prompt forty four: seeing red
rate: T for Teens and Up
Forty four out of one hundred.
"Red is the great clarifier - bright and revealing. I can't imagine becoming bored with red - it would be like becoming bored with the person you love." - Diana Vreeland
x
.
Well, things have been better and while she was going down a very steep slope of bad luck and shit days, Lucy continued to try and survive as best as she could.
After finding out the love of her life was lying to her the entire time they were dating, her world has started to crumble at her very feet. She would have never thought someone like him would do that to her but that's what she gets for dating a man of his status. Not only was he part of a supposedly mafia gang, he was ruthless in the streets and in person. Her friends did warn her to be careful since they always got a lot of attention and traveled often but she didn't care to listen to their warnings since she was so head over heels.
He seemed like he was too considering how loving he was and how he always wanted to be around her.
But the sickening fact that he merely dated her all because of some fucking dare left a bitter taste in her mouth and she had yet to see him since she screamed at him about how she didn't ever want to see him again.
She was kind of surprised he abided by her wish but she did kind of scream and hit him and then kicked him out of her apartment without trying to hear his side.
But after fighting with herself that she didn't need to hear his side and the facts were still there, she decided she had to move on from this heartbreak. Even if it felt like her world was crumbling and she had no desire to take care of herself, she pushed forward in the sense that she couldn't let a man of all things stop her from living her life.
She'll move on eventually and the heartache would just be a painful memory for her years down the road.
Now three weeks later and still no sight of her ex-boyfriend, Lucy had returned back to work where she sat at her favorite cafe to finish up her manuscript for her editor. She happened to be one of the best selling authors with her action fantasy novels and now as she was looking for a new type of genre to write about, her romance novel had been on hold ever since her break up.
How can someone write about romance when all they were thinking was the opposite? She's been having writer's block for way too long and she had to submit this by the end of the week but she was still lacking at least twenty thousand words.
The blonde author groaned into her hands as she scrubbed at her face, her eyes starting to burn from the blue light of her laptop while her mind was too much in a scramble to get it to focus. She's already had three cups of coffee and that wasn't including the one she made this morning prior. Her body was shaking with the excessive caffeine she had drank and while normally when she came to this cafe she was able to get surges of inspiration but today seems like it was matching her energy.
Running her hands through her hair to distract herself, Lucy let out a sigh while closing her eyes. Everytime she closed her eyes she would just see that stupid grin and hear his boisterous laughter. It irritated her that she was still stuck in such a position that made her lose focus because of a fucking guy.
Why couldn't she just switch off this feeling so she could just move on with her life? She wanted to but her heart and mind protested so loudly it drove her even crazier than usual.
Maybe she needed to go out on a date with someone to forget about her ex. Maybe then her feelings would dissolve and she would actually be able to find someone who wasn't lowkey a criminal.
She started to brainstorm ideas of where she could possibly find someone to get them to ask her out on a date and she was half tempted to text the girls to see if they wanted to go out tonight but stopped when she realized someone was walking right up to her.
She blinked stupid at the bashful man with chestnut colored hair and a nervous smile to his face. She barely heard a word he was saying but understood that his name was Dan and he thought she was really pretty. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes but gave him a polite smile anyways. Nothing she hasn't experienced before but she hadn't had this kind of treatment in a while. Not since—
And suddenly she beamed and turned right to Dan who was still babbling about something and she let out a giggle to show him she was interested.
This seemed to make him perk up and find a bit more confidence as he stepped closer and asked her for her name.
After a little bit of soft flirting and exchanging information, Lucy was delighted to see she had scored herself a date tonight. Her plan was working accordingly and rather fast but nonetheless she was happy to see she was putting her foot through the door again.
She was to meet him for some dinner and drinks around seven and seeing how the time was three, Lucy began to pack up her things to head home and get ready for her evening. She hadn't dressed up to go out on a date in ages and while her prospect wasn't someone she was naturally attracted to, she thought why the hell not? He was a fresh face and someone she could get to know. Who knows? Maybe he wouldn't be a lying asshole who only dated her because of a stupid fucking bet.
