Chapter 1: Temporary

Of all the people that Laxus Dreyar was expecting to walk through that door, Mirajane Strauss was not even in the top hundred.

"Gramps sent you?"

The woman only nodded as his usual deadpan gaze wasn't able to keep up against his surprise.

"Of course," she said with her usual chipper voice. He could tell though, just from looking at her, that she was a tad shocked at his state. "Who else would he send?"

"Freed," Laxus grumbled. "I requested-"

"You said no Thunder Legion."

"I said no Evergreen and Bickslow. Freed though could deal with this."

"Well, Freed's unavailable anyhow."

"Unavailable?"

Nodding, she said, "He's out on a solo job. Trying to impress for the upcoming S-Class trials. And he doesn't have a communication lacrima with him so-"

"I don't want you," Laxus grumbled. "At all. So-"

"Laxus, you need someone," she pointed out. "And you didn't want Master or your friends. There's not really anyone left to care for you."

"I don't need you to care for me. I just…had an accident."

"About that." Mirajane was all the way in the hospital room then, heading over to his bed. "Master Makarov said that you weren't too descriptive about what-"

"I don't need to be." Laxus was sitting up in bed, arms crossed over his chest as he looked off. It was so hard to come off as tough when he was wearing a hospital gown. "I just want someone I can trust to secure a few things for me."

"Secure?" Mira was rather confused then. "Master said that you were gravely injured and needed help getting back to Magnolia."

"I'm not going back to Magnolia."

"What? Laxus-"

"I can't."

"Why not? That's why I'm here," she insisted. "To help you…do something. What is that you need? How am I supposed to get you back? What's wrong with you?"

'"Nothing's wrong with me. I was just in an accident."

"That affected…"

He didn't say. Only stared her down before barking out, "You're here now, so I'm stuck with you, I guess."

"Aren't you just a grouchy old man today?"

Ignoring that as well, he said, "I need you to acquire me three things, Mirajane. A ground floor apartment, furniture for said apartment, and a discreet caretaker. Preferably female. With plump breasts. Not picky on much else about her. I enjoy blondes, but-"

"Laxus, what are you going on about?" If her brows were anymore furrowed, they would have become one. "Why would you need any of that? Are you not going back to Magnolia or something?"

Snort. "Just get me those things. I have a bank close to here. Go pull out some jewels and-"

"Why do you need a caretaker?"

"It's a poor wording choice," he grumbled. "I'm just going to have a hard time…adjusting and want someone there with me. This is why I needed Freed."

"Adjust to what?"

"None of your bus-"

"Laxus, just tell me what-"

"Oh, Mr. Dreyar. You finally have a visitor. And quite the pretty one at that."

Mirajane had been so focused on him that she almost jumped at the arrival of someone else. It was a nurse, from the looks of her, and she was pushing an unoccupied wheelchair into the room.

"Hi," Mira said slowly to which the older woman only smiled. Laxus only rolled his eyes at the sight of her however. "I'm-"

"I don't want to get out of bed," Laxus grumbled darkly then, speaking to the nurse instead of Mirajane. "So go away."

"Don't be like that," the woman encouraged, coming to a stop in front of his bed. Mira's eyes widened.

"Laxus, did you break your legs?" she asked softly, causing the nurse to glance at her.

"I-I'll give you two a minute," she was quick to say then, embarrassment evident on her face. "But I will be back, Mr. Dreyar. Perhaps your friend here can encourage you to give the chair a try, huh?"

There was an awkward beat then, as the nurse left the room. The second that they were alone though, Mira pounced on him. Before, when the Master had asked her to come get him, curiosity and her drive for gossip had driven her to agree (not to mention her love and veneration of the old man). At that moment, however, Mirajane was legitimately concerned.

"What happened?" she asked as he only scowled. "Honestly, just tell me. Did you break both of them? And when can you get out of here? And go home? You-"

"I'm not going back home," he grumbled. "Not like this."

"What? Just because you broke your legs?"

"I didn't break my legs, Mira." And then, agitated beyond belief, he threw back the blankets on his bed, revealing his legs to her. They very much so weren't in casts.

"Then why-"

"I can't move them."

"W-What?"

Laxus leveled his gaze with her. "I was fighting. And I over did it. I fell. And hurt my back. I'm paralyzed." Then he growled. "Well don't cry about it! What good will that do?"

"I can't help it," she sobbed. "Laxus, did this-"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"I have to get in touch with Master," she was saying then as she tried her hardest to quell her sobs. It wasn't easy. "And I have to figure out how to get you home and what we're going to do with you when you get there. You can live with Master, I guess. I'm sure that he'll be fine with that. Of course he will be. And-"

"Shut up."

