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kiliinstinct · 2 months ago

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Violet Moon: Chapter 5

Listen, it's still Halloween on the West Coast so I'm technically not late. (Ignore the fact it's Nov 1st in my time zone shhhh.) Anyway, HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Apologies ahead of time for any errors. If I wanted this posted tonight, I didn't have time to edit or have Phoenix beta this time around. Anyway, ENJOY!! [First Chapter] -[Chapter 6] Coming Next Year

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Too many things in the world made no sense, but just as many made too much sense. After Freed left Natsu to his thoughts and the pack grew incensed by the lack of his return, the shifter knew what he had to do. It was insane, unheard of, but the only way to fix the mess he’d found himself in. Unfortunately, it came with a horrible, horrible chance of failure. Whether Lucy chose to listen to his explanation or kick him to the curb was only the start of the complications. The iceberg was much larger and far more intricate after that. He didn’t know if he’d be given the chance to traverse that complicated maze or not, but Natsu had to try. Once he’d escaped the boundary of the park, there was no going back. Either Lucy agreed to talk, or he returned with his tail between his legs, ready to face further punishment. In the end, he figured Lucy’s rejection would be far worse than any other consequence: this decision was easy. It was so easy for Natsu to make that it almost scared him how set his mind was.

He no longer had the privilege to be indecisive after all.

Freed didn’t have to say much to convince Natsu of his travel choices. Four paws were faster than two legs, after all. His five senses were higher than an average humans, but shifted gave him an even better view of the world. He could smell the way to his apartment from miles away. The power in his legs carried him at speeds that felt like flying and his sheer size, much larger than a normal dog, kept most people out of his way. He barely felt the exhaustion of a long-distance run burning in his muscles. His earlier run in the forest was nothing in comparison. The park was outside of town and covered acres of untouched land. But the city had hard pavement that was unforgiving.

When Natsu reached his apartment building, the rough pavement had worn his paws to a raw red and he panted with cold breaths in the air. He needed water and rest after such a run. But after a quick sniff, nose in the air, he turned from the building’s entry gate and continued down the sidewalk.

The sun was nearly set, stars twinkled in the sky through the city smog and colored leaves blew down the street. All these things, coupled with Halloween Decorations set the mood for fall, but the large, russet wolf of a dog paid none of it any mind.

There was one thing that kept his focus: on scent. It was faint now, as Lucy had left his apartment hours ago. He could catch it from anywhere, having memorized everything that made her Lucy since they were young and innocent. It was tinged with the salt of tears and frustration.

God, the fact it was his fault she felt such a way left his stomach in knots and a whine bubbling out of his throat.

A few trick-or-treaters walked by him, cheering for their half-filled bags. Many stopped to attempt scratching behind his ears, or hold their hands out for him to smell. Once upon a time, he’d be more than happy to play the part of a docile animal, ready and accepting of attention, but there was no time. He dodged their attempts (and snarled at one who snatched at his tail) and bolted down the street. The sharp pain in his worn-down paws was more than deserved anyway.

Lucy managed one movie with Happy before the sheer rage and hurt filled her lungs to bursting. If someone asked, she would never manage recalling what the movie had been in the first place. Tears blurred her vision and stained her cheeks as she left with the credits still rolling and a mewling russian blue pawing at the door.

There was a little guilt that stabbed Lucy’s lungs when she left Happy behind, but the cat wasn’t hers and stealing him away from Natsu’s to keep him – well: happy -felt silly. This understatement of thought was Lucy’s main distraction as she made her way home with swollen eyes and barely contained sniffles.

Worst.Halloween.Ever.

Well, maybe not the worst. Nothing could compare to her last Halloween at her Dad’s empty home, but this was a close first. When the door to her apartment slammed shut behind her, Lucy let the walls come down. Another wave of tears dripped from her chin as she rubbed her eyes and rushed to the kitchen, circling the island counter with blurred vision.

If she was going to handle tonight without going crazy, she was going to need a distraction. (A voice that sounded like Cana’s whispered, “Get yourself a drink, girl!” - but she snuffed that out quickly. No point in listening to another person who was in on Natsu’s deception after all.) And what better distraction than sugar: copious amounts of sugar.

Two hours later, Lucy had three batches of jack-o-lantern shaped chocolate cookies on the counter, a spoon of cookie batter in her mouth, and a spiteful set to her brow.

She didn’t need Natsu or anyone else to have a good Halloween, she decided. They didn’t deserve her tears. Nope, she was going to have a GREAT evening and there was nothing anyone else could do about it. Dropping the spoon in the sink, she trotted off to her small home-office and got to work. What better thing to do on Halloween night than write a horror story? She’d been meaning to start a new novel, why not while powered with hurt and spite?

The sun was set and the clouds covered the stars in the sky when Lucy decided she needed a small break. Writing through spite was always a good way to be motivated, but it wasn’t the best way to remember self-care; cookies were still on the counter, her stomach growled for something more substantial than sugar and her foggy-headed brain pounded for lack of hydration.

Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Lucy cursed her circumstances. A headache was just what she needed. (Not.) Getting a drink was the easiest one of her many issues to fix, but gulping down ice water did nothing to ease the pounding in her skull. In fact, it grew louder.

Too loud.

…

Suspiciously loud.

It became apparent that the pounding wasn’t just a headache. It was reality. It echoed down the hall in a resounding beat that was impatient and rushed. A rapid knocking that was familiar enough to send a pained shock of apprehension up her throat.

Only Natsu knocked like that. (when he bothered to use her door.) His immense impatience was only coupled with his enjoyment of teasing her and he never failed to knock in a way that would end in her sighing in exasperation as she swung it open. He never could be gentle, could he?

She circled back to her living room, stepping slowly towards the door with shallow breaths and a raised brow. Was this actually Natsu? What if it wasn’t? Standing on the tips of her toes, she peered through the peep-hole of her door, holding her breath in hopes the other side would remain unaware of her presence.

A shock of pink was her first observation. A matted mess of dyed hair with a leaf sticking out through the sweat damp locks. Natsu continued to rap a closed fist against her door, shifting his weight from side to side as if hot coals were beneath his feet. He looked… dirty. She spied a bit of mud crusting his shirt and was certain more stained his jeans. “...Lucy?” A hoarse voice, quiet and desperate, echoed down the hall, slightly muffled through the door. He rested his head against the door and sucked in a breath, “Lucy, are you there?”

The knocking stopped. A crazy part of her mind wondered if he could sense her, already knowing the answer to his own question. But… that was silly, right?

He rasped her name again, his tone now joined with a whimper. She felt worry churn in her gut before righteous rage flooded her veins.

“Go away.”

She meant to sound enraged, threatening even. An assertive stance was the best way to get results after all. But Lucy’s breath caught, shuddering through emotions that made her waver. Not at all how she wanted to sound. Fingers curled into a fist as she resisted the urge to turn the knob.

Natsu sucked in a breath, “Lucy, please, I just want to-”

“I said leave!” She snapped.

