The sterile white walls of the hospital and the bumpy tiled ceiling was what greeted Sky when he opened his eyes. That, and a splitting headache, causing him to groan and reach for his head in hopes of somewhat quelling it, only to be stopped by a stinging pain. More awake now, Sky noticed… he was in a hospital bed and hooked up to multiple IV drips and even one of those black heart rate monitors with the green line that beeps just like in the movies!
"Urghh… What happened?" He muttered.
"Th-this… This queen lost control… and… and hurt you…" Skadi replied weakly, looking extremely downcast. "This queen isn't deserving of you…"
A look of realization dawned on Sky's face, as it triggered his memories of what had happened, especially when he looked into Skadi's hollow eyes… It was as if he was staring into the void itself.
"Then, who saved me?" Sky said.
"Well, technically this queen did, by f-freezing time…" Skadi started, looking away. "B-but that doesn't excuse the fact that I hurt you! I-I almost killed you!" Tears streamed down her face again.
"Exactly! So we'll call it even then! You almost killed me but you also saved me. All's good!" Sky said optimistically, trying to placate his sad ice queen.
Skadi merely scrunched her face as the result, clearly still not convinced. Sky sighed. "Look, I get it. If I almost killed you, I would be the same way… But you clearly weren't in the right state of mind when you did so, in addition to the fact that what you did in the end still saved my life…"
"And hey! Look on the bright side! At least you seemed to have learned some cool new skill right? Maybe you can freeze the rest of the class while we take a test so I can get the answers~?" He said jokingly, to which Skadi dryly chuckled. 'How can you forgive me so easily, you idiot! I almost took your life!'
"Hey Skadi, come closer…" Sky said hoarsely. All that talking had really done a number on him.
Skadi obeyed, sitting right next to him on the hospital bed. Sky strained, struggling to sit himself up right, to which Skadi helped him, using her cold hands to help pull him up.
"No matter what you do, until the day you don't want me… I'll never leave your side… And you'll always be my beautiful ice fairy…" Sky suddenly leaned in for a kiss, shocking Skadi slightly before she reciprocated, her eyes closing in contentment, with a single tear slowly rolling down her cheek.
"Hello, may I come in~?" A silky voice said from outside the door.
"Ok." Sky responded, his voice hoarse.
The door opened, revealing… Ahrana?! "Ara~, so this is your excuse for not coming online and helping me during the limited time event? Ufufufu~." She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand, while narrowing her eyes at Skadi who looked like a concerned wife, clasping Sky's weak hand in hers while sitting by his bedside.
"Ahrana?! How did you even know that I was here?" Sky said, slightly dumbfounded.
"Well~, you've been gone for a week now~, so as a concerned classmate and as your only friend, I obviously did some digging. It seems you have a lot of catching up to do… I wonder what you'll do about all that homework waiting for you. Ufufufu~." Ahrana said, her eyes glinting mischievously.
"What?!" Sky's eyes widened, before his head dropped comically downwards. How was he going to make up that much homework?! His face scrunched up cutely, while his eyebrows furrowed. "What am I going to do now…"
'K-Kyaa! So cute! As expected of my husband!' Skadi thought inwardly, secretly whipping out her phone and taking a picture, adding it to her "All Things Sky" album.
"A-ahem! That's why I'm here~. I'm willing to tutor you… One… on… one~. How about it~?" Ahrana walked closer to Sky, emphasizing her words by leaning in towards him, giving him a full view of her melons that dangled enticingly.
Sky worriedly looked at Skadi. One the one hand he wanted to get tutoring from Ahrana because not only was she his online friend, Weaver_of_Fate, but she was also extremely smart. She apparently already had a job in the IT industry! To Sky's surprise, Skadi merely pouted cutely, before pinching him viciously, turning away with a snort.
"Hmph! You womanizer!" She glared at him, her eyes starting to water, crossing her arms like a child who had their favorite toy taken away.
"Awww, you're so cute!" Sky exclaimed, reaching towards her with his arms, trying to pull her into a hug, to which Skadi reciprocated, gloatingly looking at Ahrana who was gritting her teeth, watching enviously. 'That bitch…'
What happened to the Skadi that would murderously glare at him whenever he even talked to a girl? What happened to the Skadi who would threaten to freeze him and take him somewhere? Where did that Skadi go?! Not that Sky was complaining of course…
Ahrana's ever-present smile turned strained, seeing the two start to get all handsy, their hands roaming around as their breathing grew more rapid. 'What happened to Skadi that in such a short period of time she was able to overcome her fear of Sky leaving her for another? What makes her so confident?!'
"Well then, I'll see you tomorrow for some… private tutoring~." Ahrana winked at him, her voice clearly implying something more… lascivious.
Sky could only nod slightly, before Skadi once again pounced on him, hugging him tightly. "E-even though I know you won't leave me for someone else, my heart still tightens each time I see you talk to one of those… bitches… I can't even trust you enough… Even after all you've done for me." She chuckled self deprecatingly.
Sky knew that she was like this because of all the years her emotions were locked up within her. Now that they were free, she was like a child; fearful of being left alone and abandoned, desperate to cling onto whoever gave them that sense of security that they so desperately need.