*Chapter Fifty-Four: Loke
Sharp teeth clenched as he pulled, watching the metal bar slide through his skin. It didn't hurt, but he hated removing the piercing, now down to only twenty-one, twenty after he removed the other one.
Eighteen were above his neck and two were below the belt.
"Sorry," Juvia said, watching from across the table, absentmindedly petting Lily.
"Not your fault," Gajeel grunted, letting the piercing fall on the paper plate before working to unscrew the other one. "Just sucks."
Juvia nodded, noting the pus on his chest. It had been a while since they last had a solution to clean his piercings, the two deep within a forest in Fiore, right outside of a place called 'Clover Town'. The undead had claimed that town, swarming every inch.
They were playing it safe, living off their supply of canned goods for the last few months, but they were running low.
They both knew what they had to do, but neither wanted to leave the safety of the forest, even if it proved useless living off the land.
Despite their arsenal of weapons and ammo, Gajeel was no hunter, and both were shitty gatherers. Juvia just recovered from eating an inedible plant two weeks ago.
They had to leave. It was only a matter of when.
"Do they hurt?" Juvia asked as Gajeel removed the other nipple piercing, a sigh escaping the man as he let it join its mate on the plate.
"Feels weird, but doesn't hurt," he said, red eyes zeroing at the table before looking outside. Their curtains in their camper were pulled back to see the forest. It would be dark soon, and they hadn't even tried looking for food.
On the bright side, they had fresh water, using charcoal to boil rain water. The bed of their truck was full of charcoal, covered in a tarp for protection. It was vital to their survival, treated like gold.
With a slight tug of her lips, Juvia said, "At least Gajeel still has his other piercings."
"It's a miracle they haven't gotten infected," he muttered before looking at his arms. Those piercings had been pulled out the first week after the outbreak. It posed too great a risk to infection, especially with how dirty they got fighting zombies.
He closed his eyes, trying to imagine how the world had been before the outbreak. It was difficult, the last months hard on them. Or, had it been a year yet? They had lost count, but he was sure they were somewhere in spring, maybe early summer if the weather was any indicator.
Gajeel took in a steady breath before opening his eyes, not wanting to face reality but it was inevitable. They couldn't stay, and the longer they delayed, the more likely they were to get stuck.
"How much gas do we have in the tank?" he asked, Juvia perking up in surprise.
"Maybe half a tank? Why?"
Gajeel ran his hands through his hair, the long thick black locks down for the time being. Every time they left the camper, he put it in a braid, refusing to get rid of his hair despite its risk.
He would rather remove every piercing before he cut a single strand, needing some reminder of the person he was before the apocalypse began.
Instead of answering Juvia, Gajeel stood, walking to the small kitchen counter to grab the map sitting on top. It was wrinkled, part of it dirty after handling it before washing up. He laid it out on the table in front of Juvia before pointing to the nearest town.
"But," Juvia started, looking up with pleading eyes just as Lily jumped away. "It's so nice here."
"I know," he said, dropping the tough guy act as he sat across from her, his own eyes tired and defeated. "I want to stay too, but we can't. We need more food, and unless we magically learn how to hunt, we're gonna die here."
Juvia didn't take the news well, tears forming in her eyes as she looked at the map. He could tell she was thinking of their close encounters with death. Every day they were in a town was potentially their last.
But, they couldn't stay, and after the two went back and forth a few times, Juvia accepted the truth.
"Fine, but one more day? Please?"
He sighed. "Sure, but we leave the morning after tomorrow. Got it?"
She nodded, the two looking back down at the map before her shoulders dropped. "Juvia hopes it isn't as bad as the others," she mumbled. It was smudged over part of the name, letting her read 'bana'.
Gajeel sat back in his bench, eyesenlisting to the window again as he whispered, "Guess we'll see."
.
.
.
(April 13th, 2018, Friday Afternoon)
Natsu's mouth stayed shut during processing.
He kept a watchful eye on Loke, unsure how he felt. Even if Lucy hadn't asked him not to say anything to Loke just yet, he wasn't sure he would have been able to. There was too much uncertainty, his stomach jerking every time he thought about the look on her face when she saw Loke.
Despite his best efforts, Natsu couldn't remember Lucy saying much about her fiancé. He had been high when she first mentioned him, and after that she hadn't shared more with him. It had him curious, part of him a little thrilled how small the world was.
It was selfish, yes, but what were the odds of Lucy running into someone she knew in her past life? He didn't want to get his hopes up, but if it could happen for her, it could happen for him, right?
A deep ache set in his chest when he wondered where his dad was and how long it would be until they were reunited.
