we're so back

“N-no, I don’t have any. Do those even work on gems?”

She nodded, then her body glitched again.

*and he was out. probably gone to nearest pharmacy or anywhere that might hold medicine. gotta be quick, friends in pain. even the hospital-like pharmacy was a freak out, just dont think, no time to think. hurry grab and go*

She stayed still, trying her best to relax.

maybe.. but how do we do that?

”I-I don’t know! I don’t know anyone who would want me dead.”

no one would..

“Then how else could this have happened?”

I.. I don't know?

She teared up again.

”But... What if it’s cracked forever?”

”Then why won’t it heal? What’s stopping it?”

”Yeah, it’s probably that...”

Either way, I'm gonna make sure no one hurts you( okaY?

”Ok. Thanks...”

She shook her head.

”Ok, I’ll try...”

*he just watched over the room and her friend, to make sure nothing would happen to her.*

Despite trying to rest, she still looked really uncomfortable.

She shook her head.

anything i can do to help?

”I don’t know... Sorry.”

it's alright, dont be sorry. not your fault

She put a hand over her cracked gem.

*he fell silent again, wish he had some way to end the pain*

”...What did I do to deserve this?”

you didnt do anything, you don't deserve this agony.

”Then why is this happening?”

..I don't know..

She went quiet, feeling bad for asking crow that question.

.. but I promise, this is not your fault or punishment. No way you deserve anything like this.

”Thank you...”

Of course

A moment later, she tried to get up.

*he helped her sit and stand up, staying close in case she needed support*

She stood for a moment before sitting back down.

*he was a bit confused but might've misinterpreted her movements*

”So tired...”

Ah, fair.. just tell me of you want or need anything, you just stay in bed, okay? I'll get it for you.

I get that.. still best to rest. Dont need to nap or anything. Just. Try not to exert too much energy.

She nodded, then laid back down.

*he smiled at her, before going back to sit dowm

She rubbed her head a little.

Want me yo bring you a book? Your remote? Game or something?

”The remote’s fine.”

*he handed her the remote*

you're welcome!

She tries to relax again.

*he half paid attention to the tv, just keeping an eye out*

She just quietly watches the tv.

"Guess I never asked, is there any specific area it hurts? Is it sharp or dull pain? Probably should've asked earlier.."

”It hurts a little on my navel gem and the area around it. But when my form glitches out it kinda stings all over for a second…”

“I don’t know if a gems, well, gem reacts to that stuff, but I guess we could try?”

“It doesn’t hurt any more than it already does, but it feels weird…”

"Want me to remove it? Try the heated blanket?"

“Sure. Maybe that’ll be better?”

”A little. I think?”

"Don't like what?"

”The fact that my navel gem is cracked. The fact that it won’t heal. The fact that I have to be in pain. The fact that I don’t know when this will end…”

"Yeah.. I don't like not being to help, and also don't like the pain you're in. If there was a way to help I would do anything."

”You ok?”

"I'm fine, don't worry about it. Right now let's focus on you. Is the heating blanket doing alright? Want some extra regular blankets?"

”The heating blanket is fine by itself for now.”

”No, not at the moment…”

Another nod, he shifted to criss-cross, hands in his lap, and one wing stretched over behind her head.

She glanced at his wing.

Same as always, iridescent bluish-black. Resting protectively against the headboard over her head. No skin contact, just hovering.

She stopped looking at it, then took off her shades.

He looked at her inquisitively, focused on the revealed face. Rare to see her (or any sunstone) without the shades.

She looked back at him.

”It’s fine. I’ll just leave them on the bed.”

A nod, he leaned back again. Turned his head to look out the window for a bit before turning back to watch over Strawberry.

”… Sorry if this is boring.”

"It's not, and it's fine! Much rather keep you safe and comfy just.. worried yknow. Still don't know for sure how it happened.. I'll keep an eye out though, for sure."

She sighed.

"Something wrong?"

”I just want my gem to heal already. But the healing water didn’t work…”

"I know.. I'm sorry it didn't work.."

”It’s ok. It’s not your fault…”

"I know its just.. Hate seeing you like this.. Anyone in pain.."

”Should we try the water again? Or would that be a waste?”

She was a little shocked at Strawberry trying to sit up, expecting her to be in pain. Hovering over her, caught between trying to push her back down and letting her do her own thing.

She had managed to sit up for a second before laying back down.

She thought for a moment, then used her two larger hands to pretend to write something down.

She sighed, but her sigh sounded strange too, just like when she tried to talk before.

"Does it.. hurt any more?"

’Still hurts’

"ah... sorry."

‘It’s ok’

"Is it.. worsening? Could talk earlier.."

‘Maybe?’

Crow kinda fell silent. Simply unsure of what to do. Nothing works..

She set down the notebook.

He just hugged the fusion. Very gently, didn't want to cause any more damage, hated seeing friend in pain.

She carefully put an arm on his back

"I'm sorry.. you shouldn't be comforting me.. just.. sorry.. I can't fix this.."

She teared up a little bit.

‘It’s ok.’

"Don't be, you have nothing to be sorry about. I'm sorry you're in this position and neither of us can do anything about it.."

She sighed softly.

"This should be over soon.. been a while already.."

‘Should we try the healing water one more time?’

A nod, he took the canteen back out and poured some more on Strawberry's navel.

To her surprise, the gem slowly healed until the crack was eventually gone.

"Strawberry! Are you.. feeling any better?"

"Oh.. thats good to have, at least.."

”Yeah…”

She took a second to stretch, then sat up.

"Good! Good.. You want to try and stand for me or rather just stay there for a bit?"

”I’ll try standing.”

He held a hand out to help support her if she wanted.

"Doing alright?"

”Yeah.”

”A tiny bit at first, when my gem first healed, but I feel fine now.”

"Oh, That's good."

She sat back down on the edge of the bed.

"Need anything?"

She shrugged.

"Well.. I'm here if you need anything. Gonna stay and keep watch if you want?"

”Do you want to stay?”

”I mean, it’s not near night yet, so if you want, you could come back later if you have any plans or stuff you need to do. Or I could go with you?”

"I know, just wanted at least to see how you're doing After a day. But! No plans! If you want to get out of the house for a bit I could escort you!"

“Ok, if you want.”

"Of course! Anything you'd like to do first?"

”Can we get breakfast?”

"Anything you'd like!"

”Can we have french toast and bacon?”

"Yup! Would you rather go somewhere or me make them?"

”Can we make it together? I don’t want you to do all the work.”

"Of course! I'd love the help!"

”Ok…”

A smile from the bird! He's already starting to put ingredients into a bowl for the french toast.

”What do you need me to do?”

"Could you get the bacon? We can do oven baked or pan fried, whichever you prefer, Berry!"

”Ok. How long do you think the French toast will take? So both could be done at around the same time.”

"Can only do a slice or two at a time, but each set barely takes a minute."

“Need me to help more? Or are you fine?”

”Syrup and whipped cream sounds good. What toppings do you want?”

"I'd like some fruit or berry, but anything works!"

”I also have chocolate syrup if you want that too.”

"Mmm... none for me, thanks."

Crow hummed as he took a minute finished up the french toasts, piled onto two plates: a stack 3 high, and a stack of 2. Fresh and ready to be dressed!

She went over to the fridge and pulled out the maple syrup, whipped cream, strawberries, and blueberries.

”Sorry, I didn’t mean to hit you on the head.”

"It's fine! It's a little berry! Couldn't hurt if tried!"

She put the oven mitts on her lower pair of hands before taking the pan out of the oven.

”You’re welcome. Thanks for making the french toast.”

She walked over with him, setting her plate on the table before putting syrup and whipped cream on her french toast.

”Oh wait, we should probably get something to drink too, shouldn’t we?”

”I was thinking of having chocolate milk.”

She took another bite of her food, feeling a bit better than before.

Crow hummed as he continued to eat as well. Nothing cozier than some domestic fluff!

“N-no, I don’t have any. Do those even work on gems?”

She nodded, then her body glitched again.

*and he was out. probably gone to nearest pharmacy or anywhere that might hold medicine. gotta be quick, friends in pain. even the hospital-like pharmacy was a freak out, just dont think, no time to think. hurry grab and go*

She stayed still, trying her best to relax.

maybe.. but how do we do that?

”I-I don’t know! I don’t know anyone who would want me dead.”

no one would..

“Then how else could this have happened?”

I.. I don't know?

She teared up again.

”But... What if it’s cracked forever?”

”Then why won’t it heal? What’s stopping it?”

”Yeah, it’s probably that...”

Either way, I'm gonna make sure no one hurts you( okaY?

”Ok. Thanks...”

She shook her head.

”Ok, I’ll try...”

*he just watched over the room and her friend, to make sure nothing would happen to her.*

Despite trying to rest, she still looked really uncomfortable.

She shook her head.

anything i can do to help?

”I don’t know... Sorry.”

it's alright, dont be sorry. not your fault

She put a hand over her cracked gem.

*he fell silent again, wish he had some way to end the pain*

”...What did I do to deserve this?”

you didnt do anything, you don't deserve this agony.

”Then why is this happening?”

..I don't know..

She went quiet, feeling bad for asking crow that question.

.. but I promise, this is not your fault or punishment. No way you deserve anything like this.

”Thank you...”

Of course

A moment later, she tried to get up.

*he helped her sit and stand up, staying close in case she needed support*

She stood for a moment before sitting back down.

*he was a bit confused but might've misinterpreted her movements*

”So tired...”

Ah, fair.. just tell me of you want or need anything, you just stay in bed, okay? I'll get it for you.

