Chapter Text
You’ve had leg pain flareups before, but nothing this bad.
You were supposed to be helping out Sister Imperator instruct where the new statues should be erected but now you’re sat on your behind in the soaked grass; sweating, panting and basically trying not to pass out.
You have already had a late start to your day due to a restless night, you didn’t want to be late with meeting Imperator which lead to you being careless about where you placed your feet.
You slipped. Your right foot slid from underneath you while your left foot locked firmly into the ground causing you to hit the cobbled pathway with immense pain shooting from your feet up to your pelvis bones.
A loud cry startled you, you weren’t sure who made it. Did you? Was it an animal nearby? You cringed as you pulled your skirt up above your knees to see them covered in a mixture of blood, gravel and mud.
But then the shots of electric pain ripped through your legs, gasping in surprised agony, you breathed in through your nose sharply and heavily breathed out of your mouth.
You wanted nothing more than to grab ahold of your legs as if that would help but you couldn’t, fingers scrunched into wet mushed grass you began to feel woozy and your vision began to blur into darkness.
You were barely conscious when you saw a set of feet next to you, you tried to look at them but the heat and blood rush became too much causing clawed hands to catch your dropping head.
You don’t remember much, you felt hands behind your shoulders and under your legs.. fuck.. your legs.. they hurt so much. Groaning you heard a noise you couldn’t compute and then something blocked out the pain.
The exhaustion from the pain quickly took over you just as you felt yourself being placed down on something cold but soft. Giving up on trying to convince your eyes to open you gave into the sleep that was calling your name.
When you awoke the next day to see a quintessence ghoul looking down at a clipboard, they looked up and gave a soft smile.
Omega.
“What happened yesterday?” He asked as softly as he could with his gruff voice, taking a seat next to your newly claimed bed.
“I was rushing to meet Sister Imperator.. I..” you sighed, annoyed with yourself. “I hadn’t slept properly the night before and I was late to meet her, I didn’t take any of my aids because.. I just didn’t think!” You rubbed your face, “I slipped down the pathway Omega, one foot went underneath me and the other just stayed right where it was and I just went straight down.. like a fucking idiot”
“Don’t be so harsh on yourself. You made a mistake. Satanas I would make the same mistake too if I was late for Sister Imperator.. that woman is scary” Omega chuckled causing you to crack a smile and huff a small laugh too.
“Who..?” You started
“Delta and Ivy were the ones who found you. Ivy carried you here while Delta gave you a small dose of quintessence when you made a noise.”
“Oh, they’re from your pack right?” You spoke and he gave a nod, “give them my thanks for helping me out please” you said as you swung your legs to the side of the bed, readying yourself to stand up.
Omega stood up and stepped backwards to make space, keeping one clawed hand out as an offer to help if you so wished. Taking a deep breathe you pushed yourself off the bed and immediately your legs gave way, Omega instantly caught you and lifted you back onto the bed.
Your legs were screaming in hot electrifying pain. You felt instant tears drop down your cheeks and onto the bedding. Grasping onto the blanket that had been pushed to the side you began gasping once the pain decided to violently attack the arch of your feet and calf muscles causing cramping to take over.
Omega studied you for a moment, his eyes glowing a gorgeous shade of deep violet before waving his deep purple quintessence swirls just over your feet and legs.
“It’s alright Sweetheart.. take your time” Omega pulled the chair up to the side of your bed again, one hand still hovering above your legs.
Exhausted and frustrated at your own body you raised your voice “It’s not okay Omega! I am useless because of these stupid fucking legs refusing to fucking work!” You exclaimed angrily, tears threatening to spill.
You felt weak and stupid, you couldn’t even stand.
“No. You are not useless. You remember the talk we had last time?” Omega asked and you gave a single nod, “Exactly.. Now please take some rest. I will come back shortly to check on you and I expect you to be asleep” he winked playfully, pulling the blanket around you. He knew not to take your yelling so serious, you were just upset.