"I'm only trying to-"

"Shut," he growled, covering himself over once more, "up. I wanted Freed. Not you. I'm trying to make due. But if you keep poking holes in things-"

"What have I done, Laxus?" Her tears were free flowing then. "I was only-"

"Stop crying."

"I can't!"

He wasn't good with tears. And, fine, he was upset with the woman (or misdirecting his anger towards her), but she was still just that; a woman.

"Look," he huffed then, crossing his arms once more. "I just need those three things. I'll be getting out of the hospital soon. So please, Mirajane, one mage to another, just get me my stuff, huh?"

"I have to at least tell your grandfather. I mean-"

"No," he grumbled. "You don't. And damn it, Mira, if you let this spread-"

"You're going to have to let others know eventually," she told him as she continued to wipe at her eyes. The room he was in had a second cot in it, but another patient hadn't been put into the room yet, so Mira went to take a seat on the edge of that one. Her head was spinning.

What did this all mean? Laxus was…paralyzed. From the waist down. Which meant that he couldn't get around anymore. Or be a mage. And it was now riding on her shoulders to get him through it.

Okay. Alright. Uh...she had to have some sort of plan for this. She was Mirajane Strauss. She could brighten anyone's day. And she and Laxus, they had some history. They grew up together. And sure, their friendship (only she would be foolish enough to give it that much status) hadn't always been on the best of terms, but what did that matter? They were two of the top mages in Fairy Tail. He was the grandson of the man she admired more than anyone. And if it was up to her to get him in higher spirits, then dang it, Mirajane would. She had to.

"No." Laxus didn't even glance at her. "I won't."

"So what? You're just going to hole up here forever?"

"Not forever." He swallowed then, rather visibly. "The doctor said I might be able to do some spinal surgeries. They're looking into it. It's not forever. So don't fucking say it is."

"Sorry." More sniffles. "I just think that I have to tell Master-"

"You will tell no one." And that was final. "And you see my duffle bag over there? Sitting in that chair? It's got my wallet. Pull out my bankcard, get as many jewels out of the bank as you need to get me my place. Even a hotel for now, if you can't find one."

"Laxus, don't you think maybe-"

"No, Mirajane. I don't think. At all. About anything other than you doing what I tell you to."

She was staring at him then, so hard that he had to return the gaze. When he did, she said, "This is just so much of a shock, Laxus. I mean, I thought I was coming here to…I don't know. I really wasn't sure. I thought you were sick or something. But this-"

"I'm fine," he grumbled. "Now get gone. Before that annoying nurse comes back. And remember, I want the woman that stays with me to have-"

"Laxus, honestly."

"Just get gone," he said, frowning over at her. "And don't blab about this to anyone. Sheesh. I can't believe the old geezer sent me you. You can't keep anything hush-hush."

"That's not true!" Just like that, her tears were gone. "Honest, Laxus. If you don't want me to tell anyone-"

"I don't."

"-then I won't." She even crossed her arms, taking her turn to look off. "You should have a little bit more faith in me. I mean, come on. We've only known one another since forever."

"Yeah, Mira. I know you," he agreed. "And it's because I know you that I know there's no way-"

"I won't," she said as she got to her feet then, "tell anyone. And if you want me to rent you an apartment, fine. Furniture too. It'll all be ready for you when you get out of here."

"Great."

"I still think though that you should at least tell your grandfather. Or the Thunder Legion. They-"

"Take the money and get gone." He wasn't in the mood for her. At all. His life was going into shambles and he had to put up with Mirajane? No. Just no.

"When should I be back for you?" she asked as she went over to the duffle bag he'd mentioned before, snagging his wallet. "Laxus?"

"I get out of here in four days, so then. Or have my woman you're gettin' for me to pick me up." Then he paused. "On second thought, no. I don't want her to see me like this. I'mma need you to stick around till then. Got it?"

Mirajane only sighed. "Got it."

Settling back into his cot, Laxus said, "And Mira?"

About to the door then, Mirajane paused to glance back at him. "What?"

It took a moment, but slowly, he said, "It's really not forever. Or whatever. So don't worry about it. 'cause I definitely ain't."

It wasn't like Mira couldn't hear it in his voice, the way that he was trying less to convince her and more to convince himself into believing that. Because she did hear it. Very well. There just wasn't anything she could do with him. Only nod, agree, and bid him a good day.

Then he was alone. Sigh. Laxus had spent many days alone since arriving at the hospital. He'd had doctors and nurses alike request some sort of contact information out of him, but there was no way that he was letting it slip to anyone in Fairy Tail that he was laid up the way that he was. Honestly, had he not needed someone to secure him a place to stay when he got released, he wouldn't have told the old man to send someone down in the first place.

Sheesh though. He knew that his grandfather adored Mirajane (if not in a slightly inappropriate way), but why the hell did he send her down to help him? The only person that might have been worse would have been Natsu. Or Erza. Or Gajeel.