Just want to - what? Lie to her more? Her body was a livewire, shaking and overwhelmed. She couldn’t do this. Not now. Lucy’s face was hot, cheeks turning red as she struggled to hold in the sob of betrayal building in her chest.

Her best friend (former - she reminded herself.) was silent. It took a few seconds of harsh breathing and burning eyes for Lucy to realize he was still at the door. This out of character quiet was unlike the boy she’d grown up with. Was it guilt? (good.) Was he feeling remorse? (He should!) It made her curious enough to check through the peep-hole once more, surprised to see Natsu standing further back, shoulders slack and hands dangling at his sides. Eyes downcast, he resembled that of a scolded dog. A revelation that might have softened Lucy’s heart days ago. Teeth grinded together as tension tightened the muscles in her neck. She began to push away, content to leave Natsu to his silence.

He shifted his weight again, gasping as if pain had shot up through his legs. Lucy froze. What… was wrong with him? A second, more observant glance through the glass thinned her lips into a hard frown. His palms were red…the color of blood. His feet… Lucy was shocked to realize they were bare and just as red. Fear and concern rose to the surface. She could stay mad forever, but that didn’t make her heartless.

She unlocked the door and swung it open, biting her lip as Natsu’s gazed shot up from the floor to meet hers, eyes red-rimmed and just as swollen as hers. She hated the sense of satisfaction that set in her heart. Let him be upset at being caught, it was well-deserved. But the rest… Lucy stepped aside, gesturing to him, “You remember where my first aid kit is, right?”

His mouth opened to reply, but clamped shut a second later. Good. It was hard enough holding back her ire already. Lucy wasn’t positive she could continue to hold it in if he chose to try and explain himself.

A beat passed and Natsu nodded, limping his way towards the bathroom on the balls of his feet; Attempting to keep his blood from staining the wood floor. It was a futile effort as bits of his toe prints were left behind and Lucy considered googling the best way to scrub it out.

She sighed and followed after. Unable to leave him to his own devices for a multitude of mixed reasons that made it hard to settle her thoughts. Was she comfortable with him in her home right now? Absolutely not. But was she comfortable with him uselessly trying to bandage himself with his hands as they were? Also no.

He was already seated on the toilet when she entered, fingers quivering as he struggled to unzip the kit she kept under the small sink. Flinching when he noticed her, Natsu drilled his gaze into the opposing wall and shook his head. “... you don’t-” He began, shook his head and tried again, “I can do it myself. You don’t have to help me.”

Well, at least he understood that much. Lucy snatched the bag from him and grabbed the antiseptic. “Shut up and hold out your hands. We can talk after.”

Natsu complied with no argument, hands held aloft to reveal the raw and torn skin that covered his palms. She couldn’t hold back her own wince, wondering how in the world he managed to damage himself like this.

“Thanks, Lucy-”

She glowered, clicking her tongue as consternation filled her, “Don’t thank me yet. I’m tempted to dump an entire bottle of rubbing alcohol on this out of spite.”

She thought he muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, ‘I’d deserve it,’ but chose to ignore him. Dabbing at his hands with cotton, she set to work, expression grim.

There was grit and gravel in his palms. It gave her the impression he’d fallen on the pavement multiple times. Examining his pants for evidence, she wrinkled her nose, noting the lack of tears in the dirtied pants. Did he catch himself in his hands and miraculously manage to avoid damaging them? It didn’t match previous experiences in her memory, but Lucy supposed it was possible.

He remained silent the entire time, refusing to meet her gaze, exhaling sharply each time she dabbed antiseptic on his injuries and carefully bandaged him. When she started on his feet, she grimaced, finding the exact same damages.

“What happened to your shoes?” She mumbled, unaware she had even asked the question out loud. What surprised her more was when Natsu answered, sounding sheepish, “...forgot ‘em.”

“You... forgot your shoes?”

“Yeah… pretty much.”

If she wasn’t so angry, head still pounding and stomach growling, she might have laughed. That was just like him. Always in a rush, body moving faster than his mind can think through his actions. She was startled when a giggle bubbled up, bursting forth without her control as her eyes grew blurred with tears. Just like him… a friend she knew so well.. And yet…. Did she really know him at all?

Fingers slid off the bandage as she finished tying up his feet, manic laughter erupting as sobs mixed in. It was hard to breathe. Her chest hurt. Natsu reached for her, saying something she couldn’t catch over the sound of her own voice. At the slightest touch on her shoulder, she jerked back, flailing to grasp the door handle and stand. “No, don’t even-” She gasped, wiping her eyes, “Don’t touch me! Not after.. Not after today! Not -”

Contradicting her own wants, she shoved Natsu back into his seat, fingers shaking. She felt too much at that moment. Too much to handle. Too much to focus on what she needed to do. Natsu stared, wide eyed and pliant, letting her shove him over and over as he stayed frozen in place. “What was it? Huh?” She asked through broken sobs, “Growing up together, spending all our time with each other, our friendship? Was it just.. Some.. long-term prank? Some game? Is that all I’ve been all these years?”

“No! You’ve never been-”

“You don’t get to talk right now,” She snapped, releasing his shoulders as she reclaimed control of herself, “It’s my turn. You need to just sit there and listen! Just listen and maybe- I said shut up! - just MAYBE, I’ll be calm enough to let you say whatever you came here to say after.”

Natsu gaped, freezing on a combination of vowels that made no sense.

“Do you understand?” Lucy pressed through grit teeth.

He nodded, finally shaking the leaf loose from his tangled hair.

Breathing deeply, Lucy counted to ten and exhaled, easing the pain in her chest while recollecting herself. “Good. Let’s talk in the living room. So you can sit and I- well, if I don’t eat something soon, I’m liable to bite your head off.”

She glowered when Natsu bit back a laugh. Ugh. She really needed dinner.

Dinner would come too late for Lucy to think clearly. Having nothing prepared for cooking and the streets too full of costumed party-goers making takeout impossible, Lucy settled on the next best thing: bagels. She’d manage something else later.

In the meantime, Natsu took his seat without argument. Huddled in the corner of her couch as he held his bandaged limbs out. His brows were knit together in thought, but his gaze was a hollow, empty stare against the wall. Unseeing, lost in thought. It was quite unlike the boy Lucy had grown up with. His joy and exuberance for life had always felt like a bonfire embracing the world in its heat. Now, he looked withdrawn. Cold. Emotionless.

It was easy to assume the guilt he felt. Unfortunately, as much as Lucy wanted to believe it, she couldn’t. Trust was a brittle, brittle thing, and she wondered if even now was an act. Was this the sort of person he truly was? Or-

Her head throbbed at the thought. She didn’t want to think herself into circles. Overthinking was her speciality, but it wouldn’t get her anywhere. With a determined set in her jaw, she sat in her favorite armchair and bit into her plain bagel with a satisfied hum. Oh, she needed that.

