Fusion and Iron

15. Heartfelt Recovery

Sunlight broke through the open window of the porcelain-colored wall room. Soft drapes gently flew against the sweet breeze of the day, bringing a cool sensation in an otherwise hot room. It was the perfect amount of hot and cold, creating an atmosphere for a lazy spring afternoon. The clean floorboards shimmered underneath like gold, turning into a warm slate for sunbathing. Down below, next to this window, an american shorthair sprawled out. As the heat hit his belly, his eyes were squinted shut in satisfaction. His paws were outstretched, reaching every inch of this small square to get the maximum amount of vitamin D. His tummy raised and lowered, the tail occasionally twitching though it remained dormant. He was having the best time of his life right now.

A tall machine which had been hooked up to the bed centered up against the wall silently beeped in rhythm, a heart monitor displayed digitally in hues of blue over a scan-lined screen. There was an interface on the second monitor, including a detachable keyboard. Hung up on its own small stand was a single blood bag, nearly at the end of its span. It trailed on onto the forearm of Niles as he was resting comfortably in his fat pillow and army of blankets pinning him down. His arms were outstretched over the sheets, held over his stomach while his head was off to the side. Covering part of his face, arms and torso underneath the patient gown were even more bandages from his open wounds. Black stitch lines sealed up the damage he had received from his struggles, giving him a much more beaten-up appearance than usual. To finish it all, two bandaids were placed on his face: one over the bridge of his nose and the other on his cheek.

He felt weary despite resting for a long time, his face jaded. Still, deep down, he was comfortable in his medical bed. A hand scratched along the top baby blue sheet, twirling a finger in a circular motion simply out of boredom. With the painkillers he took earlier, as well as the light snack, he was drowsy.

The image of Fusion Blossom and Buttercup was nearly the only thing on his mind, the embarrassment of failure an irritating twitch in the back of his head. Why'd I have to be so fragile he thought. Deep down, he couldn't blame himself for what happened; it was simply just an unfortunate circumstance.

Sitting on a small wooden coffee table on the other side of the room, beside a pale green sofa, his NanoComm sat there unharmed. Projected from the edge of the device, Nano Alien X was also sprawled out across the surface under the hot sun. His hands were placed on the back of his head, one leg spread over the other kicking leisurely. Vocally he let out a pleased sigh, loafing with pleasure.

Niles blinked, eyeing over X. "Aren't you connected to the NanoComm? Can't you just recharge in there or are you doing this for fun?"

"Of course," X replied. "Though it is nice to get some fresh air."
He smirked, "You just like attention."

"I do," the nano's eyes squinted happily. "Besides, you listen to me more when I am actively present."

It took him a moment, though his smile widened and he started laughing. "That's true!"

"Are you feeling any better, sir?" the nano asked politely.

He shook his head, sighing out loud after his chuckle-fest. "Yeah, a little bit. I'm still very tired, though."

"It would be wise to stay like this for a little while longer until you can safely walk," X nodded along. "I am glad you have a good aim and strong fortitude, as otherwise, that fusion would have been the end of you."

"Not like it would have been the first one I faced," he scratched his chest again, turning to look over and out at the window. Even faintly, the small outline of the large Sector V treehouse stood out. "It doesn't matter how many minions Fuse sends after me; I'll keep going until I die fighting."