Skeletal System Orthopedics Abbreviations

AKA = above the knee amputation

anti-CCP = anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide

AP = anteroposterior

BKA = below the knee amputation

BMD = bone mineral density

C1 = cervical vertebra 1

C2 = cervical vertebra 2

C3 = cervical vertebra 3

C4 = cervical vertebra 4

C5 = cervical vertebra 5

C6 = cervical vertebra 6

C7 = cervical vertebra 7

Ca = calcium

Ca²⁺ = calcium ion

CDH = congenital dislocation of the hip

DEXA = dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry

DXA = dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry

DIP = distal interphalangeal joint

DJD = degenerative joint disease

ESWT = extracorporeal shock wave therapy

Fx = fracture

L1 = lumbar vertebra 1

L2 = lumbar vertebra 2

L3 = lumbar vertebra 3

L4 = lumbar vertebra 4

L5 = lumbar vertebra 5

LLE = left lower extremity

LUE = left upper extremity

MCP = metacarpophalangeal joint

NSAID = nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

OA = osteoarthritis

ORIF = open reduction and internal fixation

ortho = orthopedics

P = phosphorus

PIP = proximal interphalangeal joint

PT = physical therapy

QCT = quantitative computerized tomography

RA = rheumatoid arthritis

RF = rheumatoid factor

RLE = right lower extremity

ROM = range of motion

RUE = right upper extremity

S1 = first sacral vertebra

T1 = thoracic vertebra 1

T2 = thoracic vertebra 2

T3 = thoracic vertebra 3

T4 = thoracic vertebra 4

T5 = thoracic vertebra 5

T6 = thoracic vertebra 6

T7 = thoracic vertebra 7

T8 = thoracic vertebra 8

T9 = thoracic vertebra 9

T10 = thoracic vertebra 10

T11 = thoracic vertebra 11

T12 = thoracic vertebra 12

THR = total hip replacement

tib-fib = tibia-fibula

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nothing more nothing less

Taglist: @desswright29 @imjusthere2readbruv @melanated-queen @pocketsizedpanther @uhwhatsay

Warning: it’s very slightly suggestive

I may or may not make this an actual mini series, what y’all think?

5:20 AM

“Riri,” You sigh, nudging your colleague with your foot. She’s sprawled out on the floor, only in a sports bra and shorts. She’s on her back, stretching when she feels the weight of your foot on her. You didn’t get to sleep as well as you’d like, there’s been horrible thunder and rains. Normally it soothes you but it’s been a nuisance with how thin the walls of this damn apartment are.

Riri’s eyes crack open and she looks like she never slept in the first place. The sun isn’t’ even out yet. She sits up, staring at you, irritated as hell. You laugh as you help her on the couch. She’s kind enough to let you have the only room in here while she takes the couch. You find a bunch of flash cards and a medical terminology book on the glass coffee table in front of you.

You shove a cup of coffee in her hands and she leans back as she takes a sip.

“You need to let your brain rest.” You advise and you’re shocked when you hear no clap-back. Her eye bags make her exhaustion even more obvious. She stretches, gently shoving you in the process before standing up.

“We gotta get ready, I’mma go shower first.” She says as she disappears into the hallway. Your phone buzzes in your palm and you receive a text.

‘Morning <3’ Shuri texts. You wonder what she looks like right now. Probably already dressed, a black silk dress shirt on, revealing the brown skin on her collar and sternum. Her sleeves pulled up and veins and tatts decorating her forearms. You see her text bubble disappear and then appear again.

‘The storm was pretty bad. Did you get any sleep?’ She questions. She’s always so professional and you can already imagine her long fingers stretching along the nape of her neck as she waits for a response.

‘It was hard, my roommate is pissed. Hbu?’ You text back, placing your feet on the couch as you stare at your phone.

‘Not really, get ready for work, I want to see you.’ She says and there’s no text after that.

You get ready for your day quicker than you ever have, eager to meet Shuri today. Riri chuckles at how fast you're moving as she tries to keep up with your fast pace. You’re both in her car by 6:00 AM. She gets aux this time since you decided to play your throwback playlist last time.

You’ve been dying to tell someone about you and Shuri. It’s no relationship, technically neither of you have asked each other out. You’re both just screwing around.

“Ri,” You mutter as she stops at a red light, lifting her MIT mug to her lips. She looks up from the road, one hand resting on the wheel and the other in her lap.

“Wassup?” She asks, mid-sip of her coffee from this morning.

You stare at her for a moment. You’ve known Riri since your last two years of Medical school so almost three years now. She’s seen your hookups, your failed relationships, she’s comforted you through heartbreak more than a couple times. You don’t know much of her love life, she’s never talked about it. You’ve watched her like a multitude of people and let them slip away.

“If Vision gave you a chance would you take it?” You watch her swallow the hot liquid before speaking. She’s always been one to fool around but she can tell by your voice that you’re being serious.

“Ion know what she’s like…I have a crush on her, I think she’s badass. Maybe…I would, I don’t know…Listen Y/N, Ion know if I’d want anything serious, sometimes hookups are all things should be.” She admits, You don’t want to tell her anything you don’t need to. Anything that could jeopardize what you and Shuri have. Whatever this is. Maybe you and Shuri are just colleagues that hook up every once in a while. Maybe you want more.

“Why?” She questions as the car starts moving again.

“Nothing.”

Shuri lingers in your mind.

…

9:15 AM

Shuri’s hands trail up and down your sides as she places gentle kisses along your jaw, leaving you breathless. You and Shuri have been paired up with her for the day and no one has questioned the two of you going missing. She pulls away from you as you shift your weight on her lap. She’s still got her scrub pants on but her top is long gone and the only thing left is black fenty bralette.

Her undoing of your clothes however, was hasty. Your baby blue scrubs are long gone, strung somewhere on the floor.

She’s already taken care of you and her slick fingers are already evidence of that. But your mind’s been elsewhere all day. Ever since your conversation with Riri, you’ve been wondering what Shuri thinks of you.

Her eyes are on your features, studying you before she finally speaks up.

“Is there something bothering you, Y/N?” She asks, cocking her head to the side. You look down at her before coming back to reality.

“No, Just didn’t sleep good.” You shrug while reaching for your scrubs on the floor. She moves your hands away back your thighs and lifts you off of her, settling you gently on the bed right after.

She picks your scrubs up for you, this time she doesn’t put them on for you. She pulls her scrubs on as well and leans back against the wall in front of you.

“You can talk to me if there’s something-“ She begins and the words force themselves out of your mouth before you can even hold them back.

“What are we doing?” You question as you stand up to pull your scrubs pants on. You keep your eyes on her which causes you to struggle while trying to tie your scrub pants.

Her hands caress your waist as she chuckles and ties it for you. Her fingers work diligently and tie them with speed and the right amount of pressure against your skin.

“We’re colleagues…” She begins while she wraps an arm around you.

“That are adults.” She continues before lifting your chin up so both of your lips are lined up together.

“That are attracted to each other, nothin’ more, nothing less.” She states and you’re at peace now that you have some sort of clarity. Now all you really wanna do is kiss her but she doesn’t give you that satisfaction. She tilts your head away with the fingers on your chin and kisses your cheek.

“I have a surgery, Y/N, I want you to complete your rounds and meet me in O.R 6.” She orders with authority dripping from her voice.

…

10: 02 AM

You watch Shuri hold her scalpel above her patients scalp.. She’s a sweet woman, too young to be under any knife. Too young to die as well. Which is where Shuri comes in, She’s done an endless amount of craniotomies and this is a breeze for her.

For you however, This is all new. You’ve seen too many videos and to see it up close is something else.

“Y/N, how wide should this cut be?” She questions. Not a single ounce of flirtatiousness or niceness. You think back to everything you know before speaking.

“One fourth.” You answer, your voice wavering as your unsure of your answer. Her eyebrows raise and you can’t see her mouth but telling by the sigh she lets out, you’ve said something wrong.

“Are you sure?” She questions.

“Y-yeah.”

“You don’t sound like it. Dr. L/N, I recommend you do some studying the next time you step into my O.R. One day, you’ll be taking my spot and the incision you make will decide whether this patient lives or not.”

She chastises you. You don’t say anything and all the staff in the room don’t either. This is nothing new to them.

By the end of the operation, you and Shuri are scrubbing your hands and she’s watched you be silent the entire time. The patient is okay and will be just fine. She hasn’t gotten any questions or anything from you.

“Y/N-“ She starts.

“I got it, I’ll study, alright?” You say before drying your hands and seeing yourself out.

…

10:32 PM.

It was one-fourth. You realize you were right the entire time. You glance at Riri next to you, who’s knocked out on the couch, curled up into a ball. You haven’t gotten a single text and the words from Shuri’s mouth earlier echo and it’s all you’ve been able to think about.

