Arnold thought he'd feel unbearable pain, but he couldn't. Maybe his mind wasn't registering any pain at the moment. He slowly opened his eyes and couldn't see very well. However, he could distinguish a female figure tending to him. It was Alice, trying whatever she could to save him. Arnold couldn't hear very well either but thought he heard something. 

He looked sideways, Talos was standing there. His usually emotionless eyes seemed to be weird. Behind him was someone who looked to be Allen, hugging Nina as she cried her eyes out. A sight that devastated him. A woman who had always been strong was crying like a newborn baby, all because of him. Even Allen looked cried out at this point. 

He wanted to reassure her. He wanted to say, "Don't cry! Can't you see I'm fine?"

But no words came out of his mouth. It weirded him out. He then gazed over his body and was horrified... There were all kinds of pipes and instruments connected to his body. It then dawned upon him. Most of his organs had failed and it was these instruments that were keeping him alive. His lungs nor his heart were functioning on their own. He was surprised that he could actually move his head a bit or that his brain was still functional. It was bad. He could feel it. 

Instead of being afraid, internally, he was all smiling. It was a sad smile but still a smile. 

'I don't stand a chance...'

Even in this state, he knew he wasn't going to live for long. It was all thanks to Alice that he even made it till now. But he knew even she had her limits. Right now, the only regret in his life was his sister.

He wanted a chance to end up on the right terms with her. To lecture her for one last time, but deep down he knew it wasn't possible anymore.

He wanted to stay awake for a while more. Cherishing what could possibly be his last moments with his loved ones but his body was too weak for that as he fell into a deep slumber. 

***

He felt a hand caressing his chest. But the hand immediately moved away. He wanted to feel the warm touch again. 

'At least I can feel again. I'm going to live, right?'

The warm hand soon returned. This time caressing his head. He felt great. He slowly opened his eyes. The room was bright but he couldn't recognise the room, but then again his head wasn't in the right place.

'A hospital? When did I get here?'

His gaze fell on the one sitting next to him. It was Nina, her puffy eyes were red. Not a drop of tear present in them. 

'Whaddup bitch?'

Arnold called her, wanting to kiss her but she didn't respond. Maybe because no words came out of his mouth. He then realised she wasn't alone, Nathan and Johnny were there too, chatting with Alice and what seemed to be a doctor. But Nicole wasn't there. 

'Looks like there's still bad blood between us. Can't do anything about that while lying in this bed now can I?'

He also noticed that there weren't as many pipes or instruments on him this time around. Which he thought to be a great thing. Before he could get all excited, he slipped into sleep once again. 

***

Arnold felt another touch on his hand, he once again opened his eyes a little bit. Thinking he would be at the hospital, but he wasn't. He was in a bigger room this time. It reminded him of a hotel luxurious hotel, not just in the space but in the artwork too. The lack of colours on the walls apart from black confirmed what he was thinking. He realised where he was, a mansion in the Black estate. 

As for the touch he felt on his arm, it was Nicole, applying some kind of ointment on his arm. He was surprised. 

'First, you try to kill me and now you're applying medicine on me? You're a weird one you know that?'

He weakly smiled, but it was enough for Nicole to notice he was awake. Her hands froze. She looked him in the eyes, her eyes were as red and sleepless as Nina's. She looked at him happily but then just up and left. Arnold didn't stop her. He just didn't have the energy to do anything. His slumber snatched him once again. 

****

The next time he opened his eyes, it was night time. There were no equipments around him, just a comfortable bed and silky blanket. He felt more energetic and even managed to sit up. 

As he sat up, his sheets made a light sound. It was enough to wake Nina up who had been sleeping on the sofa next to his bed. She saw him sitting and rubbed her swollen eyes. She couldn't register what was happening, but the moment she realised Arnold was safe and sound, tears started gushing out of her eyes. She ran up to him and started hugging and kissing him. Arnold patiently sat there and savouring the moment. 

"Y-You fcker! What did you do to yourself!?" Nina exclaimed. She sounded like a female lead from a teenage drama or something, "Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused us?"

She once again broke down crying, wetting his shoulders in the process, but Arnold didn't mind. He pulled her closer to him. 

"I'm sorry for what happened in the workshop," Arnold said, his voice barely louder than a whisper, "it wasn't my intention to hurt you or anyone else."

Upon hearing his voice, Nina ended up laughing for the first time in a while. She kissed him one last time before pulling away. Her face was red like a strawberry. 

"You a*shole... First thing you say after waking up is an apology. How typical of you." She wiped her tears away, "I should probably call someone to check up on you-" 

"No. Stay please." 

"Arnold..."

Before they could argue, Talos and Alice walked in on them. Seeing him awake Talos went on full mom mode and so did Alice. Both of them started performing random checks on him and in the end, were sure of his well being. He was still weak, but that would pass over the next few days. Once they were done they left Nina and their master alone. It was obvious they wanted to talk about many things. 

"So how long..." Arnold tried to ask in his weak voice. 

"How long have you been unconscious?" Nina asked, caressing his face. 

Arnold nodded. 

"10 days. We still don't know what happened to you though. Just that a few robots found you collapsed at the base and brought you into the Infirmary where 'Alice' did what she could to save you..." She tried her best to hold back her tears but couldn't. 

Arnold slowly wiped away her tears and kissed her forehead, "I'm so sorry for worrying you. I didn't know what happened either. One moment I was fine and the next moment I collapsed on the-"

At that moment a notification popped up in front of him. 

___

Reconfiguration complete! 

You can now freely use your mythical affinity. 

___