The sound of birds singing and the faint warmth of the afternoon sunlight was what greeted Lucy as she awoke. She blinked, brown eyes glazed with sleep, her brain still not processing anything.

She felt lazy, content, drained even. She didn't feel like moving at all really.

The gentle sound of breathing forced her to turn her head to her left.

Black locks spread on the pillow in the next bed over, long eyelashes resting on pale skin as Midnight slept.

Lucy blinked. We're in the infirmary. She realized, as she scanned the pale walls and various medical tools set up along the area.

She closed her eyes and breathed in, trying to wake herself up a bit more. She struggled to sit up, her muscles weak from fatigue set by the spell. I need a massage, ouch.

Finally sitting up, she stretched her arms then rubbed her neck, before taking a look around the room. They were the only ones in it, and by the colors in the sky outside her window, it seemed close to sunset.

Removing her hand from her neck, she prepared to stand up when she glanced at her hand. On one, had her guild symbol, the other, the mark from the spell. She ran her fingers down the ink; it had dried and had etched itself into the creases in her skin. Looking at Midnight, she stood up, her balance failing her a bit as she grabbed onto her bedside railing, she walked slowly towards his side.

She stared at him, her limbs slowly feeling more steady as she stood. Her hand lifted to stroke softly through his locks. It was soft, even softer then hers! She bristled internally. What conditioner-?

She froze as her hand was grasped in another's, her eyes trailing to meet his own crimson ones. He stared at her silently, his own eyes slightly glazed over. He didn't remove his hand, and she didn't feel threatened either.

Weird.

"Hello."

He blinked at her, her voice echoing in the silent room.

She smiled a bit, "How do you feel?" She asked instead, as he still seemed a bit dazed.

His eyes closed, his hand releasing hers slowly. She opened and closed her palm as she stepped back. "Best get up now, Midnight." She nodded at him as she glanced at herself in the mirror across the room. "The sun will set soon and I'll still need to make dinner."

She frowned and walked to the glass as he removed her ribbon from her hair. Bed head, ugh. Annoying. She ran her hand through her blonde strands as she glimpsed Midnight slowly sitting up as well. He rubbed his eyes and slumped forward.

"Headache?" She asked softly.

He nodded, seemingly not even able to muster the strength to speak.

"Me too." She nodded as she redid her ribbon. "But it'll be alright. It's just because of the magic strain. Once we get home, I'll prepare us both a home remedy my mama taught me. It'll fix it right away, you'll see." She told him brightly as she fluffed her hair.

She turned around and almost felt like hugging him.

He looked like a lost puppy, and like he was in real pain. His eyebrows drew together in the middle, almost as though he was trying to keep out as much light as possible.

She frowned and sat next to him. He stiffened as she hugged him a bit.

"What are you doing?" He asked softly.

"Hugging you, obviously." She told him as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I don't need a hug." He replied.

"Yes you do. Everyone needs a hug."

He was silent, and then; "I could kill you. Right now. No one would hear you."

She felt a pang in her heart at that. "You're probably right. Except you have the charm on you now. And really." She pulled away to look at him. "I don't think you'd do that. You just want me to stop hugging you."

He stared at her. "You are a weird girl."

She puffed her cheeks a bit. Natsu always said that. "I'm normal, thank you very much!" She told him indignantly as she stood up. "Now let's go. Before my friends think you did kill me." She stomped to the door at that.

She opened the door wide and saw the ice flower that had been put by the doorway. She smiled and picked it up carefully; knowing Gray had put it there to reassure her that while he wasn't there with her physically, he was still watching out for her.

No doubt Mira and Erza had kicked him out from watching over them.

She held it gently in her hand as the lights glittered off of it. "Come on Midnight. Let's go." She smiled at him, her mood instantly brightened.

He stared at her blankly, before following her whistling out the door.