You Said She's What!? The Revolutionary Leader!?

Luna's POV

Luna woke up slowly, consciousness creeping back in layers. First came the awareness that she wasn't in pain—or at least, not the screaming agony she remembered from before. Then the realization that she was in a soft bed instead of bleeding out in an alley. And finally, the devastating memory that her arms were gone.

Calm. Stay calm and assess the situation.

The training José had drilled into her kicked in automatically, even though her fatherly figure and mentor was long dead and she was no longer the street kid he'd tried to protect. He still left her a deep lesson for always knowing where you are, who's around you, and how to get out.

She opened her eyes carefully, not moving her head, and took in what she could see. Sunlight was streaming through expensive-looking curtains, hitting furniture that was way too nice for anywhere she'd ever lived. The bed she was in probably cost more than José's taco truck had made in a year if not multiple years.

Rich guy. Definitely rich.

But more importantly, there was someone else in the room.

Ren was slumped in a chair beside the bed, fast asleep. His dark hair was messy, and there were dark circles under his eyes like he hadn't slept properly in days. One hand was draped over the arm of the chair, the other resting on what looked like a medical tablet that was probably monitoring her vitals.

He stayed the whole night?

Luna studied his sleeping face, trying to read what kind of person she was dealing with. He looked young—maybe her age or a little older. His clothes were expensive but not flashy, and his hands had the kind of small scars and calluses that came from working with tools. An engineer, he'd said. That explained the expensive house and the equipment around the room.

But why would an engineer know how to do surgery?

The synthetic stomach thing still didn't make sense. That kind of technology was decades beyond anything available in Vaelthara, even in the best hospitals. Yet he'd talked about it like it was no big deal.

Who is this guy?

She watched him sleep for a few more minutes, cataloging details. He'd positioned the chair so he could see both her and the door—either paranoid or protective, maybe both. The medical tablet in his hand suggested he'd been monitoring her all night. And most importantly, she was still fully clothed in the same oversized shirt and pants he'd given her yesterday.

Relief flooded through her. She'd been unconscious and helpless in a stranger's house, and he hadn't touched her. Hadn't taken advantage. That wasn't something she'd experienced much in her life—people who helped without expecting payment.

José was the only one I knew, she thought, feeling the familiar ache in her chest. And now this guy.

She tried to shift position slightly and immediately regretted it. Moving without arms to balance herself was harder than she'd expected, and she ended up making more noise than intended.

Ren's eyes snapped open instantly, and Luna tensed up after waking him up.

Ahh... he woke up.

"Hey," he said softly mid-yawn, sitting up straighter. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better, thank you." Luna said, which was mostly true. The pain medication was working, and whatever experiment he'd done to her internally seemed to be functioning. "How long was I asleep?"

"Hmm..." Ren checked the medical tablet. "About ten hours. It's Friday morning now and your vitals look good. The synthetic organ is working properly."

Friday. She'd lost another day. Her being the leader of the Revolutionary Army, her people would be desperate to know where she was, but she'd trained them to lay low when operations went bad. They'd assume she was dead or captured and would activate contingency plans with her Legion Commanders taking charge.

Which means I'm on my own until I can contact them.

"Did you sleep at all?" Luna asked, now noticing how exhausted he looked.

Ren shrugged. "A little. I just wanted to make sure you were stable."

He watched over me all night. The thought made something warm and unfamiliar stir in her chest. When was the last time someone had cared enough to lose sleep over her wellbeing?

"Thank you," she said, and meant it.

"Are you hungry? Thirsty? I still have some broth from last night, and you should really eat something."

Luna's stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, which answered the question. But the thought of being fed like a child again made her face heat up.

"I can try to eat by myself," she said.

Ren looked skeptical. "Luna, you don't have arms. How are you planning to—"

"I don't know, okay?" The words came out sharper than she intended. "I... sorry, I just... this is all really hard."

Understatement of the century.

"I know," Ren said gently. "And I'll figure out better solutions. But right now, let me help you."

There was something in his voice—patient, kind, without a trace of condescension—that made Luna's defensive walls crack a little.

"Okay," she said quietly.

Ren left to get food, and Luna used the time alone to really examine the room. Everything looked expensive, the furniture looked custom-made, the electronics were all with Aperion brands the leading industry of the world, and even the lighting had that perfect, sunlight simulated ambient light that cost an unnecessary fortune to get. But it was all minimalist, clean, functional. No flashy displays of wealth, no ostentatious decorations.

What caught her attention were the walls. Covered in incredibly complex technical sketches—engineering diagrams, mechanical designs, what looked like blueprints for things she couldn't even identify. José had taught her to recognize basic security systems and mechanical weak points for sabotage, but this was beyond anything she'd learned. These drawings looked like they came from some advanced research facility if not from a sci-fi movie.

