So loud spoke a voice directly into my ear, a calm monotone, cold nonchalance, gravitating, bouncing around and leaving a soothing relaxation to my frantically running mind. I feel hardly anything, nothing below my knee, breathing is automatic so I know it must be occurring, however I can't feel my chest, perhaps I am compressed? My head is heavy against a pillow, but its the type of sensation that I recognize as lightheadedness, I can't move upwards. My lower back is entirely numbed out I can't feel my spine on the comforter.

In opening my eyes I expect some discomfort, the sun maybe, or a glaring dizzying nausea, instead everything is blurred and a loud ringing remains in the position of clarity. As it clears the shapes of colours form figures, the room becoming the tree of Polyusca's medical facility. The sun above me becomes Laxus, looking to something distant, his head turned far to his right and hiding the predominance of his face from me. His coat is absent, and I can hear his music blasting from his earphones from where I lay, loud guitar I instantly realized to be my favourite song.

"I knew you liked it, liar." The rate his head snaps to me, the bleakness of his expression, shut me up, my jaw clicks shut. Serious and silent, expressionless, tense, and his breathing seems to be solely through his nose. I have nothing for this situation, I've only been under hospice care twice in my life and never while Laxus was in it. He's perched on the edge of his chair, bent over with tightly intertwined fingers. They unlock and he grabs at my idle hand closest, clasping it with sweaty palms it was brought to his lips with a squeezing grip.

"Thank fuck." He slumps over so visually, I can actually make out the shape of his shoulders from their previous position. As if they were triggered by verbal response, twin streams of tears burst from his eyes in a gentle flow of salt and water. He is a man of mocho demeanor, however, with that inlay the knowledge that it was entirely possible for him to cry as any normal man, that doesn't mean my brain processes the sight any faster. Odd, is what it titles the experience, but it feels surreal. To have such a rigid man under the whim of emotions I can't understand what could have happened to trigger such a response. I do recall the fight or dickfight rather between him and Gildarts, an insurmountable power arising from both of them. My own irrationality. A pain behind me and screaming, hardly anything else. I must have keeled over.

But I'm not a spring flower, Laxus knows this, I know how to handle my pain. So for me to be under care, for him to be so scared I must have been in a pretty crap position. My teeth grit at the thought, being downed in one blow, even if it was by a capable adversary just snaps wrongly in mine mind. Lightheadedness or not being here, playing weak and in pain simply isn't an option, I have to get up and have myself in shape. The fact that I am here means that someone was able to pull the old man away, maybe even rationalize him, but I can't put all my faith into that. Moving upwards sends a piercing sharp feeling racing through my back as an uncomfortable and pained heat, it has me collapsed back on the comforter a whimper escaping. Unfortunately catching my overprotective boyfriend's attention. Yet doesn't seem to have noticed I was trying to move up, if I had managed to get halfway it wouldn't be a problem, however seen as there seems to be something amiss with my back I don't think he'd appreciate the effort.

His eyes snap to me for a moment, but he is hasty to hide their redness and his head moves down just as quickly. I want to comfort him, but I don't know how, its been a really long while since I've been in this bad of a condition. Whatever I say would either injure his pride or lay insult to myself, and he hates whenever I both of those things. I notice that my hand tickles -the one not being needily grasped- only to see that my blanket is actually the lightning mages coat. Despite the situation a little thrill works its way through me, and a burst of strong giddy excitement bubbles in me, I bite my lip from saying anything. Right now isn;'t the time.

The door creaks open, and in steps the other pinkhead of the guild, tall and resting with a dower expression. She aims her sights at me, only peeking over at my guest, and dismissing him quickly. Suddenly I want to know just how bad off I really am, she never lets more then two people in her little corner for long. Noticing her, walking closer, Laxus straightens and only the faint tracemarks on his cheeks indicate he was crying at all. I marvel at his ability, and want for it. He seems more put together though, breathing steadily stiff shoulders even toned face. He doesn't let go of my hand.

