Author's Note: Now that the Cradle stuff is all gone, I'm writing stuff about Yuunoha, a little on Zafira x Arf and maybe Erio x Caro. MAYBE :D
EIGHT HOURS AFTER THE CRADLE INCIDENT
Each time seeing the rise and fall of Yuuno's chest was a calming sight for Nanoha. After Yuuno was treated, he was literally covered in bandages: his stomach, his legs and his hands. Nanoha's heart throbbed painfully to see one of her best friends like that.
Yuuno-kun, please wake up soon… The brunette held the blonde man's right hand even tighter.
Yuuno had suffered the worst out of them. He had a cut so deep that you could see the bone on his leg, his left arm fractured into two places, several mild concussions, three cracked bones in his right leg, two broken ribs with one of them narrowly missing his lung and a sprained ankle.
Yuuno moaned, his body twitching. Nanoha winced and bit her lip, apologising under her breath. And in addition, he had taken a blow from a leftover gadget drone for Nanoha when she wasn't paying attention. And then there was also the over use of magic.
The door hissed opened and the clatter of high heels approached the bed. A warm hand was placed on Nanoha.
"Nanoha, it is two in the morning already. You should rest too, after all, you fought quite hard too," Shamal said gently.
Nanoha nodded. "But Yuuno-kun…"
"Nanoha, Yuuno will be fine. We both know that. Even the best medic team confirmed that. He'll wake up," Shamal assured her.
Nanoha nodded again and stood up. Her legs gave out and she clutched Shamal for support. Nanoha laughed weakly, apologising. Her eyelids drooped and she could faintly hear Shamal clucking her tongue disapprovingly.
Nanoha went back to her bedroom with the help of Shamal and she slept an hour after, worrying for the ferret.
THE NEXT AFTERNOON, FRIDAY
Shamal was scanning Yuuno and giving the patient a full body check-up. The librarian was still sleeping, and the Infinity Library is in an uproar.
Without the Head Librarian, the TSAB could not get a full detailed report regarding the Cradle; the Infinity Library was too big and the information was not easy to find.
"Mmm…" Yuuno opened his eyes slowly and let light reach his pupils. Shamal smiled with relief and went out to get everyone. Before long, the ward was filled with people.
"You finally woke up, Yuuno!" Agito made small fireworks around the room.
"Agito, please stop making so much noise! Yuuno-san just woke up, and he needs peace and quiet!" Rein scolded Agito, pouting.
The Head Librarian knew that he had to start work in the Infinity Library, and he was a hundred percent sure that the TSAB is waiting for a detailed report: Yuuno has to collate all the reports from all those that were involved in the incident and give it to the higher ups.
The blonde man tried to move but even fidgeting slightly in his bed sent jolts of pain throughout his body.
"Err… Shamal, can you perhaps cast a spell so that I can at least sit up?" Yuuno whispered, looking at Shamal pleadingly.
The doctor shook her head, "Your body is really battered, you know. You should rest for at least one more week."
"Ehh… but my work is already piled up in a mountain already…" Yuuno sweat dropped.
"Since we're free, we'll help you with your work," Signum offered.
"Thank you so much, everyone!" The librarian managed a grin.
Within moments, everyone sat in a round table set up specially in Yuuno's ward. Everyone had screens in front of them, and there was silence.
Yuuno, when we finished reading these reports, we'll wake you up. Go back to sleep. Shamal said mentally.
The blonde man closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, feeling exhausted.
After two hours, everyone finally finished reading their individual long lists of reports sent from countless people. They looked at each other.
Err… I don't get some of these reports… The history of the Saint King, the Cradle… Wha-a-a-at? Subaru complained.
It's really complicated, how some of these people write their reports. Erio chipped in.
We should get Yuuno-sensei. Caro suggested.
But, Yuuno is resting. It won't be good to wake him up. Fate said as she looked at the librarian sleeping in the bed, covered in bandages.
After hesitating for a few moments, Agito could not take it any longer.
"Arghh, whatever! These reports are so annoying, let's just leave it already!" Agito burst out shouting, clenching her fists in frustration.
Yuuno's eyes snapped open at her loud voice, and he turned to look at his friends.
"Are all of you doing fine?" He whispered hoarsely.
Everyone glared daggers at Agito for waking Yuuno up. The Unison device had an apologetic look on her face.
"Sorry, Yuuno, I should not have woken you up," Agito apologised.
"That's alright. I'm sure these reports are really complicated for all of you, so just leave it there and I'll do it." Yuuno said.
"You're still weak, Yuuno-kun. You should rest more," Nanoha said with a worried tone.
"Yes, my master." A feminine voice sounded, and Yuuno saw Celestial Heart flying up from the bedside table and floating in front of him.
"Commencing healing for Your Majesty," The Jewel Seeds materialised in the air, and glowed brightly.
Yuuno feel sleepy all of a sudden, and he could feel magic seeping into his body, easing his pain. The librarian closed his eyes.
SATURDAY EVENING
Yuuno was feeling better already, and he wanted to get out of bed but Shamal insisted her patient to lie on the bed. The door opened and Nanoha, still in her Aerial Tactics Instructor uniform, stepped into the room, with a bowl and a spoon in her hands.
"Here's your dinner, Yuuno-kun. Everyone has already eaten and they're all in their rooms." The brunette placed the bowl onto the table at the edge of the bed and slid the table in front of Yuuno.
"Thank you, Nanoha. Did you cook this yourself?" The librarian asked, peering into the bowl and picking up the spoon.
"Yeah, it's porridge with mince meat and vegetables. Shamal said that you should have something light." Nanoha smiled.