“nothin’ more, nothing less.”

Shuri’s probably had so many people she’s fooled around with over the years. She’s not old

By any means. 36 isn’t old. She’s just experienced.

Maybe Riri was right. Somethings are meant to be hookups. Somethings are meant to be a full blown relationship.

Lmk what y’all think PLEASEE

Medical Terminology Flash Cards

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[fic] In Bloom At World’s End

Series: Jujutsu Kaisen Rating: Explicit Characters/Pairings: Fushiguro Megumi/Itadori Yuuji (ItaFushi), Gyokuken (Divine Dog), Sukuna, Fushiguro Tsumiki, mentions of Itadori Wasuke, Fushiguro Touji and Megumi-Mama Tags/Warnings: Alternate-Universe, Canon-typical violence, blood and injury, guns and knives, brief mentions of animal injury (but nothing graphic/serious and no animal death), somewhat-inaccurate medical terminology, soft apocalypse/ dystopia aesthetic, character introspection, Hurt/Comfort with a Happy Ending, Plot/Feels with a bit of P/orn. Summary: And so, that was how their days came to be—in the company of each other. Two boys, an Alsatian, and a feral tabby wandering through the crumbling remnants of a once-bustling metropolis. ItaFushi Apocalypse-AU, featuring Zombies. A/N: Written for Zia for the JJK18+ Holiday Exchange over at twitter! I’d wanted to include most of giftee’s prompts and it kind of spiralled into this 7k+ keysmash, oops. Many thanks to Digi for the awesome beta, as always ♥ ♥  

Fic can also be read on AO3.

_______ i. The cat was injured, that much was obvious. Megumi’s stolid gaze tracked the dark crimson spots trailing from the cobblestoned path where he stood, leading into the cavernous shadows of the crumbling road tunnel that loomed before him. The cat was injured, and—Megumi swallowed thickly, a burning ache churning deep in his gut—possibly dying. Or worse, infected and already turning. There was no reason to venture any further, to walk deep into certain danger. He was immune to the Dust infection, but broken teeth and tainted nails would still rend at flesh and crush through bone, would bleed him out dry within minutes. Megumi knew this, knew it wasn’t—logically, it wasn’t, it never was—worth the risk or the pain, the literal gut-wrenching agony when the creatures sink their broken teeth and tainted nails in deep, even just for the life of one cat. A low whine drifted from somewhere by his side, and Megumi felt the brush of a moist tongue against his hand. He crouched down to brace an arm around the large Alsatian beside him. “It’s okay, Gen,” he said soothingly as he carded his fingers through thick black and silver fur in reassurance, smiling when Gen nuzzled and licked at his cheek. “We’ll be okay. We have to…” Megumi hesitated then for the barest of moments, watching as the blazing sun cast gleaming fractals of lights against scattered pieces of broken glass and scrap metal around them. A glint of light caught his eye; he blinked, raising a hand to the velvet cords clasped around his neck, fingering unconsciously at the rose-gold charms—a crescent moon and sunflower star—pressed against the hollow of his neck. He held onto Gen a little longer, soaking in the contrast between the warmth of the Alsatian’s fur and the cool metal within his fingers, centring himself in the rise and fall of Gen’s chest against his own breast as the dog panted in the musty heat of the day, tail swishing lightly. Then he straightened up, checking again for the knives he’d stowed away carefully—one at his right hip, one in the hidden belt band at his back, and another holstered to his left thigh—before he slung the rifle over his shoulder once more, the Mark-23 unlocked and steady in his right hand. “Let’s go,” Megumi said softly, and together, dog and boy continued deep into the shadows.

