Gilda Fanfiction (Complete)

>"Anon?  What the hell are you doing in my apartment?"
>A half naked, half asleep Gilda was glaring you down from a dimly lit hallway
>You froze
>You had a perfectly good reason for being in there
>Coacoa Pommel had asked you to get her design sketchbook for her while she went and had lunch with a friend
>She lent you the key
>That didn't matter
>Nothing mattered but the hulking shadow of an amazon
>An angry amazon
>"Well?  Are you gonna talk or am I gonna have to beat the answer out of you?"
>She clenches one of her fists shut, making a distinctive popping sound
>You couldn't tell if it was her knuckles or her wrist
>You could tell it was practiced, that it was meant to intimidate
>and that it was working
"I- a friend- I was just-"
>your linguini lined exposition was cut short when Gilda tackled you to the floor, straddling you
>in an instant you were on the ground and her hand was on your throat
>"You're fucking dead, dweeb"

>Your first time seeing actual breasts
>Your first time feeling the weight and warmth of another body on top of you
>your first real intimate encounter with the opposite gender
>was in a small apartment
>on top of a pile of towels and stale clothing
>and you were going to die
>her left arm tenses and you find it incredibly hard to breathe
>she cocks back her right hand
>a heated look of anger on her face
>you could swear you saw flames form in her eyes
>all you could do was raise an arm in defense to protect your face
>it works for the most part, her punches glancing off your forearm
>they still carried an incredible weight to them
>a few blows later and your arm stings with pain
>with a frustrated grunt she lets go of your neck and grabs your wrist, moving your arm out of the way
>you take a sharp breath right before she brings her knuckles into your cheekbone

>You tried to turn with the punch
>it didn't work
>your breath is cut short and you begin to cough violently
>Gilda slows her assault to let you catch your breath
>or was it for another reason
>her face is flush and she looks much angrier than before.
>"You some kind of freak, fuckhead?"
>she grabs a chunk of your hair and pulls hard
>it was then that you noticed
>"You into being beat up?!"
>While she was punching at your face, shifting and moving for more impact
>she had been rubbing against your hips, and you were sporting some serious ammunition
>looking up into the dark room, you could see her muscular form towering over you
>her generous endowment moving up and down with her breathing
>you could feel her powerful legs clenching you, holding you in place
>her breath puffing out through gritted teeth
>maybe you were into getting beat up

>A sharp crack of fresh pain brings you back to reality as Gilda slams your head into the floor of the apartment
>the beautiful image being replaced with vivid red
>you begin to cough again
>something's different
>something's wrong
>you begin to struggle to get up, only to be held down by Gilda's weight
>"You're not going anywhere!"
>Another crack of pain erupts through your head and your vision is once again obscured
>she's really going to kill you
>that didn't matter
>you can't stop coughing
>you need to move
>you need to get help
>now!

>Instinct and adrenaline take over
>Gilda isn't even a factor anymore
>As you get up, you throw her across the room
>she lands on a couch with a shocked look on her face
>a canvas painting crashes on top of her and bounces to the floor
>you don't care, your eyes are on the front door
>you take a step forward, only to find yourself coughing again
>your chest is burning
>two steps later and you've crumpled onto the floor
>you're covered in a cold sweat
>your limbs feel like lead
>your arms sting with every minor sensation
>your legs refuse to move
>tears singe their way past your eyes and down your cheeks
>your phone rings loudly in your pocket
>with great effort you manage to pull it out of your pants, but don't get much farther than that
>your vision's fading
>everything hurts
>everything is too hot
>you're scared

>A bewildered and confused Gilda rubs the top of her head, having been hit by a corner of the canvas's frame
>Confusion doesn't hold her long as she shoots up immediately, filled with violent intent
>Bounding over to your crumpled form, she angrily picks up the phone
>As she pulls back to throw it into the far wall, she stops upon seeing the smiling face of her roommate
>Her anger dissipates as she accepts the call
"hey"
>"Gilda?  Good, anon found the apartment.  Has he found my sketchbook yet?"
"...listen, you need to come down here."
>"what?  why?"
"I sorta beat your friend up"
>"WHAT?  Is he okay?"
"Yeah, he's fine.  Just get here soon."
>"Okay okay!  I'm on my way now; Jesus, Gilda!"
"I know, I know.  Can I put him in your bed?"
>"Christ!  Yes!  You better not have killed him!"

>Ending the call, Gilda gives your side a sharp kick
>"Get up, dweeb.  Coacoa just bailed you out"
>no response
>"Come on, I'll get you some ice"
>She bends down and puts a firm hand under your shoulder, trying to pull you up
>Something's not right
>"Dweeb?"
>She rolls you onto your back
>"oh..."
>eyes bloodshot and half open, you see a blurry outline of a Valkyrie ready to carry you home
>your eyes close
>"Fuck..."

