Blue Angel and a Shadow Demon

[Vc0m]

Slowly, her eyes opened.

And slowly she realized she could feel a slightly hard surface at her back...

Afterlife felt suspiciously like a regular hospital.

Clara took a breath. She could still feel her lungs inflate.

She tried to swallow a bit of saliva. It tasted faintly metallic.

She tried to shuffle a bit. Her mouth opened at the fast jolt of pain going through her body, which disappeared just as quickly as it appeared.

If this was afterlife, this was likely Hell. No higher power would allow her to still feel that pain at her back if it had even an ounce of benevolence.

Meaning that, quite simply - she was still alive.

"Mmmgh...", she let out an uncomfortable groan, trying to get a sense of her surroundings...

...and already, noticed a weird thing, as her hand instinctively went to her mouth, wiping at her lips. She wasn't sure what brought that about, the thought about Baroness's kiss coming a few moments later...at which point she wiped at her lips harder.

A simple act of breathing felt good to her...she didn't realize she would miss such simple a thing before today...if it was still today.

It made sense she was at a hospital. Her spine was mangled, and she remembered seeing blood by the end of the match. Touching her forehead made her realize that she had a plaster very close to where her eyes were.

She didn't want to rise. She knew rising...and slight movement to her spine meant agony. Instead, she tried to turn her head in the dark...what she believed to be, hospital room.

A quick check to the right would reveal nothing too much. A normal shelf of a hospital room meant for a longer stay.

A check to the left...revealed that she wasn't alone in the room.

And the moment she realized her guest, sleeping in the room, had blue hair, any semblance of worry she had was put at ease.

"K...Ka...Kathy..."

There she was, her blue guardian angel...her savior. She quickly realized what had happened after the match, what the blue haired woman in the last moments of her consciousness was doing.

She felt her heart beating out of her chest at the sight of her. She knew what she wanted to tell her...but doing so now was a mistake. Doing so when she would wake up felt wrong as well...when, then?

[thesteedman]

Kay woke up suddenly at the mention of her name, rising up onto her seat, softly pulling her hands away from Clara's having not realised she fell asleep holding one of them. One of her eyes were half closed, the other somewhat more alert. Her hair was sticking up in various places, giving her a somewhat goofy but adorable look. It had been her intent to remain awake since being in the hospital, wanting to make sure she was there and ready for Clara when she finally awoke... she must have drifted off however.
"Oh hey... how are you feelin' sleepy head!" Kay spoke out groggily and somewhat ironically given her current state. She began rubbing the sleep from her eyes and ruffling her hair to make it the usual unkempt but stylish mess it normally was.

Once her eyes were more focused, she managed a pleasant smile as she looked to Clara, seeing the trooper finally coming around after what had to be at least a day or so. At this point, she cared not and decided to take her hand with both of her own, giving her palm a reassuring squeeze. Soon enough she leaned close, rubbing a hand softly over Clara's forehead to make sure her temperature was alright. The smile on Drifter's face was soft and sweet... reassuring given where Clara was.
"You've been out for a lil' while, but don't worry. The Doc said you're gonna' be fine. The bitch did a number on your spine, and they feared you might have had internal damage, but all the checkups have come back okay. You're bruised up pretty badly, you might need a few massages to ease your back, and more importantly you're gonna' need a lot of rest... but you'll live to fight another day and be back wrestling before you know it." Drifter explained... Clara could tell she had been rehearsing that... but it was naturally good news for all the discomfort Clara was in right now.

Kay slowly stood, keeping her smile as she ran another hand over Clara's forehead to make sure. It was so good to see her awake again after so long and so much worrying despite what the docs told her.
"I'll be right back. I'll let the doctor know you're awake. He'll probably waffle the same stuff I just told you, but it will sound a lot better coming from a professional." Kay spoke with a little laughter. She turned to leave, eager to share the news with the staff that Clara GASTER was finally awake. Kay had spent the entire time in the room with Clara, worrying over her, wondering what the terrible Baroness had done to her close friend. Even when the news came back and it was positive, Kay couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps something was still wrong, that Clara might not wake. The thoughts had brought tears to her eyes some hours earlier. Kay had remained awake for so long, wanting to be there for Clara, and she felt foolish falling asleep the way she had. There was such a relief to see her awake now, and Kay felt a great weight lift from her core... but Kay was fighting back her feelings, hating seeing Clara so hurt, even knowing what she knew and that she would be okay.

"I'll be back... I promise."

[Vc0m]

"Look who is...owww...talking"

Clara tried to sit up to look at Kay properly, but even moving her head proved difficult for the moment. She managed to turn her head however, seeing Kay with slightly goofy, unkempt hair. She quickly deduced that she must not have been home since the match happened...and it's been a while since it did, unless Kay got into an altercation baskstage.

