A/N: Hey people! So so sorry for the wait, I tend to be lazy when it comes to transitioning from not writing to writing. Anyways nothing to say so far except Chiro finally has the support from not one but TWO allies, so he is finally getting some allies. Let's see what happens next.

So on with chapter 12!


Chapter 12

A Bed Time Story

Nova and Chiro had returned late that night from the concert. Smiles painted on their brightened faces. They entered the robot, dripping wet from the rain. Nova chattered quietly with Chiro as she lightly slapped his back.

"I can't lie," she started. "You really are a good singer, even better than the band. So I'm impressed with ya." She smiled and flashed him a thumbs up.

Chiro, rubbing the sore spot on his back, smiled a big toothy smiled. "Ah thanks Nova your too nice." He then paused as he looked around. He soon spotted the clock that read '10:30 P.M.' He rubbed his neck and cut a small glance to his gold companion.

"Hey its only 10:30, it seems everyone went to bed." He noted to the darkened atmosphere of the control room. "That seems odd, do they usually go to bed this early?" He knew his team's bedtimes varied and all went to bed at different times. But this was something different.

Nova glanced around before placing a thoughtful thumb to her chin. "Sometimes they do sometimes they don't. If Antauri hadn't sent for us by now then we're okay." She shrugged her shoulders, raising her arms. Indirectly giving Chiro a small glimpse of the puncture holes on her side.

Chiro saw the scars of the syringe needle and felt his stomach drop. His smile altered as he slowed his stop. The motion causing Nova to also stop and look back at him questioningly. "Chiro?" She questioned with eyebrows raised. "What's wrong?" she tilted her head.

Rubbing his arm, he breathed a small sigh. "I'm sorry for bringing this up, but Nova… those wounds on your side. I don't care if the medication is supposed to help calm yourself- I don't think you need to be taking it anymore."

Eyes shooting open, she glanced at him. Instead of getting angry, she approached him and cupped his shoulder. "Chiro-" she started as carefully as she could. "Don't worry for me. I hate it when people worry about me."

"Why?"

She stepped back, caught off guard by the question. She fell silent as she ran a finger down her side. Feeling the holes riddling her shaggy gold fur. She sighed. "Chiro please, you finally got on my good side. I really don't want to track backwards."

Realizing where this was going, he quickly nodded. "Of course I'm sorry. I just hate it that he forces you to do this when you clearly don't need it. You are not dangerous Nova, you just need a friend, something no one has been giving you lately."

Taken back by the kind words, she dropped her gaze. Sighing, she snaked her arm around his neck. Gently raising his head with her thumb, she looked him in the eye. "But you've given me that today and I am very grateful for the experience. Thank you."

They looked into each other's eyes for a good long time. Nova lost track of time as she leaned in to the taller monkey. She brushed his hand across his chest to straighten out his scarf. There something shiny caught her eyes.

A strange silver watch dangled off the simian's neck.

The relic sparkled in her eyes as she leaned forward to get a better look. "Chiro what is that?" She reached forward to touch the watch. "I have never seen that thing before."

Chiro grabbed her wrist, halting her action. He sighed as he looked away. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, believe me." He sighed at her sudden quizzical look. He cupped the watch in his hand as he walked ahead of her. Stopping when he felt her curious eyes burrow into the back of his helmet. He glanced back at her and sighed.

"It's um, hard to explain." He looked at the blue faced clock. "Just know this is a very precious item to me, it kind of- 'keeps me going' I guess you could say." He looked at his face reflect in the shiny glass casing. He sighed and ran his free hand down his cheek. "It's the only thing I have to remind me to keep fighting. Without this watch I fear I…" He trailed off.

Confused beyond belief, Nova approached Chiro. "Fighting what?"

He closed his eyes. His lungs tightened as he glanced at her. Their gazes locking as their pupils stared intently into the other. Then Chiro looked away, breaking the look abruptly. "Sorry I can exaggerate a bit sometimes. I just mean this item is like an air loom to me, it's important. That's all." He quickly shoved the watch back beneath his scarf.

Nova frowned but nodded. He didn't press her to talk about her medication problem, only fair to not press this. Leaning forward, she smiled and patted his back. "Maybe we should go to bed hm?"

Upon hearing the words, he sighed miserably. "Okay goodnight then, thanks for today." He forced a smile as he headed towards the exit.

A hand stopped him. "Why are you heading outside?" Nova asked, pulling him back by her side. "It's freezing outside, are you crazy?"

