*Chapter Fifty-Three: Feeling lucky?
(April 13th, 2018, Friday Afternoon)
Lucy's hips swayed as she walked down the street, a jingle accompanying every step she took. A smile tugged at her lips as she held her head high. She had one thumb hooked in her pants pocket while the other arm hung freely, ready to grab her weapon at the first sign of danger.
However, the barren streets posed no threat. The only danger was behind her, growls and snarls right on her heel, or at least that was how it felt. She kept a safe distance between her and the undead she led, approximately ten feet. It was enough to keep them interested in her, but far enough she had a head start if she needed to bolt.
Despite the lack of life, the zombies did an excellent job at pulling their load. Their jaws and hands had been removed, teeth plucked from their mouths and nubs wrapped in several layers of duct tape. Thick black sheets ran all around them, leaving their only opening in front of them, preventing distraction.
The undead tried but failed to reach the woman in front of them, the bells at her waist ringing loud enough to draw their attention. Ropes and chains wrapped around their bodies, their combined movement enough to pull the trailers behind them. There were two attached together after Freed had modified them, allowing more storage and fewer trips.
Gasoline was ineffective, the last of it running out a week ago. The stuff they siphoned from abandoned cars was no good anymore, ruined after sitting for so long. The zombie chariot had become a reality just in time, though everyone was cautious, worried it would prove disastrous.
But Lucy was determined to make it work, so she volunteered the first day they tested it out, then the second, then the third. She found herself liking the position, even if the hairs on the back of her neck stood when she felt too close, usually putting a few more feet between them to keep herself from panicking.
She held concerns like the rest, but after a few times, she relaxed her guard, even humming a song as she jingled away. "Come on!" she shouted, not bothering to look back when they roared louder at her taunting. "Fresh meat!"
"Careful," a voice came from behind her, Lucy jumping as she whirled around, hand gripping the handle of her weapon as she sized up the threat.
She released a puff of air in relief when she saw it was only Hibiki, the guy laughing at her reaction. "You okay?"
"You scared the hell out of me," she said, pressing a hand to her beating heart. She hurried her pace, realizing she lost some distance between her and the undead during her startle. "Don't sneak up on me."
"It's hard not to," he said, giving her a half shrug as he fell in step beside her, eyeing the zombies before casting her a look. "You know, people are going to think you're having fun out here."
"Would that be so bad?" she asked, smiling as she rattled the bells on purpose, a nervous laugh escaping her when the undead reacted. Was it borderline cruel to mess with them? She wasn't sure, but she found some satisfaction with interacting with them, even if they were mindless monsters.
After seeing them still moving without a jaw, Lucy was convinced there was no saving them. They were gone, but that didn't mean they couldn't be useful.
Hibiki merely chuckled at Lucy's question, eyeing the belt around her waist before asking, "Want a break?"
As he pulled a water bottle from his back pocket to drink, Lucy shook her head. "I'm good."
"So stubborn," he laughed, taking a big swig before putting it away. "You know you're allowed to rest every once in a while."
Lucy shrugged, tipping her head back to take in a nice breath of fresh air. "What can I say? The air smells cleaner when you're not walking behind them."
"That's true."
She nodded. "Plus, I'll rest tomorrow."
While she picked up where she last left her humming, Hibiki looked behind them, staring at the undead before shivering. "So creepy."
"I hope if I get infected, someone puts me down before I can turn," Lucy said, stopping Hibiki from responding. "But, I'm not going to ask anyone specifically to do that, because that'd be speaking it into existence. Next thing you know, dead Lucy."
Hibiki frowned as she chuckled. Sensing he wasn't in the mood for some dark humor, she let out a light sigh. "I don't plan on getting bit though, so no need to worry."
"Who said I was worried?" he asked, a coy grin tugging his lips before Lucy gently elbowed him. "Alright, alright, I'm a little worried if you keep flaunting yourself in front of them."
"Them?" She jerked a thumb behind her. "They're harmless. I'm more worried about some sneaking out from these houses," she said, looking around. It appeared safe, but surprises tended to lurk around the corners.
"Well, I'll keep you safe if something pops out."
Lucy couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes, earning a laugh from Hibiki. "I think I can handle my own," she said, thinking about the walker she took down earlier that day. Unfortunately she hadn't been able to subdue it so they could add it to their growing collection of undead manual labor, but a dead zombie was better than a free zombie.
She had gotten better at handling the undead, proud of herself for killing one without too much struggle. Of course, her pride was damaged after she finished disposing of the body, tripping over an uneven part of the sidewalk and landing on her arm, cutting it open.
It was barely a flesh wound, but Rogue had insisted on her bandaging it up to prevent any possible contamination.
She had two men watching over her, making sure she stayed out of harm's way. Though, they kept a reasonable distance, Rogue and Hibiki growing comfortable the more Lucy proved capable of handling herself.
She had grown into a great runner over the last month, every day providing new challenges she was determined to overcome.
Nothing was standing in her way, Lucy smiling as she looked behind her at the infected, happy with their current pace. "So..." Lucy teetered on whether to ask or not, deciding to lean into her curiosity as she said, "I noticed you weren't sitting with Karen this morning."
Hibiki gave the slightest indication of discomfort, but he didn't voice it. "Yeah. Things are... complicated."
'Aren't they always with you two?'
She wouldn't normally ask, but the last time Karen ditched him, he had taken it rather hard. Seeing him in a good mood after another break up had her worried, until he finally said the words that had her chest lightening.
"I think we're done, for good this time."
He looked at her, already imagining what she was thinking. "Yeah, I know I've said that before." Hibiki laughed as she pressed her lips in a tight line, not saying a peep. "Yes, I'm serious this time!"
Lucy's shoulders shook as she stifled a laugh, but she didn't comment. "Whatever you end up deciding, I hope it makes you happy."
After a few steps in silence, Hibiki nodded. "Thanks. That means a lot."
