Credit for the idea behind this oneshot goes to Mike AZ 2. Thank you so much for reviewing! ^_^ And please know that the other ideas you sent me are in the works and you will be credited for them as well. Thank you to Ciaxlia as well for your PM! I didn't forget ya, just not sure I can do your idea justice.

I hope ya'll enjoy! Let me know how you guys are liking these so far and do let me know if you guys have any other ideas or requests you'd like to see for these two. I may not be able to take every single request that comes my way, but I will certainly try my best! :D


In which Malroth gets injured and the Builder freaks out.

Hurt

"This place is kind of gross," the Builder complained, wringing out her hair for the umpteenth time. When she was satisfied her hair was no longer sopping wet with plasma, she pulled out her book and checked the eyeball off her list. Malroth shook out his own wild mane beside her, causing the Builder to groan and hold her hands up in an attempt to shield herself from the red water droplets. To his credit, he stopped and began wringing out his hair like a regular person.

"I dunno, I think it's rather lovely here," he remarked, taking in the entirety of the red island in all its stormy glory. The Builder blinked at him before shaking her head. Sometimes she truly didn't understand her best friend's tastes. She allowed her attention to drift back to the list in her hands, noting that so far, they'd found almost everything.

"What's left?" Malroth moved closer so he could get a better look at her checklist. From what he could see, they were almost done here; all they needed was to find some titanic bottom teeth and a giant horn, and then they'd be able to head home where Malroth could settle a score with some miners who'd been asking him for a sparring rematch.

"Let's search for the giant horn," the Builder suggested. "Seems like it'd be hard to miss that."

They continued their journey over the sanguine sands, occasionally stopping to vanquish any monsters that tried to get in their way. Lightning crackled above while thunder rumbled in the distance. The island did a great job of giving off a vibe of dread and unease to all who visited it; the Builder didn't have a good feeling about this place. It didn't help that the landscape reminded her of her time on Malhalla; she was happy to have met all her monster friends there, but that was only half of the experience. The other half consisted of feeling terrified, worried, and anguished that she wouldn't be able to save Malroth in time, and as she looked upon the sanguine sands, she remembered each and every moment she'd stressed over her best friend's fate.

When they'd rounded a mountain of chert, they came face-to-face with a huge stone guardian. It was massive, much bigger than any stone monster they'd ever encountered, and as the creature bumped its fists together to show it was ready to fight, the Builder quickly retrieved her sword and a fiery aura engulfed Malroth as he growled out, "Let's do this!"

He charged towards the monster and began swinging his mallet harshly. Normally, one or two swings was enough to bring a monster to its knees (or, well, whatever it had instead of knees), but the stone guardian didn't seem affected by the blows. It stomped forward with incredible force. Malroth was knocked on his backside from the impact, but that only made him angrier.

"GRAAAGH!" Jumping to his feet, he hit the super strong monster with all his might. The Builder took a few swings with her meager sword, doing significantly less damage than Malroth, but she knew from past experience that every little bit helped when it came to taking down these big baddies.

The more they fought, however, the less they seemed to be making any sort of progress. No matter how much the Builder and Malroth caused the monster damage, the monster hit back harder and it hurt. The blonde sported quite a few bruises and her ribs ached from being knocked around, and Malroth fared no better; in fact, he looked worse. Bruises and a bloody nose were the least of his worries; he was moving slower, his breathing labored, and he wasn't hitting as hard as he initially was. The monster was still completely fine as if they'd just began fighting. The Builder realized then that they'd been foolish to start this battle; they'd been at this for a while now and they hadn't even made a dent in its health.

Suddenly, the stone guardian stomped forward again and sent Malroth flying into the sand face-first. Time slowed to a crawl as the Builder froze, watching as the destructive young man laid there unmoving. He barely had enough energy to turn his head towards her, his eyes shut tightly in agony.

"MALROTH!" The Builder dropped her sword and sprinted towards her fallen friend, narrowly avoiding a critical attack from the huge monster. Malroth was barely conscious as she fell at his side, her hands immediately touching his face. She'd been so focused on trying to help him cut this creature down that she hadn't realized just how much damage he'd been taking. Malroth tended to take the brunt of each attack because he often thought she was weaker, and as a result... He didn't look too good. He looked like he was dying.

