Night moves on like an eternity, filled with uneasiness and uncertainty. The stiff chair beneath Lucy does nothing to help her troubled mind escape into dreamland, instead filling her body with aches and pains.
The only sound accompanying her thoughts is the dull, monotone beeping of machines echoing through the room like a haunting nightmare. When sleep does claim her, it isn't for long. If the machines weren't keeping slumber at bay, it was Happy's soft whimpers. Not even he could escape the terrors of a hospital.
The only one sound asleep was Natsu, but he had an unfair advantage called medication.
In the early hours of the morning, sleep finally claims Lucy, just as the wicked rays of sunlight pierce through the blinds. Like countless times before, it doesn't last for long.
A soft, subtle shift against her lap pulls Lucy awake, slipping her out of a pitiful slumber. Pouting, the blonde pulls her eyes open, trying to fight against the stiff crick in her neck. Bleary brown eyes search the room for the source, landing on the blurry form of her son.
Blinking sleep away, Lucy watches as Happy slides off and sluggishly steps towards his father. Reaching his tiny arms up, the six-year-old attempts to climb into the hospital bed. Before Lucy's brain can catch up and stop him, Natsu's battered arms extend down, lifting the boy onto the mattress.
Happy snuggles into his father's side, throwing an arm across his chest and clutching the scratchy hospital gown between small fingers. Lucy's heart squeezes at the sight, being both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Watching her two boys cuddle is endearing and wholesome, reigniting the smoldering coals within her belly.
Since adopting him, Happy's always been a daddy's boy, always acting like his father's shadow. Once upon a time, their bond was thicker than a forest as they did everything together: from fishing to eating, playing to roughhousing.
Fueling another argument with Natsu.
A hard jerk of Lucy's head shakes the negative thoughts off, letting them drift to the back of her mind where they belong. Now isn't the time for being bitter.
"Hey," Lucy whispers, catching the drowsy male's attention. Natsu's emerald gaze slides towards her figure, hidden behind heavy eyelids bogged down by medication. The blonde's heart tugs once more as they catch gazes, her husband's injured face on full display. With a soft smile, "Did you catch him?" The thick words sound like a question but they both know it's not; Natsu always catches the target.
Her husband hums in response, far too drowsy for words. A lazy smile spreads across chapped lips, his eyes cloudy and unfocused. "Mmhm," Natsu pauses to breathe, his face contorting in a grimace as cracked ribs protest, "Right before I fell off a cliff."
A short, harsh laugh bursts from the woman, eerily similar to a sob. "You look like you fell off a cliff," she quips, unable to tear her eyes away from his broken body. From the clunky cast fashioned around Natsu's left leg to the ugly slash above his hip, Lucy's gaze traverses across the thin hospital blanket, up towards his neck, and down his battered arms.
Removing the gauze shrouding Natsu's skull was both a blessing and a curse. Purples and blues garnish in splotches, accompanied by scrapes and scratches of varying sizes and shapes. Together they blend into a haunting work of art no lover should witness.
Pink, puffy skin calls Lucy's name, begging to soothe the dull throbs. "You had me so scared, I-I didn't think you'd make it," a broken whisper confesses her worries as tears join shortly after, trickling down one by one. With a shaky inhale Lucy answers the call, delicately cupping Natsu's cheek, afraid he'll crumble under the weight of her palm. Her fingers graze over the large bandage blocking a rather nasty scar stretching just under his right eye.
"Have more faith in me Lushi, I always make it back to ya, jus' like I promised." Natsu hums, letting his eyes drift shut and leaning into Lucy's touch. The cyclical caresses lull Natsu to the edge of sleep, bringing him inches away from a peaceful slumber.
His deep voice does nothing to ease Lucy's concern; his blatant disregard for her feelings frustrates the blonde once again. Coming back isn't the issue, of course, he'll come back, he always comes back. Whether it's in fancy hospital gowns or unscathed is another story. It's so maddening how he downplays his injuries - how close to dying he's come. Dancing between the living and dead is no easy feat, yet Natsu makes the skill look so effortless.
Frustrated tears pool in Lucy's brown eyes. Upset, the wife pulls away without voicing her thoughts. "How are you feeling?" She questions, swallowing past a growing lump.