He couldn't dwell on that, his mind sharpening when they were cleared. Elfman escorted the new members of Fairy Tail to finish their processing while Laxus stayed behind with the people of Hargeon, who were only there to help install the solar panels before leaving.
A team from Hargeon would be coming out in a week or so to discuss trade options, but Natsu's only objective was to get Loke alone, per Lucy's request.
He swore a swarm of bees appeared in his stomach as he recalled her words, his cheek twitching as he left the arena and followed the group into the school. He saw Elfman give him a questioning look, but he dismissed it, not wanting to let Loke out of his sights for long.
"I need to talk to him," she had said, her words hauntingly hollow.
Natsu frowned when he thought about how Lucy had withdrawn after seeing Loke, but it wasn't in the way he was familiar with. When first arriving at Fairy Tail, Lucy would pull back and put her guard up, the girl timid and fearful. But now?
She looked controlled, her eyes almost calculating after a minute passed when she first saw Loke.
Natsu didn't know what to think, what to feel. He didn't get a chance to process anything going on, unable to enjoy simply being back at Fairy Tail because every time he tried to relax, something gnawed at him.
He understood why Lucy wanted to see Loke. Why wouldn't she? They knew each other from their past life, but she looked so... cold. He didn't like it, unsettled by the lack of light in her eyes.
So, he decided the best course of action was to get it over with, waiting patiently in the office while each member of Hargeon was interviewed by Makarov and given their assignments.
"Hey Natsu!" Loke called when he was finished, smile wide as he held up a key. "I got room 105. How far away is that from you?"
Natsu blinked, startled out of his trance. He had been so worried about... Well, he wasn't sure what he was even concerned for, but he forgot he had forged a friendship with Loke.
'I gotta get out of my head,' he decided, finding a small smile as he explained where he lived, one floor up.
"Darn, I thought we'd be neighbors." He laughed before nodding towards the door. "Wanna show me around?"
"In a minute," Natsu said, leading Loke outside of the office. "You need to drop off your stuff first. There's uh, something we need to do."
"Okay?" Loke didn't resist, following Natsu to his new room before they headed outside.
The sun hung low in the sky, but they had about an hour before dinner. As Natsu headed towards the football stadium where Lucy and him used to run, he listened as Loke recounted his talk with Makarov.
"—be a cook. I'm really more of a baker, but I like cooking too. Makarov said I can still bake though. I guess you guys don't have any wheat growing, but with some trading I'm sure you can start growing some. Hargeon trades with a farm, the one they get the meat from. I'm sure they'd be willing to part with some seeds for the right price."
Natsu nodded along, feeling slightly guilty he wasn't giving Loke a heads up to what was going on, but when it came down to it, his loyalty pulled to Lucy. He didn't bother denying it to himself.
His gut twisted when they reached the stairs that would take them down to the field. Green eyes searched as they made their way down, Natsu spotting Lucy sitting on the ground, facing away from them.
He cleared his throat when they got within her earshot, prompting her to stand before turning around.
Loke was in the middle of his sentence when he noticed her, cutting himself off as his brows furrowed. It took a few seconds, Natsu noted, before the realization struck.
Slowly, Loke's jaw dropped, the man stunned silent as Lucy walked up, raising a hand towards him.
When Lucy saw Loke for the second time that day, all she wanted to do was slap him. Memories of their happy times together twisted into the last memory they shared, her heart breaking all over again.
Revenge for what he did was at the forefront of her mind, but when she saw the look of recognition on his face, all she could do was walk up to him before giving him a hug.
Loke flinched when Lucy raised a hand, Natsu's eyes widening as he thought the same thing Loke did. Both were surprised when she hugged him, her grip loose as she set her forehead on his shoulder.
Despite how much pain he had caused her and the events that followed their break up due to her downward spiral, she couldn't be mad at him. He was alive.
Alive.
All she could do was rejoice in the fact that someone she knew, who she had been close to, was still among the living.
"You're really here," she mumbled before pulling back, seeing the shock playing on his face.
Loke couldn't say anything, staring at her in disbelief. She gave him time, took a step back before wrapping one arm around her stomach as nervousness trickled in. She tried stealing a glance at Natsu, but she found it hard to keep his eye contact.
She had thought her silly crush would fade as soon as he got back, but she was wrong. If anything, it intensified when she finally got him in her arms, feeling more safe than she had in... Well, she couldn't remember a time she felt more secure than when he was near her.
But, looking straight into his eyes also made her cheeks warm, and Lucy didn't have time to deal with blushes. She had to keep herself in check, stay with her mission, which was to find out what Loke may or may not have revealed while in Hargeon.
After an awkward pause where Loke stared at her without saying a word, Lucy asked, "Can I talk to you? Alone?"