After a few more bites, she set the plate aside and wiped nonexistent crumbs from her lap. It was now or never. “Do you have any idea,” She began, swallowing thickly, “How stupid I felt? When I went to the cafe and saw the closed sign? My best friend has always been busy on Halloween. Always so busy during the New Years. Our parties were fun, but I was always alone, every holiday and I thought… I thought that’s just how it was. You can’t help having to work or go to a funeral after all, right?”

Natsu gulped, eyes downcast, turning to examine the floor.

“And.. and then-” Lucy’s voice cracked and she clenched her eyes shut, pushing back the burning in her tear ducts, “Your phone rang at your home and Lisanna answered and it all made sense. Everyone I called my friend was together and having. Everyone but me. Was it… something I did? To make you all think I’d be the best person to play with for so long? I keep thinking through it. Trying to figure out why you’d lie. How many years have you been doing it? How much of anything was true between us, and I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

The tears were back and she hated herself. Just a little. Why couldn’t she be strong enough to remain calm and collected? Why couldn’t her rage come out in cold, quiet fury. Why did the emotions have to drain from her like trickling streams that stained her cheeks and exhausted her physically?

She wanted to scream. To hit something. Anything. (A pillow with a picture of Natsu on it maybe-)

There were too many things to say and now that she had the chance, they petered out to a tiny sob. Lucy sank into the chair, fingers dug into the printed fabric of the armrests and she watched Natsu with broken eyes. In the end… she just wanted the truth.

“I never thought you were a bully, Natsu, but I don’t know anymore. I just… don’t know.”

The tense silence that followed was a physical object between them. It crushed Lucy’s lungs and as she watched Natsu struggle to meet her gaze, she knew he felt the same. Her earlier satisfaction at their joint suffering was no more. There was just acceptance. She forced another bite of her bagel, looking for any form of distraction, and almost jumped from her chair when Natsu broke the silence.

Whatever tone of voice she expected from him, it wasn’t a mirrored crack to her own, or a shuddering sob. Ice swam through her veins as she waited.

“I hate that I’ve hurt you.” He confessed, finally looking at her with the most vulnerable expression she’d ever witnessed. “I hate that I lied. I… hate that I’ve been so stupid and the one rule I decided not to break was this. I fucking hate it.”

“I don’t understand-”

“You weren’t supposed to.” He continued as he picked at the bandages. “Me and everyone- … we all lo- like you. We liked spending time with you. You’re as close to family as we could allow but-”

He cut himself off and shook his head. “You gotta understand that this is how it’s always been. How we’ve always done things. It’s how we’ve stayed safe.”

This was going from heartbreaking to just confusing. Lucy didn’t know how to react other than to urge him onward with a wave of his hand, “Go on then. Explain how I”m somehow a danger then. Safe from what? Healthy relationships?”

“Hunters.”

She blinked. “... I don’t follow.”

Natsu’s expression turned tense. His eyes were narrowed, firm in his decision.He slid to his knees on the floor and looked at her as if she were the moon and stars combined.

“I need to show you something.” He whispered, voice hoarse, “it’s against everything Makarov has ordered. Could even get me disowned, but it’s the only way you’ll ever understand. The only way I can be honest.”

For a split second, she thought he was going to rest a hand on her knee, but he kept his hand held in place, imploring her to consider his words. “Please, Lucy,” He begged, and she finally understood the emotion hidden in his empty eyes: fear. “Once I do this… you can throw me out if you want. I’ll never bother you again. Whatever you want. Just… trust me one more time?”

She was shaking her head before she could think on it, “There’s no-... how can I trust you?”

His whimper struck deep into her lungs as he struggled to find his words, “Not trust then.”

Then what? Stubbornly, she wanted to throw him out that instant, too confused and feeling as if he was furthering this game of his. But there was an ounce of curiosity that held her back. “Do I have to go anywhere?”

He shook his head. “Not if you don’t want to. I can show you here.”

Lucy considered the offer. Taking her time to finish off her bagel and take a drink of water. The earlier headache and hunger pains were gone now; held off for a little while. He’d followed her to the letter since he got here and gave her all the power to turn him away. She hoped it was sincere.

“Show me.” She agreed, ignoring the hope that flashed in his eyes, “If I don’t like what I see then… then I want you gone.”

Natsu didn’t waste a second. He placed his hands on the floor, positioned like a child pretending to be an animal, and kept his gaze on her. Instead of speaking, Lucy felt his thoughts in the piercing set of his eyes. Eyes that were… she gasped.

Gone was the dark-green iris, replaced by a golden amber and slitted pupils. She jolted from her seat, watching in horror as his jaw and shoulders popped out of place, and his face stretched, elongating out with sharp fangs growing.

She barely registered tripping over her chair as she screamed.

#Fairy Tail Fanfiction #Nalu #Nalu Fanfiction #Natsu Dragneel #Lucy Heartfilia #NatsuxLucy #Fairy Tail #FTFanfiction #Halloween Update #Kili's Fanfiction #Violet Moon #My Writing

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fics-n-stuff-n-stuff · 5 months ago

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Natsu Dragneel/Lucy Heartfilia

Gray Fullbuster/Juvia Lockser

Levy McGarden/Gajeel Redfox

Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic Follows Fairy tail but with my own twists set in modern day Fluff and Angst Romance Friendship developing feelings Lucy has new spirits I checked constellations and gave her ones I thought were cool I am going to go all the way to Tartaros and hopefully Alvarez arc but we will see how it goes I Will Go Down With This Ship I will add tags as I go Out of Character probably because it is an AU

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Lucy is thrown into a world she didn’t know existed. Join her as she unravels this new world full of magic that brings adventure, romance and destruction along with it.

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Just a modern re-telling of Fairy tail following its arcs with a few twists and turns along the way💞

You can also read it here

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Chapter 23

Waking up Lucy felt heavy, disoriented, and cold down to her very bones.

Accompanying all of that was a pounding in her head that was worse than the one time Cana got to her at one of the Fairy Tail pre-Christmas parties and shoved a whole barrel of wine down her throat.

Her memory was hazy as she slowly woke up, barely able to recall anything, and everything felt distant in a way, she couldn't remember what happened, where she was, or the reason behind feeling like someone ran her over and then locked her in a freezer.

There were almost too many sensations surrounding her, but three stood out the most and so she tried focusing on them in an attempt to ground herself.

Her magic tingling in her veins and her chest was the first, fainter than it's been since the seal placed on it blew up on her in the middle of the guild, leaving her feeling almost empty and cold, the second was accompanying her magic, it was a curious bubbling sensation spreading through her body, somehow soft and cozy.

It was like a gentle kernel of flames that reminded her of Natsu and how she always felt safe with him close.

The third was the warmth enveloping her right hand, the wonderful feeling climbing halfway up her arm and making her even more aware of how cold the rest of her was.

Lucy tried to move, to open her eyes and move closer to the source of warmth but her limbs felt so incredibly heavy and in the end, the simple task was harder than it should've been.

It took a few struggled tries, and one twitched jerk before she was blinking away the heaviness behind her eyes.

