Zack is shouting but can't hear himself. All he can hear is ringing in his ears. The dust starts to clear his vision is a bit blurry and red on one side. He sees the figures above.

"My friends is that you?" One of them gets close climbing down to him. It's Gorgyle he reaches into a pouch and pulls out two cotton balls. He plugs zacks ears and tells him to go up point up as he starts to climb past. Zack follows him barely making it over the cliff of the summit. He looks up and it seems everyone's okay. He looks at them and they have a horrified look on their face as Belle runs over to him. He starts to fade out. It's dark he can hear muffled noise, but that blasted ringing is still there. He wakes up and he is on Gorgyles back but he feels cold.

"Are you finally awake??" Sorry if you're a bit chilly there's no way I could carry you with all that armor on." We're almost there.

Kyra shouts "It's up here hurry get him thru we need to hurry he has lost a lot of blood.

"I know that he isn't exactly light you know!"

Belle standing next to Gorgyle holding zacks hand trying to get a response.

"Zack come on your okay we're almost there."

They rush to the portal and jump through it. They lift their heads to the other side. A familiar face is staring blankly at them. He looks at Zack.

"He doesn't look so good have a bit of a tiff??"

Zack looks at him and says

" I'm great how are you? He then passes out.

He wakes up in a bed. A figure beside him as his eyes adjust focuses on them trying to see who they are.

"How are you son, feeling any better? Your friends have been quite worried.

"Father Jack is that you??"

"Well, glad you're not too concussed. Yes, it is your lady friend Belle was it, she came into the cathedral balling her little eyes out. Ushered for me to come at once."

"How long was I out??"

"About three days careful getting up your head was hurt pretty bad it's almost time to change your bandages. I'll call in that belle, she seemed pretty worried about you."

"Thank you father jack I appreciate it."

"Don't thank me thank the gods, and your friends for getting you out of that mess. I expect you in the main chapel for prayer and tribute when you're up

And mobile."

" yes of course father jack."

Jack then sits up puts on his coat and leaves the room shortly after a scream is heard.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE IS AWAKE, IS HE OKAY???

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The door whips open and there's Belle her hair covering her eyes takes a deep breath and closes the door.

"Belle it's nice to see you I'm awake."

"I see that Zack."

"Is everything okay?"

"No no, it is not."

"I didn't mean to worry you I'm sorry."

She walks over to the bed sitting next to him with her knees pulled to her chest and her head resting on them. She speaks muffled by her legs.

"Dummy"

"He laughs and then twinges in pain while holding his side.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm just fine don't worry about me.

He smiles at her putting his hand on her shoulders he grabs his hand holding it but not lifting her head.

"I can't help but worry, you're always throwing yourself in harm's way for everyone else who is looking after you, who is protecting you??

"Well, that's what I have you for silly. I can't help it I see someone in trouble and my feet just move. Even for a gargoyle. He snickers

" I can only do so much, the way you swung yourself in front of me for that rubble, when you went limp I felt so powerless. Lucky gargoyle was there to help."

"don't remember much of what happened on that climb up but I'm glad it worked out."

"Any way father jack wanted me to help you with your bandages. Turn around I'll take your shirt off."

"WAIT WHAT DO YOU MEAN??"

"What's with the reaction it's just your shirt I need to change your head bandage and your back. It's not a big deal don't make it weird."

"Oo-okay!"

He turns around Belle helps him with his shirt. The back of his head still has a bit of blood coming thru the bandage. The center of his back is wrapped as well. She starts to undo the bandage on his back as well and next to the fresh wound she sees an old scar.

"Haven't seen that in a while."

"Yeah, I forgot that was there it's been a long time."

"That was from that time you fell off that roof right." She said lightly dragging her finger across it.

"Yeah, I was never agile even when we were kids."

"Yeah, you used to fall all over the place. I always had to pick you back up and tell you not to cry or the Kenku would get you hahaha."

"Hey, I just realized you teased me a lot back then."

"Yeah well, girls never pick on boys they don't like."

They both fall silent for a moment or two. The salience is heavy neither of them wants to say anything more or the world will come to a halt. Until belle breaks that silence.

" you certainly have grown into that armor, I thought the armor added some bulk, but I see you just really built."

"Yes, I've been training pretty hard."

She starts to run her hands over his shoulders. Looking at the scars on them.

"You really should take better care of yourself."

"If I did I wouldn't be here right now."

They fall silent again. Belle continues cleaning off his back and applying the bandages. After she is done she leans on his back laying her head on his back and wrapping her arms around him. He jolts for a second then holds onto her hands.

"Belle, what's come over you?"

"Don't play dumb. There's a reason I worry for you do I haft to say it?"

" I am dense you know," he says holding her hands firmly.

"FINE JUST STAY BY MY SIDE don't do anything stupid. I need you. Happy?"

"Extremely!"

He turns around to face her but she tries to hide behind her hands. He grabs each one lightly pulling them away.

"The reason I fight so hard is so I can. There's nowhere I would rather be."

They both stare at each other with sweet eyes and expressions they start to draw near.

The door swings open, Kyra there holding a pale of water and a cup.

"Hey, Belle I brought some fresh water in I figured he was... Thirsty...."

"Oh gods I'm sorry I'll come back.

She said covering her face with her hand awkwardly sweating the pale cup down and sprinting out of the room.

Zack and Belle sit there in stunned silence. They then look at each other realizing they are alone Zack is shirtless and they are holding hands.

They look away not letting go but looked away all embarrassed.

"Anyway I should get some sleep I'm feeling dizzy."

"Yeah sorry I got carried away, just be careful."

"It wasn't just you Zack says as he rolls over embarrassed."

Belle walks out of the room turning the lantern off and closes the door. She leans on it for a moment covering her face and silently shrieking.

She then walks downstairs and sees the group having a drink at a nearby table Kyra makes eye contact blushes and looks down. Her hand slightly raises with a thumbs up. She smirks, and Belle pushes her arm laughs, and sits down.

"So tomorrow he should be feeling a bit better and he is off bed rest maybe we can head to our guilds and report they have been understanding so far but they want that report.

" speak for your self belle I already checked in."

"Gorgyle when did you do that?"

"We have been here for three days I went in and saw he was breathing and then I had business to tend to. I do have a life ya know."

"Fair enough anyways I'll go with him so he can report to the cathedral."

"Oh, I bet you will better get him in that confessional as well." Kyra says nudging her arm playfully."

"Stop girl, my gods."

They both start uncontrollably giggling.

The group stares blankly not understanding.

They drink themselves into a stupor and head off to bed. Belle however does not remember where her room is and plops down in a bed and rolls over and feels someone else there. He rolls over, pulls her into his chest, and snores. She feels the bandages and stops panicking and falls asleep.