Loke gave a meek nod while Natsu moved forward, his brows darted inward and his eyes suspicious. "Can I have a word?" he mumbled, hand settling on her shoulder as he turned them, walking a few paces away to get some privacy. "What are you doing?"
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked, turning her head to look at him before immediately snapping away, feeling heat swirl in her cheeks from how close they were standing.
It wasn't the time, she knew that, but damn was it hard not to notice how handsome he was. The few pictures of him on his phone hadn't done him justice, Lucy feeling little sparks in her chest as she struggled to push down her feelings.
'Get control of yourself!'
If Natsu noticed her odd behavior, he didn't comment on it. "Why do you want to talk to him alone?"
That made Lucy raise a brow, averting her eyes as she said, "I want to catch up."
An obvious lie, but she hadn't lied to Natsu before, so he didn't catch it. Withheld information, flat out refused to answer questions, those she was guilty of, but lying? It was a new, dangerous territory, and she didn't want to extend her visit.
She wouldn't make a habit of lying to him, she told herself as she waited for him to mull it over. However, as soon as she felt him shaking his head, she narrowed her eyes just a bit before saying, "He'll probably talk if it's just me and him. He's in shock right now."
It was an understatement, Loke looking like his brain had been short-circuited.
"You can watch," Lucy offered when she worried he was ready to argue, feeling him ease beside her. "We won't go far," she added, solidifying her case.
"Fine," he grumbled before looking up, glancing at Loke. She swore she felt his chest rumble against her shoulder, Lucy tucked under his arm.
She had to fight off another blush, flustered by how good he felt against her. Natsu had a way about him that made her feel protected. She didn't think Loke would do anything to hurt her, but it made her feel better knowing Natsu cared about her well being.
Lucy couldn't deny she was a little agitated too.
Natsu didn't trust her to handle herself, and that felt bizarre after spending so much time off base as a runner. Lucy wasn't used to people treating her so fragile anymore, but she supposed it would take Natsu a minute to adjust.
When Lucy made a move to leave, Natsu tightened his grip on her shoulder, an urgency in his voice as he whispered, "We need a code word."
She blinked, unsure if she heard him correctly. "A code word?"
He nodded. "You know, in case things go sideways."
Lucy couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sure things will stay right side up."
She thought the joke would put an end to it, but when she tried pulling away, Natsu didn't relent. She chanced a look at him, even if making eye contact made her skin sizzle in a way that didn't make sense to her.
It was odd. She had dated before, even been engaged, but there was something about Natsu that just tugged at her. She did her best to ignore it, especially when she saw something in his eyes she had never seen before.
Desperation.
"Please," he started, the concern palpable on his face. "Just—"
Lucy felt herself nodding, wanting to put an end to his worry. If making a silly code word was all it took to get Loke alone, she could do it. "What'd you have in mind?"
"Maybe, say it's getting too hot outside?" he suggested, but Lucy gave him a pointed look in return.
"It's not that hot out here," she said, the air comfortably warm.
"Maybe say you're tired?"
"What if I'm really tired?" Lucy asked, fighting off the urge to rest. She hadn't planned on all the commotion, but a smile lifted her face, thankful they were back. "How about, I say I'm hungry?"
"Dinner's soon... That could work," Natsu said, causing her to nod.
Lucy barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Want me to say, I could go for a milkshake?"
He snapped, eyes lighting up. "That! That's the one!"
Lucy couldn't help but grin, tickled by his reaction. "I was clearly joking, but okay. Milkshake it is."
She looked over her shoulder, seeing the shock had worn off Loke's face. He was alert, watching the two as his hands fiddled with each other.
'Good. I won't be the only one nervous.'
"I'll be fine," Lucy said, arm coming up to wrap around Natsu's back, giving him a side hug before parting.
Natsu allowed her to step away then, his eyes flitting to Loke just as Lucy walked over to him, nodding for him to follow down the track. He didn't bother sitting, wanting to be ready in case she needed him. He strained his hearing, frowning when he couldn't hear Lucy's voice any longer. It irritated him, but he stayed put, even if his curiosity was burning him alive.
"How'd you find your way to Fairy Tail?" Lucy had asked, keeping it light. She was waiting until they were on the other side of the field before getting to the part she wanted to talk about. She couldn't risk anyone overhearing. She trusted Natsu with her life, with her friendship, but after him spilling her secrets to Makarov, she couldn't trust him completely with her past.
She understood why he did, and she forgave him, but she had prepared herself to put up a guard when it came to her past.
She still had to have that conversation with Natsu, which she was not looking forward to, but it had to be done.
