Warning: Contains violence towards zombies and PTSD.
Chapter Sixty-Seven: Fight or Flight
(April 24th, 2018 Tuesday Noon)
Before the outbreak, Natsu had never experienced a true fight or flight moment. Sure, he felt impending doom when he had to give a presentation in class or he pissed off Erza, but never had life or death been associated with the response.
When the dead started rising, Natsu had gotten his fair share of fight or flight moments. That was, until he became used to fighting the monsters that hungered for their flesh.
It was either him or them, and his body reacted by battling it out with his wits, speed, and strength. He didn't like to back down from a challenge, but he also knew when he stood no chance.
To fight or flee.
Minutes of panic lived in those seconds as the sprinters gained ground. Natsu's body didn't give his brain a chance to make a decision. He turned, encasing Lucy's wrist in a bruising grip before jerking her in the opposite direction.
He ran, heart pounding faster than his feet on the pavement, the sound of snarls licking at their heels.
"Wait!" Lucy yelled, barely keeping up with his frantic pace.
He couldn't wait, couldn't slow down. His body had chosen flight, and they were getting the hell out of there.
"We can take them!"
Sweat beaded on his forehead, his perspiration coming from fear instead of heat. He wanted to respond, but he couldn't find the words. Every ounce of energy in his body went to getting them as far away from the undead as possible.
Nothing else was important.
The pain in his shoulder. The books from that library. The burning in his lungs. It didn't matter. The only thing that did matter was getting them to safety, otherwise they would be ripped to shreds if they gave those monsters the chance.
Natsu risked looking back, seeing they had a decent lead on the sprinters. While they were fast, they weren't coordinated, stumbling over their own rapid steps.
He yanked Lucy's arm as he turned, running down the space between two houses before ducking into the alley behind, thankful they didn't have a fence blocking their way.
With as shaky as his hands were growing, he wasn't sure he could help either of them over an obstacle.
He didn't stop when they hit the alley, heading towards the direction they came by two houses before making their way back to the street. Like he thought, the sprinters had followed where they last saw the survivors, one of them letting out a strangled roar that almost sounded like a word, but he didn't fret over it.
They were humans once, their vocal cords still capable of speech.
He was just glad they didn't know how to communicate with each other. Then they would really be fucked.
Natsu dragged Lucy behind a set of trash cans, the metal dingy and the smell horrid, but he didn't care. He breathed deeply, thankful they had made it out alive.
There was no shame in running. Only a fool would stick around for a fight they couldn't win.
Five sprinters and a walker against them? They never stood a chance, not when one scratch was all it took to do them in.
Despite the threat being down the road, Natsu couldn't get his heart to calm down. His hands still shook, Natsu having to physically peel his fingers off Lucy's wrist because he couldn't loosen his hand on his own.
Breathing was a struggle all on its own. No matter how fast he sucked in oxygen, he couldn't fill his lungs. It hurt, but he leaned against a trash can and embraced it. They were alive, able to fight another day because he hadn't bitten off more than he could chew.
A shiver ran down his spine at the thought of them getting bit, but that seemed silly to fear when the real danger was how quickly his heart was beating. At that rate, the thing was going to give out from all the extra work.
"You're... trembling," Lucy said between breaths, her voice snapping him out of his thoughts. That jittery feeling wouldn't let up, even after looking at her wide eyes.
He didn't comment on her observation, instead shifting to look over her for damage. His eyes fell to her bare shoulders before letting out a sigh, thankful his body chose to run. Lucy stood a good chance at getting scratched with all her exposed skin, her tank top not providing enough protection.
Natsu looked at her wrist, frowning at the dark marks already appearing. He lifted a hand to trace a finger over a bruise. "S-sorry," he whispered, voice as shaky as his hand.
"Hey," she said, reaching out to brush her palm against his cheek.
He didn't realize he leaned into her touch, a second of calm washing over him before he was back to panicking. Natsu recalled when a zombie had bitten his hand in the past. His glove had protected him, and the threat had been taken care of quickly after that, but it had taken a while for him to regain control of his body.
Being chased by sprinters and walkers wasn't something he was going to brush off in a few minutes.
"You're okay," she whispered, leaning in.
Natsu's eyes widened, a different kind of panic setting in. He didn't know what she was doing, only relaxing when she moved to bury her face in his neck as she hugged him. Even in his frantic state, he noticed her body was soft against his rigid form.