Yes, she was still bitter about that.
And yes, she was being petty by going out with a new guy three weeks after she dumped her lying ex but so fucking what?
Lucy found herself humming to herself happily as she came back home and dropped her belongings on the entry table. The once lively apartment she used to love coming home to was dead silent and dark like her emotions. The memories of her and her lover sitting on the couch watching the newest movies and shows. How he used to hold her so gingerly while running his fingers through her long blonde hair. How he used to whisper sweet nothings in her ear and or how he would kiss her so tenderly her entire body felt like it was melting.
She missed him. So damn much and she hated the fact that they had to come to this. She hated that he didn't even try to reach out and explain himself (even though she told him she didn't want to hear it but fucking Christ he should be fighting for her!). She hated that she loved him so much for him to break her heart. She hated how much she saw of him whenever and wherever she was.
Willing herself to not cry about this any longer, she went right to her bedroom to start her shower.
Getting ready didn't take as long as she thought it would and she was a bit surprised to see for once she didn't worry so much about the small details. Was it because she wasn't very excited or expecting anything from this date? Dan may be easy on the eyes but she truly didn't find anything about him interesting. She zoned out the majority of the time and she would be lying if she heard anything beside his name.
Normally before she would go out on blind dates, she would be fussing for the entire day about what she would wear and how she could act to not seem like the batshit woman she was. And normally she would be nervous about going out on a date but she didn't feel anything.
Nothing but that emptiness she had been feeling for the last two weeks and it frustrated her that she continued to feel like this shell of a person because of one fucking person.
She tried to convince herself that this was for the better. That Dan may be able to treat her how she always wanted to be treated and maybe he could be the man of her dreams if she tried hard enough. Her ex certainly was not someone she thought would be the man of her dreams but he helped her discover a lot of stuff about her she didn't know.
So was she still into these Prince Charming type of men or was someone who enjoyed the thrill of danger and adventure?
By the time she had shown up to the date, Lucy felt her nerves shaking. Not because of her date but more so that she hoped Dan could be the man she wished he could be. So she didn't have to go through this exhausting process of men rotating in and out of her life until she got lucky enough to find someone again. But the pressure of the dating world was brutal and as much as she felt like she wasn't ready to be jumping into another man's arms, she was proud of herself for making this first step.
Maybe this date could kick start her love life once again and she would eventually grow happy again. And finish her book.
"Lulu, you made it!" Dan offered a wide grin, a faint blush stained across his cheeks as he thrusted a large bouquet of roses at her.
Lucy cringed at the nickname and slowly reached for the bouquet, an uneasy feeling rising inside of her chest. "Just Lucy is fine…" She laughed lightly and he didn't seem to hear or care about what she said as he immediately went right into rambling about how nervous he was for this date. This only made her wonder if she had made a good choice about this after all, especially as she stared down at the bouquet of roses she highly disliked.
She always thought red roses were cliche and such a typical flower that anyone would buy just for the hell of it. She liked flowers with meaning behind it and she would bet her entire apartment that Dan simply picked out the first flowers he saw. Usually all men did this.
What was it with red fucking roses? She hated them.
With her nose crinkling in disgust, she quickly replaced it with a smile as Dan turned to talk to her. They were guided towards the back of the restaurant where Dan pulled out the chair for her. It had her cheeks flush slightly and she thanked him as he pushed her in before running to the other side to sit.
"This place has really good steak, Lulu." He spoke loudly. "I actually know the manager here." He said proudly and Lucy merely gave him a weak smile.
"What's… good here?"
"Everything!" He grinned as if he was an advertisement. "Maybe we should order everything on the menu so you can try!"
"O—Oh! That's, um, that's too much. I don't think I would be able to finish any of it."
"Nonsense, you look like a woman who can certainly eat!"
Lucy made a face at him, unsure what he meant by that. After all, she did lose a couple of pounds in the last couple weeks so he surely couldn't have meant that she looked like some woman who went inhaling everything in sight. But it still left a bitter taste in her mouth and she huffed before focusing her attention back to the menu.
