A/N: Hello everyone! Hope you all had a nice christmas! I finally found my inspiration and time again, so I decided to post this little one-shot. It was made for my wonderful sister as a christmas gift. Enjoy!
Natsu kneeled on the ground, sweat dripping from his forehead, his chest heaving wildly. In front of him lied a bloody bunch, its face maimed beyond recognition.
He lost it.
His emotions took over once again, and this time there was no stopping him. No Lucy to hold him down with hugs and kind words, no Master to slap him down.
This time, he purposefully let all the feelings pour inside his body.
Grief.
Anger.
Hatred.
Pain.
Rage.
They all became the fuel for his fire. They all burned. And like a phoenix rising from its own ashes, a new desire was formed.
Revenge.
It flared the flame higher and higher still, until it reached every fibre, every drop of his blood.
Burn. Burn everything.
His body accepted the commands. His hands were set ablaze just like his soul has been.
But fire is a hungry element. No flame burns forever. Once the fuel is gone, it cannot live, vanishing as fast as it appeared.
Natsu's flame was enormous. It destroyed everything standing in his way, in the path towards his goal. It made him invincible, but in a ruthless, cruel way. There were no nakama anymore. No partners, no friends. There was only him and his prey. Anyone stepping up had to be disposed of.
But just like any other fire, it eventually burned out.
And guilt stepped up to take its place.
...What have I done?...
Only then did he wake from his haze. Only then he realized.
...What have I done?!...
He could have hurt them. He could have hurt his family, his dear nakama...and he would have done it without a moment of hesitation or remorse. Everyone who stood by him even when the times were harsh, who would put they own life for his when the need arose.
...I would have burned them all down...
How? How could he allow himself to loose o control like that? To drop his grip on his emotions and behave like an animal?
...What if I really did hurt them?...
No. He refused to think about it. He was the one to protect his nakama. To shield them from every danger. To step up and take the blow. That was the guy he was. That was his job. And he poured all he had into it, never counting the loss. Their smile was all he needed. It was the ultimate payment he wished to receive. Their happiness...Her happiness. A disturbing thought crawled into his mind.
...Lucy...
His head filled with images of her. Of her smile, always shining, even when her eyes were swimming with tears. Of her hands, petting his hair every time they travelled by train together, soothing his sickness into sleep. Of her heart, so big and forgiving, welcoming even those who were undeserving. Of her eyes, soft and sweet, finding goodness and beauty in everyone... Even and mainly in those, who could not see it in themselves.
...What if I hurt HER?!...
His eyes closed. He willed the tears to go away. One thing he knew for sure: if he indeed hurt his partner, he would not forgive himself. Never.
Quiet steps brought him back from his mind. He knew whose steps they were. He always knew. Soft gasp. And then... nothing more. Silence. He waited for her reaction, both impatient and frightened to hear it. But there was no reaction. Only silence. .
That was it. He lost her. His head dropped in defeat.
But suddenly there was warmth. Warmth of the likes he never felt before. It erased all the doubts, all the guilt from his mind. It assured him, that even when he did stupid things, he was never left alone. There was always hope. Her hope. She would never leave.
That was her reaction.
And he cried, and she cried with him.
If you liked this little story, please review. It literally makes my day ten times better.