The hunter cracks a small smirk as he pushes a dry chuckle past equally dry lips, "Like shit." He wheezes, hissing with every breath. Warm emerald eyes flutter open, gazing up at Lucy with mirth.
"Watch your language," the blonde chides, taking her pain and suffering out on Natsu. She sends a disapproving glance at their sleeping son as years of bottled emotions begin leaking out.
Natsu's thin smirk quickly molds to a neutral expression as his chest tightens and fills with an unknown feeling. "Relax, Hap's sleepin' like a log," he mumbles, a small shoulder nudge proving his point.
Irritation claws through Lucy, fueled by sleep deprivation and stiff muscles. "It doesn't matter Natsu, you should still watch your mouth around him. God knows you two are attached at the hip, you're bound to slip up eventually." She scolds, her brows pinching together with a forming headache. A heavy pressure throbs against Lucy's skull, beating to the sound of war drums.
Pink brows pull together and lips form a scowl, Natsu wincing slightly as sensitive skin tugs against a stitch. His sharp teeth grit against each other, "There are worse things in the world than cursing," Natsu spits out as he turns a glare towards the speckled ceiling. "Quit bossin' me around like you're my mom, I'm 30, not 13." His words slur together as heavy narcotics kick in, spewing harsh thoughts he'd rather keep to himself.
Thick tension cloaks the hospital room like dense fog, coating the pair in awkward silence. Only the sounds of beeping machines and Happy's short breaths plague the room.
Shame encompasses Lucy like a vice, clamping down and squeezing her ribcage. Pins prick the backs of her eyes as tears form, threatening to break free and slide down porcelain cheeks. "Is that how you-"
"Knock knock!" A cheery voice interrupts the couple, two knocks rapping against the wooden door following behind. A silver-haired nurse peaks her head in, unaware of the heavy atmosphere. Her jubilant smile far too wide and voice far too cheerful for the current mood, like light piercing through a dark room. "Mr. Dragneel, you're back causing trouble so soon?"
"Hey Lisanna, you're my nurse? Always know I'm in good hands with you," Natsu attempts to grin but lacks his usual shine. He and Lucy momentarily push the argument aside, not wanting to involve someone with their marital issues.
"Of course silly, I saw your name and knew I had to assist my favorite patient," Lisanna winks, sending Lucy a friendly grin. "Good morning Mrs. Dragneel, I hope I didn't wake you two."
The nurse's entrance gives Lucy enough time to swipe away the budding tears, "You're fine, we've been up for a while. And you know you can call me Lucy, we're friends after all." She sends a small smile back, thankful to blame her teary eyes on Natsu's condition and not cue the women in on their problems.
Lisanna's face softens to a warm smile as she approaches the blonde. Placing a hand on her shoulder, the nurse rubs soothing circles while looking at her clipboard. Her heart aches for her friend, knowing just how often her husband likes to 'visit.'
Listing off Natsu's injuries turns into a grocery list of long, complicated words and phrases.
"I need to check the sutures along your hip then I'll leave you two alone," Lisanna chirps, taking a step towards the hospital bed.
Natsu groans as she pokes and prods his swollen flesh, "A large spear pierced your small intestine but lucky for you, Dr. Porlyusica stitched it up in no time." Satisfied, the nurse sends her patient a cheery grin. "There are some dietary restrictions for the next few months, mostly soft and bland foods, but you're scheduled for discharge in a few days if all goes well!"
A long, pitiful groan slips past Natsu's lips as he pouts at Lisanna. "I can't live off gross, mushy food!" He whines, begging to change her mind.
"Sorry Natsu, but it's for your own good. Maybe this will deter you from throwing yourself into danger," Lisanna giggles, sharing an amused smile with Lucy. "You should be lucky, Dr. Porlyusica almost hooked you up with a colostomy bag."
Just the thought of pooping in a bag turns Natsu pale.
"I hope so, but you know he seeks peril out like second nature." Lucy laughs bitterly, "I just wish you didn't put your life on the line for an adrenaline rush," she whispers. Briefly glancing at Natsu, his lips set in a frown, the blonde directs her gaze back toward their son. A million thoughts fly through her head, her eyes clouding over as she stares without truly seeing.