ii. Megumi had never been afraid of the shadows. He had always known of the risks, the dangers that lurked in the seemingly unending darkness; of the flash of fangs and the blink of burning amber eyes. But he’d always managed to survive somehow. With time and far too many near-death encounters, he’d learned how to keep silent and still enough to mask his presence within the shadows, to trust Gen’s senses and his own sharpened hearing when he could not rely on sight alone. Still, the night-stalkers, the turned ones, were persistent when famished, when driven into a frenzy by the scent of blood. Megumi knew this as well—the dull, uncomfortable twinge from the scarred tissue along his left hip was a grim reminder—and the rational part of his brain was screaming desperately at himself. That there was still a chance for him and Gen to barely make it out if he’d just abandoned the yowling lump he was holding close to his chest now as he sprinted down the pathway with single-minded focus. Megumi had lost a knife in the earlier scuffle when a night-stalker had clawed through his right arm guard while in its death throes after he’d sliced its throat. He’d stabbed the blade upwards on instinct into the snarling mouth of another night-stalker, just as it lunged forward in an attempt to bite him. It was enough to make the rest of the pack freeze in their tracks momentarily; Megumi didn’t wait for them to recover their senses, firing off a round at the two largest of the pack before he scrambled back towards the tunnel entrance. “Get out of here, Gen!” he commanded the Alsatian running alongside him, pointing towards the light in a small crevice in the tunnel wall—an exit back out into the streets. Gen whined a protest, reluctant to leave her master’s side. But she obeyed anyway, darting forward and scrabbling through the crevice to safety. Megumi breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Gen retreat, only to hiss in pain when he felt tiny pinpricks of sharp claws sinking through layers of fabric, scratching the skin just below his clavicle. The cat yowled again, more indignant than fearful, struggling against his hold. “Guess you’re not really a people person either, huh?” Megumi bit back another gasp of pain, his breath short, even as he held the cat closer in a protective embrace. He could hear the pack gaining on them as he raced desperately towards the entrance just several miles ahead, their eerie growls and gnashing, mangled teeth sounding as though they were but a hair’s breadth away from raking across his back. We’re almost in the light, Megumi thought as he ran harder. We’ll be fine, I can reach it— His foot caught against something, a clawed hand or stray debris, and he stumbled against the hard, slick ground. He was already firing the last shot from his gun, drawing the knife from his thigh with his left hand when an angry, spitting ball of orange-striped fur launched itself from his side and onto the face of the nearest night-stalker. Megumi could only watch in shocked silence as the cat mauled the night-stalker with the fury of a thousand raging suns, gouging at its eyes with sharp claws and effectively blinding it. The night-stalker howled in confusion, flinging the cat away, and Megumi found himself moving, catching the cat with both hands. He dodged a swipe from another snarling night-stalker, only to hit his head against a pile of broken wooden structures. Half-stunned, and blinking blood from his eyes, he tried to force himself back up. Not here! Not like this, he thought angrily, desperately, even as pain flared down his spine. Not until I find them…! The cat was spitting and yowling at the pack from his hold, curled almost protectively over his chest. Megumi could hear the night-stalkers closing in, and he held up his knife, ready to slash at the first attack when there was another sound, another sudden flash of movement. A tall figure dashed up before him, darting swiftly in between the night-stalkers as the creatures screeched, hacking and battering away with a weapon Megumi couldn’t see in the dim lighting. There was another rush before the figure raised his arm, flinging something at the pack, and then a loud explosion. The night-stalkers screeched again, cowering from the lightning-bright flash burning their skin, their eyes. Megumi felt strong arms reaching for him. “What—? Who are you—? Hey!” He caught a brief sight of a large, jagged scar between the youth’s hazel eyes—a boy much like him in age—before he was unceremoniously lifted and slung over a broad shoulder. Megumi gasped, disoriented and winded from the sudden movement, as he scrabbled for purchase against the sturdy frame. Somewhere close by his face, the orange-striped cat continued growling from where it was now perched on the boy’s other shoulder. “You can thank me later!” the boy said as he flicked a button, flinging another light grenade at the growling pack. Another blinding flash, another crackling bang—and he sprinted away, carrying both Megumi and the cat towards the tunnel entrance to the safety of the blazing daylight ahead. iii. Megumi exhaled sharply at the sudden sting, biting back a hiss of pain when the youth—“I’m Yuuji, Itadori Yuuji!” he’d introduced himself cheerfully once they were back in the safety of daylight; his smile wide and disarming, radiant like the sun haloed around the dusky-rose of his short, scruffy hair—dabbed a wet gauze soaked in antiseptic over the thin gash on Megumi’s right arm. “Sorry,” Yuuji’s grin was apologetic, even as he kept his grip steady around Megumi’s wrist. “But a little pain’s better than turning into a feral zombie, yeah?” Megumi furrowed his brow but kept silent, watching as Yuuji continued cleaning the wound with more antiseptic before wrapping Megumi’s arm up with a roll of bandage. He resisted for only a heartbeat when Yuuji turned his attention next to his left temple, allowing Yuuji to clean away the dried blood and patch up the small cuts with band-aid. “That was stupid, what you did back there. It’s never worth the risk going into dark underpasses and tunnels like that,” Megumi said at length. He looked over Yuuji’s handiwork, slightly impressed at how methodical and careful he had been while administering first-aid. Then again, surviving alone with bare essentials amidst a crumbling world taught you a few things—that is, if you hadn’t caved and lost your sanity from the long stretches of isolation, reduced to dust and cinders from the grief and loss. Megumi knew this; was all too well-aware of the reality of it. “Harsh. Don’t I at least get some thanks?” Yuuji grimaced at the comment, before he chuckled lightly. “Well, I hadn’t gone in looking for you. I was searching for my dumb cat.” Of course… He couldn’t have known I was in the tunnel before that. Megumi blinked, even though he found himself slightly miffed by Yuuji’s reply. “Still, I’m glad,” Yuuji said, and when Megumi only stared at him blankly, uncertain, he let out another laugh. “I mean, it gets too much sometimes, doesn’t it? Being all alone for so long... Guess I gotta thank this old fuzzball for helping us meet like this.” “I suppose so.” Megumi glanced down at the orange tabby who had been kneading its large paws on his lap. Its left ear was nicked with dried blood, and it still looked a little wild and feral, its eyes burning gold like twin suns, but it was purring away—if those rumbling, mewling growls could be counted as purring—contentedly like a miniature engine. Megumi scratched under the cat’s chin and it growl-purred louder, before it flopped over on its side, flashing its creamy-white belly and poking a pink tongue out from between its needle-sharp fangs. “Huh, looks like Sukuna’s really taken a liking to you.” Yuuji angled his head, seemingly perplexed by the sight. “He’s usually a hell lot crabbier even with Gramps, and you’d lose a hand just trying to pet him. And yet, here he is, flashing his belly like some kitten!” Yuuji gently lifted the tabby from Megumi’s lap, scanning over the cat to check for any other serious cuts or scrapes, only to yelp in surprise when Sukuna swatted an angry paw over his nose, claws pricking through skin. “Ugh, the hell, Sukuna?! It’s me, Yuuji! I saved your furry butt from those zombies too, you know!” To which Sukuna only jabbed another paw into Yuuji’s left eye for his effort, fur rippling along his striped back as he spat venomously. “Ow! You traitor!” Megumi frowned as he watched the two bicker a little longer, even if he couldn’t quite hide the crinkle of mild amusement from his eyes. iv. “Say, Megumi. Why are you still hanging around Tokyo anyway? The wards are all in shambles now, there’s nothing here.” Megumi didn’t reply. There was no real reason to keep it concealed away; not from anyone, not  from Yuuji. But he couldn’t quite bring himself to voice it either way, afraid of what he’d find couched within his own answers. “I could ask you the same thing,” he said instead, keeping his gaze ahead as he scanned their surroundings. They were making their way towards an abandoned residential block, shuffling past overgrown blades of grass that stretched out for miles ahead, swaying gently in the breeze. A viridescent ripple undulating in a sea of broken debris, uprooted lamp posts and deserted streets. Megumi watched as Yuuji threw an old baseball he'd been carrying in his hand up into the air again as they walked. The baseball went flying in a wide arc when Yuuji hit it with his wooden bat. The bat’s handle shone a vivid crimson in the sun, its wide, sturdy barrel scored with various nicks, and its end cap blotched with old dark stains—Megumi belatedly realized the bat was the weapon Yuuji had used to fend off the night-stalkers in the tunnel. Gen yipped excitedly, her long tail wagging back and forth, much like clockwork, as she chased after the ball. “Well, I was on my way to a Safe Haven,” Yuuji replied awkwardly, “before Sukuna decided to be an ass and ran off into that tunnel.” He crouched low when Gen ran back to their side, baseball clutched tight between her jaws, chuckling when the Alsatian dropped it into his palm. “Then I bumped into you and Gen. And I know this sounds crazy since we just met… and well, zombies galore. But you know, it feels like if we’re together like this, we'll be okay.” Yuuji grinned as he looked up again, his eyes glowing a warm hazel in the sunlight. —“It’s okay, Megumi, ‘because I have you and Mom! We’ll be fine if we’re together”— Tsumiki’s voice still rang bright and clear in his ears; it was almost unbearable when Megumi felt that slight ache once again, that almost-familiar pang in his chest when he was suddenly reminded of the ghost of her smile reflected back at him from Yuuji’s profile. “Hey, what’s wrong? You look a little pale. Is your arm still hurting badly?” “No… It’s nothing.” Megumi lifted a hand to the velvet cords around his neck, fingers brushing unconsciously at the metal charms as though for solace. He shook himself from his reverie, tucking away the memories, the emotions before they could unfurl any further. “It’ll be sundown in a few hours,” he said, avoiding the curious look in Yuuji’s gaze as he paced ahead. “We should start moving. I know a safehouse we can hide in and rest for the night.” Yuuji  frowned at the deflection, unconvinced. But he didn’t press for answers and straightened up instead to follow after Megumi. “All right then. Lead the way.” v. And so, that was how their days came to be—in the company of each other. Two boys, an Alsatian, and a feral tabby wandering through the crumbling remnants of a once-bustling metropolis. “Here, let me help with your bandages,” Yuuji offered when they halted by the river bank to rest. “Don’t want your wounds getting infected if we can help it… I’ve had quite enough of seeing people go all zombie on me.” His voice was light, as if to inject some humour, but Megumi didn’t miss the unsaid concern in Yuuji’s tone, at the dark thoughts that had inevitably crossed their minds then. “It’s fine,” Megumi said as he began peeling the bandages from his arm. His skin still felt a little tender to touch, but the wound was clean and healing without any signs of infection. “I’m not at risk of turning. I’m immune to the Dust infection—I’ve been so since I was twelve.” “But there hadn’t been any cure before, you can’t just be immune—” Yuuji frowned, before his eyes flew wide with understanding. “Oh, I get it! You’re just like me.” He rolled up the sleeve of his shirt, revealing a tiny healed scar on his right shoulder. One that Megumi recognized instantly, a near exact copy of the scar on his own shoulder. So Yuuji’s a test subject too, Megumi mused silently. Judging by the faded scar, he’d probably received the first shot about the same time as Megumi did, nearly five years ago. “That explains why you’d recklessly barge into a tunnel infested with night-stalkers,” Megumi said drily, even if he couldn’t quite hide the surprise from his own expression. “Uh, last I remembered, you did the exact same thing. And Sukuna isn’t even your cat!” Yuuji countered, before