He's clearly loaded with money. And probably some kind of serious genius. I've seen some technical drawings before during our operations, but nothing this advanced.

When Ren returned with a bowl of soup and some bread, Luna couldn't help but stare at the walls again.

"What are all these drawings?" she asked.

Ren glanced at the sketches and looked a bit embarrassed. "Oh, those. I usually hole myself up in here when I want to rest, play games, or when I have ideas I need to work through before going down to build them in the garage. I kind of... cover the walls when I'm thinking. It helps a lot with inspiration"

A bedroom that doubles as a design studio. For someone who casually builds medical technology in his spare time.

Luna suddenly heard Ren sitting next to her and she felt her cheeks burning as the reality of eating hit her again. The room, the sketches, the casual mention of a garage workshop—everything pointed to Ren being way out of her league in terms of wealth and education. And here she was, needing him to feed her like a child.

"Here," Ren said, sitting closer on the edge of the chair. "I'll go slow."

He held the spoon to her lips, and Luna became hyperaware of everything—how close he was sitting, the gentle way he held the spoon, how his eyes focused on her mouth to make sure he wasn't going too fast. Her heart was beating faster than it should have been for something as simple as eating soup.

This is just eating. Why does it feel like something more?

But she'd never been this close to a guy her age before, never had someone take care of her with such gentle attention. Every time their eyes met, she felt her cheeks getting warmer.

Get it together. He's just helping.

But she'd never had proper contact with men, José had been like a father figure, and the few men in her revolutionary army were either much older or kept their distance out of respect for her position. She'd never had someone her own age taking care of her like this.

Ren seemed to notice her discomfort, and she caught him glancing at her face with concern—which made her blush even more because now she was aware that he was aware that she was blushing.

This is ridiculous. It's just soup.

"Is this okay? Am I going too fast?" he asked, and his voice was slightly different too—more careful, like he was also suddenly conscious of how intimate this was.

"No, it's fine," Luna said quickly, then immediately worried that she'd answered too fast and sounded flustered. "I'm just... not used to this."

"Not used to soup?" Ren asked with a small smile.

"Not used to someone feeding me by hand. Isn't that something only couples do?"

The retort slipped out before she could stop it, and she saw something shift in Ren's expression.

"Well," he said slowly with some embarrassment, "you'll be stuck with it for a while. At least until you're stronger to bear a prosthesis."

They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Luna found herself studying Ren's face when he wasn't looking directly at her. He had good features—strong jaw, intelligent eyes, the kind of face that probably made girls at whatever fancy school he'd attended pay attention. But there was something gentle about him that she wasn't used to in the rough men from the streets or the ones in the Revolutionary Army.

He could probably have anyone he wanted. Why is he wasting time taking care of me?

"Can I ask you something?" Luna said, very aware of how close he was sitting to feed her.

"Sure."

"Why are you being so nice to me? I mean, really. You don't know anything about me."

Ren paused with the spoon halfway to her mouth, and she saw something uncertain flicker across his face.

"Honestly?" he said. "I don't really know why I did it. It was... an impulse, I guess. I saw you dying and I just acted without thinking." He met her eyes. "But now that it's done, I'm going to take responsibility for you. Make sure you're okay."

Luna felt heat flood her cheeks at his words. Take responsibility for me. The way he said it, so matter-of-fact but protective, made something flutter in her chest that she didn't recognize.

"You don't have to do that," she said quietly.

"I will still do it."

Luna studied his face, looking for signs of deception or hidden motives. She'd gotten good at reading people over the years—it was necessary for survival and recruiting reliable revolutionaries. But Ren seemed genuinely sincere.

Either he's the best liar I've ever met, or he actually means it.

"I need to ask you something else," Luna said, feeling her face heat up again. "And it's... embarrassing."

"Okay."

"I need to, um, clean myself. Shower. But I can't..." She gestured with her shoulder toward where her arms should be.

Ren's face went slightly red too. "Oh. Right. I hadn't really thought about... practical things like that."

At least I'm not the only one embarrassed.

"I mean, I can help," Ren said quickly, then went even redder. "N- Not help help, just... I don't know. Figure something out."

Luna felt her face burning. The idea of him seeing her without clothes, of needing help with something so personal, was mortifying. But the alternative was staying dirty, and that wasn't really an option in the long run.

"Maybe I could just... skip it for a few days?" she suggested weakly.

"That's not healthy," Ren said. "Especially with your injuries. You need to stay clean to prevent infection, not to mention the needs of going to the toilet."

