Disclaimer: All content is owned by Nintendo, Microsoft, and 343 Industries. The only thing I own is the plot to this fan fiction!

I forgot to mention that I did make some minor changes to "A Small Universe", so please forgive me for that. As the last, I will do chapters with a more action-filled scene followed by a more dialogue-filled one (I might do two chapters of them depending on how long they end up being). For the first person perspective, I'll do one perspective for two chapters at a time rather than just one, though I may stick with a perspective for only one or three (but they'll mainly be in pairs of two). I also found a time that I can place the story! There is that huge twenty-eight year gap between where the book (the first Halo novel) goes from 2525 to 2552. That is when this takes place just because anything could have happened… just about!

A week passed before I saw John again. I was relieved that he even agreed to come with me considering that he didn't seem as if he honestly wanted to. I kept thinking that he was doing this as a sort of favor, not that that effected how I felt about it very much.

He sat on the floor, which was unnecessary. He just sat there, his head tilted downward, arms crossed, and silent. I was starting to feel awkward and the lingering silence didn't help. I was more than certain that he had fallen asleep, but I attempted to start a conversation nonetheless.

"What have you been up to?"

"Once you went into a coma, Dark Samus fled to other parts of the universe, destroying all things that stood in her way. She ventured over into the Covenant's territory and caused much disruption, starting a war, causing major issues for us."

"So it speaks." I joked. He didn't seem very amused. "Do you have any lead as to where Dark Samus could be?"

"I have a general idea, but no specific location in mind."

"Will you tell me then so I don't waste my time searching?"

He sighed, walked over, and entered the site into the ship's navigation system. "You are welcome."

"You sound upset; did I do something to disturb you?"

My comment seemed to have surprised him. "No. I didn't realize I sounded that way."

"It is hard to tell how you feel when I can't see your face and you are speaking in monotone."

"Sorry."

"No need to apologize." I lifted the helmet off his head, admiring his distinguished features. "How have you been?" I handed him is helmet.

"I've been…" He paused to think about his current state.

"He has been fine." Cortana blurted out.

"It's nice to hear you again. How exactly did you manage to bring her?"

Cortana explained before he could even open his mouth. "The UNSC has offered you a job. They want you to take down Dark Samus that way she stops threatening them. We are actually babysitting you. They weren't overly fond of the thought of having a bounty hunter roaming around here."

"Babysitting? You're kidding me. He is babysitting someone that is only a year younger than him, which really doesn't count."

"Actually," He corrected. "I'm three years older than you."

"You know what, that is fine. If they want to keep a constant eye on me, let them do so; as long as I'm getting paid well." Just because I said I was all right with it, didn't mean I was.

"So…" Cortana added after a minute of silence.

I deactivated the power suit and went over to the quaint kitchen. "Do you want anything to eat?"

"Anything is okay."

"You lack in social skills more than Cortana lacks having humanity." I sighed and took out some vegetables from the small fridge. "Salad it is."

I reviled how the next half hour passed in silence. I was tempted to ask how he was again, but I figured he would answer it with the same lack of interest. Was I doing something wrong? Was there someone else? I almost laughed at the latter option. Then it struck me; he honestly does not care for me. Maybe I was just paranoid considering it has been almost a year, but it wasn't entirely outrageous to think so.

I put the knife I was using down before I had the chance to stab something. I placed my elbows on the counter and rested my head on my hands. I felt like screaming, but I didn't want to seem like I had a problem. I put the chopped vegetables in the bowl, tossed them, and then served it.

"Thank you." He mumbled.

"So this is how you stay so thin." Cortana commented. I honestly couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or not.

"No, I just enjoy salad."

"How are you feeling?" The fact that John asked that almost startled me.

"I am… stressed."

"You look like it."

"Is it really that obvious?" I sighed, for I knew it was.

"Your discomfort is very present. Did I do something to disturb you?"

"Why would you think that?" I joined him, sitting less than an inch away from him. "You are a little silent, and as much as that bothers me, I just enjoy your presence."

"Cortana kept insisting that I might cause you to feel awkward."

"Well you don't," I kissed him on the cheek. "And it would be nearly impossible for you to make me feel that way."

He sat there for a moment, possibly trying to process my actions.

"That was unexpected." The 'smart' ass of an AI said.

"Exactly. What was that for?"

"I believe that this is commonly known as 'love'." Adam replied.

"Not love yet, I just like you a lot."

"And this emotion is triggered by what?" He looked more than a little confused.

"Y-you don't remember?"

"What are you-?"

"I believe she is referring to how she kept you from dying, causing herself to go into a coma."

"Thank you Cortana. You know what, never mind. I'm going to go take a shower; if you need me, too bad." I stood up and entered the bathroom.

Forgive me for such a short and shitty chapter! I had to give my computer away to my oldest sister, so I am not able to get on consecutively- not to mention school. This was just a lot of dialogue for me to get used to writing in the first person perspective. Gosh, this chapter sucks! Please forgive me for that. In fact, I will start on the next chapter right now (going from John's perspective).