he broke into a short laugh. Megumi had no fond memories of the days in the research facility. His father Touji did not always make the best decisions; desperation for shelter and for money to feed his family drove him to make even worse decisions. But Megumi—well, Megumi hadn’t been completely opposed to it then, when powerful men in suits came calling and made an offer Touji couldn’t turn down. Still, better Megumi than Tsumiki or even his mother, Natsume; he’d do anything to keep either of them from being forced into those labs. To be injected with trial batches of viral loads and antigens, to be delirious with burning fevers and debilitating nausea for days on end, over and over, until he’d almost felt his body would surely give out from the constant searing pain, the mind-wrenching aches and bone-deep chills. Until it finally didn’t, and he’d been declared one of few test subjects in Tokyo who had successfully achieved true immunity, and with his mental faculties and cognitive functions still intact. A success of medical ingenuity and human perseverance, they’d branded him then. Not that it mattered anyway with the eventual collapse of Tokyo—perhaps, even the whole of Japan now—due to the inevitable spread. “So, you and Gen, huh?” Yuuji said, once Megumi finished sharing about his experiences in the facility. “Can’t really say it’s the same for me and Sukuna, since he isn’t a test subject. He actually belonged to my Gramps, and is the only thing I have left after… Well, after the wards collapsed and the Dome was sanctioned. He got bitten while in a scuffle with a zombie-dog because he’s an idiot like that—he’s just lucky I had a few vials of the trial antibodies that I’d scoured from abandoned labs with me when I found him. I didn’t think it would help much then but it seems the stuff does halt the turning process.” Megumi glanced at the tabby kneading and rumbling away in his lap, amber eyes half-lidded in contentment. It was probably a trick of the light, but sometimes Megumi thought he could see hints and shades of emerald between the stripes of Sukuna’s otherwise orange-bronze fur. “And you’re certain these antibodies worked? He still seems a bit… feral, for lack of a better word.” “Nah, that’s just how Sukuna is. He’s always been an ugly, mad gremlin, with an even uglier temper. If he had really turned, no doubt he would’ve ripped our throats out and chowed down on our innards by now like the unhinged beast that he is.” Megumi couldn’t quite suppress a smile and an amused huff at that, which only made Yuuji’s face brighten further, his eyes light with playful teasing. “Oh? So there are ways I can make you smile!” “Shut up,” Megumi scowled, turning away. “You just make really bad jokes most of the time.” Still, they both knew there was no heat in his words, and Megumi couldn’t find it in himself to be truly annoyed. Not by Yuuji’s infectious good spirits and charm, and certainly not by that disarming, roguish grin. vi. Megumi knew he wasn’t the easiest person to be around. Not for long periods of time, not with his cautious guardedness or his prickly disposition, given to bouts of petulance. Not with his stoic resignation, his cynicism at the unfairness equally bestowed unto all. In contrast, Yuuji, with his vivaciousness and warm demeanour, was almost too easy to get along with. A little too chatty and boisterous for comfort at times, but still earnest and sensitive where it counted the most. For reasons unfathomable, he even tolerated Megumi’s sombreness. Perhaps years of isolation, of festering anxiety and tedious monotony did that to a person, compelling two lonesome survivors to move as one together in these deserted lands, to gravitate towards each other. But in the coming days—weeks, and then months—spent with Yuuji, Megumi had also come to the realization that perhaps he was also a terribly ungrateful person. He should be thankful for this, he knew. For this sudden companionship thrusted upon him, for the break in the long solitude and the tensed, gnawing silence he’d endured through these past two years, with only Gen by his side for comfort. Megumi knew he was ungrateful, selfish even, and perhaps too cautious—too afraid of what this could grow into—to accept it wholly, but he almost felt unworthy of this profound emotion he knew was taking root within him, overflowing ink stains from a well. A tiny blot at first, but slowly, surely, like a wild, flowering sprout basking in the sun, unfurling outwards to the rest of him. And it wasn’t an emotion he had no experience of before— (He had felt this not so long ago, before the inevitable spread, before Dad—before his father, Touji, had fought off a pack of night-stalkers and never returned home. Before he’d made sure Mom and Tsumiki had got unto the last rescue flight out of their infested ward, only for him to slip from their hold, explosions wrenching them away from his sight. Before the Dome was finally sealed all across Tokyo and Megumi found himself wandering amidst the fractured remnants of the metropolis, grieving, unanchored, like driftwood all alone in the shadowy sea.) —A sprig of hope, of something more… Something to look forward to. Megumi closed his eyes. No, he couldn’t wish for this, shouldn’t even dare hold onto hope like this. He couldn’t bear the pain of inevitably losing it once more when it came to it—because that was what it always came to, didn’t it? They were immune yet not invincible. He knew this, was used to this, to loss and loneliness. So why couldn’t he find it in himself to let go, to part ways from Yuuji, to spare them from the grief and pain when it eventually happened? But then, Yuuji was all smiles once more, his laughter bright and unwavering in Megumi’s ears, drawing him back to the present. There was a halo of light around his rose-tinted hair as he stood basking in the mid-morning sun. Gen was barking, prancing around him when Yuuji tossed that dirty old baseball up, up, up into the air for their usual game of catch. “Hey, Megumi! Here!” Yuuji threw the baseball towards him, and Megumi blinked, instinctively raising his arm. He caught it easily, only to be bowled over by Gen when the Alsatian jumped excitedly at him, nuzzling his cheeks with her moist tongue. Yuuji laughed again, and— —And Megumi felt warmth blossoming in the aching hollow of his chest, a sense of completeness that he hadn’t realized he’d missed the comforting weight of until now. He sighed inwardly, lips curving upwards. vii. To say Tokyo was decaying would be untrue. The buildings were empty, the streets abandoned and devoid of human activity, but life continued to flourish in some way or other. The trees grew tall, their branches heavy with flowering buds and verdant leaves that bled into crimson, amber and gold at the turn of the seasons; stems of ivy and wildflowers sprung from every crevice between the broken asphalt under uprooted street lamps or in the cracked walls and roofs of houses and shop lots, a green veil dotted with lilac pink and violet curtaining over doorways and window frames. And in the daytime, animals foraged the streets—birds, a family of tanuki, a large herd of deer, even foxes and civets, or the occasional black bear. At nightfall, however, all were fearful of the shadows. Of the turned creatures, the night-stalkers that lurked and roamed mindlessly in the dark, compelled to attack and feed in a frenzy of gnashing teeth and broken nails. At nightfall, huddled away from the shrieking nocturnal dangers in their sealed bunker, it was easier to give voice to the unsaid fears, to quiet despair. “It’s where I had last seen them,” Megumi said softly, Sukuna curled close to his chest, his back to Yuuji. He heard Yuuji’s breath catch in his throat, knew the other boy was still awake and listening as he stroked a gentle hand through Gen’s warm fur. “My mother and my older sister, Tsumiki,” Megumi said as he glanced over his shoulder to meet Yuuji’s look of concern. “We were separated while on the last rescue flight out before the Dome was sealed. There was an explosion and the night-stalkers were attacking. I wasn’t sure if there were any survivors… But I didn’t find them among the bodies at the crash site so there’s still a chance, and that’s why I’m still searching. I have to keep searching.” Yes, he needed to look for them, needed to save them. And if it came to it, if he ever had to face the worst possibility, if they had both turned, then it was still his responsibility—and he will be responsible, he’s not like that goddamn excuse of a father—to put them out of their misery. He had to; his mother and Tsumiki deserved that much at least, if not more. Don’t think about it. They’re not dead yet. You haven’t lost them. They’re not dead, they haven’t turned. Don’t think about it. Don’t think— “Megumi… Hey, Megumi, it’s okay,” Yuuji’s voice was gentle as he brushed a hand over Megumi’s trembling shoulders, rubbing circles down his back in comfort. “It’ll be okay, and you’ll find Tsumiki and your Mom again. We’ll look for them together.” Megumi exhaled softly; he was touching the velvet cords around his neck, fingers grasping the charms so tightly the metal bit into his palm, leaving tiny half-moon and star-shaped indentations on his skin. He blinked as he drew in a slow breath, grounding himself in the warmth of Yuuji’s touch, in the measured cadence of Yuuji’s voice. They laid like that for several moments, curled towards each other with Sukuna snoring away between them, his long whiskers tickling their cheeks, while Gen settled herself at their feet, her fluffy tail brushing against their ankles. “I hadn’t thought about it this way before, in the year after I lost him,” Yuuji said, after a long silence, “but now I’m grateful Gramps had passed on before things started spiralling out of control. I don’t think I could stand it if he had to suffer through all this on top of being ill. At least he gets to pass away quietly in his sleep… though I bet if he were here, he’d still complain. About how he would’ve preferred going out in style and with more excitement, like in the midst of clobbering zombie butts or some macho nonsense like that.” Megumi felt his lips twitch in amusement. “Your grandfather sounds like he was quite the character.” “Oh, believe me,” Yuuji snorted as he made a face. “You don’t know half of it.” Another soft laugh, and then— “Why are you still here in Tokyo, Yuuji? There’s no reason for you to stay…” “Where else would I go? Gramps is gone and I don’t have anyone else to return to. It’s silly, I know, but in spite of everything, things are still familiar here. If I stayed here, I thought I could search for survivors and help them, and maybe we could all go together to one of the Havens outside Tokyo. It just didn’t feel right if I’d gone ahead alone, if I didn’t at least try to help, even if it’s just one person.” Yuuji smiled then, tilting his head up to meet Megumi’s quiet gaze again, marvelling at the deep green of his eyes. “And I’m glad I did stay awhile—I found you, after all. That’s something, right?” Megumi fought against it, the unfurling bud twisting, blossoming in deep; against the soft thrumming in his chest. He sighed softly. “I guess it is.” He could not find the words then, but when Yuuji finally dozed off, one arm propped under his head and his other arm curled around Megumi’s shoulder, it came to him in a moment of clarity, a blade lifting away the veil; a profound certainty, visceral and deep in his bones. Megumi smiled, brushing his fingers gently over the jagged scar between Yuuji’s closed eyes and along his strong jawline as he whispered, “I’m glad I found you too.” viii. Tsumiki had referred to them as jurei once, these night-stalkers. The creatures were nothing like that, of course; nothing like the supernatural hauntings of old folktales, or the mystical beasts and eldritch horrors that their father Touji had enjoyed weaving into their bedtime stories when they were children. But like jurei, a pair of night-stalkers had crept in unnoticed one night, forcing their way past one of the weakened steel barricades of the safehouse into Yuuji and Megumi’s hidden bunker. Unseen, unheard in the darkness, until their scent gave them away and Gen was growling an alert as she leapt to her feet. Megumi drew the Mark-23 from his shoulder holster on instinct, firing off two rounds and clipping the first night-stalker on the left shoulder just before it could rake its jagged nails over Gen’s snout. He could hear Sukuna’s enraged yowling from somewhere behind him, but he didn’t know where Yuuji or the second night-stalker was—he didn’t dare risk a glance over his shoulder to check, not when the first creature was locked in a deadly grapple with Gen, and he was trying to find an opening to shoot it again. The Alsatian stood her ground, jaws clamped tight around the struggling night-stalker’s leg even as it screeched madly. It twisted away just as Megumi lunged forward with his knife, dislodging Gen’s hold easily with brute strength and sending her crashing into the wall with a yelp. Megumi’s heart