Happy Friday! Things go from bad to worse as things take a turn for the whumpy. :)
A little context for this chapter. It might have been mentioned, and maybe I missed it. Where do Dragon-Slayer lacrimas get implanted? I've seen a theory that it's in his eye, under the scar. My guess is that Laxus' is in his chest, under that black tattoo that he has. The question is: how would you get something in there? Probably the same way as someone would if they were having heart surgery.
I don't have a lot of experience with the topic, but as it happens, I have a friend whose wife had some heart issues and had to undergo this sort of a procedure a couple years back. I'm basing some of Laxus' pain on her experience, which I heard second-hand through her husband (my friend), as her caretaker during the recovery phase. And I took some creative liberties too, since they were having a hard enough time without me asking insensitive questions. I'm not sure how typical her experience is. As with all things medical, a quick Google search brings up multiple conflicting accounts, all from credible sources. Everyone's different. This might be different than what happened with you or somebody you know. But this is all I know, so I'm going to roll with it. :)
- K. Chandler
Laxus blinked away the haze. A spike of pain jolted through his chest.
Where was he? The smell of antiseptic and mold filled his senses. The memories of the operation came wafting back.
Laxus recognized his father's dark eyes boring down on him in detachment.
"Looks like the procedure was a success," commented Ivan.
Laxus winced at how loud his father's voice was. Everything seemed loud.
"How do you feel?" asked Ivan.
"Everything hurts," rasped Laxus. The pain was making the edges of his vision dark. He wanted to curl in on himself, but he didn't think he could manage even that. He was just so tired.
"Yes, yes. That's to be expected," said Ivan impatiently. "But do you feel stronger? More powerful?" Ivan's eyes roamed his son's prone form hungrily.
Ivan's ice-cold fingers clamped down on Laxus' chin, turning his head from one side to the other.
"Can we not do this right now? I feel like I got run over by a truck," muttered Laxus. The overwhelming scents were making his stomach churn. He swallowed hard, trying not to be sick.
"Looks like your Dragon-Slayer senses are kicking in," observed Ivan. "That's interesting," he said, making a note in his journal.
Laxus' eyes narrowed. "Is that all that I am to you?" he croaked, angry. "Some kind of lab rat?" He had a feeling that would be the case, but reality still stung.
Ivan didn't even look up. "I'm doing my due diligence, boy."
Laxus gritted his teeth. Due diligence, his foot! He was starting to regret agreeing to this. But Laxus took a steadying breath. This would be worth it in the end. The ability to protect the ones he cared about would be worth any kind of pain.
"Let's see just how sharp a Dragon-Slayer's senses are, hmm?" said Ivan, slipping a pair of headphones over Laxus' head. "Let's start with your hearing."
His father's fixation on power was becoming more and more evident. As much as it annoyed him, Laxus couldn't help but respect his father's persistence. It was almost admirable, in a twisted sort of way.
It was late in the afternoon when Ivan had finished 'examining' him. Laxus' ears were ringing and his head throbbed in time with his pulse. He scowled as his father had made his final notes, saying something about a follow-up exam. Then Ivan sent him home with a bottle of illegal (and likely illicit) pain relievers, no doubt part of some other magical experiment.
Laxus had never been more glad to be home. All he wanted was to crawl up in his own bed and sleep. He didn't have the strength for much else.
Staggering towards his bedroom, Laxus braced one hand against the wall to keep from keeling over. The exertion of staying upright sent dark spots dancing before his vision. Laxus took a slow breath, trying to clear his head.
He shut the door behind him, making sure to lock it. Just to be safe, he hauled his desk chair over, the action sending agony through his healing chest. Gritting his teeth, he pulled the chair to the door, wedging the back under the knob. He didn't need his mad-scientist of a father coming in and continuing his experiments while he was knocked out.
With that done, Laxus could finally relax. Finally, he was alone, safe from prying eyes and prodding hands. Laxus let himself collapse back on his bed, the pain washing over him.
He was dizzy and his stars flared behind his eyelids. Laxus was beyond exhausted. The day had taken a lot out of him. He had hoped to simply pass out, but the crippling pain wouldn't let him rest.
Forcing himself to sit up, Laxus turned bleary eyes to the pill bottle he'd dumped on his nightstand. He popped the lid, shaking a couple of mustard-colored capsules into his palm and eying them dubiously. He swallowed them dry. He didn't have the energy to get up and pour himself a glass of water, never mind finding different medicine.
The pills were slow to work, but eventually it they the edge off the pain. And then Laxus was able to drift to fitful unconsciousness.
The days that followed were a haze of pain and pills and semi-lucidity. Laxus didn't know how long he was out of it. All he knew was that his chair stayed wedged under the doorknob and the door stayed locked.
One of those windows of consciousness came in the dead of the night. He had awakened to a soreness in his chest that he couldn't shake, and he just couldn't get back to sleep. He had already maxed out his dosage of mystery pain pills, but they didn't seem to be working tonight.
He knew it was late, but he just couldn't help himself. He was tired and in pain and he really wanted to hear her voice. He needed to hear her voice. Surely, if anything, that would make things all right.
He found himself fumbling for his lacrima, his fingers working out of habit. She picked up after the third ring.
"…H-hello?" Mirajane sounded confused and sleepy.
"Hey, Mira. It's me," he slurred, his tongue uncooperative.
"Lax?"
"Yeah…" The meds had left his brain sluggish and foggy. Why in God's name weren't they working?
"It's the middle of the night… "
"I… I just…" What had he wanted? Laxus dragged a tired hand over his face.
"You're not drunk, are you?" asked Mira, her voice unamused.
"What? No! …um…" Everything hurt so much and he just wanted her here.
"Lax? You still there?" she asked, sounding impatient.
"Yeah. I'm here…" He sighed, stifling a groan as the motion sent a lancing pain through his chest.
There was a long pause before Mira's voice crackled through the lacrima again.
"…Listen, Lax? I've got a modeling thing tomorrow and I need to be up early," she said.
There was a tug of pain in his chest that had nothing to do with the surgery.
A modeling thing? That's what she was worried about?
He knew that it wasn't Mira's fault. She had no idea what was really going on with him. Still, her unfeeling words stung.
"Yeah. Okay," muttered Laxus. He couldn't remember what he had been so desperate to tell her. He didn't care anymore. Whatever it had been, he wasn't about to say anything to her about it now.
Ending the call without another word, he let his lacrima fall from his fingers onto his pillow.
Another sharp pain had him grinding his teeth.
He wasn't sure what hurt more, his healing ribcage or the ache in his heart.
That's sort of a miserable thing for your girlfriend to say. But don't get too upset with her yet. We'll get to see her side of the story next week.
Next time, in [Mazeverse] Can't Catch Lightning, what's Mira been up to while Laxus has been holed up recovering?
Stop back next Friday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.