The pounding in her head was worse now that her eyes were open, and her memory was still so hazy and disoriented, and if she tried to think her head would feel like it was going to explode.

Blinking through the haze Lucy noted that the room she was in was dark, thankfully, and she noticed immediately that it wasn't her own.

As she looked around slowly she could barely register that she was in a spare guild room. Turning her head towards the source of the warmth, Lucy spotted Natsu folded awkwardly in a chair next to the bed.

Fast asleep holding her right hand tightly.

Lucy smiled softly at Natsu's sleeping form before scrunching her eyes closed for a moment, hoping it would help with her growing migraine.

It seems that just moving her head triggered more pain.

She unconsciously squeezed the hand holding hers and let out a small groan as a wave of pain assaulted her and it caused Natsu to jerk awake at the sudden sound.

"Huh?" His eyes were glazed as he blinked at her in shock, he was half asleep making Lucy giggle softly as she opened her eyes so she could look at him.

The world was fuzzy as she blinked rapidly and tried to focus on the pink-haired man.

Lucy felt like she would slip back into sleep at any moment but the sight of the front piece of his hair sticking up at an odd angle making him look just a little ridiculous made her feel light and warm in a strange way.

"Luce." The word was breathed out somewhere between a sigh of relief and a prayer and he stared at her for several moments without saying anything, scanning her face intently as if in disbelief, and then suddenly he was letting go of her hand as he stood up and moved out of her reach.

The loss of contact made Lucy want to protest, the words getting stuck in her throat, and before she could rein herself to say anything Natsu was speaking as he moved almost frantically around the room. "I need to go tell Wendy you're awake, we need to call the old witch or Mira, she could make some food if you're hungry or maybe some water would be better, shit why didn't I have that ready? What time is it anyway?"

He started rambling and moving through the room heading towards the door intent on going out and getting someone, but Lucy paid no attention to his words, the moment he let go of her hand it was like her only source of warmth left, and with every step he took to leave she was left shaking like a leaf from the cold.

"No."

The word came out a little rattled and it made Natsu stop in his tracks. "Don't go, please." He turned his head from where he was making his way to the door, stance rigid and stiff as he looked at her with a pinched expression that any other time she would've found cute, but right now she just wanted him next to her. "It's, I'm..." Lucy stammered for a moment not really sure how to phrase her thoughts in this exhausted state.

Could one feel dizzy while lying down?

"The room is freezing cold, so get your ass back here."

She tried to sound stern and confident as she spoke, hoping it would lighten the somber mood that seemed to have taken over her usually sunny partner for some reason, but it came out a little shaky and through clanking teeth despite her best efforts.

Natsu's whole demeanor shifted for a second shoulders tightening and fists clenching at his sides, and if she wasn't concentrating on him she would have missed it, she watched as he faltered for half a second more before turning his body a full 180 degrees, and walking his way back to her bed, sitting down in the chair, shoulders slumped and head bowed.

He didn't say a word as he sat, didn't even look at her or reach to hold her hand again, and it was a little odd, Lucy thought through her haze.

He was acting odd.

Not like himself at all. Where was her silly fire drakon? And what has brought up this forlorn state?

"That's not really helping. I don't know why but I feel like it's below zero in here." Lucy said instead of prodding into his strange behavior feeling like he wasn't going to share anything with her at the moment but not knowing how she could possibly feel such a thing. So she focused on shifting in the bed as she spoke, trying to make room in the queen-sized bed.

Usually when she was cold, being anywhere 5 meters around him would solve the issue quickly, especially if the present drakon was aware that she was cold. Natsu always increases his heat when she's cold, Lucy could feel him doing it now, as well, but this time it wasn't enough.

Not like his touch had been.

It's like a numbing chill had settled into her bones in a way that left her feeling like she'll never be warm again.

Lucy was still very new to this whole magic thing, but it felt like this was a magical kind of cold she was feeling. Did she accidentally get hit by one of Gray's attacks? Or did someone else attack her with a freeze spell of some kind?

That would explain so much.

Her memory was too muddled and out of focus, and the more she tried to think, the worse her migraine got.

The snap of his neck as he turned to look at her sounded painful, but the look on Natsu's face at her words would have been almost comical if she wasn't so worried and tired, he looked perplexed, despondent, and stressed at the same time and she wondered what could've happened to put him in such a state.

Did Fairy Tail get attacked again?

Because this wasn't the first time she had been injured since they met.

Hell, that was how they met, but there was something different about his demeanor this time around. Even half dazed and out of it Lucy could tell something was really bothering him, and maybe Gray really did hit her with an attack, if it's got him acting all broody and silent.

And she'd never known him to be this quiet.

Not around her.

Not since the day she opened her eyes in a room similar to this one, to him sitting in a chair next to her bed as he is now.

The scene was so similar,

yet so painfully different at the same time.

"Will you just come here?" Lucy said with a huff as he continued to just stare wordlessly at her.

She shuffled even more, somewhat awkwardly, to the other side of the bed with her heavy limbs and this time unfurled the blanket as she did, making her intention clear and indicating for him to join her.

Natsu sat still as stone in the chair, gaze fixed on the empty spot on the bed where she was lying just moments before. His eyes moved to look back at her and the empty spot a few times, the expression in them made her feel even more confused.

He looked dejected and exhausted.

When she pushed herself to focus closer, she noticed the dark circles under his eyes and remembered the way his brow was furrowed with worry even in his sleep.

This won't do.

With her newfound observation, Lucy felt even more determined to give the both of them a good night's rest, so she cleared her throat to get his attention and shot Natsu her best 'Don't test me' look.

He was quite familiar with it. In fact, Lucy likes to give him credit for creating it. Because she doesn't think she's ever needed one before meeting him.

"I'm turning into a popsicle over here. If I wanted to be cold all the time, I would've partnered up with Gray instead." She joked, her words coming out slower and maybe a little slurred as she talked, but if she knew one thing about Natsu Dragneel, he always takes the bait.

"Gaah, don't even say stuff like that. Like ice breath could ever keep you safe." He huffed the words out with no real bite to them as he slowly stood from the chair and moved to settle on the bed.

That eliminated her theory about Gray being the culprit to her magical cold.

He hesitated as he stood in the small space between the chair and the mattress, looking between the empty space on the bed and her.

"Are you sure?" His voice was quiet and uncertain, and her chest tightened at the expression on his face.

His movements were a little awkward and unsure as he hovered halfway on the bed and Lucy decided to take pity on him and reached to tug at his hand so she could pull him fully into the bed.

He let out a huff as he tumbled, not expecting the tug, and fell on the mattress with a small bounce.

Lucy watched him as he settled into the bed and it was painfully obvious from his almost rigid posture that someone (probably all the women in Fairy Tail) drilled into him the importance of being mindful and respectful of women and their space, especially in bed.

But this is something that Natsu doesn't usually care about at the best of times, even more particularly when it comes to Lucy's personal space.

Most of the time Natsu liked Lucy's personal space more than his own.

