"They say when you are missing someone that they are probably feeling the same, but I don't think it's possible for you to miss me as much as I'm missing you right now."

― Edna St. Vincent Millay

It had been a long day.

Natsu would never admit it out loud, but he was tired. Physically and emotionally.

Again, he had gone out on a search for his parent, but alas, it seemed it was just another rumor, a hoax. It was becoming increasingly more difficult to go back to the guild with news of how he wasn't there.

It was almost like he was trying to prove how much of a failure he was. They must all be thinking it- he certainly was.

He just… he didn't understand. Why couldn't he find him? How hard was it to find a dragon? Surely it shouldn't be this difficult- so why was it?

Perhaps he had shown up in the seven years he was asleep? What if he had died just like-

Feelings that he hated arose within him and he tried desperately to shove them away. He never liked to feel so down, he was supposed to be the strong one, he couldn't be sad. Besides that, no one wanted to deal with a weepy dragon slayer...

The teen shook his head, heaving a sigh as he stopped walking, looking up to the dark blue sky. Stars danced above him in a way that made his heart pound, the male swallowing the lump in his throat.

Tearing his eyes away, he made his way down the long dirt path that led to his small home, spotting it through the trees. He made sure that his walls were up- just in case Happy was still awake. He didn't want to worry his friend.

When he got to his small house, he realized with there was another scent mixing in with Happy's. He recognized it immediately, the honey and vanilla scent impossible to mistake. His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach and all at once the feelings he tried so hard to keep hidden bubbled to the surface.

He could never keep it together around her.

Opening his door, his eyes stung and his throat felt tight. He wanted so badly to ignore her; he hated that she had this affect on him.

"Natsu?" Her gentle voice fluttered through the house and he watched as she appeared from his kitchen, wearing a tank top and pajama bottoms. Her bronze eyes met his and he watched as hers softened. Immediately he tore his gaze away, heading to his room and determined to not let her in.

However, he only made it halfway before he felt her slender fingers wrap around his bicep. It stopped him in his tracks and suddenly it was like dam had broke.

Tears dripped down his cheeks and he slid down to his knees. He reached up to cover his eyes with his hand, shame creeping up his spine.

Lucy was in front of him in less than a second, and faintly he wondered how she had moved so quickly. Her arms were thrown around his neck and he found himself sinking into her embrace, his arms wrapping around her middle.

Natsu had never cried so hard in his life.

His sobs echoed through the house, mixed in with his best friend's quiet words.

"I know."

"I'm here now, it's okay."

"Just let it all out."

"You'll find him, I promise."

It took longer than he was willing to admit to calm down, and Lucy stayed with him the whole time. Somehow she had ended up on his lap, straddling him with his head buried in the crook of her neck. One of her hands was still at work in his hair, and the other was rubbing soothing circles into his back.

"All better?" She asked quietly, the male shrugging as he pulled back, not meeting her gaze.

"He's still not here." He replied quietly, feeling his heart burn when she pulled her hand from his hair and cupped his cheek instead. She tilted his head up, forcing him to look her in the eyes.

"You'll find him, Natsu." She responded, her voice sure and stern, as if she knew. For a reason that he couldn't quite figure out, it made him feel unreasonably upset.

"How do you know that?" He asked bitterly. "For all anyone knows he could be d-dead." He took a shallow breath, closing his eyes. "I don't want to be longing for something- for someone I can't have. I hate going back to the guild with more failure. All I ever wonder is why. Why did he leave me? Did I do something wrong?" He felt himself crumble a little more with the revelation, placing his forehead against her collarbone.

He had never let anyone know that. It was something he kept to himself- a part of him he always hid. He had never wanted to drag anyone down in his miseries, it didn't matter how much he was suffering. He could deal with it. Besides, no one really knew how to-

"You can't do that to yourself." Lucy said firmly, jarring the male out of his thoughts. "You're perfect. You are perfect in every single way, Natsu. You're kind and funny and you inspire everyone around you in ways I can't even begin to explain." His heart thumped against his chest as he hesitantly pulled back to look at her. Her eyes were shining with passion and it took all his willpower to not blush a million shades of red, suddenly becoming very aware of their rather compromising position. However, the pain still lingering in his heart beat out the feeling and he realized that he needed to believe her words.

"From the way you talk about him, I know you loved Igneel and I just know he loved you too- probably more." She said, placing her hands on the back of his neck, her thumbs brushing along his jaw. "He couldn't have left you because he didn't love you or because you did anything wrong, it just wouldn't make sense. I'm sure that there was something bigger going on and he had to leave- maybe to keep you safe and protect you." She pulled him a little closer to herself, placing her forehead against his. "One day, you're going to find him." She said it as if she were deciding it for him. "And if I have to swoop in with a dragon radar, I totally will."

Natsu chuckled at her, the blonde smiling sweetly and causing his heart to pound all over again. Deciding to take a chance, he leaned forward quickly, his lips connecting with hers for a few short moments that somehow took his breath away. When he pulled away, she was frozen with shock, and he smirked at her before burying his face in the crook of her neck once again.

"Thanks." He muttered, shutting his eyes tightly and keeping her close and enveloped in his arms. His heart still pounded, more out of nervousness than anything and relief flooded through him as he felt her press her lips against his head.

"No problem." She responded quietly.

Somehow they had fallen asleep, holding onto each other as if their lives depended on it.

However, before Natsu had fallen asleep, he heard her speak.

"No one thinks you're a failure." She had said sleepily. "You're Fairy Tail's greatest success."

He fell asleep with a new hope in his heart and hopefully a new, even more fun, adventure to start with Lucy.

PsssssssssssssSSSSSSssSSSSSSSSssssSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSssh this week is gonna be great. Hold onto your dicks everyone.

-FireDragonPhia