Realization


"What did this punk do to you?" Gray growled and stepped closer to Lucy and Zer.

In a brief moment, Gray already has his firm grip on Zer's collar as he sneered at his face, exposing his intense hostility towards the man who already captured most of Lucy's attention in the short time span they've been together.

"What did you do to her?" jaws clenched, Gray hissed at the indifferent Zer.

"I did nothing." Zer answered calmly, undisturbed with Gray's hatred.

"Guys please stop this!" Lucy intervened and stepped in between the two boys after she successfully pried Gray's hold on Zer. "What is wrong with you?"

"Why are you defending him Luce?" Natsu asked and stepped forward.

"Why are you being like this? What did he do to the both of you?" Lucy only questioned him back, with an uncanny irritation lacing her voice.

"I believe I've told you this Lucy but, in a certain perspective, I don't like that man." Gray stated as cold as the power he wields.

"What?"

"It's okay Lucy. I understand where they're coming from." Zer told Lucy as he held her shoulders comfortingly.

"So? Care to fill us in as to what you did to her last night?" Gray started.

"Your life depends on your answer." Natsu added while cracking his knuckles with menace.

Zer smirked before he chortled briefly and cleared his throat. He regarded the both of them with a serious face and stood firm.

"She doesn't like this at all. So can we all just be friends?" He asked and surprised both Gray and Natsu. "For her sake?" he added when the boys didn't respond to him.

Gray slowly bobbed his head up and down before he grinned at Zer. Natsu only walked closer, paused a bit beside Zer, and proceeded towards Lucy.

"Let's go, Luce. We need to wake Erza so we can go home already." He said and held her wrists, awfully gentle, before he half-dragged her.

"Wait. Natsu." Lucy called and pulled her wrist from his hold. "Why don't you go and pack your things? I can go alone and wake Erza up. Surely that task doesn't need two people doing it." she suggested and passed by him, proceeding to the room she shared with Erza, without waiting for his response.

Lucy didn't know what the hell was wrong with her lately. She used to be so comfortable with Natsu's presence. With him by her side, she knew there was nothing to be afraid of. All of that was true till Zer came and everything just crumbled.

She found it weird, how she felt so safe with him- safer than she did with Natsu- like as long as he's around, she knew no harm would ever come her way. She felt too comfortable with him, like she felt she knew him all her life, like she could entrust her life in his hands, like she felt at home beside him. She wanted him to know all there was to know about her and she wanted to know everything about him- the good and bad side of his persona.

"Is this.. what I read is.. love?" She whispered as she closed the door behind her and leaned on it.

"What love?" She heard a voice and jumped a bit with a shriek.

"What? It's like you've seen a ghost or something?" Erza asked and planted a hand on her waists.

"You scared the hell out of me, Erza." Lucy stated while letting out a breath she didn't notice she held in.

"In case you didn't notice, I've been standing here even before you entered and started to mumble to yourself about love. Why? Are you in love, Lucy?" Erza asked.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about." Lucy avoided and walked in the bathroom to change her clothes.

"Is it Zer?" Erza asked that stopped Lucy from her track.

"Wh-Why do you think so?" Lucy asked her back with utter disbelief.

How could she say that it's Zer and not Natsu?

"Lately, you've been acting quite differently with Zer. At first I thought it was probably Natsu but I guess I was wrong. Am I right this time?" Erza asked.

"E-Excuse me." Lucy whispered before she disappeared into the bathroom.

In all honesty, Lucy didn't know anymore. She had surrendered trying to figure out her feelings, her thoughts about the men, and her emotions. True, she'd known Zer from a year ago, but that was only brief. To her, he was only a stranger that got lost in the Heartfilia's Land.

Whereas Natsu- the man had saved her in tight spots she clumsily got herself into, he showed her what was important, he was great- except his idiocy, that is- and kind too, he was funny and optimistic; always seeing the silver lining to difficult situations. He's a tad bit handsome and he can be cute whenever he wants to.

"Natsu's been there for me.. so why?" Lucy murmured to herself before clicking her tongue in frustration and stripped out of her yukata to change into her blue sleeveless shirt with gold trimmings, blue detached sleeves and blue short skirt.

She opened the door to the bathroom, went to her bag and grabbed everything she owned then rammed it inside. She wasn't in the mood to go and pack neatly.

"Let's go?" she rhetorically regarded the red-head, who had been sitting on her bed and waiting for her, as she wore the backpack on her back.

"Yeah, Let's." answered Erza and stood up, actually dragging her wagon filled to the brim with her luggage.

