She was the happiness in his life. She meant so much to him. She was his world. And yet, here she was, dying in his arms. Her tear-stained cheeks showed off her slight dimples as she smiled at him. She whispered into his ear. He repeated what she had said back to her.
Who knew that three words would make his day, but at the same time, kill him? I. Love. You. He wasn't crying at the moment, but he ached inside, wishing their positions were swapped. It was then that he had come to the realization. He would've die for her.
He held her close, telling her to please don't die, to please not leave him, and it'll be okay, the sky dragonslayer would be coming soon. He refrained from cussing. He knew she hated that. The sky dragonslayer did come, but by then she was clinging to life by a single thread that was fraying, threatening to break at any given moment.
How could she be so brave?, he wondered. She was packing her bags and getting ready to leave Earthland, yet she was smiling, making a noise that sounded like a ghost of a laugh.
The sky dragonslayer tried, and did improve the dire situation, but informed that her condition was bad and to not get hopes up. His heart constricted. She could die, still. Even magic couldn't help her now.
He picked her up from the ground of the cave and rushed her to the Magnolia Emergency Room. The guild came. The guild knocked. He wouldn't let them in. The guild protested. He didn't care.
This could be the last time he would see her alive. He pushed away the thought. He couldn't let her go. He wouldn't let her go.
He probably deserved this. He had killed countless people. He had been tainted by the force of evil. She didn't deserve this, though.
She was asleep. He held her hand. He kissed her forehead, whispering her a fairy tale. He stayed with her, even when the nurse insisted he leave.
She stirred only once, and not for very long. She grabbed onto his arm, pleading for him to stay. He nodded. He had planned on staying, anyways. His Exceed visited him. The Exceed dropped off food. The Exceed left. He didn't eat. He was too worried. He slept there. He loved her. He wouldn't deny it anymore. Her light blue hair had gotten considerably messy, and it made him flash his toothy grin. He was a dragonslayer, tough as nails, and her was his mate, a fragile thing. A fragile thing that he loved.
He stayed with her before he was banished to his home. He wasn't happy with it, but what could he do? He sat on his couch, playing with useless pieces of iron, fiddling his fingers, sleeping. He couldn't stop thinking about her.
Days went by. No word about her. Even the guild was clueless. He was growing more and more agitated. He went to the hospital, and demanded answers, but got none. He was kicked out of the hospital for breaking rules and disobeying the doctor. Being kicked out meant one thing. He couldn't go visit her. He growled. He shouldn't have asked her to go on that mission. At the time, it seemed like fun to spend time with her. He didn't realize she could die. He refused to take care of himself, even if the Exceed was nagging him. She came first.
Pretty soon, his spiky black hair was matted into knots, and he reeked of sweat. The Exceed put his foot down.
He obeyed, thankfully. When he got out, he was surprised to hear a familiar voice and smell a familiar scent. He ran to her. He smiled, calling her one of her infamous nicknames. She laughed, and jumped into his arms, crying hysterically.
He kept her there. He had been so close to losing her. It wouldn't happen again. He let out tears of his own, while the Exceed watched them, beaming.
He belonged to her. She belonged to him.
Thanks so much for reading! ~missfanvergent