“Thank you Omega.. at this point I should just move into the Infirmary” you huffed following Omegas instructions and achingly moved your legs to curl up and sleep.
Omega had let you sleep longer than you had wanted, he knew you didn’t take as much rest as you needed. You were very work focused and hated taking time to heal and recover.
He also noticed as he checked your file that visits to the Infirmary or having someone request painkillers were becoming more and more frequent, sighing as he stroked his beard.
Omega placed your file down and tried to think of the best way to mention the use of a wheelchair, he knew of the distain you had with using your aids, the ghouls in other packs and the upper clergy had also noticed the lack of aids when they had seen you about the Ministry, usually leaning against a wall or cringing as you kept walking, stopping every so often to flex your feet.
He was deep in thought when Cirrus walked in with a limping Phantom and Lake. Cirrus blew a gust of cool air towards Omega snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Everything okay?” Cirrus asked as she pointed the two ghouls to the wait room and leaned against the front desk.
“Yes, yes, my apologies Cirrus” Omega replied, leaning back in the desk chair as he took a look at the two ghouls who had dried blood on their legs and faces.
Cirrus pointed at him “Don’t lie to me Omega, you might be older than me but you’re shit at lying”.
Omega rolled his eyes, “It’s Little Miss won’t sit down or take a break when she’s clearly in pain” he huffed, claws running through his short white hair.
Cirrus gave a knowing smile “Ah.. back in again?”
“Room 4 if you want to help break some news..? If you’re free, of course” Omega nodded his head towards the other two. Cirrus nodded, “Yeah I can help with that. Those two had a scrap over who loved Nihil more”
Omegas eyebrows raised, “Oh?” He heard ruffling noises and he looked to see Phantom and Lake shoving each other.
“No! You love him more!” Lake shoved Phantom causing him to topple over. “NO I DON’T. YOU love him MORE!” Phantom stood up quickly and pushed Lake back, purposefully standing on Lakes foot making him curse out loud.
Cirrus pursed her lips and looked back at Omega “An hour and half of this.” Omega stared at the two before laughing loudly, breaking the two of the ghouls out of their little spiff. “Phantom go into room 7, Lake room 14. A nurse will be with both of you in a few minutes and no more fighting!”
Omega stood and made his way to the backroom, he already knew your measurements for the chair that he sneakily bought on suspicion that one day you might change your mind. He quickly browsed through the medical storage finding the chair in the back corner packed away neatly. Omega pushed it out to Cirrus who ooo’d at the all black sleek chair.
“How are we doing this?” Omega asked just as Cirrus plopped herself into the seat, “We go in.. and go from there, let her give her cons on why she hates it and we’ll give her all the pro’s of using it, plus.. she wanted a bigger office” Cirrus grinned.
Omega stared at Cirrus, shaking his head before holding the door open to room 4 for Cirrus to wheel herself into the room and put the brakes on.
“Cirrus! What happened?!” You exclaimed as soon as you saw your favourite ghoulette in a wheelchair.
“Oh I’m fine. This is for you” Cirrus said nonchalantly and Omega looked at her bewildered.
“I do NOT want a chair Omega.” You were sat upright and was looking at the wheelchair like it just insulted you. Omega sighed, “I know you don’t bu-“
“No.”
“Sweetie” Cirrus started, “Your visits here are becoming more and more frequent, you have siblings come into her requesting painkillers for when it’s too much to move. Not only us ghouls but the upper clergy including Papa has noticed how much you struggle with your legs yet you refuse to use your canes, crutches or any other aids”
You chewed your inner cheek, you knew Cirrus was right, she always was. You stayed quiet, glaring at the item.
“How did you..?” Omega looked at Cirrus who shrugged her shoulders while picking at her claws, “I read her file while you were in the backroom getting this out”
“You can’t do that Cir” Omega started
“Meh, too late now” She grinned.
