Chapter 2: Stay With Me

Natsu's rage spiked through the roof when he saw Erza crying. What made it worse was that she was alone. As he holds her now, he wants to kill whoever it is that made her cry. Besides seeing Lucy cry, seeing Erza broken like this drives him nuts. He knows all too well the baggage that Erza carries. He wants to take as much of it away as possible.

When Erza said "Just stay", Natsu could feel his heart being torn in two. Her voice sounded so broken and vulnerable. Erza should never sound like that, Natsu thinks. He remembers when he held her like this so long ago at the Tower of Heaven. Merely thinking about that makes his blood boil.

Natsu swallows and says, "Why are you all alone?"

Erza hesitates then says, "I don't know…"

"I-if y-you ever n-need t-to cry," Natsu stammers, "I'll be here."

There is silence and Natsu feels his face grow hot. What the hell did I just say?! He asks himself. His body tenses up as he waits for Erza's reply. Natsu looks down and can barely make out a smile on Erza's face. She looks up at him with those big brown eyes. His heartbeat quickens.

"Arigato, Natsu." Erza says quietly as she lays her head on his chest.

Her words echo in Natsu's mind. He finds the courage to stroke her long, scarlet hair. She smells faintly of shampoo. Natsu breathes in her scent as subtly as he can. She smells so good, he thinks, has she always smelled this good? Natsu has never noticed how soft Erza's hair was until now. He finds himself being drawn to her. Why do I feel this way? Natsu wonders, Erza has always been nakama—nothing more.

o0o

As Natsu walks home, he can't help but remember how it felt to have Erza so close to him. She was so soft and…vulnerable. She was more like a woman instead of an S-class wizard that could kick ass. He can distinctly recall each time Erza has been vulnerable like that. The one thing each event has in common is that he would either hold Erza, or carry her. She was always so close to him.

Why me? He asks himself over and over again. Why am I always the one to hold her when she cries? As Natsu enters his house, he begins to worry about Erza. He has never worried about her like this…until now, that is. Thoughts of her crying all alone fill his mind. He pictures her in a dark room, sitting in a corner crying. He freezes and clenches his fists.

"What's wrong, Natsu?" Happy asks.

Natsu looks at Happy. "I'm worried about Erza…"

I feel so pathetic right now, he thinks.

"Why?" Happy frowns, "Is she sick or something?"

Natsu shakes his head. "She was crying all alone…"

Before Happy can say anything, there's a knock at Natsu's door. Both Natsu and Happy turn and stare at the door for a good ten seconds. They rarely have visitors, so they are somewhat lacking in etiquette. Natsu rushes over to the door and opens it. When he does, he sees Erza standing there. The wind is blowing her long hair so Natsu can't see her face.

"Erza…" Natsu says, "Are you ok?"

She looks up at him with a pained expression. "I'm tired of being alone…"

Natsu bites his lip. "Th-then stay with me."

Her eyes widen. "R-really? I feel so stupid for saying anything."

Natsu shakes his head. "Don't be sorry, Erza."

She smiles a little and hugs him. "You're the best, Natsu."

He smiles and puts an arm around her. Stay with me…