Thankfully, the waiter came right after and she opened her mouth to order but Dan had cut her off, ordering for her as if she wasn't her own person. She was stunned and gaped at him from across the table, an innocent look mirroring his face as he blinked stupidly.
"What is it? Is there something on my face?"
She was beginning to regret coming out on this date and with clenched teeth, she thrusted the menu to the waiter before ordering the strongest drink. She decided to at least milk this man of this considering he was one of the reasons why she wanted to get a drink.
"My mom says that ladies shouldn't drink." He said with a frown after the waiter had left and Lucy mustered up the will not to just get up and leave.
It hasn't even been ten minutes into the date and it would make a bad impression on her if she was rude enough to not even have dinner with said man she wanted to go out on a date with so badly. Now, she wasn't sure if she was actually sane to be sitting right across this man as he continued to say the most off putting shit.
"It's just… it's been a long week. I don't normally." She offered a sheepish smile and Dan seemed to like what she had said as he beamed.
Dan got right into it, babbling about his life as if she asked and she began to tune him out once more as she let her eyes wander. The place was spacious and elegant in the way where a large chandelier hung above the dining room. Dark wood that made everyone's footsteps echo louder than usual and round wooden tables with white tablecloths draped across them. There were a few people here and there scattered, enjoying their own night out with delicious spreads and drinks from what she could see.
This place would have been a nice place to eat and drink at but considering what type of company she had, she knew she probably wouldn't be stepping foot back in this establishment for a very long time.
She knew all she had to do was get this one date over with and she wouldn't have to ever see him again. He was more interested in himself than her at this point. He spoke about him and him only and barely asked her anything about herself.
But being the good girl she was taught to be, she gave him a polite smile and just nodded along as if she was listening when she was more interested in the crack on the ceiling.
How could this get any worse?
Thankful her drink had got there just in time and Lucy rushed to grab for the martini glass to take a sip of the beverage. The burning liquid rushed down her throat and pooled in her belly in a wake of fire, a content sigh flying out of her lips at the feeling.
This is definitely what she needed. Especially if she was going to have to sit here all night and listen to Dan talk about himself.
Setting down her glass, Lucy felt a natural smile coming to her lips as she now felt sated. She leaned back against her chair and turned to give Dan her attention but almost immediately did that smile dissolve as her eyes pinned on the powerful figure that was prowling right at their direction.
What was he doing here? And why the hell is he coming right at them?
She opened her mouth to warn her date but it was too late as he came right to them, grabbing at the chair at the table beside them to drag it to their table. The loud screech caught almost everyone's attention and as Lucy watched with mild irritation at the nonchalant attitude coming from this man, Dan was the most surprised as he stared at the newcomer.
Her eyes immediately met with his and she watched as he smirked, leaning back against the chair with one of his legs bending to rest his ankle against his knee. He looked ravishing in his burgundy button down, his collar popped up and the first few buttons opened to show off his tan chest.
It's been three weeks since she last saw this asshole and while a small part of her was relieved to see him again, a large part of her wondered what the hell is he doing here and how did he know she was here?
"Uhhh, I think you might have the wrong table." Dan spoke with uncertainty, his eyes darting from the blonde back to the rosy-haired male in confusion.
The said newcomer leaned over just a bit to pluck at the martini glass on the table before leaning back and bringing the glass to his lips, his eyebrow raised as he noticed Dan looking right at him. "Oh, me?" He said as he took a small sip of her drink before speaking again. "Don't let me interrupt whatever the fuck this is," he waved his hand in the air, going back to sip at the drink once more before setting it back down on the table. "This martini sucks, don't you want a glass of wine instead?"
She gawked at him, unsure what to make of this.
Here was her ex-boyfriend who she hasn't seen in nearly three weeks just barging in on her date, not a care in the world. He didn't seem to care at all about anything about the situation considering Dan was sitting there gawking but yet he was still only focusing on her while looking like a whole fucking snack.
