I do not own anything. I'm just translating
Song name Abrazame by the Camila group
HUG ME
By: Wind
She felt desperate…
It seemed her mind was completely disconnected from her body…
She trembled even as she tried to stop the spasms…
Her hands sweated and for moments jolted unconsciously…
The whole body seemed terribly heavy to her as if it were nailing itself to the ground with each step.
Her eyes- now reddened- stung…
The air she breathed seemed painfully thick and at times insufficient.
And even with all this… she kept running…
Walking through corridors of too bright white and with the smell of detergents and disinfectants permeating every corner of the walls and floors.
As she continued her desperate journey, the different sounds- natural for a hospital- unpleasant and desperate came to her from unknown people who moaned, cried, screamed…
Suffering…
Even though she didn't want to think about it, even though she tried with all her strength she was able to muster those moments to banish the idea from her mind, she was overcome by mental and physical exhaustion.
Then that terrible word popped into her head.
Dying…
Not caring about any TSAB rules, she asked Raising Heart to locate Hayate or any of her acquaintances inside the building.
The small sphere shone for an instant and it informed her with its mechanical voice that everyone was on the 3rd floor of the place.
Without knowing how it had been possible, she increased the pace of her career, she did not care that the nurses and doctors yelled at her that it was forbidden. She only cared about crossing that place infested with disease and death and finding an explanation for the feeling of infinite pain and despair that it didn't let her breathe.
When she stopped in front of the metal doors of the elevator and pressed the button to call it, it seemed to her that the seconds passed with a speed of vertigo and the damn doors did not open.
She turned and speed towards the emergency stairs a few meters from her.
In one blow she entered them and began to ascent as fast as she could.
She climbed the remaining steps in a breath and ceding to the bustle of the corridors on the 3rd floor of the Hospital, a familiar figure in the distance made her beg her tired body to make one last effort.
With one last sprint, she reached the young woman who was leaning against the wall with a gloomy expression that only made her pulse quicken even more.
"Hayate"- she shouted, taking the Commander by the arms and shaking her impatiently while she continued to stare at the cobblestones.
"Answer me! What happened?!"- her look was pleading, she needed to know what was happening, why was it that her friend had such a pale and emaciated face?
Hayate Yagami's eyes became glassy, evident that the tears were present in her eyes and while she tried to make her brain put together the puzzle that everything had become, the touch of strong hands moving her away from the brown-haired girl made her turn, bumping into each other with a pair of eyes a darker blue than her own.
"Signum…"- she managed to articulate, hoping that it would be enough for the warrior to understand her desperate plea, but to her absolute surprise, the orbs avoided her, although in the few seconds that she could observe them they seemed empty, without the same spark that she felt. She had seen since she had known her, even sad as if they could break at any moment and with a single sigh.
Then her heart seemed to break a little, just like the Sword Warrior's eyes.
Because she had never seen the pink-haired woman like this.
And that scared her…
When she tried to find the strength to ask again what was happening to the woman in front of her, she seemed to be alarmed by something and she didn't know why until she saw a gray door open and giving way to Shamal who seemed about to faint.
The doctor held on to the door frame until Signum approached and gently held her arms, her violet eyes met the blue ones of the young mage.
With an effort she approached her- followed by Signum- and spoke to her with her maternal tone of voice but somewhat broken, it seemed as if she had been crying.
"Nanoha, I need you to be strong…"- she paused to take a breath and at the same time calming herself. "Fate was injured while she was on a mission, apparently the enemies set a trap for her…"- this time the leader of the Belka Knights supported a hand on her shoulder trying to make her partner remember that they didn't have time for explanations. "She…she's very delicate…"
The blonde's voice seemed to break again and taking a deep breath, she recovered her look full of professionalism, after all a doctor could not be weak because she had to support the family of her patients.
Even if this patient was the girl she watched grow up from when she was 8 years old
"She will recover, right Shamal? Everything will be fine, right?"- she begged internally for the doctor to answer her with a calm smile and tell her "don't worry, everything will be fine", but when she looked into her eyes she saw how they broke, just like with the leader of Belka, causing the crack in her heart to become even longer and deeper.
