[Roses]
[Genres: Angst, Romance]
{But he who dares not grasp the thorn should never crave the rose}
He stood on the side of the sidewalk, hands in pockets, staring ahead. He stared constant at the shop across the street, debating if he should go in or not. The rain pattered onto him though he didn't seem to care. He focused solely on the shop, shifting from one foot to the other.
What the heck. He shrugged to himself, not even bothering to look both ways before crossing. He splashed in the gutter puddle, soaking his sandaled feet with dirty rain water.
The slight ding of the entrance bell rang through the store, alerting the sleeping worker someone had came in. Natsu payed no attention to the girl, his eyes fluttering across the different flowers everywhere, his feet carrying him wherever. His heart echoed through his ears with each step, the quiet shop seemingly noisy.
"Do you need help, sir?" The girl at the register asked politely. He shook his head slightly, his eyes grazing the rows once more.
He didn't care much for the meaning of roses, he found it stupid and irrelevant.
But he knew how many he'd buy-34 in all.
"34 pink and yellow, please." He asked, his voice quiet. The girl followed his request, quickly distributing 34 precious roses.
"She sure is lucky, sir. Have a goodnight." The girl smiled widely at him. He faltered slightly before smiling plainly, gathering his roses before exiting the store.
The next day he went to a different store, buying two plastic roses-pink and yellow, of course. He soon collected all of his items and began arranging them correctly, feeling his heart constrict in his chest.
He walked outside, the sunshine bringing him further down. He had wished it'd rain, the sky cry for him while he couldn't. No matter, he'd still go. He'd always go.
He soon opened the small fenced in area and walked forward, stopping in front of the gravestone.
"Hey Luce," Natsu said softly, kneeling in front of the grave. He shakily laid all the roses down, keeping himself together with effort.
"I love you, Luce." Natsu murmured, staring ahead, at what he didn't know. He still felt her there with him, no matter what.
It felt strange. He had always preached living for your dead ones, though face to face with it himself, he found himself welcoming death also.
He was a hypocrite, no doubt.
Lucy would be ashamed, of course. Everyone was. He had resulted to nothing, just a broken hearted man. He didn't mind it though, he'd always keep Lucy alive. He'd never forget her.
Because he loved her, after all.
"Happy birthday...to me.." Natsu said softly, staring at the meaningless roses. He hoped she'd like them;she liked those kinds of things. Hopefully they'd make her smile, wherever she was.
"Remember right before you died I said I never wanted to see you again?" He asked, finally the raindrops coming.
Only the sky was clear.
He wiped away his own raindrops, lowering his head.
"I said I wouldn't cry..." Natsu whispered to himself. He bit his lip, trying to keep himself together.
"I lied Lucy, I did want to see you. Because I love you. I love you so much." Natsu urged, waiting for her ghost or whatever-just something. Anything.
It was like that in the books, right? When the lover died you'd always have closure. Their ghost would make amends, right? It had to happen. It had to.
"Damn it Lucy..!" Natsu grounded out, now glaring at the roses. He felt his raindrops grow at a fast rate, startling him.
"Lucy! Please come!" Natsu yelled, frustrated. Why hadn't she appeared? Wasn't there supposed to be some type of happy ending?
Life was a cruel, sick joke.
The promise of a new beginning.
The death of an everlasting love.
And soon, they were nothing but broken
destined never to be fixed.