Having her friend reassuringly squeeze her hand and press her forehead to her's made her worries run away. In all honesty, she wanted to kiss the blunette here and now...but thought better of it, especially with her current fatigue.

Hearing that her spine was alright was also reassuring. For a few moments, she was worried her career might be done again...but more than likely her spine was in such an unnatural shape for so long, it simply needed a break for a month or 2 before her next match, much like what happened in her first match with the Baroness.

She nodded at the new from Kay...before the blunette said she needed to leave

Suddenly, fear came over Clara's heart:

"No!"

She held her hand tight to make sure Kay didn't leave.

What was with her? She could handle a few moments of loneliness, couldn't she? And it wasn't quite the fact that she was scared someone like the Baroness could come in and try to finish the job...

...she simply wanted Kay to be near her, even if it's for a few moments longer:

"Kay...stay, please..."

[thesteedman]

Kay had virtually been on her feet when Clara reached out for her. Grasping her hand with her own, holding on tightly as Kay lost all momentum to full rise. She could see Clara had hurt herself reaching for her, the slight wince and discomfort from the number the Baroness had done on her spine. The look on Clara's face spoke more than words ever could. She could see in Clara's eyes that she did not want to be alone right now. She did not seem afraid per say... It was hard to get a clear read past the realisation that she did not want to be on her own in the room.

Kay turned her body more towards Clara, before settling back down on the chair again, holding Clara's hands with her own. Kay managed that soft and alluring smile again before she spoke.
"It's okay... I'm here for you..." Kay whispered, trying to reassure her close friend, as she squeezed her hands with her own. She didn't have to go to the doctor... it had been more to take a moment for herself after nearly being overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing Clara awaken... but she couldn't leave her, not right now.
"I'll stay... I'm not going anywhere. Kay added, letting Clara know, hoping it put her mind at ease.

"You nearly had me worried for a little bit back there silly. I thought you were really hurt and I had to bring you here... They had all top docs coming in to have a look at you... turns out you're just really lazy and like to have a good sleep!" Kay spoke, looking to make light of the situation as she gave Clara a playful wink.
"You're gonna' have to live on a brief diet of painkillers, but as I said you'll be fighting fit before you know it. No arguments and no questions asked from you, but you're gonna have a good back rub and massage every two or three days from yours truly." Kay whispered further, trying to further calm Clara. Trying to take her mind off the now and towards the future.

[Vc0m]

Clara winced as Kay's momentum forced her out of bed, forced her damned spine along for the ride, the motion making her back ache so much more. Still, her mind was telling her that the brief moment of pain was worth the trouble, worth just 5 minutes of getting Kay to stay in the room with her.

Kay settled back in her chair, the Brit exhaling in relief as the blunette reassured her she would be here with her.

"Mghh...if that's all I needed why is does my back feel as if it's submerged in lava...owww..."

Still, it wasn't all teases from Kay:

"Heheh...massages are nice. Painkillers less so, but I'll manage..."

Clara smiled at Kay, before it slowly creeped off her lips, forming into an unsure expression: "So you really did that? Came out, beat down those maids, got...her...off of me? Being a Wonder Woman suits you, you know..."

[thesteedman]

"Of course you'll manage. You're the toughest girl I know. I think even if a train run you over that wouldn't keep you down for long. You're like the Phoenix!" Kay responded, managing a smile as she gave Clara a slow and playful light tap of a strike towards her jaw. She saw Clara's expression change, when the subject of what happened finally came up during the PPV. Though Clara's smile lowered, Kay's remained, though it was softer and gentle.
"You saw that huh?" Drifter whispered... she hadn't thought about it all that much, but looking back she did storm the ring. She was outnumbered by the Maids... but she dropped each one in an instant.

Kay just remembered having tunnel vision, her only goal being to get to Clara and get her out of there. In truth it had been as much of a blur to Kay as it had to Clara who had half been out of it from being near suffocated by Baroness.
"It wasn't as cool as you make it sound. Anyway... You would have done the same thing for me if the roles had been reversed. Besides, what makes you think I even did it for you? It was a big PPV event! I had to get some exposure you know?" Kay spoke with a smile.

" Heh... I'm no Wonder Woman though. I don't have the same thighs... I prefer jeans, and her hair is a bit too long for my style. I think you suit that title more for what you did. It was brave of you taking on the Baroness like you did. I know it wasn't a dream ending, but you really took it to her this time. Honestly, you were unlucky not to win... I saw that excellent right hook you sent at her jaw by the way. What genius taught you how to throw a punch like that?" Kay once again did another mock strike at Clara, managing a giggle as she tried to make light on the whole situation again.

[Vc0m]

"Don't tempt fate...", she laughed at the train remark, before her and Kay spoke about her saving her from the Baroness:

"I deduced what happened. Everything after the bodyscissors is a blur to me...", Clara explained, as Kay explained her side of things, describing that she was motivated for selfish reasons, not for Clara:

"Then why not pop up earlier, or at one of the champions?", she quizzed Kay on why she interfered in her match in particular if she was simply greedy for fame with the save.