So instead of waiting for him to do something Lucy moved into his space the moment he settled, still half rigidly under the covers, determined to be as far away from her as the mattress would allow.

It was a queen-sized bed and not entirely a tight fit, but she was determined not to have any space between them, so tough luck to him.

She was cold and tired and gods be damned she will be cuddled by Natsu.

So Lucy moved to latch onto Natsu's arm, lifting it so she could shimmy closer and wrapped it around her shoulder so that her whole body was pressed against his, with her head resting on his chest, leg thrown over his and she was practically half sprawled on top of him.

The rhythm of his heart picked up at the contact and the steady rise and fall of his chest accompanied by the instant warmth that enveloped her the moment his arms wrapped instinctively around her lulled Lucy back into sleep before either one of them could utter a word.

* ********* ********** ********** ********* *

The next time Lucy woke up the room was still dark, or dark again, who knows how much time passed?

The warmth she was enveloped in was nice, comfortable, and safe and she never wanted to move from it.

She laid peacefully like that for maybe about ten seconds before her mind caught up with her, and Lucy would've bolted upright in bed if not for the arms wound protectively around her.

The fake job in the Museum.

Leo's key, broken.

The possessed Demon Lady.

Finding a nearly dead Leo in the forest.

Repairing a Spirit Key.

Meeting The King of the Spirit World.

Her mom.

So many emotions and memories hit her at once that she almost wished she hadn't woken up.

Lucy still felt a little weak and heavy-limbed but much better than before, she wasn't as cold or as hazy, and with a quick assessment, she realized that her magic was not as faint as the last time she woke up, but not as nearly present as it usually was.

The kernel of fire was still there too. Settled nicely around her magic, and was interacting almost playfully with her own.

How strange.

It felt so much like Natsu.

What had happened in the clearing after she fainted? The last thing her mind could conjure was the Spirit King telling Leo he could serve out the rest of his punishment as her spirit, and calling her an old friend, before leaving with an ominous message for her and Natsu.

Why were they in the guild, surely he would have taken her back to the inn they booked till she woke up.

How did they end up back in Fairy Tail?

How long has she been unconscious?

And then Lucy recalls Natsu, and his reaction to her waking up.

The relief in his tone and body language, the way he was on his feet in seconds and ready to get Wendy, Porlyusica, and Mirajane no matter the time.

The sadness and worry that seemed to have practically engulfed him.

It must have been bad for him to react like that. She groaned inwardly at the thought. He was going to be even more possessive now, and he was just starting to loosen up on being her shadow.

Her shuffling around must've made him slowly stir awake because the next thing Lucy knew the hands on her waist tightened and she was being pulled even more into his embrace.

"Mmm, you always smell so good." His voice was rough and deep as he spoke, half nuzzling her hair and it made Lucy blush all the way down to her chest at his words and the velvety notes in his tone.

There was a pause after that, where they laid entwined together, his face nuzzled into her hair, and then it seemed like he noticed what he said, and the position they were in because he was scrambling to untangle their limbs and Lucy wanted to laugh at the fear on his face when she looked up at him.

She moved to stop his motions with a hand on his chest pressing down as firmly as she could, not wanting to be left cold and without his touch again.

"I'm glad you think I smell nice even after being unconscious for who knows how long." Lucy mused teasingly, her voice she noticed as she settled her head on his chest was even more rough and a little dry and she still felt drained, and for a split second, she wondered if it would be a good idea to succumb to the desire to fall asleep.

'Probably not.' She thinks faintly as her eyes close on their own accord.

"A week." Natsu's voice was small and there were so many emotions behind it that Lucy didn't know where to start, but the words made her head shoot up to look at him, eyes wide and all traces of sleep gone.

A week?

She'd been unconscious for seven whole days?

"Wendy and Mira gave you baths, that's why you don't stink." He added as if an afterthought, but Lucy was too busy staring at him in shock, and she would laugh at him for the absurdity of his statement if she wasn't at a complete loss of words.

"A week? What the hell? What happened?" She asked as she moved so her elbow was on his chest and she could look at him better.

And it seems something in those questions made him snap. Suddenly, there was a surge of anger and despair coursing through her, and Lucy knew it wasn't her own.

The feeling was stronger than ever. And she noticed, faintly that every part of them that is touching is accompanied by a pleasant burning sensation, like that one time he covered her in his flames to protect her.

Only this time, there were no actual flames.

Just the fire in his gaze as he glared at her.

Which was a look that wasn't unknown to Lucy, but it had never been thrown in her direction until now.

Shit.

It must have been pretty bad.

'Duh you idiot, if it wasn't bad you wouldn't have been unconscious for a week!' She thought to herself and cringed at her stupidity.

"What happened?" His voice came out as a growl, half accusing and half in disbelief as he moved swiftly to sit up in bed, and Lucy followed suit a little slower, settling against the headboard with a pinched brow and wide eyes as she stared at him, a little shocked by his reaction.

Natsu took several deep breaths, hands fisting the bed sheets as he tried to calm himself.

"What Happened?" He repeated the question after several seconds of silence, the words quieter this time, almost getting caught in his throat as his eyes unfocused and all the anger and fight seemed to leave his body as he slumped slightly, shoulders folding into himself.

And Lucy's heart dropped at the sight, this was wrong. He looked wretched, and that was not something she ever wanted to see.

Natsu should be brassy, boisterous, loud, cocky, fun, and full of life. Not this almost dispirited and troubled man next to her.

And it made Lucy scared to think what could have resulted after her passing out to put him in such a state.

There was a beat of silence, where all she could feel was the fury of emotions flowing from her partner and she couldn't make sense of any of it.

"You almost fucking died in my arms, is what happened Lucy." He was shaking as he spoke, and Lucy felt her heart drop into her stomach, heart pounding in her ears at his words. She noticed, faintly, that his voice was thick with emotion, and he couldn't look her in the eyes as he said them.

"I- I-..." Was the only response Lucy could conjure with her head spinning from his revelation, but Natsu kept talking before she could get a coherent sentence out, or process his words.

'I almost died?' Was seemingly the only she could think of, the words echoing inside her head.

"I had to watch and feel as your magic and life slowly faded away, and it was the worst fucking thing I have ever had to witness." He looked at her then, and she saw the tears and despair in his eyes and it left her speechless.

Gods, no wonder he looks and feels so unsettled.

"What? I mean how? What?" It seemed as if her brain stopped working completely and Lucy didn't know what to think, what to say to such a proclamation, and she definitely didn't know how to process the information.

How did it come to that? She remembers feeling drained and tired after fixing Leo's key, and then everything went black.

But almost dying? Besides a hell of a headache, the fact that she felt a little lethargic and her magic being fainter than usual she felt fine.

She might need a few days to sleep it off, but the look on Natsu's face, the intensity of his gaze, and the despair that seemed to be pouring out of him tell Lucy that he is in no way pulling her leg on this.

Not that she thinks he would ever pull such a cruel joke on her, still, it would be better than facing the fact that she almost joined her mother.

