For the love of Nalu

Chapter 16

Theme: Gone Away

Lucy sat on her soft bed staring out the window and into the moonless night sky. A stray tear fell from her deep brown eyes. Her arms were wrapped securely around her knees. She had known that this day would come eventually, that there was no avoiding it. But she still found herself surprised and most importantly, hurt. Sitting all alone in her dark room gave her plenty of time to think things over. To think about how she truly feels.

She had just recently come to terms with the way she felt for her partner. The realization came to her in the most inopportune of times. During a battle, while Natsu was standing there and protecting her. She watched as the blood ran down his face, saw how his clothes were torn and beyond the point of repair. She watched as he panted heavily and sweat covered his brow. His left eye was held shut from the blood running into it.

Lucy's chest ached as she watched him, hating the feeling from him getting so badly hurt because she couldn't fight the person off on her own. He had jumped in front of Lucy and had taken the attack head on. She screamed as she watched him fall to his knee and sat there staring at the mage in front of them. Tears clouded Lucy's eyes as she watched on in horror.

It was at that moment when she had realized just how much she truly cared for the dragon slayer. That he meant so much more that she could have ever imagined. She didn't think it was possible to have such deep feelings for anyone, let alone her best friend. The idea was simply crazy. Absurd even. But that didn't make it any less true. Each day that passed since then she found herself falling even more in love with him. Her feelings only growing and at a much faster rate than before.

It seems that once she realized her love for the pink haired man, that some sort of damn had broke. As if all the emotions that were once held back are now setting themselves free causing Lucy to not even be able to look at her best friend, let alone speak with him like she normally would. At each attempt she found herself flustered with a steady heat rising to her cheeks.

Oh how she wished that she had never realized her feelings. At least not so soon. She wanted to enjoy more time with him, as they were. Talking and messing around as best friends. Not as someone with unrequited feelings for the dragon slayer who only views her for what she is. As his best friend, his partner.

She thought back to when he told her. When he announced his decision to leave and go in search for his foster father. Most of the guild wished him luck, not surprised that it was going to happen. Mirajane was surprised though, she was convinced that Natsu wouldn't be able to leave Lucy like that. She was certain that the dragon slayer held feelings for her and that Lucy returned them but it was obvious that neither realized it yet. Either that or they weren't saying anything.

She had been secretly routing for team Nalu since the very beginning. Her and Cana had even started taking bets on how long it would take them. But she never even thought to add this into the equation. Never thought that Natsu would leave her. After Natsu made the announcement, both Cana and Mirajane looked towards the blond beauty sitting at the bar not far from them. Her eyes clouded with the tears that she refused to shed. Or at least tried not to.

Now sitting here in her apartment, she knew that she didn't have much more time with him. That she should go to him and spend her last moments with her precious friend. The one that she wished could be more than that. She debated on telling him how she felt. Thinking that maybe if he knew then he wouldn't leave. Or that he would take her with him. But something told her that he wouldn't, even if he knew.

She wasn't sure what she wanted to do. Tell him or not, it wasn't something that she could figure out. Maybe it was her fear of rejection that hindered her. She wasn't told of how long he would be gone for. It could be weeks, months or maybe even years. She couldn't imagine not seeing him for such a long time. Even weeks seemed devastating to her.

She didn't like the fact that Natsu hadn't told her alone. He had waited to tell her at the same time that he told the rest of the guild. And to her that was a sign that said she meant nothing more to him then his other friends. She was just another one of his nakama. It was a hard thing to swallow. To know that the one you love will never return your feelings.

Lucy stood up, suddenly finding her throat incredibly dry. She walked into the kitchen a poured herself a drink. After putting the empty glass into the sink, she walked back towards her bedroom, dragging her feet the whole way. Every time she enters her room, she finds herself hoping he would be there. It had become a habit, coming home to him there. It was something that she actually enjoyed now. She would still continue her act, as best she could, and scold him for breaking in but something told Lucy that he knew there was a difference.

Just how much did he realize though? Was he actually able to figure out her feelings for him, is that why he is leaving. Maybe he doesn't want things to be awkward between them. Give her time to move on. She giggled lightly when she thought of that. Natsu was too dense to be able to notice such things. She pushed her door open to see the very man who her heart beats for, sitting on her bed.

"Yo, Luce!"

He said it like it was any other day. As if he wasn't leaving town, leaving the guild and leaving her. Does he not realize the pain that his departure would cause?

"Natsu...what are you doing here?" She asked, her tone was low, full of the sorrow she was currently feeling. She felt like Natsu was betraying her. Leaving her after all that they have been through. Why wouldn't he ask her to go? They were partners, they did everything together.

"What? I can't say goodbye to my best friend?" Best friend. Of course. Why would she ever believe he could possibly think of her as something more? Maybe she let Mira's words get to her. All the times she mentioned about Natsu having feelings for his blond companion. Or maybe it was the fact that she wished for it to be so with all her heart.

"Sorry, I guess I should have realized." She took a seat in front of her desk, not wanting to get too close. She felt that if she did, she wouldn't be able to keep her composure.

"Everyone at the guild has said it...except you." She knew what he said was true, but she couldn't bring herself to say those simple words. Simple words yet they held a very deep meaning. She felt that if she were to say it, that there was no turning back. As if she would lose him forever. Her head lowered for a moment as she tried to put on the best smile she could manage. Once she achieved this, she looked back up at him.

"Goodbye Natsu, and good luck." Natsu's eyes widened when he noticed the tears forming. He scurried off her bed and over towards her but before he got to her she quickly spun around in the chair and faced away from him. No, she couldn't handle this. She felt his strong, warm arms wrap around her, holding her from behind.

"It's not forever Luce. I'll be back, I promise." No matter how much she wanted to believe those words, she just couldn't. She didn't want to get her hopes up for them to be crushed later on. A sob escaped her lips before she brought her hands up and covered her face. She didn't want his last image of her to be a crying one. "Lucy, I will definitely come back. There is something that I want to do once I return. And that something is enough to keep me going. But I need to do this first, clear up the past before I can move on with the future."

Lucy sat there, still crying into her hands but she had heard him. She had no idea what he was saying, as far as she knew, the only plan Natsu ever truly had for the future was to find Igneel. So what else could he be talking about? He spun the chair around to face him and pulled her hands away. Her eyes remained on the floor, not willing to look at him.

"Lucy, look at me." She hesitantly moved her brown eyes to his, the tears still shined in them. "When I return, there is something important that I need to tell you. But I can only say it once this is over. Trust me, please, and wait for me."

His hand cupped her chin and forced her to stay facing him. His eyes held something in them that she had never seen before. Something warm that made her believe him. She nodded, her tears only increasing in volume. He kissed her gently upon her forehead before backing up.

"Will you wait for me?" His eyes never left hers, a serious expression laid upon his face. Once she nodded again, he smiled and walked towards the window. He turned once more to face her, his hand still on the edge of the window. "Good, because I don't want to have to beat some guys ass who tries to take my girl."

With that that, he jumped out, leaving behind the shocked blond. She raced to the window to see his retreating form. She smiled lightly as she watched the love of her life disappear. She would wait for him, no matter how long he took. Even if she had to wait for the rest of her life, he was worth it.

"Goodbye Natsu. I love you." The pink haired man running down the road smirked to himself.

"I love you too Lucy."

A/N: Well here is another one for you all! I really hope you like it. The next theme shall be...drum roll please...'Vacation'. What do you think will happen next?

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