"D...Damn it..." he hissed through gritted teeth, and then, to the Builder's horror, he closed his eyes and went limp.

"No no no." Her hands hovered over his face, tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. "Malroth, c'mon! You have to get up!"

He remained still. Behind them, the Builder heard the stone guardian hopping towards them. She used all her strength to lift Malroth, then activated her warping magic to get them back to the ship. Brownbeard was shocked to see a bloody, bruised Builder shouldering an equally banged-up, unconscious Malroth.

"Set a course for the Isle of Awakening immediately!" the Builder managed to bark out, cutting off any questions Brownbeard might have asked. She lugged her best friend onto the deck and eased him down, allowing his head to rest on her lap, and she took off her scarf to use as a makeshift wrap for his arm. Thankfully, Brownbeard didn't push her for answers and didn't need to be asked twice. He hurried towards the steer and did as the Builder instructed, quickly raising the anchor and heading back towards the sunny shores of the Isle of Awakening.

The sight of the open seas had never been more comforting than in that moment. As she assessed her best friend's wounds, she realized he had suffered far worse than a bloody nose and bruising: he definitely had a broken arm, multiple open gashes, he winced every time he moved so he must've had some internal damage as well, and he had to have suffered a concussion. The Builder placed her hand near his nose and a sliver of relief washed over her at the fact that he was still breathing. It was labored and shaky and his pulse was slow, but he was still alive. However... He didn't flinch or stir when she wiped the sand and blood from his face, and for the first time since Malhalla, she felt dread in the pit of her stomach.

What if he... What if he doesn't wake up?

At that thought, the Builder couldn't help it: she began to cry. The tears rolled down her dirtied cheeks faster than she could stop them, some even landing on Malroth's bruised, bloody face. She sniffled and tried to pull herself together, but the harder she fought, the faster the tears came. She cradled his head in her lap and sobbed silently, hoping and praying that her best friend made it out of this alive.


When Malroth opened his eyes again, he was surprised to find that he was no longer subjected to the cold, dreary atmosphere of the Unholy Holm. Instead, he found himself staring up at a ceiling made of mud-bricks. He was lying on a soft bed and the faint scent of turf-n-truff teased his nostrils.

Soft snoring grabbed his attention and when he turned his head, he saw the Builder fast asleep beside him. She was propped up in a nearby chair, her head resting on her arms, much of her upper body leaning against the bed. She looked terrible: dried blood was caked around her nose, which was a little crooked (was it broken? He was pretty sure it was), and her face was covered in ugly purple bruises. It made him want to grab his mallet and bash the skull of whoever or whatever had done this to her.

"Good to see yer back in the world o' the livin'."

Malroth nearly jumped at Babs' voice. The Khrumbul-Dunnian dancer was standing in the doorway holding a plate full of seared steaks and grilled mushrooms, as well as a glass of digger's jigger in her hands. She offered Malroth a kind smile before fully stepping into the room.

"Where am I?" he asked. If he didn't know any better, he'd guess he was in the Scarlet Sands hotel. There weren't too many noises outside, so it had to be nighttime.

"Yer in Scarlet Sands," she confirmed. He watched as she set the meal down on the nightstand, careful to step around the Builder. "You were out for two days."

"Two days...?" Malroth glanced down at the snoring blonde. "What happened?"

"You an' the Builder were off at one of them Explorer's Islands," Babs explained, careful to keep her voice hushed so as not to disturb the sleeping girl. "You both were gone for 'bout two days. When you finally came back, the Builder brought ya 'ere and was in a right state of panic. In 'er defense, you looked pretty bad."

The destructive young man blinked. He couldn't remember the last time the Builder had had to drag him out of a battle and to safety. If anything, he'd been the one to bring her back to base. He could handle himself in a fight quite well, but she... She worried him sometimes.

He glanced down at the blonde in question. "What about her? Is she okay?"

"She's fine. We made lots of medicinal 'erbs for 'er, it's just gonna take time for the bruisin' to go down. She don't heal like you do, but she'll be right as rain in no time."

At that, Malroth relaxed. As long as she's fine.

