Gemini|| #Wattys2019

Chapter 18

I wake up the next morning with one mildly sore arm and a groggy memory. Dr.Kent prepped me for surgery, brought me to a separate room and stuck me with a needle to numb the pain. The rest seemingly disappeared from my brain.

My eyes flutter open slowly, only to be blinded by the bright lights above me. I must be back in sick bay. I sit up and look around at the other people in the are. People standing and having conversations, people being treated, people sleeping. I only realize I'm searching for Atlas' face when I don't spot it.

"Good morning, Princess." Veridian stands at my bedside in a bright pink sweater dress, smiling wide as usual. I grimace slightly and her grin falters. "Is something wrong?"

"No, just--" I think long and hard before going on. "Okay. Don't take this the wrong way, it's nice of you to be here, I was just--"

"Expecting Atlas."

Maybe she does see the future.

"Yeah..." I shift a little under the thin white sheet but Veridian doesn't seem to mind the comment. The corners of her lips curl up once more in a softer expression.

"I know. I was also surprised when I didn't find him here." Her eyebrows scrunch at the center. "Or rather, when I dreamt that he wouldn't be here."

"Couldn't you have brought him here?" It's hard to mask my annoyance. If she knew he wouldn't be here, couldn't she change that?

"It's not my place to interfere with the future, Aurelia. I was given this gift to use it, not abuse it. Though believe me I've tried." She chuckles a little to try and lighten the mood, but such is not the case. "The future does as it pleases. If there's a plan, I can't do anything to stop it."

"Oh." I mutter. With my better arm, I pull the cloth off of me and swing my legs over the bedside.

"If you'd like, I could point you in the direction of his quarters." The statement is more a question than anything so I nod my head.

I stand up and stretch out my body to shake off the drowsiness. When a slight breeze finds its way up my skirt, I realize I'm no longer in the filthy clothing that I've spent many days in. The hospital gown is short, loose and kept on by a single knot at my back, leaving bits of me exposed like my rear and the backs of my legs. I silently thank the stars for under garments.

Veridian giggles lightly at my predicament.

"I thought you might need some clothes so I nabbed a few from inventory." She picks up the pile of black fabrics from the night stand and sets them in my own hands. The entire outfit is a single full black bodysuit that I easily pull up under my gown. Certain spots are armored and padded as if I were dressed for a spy mission, but then again, everyone here seemingly wears the same sort of thing. Everyone except Veridian and General Russo, that is.

The hospital gown slips easily off my body when Veridian unties the knot, revealing me in my edgy, Renegade uniform. With my short hair, I must admit, I look pretty hot.

Veridian squeals and hops from foot to foot excitedly.

"Oooooh you look so badass!" She throws her arms around me in one swift motion then backs away just as fast. "Atlas has a soft spot for that kinda thing. He's gonna melt at your feet!"

She claps her hands then grabs onto mine, pulling me towards the door.

"Leaving so soon, Your Highness?" The Doc's voice calls after us. I free myself from Veridian's grasp and turn around.

"Thanks for fixing me, Doc. But I've got some things to take care of." She smirks at me and places her hands on her hips.

"Someone didn't show up this morning, did he?" She winks, in understanding then shrugs her shoulders. "Just be careful with that arm. When you see him, tell him not to be too rough with you." She winks and my cheeks flare up at the implication.