"Well Natsu, how do you feel?" Should I lie? Well no, she never takes that well. "I can't feel anything below my knees, I moved my back and had this hot stabbing pain, my head feels heavy unless I move it off the pillow then its just too light..." I dare not look to my peripheral, knowing that a glare would be awaiting me.

"You certainly shouldn't feel good. You hit your head pretty badly there was some minor exterior damage and your neck will feel sore for a few days. You did have some fluid in your lungs but that was quickly taken care of. My main concern is your lower back and your right leg." Whenever a woman such as Polyusca said the word concern was a reason to feel exactly that. Her work ethic was to walk on the eggshells scattered and be as brash as possible as to not invoke a delirium. Bedside manner was much the same, her methods were far from kind, but well practised, she never showed worry unless the situation was serious.

The grip on my hand tightened, but in a glimpse there was no alternating of the expression already displayed, concentration. The medic looked to be readying herself for continuing when in through the window came a blur of blue. "Lux did Natsu wake up yet?!" A moment of relief stole through me in hearing Happy, he had flown straight to Laxus if nothing else this had brought Happy and him seeming to have formed a companionship in my absence of consciousness. A loud sigh encompasses the room from its owner. No doubt in argument of just haow many people are in her spare of space.

"Pay attention furball." Is all he says, to which I know Happy will only be confused by, little nose scrunching, he looks to me regardless and his cute little face lights up, I grin at him as best I can it strains my neck slightly. Of course this bids him to fly into me, just on my chest as he used to when he was a young kitten. Normally he wouldn't he doesn't enjoy people knowing that we are as close as this.

It seems that he has made an exception. "Natsu, your injuries are important." She breaks the moment, not that their had been one building, still Happy doesn't move from me, warm as soft as always. Though because she is so serious I pay attention where I regularly wouldn't in true brash nature. "First, your back. When you were ejaculated from the wall a piece of the stone got lodged in your lower back narrowly avoiding your spine. Luckily I doubt it will greatly impair your normal movements, but running will be difficult and forbidden while recovering." I freeze in that, running forward was always kind of my methodology. To know that it would be painful would literally change my entire fighting style. "Next-"

"There's more?" Happy whines, he seems overwhelmed already. I shush him quietly, not feeling very inclined to comfort right now.

"As I was saying: Your lower leg was twisted in two places and it broke at the center. That wouldn't be too much of a problem if your kneecap hadn't shifted It was wedged to the side I had to force it back into place. Unfortunately the bone of the kneecap is fragile and it fractured when it got shifted, and once more when I repositioned it. I had to place special metal clamps within what remained of the cartilage to keep it stable. I'll be frank Natsu, your leg is in very poor condition, another blow like that and your knee will be unsalvageable."

Laxus is the first to act. "It'll cripple him." The woman nodded, twisted expression her face. I just have this pit dropping into my stomach at the news, I had expected it to be bad, but nothing like this. To be crippled as a wizard would ruin my entire reputation I can't feel the broken bone, nor the strappings of metal within, and yet I know that everything rides on stability and that is a sinking dread laying as a noxious gas in my stomach. Beside me my partner breaths deep a lingering hold "So what do we do?" At this I look to him, and see so clear in his eyes a precious tenderness, a tilt to mine own reality. 'we?' Should guilt arise with his conviction unto me?

I cannot steal my eyes away from his visage. "I want him off that leg for at least a month, his back however is the main issue in this case. He'll need to stay off his feet for awhile. Even I don't know how long that may pertain to for a dragonslayer, he has a vastly different biology then most humans, its possible it could heal itself quickly, but it could also take far longer. I'd say a wheelchair for four weeks at least, and then crutches for another two, just to be on the safe side." Jabs of realization hit me, I can't work. Laxus has only taken one job from Fairytail he's still relatively new, and he can't get to S-class without taking the test first. On top of that it would be wrong of me to have him care for me the entire time with no money of my own to put forth. He'll have to take low paying jobs and there's nothing I can do to help him with it.