"Ya know, I remember when you used to lug the Builder back anytime you guys went up against some tough monsters in the mines," Babs remarked, a soft smile playing on her lips. "This is the first time I've ever seen 'er 'ave to do that for you. She refused to leave yer side, even after we got Esther, Zara, Anessa, and Rosie to help tend to your wounds. Esther reassured 'er that you'd pull through and told 'er to get some sleep, but she wouldn't 'ear of it. She stayed right by your side every step o' the way."

Warmth flooded his chest at that. He knew the Builder cared about him, but it was nice to hear she cared enough to stick by him even after his wounds had been tended to. "Has she eaten at all?"

"Not much. She was more worried over 'ow you were 'oldin' up. Wouldn't sleep, only ate a bite 'ere and there... If if involved leavin' ya, she refused."

Malroth looked over the blonde's bruised face and frowned. "How... How bad was I?"

At his question, Babs' smile faded. "Bad enough to give us all a fright. In all the time we've known ya, I don't think any of us 'ave ever seen ya in such a rough state. The Builder thought you were gonna kick the bucket. It was dodgy for a little while... You weren't wakin' up fer nothin'. All we could do was wait an' let the medicinal 'erbs work their magic."

The master of destruction tried to envision himself looking so beat up that it caused his best friend such heartache. It was hard to picture; he was a skilled fighter who never let anyone close enough to leave a scratch, let alone almost do him in.

But... She'd worried about him? So much that she hadn't slept and stayed with him every minute?

Before he could ask Babs any other questions, the Builder stirred. As the blonde woke up more fully, she immediately caught sight of a fully conscious Malroth. She jumped up, startling the destructive young man in the process, and didn't even register the fact that Babs was in the room... Or that the woman quietly let herself out to allow the two friends some privacy.

"Malroth! You're awake!"

"I am," he replied, watching her curiously. "Are you okay?"

The look of relief that washed over her features said it all. She looked like she wanted to hug him but thought better of it, not wanting to accidentally aggravate any lingering injuries. Her arms, which had raised up to hug him, dropped back down to her sides awkwardly. "Never better. I'm glad to see you up and at 'em again."

She certainly didn't look "never better," but he humored her. "What exactly happened on the Unholy Holm? Babs said you had to carry me all the way back."

The Builder nodded, and when she finally sat down, Malroth noticed the dark circles under her eyes. She really hadn't been sleeping.

"We took on a super strong monster but we severely underestimated its strength," she explained, rubbing at her face. "We didn't even make a dent in its health. It knocked you out cold and nearly did the same to me, but I managed to grab you and warp us back to Brownbeard before we both got killed."

"You mean... I really almost died?" It was strange to think that even after Malhalla, Malroth could be susceptible to mortality. Hadn't he achieved godlike superpowers? He'd wondered if that had made him immortal, virtually indestructible, but apparently now he had his answer.

"No, but you looked like you were on the brink of death. Definitely worse for wear. I don't think I've ever seen you that bloodied before." Malroth was surprised to see the Builder's eyes grow watery. "I was worried."

He forced a chuckle. "You don't need to worry about me, you know I heal fast, and besides, if a monster did manage to somehow kill me, I'd want you to leave me behind. Make sure you get to safety."

The Builder didn't nod or agree like he'd figured she would. Instead, to his horror, her expression crumpled and she began to sniffle, tears rolling down her cheeks. The dam quickly broke and she began to sob quietly. He'd never seen her cry before, not even when they'd had that tiff in Moonbrooke, so he wasn't sure how to react. Part of him wanted to hug her, but he wasn't sure if that'd be weird.

"I would never l-leave you," she cried, wiping at her eyes. "You're my b-best friend and I don't know what I'd do w-without you. If you ever get hurt, I'm staying with you. I'll protect you with my life if I have to."

"But isn't that my job?" He reached out and took her hand into his. "In a way, I was created to protect you while you work. Not the other way around."

"I don't c-care. I would never leave you there if you got hurt. That's not what friends do."

Malroth's heart warmed at her words. She was nothing if not loyal and he could appreciate that. "Alright. I understand."

Her tears slowly began to dry as she continued wiping her eyes. All the stress of not knowing whether or not Malroth would be okay finally left her, and she let out an exhausted sigh.

"You really worried me, you bugger," she said.

Malroth chuckled. "Sorry. I promise it won't happen again."