>"Fuck"
>"Fuck!"
>"FUCK!"
>Cellphone still in hand, she attempts to find the keypad
>"Fucking smartphones with their fucking buttons getting in the fucking way!"
>Frustration peaks
>Panic starts to take over
>in desperation, she opens the front door and screams for help
>She already knows there won't be a reply
>A sharp chirp comes from her hand, followed by a calm voice
"How can I help you?"
>Hand on the door frame, she brings the phone to her face
>"Medical emergency!"
"is this what you want?"
>several news-links fade into view, showing the headlines of recent medical crises
>"No"
"How can I help you?"
>"Contact emergency services"
"I'm sorry, 'EMERGENCY SERVICE' is not on your contact list."
>"NINE ONE-ONE! FUCK!"
"Call '9 1 1'?"
>"Yes!"
"Now calling"

>The phone screen fades to black and a dial tone begins to echo out softly.
>A feminine voice suddenly replacing it
"Nine one one, what is your emergency?"
>Gilda pulls the phone to her ear and steps back inside, over to you
>"My friend passed out and he's not breathing!"
"Alright, ma'am.  What street are you currently on?"
>"I'm at the corner of University and K."
"Just a second...okay, what apartment?"
>"Apartment One-oh-six"
>the sound of muffled clicks can be heard in the background
"Alright, ma'am.  An ambulance is on its way.  I need some information from you so please stay on the line."
>"Okay."  Gilda croaks out, her throat suddenly very heavy
"Alright, ma'am.  What is your friend's name?"
>"Anon"
"Last name?"
>"I don't know"
"IS he a college student?"
>Gilda gives you a once-over
>"yeah"
"Did Anon eat or drink anything unusual recently?"
>"I don't know"
"Is anon allergic to anything?"
>"I don't know"
>Gilda's voice begins to crack as her eyes fill with tears
"Can you tell me what happened, ma'am?"

>"He just started coughing and now he's not breathing"
"Did Anon hit their head or neck on anything?"
>"No"
>Gilda sniffs
"Alright, ma'am.  I need you to stay with me, okay?"
>"okay"
"The ambulance will be there in twenty-two minutes.  It's going as fast as it can, okay?"
>"okay"
>Gilda's voice clears up a little as she listens to the professional voice on the other end.
"Is there anyone else with you, ma'am?"
>"No"
"Do you know what CPR is, ma'am?"
>"yeah"
"Do you know how to perform CPR?"
>"No. Oh god oh god oh god oh god"
>Gilda crumples to the floor, kneeling right next to you
"I need you to stay with me, ma'am.  Can you stay with me?"
>"yeah"
>Gilda sniffs, wiping her nose with her free hand
"Can you tell me your name?"

>Gilda responds as clearly as she can, her voice beginning to waver
>"Gilda"
"Alright, Gilda.  I know this is hard but right now your friend needs you, okay?"
>"Okay"
"Put me on speaker and I'll guide you through it; can you do that, Gilda?"
>"yeah, I can do that."
>Gilda pulls the phone away from her ear
>The screen, covered in sweat and tears, lights up and familiar symbols are displayed.
>she presses the speaker button and places the phone on your stomach.
"Are you still with me, Gilda?"
>"Yes" she shouts
"Okay, I need Anon to be on their back.  Are they on their back?"
>"yes"
"Okay, Gilda.  You're very brave.  Are you okay?"
>"yeah, I'm okay"
"good; is anon a boy or a girl?"
>"he's a boy"
"I need you to tip his head back so his chin is pointing up"
>Gilda does as she's told by the feminine voice
>Her hands are shaking, but she manages to do it quickly
>"now what?"
"You need to open his mouth and look inside"
>her hands move to your mouth and pry your jaw open
>"I don't see anything"
"Is his tongue where it needs to be?"
>Gilda looks closer, leaning over your mouth
>"I think so"

"Alright, Gilda.  I need you to find the bottom of Anon's chest"
>After a few pokes of soft stomach, Gilda's strong fingers prod against the hard sternum
>"Okay"
"Now, take three fingers and place them at the bottom of his chest"
>Gilda lays her right hand on you, pulling her pinkie away
"Place your palm at the end of the third finger and straighten yourself out, okay Gilda."
>Again, Gilda does as instructed, her weight pushing into you as she adjusts
>"Okay"
"Now place your other hand on top of where your palm is and weave your fingers together"
>"okay"
"Alright, Gilda.  We're ready to start.  It's just like what you see on TV all the time, okay"
>"Okay"
>Gilda responds out of reflex, her voice cracking
"You're doing great, Gilda.  Now count with me and pump down, okay?  One, two, three, four."
>"One, two, three-"
>A cascade of four sharp pops echos through the apartment
>Gilda freezes
>"Oh my god oh my god oh my god"
"You need to keep pumping, Gilda.  Breathe and lets start again.  One, two, three, four"