Frustration stings at me intensely, I can't afford to remain idle for that long! "I can't do anything! C'mon there's no way I can-"

"Natsu, please just-" Laxus interrupts my anger, and I fight not to snap back for a moment before I note that he seems so tired and put out. "-just please." He sighs out the rest and slumps down further. His eyes are red again, but I can think of nothing to ease the pressure he feels. "You almost died, so just, for once shut up and do as your told you fuckin' moron." It comes out as a whisper not carrying normal bite in his banter, his screaming eyes aren't because he's stressed. I swallow and hold my tongue, I hadn't known i'd almost died, to be in his place I would have been terrified.

"You can take him home today, just keep a close eye on him. Maybe put something behind him on the chair." Being pampered doesn't sound horrible, I just.... Loath that it has to be for so long. My boyfriend stands up and gives me something resembling a smile, while Happy flies up. "I'll get that chair." I see him stretching his legs a little, getting ready to lift me.

"Can I help?" Says the feline fluttering so close to the tall head nervously flying in a ring. Laxus just shakes his head, and crouches down to get the right leverage. I feel a small tingle as his hand goes under my legs but nothing more then that, there must be some numbing agent that Polyusca had put in for the surgery. His other hand moves for my back and I sit up as far as I dare. He lifts me with ease and I roll slightly in his arms. The weightless sensation is pleasant in companion with the small twinges of pain from my back.

With no one to see us I giggle, pride be damned. "Prince charming." I say, and I want nothing more to kiss his cheek, wishing that this were just a romantic gesture he had arranged for us. A grin forms on him this time and he scoffs.

"Charming yes, princely no." Egotistical shit, injured or not I hit his shoulder for that, but I feel like being romanced and rest my head on his chest.

"My prince." There is nothing I am more proud of that I found myself such a good fortuned man for myself. I feel his breath catch.

"I suppose you can be my serving boy then."

"Is this how you treat all your serving staff your highness?"

"Just the ones I'm fucking." I laugh finally, too much for me, this asshole. The wheelchair comes in and I want to reject it out of comfort, but allow Laxus to put me in it merely because he can't lug me about the place. No matter my wants. "I'll make you some cinnamon snaps, and a luxury dinner okay." I hold him from leaving, and he looks almost panicked, I just kiss him instead of soothing him, he kisses me back quickly before standing straight. He shuffles a moment, looking nervous as he places his coat back over his shoulder. "Need anything else babe?" I can think of nothing, though guilt resonates within I ignore its pangs and instead focus instead on the lingering kisses that have been begotten onto me by a man I no longer deserve.

The air brushes against me a coiling tunnel of spiraling knowledge that should I be reckless my life as I have known will be lost stolen through the remnants of a single mistake. This memory brings back another. "I didn't blow your cover did I?" Laxus is walking slowly forward, probably making slight adjustments to how he walks me, it also keeps my motion sickness at ease with the calmness of his pace.

"No, it was shockingly quiet for you. Only myself, that little girl and Steal heard you." He nearly spits, I can hear the contempt without measure.

"Dragonslayer hearing then." I suppose that must be the reason, for otherwise it made no sense, plenty within the guild have good hearing.

"That tiny thing is a slayer?" He hadn't the chance to really meet Wendy, although that is concerning.

"Yeah, Wendy. Did you not meet her when you left for the night?" He grunts. A useless questioning, he isn't going to be direct. I swiftly change topics escaping into another. "Can we go to the guild? I'm sure Mira, Lucy, Erza, Gramps.... well some others are concerned." What faith I harbor. A growl, but I don't hear a protest so I assume it to be a begrudging permission. "How long was I out?"

"Four days, scared the fuck outta me." I swallow that accursed lump.

"I should be spoiling you."

"Not a chance." We're avoiding the elephant and it drives me around the bend that neither of us want to address it.

"I don't know how we're going to get enough money for us both." I start, because someone has too, he certainly isn't, if he had his way I'd be left completely out of the conversation.

"I'll.... Find some work within the Dark guilds, freelance a little. Maybe go to the old man for a job or two." I want to punch him, good idea or not, I don't want him back in that area. Ivan already made his life hell, some guildmasters there could be just as cruel.