'Tomorrow,' she decided, not wanting to delve into anything too deep tonight. Instead, she would do that with Loke, knowing he held a fountain of her secrets, and she couldn't let a single drop escape.
"I uh, after everything, I—" Loke stumbled over his words, but she could tell he wasn't flustered, just thrown off. "Sorry," he mumbled, scratching his head.
Lucy looked at the action, then traced the wild spikes of his orange hair with her eyes. "I see you grew your hair out," she said, deciding it would be easier for her to lead the conversation.
She was in familiar territory. Loke was the fish out of water.
Lucy almost cracked a grin as he opened and closed his mouth like a fish, the man trying to get his bearings.
"Um, yeah." He blinked a few times before stopping, Lucy worried they weren't far enough away. She couldn't make out Natsu's face anymore, so she figured they were safe.
"I..." Loke reached out before stopping himself, wincing as he pulled his hand back. "I just, can't believe it."
When Lucy's brows dipped in, he said, "I never thought I'd see you again."
Lucy took a deep breath, a nervous chuckle escaping as she said, "Yeah. That makes two of us." She looked him up and down before smiling. "You seem healthy?"
Loke nodded, messing with his glasses before stuffing his hands in his pockets to keep from fidgeting. "You look—" His voice trailed off as he did the same, looking her over before his eyes were blown wide. He didn't stop himself as he reached for her shoulder to inspect the scars. "Wh—"
He was at a loss for words, and Lucy didn't want to fill him in on what happened. So, she gave him a vague idea of what happened without dealing with the details.
"I was attacked," she said, choosing her words carefully. "Someone, a group," she shook her head, "I don't want to talk about it. Just, I survived," Lucy said, taking a deep breath. "I survived."
"H—" Loke shook his head. "How— I don't—" He frowned, forehead creasing as he looked at her collarbone, seeing a thicker scar peeking out from over her shoulder. "Who?"
"It doesn't matter," she said, but Loke looked unconvinced. "Loke, I don't want to talk about it. They're not here, which is what's important. Fairy Tail is safe."
With a huff, Loke crossed his arms over his chest, looking unhappy with her stance. "Are they at least dead?"
"Honestly? I don't know." Lucy hoped he was dead, hoped Ivan had met a painful escape from the living. She didn't particularly want to be the one to end his life, just wishing no one else had to experience what she went through.
She hadn't deserved it, and it had taken a while to accept that as truth.
"If I ever get my hands on them—" Loke started, his anger almost giving her whiplash before she raised a hand, cutting him off.
She didn't have to say anything, Loke nodding as he deflated. "Right, you don't want to talk about it. Will you tell me eventually?"
Lucy bit her lower lip, shaking her head. "I can't promise anything."
Loke didn't seem pleased, but he didn't bring it up again.
Despite agreeing to drop it, she noticed his eyes would occasionally drop to her scars, but she didn't let it get her down. She had been used to the second glances and lingering stares over the last two weeks, but just as Rogue said, it lessened with time.
She wasn't the only one with scars, the only one with a past.
Lucy was learning to accept herself and even love parts of her she never thought possible when first arriving at Fairy Tail. She had been pulled out of the darkest corner of her mind, and she couldn't be happier.
Well, she could, Natsu's return proving that.
She found herself wanting to smile, but she resisted, needing Loke to focus on what she said next.
It was the reason she insisted on talking to him alone, her heart starting to hammer as she asked, "Have you told anyone about me?"
A look of confusion crossed his face before Loke asked, "What?"
She repeated the question, but he didn't look like he understood what she was getting at. With a sigh, she realized she would have to be direct, even if speaking the words aloud caused a pain in her chest.
"Have you told anyone, who I am? Does anyone at Hargeon know? Does—" She looked past Loke to see Natsu where they left him, pacing back and forth, but he kept his gaze towards them.
He stopped, probably noticing her staring, but after she gave a dismissive wave and turned back to Loke, Natsu continued pacing.
"Does Natsu know, I'm a... a Heartfilia?"
"He doesn't know?" Loke asked, head bobbing back as he furrowed his brows. "From what he said about you, it sounded like you guys were close."
"What did he say?" she rushed out, the tips of her ears burning in anticipation, but Loke's shrug had her relaxing.
"Honestly, I didn't listen half the time. Had I known his Lucy was you, I would've paid way more attention."
Her blush returned, but she didn't let it stop her. "Have you told anyone?" she asked, causing him to shake his head.
"Not that I remember." He looked puzzled, eyes falling to the ground as he thought. "No, I don't think I did. I mentioned being engaged a few times, but never said your last name. Why?" he asked, glancing up. "Does it matter?"