Much painful…
"The damage she received was very serious, we haven't been able to do much to help her…magic doesn't work with wounds of that magnitude"- she answered with a strangled voice, it seemed she was making an enormous effort to not cry.
For an instant her brain did not understand what the warrior of the Lake had just told her, then, when everything made sense, she began to shake her head, with her eyes wide open and praying that everything was a terrible nightmare that she would wake up and see Fate safe and sound giving her that smile that was only for her and she would tell her about her dream and the Enforcer would laugh saying something like "What an imagination of yours, Nanoha"
Please let it be a dream, please let it be a dream, please let it be a dream…
"I'm sorry Nanoha…"
"No, no, no. no, No, No, NO! "- she began to scream as she covered her ears with both hands. Trying to make that nightmare disappear.
Slap!
Suddenly she felt an intense pain in her cheek and unconsciously placed a hand on the red cheek, then she looked in front of her, at Vita with her hand raised, it seemed that the small warrior had slapped her.
"Why…"- she couldn't finish her question when she felt how the redhead gave her a good push that made her lose her balance and fall to the floor.
When she barely got up the small girl grabbed her by the white shirt of her uniform and yelled at her furiously.
"Listen to yourself Nanoha! Denying like a little girl and being scared as if that would magically cure Fate!"- she took a breath and released her tight fist. She pointed to the door they were in front of.
"She is in that room fighting exhaustion and pain just to be able to see you and you are wasting that valuable time with nonsense! Reaction to!"
When she finished she released her roughly and turned her back on her, feeling too angry and helpless to control herself as she walked a few steps and smashed her fist against the wall.
"She's in that room fighting exhaustion and pain just so she can see you…!"
The words repeated themselves over and over in her head an endless echo and she smiled sadly as she realized that Vita was quite right.
She must take advantage of the little or much time she had with the young Enforcer.
As if she could read her mind, Signum added, "Lindy-san, Chrono, and the others have already seen her, the only thing missing is you"
Hayate, who had remained silent the entire time, walked over and gently pushed her towards the door.
"She wants to see you, don't make her wait any longer"
She looked at her friend for a moment, then turned to look at each of the Belka Knights who were with her and gave them a sad smile.
She walked a bit and stopped with one hand on the doorknob, hesitant.
"Nanoha?"
"Is there…is there…any hope that…she…"
The Lake Knight looked at the floor for a few seconds before answering the girl, she knew it would be useless to lie to her.
"As I told you, magic cannot heal wounds of its magnitude, however medically we have done everything possible…"- she let out a long sigh as she saw the young magician watching her out of the corner of her eyes, waiting. "She had very little chance of getting better…"
"But then…she has it, doesn't she?"- she interrupted her, turning around completely to face her, letting the desperation she felt show on her face.
"Yes she does"- she answered, while her hand was gently taken by Signum, giving her strength, and the copper-haired nodded quietly.
"Thank you, Shamal…"
Without further turning, she slowly opened the door.
She walked unsteadily until she fully was inside, leaving the bustle of the hallways behind her.
Feeling her heart beating wildly, she stopped near the closed door and looked at the bed and the appliances in the center of the room, the same white she had seen in the corridors and unfortunately, she thought, with the same smell.
She moved a little close, feeling scared as she had never been in her life.
You have to know that it's the last thing to ask for,
I'm desperate and according to my heartbeat
I don't have much time left in my favor…
On the bed with her eyes closed, and as pale as a ghost, was Fate. Nanoha involuntarily put a hand to her mouth feeling herself shake by the scene her eyes saw.
The young blonde was connected by several devices, she didn't know what was most of them, she could only identify the one with the heartbeat which marked an alarmingly low rate.
She also had several bags of medicine, serum, and blood that went directly to one of her arms.
But what surprised her the most was the fact that her friend's body was almost completely bandaged, or at least what the sheets that covered her revealed.
She had both arms bandaged, her left hand, even her neck, and her head bandage was stained scarlet red. She could still see some of the blows the young woman had taken in the fight and that the doctors had not covered with gauze.
She carefully walked over to the chair by the side of the bed and sat down, not wanting to wake the injured one.
