It had been a few days since Code was hospitalized, the girls coming to visit him almost constantly with the help of Sunset Shimmer. With every visit, they would have to hold Sonata back from tackling him or keep Aria from attacking thw doctor when it was time to leave. However, one thing they never did was mention Sunset's presence. Not out of spite or malice, but because she would ask them not to and they would, begrudgingly on Sonata's part, agree.
Coming out of the hospital around four or five, the sun beginning to set, Sunset sat patiently on the hood of his truck looking over messages on her phone. She peered up hearing footsteps crunching in the snow towards her and smiles seeing the ex-sirens as she hopped down from the hood, "How's he doing? Any better?"
Sonata nodded excitedly, "They said that he might be able to be released early for Christmas! I'm so excited to have Cody back!" She squeled and bounced around happily, Adagio giggling lightly as Aria rolled her eyes.
"Y'know, we wouldn't have to give you an update every single time if you'd just come in and see him." The sharp tongued siren seethed as Sunset looked towards the ground, "What're you hiding from anyway? Didn't you say he cares about you unconditionally?"
"I just... I still don't feel like I deserve to see him, is all. B-Besides," She gives a nervous smile and leans against the truck, "Someone's gotta, uh... W-Watch the truck! Make sure the engine doesn't freeze up or something!" She chuckled nervously as the girls all looked at her confused.
"Well, if you say so..." Sonata said sadly but took her by the hand, "C'mon!" She called suddenly as she began dragging her, seeming stronger than she looked as Sunset tripped over herself some from the sudden tug.
"Whoa, hey! Where are we going!?" She said in a panic as she regained her footing but was still forced to keep following the exfitable singer, "I thought visiting hours were over!"
"Nope! We still got an hour!" Sonata giggled as Sunset looked back confusedly at Adagio and Aria. Adagio smiled knowingly as Aria scoffed and turned away, the two waving her off as she groaned and continued to be dragged into the hospital.
As she and Sonata disappeared through the glass doors, Aria clenched her teeth, "Why'd we have to cut our visit short just for her to get some time to herself? This is such minotaurshi--"
"So you admit that you'd have liked more time with him alone, then~?" Adagio interjected as Aria froze up and groaned, hoding in her scarf.
"Sh-Shut up..." she grumbled, muffled by the warm accessory
After checking in with the front desk woman as they had been doing for a week straight, they came upon Code's room. Sonata smiled brightly as she held Sunset's hand reassuringly, "Well? Are you ready?" She whispered excitedly as Sunset gazed at the door then slowly to the ground, her hand trembling as Sonata pat her hand, making her look over. "You'll be okie dokie... Cody's a good guy, and your his sister as far as he cares. Right?" She said softly as she guided her hand gently to the door's handle, "So go talk to him... He'll be happy to see you. I may not get a lot, but I know that for sure." She assured brightly, her smile only growing.
Sunset stared at her for a solid moment, unsure of how or why it was that this dimwitted ex-enemy's words rocked her core... Yet it steadied her shakes and made her feel more in control as her worries flowed away. She withdrew a soft breath and nodded to Sonata who held a thumbs up as she knocked, a confused yet welcoming voice alerting them, "Oh! Um... C-Come in!"
Hearing the voice, Sonata was confused at first until Sunset suddenly opened the door and, before them, was Twilight doing her best to peel an apple at his side, "Twilight? What're you--"
"Sunny?" Code said in shock as she stopped short and stared ahead at him. They locked eyes and nearly stopped breathing as he struggled to sit up, Sci-Twi helping him as he kept his gaze on her, "You're here..." He said softly as she looked away a second before being dragged over by Sonata who leaned over to hug him, a gentle pat being delivered in return as she giggled and blushed happily, "Sonata told me I have you to thank for she and the others getting here safely every day... And for keeping my truck safe." He chuckled looking up to her, "But really... I'm just happy to see you, Sunshine."
Sunset blushed at the nickname she hadn't heard in so long, a quivering smile growing slowly upon her face as tears started to fall as he held his opposing arm out as she rushed over and leapt into him, crying openly into his chest. Twilight moved to stop her knowing how serious the injury still might've been but was stopped as Code held his hand out to her and shook his head looking at her, mouthing 'I'm fine' as he hugged her tight and pet her head, "It's good to see you, Sunny..."
"I-I've missed you so much... When I saw what Dash did to you... I got scared. When you started bleeding I was terrified... When I saw the Dazzlings... I got confused..."
