02: Hold My Hand
.oºOºo.
*It was one of the first, most meaningful, actions he ever did for her.*
Lucy was sitting by the counter, on her regular stool, looking at her mark while idly stirring the drink in her glass with the straw.
Or so it seemed.
I had passed by her several times while answering requests from other guild members, and I couldn't help but get increasingly curious as to why Lucy seemed to be so focused on her mark. She'd been staring at it for quite a while. Was something wrong with it? I didn't think that'd be likely.
Taking another look at her as I passed by, I finally noticed that instead of staring at the mark as I thought she was doing, she was actually lost in thought - her gaze unfocused, thought it was clear that she'd been staring at her hand before becoming absorbed in her thoughts.
"Mira! Another beer, please?"
Wavering, I looked between Lucy and another guild mate that had just asked for another drink before smiling apologetically and deciding to approach Lucy to make sure everything was okay. Taking mindful steps so I wouldn't startle her, I came closer.
"Lucy?" I called gently.
The girl blinked, looking a bit lost, as she raised her head and let her eyes sweep the area ahead of her before finally noticing me, as if she'd been aware that her name had been called, but not sure from where or by whom.
"Mira-san?" she questioned hesitantly. I nodded.
"Is everything alright?" I asked, concerned. It wasn't seldom to find Lucy lost in her own thoughts while writing, but the fact that she kept staring at her hand kept bugging me.
She seemed confused for a second.
"Of course," she replied, still rather unsure, "Why?"
"Well, you've been staring at your hand for quite a while. Is anything wrong with your mark?" I enquired, though I wasn't expecting that to be the case.
To my surprise, Lucy blushed slightly at my question before stammering back.
"N-no, nothing's wrong." She looked at the counter and put her hand in her lap while trying to distract herself by taking another drink from her milkshake.
'Well, well, well… just what was it about my question that got her so flustered?' I thought to myself.
"Oh?" I smiled, "Are you sure? There's no need to hide it, then."
"I'm not hiding it," she looked up at me, pouting.
I giggled at her cute expression.
"So why have you been staring at it so intently?" I tried again, "You seemed to be lost in thought for a moment."
She seemed to be scrutinizing me, as if considering if she should answer or not before she sighed and lifted her hand back into the counter, looking at it.
"I was just… remembering." She confessed softly, her blush increasing.
"Remembering?" I urged, still rather unsure of what had her blushing.
"Yes." She laughed softly before turning slightly from me to look at table area, her eyes quickly finding her team, which was obviously making a ruckus and was hence quite easy to find. "Do you know why I chose to bear the mark in my right hand?" she asked, finally.
I pondered for a while before answering.
"Well, I had thought it was related to your dream of becoming a writer, since you're right handed." I finally said.
"Yes, well, that's one of the reasons," she smiled at me before letting her eyes wander once again to her group, "but…"
I kept silent, waiting.
"…my right hand, besides being the hand with which I write and with which I summon my spirits…" she wavered a bit as her eyes once again strayed to the mark and she smiled, "It's also the hand he held while we ran from the military and he asked me to come along and join Fairy Tail, on the first day we met."
"Oh… So you've been thinking of Natsu all along?" I half-joked, finally understanding why she had been blushing.
"Mira!" she exclaimed looking up at me, quite flustered, before quickly looking around to make sure no one had heard. "Shhh!"
I laughed quietly, happy to find out she had feelings for him. I had hoped so.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." I promised as my eyes found Natsu staring at Lucy and I smiled at the slight blush he was also bearing, wondering if I should warn her that smell wasn't the only sense that Natsu had overdeveloped with his Dragon Slayer upbringing.
"Thanks, Mira," she smiled sheepishly at me.
Looking from one to another, I finally decided I didn't need to. I sighed and got back to work as I shook my head at their embarrassment.
She'd eventually find out.
*He hadn't given it much thought at the time, but thinking back, holding her hand and bringing her along was the best thing he could have ever done.*
'ºoOoº'
(LNights: Yes, I am aware he held her wrist while pulling her along, but bear with me. I though holding her hand would be a nice touch. xP
By the way, the phrases that are at the begining and ending of each chapter are Lucy's and Natsu's thoughts of each theme, respectively.
Well, another chapter done. Hope you like it. Reviews are always welcome.)
