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Eight Wish:
Stay With Me

"It's time to go home, Lucy".

Natsu ran outside.

"Where would Lucy go at a time like this?" he thought as he ran to the nearest place among his list. Really, there are many. She could have gone to some library, back to town, the lake where she had made some friends was, or some other place he doesn't know. But the one high on his list right now was the "Sick House" where Romeo stayed for the night.

Sure enough, there was a great blast of light like lightning strike on the trees where he was planning to go to.

His eyes widened. Why was this feeling so familiar?

.

Lucy was aware that she was losing.

She had escaped the tricky celestial by using a light spell that would bind him. But that won't last for long. She ran for the door and soared in the night air. She boost her speed, she got to get away as far as possible. She had not expected the repercussion of using such a simple spell though.

Her eyes widened as she felt her spirit energy trembled and dissipated against the world's flow. She had not even gotten a mile when she fell to the ground with a loud thud.

"W-What?" she looked at her hands as she got up. Her energy disappeared quickly, like when you plug out the drain of a sink. She tried to gather her energy again but it wasn't even enough to lift her in the air. It felt like her power was being sucked out of her.

'Is this what it's like to not have a regulator?'

She felt tired already. Not to mention, the spell she had cast had broken out earlier than she had thought it would. Unsteadily, she stood up and began to run to the shadows of the trees. Loki would be on her tails now.

She had not expected that he would find her fast when she hadn't even done anything yet. She hadn't fulfilled her promise yet. She can't go home. Why can't he accept that?

Lucy thought that was very unfair.

"Lucy! Don't run anymore! I got to take you back!"

Loki had called her as he flew among the trees. He had caught up to her already. She held the sealing cloak closer in hope that it would hide her, but now that she thought of it, it was probably in vain. He gave her this cloak. And Loki is notorious for putting all charms and curses on all his items.

She then threw it away, and it hanged on the tree branch. She cast a concealing spell of her own, but with her powers now, she wasn't sure if it was even working.

The decoy seemed effective as he stopped by on the tree and saw the cloak. He picked it up. He stared at it for a moment before he continued to chase for her, following the faint trail of her spirit energy that seemed to be vanishing.

.

.

Heart hammering on her chest, as the thought of being caught filled her head with anxiousness and fear, she continued to run. She doesn't know where she could stop and hide. She knew that Loki was on her trail now and won't be able to escape. Nonetheless, she continued to run in the forest, hoping against reality that she would lose him somehow . . . that she would get away . . .

Reality was not so lenient.

A blur of darkness swift passed above and landed right in front of her, blocking her way forward. She backed away from him. Loki stood casually, but his domineering aura was still present. He put his hands on his pockets. He was wearing a black suit with tiger pattern for his inner shirt. His eyes were hidden in the glint of his glasses from the moonlight.

"Loki, let me go. I won't go with you" she told him as she went into a battle stance and tried to gather energy once more in a desperate attempt.

Seeing the gesture on her body, he sighed. He saw how much ethernano she has left.

"Give it up" he told her as he walked closer. "You can't fight me. You don't have control of your powers and now you're drained. You can't even fly. Don't make me force you to come here".

"No!" she said backing away from him. "Why don't you understand? I made a promise. If I go back, you would close the gates and I won't be able to return here. Please, I'm a celestial. I can't break my vow. Why are you so against me staying here on earth?"

"Earth is dangerous! You might die! Please, Lucy. Listen to me! It's fine if you go back now. It's not like you remember, right? Not to mention, that human had forgotten it too. It's fine if both parties agreed not to withhold it! You're still a celestial through and through! No matter what happens!" he told her.

"NO! LET GO!" she yelled at him as he grabbed her wrist. She tried to get away but his hold was firm and won't let go. He doesn't plan on letting her go ever again.

But that wasn't what happened.

A figure had lunged after him, forcing him to let go of Lucy as he stepped back and dodged the punch that aimed for his face. He glared at the man that interfered on his plan. "You . . ."

"Hey creep, don't you see that she doesn't want to? A man won't force a girl" the pink haired lad told him, reciprocating his glare.

"Natsu!"

Lucy smiled in relief as the boy stood protectively in front of her. The sight of his back that gives off a sense of reassurance . . .

It had reminded her of another memory.

"Stop right there!" the child stood with his back to her, protecting the blonde girl from whatever sort of danger she was facing.

Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time for her to recollect the memories as she was brought back to the present time by Loki's voice.

"You . . . you're just a human! Don't dare lecture me on my expertise! Besides, you don't even know the situation! You're making me sound like a villain or some jerk thug that's forcing a girl!" he yelled at him, tick marks of irritation were visible on his face.

"Well, it definitely looks like it. Besides, she obviously doesn't want to go with you. I think that's more than enough" Natsu shot back.

"Ugh!" Loki couldn't deny that, his actions and her reaction were indicating such. But it's not like he was doing this for his own selfish reason!

"She got to go home. She's already in enough trouble for sneaking out but that won't compare to what will happen if she stayed here any longer. This is for her own sake, that I promise you. If you really care, you'll let her come with me" he explained.

Natsu turned to her. "Lucy, why did you suddenly leave?" he asked in a stern voice. She looked at him, "I told you already! I have to meet someone and they won't le –"

"That's not what I meant. I mean, leaving by just telling Happy. Why didn't you come to me?" he asked, facing her.