"Probably not," Lucy said, taking a deep breath. "I'm probably just overreacting." She didn't believe it, but she hoped she was wrong.
Well, she hoped Gray was wrong, not wanting to believe her family's company brought on the apocalypse.
"Tell me," Loke urged, a frown etched on his face. "What's going on? Why are you even here? I thought you'd be in Crocus if anything?"
Lucy's eye twitched as she thought about her home in Crocus. She had wanted to go back so badly, but slowly, Fairy Tail had become her home. She couldn't imagine going back, convinced the world wasn't going to snap back to normal.
Too many people had died, too much lost in such a short time.
"I was on vacation," she said, brows pinched. "We were at the lake house."
Loke nodded, knowing the location. He had visited the place with her family on holidays, before the two parted for college.
It had felt like a lifetime ago, Lucy still surprised to see Loke standing before her.
She wasn't convinced it was real, wondering if she was having the most lucid dream of her life. Temptation to pinch herself rose, but she resisted.
"Who's we?"
Lucy swallowed, ignoring the lump forming in her throat as she recalled the panic, the chaos as they fled the hospital to the safety of the lake house.
It wasn't safe, nowhere was.
Lucy looked down at the Fairy Tail emblem on her hand, almost snorting when she realized Natsu hadn't noticed it. She understood why, the pink was so soft against her skin. It was bold that first week, but Rogue assured her it was normal to fade after healed.
She liked it better soft, a gentle reminder of where she called home now.
With a few shaky breaths, Lucy steeled herself. "Dad, and V—" Her eyes closed, her fists shaking as she struggled to say her name.
She hadn't expected the sudden sharp pain in her chest, similar to when she was a child and experienced heart problems like her mother. That had been cured, but the pain she experienced now, she doubted it would ever numb.
"Virgo?" Loke asked, Lucy hearing the frown in his voice. She could only nod, the back of her eyes pricking as she swallowed again, fighting the tears.
She wouldn't cry. Virgo wanted her to be strong, but she felt weak again, imagining herself in that lake house with Ivan and his group constantly taunting, degrading, or abusing them both.
Her lower lip quivered as she took a long, deep breath. Opening her eyes helped, even if tears came with it. Seeing Loke took her away from that place, away from her dark memories.
It was over. Grandeeney was helping her see no matter what happened now, she couldn't change the past. Her sessions had done wonders to Lucy's mental state, the woman walking her through her anxious feelings, identifying the causes before talking herself down.
It was over, and Virgo wasn't suffering anymore.
Loke didn't have to ask, Lucy seeing the question plain on his face. "They're d-dead," she mumbled, flinching slightly when he took a step towards her.
"Can I hug you?" he asked, Lucy reluctant before nodding.
She allowed Loke to embrace her, but she kept her arms around herself, not letting her memories break her. "They died, in the lake house. I... I don't want to talk about it."
"I won't push," Loke whispered, rubbing her back before stopping once she tensed. He didn't ask, merely squeezing once before taking a step back.
She appreciated the hug, but she appreciated the space more. With more deep breaths, she pushed herself through the difficulty, not wanting it to drag out further.
"You met Gray?" she asked, knowing it was obvious seeing as he was on the mission with Natsu. "Well, he has... a theory."
Before Loke could ask, she explained, "It has to do with the diet pills from Heartfilia Corps." When he raised his brow, she nodded. "Yeah, I know it's a stretch, but maybe..."
Her voice trailed off, prompting Loke to ask, "Do you have any reason to think it's true?"
Lucy dug the toe of her boot into the ground, tapping it a few times before saying, "I'm not sure, but I know my mom was worried about her weight. And she..."
"She what?"
Lucy's eyes fell to the side, wishing the pain in her chest would go away. It was too much reliving what happened, the emotional turmoil difficult to bear, but she couldn't walk away.
Well, she could, but she figured she owed him some explanation if she was going to ask a favor from him soon.
"She was one of the first, to... turn."
She left it at that, Loke waiting a moment before giving a nod. "I see. So you think she was taking those pills, and that caused her to turn?"
"I'm not saying it's true, and I'm not saying it's not possible." She let out a sound of irritation. "I'm not even sure what I think anymore, I just, I'd rather people not know who I am."
"That's fine," Loke said, causing her eyes to widen. "What? I understand wanting to keep some things private."
When she met his gaze, he added, "Your secret's safe with me."
Lucy couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, weight lifting off her shoulders. Speaking of shoulders, Loke's eyes flitted to her arms again, the man chuckling as he asked, "Have you been working out? I don't remember you looking so... defined before?"