"After Stache face went back and time picked up again you collapsed in my arms and I co- I could feel it..." He trailed off as his voice choked at the end, avoiding her eyes once more and all Lucy could do was stare in disbelief as he spoke.

She'd never seen him like this.

"Natsu-" she started shuffling closer to him in an attempt to comfort him, her hand reaching out to squeeze his, not really knowing what to say but knowing she had to say something when suddenly the door flew open and Mira walked in with a tray of food.

"I didn't want to wake you earlier, you looked dead on your feet last night, but it's almost past noon, so I thought to bring you something to eat at least-" Her sentence was cut off and she almost dropped her tray as she saw Lucy awake.

Natsu and Lucy didn't comically jump to move away from each other at her arrival, but she did pull her hand back with another soft squeeze to his before letting go.

"Lucy!" Mira exclaimed as she quickly moved closer to the bed, placing the tray on the bedside table with a clank and moving so she could pull Lucy into a tight hug.

"You're awake." The white-haired mage mumbled into her hair as she squeezed her tighter and Lucy let out a small huff of breath.

"Oi! Careful with her, she can't breathe with ya squeezing her like that." Natsu's voice carried from behind her and she felt the warmth as he took her shoulders in his arms and pulled her back into his chest.

Mira pulled away from the bed, looking like she was going to say something before she analyzed the scene in front of her and the position they were in, the fact that they were in bed together she raised a brow at them, lips curling up into one of her deadly smirks as she looked between.

"Sorry, I'm just happy to see her finally awake." Mira said as she moved to hand Lucy a glass of water. "You gave us quite a scare, we were all so worried."

"Thanks." Lucy said to the older mage as she took the glass from her and drank half the glass in one gulp.

To say she felt dehydrated would be an understatement.

"I'm gonna leave the food here there's more than enough for you to share, I went a bit overboard this morning. I have to go tell everyone you're awake, and call Porlyusica." She said as she moved around the room, opening the curtains to let the light in before making her way towards the door in a hurry.

"Mira," Lucy called out before the mage could leave. "Please tell them I'm not feeling up to talking or seeing anyone yet, my head is killing me but besides that I'm good! So there's really no need to call Porlyusica! I feel fine." She said with a smile aimed at the older girl and Mira in return frowned at her words, gaze flickering to Natsu for a split second before settling on her with a hard look.

"You are not 'fine' Lucy, you almost died!" She felt Natsu flinch at the older mages words and moved to squeeze his hand.

And as she did, the curious burning sensation was back, creeping wonderfully up her arm.

"And the old witch said to call her the moment you woke up, so that's what I'm going to do, no arguments." She turned around to exit not giving her a chance to get a word in, and Lucy could tell she was a bit pissed and a lot worried.

"But I won't let anyone else come in."

"Happy can come." She called out seconds before the door closed because she wanted to see the blue fur ball he was probably worried, and she knew he would bring Natsu comfort as well.

Lucy turned to look back at the pink-haired man next to her, he was staring at the door with a small furrow to his brow, shoulders tight and fists clenched as he turned to look at her.

Not glaring this time, or filled with sadness. Just determination and intensity.

"We need to talk." He said before she could get a word out and ask about his sudden change in mood, her heart thundered in her chest at his words.

"About what?" She asked cautiously, not knowing where the conversation could go at this point.

Is there something worse than finding out you almost died?

"About what?" He chuckled as he repeated her question and turned his gaze around the room before settling back on her.

"About whatever the hell connection we seem to share, Luce. About how in the hell I can feel you whenever you're near, or in danger, or falling off a goddamned tower!" He rattled out, sounding frazzled, and maybe a little scared and Lucy felt her heart stop as he spoke.

"You, you can feel it too?" She questioned quietly, not entirely shocked he could, but they'd never talked about it, so she never knew for sure if he could feel it, or if it was just her. Lucy couldn't believe they were actually acknowledging this unspoken bond that had been building since they met.

Why was he choosing to talk about it now? Or better yet, why hadn't she tried to before? It is something that she has cherished, something that has saved her and plagued her since they met.

In truth, Lucy knew that it was because she was scared. Scared that he would laugh it off and tell her she was crazy, and no he doesn't feel any weird bond. Or that he would say that he could, and she didn't know which one scared her more.

What did he say earlier about feeling her dying? It was unimaginable for her, incomprehensible. The weight of that statement shook her to her core, the implication that something like that was a possibility between them was frightening.

She never wanted to experience such a thing.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by the humorless chuckle that escaped her partner.

It sounded strange coming from him, and she didn't like it, he should never sound like that.

His laughs should always be boisterous and carefree, not whatever this is.

"Yes. I feel it too. I felt it the day I found you in that alley as you almost got drained by that Leithfold, and it's only great when you're on your own with your own stronger with every fucking day we spend together. And then-" He cut off, breathing hard and eyes wild as he looked at her, and Lucy was assaulted by an array of emotions that seemed to be pouring out of him it made her head spin.

"And then I had to feel it fading, feel you fading in my arms in that god's forsaken clearing and I thought I might just fade with it. It was, it was horrible Lucy. You were so pale, so cold, and, and I didn't know what to do." He was shaking again, his fists clenching and unclenching methodically on top of the covers, his voice was quiet and hitched every so often as he talked and Lucy almost started crying as he spoke.

She could imagine him in those moments, what were almost her final moments, breathing hard and panicking, worse than he is now, calling her name and trying to wake her.

Lucy watched him as he tried to control his breathing and fail, and she pushed her tears away so she could move and catch one of his hands, bringing it to her chest so he could feel her breathing pattern. "Match my breath." She said as she took deep steadying breaths, hoping it would help center him.

She had time to cry and process everything later, she also had a feeling there was more to the story and it left her wondering how bad her migraine was gonna be by the end of it.

Noticing how her chest pleasantly burned where he touched, she wondered what prompted this new sensation between them. She didn't mind it, but it was curious and unknown.

Natsu's eyes were wide and full of unshed tears, probably mirroring her own as he worked on calming his breathing, his chest slowly following the rise and fall of her own.

"I did something stupid." He said after he got his breath to steady, head turned to the side as he moved his hand away from her and scooted to the right so that they weren't pressed against each other. He was avoiding her eyes again.

His words surprised her and left her feeling slightly uneasy.

There was something in the tone of his voice as he said it, and it made her wonder what more he was about to tell her. Natsu never minded doing stupid things, so what the hell was this about?

"How stupid?" Lucy asked, softly and half cautiously as she waited for him to turn and look at her. "I'm not sure yet. That's what we need the old whitch for. Even she was shocked by it."

His explanation was vague, to say the least, and Lucy knew she would need to pry it out of him.

"What did you do?" She decided to ask directly, trying to keep her tone even, if not a little curious and nonaccusatory, and the question made him turn to look at her, eyes unsure and posture tense.

