text @kijyo | backdated to 03/27 | CW: surgery discussion

[saudadist]

[ Lucy is a bit, let's say, out of sorts after her surgery. She's tried getting up and walking out of the medical bay, but it does her a fat lot of good with her body aching every time she so much as twitches in a way it doesn't like. And that's saying nothing of the sharper pains that serve as the aftermath. ]

someone get me out of here

I can't take another second in here

[ Now, the question is, will whoever answers

A. take her back to her room

B. convince her to stay put in bed

or

c. will she be gone by the time someone shows up and thus be somewhere in the hall in an ill-advised fit of stubbornness? ]

Comments

[heroforall]

[Izuku gives her appearance a careful once over, his concern evident. It might not be the best idea to move her from the medical unit so soon, but he can't leave her here against her will.]

Right. You can lean against me if you start feeling tired. Or I can carry you to your room if you want.

[saudadist]

[ Hmm. Moving so soon might be a pain. In many ways. Perhaps she should test out this implant first? At least to get her metaphorically and physically back on her feet.

Lucy swallows and glances away before turning her gaze back to him. She holds her left hand out, palm up, and and her fingers tremble as she fights the urge to let her hand drop. ]

First, they said physical contact would help.

[heroforall]

[His brows furrow in confusion as he watches her raise her hand, not understanding how this will help her. But he doesn't know much of anything about these implanted abilities. He's barely scratched the surface of the full extent of the healing ability that Yuji and Raidou have. And part of it is because...he's not sure he trusts it. But he does trust Lucy.

His expression clears and he offers her a determined nod before resting his hand over the top of hers, his fingers curling over hers gently.]

Do you know how long it'll take to have an effect?

[saudadist]

[ How long? Good question. Now that she thinks about it, she might've heard the doctors wrong too. With how out of it she was post-surgery thanks to the lack of anesthetic, she's not sure what all she actually remembers. Did they say contact from anyone would be nice? Or that she'd seek it out? Didn't they say that in the future she'd be able to help just from a touch?

Catching his expression, she second guesses herself. If it makes him uncomfortable, maybe she should let it go. ]

Dunno. It was hard to pay attention after all that.

[ Despite her previous thoughts, her fingers close around his hand the instant it's around hers. It's not a hug or anything more encompassing, but even this much contact is enough to send a wave of relief washing down over her. ]

Sorry. Being by myself right now is just- [ Awful. Lonely. Terrifying. ] ...confusing.

[heroforall]

[He doesn't blame her for not remembering all of the specifics after what she's just had to endure. It would be more surprising if her mind was clear right now. But he's perfectly content to stand here and hold her hand for as long as it takes.]

Is it...helping?

[It would be nice if whatever effect their waiting for is instant, if only for Lucy's sake.]

It's okay. I can stay with you. But...do you still want to go back to your room?

[saudadist]

Yeah. Thanks.

[ It might only be superficial, a placebo, but someone being there does help. An unexpected and kind of annoying side effect, but she doesn't hate it. ]

Here.

[ She doesn't let go of his hand, but she does slowly slide her legs over the edge of the bed until her feet can touch the floor. No vertigo from lifting herself up to standing either. Definitely a good sign. ]

Should be fine now, I think. [ glance ] So long as you don't decide to become a track star all of a sudden.

[heroforall]

[He reaches his free hand out when she goes to stand, ready to catch her if she feels unsteady, and drops it once she's able to stand up without help. That's a relief. Still, he's ready to carry her if she begins to feel at all uncomfortable.

Her comment draws a chuckle from him and he shakes his head.]

We'll go slow and steady. You can set the pace.

[He gives her hand in his another gentle squeeze.]

[saudadist]

[ It'll be her pace, yet she still feels strange about it. Won't he get frustrated if she takes too long to move?

The squeeze assuages a bulk of that concern. It'll be okay. He's here to help, remember? He wouldn't rush you, he's too kind, too sweet.

Her thumb brushes over the back of his hand as she slowly nods. The sooner they get walking, the better...her face feels hot again. ]

Yeah.

[ Her first step is strong, the second one wobbles thanks to her ankle, but by the third, she seems to have enough control regained that walking away from the bed is easy. ]

[heroforall]

[True to his word, he let's her set the pace, carefully watching as she takes her first few steps. He mirrors her steps, keeping them small and slow so that he doesn't out pace her.

It's slow going, but they manage to make it to the door of the infirmary and out into the hallway.]

...Does it hurt a lot? [The question seems to come out of no where, but as he studies Lucy's movements he can't help but wonder how bad the surgery felt. No anesthetic. He can't even imagine what that must have felt like.]

I mean, I know it must have hurt a lot. It's just...what was it like? If you want to tell me.

[saudadist]

[ Thinking back to when she was under the knife, she shudders. ]

I mean...I was cut open and had an implant put in. The spots where they injected me and where they cut me felt like they were on fire. Like a million volts of electricity frying my nerves until all I could see was white. And now it's just...throbbing. Constantly. And every little movement seems to jostle something despite avoiding the areas.