A small smile found Lucy's face as she nodded, looking at her toned arms too. They weren't muscular like Erza's, but she had grown stronger. She was able to do twenty push ups without stopping, something she was rather proud of.
"You look relaxed," she said, nodding at his hair. "You never answered about your hair. Why'd you grow it out?"
Aside from one Halloween when he wore a wig, Loke always had short, buzzed hair. His father made him get it cut every other week, assuring it stayed in pristine condition.
A genuine ease fell over Loke as he slumped a little, a lazy smile crossing his face. "I finally could."
"I guess your father can't say much with the world ending."
"He can't say anything," Loke mused before shrugging. "He was one of the first to go."
"Yikes." Lucy noted Loke didn't look upset, so she didn't comment. She knew he had a similar relationship with his father as she did to hers. Both men could be controlling, which was actually one of the reasons they stayed together so long.
Loke was the only guy her father approved of her dating, often encouraging her to see him after finding out how highly ranked his father was.
"Networking is how you make it far in life. Make as many connections you can with the right people, and you'll be set."
Lucy almost rolled her eyes as she imagined her father's words, wishing she had a better relationship with him towards the end.
But, like Grandeeney had urged, the past couldn't be changed, but she could use her experiences to shape her future.
"Well, how's... Plue? Did you bring him?"
Loke's shoulders fell further, a defeated look on his face. "He passed away."
"Ah," Lucy whined, her heart hurting for a new reason. "But he was so young!"
"I know," Loke added, a somber look on his face. "He died about a year ago? Actually, it was a month after we broke up."
"What happened?" Lucy asked, pouting as she put a hand over her heart. She had a lot of good memories of Loke's small white dog, especially when she brought him to the dog park. He was a nervous little thing, but he had the sweetest heart.
"He got hit by a car."
As soon as Lucy gasped, Loke shook his head. "He didn't suffer!"
"But, he still got hit!"
With a weak nod, Loke said, "The clasp on his collar broke as we were crossing the street. Someone was speeding and just..."
She didn't need him to finish, the look in her eyes telling him she understood. "I'm sorry."
"Me too. I miss him."
They held a moment of silence before Lucy nodded towards the track, deciding to continue their walk. The crucial part of their talk was over, a lightness filling her chest as they made their way to the halfway point of the track, on the opposite end of Natsu.
'I wonder what he's thinking?'
Loke must have read her mind, asking, "So, Natsu doesn't know you're a Heartfilia?"
She shook her head. "I actually go by," she felt her cheeks rush with heat as she tried to downplay it, "Lucy Dragneel."
She swore Loke's eyes bulged out of his head as he sputtered. "Wh-what? Are you two—"
Before Lucy could answer, he shook his head. "No, I don't remember a lot of what he said about you, but he definitely said you two weren't an item."
"Well, no," Lucy said, wondering why her chest felt heavy again.
"I'm pretty sure he said you two were just friends. Nothing more."
"Yup!" Lucy rushed out, face red from embarrassment now. She knew Natsu didn't think of her as more than a friend, which was perfectly fine. Good, even. She didn't need to be caught up in a crush, not when she was still recovering from the emotional and physical trauma she experienced.
Romance needed to be the last thing on her mind...
But still, she couldn't help but wonder, 'What if?'
After a subtle deep breath, she nodded. "We're just friends, and roommates."
"He told me that," Loke started, furrowing his brows. "And you're comfortable with that? Sharing a room with him?"
Lucy nodded, thinking it odd to not share a room with him now. "He's been good to me."
"You two don't..." Loke made a crude gesture with his fingers, Lucy's face flaming red as she sputtered.
"N-NO!
And just like that, Lucy saw Natsu charging over in her peripheral vision. She quickly looked his way, holding up her hands before waving them. "IT'S OKAY!" she called, seeing him stumble before halting.
She could tell he was reluctant, but upon seeing her in no harm, he slowly walked back to his spot. Her and Loke had a quarter of the track to clear before they met up with him, and she needed the subject changed.
"Nothing like that goes on. He's very respectable."
"You don't get urges?" Loke asked, looking in disbelief. "The Lucy I remember was quite insatiable, and that's saying something coming from me."
"Oh god," she mumbled, putting a hand over her face.
"Hey, if you ever wanna..."
"You can't be serious," she started, narrowing her eyes at him.
Loke jolted, throwing his hands up in a mock surrender. "Sorry! I just thought... because we used to have fun..."
Lucy kept her glare for a solid ten seconds before breaking out into laughter, finding it too easy to mess with him. He let out a nervous chuckle after seeing she was okay, scratching the back of his head as he said, "I guess I deserved that. I was only joking, mostly."
He shrugged before sighing. "I did want to say I'm sorry, about... cheating on you."
