Chapter 3
Wounded
Marth met Roy in the employee lounge. "Great job, man! That was totally insane!" He reached for a high five, but remembered the injury and put his hand back down.
"Thanks," Roy said, still wincing from his wound. "But I need to see the nurse." He held his forehead with his left hand, looking like he would pass out.
"I see the adrenaline wore off," Marth said, taking Roy by the arm and helping him over to the infirmary. He struggled under the 350 pounds of muscle and bone, but managed. Roy yawned and nodded his head.
After Roy had been turned over to the nurse's care, Marth and Emily walked back to the lobby.
"Do you think he'll be okay?" Emily asked.
"Knowing Roy, he'll probably be fighting again by tomorrow. The stubborn kid never lets things get in his way."
Emily chuckled, and gave Marth a hug.
"I need to be getting back to my place. See you tomorrow, sugar." Emily walked out the door, lifting her hand up for a last wave goodbye. Marth smiled. He was almost unbearably happy in her presence.
"Oh, Maaaarth!"
Marth turned around. "Oh no…"
Two high school age girls ran toward Marth, arms outstretched.
"I'm sorry, but I need to be getting back to the old homestead!" he yelped, sprinting out of the building, the girls in hot pursuit.
The next day, Roy found himself lying on a hospital bed. He sat up, and looked around. He saw the robot-woman sitting upright on a bed on the opposite side of the room, wearing a blue jumpsuit.
"Where's my varia suit?!" she shouted at the nurse.
"I told you! I had to take it off so I could treat you! It's being washed and polished, don't worry… Besides, you should be thanking me! I fixed your jaw!"
The woman seemed to consider this, feeling her jaw. She sighed, then waved the nurse off.
"Thanks…I guess."
Roy had heard the whole thing, and caught himself staring. He cleared his throat. "Um, sorry I busted your face…"
She looked at him critically. "You heard her. It doesn't matter now."
"Right. So, what's your name?"
"What's yours?"
He smiled. "Roy."
"Samus."
Roy nodded, as though it was settled. He looked at his shoulder to see how it was doing. It didn't feel nearly as bad is it had the previous day. He could even move it. "Some nurse, huh? My arm's nearly healed!"
"I suppose. I'm sorry I took that cheap shot. But what's a girl to do?"
Roy chuckled and stood up. "You're right. You didn't stand any other chance."
"Hey!"
Roy smiled at her and left the room. An odd thing about the infirmary at the coliseum: you could leave anytime so long as you felt better. Of course, most people felt better in a matter of days with the kind of magical skills used in procedures.
He entered his apartment and sat down on his bed. Ordinarily he would've stayed to fight, but this kind of injury required rest, and lots of it.
He ordered room service, then called Marth.
Marth had been in a battle with a Hylian warrior in a green tunic. The warrior was good, almost as good as Marth. Almost. Marth had already sliced the warrior's arm, broken a rib, and caused a black eye. But the warrior looked invigorated still, and somehow kept fighting. Marth was getting a bit frustrated, and decided not to hold back anymore. He ended the match with a hard blow to the warrior's esophagus, causing him to suffocate long enough to black out. Suddenly, his cell phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's Roy."
"Oh, hey. What's up?"
"I'm just calling to let you know that I won't be there today."
"That's not like you."
"My arm needs rest. Even I will admit to that."
"Haha, all right. I'll see you tonight."
"Goodbye."
Marth hung up, then waved at the crowd.
Roy put his phone on his nightstand and lay down, attempting to sleep.
He woke up to a knock on the door at 9:26 PM. He rubbed his eyes and sat up. "Come in."
The door opened and Marth walked in. He shut the door behind him and sat on one of the many chairs.
"So...how is it?"
"I just woke up. Let me check." Roy looked at his shoulder, and to his surprise, the injury was hardly visible. He wiggled his arm, and felt nothing. "I guess it healed already…weird," Roy said, taking his cast off. He stood up and swung his arm as if holding a sword. "Actually, it feels great! Guess I'm a quick healer, huh?"
"Yes…very quick," Marth said. His brow creased, and he appeared to be thinking.
"What's wrong?"
Marth shook his head. "Ah, nothing. I was just thinking about something. Yeah, those medics sure know how to patch you up, don't they?"
"I was worried I wouldn't go to work for awhile."
"It makes sense for them to hire the best. After all, you wouldn't want your employees constantly incapacitated for days on end, would you?"
"I suppose not."
Marth smiled and stood from his chair. "Well, I'd better get to bed. I'll see you in the morning, little brother."
"Goodnight."