Chiro rubbed his arm nervously. Hesitant to tell her what the current leader makes him do. "Well um, Mandarin does not… exactly want me near you guys. So i-"

Nova cut him off, her eyes as hard as stone. "You're not sleeping outside. Not anymore."

Chiro gawked. "But I don't have a room?"

She smiled as she looked down the hall to make sure her teammates were not close by. She looked back and whispered. "You can share my room till we figure something out. I don't care what Mandarin says, he can chew me out all he wants. I won't let you sleep outside. Now come on."

Taken aback by the sudden kind offer, Chiro was drug down the hall. "N-n-nova!" he stammered in alarm. "This-this is v-very kind of you. B-b-b-b-but I can't take your room!"

She wrapped her tail around his mouth to silence him. "Keep it down or they'll hear you." She snapped in annoyance. "Also I aint giving you a choice blue eyes, now shut up and come on." She took him to the gold tube as the gust of wind shot them both up a few levels.

Once at the level of their rooms, she peeked around the corner. Opening her antenna ears, she listened carefully. She stood silent as she turned back to face him. "Okay they're all asleep, come on." She dragged him to her room. Opening the door and quickly closing it after tossing him on the floor. She smiled at him.

Chiro shook his head and smoothed his fur down. Standing to full height, he glanced around her room. His tail swished back and forth after whacking his snout. He grunted and grabbed the appendage and forced it back behind him. He looked at her, his cheeks glowing red. This was a little odd feeling.

Nova coughed and gestured for him to whisper. "Well I got some extra pillows for you, we can share a bed if ya like." She added casually as if not having any idea how bad this sounded.

Chiro gulped and started sweating nervously. "Ahh I'll take the floor, really it's okay."

Nova rolled her eyes to the younger male. "What's the big deal? You have been sleeping outside on the cold ground, I'm not making you sleep on the floor."

Then movement caught their attention from the corner. Jolting, Nova summoned her battle fist and leaped infront of Chiro on instinct. Baring her teeth, she snarled. "Who's there?" she hissed out in anger.

"Shh!" Otto whispered as he crawled out from his corner hiding spot. "I over-heard you guys talking and saw you dragging Chiro to your room." He smiled a bright white smile. "I thought you guys were having a slumber party so I wanted to join."

"Slumber party?" Nova asked, raising a brow. Deactivating her fist she moved away from Chiro. "Otto this is not a slumber-" She stopped when Otto stared up to his big sister. Big black eyes sparkling with micro tears forming at the edges. He pushed out his bottom lip in an obvious whimper.

Nova's face fell as her shoulders slumped. "Okay okay we can have a slumber party." She sighed as the male jumped with joy. "But-!" she stopped him with a finger raised. "Chiro has been forced to sleep outside the past few days so he is staying in my room for now on. But I don't want Mandarin or anyone else finding out, so we keep this quiet. Got it?"

Otto nodded like he was choked up on red bull. "Yes yes you got it! And not to worry I can help- Chiro can also sleep in my room in case we need to trade around." He fist bumped the air in glee at his plan. Besides it's the least I could do after he taught me that new move!

Nova smiled at this. "Alright, that'll be helpful- wait Chiro taught you that move?" She glanced at the blue eyed primate. Shock evident.

Chiro sweat dropped as he rubbed the back of his head. "Hey he needed help, so I offered it." He whispered before clearing his throat. "I greatly appreciate this guys…" he whispered low. Deeply touched by the length his teammates were going just to give him a bed. Despite the risk of getting caught.

Once everyone was settled, Otto flopped on one of Nova's chairs as looked at his sister and Chiro. "Since this is a slumber party… we got to have ghost stories!"

Chiro and Nova glanced at each other. Smiling, Nova walked to Otto and flopped down on the floor by his feet. "Well it is a sleep over, so might as well." Both monkeys glanced at the former human with expected gazes.

"Well come on Chiro." Nova smiled encouragingly. "Got any good stories?"

Chiro blinked in surprise at this sudden request. With two pairs of eyes staring intently on him, he looked down. His brain ran rampant with some ideas. Till one thought suddenly hit him like a bolt. Smiling, he glanced at his team. "Actually I just happened to have one story."

Quickly leaning forward, Otto and Nova huddled together. Nova brought her tail forward and flicked on a small flame. Casting a small golden glow to fill the dark room. Giving a slight campfire feel to it.

