To my surprise, I woke up.

Before my eyes crept open I heard a steady beeping sound followed by a whooshing sound that reminded me of Darth Vader’s breathing apparatus. When I managed to get my eye open I understood why.

Before I get into that I need to make it clear just how much I hurt. It took a while to get my eyes open because my eyelids felt like they had spent a day at the gym under the orders of the world’s most sadistic trainer. My eyelids also happened to be the least painful part of me. Even breathing sent waves of agony through me.

When I undertook what had to be one of Hercules’ trials and opened my eyes I saw a tube coming out of my mouth. It was an opaque white with ringed segments. I had seen them on plenty of hospital drama tv shows. Everything beyond the tube and my nose was a blur and my brain hurt so much I wasn’t able to decipher the meaning of the tube. I

I was so tired that sleep seemed to be easier than trying to figure out what was going on. So I let my eyes slide closed and welcomed pain-free darkness.

The next time I woke a good chunk of the pain was gone. I still hurt all over but to a much lesser degree. This allowed me to open my eyes with a lot more ease and boy was I glad I did. The first thing I saw was Anaya’s gorgeous face staring down at me.

“It is about time you got your lazy ass up,” she said. The waterworks that started stream down her cheeks ran counter to the sarcasm in her voice.

“It is good ta see you too,” I replied. I tried shooting up to a sitting position but Anaya stopped me with a hand to my chest. “I have to get up and figure out what happened to Grandma!”

“It’s okay, Reuben.” She chuckled. “Everyone is fine. As far as I know, you were the only person hurt in the fire. Which seems really odd considering you were out when the fire started.” She leaned back and I realized she was sitting on the bed with me. Her back was pressed against a metal railing attached to the bed giving her a stable position.

“Um, are you supposed to be on the bed with me?”

“Maybe I am!” She snapped. “Don’t tell me how to live my life.” She poked a finger against my chest. As she did so I felt something cold brush against my side.

“Ah!” I jumped. The movement cause every muscle involved to spasm in pain

“Oh crap! Sorry, Reuben.”

“What was that?” I asked between clenched teeth.

“Um… my foot?” She raised her eyebrows in the all too familiar, 'it wasn’t me,’ look of hers.

“Wait? You are under the blanket with me?” I raised the blanket and looked underneath. Not only did Anaya have her legs under the blanket but I was wearing one of those hospital gowns that were famous for leaving a person’s rear exposed. I felt my face grow warm.

“Anaya, do you know that my gown, I hate myself for saying that, has moved up and you are on my bare side?”

“Um…” She wrung her hands together. “I may have noticed but didn’t say anything because warm? Hehe.” Anaya’s cheeks reddened as she spoke. “This is a good thing though,” She continued. “It means you’re usefulness to me has just increased tenfold.” She put her hands up in the air pumping them up and down. “Yea.”

I couldn’t help but to laugh which ended with me wincing in pain. Still very sore. “That has to be one of the craziest things I’ve heard you saw.”

Anaya stopped in mid arm-pump. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth tightening into a thin line. “Are you saying that I am crazy?” She asked. Her voice took on an ominous tone.

I shook my head slowly before answering. “Batshit crazy. Yup, that is what I am saying.” She stared me down for a moment, then we both broke out in laughter. Mine was short lived. “Ouch, ouch, ouch. I need to stop laughing.” I laid my head back on the pillow and shut my eyes. “Why must it hurt so much?”

“My guess is because you lack the training every fireman gets before he attempts to rescue people from a building fire.” My eyes open and I turned my head to see who spoke. Ms. Crispen walked up to the bed frowning at me. “Seriously, Rueben, what the hell were you thinking?”

I spared a glance at Anaya looking for some support. Her smile had faded and she was looking down. “I…”

“No! You get to listen right now. You have shown a serious lack of decision-making skills. Rushing into a burning building is one of the dumbest things you have ever done. No, I take that back. Going into that corner store and putting my baby in danger was the dumbest. The fire rescue was the second dumbest thing you have ever done.”

I looked away because I didn't want her to see me cry. She was right but I hadn't thought of it in that way until now. If something had happened to me, well worse than what did, I could live with that. But if… I looked at my friend who now had as much water flowing from her eyes as I had. She turned her head so her hair blocked her face.