She grinned, eyes facing in front of them as she said, "Of course! What are friends for?"
Lucy didn't catch the twitch in his cheek or the soft sigh he let out, only drawing her attention back to him when he asked, "So, have any plans for tonight?"
Her brown eyes lit up as she cast him a smile. "Erza invited me and the others over to watch a scary movie after dinner."
The last of Natsu's truck battery was used to charge Erza's laptop. While it was upsetting his vehicle was rendered useless, some good came out of it in the end, giving his friends what was sure to be a fun night.
Lucy flashed her bright smile as she added, "It's Friday the thirteenth after all."
"You know that's supposed to be unlucky," Hibiki said, but Lucy looked unconvinced.
"They don't call me Lucky Lucy for nothing!"
With a raised brow, Hibiki said, "I've never heard anyone call you that before."
She puffed out her cheeks, pulling a laugh from him before she joined in. "Okay, so maybe it's been a while since I've been called that, but I stand by it."
"And what if I sweep you off your feet?" Hibiki asked, that confident grin he wore so well taking root on his face. "Then what?"
She didn't respond, chalking it up to light teasing. Today felt lucky, and tonight would be no different. The only things missing from their movie night was popcorn and candy, and of course—
Lucy couldn't ignore the deep pain in her chest as she avoided dwelling on the unknown. She had no idea where Natsu and the others were, their group two days shy of being gone two whole months.
It was hard, but Lucy kept hope alive, even if that flame had been reduced to a small flicker with every passing day. She couldn't give up. If they had gone after Gildarts when he had been missing for so long then there had to be a chance they were still alive.
She had no idea what was keeping them away, but she hoped whatever it was sorted itself out soon so her friends could return.
'They're coming back,' she repeated for what felt like the thousandth time, but she would say it a million times if she had to. She wasn't giving up hope.
"—tattoo holding up? Still itching?"
Lucy zoned back into reality to catch the end of Hibiki's question, shaking her head. She held out her hand, showing off her Fairy Tail emblem with pride. "Nope. All healed up."
The deeper layers of skin were still healing, but the surface was finished. She applied lotion in the morning and before bed, but other than that, she was done with her aftercare. "I'm thinking of getting another one."
"Really?" Hibiki asked, cocking his head.
She nodded. "Rogue's not sure if Makarov would let him use some of the electricity in the arena, but he said if we can find any usable gas he'll work on my shoulder."
"What were you wanting?"
"I'm thinking of a few constellations, or maybe the night sky." She shrugged, happy with the possibilities. "He may have to tattoo it the old fashion way."
Hibiki wrinkled his nose. "What's that? Striking the ink into your skin with something sharp?"
"Well, that's basically how tattoos work anyway."
"Fair enough." Hibiki yawned before stretching his arms over his head. "Glad we get a day off tomorrow."
"Me too."
He looked down at her waist before asking, "Can I take the bells?"
With a pull of the velcro, the belt with bells attached went slack. They made it easy to remove for a quick escape if something went wrong.
As Hibiki put on the belt, he asked, "Want to hang out tomorrow?"
Lucy perked up at that idea. "Yeah, as long as you don't mind me scheduling you between my first and second nap." She laughed, muscles aching in a delicious way. She had grown strong and confident in her new role at Fairy Tail, feeling like she earned her day off tomorrow.
"Sounds good," he said, raising a brow when Lucy turned around, walking backwards as she stared at the undead.
"I have to hand it to them. They sure know how to hustle."
"Natsu had a good idea," Hibiki said before shuddering. "Even if it's unsettling."
"Definitely," Lucy said, slowing her pace so she closed the distance between her and the undead. She didn't allow herself to get too close, not wanting to jeopardize her life.
"You're going to get yourself hurt if you keep doing that," Hibiki warned, Lucy grumbling under her breath before returning to his side.
"I'm just curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat."
Lucy snorted. "Well lucky for me, I'm not a cat."
"I don't know, being a cat sounds pretty good right about now." Hibiki stretched his arms before yawning. "Lay around all day. Sounds like the dream."
"Yeah, but then you'd miss all the fun we're having out here." Lucy snickered when Hibiki rolled his eyes. Her outburst caused a zombie to snarl louder, the girl jumping in surprise.
He cackled and she scowled, only for them both to laugh in the end. She was just about to ask what Hibiki wanted to do tomorrow, but he spoke first. "Think you'd be down to hang out tonight? Before dinner?"
Lucy thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. I'm not doing anything before except taking Happy out. Oh! And I need to check the traps in the garden, but other than that, I'm free."
"Cool," he said, a sheepish smile slipping over his face. "Would you want to hang out in the library? Or maybe play a game?"
"What kind of game?" Lucy asked, thinking about the decks of cards on Natsu's bookcase. She was sure he wouldn't mind her borrowing them. The small flicker grew a little brighter as she imagined herself asking him in person to use some of his stuff. 'He'll be back before I know it. I just have to be patient and trust things will work out.'
"Maybe a game of chess? Or—"
"Chess?!" Lucy gawked at him, causing Hibiki to laugh.
"What? Too boring?"
"More like too easy!" Lucy's eyes flashed as she grinned. "I'd wipe the floor with you!"
He chucked, matching her enthusiasm. "I'd like to see you try!"
"You're so on!" Lucy pumped her fist into the air, Hibiki giving her a strange look at the action. She couldn't help but laugh. She had seen her roommate do it a few times when he got excited, and now she could see why. It felt pretty empowering.
"We should play outside!" Lucy took in a deep breath of air. It was warm and refreshing. Spring had rolled in and brought some higher temperatures with it. She couldn't wait to get back to Fairy Tail and strip out of her jacket, only wearing it as protection from bites.
Her long hair would be the next thing freed, her blonde locks currently tied up in a bun to prevent the undead from grabbing her.
