//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 // Story: Tavi and Vi // by Master Koschei //------------------------------// Octavius grinned at David, who couldn’t keep a massive smile off his own face. Vinyl had a couple of happy tears running down her cheeks and clutching Flutters’ arm. Ditzy, meanwhile, lay in her bed, smiling at the group before her. “How do you feel, hun?” Vinyl took a step forward, placing a gloved hand on the end of the bed. Ditzy opened her mouth as if to speak, but stopped. She shut her mouth, then smiled. “I think I feel great,” she said, very clearly. Vinyl gasped, taking a step backwards, David’s grin growing wider. He placed a hand on Ditzy’s. “What was that?” “I feel really good, David,” Ditzy replied, turning to face the man and smiling just as widely as him. “My doctor.” Octavius wrapped an arm around Vinyl shoulders, who leaned into the cellist with tears falling from her eyes. “I never believed in miracles,” Octavius muttered, leaning closer to his lover’s ear. “Yet here we are, witnessing one in the making.” He smiled as David and Ditzy continued talking together. “Um, e-excuse me,” Flutters whispered, gently poking Octavius’ arm. “Um, I hate to interrupt, b-but I think I hear –“ “Where’s my brother?” Everyone froze in place upon hearing the male voice down the hallway. Octavius dropped his arm from Vinyl’s shoulders, crossing his arms over his chest. David rose from his chair, staring at the open door and waiting for the impending arrival. Turner came around the corner with a grin. “Hey there, everyone. Did you miss –“ He stopped as he saw the pink haired woman hiding behind Octavius. “Oh, hello there, my dearest Flutters!” The woman in question made a quiet squeak, trying to hide more of herself behind the cellist, who took a protective step forward. “H-hello, Turner…” “What exactly do you think you’re doing here?” David took a step forward, causing Turner to take a step back in response with his hands raised in defense, laughing awkwardly. “Down boy,” he said. He dropped his hands, relaxing his stance. “I didn’t come to start anything. I just came to see how the retard – uh AHEM AHEM – uh, your friend was doing.” “She’s fine,” David said shortly. “Why do you care?” “Well I can’t have my brother moping all over town if your friend went and died on you,” Turner replied nonchalantly. David gave the man a very skeptical look. “Uh huh, now why don’t you tell me a story I’ll actually believe?” Turner sighed with laugh. “Alright, you caught me. I actually don’t give a shit about you and Blondie McDumbass over there. I actually figured that idiot over there with the whale of a broad would bring back what’s mine.” “If you want her, you gotta go through us first,” Octavius said, glaring down at the shorter man. “All of us,” Vinyl added, standing beside Octavius. Turner sighed, looking at the wall. He shifted his gaze down to his black shoes. Then he looked up at the couple with a small smile. “This isn’t over, you fools.” He turned on a heel and departed, strolling casually back where he came from. David sighed and sat back in his chair, looking over at Ditzy with a sad smile. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” he said. “That’s ok,” Ditzy replied, with a smug grin. “That guys a jerk.” Vinyl gave a half-hearted laugh, wrapping an arm around Octavius’ waist. “You got that right, hun.” “So, now I’m curious,” Octavius said. “Ditzy, I don’t want to come off as rude, and please feel free to let me know if I upset you, but, are you able to say everything you want to now?” Vinyl nudged him roughly in the side, causing him to jump. Ditzy laughed, smiling at him. “I don’t know, Tavi, but everything seems to be working fine. I feel better than I think I ever have in my life.” “That’s amazing, hun,” Vinyl said, grinning. “What happened that caused this?” Ditzy’s smile faltered slightly, her gaze shifting down. “I… I think I was dying, guys. Everything got all dark and creepy looking, and it felt like I was floating on nothing.” David’s face instantly changed to one of concern. “Wait, you were dying? The-the machines – the monitors – they-they-they didn’t say anything about your vitals going –“ Ditzy placed a calming hand on the panicking man’s cheek. “Doctor, please, relax. I’m fine now, and isn’t that all that’s important?” David looked anxiously at the blonde, then sighed and relaxed, smiling at his friend. “You’re right, Ditzy. All that’s important is that you’re ok.” Vinyl stepped over to David and whispered in his ear, causing his face to light up bright red. “I don’t think that would be a good idea…” Vinyl rolled her eyes and bumped David with her hip, causing him to fall forward halfway onto Ditzy’s bed. Ditzy squeaked and giggled, covering her mouth with her hands. Vinyl whistled casually as she walked back over to Octavius and Flutters, grabbing their hands and gently pulling them behind her. When the room was emptied, David looked up into Ditzy’s bright yellow eyes, which were staring straight back at him for the first time. She smiled at the man. “Hey there, Doctor,” she whispered. “Hey you,” he replied. “So you feel better?” “Mm-hmm,” she grinned with a nod. “I can see very well now, and my words don’t come out all funny. I can actually say what I think.” She placed a hand on David’s. “And I have a lot to say to you, Doc.” She leaned forward and placed a kiss on his forehead. “First of all, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You stayed with me for all these years, through good and bad. You were there when no one else was, and I owe you so much.” She smiled warmly at him. “It was my pleasure, Ditzy,” he said, returning the smile. “You have been an absolute dream to be around, and an absolute pleasure to help out these past few years I’ve known you.” “What can I do to show you my gratitude?” Ditzy giggled cutely, batting her eyelashes over her yellow eyes. “Just continue to be the cute dork I’ve come to care so much about,” David said, smiling. “Don’t change, and that’ll be thanks enough.” Ditzy giggled once again. “I think I can do that. For you.”