Aiming for 1,000 words. Counting these ones.

The walk to Mira's turned into a piggy back race with the Girls stuck on the backs of beasts, hanging for dear life as they defied all traffic laws... Except of course, for Erza who insisted on carrying Jellal bridal style because she's Erza.

"Why would he carry me when I'm the faster one?" The redhead inquired brazenly.

"It won't be a race if you're the one running." Gray croaked back, struggling to loosen Juvias bear-grip on his neck. Between him and Jellal, I couldn't decide which one had it worse.

"How the hell are you ok with this Jellal?! Where's your pride as a man?!" Gajeel added going over to them, flailing around the Levy on his shoulders as he moved.

"I mean, she IS faster." He said shrugging his shoulders. "Besides, Erza's been doing this since elementary school. At this point, my 'man pride' is probably gone by now."

'Jellal it is then,' I would have patted him on the back if I wasn't still stuck in potato sack mode.

"Let's just go already!!" Natsu yelled impatiently as he started running.

And so, the 73rd "Great Piggy Back Race" to Mira's had officially began...

...Again, is what I would proclaim if Mira didn't call us a minute later squealing that Erza was currently ordering our food with a passed out Jellal in her arms. God, we can never win.

*After Mira's*

"Natsu, could you put me down already?" I asked as we walked to his house. He had refused to put me down even after we got to Mira's except to sit at the table while we ate. Mira had a blast with her camera as he lugged me around her shop. Natsu stroked his chin in mock thought before replying.

"Nah, this is way more fun." He said with that damn toothy grin of his. How exactly did I fall in love with this idiot again?

"Natsu," I channeled my inner Erza, "Put. Me. Down."

"But Luc-"

"Down."

He gulped and gently set me on the sidewalk... Only to pick me up immediately bridal style.

"Natsu!"

"What, I put you down?"

"You know thats not wha-"

"But you're tired aren't you?"

I froze. The irritation I held was gone the instant I looked up at his worried face. A smile spread across my face as I spoke again, softer this time.

"I'll be fine Natsu. Besides, we're still a long way from your house."

"Then you can take a nap until we get there."

I sighed knowing he wouldn't budge. Resting my head against his chest, I stared up at him.

"...Natsu?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you,"

His onyx eyes met mine as he replied, his lips forming into that beautiful toothy grin of his. How could I not fall in love with this idiot.

"Go to sleep Luce, you'll be home soon."

Home. Normally, the word felt cold. Normally, the word brought back thoughts of my father, of his dark eyes, of his angry screaming, and most recently, of his flagpole.

Yet, when Natsu said it, my heart melted. When he said it, I was filled with so much warmth that I wanted to cry.

With two different meanings,

I had two different homes.

One where my body is left to bleed.

One where my heart is left to burn.

Two different meanings.

Two different homes.

Yet why did I feel like they would break me all the same?

In the end, I fell asleep without an answer.

In the end, I simply slept.

...[404 words].

Yeah, I didn't make it. It seemed like a good place to stop. But god, I used a lot of anaphora's, guess I'm still stuck on AP Lang mode?

Oh well, I'll make it next time?

(Probably still won't though.)