"Sierra, how is she?" Captain Frank asked, standing in the corner of the room.
"Her injuries aren't life-threatening, so that's good news. It's mostly heavy bruises and swelling along with a fractured rib." Sierra slid her green glowing palms across Shelly's torso. "Unfortunately I can only heal her bruises, so she'll have to let her ribs heal naturally. Other than that, she's fatigued, but in good health."
"Haa! Thank God." Frank sighed.
A few strands of Sierra's purple-tinted hair fell from behind her ear to the side of her pale-skinned face that expressed subtle emotions. She moved her hand above Shelly's bruised neck and little by little her reddish skin turned back to its usual ivory.
"Was it a fight? Or was she sacked in an alley?" Sierra asked moving her hand to the next bruise.
"No... neither of those. It was Taka's… No, it was my fault. I'm to blame for this." Frank squeezed his palm.
"It can't be?" Sierra looked at Frank terrified. "Don't tell me you… you did this!"
Frank instantly switched from his gloomy demeanor to being frantic in denying her assumptions. He awkwardly stepped closer to her with his arms stretched out and fingers spread apart.
"Huh?! No! No, Sierra I-I didn't mean it like–"
Sierra took a few shaky steps back. Her glowing powers went out as they were shaking in an odd trembling rhythm.
"I never knew you liked beating women, Captain."
"Sierra wait, hear me out! I would never do–"
"I thought I knew you better than that." She glared with scorn at Frank like he was filth. "You demon!"
Sierra's words were more than effective in weakening Frank's mind. He dropped to his knees with his defeated face overlooking the floor and his arms slumped to his side.
"But… I swear it wasn't–"
"Boing!!!"
Frank's words were cut short as something soft pressed against his face, covering his eyes and soft palms nestled the back of his head.
"I'm teasing you. My Captain wouldn't do something like this." Sierra ran her delicate fingers through his hair while her voice left a comforting effect, slowing his previously drumming heart.
Frank's ears were bright red and his thoughts scrambled, so much so his thought process was wacky.
"Yo-Your boobs… they're touching me," Frank muttered.
"Hm, Is that so? I couldn't tell." Sierra sarcastically spoke as she pressed them closer to his face.
Frank becoming more flustered, freaked out saying. "W-What are doing–"
"Do you like them?" Sierra abruptly asked.
"Ye– I mean no. Now's not the time to–"
"Do you hate them?"
"What! That's impossible. How could anyone hate–." Frank broke free of Sierra's clutches, hurriedly standing up. "Stop distracting me! This is unprofessional–"
"Do you wanna touch them?" Sierra's leather shirt was slightly unbuttoned, exposing the top of her rather plentiful and sumptuously soft pale breast.
"Eek! You're naked!" Frank let out a high pitch shriek before quickly turning his back to Sierra, covering his bright red face.
"Wow, Captain! Your face is so red." Sierra stood there, one arm positioned under her breast and a finger sitting seductively onto her full cherry lips with a satisfied expression on her face. "You always give me the cutest little reactions when I tease you. I just can't get enough of it."
"Please stop teasing me, I beg you," Frank asked in a weak voice as he felt powerless against her tricks.
"Never," Sierra replied. "You're too much of an easy target."
"Umm… excuse me." Shelly interrupted the two. "Where am I?"
Both Sierra and Frank were taken by surprise at Shelly's sudden words. How long was she awake and that two didn't notice? How much of the two's lovers' banter did Shelly have to listen to? Needless to say, the room was drowning with awkwardness with everyone red with differing levels of embarrassment.
"Ehem!" Frank cleared his throat. "Greetings! My name is Frank Wright and I am Captain of the seventh division city guards."
"And I am Sierra Neves, the Head Trainer and Vice-Captain of the seventh division city guards."
The two city guards politely bowed their heads.
"Uh, just call me Shelly– Ouch!" She tried sitting up but felt a sharp pain in her ribs.
"Please, don't force yourself to move yet. You have a slightly fractured rib." Sierra moved to Shelly and made her lay back down. "Captain, she'll need bandages to help her heal. I'll be back shortly."
"Noted," Frank answered.
Sierra stepped out of the room, leaving him and Shelly alone.
"I'm sorry! This incident is my fault." Frank bowed, making his entire torso parallel to the ground. "I'm really sorry for causing you this much trouble."
"You don't have to bow like that. I'm not mad at you." Shelly replied.
"One of my guards went overboard due to a request of mine. I swear to you that wasn't supposed to happen." Frank stood up straight. "She was supposed to arrest you without any injuries or stuffing you in a cell with a r*pist."
Frank balled his fist in shame and his expression apologetic.
"You were to be arrested so I could get back that watch Sierra gave me as a birthday present." Frank bowed once more. "I know this isn't the right time to ask this but… could you please return the watch you stole from me?"
A short silence was present in the room before Shelly spoke.
