A girl sighed. It had been three weeks, three whole weeks since she'd been home. Everything had already changed; could it have changed more?
Lucy trudged her way through the mud and muck of a swamp. She wasn't that far from Fairy Tail, but this stupid sludge was slowing her down. She was completely out of magic power after meeting a drain mage on her way home, so calling a spirit to help her or even keep her company was impossible. Unfortunately, a lack of stimulation to occupy her mind meant she was thinking about Natsu.
She had left for this mission right after bringing him to Fairy Tail. He'd complained a little, but quickly became more concerned with the goings-on of the rest of the guild. She didn't tell him she didn't have to take this mission. She took it because she needed to think. Natsu had no memories of his past, which meant the couple times she'd been with him as a child were gone. Lucy still did not know why he had amnesia, but it still broke her heart. She felt selfish just considering her broken heart though; the rest of the guild had known his as well, and he didn't remember them any more than he remembered her. Lucy silently cursed Igneel for being such a hermit. Hadn't he realized that other people had loved his son? Lucy cursed herself again for her, again, selfish thoughts. Of course he had, that's why he'd raised Natsu so quietly. Dragonslayer training was the most difficult magic to master, and Natsu was one of only five she could think of. Once he got back in the groove of fighting, Natsu would be a good mage and a great friend.
"Hey, Lucy! Wait up!"
Lucy allowed herself a small smile. A man running over the now-frozen swamp skidded to a stop next to her, shirtless and grinning. She let him catch his breath before hauling herself up out of the mud and onto the ice. At least this was solid ground, no matter how slippery.
"You should've asked me to do this one with you! I could have done this and you would be home already."
"You just got off a mission, stupid! You need a break occasionally!"
"Psh, yeah right. I'm fine; you're the one who needs a break."
Lucy laughed; she would refute his statement if it wasn't true. Gray always had a way of making her see things like they were. He grabbed her backpack from her and just kept freezing the swamp water so they could walk.
"So when do you plan to tell Natsu that you're a member? He's going to freak out, you know."
"That's why I'm putting it off. When he freaks, he fights, and if he knows I have magic he's going to freak even more. I might actually end up hurt."
"Since when were you ever afraid of getting hurt?"
"Since I'm going on your next mission with you so you don't get hurt again. I know you are more than capable of handling anything thrown at you, but you also shouldn't have to end up in our infirmary with a life-threatening injury every time you come home."
The swamp now behind them, the friends walked on solid ground. At some point, gray had lost his shoes and socks, and so now walked in only his pants. Typical stripper. Lucy would let him go until he started to go for the pants, and then she would say something.
"Gray, I think my dad might be on the move again. The guys I beat up on my mission had his business card on them and there's been some political strife with the corporation recently. I think I might be in some trouble soon."
Gray slung an arm around her shoulder, pulling her into a side hug.
"You know that even if he does move, Fairy Tail will keep you safe. That life is in your past, Lucy. Leave it there."
Their conversation had brought them to the guild gate. Gray pressed a hand against the insignia, bringing forth the doors.
"Are you going to walk me in? I always like being accompanied by my big brother."
"But Lucy, I'm not your brother, so I think I should just go hide somewhere."
She grabbed his hand, effectively holding him in place. They were practically siblings, and he knew it, but he was also nervous about meeting Natsu.
"Come on, Gray. You'll never forgive yourself if you don't tell him."
Gray sighed, knowing she was right and hating it. He gripped her hand tight, praying that Lucy would lend him some of her strength.
"Alright. Let's go."
They each put a hand on a door, pushing it open with ease. The guild stopped their partying to look, delight on all of their faces except one. Natsu was awkwardly staring at them, or more accurately, her and Gray's clasped hands. Gray had met Natsu's stare, attempting to find something to say. He didn't get a chance before Natsu's flaming fist crashed into his face with the force of a speeding train. Gray hit the ground hard, already forming an ice blast to counterattack, when Lucy grasped Natsu's right arm and bit it. He howled in pain, shaking Lucy off and checking his arm for blood.
"LUCY KICK!"
The guild had to stifle their giggles at Natsu'sl stunned and bruised face colliding with a pillar. Natsu slid to the ground, groaning in barely-conscious pain.
"Before you fight him, you will listen to what he has to say, Natsu. I will not tolerate premature judgment."
She dragged both of them into a closet, shut the door, and locked it tight. Master laughed at the boys' misfortune. Lucy pulled up a chair at the bar and ordered a milkshake.
"So how long do you think it'll take them to sort out their issues?"
A bang rattled the closet door, causing many guild members to stare. Lucy smirked and looked back to Master.
"Not long. Natsu can listen when he wants to, and this is a story he needs to hear. I mean, Gray has been his only friend since his dad died. Of all of us, I'm almost positive Gray means the most to him."
A girl drank. The whiskey helped burn down the lump in her throat she hadn't been aware was there. Why did she have a bad feeling about all these good things? The girl put down another shot.