He chuckled and groaned softly, "Guess we both have some catching up to do..." He admitted as she nodded and climbed off of him to sit at the side of his bed with Sonata who was still cuddled up to him, her childish smile evident as she glanced happily to Sunset. "So... How've things been--"
"Hold on, you have some explaining to do first, mister!" She said sternly once she'd regained her composure, wiping tears away as she pointed to Twilight who had since placed the finished apple to the side table and looked down a bit bashfully. "What's Twilight doing here?"
"Huh? Oh! Twilight came to visit just a minute or so after the girls left and I guess she wanted to..." He turned to her confusedly, "Practice her apple peeling...?" He said inquisitively as Twilight's face reddened further.
"W-Well, he's been my coding tutor for a while now and I figured since Rainbow Dash wouldn't come apologize herself that I'd visit and do it for her and check in on him! That's all, really!" She explained as Sonata and Sunset looked unconvinced by her explanation while Code smiled cluelessly.
"Well that's sweet of you, Twi! Hopefully I'll be up and ready to get back to helping you after the holidays and all." He said as he looked down at Sonata and Sunset's huffy faces staring daggers into him, "Uh... Something wrong?"
"No, not at all big brother/Cody." The two said in unison, stressing their titles for him as he blinked and chuckled lightly before giving them both headpats which seemed to immediately calm Sonata as she continued to cuddle into him as Sunset's huffy amberr face reddened lightly, glancing towards Twilight who was quick to avert her gaze.
Once the awkwardness subsided, the four went on to converse about ongoings and what they'd each gone through. Code was excited to hear that Sunset and Twilight were, apparently, superheroes if by deeds alone. Twilight and Sunset, opposingly, were shocked and confused by what had happened to now with Code and the Dazzlings: Their shameful states when he found them, the rocky nature of his and Aria's relationship at the start, her stabbing him, causing all this, his willingness to continue housing them. It obviously concerned and confused Twilight, yet Sunset seemed... Unfazed. As a matter of fact, she seemed entirely understanding of the situation while Sonata clung tight to his arm but her eyes narrowed remembering what happened with Aria, quickly brightening back up once he'd moved on while adding her own cheerful footnotes where she could.
As their time dwindled down, there was a knock as a doctor and nurse came in, "Ladies, you'll have to wrap it up, unfortunately. Visiting hours are ending in five minutes."
The lot of them groaned and agreed as the two left the room, "Well, I suppose I should go. I left Spike with Fluttershy and I've got to go make sure he and Angel aren't fighting again." She said as she stood to leave, Sunset grabbing her hand as she was walking away bringing her attention to her friend as they shared a glance, their eyes glowing bright white. The two stood stock still before the light faded, their eyes both wide in shock as Twilight pulled her arm away and ran off, Sunset stretching her arm out to stop her but being far too late.
Code and Sonata, who had just watched this transpire, stared in confusion and, in Code's case, shock. He looked back between Sonata and Sunset rapidly as Sunset walked over and hugged him quick, "Love you, Code..." She said quickly as she rushed away. Seeing and hearing this, Sonata hugged him tight and kissed his cheek, "See you tomorrow, Cody!" She said happily before quickly following Sunset out.
He reached his hand out to them before sighing as the doctors came in, "... Love you too, girls..." He said with a confused but hopeful smile as the door was shut to run their examinations.
Outside, Adagio and Aria sat in Code's truck casually in quiet. Aside from Aria blasting heavy metal and headbanying while Adagio checked her make-up, nails and the like with a small compact mirror. They'd been doing this for the last hour since Sunset and Sonata rushed back into the hospital, simply finding ways to waste their time. As the song ended, Aria took a breath of satisfaction, "Oh yeah, that's just what I-- Sparkle?"
"Well, didn't expect you to pick up on Sonata's silly sayings. What exactly about this screaming tantrum you call 'music' is making you 'sparkle'?" Adagio said teasingly as Aria groaned and pulled the mirror down forcefully, pointing to the hospital door where they'd see Twilight rushing out, Sunset and Sonata not too far behind. "Oh! That makes more sense." She said as Aria jumped out of the car with Adagio giving a frustrated groan before following her out and towards the panicking bookworm.
"Twilight, wait up!" Sunset called out as she and Sonata ran towards her, reaching out to grab her shoulder and just narrowly getting a hold, turning her around to face them, Adagio and Aria joining at their side.
"What on Earth is going on here? Why are you two chasing down Sparkle?" The head siren inquired confusedly as Aria glowered at the sight of the nerd with her face turned away from them.
"And what's she running for? Did you two do something? Did she do something?" She said cracking her knuckles before Adagio put her arm up in the way of her getting any closer.
