Releasing the straw, he sighed, licking his lips.
“Thank you. I feel groggy,” Felix said. His head felt heavy. Trying to open his eyes again, he only managed to get them open a crack.
Which immediately blinded him.
“It’s been two days since you were shot,” came a patient voice.
He couldn’t quite place it. He knew it, but his brain refused to tell him a name.
“What happened?” he asked. Somehow, he managed to move his hand an inch, and suddenly found someone else’s hand. Latching on to it, he laced his fingers into theirs.
At this moment, any human contact was preferable, even if he didn’t know who it was.
“You were shot. The first bullet grazed your skull. The second nicked a lung, perforated your bowels, and exited your hip,” said the definitely feminine voice that he knew. That he swore he knew. “We’ve kept you drugged up until a little bit ago. There were concerns about waking you early before everything could be finished.”
“Finished with what? It sounds like I should be dead.”
Felix struggled with his eyes again, finally managing to get them open. Everything was blurry and bright, but he wasn’t blind.
“Felicia built a machine that would help anything mend. To heal. In such a way that it would defy science and modern medicine. It’s more like a bed than a machine. You were in it up until this morning. I carried you to your bed so you could rest more comfortably.”
The world began to come into focus, though aggravatingly slowly. As the kaleidoscope of colors and blurs became something recognizable, he realized it was Miu at his side.
The aloof beauty Miu, who seemed to always flee rather than speak with him.
Smiling at her, he squeezed her hand. “Thank you, Miu.”
“Of course. I’ve been watching over you since they brought you home. I shall not be leaving your side going forward. I’m going to be your personal bodyguard should you leave for anywhere until we can find someone more permanent for the job.”
“I see. I assume this is something Ioana, Kit, and Lily agreed with?”
“They did not get the chance to disagree. I will be training at an increased speed to make sure I can handle any problems that come up as well.”
Miu didn’t elaborate on the fact that the others didn’t agree.
“I won’t even argue. Being shot sucks. Was anyone else hurt?”
“No, only you were. It was an impromptu attack. I believe they followed you, waited, and then planned the assassination from there.”
“Assassination?”
“Someone tried to shoot you pointblank in the head. It’s a miracle they missed. It’s an assassination attempt. There can be no question of that. All that remains is to determine who.”
Felix took a slow, deep breath and then nodded his head.
It made sense. There really wasn’t any other possibility when you looked at it from that point of view. There had been no other targets, only him.
“Lily is the only reason you’re alive. She was able to react quickly enough that the rest of the gunshots impacted a shield, rather than you,” Miu admitted with a glum look on her face.
Apparently Felicia isn’t the only one who doesn’t like Lily.
“I’ll be sure to thank her when I get a chance. So, what’s the prognosis, Doctor Miu, will I live?” he asked, giving her hand a squeeze.
“Oh, ah, yes. Everything is as good as new, but you are very weak. Felicia’s machine pulls the energy from you to make the repairs, as if you were to heal naturally. You will feel tired for many days.”
“Delightful. Paperwork, antiques, and office work for me, then.”
“Yes. Though, I fear we are about to have a visitor. She has—”
The door burst open, slamming into the wall. The clang of the doorstop heralded the fact that she hadn’t put a hole in the wall.
“Felix!” Andrea shouted. Closing the distance in a single hop, she was suddenly up in his bed, rubbing her face all over his chest. Her arms were locked around his neck and she squeezed him tightly.
“You’re awake. Kit said you’d be awake quickly. That you were stronger than people gave you credit for. I’m so glad,” Andrea gushed. “It was so hard to not climb into the machine with you and hold you. Felicia said she’d cut off my tail if I did it. Then Ioana promised to turn it into a broom. Mean. Mean, mean.”
Felix chuckled and released Miu’s hand. He gently set his arms around Andrea and patted her on the back. “They were right to keep you away so I could recover, Andrea. Sorry, but they were being mean for the right reasons.”
“I know. I still don’t like it, though. You don’t smell good. You smell like medicine. You need a shower. Come on, I’ll wash your back.”
“What? No, I don’t—”
“Yes, yes now. Yes now, or else,” Andrea threatened.
“I would agree with her. You smell of medicine and sweat,” Miu said, a small smile turning up the corners of her lips.
“I don’t—”
“No more talking. More showering and scrubbing.” Andrea hopped off the bed and split into ten different Andreas rapidly.
In unison, they all clapped their hands together, then held up one arm. “To the shower! Strip him!”
“Hey now, let’s taaaaoouuu—”
Felix had only a moment’s notice before the Andreas descended on him and carried him off to the shower, Miu trailing along behind.
They were merciful. They stripped him, dumped him in the shower alone, and left him there sitting under the hot, steamy water.
He’d have to remember how invigorating a hot shower could be. He went from feeling sorry to himself, to being hungry, thirsty, and clean.
Hot water was glorious.
By the time he stumbled out of the shower, he found a set of clothes waiting for him to change into. Only Miu and a single Andrea remained when he finally left the bathroom.
“A pancake brigade has been assembled,” Andrea said with a bright smile.
“I… that sounds great, actually. Thank you,” Felix said sincerely.
“Lily and Kit are assembling a department head meeting for you.”
Felix nodded his head and gestured at the two women. “Lead on.”
Andrea happily bounced off, opening the door and stepping out.
Miu merely ducked her head to him and waited.
Keeping his tongue behind his teeth, and his wit, he realized he couldn’t fight what they wanted to do to him. They depended on him being alive and healthy. After this incident, he didn’t think he’d be wandering around alone anymore.
Giving her a tight smile, he followed the sound of Andrea skipping towards the dining room.
A handful of pancakes, a glass of orange juice, and a soda perked him right up.
Everyone gave him a chance to finish before starting in. The moment he admitted he was indeed done, they cleared the table, and all looked to him expectantly.
“Ah, thanks, everyone. I understand that I owe my life to Felicia?” Felix asked, looking to the builder.
The Dwarven woman crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked to the side, though eventually nodded her head.
“Thank you. Your work is fantastic, as always.”
Felix then turned his gaze on Lily.
“And Lily, I understand you saved me from dying right then and there. Then managed a running offense to get us back to the car. I’m not sure how to thank you for that.”
The woman in question arched an eyebrow at him. She looked as if she were hesitating, then gave him a shrug. “We can figure out something later. So far, you’ve done nothing but build up my power. Even as a slave, this isn’t something I can easily write off.”
“Fair enough. Andrea—”
“I want to sleep in your bed. I don’t like only watching over you, I want to sleep, too.”
“I, uh… what?”
“For my reward, I want an Other to sleep in your bed. She’ll sleep at the foot. Your feet are warm. Thanks!”
Felix opened and closed his mouth twice and then nodded his head. It sounded annoying, but he didn’t want to push her away.