The great oak doors of Fairy Tail burst open. Natsu and Gray carried Ryuji between them, his side bandaged but still seeping through; Lucy and Erza steadied Wendy, and Carla and Happy fluttered anxiously overhead. The hall's noise fractured—chairs scraped, mugs thumped, voices rising at once.
Levy—springing from her seat. "Wendy! You're hurt!"
Cana—setting her drink down hard. "What happened out there?!"
A whisper chain rippled as eyes fell to the unconscious boy between Natsu and Gray.
Guild Member (low): "Who is that kid?"
Another (frowning): "Never seen him... enemy?"
Wakaba (suspicious): "Bringing a stranger in half-dead is—"
Authority cut through the din.
Makarov—stepping forward, voice firm but calm. "Enough. Questions can wait. See to their wounds. Lives come before answers."
Mirajane was already moving, apron swaying, tray in hand. "He's right. This way—clear a path!"
The guild parted. Boots thudded on wood as Natsu and Gray carried Ryuji toward the back rooms, Wendy clutching Lucy's arm for balance. Carla hovered close, tail flicking, eyes sharp.
Macao placed a hand on Wakaba's shoulder as they passed. "Let it be for now. We'll hear the story when they're stable."
The doors to the infirmary swung shut behind them.
Warm lamplight and the clean scent of herbs filled the small room tucked behind the bar. Mirajane worked quickly, laying out bandages and salves while Wendy's gentle magic sealed what it could. The Sky Dragon's healing slowed the bleeding, but a stubborn taint lingered where Noctis's spear had struck—more curse than wound.
Mirajane rested a hand on Wendy's shoulder. "You did everything you could. He needs time now."
Wendy's eyes shimmered. "But... what if he doesn't wake up?"
Carla (soft, steady): "He will. That boy is stronger than he looks."
Erza took a silent post by the door, arms folded—knight on watch.
The night stretched. The guild checked in one by one: Lucy brought flowers and sat quietly with Wendy; Happy left a fish on the table—"Just in case he wakes hungry"—and saluted on the way out. Natsu and Gray bickered at the foot of the bed until Mirajane shooed them.
Natsu: "He's not waking up faster if you yell at him!"
Gray: "You're the one yelling, flame-brain."
Three long days blurred together. Wendy dozed sitting up in a chair, hand never leaving Ryuji's. Mirajane kept a steady watch on his vitals—warm compress, fresh wrappings, quiet reassurance each time Wendy's worry spiked.
On the fourth morning, Ryuji stirred. Breath caught in his throat; pain pulled at the bandages when he tried to move. The room swam, then steadied on a small, sleeping figure—Wendy, cheek pressed to the blanket, her fingers still entwined with his.
Ryuji (hoarse whisper): "...She... stayed..."
Mirajane looked up from a bowl of mixed herbs and smiled softly. "You're awake—finally. Welcome back, Ryuji."
Wendy blinked awake at the sound. The moment she saw his eyes open, relief broke across her face.
Wendy: "Ryuji! You're awake! I was so worried..."
He turned his gaze aside, voice quiet but steadier. "I... made you worry. Sorry."
The door swung open and half the room arrived at once—Natsu, Gray, Erza, Lucy, Happy, Carla.
Natsu (grinning): "Finally! I knew a shadow creep wasn't taking you down!"
Gray (half-smirk, half-relief): "Tch. Took you long enough. You really scared her, you know."
Erza (gentler than usual): "Rest now, Ryuji. You're under Fairy Tail's protection."
Lucy (warm): "We're just glad you're okay."
Happy (perching at the bed's edge): "Aye! Don't scare us like that again!"
Ryuji tried to answer, but the weight of it all—pain, exhaustion, and the unfamiliar warmth of so many voices—settled over him. I'm... not used to this. His eyes softened. A faint smile tugged at his lips before he let them close, slipping back into healing sleep with Wendy's hand still in his.
Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima/Kodansha. I only own Ryuji Kazuma and this fan story. Non-commercial fan work.