>Gilda does as the voice commands, her eyes watering as she shuts them tight.
>her voice is now filled with sobs
>"One, two, three, four.  One, two, three, four"
"You're doing so good, Gilda.  Just keep going, I'm still here."
>"One, two, three, four"
>counting becomes a mantra for her, it's all she can focus on.
>Keep rhythm, keep counting
>keep pumping
>"One, two, three, four"
>minutes begin to pass, the effort of the technique straining Gilda and causing her to huff in fatigue
>Still chanting the mantra, she begins to slow down with her aching body
"The ambulance is less than 10 minutes away, Gilda.  You're doing so good."

>Who are you?
>You are anonymous
>What are you?
>You're a person, last you checked
>Where are you?
>some place hard; you're on your back on a floor, but everything is still dark
>can you move?
>doesn't look like you can get up, but maybe-
>your arm brushes something warm and soft to your side, and you hear a yell of surprise
>who was that?
>a woman, young but rough
>can you see?
>you think so
>you rock your head to the side to see what's going on
>you blink
>the voice of another woman catches your attention
>older, less rough
>coming from your gut you think
>can you hear?
"Gilda?  is everything alright?"
>"Anon!  Can you hear me?"
>a black shadow moves into view in front of your face
>you can't see
>you blink again, and a face slowly appears
>strong jaw, small nose, sharp eyes
>bronze skin, defined shoulders
>her face looks pale, is she okay?
>"C'mon, dweeb, I know you can hear me!"
>wow, she really smells nice

>you can smell?
>you can breathe!
>YOU!
>CAN!
>FIGHT!!
>the past 15 minutes of physical abuse hits your consciousness in a flash and you begin to cough again
>surprisingly, a new wave of pain washes into your system and you're struck with an uncomfortable sense of nausea
>as you lean over to expel what little remains of your breakfast, you feel an uncomfortable burning sensation
>well
>everywhere, but mostly in your chest
>it feels like an Indian elephant sat on you
"Gilda?  Is Anon awake?"
>Gilda responds with a sniff, wiping away tears with both hands
>"yeah, he's awake"
>The voice on the other end, still professional, sounds relieved at this news
"The ambulance is almost there, sweetie.  you did such a good job.  Do you have any pets?"
>Gilda's voice is almost unrecognizable, but you can hear her clearly
>"No"
"Okay, go get cleaned up, sweetie.  Everything's going to be okay"
>With that, Gilda leans forward and plants a kiss on your cheek, giving you quite a show in the process
>She stands up and heads toward the dark hallway that led to her room.
>Hello Kitty, panties
>cute

>"Anon, can you hear me?"
>stomach girl is calling to you
"Yeah, I can hear you"
>"Alright, Anon.  You've experienced a traumatic event and an ambulance is on its way to take you to the hospitol"
"Alright"
>you rock your head back to get a good view of the apartment's low ceiling, admiring the irregular patterns in its surface.
>"Your friend Gilda saved your life, but she had to break some of your ribs to do so.  I need you to stay where you are until the EMTs move you, alright?"
"Sure"
>your friend Gilda?
>are you friends?
>you aren't sure, you're still trying to piece together where you are
>"I need to ask you a few questions that Gilda couldn't answer, okay?"
"Go ahead"
>you think you can feel bits of bacon in the corner of your cheek
>"What's your last name?"
"Mous"
>you hear the rhythmic clicks of a keyboard
>"What have you eaten in the past 12 hours?"
"A breakfast taco from the school food court"
>"are you allergic to any food?"
"No"
>"are you allergic to any medications?"
"no"
>"are you currently on any medications?"
"Allegra for allergies and Paxil for anxiety"
>"No heart or asthma medications?"
"No ma'am"
>the sound of typing again takes place over your conversation and you close your eyes to take a deep breath

>feelings of extreme pain radiate from your core
>your eyes water and you suppress the urge to cough again
>you exhale through gritted teeth
>despite the pain, you feel revived
>you can think clearly and see fully
>You're starting to piece together the chain of events that led you here
>here being CoaCoa's apartment
>you're her classmate and friend
>she wanted to meet a friend for lunch before class and asked you to get her sketchbook
>Gilda approached you
>Gilda attacked you
>you started coughing
>you passed out
>Gilda is not your friend
>Gilda saved your life
>Gilda punched you in the face
>Gilda saved your life
>Gilda wanted to kill you
>Gilda saved your life
>Gilda screwed up your chest
>while saving your life
>She's still not a friend
>she's not an enemy either
>fair enough