Chuckling at the action, Chiro sits down on the opposite side of the green and gold duo. Raising his knees up, he situated himself. Once comfortable, he began in a soft spoken voice.

"The tale I am going to share is something that I have never shared with anyone." He whispered as he looked into their eyes. "In a fast distant future there are six friends. Each friend were close, almost like a family. They each were unique in their own way. One smart, one wise, one funny, one cool, one strong, and one brave."

Nova and Otto leaned forward in anticipation.

Chiro shallowed his voice to deepen the serenity of the mood. "These friends were guardians over a prosperous town well known through the galaxy. The friends were happy as protectors of this heavenly city, evil was defeated by their might." He raised his fist to emphasize their strength. "They were at peace."

But then his face dropped into a sad look. "Till one day… one friend tried to defy their roles as guardians." He broke into a whisper. "The city they were sworn to protect was fair game to this one individual. One who was once good hearted had turned into something that was evil."

Otto's eyes widen as Nova's jaw dropped. Neither of them expected this. "What did they do to stop him?" Otto whispered out in shock.

Chiro glanced at him and sighed. "They did all they could to reason with him- to bring sense to their friend's mind. But he chose to go against them to control this city he swore to protect. This they could not let happen, so led by their second in command… they were forced to fight him and defeated him."

Nova and Otto glanced at each other, waiting for the younger simian to specify what 'defeat' meant.

"They exiled him to a far distant prison to prevent him from ever harming anyone again. This broke their hearts as they fell into a long term of isolation. Locking themselves away from the outside world."

"What happened to them next?" Nova asked this time. Her curiosity peaked.

Then Chiro's frown was altered into a small smile. "Till one day… these five friends stumbled upon someone new. Someone whom they were not expecting. At first their interaction was hesitant and rocky, but overtime these five brave people accepted this individual."

Otto blinked in alarm. "But what about the other friend they exiled? They just forgot about him and replaced him?"

This stabbed Chiro's heart. Taking in a deep breath, he shook his head. "No, these five will never forget their friend. He was their most cared for ally. But he ended up making a decision that broke their trust. It does not mean they'll ever forget the person he once was."

Nova scratched her chin and nodded. "I get that, but what about this new friend they found? Did he heal their broken hearts?"

Chiro then let a small smile caress his face. Warm memories clouded his vision as he began to remanence. "Maybe he did, was a very high possibility. But it was not him that did the healing, it was them who gave him a better life."

Otto tilted his head, a big smile cracking on his face. "Really?"

Chiro nodded fondly at the green mechanic. "Oh yes very much. Ya see this individual was lost for a long time- alone. He didn't really have anyone, no family or friends. He really didn't have anything to speak of. But these five ended up giving him more than just friends, they gave him a family."

Otto and Nova titled their heads. They smiled as they yawned, sleep starting to find them. Chiro spotted this and then chuckled. "Well that's all there is for tonight, let's go to sleep."

Flocking to the one bed, Otto crawled in first. Then Nova hopped in and gestured for Chiro to join. He blinked at the tight fit, then he smiled. Sighing, he gave up on trying to deny them and joined. He climbed up into the cuddle fest and squeezed in the middle.

Nova settled on his right with Otto on his left. They hugged him tight as they coddled him. Chiro's face burned brightly as this was crossing his personal boundary line. Sighing, he padded the awkwardness down and leaned his head against Nova. Feeling their bodies warm each other as they lounged on top of each other like kittens.

Sleep eventually finding him as he fell into a deep slumber. His aching back resting peacefully against the soft hammock beneath him. Nova's pod kept the trio room yet cool at the same time. Each finding comfort in each other that the other hadn't felt in a long while.

The watch of morrow rolled out of his scarf. Falling silently onto his chest as it ticked quietly. The thin silver hands crossing each other in a slow steady pace. Emitting a soft blue that lit the darkened room like blue night light.


A/N: Aw! This was such a sweet chapter to write! I figured it was about time someone voiced their curiosity about the watch he wears hidden beneath his scarf. This chapter was also more of a pause to kind of solidify his newly won friendship. So when stuff gets heated they will be less likely to doubt or turn on him.

So this bonding scene was very important. Also hinting at their future with a bedtime story was kind of good. To give them an understanding on how he felt when first meeting his family. Just how important they are to him and yet they still have no idea who he is! So deju vu!

Also sorry for error mistakes in this chapter, I was to lazy to go back and pre-read it so forgive me there!

Anyways thanks for reading! Stay tuned for chapter 13! Sleep tight.