Hallo! I'm still alive :) Once again, I started another story without updating anything else! Sorry

This one is a bit less deep and dark and sad, and it's more about the complexities of a relationship than anything else, really. Hopefully it's alright! The chapters will be shorter than usual, but I've written this out till chapter 3 already so at least I'll update frequently for the next little while!

-KingRadish


Inside and Out

1- The Promise We Made

"Hey Natsu." They laid on their backs on Lucy's bed, her papers and writing utensils strewn about on pink bedsheets.

He turned his head slowly to look at her, onyx eyes groggy and clouded. They'd been at this exam prep for hours and he was getting sleepy. He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a massive yawn. "Yaww?"

She flipped over and scooted closer to him. "Y'know, I was thinking…"

He rolled his eyes and stifled another yawn. "Oh no, not again."

"No, no, no, Natsu! This is serious."

He seemed to perk up a little. "Okay, shoot."

"So, we've been friends for a long time… And you mean the world to me…" She hesitated and glanced at him for approval, only to find him staring intently at her with an expression she couldn't read. "Natsu?"

He was silent for a moment before he answered, his voice abandoning the childish pitch he usually used with her. "Lucy."

She crawled closer to him and poked his exposed stomach. "Why're you so serious! You're scaring me."

He looked amazed for a split second, then the serious, older visage melted off his face as he growled and grabbed at Lucy. "I'm gonna getcha back for that!" He pushed himself off his back and lunged at her as Lucy scrambled away, laughing.

They rolled around for a bit, tickling each other until they were both in fits of uncontrollable giggles.

"Natsu! Stooopp—"Lucy gasped as she tried to push him off of her. "You're heavy!"

They both froze as the laughter died away, realizing the closeness of their bodies in the position. Her hair was spread over her pillow in a golden cloud, her face flushed and blood pounding. He towered over her, eyes glowing and breathing uneven.

A shadow passed over Natsu's face and he let himself fall onto Lucy's bed again. She let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Once again they laid side-by-side on her pink bed.

"What were you saying again?" His tone was taunting. "That super serious thing."

She bit her lip. "Never mind, it's stupid."

"C'mon, Luce." Suddenly he was so much closer, his whispers fluttering over her neck and sending goosebumps down her back. "Tell me."

"…Forever." She mumbled.

"What?"

"I want you to be my best friend forever!"

"What, that's it?"

She propped herself up again and stared at him defiantly, cheeks aflame. "That's it. Yes or no?"

He laughed then, as he always did. "Of course, Luce! Aren't we already?"

"Yeah, but forever is a long time."

"Always, forever, same thing. I'm here when you need me. You'll always be my most important person."

Her hand found his, her soft skin brushing over his callouses. He relaxed the spaces between his fingers invitingly and she interlaced her fingers with his. "Pinky promise?" Her voice was a soft mewl.

"Pinky promise," he breathed. "It's forever, Luce."

She nestled her body closer to his warmth. "I'll miss you next year, Natsu. I'll come back and visit every weekend."

"Ew, no. Every month is already too often to see you."

She slapped his arm playfully. "I hate you."

He laughed again and she felt the sound reverberate in his chest. They lapsed into comfortable silence at some point as Natsu thought about the future.

The future.

He turned his head slowly to look at his best friend, sleeping peacefully by his side. She was his world. In two weeks they would be graduating from high school, and Lucy the overachiever would be off to the prestigious Fairy University while he would be taking a year off to work. She would make new friends for sure, with her bright mind and her even brighter smile… and where would that leave him?

With a trembling hand, he reached over and brushed away a strand of her hair from her face. She was his everything.

"Hey Luce," he whispered, the words barely falling from his lips. She didn't stir and he sighed. "I love you."

Closing his eyes, he let himself sink into the softness of her bed. He spent too many nights here, he knew, but he only dreamed when he slept surrounded by her scent. Sleep pulled him far from his consciousness and he fell into the comforting darkness without resistance.

Lucy listened for his snores before she opened her eyes again. Smiling wistfully, she took her hand from his and turned away.


Please let me know how that was! I'll update again tomorrow or on Monday!