Title: Her Ribbon
Pairing: ZerCy (Fairy Tail Fandom)
Summary: He looks at her from afar as he silently wish for the day when she'll be his.
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.
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He watches from afar. His dark onyx eyes glimmers in the shadows as it intently focuses on the blonde haired beauty resting on the bench.
The wind blows his dark tresses away from his face as it blows past him and onto the girl – no, the woman – who has captured his eyes many years ago. Back then she was only a mere baby, large enough to fill his arms as he cradled her in his chest.
It was the first human contact he initiated in his entire existence.
He could still remember the way Layla giggled in the background as he uncomfortably carried the young Lucy Heartfilia in his arms. Everything was going smoothly until the she cried in his arms – inside his mind, he was silently cursing himself for harming the delicate bundle and making her cry. But Layla, being the mother figure and kind-hearted person that she is, placated his feelings that nothing's wrong with the child – she's just hungry, that's all.
Ah, Layla, the first person who touched him who didn't withered away. She showed him the meaning of life and gave him the chance to turn his life a 180 degrees from his old self.
Right now, as his eyes lingers ever so fondly over Lucy's figure on the bench, he secretly wonders whether she remembers him from before – their walk in the forest, their play of hide and seek, the way she poked his cheek and squeal in delight afterwards, the way she leaned her head over his well-built chest as she slumbered away after a tiring day of playing in the field.
But of course, he knows the answer all too well.
His eyes closes for a second as he relieves the memory of the feeling called sadness when he erased Lucy's memory on the day of Layla's death. He deemed it necessary to protect her from various bloodthirsty and power-hungry fools who would someday use her as a bait to lure him out.
No, he could never afford to lose her.
Not in his hundred years of lifetime.
As he leans his body against the tree trunk from where he is hiding, he sees someone familiar fast approaching his woman.
Natsu, the Salamander.
The pink haired mage reminds him a lot of their encounter seven years ago. During that time, he still wasn't strong enough to end his life. Perhaps after many years of being stuck in Tenroujima, Natsu would finally have the strength to defeat him? Then again, on the other hand, now that he found her again, losing seemed like a long forgotten thought at the back of his mind.
"Natsu, what are you doing here all battered up?" He hears her singsang voice in the air.
"Well, I ran into trouble after I followed Yukino earlier."
The conversation seems too casual to his ears that he feels something akin to jealousy swirling inside him. He grunts in annoyance that his woman, whom he tried to watch over until he decided to have a permanent address in Fairy Tail's sacred island, seems happy and at ease with the Salamander's presence.
His defeat years ago served him well.
"All right, let's go back to the house before Erza comes back. I couldn't resist taking a stroll to look at the beautiful night sky."
His eyes narrows as he sees Lucy's smooth hand reached over her hair and unties the red ribbon adorning her locks.
"Hey Lucy, why are you taking off that ribbon?"
His eyes follow the blonde's movement as she ties the ribbon around the arm-rest of the bench she previously sat on.
"Its' nothing Natsu. I just felt the need to leave it here." And then, as he is about to move away from his hiding spot, he sees her face directed in his direction – giving him her most alluring and beautiful smile – before her eyes travels back to the pink haired mage. "Don't worry Natsu someone will pick it up," she pauses for a second as if contemplating her next words. "And I hope that person will treasure it and think of it as me."
His heart skips a beat as he is sure that she is directing that statement at him. And even for a split second, he knew those chocolate brown eyes were looking at him and through his very soul – just like how it was in her younger days.
He doesn't know how long he stands there after seeing the duo leave, but when the coast is clear and no one is around, he moves stealthy, like a feline approaching his prey, towards the bench to retrieve his ribbon.
A feeling of happiness erupts in his chest as he fondles Lucy's remembrance between his fingers and brought it up to his nose - only to be greeted by a sweet-smelling scent of mangoes and strawberries.
Her scent.
And as he disappears into the night, her ribbon in his hands, he wonders whether her memories never did fade at all.
He wouldn't really know.
But that will all change a few days from now. For he swears with all his might – even if it is the last thing he'll do as the powerful black wizard Zeref – he'll definitely save her from the impending destruction of the eclipse.
Until then, he will wait.
Wait until they meet again.
And perhaps after that day, and he wishes this with all his heart – the heart that was left of him, that somehow, they could have a life together.
And be together.
Thanks for reading and I'm hoping to hear your wonderful feedback/comments/criticisms/thoughts.
hugs and kisses,
Fia