As the Head Librarian tucked into the food, Nanoha looked at the blonde man intensely.
"Is there something on my face?" Yuuno asked, seeing that Nanoha was staring at him closely.
"No, there's nothing on your face! I was wondering how the porridge tasted," She answered.
"It's delicious. By the way, you should go back and rest already; you look worn out." Yuuno petted Nanoha's head lightly, which made the brunette blush.
"O-okay. I'll come back later, wait for me. There's something I want to tell you." Nanoha said as she took the bowl and spoon in her hand, her cheeks still tainted pink.
Yuuno nodded and watch the brunette walk out of the room. An hour later, Nanoha entered the room, dressed in a pair of jeans and an orange turtleneck. She let her hair flow down freely, with Raising Heart hanging on her neck.
Yuuno blushed when he saw the brunette; she seldom had her hair down and he thought she looked really pretty with her hair down.
Nanoha settled into the chair beside the bed and started talking.
"Yuuno-kun, I want to thank you. Thank you for coming to Earth, thank you for giving me Raising Heart. Thank you for introducing me to magic, teaching me along the way. If it weren't for you, I would have never met Fate-chan and would not be able to save Hayate-chan and the others. Also, you always help me when I need to research something in the Infinity Library, often working overtime because you took time to help me. Thank you very much, Yuuno-kun, really thank you."
"Thank you, Nanoha, for telling me all these." Green eyes met blue eyes and both people smiled. Slowly, Yuuno moved his right hand and held Nanoha's left hand tightly.
Nanoha blushed slightly and gave Yuuno's hand a squeeze, and surprised Yuuno.
"N-Na-noha, err, is it all right for me to hold your hand like this?" Yuuno blushed so furiously that even the tips of his ears are red.
"Yes…" Nanoha trailed off, lowering her gaze.
After a few minutes, Yuuno broke the awkward silence by removing his hand over Nanoha's.
"It's late; you should go back and sleep," The librarian managed. Nanoha nodded and she stood up. Then, plucking up her courage, she bravely leaned in and gave a small kiss on Yuuno's cheek.
Yuuno blushed darkly and Nanoha hurried out of the ward. Before the brunette left, Yuuno managed to say something to her.
Good night, Nanoha.
Good night, Yuuno-kun. Nanoha replied softly, smiling embarrassingly at Yuuno and closed the door.
"WHOOOO! Nanoha made the first move! I knew all along that they liked each other!" Hayate cheered in her room. The Wolkenritter, Agito, Rein, Vice, the forwards and the members of Long Arch were all gathered in the commander's room.
"Nice one, Hayate! Who knew that a camera in the ward would do wonders!" Fate did a high-five with the commander.
"I can't wait for tomorrow night!" Subaru said excitedly.
"Erio, Caro, learn from their example and get together already!" Teana teased, nudging both people.
Erio and Caro blushed furiously and stood a little further apart.
"Nanoha should be bolder and just confess to Yuuno. Both of them keep dragging on; it's frustrating." Vita folded her arms.
"You have no idea what it feels like to be in their shoes, Vita," Shamal put a hand on the red-headed knight's shoulder.
Everyone laughed and returned to their respective rooms.
SUNDAY MORNING
Due to Shamal and the Jewel Seeds' healing, Yuuno's wounds have recovered and his broken bones have already healed; he had no scars at all, to his amazement. To sum it up, he was good as new.
So, Shamal requested Yuuno to go out and have some fresh air, helping the blonde man into a wheelchair and getting Nanoha to wheel the patient out.
"Me? Why not you, Shamal?" Nanoha asked, bewildered.
"All of us want to relax and you've known Yuuno for the longest now, besides Fate. Just go out already." Vita shooed both people out.
When Nanoha and Yuuno made their way outside, Teana and Subaru burst out laughing.
"Fate, ask them to go to the park! I've set a camera there!" Hayate said, between giggles.
Fate called Nanoha and asked her to go to the park for a stroll.
"Shamal said the park has more fresh air as there are more trees there, right?"
"That's right; also, we'll send lunch over to you, so don't bother coming back for food!" Shamal ended the call, laughing lightly.
The forwards went outside with Signum, Vita, Agito, Vice and Fate to the training grounds to have mock battles with one another. Hayate and Rein went back to the office, while Shamal returned to the infirmary. Zafira and Arf went outside, near the training grounds and watched the forwards have fun with Fate, Vita and Agito.
"Is it really necessary for us to do this?" Zafira asked, and was answered by Arf, in her wolf form, walking beside him.
"Of course, Zaffy. We're bringing a couple together, mind you. As always, you are clueless about love." Arf said, nudging him.
"Speak for yourself, familiar. At least being a Guardian Beast, I devote my feelings towards my mistress Hayate." Zafira retorted.
"A Guardian Beast and a Familiar is the same thing! How many times must I say that?" Arf yelled, exasperated.
Both wolves stopped and changed into their human forms. Arf raised her fist and punched Zafira in his face, but he held her fist in his hand and looked at her straight in the eye.
His cold, hard stare softened into a deep gaze, and Arf blushed. The white-haired man lowered her fist and Zafira shrunk his hand back, blushing. Both of them walked along, chatting normally again after a few moments of silence.
Rein gave a delightful grin; Vita looked surprised that Zafira had actually showed his feelings for Arf. Signum, on the other hand, smiled; she never knew her friend had it in him. Agito was making small fireworks and cart wheeling in the air.
The forwards looked at each other; something was going on with the two wolves. Teana and Subaru looked expectantly at Erio and Caro; both of them blushed again and Subaru rolled her eyes.
Yayyyy! Thanks for reading! :D