Svtfoe: Monster Hunting is no day job

Request based: A serious one of Star bandaging up Marco after a brutal monster fight.
-------------------------------
The capabilities of Star's wand never ceased to both amaze and horrify Marco. Today was on the 'horrified' spectrum as he leaped out of the way of a Tetsucabra's charge. A rocky-skinned, toad-like monster with large tusks, that Star brought to life from one of Marco's video games in an effort to alleviate some boredom, and as a means to challenge herself.

Initially, Marco was impressed with how she was able to materialize every last detail of the fictional monster. When he brushed his fingertips across its hide, it was just as rough as he had imagined. But the sense of wonder soon made way for panic as it started to attack. Star jumped into the fray immediately, and she had been on the Tetsucabra's back ever since.

While Star wore down its stamina, and back scales from her position, Marco distracted it by giving it little chance to buck off the rowdy princess. Luckily it seemed that attacking a mounted monster in real life, didn't bolster its will to rampage. It was only through his familiarity with Tetsu's attacks, and mannerisms that Marco was still breathing. It took everything in the young martial artist to strike at the giant toad's tenacious hide. It wasn't long until the skin on his knuckles broke skin and drew blood.

Adrenaline and some internal frustration over feeling like he wasn't making a dent helped Marco ignore the pain. The cautious teen wouldn't admit it out loud, but this was probably one of the most fun battles he's had since meeting Star. Marco let out a chuckle when he saw Tetsu stumble under the force of his jump kick. When the creature lunged at the young martial artist with teeth bared, his heart swelled with pride when one its tusks shattered under his left jab. It rolled over in pain, prompting Star to abandon her position, and land gracefully beside her best friend.

She noticed the beast's dental injury and whistled, "Nice one Marco!" Which made the boy's face flush red in response. Tetsucabra continued to flail on the ground, aggravating the injuries Star inflicted earlier on its back. The accumulative damage and fatigue showing in its inability to right itself. Taking pity upon it the two friends nodded towards each other, Marco stepped aside while Star readied a spell. "Game Over Rover!" she cried as a large dog head emerged from her wand's star emblem to devour the struggling Testu in one big, pixelated chomp.

"You were able to do that from the start weren't you?" Marco asked in a voice softer than he intended. The mischievous smirk on the Princess' lips was enough confirmation, and he smirked back. Both out of forgiveness and as silent agreement that the slow-way was much funner. Suddenly Marco felt his knees give out from under him, and everything went dark.

The silence of unconsciousness was soon broken by a familiar voice apologizing profusely. A minty, medicinal smell wafted up Marco's nostrils and his eyes shot open. He still felt lightheaded, but was cognitive enough to know he wasn't in his own bed--his bed didn't have it's own drapes and ceiling. In the distance there was the sounds of water dribbling out of a wet cloth being wrung into a less doused state. Before he could ask questions Star had entered his view, and placed the cloth upon his forehead. The new and sudden sensation helped ease his headache, and the slight migraine that was building up from behind his eyeballs. He closed them figuring that there was no need to keep them open when the comforting cloth obscured his sight. It was easy to go back asleep.

At some point, Marco re-awoke with the urge to actually move, specifically his right arm. This desire was immediately hindered by Star, who gripped onto the appendage. It was from under her touch that Marco was finally aware of the gauze tightly wrapped around his his entire forearms, right down to the fingers and knuckles. "Please don't," she begged, "You lost a lot of blood." a crack in the usually melodic tone.

Marco remembered, hands wet from his own blood and sweat. Every bone, from his phalanges up to his shoulders aching from strained limits, and a lingering fear that he might have broken something again. Flesh screaming where skin was torn apart from one foolish punch after another. Now all replaced with the slight numbness of tight bandages, and the icy feel of whatever medicine Star applied to his wounds before covering them. Marco wanted to ensure his best friend that he didn't hold these injuries against her. His plan obsessed mind trying assemble a perfect heartfelt speech about her being the best thing that's ever happened to him. But he could only muster enough energy and air to say "Okay."

To Star, Marco's gentle smile, and the way his fingers tightened around her own was more than enough to get his point across.