Lucy was glad he owned up to it instead of saying something like, 'what I did'.
"I'm really sorry. I know I can't make up for my mistakes, which makes me the biggest asshole for even suggesting something casual." Loke cringed as he scrubbed at his face, needing a few seconds before he could look at her again. "I'm so sorry. You deserved so much better than that. Better than me."
She let out a little sigh before saying, "I forgive you."
Loke wore a weak smile. "I know I don't deserve it, but thank you. That, really means a lot to me."
"It's the truth. I actually forgave you a while back, I just, never thought I'd see you again."
"Same. This is seriously crazy."
It was at that time Natsu could hear them again, arms crossed over his chest as he rapped his fingers against his bicep, frustrated he had been made to wait. However, it was a hell of a lot better than leaving her alone with Loke. He didn't know their history, and Lucy had to be protected.
He wouldn't let anyone hurt her, not on his watch.
"So, did you date that girl afterwards?" Lucy asked, mildly curious, but mostly keeping him off the scent of her feelings for Natsu.
They would go away soon, they had to. Loke said it himself, Natsu saw her as just a friend, nothing more. There was no point in setting herself up for disappointment by imagining a chance of them being anything else.
Just friends. But hey, that wasn't so bad. Natsu was her best friend, the one who made her feel safe. Her feelings would fade. She just had to give it time.
"No way," Loke chuckled, pulling her away from her pesky thoughts. "She ditched me after you threw your ring at me."
Natsu furrowed his brows, piecing together what happened as he stayed silent, happy they were walking towards him.
"Serves you right," Lucy teased, her smile widening. "I'm glad it happened though."
"Seriously?"
She nodded. "I don't necessarily like how it happened or what it led to," she said, dark thoughts looming in the distance, but she kept them away for now. "But, we wouldn't have been happy married."
"Come on, it wasn't all bad?" Loke reasoned, causing her to nod.
"True, but we weren't in love, in love. More like, infatuated."
"I still care about you," Loke said, Lucy's eyes softening.
"I know, and I care about you, but be honest, our fathers definitely pushed us to stay together."
"Well," Loke trailed off before slowly nodding. "Yeah, okay yes. You're right, but we still had fun."
Lucy brightened a bit, thinking of the fond memories they shared, together and with their friends before the world ended. "Yes."
Natsu bit his inner cheek, wondering why his chest burned. Was something he ate? He only noticed the strange sensation when Lucy smiled so brightly at Loke. He dismissed the feeling, deciding he was done being on the sidelines.
Thankfully Lucy didn't try to stop Natsu from joining that time, her smile directed at him until she made eye contact, quickly averting her gaze as she said, "We should get ready for dinner. I'm sure Happy's dying to see you too."
Natsu furrowed his brows, cocking his head when she wouldn't look at him directly. It stung, Natsu wondering what happened to cause her to look so shy around him?
'Maybe her progress was messed up?'
But that theory made no sense. She was smiling and talking freely, even wearing clothes that showed more skin than Natsu had seen her wear in public, except for the day he brought her to Fairy Tail.
Something unsettled in his stomach, Natsu's frown deepening as he turned to walk with them. While he puzzled over that, he half-listened to Lucy and Loke talk, worry making its way onto his face.
"—surprised. You never told me you wanted to bake."
"I thought you might tell. You did like to tease me back then."
"It wasn't that bad," Lucy said, nudging him. "Besides, I would have kept that a secret if you asked."
"Probably, but I guess we'll never know."
"Ugh, you're so immature. Don't stick your tongue out at me Loke!"
"Don't be dramatic!"
"I am not being dramatic," Lucy insisted, swatting at Loke as he cackled.
"Yeah right! Says the girl who insisted on being called 'Princess' for a whole year!"
"Shut up! You're not remembering that right!"
Natsu's gut twisted when Loke jokingly said, "Whatever you say, Princess!"
He didn't know why it bothered him. 'It's probably because it's bothering Lucy, but...'
She looked amused with the teasing, dishing it back without hesitation.
Natsu didn't know what to think, huffing to himself because of the confusing emotions. The words 'third wheel' played in his mind, but he dismissed it.
'I'm just restless,' he decided, knowing they had a long journey back. He just needed to relax, get some food and a good night's sleep, then he would be back to normal.
Unfortunately for him, the day was far from over.
"Hey, can you go on ahead?" Lucy asked, nodding towards the school. "We'll be right behind you."
"Sure," Loke said, glancing at Natsu before settling his gaze on her again. He nodded once before turning around, picking up his pace to give them some privacy.