was in his throat as he tried to run towards Gen, only to feel a stinging blow across his face as the night-stalker struck him down hard. Megumi coughed in pain as the clawed hand bore down against his chest, tasting metal on his tongue. He struggled valiantly against the night-stalker’s crushing weight and gnashing teeth, slashing at its side with his knife, but the creature’s grip was iron. There was a loud hiss and a flash of burnt-orange as Sukuna launched himself at the night-stalker’s face. The creature shrieked again, rearing up in anger. Before Megumi could move, he saw Yuuji dash forward, swinging his baseball bat full-force into the night-stalker’s torso and over its neck. There was a grisly snap of bone, and the night-stalker crumpled limply to the ground. Yuuji was panting hard as he kept his guard up, his hair dishevelled and shirt torn but looking otherwise uninjured. Certain that the night-stalker was dead, he moved to Megumi’s side, glancing over him worriedly. “I’m all right,” Megumi said as he sat up, coughing painfully. “Just a few bruises, and—” And abruptly, there was shuffle, a flash, and before either of them could react, the second night-stalker lunged snarling from the shadows behind them. Yuuji threw himself forward, shielding Megumi from the blow as the creature struck at them, claws slashing through his shirt and digging deep into Yuuji’s chest, drawing rivulets of blood from torn flesh. No! Megumi yelled, or he tried to, but his voice was caught in his throat as he fired several rounds into the screeching night-stalker’s head. He fired, again and again, until it finally fell dead and unmoving to the ground, until his bullets ran out and he was firing empty rounds into the ringing silence around them. “M-Megumi…” Yuuji’s breath was shallow, unsteady. “Megumi, enough… I-It’s okay, it’s dead…” He tried to smile in reassurance, brushing a bloody hand over Megumi’s cheek, only to slump limp and unconscious in Megumi’s hold. “Yuuji!” Blood was blossoming over Yuuji’s shirt, dripping from the wound in his chest. Blood everywhere. Too much blood. Do something—Anything! Stem the flow somehow. Megumi willed himself to halt the rising panic, the fear coursing through him, inhaling and exhaling deeply as his fingers trembled. Gen was whining by his side, licking his face, while Sukuna stared up at him with piercing amber eyes, tail flicking towards Yuuji. Megumi let out another slow, steadying breath, Yuuji’s shallow breath still warm against his neck. Then, as carefully and steady as he could manage, he hauled Yuuji’s limp form over his shoulders, and staggered away further into the bunker for safety with Gen and Sukuna trailing close behind him. * Despite the blood, Yuuji’s wound was not as deep as he’d feared. Still, Megumi fretted even as the bleeding stopped, even as he cleaned the thin lacerations with antiseptic, dressed the wound with gauze and bandages. Sensing his restlessness, Gen and Sukuna pressed their bodies close, as though in comfort, and Megumi felt his heart clench in gratitude, even if the anxiety and unease gnawing deep in his belly didn’t quite recede. It wasn’t until early dawn when Yuuji finally stirred awake on the makeshift bed. He groaned and rubbed gingerly at the purpling bruise on his right temple with a palm, greeting Megumi with a sheepish smile. “That zombie really knocked me around the head,” he croaked, bracing himself up slowly, only to pause when he saw the look on Megumi’s face. “Sorry… That was a dumb move, I know, and I—” And he never got to finish, because Megumi reached forward then, fingers cupping the sides of Yuuji’s face as he drew him close to press his lips against Yuuji’s, kissing him fiercely, desperately, as if in fear of losing him all over again. Yuuji’s eyes widened in surprise, but before Megumi’s thoughts could catch up, before he could rationalize how stupid this was and pull away to apologize, he felt Yuuji’s arms embracing him tightly, drawing him back in to deepen their kiss. He’s still here, he’s alive, we’re alive, and—Megumi thought, heart thrumming with relief as they fell against the bed, limbs entangled, tongues pushing past lips and teeth in bruising kisses—and that was all that mattered. ix. Megumi watched as Yuuji shuddered at every touch, sprawled naked below him. He traced gentle fingers over the latticework of fresh bruises and old scars peppered across Yuuji’s biceps and chest, ghosting over the ridge of muscles running from abdomen to navel, and down the slope of Yuuji’s hips, before encircling his fingers around both their erect cocks. He exhaled softly, breaths short and deep as he continued pumping their lube-slicked cocks together, thumbing at the slits. It was enough to make Yuuji shudder again and buck upwards, enough to elicit soft moans of pleasure from him. Megumi tightened his hold, wrist flicking in a steady rhythm as he continued to squeeze, polishing along the lengths of their aching, throbbing shafts together with swift, long strokes. “Megumi, please,” Yuuji moaned again, eyes half-lidded now, lips pink and swollen from the earlier, intense kisses they’d shared. “I can’t—I need y—” Megumi didn’t reply as he leaned forward, one hand splayed gently over Yuuji’s broad chest, over his heart. He smiled softly, green eyes piercing, bright with allure and a desperate fervour—one that had Yuuji almost losing it then, hips quivering and straining just from the effort to keep himself from toppling over the edge all at once at the sight of Megumi’s yearning, the intensity of his raw emotions on display. Yuuji’s skin was warm and flushed, radiating like the sun. Megumi could almost feel the thrum of Yuuji’s heartbeat against his palm, a pulsing, reverberating echo through the bandages and his ribcage—steady, clear, alive. We’re alive, we’re here, Yuuji’s still here— He pressed his forehead against Yuuji’s heaving chest, tasting the salty beads of sweat pooling there on Yuuji’s blemished skin as he laved a tongue over a hardened nipple. Sweat was beading from his own temples, slipping down his bare back and between the velvet cords around his neck, the cool metal of the charms against the base of his throat a sharp contrast to the slick, simmering warmth emanating from Yuuji’s body beneath him. “Megumi, please… Please, I want—” Yuuji begged again, and something in the tremble of his voice twisted further into Megumi’s core, the aching need and desperation surging, flaring through his skin now like wildfire, his own erection pulsing in time to his racing heartbeat. He released his hold and pulled himself upright again, still straddling Yuuji’s thighs. Aligning himself carefully, he lowered his hips, inch by inch, impaling himself on Yuuji’s flushed, throbbing cock to the brim. Megumi bit back a gasp at the contact, a jolt running up his spine; electric, intoxicating. It almost, almost seemed too much, and he spread his legs wider to accommodate, lean thighs quivering from the building pressure. But as he began to move, working himself up and down the length of Yuuji’s engorged cock, and when Yuuji began to roll his hips in long, slow upward thrusts, Megumi found himself relishing the burning stretch, the fierce rush of heat and sensations through him, savouring both the pain and pleasure of their intense joining. Yuuji bucked again in response, callous fingers gripping bruises into Megumi’s waist and hips, his breaths sharp and his moans louder now, until he was thrusting faster at an angle, at that sweet spot, over and over, that had Megumi all but screaming his name as he came, white-hot and sticky, all over Yuuji’s abdomen. Yuuji rolled them over easily then, pining Megumi under him now as he continued fucking him even as Megumi rode through his own orgasm and gasped, breathless, writhing against Yuuji’s strong hold. “It’s okay, we’re okay—we’re still here, I’m still here,” Yuuji murmured into Megumi’s ear, kissing, biting hungrily at his neck, his collarbone, his lips, rocking their hips together as he thrusted deeper, harder, until Megumi’s body clenched and grew slick and taut under him again; until Megumi was clawing desperately into his sweaty back, moaning and arching against him with overwhelming pleasure again, unfurling, undone, with Yuuji following suit soon after. * It wasn't until they were both sated, and curled together again, exhausted, sore, and dozing off; until they awoke in each other's embrace the next morning, their skin cool but still flushed with a sleepy afterglow, that Megumi found the words for the feelings, the kaleidoscopic meld of emotions within him, between them Affection, endearment, exhilaration. (... Hope… Love?) They watched each other, expressions soft and open, surprised by what they had found together in the lull of the morning. Yuuji was the first to move, lifting a hand to caress Megumi's face gently. "Hi," he said, beaming bright like a burning star, like the sun in Megumi's heart. "Hi," Megumi returned the smile, brushing a kiss against Yuuji's nose, before sitting up. He gazed ahead at the fractals of sunlight drifting in from one of the tiny bunker windows, one hand already stroking absentmindedly at Sukuna, who had jumped up onto the bed to hiss at Yuuji before he purred affectionately at Megumi’s touch. Yuuji only snorted at Sukuna’s blatant show of favouritism, but was content still to watch Megumi quietly, marvelling at his delicate profile as he sat in silence for several heartbeats, lost in his thoughts. Then, as if he'd made up his mind, Megumi shook his head, reaching his hands up to unclasp one of the velvet cords from his neck. Yuuji angled his head in confusion when Megumi leaned over him, securing the cord around his own neck. The sunflower star glimmered against his tan skin, bright and warm like the hazel of his eyes. "But Megumi, isn’t this your—?" Yuuji began, meeting Megumi’s quiet gaze in surprise. "And I’m gifting it to you. Mom and Tsumiki would've wanted the same," Megumi said simply. He laced his fingers with Yuuji’s, squeezing gently. "They would've wanted me to move ahead, to be happy, regardless. So, I was thinking… Maybe we should head to a Haven… Together.” Yuuji gaped at him in silence as understanding dawned upon him then, at what was left unsaid. “Okay… Maybe they’re already there, waiting for you. For us.” “Maybe,” Megumi said, lips curving in affection. He pulled Yuuji in close for another kiss, pressing their bodies together once more against the bed. x. They left Ibaraki Port three days later, on board the few remaining ships heading out towards Tomakomai, for a Haven located in the Shiraoi district. As the evening sun began to dip over the horizon, the skies a brilliant meld of crimson gold and lilac pink, Megumi glanced back over his shoulder one last time from the ship’s bow, his expression wistful. Beside him, Yuuji was silent. But still, he squeezed their laced fingers gently in reassurance, and Megumi shook himself at the touch, anchoring himself in the present, in the here and now.  He smiled softly, gazing ahead at the sunset with Yuuji. epilogue. He found them standing up ahead, their backs to the sun, their silhouettes illuminated in the warm light. Tsumiki was beaming, her face streaked with tears as she ran towards him, their mother following close behind. Megumi could hardly move for fear that this was but another dream—another fleeting hope, a childish wish he could never have because life had always been filled with inequalities; he shouldn’t hope— But then Tsumiki was beside him, nearly bowling him over when she embraced him tightly, as though she too was afraid of being torn away from him once again. That he was but a spectre, a shadow wandering in liminal, twilight dreams. “It’s you, it’s really you! You made it back to us!” Tsumiki said, her voice as radiant as he’d remembered it, before she began fussing over the thin cut over his left cheek and the healing bruises over his arms. “I’m sorry… I’m here now.” He blinked, his eyes growing misty when sudden relief and a wave of happiness threatened to overwhelm him, when Tsumiki’s joyous laughter rang bright in his ears. “I’m home, Tsumiki.” “Welcome back, little brother.” Tsumiki brushed his stray tears away with a hand, her own smile watery and growing wider when she finally noticed Yuuji standing a few paces behind them, smiling nervously at her. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” she asked, voice light with teasing when she recognized the glint of the sunflower-star charm dangling around Yuuji’s neck. Megumi let out a huff, seemingly embarrassed by her knowing glance, but his frown softened into the gentlest of smiles when he met Yuuji’s gaze. He exhaled slowly—affection and tenderness, a fierce rush of emotions unfurling within him; blooming wildflowers after the long rain—and reached for Yuuji’s outstretched hand, pulling him closer. “Tsumiki, this is Yuuji. Itadori Yuuji.” —End— _______ End Notes: - I didn’t really have a year in mind while planning this AU, but I suppose you can assume this takes place sometime in the future? ... Year 2049?? lol