Lucy rested her thumbs in her pockets, relaxing as she glanced at Hibiki. "You're going down."
He snorted, not taking her threat seriously. "Yeah, right. All the luck in the world wouldn't help you. I'm a master at chess."
The banter had Lucy's blood pumping, determined to show off her skills. "Poor, poor Hibiki. Doesn't realize who he's messing with."
They shared a laugh as they continued down the street, each step taking them closer to Fairy Tail.
While Lucy's workday was coming to an end, Levy's was still in full swing. That food from yesterday's haul wasn't going to sort itself, Levy tasked with recording it by expiration date and type of food.
Their supply of canned goods stayed steady as the garden brought in fresh fruits and vegetables and Lucy and Bisca brought in meat from hunting. Lucy's traps caught at least one rabbit if not more a day, and Bisca had some luck recently hunting off base, taking down two deer in the last month.
Despite the food they had from self-sustainability, it was vital they gathered supplies. All it would take was a bad harvest or dry hunting season to put them right back where they started, and they couldn't risk that.
Plus, the more zombies they killed while out there, the better.
Levy finished sorting through another trash bag full of food before requesting a bathroom break, bringing her roll of toilet paper and a small bottle of hand sanitizer. She clicked on her flashlight, making her way towards the restrooms.
After finishing her business and doing her best to wash up, she headed towards receiving. However, she barely got two steps out of the bathroom before she heard something coming from a nearby stairwell, her brows furrowing since the area was off limits.
There was nothing too special about the spot, nothing secret being hidden from the survivors. Instead the place was banned after Erik found some teenagers huffing spray paint in the unused conference room that led into the back of the library.
Levy understood wanting to get high, but there was a time, place, and age for those activities, and using chemicals instead of something natural made her wary.
As she approached the stairs, she prepared herself for the worse, only to be caught off guard when she identified the sound. Her ears strained as she listened to make sure, only to widen her eyes when she confirmed her fears.
It was someone crying.
As someone who dedicated their life to helping others, especially through emotional turmoil, Levy couldn't sit by as someone hurt. At least, not without trying to help. She cleared her throat, calling out a, "Hello?" before making her way up the stairs, noting the sound of shuffling and sniffles. "Are you okay?"
As she rounded the corner, a boy almost ran into her as he tried escaping. Levy grabbed his shoulder as she let go of her toilet paper, steadying him so he wouldn't fall.
"Romeo? What are you doing here?"
The boy scrubbed his face, cheeks red and wet from tears. He wouldn't meet her gaze, brows pinched when she didn't let go. Her heart fell, wondering what happened to cause him so much pain. She didn't know him well, but from what Natsu shared, the boy was usually in a good mood.
"Are you hurt?" she asked, trying to meet his gaze, but he was stubborn. "Hey, you can talk to me. Did someone hurt you?" She kept her words gentle, worried there was bullying going on. The world might have ended, but kids could be cruel. However, with a quick shake of his head, she dismissed that theory.
"Then what's wrong?" she asked, Levy slowly letting go of his shoulder before taking a step back, crouching to get on his level.
Romeo's jaw wobbled as he suppressed his emotions, but Levy knew how ineffective that could be. Within seconds his face grew more red as the tears spilled, the boy crumbling before her.
Levy tried coaxing him out of it, patting his back before sitting beside him, deciding it was best to be patient with him. She waited for a few minutes, knowing Freed would have questions when she returned, but he would understand.
Levy stayed quiet as Romeo calmed himself, only to suck in deep breaths when his tears slowed down.
"Do you want me to find your parents?" Levy asked, but her words only caused him to break down again. "Shoot, I'm sorry."
It took longer for Romeo to collect himself after that, but Levy knew pushing him into talking wasn't going to do either of them any good. Just like with Lucy, the key was to wait, show them she was trustworthy, then hope they opened up to her.
And when he did, Levy's jaw nearly hit the floor.
The shock had worn off fast, anger soon boiling under the surface as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. "Stay here as long as you need," she said, giving him a gentle pat on the back before she stood, taking a shaky breath. "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" Romeo asked, Levy's heart clenching. For a second she considered staying, but her rage was stronger, realizing it didn't matter how much she wished people would change.
Sometimes, people needed to take action.
"I'll be back," was all she said before she left, heading straight for the band room where her roommate liked to spend her free time. She slammed the door open, eyes narrowed as she looked over the drunk survivors.
"What the hell?" Wakaba asked, standing up from behind his table before lightly swaying.
"Where are they?!" Levy demanded, marching up to him.
When he merely laughed at her, she reached forward, fisting the front of his shirt before yanking him down to her level, venom in her voice as she repeated, "Where... are... they?!"
He swallowed, the cigarette in his lips bouncing before he gave them up, not needing to ask who she was referring to.
Levy pushed him back as she turned, storming out of the band room and down the hall. She didn't bother trying to calm herself down, tired and frustrated with her friend's behavior. She knew an affair with a married man wasn't okay, but Levy had convinced herself it wasn't her business, it wasn't her concern.
That was, until Romeo made it very clear him and his mom knew what was going on, causing Levy to snap. She didn't care what Cana or Macao's motivations were, there was no justifying it anymore.
Their actions were hurting others, and Levy couldn't stand for it any longer.
The sound of Levy hitting the doors open echoed outside, her narrowed eyes searching for that stupid shed. She found it, almost growling when she tried yanking it open, only to find it was locked from the inside.
"Open the door!" she yelled as she banged on the metal, resorting to kicking after a minute of being ignored. She could hear people inside, shuffling about, muffled curses slipping through the sound of Levy trying to get in.
"OPEN NOW!"
"Alright!" Macao yelled back, Levy taking a step away to allow the door to swing open.
Her fists shook by her side, face red with anger, which nearly doubled when she saw the two disheveled adults step outside.