"Haaa! Sorry to break it to you, but that's impossible for me to do." She sighed and forced herself to sit up, trying not to agitate her injury.
"Could you at least tell me what happened to it?" Frank asked. "Even a clue to where it is would be fine."
"That's also impossible for me to do as well," Shelly replied, staring at the huge, white-haired man bowing in front of her.
"I understand, sorry to cause you so–."
"That's because I never stole your watch." Shelly interrupted.
"What! It wasn't you?!" Frank instantly lifted his head, his face painted with confusion.
"I mean… I don't know when you had that watch stolen, but I just arrived here this morning." Shelly rubbed the back of her head. "Not to mention I got separated from someone troublesome and naive within an hour. Hahaha!"
Frank's eyebrows curled, eyes wide and mouth open. He said no words but you could see his shame building itself. Getting onto his knees he took things a step further.
"SLAM!!!"
Groveling in front of Shelly, his hands and forehead crushed hard against the floor, leaving a huge dent.
"PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!" Frank bit his teeth with guilt, sweat rolling down his neck, lips trembling and even more shame pooling within him. "You were innocent this entire time, yet you suffered horribly… because of my foolish and selfish actions as a Captain. Please forgive me!"
"SLAM!!!"
"Stop! What are you doing? You're hurting yourself." Shelly got off the table and crouched next to Frank, worriedly. "It's not that big of a deal. If anything, I'd blame my bad luck for this situation. Hahaha!"
"How can you be so… relaxed about this?" Frank asked with his forehead still pressed against the floor. "You were badly beaten and almost… taken advantage of in that prison cell, because of my actions. Why aren't you angrier?"
"Hmm… well, I've had similarly worse things happen to me, but you seem to have had good intentions at least," Shelly answered. "Plus, if there was someone I'd get angry at, it would be that tall, brute brain of a woman who beat the crap outta me."
"That's Sargent Taka. She was acting under my orders, so I should take responsibility for her wrongs too." Frank insisted.
"Hey, let's make a deal. How about an I-O-U?" Shelly suggested.
"I-O-U?" Frank looked up at Shelly and pieces of concrete fell
"Yeah, an I-O-U. You'll owe me one favor, but no matter what it is you can't refuse. Sounds fair?" Shelly urged.
"But will that be enough?" Frank questioned.
"Yes, it'll be enough. So let's shake on it." Shelly stood up and held out her hand. "Plus, I can't waste all my time listening to you apologize when I've already forgiven you."
"I see, that makes sense." Frank also stood up and shook Shelly's hand. "Thank you for being understanding… Shelly."
Just then, Sierra who had been standing outside listening in on the conversation entered with bandages and medicinal cream.
"Seems like you two had quite a discussion without me." Sierra put down the items on the table. "Mind if I get some of the details."
"Oh, it wasn't anything much really. We just cleared up a few misunderstandings." Frank responded.
"And that sizable dent in the floor." Sierra pointed. "How did that happen?"
"I… it was me." Replied Frank.
"Was that a part of the misunderstanding?"
"No... it was an accident." Frank looked away from Sierra.
"Captain, please don't 'accidentally' destroy private property." Sierra smiled with hidden emotions behind it.
"I'm sorry, I'll get it fixed." Frank bowed.
"He's an… interesting person to say the least." Shelly thought to herself. "And she's definitely his master."
"Well, now that that's cleared up, time to get you bandaged." Sierra looked at Shelly. "Please get naked."
Frank's body twitched a little at the word "naked", but Shelly was unnerved as she knew what Sierra meant.
"Hey Captain, do you want to stay and watch?" Sierra tauntingly invited.
"Ye- No! I'll be outside waiting." Frank walked towards the door scantily blushing.
"I thought I heard you almost say yes." Sierra taunted.
"You must've heard wrong." He retorted, opening the door.
"If you peak I'll report you for sexual harassment." Sierra teased.
"I would never do that." Frank closed the door.
"And no eavesdropping either you pervert." Sierra teased further.
"I'm not a perv– I'll be off doing some work. Call me if you need me." Frank walked off feeling toyed with once more.
Shelly removed the clothes off her torso, exposing her top half, and sat atop the table.
"So where are you from? If you don't mind me asking." Sierra scooped out the cream onto her fingers.
"I'm from Divali, about a week's worth journey from here by carriage." Shelly held her arm above her shoulders, exposing her ribs.
"Divali? Where have I heard that name before?" Sierra asked herself aloud. "Oh I remember now, isn't that close to Lamdon Town?"
"Yeah, about a day's trip on foot actually." Shelly reacted. "Have you been there before?"
"No, not yet. But I've always loved Lamdon's apple beer." Sierra softly rubbed the cool cream across Shelly's skin where the fracture was located.
"I'd say it's a 6 outta 10." Shelly critiqued.
"6? But that's impossible. It's at least an 8.5." Sierra sounded nearly offended with her face surprised.
