFULLY, you won't end up in a more horrid state." Mary said, coming from behind Gene and hugging him.
"I'm sorry."
The woman looked up "What for?"
"For ruining the night."
Mary smiled, going up to Gene and kissing him "You're still hungry, aren't you?"
The Mayor tapped his cheeks, rolling his eyes "Maaaybe?"
"You still want brownies?"
"Until I explode?" Gene said, a little grin forming on his face.
Mary's own smile began to return as she leaned in closer for a kiss, going onto her tip toes.
"I think the entire arcade would run out of sweets before that happens."
So close.
So close.
"But I'm sure a little kiss would-"
*GLITCH!*
"*HEEP!*"
Gene pulled back as he placed his fingers towards his lips, cheeks blushing like mad. Mary on the other hand erupted into laughter, an act that wasn't making the man feel any better.
"Oooh, yuck it up PINKY."
"And I will!" the woman said, completely in giggles.
"It's not that funny!"
"But it's just so cute when you hiccup." Mary said, finally planting the kiss she wanted on Gene's cheek "And it also tells me something else."
"What?"
"You need tea." Mary said "Anything to calm those nerves of yours."
"You say my nerves are bad…." The flustered Mayor began "But who was the one acting all worried only seconds ago?"
"Just wait here, okay?" Mary smiled as she pulled her fiancé's cheek "I'll just be a moment."
As Mary made her way to Meg, she couldn't help but laugh at how worried she had become. Maybe Gene was right for a change and she was looking too far into things. After all, it had been her words in the past reminding Gene that things would be much better should his outlook on the arcade change and for the past few days he was doing EXACTLY what she had hoped for him to do.
Granted, she hadn't expected him to take such measures.
"But that is still no excuse for him to run around in such a manner…." The woman found herself saying "I've never seen him make such a big deal out of things like-"
Wait.
BIG?
Mary stopped in her tracks as that word echoed in her mind.
BIG.
Something….was off. She remembered when she had gone to give Gene his kiss, the way she had to move about him to do so.
She had to get on her tip-toes.
She NEVER had to get on her tip-toes to give Gene a kiss.
And it wasn't as if it were the only time. Throughout the week there had been a shift but in the begging? In the beginning, it was small. She could remember it now; it had started the day after they had gotten back from Sugar Rush. She had to raise herself just a tad to give her love his kiss.
And then it began to increase.
And increase.
And increase.
Mary felt her heart racing and a chill come over her.
It wasn't possible.
It just had to be her own worried mind.
Back inside the apartment, Gene went into the bed room. While he had noticed the glitch itself, there had been another sensation that had caused the man to jump just being his hiccup had interrupted the kiss.
"Ow…" he said as he pulled his sleeve up, seeing a VERY nasty looking bruise forming on his skin where Quasar had hit him. He had done a good enough job hiding it from Mary but it was very much painful and if anything it made him realize one important thing.
He was invincible.
No matter how powerful Gene felt he remembered that just like everyone else he did have his limits and while he did feel good standing up to Quasar, he knew that the results of such an action were no longer worth it; he was still hurt and if he had antagonized the man even further who knew what else would have happened.
He got up and went to the freezer, placing a bag of ice on the spot.
"Mary is right…" the man sighed to himself "I'm going too far with this and who knows what could happen if I should-!"
*GLITCH!*
Gene gasped in shock as he felt a sharp pain run up his middle, folding over as he clutched his sides.
"AI!"
*GLITCH!*
*GLITCH!*
Another glitch ran up Gene's back, the sharpness shooting up his spine to collide in the back of his head. He nearly threw himself off the bed but he managed to catch himself, dropping the ice pack into the ground.
"W-What in the world was-!?"
*GLITCH!*
Again!?
Gene stopped, the room titling and twirling for a second as an odd sensation came over him. For a moment his entire body tingled with a strange energy, his ears ringing as he felt as if someone were pulling him from his feet all the way up to his head. He was frightened, too overcome by this feeling to even move but as quickly as it had started…
It stopped.
The portly Mayor gasped once more as he felt himself freed from whatever hold had come over him. He breathed heavily, a hand going to his chest as he could feel his heart starting to run.
"W-What was that!?"
Ba-Bump!
Ba-Bump!
Ba-Bump!
Gene looked down at his chest, his heart beat heavy enough that it felt as if it could be heard throughout the apartment but as he looked down he could have sworn…
Was there light?
What was happening?
The man looked at himself in the mirror, hands shaking as he reached out and touched the surface. As far as he could tell, he LOOKED the same but he sure as pixels didn't FEEL the same. As he walked he could tell something had happened, that something had changed.
Could it have been….
He rushed over to the marks on the wall, standing under the line he had first made and with pencil in hand, the other hand going atop his head, he made another mark and….
And….
Another inch?
"It's….it's happening AGAIN?" Gene said, his eyes widening "But-! But I thought-!"
He THOUGHT it would only happen ONCE.
He THOUGHT that he wouldn't have to worry about any more spurts.
HE THOUGHT….
He thought things would be fine, but given what he had felt in those few moments he was the complete opposite of fine. But what could have triggered it? Throughout the week he had been thrown, blown up, and taken EVERY hit that had come towards him.
But then there was Quasar's hit.
And that's when things began to pick up again.
The Mayor suddenly felt as if a ton of brick had been dropped upon him; one inch, two inches? That was fine enough but what would happen if he didn't STOP?
He could hide it from the group good enough as is but if he kept going up…
And up….
AND UP….
"I won't be able to hide it…." Gene breathed out, a panic coming over him "Oh, lord! I've got to find a way to stop this before-!"
The door to the apartments opened, the Mayor nearly leaping a foot in the air.
*GLITCH!*
"M-Mary!?"
"Yes, it's me." The woman called towards her fiancé as she placed the new box of tea bags on the kitchen table "Are you alright dear?"
Gene was FAR from alright, especially when all his worry triggered another glitch. Thankfully, Mary was not around to see the flash but knowing he had to keep himself from glitching again Gene did not leave the bedroom.
"I-I'm fine! Just fine!"
Back inside the kitchen, Mary found the ice bag on the floor. Given how worried Gene was sounding at the moment it didn't take even a second for Mary to sense that something was out of place.
"Gene?"
The man rushed out of the room, a forced smile on his face "S-see!? Right as rain!"
The little lady gave the Mayor a skeptical look "Right as rain?"
"U-Uh, let's get started on those brownies!" the Mayor quickly said as he rushed into the kitchen.
"OH!"
"C-Come on, Mary! Let's not weigh down the night with so much worry!"
"From the looks of things, YOU'RE the one who's worried now." Mary said as she poked Gene in his cheek.
Being simply worried would have been wishful thinking on Gene's part.
"I-I'm not worried." Gene chuckled nervously as he reached for a bowl "I-I have far too many GOOD things coming up to be worried. I-it's no big deal at all!"