Here's the second installment of Lover's Remorse! I'm not too confident about this chapter, so tell me what you guys think!
Lucy was on the outskirts of Magnolia in the woods when some of her pain finally subsided. It was nowhere near completely gone… but it was getting there. Her voice was already stronger and her breathing much steadier, but her body still felt like it was stomped on by a dragon, and she still had a pounding headache, along with stabbing pains.
"M-Mira, this is okay, we can stop," She mumbled, and Mira sat her down gently, and the young blonde leaned her back heavily against a tree, tugging off the black scarf with the hand that wasn't clutching the grass. She turned to Levy and regarded the bluenette seriously, her brown orbs blinking away tears of pain. "I know what's wrong, or what might be the cause of this," She muttered, gritting her teeth as another spike of pain racked her body. She gripped her side uselessly and let out a shuddering breath. Mira frowned and sat down on the grass next to her, gesturing for Levy to do the same. When everyone was seated, the alabaster-haired girl frowned.
"What's the cause of this, then?" Mira asked as Lucy rubbed her temple softly and sighed.
"The other day, remember the job we took? Okay, well, at the end right before we drove home, Natsu and I ran off to go find a monster that had run off and we were alone. Happy had flown Erza to the rental place and Gray had gone off to search for another thing that had disappeared. So, when we ran off… we encountered this guy," Lucy frowned and searched for the right words to describe him. "He was… well, to put it bluntly, he was creepy. He reminded me of a damn snake. And he used a weird magic where he could disappear and reappear where he wanted to, and he did this when Natsu charged at him, and he reappeared behind me. He grabbed me, but he was, oddly enough, gentle, and he put… I think he put a curse on me," She muttered, staring off into the distance. Lucy had just made this observation now, but looking back, but it made sense. "He called it 'Lover's Remorse' and right before he disappeared altogether, he said 'all's fair in love and war,'" She mumbled. Levy and Mira exchanged knowing looks and smiled gently at Lucy.
"Lucy… honey…" Mira said sweetly, grabbing Lucy's still-sore hand. "You like Natsu and your enemy obviously picked up on that," Lucy sputtered at Mira's words and fought off a blush.
"I-I don't like him l-like that!" She hissed, snatching her hand away and cringing when she did so. Sighing, she dropped her head back and let it hit the bark of the tree. "Well maybe I do. But I just… he's my best friend, and now I get sick even being within the same city as him? Hell – I'm technically out of the city, but it's still affecting me dramatically." Lucy complained and met Mira and Levy's gazes evenly. "But even if I do love him," Mira squealed softly and wiggled "I can't be near him to even tell him, and he can't come near me unless he wants to… to kill me."
Levy frowned and grabbed Lucy's hand. "So I'm guessing you want me to research this curse, Lu-chan?" She asked, staring into Lucy's eyes sympathetically. The blonde girl nodded her head and winced when her neck cracked. Levy squeezed her hand and then pulled away. She stood up and dusted off her orange dress, smiling at the two girls. "I'm going to go ahead and head back to research, be safe, Lu-chan, Mira." She nodded and smiled.
"Wait, Levy!" Lucy yelled, and her friend stopped and looked back, squinting in the morning sunlight. "Tell Natsu that I have a curse – but don't tell him what it is. Just explain what it does. Please?" She asked, and Levy nodded before running off towards Fairy Tail. Lucy smiled at Mira, who was staring at the young blonde with a sad look in her blue eyes.
"This is a forbidden love story, Lucy, it's so cute, but so sad," She whispered, her eyes filling with tears and Lucy started giggling, even though she agreed with her, partially.
"Don't be silly, Mira, it's nothing that dramatic. I'm sure Levy will find some leads eventually, and then all will be well in the world. You can head back to the guild; by the way, I'll be fine." Mira frowned, but nodded and stood up. She went to turn around, but hesitated and glanced back at the younger girl, tossing a communication lacrima next to her; it landed on the grass with a small thump.
"If you need help at all, call the guild, okay? And I'll send Gray out to keep you company." Lucy nodded and smiled gratefully up at Mira, who ran down the path back to the guild. Sighing, Lucy slumped heavily against the tree and ended up sliding onto her side, where she moved her aching body into a relatively comfortable sleeping position. Lucy knew that falling asleep in the middle of the forest on a main pathway probably wasn't the smartest thing she could do – especially in her condition – but she didn't really care anymore and slowly, the sunny morning faded into a comforting black.
Natsu was still sitting on the floor, still contemplating how he could've hurt her, when Levy burst through the guild doors and ran straight towards the library.
Levy?
Before he knew what he was doing, he was in the library as well, standing at the top of the stairs. Levy looked up at him curiously and her expression immediately grew sad; she set down the books she'd been holding. He furrowed his brows and hopped over the railing, landing at the bottom of the ten-foot drop easily.
"L-Levy? What did I do? Is she okay?" The pink-haired boy asked timidly. Natsu had never been better friends with anyone in his life, excluding Lisanna and Happy, and he was honestly scared of losing her. He didn't want to feel that horrible, empty feeling again… like what happened with Lisanna. Levy looked grim, and she turned her face away from him to grab more books.