Lucy ignored this. She had been too used to the spectacle, she gave up trying to ask why she needed that many and what was always there.

Reaching the lobby, Lucy found the boys lounging about with Natsu and Gray back to bickering and Zer chatting friendly with the inn-keeper.

"Sorry for the wait." Lucy announced and stole the attention of the three.

"About time." Natsu huffed in annoyance which didn't slip past Lucy but she let it go. She found it not worthy to be fought over for.

"Thanks for having us here." Erza told the lady inn-keeper and smiled beautifully.

"We had fun. It was such a lovely place." Lucy added with a sweet smile before the lady shook each of their hands and bid them farewell and safe journey.

"That lady was so kind~ she gave me a snack~" Happy cheered as he munched on his packed meal- fish.

"Hey Luce~!" Lucy heard Natsu call for her and turned towards him.

"Yeah?" she answered.

"I'll be counting on you on our travel again, okay?" he asked with his adorable childish grin that managed to draw a smile in the maiden's face and her face color a bit.

"Yeah, Whatever." she waved her hands and turned forward.

Arriving back at Magnolia later that day, Lucy went home directly and declined the prospect of dropping by the guild before returning home. She told them she did not feel that well and excused herself. Well, it was true that she did not feel well at all but it was mainly because all she wanted to do was sleep and rest some more. The whole ordeal last night- a secret she had accidentally showed to Zer- left her restless and tired.


It's only a matter of time now before the power inside you runs amok and even you can no longer keep it in. It'll gnaw out of you and before you know it, it'll kill everyone you hold dear to you.


Lucy woke up with a start and gasped for breath. Her room was dark except for the little stream of light at the bottom of her door.

She pushed herself up and checked the time. It was on the middle of the night. It confused her as to who could still be up at that time and in her home too- when she's alone.

Maybe I left it open.

She pondered and walked to her door and slowly opened it. The creaking sound her door made seized the attention of the man who sat silently on her couch.

"Zer?" she called.

"Oh. Why're you up?" He asked and stood from the couch.

"Ah.. I had this nightmare. Anyway, what are you doing? Why are YOU still up?" Lucy asked and walked towards her kitchen. She figured she'd eat some since her stomach was demanding it.

"I.. umm.. I can't sleep." he reasoned.

"Is that so? Well, would you like to accompany me?" She asked with a smile after she pulled out a cereal box and milk.

"Sure. If you don't mind."

"Anyway, it really is silent whenever Natsu's not around huh?" Lucy noted and sat so she could gobble the little snack she got herself.

"Yeah. It is." Zer answered briefly.

"Somehow.. I feel at ease." She whispered.

"Why is that so?" Zer figured he'd grab the chance to tell Lucy just why he decided to show himself to her again.

"I don't know. Zer somehow calms me down and I feel really safe and comfortable." Lucy confessed with a small grin.

"You mean.. I don't make you feel nervous or at edge at all?" Zer asked, a bit hesitant to know Lucy's answer.

"Hmm." she pondered softly as she nibbled on her spoon. "Nope. I guess you don't."

"And.. with Natsu? Does he.. make you nervous?" Zer asked further and lowered his head, not wanting to see Lucy's face when she answers it, afraid that he might see something he wouldn't want to see.

"Natsu.. he does." Lucy answered and Zer jolted, feeling the fear of Lucy falling for Natsu crushing down on him. True, Zer did not know much about love, but he heard a lot about the foreign feeling.

"Well he goes around creating troubles and causing damages so naturally I'd feel nervous. I don't want to get caught in it after all." Lucy added and pouted a bit.

Zer stared at her flabbergasted and suddenly chuckled before he fully laughed. Lucy at first felt embarrassed but when she stared at Zer laughing that much, she finally confirmed she was in love with him.

But with a stranger?

Lucy thought, but as she thought about that, someone deep inside her was telling her that the man laughing in front of her wasn't just some stranger. It was a stranger that could change her life dramatically.

Lucy smiled sweetly as she watched Zer and thought how she loved that peaceful moment, wishing it to last longer. Though, without knowing it, it wasn't gonna come true and nothing can stay the same way forever.


I'm back! I was caught in the Christmas and New Year fever so I kind of got lazy to update, write and all. Sorry about that. Anyway, I hope you had fun in this new chapter since I think it might be a while till I can update once again. Sorry again. Anyhow, CIAO~ Need to take my medicine for my fever and all ;)

xoxo,

Halloween Godspell