"No! She was visiting Cody too and then Sunny did the glowy eye thing and she ran away! Also, Cody said he loves us!" Sonata explained and squealed with excitement, pressing her hands to her face and bouncing around happily like a cheerful blue bunny.
The other two reddened a bit at that as Adagio placed a hand to her cheek and looked away with a sweet giggle while Aria huffed and crossed her arms, glaring defiantly away from them though she grew a light smile. Seeing them act like this from that announcement, Twilight's eyes widened, "... You... All love him too?"
At that, the three of them snapped back to her, their eyes wide as she nearly fell from the force of their stares alone, "Back up, did you just say 'too'?" Aria questioned pointedly.
"So that's why you ran away... That's why you came to visit! You're--" Sonata was stopped short as Adagio placed a hand on her shoulder, keeping her eyes trained on the startled, blushing face of Twilight.
"You've got a thing for Code too... Don't you, Twilight?" Sunset asked knowingly as Twilight looked away, fumbling with her hands, "Since when?"
"It... It's not important. I liked Scripted Code quite a lot... When he first started tutoring me, he was the only person that saw my intelligence as a strength for me to go beyond my limitations... Not as a tool to be used or a reason for seclusion or a way to force my way into prestige. Simply a strength... And I guess... I fell for that. Not that I think he was lying or acting or anything! He just..." Twilight stammered as she looked for the words to say.
The four girls stared in semi-stunned silence as Sunset smiled, "He knows how to make people feel special. Wanted..."
"He knows how to brighten a day like no one else!"
"He's good at bringing the good out of people."
"He's a jackass, but he's a weirdly good-hearted jackass..." Aria said as the girls stared daggers into her, "... What?"
"Anyways," Sunset strained as she looked to Twilight, "He's got a big heart, but he's denser than a Redwood. He may not have realized that he has a hold on so many hearts. Even when he'd visit for alumni days at CHS, he'd get candies and cards and stuff and he just thought they were being nice."
"It's true! I told Cody I like him and he pat me on the head and said 'I like you too'! He's super oblivious! ... Which is probably another reason I like him so much!" She giggled happily as the others rolled their eyes but collectively chuckled.
"The bottom line is... You shouldn't run away from him. He's just not... Good at recognizing things like that. Doesn't mean you should hide from him... Those three, maybe." Sunset admitted as the sirens all had their eyes on her as if they were trying to mentally immolate her then and there, "But not from Code. Okay?" She said as she let Twilight go who nodded.
"Right... Besides, to have a crush on him now would be ridiculous! He's older than me and besides, I... Have a guy in mind already--"
"It's Timber, isn't it?" Twilight's face glowed red as she groaned and hid her face, "Yep, thought so."
"So... You're not after Code's heart?" Adagio inquired.
"No no no, I just... I look up to him as a mentor and nothing more! ... Anymore." She stated as they all gave a sigh of relief. "Besides, with you three living with him and all and Sunset back in his life? I wouldn't stand a chance if I did!"
"Damn straight." Aria said under her breath before realizing she'd said that out loud, swiftly turning to the teasing grins of Adagio and Sonata as she groaned and hid her face in her scarf, "Fuck off...!"
Sunset and Twilight giggled at the three as they turned to each other, "Well, now that that's figured out, these three and I need to figure out stuff for when he gets home."
"He's being released soon, right? I think the doctors said maybe a couple of days just to be sure when I checked with them." Twilight admitted as they all turned to her.
"A few days?!" They said in shocked unison as Twilight was taken aback by the sudden shouts as she nodded to the dismay of them all.
"I still never finished the shopping for groceries!"
"I haven't finished decorating the apartment!"
"Fuck, we haven't even gotten him a present yet."
The sirens continued to go back and forth with one another, trying to figure out a plan as Sunset and Twilight watched, "Wow, they're... Really trying, aren't they?"
"From what they told me, he basically saved them from dying on the street. So he means a lot to them... Just like me." Sunset said, a smile on her face as it then turned to a thoughtful stare, "Now, how're we going to get all this done in a couple of days... Maybe I could use the money I have to hire someone? How much does it cost to hire decorators and caterors...?"
Twilight looked among them then began thinking herself as she gasped and snapped, "I got it! Sunset, you won't have to worry about a thing, I promise! Just text me the address and I'll get everything sorted!" She said as Sunset looked at her confused, but nodded just before Twilight rushed away without another word. Seeing her run off, Sunset rounded up the sirens and headed home to start preparing for their preparations for Code's return. The clock now ticking a bit faster than they'd hoped.