Began Typing: 7:34 PM 7/7/2008

Posted: -

At Sixes And Sevens- Chapter 6 (Welcome Home)

The haze had begun to clear from his mind, allowing him to, at the very least, pry his eyes open and survey the incredibly quiet area around him. He should've expected this, but his blurry vision beheld hospital sheets of pure white and many stretcher-like beds. He had apparently made it to the hospital. He kicked his foot slightly, testing for pain. Something restricted his body all over. He blinked, looking under the covers. A red torn cape lay over his body, a mercenary emblem stitched on the front. Ike's cape...? ...Marth looked across the room, catching sight of a red digital clock. Eight o'clock in the morning. He'd been out for more than twelve hours.

Marth jumped as a loud snorting noise came from his left. He skinked his nose slightly in distaste. Ike was sitting in a chiar, more like slouching, fast asleep with a pink pillow in his arms, snoring like nobody's business. Marth attempted to reach over and hold Ike's nose until he suffocated but was forced to retract his arm as pain resonated through his chest as his skin stretched from the motion. He couldn't help but let off a short yelp of pain.

Ike jumped awake, rubbing his hand on his forehead, it coated with sweat. He just had the worst nightmare where he ended up not only hurting Marth, but killing him. It only ended when Marth had screamed with his final breath. The mercenary sighed, holding Kirby tighter. "What's going on?"

Ike looked to the now awake prince. "Marth!" He exclaimed, jumping up. "You're awake!"

Kirby rubbed its eyes, yawning. When it spotted Marth awake, it squeaked out, "Goo-moning pwincess!"

Marth made a funny face as Ike burst into laughter. Ike set Kirby on Marth's chest, the puffball smiling widely. It was such a silly smile that Marth couldn't help but return it. Marth glared at Ike. "You taught him to say that, did you not?"

"Maybe. How're you feeling?"

"Considering I just had a giant sword run through me, I feel great."

Ike looked down at the floor at that statement, shuffling his foot. Marth blinked. "Marth, I...I'm sorry. ..I hurt you..."

Marth shook his head. "Listen...I know you are feeling guilty, but there is nothing to worry about. I feel fine."

"Poyo!" Kirby pointed at the lollipop on the nightstand.

"Oh!" Ike picked it up, holding it out to Marth. "Kirby wanted you to have this."

Marth stared at its colors for a moment before looking back up to Ike. "What is it?"

Ike looked like his favorite toy had just been stolen. "It's candy! Haven't you had candy before?"

Marth shook his head 'no'. "Never."

"...you're kidding me."

"No."

"Here, open your mouth."

Marth gave him another look, seems to be his specialty today, but opened his mouth slightly. Ike placed the flat side of the lollipop on Marth's tongue, letting it sit there. "...now what?" Marth asked.

Ike shrugged. "That's it, really."

Marth couldn't deny that he liked the taste. It was filled with tons of sugar and he could barely stand it, but he loved it too much to spit it out. Even though his teeth already began to ache. "It is sweet." He grumbled. "So, why are you here?"

Ike crossed his arms thoughtfully. "Well, I stayed the night. When they discharge you tomorrow, I was going to take you back to the room. They said you have tons of stitches in your chest, so you shouldn't sit up for a while."

Marth sighed, giving Ike what one could call a half-glare. "Wonderful. So...you carried me here?"

Ike's face came overridden with small streaks of pink. He rubbed the back of his head. "Part of the way. You were bleeding too much for me to make it all the way up. Kirby helped me with the last flight."

Marth, not fully awake, did not contemplate the way these words would sound before they came out. "I heard your heartbeat."

Ike's face flushed even deeper. "O-oh...s-sorry."

"No. It was...nice."

Ike's heart skipped a beat. Was Marth implying that...?"?"

"Hey, why am I wearing your cape?"

"Oh!" Ike smirked. "You were entering shock from the loss of blood. I was trying to keep your body temperature up."

Marth nodded. "Thank you. Even though this is generally your fault," Ike hung his head, "you did not have to do everything you did. Thank you, Ike."

Dr.Mario entered the room, smiling. "Good-a morning, Marth-a. I take it-a your-a boyfriend-a filled you in-a on everything-a?"

Marth gagged on the lollipop. "What!?" Ike cried. "W-we're not-!"

"Oh-a, really? I-a assumed you-a were when-a-" Ike prayed he wouldn't say it, "-he-a kissed you-a. Are you-a dating-a?"

Ike's face contorted oddly, almost like a deer standing in front of a semi, wondering what it was. Marth's head snapped Ike's direction. "YOU KISSED ME!?"

Dr.Mario and Ike took a step back at the explosion. Marth's face was beet res. Yup. He was pissed. That's generally not an easy task. Unless, of course, your name is Ike. "L-listen, Marth-" Ike stuttered. "I-it was-!"