>"Mr. Mous, I need just a few more bits of information from you, okay?"
>Your inner argument stops at the sound of phone lady's voice
"alright, what do you need?"
>"I need to know your height and approximate weight"
"Five ten and two ten"
>a short series of clicks follow
>"Everything is in order and the EMTs are only a few minutes away"
"Great!"
>"Do you want me to stay on the line with you until they arrive?"
"I think I can stay awake for five minutes.  Thanks for saving my life"
>"You're very welcome; your friend did everything perfectly"
>With a click, the comforting voice was gone and you were left alone to your thoughts once again
>you close your eyes and take slow, shallow breaths
>eggs don't smell so great when they're half digested
>you sigh as you brush the errant thought aside
"What now?"

>The sound of heels clopping against concrete catches your attention as it draws closer
>They stop for a second, before speeding up and heading straight for you
>They stop again, and a shadow blocks the outside light
>"Anon?"
"Hey, Coacoa"
>You tilt your head back enough to see a surprised Coacoa Pommel, looking at you with a puzzled expression
>"You don't look beat up"
"Trust me, I am"
>"Why is the door wide open?"
"For the EMTs I'm guessing"
>"E M...what?  Can you move?"
"Nope"
>"do you need help?"
"Nope, help's on the way"
>"Are you okay?"
"Fuck no!  Your roommate attacked me!"
>"You really don't look that beat up"
>You did take hits rather well, the blow to the cheek not even hurting at this point
>It could be a relative thing; the back of your head still hurt
>nothing could compare to the pain in your chest

>"Where's Gilda?"
>Coacoa walks past you and instantly drops her purse
>A strap swats you nose and obscures your vision
>"Nonononononono!"
>you can hear her shuffle along the carpeted floor
>"What happened?  Why is this on the floor?  Oh no, it's ripped..."
>Slightly annoyed, you answer her question with a harsh tone
"She's getting dressed"
>Coacoa grunts
>"There, that'll do for now.  What did you say, anon?"
"Check her room."
>"Oh, right"
>Coacoa walks past again and into the dark hallway, flipping a light switch on the way.
>seconds later you hear a door creak open and-
>sobbing?
>"Gilda?  Are you okay?"
>Gilda's speech is incomprehensible at this range, but her inflection isn't
>"It's okay, you're okay.  Let's get some clothes on, okay?"
>You reach up and pull the purse down, away from your face.

>Gilda's not your friend
>She assaulted you
>so why do you feel bad about this?
>Gilda saved your life
>That doesn't count for everything
>It kinda does
>Shut up, brain
>your inner argument is pushed aside by the loud wail of a siren
"The Calvary's here"
>you spoke mostly for yourself
>"We're almost ready"
>Coacoa shot back
>You weren't expecting a response
>as the siren gets louder, you grab your phone and bring it to your face
>you push a button on the side and smile at what you see
>Amused, you slip your phone into coacoa's purse and let out a sigh
"it's not even noon.  Today's gonna be a long day"

>The siren's eventually stop and soon enough you're hailed by another shadow
>a deep voice calls to you
>"Mr. Mous?"
"Call me Anon, Mr. Mous is my dad."
>The shadow moves past you as another blocks the doorway
>"Glad to see you're with us, Anon.  I'm Rick and this is Ashley."
>He kneels next to you and extends a hand in greeting, a smile on his face
>You reach straight up and grab hold of his hand, gripping it firmly
"Nice to meet you both"
>he pulls his hand away after a light shake
>"We're going to put you on a stretcher and take some vitals before we head out."
"Sounds good to me."
>The man signals his partner with a hand wave before getting up to assist her.
>A second later, a large rectangular shadow moves over you and comes to a rest to your right
>you can't see too much from your current vantage point
>you admire your warped reflection in the chrome finish of the metal device sitting next to you

>You hear several clicks as Rick and Ashley move around the stretcher
>Soon, another rectangular shadow passes over your body and rests to your left
>You can feel the cool touch of metal against your arm
>"Are you ready to move, anon?"
"I think so"
>Rick places a hand on your back under your shoulder
>"We're gonna lean you to the side so we can get this under you"
>Rick pushes you up on your side as the metal bar rolls under your back
>In less than a minute, you're no longer on the floor
>Rick then moves to your head while Ashley moves toward your feet
>You crank your head forward to get a better view
>Rick pushes your head down into a pillow
>A second later, you feel your body begin to move through space and come to a rest three feet up and several inches to your right.

