In The End - A Gruvia Fanfiction

XII: What Is Love?

It's uncomfortable.

That was the first thing she thought upon regaining consciousness. While the plastic tube lodged in her throat seemed to aid her in breathing, it was extremely uncomfortable. She could barely move her tongue with the foreign object pressing against it.

Without meaning to, a groan reverberated past her lips, her tongue felt numb and dry. It felt foreign to her and perhaps if it was because of the sedation in her system that the fear of being somewhere strange barely registered in her head.

"...Juvia," a man's voice called out to her but when she tried to listen, the sound began to fade away. She attempted to open her eyes but any effort from her side was futile. The lethargy she managed to push away earlier had returned.

There were more voices in the back, however, she could make out none of them. They sounded like a blur to her, barely catching onto phrases spoken from one to another.

"...seems like she can breathe on her own now..."

"...we'll remove the tube when she wakes up..."

"...more comfortable for her, the sedation should wear off in another hour..."

She tried to recall what had happened before, only to feel her mind drifting off away to the darkness.

When she awoke next, she allowed herself to take in a deep breath. The tube was still in her throat and even more prominent now that she was able to open her eyes. She forced her eyelids to stay open, heedless of her fatigue body that seemed to call for her to sleep even more.

Her eyes blinked lazily; the white ceilings were the first thing she saw. A machine beeped softly on her left and she tilted her head slightly, subconsciously aware that it would be best if she did not make any abrupt movements.

The lines on the screen danced in a pattern, almost like it was reflecting her heartbeats, she thought. That's not right-

A shocked gasp came from her right and she tried to get up to see who was there, completely forgetting her previous determination to move with caution. A pair of strong hands pressed her down by the sides of her shoulder firmly and Juvia observed him with her blue orbs, staring almost blankly at the man with crazy, long hair. She thought he was familiar, the crimson eyes that resembled dark rubies.

Why was it that she was unable to remember his name?

"No, no! Don't get up!" He told her in a rush, pushing on a button behind her. Another man was right next to him, looking like the older version of the man with long hair. He appeared relieved to see her and Juvia wondered if she was someone important to them. Red irises that seemed aged with years, did she know this man too? She seemed to take comfort in his presence despite finding him unfamiliar to her.

"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" She attempted to answer though the object stuck in her oral cavity prevented her from doing so, and her only way to answer him was with a frown and grimace. "The doctor will be here soon"

As soon as he was done with his words, Juvia heard the room door click open and a pair of women entered. The one wearing a white coat came forth, holding a stethoscope to her chest, the cool metal pressing through the thin material of the blouse she wore. Juvia noted her green hair, knowing that she had seen this woman somewhere before.

But where?

The observant look of her patient made the doctor smile in an attempt to slow the beeping sounds from the machine that seemed to increase with every passing moment. She turned to the nurse in a blue uniform, putting her gloves on before approaching Juvia once again.