"SO YOU DID!?"

Ike's stunned silence was answer enough. Marth looked away from him. He desisted from speaking. Ike sighed. His next course of action was to glare at Dr.Mario. "Good job, doc."

Dr.Mario shook his head, unaware he was entering a battle zone. "Will-a you be-a discharging-a him?"

"No." Marth interrupted. "I want Peach and Zelda to discharge me."

Ike was getting that 'I'm-gonna-snap-his-neck' look on his face. "That's just too bad, 'cause i'm signing the papers."

"Well, you are most certainly NOT carrying me back."

Ike chuckled ominously. "Bet me, princess."

Dr.Mario looked between the two of them as Ike signed. "Say-a," He whispered, "you won't-a drop-a him, will-a you?"

"Oh, i'd like to," Ike grumbled, "right down the stairs."

Ike put the pen down and walked to the bedside, crossing his arms while staring at Marth. "I'm gonna carry you back now."

Marth did not look incredibly pleased. "I would prefer it if you did not."

"I'd prefer it if you didn't struggle."

Ike scooped Marth up off the bed before the prince could protest and began to walk towards the door. Dr.Mario winced as Marth cried to be put down. "Thanks again, doc!" Ike yelled over him.

"Uh...remember-a his medicine-a!" The doctor responded.

Ike nodded and left the room, Kirby following soon after. Ike winced. "Would you quit kicking?!"

"Then put me down!"

Ike gave Marth a harsh glare. "I'm taking you back to the room, whether you like it or not. You may as well quit kicking, because the only alternative is I drop you down the stairs."

The prince's kicking slowed, eventually stopping. Ike sighed. Marth didn't appear to want to talk to him. He had, after all, stolen a kiss. He could only imagine that any moment he shared with Marth up to this point was discarded and they were basically strangers again. Ike entered their room and lie Marth down softly on the bottom bunk. He sighed slightly, pulling the bottle of pills Dr.Mario had given him out from the pouch on his belt. "Alright...this says to take every eight hours or when massive spasm of pain occur..." He looked to Marth. "Sounds like you're in for fun."

"You are an ass."

Ike shook his head. That was all the affection he was likely to receive for a while. "Thank you."

Ike handed Marth two of the pills and a glass of water, watching quietly as the prince downed both. Ike tried not to let this show on his face, but Marth had the cutest pouting face. He would definitely try harder to make him angry in the future. "What are YOU staring at?" Ike couldn't help but smile at Marth's face.

"I'm not sure. I thought it was a girl...but..."

Marth's hand struck Ike's cheek, leaving a large red mark in the shape of the prince's hand perched upon it. Ike didn't even flinch. "You may wanna work on that slap, princess." He teased, dancing just out of Marth's arm reach as he lashed out again.

Ike headed out the door, hoping to talk to Peach. The second he shut the door, his hands shot up to the burning mark where Marth had slapped him. It tingled with pain and burned in soreness every time air touched it. Granted, air was hard to avoid, but he would have to try. Link suddenly walked by, laughing like he usually did when Ike found himself in pain and in the hallways. "Don't you have anything better to do!?" Ike yelled after him, shaking his fist. He would get that pixie one of these days...

Ike headed to Peach and Zelda's room, knocking roughly. Peach opened it with a wide smile. "Hello, Ike! How's Marth?...What happened to your face!?"

Zelda appeared at his side, inspecting the red mark. "Dear, you must've been slapped incredibly hard. What happened?"

"Marth happened. He's pissed."

"Why?" Zelda asked, pulling him inside.

Ike sat down on the edge of the bed as Peach wet a washcloth and pressed it to his cheek. "Thanks. Dr.Mario asked if we were dating."

"Why on earth would he do that?" Zelda questioned.

"Because...he saw me kiss him..."

"Oh dear..."

"That's not the worst. He told Marth."

The girls' eyes widened. "How's he taking it?" Peach whispered.

"He won't talk to me. If he does, he's calling me an ass or making some snide remark."

Zelda pat his shoulder. "We'll talk to him."

Ike shook his head. "You don't have to. He had every right to hate me. I took advantage of him...I feel like slime...ugh.
I did come to ask a favor though."

"What is it?"

"Could you bring him dinner? I'm not comfortable leaving him alone when he's in such pain, so I won't be leaving the room."

"Sure, Ike."

Ike stood up, returning the washcloth. "Thanks again. I need to get back now."

"Ike." His eyes turned to Zelda. She smiled slightly. "Your manners have improved."

Ike tried not to grin. "Thank you."

Watch out rapists, Marth's a slapper! Disclaimer here. I'm so lazy! Thanks to my reviewers, readers, and favoriters! You really make my day! Yeah, this is another short chapter. Sorry! I'll update tomorrow. You'll love the next chapter. I promise.