>The strange sensation of being picked up and moved is shortly followed by an equally strange sensation of your torso being elevated
>The sound of whirling mechanics and hydralics extending fills the room for a brief time and soon you find yourself looking toward a small kitchen
>A warm, feminine face greets you with a smile before walking to your side
>Without a word, you feel yourself moving backward out of and away from the apartment
>it's a beautiful day
>some clouds, but not too hot
>You eventually stop moving and Ashley talks to you
>"Alright, Anon.  I need you to open and close your hand a few times, okay?"
>Her voice chirps out, surprising you.  She sounds young.
>You do as instructed, looking intently at the apartment building in front of you
>What do you do now?
>Do you file charges?
>You should, she attacked you unprovoked
>She did save your life
>She threatened it in the first place
>Did she?  You're not too worse for wear after your fight
>Why did you pass out?
>What's wrong with you?

>"You can stop now, Anon."
>Her childlike voice once again startles you, snapping you out of your daze
>she wraps a blue sleeve around your right bicep and clips something grey to the end of your index finger
>you can hear steady beeps coming from behind you
>you crank your head down to watch the sleeve around your arm as it inflates and deflates, squeezing it
>something behind you beeps and Ashley looks toward it before removing the cuff
>You wiggle your finger expectantly but the gesture is completely ignored
>She returns with a thermometer attached to a long, thick cord
>"Open wide, please"
>you open your mouth as the thermometer is shoved under your tongue
>you close your mouth around the device, resisting the urge to move your tongue around it
>you didn't realize how thirsty you were until now

>"Hey, Anon"
>Rick appears on the opposite side
>"I need to check your chest for any bruising or swelling, this'll only take a second."
>Wearing blue gloves, he begins to poke around your chest
>nope
>not there
>That tickles
>you hear the strangest thing
>a loud yell
>where's it coming from?
>oh, that's you, isn't it?
>"Okay, Anon.  We're gonna have to cut off your shirt.  Don't worry, these scissors are sharp but the tips are blunted"
>You don't remember shutting your eyes, but you open them in a blink.
"Do what you have to"
>You take a slow breath, trying to comprehend what just happened
>Rick takes the strange scissors and places one end on the inside of your collar
>in one stroke, your shirt is now liberally ventilated

>You can see two figures emerge from the apartment, probably in response to your screaming
>Coacoa looks as professional as ever
>form fitting red vest over a short sleeved dress shirt
>even her running is composed, despite the high heels
>Gilda bolts past her in loose fitting grey sweats
>Gilda shouts from the doorway as she runs
>"Anon!"
>Coacoa is a bit slower to arrive
>"Is everything alright?"
>"About as alright as they can be, we're just about ready to load up and leave."
>Ashely says with a smile
>"Just gotta get this feeder line in your friend's arm and we'll be good to go"
>wiping a wet cloth over the underside of your wrist, she takes a tube and jams a needle end straight into you
>Gilda turns her head to the side
>Coacoa flinches
>God damn your chest really hurts
>And you're still thirsty
"Could I get something to drink?  I threw up earlier and my mouth's really dry"
>"Here"
>Gilda offers up a water bottle

>You eagerly accept the gift, opening it and taking a mouthful in
"Thanks"
>She looks at you, her piercing eyes catching yours
>her cheeks are bright red, her eyes aren't far off from matching
>seeing her like this hurts you
>not as much as Rick poking you
>close second, though
>why?
>it doesn't matter
>this can't last
>you extend the bottle back to her as best as you can from your reclined position
"Thank you for saving my life, Gilda"
>her eyes dart away as she snatches the bottle from you
>"Whatever, Dweeb."

>See, she's not an enemy
>we're still mad
>get over it
>no, we're getting even
>what? No!  We're not pressing charges
>Don't worry about that, we know
>...what are you planning?
>you'll find out
>your mental mechanics are interrupted by a sudden jerk of movement as the stretcher is loaded into the ambulance
>your new vantage puts you a good two feet higher than the girls
>it's a lot bigger in here than you thought it'd be
>there's even a little grey bench in here
>"There's enough room for one of you to ride with him"
>Rick said in a commanding tone
>someone's ready to leave
>"Whose it gonna be?"
>Gilda perks up and steps forward
>"I'll go"
>Coacoa chimes in
>"I'll be over there as soon as I can"
>You're not sure, but you think you can see her sketchbook hanging out of her purse
>she better take notes for you

>Gilda pulls herself up into the back of the ambulance, sidling past you and taking a seat on the bench
>She really doesn't look happy
>why is this bothering you so much?
>A hard slam interrupts your thoughts as Rick shuts the back doors
>"Alright, kiddos!  Hold on tight because here we go!"
>The ambulance lurches backward and then begins to race off, siren blaring
>momentary shock aside, you feel relatively safe
>you look over to Gilda
>She's looking over you like a hawk, her face fixed in a serious, somber expression
>You want to say something, but between the sounds of traffic and the blaring of the siren, nothing comes to you.
>"Woohoo! Look at us go!  We're going eighty-five!"
>Ashley chimes in, sounding even more like an eight year old than before
>No one in the vehicle reacts
>"C'mon!  Lighten up!  Everyone's alive!  It's a good day!"
>Gilda tightens her grip on the side of the stretcher, her knuckles changing from their beautiful bronze color to a distinctive bone yellow
>Her expression doesn't change, and she continues to watch you with her sad, serious expression

