The Fallen(Nalu)

23- His Feelings

I watch Natsu with a soft smile on my lips.

He raises an eyebrow at me.

"What?"

I shake my head, the smile never leaving.

"Nothing...for a second it just kind of felt like we were off on a normal job."

I look ahead of me, close my eyes for a moment and take a deep breath.

"Just like old times."

Silence follows and I can feel eyes staring at me.

I open my own and Natsu walks a few steps ahead and turns so that he's facing me.

I watch him with amusement.

"Keep walking like that and you'll trip."

He waves me off and continues walking backwards.

"Do you remember the first official job we went on together where you had to dress as a maid?"

My eyebrows furrow and I scowl.

"Yes...I got called ugly! That man had no taste whatsoever."

Natsu bursts into laughter and leans forward, holding his stomach.

I bite my lip to hold back a smile as he walks closer and closer to a tree, unbeknownst to him.

"Man, that was funny, Lucy! Happy and I loved that job."

I smirk as Natsu's back rams right into the tree and his face morphs into one of surprise and pain.

I stop in front of him and laugh.

"I'm sure you guys did enjoy watching me suffer. Just like how I'm enjoying this."

He rubs his back before looking up at me with a mischievious grin.

I falter, my laughter fading out.

"What?"

He stands up straight and takes a few steps towards me.

I take one back and put a hand out in front of me.

"Natsu, whatever you're thinking...don't. I swear you'll regret it."

That seems to work and he stops in place. He taps his finger to his chin a few times before nodding.

"I think it'll be worth it."

My eyes widen and before I have a chance to run away he's rushed forward and grabbed hold of my legs, lifting me up so my torso falls over his back.

I bang my fists against his back.

"Let me go right now, Natsu!"

His back moves up and down as he chuckles.

"I needed to remind you that it's Happy and I who mess with you. That's our job. Your job is to get annoyed at us."

I stop banging my fists on his back and let my face fall forward defeatedly so that my nose is pressed against his back.

"Yeah yeah I learned my lesson."

He stops and lowers my feet back onto the ground.

I stand up and adjust my clothes with a huff.

"Not so sure if I miss you and Happy's shenanigans."

I start walking.

"I can't believe you two could even be apart for so long like this anyway."

I stop in place.

There were no footsteps behind me.

I turn around slowly, Natsu standing a few steps away from me, looking off into the sky.

My breath halts in my throat.

"Natsu?"

I lightly take a step towards him, a dark foreboding feeling swallowing the daylight around me.

All the wind fades away as I stare at Natsu who is unmoving, a deep look of sorrow shown on his face.

He doesn't respond and I gulp, sweat forming on my brow.

"Natsu...what's wrong?"

I reach a hand out tentatively.

Natsu closes his eyes and the movement causes my hand to stop in its place.

His nose is just slightly scrunched up and his eyebrows are furrowed. It looks like he's trying to hold back pain.

He's always been so happy...so carefree.

But that was a lie.

This whole time...has he been hiding this pain this whole time?

What is this pain anyway?

Something starts to rise in my stomach and my hands grow clammy.

I shift uneasily.

"Natsu...say something!"

I yell out exasperatly, the silence causing a hole in my stomach to grow rapidly.

His lip trembles ever so slightly but he bites it to keep it in place.

"I..."

I wait impatiently as he pauses.

"I really miss them..."

A single tear falls down his cheek following his words.