"Mira might help, she knows who you are, she get you a few higher ranked gigs." The hall comes before us, and the conversation drops in caution, that doesn't mean I won't bring it up again until we have the whole mess sorted. He knows it too. Opening the door with a sour face, its almost comical how much he hates me to be involved with difficult discussions, whether or not that is because of my immaturity or his own overprotectiveness is unknown to me.

As I get rolled into the hall it is comforting to find it at least semi loud as usual. No one paying very much attention we end up straight by the bar without interruption. Its almost harrowing how fastly I have lost favour inside of mine own guild. If it were just a few months prior I would have had everyone on my ass asking if I fell or how I was, or something equally as annoying/comforting in ratio. So it seems that few people pay heed as we enter, pathetically in a chair and slumped over in supportive need.

Erza is up by a shot, firm standing and with an edge of fight to her stern visage. "I'm glad your up. How are you feeling?" I go to answer when a womanly blonde stumbles into the conversation with a face of perpetuated fear.

"Your in a wheelchair, were your injuries that bad?" Again I go for an answer, this time waiting a moment to see for possible interruptions, it proves for nil as another far away and male makes comment.

"Natsu, I'm really sorry bud I didn't mean too-" He seems genuinely stricken, far away and not nearing, rubbing at his neck and swallowing loudly. I want to say that I know it hadn't been. But my patience and understanding have grown in recent months, monumentally in fact and I know that regardless of what I say my boyfriend is in a defensive position. He hadn't trusted Gildarts as it was, now however he seems prone to throw a punch at the guy. I can feel him restraining anger from the minor quakes in my chair, various deep breaths are also somewhat of an indicator. I don't have the tacticial mind to ponder upon the wonderence of how the dickfight between him and Gildarts had ended in previous, considering Laxus injuries there is almost the certainty that someone -Gramps, had intervened. On that conclusion I don't want another fight to occur, which is probably why the older man is so far removed.

"You got some damn nerve to-" Laxus starts, because he can't seem to hold his tongue anymore.

"Don't lecture me you goddamned-" Once more they seem to be readying for a brawl. Or their version of it, which would probably end with Magilola destroyed and Fairytail filing for bankruptcy.

"The hell I do to you?!" I watch both of them waiting for opportunity to interrupt as fastly as I can, however, that question was a query that I could get behind. Other then being a Dark wizard theres not reason for Fairytail's alleged 'ace-in-the-hole' to hate his fellow S-class mage.

"What you did? How about working for fucking Ivan Dreyar! That piece of shit brought more harm to our guild then most of Phantomlord when he tried to act all fucking macho. I know for a fact anyone who has worked for that excuse for a man has killed for him." I can almost smell the blood on my boyfriends hands from where I sit, knowing his willingness to be nonexistent surves me to curve any sort of disgust at the prospect, he'd always had a problem with that part of his job. It gets easier the more rutieneful it is, that does not make it more humane to those who have no choice. Laxus had never been able to properly take that particular insult. It weighed on him like water pressure.

"That's enough! Cut the crap Gildarts, you don't know anything about him." I can't afford to get riled, and the whole situation is perfectly congregating to do just that, a burning rise in my throat, accompanied by the tense posture of the man behind me has me ready to jump up and break something. For my own sake the confrontation needs to end. That is until someone else joins in with a dirty glare and a chiding tone.

"He isn't the only one who knows jack Natsu. You knew your boyfriend worked for Ivan and you told us nothing, at least we know we can trust Gildarts. You on the other hand I'm not so sure." Cana speaks with a venom in her bite, and the poison stings. Maybe I'd been expecting to little, in eagarness I'd been ignorant and oblivious to the standard of which my guild held honesty and the integrity of dark wizards. That said, even with their prejudice and hateful rhetoric I hadn't thought I'd have so many glare sprung at me at once. If I were at my best I could punch through every single one of them. "He at least trusts us to make informed decisions, your boyfriend is a criminal Natsu."