"O-oh!" Understanding came to Lucy. She looked down in a regretful manner. "I'm sorry. I knew Loki would chase me so I have to run as soon as possible" she told him.

He turned back to the opponent in front of him, accepting her apology was enough. "Well, I'll take it that you don't want to go back. Then in that case, you should stay with me" he said as he pushed her further to his back with his arm.

"Eh?"

He grinned. "You wish to stay right? Then stay with me, I'll protect you!"

Her eyes widened at him. There was a small fluttering in her chest, touched by his words. She wanted to trust on it, to rely on him. He was facing off against a celestial, true, but those simple words made her feel safe. No matter how absurd the thought was.

However, it was Loki who first called him on that.

"You, a human? You don't know what you're talking about. Humans are known as fickle creatures that don't follow on their words, you expect that to be trusted? Their actions are easily swayed by their emotions and desires. That careless promise is a proof of that. You don't even know who you're fighting with" he looked at him coldly.

"So what? I said I'll protect her, so I'll do it. And it doesn't matter who you are, I won't let you take away my friend" he told him.

Loki regarded him. Being a master of lies and deception, he knew when a person was fooling or talking halfheartedly by reading their expression. Looking at his eyes, he saw his stubborn determination. He was seriously thinking of fighting him.

He sighed and scratched his head frustratingly. He knew that he have to fight this guy if he wanted to get to her. The problem was he wasn't in the mood for fighting. He just really wanted to get her out of here as soon as possible. Not to mention, he doesn't want to be further out of Lucy's good books, considering that beating up her first friend on earth would just make her hate him.

So he turned to her instead. "Lucy, he's asking for a fight. Don't make me force my hand on this. You know a mere human can't stand to a celestial. Just come quietly and everything will end peacefully."

She bit her lip, knowing what he said was true. He could easily push pass Natsu and force her home. He would just get beaten up for the inevitable. Her struggle was futile.

If that was the case, rather than having her friend get hurt she would rather give up.

She took a hesitant step forward but . . .

Natsu put his arm up protectively, barring her from walking towards him. "Lucy, you don't have to go if you don't want to."

"Don't interfere here, human! This is none of your concern!"

"She said she doesn't want to! I'll protect her wish!"

"You're fighting against a celestial!"

"I said I don't care!"

Lucy looked at him.

Why? He was just a human yet he was fearlessly facing against a god for her sake.

"Because we're friends."

She could imagine him say that. This man . . . even though he has no chance against him, even though he had no powers . . . he chose to stand beside her. He said he would protect her wish.

Maybe this was one of human traits that she had always admired. To stand against all odds, to protect someone.

She can't find words to express how grateful she was. She wanted to repay him. She wanted to stay. However, against Loki, they stand no chance . . .

Unless . . .

Natsu was facing against the celestial creep. Cold sweat ran from his temple and to his chin. He won't say it out loud but he knew just how careless his words were, there was a huge mismatch in power. He felt it. The creepy guy was overflowing with an oppressive aura that was crushing him to the ground. He doesn't show it on his face but there was actually fear in his stomach that was telling him that he'll be crushed if he doesn't move away.

But he stood his ground.

He meant what he said and he was going to do it. Even if he's life is on the line. He does what he said and what he think was right. That was actually one of the few good qualities that he has and doesn't plan to change it. So instead of listening to his instinctive fear, he listened to his ego that was saying he could beat anyone up if it's for his friends. He'll smash this creep's head on the ground.

He knew what he was doing was absurd, stupid even. But he really just wanted to make sure that she would stay with him. Why would he go so far for a girl he just met? He wasn't sure. All he could think up was because she became important to him, he made a promise with Happy, and she needed help.

Friends would help each other, right?

They were still on a stand-off, watching each other on who would make the first move.

For some reason, the man who could easily push him off aside and grab Lucy, stood there in thought. There was a reluctant look on his face as he looked worriedly (with a trace of fear?) on the girl behind him. Natsu doesn't plan on making the first move though. He would drag his on for as long as possible.

He was thinking of other ways to make him leave when Lucy called behind him.

He turned to her.

She was looking at him with her soft hazel eyes as if searching, confirming for something. "You'll help me with my wish, right? No matter what happens?"

"H-Huh? Ah, yes" he said. He suddenly lost focus and couldn't help but be drowned on the brown orbs that was staring intently at him. "I will help you with your wish too, so . . ."

There's only one way to ensure her stay on earth that even a celestial won't be able to cut.

He was suddenly surprised at how close she was. She leaned closer to him. She put her hands on both his shoulders. "I'll stay with you, so please stay with me too."

He want to protect her wish . . . she want to help with his. It is an equivalent exchange to form the unbreakable bond.

Loki's eyes widened as he realized what she was about to do. "No . . ."

With this, she'll be bound to earth, bound to him, until the conditions were met.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as she looked at him with a determined expression.

"Let's form a contract."

She told the bewildered Natsu. He realized that the distance of their faces was too close. She was a breath away. Under the moonlight, she seemed to be glowing. Unable to tear away from her captivating eyes, he could only look in surprise as her own eyes closed, fluttering those long eyelashes. Her cheeks were a dash of rosy pink as her soft pink lips leaned closer to his own.

. . . * . . .

End of chapter }:D

Shall the kiss continue . . . or not?