- Yuuji and Megumi were child volunteers selected as test subjects for nation-wide research into developing new antigens that will trigger the human body’s response to develop natural immunity against certain diseases and cancers. Yuuji readily volunteered so that he could receive a government stipend to pay for his ailing grandfather’s medications and frequent hospital visits. Megumi agreed to be a volunteer when Touji caved to yakuza debt-collectors and financial pressure.

- Both animal and human trials were carried out during the research. Gen was one of the few animals who had also achieved true immunity as a 6-month-old puppy. Megumi found her wandering the streets a few months after being separated from his family.

- Unfortunately, while a handful of the test subjects did achieve immunity eventually, the process had severe side-effects on their cognitive functions and mental state. And some of those who had achieved immunity and had seemingly retained their mental capabilities at first, also developed mutating cancers within 2 years of supposed “true” immunity (referred to as Dust infection/disease as the mutated cells resembled particles of dust), and they turned into… well, zombies. Megumi and Yuuji are the very few test subjects who were considered to have achieved true immunity as they’d passed the window period (no mutating cancers or developing Dust disease even well after 2 years of full doses of the antigen).

- The zombies don’t have any official names in-universe since technically, they’re still biologically human on all accounts, albeit feral and mindless (lol). Megumi just refers to them as night-stalkers because he thinks the term ‘zombie’ is too simplistic and somewhat childish.

- Many major cities had collapsed, being overrun, and to contain the zombie spread, the government began sealing affected areas in Domes while working to develop a cure for the disease. Tokyo was one of the first Domed Cities. Safe Havens are places currently unaffected by the Dust infection/zombies and under protection/government monitoring.

- Yeah, this is sort of (?) a very simplistic version of how mutating cells/antigens work in medical trials/research for developing cures and vaccines, but…creative liberties, etc. Also, I'm not a doctor/medical researcher lol.

- It’s somewhat implied in the fic, but Yuuji and Megumi are about 17, going on 18 here. Hey, I wrote the smut on Megumi’s birthday, so he’s of age ! congrats on getting laid on your birthday, Megumi :P

- I won’t lie, most of the AU setup here is just an excuse to write Megumi eventually having sex while wearing nothing but an alluring black choker LOL.

- Comments and critique are always welcomed for my fics—I'd like to hear what you think, if you've enjoyed this! Thanks for reading :)

I'm taking a medical terminology course and the professor keeps saying "it's just like learning a new language, which is why the best way to study is to make flash cards of the stems/prefixes/suffixes and just memorize them."

This is a terrible way to learn a language and an equally terrible way to develop an intuitive sense of what word parts mean in context.

Hi lemilia-san, i really love your stories they make my heart ache in a good way! May i ask for a ficlet with trey and the word “liar”? Thank you!

CW for Slight discussion of Sports Injury and Angst.

The Possibilities Are Endless

“Don’t lie to me...Please.”

They had a habit of lying, Trey’s friend of his.

He didn’t understand why they had to lie to him, he didn’t understand why they had to hide every moment of weakness from him, and he didn’t understand why they refused to cry in front of him or refused to cry in front of anyone at all.

Was it because they hated the feeling of being weak?

They wore their training gear, the schools volleyball varsity jacket, and their favorite training shoes. “I don’t know, don’t you think it’s a little extreme to train for longer periods of time when you’re so close to the competition?” Trey asked, stopping to let his friend re-tie their shoe laces. “It is but I think the extra time will help with improving my serving and spiking.”

“Serving and spiking are two different things, right?”

“Yup, yup. Totally different. You start with serving and ending with spiking.”

Trey looks to the wrap around their ankle, a reminder to both of the loss that put a toll on both of them.

The piercing whistle followed by the gasp of the crowd, the thud of a body falling on the floor, the boll bouncing wildly, and the squeaking footsteps of the team that scrambled to get to their injured teammate who held their painful leg. The ball rolled to the other side of the court at that very moment, ignored and abandoned. The concerned opponents exchanging looks between each other and abandoning their positions to help their fallen opponent; the court was on time out, the medics on stand-by rush in to assess the scene.

Trey watched as Vargas and another teacher spoke to one another. There was a nod and nudge to one of the players on the bench who was warming up in any way he could. A medic approaches Vargas and the couch, normally so gregarious and jolly, was straight faced and serious.

“A sprain,” Said one of the spectators. “And it looked like a painful one too. I hope it’s not too serious.”

He watched his friend was pulled from the ground and a hand over their eyes as they limped back to the bench and only stopping to nod their head as they talked to their coach, accepting the player switch. They sit down on the bench, with the help of a teammate, and their ankle wrapped with brown medical gauze. He could see the longing in the in their eyes and the tinge of disappointment and despair.

It was as if they had failed.

“Don’t push yourself too hard, alright?” They straightened their back to full height, pouting their lips at him. “Don’t be such a busybody! Me running after a bus in the rain was a onetime thing, alright?” Trey pushed his finger to their forehead; a fake exasperated sigh leaving his lips but a smile betrayed that sentiment. “That’s not what I meant.”

He points to their ankle. “This is what I meant.”

“Oh.”

