(Hey, guys! Back with another chapter! Gonna get right into it because I'm hoping to continue having a thousand words..! I don't wanna dilly-dally! So let's get right into it!)

Serana shrugged. "I. Don't know... I. Don't like being wounded." John glanced at his shoulder that had long-since stopped bleeding. He had completely forgotten about it. "I know what you mean." Serana followed his gaze, seeing the blood on his jacket. "...You're, bleeding."

He shook his head. "No, it's dried. It stopped bleeding a long while ago." Serana stared at him. "...You need rest, too." He blinked a couple times. "Serana, I really don't want to argue with you. I'm fine, see?" He rolled his shoulder, shrugging. "Completely fine." Serana looked at her leg, attempting to stand, but fell back down with a 'Scree..!'

He sighed. "...You're kidding, right? Rest." Serana shook her head, trying again, failing just as miserably. "You're going to hurt yourself more~." He cooed teasingly. Serana shot him a look, punching the floor in frustration. Victoria just stood there, unsure if she should help or not. "...Big Sis can't walk?"

He shook his head. "No. She can hardly stand, yet she keeps tryin-" "ADAM! I. Need. More..! It heals! All I need is, to move!" Serana interrupted, attempting to stand, wobbling a bit but staying on her feet. He sighed. "I understand, but you have to heal normally. You can't walk with your injuries, I can't carry you and watch Vikkie at the same time. Give up."

Serana's eyebrow twitched. "...Give. Up?" His expression changed to worry. "Now, hold on just a second, I didn't mean-" Serana's screech interrupted him, pouncing at him. He ducked under her, watching her hit the floor with a thump as she screeched in pain. He sighed. "...Give it a rest, and rest."

Serana growled, crossing her arms in frustration and aggravation. He shrugged. "I warned you, Serana. I've still got to watch over you." Serana slowly turned back to him. "...Why? Why not just let me die? Why save me?" He glanced over at Victoria. "...Some monsters aren't actually monsters."

Victoria giggled, running off to go play with something, anything she could find. Serana was a bit confused. "B. But I am a monster. Why, do you say otherwise?" He sighed a bit. "A monster would've killed me. And your programming isn't in-effect as you haven't succeeded. Yet."

Serana was a bit confused, but noticed there was something. Something like a weight lifted off her shoulders since she felt the warmth... His warmth. Why? She had to figure this 'John' person out. "...It isn't?" He shook his head. "Obviously not, otherwise I'd be dead with a needle in my throat."

Serana hadn't heard Mother. Then again, she also had her helmet off... And, was still in her underwear. "...John?" He nodded a bit. "Yes?" She stared at him. "...Why am I still in my underpants?" He shrugged. "I-I dunno, your fault..!"

She nodded slowly. "Uh-huh... Riiight, Mister Pervert." He inhaled deeply. "Says the woman that tackled me, and molested me not too long ago." She narrowed her eyes. "My intention was to bust your face in..." He rolled his eyes. "That's rich, Miss Nuzzle-Me-To-Death-Like-A-Cat."

Serana tilted her head at his comment. "...A, cat? What is a cat?" He face-palmed himself at his own stupidity. He forgot she was created down here along with her 'Sisters'. "...Nevermind, they're. Surface-dwelling creatures. The ones down here died."

Serana was still confused, but nodded anyways. "Oh, O. Okay..." He motioned over to her suit. "It's right there, if you want it." She gave him a 'Are you dumb, or are you stupid?' Look, motioning to her legs. "I. Can't walk..."

He inhaled deeply. "...I hate myself." Serana nodded slowly. "Join the club..." He smiled at her joke, thinking for a moment. "...How are we going to get you more ADAM? I can't carry you around, and defend Vikkie at the same time."

Serana tilted her head. "Why do you call her 'Vikkie'..?" He shrugged. "It's her actual name. Well, a nickname for her actual name, I should say. Came up with it myself. Better than calling her Little One for the rest of her life."

Serana straightened her head. "You're becoming too attached. I'm going to bring her back after I heal, regardless of what you sa-"

"Sure. I'll even help you. But we need her to extract the ADAM to heal you right now, because you clearly can't in your current condition, even if you wanted to. So, now we have to think of what to do and how to do it..."

Serana thought for a moment. "...If I am just going to hold you back, I might as well stay." He shook his head. "No, we're not gonna leave you." Serana tilted her head. "...Why, not? You don't trust me?" He sighed. "I just. Ugh, I hate being put on the spot..."

Serana straightened her head, nodding slowly. "...I'm starting to trust you." He blinked a couple times. It had been, years since anyone had... There was something she was after. Maybe she trusted him, but he. He didn't know if he could trust her.

"Okay, I. Suppose I don't have another choice, so I trust you." Serana's eyes lit up when he said this. No one ever trusted her with anything... Mother trusted her word, but even then she had to see proof. She hated it. "...T-Thank you."

He saw her eyes light up in, the most beautiful way... He was, entranced by it. He didn't understand why, but-No! Knock it off, you barely know her! Begone, foul thoughts! "Yep, anytime Serana." He said quickly.

Serana dismissed the quickness, sighing a bit. "So, you'd trust me... Anytime?" He realized his mistake. He just said it without thinking, he. He was in deep trouble. "U-Uh, maybe... I, suppose I wouldn't have another choice so. Probably." He was rambling, now. He felt stupid.

Serana didn't catch on. She did realize that he was the first person she held a genuine conversation with. And he had the warmth... She needed that warmth again. "Alright, that works. I'm glad you trust me."

He nodded quickly. "How could I not?" He said quickly. Serana tilted her head a bit. "What do you mean by that..?" He inhaled deeply, realizing he should just shut up, now. "...How's the legs?" She straightened her head, looking at them.

"...I think they're okay. Sore, some injuries still there, but they seem decent." He nodded slowly. "I see... Can you walk? You're standing pretty well." She shrugged, taking a step, nearly falling over before he caught her arm. "Easy. One step at a time."

Her hand. Her hand felt the warmth. Is feeling it. Why was he so enticing..?! "O-Okay..." He looked at her hand, that was now running across his chest. Luckily he was wearing his jacket. Otherwise, this would've been even weirder for him. "Uh..."

Serana realized what she was doing, taking her hand away. "S-Sorry..." She braced herself to be hit. Mother used to do that if you did something wrong... But he didn't.

(Heyo, me again..! That ends this chapter! Apologies, but this is longer than the chapters before this! Anyways, I'll see you guys in the next one! Hopefully I won't cut it short!)