25. "You have quite a collection."
It scares me sometimes, how good a person Lucy is.
"That's why I need your help you see; you're the only one who can open the gate on your own. It takes a lot of the magic pressure off me."
Loke's head tilts to the side, his arms crossing over his torso as he hums in thought "I suppose so… You have quite a collection. Nine golden keys as well, of course you want to use them fully but…"
There's nothing in that girl's heart but trust and affection. Utter devotion to the people she cares for.
"I… I understand if you don't want to" she replies softly looking down "After all if I can learn to summon two spirits, you lose the ability to protect the others."
Loke jumps a little, arms loosening in shock "Wh-what!" he gasps, quickly realising her train of thought he becomes more upset than angry, though he hides it well "Idiot! I'm not worried about that! I'm worried about you!"
"Me?" she sounds confused, as if it wasn't a spirit's job to protect their master.
"Of course! Calling once zodiac spirit after another takes such a toll on you! And that one time…" He falls silent, trying so hard not to remember the feelings that possessed him when Lucy nearly died on his account.
So I try to repay it as much as I can. She makes it difficult though, not intentionally of course. She just doesn't seem to realise how much I – rather, how much we all worry.
"That's why… I have to become stronger."
"No you don't!" He insists, still clinging on to anger to hide the hurt and fear "It's okay to rely on us! On me! I'll protect you always!"
"But if I don't get stronger how do I protect you?"
Or maybe we're the ones who don't realise how blessed we truly are.