He wanted to tell her she didn't need to comfort him, but the words caught in his throat like a piece of food he hadn't properly chewed. Her gentleness suggested she sensed his distress, her fingers curling against his ribs as she kept her voice to a hushed whisper.
"We weren't going to win, were we?"
Natsu lost his breath for a moment as the reality hit him. He knew it. Knew it the second he turned to run, but realizing how close they had been to death unsettled him.
"No," he murmured, dipping his head to press his nose against her hair. A few strands were loose, most likely from all the jerking around he made her do. He inhaled deeply, letting the faded scent of her shampoo wash over him. "Not a chance in hell."
"Really?"
He nodded, swallowing past the phantom grip of his throat. "I can't even take," he paused for air, "on two at a time." While he dealt with one, the other would rip into him. The best strategy was splitting them up, but they had already been spotted.
Targeted.
Running was the only choice that gave them a fighting chance.
"Oh." Lucy wound her hands tighter around him as silence consumed them for a few seconds. "Well, thank you for saving us."
Natsu couldn't speak, instead slowly putting a hand on her back, letting her steady breath guide him. He felt her drawing in air, that reassurance easing the pain in his chest.
Knowing she was safe was what he needed, but his body took its time getting under control. He swore minutes passed as they held each other, Natsu closing his eyes and pressing his lips against the crown of her head as he tried willing away his fears.
The danger was gone.
Or so he thought.
Just as Natsu almost regained his composure, a loud sound tore through the silence. At first Natsu thought it was the zombies, but to his surprise, a dog was standing a few feet in front of them, snarling and barking at them like they had trampled in his territory.
A riled up dog was a threat they could easily take care of. Frighten it enough and it would flee. However, before they could stand, Natsu heard a sound that had his heart sinking.
The barking alerted the zombies, their groans drawing closer, blending in with the growls coming from the dog. It didn't take long for the undead to find them, the sprinters seeking out the sound.
Natsu stumbled, his heart on the verge of exploding as the metal trash cans clashed against the ground, drawing in more sound.
It was Lucy who sprang into action that time, grabbing Natsu by the bicep before helping him up. She didn't bother with a fight, the two running again, Natsu unsure which way they were going at first.
The dog chased after them, the sprinters not far behind. Natsu's eyes were wide, pupils dilated as he looked for an exit strategy. He thought about running into a house and locking the door, but a zombie could easily break the window if they managed to hit the right spot.
It could buy them some time, but once Natsu caught sight of the deer they had chased one block ahead, a plan started forming. Half a block away was the smeared blood from the other deer, its body hiding behind a truck.
Natsu had seconds to act, grabbing Lucy's hand before jerking her to the side once they cleared the truck. She let out a wince as he moved them behind the truck. Worry struck him, but he didn't have time. He rushed her under the vehicle, practically rolling her before sliding underneath as well.
The dog could reach them, the canine barking like crazy as it circled the truck, but it never tried biting them.
It was a risky plan, but Natsu figured the dog was all bark and no bite. It could have easily taken a chunk out of them earlier, but it seemed more concerned with intimidating them.
Natsu's plan worked like a charm. While the dog barked at them, the sprinters caught up. Their minds were weak, unable to hold onto thoughts for long. They had forgotten about Natsu and Lucy, a new target stealing their focus.
The dog must have realized the danger it was in, running away when one of the zombies tried to grab it. As the dog fled, the five sprinters followed while the lone walker struggled to keep up.
Natsu watched as they disappeared down the road, the dog's barking fading by the second. He let out a sigh before resting his cheek against the ground, only to cringe at the warm sticky fluid on his face.
He lifted his head, realizing they were laying in the middle of a puddle of blood. They had done a number on that poor deer, Natsu unable to imagine the type of pain it went through as they slaughtered it.
"Come on," Natsu said, looking over to see Lucy wrapped in a ball. "It looks safe."
"Are you sure?" she mumbled, Natsu's heart dropping as he reached over. He set a hand on her shoulder, thumb brushing her skin.
"Yeah, pretty sure."
Rolling would only spread the blood, so Natsu crawled out from under the truck. Lucy was close behind, emerging moments later. He didn't notice when she made it out, his eyes glued to the distance, trying to spot the dog or zombies. He found neither, thankful it was over.
'For now.'
"We should head back to Fairy Tail," Natsu said, ready to call it a day. That was too close and too terrifying. He was positive he would see those rotting faces in his sleep tonight.
"Oh god."
Natsu's ears perked upon hearing Lucy's voice, but he didn't turn around immediately. "What's up?" he asked, only to frown at her response.