She wanted to reach over and slap him silly for this pathetic excuse of a pissing contest since he clearly came in with intentions of sabotaging her date. Well, was he really sabotaging it when Dan was the one doing that for himself already? And was it really that bad he had come in because she had been missing him.
But he shouldn't be here. She broke up with him and told him she didn't want to ever see or talk to him again and yet here he was, persistent and annoying in that way he literally had to pick now to come and show his face again.
It irritated her the most when he didn't care to listen or speak to Dan but instead just continued to stare at her, waiting for her answer about the drink like that fucking mattered.
"Do you know how incredibly rude you're being right now?"
"Do you know this man, Lulu?"
The rosy-haired male scoffed at the nickname, shooting Dan a smothering glare that had him shrinking down slightly.
"You let him call you Lulu?"
"I don't think it's any of your concern what he calls me or not." She snapped, the irritation building inside of her chest. "I think you should leave. We were in the middle of a date." She emphasized and he didn't even bat an eye as he sat there with one eyebrow raised at her. He hung off the chair as if he was too big for it and she scowled at the way he looked so unsophisticated in such a nice restaurant.
"Oh, so that's what this is?" He sounded almost bored, his eyes lazily dragging over towards Dan who stiffened. He stayed as still as a statue with his eyes wide, watching how the newcomer dragged his eyes over his figure before turning back to the blonde. "You can do so much better."
Dan began to sputter, his face growing red at the obvious insult. Lucy felt her face flame up in embarrassment and horror at the fact he blatantly ignored and insulted her date right in front of him.
"Look here, pinky," Dan tried to appear bigger and Lucy inwardly cringed at the nickname he gave her ex. He was definitely going to get it now and she wished she was able to warn him before about the sensitive nickname that usually got her ex fired up. "Lulu and I were having a nice date up until you decided to show up. Now, I don't know who the hell you think you are but the lady is obviously uninterested in you and wants nothing to do with you so if you could just kindly—"
The way he began to bark out in laughter nearly startled everyone around. It echoed off the walls and bounced around the room. Lucy so desperately wanted to crawl out of there and die at the amount of attention they were gaining and she whipped her head over to hiss at her ex.
"Nats—"
"For someone who is so hell-bent on the fact that Lucy isn't so interested in me," he emphasized her name, trying to get his point across. "You're not so bright to see that she has no interest in you."
"She is on a date with me! Not you, whoever the hell you are," Dan scoffed, glaring at him who seemed bored and simply yawned. "Now leave—!"
"Does this idiot ever stop fucking talking?" He asked, turning back to look at the blonde. His eyes darted down at the bouquet sitting by her feet and he scoffed, dark eyes moving back up to look her right in the eyes. "He doesn't even know that you hate roses."
"Natsu," she said through clenched teeth and he gave her an amused smile. "You're being incredibly rude. You need to leave."
"Why should I?"
"Because I am on a date and we broke up. You have no business being here."
"If it involves you, it is my business." He let out another yawn as he held onto his leg with his hands, rocking back and forth in his seat. "Besides, I think—"
"Alright! That is enough! Nobody is going to disrespect Dan Straight like this!" The forgotten third wheel shouted, standing from his seat as he slammed his palms against the table for the silverware to clatter.
Natsu turned over his shoulder to glare at him, clearly unhappy he was interrupted while Lucy stared at her date with wide eyes, chocolate orbs darting back and forth between the two.
"You have done enough! I must ask you to leave before I request you get dragged out!"
"Dan—"
"Oho?" Natsu's lip curved up into an amused grin as he twisted his body to face the red-faced man. "Is that a threat?"
"Natsu! Will you please—"
"Yes, it is a threat." Dan cut her off with a glare tossed in his direction and Natsu's grin slipped from his face. He stared at the man with a disinterested bored look, his dark eyes dancing across the table before they pinned on her untouched martini. He plucked the glass from the table and brought it back to his lips, taking a loud, slow sip while ignoring the seething man. "You fucking—"
Lucy watched with wide eyes and in horror as Natsu flicked his wrist and tossed her entire drink on Dan. The contents inside the glass now drenched his face and the front of his shirt, the look of shock decorating his face at the action. Natsu didn't even bother to look as he dangled the empty glass on his finger, his eyes still on the gawking blonde as his lips curved up into a devious smirk.