"What's the big deal?" Cana said, running her fingers through her messy hair. "I was just learning about the job. I—"
"Don't," Levy started, insulted Cana thought for even a second she could be fooled. "I know exactly what you two were doing and it's disgusting!"
"Hey," Macao snapped, but Levy didn't have time to deal with his shit.
She glared at him so hard he flinched. "You! Do you know what your son just told me?!"
"I— Uh—" Macao was at a loss for words, but Levy quickly filled in the blanks.
"He said his mom was crying because you lost your weekly condom! You know, the one you're supposed to use with your wife!"
"Levy, calm down!"
Levy sent a quick glance at Cana, barely holding back a seething remark. "I'll get to you next!" She turned to Macao, not ready to let him off the hook that easily. "Why don't you do EVERYONE a favor and be a better fucking father and husband!"
Levy didn't believe violence was the answer, but in that moment all she wanted to do was punch him in the face. It wouldn't nearly be as painful as seeing Romeo crying over his broken family. "Go! And if I ever find out you're cheating on your wife again, I will personally make sure you never get your filthy hands on another condom again! You got that?!"
She didn't know if her threat carried any weight, but seeing as she was in receiving with the supplies, Macao seemed to believe her.
"I'm sorry!" he rushed out, but Levy shook her head, pointing towards the school.
"Apologize to your wife and son! You failed them, not me!"
Macao stumbled as he started running. He was missing a shoe, but he didn't seem to care, getting as far away from the furious woman as he could.
"What the hell was that for!?" Cana yelled, Levy returning that energy back tenfold.
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" She took several deep breaths, refusing to cry despite fighting with one of her closest friends. "You're having sex with a married man! Cana! He has a kid! A wife! Just leave him alone and stop being a homewrecker!"
Cana's mouth gaped, Levy realizing she had gone too far. She was angry, but she didn't want to ruin her friendship over it if there was a chance Cana could do better.
"I'm sorry," Levy blurted out, letting those tears fall. "You're not a homewrecker. You can't wreck a home if the door is open, but it's still wrong."
Cana's face twisted, a mix of anger and anguish blurred through Levy's tears. Cana swallowed hard before wrapping her arms around herself, a protective stance against Levy's harsh words.
"Don't you think I know that?!" Cana's voice cracked, but she didn't relent. "I-I know it's wrong, but... I can't... seem to stop."
Levy took a few deep breaths, allowing herself to calm down. "Look, I know it's hard to deal with everything that's going on, and I know people are distracting themselves with sex, but Cana, you can't keep doing this to yourself or his family. Everyone deserves better than this."
She paused before asking, "Is this because of Gildarts?"
Instantly, Cana's demeanor changed. Her brows narrowed, nose scrunching as she clenched her teeth. "Why would you even say that?! He had nothing to do with this!"
"Are you sure?" Levy asked, knowing she struck a nerve, but she hadn't come to the theory on a whim. In all the years Levy had known Cana, she had preferred older men. Even when they were freshmen in high school, Cana had eyes for the seniors.
She didn't want to say Cana had daddy issues, but Gildarts hadn't been a good father, and Cana was always looking for approval from older men, even if it led her to trouble.
"It doesn't matter," Cana spat, sucking in deep breaths, as if her lungs couldn't fill all the way. "Nothing matters anymore!"
"You don't mean that," Levy said, but Cana closed her eyes, shutting her out.
"I do! This whole life is fucked!" She shook, tears beading her eyes. "Nothing even counts anyways!" Her eyes shot open as she struggled for air. "Why bother following the rules?! We're dead anyways!"
"Cana!" Levy took a step forward, but Cana raised a hand, teeth clenched as she swallowed a sob.
"Don't," she seethed, frame still shaking. "I just, I can't handle... it."
Levy blinked through her own tears, failing to understand Cana's hopelessness. "What are you talking about? Fairy Tail is thriving."
Cana shook her head, hand retreating to run through her messy hair before giving it a yank. "You don't get it. You can't see. This is all just temporary. Any day those demons are going to break down our doors and kill us all. We're just..." She took a deep breath. "We're just delaying the inevitable."
"Do you really feel that way?" Levy asked, heart breaking when her friend nodded. "Cana, fear is natural, but you can't let it control you like this. I get you're scared, but you also can't do what you're doing. It's not healthy, and it's not right."
Before Cana could speak, Levy added, "There's still right and wrong. Just because the world ended doesn't mean you can sleep with a married man."
"You still don't get it." Cana tipped her head back, as if exasperated.
"I'm trying to understand you," Levy started, wanting to reach her. "I—"
"Please, just go."
"I won't," Levy stated, feet firm on the ground. "Not until you talk to me and promise, no, swear to me you're never going to do that again."
"Can't make that promise," Cana mumbled, head slowly lowering but she didn't meet Levy's gaze. "Why does it matter? We're both adults."
"He's married."
"She can leave if she's unhappy."
Levy's eyes were blown wide. "Did you really just say that?"
Cana's head jerked to the side, her cheek twitching. It was clear Cana knew her words were uncalled for, causing Levy's anger to boil over.
"Did you really just say that? Cana?!"
"Why can't you just leave it alone?" Cana asked, her voice a broken whisper.
"Why can't you just leave him alone?"
When Cana didn't answer, Levy sighed. "You know what you're doing is wrong. I know you Cana. I know the real you. You're not like this."
"Clearly I am," she said, fist clenched by her side, but Levy knew she wasn't in danger.
Or, did she?
The Cana she knew before the outbreak wasn't the most responsible person in the world, some would even call her a little selfish, but cheating? Intentionally hurting people?
Levy took a long, calming breath, needing to organize her thoughts. "Look, I know dealing with the way things are now isn't easy, but you can't just do whatever you want."
"Why not?" Cana asked, eyes narrowed as she finally looked at Levy. "Everyone else does what they want. I'm not the only one doing this."
