Thorn in his Side

Chapter 4 - New Routines

Routines! Oh, how Mard loved his routines, even better was that Lucy also liked routines. Learning new routines was annoying but the little future author had made a schedule and kept him to it. The greatest part was that by exactly six in the morning coffee was ready and served in bed.

A little over two weeks of this was certainly going well and he felt stronger, faster and overall that happy thing. Lucy kept him to a magic and workout plan and made sure he even ate more than meat and pizza. That woman could cook and clean and keep a schedule. Every time he looked at her coffee colored eyes he smiled.

They talked on occasion but it was more like listening to a classroom lecture about emotions, magic theory and other random things. They didn't share many personal details, which was good. Mard wasn't comfortable with expressing everything in his head. She obviously was the same way. The problem is by not doing as such, he wasn't getting anywhere with the lessons Zeref had demanded. Perhaps he could try a bit more, perhaps.

This very early morning or very late evening was unusual, he woke up in a fright with his heart racing. This feeling of absolute dread was tearing into him, even worse than the anxiety he went through when Zeref first changed him. Mard didn't understand it and went to seek out his emotional translator for help. So, he dared to venture to her room and taking a moment to listen, he heard her making sad noises. Sobbing he thinks it's called.

Not that he cared for formalities, he opened the door and quietly walked in. The closer he got to her the worse he felt. He had no idea what this was but he knew he hated it. Lucy sat on the edge of the bed, the moonlight shining on her. From what Mard could tell she was only in the simplest of a nightgown.

"Lucy?" he asked and she looked up at him. Her eyes were so puffy and her cheeks stained; it was hard to tell just how much she had been crying. Mard tried to reach for her but she recoiled back and trembled.

He pursed his lips, he now knew what he was feeling was from her but he had no idea how to make it stop. "Lucy, how do you make this stop? It hurts."

She put her head in her hands and cried even harder, Mard rubbed his chest trying to ease the ache he was feeling. This feeling was horrid, he didn't like it at all. It also meant she wouldn't be awake later to provide for his routine. Yet, seeing her like this, feeling the cold in his chest; that thought went out the window. He needed her to be better and not this sad Lucy.

Was this what all humans went through when he caused them pain? They had to handle this and live like this? This was completely evil and he knew all about evil. Yet, somehow causing pain was still too much fun. Well fun to do on other people, whatever was hurting Lucy he should inflict pain on. Murder would be too polite.

Obviously, he wasn't going to get her to talk so instead he slowly made his way towards her. Lucy tried to pull away but he managed to get a hold of her. She was so light in his arms that she was almost a ragdoll. Mard put her in his lap and let her bury her nose against his neck. This was odd but somehow, the cold and pain started to lessen.

A breath came out of him as he leaned his head back wondering what the unholy hell was going on. Why did he care about her? Ah, self-preservation that had to be it. If she went back to sleep soon, she could still fulfill the routine and if she stopped crying he could not feel the pain. That train of thought sounded like a bigger lie than any a politician could tell. Especially since it's the second time he tried to think that way.

Her tears rolled down his naked chest and he tried to not mind it at all. Though a shower would need to happen. Lucy's delicate arm came around his other shoulder and she softly started to play with his ponytail. Despite the pain in his chest the feeling of her beautiful fingers through his hair was glorious. Doing something he hadn't done before, he took the pony tail out and let his hair fall around him.