Bip, bip, bip, bip, bip, bip
The rhythm of the machine increased a bit, worrying the white mage who had come to see what was wrong with Fate and at that moment she found a pair of burgundy pairs that looked at her with affection.
And before I lose sight of my path,
I want to look at you a little
And dream that destiny
It is with you, my love.
"Na…noha"- she pronounced slowly, reflecting in her voice the tiredness she felt.
With much effort, the Enforcer smiled at her, one that told her that she was happy to see her again…but it was also one that made all of Nanoha's willpower break into pieces and she burst into tears like a little girl in her friend's lap.
"I-I sorry F-Fate-c-chan"- sobbed the copper-haired, but the only answer she received was the hand of her friend slowly caressing her hair.
They were silent for a moment while Nanoha regained her strength to look the blonde in the eyes again, although she didn't know what she could say to her, it wasn't that she could start a conversation with something like "Hey! They said you have a 98% chance of dying too bad, right?", but at that moment her ideas were interrupted by Fate's soft voice.
"Nanoha, please…I want…you to be calm…I don't like…that you're crying because of…me…"
BIP, BIP, BIP, BIP, BIP…
The rhythm on the monitor next to her began to increase rapidly, the white mage hastily backed away as her companion removed her hand from her head and gripped the sheets tightly, squeezing her eyes shut and fighting the groans of pain that did not escape from her mouth.
"Fate-chan!"
Seeing that the small attack that the Enforcer was suffering did not subside, she got up and thought of calling Shamal to help her, but a grip on her wrist stopped her. She turned and found the injured girl who was breathing deeply trying to calm down.
"No…please"- she begged, seeing the bewildered expression of the white mage. "If you call them…they won't let me…see you again…"
"But Fate-chan…!"
"Please Nanoha…stay with me"
Stay a second here
To keep me company
And stay a little longer
I was to feel you mine
At the blonde's request her eyes glazed over again but this time she didn't let the tears come out, she had to be strong to support her friend.
I have to be strong for both…
A warm hand gently caressed her cheek, the owner of that hand tried to get up with an effort, but the only thing she got was the already bleeding wound on her head hurt more.
Nanoha immediately looked around for something to clean the trickle of blood that had dripped down her neck, turning the fabric of the bandage red.
She took a bit of gauze that she found in a drawer and gently cleaned the dark liquid, being aware of the penetrating gauze of her friend who did not lose sight of her, she felt as if she was asking her for something.
Finally, without really knowing what to do, she got up on the bed and made herself comfortable next to Fate, who immediately snuggled against her body very carefully and rested her head against Nanoha's shoulder.
"I remember that at the beginning, when we just met you didn't like me getting so close to you"- the INstructor commented with a small smile adorning her lips and letting her head rest against the back of the bed.
"It wasn't that…I didn't like it"- said the blonde. "It's just…I wasn't…used to it…"
"Used to it?"- asked the copper, while she watched her friend smile.
"To be loved…"- she finally explained.
The white mage passed an arm around the shoulders of the young woman and attracted her a little more to her body, she didn't know how much time they had left together and she wanted- with all her strength- that the head that enveloped her body at this moment would never leave.
And hug me… and hug me…
And hug me… and hug me…
The only sound that was heard for a few minutes was the rhythmic sound of the monitor next to her, both young women enjoyed the warmth they shared and their company.
"Nanoha?"
"What's wrong, Fate-chan?"- asked the magician, separating a few centimeters to be able to see the face of her friend.
"Where are the others?"
"Others? Do you mean Hayate and her guardians?"
The blonde nodded, still resting on her shoulder and remained silent waiting for the answer.
"Mmmm, well, everyone was outside the room, waiting to know how you're doing"
Fate snuggled closer to Nanoha while she turned to face her and gently held her healthy hand caressing it in small circles with one of her fingers.
"Are you worried about something, Fate-chan?"
"Hayate looked bad when she came to see me"- she answered and the copper remembered the gloomy countenance that her friend had when she arrived at the hospital. "Signum seemed very, very sad like all the Belka Knights…"- she spoke with a lower and lower tone of voice as she took her companion's hand and gave it a small squeeze. "Mom and Arf were crying, I heard them when they left the room and Onii-chan hit the wall hard several times…"- the Enforcer didn't finish her sentence when a coughing abscess interrupted her. The Instructor helped her up a bit and gently rubbed her back hoping to help her friend even if it was a little.