Of course he's right. She silently mourned

"What if I built something?" Ren said suddenly.

"Built something?"

"A mechanical solution. I could probably rig up a robotic arm specifically designed for washing. With some smart programming to help with the motions, I could have it done in about an hour."

Luna stared at him. "Programming?"

"Um, basically instructions for the machine to follow," Ren explained. "It would copy normal washing movements, but adjust for your specific needs."

Luna's mind went blank. "You're talking about building a robot. In an hour. To help me shower."

"Yeah, pretty much." Ren was already looking excited, like he was mentally designing it. "It's not that complicated when you break it down into parts."

Not that complicated. He thinks building robots isn't complicated. In Sector 7, the most advanced thing she'd seen was the Industrial Exoskeletons that some of the factory workers wore - and those were basically mechanical frames that you strapped on. This guy was talking about building a custom robot from scratch.

"You're dead serious?" Luna said weakly.

"Dead serious. Give me a bit, I'll do it in a jiffy." Ren was already standing up, practically bouncing with engineering enthusiasm. "I've got most of the parts downstairs, and the programming framework is something I've been working on anyway."

And with that, he was gone, leaving Luna staring after him in complete bewilderment.

In a jiffy. To build a custom robotic arm for one person's hygiene needs. Like it's no big deal.

"Who are you?" Luna asked when he paused at the door. "I mean, really. Normal engineers can't just... build robots in their spare time. Not even the best tech I've seen in government buildings comes close to what you're talking about."

Ren hesitated. "I'm just good at building stuff."

That's not really an answer. Luna thought as she deadpanned at him.

But Luna could tell he wasn't going to elaborate. Everyone had secrets, and she was hardly in a position to demand complete honesty from someone who was helping her so much.

"Okay," she said sighing. "If you can actually build something like that, I'll really be grateful. More grateful than I already am, which is... a lot."

"Don't worry about being grateful," Ren said with a slight smile. "But if you're really so hell-bent on repaying me, maybe you could stay as my maid when you're better."

Luna's face went bright red. "Your... your maid?"

"I'm joking!" Ren said quickly, looking embarrassed himself. "I was just... you keep talking about repaying me, and I... sorry, that was stupid."

Luna felt her heart do something strange at his flustered expression. He was teasing me. When was the last time someone felt comfortable enough to tease me?

"You're an idiot," she said, but she was smiling despite herself. "Go build your impossible robot."

"Right. Robot building. I'll get started after you finish eating."

They resumed the feeding process, but Luna's mind was racing. The synthetic organ, the advanced medical equipment, casual talk about building robots, and now joking around like they were... friends? Either she'd stumbled into the house of some kind of world-renown genius, or there was more to Ren than he was letting on. Maybe both actually.

Rich, technologically brilliant, and suspiciously well-equipped for medical emergencies. What are the odds?

But José had taught her to be practical above all else. Whatever Ren's story was, he was helping her. And right now, she needed all the help she could get.

"There," Ren said, offering her the last spoonful of soup. "How do you feel?"

"Full. Thank you." Luna paused. "Ren?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry if I seem... awkward about this. I've never really been around guys my age much. I don't really know how to act."

Why did I just admit that?

But Ren just smiled. "You don't need to act like anything. Just be yourself."

If only he knew who I really am.

"I'm going to go work on that washing solution," Ren said, standing up. "Will you be okay for a few hours?"

"I'll be fine."

But as Ren headed for the door, Luna felt a spike of anxiety. Being alone meant time to think, and thinking led to remembering what had happened. The mission. The explosion. Half her people scattered or dead.

I failed them. Completely.

"Ren?" she called out before he could leave.

"Yeah?"

"Could you... maybe leave the door open? I don't like being completely alone right now."

His expression softened. "Of course. And I'll check on you every hour or so, okay?"

He understands. He didn't ask me any question or make me explain.

"Thank you."

After some time that Ren left, Luna could hear the sound of machinery starting up somewhere below the house. True to his word, he was actually building something to help her.

This is insane. Who just builds custom robots for someone they met yesterday?

But as almost an hour had passed and the mechanical sounds continued, Luna found herself believing that maybe, impossibly, he really could do what he'd promised.

She dozed on and off, her body still recovering from the trauma. Every time she woke up, she could hear Ren working. The sound was oddly comforting—proof that someone was thinking about her needs, working to solve her problems.

When was the last time someone did that?

José, maybe. But even José had been training her to take care of herself. This was different. He was taking care of her like... like a couple? Her face went beet-red at the thought.

Around mid-afternoon, the mechanical sounds stopped. Luna heard footsteps from the bathroom, and Ren appeared in the doorway looking pleased with himself.