There was a silence between them as they looked at the ankle wrap. The sprain had healed with the proper care and proper practice but they haven’t stop wearing it since. To them, it was a reminder never to fall flat again. To him, it was a sign that things weren’t the way they tried to make it out to be. A flash of realization, one of dread and remembrance, and Trey pulled back knowing well the repercussion of that reminder. “I just…” His shoulders slackened and his face calm and his smile grew to one easy and sympathetic. “I don’t want you to push yourself, that’s all. A sprain is still a sprain. You told me how tough it was to recover from that.”

“Oh come on, don’t be such a worrywart! I’ll be fine. I’ll take care of myself, okay?”

“I’m just saying.”

“And I’m listening.” They pat his shoulder. “I’m fine, really. Don’t worry. As if a sprain is gonna get me down in the dumps!

“Ah, I should get going. I’ll see you tomorrow, Trey!”

He waved as they ran towards the gym, the wind blew again and Trey was left alone in the school’s now empty walkway. He remembers the face of defeat when he ran to the gym after the losing match, he remembers seeing their teeth grit together hard, their brows furrowing, and he remembers the rising tension within them.

“As if a sprain is gonna get me down in the dumps!”

“Liar.”

The venue for the competition was a large stadium that stood high above everyone watching. The colors of white and black dominated the stadium as two schools were fighting for to the gold; supporters of Night Raven College and Royal Swords Academy littered the entrances. Upon entering the stadium, the smell of salonpas and mint spray hit his nose, the squeak of volleyball shoes, and the labored breathes of practicing athletes. He looked around, trying to spot the elegant black and purple design of Night Raven’s volleyball club. He was looking for them, his friend.

“Trey!”

A pair of arms wrapped around him from behind, his breath hitched as his feet left the floor suddenly. “You made it!” He turned around, looking at them with a smile and a hand to his stomach as soon as he was set down. Their strength never ceased to astound him. “Of course I am.” He ruffled their hair making them squirm. “Can’t have my junior being lonely during their tournament.”

“Trey, you’re messing up my hair!”

“It’s a good luck charm, y’know?”

“I’ve received too much luck now! Stop it!”

A hearty laugh and a clap of calloused hands, Coach Vargas approached the two with a smile. “Mr Clover, I didn’t know you were a fan of the sport.” And like the polite student he is, he nodded in greeting to his PE teacher and to the team. “I wasn’t initially but my friend had pulled me into it.” His hand rested on their shoulder, “I’m not familiar with the terminologies, though.”

Vargas laughed again, his voice thundering in the small confines of the lobby. Everyone looked at him, his team, the opponents, and the onlookers and supporters. There was a collective exasperated sigh from the NRC’s volleyball team, Coach Vargas was always like this.

“I’ll go wait in the seats. I’m pretty sure you’re going to get called soon.”

Trey eyed the staff member with a megaphone and multiple papers. The megaphone rang and the voice of the announcer echoed through.

“All participating volleyball teams please make your way to the stadium entrances!”

“Night Raven College to the left entrance please!”

“Royal Swords Academy to right entrance please!”

“Good luck.” He says, patting them on the back. “I’ll be rooting for you.”

There was a fearful look in their eyes, the nervousness that they felt when entering the stadium. Trey wished they could hug them and hold them close. His hand went out patting their shoulder.

“Good luck.”

“I’ll be fine.”

The two teams left for their respective entrances and Trey was soon left alone in the crowd of onlookers and fans.

“Liar.”

The ball flew over the net as a spiker from Royal Swords hit the ball with his hand, Night Raven’s libero making a running start to try and fail to save the ball. The whistle blowing hard to signal the point given to the opposing team, Trey bit back a groan when his team lost the point. His eyes look to them, their teeth grit and shoulders square.

Frustration.

The whistle of the referee blared into through the court, signaling the change of players. There was a small sense of dread when he saw the number on the placard, it was theirs. He pressed his lips together, seeing the walk of defeat they made as they took the card from their teammate. It was Vargas who met them with a towel in hand, putting over their head.

His mouth moved, giving them a small speech and letting them sit down the rest of the game.

“I’ll be fine.”

Even after the weeks and months of recovery, Trey knew that the pain of the sprain still lingered within them.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Liar.”                                                                                                                      

“We were so close too.” They complained, walking with Trey to the nearest eatery. “Next time for sure, we’re gonna win. I just know it.” They always pushed this image of positivity. “I just need lots and lots of practice.”

“You’re pushing yourself too hard again.” Trey said, his tone slightly harsh. “If all you do is practice and practice then you’ll end up with another sprain.”

“Oh come on, you worry so much. I said I’m gonna be fine…”

Trey stopped in his tracks, letting his friend take a few steps ahead. His brows furrowed and lips pressed in a straight line. “Liar.”

They stopped in their tracks, turning around to look at him. “You don’t have to keep lying to yourself and to me, y’know?” He walked with them, bumping his shoulder with theirs. “You’re the strongest person I know and no amount of losses are going to change that.”

The two of them walked silently after that, their hand coming to hold Trey’s as they walked and their head on his shoulder. “I don’t want to look weak in front of you.”

“You aren’t.” He held their hand tightly. “You never were.”

That also probably contributes to me not being scared of scary movies with the blood and such because I've been in direct contact with blood many times 😂😅. But yeah nursing school is super fun. The only issues for me is sometimes remembering the correct medical terminology for certain things. And the Medical Billing part of the classes where we wear how to create prescriptions, billing patients and getting i. Contact with patients medical insurances is a bit confusing for me 😭😭

Fr I can handle gore and body horror pretty well? That sounds weird. I definitely handle it better than most people that’s for sure. But FR I have friends in nursing school too and Aw man y’all really do the most. I used to have flash cards for my medical terminologies way back when too because I remember a doctor drilling into my head that medical terminology will save my career but djakqoxiehiadnqj medical stuff, right? Insurance, I hear, is where a lot of people get tripped up since there’s so much like literal/metaphorical fine print and stuff

Routes of Administration Latin Words

Inhalation -- inhalation = drawing air into lungs

Intramuscular -- intra = into -- muscularis = of the muscles

Intraosseous -- intra = into -- osse = bond

Intravenous -- intra = into -- venosus = of the veins

Per Os -- per = by -- os = mouth

Per Rectum -- per = by -- rectum = rectum

Subcutaneous -- sub = under -- cutis = skin

Sublingual -- sub = under -- lingua = tongue

Transcutaneous -- trans = through -- cutis = skin

Intranasal -- intra = into -- nasal = nose

.

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i hope you don't mind me saying something again butttt i'm planning to go into the medical field. and since ik you are too (with nursing) i was wondering if you have any study tips/ tips for surviving hs? thank youuu

some quick tips. sorry if they’re kinda sucky lol.

don’t get sucked into the drama. it’s useless and draining.

have fun. you may think high school’s boring or useless, but it’s the last hurrah of your “childhood”. take advantage.

take care of yourself! (hehe coming from the girl who doesn’t 💀). whether it’s physically or emotionally — your health should always be your priority.

don’t study to memorize either. study to implement (if that makes sense).

for me, i always made little snarky comments in my notes just because they always stuck out to me. like i’d legit put memes in my notes (only if the teachers don’t ask for them💀).

flash cards! i hated writing them out because ✨tendonitis✨ so i’d use quizlet instead. i used them for equations, keywords, important figures, etc.

i honestly wasn’t the biggest study person (which needs to change😅). my high school had the worst medical field classes, but if you can, try taking as many of those classes as electives as you can! the only class that helped me in high school was Medical Terminology — like all the prefixes, suffixes, etc. are engraved into my brain.

Fun, quick, and easy to study while on the go, Mosby's Medical Terminology Flash Cards, 3rd Edition provide a great tool for learning and reviewing medical terms. 600 full-color flash cards help you memorize the prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms used to build medical terms. Updated with the latest medical terms and illustrations, these flash

List of Seven Different Study Methods to Try Out:

Morning Routine Method:

If you struggle with procrastination, this method is for you. Make studying for thirty minutes apart of your morning routine, something you must do daily before you leave the house. Make it something that has to be done while you are getting prepared in the morning for the upcoming day, and something you can’t leave the house without doing like brushing your teeth.

Flash Cards:

Used to study multiple small bits of information in a short period of time, made in advance to squeeze in study time while waiting between classes or in lines. Recommended for biology, anatomy, equations for physics, learning new words in a different language, memorizing pharmaceuticals, medical roots and terminology, types of organic chemistry reactions, and multiplication tables.

Can be taped or pin around your home for constant recall of specific lines of information such as “the mitochondria is the power house of the cell” along with diagrams, so that bigger chucks of information sticks better from being constantly seen in places such as the front of the refrigerator, the door to your room, the bathroom mirror, and the wall in-front of your toilet.