Frustration wells up from my own need to fight any challenge and my lack of ability, instead leaving to fester the wounds of mine own personal problems pushed so brazenly to the side in comfort, swell and manifest in the need to win. Something that held out from the pits of childhood comradence dies. "So am I Cana! I'm gay remember?! Do you know what the knights do to gay people!? There isn't some fancy facility to 'fix perverted behavior' as they claim. They kill us, anyone who breaks their special way of repression. So yeah, Lux is a dark wizard, but at least the people within Dark guilds couldn't give a flying shit if you like dick or not! I don't know what happened to the guild I grew up in, but I've known all most all of you since childhood....." I cut myself off, the bile raising in my throat and the want not to say anything more with the burning anger spewing in my mind.

"I've had enough." This time Grey passively stands, bleak expression in place, something I could recognize from before Lux came into his worldview, it was controlled and angry, but not resentful. Careful and reasoned, it was his own face of rationality. "Natsu, I don't know what happened. But look... your just confused okay?" He speaks so calmly, like he knows it'll piss me off, like he is concerned for my welfare. But it doesn't make me angry, I get no cheap thrill from his challenge. I get pain, sharp and pressuring in my chest. Alike the panicked feelings I had that made me flee everyone I knew in a show of weakness. It stabs and resonates. I can't cry because of Grey I'm not that much of a pushover, I'm not, no matter how I consider him a friend. I knew he could be smart and see his own problems, just not in his morals. This is so very different.

I want to yell at the bastard, in screaming fucking pain, he can't double-blade me, compassionate and the friend I knew, and then tell me that I'm fundamentally wrong. Elfman nods solemnly behind him, I see Wakaba, and Macao with a puzzled Romeo beside do the same, Cana joins in with a pinched expression and a nervous sweat. Gildarts hesitates but ultimately sighs and gives a single nod while drinking largely from his glass.

It stings, more then any injury I've ever had, more then when Igneel left. And in not knowing what to do, not knowing how to convince them it boils over, and I don't care to fight them on it. My tears just flow forth, and I just can't bring myself to stop. They already think the worse of me, there's nothing left for pride.

"Shame on you all! Natsu isn't confused! Just because he made a different life decision then the rest of you means nothing! He is still the same person you've always known him to be.! I'm starting to think that your all delusional! Natsu is what he has always been a brave dragon in the face of every battle, but to have to fight the ones he considers his own is cruel! There is more to a person then what society gets to see of them! Natsu is a fireball we all know that, but he's also sensitive and compassionate, loyal and gentle at heart! I'm starting to consider the possibility that none of you even care about anyone but yourselves!" Mirajane bursts out in a rage, gentle voice gone, reprimanding everyone.

"Mira-" Elfman speaks. But he gets hit back for his effort at pacifying the situation.

"Do not. I can't even look at you right now. I love you Elfman, but right now, I'm ashamed to even know you. How dare you impede on the rights of another person." It seems to be to much for her, because she bursts from the room in a flurry of skirts and pent up anger too frothy for anyone to hope to sooth. Erza pats my shoulder, and I hear rather then see, her do the same to Laxus, as she walks out, presumably to follow Mira. I don't look to anyone, but I know that the male Straus is close to tears himself. Getting yelled at by Mira of all people tends to shock a crowd. Lucy twitches in my peripheral, her hands tightly clutching Happy to her bosom. The feline is hiding in her breasts and she doesn't seem to care either way. I hate that he had to be here for that.

Laxus leans down and his cheek brushes mine in a type of mock comfort as it pains my sore face. "Lets head home." The pain just increases, I don't want to go home, I want to fix things, I want for my guild to accept me, I'm not confused. But I don't know how to do anything. The floor seems more comfort then anyone else's gaze right now. Especially in the deathly silence of it all. Laxus presses a kiss behind my ear, and it eases something clenching in my stomach just a fraction, knowing he's concerned enough to resort to compassionate pda. "Hm? We should draw you a warm bath, a good meal? That sound good angel?" Bringing out the nickname, he's concerned enough to bring out the nickname I forbid him from using in public. His voice is sweet, but its tarnished by a not so hidden tension, a growl resonating in the depth of his throat.

"Can I wear your coat?" I don't want him to leave.