"Get it off," she said, voice so hollow he thought it came from someone else.
"What?"
Natsu turned, seeing Lucy with her hands outstretched, bloody palms facing upwards as she kneeled on the ground. He jolted, wondering if she hurt herself before realizing they had been lying in deer blood.
Lucy wasn't physically injured, but that didn't mean she wasn't in pain.
"Get it off," she said again, emotion flooding into her voice as she rubbed her hands together. "No... No."
The blood only smeared, her chest now rapidly falling and rising as she sucked in shallow breaths. "Get it off," she said louder, wiping at her arms and shirt before gripping the neckline of her tank top. "GET IT OFF!"
"Shit!" Natsu didn't think, grabbing Lucy's shoulders as she clawed at her bloody shirt, trying to rip it from her body. "Lucy you gotta be quiet," he urged, struggling to keep his voice at a harsh whisper.
His words didn't reach her, Lucy's eyes distant as she managed to tear part of her shirt, the woman struggling to get out of her clothes. "It's everywhere. Everywhere! Why? Why?! He didn't do anything!"
"Fuck," he muttered, looking back to where the zombies had disappeared. Natsu didn't know what was going on, but it was clear Lucy was the one panicking now. He had to get her calm now, otherwise those zombies were going to come back.
With how exhausted he felt and how checked out Lucy was, he doubted they could flee again.
"Lucy," Natsu whispered as he shook her body, gripping her shoulders hard. "Snap out of it, please!"
"I need it off," she said, tears flooding her eyes before she dropped her head, shaking against his grip. "His bl-blood. It's... it's everywhere. Wh-why? WHY?!" She pounded a fist against the street as a sob tore from her throat. "It's not fair!"
"Lucy!"
Natsu grabbed her before she could punch the street again. He wasn't sure if there was any infected blood mixed with what came from the deer, but he couldn't risk it. 'This is bad! Really fucking bad! What the hell is going on?!'
He didn't have time to think, couldn't panic because then neither of them would be functional. Natsu drew in a deep breath before lifting Lucy's right arm, holding it tight before pushing his other arm through her legs.
She jolted at his touch but didn't fight him, instead letting out a hoarse cry as she mumbled something about his blood over and over again. Questions rose in Natsu's head, but he couldn't focus on that. He had to get them out of there, Natsu using a move he had practiced when training on his own, before the outbreak.
The fireman's carry.
It was discouraged in actual practice because it involved carrying a person on their back, which meant lifting them higher into the smoke and heat. It could be fatal to carry a person like that in a fire, but Natsu hadn't learned that until after he got decent in the technique.
Practicing on Gray had been helpful, Lucy's body much lighter as he got her into position. As her chest pressed against his shoulder blades, Natsu brought her arm over to his other hand, linking them so he had a good grip.
He lifted, raising her into the air before backtracking, trying to filter out Lucy's panic cries as he searched for the right streets.
They weren't far from Everlue's house, but running back and forth had thrown him off. Luck was on their side, Natsu finding the house without running into any other threats.
Natsu opened the door, carrying her inside and locking the house before gently setting her down. She was still crying, curling on her side as she mumbled incoherent words and clutched at her shirt.
Logic went out the window as Natsu raced to the kitchen, grabbing a pair of scissors, a bottle of water, and a towel before rushing back to her. If later Lucy got mad over his actions, he would deal with the consequences, but right now his friend was having a panic attack, and he had to act fast.
Natsu's movements were careful as he told Lucy what he was doing, but he doubted she could hear him. She didn't give any indication of it as he cut away her tank top, starting at the bottom before making his way up.
When the shirt fell open, Natsu worked to push her trembling arms out. He wished he was too distracted to notice the marks on her skin, but they stood out. One in particular caught his attention, making him pause as he looked at the sizable scar.
It looked as if Lucy had been split down her torso, running vertically along her belly and disappearing inside her bra. It was thick, jagged, and most troubling, it looked painful.
He blinked a few times, taking a deep breath before continuing. Her bra had spots of blood on them, but there was no way he was cutting away that clothing. Removing her shirt, he tossed it out of the way with a grunt.
Next he splashed the water over her chest and arms, letting it wash down to her stomach and hands.
"He didn't do anything," she mumbled, hands shaking worse than he had ever seen. The pain in her eyes squeezed at his heart, wishing she would snap out of it. "Please, pl-please—"
"It's gonna be okay Lucy," he whispered, hoping he was right. Whatever she was facing was in her mind. If it was a physical enemy, he could try to help. What she battled couldn't be struck with a knife or pummeled with his fists. Her fight was all in her head, and he was left feeling useless because he couldn't reach her and bring her back.