“So.. what are the cons of using a wheelchair Sugar?” Cirrus asked and you chewed your bottom lip, “It’s big and bulky”
“It’s the slim design, fits your measurements perfectly.” Omega answered.
“It’s ugly”
“It’ll be yours. You can decorate it as you please” Omega answered as he sat down in the same chair as before.
“I won’t be able to get into my office”
“You wanted a bigger office, if you use this chair then they’ll have to upgrade you to something bigger and more accessible” Cirrus pointed out.
“I won’t be able to go visit and offer help in the greenhouses”
“They have a ramp. Someone just needs to lay it out but if you used this then a permanent one can be installed.” Omega answered.
“I won’t be able to go down to the lake with you guys, it’s all grass”
“Someone can carry you? There is a cement path, we just don’t use it as it’s longer” Cirrus spoke.
“I don’t want to be a burden” You uttered, not meeting their eyes.
“No. You will never ever ever be a burden to us.” Cirrus glared at you.
“I’ll be the only one in the whole Ministry to be in a wheelchair”
The two ghouls looked at each other, brows furrowed and confused, “What?” They both questioned.
“No one else uses a wheelchair here” you stated and was met with silence for a few minutes.
“You.. what?”
“I’ll be the only person to use a wheelchair” you slowly said again, confusion setting in on why the two seem to be stuck on that.
“Sweetie, have you never met Zephyr?” Cirrus asked genuinely confused.
“Yeah of course I have, at the lake? He was laughing and joking with Ifrit?”
“Zephyr also uses a wheelchair, he suffers with chronic leg pain too” Omega said slowly.
“Oh” It was your turn to stay silent, “But.. I’ve never seen him use it?” You spoke confused, trying to think of all the times you had spoken or seen Zephyr, each time he had someone with him.
“How does he get into the den?”
“We have wheelchair access to the Dens, just in case someone needs it”
“Oh..” you looked at the chair, it was mainly your pride that made you not want to use it. Cirrus noticed the shift in you and slowly stood from the chair. “Just give it a go.. for a week, if you don’t like it then Omega can take it back? Right?” Cirrus looked at Omega who nodded, “right.”
You let out a deep and heavy sigh, swallowing the hatred you held onto both of their hands as you lowered yourself into the seat. “How’s it feel?” Omega asked carefully.
“Stupid.” You muttered, knowing their ghoulish hearing would pick it up.
Cirrus pointed at the two levers on each side of the chair, “pull those forward to unbrake and backwards to brake.” You pulled them forward and it moved slightly. “It’ll take a couple of days to figure out how to get around corners and doorways with it but once you know, it’s easy” Omega said and you nodded.
Omega moved to open the door for you and you wheeled yourself out the room, it felt strange not to walk but oddly.. you liked it.. but you weren’t going to say anything just yet.
You pushed yourself up to the lower part of the front desk to see Delta sat in front of the computer, he looked over to you with a smile “How are you feeling? You gave Ivy quite a scare.”
“I’m better.. I think the long sleep Omega let me have has done wonders. Thank you for helping me out by the way, Omega said you gave me some quintessence on the way here.. I don’t really remember it but thank you” you nodded at the ghoul who offered a small smile at you.
You heard a whistle and you turned to see Phantom walking down the hallway with a busted lip.
“Hey hotwheels!” He cheerfully greeted you.
“Say that again and I’m gonna follow the slogan and beat that ass of yours” You playfully jabbed him just above the hip bone, digging your finger into a sensitive spot making him yelp and stand back from you.
“So.. you finally accepted?” He asked and you shook your head “a week. I’m trying it for a week.”
“Are you coming down to the dens later..? Mountains making that curry you love and Lus is making fresh bread” he asked, rocking on his feet, he almost seemed nervous and you squinted at him.
“Why are you nervous?”
“I’m not” he responded quickly, too quickly.
“Mhm.. sure Phantom” you didn’t push.
“yea I’ll drop by.. idk how too with this thing though” Looking up at Cirrus she smiled at you, “I’ll come and collect you outside of your old office?”