A soft hand wiped the tears from my right cheek. I looked up at Ms. Crispen and she took the opportunity to wipe my other cheek. “I get that you want to help people, Rueben. I really do.” She ran the back of her hand over her cheeks. “But you need to think about the outcome of your actions. Anaya, your grandmother, and I would all be heartbroken if you did something that resulted in you being put into the ground.” Anaya let out a sob. “Do you understand what I am saying?”

I broke eye contact with her. “Yes, ma’am, I do. I didn't mean to make you guys worry, really I didn't. I just wanted to save grandma and you, and Anaya from the fire.”

She placed her hand on the crown of my head. “I know you did. But there are better ways than putting yourself in danger. In this case, you could have called the fire department. There is a station a few blocks away from our building. They would have and did, arrive in plenty of time. I just want you to take a moment and think before you act. We all love you and want you to stick around.”

“You need to listen, Reuben. M. Crispen is talking for all of us, and I am sure Anaya will agree. As wonderful as it is that you want to help others there are still those of us that need and love you.” Ms. Crispen moved aside so Grandma Burger could stand next to my bed. “We would be devastated if you got yourself… well, we all feel better knowing you are okay.”

“I’m sorry, grandma. I didn’t mean…”

“I know, baby. No one thinks you put yourself in harm's way on purpose.” She patted my cheek.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Oh, you will be happy to know that Mr. Johnson is here in this hospital and doing well. He says he wants to see you when you feel up to it,” Ms. Crispen said. “He speaks highly of the kid that saved his life.” Her frown vanished and a smile took its place. “I am proud of you, Rueben. You did good by Mr. Johnson.” He smiled then shifted into a dark frown. “But never, ever, do that again.”

“I promise I won’t.” I pulled up on the covers exposing my hospital gown covered belly.

“Who there, Hoss. What do you think you are doing?” Anaya asked. She grabbed the blanket and pulled it back up over me. She also pushed against my chest stopping it from rising.

“I have to go check on Mr. Johnson,” I said. “I want to see how he is doing.”

“You don’t have to go right now, dummy. You need to rest until the doctor says you can go. Until then just be happy knowing that he is okay. Didn’t you just say like two seconds ago you were going to stop boing stupid stuff?”

“I…” There wasn’t much I could say to that, so I didn’t. I took a couple deep breaths and felt myself start to sweat. It was possible that maybe I was not up to moving around yet.

“You see what I mean?” Anaya asked.

“Yeah, I see and feel it. I’ll go see him when I feel better. I do have a serious question though.”

“What is that? Anaya asked.

Ms. Crispen and grandma turned their heads to look at me. Ms. Crispen even leaned forward some. Apparently, they had turned to talking to one another while I wasn’t looking. Time to drop the bomb on them.

“When are we going to eat?” I asked.

I looked from Grandma to Ms. Crispen, to Anya. The first two had their mouths wide open in shock. Anaya shook her head but had a sly smile on her face. She wasn’t surprised by my question.

“I guess that is our cue to go get this boy some food,” Grandma said.

“I’m sure these two would rather hang out without the old fogies around too,” Ms. Crispen added.

“It’s not really like that mom. Except, you know, it kind of is.” Anaya said. She stuck out her tongue. “Nothing personal, just because old.”

“Not too old to put you over my knee,” Ms. Crispen said. She smiled while she said it.

“So,” Anaya said once the old fogies were gone. You wanna watch a movie?”

“I don’t really feel like watching a movie,” I said. “I’m kind of tired and maybe need a nap.” In response, my stomach let out a loud gurgle. “After some food, I think.”

Anaya laughed. “Yes, yes. The grub is coming.” She looked down at her hands and stopped talking. This was unusual for my best friend. It did draw my attention to her hands though, while we sat in awkward silence. As like before her right hand shook. It wasn’t as bad but it was still there.

“Rueben,” Anaya said. She didn’t look up as she spoke. “Promise me you won’t do anything stupid like that again.”

“Anaya, I…”

“Promise me! And don’t think of saying another fucking word until you do.” She looked up and I saw the tears running down her cheeks as well as the rage that burned in her eyes.

I swallowed a lump in my throat before answering. “I promise, Anaya.” I reached over and put my hand on hers. A slight pinching sensation from the IV in my hand made me wince. “I never meant to make anyone worry. I just couldn’t sit outside while you guys were in the apartments. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“Maybe, just maybe, the right thing would have been to think that we are capable of understanding the ramifications of black smoking filling the building. And that maybe, just maybe, we are not too stupid to leave before we get burned the fuck up. You think that might become a thought in your head should that happen again? Or does the mighty hero think us women folk have our heads stuck too far in the kitchen to realize we are in danger?”