After a few moments, the blonde was able to control herself, Nanoha asked her to lie down again and she didn't realize that the injured girl was staring at the hand that she had covered her mouth with when she coughed.
"Fate-chan?"- she called her when she realized that she didn't answer and the only thing she showed her, was her hand, which had traces of blood.
Nanoha was stunned, she knew inside her mind that her friend was getting a little worse with each passing minute and it made her feel incredibly scared.
The only thing that occurred to her to do was delicately make the stained hand and clean it carefully, then, she tried to lay Fate down again and hugged her carefully so as not to hurt her.
"All this…shouldn't be…happening"- she spoke with a somewhat hoarse voice while she took gasps of air through her mouth and desperately clung to the shirt of her best friend who was fighting against crying and the urge to scream out of desperation of seeing the young woman she secretly loved suffer and not being able to do anything to help her.
"I'm…afraid…Nanoha…"
Today I realized
That I have not felt
So scared before
That I do not decide,
That God does it better
At that moment, upon hearing her friend's phrase, Nanoha felt her heart- already hurt- began to give way and again broke into pieces while holding the Enforcer who was trembling in her arms with a little more force.
"Don't worry, Fate-chan…"- she said with a sweet and slightly broken voice. "Everything will be fine, Fate-chan is the strongest person I've ever met and I know she won't give up without fighting with all her might"
"Na…noha…"
"Shhh"- she silenced her with affection, rocking her gently as if she were a little girl. "Everything will be fine"
The white mage kept whispering soothing words in her ear trying to believe them herself as well.
After a few moments, the injured woman seemed to calm down but the small nervous breakdown had made it difficult for her to breathe, so the Instructor took a mask that was at the head of the bed and placed it on her face.
"It would be better if you put it on for a moment so you can breathe better"- her friend looked at her a bit uncomfortable but still nodded.
"Are you sure you don't want me to call Shamal?"- Nanoha inquired about her sudden decline, but Fate stared at her and shook her head, taking the oxygen mask with a trembling hand to remove it and explain.
"If you call her…other…doctors will come to…apply medications that…would surely end up…putting me to sleep…"
"But…"- she tried to make her change her mind but she found Fate's finger on her lips preventing her from finishing the sentence.
"Now…the only thing…I want…is to be with you…"
And before I lose sight of my path
I want to look at you a little
And dream that destiny
It is with you, my love
"It's okay, Fate-chan"- she accepts, settling again next to the girl and putting the mask on her face. "But only if you leave this on"
The blonde didn't like it at all but she accepted in a good way and snuggled close to her friend who she felt would always be safe. Nanoha, in response, put an arm over the injured shoulders, afraid of hurting her, she stroked her back.
It was after a few minutes that Fate felt a new wave of pain run through her body, it seemed to it was in the center of her chest, with each beat of her heart, the discomfort spread to her extremities and returned, increased by thousands, causing her to shudder, trying not to let her companion notice.
"Are you cold?"- she heard the question in the voice of the white mage who rubbed her back with more force trying to reduce the tremors caused by the flash of pain.
"A…a little…"- she managed to answer for a moment she thought she couldn't hold out much longer, she felt at her limit of what her body could resist and as if to second thoughts the heart rate meter increased her rhythm suddenly.
Nanoha's soft voice came to her in a whisper, she was singing some song that she didn't recognize at the time but it was enough to lessen her discomfort.
"I didn't want this moment to ever end, where everything's nothing with you. I wait here forever just to see you smile, 'cause it's true…I am nothing without you…"
"T-Thank you…"
"Are you feeling a little better?"
"Yes, thanks to you"
Stay a second here
To keep me company,
And stay a little longer
I want to feel you mine
"Nanoha…I need to tell you…something"
"Tell me something?"- she asked curiously, caressing one of her cheeks tenderly.
"Maybe it's not…the moment…but…"
"But?"
