Fairy Tail

NaLu Week 2015

Day #1 - Wander

I stumbled blindly, aimlessly, in the dark before you came and illuminated my path with the brilliance of your light.

Lucy Heartfilia checks her appearance once more in the mirror of her cozy bathroom. Satisfied that - for the moment - a hair isn't out of place, she takes a deep breath in preparation of what she plans on doing today.

Relax Lucy, this isn't the first time you've had to visit him. She thinks in the back of her mind to psych herself up

But at the rate things are going, it won't be the last either. A more pessimistic side of her states.

And that thought is one of the few things that break her heart.

"Right this way Miss Heartfilia." Max Alors, one of the security guards, says as he motions the young blonde down another hallway filled with people of varying stages of mental illness.

On her left, she can hear a man muttering about the apocalypse coming and how humanity is to blame as a woman on her right wails how her family and husband were murdered in front of her by a crimson demon with piercing golden eyes.

"Those poor people." Lucy murmurs as her heart goes out to them.

"Better they're in here than out there." Max proclaims off-handedly.

While she knows the comment is callous, Lucy acknowledges the fact that it's one of the few ways they stay sane on the job. A few moments of silence later and the blonde knows that they have arrived at one of the parts of the asylum reserved for the craziest, most dangerous patients.

And one of them is none other than Natsu Dragneel, her best friend and lover.

"I'll be standing outside." Max says. "Call if you need anything."

"Thank you Max." Lucy says before the man is about to take his leave.

With that sentiment of gratitude, Max smiles slightly. "Don't mention it Lucy."

And with that, he's gone, leaving the blonde alone aside from the reinforced glass and the salmon-haired male that separates them.

Taking another deep breath, Lucy calls into the darkness. "Natsu?"

After she says that, the man soon comes into focus. And with a sickening grin upon his face as if he was plotting something nefarious. Lucy recalls when he was first locked in and how it came on the heels of their third year of dating. The doctors weren't entirely sure what afflicted his mind, but knew it had something to do with something malefic.

They called it E.N.D. and said there was only one way - despite or because of its cliché nature - to cure him for some time. And that would be to sing to him.

"Well, well," The beast bearing Natsu's face starts and the blonde can already sense the caustic words about to spill from his mouth. "if it isn't my dear lover, Miss Lucy Heartfilia. Come to make another vain attempt to rescue the love of your life?"

"I am not your lover!" Lucy spits with venom she reserves specifically for him. "And there is nothing pointless about trying to save him."

"Is that what you say to keep yourself from crying at night?" He sneers. "If you ask me, I'd stop being so pathetic and move on with your life.

Because Lucy could formulate a response, Natsu continues. "Oh, I forget, you love him too much to let go of him." His eyes darken. "You're such a pitiful little girl."

Not allowing his words to pierce her skin, Lucy takes a deep breath as she tries to remember a time that the salmon-haired male had kissed her. It was a defense mechanism she had devised after a few too many times that his other side caused her to cry with his snide remarks. His words almost like physical blows.

She chooses a memory when he kissed her out of the blue a few summers ago.

What was that for?

Nothing. It's just, I'm really lucky to have you.

Natsu…

I love you.

I love you too.

You know I'll always be here for you, right?

Yeah, and I'll always be here for you.

Thanks Luce!

You're welcome, my Fiery Dragon.

Hey! Don't call me that!

Sorry.

Princess of the Stars.

What was that? I don't want you calling me that!

Sorry.

Lucy shakes her head at the recollection. They could be so ridiculous sometimes. Especially considering how it devolved into a series of ridiculous pet names.

"What are you smiling about?" Natsu asks suspiciously as he narrows his eyes.

Instead of dignifying that with a response, the blonde merely clears her throat before she begins to sing.

*I'm right here in a maze of utter darkness. Let's call out to each other and move to the brightness.

I may be on a deserted road, but I know I am never alone.*

Even though she hasn't sang most of the song, Lucy knows it is already taking effect.

*Because I have gleaming friends that help to see the world with rose-colored lens.

We're the stars as we shine and we join and align.

With linked hands, we'll become a constellation and know that we can be seen from future nations.*

When she finishes, she sees that Natsu's vicious look of contempt has changed to one of tender adoration.

"I never get tired of hearing you sing Luce." Natsu says.

"Natsu." Lucy breathes in relief.

Every time she comes to visit him, she cannot hide the trepidation that she feels with the thought that one day she'll sing and only see that and his other side will make a scatching remark about her singing. "It's good to see you."

Before she can stop herself, tears spring to her eyes.

"Don't cry Luce." Natsu says comfortingly.

"I love you." Lucy blurts. If there is one thing this experience has taught them, it would be to not mince words. It may have increased their sentimentally as well.

Natsu's charming onyx eyes crinkle at the corners with understanding and affection whilst looking in Lucy's brown ones. "I love you too Luce."

Luce. She misses hearing that.

Placing her hand on the glass, she stares into his eyes as Natsu does the same.

"I wish you could touch me without this wall separating us." Lucy says, only slightly bitter.

"You and I both know that's too dangerous." Natsu says. Deciding not to dwell on negativity, his face brightens. "Why don't you tell me about how your writing is going?"

Lucy's face lightens at the mention of her favorite pursuit. "It's been good."

The two then spend the rest of the afternoon talking about the blonde's writing, their friends, and reminisce on times gone by. They are interrupted though when the security guard steps into the room.

"Time to bid your farewells Miss Heartfilia and Mister Dragneel." Max declares.

That's one of the things the blonde appreciates about him; his compassion.

"Thank you Max, could you give us a moment?" Lucy inquires.

Max levels them with his black eyes before he shrugs and scratches at his beige hair. "Sure, just make it quick."

Lucy directs him with a smile before turning to the salmon-haired male.

"I guess this is goodbye for you now." Natsu assumes.

"Yes." Lucy affirms before looking downcast. "I'm going to miss you though."

"At least I'll be in your dreams." Natsu states optimistically.

Lucy smiles faintly. "And I'll be in yours."

With one more look in each other's eyes, they bid each other goodbye before Max leads the blonde away from her friend, through the passageways, to the entrance.

"Until next time I'm assuming?" Max says. It's more of a statement than a question.

"Until next time." Lucy confirms at any rate.

"Tell Laxi I said hi for me." Max murmurs to her retreating form.

"I'll be sure to do that." Lucy says with a wave before she exits the building and feels the chill of an autumn night begin to take hold of her.

She cannot help but think of how warm she would feel if pressed flush against Natsu's body.

Shaking her head, she pushes the thought away as she looks up at the night sky. And as the multitudinous stars twinkle above her, she cannot help but feel that everything will be okay.

Because if there is anything in this mad world that we live in is that I can trust you to catch me when I fall.

Author's Notes: Happy Independence Day everyone! And sorry it took me a while to upload these chapters.