Okay. So there were a few people that would have been worse. But definitely some better. And where the hell was Freed then? In his time of need? Huh?

As if his life wasn't in enough turmoil, that damn nurse was back, that time with a male nurse as well, no doubt both about to force him into that damn wheelchair.

What was even the point anymore?

"What are you doing here? I told you that I wouldn't be ready until-"

"I came to visit."

"Why?"

Mirajane only shrugged, coming over to Laxus' cot. "I brought you a few things. I know that people always say that hospital food isn't great, so I bought-"

"Why, Mira?" he repeated, frowning at the two sacks of things in her arms.

"I don't understand."

"Why would you buy me things? Or do things for me? I mean-"

"Because, Laxus," she said as she sat the bags down before bending over to pull some things out of them. "I'm here to look after you. Master sent me-"

"No," he said slowly. "You're here to get me an apartment. Have you even done that yet?"

"It's only been a day, Laxus."

"Have you?"

"I spent the rest of yesterday looking at one or two," she said, moving to drop a few magazines gently in his lap then. "Here. Some reading material. I wasn't sure if you read books or not, but I can get you a few of those too, if you'd like."

"I don't want your charity, woman," he groused. "So-"

"And," Mirajane went on as she pulled something else out. "I bought you a box of cookies. And I got a to go plate at a steak place for you-"

"Steak?" Well, not all charity was bad charity. "That sounds nice."

"Mmmhmm."

He moved to set his magazines to the side then, on the little table next to his bed. "And you're waiting on giving it to me, why?"

Grinning, she sat that in his lap next. Laxus frowned though when he unwrapped the plate to find, yes, some potatoes and corn, but that his steak was cut into pieces.

"Uh, Mirajane-"

"Hmmm?" She was pulling some other things out of the bag then. "Laxus?"

"Did you…cut my steak?"

"Mmmhmm."

"Why?"

"Well," she said slowly. "I know that your legs are hurt, but I had no idea about your arms. I mean, sure, I'd seen you move them and things, but I didn't know how weak you are or-"

"I am not," he growled, "weak. So don't fucking say that."

Setting a baggie of candies down next to the magazines, she hardly glanced at him. "I was just being precautionary. It was no trouble, anyways."

"Yeah, well-"

"Can you feed yourself? Or-"

"Are you serious?" Now she'd pissed him off. "Of course I can feed myself, Mira. Stop acting like I've-"

"I just meant-"

"No, I know what you meant. You think that I'm some sort of invalid that just sits here in his own filth, waiting for idiots like you to come and do shit for me. Well, I don't. So get out."

"Laxus-"

"Get out." He was hissing then and Mirajane saw his eyes flash. For the seething anger type, he sure seemed pissed at her then. Of course, it hadn't occurred to Mirajane before then all the stereotypes that Laxus had worked himself into over the whole thing. All the stuff that he assumed others would think about him. And she'd just offered up one of the biggest one.

He wasn't helpless. At all. And for her to suggest that triggered something in him. All those days he'd spent in the hospital, trying to come to terms with things, and he was finding out that it didn't matter. Whatever he thought of himself or even the things that he was very capable of doing didn't matter. People would always think that he couldn't do things and now he was a loser and what was the point? What was the point?

"I'm sorry." Mira was actually staring at him then, her blue eyes even rounder than usual, if possible. She knew she'd really offended him. "I just didn't-"

"I said to get out! You stupid woman. Get away from me. Now."

She probably was going to cry over the whole thing. He could tell, just from the way that her face crumpled. And had she started in front of him, he might have caved some. As it was though, she was able to get out of the room before the tears began to flow, saving him from feeling any guilt. He was too worked up.

Mira didn't get it. He'd laid around in bed for weeks at that point, hoping against hope, and for someone like her to come around, just handing him out sympathy, was just annoying. She had no idea what he was going through. And her doing things for him just was not something he was interested in.

He ate the steak though. Of course. And Mira had gotten something right, at least, in the way he liked his steak. And the cookies were great. He couldn't have too many of them though. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to walk for the foreseeable future he knew he'd have to watch his diet. He'd be at a disadvantage already, appearance wise, with his wheelchair. And a fat Laxus is an unappealing one. Still leagues above other men, of course because, well, he'd still be Laxus Dreyar, the Thunder God, but just not to the same magnitude.

Honestly, Laxus wasn't even expecting to see Mirajane again. He figured it was just as well. That she'd run back to Magnolia, still upset, blab to the Master, and Makarov and co. would be where he was in no time.

Instead, an hour before visiting hours were up, the she-devil showed back up, with another plate of food. His dinner, it seemed. There was a smile plastered on her face and she made no mention of their disagreement before. And if she wasn't gonna bring it up, well, he sure as hell wasn't going to either.

