Chapter 9:
Author's Note: Hey guys! What's up? So sorry I haven't updated in forever, STUPID WRITER'S BLOCK! DX I OWN NOTHING EXCEPT FOR FLAME AND PLOT!
It has been five days since Flame had arrived at Castle Dedede, only two of those days in which she had been fully conscious, though; it was hard for her to tell the difference between day and night, for she had been unconscious half the time. The guest room of the apartment had been the place where she resided for those days. Most of her wounds had progressively healed over time. It felt odd for her not to feel the warm, thick liquid flowing over her skin, almost completely consuming her. One of the wounds among the ones which have not healed was the one near her right eye. It hurt her to blink, and whenever she did, blood would come trickling from the thin scab that had formed there. But her breathing had become normal, her pulse regaining strength. Meals had been secretly brought to her by Meta Knight or one of the knaves. The room where she resided was the guest room; they thought it would be appropriate since Flame was never treated properly, and that no one would suspect anything. Now, however, the residents of the apartment monitored the room closely, except when Fumu would drop by, which didn't happen as often since Nightmare's "defeat", excepting the drama five days ago.
"Sir?" Flame asked Meta Knight, who happened to be checking on her. "Please don't make it true…"
"Yes?" Meta Knight responded.
"Sorry I've been a burden to you…"
"No, you haven't. You haven't been a burden at all."
She tilted her face up a bit. "Really?" she said, quickly deciding to tilt it back down, "I have a hard time believing that."
"You don't have very high self-esteem, do you?"
"None at all. By the way, thanks for everything."
Behind his mask, he smiled. "It's not too often that I get thanked." he thought. "You're quite welcome."
"Also, sir?"
"Yes?"
"Could I stay, even after I'm all healed and things like that?"
"Of course," he said, Flame sitting up a bit more. "that was my intention in the first place, actually."
"Really?!" Flame exclaimed, sitting up, a smile covering her face. While doing so, she accidentally hit one of her arms on the frame of the bed, the shock causing her to lie back down. "Thank you so much!"
"Yes, you're quite welcome. Is your arm alright?"
"Yeah, it's fine!"
"Try to talk a bit quieter, the residents of the other room might hear us." he said, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"Oh, right," she replied, whispering as well, yawning afterward. She hadn't slept in two days; Meta Knight wouldn't let her because he was afraid if she let herself into the clutches of sleep, death would claim her as well. "Sorry."
"It's fine. Also, you may sleep at nightfall. I don't think you'll be going unconscious frequently anymore."
"Alright, thanks." She replied, yawning once more afterword. "Finally, I'm exhausted!" she thought with pleasure.
"I must be going now," Meta Knight said, "Is there anything else you need?"
"No, sir."
"Very well, and if anything goes wrong, call for Sword or Blade. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"I'll be back in a few hours." He said, leaving the room. Flame listened to the knights gentle footsteps leave the apartment all together before silence consumed the room once more. "So, he really does care about me after all," she thought. "What a relief. I thought I was gonna live like a slave for the rest of my life." She smiled warmly, her eyes turning a deeper hue of blue than they already were. "Is this what happiness feels like?" she wondered. The answer had always eluded her. "Yeah, I think so."
"Happiness…"
Author's Note: AND THERE YA HAVE IT! Not much action, I know, but I hope you like it! I'll probably update more often now (I know I say that every chapter, but still), but this time I know my writer's block is gone for GOOD. I thank you so much for all the positive stuff, I honestly never thought this story would get so popular! Keep on keepin' on. CHAPTER 10 IS UNDERWAY! I'M OUT!