"Nah, I prefer something stronger." Shelly shrugged her shoulders. "Or maybe I'm just biased because I dislike apples."
"Why? Is it the taste?" Sierra asked whilst applying more of the cream to Shelly's skin.
"No, not really. They just bring back some… not so happy memories." Shelly's voice had a hint of bitterness. "But I do love Sunset Rum. Although I've only had it twice it's my favorite."
"Sunset Rum?! Oh my, I never would've guessed you were that strong of a drinker." Sierra said in amazement while grabbing the bandage. "I'm a lightweight when it comes to drinking. Haha!"
"This remembers me of when I was 15 and won my first drinking championship back in Divali. My friends and I needed some money to buy food after we were robbed of it." Shelly started to giggle. "Ken thought of the idea to challenge the grown-ups in a drinking contest for money, but he was out by the first glass. Tim hated the taste, Charles ran to the bushes after two cups, and Jen laughed her ass off. And then I won after downing 21 cups straight. Yeah, we got the money but I had the worse hangover the next morning."
"Hehe! Sounds like you had quite the friend group." Sierra chuckled, wrapping the bandage around Shelly's ribs.
"Yeah, I had such amazing friends." Shelly stared at the ceiling then sighed. "Haa! Those were the good ole days."
"Snurl! Growl!" Shelly's stomach grumbled
"Hey Shelly, you said that it's your first day here right?" Sierra mentioned, gathering the remaining cream and bandage. "How about we get something to eat? I'll pay for the food and drinks."
"Ah, you don't need to do that. I'll pay for myself." Shelly denied the offer while putting on her clothes.
"No, I insist. I want to apologize." Sierra begged. "If I knew beforehand that he'd lost that watch and would've done something like this, I would've stopped him. So please accept this as my apology to you."
"Haa! It's really not that serious, but fine. I haven't eaten all day anyway." Shelly got off the table.
"Thank you," Sierra said as they walked through the door.
Sometime after, they arrived at Joker's Tavern late sunset. Both ladies sat around an empty four-seated table.
"Can you read the menu?" Sierra asked.
"Oh yeah, I can read just fine. It's just that there are so many options." Shelly's eyes ran haphazardly across the menu, scanning every detail then thought to herself. "And they're… kinda costly, but it's a city tavern so I should expect as much. I'll just order the cheapest thing on here… boiled potatoes and chicken broth soup."
"Are you ready to order yet?" Sierra asked.
"Oh um, sure. I'm ready." Shelly hesitated.
"Remember, don't mind the cost." Sierra reminded. "Pick whatever you want… except the boiled potatoes and chicken broth soup."
"What–! How did you–. Haa! Fine, I'll order something else." Shelly dropped her shoulders in defeat.
A server soon arrived at their table.
"I'll have the cream puffs and toffee pudding with Apple beer." Sierra requested.
"Can I have the… mushroom pasta and glazed pork chops, please," Shelly ordered.
"Anything to drink with that?" The server asked.
"Ah umm, I'll have a ginger ale," Shelly added.
"Your food will be out shortly." The server politely bowed and left.
"Hey, Shelly. If you don't have anywhere to stay tonight, I can pay for an Inn room for you." Sierra offered.
"No need, I already rented a room at the Pixies Inn." Shelly started checking her pockets. "It should be here somewhere."
"Where is it?! I know I had it in here." Shelly thought to herself, becoming a little sweaty. "Dammit! I lost the key and that's 10 silver for a replacement. Why's my day just getting worse?"
"Is everything alright?" Sierra asked. "You look worried."
"Ah, yeah yeah. I'm fine." She lied. "Anyway, I wanted to ask–"
At that moment, Shelly heard a familiar voice at the entrance of the tavern and went quiet. To make sure her ears weren't deceived, she quickly focused her eyes on the front door.
"M-Maou!?" Shelly stood up instantly and moved from the table.
Her ears hadn't deceived her. It was her favorite silver-eyed kid, chuckling out loud while walking next to Anna.
"Shelly!" Maou's jaw dropped and his eyes widen.
Immediately, he dashed toward the joyous Shelly who crouched and held out her arms. Jumping towards Shelly, he wrapped his small arms around her neck. Soon, his eyes became soaked and his voice shaky.
"I missed you, Shelly! Hic!" Maou sobbed, pressing his face onto her shoulder. "Hic! I'm sorry, Hic! I got lost."
"Don't cry, It's fine. I wasn't paying attention either." Shelly hugged Maou and rubbed his back. "I'm just happy to see that you aren't hurt."
Having now finally been reunited with Maou, Shelly's stress seemed to have just disappeared for that moment.
"Hehe! Look at you. Your nose is all runny." Shelly looked Maou in the face while wiping away his tears.
Maou did a huge inhale and all his hanging mucus went back up his nose. It was disgusting yet oddly cute.