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Chapter Nine: Of Taking One Step Forward


She remembers the fantasies she'd have as a child and her dreams of finding a hidden world where magic existed, where girls were swept off their feet by their very own prince charming and taken on breathtaking adventures.

As a child she'd listen to the stories her mother would tell her with rapt attention and wish with all her heart that one day, she would get to live in her very own fairy tale.

When Igneel had told her of the secret history of his family and the connection she now had with his son, along with the condition he was now in thanks to her careless comments and what was now needed of her, a memory of her younger self declaring she couldn't wait to find her soul mate so she could love him forever and make him happy had flashed through her mind.

And she laughed.

At first it had been a snort accompanied with a slight chuckle which progressed to covering her mouth with one hand while she giggled, then finally escalating into full blown laughter.

"Do you think she's in shock?" Igneel's wife had asked in concern.

"I think you broke her old man." Gajeel said glancing over at her.

Their questions and comments did nothing to diminish her hysteria and it wasn't until Makarov spoke her name in his calm, stern voice that she quietened down and wiped the stray tears from her eyes. She then thanked them for their time and promptly left.

Looking back at it now she supposed she did seem very rude and could have responded to the situation a bit more.. politely, but if she really thought about it - given the circumstances - she had handled it pretty well and they couldn't fault her for that.

She'd just been told that a boy she has known for years was cursed.

That the one she loved to irritate and piss off was now tied to her by fate.

That the voice inside her head wasn't an imaginary salamander, but a living, breathing, somewhat human Natsu.

She could have sat there and refused to believe them, accuse them of lying just to mess with her head and suggest they go seek professional help.

She could have flown into a rage at being deceived by the pink haired idiot and tell them all she couldn't care less and to go get fucked before storming out.

So really, her reaction was justified.

Besides, did they really expect her to just nod along and go with it?

From the crestfallen looks on the females faces as she left, they must have.

Sighing heavily she twirled a strand of her golden hair around her fingers and gave it a gentle tug as she stared up at the moon.

"I've been looking everywhere for you. Do you normally hang out on rooftops?"

"Do you normally hunt people down when it's obvious they wish to be left alone?"

She glanced briefly at the girl who was literally her only friend as she came to stand beside her.

"Actually, I do." Erza replied with a small smirk.

Lucy rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the starry heavens as a comfortable silence fell between them

Erza didn't say anything for a good ten minutes which Lucy was grateful for. It gave her a little bit more time to think.

"I don't like him." She said after a small intake of fresh air.

Erza closed her eyes and nodded.

"I know."

"I find him loud and annoying and smug and cocky.."

"I know."

"I don't like him, I never have."

"I know."

"Yet I'm the the only one that can make him feel better again, the only one that can make him happy..." Her eyes followed the trail of a shooting star and she sighed. "Oh the irony.."

Erza was almost too afraid to ask but she needed to know.

"Does knowing that make you despise him even more?" She asked softly. "And if so.. are you going to ignore it? Ignore him?"

Lucy turned her head to face her and asked just as softly, "Would you despise 'me' if I were to say yes?"

Erza's lips thinned and Lucy could see the effort she was putting into not spinning around and shaking her.

"You are my only friend Erza." She said, her eyes staying on the redheads stoic face. "You are the only one that hasn't judged me for my behaviour, the only one that actually bothered trying to see past my bad attitude.. I don't think I've ever thanked you for that.."

Sighing once more Lucy turned to look out over the dark fields and brought her hands up to hold onto the rail.

"I don't know how to interact with people without coming off as a pissed off teenager. Girls are somewhat easy for me to converse with, but boys are a whole other story.." Her grip tightened on the bar. "Boys are evil.. They can grow into monsters that prey on the weak and take things that don't belong to them just because they can.. That's what I have always believed and why I find it so... difficult."

Erzas face softened at the blondes words. Those few words gave her a lot of insight. Lucy had obviously been affected by a mans influence, and not in the good sense. But she wasn't going to pry it out of her, all she would do is try help both her friends as best she could.

"Mix that with my no distractions policy and bam, you get me." She laughed at her own joke, as lame as it was, and shook her head.

"I can't even make myself happy so what makes anyone - let alone fate - think I can do that for somebody else? Not to mention he's only interested in me because he has no other choice. How am I supposed to feel about that? Special?"

"Yes."

Erza's response snapped Lucy out of her darkening thoughts and the blonde turned to her with slightly narrowed eyes.

"Yes? Why would I feel special about someone wanting me only because of some stupid curse?"

"Because." Erza said gently, turning to face her. "Out of all the girls on this planet, you - were the one that matched him perfectly. Out of all his fan girls and friends, you were the one chosen that best suited him. You should feel special Lucy, because you are."

"Pft. I was a random pick. Perfect match? Yeah right."

"And trust me." Erza continued without acknowledging her last statement. "Natsu never does anything he does not wish to. If he hated you as much as you do him then curse be damned, he'd avoid you like the plague. He would let himself sink into depression and die young and heart broken if he wasn't genuinely interested."

Lucy looked away from her and frowned.

"Natsu has always secretly admired you Lucy." Erza said as she placed a hand on her shoulder. "All this curse has done? Is given him the courage and drive he needed to finally show you how much."


"I don't know how I ended up here so don't ask."

Silence.

"I don't even know what the hell I'm doing either so.."

Silence.

"I should punch you, I really want to but.. you look like shit enough as it is so I'll let you off for now.."

She moved through the dimly lit room until she was standing beside the bed and let her eyes roam over the slumbering pinkette.

This would be the first time she has seen him in days and she couldn't believe how much he changed in such a short time. His skin was no longer tanned but a sickly pale and he seemed so much thinner than usual.

"Look at you.. getting like this over a girl. I really should punch you. Especially for making that sweet little sister of yours cry.."

His erratic breathing had calmed somewhat when she entered the room but he was still clutching at his chest and sweat continued to poor down his face and body making her scrunch up her nose in disgust.

"That's gross... you really need a shower.. or something.. though I guess you cant do much with the state you're in huh?"

She noticed the towels on the bedside table and grabbed one before she could talk herself out of it.

"Don't think this means anything." She mumbled as she began to lightly wipe the sweat off his face. "I'm only doing this because Its annoying looking at you while you sweat like a pig.."

Once she was done she sat on the edge of the bed and used her hand to sweep his bangs away from his face.

"You and I are going to have words once you wake up from this self induced coma you've put yourself in, Salamander."

She took a deep breath to calm herself before leaning over and gently placing her lips softly against his dry chapped ones.

"Don't think that meant anything either.. I was told I needed to do that.." she whispered once she pulled back a bit. "Now wake the hell up moron, I need you to be concious and healthy before I kick your ass."

Standing up she turned away from him and dusted herself off then glanced over her shoulder and watched as the pained expression on his face faded and his breathing evened out.

Her cheeks flared once she realised what she just did. She let out a horrified gasp, covered her red cheeks with her hands and practically ran from the room.

Back inside, Natsu licked his lips and smiled.


*yawns* so sleepy.. see you on the next click *knocks out on the floor*

Xox