Indigo pushed up from the ground, stretching her arms. ‘Okay, two more sets down…’ She reached for her bag, checking her phone. “9.5 is the world record…” she rolled her neck. “Let's aim for that.” She set about stretching out her legs before her phone blared her ringtone. “Yo.” She answered, wiping her brow.
“You busy?” The voice of her friend asked.
“About to get my run on, what's up Sunny?”
“I'm getting off work soon, wanna hang out?”
“Sure. When you're done just meet me at the track. I'll probably need to stop by for a shower though. I know how you are with sweat.”
Sunny made a sound of disgust.
“Sound like a plan?” She asked.
“Just make sure you're cooled down by the time you sit in my car.”
Indigo rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. See you.”
“Bye.”
She scrolled through her phone, setting a song to play in her headphones as she took off on the track, jogging lightly before picking up the pace. She pressed a button on the stopwatch on her watch, setting it up before taking position.
The quick dash around the track got her adrenaline pumping…and with a small beep, she shot off, running the 100 meters as fast as she could, quickly hitting stop as she passed, resting her hands on her knees. She panted, checking the time. 12 seconds. “That's...that's not too bad.” She panted,lightly jogging back to the start and going again. This time actually doing worse.
“What the hell?” She groaned, feeling a twinge in her leg. “Oh, don't you pretend to go out on me now…” She frowned, lifting her knee no actual pain...but a slight discomfort. She strolled to her bag and took out a knee brace, sitting to attach it. “One more. You can do one more...and we'll call it a day.” She pat the side of her knee.
Starting position.
Beep.
And off she went, full tilt sprint. The seconds passed and she hit the finish line, 11 seconds. She grinned before taking a step and falling forward. “Agh!” She groaned, holding her leg. “Guess I pushed you too hard…” She frowned.
“Need a hand?”
She looked up to see Sunny, concern on her face.
“Yes please.” Indigo frowned, wincing as she was helped to her feet.
“You're gonna re-injure yourself doing this…” She warned.
“I'm medically cleared…”
“For light exercise. Just slow down a few more weeks. You mess yourself up for real and you're not running anymore, period.”
Indigo sighed. “You're right…”
“Not even gonna argue? Should I take you to the hospital anyway?”
“Ha ha.” She laughed, sarcastically. “Give me my towel and I'll get a shower in the locker room.”
“Right.” She looked into the bag, seeing the painkillers she was prescribed...almost full. “Have you been taking these?”
“Only when I needed them. Maybe one now would help…”
“These say to take daily, Indigo.”
“But I'm not in pain daily. Just rarely.”
“Why do you hate listening to directions? The doctor isn't out to mess you up y'know?”
“I just…”
“You just, what?”
“Paranoid I guess. So many athletes get into a habit of using painkillers…”
“Those athletes don't have me to keep them in line.”
Indigo gave her a small smirk. “I'm glad. You're stuck with me until I either die or you smarten up.”
“You say that like its a bad thing.” She shrugged.
***
Indigo exited the locker room, her hair still a little damp, but Sunny was more concerned that she walked gingerly. “Come here…” She caught her arm, helping her to a bench nearby. “How bad is it..?” She asked.
“It's not that bad. I'm just-”
“Indigo.”
“It's not great.” She admitted, looking down.
Sunny knelt down to adjust her brace. “It's a shame I've known you long enough to learn how to do this.” She huffed. “Now you're gonna take the pain killers and get some rest for the next few days. Got it?” She glared up at her. Indigo held her hands up in surrender.
“Okay, okay...I got it.”
Sunny reached into her bag, taking out the bottle and handing it to her. Indigo groaned, but downed two of the pills.
“Now. Give me your arm. I'll allow you to lean on me.”
“‘Allow me’? Don't put yourself out on my account.” Indigo smirked.
“I'm being nice Indigo. I'm already annoyed that you may have re-injured yourself.”
“Okay, geez. You're not letting up today…” She hooked her arm around Sunny's shoulders and stood.
“I'm annoyed that I have to babysit my best friend as if she were a child.”
“Aww, I'm your best friend?”
“I'll drop you.”
“Now you're threatening me?! Make up your mind!”
