Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima.

Depend: verb - rely on.

He always had prided himself on being dependable. It was one of the reasons he strove so hard to join the magic council and rise through the ranks. There were many who relied on him, both in his professional life and personal. So, why was he now being stared at with suspicion? It wasn't so hard to believe that he was being genuine and honest about offering a hand in aide? It bothered him as those normally friendly, cinnamon brown eyes stared back, or rather, up at him.

Of course, he was not on the best of terms with her guild, let alone her team. But that was not the here and now. And in an odd, roundabout way, it was his fault she was in this situation, to begin with. Which really, he couldn't blame her for being suspicious of his intent. Not that it was helping matters and only prolonging the issue at hand. Leaving her to get someone else to help him was not an option. His mind had already factored in the many possibilities of this situation getting worse.

Sighing as he looked down at Lucy, who was curled up in a small ball on a barely there ledge, Lahar wiggled his hand at her as he spoke, "Please, Lucy just take my hand. I will pull you up."

The way she looked at his hand and back at him told him she was still uncertain. Heck, he was wondering why she didn't even have her keys on her, to begin with. For a Celestial Mage to not be carrying their Keys was a serious thing. Giving his head a quick shake to dismiss that train of thought, he needed to get her up to the solid ground first.

"Lucy, please, I am not leaving to get someone else to pull you up. This is my fault, I take responsibility for it. But for all that is right, just grab my hand and allow me to help you. Depend on me, just this once," he said, hearing the desperation in his own voice.

The way her eyes widened ever so slightly in surprise before he felt her small hands grab his hand and wrist, Lahar crawled backward, planting his feet as firmly as possible as he started to haul her up. It took a bit of effort, glad that she was lighter than she appeared, as he got her arms over the edge. Soon enough her body followed suit until it was lying before him on the cold, wet, rain-soaked ground.

Sitting back on his butt, not caring if it was being stained by the grass and mud, he looked at the woman before him. Taking in her appearance for the first time. She was not in her normal, revealing attire. No, she was wearing a rather forms fitting shirt, loose, boot cut jeans, and tennis shoes. All of which, due to the rain, was clinging to her body, in a more revealing manner than what she normally wore, or didn't.

Raising an eyebrow at what he was seeing, he saw Lucy shift and roll onto her side and look at him. Her gaze was assessing him in a very calm and calculated manner. Showing her intelligence, an aspect of her that he actually respected her for, though he wondered about it at times with the guild she joined and the team she was on.

The moment Lucy righted herself, Lahar stiffened just a little bit. Her hair, now partially coated in mud, in her face and hiding it as she just sat there for a few seconds. Then before he knew it, he was being hugged by the woman. A soft sob coming from her as she broke down. All the stress, emotions from what just happened finally catching up with her. Lahar felt something inside him feel as if it was breaking as he wrapped his arms around her and patted her back, making a soft shushing sound.

He guessed, even in such an awkward moment, that this was another part of being depended on.