sometimes we take chances, sometimes we take pills

3. we are all just stars that have people names

The four of them fit, like a beautiful, broken disaster, and together they're going to find their way.

TW for drug withdrawal

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The next day, Natsu crashes.

Sting's in the back seat of the car again, with his arms wrapped around Natsu, and he's not sleeping but not really awake either. With the warmth of someone else against him, he feels safe, and Natsu just feels right. They all do. Sting can't explain it, but it's like the four of them fit against the broken pieces of each other, all of them making each other something close to whole.

Natsu wakes suddenly, gasping for breath and crying. Sting feels Natsu's chest shaking, sees the panic in Natsu's eyes, feels the car jerk as Gray swerves on the highway, looking back in concern.

What's wrong? Rogue signs frantically, reaching out to grab Natsu's hand, but Natsu pushes him away, twisting against Sting's arms around him.

Sting holds Natsu tighter, rubs his thumbs over the backs of Natsu's hands, turns Natsu so his face is resting in the crook of Sting's shoulder and he's gasping out s haky sobs against Sting's skin.

Gray pulls the car over and hops out, sliding into the back seat on the other side of Natsu and reaching out to take his hand. Sting can feel the sound that breaks out of Natsu's chest as he grips Gray's fingers tightly while he shakes and shudders in Sting's ar ms.

Is it the drugs? Rogue signs, and Sting can see his lips moving as he talks to Gray. Gray shakes his head and says something back, but Sting's shit at reading lips and his eyes bounce back and forth between them, trying desperately to figure out what they're saying.

Natsu's fingers dig into Sting's shirt and Sting kisses Natsu's head, holding him tightly and trying to hum, hoping it's not making things worse. It seems to work – Natsu's shaking slows down a bit – and Sting keeps it up, running his hand up and down Natsu's back.

We're going to stop in the next town, Rogue says after a few minutes. We have to find a doctor.

Sting nods, then turns to Gray, who awkwardly signs sorry. Sting gives him a gentle smile, putting his hand over Natsu and Gray's entwined fingers and squeezing tightly.

He makes a gesture that he hopes Gray will understand as it's okay, and Gray leans in, pulling both Sting and Natsu into a tight embrace.

_____

They find a medicenter in the next town – a rundown, sketch y -looking two-story building with a hand-painted sign and a plump, friendly-looking woman at the front desk. Natsu clings to Sting as they walk in, and Sting can feel how cold and clammy his skin is through his thin sweater.

The doctor has kind eyes, but Sting can tell that he can't do much . Rogue can't translate fast enough, so Sting gives up on trying to read their lips and instead strokes Natsu's hair and holds him tightly.

At one point, Gray shows the doctor Natsu's real pills, the ones that are supposed to keep him from the lows and highs, and the doctor digs through one of his cupboards and finds a few that he gives them for free.

Nothing he can do, Rogue signs eventually when they get back to the car. He'll be okay, it'll just be bad for a bit. We need to find a hotel.

The place they find is dirty and cheap, but Gray carries Natsu inside and they all curl up around him on the mattress – Gray with his chest pressed to Natsu's back, Sting facing him, Rogue sitting against the headboard with Natsu's head in his lap.