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Ten

A week slid by...then another, and once the month was over she still hadn't seen much of Ghetsis she was told he was working mostly to keep Maxie and Giovanni from killing one another. It was no secret how much they hated one another but both having a place in The Circle they have to put up with one another whether they want to or not.

She couldn't really sense much as he didn't often come home she wasn't too lonely as N and his sisters would come spend a little time with her. They all said the same thing, that this was normal, she had taken a look at the phone to see what her friends were up to but he was a man of his word nothing happened they weren't worried but they did care they wanted to see her. She didn't think he'd let her go now especially since work took him away but she hoped.

Concordia had stopped by to give her a card that was for what she wanted the Triad would bring her order whatever it was. Though she didn't want to bleed him dry, simply because she wasn't that sort of person she did get some art supplies to keep her busy. N, Concordia, and Anthea liked her but like their father it would take a moment to warm up to her they didn't always stop by she was alone with her thoughts much more often than she was used to.

Unlike Cheren she'd never wanted that she liked to be with her friends no matter how loud and obnoxious they were...she'd just try to top them.

Seeing how they acted even though their father was in charge she understood she couldn't be that way but she would like a little more company. She absently scribbled doodles before she got an idea of what to draw. She paused as she rubbed her head it wasn't really hurting so much as she felt a little out of it she had a few flashes in her mind but she couldn't really make them out. Though she just barely remembered her mother singing happy birthday as she had just turned eighteen then blacking out. She used to do that a lot but now thinking of the Triad she was thinking they did that, she was brought around for the tests who knows what else they gave her.

Sighing she continued doodling trying to work out the lines she absently dropped the pad of paper on the bed and stared at the drawing, unfinished, rough but it was clear enough...Ghetsis. She pushed herself up and moved to the door it was pretty late but that was the best time to roam around. No Grunts or pokemon watching her as though she didn't belong. She frowned, not that she really belonged at all but then none of them would be suitable to be a boss so they ought to mind their own business.

Sighing she wandered into the kitchen mostly chrome not all that home-y even a chrome and granite kitchen had a nice touch to it this simply suited the place. She walked over to the island to grab an apple to wash. She looked up suddenly feeling a bit sick and glanced over her shoulder she didn't see anything but she tilted forward sure something was there the apple slipped from her hand seeing Ghetsis, what a sight he was.

She could say she missed him.

That is if he wasn't a bloody mess his torn shirt had a mix of burns and tears..some claw marks and his jeans, well they were hardly worth wearing being torn open from the front and to his shins his legs looked no better than his face or arms. She went to him in a moment he might have been startled but was too weak to respond quickly. His weak gaze somewhat focused on her.

He coughed.

"It's...it's not as bad...as it..looks." he's heavy voice showing how close he was to dropping to the ground.

"W..what happened?...No that's not important yet I'll call someone to help."

"I'm fine...the drug will have me healing faster..I just need to rest..if you want to help get me to a room I can lock...myself..in."

"...Mine is closest." she said absently.

As much as he hated being like this he was having a time getting to his room and if he didn't hurry the Grunts would start their early morning routines. He coughed up blood she wasn't going to let him fight her more and moved to help him he gave in no matter what his pride said he took her help though he made his way to the floor as soon as they were in. She gasped seeing the criss cross of scars all over his back he was exhausted but the way his body felt...no chance of sleep. He settled on attempting to catch his breath she looked for a towel at least he could get cleaned up. He had to before a first aid kit would even be useful.

She somewhat felt that he'd be fine, but she didn't trust her senses one bit.

…..

It took a while before he felt stable enough to stand in the shower he cursed the tightness in his body on top of the obvious pain he felt. She watched him lean against the wall as he attempted to remove his jeans with one shaky hand. She walked in to help him, in any other situation she might have blushed but her only focus was assisting him she spoke slowly mostly in nonsense to get him thinking, questioning what she meant, less he pass out on her. She freed him pretty easily leaving the bloody clothes in a pile on a floor he rested his head against the tile hissing in pain as the hot water ran over the open wounds.

Better to clean them as far as he cared, she only looked over making sure he could keep himself up right as he cleaned himself up. As the ache was somewhat replaced by ease he tried to stretch a bit. He didn't think the first time she saw his body there would be new scars forming that he'd be too weak to make the most of it.

He glanced over his shoulder at her she didn't watch him too closely.

"The key..." he muttered.

She glanced over seeing him forcing himself to stand tall.

"What key..?"

"To my...room...it's in my pants..get me something that isn't torn...please."

"Will you okay by yourself while I go?"

He grit his teeth, not because he was annoyed with her hesitation but because...well most don't care actually he wouldn't let his kids see him this way even if they were old enough to understand so no one really did. He shook his head assuming it was nothing.

"I'll be fine.."

She nodded though she wasn't so sure about that, she would humor his pride only because he had shown he could hold himself up had he been even a bit worse off she would have ran screaming for anyone that could help.

When she got back she saw that he was sitting on the edge ot the tub letting his head hang, she bent down to touch his knee.

"I'm awake." he said lowly she set the clothes down and began cleaning his wounds so she could bandage him up.

He blinked rapidly to keep himself away as she carefully handled him, wat that the tended loving care he was told he missed out on. He was sure his head was just filled with nonsense.

"What happened?"

"It..was just training."

She cocked her head.

"Training for what?"

"Just in case, not for anything in specific."

"What good is training that leaves you like this you'll have to rest and re-train."

"It's okay...for now it's just a hobby I train with some pokemon their attacks tend to do a lot more to humans than other pokemon...usually."

Her eyes widened as she wrapped his neck.

"You were fighting...pokemon...really?"

"Yes they hold back a lot more than you think...when in..a normal pokemon battle."

She did get him some water but tried to keep him awake for now, as she finished she finally let him go free he made his way to her bed. She watched him settle on his stomach she moved to sit next to him she couldn't really touch him anywhere without making it worse.

It was her turn to stroke his hair.

He only made a noise of appreciation.

…...