"Deflection isn't the answer," Levy said, shoulders falling. "You may not be ready to admit to yourself you're in the wrong, and that's fine. But you do need to stop this affair, now."
"But he—"
"No." Levy resisted the urge to put her hands on her hips, not wanting to take an offensive pose. It would likely push Cana to defend herself instead of listen. "There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. You're hurting his wife and kid with what you're doing, and I know he's just as guilty, and other people might be cheating too, but that doesn't make it okay. It never does."
Cana averted her eyes again, clearly not liking what Levy was saying, but she stopped fighting. "I... I don't—"
After a few shaky breaths, Cana admitted, "I don't, think I want to... to... do this, anymore."
"Have the affair?" Levy guessed, causing Cana to shake her head.
"I don't think I... I..." Tears formed again, her face red as she struggled to breathe. Her eyes fell to the ground, her frame shaking. "W-want to... to keep..."
Levy furrowed her brows, wondering what Cana was trying to say. She practiced patience, letting Cana gather her strength and courage to confess something that had Levy's heart drop.
"Living."
For a long stretch of time, Levy stayed silent. She couldn't believe what Cana said, her mind not able to wrap around the idea. 'She doesn't want to... live?' Her hand came up, pressing against her hollow chest.
Time seemed to come to a halt, the air feeling thick until Cana let out a shaky sob. Reality crashed into Levy as her stomach knotted, suddenly feeling too much pressure on her chest.
She didn't think she could move until Cana tried turning, Levy lunging forward without thinking. She caught Cana's arm, stopping her from leaving. "Please," she whispered, barely choking out the word. She didn't know what she was asking Cana, but she couldn't let her leave, not after hearing her friend, the person she grew up with, didn't want to live anymore.
Too many people had ended their lives since the outbreak started, and Levy wouldn't let Cana join them.
"What?" Levy mouthed, unsure if the word was formed. Her ears were ringing, but as soon as Cana looked at her again, everything went silent.
"I," Cana paused, eyes red and puffy after she scrubbed at them, but the tears kept flowing. "I know, what I'm doing... is... is wrong, but—" She swallowed heavily, her free arm coming up to protect her again, attempting to give herself the comfort she so desperately needed. "I can't... stop. And—" She tugged at her arm, but Levy wouldn't let go.
"Cana," she whispered, slowly reaching her other arm out before wrapping her in a hug. Cana crumbled in her grasp, leaning against her as she cried, tears soaking Levy's shoulder.
"I know," she whispered, hand rubbing soothing circles on Cana's back as she tried calming her down. "I know this all sucks, but you can't hurt other people. It's not okay."
Cana let out another sob, but she made no attempt to escape. "I just... want this over. And, a-and when I-I'm with... him, I—"
"You forget how shitty this world is?" Levy asked, feeling Cana nod against her shoulder. She didn't say it, but she figured that played a role in why she had increased her alcohol consumption as well. The girl always drank like a fish, probably from the lack of discipline and attention from her father, but it had been manageable back then.
Now, it was hard to see the old Cana through what she had become, but Levy wasn't giving up. She couldn't. Her friend wasn't a lost cause, and she would help however she could.
"Have you ever tried," Levy started, tightening her hold on Cana, "hurting yourself?"
She heard Cana sniffling before rubbing her nose against Levy's shirt, but she didn't mind. Shirts could be replaced, her friends couldn't.
"No," Cana forced out, slowly pulling back, blinking through bleary eyes. "I don't want to die," she said, causing Levy to furrow her brows in confusion. "I just, I'm so tired, of living."
Levy's heart broke when she saw how defeated Cana looked. "Look, I—"
Before Levy could finish her sentence, she heard someone's voice coming from behind her. Both girls looked, spotting Lucy and Hibiki walking towards them, both caught in their conversation.
"—told you I'd kick your ass! Shame on you for doubting me!" Lucy grinned while Hibiki nodded.
"Yeah yeah, I get it. You're better than me."
"Don't feel bad. I've been playing since I was a kid," Lucy said, nudging him with her elbow. "We should have a rematch tomor—" Lucy cut herself off when she looked over, seeing Levy and Cana. "Hey," she said with a wave, but her hand stilled upon seeing Cana's face. "Are you guys okay?"
"We're fine," Levy answered, figuring bringing more people into it was the worst thing she could do. "Thanks though."
Lucy and Hibiki seemed wary, but neither pushed the issue, continuing on their path towards the garden, where Lucy would hopefully receive some good news about her traps.
When the two barely made it past them, Levy turned to Cana again. Her tears had stopped running, but her eyes were wet and red, stare dull as she looked back. With a deep breath, Levy asked, "Can we go to the room and talk about this?"
Cana didn't get a chance to open her mouth, someone yelling out from the rooftop, startling all four of the survivors. They looked up, the words a jumbled mess, but their attention quickly shifted when they saw movement coming from the street in front of the school.
A van drove by slowly, followed by a large semi, the engine roaring. It was hard to see, Levy squinting her eyes at the words painted on the side of the truck.
Cana read it first, releasing herself from Levy's grip as she muttered, "Oh fuck no. I-I can't right now!" She took off the second she was free, sprinting away.
"Wait!" Levy ran after her, refusing to let her friend disappear after everything had come unraveled. She didn't have time to process the truck outside, or the message written for Fairy Tail's guards. She ran as hard as she could, passing Hibiki and Lucy, who were stunned still from the vehicles.
"Did... that really just say?" Hibiki started, glancing over to see Lucy's eyes round and her mouth gaping.
It took a few seconds to process, but slowly her lips twitched into a smile of disbelief, tears filling her eyes as she looked up at Hibiki. "Don't shoot," she said, repeating the words painted on the truck. "Gildarts is back."
Natsu had a plan of surprising his friends with his arrival, but unfortunately for him, their entrance was more grand than expected. A crowd had gathered by the time the semi parked, but part of the commotion was split due to the new infected showing up at the gate, a few guards leaving to deal with the new undead arrivals.
