NaLu Week: Day 4: Promise
Lucy felt numb; it was like she was just there, not exactly alive but not exactly dead. Everyone around seemed swept up in different emotions. Mixtures of anger, sadness, fear and even betrayal seemed to hang in the air. In front of her was Natsu, but he wasn't exactly Natsu anymore, he was E.N.D. Natsu had a look of fear on his face as he listened to what his father was telling him. Lucy wanted to listen, she really did. But she couldn't move, couldn't think, couldn't breathe.
Igneel turned to her and her guild mates, Lucy willed herself to listen to what he had to say in hopes it would bring her some relief. "I will need to take Natsu away to somewhere recluse. The power that has infected him is out of his control. But with training he may be able to suppress it to some extent. Natsu is a danger to any human at the moment; I must take him away soon. But I'm not heartless so as such I will let there be goodbyes to anyone who wishes for one."
Igneel was taking Natsu away from them, from her. All because he had gained powers that he didn't want. Lucy had learned a long time ago that the world was not kind. But today she was learning just how cruel it could be. She looked over at Natsu to see tears streaming down his face, she knew her's probably looked the same. When Natsu looked at her she felt her heart break even more. Even though she could see the fear and worry in his eyes he tried to send her a reassuring smile. But it was nothing compared to his sunny normal one.
She then began to watch as people began to break from their little crowd to go talk to him and soon people began to whittle away, walking back in the direction of the guilds ruins until she was the only one left. All she wanted to do was run to sling her arms around him and beg him not to go, or to at least take her with him. But she was rooted in her spot and he seemed to understand that, after saying something to his dad he began to walk over to her.
"Lucy" he began before pausing for a few seconds "Mavis you're gonna be the hardest to say goodbye to. You mean so much to mean and I really don't want to leave you, but I can't risk your life and our nakama because of my wants. So I guess this is goodbye, at least for a little while."
Fearing that he was about to turn around and leave her forever she grabbed his arm and choked out "Please Natsu don't leave me. I know you can't stay but at least take me with you."
"Luce, I can't risk your life. You mean too much to me, this is for the best."
"You mean a lot to me too you idot. I lost Aquarius but I'm not gonna lose you to, not on the same day, not ever."
She heard him take a deep breath before he said "Luce this isn't goodbye forever, just for now. I promise I'll come back and when I do I'll stay with you for good."
"You promise" she pleaded "Are you sure I can't come with you?"
"I want you to come but for your own safety you need to stay here, I promise I'll come back."
"I'm gonna miss you, you big idot."
"I'm gonna miss you to weirdo" he said before wrapping his arms around of her and pulled her in his warm embrace. She felt the tears streaming down her face again as she pressed her face into his chest, memorizing his scent in hopes that it would stay with her forever. When they broke apart he began to unwind his scarf before wrapping it around Lucy's neck.
"Natsu" she breathed.
"Keep this safe for me until I return Luce" he said to her before he began to back slowly away from her. What Lucy did next was based purely off rash decision and pure instincts. She grabbed his arm and pulled him down to her. The kiss lasted only a few seconds and portrayed nothing more that her sadness of letting him go.
As she watched him and his father until they disappeared into the horizon she decided that she would wait an eternity for him because Natsu never breaks his promises.