Fable

               Han opened his eyes groggily to near-total darkness, broken only by the dim green of an unfamiliar interface pulsing gently through a wall. The walls weren't clean or white like a normal hospital; they were lined with matte plating.

I had been looking forward to experiencing the afterlife...seems like I have to wait. Where am I, anyway?

Looking beneath himself, he could gauge a narrow bed. Hashimoto attempted to lift his leg, but a shooting pain caused him to bring it down instantly. His body was aching, but something was off. His shoulder had no sign of the gaping hole. Pulling his sleeve up, he was taken aback to see nothing more than a scar.

A thin tube ran from his arm to a translucent bag hung beside him. Saline. Someone had been keeping him alive and hydrated. But who?

How many days has it been? Damn, a week couldn't have gone by!

Outside the chamber, he could hear voices. Two, perhaps three- low and whispery.

"I told you he wouldn't survive it."

"Professor! How can you be this heartless?"

That's when Hashimoto's ears perked up. Wait... This sounded like Lucy!

"Don't blame me. I did whatever you asked."

"Calm down, kid," came a masculine voice. "It's hardly been over 24 hours yet!"

Clattering footsteps followed, fading into the distance. Han blinked again, struggling to sit up. Where on Earth was he? And more importantly, was his father alive?

Looking at the saline, Han realized he wasn't in a position to walk out right away. He had to wait a while. So, he pretended to lay quietly. Though he felt safer thinking he had Lucy around, he wasn't sure about anything at all.

As the door slowly slid open, Hashimoto made a sudden decision. Whoever it was, he wouldn't show them that he had regained consciousness just yet. Maybe he would obtain more information this way.

Keeping his eyes shut lightly, he waited with bated breath. Footsteps approached his bedside and seemed to cease. Han couldn't help but feel restless. A gentle hand caressed his forehead, the softness nearly making him melt. Hashimoto controlled every urge to move, hoping his thumping heart wouldn't give him away.

"Han," a feminine voice sighed. "Wake up! For your family...For me!!" she whispered the last bit, leaning close into his ear.

Han couldn't help but stir a bit at these words. His mind was suddenly a thawing stew of thoughts. Wait! What? That's Lucy, right? Does she uh... have feelings for me? No, stop! Don't overthink!

Why would she even think that way about a weakling like you, the cynic countered.

She liked me right from the first day, y'know.

Nah, don't you understand how awkward you feel even thinking about this? It is not for you!

Had it not been for Mr. Rational kicking out the bickering kids, Han wouldn't have been able to pull off a satisfactory reaction in time. Realizing that his act was pretty useless after the slight movement, he took a deep breath and sputtered incoherently before breaking into a cough and slowly opening his eyes.

Guilt hit Hashimoto like a brick in the stomach as he looked into Lucy's teary eyes. Had this stupid act been all that necessary? She gasped in surprise and hugged him tightly before he could react.

"Thank goodness you are fine, fluxie! Don't ever, ever give me a scare like that again!" she sobbed.

Han had no words to reply with. The heat was rising to his cheeks; he hoped Lucy wouldn't notice. But then, the moment felt too good to be squandered away in anxiety. He closed his eyes and hugged her back with a smile, feeling her breath mingle with his. Deep down, despite all denials, he knew that Lucy would always care for him like no other.

And suddenly, the feeling was gone as quickly as it came. Tojo pulled herself back hesitantly. Han was glad to notice she was blushing too.

An awkward silence lingered in the air.

"I don't know what came over me. I am so sorry if you felt uncomfortable. I mean, of course, you found it weird. I mean, no, Han, it's not your fault! It was genuinely awful! I am so bad with words! Ugh. Just forget it," Lucy quickly said, trying her best to regain her composure.

Such a cutie! Trying so hard to make me feel happy and at home.

Han closed his eyes for a moment before reopening them and gently taking her palm in his. Giving it a light squeeze, he replied, "ChilI, Lucy. I love being around you."

Lucy looked down at their intertwined hands like they were some fragile little thing that might disappear if she blinked. Her lips parted slightly, probably to say something, but the words didn't arrive on time.

Han noticed, chuckling weakly, "Did I break your brain, Tojo?"

She snapped her eyes up, mocking, though her reddening ears betrayed her excitement.

"Oh, please. As if you could break anything in your current potato state."

"Ouch," Han said, clutching his chest dramatically, "Your words hurt worse than the Riftborn's claws."

That got a smile out of her. A genuine one this time. But it faded quickly as it surfaced. "I am very sorry for what you and your Dad had to go through. It-"

"Wait!" Han interrupted. "I don't want you to apologize for no fault of yours, but how's Dad? Is he alive?"

"Of course he is! He recovered much quicker than you and is back at your home."

"Thank god! And thank you!"

Lucy kept a hand over his shoulder. "No! It's thanks to your determination, Han. I mean, I can't even begin to imagine any other fresher pulling off what you did."

Hashimoto's chest swelled with pride. Attaboy! She's impressed!

"Thanks," he modestly answered. "When can I go home, though?"

"Don't be a baby, fluxie!" the girl indignantly countered, lightly slapping his wrist. "You must recover thoroughly first! Let me go get you some soup..."

She left the room with a bright smile, leaving Han with a sense of emptiness as he rued her absence.

A pale shadow rippled behind the fluttering curtain, silently watching over the resting lad.