She laughed at Kay comparing herself to Wonder Woman after Clara's remark. Maybe Kay didn't see it, but to Clara she was her Wonder Woman...who would she be in this equivalent she wondered?

Finally, Clara took a deep breath, and decided to go for it, while still mid conversation:

"K-Kathy...I have to tell you something very...very important..."

[thesteedman]

Kay giggled when Clara deduced what had occurred during the final moments of the match.
"Alright Sherlock... Where's your pipe?!" Kay jokingly added when Clara was able to see through her BS in an instant.
"You caught me red handed. Yeah I was trying to save my buddy... and I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for that meddling Detective Clara." Kay spoke in a light hearted manner.

"I know you're not going to want to look back at that match any time soon... but I will tell you this, it's worth watching the reply for the end. Should have seen how well I landed a punch on that bitch. She didn't move for a long time afterwards. It might just be I've discovered a new finishing move." Drifter whispered to Clara as if it was some kind of big secret. After the two of them had a good little laugh together, Kay leaned back in her chair.

Something in the atmosphere changed, and Kay couldn't just see it in Clara's change of expression, she could feel it too. Her smile dropped to a look of concern and focus when Clara mentioned something very important. Slowly Kay leaned forwards, wondering what Clara had to say. In the back of her mind she was fearing Clara was going to take another break after what happened, and she was half tempted to pip in and speak her mind before Clara, telling her how bad of an idea that would be... but something in the expression of Clara made Kay hold her words for now... she thought it best to let Clara say her piece first.

"Y.. yeah. Okay. Is... everything alright?" Kay whispered during the pause... slowly becoming more concerned as time would pass by between the two. There was a silence that befell within the room, and Kay dared not break it... waiting to hear what Clara had to tell her, knowing not what was coming next.

[Vc0m]

Clara giggled at Kay teasing her for her "deduction", as well as at Kay discovering a new finisher move in the middle of her rescue: "Now I have to see it...I need to get ready to counter it when we fight in the ring!", she let out at Kay.

With the last laugh, and Clara focusing on what she really wanted to tell Kay, she tried to muster up the courage to say what she wanted to say:

"So...um...not to put you on the spot or anything...especially with such a bad timing...but is it fair for me to say you've got a crush on me?", she asked Kay.

"I noticed even before I left Japan. Now that I think about it, it may have been there during our first meeting, but I only noticed during our bed tussle during that rain-y day...but am I correct?

[thesteedman]

Though it had not been Clara's intent to put Kay upon the spot... it felt like that was where she was all of a sudden. Her expression shifted slightly... not much, but Clara was able to catch it when she mentioned Kay having a potential crush upon her. A knot developed within Kay's core, and her position upon the chair shifted slowly. Kay slowly came in a little more upon herself, going from relaxed to a little guarded as she could not help but break eye contact from Clara over the sudden line of questioning.

She managed a small laugh but there was a clear hint of nervousness about it as she scratched the back of her head with one of her arms. It felt like it was going to be a talk... and Drifter began to make assumptions on where things were heading, thinking the worst.
"Uh... I guess I did." Kay whispered, her tone shifting from that confidence manner she spoke only moments ago. Kay took her time and chose her words carefully. Katherine Scarlett certainly made no efforts to hide her affections that night. It was the first time Kay had purposely dressed herself in a manner of undress as it where to try and gain Clara's attention... and she recalled moving in to try and kiss Clara when it felt like the moment had been right.

It was fresh on her mind even now, all this time later, like it had occurred yesterday. She remembered how Clara turned away from her... and she realised all at once that Clara did not share the same interests. It had taken a bit of time, but Kay had come to make her peace with that. The two never really spoke of what happened afterwards, though joked about everything else about that night... It felt like a silent agreement to move past it, and Kay was glad about that. If she could not have Clara the way she personally desired... she at least wanted to keep her as a close friend. It began as a crush for sure... but Kay honestly felt it was becoming a little deeper than that. It quietly ate away at her... but again she had made her peace and was so glad to have Clara as a good friend... a best friend. Kay did not want to lose that...

"Erm... Clara? Listen... I think I know what you are going to say. And I understand... you don't have to say anything. I don't want things to be awkward between us. We never really spoke about what happened that night and what I tried to do, and I know we should have. I know you don't... feel that way about me.. and I'm okay with that. I just... I hope we're still okay. What I did was... I should never have put you on the spot like that. I want us to move past it so we can still be friends. You're like... the coolest person I've ever known you know? I've never had a friend like you... and I'd hate to lose that because of me, and I want you to know I won't do anything like that again." Kay spoke firmly, doing all she could to hide her emotions.