My first FT Angst Week participation! This is a short little ficlet for Bonus Day One, hope you like it! So pumped for this week, I've actually written almost everything in advance, so rest assured. There will be DEFINITELY no repeat of my Gruvia and Gajevy week failures. ;v;This is unedited and probably more angsty than necessary but here you go. Tomorrow's little oneshot will be edited, I promise, but I desperately need a good night's rest before then!
Prompt: Cross My Heart
Natsu prides himself on being able to keep his word.
Until he realizes that his word has no worth whatsoever. His word doesn't brighten the darkness of the world. His word doesn't make a difference one way or another when the course of war takes its toll on his friends.
His word has no say in life or death.
He's a liar. A grinning, innocent, naive little liar. It makes him sick to look at himself in the mirror, because she's not beside him anymore (fussing, laughing, her arm fitting snugly around the crook of his like two puzzle pieces), and whose fault is that now?
- I'll protect -
It's stupid, actually, once he really thinks about it. When had he ever kept any of his promises before? He promised to find Igneel, and didn't. He promised to take care of Lisanna, and couldn't. He promised - He promised -
- your future -
But promises aren't set in stone. That becomes all too clear when he sees the light in his life (her hair, her hands, her eyes - her mind, her heart, her soul) extinguish in a blink, as easily snuffed out as a flicker of flame under a finger.
- our future -
The stars try to illuminate the sky for him, the sun shines so bright it burns his eyes, the moon strikes through the night - hard and true and honest - but nothing can make up for the Luce-sized hole that remains by his side. She was brighter than the stars, brighter than the sun, brighter than the moon, but she -
"I trust you, Natsu."
Words spoken with absolute, unquestioning earnesty, accompanied by ringing finality of insistent belief.
His hands used to fit so well in hers. Now they're empty, blood tracing every edge and line of his palm, making its way under his fingernails, staining his cold fingers.
He clenches his fist hard as the fire wreathing his arms fades into nothingness.
She trusted him. She trusted him. Like no one else could: with unyielding strength, with a strong mind, with a doubtless soul, with unconditional love.
But where did trust in me get you, Luce?
Natsu closes his eyes when the gravity of a life without his precious Lucy slams down on his shoulders, and for a moment, he can almost see the stars smiling behind his eyelids.