Zombies had been following for the last ten or so miles, attracted by the noise and motion. They would have driven faster to lose them, but with the precious cargo, they couldn't afford to speed.
Not only did they have enough solar panels to power the school, they had chickens! Natsu was mostly excited about that, already picking one as his favorite. He couldn't wait to see how they got along at Fairy Tail, but that could wait.
His first priority was to get through processing so he could see his friends, but he barely got out of the van before he was being pulled into a crushing hug, Erza's voice ringing clear as she said, "Thank goodness you're alive!"
It took him a second of squirming before he caught his breath, managing to hug her back before she pulled away. The lightness in his heart was quickly snuffed out when she gave him a pointed glare, her eyes practically glowing as she said, "Never worry us like that again!"
"Aye ma'am!" Natsu said, giving her a salute for some reason, unsure how he was supposed to respond.
Luckily for him, her attention was stolen when Gray exited the vehicle, the woman rushing to embrace him next. Natsu chuckled before his heart warmed, seeing relief on Gray's face as he hugged her back. It had been too long since Gray had been at ease, but it was clear as day his fear subsided as he entered familiar territory.
"You're back!" Wendy shouted, Natsu grinning as he stepped over to where she had pushed through the crowd, giving her a hug as well.
"Hey! How've you been?"
"Good!"
Natsu pulled back, patting her on the head before asking, "Did you get taller since I left?"
She giggled until her eyes fell to his arms, eyes widening when she noted they were both covered in bandages. "What happened?"
"Tell your mom sorry in advance," he snickered before adding, "I got in a bike accident."
She gasped. "Like a motorcycle?!"
Gray barked out a laugh, walking over before setting a hand on Natsu's head, leaning his weight on him. "He wishes it was that cool."
"Hey!" Natsu swatted Gray's hand away, huffing before looking at Wendy again. "I fell off a bicycle."
"What?!" Wendy clapped a hand over her mouth as she looked at his arms again, both bandaged from his wrists to his elbows. "How fast were you going?"
"Pretty fast," he said, giving a sheepish smile.
"Were you running away from the dead?"
He shook his head, realizing that would have made for a better, less embarrassing story. "Me, Gray, and my new buddy were racing downhill. I... kinda lost control of my bike and crashed." Before Wendy could say anything, he added, "Thankfully the bike wasn't damaged!"
As she raised a brow, he said, "It's a long story, but basically I didn't wanna be in debt over a stupid bike. This however," he raised up his arms, "Cost us a chicken with medical costs." Laxus' sperm could only buy so much, and unfortunately it only covered Millianna's care.
"Did you say chickens?"
At the mention of that, Natsu grinned. "Yeah! We got five of 'em!"
"You have chickens?" Erza asked, Gray deciding to fill her in while Natsu explained to Wendy.
"You should meet Plucky! She's my favorite! She'll let you hold her and everything!"
"Really?!" Wendy's eyes widened in wonder, Natsu nodding in response.
"Yeah, it's pretty cool!"
He stood, looking around as people seemed to shift as more guards approached, directing the survivors to keep some distance between them and the group. They had yet to be processed, meaning they weren't cleared to roam freely on base.
"Gildarts!" someone shouted as the man stepped out of the semi, running his fingers through his shaggy hair before walking over to talk to Elfman.
"He's really alive," Erza said, stunned until Gray muttered, "Yeah, but he's not here to stay."
"What?" she gave him a questioning glance, one he returned with a shrug.
"He's just here until they install the solar panels. Then he's leaving."
"Did you say solar panels?" Lisanna asked, her and Mira finally emerging from the crowd. While Mira was busy giving Natsu an equally crushing hug, Lisanna looked at Gray for answers.
"Yeah. Should be enough to get the lights working inside the school, maybe more?"
Lisanna beamed. "That would be amazing!" However, her smile faltered as she looked at Gildarts. "But, why isn't he staying?"
"He wants to stay in Hargeon," Natsu answered with a sigh. "He— Well, I'll let him explain if he wants. Point is, he's not gonna be here long. But," he started, his mood shifting for the better. "The good news is Hargeon is alive, and they have a ton of people!"
Despite its problems, knowing another place had survivors was huge. The world wasn't gone after all, and the possibilities of other survivors being out there felt more realistic.
"Some even came back with us," Natsu said, knowing Loke wasn't the only one who needed a change of pace. The people they brought back seemed nice and sane, but looks could be deceiving. "Speaking of which..."
Natsu looked around, his shoulders sagging when he didn't see who he was looking for. Not only did he need her to approve the new people in the semi, he felt worried when she hadn't turned up with the crowd.
'Where is she?'
"Is Lucy still working?" Natsu asked, hoping she was free. He looked forward to seeing her, excitement building as he waited for someone to answer.
"She should be off," Erza said, looking around. "The run—"
Everything Erza said after that never reached Natsu's ears, every nerve in his body alive when he heard someone shout his name, his heart racing as he searched for the voice.
Her voice.
"Natsu!"
He turned, eyes widening when he saw Lucy at the far end of the school. The shock faded quickly, Natsu lunging forward without another thought, ignoring a guard shouting, "Wait!"
"Let him go," Laxus said, his chuckling turning into background noise as Natsu pushed himself harder than he thought possible. Someone would swear a sprinter was on his tail with how fast he moved. He didn't think about proper breathing or pacing himself, the man only grinning as they cleared the distance between them.
Natsu slowed when they were a few feet away from each other, expecting Lucy to do the same. However, within seconds the air was knocked from his lungs, Lucy colliding with him hard.
"Shi—"
Natsu struggled to catch his balance as Lucy's weight was pushed against him. He wrapped his arms around her for stability, but that only had his mind blanking.
He knew he had missed her, but he hadn't realized just how much until he had her in his arms again, vision blurred with fresh tears, though they weren't from pain. He couldn't remember the last time he cried from happiness, every part of his being buzzing and present in the moment.
