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Ruggie waved with his right arm until the door closed to the infirmary. That was his last guest for the night. Ruggie laid back in his bed. He wasn't tired but there was nothing else for him to do but rest.
Ruggie was surprised at all the people who visited him. Ruggie did expect Jack, the guys from Heartslabyul, and the duo from Ramshackle to come visit. Jack came in everyday and the others came in often. The ones that surprised him were the guys from Diasomnia and those he had pushed down the stairs. Those were awkward visits, but they seemed to kind of forgive him? It was weird. Except that loud green hair guy, he was mad that the others made him visit Ruggie.
The company was unexpectedly nice, even when Leona came to visit. It was only once and it seemed like Jack was the one who pushed Leona to do it, but Ruggie did appreciate it. Ruggie thought he wouldn't be able to forgive Leona. However, when he saw how Leona looked so obviously uncomfortable and even seemed scared to properly look at Ruggie, he knew Leona felt immensely sorry for what he did. Leona did verbally apologize but Leona being there was more impactful to Ruggie.
Everyone came to check on Ruggie. To check on his physical, mental, and magical health. The physical part was easy to see. His arm, or lack of, was healing nicely. His left arm turned completely into sand, so he was planning to do rehabilitation soon. His amputated arm just needed special moisturizer. The hardest part was that Ruggie was so severely dehydrated and weak. He had an IV drip in and had magical treatment as well. He was sent off campus to do scans on his brain and kidneys to check for any damages and they said it was miracle that nothing came back.
The hardest part was Ruggie's mental and magical health. Ruggie told everyone he wouldn't give up so easily. So what he lost an arm, he still had the other. That's what Ruggie told people. Ruggie's magic was slowly turning back to normal. He was even told that his magic was returning much more quickly than they originally thought. He would be going back to classes after this weekend. Everyone congratulated him for being so resilient.
However, Ruggie knew these things to not be true. He hated his amputated arm. Everyone knew how and why he lost his arm. He hated the looks of pity he got from others. Someone said "Well at least it wasn't your dominate arm." and Ruggie kicked them out of his room. Ruggie still had much more therapy and hospital visits to go. He didn't want to learn how to use a prosthetic. Worse of all, his magic felt strange. He was told it does feel different when your physical body goes through traumatic change, but he didn't like it.
Ruggie's ears perked up at the sound of the door to the infirmly being opened. Ruggie didn't bother to move, thinking it was a nurse. Ruggie closed his eyes, but another sense took over. He smelt something delicious.
"Leona?"
The door closed quietly as his housewarden made his way over. Leona was holding a box, which he unceremoniously dropped on Ruggie's stomach. The box was light. Leona sat down on the chair next to the bed.
Ruggie looked at Leona but he was staring at the box. He was waiting. Ruggie opened the box and then gasped.
"Really? Is this for me?" Ruggie was practically drooling at the sight.
The box contained half a dozen donuts. All different flavours. Inside the box was a label of the bakery, which was Ruggie's favourite on Sage's Island. It was expensive and there was always a long line up. Leona would once in a blue moon buy Ruggie these donuts but he always just sent Ruggie with his wallet.
"Eat up quick." Leona said, "Visiting hours ended and I was told you're still on that hospital diet. Heh, but I know your stomach can handle this."
"Shyeheehee, you know me so well!" Ruggie dug in.
As Ruggie ate his donuts, Leona grinned. The two didn't speak but enjoyed each others silent company. Ruggie did what he was told and ate fast. As Ruggie licked the frosting off his fingers, Leona laughed.
"You seem a lot better." Leona said, "Any update when you'll be back?"
"Hmm, they said next week I can go back to class." Ruggie said as he pushed the box off of him, letting it hit the ground.
Leona looked to the box, "That's good."
They fell back into silence. Unlike before, it wasn't enjoyable and it wasn't because Ruggie didn't have anymore donuts.
"Leona, you gotta start looking at me. At least try it." Ruggie said, "It's not like it'll come back so you'll have to get used to it."
Leona looked away from the box and made eye contact with Ruggie, "I know that idiot."
"Then look at it." Ruggie challenged.
Leona sighed as he looked down at Ruggie's sides, "How's your magic been?"
Leona was still uncomfortable looking at it, but he was trying. Ruggie smiled at that, "They said it's coming back faster than they thought. That's probably why I'm allowed to go back to class soon."
