Heart Like a Machine

Chapter 28

I was smiling from ear to ear now after what had just happened, but the pain in my stomach was becoming unbearable with sitting up. I removed my hand from her hair and fell softly back onto the bed.

"Are you going to be ok, Y/N?" she asked me.

"I'm going to be fine. Hopefully I can help aid you in saving Beta and getting GAIA as well."

"We're not going to leave without you. We're going to wait until you get better."

"But you need to save Beta immedtiately. You don't know how much time you have on your hands."

"She's holding out for us. I'm sure it won't be for long, but she's holding her own."

"All the more reason to go after her. Don't worry," I said and looked at the thread that was tucked away. I reached up and grabbed the thread, pulling out the Thunderjaw tooth. "I'll be with you no matter what."

She reached down and grabbed my hand, holding it tightly, "I can't go on this mission without you, but I fear that if you do go, you might not come back."

"If I don't," I lightly chuckled. "Which I don't even want to think about. But if I don't, you've already told me how you felt about me."

"But Y/N, this is what I feared with getting into a relationship during such trying times. Once things are over for us, I want to move somewhere and live there. Live out the rest of my life with you."

I chuckled, "I would love that, but right now, you need to save the world."

She shook her head, tightening her grip around my hand a bit, "We need to save the world. I still need to do some preparations. I know they're not going to take me long, but it will give you enough time to get some rest and see how you're feeling. If you're feeling up for it, you're more than welcome to come. I know everyone else is."

"Then go get ready. I'll do what I can to get ready for everything."

She nodded her head, about to get up. Before she did, she leaned down and pressed a light kiss to my cheek.

"We're going to make it out of this one alive for sure. All of us are."

"I hope so," I said.

She got up and walked towards the door, "I'll be back, Y/N."

"I look forward to your return everytime you leave."

She smiled and walked out of the door, closing it behind her. I let me head sink down against the pillow I was laying on. I couldn't be happier now that her and I finally confessed. I was trying all that I could to set myself up for the perfect time. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as perfect timing. But this seemed to be perfect. I just hope that whenever I'm able to fight alongside them, I can do so when I am at my fullest strength. Zo came in and sat down next to me.

"How did it go?"

"Splendid," I smiled.

"Aloy told me your stitches were finally setting in. Even after a couple days of them being in, your skin seems to be healing pretty fast."

"I hope I can go with you guys."

"If you do go, there is a risk of those stitches opening and you bleeding out on the battlefield."

"I know the risks. I want to be there with Aloy. I want to celebrate a victory with her."

She smiled, "You're shared more than just one with her."

"I definitely have. I just want to be there for her."

"I know you do, Y/N. I made a piece of armor for you. I hope it comes in handy. I'll go grab it real quick."

She walked out of the room, taking the old bandages with her. She came back in a few moments later with the lower half of what looked to be a chestplate.

"I made it a bit lighter. I see Aloy coming in here with this armor that exposes her stomach. The stomach is such a vulnerable weak spot and yet she still manages to come in here without a scratch on her stomach. I made it for her in case she wanted it, but I think this will get its worth protecting your stomach."

"Thank you, Zo."

She put it down with my bow and spear. I continued to lay there, trying to fall asleep, but with the eagerness and anticipation of what's to come next kept me awake. And the thought of what happened between me and Aloy kept making my heart flutter. After sometime had passed, Aloy had came back into the base. She put a few things away in her room before walking into mine.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

"I should be fine to head into battle," I said.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Yes. Some stab wounds aren't going to keep me from fighting for what's right. And for fighting to get Beta back. I-I want to make it up to her since I didn't really protect her that much."

"You did as much as you could," she said.

"I certainly did."

"Before we go, there's something I want you to do for me."

"What's that, Aloy?" I asked.

"The tribes I have seen in the Forbidden West have these face markings. Similar to the Nora have. Which reminds me, you don't have your Nora markings."

"I didn't really think to put them back since the battle of Meridian."

"Well, this can be a good bonding experience for us," she chuckled and brought out some paint. "There was this design I had in mind."

She explained it to me and I got the jist of what she was envisioning. I dipped my fingers into the paint she had brought in with her. (It's the Ranged Master look. I know it's not obtainable in the game and it's only a limited period of time with the Ranged Master valor surge, but it's my favorite one and it honestly just looks the best.)

"Close your eyes," I said.

After she had closed them, I had started to apply the paint on her face.

"T-This kind of tickles," she giggled.

"Stop moving," I chuckled as she was moving her face a bit.

"I'm sorry, but are you trying to tickle me?"

"If I was trying to tickle you, I'd go straight for your stomach. Which is pretty wide open and leaving me room for a tickle assault."

"Wouldn't want that to happen while the others are still in here. They'd think we're doing something else," her tone of voice changed.

"Your paint is finished. Now, wait for it to dry before you touch your face."

I wiped my hands off on a nearby rag that was left from the Old Ones. Once her face paint was dried, she looked over at me.

"Here, let me give you a new look," she said and dipped her fingers into the paint, putting markings on my face.

They weren't exactly like hers, but it was something similar to it. There was a long trail of purple paint going down the middle my eyes while there were two smaller trails of black on either side of the main one. It was simple, but I liked how it looked.

"Now we're ready," she said.

"Before we go," I said and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "Now we're ready. Let's go save Beta."