Lucy hung back, stepping in line with Natsu, who had slowed down a bit. She hadn't realized at first, too engrossed in her conversation with Loke, but when she looked for his presence, she was surprised to find him behind them.
She couldn't look him in the eyes, knowing she would surely blush. It wasn't fair he looked more attractive when he was thinking, his features hard, distant. She never preferred the 'bad boys', but the charmers hadn't proven to be a good match for her either.
Though, Natsu wasn't much of a bad boy. She didn't know what category he fit in. Then again, did he have to fit in anywhere? He was unique, talkative and loud, but also gentle and sweet when the occasion called for it. He was a man of many traits, and Lucy found herself drawn to him.
Natsu kept quiet for a moment, brows furrowed and lips pressed into a tight line. She thought he was upset she didn't let him join in the whole talk with Loke, but before she could ask, Natsu muttered, "So?"
Lucy kept her eyes planted on the ground ahead, pretending she was watching where she stepped. She swallowed before reaching over, grabbing Natsu's hand like he did to her earlier.
However, instead of urging him to move quicker, she merely squeezed as she said, "I didn't need that milkshake after all." A small smile played on her face as she released his hand, hoping he understood everything was okay on her end.
When he remained silent, Lucy started to worry. Was it like Natsu to mull over things? She didn't think so, yet they had been separated for two months. She had changed so much during that time. It was possible he did too.
Lucy opened her mouth to say something, surprised when she felt Natsu's warm hand grasp hers, squeezing once before not letting go.
"Good."
.
.
.
Before I start talking about the main focus of the chapter, anyone happy with the peek into what Gajeel and Juvia are up to? Wonder where they're heading? That will be the last little update on them until they're brought into the story as main characters, so yeah, just thought I'd let y'all know.
I really love establishing friendships/relationships so it's easier to do time skips later with things being more believable. Also, I'm kinda guilty of liking filler stuff, so fair warning, there will be filler here and there. If that's not your thing, feel free to skim so you get the gist of it. :)
What'd y'all think of Lucy and Loke's talk? I'm so in love with the idea of Lucy having so many close friends and unique relationships with each one. Loke will definitely not be barking up Lucy's tree again. She made it pretty clear. He had to try though. Who could resist a bombshell like Lucy? :P
Natsu's unsure what he's feeling. He knows he cares about Lucy (duh), but he can't understand why seeing her so carefree with someone else while she can't make eye contact with him bothers him so much. I'm looking forward to everything unfolding! I hope you are too! :D
Self love can be difficult, but it is so rewarding. I finally love myself and my body, and it's such a freeing and beautiful feeling. I actually had someone tell me they admired me because I was unapologetically me, and that really put it into words. Lucy's come a long way since arriving at Fairy Tail. She's learning to accept her body for what it looks like now and appreciate herself regardless of what anyone else thinks, which can be (like I said) difficult.
*Natsu and Laxus got motion sickness medication before making their journey back.
Up next, Chapter Fifty-Five: Table for nine
Thank you so much for your continued support! Shout out to those incredible people who reviewed last time: stranger1999, ottermadness, animagirl127lover, helloimsandy, Raquenzel, sonikastalker, Doginshoe, BeachBumBabe, 52dreamer52, Shonix13, ChoerryForPresident2020, Lovesmutbabe, Prick 'n Improper, Mandapandaa, MeteorWars, Perfect Memories, llendais, Meow Orbit, Hayitsmay363, FlameDragonHime, fairytailfanatic0703, Tabasco-Devil, ElementalMiko12, alexmalik15, randommess1, finabat, monkeyd. celia, Chibi-Umaru, aly2. 0, valerioux, shootingstarssel, Screeney, Lodemai04, Poprock2363, Floreareginei, SistershoOk, Smarty, uwu, Senowica, Guest, Guest, Guest, Reader, SheWhoLeavesCrappyReviews, Dezez, TerraBell, Yaknova, Crystaliine, Lovetoreadff, car213, mehshellgarery, sakshishetty3003, sthokat, CathJorda, XxxNaxxxx, Sam, Lycamall, galaxy for your moon, annegirl13(x2), Stellar Spirit Mage, Xfangirl123X(x2), spooklord, Sakura2bloom(x2), lovelyleveret, Kill All Regret None, doboome, Evah33, reindeerpoop, Shugo charaa, dareaderreads, Duchixx, Guest, Smartyul, Amy's journal, sarahelle04, Dabbingangel, Taylor-pogo, Ryu of Konoha, positive vibes only, Guest, Guest, Mara fray(x2), Guest, and Guest!
Y'all seriously blew my fucking mind! Thank you so much for reading and commenting and sharing your thoughts! AHHH! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter or any theories you might have? :)