"Have you tried casting any spells?" Leona asked, still looking. Ruggie couldn't tell if he was looking directly at it anymore.
"Yeah, I can basically do any spell. I get easily more tired but that's because I'm just tired." Ruggie said, "It's not like it got sapped away. I'm still healing."
"No, I know how it works." Leona said as he made eye contact again, "I was just thinking about your signature spell."
"What about it?" Ruggie asked.
"Have you tried using it?" Leona asked.
Ruggie raised an eyebrow, "No? I didn't really have any reasons to. I don't have anybody to push down any stairs."
"Haha." Leona said bitterly, "I'm serious. Can you try using it?"
Ruggie didn't know what Leona was trying to do. Ruggie knew Leona was smart and despite everything, he still trusted Leona. Besides, it's not like he was losing anything.
"I'll have to use it on you." Ruggie stated and Leona nodded, "This will be fun! I've always wanted to use it on you."
Ruggie sat up more on his bed. He turned his body to look at Leona better. He took a deep breath and Leona crossed his arms.
"Laugh with me!"
Ruggie moved his arm up, but Leona's stayed crossed. Ruggie's stomach dropped.
"Laugh with me!"
Nothing. Ruggie felt his heart race.
"Laugh with me!"
Ruggie hated the pathetic look on Leona's face. It was the same face everyone had when looking at him.
"Laugh with me!"
Ruggie thought Leona was different. That's why they got along so well. They both understood each other and knew they didn't want anyone to pity them.
"Laugh with-"
"Ruggie enough." Leona said as he uncrossed his arms, "It's not gonna work."
Ruggie was short of breath. He could feel his magic. It was there, wanting to be used. He just couldn't do it.
"Leona, what was that?" Ruggie asked.
Leona looked away again, "I was thinking about your signature spell. You once said it doesn't work on animals or plants."
"Okay and?" Ruggie asked, "It's not working now. Do you know why?"
"It's probably your mental capacity. You can't process it properly because you keep thinking about your missing arm. I have two and you have one so it's hard for you to imagine controlling me. It's like how you can only control human looking people. It's because they look like you." Leona explained.
"And who's fault do you think that is?" Ruggie asked.
Leona frowned, "Hey! I'm trying to help you."
"With what? Rubbing it in my face that I'm weaker now?" Ruggie hated how his voice sounded, "My own signature spell is not working anymore!"
"Did you not hear what I just said?" Leona raised his voice.
"It's just your theory! We don't even know if that's true!" Ruggie yelled, "And if it's even true then I have to train even harder to get back my stupid spell. The spell with limitations and the spell that got me in this mess!"
"Ruggie, I mean this when I say it so listen up." Leona said, "You are capable of doing that. Your resilience and skills will help you overcome this. You don't have any limitations, they're just hurdles that I know you can jump over."
Leona was being honest and was trying to help, but it didn't make Ruggie feel any better. It just made Ruggie angry. How could the person who took his arm away come and give him a pep talk?
"Aren't I just a hyena who grew up in a dump?" Ruggie asked.
"Ruggie-"
"No Leona." Ruggie interrupted, "You don't get to come in here and try and give me a pep talk when you did this to me. I don't know why you're doing this to me. Do you feel so guilty? Is that it? Do you pity me? Are you just trying to make yourself feel better? Whatever it is, knock it off. Also for the record, don't ever call me resilient again. All my life I've been just surviving and I thought that would change here. You know, I thought my magic skills would be lackluster my whole life until I got into this school. But now look at me. I can't even use my signature spell!"
"Ruggie." Leona sighed, "None of this is what I meant."
"I don't care what you could have meant." Ruggie said, "Because right now, I am pissed. Leave."
Ruggie turned to lay on his side in the bed, away from Leona. Leona growled lowly, but stood up from the chair. Ruggie heard the door close loudly. It wasn't that Leona slammed it, it was just how the door was. If you didn't care and let the door swing close, it was loud.
All his life, Ruggie was given the short end of the stick. It really did feel like life hated him. Why did he have to be resilient all his life. Why couldn't life just give him a break? Why was he the only one in a hospital bed?
Ruggie usually would do anything in the world to stop it, but tonight he let the tears fall freely down his cheeks. Ruggie was so dehydrated before that he couldn't produce tears. Maybe this was apart of the healing journey. This was apart of ending his own drought.