Natsu gently ran the towel over her chest, trying to get the blood away, but there was just too much of it. It was in her hair, on her face, all over her arms and hands.
"I'm gonna get you cleaned up," he said, voice surprisingly calm despite his own anxiety at making things worse. He wasn't trained to deal with panic attacks, if that was even what she was experiencing.
Lucy didn't look like she was even in the moment, like her mind was trapped elsewhere.
He didn't stop, going back and forth from the kitchen to her with more water and towels as he washed away the blood, hoping that would snap her back to reality.
It took a while to get all the blood off her and him. It took even longer to coax her to the present. Natsu did his best, stroking her cheek and looking in her eyes, but she was lost to him. He couldn't understand her mumbling through the crying, his vision blurring when he realized he had started tearing up too.
He couldn't help it, heart aching as he watched Lucy unravel before him, stuck somewhere unpleasant.
Natsu stayed with her, eventually pulling Lucy into his lap as he hugged her, running his hand up and down her back as he spoke, trying to break through to her.
"I bet Happy's wondering where ya went. He's been kinda weird ever since I got back. I think he's mad I was gone so long, but he's probably just fickle. Maybe I should go fishing and bring him something back. He really likes fish. Do you like fish?"
She didn't respond to his question, prompting him to continue as he swallowed hard. "Fish is alright, but I really love steak and roast, especially with potatoes and onions. I hate vegetables unless it's in a roast. The rabbit you catch is great for Fairy Tail. I haven't had roast that good in ages, so thanks. I'm glad you're able to do that."
He looked over her, frowning when he realized she was missing her bow and quiver. She must have dropped them along the way.
Her machete still hung from her belt, Natsu reaching down to release it before tossing it aside. He didn't want her to get cut if she moved suddenly.
Natsu sat there for what felt like an hour as he rocked her in his arms, his throat dry and voice hoarse by the time Lucy started showing signs of recognition. He hadn't stopped talking once, the knots in his chest finally loosening when Lucy looked up, brown eyes dull but not as distant as before.
"Na...tsu?"
He gave her a soft smile, something in him breaking when he saw those tears lingering on her eyes. His finger was gentle, brushing away a few tears before cupping her cheek. Natsu wasn't sure he had ever felt such relief, until she said two words that had his heart dropping.
"What happened?"
"You don't remember?" he asked, moving to rest his hand on her neck before she jerked, the woman quickly shaking her head.
"Please don't," she whispered, tensing in his arms.
Natsu removed his hand as if he had been burned, confused and hurt as he said, "I'm sorry."
Lucy shuddered, causing Natsu to worry he had crossed a line. However, she snuggled closer to him, one hand lifting to grip his shirt. "It's not your fault. I... just don't like my neck being touched."
Natsu hesitated before settling his hand on her shoulder, cautious as he asked, "Is this okay?"
She nodded, moving to rest her face against the crook of his neck. "Much better."
Natsu sighed, but his relief was short-lived. "Did you forget what happened?"
He felt her stir in his arms, but she didn't try to leave the cocoon he had become. He would provide all the shelter in the world if it meant her acting normal again.
Well, normal for Lucy. She was always a little weird.
"I remember running," she started, voice strained as he felt the muscles in her face twitch against his neck. "We were being chased, by the dog and zombies."
While Natsu hated that she now had that as a memory to store in her head, he was relieved she hadn't forgotten it all. He didn't know what he would do if she just... forgot.
That was something he wouldn't be able to fix.
"We went under the truck, and then—"
Her voice cut out as she tugged on his shirt, pressing tighter against him. "All that blood." She sucked in a sharp breath as her body went stiff.
"You're cleaned up," Natsu said, voice gentle as he moved to rub her back. He paled when he felt her bra strap, hoping she wouldn't think he was a freak for removing her clothes. "I'm uh, sorry about your shirt."
"My shirt?" Lucy asked, clearly not realizing her state of undress. "What are you—"
She slowly peeled herself from him to look down, eyes widening for a second before she let out an unsteady breath.
"I didn't know what else to do," Natsu said, arms loose around her, ready to let go if she tried to leave his embrace.
She didn't, instead curling back against him as her eyes slipped shut. "Thank you," she said, voice tense. "Seeing all that blood... I..."
