My eyes were bombarded with sunlight when they opened next. I squinted, putting my hand in front of my face trying to stave off blindness. My eyes slowly adjusted, to show me wood floors, beds, and the smell of medicine. I was in Fairytails sick bay.
A smile crept on my face, "guess I lived, lucky me."
After my wave of relief wore off, I felt a breath tickle my arm. My eyebrows raised when I saw Cana sleeping on a chair at my bedside, her head resting on the side of my bed. My surprise took a backseat when I saw her stir from.her slumber. I quickly panicked, trying to look as normal as possible, or at least like I wasn't watching her sleep.
She raised her head with half lidded eyes and a bit of drool on her lip. Seeing her face, I let out a small chuckle. Her eyes quickly panned towards me and went wide in surprise, then shifted to embarrassment as she wiped the drool from her lip.
"Your awake, how do you feel." she stammered out
"I feel well enough to fight a giant gnome." I said as I awkwardly chuckled to myself.
Her brow furrowed "Well I guess if you're well enough to laugh I can…..RING YOUR BELL!" She cocked her fist back and whacked it on the top of my head.
I grabbed at the top of my head in pain, looking down I said "What was that for!"
*sniffle* *sniffle* "for scaring me dumbass"
With a face of terror, I looked toward Cana. Streams of tears ran down her face, while she looked at me with sad squinted eyes. I froze, I had only ever dealt with something like this when I had to calm one of the other slave children. I'm far too out of practice, not to mention that this is a grown woman. That thought put it all into perspective 'there's a woman that's crying for me', and here I am nervous, just staring at her with a dumb look on my face.
With a quick exhale, I straightened my face and looked Cana in the eye. "I'm sorry for losing, I promise to get stronger so I don't worry you anymore."
Im pretty sure I fucked up because her face shifted straight to anger. She put up both her fists and hit my shoulder, over and over. Once she tired herself out she shot me a pained look.
"You still don't get it do you, this place isn't just a guild or some stupid job Moss, It's a goddamn family. And I can't stand to see my family in pain, all because of some stupid mushroom. I don't care if you lose a fight, as long as you come back alive, that's all that matters."
As her rant wound down a few loose tears ran down her face, but I hardly noticed that, because all I could see were her piercing eyes. Those eyes told me something that I didn't even know I needed to hear. They let me know I am valued. I felt my eyes start to well up, but I didn't care, I just let the tears flow.
I looked down at my lap, not able to face Cana looking like this. Then I felt something warm and comforting envelop me. I turned my head to see Cana hugging my back. Her comfort made me cry even harder, I cried and cried until I couldn't anymore.
With red puffy eyes, I turned to her. "I think I'm okay now."
With a wary expression, she let go of me and sat back down at my side. Starring at the ceiling, I abruptly broke the silence and started to speak. "You know I used to have a family." Pausing for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts. Cana just sat there attentive and serious.
"You see, I was raised by a being so powerful that it could raise this guild to the ground with a thought." Cana gulped. "Theres really no need to worry, she's somewhere far far away, Probably beating up gods somewhere. I bring up all that to say, I loved her like a mother but I was never sure if she thought of me as family too."
With a slight pause a reluctant tinge entered my voice. "she said that she loved me, but a being with her power and grace makes it hard to believe she could love some runt. Yet I accepted it, like a greedy rodent. I mean how could I reject love from someone who's larger than life. In my heart I know she loves me, but my mind won't let me."
Turning to face Cana, I continued. "So when you all called me family, I was ecstatic, but I've been wronged by humans before. So I figure this love came with the conditions of my own usefulness. Some part of me felt almost rejected by the happy and carefree vibe here, like I didn't deserve it. So I justified it like a transaction, you all give me a home and in return I make myself useful, but I can see now that was a mistake."
I let out a heavy breath, and looked back at my lap. With a grunt to clear my throat, I spoke again this time with a lace or yearning to my voice. "I know that I still have a lot to learn when it comes to this family stuff. So I might still make some mistakes, but I'd like a second chance to be a part of Fairytale."
With a vulnerable expression, I peeked at Cana out of the corner of my eye. Only to be stunned when I saw a small smile on her face. I turned to her with a look of shock on my face, she let out a chuckle after seeing my face. "You really don't learn, do you? Family doesn't need second chances, just love and trust. You think you can do that?
The sincere look on her face, made the ice around my heart melt just a little. An irrepressible smile crept on my face, "I think I can do that, Cana."
We both sat there, staring into each other's eyes. There was an intense tension in the air, but it was soon broken by the door opening. In walked the guild master, with a calm expression. Which soon turned to a smile as he saw that I was awake.
"You gave us quite the scare. How are you feeling my child?
"Im feeling fine, master. I don't think I have any permanent damage, but disregarding that. I'm truly sorry for what I did master, whatever punishment you decide I promise to face it earnestly." I said with a grave expression, and a shivering tone.
With a sigh he simply put up his palms in a calm gesture and spoke. "your right, although I know you're being sincere, the weight of what you did forces my hand child. So Moss, your punishment will be to not go on any quests for 2 weeks,and during that period make a full recovery." he said with a knowing smile.
A warmth spread through me, as I realized what he was doing. Yet I felt pain at being let off the hook so easily. So with a sternness to my words I replied, "Master please reconsider, I need to atone for…."
He cut me off with a wag of his finger and a smug look. "I will not have that kind of talk here, child. You've only just joined so responsibility for this lies with me and your senior guild members. Plus, if I kicked out every member of this guild that made a big mistake, there would be powerful orphans all over fiore right now. I mean Natsu has almost burned down the guild several times, the expenses for tables and chairs in this place is through the roof, and we have a guy that bursts right through the wall when he arrives at the guild."
Catching his breath, he waved his hands in disregarding gestures." I'm getting off topic, what I mean is that everyone makes mistakes, but they don't define us. All that matters is that you're alive, and thus able to prove yourself a different man. So I say again, welcome to Fairytail, Moss.
My eyes welled up with tears once more a smile broke free from my lips. "Thank you guild master" was all I could get out before I blubbered like a baby.