"I, I don't know how to describe it. It all happened so fast and like it was in slow motion at the same time. I was panicking, trying and failing to think of something, anything I could do to help as I watched and felt your magic, your life fade away from you." There was a twist to his lips as he spoke and Lucy felt her heart breaking at his words, as she tried and failed to imagine his panic and desperation in those moments. "I'm no healer, Luce, you know destruction is more my thing." He shook his head and moved a hand to ruffle his hair as he took a deep steading breath.

And all Lucy wanted was to wrap herself around him and not let go for at least a week. He had been living in a suspended state of sorrow for the past seven days and all she wanted to do was comfort him.

But she found herself hesitating, they needed to have this conversation first.

"I somehow managed to give you a little part of my magic, or at least that's what I wanted to do, like a kickstart to stop yours from fading away until I could get you to Wendy. But something else happened, or something weird happened. And I somehow created a bridge I guess? between our magic..." He trailed off. "And now, now I can feel your magic flowing through me, and the bond or whatever, it feels different. Stronger."

There was a moment of silence and Lucy's brows were furrowed and head pounding as she watched him, shocked and with a rapidly growing migraine.

It was all too much for her at the moment.

Was this the reason behind the new and playful kernel of fire inside her? It really was Natsu, that's why it felt like him, and the warm sensation whenever they touched, like an extension of his power.

"What does that mean?" Her voice was small as she spoke and Natsu took a ragged breath before answering.

"You were going to die." He said quietly, as if saying it louder would make it happen all over again. "The same way your mom did, from exhausting your magic." The words were almost choked out of him and Lucy felt herself gasp at the admission, chest tightening and her hands were shaking slightly at the words.

Leo said her mom only survived for those few years because he was there to help her with the spell.

So that would mean, does that mean she was going to die too? Will she be forced to watch herself fade away slowly and painfully the way Layla did?

"Leo was furious, and I was scared out of my mind, desperate to do something. So I tried to concentrate my magic and somehow give a little bit of it to you, to help replenish yours. I don't even know what I wanted to do, give it like a kick start or something, so I could keep you alive until I could get back to the guild and get you proper help."

Lucy watched him as he spoke, his hands fidgeting and moving to run through his hair every few seconds, there was still a slight shaking to them. His voice was strained and his shoulders slumped.

She wondered idly how many times he had to retell this.

Wondered how the guild reacted to the news and hoped that no one was hard on him because of what happened.

"And it worked, and I got you back to the guild, where that cranky witch said we need to wait for you to wake up before she can tell us what the hell happened. And now.." He trailed off and turned to look at her, expression tight and desperate. "Can you feel it?" Natsu asked quietly.

"Can you feel my magic? I can feel yours, it feels tingly and bright, just like you." Lucy watched him as he touched his chest, squeezing his shirt over his heart as he looked at her.

"I-" She started, going to say that she could always feel him in one way or another. That she knew he was going to be there that day she threw herself out of the tower, that she could always tell what kind of mood he was in without even looking at him, and that yes, she could feel his magic flowing through her.

Warm, soft, and playful, making her feel safe, but her sentence was cut off by the door opening and a blue fur ball launching itself into her chest yelling. "Lushiiiiiiii!"

"Oof." Lucy breathed out as she caught Happy in her arms and hugged him. "You're awake!! You scared us Lushii, you've been sleeping forever, and Natsu was so mopey without you, and a little scary. Don't ever sleep so long ever again."

Lucy let out a small laugh at the exceeds cries, turning her head so she could look at Natsu, who was still a bit tense but was looking at the pair with a small, soft smile on his face.

"I promise, I'm sorry for scaring you both." She said as she kept her gaze on her pink-haired partner before turning back to the exceed. "But I'm feeling much better, and don't worry we'll be going out on jobs before you know it." Lucy said with a smile as she scratched between his head.

"Maybe we can all go fishing when the weather gets warmer." Happy chirps out as he moves from Lucy's arms to sit between her and Natsu's knees.

"Sure, maybe you'll even catch something while I'm there." She said cheekily, making the exceed laugh. "Natsu's the one who can't wait for the fishies to come to us!" Happy mocked the fire drakon and managed to get a slight huff of laughter from him.

The tension in the room was still there, but Lucy didn't need to glance at Natsu to know that he felt at peace for the first time in a week with her and Happy in the room and it made her heart ache.

Lucy didn't know how to process what he'd told her and still didn't know the whole of it. Waiting for Porlyusica to come so they could have the full picture seemed like the only option, but Lucy was a little scared at what more they would find out. Sneaking a glance at Natsu from the corner of her eye she thought of what he went through by seeing her like that, she couldn't imagine what seeing, and feeling something like that would be like.

The way Mira looked at him earlier, and Happy's comments on his behavior while she was unconscious it was more than obvious how affected he was by it.

She would've been wrecked if the roles were reversed, and she never wants to be in a position like that.

Lucy knows that they will need to continue their conversation as soon as possible, she had so many questions and still had this overwhelming desire to embrace him that she kept pushing down. It was not the moment for such a thing.

There still seemed to be a hesitance in him when it came to her and her touch, something that was unnatural for the duo but she didn't want to push him or make him uncomfortable.

Shaking those thoughts away Lucy turned to take the tray off the table and moved so she could place it between her and Natsu. "Did Mira call the old witch yet?" The drakon asked Happy.

"She did, Wendy's waiting for her so they can come together." The exceed answered as he moved to try and steal a piece of bacon from the tray which reminded Lucy of how hungry she was so she moved the tray of food on her lap and elbowed Natsu.

"Let's eat before they get here." She says with a smile and gestures to the food.

It was a testament to how shaken he was by all of this, that he didn't immediately devour it the moment Mira walked in with the tray.

* ********* ********** ********** ********* *

In the end, they didn't have to wait long, by the time they managed to finish their breakfast and for Lucy to freshen up, Mira was back in the room with pink and blue heads following closely behind her.

"Took you long enough to wake up, you foolish girl." The old witch said in greeting and Lucy smiled awkwardly at her from the couch they moved on after eating, not really knowing what to say at the accusation.

It's not like she wanted to be unconscious for a week.

"Child, why don't you check over the drakon, look for what I described last time. I'll take the star child." The pink-haired witch said to Wendy, moving towards Lucy without wasting any more time with pleasantries.

There was a hum of magic as her hands made contact with Lucy's cheeks. She could feel the probing and assessing of Porlyusica's magic around her own as she watched the old witch's face.

There was a furrow in her brow as she concentrated on whatever she was doing, but it wasn't the usual one she had on, filled with annoyance, no this one was different. Lucy couldn't quite read the old woman, she was a bit of an enigma, but if she had to guess it was somewhere between wonder and maybe a touch of concern.

It was hard to tell.

They spent almost an hour just fussing over them, poking and prodding their magic, muttering spells under their breath, that usually ended with scowling more often than not.

Lucy tried to free her mind and think of something else, but the only thing she could concentrate on was Natsu, the room was silent as the two healers did their job and all Lucy could focus on was the heat that was radiating from next to her, the way the kernel in her chest seemed to glow brighter when she focused on it, how her own magic reacted to it.