Pomodoro Technique:

Work in 25 minute intervals separated by 5-10 minute breaks.

Used for long sit down sessions. Recommended for reading chapters of text books to prevent auto-pilot reading (where you look over a paragraph, but don’t really read it).

Also recommended for working on projects and assignments if one has trouble starting on work before the day it’s due, due to feeling like it’s to much work to do at once.

Treating Method:

Place a gummy-bear or other small piece of candy that won’t mess up your text book, at the end of each paragraph to create a bit more motivation to go on to read the next paragraph with the prospect of an immediate reward at the end. 

Works best if you only allow yourself these treats for studying.

Combine with practicing actively recalling the information without looking at it, at the end of each paragraph, and treat yourself if you got the information mostly correct. If not, re-read and try again.

By MnMinSeptember on imgflip

Course/Test Cheat Sheet Page:

Make a page of the most important information you need to pass a test or class full of rules, equations, theorems, or definitions, and keep a copy at your desk, in your car, on your kitchen table, on the couch, and in your bag. 

The key here is figuring out the most important information you need, and making sure that you can pick it up and study during any slow period during your day.

Thwart Method:

To retain information learned in a class, ~80% can be saved if reviewed within 24 hours, review for ten minutes the information a day later, and for five minutes the following two weeks, to be able to recall the information within five minutes while studying for the exam later.

The method is based on this “Curve of Forgetting” graph from California State University based on the study by Thwart- 

Teaching to Someone Else:

Put together a lesson plan to teach the information to someone else, make slides, write out your lecture and practice how you would explain it.

Tutor students a grade below or who are taking a class you already took, to retain the information better.

If you don’t want to teach the material to a friend who may also be in your class, and feel embarrassed to do it in front of somebody else, record yourself teaching the material and re-watch and edit it to make the video better. The video can be used to review the material later if you don’t want to re-read old notes.

Study Stress

Author: xxwritemeastoryxx

Pairings:  Elijah Mikaelson x Reader

Requested by: @lovelyy24 - Hii I was wondering if you could write a Elijah (or klaus) x reader fanfic where the reader is a med student and is currently stressing over everything because she’s almost done with school? Thank you so much in advance, I just really love your writing style!!

Word Count: 1.2K

Warnings: None at all.

Author’s Note: So I had no idea what field you may be going to school for, but I completely know the feeling of stress. I recently graduated from Med school for Diagnostic Sonography. The stress I felt was crazy during that time. I graduated third in my class, as well as got a job offer from my extern site. The stress I felt was well worth it all. Keep your head up, lovely. All your hard work will pay off! 

A frustrated groan passed your lips as you tossed the stack of flash cards down onto the desk. Bringing a hand up, you ran it through your Y/H/C hair while taking a deep breath. No matter how many times you told yourself that you knew all the information that had been on the flash cards, they seemed to be proving you wrong in that moment. 

  This was the last bit of studying you needed to do before it came time to take your final. The very last one before you were completely done with school. After the long process of learning every medical terminology, protocol and procedure over the course of the last few years, you were sure your head was going to explode with all the information it now contained.

But with the worry of passing your finals and as well as the stress that comes from focusing on said finals, it was making for a difficult study session. It didn't help that the current stack of pathology flash cards, that you had memorized at one point,  was seriously throwing you off seeing as you hadn't gotten the last few right.

Sitting back in the chair, you stared at the now slightly scattered mess of the cards. You got this. You mentally told yourself as you continued to look at the cards for a moment longer. Reaching for a random card from the stack of cards that you hadn't gone through yet, you grabbed it and pulled it towards you.

The amount of information on the back already told you it was on the worse end of the spectrum when it came to pathology. You took in the details, one at a time. Each word ringing a bell in your head. Its right there on the tip of your tongue.

But when you turned the card over to check your answer, you were wrong once more. While you weren't that far off from being right, the feeling of defeat was overwhelming in that moment. Tossing the card over your shoulder, not caring where it landed, you sunk further into the chair.

"I'm going to fail." You said out loud to yourself.

"I highly doubt that." Elijah's voice filled the room causing you to sit up and look over towards him. 

He had been leaning against the door frame watching you for the last few minutes. He watched as you had concentrated on the cards, watched the small looks of defeat that had formed on your face each time you had gotten one of them wrong. 

A scoff passed your lips as you shook your head. "Tell that to the several flash cards I've gotten wrong. If I was going to pass, I would have had these down by now."

"Maybe you're testing yourself in the wrong way." He said as moved away from the door frame and began making his way towards the desk. His eyes ran over the mess of cards that had taken over. "You've been reading the information trying to place a name to it. Let's try it this way, shall we?"

You watched as he picked up a card and showed you the name of one of the pathologies that you had been struggling to name. You sighed before you began listing every detail that you believed went with it. Once you were done you watched him, waiting for him to tell you how you did. 

"Correct." He said with a small smile before picking up another. "And this procedure?"

Again you listed every detail you could think of once more. He nodded his head with every fact that you listed. Every detail you gave matched word for word on what you had written on the back of the note card. 

The process continued for several more random note cards. He'd ask you about a specific pathology, you listed every characteristic of it. He asked you about a protocols and you listen in order each step, each terminology you had it all down. 

"Shall we continue?" He asked as he tossed the note card he had in his hand back onto the desk. "Or do you believe that you've done all the studying you've needed?"

"It doesn't hurt to study, Elijah." You noted as you leaned forward and rested your arms on the desk. 

"Too much studying leads to self doubt." He began. You opened your mouth to disagree but he shook his head. "Before I helped you were over thinking everything and getting them wrong."

You sighed softly. "This is the end of it all. I just want to make sure that I'm going to pass with flying colors." That was what you were the most stressed about. It didn't matter that you had been stressed about your clinicals or even all the paperwork that came with getting ready for graduation. It was the damn final that was just days away that had you freaking out beyond belief.

"And you will." He said as he moved to sit on the edge of the desk.  "You just have to let yourself breath in between study sessions so you don't overwhelm yourself like you have been."

"Easier said than done." You noted with a chuckle.

"How about we make a deal?" He asked and it caused you to raise an eyebrow. When it came to deals with Elijah, neither of you went back on it.  "You get to study one more day, a day of your choice before your exam. If you pass, like I know you will, we'll go where ever in the world you'd like as a graduation present."

"And if I fail?" You asked curiously.

"Doubt it." He said with a slight roll of his eyes.

"Come on Elijah, there is that possibility of me failing if I only get one more day to study." You already didn't like the idea of only getting one more day. You wanted to be able to pick up your note cards, your study guides and any other material you had and be able to study them daily. "So what happens if I fail?"

"If you fail, which the probability is slim, I will be at your beck and call to do whatever you wish for two whole months to make up taking away your days to study."

You laughed and shook your head slightly. "Anything I want? Whenever I want?" He nodded his head. "It is tempting to just fail now." You said with a smile as you watched him.

He laughed and gave you a smile. "We both know you wouldn't intentionally fail something like this. Not when you've worked so hard."

You sighed softly before nodding. "I really wouldn't."

"Do we have a deal?" He asked watching you. 

You thought about it for a moment. After deciding, you stood up from your seat and leaned over the desk, kissing Elijah softly on the lips. "Deal." 

He smiled at you and nodded. “So where would you like to go after you’ve graduated?”

You rolled your eyes and shook your head. “We’ll discuss that after my final.”

No matter how much you you will stress over the final in the next few days, you knew in the back of your mind that Elijah would be right once again. 

Always & Forever Tag: @rissyrapp20 @taylordrunkonwhiskey @thewolf-and-thesheep @wayward-dan @neeadinghugs @hawaiianohana15 @fafulous @vibhati123 @cassienoble2000 @kenmen02 @mikaelson-trash @dora-the-grownup

Stag Tag:  @elejah-wonderland @cheers-my-dears-16 @xxsoveriegnsarayaxx

If you would like to be added to, or taken off, the taglists, please let me know. Bold tags means for one reason or another, I cannot tag you in this. 

09/16/2019 I swear, the ONLY way to study for medical terminology is to make flash cards! This is the first week since my injury that I’m back to work and school full time so I’m making sure to write down as much as possible, especially since my memory still isn’t great. I also want to just thank you all so much for your kind words and your prayers while I’ve been recovering for the past few weeks. I’m taking things one day at a time, and slowly but surely getting back to normal. TBIs are serious and should never be taken lightly, but the best way to heal is to work your brain! So catch me studying a lot more than I have been lately to get back on top! xx - #study - #school - #college - #photography - #notes - #handwriting - #recovery - #healing - #prayers - #love - #student - https://www.instagram.com/p/B2fZjY-g5Bj/?igshid=96svqm6bbfc7