“No, it's not…”

Anaya turned her face away from me and wiped at her eye. “You really scared the shit out of me, asshole. I thought you were going to die.”

I tried to imagine the pain I would feel if our roles were reversed. My heart skipped a beat or three and tears welled up my eyes. I understood why she was upset with me.

“I’m sorry, Anaya. I didn’t think. But I didn’t mean to hurt you either. While I understand you are upset and why I think it is time you let it go.”

Her head snapped up and I saw a look that was equal parts anger, hurt, and surprise. There was going to be a murder if I didn’t choose my next words carefully.

“Because food is coming and you should never eat on an angry stomach,” I said. Then I flashed her my best smile.

“I should fucking punch you,” Anaya said. Instead, she smiled and shook her head. I was really grateful for that. “Instead, I am going to be the bigger person and not throttle you. You are welcome. And now you may heap praises upon my magnanimous self.”

“Gee, thanks,” I said in a voice rich with sarcasm. “So what do you have planned for our entertainment?”

“What makes you think I planned something?” Anaya asked as she batted her eyelashes at me. My response was to raise my eyebrow. She sighed. “You know me too well. Yes, I have a movie ready to go.”

“Anything I know?” I asked. Secretly, I hoped for it to be, Mechaman: The trials of the hero Hardcase. My favorite movie based on the life of a real superhero.

“Not Mechaman, that is for sure,” Anya said. I pouted. “I figured you were hoping for it. I got something new. A flick called, Golden Blossom Blade.”

“The new, new from China?” I asked excitedly.

“You know it, big boy.”

“Well fire it up and let's do this!” I shouted.

A nurse popped into the room a second later. “You need to keep it down in here,” she said. “This is a hospital, not a rumpus room.” She cocked her head to the side and looked from Anaya to me and back to Anaya. “Are you supposed to be on the bed with the patient young lady?”

“The doc said it was okay as long as I didn’t disturb his IV.” She lifted my arm causing a slight pinch as the needle in my arm shifted. I grimaced but didn’t make a sound. “See, all good here.”

“Okay?” The nurse’s voice was chocked full of skepticism. “But I will be back to check on you two. Don’t let me find some inappropriate behavior happening. I know how you kids are these days with your raging hormones and your BET.”

“Uh…” I looked up at Anaya and for the first time, I let the thought of us enter into my mind.

“Not going to happen,” Anya said.

I kept my eyes on her face, on her cute button nose. I pictured her leaning over me and our lips brushing. How soft her full lips must be.

“You okay there?” Anaya asked. Her words brought me out of the daydream and to my horror, I felt a tight throbbing between my legs. “I said are you okay?”

Anaya LEaned forward and raised her hand. Time slowed to a crawl as her hand went straight for my crotch palm down. A surge of excitement ran through me even though I knew she was just going to put her hand on me to support herself and not… well, you know. My hand shot out and grabbed her wrist before she could touch me and things became extremely awkward.

“What the hell?” Anaya shouted as her face twisted into a scowl.

“Sorry,” I retorted. I grabbed her laptop from the table next to the bed and lifted it up into the air.

A new surge of energy rushed from my chest to the hand holding the laptop. My skin prickled along its path. Two blue sparks shot out of the machine and into my hand then it popped and a cloud of smoke wafted out of it.

“My computer!” Anya shifted and reached across me. My fingers had loosed enough that she easily pulled her hand free and set it on my leg. She reached across with her other arm and snatched the laptop away from me. “What did you do?”

“I don’t know,” I said. I looked at my hand and saw a spark dance across my fingers before sputtering out. “Wow.”

“It’s toast,” Anaya said. I looked over to her and saw that she had opened the laptop and was using my belly for a desk. I didn’t even feel her set it on while I was looking at my hand and thinking about the odd sensation I had felt.

Anaya slammed the laptop closed. “Now what are we going to do?” She snapped.

My mind went back to that fantasy of her leaning over me and preparing to kiss me. Fear of her seeing me stand up between my legs made it easy to push the thought away.

“I hope you two are hungry,” Grandma said as she walked into the room. Both of us looked at the door and saw Grandma walk in holding a tray piled high with food.

“I guess we're going to eat,” I said.