>Your time at the hospital wasn't much different
>Going through the emergency room in the early afternoon was pretty easy, and you were being carted around from place to place
>Apart from having to pee before the CT scan, everything went smoothly
>Gilda was with you through the entire process
>Watching you
>Not saying a word
>X-Rays, CT scan, Ultrasound, and even a quick health check as a Nurse listened to you breathe
>her silence was killing you
>But you didn't know what to say
>Coacoa didn't help the situation much when she did finally show up
>You missed about twenty calls
>you were pretty sure your shifts for the next week were given away
>she did take notes for you
>Now, you're sitting in a private room
>Gilda has been shuffling through the channels while Coacoa doodled in her sketchbook, humming a happy tune
>You had your phone out, idly watching dumb cat videos online
>You were waiting for the final word from the doctor
>Normally, you'd wonder where the Doctor was and what was taking so long
>somewhere down the line, you were given an oxycontin
>you're not really sure when
>but man were these cat videos funny

>Some time passes before you hear a knock on the door
>Gilda turned from the small ceiling-mounted monitor and walked over to answer
>She had been watching History of the World
>good movie
>She opened the door for a rather tall man wearing a strikingly white lab coat
>He thanked Gilda as he walked into the room
>He introduced himself as he extended his right hand to you
>"Good afternoon, Anon.  I'm Doctor Conroy.  Are you alright talking now?"
>You shake his hand and reply with a warm smile
"Yes sir.  I think we're all ready to know what's up, doc."
>he raises an eyebrow
>"I'll start with the bad news first-"
>you slap you hands to the side of your face
"Oh God!  Are they going to have to amputate from the neck up?"
>Coacoa chuckles
>Gilda groans
>The doctor pushes his glasses up
>"I'm glad to see the pain medicine is effective.  Are you girls listening for him?"
>Coacoa nods, crossing her ankles and resting her notebook on her lap
>Gilda finally speaks
>"What's the word?"

>"The bad news is that Anon's ribs are broken-"
>You gasp
>it hurt a little, but it was funny
>"Three of his ribs are cracked pretty deeply, but no surgical intervention is necessary, they should heal just fine as long as Anon takes care of himself"
"I can't be trusted to do that; I'm rambunctious!"
>The doctor chooses to ignore you
>"No extended sitting or standing for at least a week, and no lifting anything over thirty-five pounds for two months.  I'm prescribing a bed-rail and extending handle so he can get himself in and out of bed as well"
"SCORE!"
>"Next, Anon's blood pressure is a little high; it's not much, but if left unchecked something like this could happen again.  I'm prescribing him a low dose of medication to help with this, it's gonna make him want to pee."
>Coacoa and Gilda both nod, listening intently.
>"Now for the good news.  Because he was revived so quickly, there's no major or even permanent scarring, we're going to want to keep him overnight, but he's free to go home in the morning."
>Coacoa claps her hands together
>"That's great!"

>The doctor continues
>"Aside from the high blood pressure, I can't pinpoint what exactly caused this to happen.  He doesn't have asthma or heart disease and his heart didn't display arrhythmia."
>Everyone in the room listens intently.
>So close...
>the doctor turns his attention to you
>SO CLOSE!
>"Anon, what happened to make you start coughing?"
>THE TIME HAS COME!
>a sly smile starts to creep on your face
>don't do it
>but it's the truth
>it's not and you know it
>Gilda won't go to jail if we do it
>it was a misunderstanding
>this is the only way
>just tell the truth
>this is the only way
>are you even listening to me?
>this is the only way
>you're an ass

"Well, doctor.  Gilda and I-, I mean she and I-"
>STOP!
"She-"
>DON'T FUCKING DO IT!
"She's my girlfriend."
>Fuck it, I'm out
>You're on your own
>Coacoa's jaw dropped
"she and I were having an intimate moment.  Her top was off, she was on top of me"
>Gilda's face quickly changes to a vibrant shade of red
"We were both moving around and suddenly I couldn't breath"
>"WHAT?!"
>Coacoa looks to her roommate, completely mortified
>Gilda had gone pigeon toed and was staring intently at the floor
>her head practically glowing against the white tile wall behind her
>the doctor lets out a nervous cough