Sensing the rising tension, Lisanna quickly reapplies new bandages. "I'll be back in a few hours with your pain meds, and as always, press the red button if you need me." Sending the couple one last smile, the nurse departs with a small wave.
Another heavy silence passes between the pair while they stew in their thoughts. Keeping a fixed stare on his wife, Natsu gazes over her sleep-deprived form. Reality sets as he notes her disheveled blonde locks that form loose knots, and the dark, purple hues under her brown eyes that contrast against pale skin. Guilt fills Natsu with every second that passes, Lucy's taking this harder than himself. Though he's unsure why; he's the one hurt after all.
"Lucy," Natsu starts, his voice rough and dry as it scratches against his throat.
"I need to go to the bathroom, can you watch Happy?" Lucy hurriedly stands up, looking anywhere but Natsu's dejected expression. Before he has time to answer, Lucy is out of the room and striding down the hallway, ignoring his calls for her return.
The bright, white hallway and lights amplify the pounding rhythm inside her skull. Finally, alone, the sorrowful woman scrubs at her face, marring her skin red in an attempt to fight off tears. Lucy's heart squeezes painfully as memories of Natsu's discolored and blemished face bombard her, dredging up painful flashbacks of numerous hospital visits.
Natsu knows she hates hospitals and the hurtful memories they bring, of watching her mother slowly deteriorate before her eyes, wishing and hoping she'd recoup. Yet he can't keep himself away. Like a drug, Natsu's persistent desire for excitement and to prove himself recklessly leads the man to danger. Worst of all, he won't listen and take her concerns seriously; he's good at his job, but he's not indestructible. The slight hiss with every intake and small grimaces as he smiles further prove her point.
So lost in thought, Lucy doesn't hear the tip-tapping of sneakers against pristine tiles until it's too late.
As Lisanna emerges from a patient's room, the two women harshly bump into one another. "Lucy?" she asks, taking a step back to eye the blonde's red, tear-stained face.
The woman in question stares back at the worried nurse, embarrassed to be caught in such a state.
Reaching her breaking point, Lucy's lip quivers before the dam breaks and tears sweep down her cheeks. Lisanna quickly pulls Lucy in an embrace, arms curling around her waist and whispering encouraging words in the weeping woman's ear.
Lucy, finally having someone to lean on, bawls against her friend's shoulder as stress and heartache pool along the nurse's colorful scrubs, her fingers desperately clutching the material like a lifeline. Choked sobs and stuttered breaths tangle together in Lucy's throat, struggling to breathe while the rest of her body fights to expel her feelings.
Seeing the devastated woman breaks Lisanna's heart. She feels guilty and helpless as nothing eases the blonde's suffering. When soft words only amplify Lucy's cries, Lisanna resorts to physical contact, rubbing circles along her back and squeezing gently as the blonde shakes in her arms.
When loud wails slowly die down to low sniffles and whimpers, the soft hum of machines haunts the quiet halls. Usually dismissed by everyone, the tormenting beeps and purrs echo throughout the building, suffocating the suffering woman.
I decided to add another chapter and further the story along a wee bit. I have a general idea of what I want to accomplish but no clear roadmap to get there. A few destinations are marked down, but other than that I'm driving blind.
And since I have no map, don't expect frequent updates - or any at all. I love this story and the world I have yet to write out, but for me, it ended with the first chapter. I had no intention of furthering it, but sudden inspiration hit and I had to roll with it!
For that reason, I'm going to keep The Struggles of Marriage marked 'completed,' because it's completed in my eyes. But yes there may be updates (actual updates, not author's notes c;)
I always hate thinking there's an update just for it to be an author's note. This is your warning in advance: THIS STORY HAS A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF NEVER FINISHING! But please follow (3
Side note: When arguing with her mom, a friend once said "There are worse things I could spend my money on than stuffed animals." That quote has stuck with me. So, as long as it's not harming yourself or others, keep doing the things you love.
(SPOILERS:
Natsu and Lucy fall in love again and overcome their problems; hence the title and ending of previous chapter.)