So much so, that he lost his balance, Natsu taking Lucy to the ground with him.
She didn't mind, holding him so tight he swore she would leave bruises. Her face was pressed against his chest, body shaking as the first of many sniffles escaped her. Natsu's eyes widened, letting go before resting his hands on her shoulders, trying to pull her away to get a look at her face.
"Fuck, did I hurt you?"
Lucy refused to be pried off, instead gripping tighter as she shook her head. "N-no! I-I thought—" She sobbed and his heart panged, guilt flickering when she finally pushed out, "I thought you weren't coming back!"
"Hey," he whispered, hand coming up to cup the back of her head, cradling her against him. "Of course I was coming back."
Seeing she wasn't budging, Natsu rested his lips against the crown of her head, letting her weight settle against his body. His legs were spread, his butt numb from the impact. Lucy laid between his thighs, shaking a little before she took a series of deep breaths to calm herself.
He thought his guilt would fade, but when she pulled back and he saw the pain in her brown eyes, his heart cracked. "I was so scared," she whispered, slowly loosening her grip before throwing an arm over his shoulder. "I thought... y-you were..."
"I'm alive," Natsu said, a smile strained as he wound an arm around her lower back, pulling her in for another hug. She melted against him, pressing her cheek to his shoulder while he ran his fingers through her hair.
He couldn't help but drop the smile, eyes lowered as he realized how much she had missed him too. He knew there was a chance Fairy Tail thought they were dead, but seeing how much it affected Lucy, it had him feeling emotions he couldn't identify, going far past guilt.
"I'm here," he mumbled into her hair, not minding it ticking his nose. He drew in a breath, relishing in the familiar scent of her shampoo. It had been too long, his eyes slipping closed as they held each other, making up for lost time. "I'm so glad to be back."
For a moment, silence fell between them. He could vaguely hear people in the distance, the sound of birds and bugs surrounding them. He could feel something wiggling inside his boot, most likely an ant, but he didn't let the tall grass or sounds or anything tear him away from the moment.
It was just him and Lucy, and he couldn't explain why it just felt so right.
"I missed you," Lucy said, Natsu almost chuckling at the break of silence. Her actions had spoken those words a hundred times over, but hearing it had his heart leaping in his chest.
Natsu didn't think, letting instincts take over as he nuzzled against her head, feeling her sink further against his body. "I missed you too, Lucy."
He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, Natsu's eyes closed as he felt her breathe against him. He didn't know why he craved being so close to her, but it had been something he missed while away. The comfort he felt when with her was unlike anything he had ever felt before, but instead of delving into thought on those feelings, he decided to take it at face value.
He missed her, and that was all he needed to know.
Natsu lowered his hand from the back of her head to her shoulder, eyes widening when he felt bare flesh instead of a jacket. He looked down, finally realizing what she was wearing.
A maroon tank top hugged her skin, a matching bow tying back a section of her hair. Instead of sweats, she wore utility pants tucked into combat boots. His brow raised, finding the outfit odd on her before his gaze fell to her shoulders, seeing a few scars peeking out from her tank top.
Not only that, he could see the other scars littering her arms, most faint with a few standing out. He almost asked why she wasn't covering them before a soft smile surfaced on his face, deciding that didn't matter. He had scars, and no one made a big deal about them. If Lucy felt comfortable with herself, why should he question it?
However, that thought only went so far before his eyes narrowed at the bandage on her arm, the question spilling out before he could stop it. "Did you hurt yourself?"
"What?" Lucy asked, hand slowly moving before she pressed it against his chest to push herself up. He vaguely wondered if she could feel the wild beat of his heart, but his concern for her bandage outweighed any other thoughts.
Lucy followed his gaze, staring at the bandage wrapped around her arm before shrugging. "Oh, I fell."
Instead of brushing it off like he assumed she wanted, Natsu leaned in, their faces inches apart before he whispered, "Did someone hurt you?"
"What?!" Lucy jerked back, a flush coming to her face that Natsu mistook for shame.
"Lucy, if someone hurt you—"
"No one hurt me!" She finally scrambled out of his reach, eyes widening as she looked over him, but that only confused him. "I really just fell. No big deal."
"It has to be a big deal if you needed a bandage," he insisted, but Lucy shook her head.
"It's just a precaution. I didn't feel like putting up a fight, so I let it go," she said as her gaze met his, the tips of her ears reddening before she averted her eyes. "It's really nothing. I barely even bled."
Her words didn't help settle his concern, Natsu moving into a crouching position before tilting his head, trying to get her to look at him again. "Are you okay?" he asked, frowning when she moved her head to purposely avoid eye contact. "Lucy?"
"What happened to your arms?" she asked, settling her gaze on his shirt as she nodded towards his bandages.
"Oh, nothing," he said with a shrug. "A bicycle accident."
"Okay," she said, slowly taking a deep breath. "Then mine's nothing too. Case closed."
Natsu opened his mouth to retort, but before he could get a word out, he was being pulled up by the back of his shirt.
"Alright, come on," Elfman said, dragging Natsu towards the school. "You had your little reunion. Time to get processed."
"Wait!" Natsu squirmed, but Elfman's grip was solid. "I gotta do one thing first!"
"What's that?" Elfman asked, raising a brow at Natsu's response.
"Lucy needs to look over the new people."
"Why does she need to look over 'em?"
"Just trust me," Natsu said, a pleading look in his eyes. "Makarov knows about it. He's okay with it."
As soon as Elfman let him go, Natsu turned to see if Lucy was still sitting on the ground, only to jolt when she was standing right behind him. "Oh! Hey!" He didn't realize she had yet to look him in the eyes again, remembering a key part of their mission.
Lucy had to see the people they brought back with them to make sure they weren't part of the group that hurt her. It was vital, and he couldn't let anyone dangerous enter their home.