"Oops. My hand slipped," he drawled as he leaned back into his chair, hand stuffed into his pocket. "Drink sucked anyways."
Lucy didn't know what to say or even do as she looked between her smug looking ex and furious date. Dan looked like he was one second away from grabbing at Natsu and beating him senseless but he was too ignorant in the fact that this man was actually part of the underworld.
Natsu probably could seriously injure Dan without having to stand up and knowing him, he probably had a weapon or three on him right now.
"You motherfucker! Do you know how expensive this shirt was!"
"Let me ask you this… Dan." Natsu's dark eyes left hers to slowly drag over to his wet, trembling figure. "Do you know how long it takes for someone to die from catching on fire?"
The question itself caught him off guard, momentarily ceasing his anger and creating confusion. "What?"
"I asked," his piercing eyes pinned on the wide eyed man with such an intensity that it made the air around them suffocating. "If you know how long it takes for someone to die from catching on fire."
"Natsu, can you not—?"
"Answer my question, Dan."
"W—what kind of question is that? Of course I don't know!" He sputtered, blinking rapidly as he looked from Lucy to Natsu. "Why are you asking me such an irrelevant question?"
"Oh… no reason," Natsu pulled his hand back out of his pocket to cradle a red zippo lighter. Lucy's eyes widened at the sight and she let out a small gasp while Dan continued to stare at him with furrowed brows, ignorant to the lighter that sat in his hands. "Was just wondering." He shrugged and then he flipped the top open, the small clanks of the metal echoing as the fire flicked on.
Once Dan saw the flame, his eyes widened and he took a step back.
"How flammable would you say you are now considering you're drenched in alcohol?" His smirk slowly formed as his eyes continued to pin on his shaking figure. "I would say it wouldn't take much for your entire body to light up in flames. Maybe five seconds. Maybe less."
"Y—you're crazy!"
"Maybe," he shrugged as he flipped the cap back on, encasing the fire back into the metal tin. "Maybe I just like fire." His eyes darkened. "Or maybe I just like seeing people catch on fire."
Once Natsu flipped the cap back open, Dan was quick to run out of there with his tail between his legs. He didn't even shout out a goodbye her way or look in her direction before he was gone.
Lucy sat there in her seat in complete shock, her jaw practically off the hinges as she stared at the spot Dan was occupying not that long ago.
She couldn't believe what just happened. Why is Natsu acting this way and why did he have to scare away her date like that? In front of everyone?
She turned to see the rosy-haired male casually sitting there as if he didn't just threaten to light someone on fire. He flashed her a grin when their eyes locked and she scowled, her teeth clenching.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"You look nice. Yellow has always been a good color on you."
"Cut the crap, Natsu," she hissed angrily. "How could you just barge in here while I'm on a date and scare the poor guy off?"
He scoffed, leaning back into his seat. "That guy was a fucking dud. He bought you roses and you fucking hate roses. He got you a martini as a drink but you drink wine. Hell, all he talked about was himself the entire time. I saved you."
Her cheeks grew rosy red with the warmth of him knowing these things about her but she still felt the embarrassment and anger swell inside of her chest. "That's not your place to! We broke up, remember? I ended things with you!"
"And who said that meant I ended things with you? You broke up with me but that doesn't mean I did. You're still mine, Luce."
"I am not!" She shouted, her voice rising and catching the attention of others again but she didn't care. "I want nothing to do with a man like you! You lied to me and used me, Natsu. I am not yours nor will I ever be again. Stay away from me!" She shouted, her eyes pricking with tears as she stood from her seat. "I hope we never see each other again." She spat as she dug into her purse to grab at a wad of cash before tossing it on the table to leave.
She was seeing red and seething with emotions as she stormed out of the restaurant.