>"Well, uh-"
>Dr. Conroy clears his throat again
>"No sexual contact for a week; the blood pressure medication is going to curb your libido for a few days anyway.  Same with the pain medication"
>Coacoa's mouth is still wide open, her face fixed in a look of absolute shock
>"It should go without saying, but no intercourse until your ribs are healed"
>Coacoa turns her head to face you
>"WHAT?!"
>"I'm...gonna go now.  If you need anything, the red call button will contact the nurse's desk"
>The Doctor slips out of the room
>the door shuts behind him
>Gilda is still inspecting the floor
>"WHAT?!"
>Coacoa practically launches out of her chair
>"Cool it, Dweeb"
>Gilda steps forward to roughly where she was before
>Her face is still very red
>She attempts to make eye contact with you, but her eyes fall to the floor again
>"Thanks, Anon"

>"What?"
>Coacoa's expression softens, her mouth finally closing as she looks to her friend
>"Come on, let's go get some food."
>"Alright, sure"
>Coacoa's speech is quiet
>She walks over to the door, staring at Gilda with a mix of concern and caution
>Gilda turns toward the door
>"We'll bring you something back"
"Alright, thanks"
>"Later"
>The two quietly leave the room, the heavy door slamming shut on its own
>You idly glance up at the television
>The eunuch test scene was playing out
>again, good movie

>You're going to die
>well, look who's back
>She's going to kill you
>She saved our life
>She's going to drag you behind the hospitol and beat you with a discarded pallet
>She saved our life
>it might not be too late to get into the ICU
>We're not going to die
>maybe not tonight, but tomorrow you're fair game
>we'll be fine
>how do you know
>she was smiling
>she was happy to get ayway from you
>she was happy security wasn't called in here
>fair enough

>you start playing with your phone, stumbling across a series of Japanese coffee commercials
>The premise is that Tommy Lee Jones is an alien visiting and studying the earth
>This is both the strangest and funniest thing you've seen in a while
>It hurts to laugh, but you can't stop watching
>You watch them for some time, transfixed to your phone's display
>A loud knock echos through your room
>You glance over your phone before looking up toward the door
>4:45
>your phone is almost dead
>"Anon, you awake?"
>It's Gilda
>She sounds relaxed
"Door's open!"
>She opens the door and takes a step in, she's alone
>you're going to die
>shut up, brain

>She takes a few more steps inside, the door closing behind her
>This is it
>She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a crumpled white paper bag
>it was fun
>"Here"
>Goodbye cruel world
>She tosses the bag to you
>it bounces off your chest and lands in your lap, the smell of greasy beef wafting out
>see, she's not an enemy
>not for a lack of trying, dumbass
>you uncurl the bag and look inside
>napkins, milk, apple slices, a small cheeseburger
>a happy meal?
>I'm a grown-ass man, dammit, this isn't gonna-
>is that a donkey kong racecar?
>You pull the toy out and inspect it
>Gilda smiles warmly and walks over to the bed, sitting by your legs

>You set the toy aside and turn your attention toward her
"Where's Coacoa?"
>Gilda shrugs her shoulders, her hands in her pockets
>"She said she was going to buy you a shirt"
>she looks ahead and stretches one of her legs out
>"She's pretty embarrased about all this; says it's all her fault"
>She plants her feet on the ground with a stomp
>she looks over to you
>"dig in, dweeb.  Aren't you hungry"
>You really should be
>you're not sure why, but the food doesn't pique your appetite
>it could be what they're pumping into you
>it could be the oxicontin
>it could be what Gilda said about Coacoa

>You look inside the bag again
>That's where your gaze falls, anyway
>in truth, you were looking past the bag
>through it
>getting lost in the void
>Who is at fault?
>was it Coacoa?
>she did send you into the lion's den
>No, she had no way of knowing Gilda was asleep
>was it Gilda?
>Hard to say, sure she attacked you, but to her you were either a burglar or a pervert
>Was it you?
>did you do this to yourself?
>would you be here if you hadn't fumbled over your words?
>"Yo!  Earth to Anon!"
>Gilda snaps her fingers an inch from your nose
>in a flash the void spits you out with a jump
>you look toward Gilda
>she's frowning again
>"You alright?"

