Supply and demand, yadda yadda. A full day ahead of schedule because you guys seem to like this. On a side note, however. I'm not writing this for you or the Fairy Tail community. The reason I write fan fiction is because I want to explore, in depth, the sides of games and anime we don't get to see. Call it self-satisfaction (insert joke about masturbation here), but I like seeing something concrete instead of keeping the idea or concept in my head, left to gather proverbial dust. On that affect, if you don't like the story or my ships, frankly, you can suck it.

Flame on, bitches.


He didn't have a destination in mind; he just wanted to run, to escape the looks he'd seen on their faces. It was looks like those he'd desperately wanted to avoid; the looks of sadness and pity on faces belonging to those important to him.

He'd never wanted them to find out what was going on inside his head; he'd promised himself he would keep that part of his personality locked away deep within his psyche.

Obviously, that had failed, what with all of Fairy Tail taking notice of his more-than-strange behavior. But especially Erza, Lucy, and Gray. He never wanted them to find out, as they were the most important people in his life, and he never wanted to hurt or burden them with his own problems.

But they had. They'd found out. And now that they had…he didn't know what to do. He sure as hell couldn't confront them, not after they'd discovered his secret. What was he supposed to say after all that? 'Sorry?' As if that would actually work. Still, he wished he could have just told them when he had started feeling like this, some months ago following the Laxus incident.

Wrapped in bandages alongside Gajeel, Natsu steamed. He'd fought one of the most powerful wizards in the guild to a draw, saved countless lives (with the help of some friends,) and yet…not one word of thanks. Not a pat on the back, a congratulatory high five, or even a 'thank you.' The stupid guild had just gone on with their day, preparing for the parade as though nothing had happened.

And that pissed him off. It made him feel underappreciated, taken for granted, even. It was as if everybody just expected him to take care of their messes, to solve the guilds' big problems as though he was some sort of ex-machina for the guild to use whenever they felt like it.

Additionally, it had been that day when he felt the first spike of ice settle in his heart – a lance of sadness that found home in his chest and refused to be evicted. Of course, that seed only grew the more time he spent alone, alone with his own thoughts. He would often find time in the library to be alone with nothing but books, thinking about his miserable excuse for a life.

He could barely handle himself in a fight, winning a majority on sheer luck alone.

He had no family in his life – his friends didn't count in his heart.

He was alone despite being surrounded by people he once counted as friends, but now only saw them as grey faces – simple slates with whatever Natsu was feeling chiseled into them – 'Weak.' 'Worthless.' 'Pathetic.' The list went on, it grew and grew until that's all Natsu could really see; his reflected failures , the total and unyielding absoluteness he'd come to describe as hopelessness.

He didn't know if this was some sort of sick joke being played on him by Kami or whatever fucked up deity did this for fun, but one thing was for sure – he wanted it to stop. He wanted to stop seeing those faces, the pity flickering behind the smile. He wanted to stop feeling broken, to stop feeling useless as a person. He wanted his mind to go back to normal; he wanted to be happy as he knew he could be – but this…this thing, it refused to allow it. It instead relegated him to the pit of loss and despair, laughing in his face as he made any effort to climb free, only making the pit deeper and deeper.

It felt like each time this happened, the light got further and further away.

Question is…what would happen when he could no longer see that light?

The foursome consisting of Gray, Lucy, Erza, and Happy, meanwhile, were still desperately searching for their hurting friend. They wanted to reach him before he did something irrational, and it was that fear that drove their feet forward, checking down every possible alleyway, street, and shop. It wasn't until they coincidentally met up at the town center, their eyes still searching around them for any sign of their friend the Salamander.

"Lucy, Gray…don't tell me you checked everywhere?" Erza couldn't hide the desperation in her voice, but Gray only nodded.

"I checked everywhere. The guild hall, every street I could, even the church where he fought Laxus. Nothing."

Turning her eyes to Lucy, the blonde nodded as well, sadness evident in her voice. "I…I don't know where he could have gone is so little time. It's…it's almost like he disappeared."

Understandably irked, Erza issued new orders. "Gray, check as far as you can in the forest. Lucy, return to Natsu's home in case he decides to show up there. Happy, you go with her."

Gray spoke up. "And what about you, Erza?"

There was a seriousness in her voice that made those present recognize she wasn't to be disobeyed. "I'll keep looking in the city. If you find him, be very careful with your words. You don't want to set him off again."

Nodding their assent, the three took off for their assigned positions, leaving Erza to wonder and worry where her friend was. "…Oh, please be safe, Natsu."


His feet carried him to a part of town he didn't recognize, and he figured he could be somewhat alone while he was here. It would give him time to think, observe, and wonder…

A church. An open spire, too. Good a place as any to have some time alone, and if he so decided…throw himself off of it. He knew that he wouldn't be able to survive the sixty foot plunge from the top, and if he died, he wanted it to be at his own hand, under his control.

A running start and a few hops later, Natsu took his rest against one of the barriers, securely under the canopy. He slid down and seated himself on the cool concrete, one leg extended and the other tucked up, his arm resting on the propped one. Like this, he felt comfortable and was by himself, so it just gave him time to think. A dangerous thing for one as depressed as Natsu, and yet…

The dark was comforting; the loneliness warm. So opposite how he'd once felt, all Natsu wanted was to find comfort, and with the ground calling his name, he took his chance.

Standing up from the dirt covered floor, he placed one foot on the simple barrier, and after taking a final look at the world he'd once loved, pushed off.


"NATSU! NATSU!"

Erza…that was Erza's voice. What was she doing, yelling his name as though he was dying? All he was doing was taking an early exit; he didn't think it a big deal. After all, he…he just wanted everything to stop.

Erza, on the other hand, wouldn't let that happen.

After giving her orders, she'd taken off for the less-explored side of the city, in the small hope that he'd gone there. As she arrived, however, she watched as Natsu pushed off of a rail and vaulted his body over and, let himself fall numbly, as though he didn't care.

Acting quickly, Erza made use of her enhanced speed and took off like a rocket to his falling body, timing her jump just so she collided with him midair. She tucked her arms under his legs and back, so that they came crashing to the ground together, both not much worse for wear.

Physically, that is.

Looking up at his savior, he was surprised to see Erza's eyes filled with tears that were starting to spill over and onto her cheeks. Words failed them both as Natsu's decisions came careening back to him, and for the first time in three years, he cried.

Tears started falling from his own face as he pulled himself upright, only to embrace his friend in a tight hug, hoping that he could convey everything he'd failed to thus far.

Her response was to tighten her embrace as he sobbed and her own tears dripped, quietly blaming, and vowing to herself that she'd never let him suffer like this again – no matter what that entailed.

Together, they sat in the fading daylight, in the very same spot they'd landed, Erza's grip still comfortingly tight around her friend and ally, her own words barely coming through.

"N…Natsu…please don't…don't leave me ever again…"


Hey, so how was that? Hints of Natsu x Erza, nudgenudge winkwink. Trying to decide what next chapters' pairing should be: NaLu or NErza? So, to hell with it. You can guys can decide – makes my job a bit easier. "Winning" pair will get the naughty naughty scene I mentioned previously, as well as become the "main non-main" romantic pairing for the rest of the fanfic.

Chapter five out by 7/23.