"It better not. I'll kick your butt."

"I'm shaking already."

The Builder went to rest her head on her arms, probably to go back to sleep, but Malroth stopped her. "You, uh... You look uncomfortable sitting like that. Why don't you lay here with me? You look like you could use some rest."

She opened her mouth to protest, but he quickly interrupted her. "You've been looking after me all this time, now let me look after you."

Wordlessly, the Builder complied. She toed off her boots and climbed into bed with him. She curled up on her side, facing him, and as soon as her head hit the pillow, her eyelids grew heavy. Malroth bit the inside of his cheek to stifle his chuckle; she could be so cute sometimes.

"Promise you'll be here when I wake up," she murmured, reaching a hand towards his. He took it without hesitation.

"I promise I'm not going anywhere," he assured, allowing his free hand to run through her hair. "Get some rest. I'll see you when you wake up."


The next time the Builder opened her eyes, she felt much better than she had in days. The exhaustion and stress that had been weighing her down had finally lifted, which was good, and she was surprised to feel a warm body curled around hers. A strong arm was wound around her midsection and held her securely against a firm chest.

She chanced a look behind her to see Malroth pressed up against her, his face half buried in her hair. He was fast asleep, his chest rising and falling gently with each slow, even breath. He looked much better than their conversation the night before and she let out a relieved sigh.

When she realized the intimate position they were in, she blushed but was careful not to disturb him. She eased herself back down and placed her hand over his, enjoying the warmth and feel of his body. If she didn't know any better, she'd say they fit together like two puzzle pieces. A strange butterfly feeling started up in her stomach when she started thinking about how she was currently in Malroth's protective embrace. It was nice...

"Good morning," she heard him mumble, his voice husky with sleep. He sounded groggy and she giggled softly.

"Good morning to you. I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No."

"Alright. Just making sure."

"How are you feeling?"

"I should be asking you that."

"'M fine. Happy."

The Builder blushed again. "Happy?"

"Mm. You're in my arms. Safe."

She shifted to face Malroth, who still appeared to be half-asleep. She was a little surprised at his statement (and flattered, if she was being honest). Did he know what he was saying? Was he still dreaming?

When he finally opened his eyes, blinking the sleep away, he still looked like he could use a few more hours of rest, but all of his bruises were gone. Even his nose, which had been crooked, seemed to be back to normal. He looked fit as a fiddle, just like always, but most importantly, he was awake. He was still with her, just as it should be.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked. She gave an affirmative nod and he smiled. "Good."

The blonde wondered if he'd meant what he'd said. Was he really happy that she was in his arms? That didn't quite sound like friendship... That sounded like something a little more romantic. Did Malroth even know what romance was? And how did she feel about all this? The butterflies in her tummy weren't from waking up refreshed, that was for sure...

"Babs told me you stayed with me the whole time I was out," his voice tore her from her thoughts. "Thanks for looking after me."

Her face felt like it was on fire. "N-no problem. To tell you the truth, I didn't do much; the other girls did more for you than I did. I was freaked out and not thinking clearly, kept screwing up the recipe, so they were the ones who managed to make the medicinal herbs."

"You did a lot more than you're giving yourself credit for." Malroth reached up to brush a few strands of hair from her face. "You stayed with me through my time of need. That means a lot."

"Of course I stayed. I told you before: you're my best friend and I don't know what I'd do without you." That dopey grin returned and Malroth had never been happier to see her smile. "Besides, whenever I've gotten hurt in the past, you always stayed right by my side until I was better. I kinda owed you."

He chuckled. "Still. Thanks."

Malroth opened his arms and the Builder snuggled closer to him. He wrapped her in a tight embrace and surprised them both by placing a kiss on her forehead. Outside, they could hear the miners riding the railroads the Builder had set around the sandy region. They knew they should probably get up and face the day—Malroth knew everyone was probably waiting to see him and the Builder most likely had projects waiting to be proposed by all three parts of the Isle. However, as they lay there together, simply admiring each other and enjoying the moment, nothing else mattered. They were just happy to be alive and safe; they had each other and that was all they needed.

And one thing was for certain: next time they decided to go to the Unholy Holm, they'd bring an army with them. That stone guardian would regret the day it picked a fight with Malroth and his Builder.