Author's Note- I am an idiot. Summer was the continuation of War. Why didn't I say that in Summer? Because I am an idiot who forgot.

Here's the surprise- I have TWO entries for Falling.

Day 6- Falling- Pain

the most dangerous lover is one who greets pain with a smile

Pain.

There was a time she hated pain.

There was also a time she endured pain for her friends, for her family.

Then came the pain of losing her. Aquarius. And it was gone just as swiftly as a wave.

Now, she welcomes, even embraces pain.

Its sick, twisted really, how she lets the pain wash over her. It drives her, makes her feel alive, gives her a temporary respite from the numbness that has consumed her. It keeps the loneliness that haunts her at bay, something which the chemicals coursing through her bloodstream sometimes fails to do.

And she is tired, so tired of always being so empty.

Pain.

He was no stranger to pain. His father inflicted pain on him on a daily basis. He was a fighter, pain was mandatory. Physical pain was his friend, his companion.

He had experienced other forms of pain too. He was removed from his family, and it hurt. It was his fault, but that didn't make the suffering any easy. He saw his friends experience pain, and that hurt too.

The dissolution of the guild hurt on a whole another level.

But it was this pain, this heart wrenching hurt, that threatened to break him.

He remembered the time he really noticed her. She was starlit, gentle. Her half smirks and mischievous eyes lost on everyone. Everyone except him. So accepting, constantly smiling, forever cheerful.

She took and she took. Opened her arms to even the biggest enemies. So soothing. Tranquil. Constant.

But then he saw her roused, and rage he couldn't believe she was capable of overtook her. Eyes blazing, she sparked; bright and burning. She gave as good as she got. Determined to save the one's she loves. To make sure they don't hurt.

Ready to give her own being for them. Sacrifices did not mean anything to her if she could ensure the well being of her family.

So seeing her that day had been one of the biggest shocks of his life.

Laxus met her in a shady bar, a place he didn't she would ever be seen at. She ordered harsh drinks and downed them instantly. He went up to her, greeted her. And stared.

Her eyes were dead.

She kept up her front. Smiled, laughed and teased. And when she was inhibited, it seemed more real. But never enough. He could see through her façade.

She seemed the most alive when they crashed on each other's lips with bruising force. Then he left, scared of doing something he might regret.

But the next night, he found himself there again. Curiosity killed the cat. Next to her. Ordering drinks for them. She drank, and drank. She tried to find happiness at the end of her glass.

And their lips found each other's again.

This time he was intoxicated as well. He slammed her into the alley wall, and saw a glimmer of life. Claiming her then and there; lost in their rough, demanding, painful coupling.

Later he cursed himself.

It became their pattern. Drink, and then somehow reach her apartment. And once done, when she is fast asleep on their sweat soaked bed, overwhelming rush of anguish took over him. Guilt threatened to drown him.

His eyes traced her body, drinking in her features, following every broken crevice. His mind lingered on what she used to be.

A blazing bonfire snuffed out to a single flame.

And he wondered why.

to be human is to be broken, and broken is it's own kind of beautiful

Everyday becomes the same. Days start merging. Has it been a week? A month? More?

She doesn't know. She doesn't care either.

She revels in every touch. She aches for him so acutely, wants him so desperately, and yearns for him so deeply that it hurts. And pain, is welcome.

She likes it so badly.

She loves the way pain washes out everything, makes her forget, even if it is a temporary reprive. And when it's done, the alcohol takes her away.

Sometimes she think of breaking the monotomy which keeps her sane. To try to live. To stop caring. But then the numbness catches up with her, and her hands automatically reach for the liquid to drown it all out.

Because if she didn't, the memories would come back again.

He asked her, questioned her. And he put the pieces together. A picture formed, a picture that disgusted him. And he was a part of the image.

The worst part was that he didn't even bother asking till it was too late.

She sacrificed Aquarius to keep her family alive. The same family that left her soon after that.

The horror overtook him. He finally understood her behaviour. She was hurting, in pain. Her spirits visited him when she was asleep. Requesting that he look after her.

He provided comfort in every way possible. He told her sweet lies of a bright future, he kissed her consciousness away.

But then he did something that he hadn't planned to do.

His hands held her's. Cupped her face. Wrapped around her waist. His hands, the one's that teetherd her to this land for a while longer.

He changed. Something was different. He started restricting her booze. He stopped the harsh, ferocious kisses. He didn't let her sate her hunger. He didn't let her hurt the way she wanted.

He made her live.

He made her go out. He took her to new places. He showed her new things. He introduced her to new sounds. He let her taste new flavours. He made her see the world, in all its beauty.

He made something flutter in the dried husk of her heart.

But one day, the dreams came back. The one she had locked away under all the chemical haze. And she relapsed.

One night, before he started correcting her habits, she looked into his eyes. She was drunk, very. Her caramel held his blue. Her mouth parted, and words flew.

"Don't fall in love with me."

He inquired the reason.

"Love requires eternity."

Tears flowed down her cheeks, and he kissed them. Her eyes were alive, the spark of the past burning, captivating him.

"I can't give you eternity, Laxus. Death will win."

He embraced her, letting her sweet scent wash over him. He felt her weak, tired heart beats.

"Death also demands eternity."

And that night, he realised. He would do anything for this woman. He would erase her pain. He would give her a new life.

Her pain was breaking him.

And if she still kept falling down that downward spiral to doom, he would fall with her.

He would give her his eternity.

So when she gave in to the alcohol seeping into her system, he murmured.

"I love you Lucy."

For he had fallen for her.

if love strikes you, let it rattle your bones, and if it kills you, so be it.

for death is always invited in the presence of beauty.

The quotes are by the extraordinary RM Drake! Check out his Instagram, it's amazing.

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