"You didn't do anything, Natsu… that guy you two fought on your last mission? He cursed her." She spoke briskly, picking out another pile of books and scrolls, setting them gently on the table. Meanwhile, Natsu felt anger boiling within him and he wanted to go kill up the bastard that did this to his best friend.
"What was the curse?" He hissed through clenched teeth. She glanced over at him, worried. Levy walked over and grabbed his arm, pulling him up the stairs and out of the library, muttering something about fire and books. She brought him near the library door, so that there was a pillar blocking them from the rest of the nosy guild, and she began explaining what she meant.
"Anytime she comes near you, or vice versa, she'll experience extreme pain, and if you touch her for too long, it could possibly kill her. I'm about to go research it more… but, Natsu… you have to calm down. This is something only research can beat, okay?" His whole body was very hot – hotter than usual; almost smoking – and even though he was a Fairy Tail mage… Natsu honestly felt the horrible, dark feeling that meant he could literally kill someone, particularly the asshole that did this.
"I… okay…" He muttered, glaring at the ground and clenching his already fisted hands even tighter. "This isn't something I can go beat up for her." Levy reached up and grasped his shoulder, giving him a sunny smile, though it seemed a little forced. The bluenette was very surprised with the maturity he was showing; Natsu was the type to punch and ask questions later, not contemplate the enemy.
"It'll be okay, Natsu. I'll get Freed to help me with more research when he gets back from his mission with the Rajinshuu, and then we can go even faster." She squeezed his toned shoulder and then walked back to the library, leaving a sad Natsu in her wake. All he wanted to do was go to her house and lay on her bed – just to feel like he was with her. He slowly walked back to the guild hall and sat down heavily on the floor, not even bothering to go to their usual table. Happy warily walked up to him and held out a fish.
"Will this make you feel better, Natsu?" He asked in that cute, high-pitched voice. Natsu let his lips twitch upwards at the corners and he patted Happy on the head, laughing softly.
"It'll make me happier to see you eat it," Happy grinned and stuffed the fish into his mouth.
"Shurrhaaynoow?" Natsu grinned and nodded, understanding what he said perfectly - You're happy now? The cat smiled and flew over to Erza and sat down next to her plate – still full of cake – and started munching with her. Natsu looked away and sighed. That's when Mira came flying into the guild and hopping back into barmaid-mode, smiling sunnily.
"Gray, go to Lucy – she's on the outskirts of town. The bars open guys, sorry about that!" Gray nodded and ran out of the guild, whilst Cana immediately screamed for alcohol – any kind, apparently, since she was in "withdrawal." Natsu stood up and walked over to the bar hesitantly and sat down, waiting for Mira to finish taking orders before he bothered her. When she finally came over to him, her face grew sad and she smiled softly at him.
"Natsu," She murmured, grabbing a dish rag and a tankard, and started scrubbing it mechanically, occasionally glancing at him nervously. He was just staring at the table silently; a very un-Natsu-like thing to do.
"Yea, Mira?" He responded, picking at his thumbs. She set her pale hand over his and he looked up in surprise.
"She'll be okay," She promised, linking her pinky finger with his. He raised an eyebrow at the childish action, but returned the pressure and smiled a genuine grin at her.
"She can't be anything but okay," He agreed, and they unlinked their hands and she continued to scrub at the already-shiny mug. "Hey, Mira, do you think Wendy could be of any help to her?" He asked, glancing up at her. She cocked her head and shrugged her slender shoulders.
"It's possible, but she's off on a mission with Gajeel and Juvia." Natsu looked around and noticed the absence of the three for the first time – well, four, if you count Carla. He sighed and looked back down at the table, nodding. Wakaba yelled drunkenly for another refill and as Mira was passing, she patted his pink head gently. Natsu laid his head down on his arm and eventually dozed off thinking about a certain celestial mage.
Gray ran the way Mira had pointed and saw the flash of golden hair blowing in the breeze almost immediately. He slowed his run to a walk and sighed in relief, seeing her sleeping was certainly better than being awake and in pain. He sat down next to her and carefully lifted her head to set it on his lap, then leaned back against the tree that she was by. She murmured in her sleep and winced, then relaxed. He set his cold hand on her head and sighed, staring up at the blue sky.
"What the hell happened to you, Lucy?"
A/N: I thought this was fun to write. By the way, y'all, Gray and Lucy's relationship in this is going to be purely platonic; probably brother-and-sister-like, because I feel like she should have a guy friend that isn't a romantic interest... and I'm completely and utterly dedicated to Gruvia. And I agree with everyone – NaLu all the way. It would make the most sense, and would be the most fun. Reviews are cookies, bros (but only chocolate chip cause… yea). ;)
Fairy-Tail's-Dragon: Thanks! ;)
Animation art2000-2013:Here is more! :3
xXxSatasixXx: I agree with you that it should be NaLu all the way – which it will be. Thank you very much for your input!
JcL107: :D Thanks!