I get that.. still best to rest. Dont need to nap or anything. Just. Try not to exert too much energy.

She nodded, then laid back down.

*he smiled at her, before going back to sit dowm

She rubbed her head a little.

Want me yo bring you a book? Your remote? Game or something?

”The remote’s fine.”

*he handed her the remote*

you're welcome!

She tries to relax again.

*he half paid attention to the tv, just keeping an eye out*

She just quietly watches the tv.

"Guess I never asked, is there any specific area it hurts? Is it sharp or dull pain? Probably should've asked earlier.."

”It hurts a little on my navel gem and the area around it. But when my form glitches out it kinda stings all over for a second…”

“I don’t know if a gems, well, gem reacts to that stuff, but I guess we could try?”

“It doesn’t hurt any more than it already does, but it feels weird…”

"Want me to remove it? Try the heated blanket?"

“Sure. Maybe that’ll be better?”

”A little. I think?”

"Don't like what?"

”The fact that my navel gem is cracked. The fact that it won’t heal. The fact that I have to be in pain. The fact that I don’t know when this will end…”

"Yeah.. I don't like not being to help, and also don't like the pain you're in. If there was a way to help I would do anything."

”You ok?”

"I'm fine, don't worry about it. Right now let's focus on you. Is the heating blanket doing alright? Want some extra regular blankets?"

”The heating blanket is fine by itself for now.”

”No, not at the moment…”

Another nod, he shifted to criss-cross, hands in his lap, and one wing stretched over behind her head.

She glanced at his wing.

Same as always, iridescent bluish-black. Resting protectively against the headboard over her head. No skin contact, just hovering.

She stopped looking at it, then took off her shades.

He looked at her inquisitively, focused on the revealed face. Rare to see her (or any sunstone) without the shades.

She looked back at him.

”It’s fine. I’ll just leave them on the bed.”

A nod, he leaned back again. Turned his head to look out the window for a bit before turning back to watch over Strawberry.

”… Sorry if this is boring.”

"It's not, and it's fine! Much rather keep you safe and comfy just.. worried yknow. Still don't know for sure how it happened.. I'll keep an eye out though, for sure."

She sighed.

"Something wrong?"

”I just want my gem to heal already. But the healing water didn’t work…”

"I know.. I'm sorry it didn't work.."

”It’s ok. It’s not your fault…”

"I know its just.. Hate seeing you like this.. Anyone in pain.."

”Should we try the water again? Or would that be a waste?”

She was a little shocked at Strawberry trying to sit up, expecting her to be in pain. Hovering over her, caught between trying to push her back down and letting her do her own thing.

She had managed to sit up for a second before laying back down.

She thought for a moment, then used her two larger hands to pretend to write something down.

She sighed, but her sigh sounded strange too, just like when she tried to talk before.

"Does it.. hurt any more?"

’Still hurts’

"ah... sorry."

‘It’s ok’

"Is it.. worsening? Could talk earlier.."

‘Maybe?’

Crow kinda fell silent. Simply unsure of what to do. Nothing works..

She set down the notebook.

He just hugged the fusion. Very gently, didn't want to cause any more damage, hated seeing friend in pain.

She carefully put an arm on his back

"I'm sorry.. you shouldn't be comforting me.. just.. sorry.. I can't fix this.."

She teared up a little bit.

‘It’s ok.’

"Don't be, you have nothing to be sorry about. I'm sorry you're in this position and neither of us can do anything about it.."

She sighed softly.

"This should be over soon.. been a while already.."

‘Should we try the healing water one more time?’

A nod, he took the canteen back out and poured some more on Strawberry's navel.

To her surprise, the gem slowly healed until the crack was eventually gone.

"Strawberry! Are you.. feeling any better?"

"Oh.. thats good to have, at least.."

”Yeah…”

She took a second to stretch, then sat up.

"Good! Good.. You want to try and stand for me or rather just stay there for a bit?"

”I’ll try standing.”

He held a hand out to help support her if she wanted.

"Doing alright?"

”Yeah.”

”A tiny bit at first, when my gem first healed, but I feel fine now.”

"Oh, That's good."

She sat back down on the edge of the bed.

"Need anything?"

She shrugged.

"Well.. I'm here if you need anything. Gonna stay and keep watch if you want?"

”Do you want to stay?”

”I mean, it’s not near night yet, so if you want, you could come back later if you have any plans or stuff you need to do. Or I could go with you?”

"I know, just wanted at least to see how you're doing After a day. But! No plans! If you want to get out of the house for a bit I could escort you!"

“Ok, if you want.”

"Of course! Anything you'd like to do first?"

”Can we get breakfast?”

"Anything you'd like!"

”Can we have french toast and bacon?”

"Yup! Would you rather go somewhere or me make them?"

”Can we make it together? I don’t want you to do all the work.”

"Of course! I'd love the help!"