Sunny let her grip loosen, which Indigo quickly panicked and grabbed back onto her.
“Thought so.”
“Not cool.”
Sunny only smirked, helping her to the car, even helping her maneuver the injured leg into the car comfortably.
“Before we head out, have you eaten?” Sunny asked, adjusting her mirror.
Indigo sat up, “I...haven't.”
“When was the last time you ate?” She asked.
“Like...7...am..?” She looked out the window.
“You're aware it's almost 5, right?”
“C'mon Sunny...I already can't work out...I'm gonna get out of shape.”
“Indigo.” She turned to face her. “I know you're annoyed. You're very independent, and don't like being unable to do things for yourself, but for the love of all things holy… if you don't swallow your pride and let me help you...you're going to get worse and worse and you'll probably never compete again.” She put her hand on Indigo's shoulder. “I've been trying to be patient...but you know how I am, and if I ever make you feel like I'm talking down to you or babying you, I need you to tell me.” She squeezed gently. “I'm not doing this to belittle you or to get one over on you. We're not the same girls from before the friendship games, right?”
Indigo blushed, looking down. “Uh...right. Thanks Sunny...it really means a lot, I swear. I just...I'm not used to it, y'know?”
“Call me if you need me...and if your family starts in on you, I'll deck that deadbeat dad...you're not his ticket to money. You're his daughter.”
“Yeah…” She nodded. “Thanks…” Indigo looked up at her, the small smile on her face made her want to return it. She felt herself become lighter...as if a weight was lifted from her shoulders, and suddenly the exhaustion, pain and hunger hit her.
Indigo deflated in her seat, holding her stomach. Sunny tilted her head. “You okay?”
“Just...I think the adrenaline finally wore off.”
“Let's go get something quick and we can head to my house.”
“Thanks, and I'm sorry for being so...difficult.”
Sunny started the car, backing out. “Its okay. I understand.”
***
A quick stop at a drive-thru, and the two were at Sunny's place. Indigo opened the door, taking Sunny's offered hand, and gingerly stood. The pain wasn't as bad, the medicine seeming to help a lot. Who would have thought? She was helped to the loveseat in the living room, Sunny moving about to get the food and drinks.
She took a seat beside her, handing Indigo her food. The athlete began eating while Sunny flipped on the tv. Some cheesy action film...enough to keep interest while they ate. Indigo tossed the wrapper back in the bag and pat her stomach. “Okay. I did need food.” She smiled.
“How's your knee?” She asked, glancing over to the brace.
“It's not hurting too bad…”
Sunny wrapped her unfinished burger, leaning forward to sit it on the coffee table. She pat her lap. “Here, let me take off the brace.”
“Wha?” Indigo asked, blushing lightly.
“Oh come on, Indigo.” She pouted.
The athlete sighed, turning in her seat and lifting her legs to rest across Sunny's lap.
Sunny undid the brace, gently touching her knee. “Any pain?”
“N-No.”
“Good.” She smiled, returning to watching the tv.
Indigo looked confused, but watched the tv as well. Sunny resting her arms across the athlete's legs, carefully.
***
After a few hours, Sunny glanced over, seeing Indigo leaned into the corner of the couch, arms crossed and sleeping soundly. She smiled softly, looking back at her leg. It wasn't swollen luckily. She may have strained it...but hopefully it wasn't hurt worse.
She breathed through her nose. The day her injury happened...it was terrifying.
Indigo was running across the field, the ace of the soccer team. She went to steal the ball as an opposing player went for a kick.
It was an accident…
The sound.
The crack was loud enough that Sunny felt her heart drop upon hearing it.
The other player immediately kneeled down to check on her, calling for help.
Sunny stood, Lemon, Sugarcoat and Sour joining her as she ran down the bleachers to get to the fence between the crowd and field. Indigo was sitting up, smashing her fist into the ground, shouting angrily. The referee and another player had to keep her from trying to get up. She laid back on the grass, covering her eyes.
The coaches and her teammates surrounded her, all had concern on their minds. Medics pushed past to strap her to a backboard, gently as possible, but any movement at all made her shout in pain.
