Author's Note
Aaahhh... you see, Runaway was supposed to be a one-shot, but I didn't mark it as complete and now I feel obligated to continue it, haha. I hope this is enjoyable!
It didn't take long for the Heartfilia Staff to catch the two leaving. There were no trees or shrubs to hide in, so all Natsu and Lucy could do was run as fast as they could and hope for the best. They hopped over the grand fence encircling all of the Heartfilia grounds. While Natsu vaulted it over it easily, Lucy found it much more difficult to conquer than the picket that surrounded the mansion. The metal fence had small gaps between each picket, not large enough to fit her foot. She tried to ignore Natsu frantic but encouraging shouts but to no avail.
Finally, with a tense shout, Natsu shouted something useful.
"Lucy! Just grab on to the top rails and pull yourself up!"
And Lucy did, hopping up so she could reach the rail that lied about two feet from the top of the fence. She managed to pull herself up and readied herself to hop off the tall fence. Before she could think about it any longer, she let herself fall forward with a scream. Her dress got caught on the sharp finial top of the picket, pulling her back towards the fence. She rammed into the picket, just hard enough for her to wince.
"Are you okay?" Natsu frantically asked, looking behind her. "Shit, shit, shit, they're here!"
Lucy turned her head, and sure enough, a black car was nearing the fence.
"Pull me off." She muttered, before violently rocking away from the fence. "Pull me off!" She screamed, and Natsu grabbed her arm and began yanking her.
After a few tries, the fabric ripped and Lucy was yanked to the soft grass just as the car was around ten feet from the fence. It skidded to a stop, and security filed out the car.
"Lucy Heartfilia! Your father has ordered you to return to the Heartfilia Mansion immediately!"
But the two were already running again, Natsu whooping and hollering as he went.
"Wow!" Natsu exclaimed. "That was epic!"
Lucy didn't share the same sentiment, a frown etched on her face as they trudged through a small forest far from the Heartfilia grounds. "They're bound to find me at some point. We're not that far away, and my dad has connections- someone will find me and return me."
Natsu shrugged. "Well, until then, we can have fun! Besides, we're far enough. You can't even see this forest from your house."
"I guess." Lucy sighed. "You came through this forest on your way here?"
"I don't think so."
"You don't think so?"
Natsu shook his head. "I just kind of ran and ended up here."
"How are you going to get back to Fairy Tail?"
Natsu's face fell. "I don't really want to go back there, anyway."
He said it with such finality that Lucy didn't press for any explanation and the two walked in silence for a few minutes.
"What's your dad like?" Natsu suddenly asks, then raises his hands defensively. "Not trying to be rude or anything- just asking."
Lucy shrugged it off. "Frugal. Very frugal."
"He owns a gigantic mansion! How is that frugal?"
"The mansion's mostly for show now. He bought it because my mother loved it. She always wanted a house with a big garden. So he got it- but now it just shows competitors how successful we are... to intimidate them. Everything he buys is for the sake of the business or his appearance- nothing else."
"Nothing, nothing?"
"Nothing, nothing." Lucy nodded, and then she sighed. "So, if we're not going to Fairy Tail, where are we going?"
"I don't know," Natsu shrugged from in front of her, before turning to look at her. "We'll find a town or something to crash for a while."
A pained smile came to his face. "Lisanna always said that I should travel a bit more- take the world in."
A faraway look came to his eyes and Lucy fidgeted awkwardly in the silence, couldn't shake the feeling that she was staring straight through her soul even though she knew that he was so in his world he probably didn't see her. The moment ended quickly, for he shook his head and once again became the Natsu she had first met.
"Do you know any towns near your place?"
Lucy shook her head.
"Useless." Natsu muttered.
"Hey! I followed you because I thought you knew where we were going!" Lucy huffed, crossing her arms. "Wait, stop walking."
"Why?" Natsu asked. Lucy didn't answer and instead began rummaging in her bag.
Where is it? Where is it?!
"Lucy?" Natsu asked, crouching next to her as she pulled everything out of her bag.
"No no no no!" Lucy repeatedly murmured to herself, before she simply just flipped her bag upside down. Everything else came tumbling out, but what she was looking for didn't.
"I left if." She said, letting out a small laugh. "I left it."
"Left what?" Natsu asked.
"My mom's journal." She sniffled, tears already coming to her eyes. Determined not to look too weak, she wiped the tears on her sleeve, but they kept coming. "I have to go back and get it."
"Go back?!" Natsu asked incredulously. "You just left a few hours ago!"
"I know." Lucy said. "I know, but I really need it."
She began repacking her things, and stood up. "I'm going back to get it."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Natsu said, scrambling to his feet. "Um, I really don't think that's a good idea. This is coming from a guy that never has good ideas. I recognize bad decisions when I see it."
He inhaled a breath, as if giving Lucy the chance to steel herself before he continued.
"This scarf," he reached to his neck, where a white scarf that resembled scaled rested comfortably," is the only thing I have left from my dad, and I would rather die than part with it. And if I were in your position, I would want to go back too."
"So you're saying I should leave?" Lucy said, arms crossed. She raised an eyebrow. What was he doing other than supporting her decision?
"No, hear me out." Natsu said, shaking his head. "But, as a friend I have to stop you from going. Because if you back, you'll get caught and you'll just be unhappy again. What I'm trying to say is, the journal might be important to you, but it's just an object. Sometimes, you have to detach yourself from traces of a lost one to realize that you'll always have them in your heart."
"You blessed you with such wisdom?"
"I heard it from a fortune teller lady." Natsu explained, before wincing as he realized that probably wasn't the smartest thing to say.
Lucyscoffed, and turned back to walk the way they came, and Natsu didn't move to stopher, because he knew he couldn't. He barely knew her anyway- what did it matter? So he watched her disappear as she became shrouded by the large bushes and didn't move until he could no longer hear her footsteps.
Author's Note
Short chapter, I know. But, already, Natsu and Lucy's paths have already diverged! Will they ever cross paths again!?
Who knows :3. Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed!