The Fallen(Nalu)

13- Split Paths

The silence causes me to become anxious again.

"Natsu?!"

No other sounds follow after my voice and I bite my lip.

Oh no....

I break off into a sprint down the street Natsu had originally gone.

"Natsu?!"

I stop at the corner of the street and quickly turn my head left and right down the other streets.

All of them are empty.

I choke back a sob.

A hundred thoughts race through my head all at once causing me to helplessly look around me, my feet shifting to where I'm practically spinning.

Where is he?

What do I do?

I don't understand...

How did I end up in this mess again?

A tap on my shoulder causes me to stop in my tracks suddenly, almost causing me to trip if not for a hand that grabs hold of my shoulder and steadies me.

I glance up and relief instantly swells through my body at the sight of Natsu looking at me with confusion on his face.

"What's gotten you all worked up-actually what happened to your face?"

I sigh and close my eyes, dragging my hands down my face.

What was I so worked up over?

"Well looks like you took care of both of them by yourself just like the plan."

My eyes open into a glare. The relief of seeing him fading away leaving only anger.

"Where were you, Natsu? The plan was to have you stay back...not run after one of them!"

He chuckles and scratches the back of his head.

"Well I just figured as long as we weren't in the store we didn't need to worry about me destroying anything."

"Natsu I was-"

I cut myself off.

Natsu raises an eyebrow.

"You were what?"

I was worried.

I shake my head.

"It doesn't matter. Time to collect the reward money and be done with it."

I turn around to head back towards the shop where there are two tied up individuals waiting to be brought in.

"Be done with what exactly, Lucy?"

I stop in my tracks.

"The job, obviously."

"We both know that's not true."

My eyes shut tightly and Natsu continues to talk behind me.

"Lucy you know why I'm here...and I know that you're not ready yet, but..."

My eyes open.

"Stop, Natsu. Stop talking."

I turn around to face him.

"I'm never going back. I can't."

Natsu presses his lips into a thin line.

"So your plan is to just go across the continent and do what? Be alone for the rest of your life and pretend like Fairy Tail doesn't exist?"

I bite my lip, my eyes starting to water.

My voice comes out in a whisper.

"Yes.."

His eyebrows crease and a frown forms on his face.

"Is that really what you want, Lucy? Is it really worth it?"

I open my mouth but nothing comes out so my lips press back together.

"I'd never want this for you, Lucy. You know that I want you to be happy no matter what."

My eyes widen and I turn away swiftly. I'm too afraid to look him in the eyes at this moment in fear of what thoughts may force their way out from the depths of my memory.

A hand grabs hold of my forearm.

"It's okay, Lucy. You don't have to run anymore. I'll always be here, okay. You don't have to push it all away anymore."

I flinch.

"Lucy, I'm here for you. We're all here for you. It's going to be okay."

I tense as someone's words start playing in my head.

"It wasn't your fault, Lucy. What happened during the job...in the cave-"

I snap my eyes open, cutting off the memory before it can continue and quickly step away from Natsu, out of his reach.

"Stop!"

He tries to take a step forward and I take another step back, putting a hand in front of me to indicate distance.

"You know what...I do want to leave. I'm tired of whatever has been going on this past week."

I stand my ground, my face hardening and my hand tensing at my side.

"I don't need this. I don't need anyone's help and I certainly don't want it."

He takes a step forward and I take one back.

"Lucy..."

I'm done. This is it.

No more of the past.

"Just leave me alone, already!"

Natsu looks at me sadly.

I turn around and clench my hands into fists at my sides.

The next few moments are spent in silence before I hear footsteps behind me. The sound grows quieter the further they get away from me and then it's completely quiet again.

I sigh and unclench my fists.

When I finally look back up the street is empty once again and I'm left standing alone.