A Robin's Nest

A brutal storm is raging outside of Walsh's, a small, dingy restaurant in the streets of Misery, Missouri. Rain is pouring down furiously on the other side of the windows. The place is completely empty, save for one lone, crimson-haired waitress, Kelda Robin. She's preparing to close up shop, wiping down tables and putting chairs away, all while quietly humming to the tune of some video game's soundtrack to herself. Only the sound of her voice and the weather outside can be heard. She finishes cleaning the last table and grabs her jacket in preparation to lock up when Flynn suddenly bursts through the doors. Kelda yelps.

Flynn is bruised all over his body, covered in small lashes, bleeding from the neck, and soaked to the bone. He's only wearing a tank top and boxers, as well as a bent pair of small, circular sunglasses that fall onto the ground.

"W..water..." he mumbles. Flynn collapses to the floor, crushing his sunglasses under his body weight. Kelda runs over and closes the front doors, then rushes to Flynn and kneels beside him.

"Sir? Are you okay?"

"Plea...please bring me some water," he mutters, his face still plastered to the floor.

Kelda quickly stands up. "Uh, al-alright, sir. Please wait here."

Kelda dashes off into the kitchen and returns with a glass of water. Flynn tries to stand, wincing in pain as he moves.

"Can you help me...to a seat, please?" he asks, his voice hoarse and raspy.

"Y-yeah, sure thing!" Kelda darts to a nearby table and sets the glass down, sloshing some of the contents out of the cup. She then puts her arms under Flynn's and guides him into the table's booth. He grabs the glass and swiftly empties it, then puts his hand on the wound on his neck.

Kelda gasps. "Oh my god, y-you're bleeding! I-is there anything I can do, anything I can get for you?"

"It's...not that bad, though a rag would be nice. That, and...and some more water," says Flynn, panting.

"Right!" Kelda runs back into the kitchen and returns with another glass and a towel, which she holds out to Flynn. Flynn takes both, downing the water then placing the towel over his neck.

"I-I-I'm gonna try to call an ambulance, OK? Will you be fine if I leave you here for a few minutes?" says Kelda.

"Don't have plans to go anywhere at the moment."

"Right! Great! I'll, uh, I-I'll be right back." Kelda yet again runs into the back of the restaurant, leaving Flynn alone. He sits for a moment, breathing heavily and drinking his water, then breaks into sobs, resting his head on the table.

Kelda begins walking back into the main part of the restaurant, carrying a plate of reheated chicken tenders.

"Can't get a call through, I think the storm knocked out the phone lines. I'd use my cell, but I think I left it back home, so I think we're just SOL. Oh, also, I also heated up some chicken that some guy forgot to pick up in case you were--Oh."

Kelda fully enters the main eating area and stops at the sight of Flynn's sobs. She then walks over to the booth and slides in next to him. She places the plate on the table, then takes her jacket off and drapes it over Flynn's body. The two sit in silence for a moment.

Kelda glances over at the broken sunglasses on the floor. "Hey, I think I recognize those shades. I'm pretty sure I've seen you around campus. Are you...oh, what was your name...Flynn, I think? Or was it "Finn?" No, wait, I remember, it was Flynn. Flynn...Howard? Yeah! I think you're in my music theory class, you play piano?"