You always think the bad phonecalls happen early in the morning. For me, it was two in the afternoon. I was in a meeting at the firm, and my beeper went off. I glanced at it, and saw the most gutwretching six word phrase I’d ever seen.

LEON EMERGENCY HURT CALL ME WOLF

I’m proud of myself, in retrospect. I didn’t freak out, but I guess my face showed something was wrong. My boss saw it, and told me gently that if it was important, I could be excused to make a phone call. I’d only nodded, walked out of the room, and ran to my office, finding Wolf’s number in my phone and calling him back. What happened next almost felt like an out of body experience.

He apologized, and said he couldn’t be heavy on the details of how, but his team as well as two members of Star Fox had accepted a ground job. Leon had ended up too close to an explosion, and had had to be airlifted out of the area. Wolf’s voice was grim, explaining that unfortunately nearly any injury beyond a scratch was severe for a reptilian. Leon had been hit by shrapnel and a concussive wave. Wolf was Leon’s Power of Attorney as specified by Leon’s living will, but I was his main beneficiary, his significant other, and considered a friend to the team. Wolf said I should come if I could, and I agreed.

Luckily at that moment, my boss knocked gently on the door and stuck his head in, and I was able to cover the phone and say that a family member had been hospitalized. His reply was to point out all my cases were in order and I had a stack of personal days unused: Go.

And now, four days later, here I am. Leon tried to insist I sleep elsewhere, because of the high temperature the bed has to maintain to help him heal, and I refused. He’s more important to me than passing comfort. Wolf had fur clippers and helped me trim most of my fur, so the ninety degrees or so in the bed, warmer for the gel, is tolerable.

This is more important than my comfort, more important than anything. He’s hurt. He’s hurt bad, and I’m well aware that he’s refusing to show me any pain. From what little Wolf told me, it’s multiple shrapnel wounds. No organs hit, but plenty of blood lost, and plenty of stitches, and reptilians take twice as long to heal compared to mammals.

I’m not sure he’d admit out loud that he needs me here, between his issues and his pride, but he doesn’t have to admit it out loud. His pressing close as he sleeps, his tight hold on me, his slow deep breathing as he sleeps, all tell me my presence is wanted. And I love him so much.

Please heal, Leon. I’ll be here as long as need me. Take your time.

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Leon Powalski (Nintendo) and Alec (original character of mine).
Yes, anatomy issues, I don't even care. My wrist is destroyed. Hooray.