Lucy shivered, Natsu tightening his hold on her without realizing it. A lungful of air wasn't enough to settle her nerves, Lucy's voice uncertain as she said, "I was suddenly back in the lake house when..." She released a breath, refusing to look at him. "My f-father... It was like—"
Lucy pressed her face against his chest, Natsu's heart breaking as she whispered, "He died all over again. And I... I couldn't stop it."
Natsu didn't know what to say, shocked when she added, "Thank you... for cleaning me up."
He almost said 'any time', but he hoped that never happened again. Natsu couldn't imagine her trauma. Witnessing her father's death, only to relive it when faced with a pool of blood? Had her hands been covered in her dad's blood when he died? Did she still think about it, or had she managed to suppress that memory until it found a way to burst through the barricades in her mind?
Lucy's voice broke him from his thoughts, sounding exhausted. "I should get dressed," she said, though she didn't budge from his body.
Natsu kept his arms around her, resting his cheek against her hair. "Probably."
Neither moved for a while, the two simply existing without words or actions.
If Natsu had to guess, he would say ten minutes passed before Lucy twitched, saying her arm felt sore.
He cleared his throat, slowly loosening his grip on her as he said, "I kinda jerked you around out there. Does it feel sprained or anything?'
'Can an arm even get sprained?' he asked himself, forgetting the question as soon as Lucy started rotating her shoulder and flexing her fingers.
"I think it'll be fine, just sore."
She scooted out of his lap and onto the floor, arms shaky as she rose to her feet. "I'm going to raid Everlue's closet," she said, taking one step away before throwing Natsu a look. "But not that closet with all the costumes."
Despite how much danger they faced today and the fear still lingering with Natsu after Lucy's panic attack, he couldn't help but crack a smile. No matter what life threw her way, Lucy was still Lucy. Nothing could keep her down.
He chuckled, leaning against the wall as he teased her. "You sure? I think you'd look good in that maid costume. Maybe even a fluffy boa?"
His comment had been all in good fun, meant to lighten the mood. However, Natsu still lost his breath when she gave him a wink over her shoulder, her tone of voice less confident than her words. "I don't doubt that." She paused, eyes flickering with something he couldn't place. "I look good in everything."
Heat rose to his cheeks after Lucy turned away, heading down the hall where they had found Everlue's master bedroom hours ago. Natsu didn't want to let his mind wander, finally over whatever weird urges and thoughts he had experienced earlier.
Instead of dwelling on how that wink and her burst of sass made him feel, Natsu moved to the kitchen to gather the rest of the snacks that were still edible. After exerting themselves, they would need to eat before making the trip home.
And they were definitely going home. No detours, no hunting trips. Straight home to the safety of Fairy Tail.
He snacked while he waited, doing his best to keep the weird thoughts away. What confused him was the nature of the thoughts. Not all of them were sexual. He wondered what it would feel like to run his fingers through her hair, or how she would feel if he asked her to move back in with him.
The thoughts were sporadic and jumbled, often switching to another before he could fully explore the pervious one. It was exhausting, Natsu decided it was best to ignore them all.
They were still there, lingering in the shadows, waiting for their opportunity to infect his brain.
He saw it as an infection, and his medication was distractions.
Natsu headed back to the library to gather the remaining books Lucy had picked. She found him a few minutes later at the bottom of the stairs, dressed in a nice black button up shirt that looked out of place with the rest of her rougher clothes.
"How's your shoulder?" she asked, Natsu fighting the urge to roll his eyes.
She had just broken down from what he could only assume was a flashback, and yet she worried over his shoulder? Her capacity for kindness seemed endless, but that wasn't a bad thing. From the beginning she had shown how considerate she could be.
From comforting him when he visited Max's grave to giving him that first massage when he had been drained of all his energy. She had a soft heart, protected in the body of a woman who meant business.
"It's alright," he said, eyes hooded as he smiled. Lucy had come a long way, and he sensed she wasn't done fighting yet. He had no idea how much potential she had when he found her in that basement, but he was happy to be proven wrong.
She didn't give up on herself, and Natsu was glad he hadn't given up on her either.
"Ready to get out of here?" she asked, earning a laugh as Natsu nodded to the door.
"Hell yeah. Let's go."
.
.
.
This chapter was originally 14.6K words, but since that was too long (for me) I split it. Considering what comes next, I think this is a good place to stop. It won't be long until the next update though!
Up next, Chapter Sixty-Eight: Awakening- Part One
There will be two more chapters before the time skip. Also, no one's guessed who's coming soon in the story. :P You'll find out next chapter though.
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