A Gladiator And A Scrapper

Part 14 - Athena's Recovery

ATHENA POV

Holy

Shit

I have no idea where this confidence has come from.

When I'm with Springs it's like I'm an entirely different person.

What she said.

I can't keep ending up this injured. If I end up this way again then Spring's heart will be broken.

She called me a hero. But, I'm definately not...am I?

I'm no Robin Hood, but I just do what I need to do to survive.

But I try not to hurt people, unless they get in my way or threaten me, does that make me a hero.

I sat there in my bandages. The pain is still burning. The swelling on my face and ribs has worn down. I still have a bit of a black eye, but without the swelling, I've covered it up with makeup though. One of my legs is broken, and both of my hands.

Aspis isn't working, but Janey's taken it away. I hope she can fix it.

Nina waddled into the shop.

"You need nights rest." Nina announced. "Sleep now so fixed in morning."

"Whatever you say doc." I said, smiling, and laying back.

"Before you sleep." Nina said causing Athena to sit up again.

"Hmm?" I acknowledged.

"You be good to Springs yes? She is good girl." Nina said, a little more serious than was normal.

"I will Nina. She's the best." I said, laying back and closing her eyes.

For the first time in 3 weeks. I willingly fell into sleep.

TIME SKIP TO LATER.

JANEY POV

I cut off the power on Aspis after trialling it's repaired form. The power absorbtion was fixed, it should deflect laser fire now.

I'd welded the plates of Athena's armour back together. I didn't have her scarf though, she'd grabbed it as soon as she woke up and had concealed it somewhere on her person so that she could keep it with her.

I hadn't slept, but I'd managed to repair Aspis, refitting fried wires and power processing circuits, then added a few features. I'd reassembled her armour, reinforcing it, adding moonstone in places and engineered it to support her limbs naturaly. Xiphos had been sharpened, I'd replaced the belt in my sander and gone over the edges again.

I wasn't prepared for what I saw though.

"Hey Janey." Athena said from the doorway as I threw Aspis at 3 cans I had lined up on a steel column, I was testing Aspis's multi-targeting system, Aspis hit one and then bounced off the other two before returning to me. "Woah."

I looked at Athena, she was wearing a black t-shirt and trousers, but the shirt might have been a few sizes too small. This was the first time I'd seen Athena out of her armour and very quickly realised that she had a very elegant frame, backed up with more muscle than even I realised.

"Uh......" I murmered as, instantly, I was blushing immensely. My eyes were wide as she walked toward me slowly, at least it felt slow, in reality she walked forward rather quickly.

"Where's my armour. I feel a bit exposed." Athena said. Placing her arms over her assets.

I pointed to a corner where a stand was holding up her armour. She walked over to it and lifted her breastplate on imidiatley.

The last strap clicked as her armour, fully completed, rested on her once again.

She lifted her left hand and Aspis flew into her grip. She picked up Xiphos from the table and sheated it, in now, a proper scabard I had constructed, that blended perfectly with her outfit and sword.

"Uhh Janey where's my 02 kit." Athena asked.

"Here." I said. Pressing a button on the shoulders of her armour. An 02 field appeared around her head, stemming from the armour. "But where's your scarf?" I couldn't see it anywhere.

She reached across my chest. I froze and blushed again. She reached under my little coat and pulled out her scarf.

Athena just grinned. "I stashed it on you when we kissed." She said.

I felt both happiness and dread. I was happy because she had entrused her scarf with me.

However

I felt dread because there was something I had to say.