The blonde got up a little, removed the mask from her face even when the copper tried to stop her and took her hands, losing herself for a moment in the blue pupils that shone with concern.
"Fate-chan…"- a finger prevented her from continuing to speak, the same one that moved her lips, outlining them, as if she wanted to memorize them in detail.
She caresses her cheek gently, trying not to rub the white skin with the coarse fabric of her bandage, as if she could hurt the young woman with such gentle touch.
The Instructor blushed noticeably when she felt the caresses she gave her and her heart began a runaway race that threatened to make her lose her sanity.
"When I left this morning…I did the mission…with an idea in mind…I wanted to return to…to be able to tell you what I felt…"- she gave a great sigh trying to find the necessary courage to continue. "Some time ago…I realized that….the friendship I felt for you…has changed…"
"Changed? What are you talking about?"- she asked scared, afraid of knowing that perhaps Fate no longer wanted her by her side.
"Yes…that feeling…became much deeper…you became necessary in my life…necessary to continue breathing…so that my heart continues beating…to continue moving forward…because…I…fell deeply in love…with you…Nanoha Takamachi…"
The Instructor widened her eyes, surprised, her cheeks extremely flushed and the air seemed insufficient in her lungs, was it true? Has Fate fallen in love with her?
She looked at her confused for a few moments but the only thing that blonde did was smile at her, it was that smile reserved only for her and finally, the tears managed to escape from her eyes.
This time they were tears of happiness…
She approached carefully until she was only a few centimeters from the Enforcer's face, being able to feel the warm breath that caressed her and taking the face in front of her with both hands, the little distance between her lips disappeared.
Give me a reason to stay
I don't want you pity
I want you to be with me,
Until I'm gone.
The contact was sweet, it lasted just a few seconds but it was enough to make the girls feel that they were between clouds.
When they separated, it was Fate who held the copper, wrapped her arms around her neck and brought their lips together again. This time with more passion and dedication, leaving both shaken.
Nanoha broke the contract just enough to be able to look at the blonde in the eyes, those in which she could be lost forever, touching her forehead and giving her a quick kiss, she confessed.
"I love you too Fate Testarossa Harlaown…"
The Enforcer's smile widened and an instant later she was surrounded by the warm embrace of her companion who began to rock her slowly.
"Does that mean…you'll be my girlfriend?"
The question made the white mage laugh with delight, in response she stole another passionate kiss from her and whispered seductively in her ear.
"It was taking a while to ask me, Miss"
"And so?"
"Of course, I want to be your girlfriend silly…"- she gave her a playful tap in the nose and smiled at her again.
A moment after they were embracing the sound of the monitor attracted the copper's attention, the screen showing her heartbeat slowly slowing down.
Frightened, Nanoha separated to see the blonde in her arms, her eyes were closed and her breathing seemed irregular.
"Fate-chan, wake up please!"
The injured woman was placed back in her bed and she placed the mask on her face, but the sound of the monitor continued to decrease.
"Nano…ha…"- she spoke in a tone of voice that showed extreme tiredness with her eyes half open and a small smile adorning her face. "I'm sorry…but…I'm very tired…"
The Instructor knew perfectly well what that meant, that was when her heart completely broke into tiny pieces and furiously wiped away a couple of tears that had managed to escape from her eyes, she didn't want Fate to see her cry.
"Okay Fate-chan, rest, I'll be here when you wake up, I promise"
"Hug me…Nanoha…- she asked in a whisper and immediately the copper obeyed, placing herself next to her on the bed and letting her rest on her chest.
"I love you…Nanoha…"
"I love you too Fate-chan, I always will…"-unable to take it anymore, the tears trickled down her cheeks, wetting the collar of her white shirt and she stayed like that for a moment until, in an almost inaudible voice, she heard the blonde say something that she would never forget in her entire life.
"I will always…love…you…Nanoha…"
You have to know
What's the last thing I ask
I'm desperate
And according to my heartbeat,
I don't have much left….
Time in my favor…
The Author in truth is that Wind wanted to leave the end of the story a bit up to you. Remember Shamal comments that our favorite blonde has a chance of recovering.
Fist bumps everyone👊