"Why did you bring me this?"

"You need to eat, Laxus," she said as she pulled a chair up to his cot. He still didn't have a roommate (the guy he'd had for the past week or so had just gotten released two days before), so they were alone. "And I just thought that you would want some company. I can leave if you-"

"Have you found me a place yet?"

"I've looked, but-"

"Mirajane-"

"I have a place picked out that I think you'll like," she said slowly. "It's on the ground floor, has one bedroom-"

"What's the furniture situation?"

"It's bare," she admitted. "But I think I can get you a mattress and stove quickly. And a couch, maybe. I mean, it's not very big, but this is only temporary. Right?"

He sure hoped so.

"If you rent it in your name," he told her then, "I'll take care of everything else. The rent and stuff."

"Of course, Laxus."

"Have you looked into my woman yet?"

That one made her frown. "You could phrase that a tad better, you know."

"Why?"

"You make it sound like I'm getting you a…a…"

"Please," he snorted. "As if I need one of those. You looked at me lately, woman? I don't grovel or pay for-"

"I don't want to talk about this."

Another snort. "Yeah, well, just get on it, huh? Getting me someone to help me out? It'll just be for awhile."

"I'll do my best."

If he hadn't been expecting her that night, he wasn't the next morning either. Or that afternoon. Or that night. Each time, she came bearing a meal and another trinket or two to keep his time in the hospital occupied and his spirits high. He'd hand it to her, she was upbeat about the whole thing. Never once mentioned his…predicament. And a few times even got him to go for a ride around the hospital in his wheelchair with her pushing. It felt just as demeaning as he thought it would be. With the nurses, at least it wasn't anyone he knew. But Mirajane…

That wasn't even the most mortifying moment during her hospital visits. No, that came that final day, just before they were going to release him. Mirajane was with him in the room, going to take him to the apartment they'd settled upon after, when she just came out with it.

"This has been bothering me, but, um," she began, clearly nervous. "Laxus?"

"What?" He was flipping through a magazine then and hardly glanced up.

"Is this a bedpan situation? Or-"

He about choked. "What?"

"It's just a question."

Glaring over at her then, he growled, "If you're asking if my equipment still works, yes. Very well thank you."

"Oh, gross. No. I just meant… Can you take yourself to the bathroom? I mean, is it just a sitting down thing or-"

"I don't want to talk about this," he grumbled, going back to the magazine. "So shut up."

"Sorry."

Sheesh.

Upon release, a nurse wheeled him out of the hospital, but it was Mirajane that took over from there. She claimed that the apartment wasn't fair and she could just push him there.

"This is so embarrassing," he grumbled, his duffle bag in his lap as he glared out at all passersby. "Everyone's looking at me."

"Usually you love that."

"Shut up, Mirajane."

Giggling, she said, "You're just paranoid. Besides, Laxus, didn't you say that it was only temporary?"

He couldn't help it then as he swallowed.

"Yeah." His voice was hollow. "It's just temporary."

"One thing I don't get," she said slowly. "Is why not do the surgery now? I mean-"

"Medical history is private," he grumbled. "And so are bathroom issues."

"Oh, Laxus."

It took longer to get there than Laxus would have liked. Mirajane though never complained once about having to wheel him there. And, true to form, he was not impressed with it. At all.

"It's a dump."

"It's not a dump," she said after they'd keyed into his apartment. "It's-"

"A dump," he concluded. "Even the hall was a dump. The front of the building. This won't do! I'm the Thunder God! And look at this couch. You spent my money on this couch? Why would you buy this ugly-"

"It was the only couch with a pull out in it that I could find," she told him simply as, when she let go of his wheel chair, he took over with the wheeling, looking around as he was at it.

"And why," he hissed as he peeked into the open kitchen connecting to the living room, "would I need one of those?"

"For your caretaker."

Snort. "She won't be stayin' on that stupid thing."

"Oh? I thought you told me you wanted a live in?"

He stopped rolling around then before turning his neck to look back at her.

"I do," he grumbled. "But she's gonna be taking up residence in my room. This lame apartment does have a bedroom, don't it? You told me that it-"

"It does."

"Then-"

"But she won't be staying in there."

"Oh? And why the hell not?"

Mirajane gave him a look. "Because it takes a lot more to get me in bed, mister."

He blinked. Then he frowned. His neck was starting to hurt, from staring over his shoulder, but he hadn't really gotten the hang yet of turning his wheelchair around.

"What are you saying?"

"What do you think I'm saying?" She began to grin then, slowly. He could hardly even breathe as she said her next words. "I'm going to take care of you, silly."

Just something that came to me. Five to ten, like usual. Probably closer to ten, but we'll see. More cutesy than what it appears to be. Trust me. After all, with Mira playing nursemaid, it'd be hard for it not to be.