He didn't think as he reached for her hand, pulling her quickly to the semi. She didn't protest, actually keeping up his pace as he explained her job.
"We got five new people. Let me know if any of them are the ones that hurt you." Natsu looked to his side, surprised by the determination coloring Lucy's face. Gone was the embarrassed flush, the woman on a mission as she marched towards the truck.
Something in the pit of Natsu's stomach stirred when he saw that look, but he ignored it in favor of getting her to the semi quicker. He was probably worried. That was the normal thing to feel when in that type of situation, right?
Natsu grit his teeth as they approached the truck, stopping a good thirty feet away before Natsu made eye contact with Laxus, giving him a nod before Laxus said something to Gildarts. Both Lucy and Natsu watched as the man went around to the back of the semi, slowly pulling the doors open before someone jumped out, followed by another.
Natsu felt Lucy squeeze his hand as two more came out, but slowly the tension she carried faded. A small smile rose to her face as she readjusted her hand so their grip felt more natural. "I don't recognize any of them," she said, relief heard in her voice.
"Good." Natsu grinned, preparing himself to wrap an arm around her shoulders to give her a sideways hug, but he stopped himself. He worried that might cross a line, so he kept his hand in hers.
He looked down at their combined hands before furrowing his brows, wondering if the contact was unwelcomed to her. However, before he could ask, she gripped his hand tight, Natsu almost wincing as he looked at her face. "Lucy?"
He tried reaching her, but she didn't react, eyes wide as she stared at the truck, the last person hopping out.
Natsu turned, cocking his head as he looked at Loke, who was busy glancing at the massive school.
"That's my newest friend." Natsu said, knowing he wasn't a threat. He had been at Hargeon since day one, so there was no way he was responsible for Lucy's pain. "His name is—"
"Loke," Lucy finished, Natsu's eyes widening in shock as his gaze snapped to her.
Her eyes were fixed on Loke, her face unreadable and her body stiff. He wasn't even sure she was breathing. "You know Loke?"
Natsu swore time stood still as he waited for a response, his stomach jerking when she gave the smallest nod. Dread and trepidation flooded his senses, worried he had made a huge mistake. Maybe Loke lied to him? Maybe he wasn't at Hargeon the whole time? Maybe, maybe he was the one who hurt Lucy? Or knew the people responsible?
It was difficult, but Natsu managed to push the words through his tight throat, voice more timid than he liked. "How do you know him?"
Lucy couldn't tear her eyes away from Loke, her hand slowly slipping until it fell by her side. Natsu's heart couldn't possibly beat any faster, ready to... to... Well, he wasn't sure, but if Lucy said the words, he would do whatever he could to keep Loke away from her.
Guilt sank into his system as he waited for an answer, wondering if he brought a monster on base, but what Lucy said had him stunned in a way he never thought possible.
Without so much as a shred of emotion, Lucy whispered, "He... was my fiance."
.
.
.
Well, that was a fun chapter to write. I haven't cried for a solid six months, so I was worried the emotions wouldn't come across right, but I feel pretty good about this chapter. I'm in love with Lucy's progress and her individual relationships with people instead of relying on Natsu to have friends.
How was Levy and Cana's fight? I can only imagine the sense of hopelessness if the world ended, one might think there were no significant consequences to their actions, especially if they think it's only a matter of time before they're dead anyway. That's definitely not an excuse though, just Cana's reason behind her wrong behavior. Her state of mind isn't going to be fixed just like that. She's going to need time and support to better herself, but the question is, does she want to put in the effort to change? Or has she given up on herself? I have plans for Cana, but that's only a side part in this story.
Finally, how was the reunion? I'll be honest, I put a lot of pressure on myself to make it perfect, which had me not writing because I was too stressed. So, I finally decided to just write it and if it wasn't perfect, it wasn't perfect. I'm satisfied with how it turned out. I hope you liked it too! I know the nalu part wasn't as long as some of the other scenes, but the next few chapters are going to have a lot of them interacting. Couldn't jam it all in one chapter, lol.
Also! I commissioned tehzeldamaster (on tumblr and twitter) to draw the nalu reunion scene, and it turned out so gorgeous and perfect! AHHH! Please check it out! You can find it if you visit my AO3 version of this story and go to this chapter (53), the picture is in the chapter! You should definitely check out their work separately though too! It's amazing! (I really wish I could post pictures on this site, darn)
Before I finish up on this chapter's notes, I wanted to say thank you Doginshoe again for reading over the first part of this chapter and giving your feedback! It really helped!
Thank you all for your support! Shout out to those awesome people who left feedback last time: Yaknova, positive vibes only, stranger1999, Doginshoe, xXxMysticBeastxXx, Chibi-Umaru, lovelyleveret, sonikastalker, ElementalMiko12, deboome, Perfect Memories, Meow Orbit, valerioux, sakshishetty3003, MeteorWars, llendais, Xfangirl123X, fairytaillif3, Screeney, Guest, Guest, Guest, Guest, (sometimes it's hard telling if the guest reviews are from the same person or different, so if it's not really obvious to me I'll separate them) Missb, shootingstarssel, ghostini, TroppoFavolosoPerVoi, Smartyul, FlameDragonHime, Mandapandaa, SunsetRika, Sam, LoveroftheWord, polarris, Linkin-Phoenix(x5), CathJorda, Dezez, Guest, (Iconic)Guest(x16), Prick 'n Improper, Duchixx, Lodemai04, Mhilano, nguyethalrysdo0401(x2), Ryu of Konoha, SistershoOk, Guest(x3), fairytailfanatic0703, Ejjderiaa, Marsfish, ottermadness, Guest, Senowica, Guest, and xXxMysticBeastxXx!
Up next, Chapter Fifty-Four: Loke
Let me know what you thought! Or if you have any theories on how things are going to go next chapter?! I love hearing from you! Well, until next time! :D