“Dude, go.” Lemon pushed Sunny gently. “Go with her and let us know which hospital she's going to.”
She approached the medics, asking if she could join her. Indigo giving the okay...and with a nod, she climbed in. “Indigo, just take a breath, you're going to be okay.” She said. The look she was given. The pained look. The tears in her eyes, the pure fear behind them, it hurt just looking at her. She took her hand, squeezing gently. “I'm here…” She assured.
***
Sunny blinked back from her memory. She looked to Indigo again. Peaceful, relaxed, serene. She smiled softly.
“Gonna take a picture?” Indigo asked, eyes still closed, but her mouth formed a smirk.
“I already have.”
“Huh?” She opened her eyes.
“Oh, nothing.” Sunny giggled. “You looked so peaceful. Were you just playing the whole time, or did you doze off at any point for real?”
“Maybe for a little bit.” She crossed her arms.
“I was thinking about it.” She said, gently touching her knee. The athlete didn't even tense at her touch...she frowned softly, but looked up at her.
“Did I ever thank you?” Indigo asked, sitting up more.
“Once or twice.” Sunny giggled.
“You helped me out so much. I'm sorry I got ahead of myself today.” She sighed.
“You wouldn't be you if you didn't.”
“I'm...not sure how to take that.”
“Go with compliment.” She shrugged, lifting her legs and gently guiding them to the floor. She stood and stretched. “It's getting late. Wanna stay the night?”
“I mean...I could. You mind?”
“Not at all. Wanna try to make it to my room?”
Indigo stood, but barely put weight on her injured leg. She half stepped, but made it to the door. “Hah! Did it!” She cheered. Sunny rolled her eyes. “C'mon. Let's get to bed.”
Indigo flopped on the bed, Sunny rolling her eyes with a small smile. “Make yourself comfortable.” She said, sarcastically.
“You have a nice bed.”
“So you say.” She chuckled. “Want some pjs, or are you good?”
“I'll be alright.”
Sunny took some clothing and entered her bathroom, changing and returning to sit beside her on the bed. “No running for a few more days, okay?”
Indigo groaned out an 'alright’.
“Listen here, young lady. You will answer me like you have some sense of decency.” She scolded teasingly.
“Yes, ma'am.” The sporty girl sighed with a smile. She glanced to her friend. “Hey Sunny?”
“If you're about to thank me again…” She began, scrolling through her phone.
“This...isn't normal, is it?” She asked.
Sunny put her phone down, turning to look at her. “What do you mean?”
“You have to be aware of it...we're...pretty close.”
“You couldn't walk for a while Indigo. I had to help you out, your dad wouldn't have…”
“I'm not arguing that. I'm saying...you coulda stopped after I got back on my feet, but here we are. I'm in your house, staying with you again.”
“Do you want me to take you home..?”
“N-No I-” she grumbled quietly. “Sunny. Is...this just because you worry about me?”
“Well of course I-” She stopped, there was a searching look in Indigo's eyes. “Indigo, just…”
“I don't get a lot of positive reinforcement from home...so I'm just...concerned I'm feeling something that isn't there.” She admitted.
“It's there, Indigo. While, yes. This was primarily because of concern...why I'm concerned is because I care about you. Not only because you're my best friend...but because maybe...I perhaps…”
“You..?”
“May have had a crush on you prior to us becoming friends.” She admitted.
'Had.’ Was the word Indigo took from that.
“But. Having gotten to know the girl behind it...I can safely say it's more than a crush at this point.”
“Wha?”
“I like you, Indigo. I just...didn't know how to tell you.”
The athlete smiled softly before hugging her. “Seriously?! I've been freaking out about this forever you jerk.” She grumbled as Sunny returned the hug.
“Sorry, dear.”
“So...you uh...doing anything tomorrow?”
“Moving a bit fast, hmm?” Sunny chuckled.
“Says the one who got me in her bed.”
“...Okay, you got me there.” She giggled. “I'm free tomorrow.”
“Dinner then? I think adding a movie would be too cliche.”
“Anything sounds lovely, really.”
Author's Note
I really love this ship and never see enough of it. I hope I can turn some readers into believers. Especially when I roll out more Shadow Bolts content. Thanks for reading!