It was a strange feeling, but absolutely thrilling and wonderful. Natsu's magic was playful and wast, warm and all-encompassing. The more she explored this new connection, the stronger her magic seemed to feel.

As if the way it was interacting with his made it strengthen.

The silence was broken by a sudden gasp from the bluenette in front of Natsu, causing Lucy to open her eyes and turn her head so she could look at the pair, only to find Wendy looking back at her, hands still on Natsu's face.

Porlyusica made a sound as she let go of Lucy's face and clicked her tongue as she looked between the pair before turning her gaze to Wendy. "You felt it, then?" She asked the younger mage and Wendy nodded her head in response, but her gaze was still focused on her and Natsu.

Lucy watched them as they talked, hoping one of them would start explaining what they knew, but they seemed content to just stare at them as if they were a puzzle waiting to be put together. So Lucy decided to speak up.

"So, what did Natsu do when he tried to save me?" She asked, voicing the question on most people's minds, because besides Porlyusica, and maybe Wendy, no one knew what the hell happened.

"This thing that you have done, reckless drakon, saved her life. But has also put the both of you at risk." Porlyusica said sternly, half glaring at Natsu as she spoke.

"What do you mean by that? Does that mean that my magic will return in full? I won't die like," Lucy's sentence started half frantic, but her voice wavered at the end of it as she remembered the image of her mother, pale and sickly lying on the bed smiling at her. It was a genuine smile, but it looked like the small action itself hurt Layla.

"I won't slowly die from magic deprivation?" She finished instead of her original thought, casting a quick look at Natsu, who slowly moved so he could slink his hand over the back of the couch, and over her shoulder.

Lucy let out a small breath as her nerves settled with the newfound warmth that followed his touch.

"No child, it seems that his original goal to help replenish your magic worked, it just worked a little too well, and such a thing wasn't even supposed to be possible to accomplish, but here we are..."

She trailed off for a moment as she looked between them, gaze calculating. "The connection you now share has linked your magic together in a way that's almost unheard of, they have weaved together and are sealed so tightly that I'm not sure we could unfurl it even if there was a way."

"So, how? Why? What?" Lucy's head was spinning with the news. Relief washed over her as Porlyusica confirmed that she wasn't going to suffer in the same way her mother did. And more importantly, her friends wouldn't have to watch as she slowly faded.

"How, I'm not entirely certain on that, but I have my theories. Why, I'm not sure I understand the question, and as for what, as I've said it's unlike anything I've ever seen before. Something that's only been written as a part of our history and I believe it's only happened once before." The older mage answered the questions in order and Lucy was more than a little frustrated with a lack of answers, why was she giving vague statements and explanations when she clearly knew what was going on?

"So, someone else in history tried to do something similar? And as for the why, it was a why did it work?" Lucy decided to avoid confrontation, for now, not wanting to antagonize the scary old witch when she was helping them.

"Not exactly, but it was quite similar. And as for why it worked, well that question goes hand in hand with the how. I have my theories on that as well." The pink-haired witch sighed as she ran a hand through her bangs.

"Are you going to share these theories with us?" Lucy asked, not hiding the annoyance she felt at the older mage and the way she seemed to be vehemently avoiding giving them concrete answers.

"Not yet, I think some more research is in order. This is quite a peculiar situation, you can never know what to expect from Makarov's brat's." There was an almost fond look in her eyes as she said that.

"I- I could feel it." Natsu said suddenly, voice quiet and tight, he had been silent this entire time and the sound of his hoarse voice cut through the air, almost startling everyone in the room with his addition to the conversation. "Feel what?" The pink-haired healer inquired as she turned her gaze from Lucy to Natsu, who in turn lifted his head so he could glare at her.

"I could feel her dying. Like I could little feel a pain growing in my gut as she was fucking fading in my arms." He managed through grit teeth, the hand next to her shoulder was gripping the back of the couch tightly and Lucy's head was pounding again, the migraine making itself known.

"Why could I feel it?" His voice hitched as he asked the question and Lucy moved to hug him like she'd wanted since they started talking after Mira left the room this afternoon. All the reservations she had evaporated and the way he sagged in her hold made her feel a bit relieved, Natsu dropped his head in the crook of her elbow as she held him against her side.

Turning to look at the older pink-haired mage Lucy found the expression on her was slightly bewildered but ignored it. "Why is this happening to us, and not just now, even before Natsu did this, there was something between us." Lucy pushed, not caring about revealing such a thing to more than just the witch.

There was a gasp from what she was sure was Wendy, but everyone else stayed silent.

"You know something, and it's more than just a 'theory'. It's about us, it will be affecting us. We need to know." Lucy almost pleaded with the older woman, hoping she could see how much this whole situation had wrecked them already.

The pink-haired woman's brow furrowed at the question and she let out a tired sigh as she brought two fingers to pinch the bridge of her nose, before answering with two simple words that tilted Lucy's world on its axis.

"Soul mates"

Lucy stiffened at her words, and suddenly she was hyperaware of every point of her body that was touching Natsu. It felt like her body was on fire and she didn't know how to react.

He stiffened as well, and their heads shot to look at each other at the same time, eyes wide and disbelieving as their gazes met. Their faces were close to each other, due to their side embrace and they just stared at each other for a moment. Brown on Green.

The room was silent and filled with an awkward air as the pink-haired witch said those words.

Soul mates?

Lucy could feel the onslaught of emotions coming from her partner in addition to her own. Jumbled and tangled together and so hard to distinguish which was whose. And she didn't know which one of them moved (Both of them did) but suddenly there were at least twenty cemeteries from each other.

Which may not be a lot. But by their standards, they might as well be on the opposite sides of the room. Lucy could feel both Mira and Wendy looking at them, the former with a skeptical frown and a look in her eyes that resembled glee, and the latter slightly shocked and blushing.

"Soul mates?" Natsu managed to mutter out in question as he turned to glance at Lucy for a split second.

"The concept of soul mates goes back to the very first traces of magic in our world. Some even go far as to theorize that the first mages to ever practice the craft were soul mates. But having one, meeting them... The records of it happening have been few and far between. There is not much known in truth." The witch explained, sounding almost somber as she paced the room.

"The most well-known fact about them is that if a pair were to meet and form a close relationship, whether romantic or otherwise if one dies, the other is left changed, broken, and forever forced to feel the loss of half of their soul. Which is what I'm guessing you were feeling when Lucy started to fade."

The mood of the room shifted from dreary to downright depressing at that revelation, and Lucy dared a glance at Natsu, whose gaze was focused on the floor, hands clenching and unclenching on his knees.

"But the type of bond that the two of you have managed to form. What Natsu has done in his desperate attempt to save your life..." the woman trailed off with a sigh. "I fear that with the connection you share now if one of you were to die, the other would soon follow. For it is as I said, your magic has entwined so profoundly that I'm not sure anything could sever it, not even death."

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