"Want to see what I built?" he asked.

Luna nodded, curious despite herself struggling to stand.

Ren helped her stand—another embarrassingly intimate process that involved him supporting her weight while she found her balance—and guided her toward what she assumed was the bathroom.

What she saw there made her stop and stare.

The shower had been completely transformed. A sleek robotic arm was mounted to the wall, with multiple joints and what looked like different attachments at the end. There was a padded area marked on the floor, and a control panel that seemed designed for foot operation.

"How does it work?" Luna asked, amazed.

"You step into the marked area, press the start button with your foot, and after sensing your body parts it follows a programmed sequence. Helping you remove your clothes, then soap, scrub, rinse, repeat. I programmed in different settings for hair washing too and even an extension of another hidden arm for whenever you need to go to the toilet."

Luna walked around the contraption, studying it from all angles. The engineering was incredible—elegant, functional, and clearly designed with care for the user's dignity.

"This is..." She struggled for words. "This is impossible. You built this in what, four hours?"

"Three and a half, actually. I'm pretty motivated when I have a clear problem to solve." He was beaming with energy after showing off, clearly enjoying her astonished expression.

No one is this good. No one.

"Ren, who are you really?" Luna asked skeptically. "This isn't normal. Engineers don't just casually build robots in their basements. I've seen the most advanced tech in government facilities during... during my time looking for work, and nothing comes close to this."

For a moment, she thought he might actually tell her. But then his expression shuttered slightly.

"I'm just someone who's good with machines and wants to help you," he said defensively. "Is that not enough?"

"Yeah, sorry..." Luna said seeing his defensiveness. I forgot we just met, with all the help he's been giving me... though her mind started spinning with possibilities. Could he be a Government contractor? Military engineer? Aperion Corporate researcher? The level of technology and resources suggested connections she couldn't even guess at..

Yet, whatever his secrets are, he's doing all this just to take care of me.

"Do you want to try it?" Ren asked somewhat excitedly. "I'll wait outside, obviously."

Luna's face went red again. "You're sure it'll work?"

"Positive. But if anything goes wrong, just yell. I'll be right outside the door."

This is really happening. I'm about to let a robot wash me because a strange guy built it in his basement.

"Okay," Luna said. "Let's try it."

Ren showed her how to operate the foot controls, explained the different settings, and double-checked that everything was working properly. Then he stepped outside and closed the door, giving her privacy.

Luna stood there for a moment, looking at the robotic arm and trying to process how her life had gotten so surreal. Three days ago, she'd been planning a mission to strike at the heart of Vaelthara's corrupt system. Now she was standing in a rich stranger's bathroom, about to trust her hygiene to a machine he'd just built specifically for her.

Come on. Focus on the present. You can figure out the rest later.

The robotic arm started up when she pressed the foot control, and to her amazement, it actually worked exactly as Ren had described.

The mechanical limb moved with surprising gentleness, removing her clothes in a swift motion, then it started washing her with precisely the right pressure and temperature. It was efficient, thorough, and somehow not as impersonal as she'd expected.

He programmed it to be gentle. He even thought of that for me.

When it was finished, Luna felt more alive than she had been since waking up in Ren's house. Clean, refreshed, and oddly touched by the unexpected care.

"How was it?" Ren called through the door.

"Perfect," Luna called back, and meant it. "It was perfect."

As she stood there in the bathroom, after the robot helped her dry and wear the clean clothes Ren had left for her, Luna realized something had shifted. When she woke up in his house she'd been prepared to be grateful for basic medical care and a safe place to recover at most. She hadn't been prepared for someone to anticipate her needs and immediately create solutions for them.

He's not just helping me survive. He's helping me live through this.

And that scared her almost as much as it comforted her.

Because Luna knew, deep down, that she was going to have to leave eventually. Her mission wasn't over—it was just delayed. Her people needed her, and the fight against Vaelthara's corrupt system was bigger than her personal comfort.

But for the first time in her life, Luna found herself wishing she could stay somewhere. Wishing she could be the person Ren seemed to think she was—just a girl who needed help, not a revolutionary leader with blood on her hands.

That's dangerous thinking. Focus on recovery, then figure out how to get back in contact with the army and see if they could get a solution for her arms... Could they?

Ren also offered her new arms, should she just take it? How could she even repay all his help?

But as she heard Ren moving around outside, probably preparing more food or checking on something intriguing again, Luna couldn't shake the feeling that leaving was going to be the hardest thing she'd ever done.

Come on, don't get attached. People like me don't get to keep nice things.

The problem was, it might already be too late for that warning.