The Fallen(Nalu)

11 - Whose Changed?

"This is more like a real job."

My eyes are trained ahead of me, watching through the darkness of the store that we currently reside in, waiting for a pair of thieves to arrive and rob the place.

"I think that my job was better."

I scoff and roll my eyes.

"We only got paid enough to cover your dinner."

Definitely not enough for a train ticket to the farthest place they go.

This job will pay me enough for that and then some.

The owner of this business heard rumors about a pair of mages who plan on robbing his store. Lately he's noticed two people often hanging around outside and got fearful they would do it soon so he hired us to be here and catch them when they do.

Hopefully they come tonight otherwise I'm going to have to spend more unnecessary time with Natsu.

"Alright, Natsu. If they show up we need to keep this quick and quiet. We don't want to cause any damage here or elsewhere so I think you should let me lead and if things get tricky then you can come in and help."

I wait for him to start complaining.

"Yeah, okay."

My eyebrows crease and I turn my gaze away from the windows to Natsu.

"What?"

He raises an eyebrow at me.

"What?"

"You are okay with MY plan to have you sit back and let me do all the work?"

He shrugs.

"Yeah. My magic is pretty destructive for such a small place so it makes sense to save me for the last case scenario."

My mouth opens wide in guffaw and I shake my head.

"What has gotten into you?! First you pick a job cleaning someone's house and now you don't even care that you don't get to fight? I really don't understand."

He draws his eyes away from me.

"People change, Lucy. Some more than others."

I tear my gaze away from him and look back ahead of me.

Is he talking about me? Or himself?

He's talking about me. I can feel it.

I'm the one who changed.

I'm reckless.

I'm irresponsible.

I wander from place to place without a thought or care about how I get there or if I'll get there.

I take jobs without even questioning the danger or if I can handle them alone.

I've left behind everyone who cared about me.

Why am I doing this? What is the point? Why am I still running?

"You don't have to run away, Lucy. It's not like you."

I stare at the ground with wide eyes and my hands start to grow clammy.

If it's not like me then why am I running? Why have I been doing these things if they aren't like me?

I don't even know if I understand anymore.

"Lucy?"

My name gets said but I don't pay attention.

What am I running away from?!

"Run, Lucy. Please just run away."

A bead of sweat falls from my forehead onto my hand.

Right...

I have to keep running.

I can't stop.

If I stop then the memories will catch up with me.

All I have to do is keep running and things will be okay...right?

"Lucy!"

I snap my attention out of my head.

"What?!"

Natsu looks at me and points ahead of him and my gaze shifts.

Two people are heading towards the shop from across the street, luckily not seeing us since we're covered in darkness.

"They're here."