After three weeks of not seeing him and trying to forget about the heartache he caused, she truly thought she could turn over this new leaf and not be so bitter about it but of course he had to come and ruin it all for her.
With his stupid cocky grin and his deliciously tan skin on that built godly body of his. All of it. She hated it. Such a fucking cocky—
"Luce, wait!"
She started to walk even faster, trying to get away from the only man who has ever called her that.
"Lucy!"
Would it be weird if she just started sprinting out of there? Maybe people would think she was in danger and get her away from this man. Maybe then he would catch the hint that she was not in the mood to be around him.
"Lucy, goddamn it." She whirled around as she felt his hand clamp down on her wrist and spin her. She came in contact with a broad chest and bright pink locks, such a handsome face twisted in worry and annoyance. "I said wait."
"And I said to leave me the fuck—"
"You haven't even heard my side of the story and you've just made up your mind?" He asked in disbelief, hand still tightly wrapped around her wrist.
"What is there for you to possibly say? After I don't hear from you or see you for three weeks?" She flicked her wrist out of his grasp, glaring at him through blurry eyes as she took a step back. "Seems like you're guilty to me."
"You told me to stay away from you!"
"Because I was mad!" She shouted right back and they were both unaware how they were standing in the middle of the sidewalk in public doing this. Thankfully, not a lot of people were out since it was closer to eight in the evening but the few who were turned to watch them. "But instead you kept your distance and chose not to come talk to me or see me for that matter. What? Busy trying to win another bet?"
Natsu took a step closer to her and growled, his eyes piercing right into her watery ones. "You're fucking delusional if you think I haven't been watching you. I have my men tailing your every move and I know everything there is about you." He said through clenched teeth and she scoffed, turning her head away to glare up at the night sky while she crossed her arms across her chest.
"Yeah right. As if I wouldn't notice if your men or you were following me around."
"Yeah?" His voice was laced with mock laughter, his jaw muscles popping with his movements. "How was that tub of strawberry cheesecake ice cream you inhaled last week?"
Her face popped open with surprise but she quickly masked it with a scowl, "You know my favorite ice cream flavor. So fucking what? That doesn't mean—"
"I know just last week you went back to the yoga studio to sign up for classes again." He continued to speak which caused her to stand there with an open mouth as she was cut off mid-sentence and she struggled to understand any of this. "I also know that you went over to Levy's house three Fridays ago and you two drank two bottles of wine and you called a taxi back home around midnight. I also know that you met that dumb fuck Dan at the same cafe you like to sit in and write your book. How was your three cups of coffee, by the way? Probably giving you the jitters, right?"
Lucy let out a frustrated shriek and stomped her foot on the ground, her hands curling into tight fists. "You have no right—!"
"You don't get to tell me what I can and cannot do, princess," he said while he clenched his own jaw and glowered down at her. "I say when we are over and we," he pointed his finger at her before turning it to point at his own chest. "are not over."
"You fucking lied to me! I was just some stupid bet!"
"Who gives a shit how it happened? What happened between us was real!"
"Our relationship all started off as a lie! How can I trust that?"
"Have I ever made you doubt how much I love you? How much I fucking burn for you? The things I would do for you?!" His voice was beginning to rise and she could hear it echo against the darkness and tall buildings. Tears streamed down her face in the midst of her anger and she angrily wiped at them. "You didn't even care to listen to me! Hear my reasoning behind it all! My feelings! All you did was hear some shit and then make the decision on our relationship as if I wasn't part of it at all!"
"You lied to me Natsu! How could you possibly make any of this better?"
"I admit it that yes, our relationship started because of a bet I made but that didn't mean everything was a lie! I'm not lying when I said I thought you were the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on. I wasn't lying when I told you how long I have been wanting to go out with you. I wasn't lying about anything, Luce, you have to believe me." He begged and the way his voice wobbled made her want to hold him in her arms and tell him how much she missed him.
But she didn't know how much of it was true. She didn't know how to trust him.
"I—I can't." She swallowed thickly, hot tears streaming down her face as she saw the pleading look on his face. "I… You—you lied to me and I… I don't know what is real and what's not anymore."
