I woke up the next morning looking at Hunter. He was sleeping, and I smiled, getting up off the floor. I went to my closet, grabbing a tank top and jeans, then went to the bathroom to change. I put my hair up and then walked out. I smiled at Hunter's still-sleeping form, and grabbed my notebook. I still had a page left to fill, and I opened the cover, flipping to it. I grabbed my pencil, starting to sketch.
∞--X--∞
An hour and a half later, I glanced at him, and saw the smile on his face. "Cheater," I muttered, and his smile got wider as he opened his eyes.
"I've been awake for a while now. Just faking it," he says, moving slightly. I closed the sketchbook.
"I finished it. I was just waiting for you to wake up." He sat up, and I smiled. He smiled back, and I moved to lay on my stomach. Reaching for the sketchbook, he picked it up and flipped to the sketch I'd only just finished.
"It's amazing Rai. You captured my good looks perfectly." I laughed.
"Come on, Sleeping Beauty. Let's get something to eat," I said, getting up. He stood up, and we walked to the door. He opened it, holding it for me as I walked out. After he closed the door, he entwined his fingers with mine as we walked to the garage. I opened the truck, climbing into the driver seat.
∞--X--∞
Thirteen minutes and three songs later, I pulled into the parking lot of an older restaurant that was recently renovated to match the other restaurants in the area. The National Waffles. A nice place, personally. They had amazing waffle sandwiches. I shut off the truck and walked inside, holding the door for Hunter. The bell tinkled, and the waitress looked up. I slid my sunglasses onto the top of my head, looking at her.
"Busy today, Char?" I asked, and she smiled.
"Funny as always, Rai," she said, hugging me. "Hello again, Hunter," Charlet said, shaking his hand. "The usual?" She asked, and I nodded, taking a seat at my usual table. I frequented Waffles, and had brought Hunter a couple times before. Hunter sat across from me, and Charlet pulled up a chair. "So what's new?" She asked. I glanced at Hunter, then back to Charlet.
"Hunter here got in a fight," I stated, and Charlet looked at him.
"Over what?" I smirked.
"A girl." Hunter's face flushed crimson, and I laughed.
"Ooh. Lemme guess who. Is it...Celeste?" I shook my head and Hunter looked offended. "Nat?" Hunter was shaking his head, looking a little horrified. Charlet snapped her fingers. "Is it..." she paused, smirking at me. "Raiyne? You're dating this...amazingness called Hunter?" I nodded, smiling. Let me back up momentarily. Char means well, but she's kind of...bubbly. And really, the only reason Waffles hadn't gone out of business is because she's the kind of person who you want to make sure she's not out of a job. So I introduced the whole of PUA to Waffles, and now it's a nice place to go for breakfast.
The bell rang from the kitchen, and I called out, "Hi, Rufus!" I saw the cook look out, and he smiled.
"Hey, Raiyne." Rufus was probably the best cook there was. At least, as far as I was concerned. Charlet got up and brought over the sandwiches and drinks.
"Thanks, Char." She nodded.
"Anything for ya, Raiyne." I smiled, and she smiled back. I took a bite of the sandwich, smiling at Hunter, who was looking at his sandwich in wonder. He still couldn't figure out how to eat it. I shook my head, looking at him. He smiled at me, picking up the sandwich and eating it. I finished my own, and I stood up, passing Charlet thirty dollars. Hunter stood, and I hugged Charlet, walking towards the door.
"See ya later!" I called, walking out. I slid into the truck, turning it on. I pulled onto the road, driving towards the headquarters. About halfway there, Hunter ducked his head, clutching his forehead. I slammed on the brakes, immediately glad we were on a deserted road. I slammed the gearshift into park and reached over.
"Hunter? Are you okay?" I asked, and he nodded, his head still in his hands.
"Head hurts like nothing else, but I'm fine," he murmured, voice soft.
"You want to get to the infirmary?" I asked. He nodded, emitting a soft whimper. I put the truck in drive and floored it. I eased up on the accelerator, still hitting 83 miles an hour. I pulled in to the garage, putting the truck in park again and turning it off. I walked around to Hunter's door, opening it. He was still grasping his head, and I helped him out, walking to the elevator as he leaned on me. I pressed the button for the infirmary floor, and forty-five seconds later, we stepped out, into the infirmary. "Samantha!" I called out, and Sam came running.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. I was driving, and then he just...started clutching his head," I explained, tears starting to form. She led him to a bed, and I followed, sitting next to him. Samantha reached for his wrists, to move them from his head. He jerked back when she touched one, and I held up a hand. She stepped back a little, and I reached for his left wrist, my hand on his shoulder.
"Hunter, you've gotta move your hands so she can inspect it," I murmured, and he turned his head to look at me.
"Raiyne?" He asked. I nodded. His eyes were bloodshot, and he leaned onto me, his hands dropping to his lap. I placed my hand on the back of his neck, nodding my head for Samantha to check his head. Her fingers gently touched his forehead, and he jerked a little, then relaxed.
"It's okay, Hunter. She's not going to hurt you," I muttered, moving my free hand to rest in his. He gripped it, and I kissed the side of his head. He felt warm, and I looked at Sam. "He's warm, Sam," I said, and she nodded, stepping back.
"Warm, bleary-eyed," she said. "I see no other symptoms of brain injury-" Hunter started thrashing, and I moved him to look him in the eye.
"Get them out of my head!" He exclaimed, wriggling a little, clawing at his forehead. I put my arm around his shoulders, pulling him against me.
"Shh, Hunter," I muttered, hugging him close.
"I might have to draw blood," Sam muttered into my ear, and I looked at her.
"What for?" I asked.
"The only thing I can think of is an allergy to the nanites," she said.
"Oh," I said, and she walked out. Hunter whimpered a little, and I rocked side to side a little.
"Hunter, Samantha is going to take a little blood," I murmured, and he buried his face in my hair. Sam walked in, and I curled my hand around the back of his neck. I felt him grip my hand, and I squeezed it back. Sam poked the needle into his skin, and he whimpered. I rubbed my thumb along his hairline, trying to comfort him. He stopped whimpering, and Sam got three vials of blood.
"I'll be right back with the results," she said, and I nodded.
∞--X--∞
Half an hour and three screaming fits later, Sam came back, a solemn look on her face. I held a curled-up Hunter to my chest, comforting him as Sam handed me the papers. I read, Allergy to metal/nanites, and looked up at her. She nodded.
"How do you remove them?" I asked, and she looked at me.
"That's the thing-" She cut herself off, glancing at Hunter. I nodded, moving him carefully.
"Raiyne?" He asked, and I looked at him. "Where are you going?" I smiled softly, kissing him.
"I'm just going out in the hall, Hunter. I won't be too far," I said, and he nodded. I walked out into the hall with Sam, and stopped, looking at her.
"So how do you remove the nanites?" I asked.
"It's a meticulous process, Raiyne. I have to flush them out, and it's a long process. I'll have to hook him up to a machine that'll cycle his blood through and remove the nanites via a magnet." I sighed, looking at Hunter through the doorway. He was biting his thumb nail, rocking back and forth gently. I felt tears prick at my eyes, and Sam put a hand on my shoulder. "He'll be okay at the end of it, Raiyne. He'll be back to his normal self, not this...reduced version," she said. I nodded, still watching Hunter. I then looked at Sam.

"Do it," I muttered.