>You crumple the bag and set it to your side
>You close your eyes and let out a sigh
"According to six different medical professionals, yes"
>You open your eyes, looking right into hers
>your brow line is furrowed
"Are you alright, Gilda?  You've hardly said a thing"
>She gets up off the bed, taking the remote with her
>"Let's see what's on"
>she fixes her gaze on the television as she flashes through the channels
>She's still frowning
"Hey, Gilda"
>"you see something?"
>The channels stop flashing, stopping on a news network
"Thanks again, for uh- for saving me"
>She crosses her arms and the channels start cycling again
>"Whatever, dweeb"
>she looks and sounds annoyed
>Maybe it's a good idea to just stay quiet for a little bit

>After a few minutes of channel surfing, Gilda finds something she likes and sits where Coacoa was previously
>Looks like the tail end of a Deadliest Warrior Marathon
>you're pretty okay with this
>You enjoy the mindless entertainment, glancing over to Gilda every now and again
>she doesn't notice, enjoying the spectacle on display three feet above her
>thirty minutes into a new episode her expression changes and she even laughs at some of the bad jokes
>seeing her happy calms you down as well and you relax your shoulders, letting yourself get lost in the show
>your stomach growls a bit
>you smile to yourself and place the bag on your lap, opening it
>you take out an apple slice and crunch down on it
>life's pretty good at this particular moment in time
>it could be better, but it could always be better
>you feel your eyelids start to drop
>the room fades, objects in the room start to converge into one blot of color
>you close your eyes and the world grows quiet

>"Anon?  Psst!  Hey!"
>A whispered voice pulls you away from the land of dreams
>Just as well, Hello Kitty was assasinating a burly gladiator with a tomahawk, holding the scalp as a trophy
>that's pretty weird
>probably the oxicontin
>"Come on, Dweeb, I need to talk to you?"
"Gilda?  What time is it?"
>You fumble around for your phone as you open your eyes
>the room is dark, save for a faint orange glow coming from the half opened bathroom door
>"it's late; I need to talk to you"
"Huh?  What about?"
>you find your phone and rub your eyes with your other hand
>you push a side button, prepared for the blinding flash of light
>nothing, you're phone's dead

>"Something's bugging me; I can't sleep"
>you look around the room, letting your eyes adjust
"Where's Coacoa?
>"She went home a few hours ago.  She brought you this"
>Gilda reaches down and you hear the crinkle of thin plastic as she sets a bag on your lap
>you look inside the bag
>a neatly folded t-shirt sits inside
>you reach in to pull it
>there's some weight to it
>more than there should be
>you take the bundle out and brush the bag aside
>you unwrap the shirt and find two small boxes
>a new 2DS and a 3DS game
>you make a mental note to pay Coacoa back

>"She got me one, too"
>she reaches into her pocket and lazily waves it up for you to see
>"She said it wasn't fair for us to stay here with nothing to do"
>You examine the t-shirt
>you can't be sure, but you think it's a character shirt with Keroppi's face in the center
>you set the shirt down, letting it wrinkle on your lap
"Why are you here?"
>she huffs and unconsciously raises her voice
>"Because I wanna be here, dweeb! I wasn't gonna leave you here by yourself!"
>Your eyes shift to the mess in your lap
>you pause to think, or you would if you were capable of deep thought
>a minute passes in the dark room before you look toward Gilda again
"What's wrong?"

>"I need to know why-"
>she cuts herself short, idly pressing buttons on her powered down device
>her gaze cast down toward it
>"I need to know why you didn't turn me in"
>she walks over and sits on the bed, resting by your legs
>the small of her back leaning against you
"It wasn't your fault, Gilda"
>"Bullshit it wasn't my fault"
>She leans closer to your face
>"I almost killed you"
"No, high blood pressure in a stressful circumstance almost killed me"
>"And I caused that stress! It's my fault!"
>She leans back away from you, pointing to herself with both hands
>For a couple minutes the room again fills with silence

>You break the silence, your voice calm and low
"Were you trying to kill me?"
>Gilda chuckles, her eyes still on her gift
>"No, I was gonna beat the shit out of you and send you out with your dick between your legs"
>She leans back into your legs and lets out a sigh, placing her hands to her sides for balance
>"It's funny"
>you tilt your head with interest
>"I've gotten into my share of fights, I've given and taken; sometimes I just did it for fun"
"I wouldn't know; you guard your face well"
>she smiles, her teeth glinting in the dark
>"I've knocked a few guys out before, but seeing you just lie there, not moving at all..."
>she sighs and leans fully back, resting on your legs
>"It kinda fucked with me"

"See, you didn't mean to kill me, but you did mean to save my life; not your fault"
>you nudge her side with your foot
"Thanks for saving my life, Gilda"
>Gilda sits up with a start and leans off the bed
>her inflection is harsh
>"Fucks sake, Dweeb!  Cut that out!"
"cut what out?"
>"That!  That thanking me crap!"
>She folds her arms and turns away from you
>The room once again fills with silence
>a moment passes before you speak again
"Did I answer your question?"
>She turns to face you
>"Yeah, yeah you did"
"Do you think you can sleep?"
>"I think so"
"Goodnight, Gilda"
>"Goodnight, Anon"
"Hey Gilda?"
>"What?"
"Thanks for staying here with me"
>She unfolds her arms and walks over to you
>She kisses your cheek gently and smiles
>"Anytime, Dweeb"