"I'm what's real!" He raised his voice at her, startling her as he started slamming his palm against his chest. "This is real," he pointed at them again. "What we have? That is real, Luce. Don't throw that all away."
"Then you should have thought of that before you started this relationship off a stupid bet!"
Her chest was heaving with how hard she screamed and as she heard the remnants of her shout echo all around them before she could only gasp as a sob broke out of her lips. Her vision was blurry from the tears she was spilling and she looked down to see her hands have started to tremble. Drops of tears fell to the cement ground where she tried to blink back to wetness that refused to stop.
"I trusted you, Natsu," her voice came out broken. "I loved you."
"You love me." He corrected, a low threatening growl leaving his lips.
"No," She shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut. "I loved. I.. I can't love people who lie to me and use me." She lifted her head to blink at him, tears streaming down her cheeks as she looked at the angry expression he had on.
He took a step towards her and growled. "You don't mean that. I didn't use you."
"You did!" She took a step back, legs feeling wobbly. "I don't love you anymore, Natsu, so leave me alone!"
"You're lying!"
"I'm not!" His hand shot out again to grab at her wrist and she fought him back as he yanked her towards him. "Let me go! I said I don't love you anymore, Natsu! I don't—!" Her voice got caught as his hand shot out to grab at her face, pinching her cheeks together to silence her. Her free hand came up to clutch at his wrist, her eyes widening as he leaned in towards her.
"Stop fucking repeating it," his eyes were dark as he pulled her close to hiss at her. "You don't fucking mean that. Stop saying it."
She tried to push him off, jerking against his hold he had on her arm and on her face but he was much stronger as he squeezed a bit tighter.
"Stop!"
"Say that you didn't mean that." He started to push her back and she stumbled with her feet, a yelp escaping her lips. "Say you didn't mean what you said!"
She gasped as her back hit the wall of a building and the coldness of the brick brought a chill up her body. His body pressed against hers and the warmth instantly wrapped around her as if a flame was caressing her. Her nails dug into his forearm and tears blurred her vision again while her heart pounded against her ribcage.
"Lucy." His voice dropped low, his voice coming out from behind clenched teeth. "Say. It."
She squeezed her eyes shut and whimpered, shaking her head back and forth as his grip tightened.
"Say it!"
"Stop it, Natsu!" She wailed as a sob broke out of her mouth. "Please, stop."
She began to sob as his hands around her face loosened and her entire body racked with nerves, trembling violently against his warm, hard body. His hand left her arm and she shook her head as she felt his large hands come and cup her face.
"No, please… stop…" she begged, weakly pushing at his chest. "I… I…"
"Lucy, I love you." He whispered gently at her and it made her sob even harder, head shaking harder. "I love you so please… I won't stop. Never."
"Y—You lied—"
"I did and I regret it," his thumbs brushed against her cheeks to wipe away the tears. "It's my biggest regret in my life," he spoke softly while holding her so gingerly. "Please believe that. Luce, I… I fucked up. I should have come clean from the start but you have to know that I love you. You're my world."
She couldn't stop crying even if she wanted to. The pent up emotions she had been bottling up inside of her was breaking and all she had been wanting to do was be back in this man's arms.
"So please, baby," he begged, tilting her head up and bringing it close so his forehead could press against hers. "Don't say you don't love me anymore… please don't say things you don't mean… you're killing me."
The sincerity and hurt that flashed inside of his eyes made her wish they never had to come to this point. The soft eyes that she loved so much were now looking at her with so much hurt that it hurt her to see. She never wanted to see such an emotion coming from those gentle eyes and to know she was the one doing that to him made the knife twist a little bit deeper.
When she leaned in to kiss him, she felt as if everything never happened. It was all a dream. With their lips pressed together, he took away the entire world and only made it about her.
The instant warmth that filled her cold empty body surged back to life and she could feel her heart pick itself up once more.
"I hate that I love you."
"As long as it makes you mine."
X
.
fin