Forever by his side (nalu)

Their secrets

Lucy POV

I wonder why he suggested this exchange of information. He, like me, doesn't seem inclined to share his secrets. Maybe he has known hate as I did. Despite myself, I start feeling hope that maybe he won't despise me for how I was born. I try my best to crush this hope, but it won't die. It frightens me more than anything. Hope is not a good thing. It is the worst feeling of all, giving you something precious to lose. Destroying you from the inside. I don't want to answer his questions, but I think I want to know about him more than I want to keep my secrets because of this stupid, stupid hope.

He seems as surprised as me that I accepted his offer. Maybe he suggested it thinking I would refuse and shut up. Thinking he is going to desist himself, I sigh, but he surprises me.

"I have dragon slayer magic."

Oh! Lost magic. This is so interesting. When at home, I would sneak into our library and read books. They were my escape from reality. My preferred subject was magic and all of its type. Lost magics were the most interesting. This habit of mine earned me many beatings, but it was my only happiness. No way was I going to let them take it away from me. Anyway, it doesn't matter anymore and I'm really excited to talk about dragon slayer magic with someone who possess it.

"Does it mean a dragon raised you?" I ask with wide eyes.

"No, no, no. That's not how it works," he reprimands me. "It's my turn to ask a question."

A little apprehensive, I nonetheless nod my approval. Motioning to my leather pouch, he inquires, "What's in that?"

I look down in my hands to see I'm still clinging to it, as if afraid to let it go. "It's the most precious thing to me." Slowly, I open the pouch and take out my two keys, putting them on the ground. Two golden keys. "They are celestial keys. It's magic that lets you make contracts with celestial spirits. They are my friends." I have to summon them soon. At home, it was not allowed, and father always found out if I did it, so I haven't seen them in a long time. "I found them a while ago in our attic." Mother had been horrified when she first saw me play with a spirit. It had once been her magic, and she was appalled that an abomination like me had inherited it. Shaking myself out of my dark mood, I look up to see Natsu watching me with what might be... worry? in his eyes. No. Can't be. "So," I say, shaking myself out of my dark mood, "Were you raised by a dragon?"

"Yes, I was," he answered, rolling his eyes.

"You are so stingy with your answers, Natsu. It's no fun," I pout.

"That's how you win the game," he declares with a small mischievous smile on his face. "Now my turn." He thinks for a little bit. "Now that you ran away, what do you want to do?"

What a weird question. Did he want to know what I wanted to do so he could get rid of me sooner? Did he notice my dark mood and is now trying to change it? Am I giving him too much credit? Is that stupid hope clouding my mind and making me give him ulterior motives that were never there, to begin with? After all, we just met. Why would he care for my feelings? Putting these worries aside, I decide to enjoy the conversation while it last and answer the question. "I'm going to join a guild! I don't know which one yet, but I will become a powerful mage," I say with conviction. I can hide my secret, and no longer will someone bend me to their will. No more will I be hidden like a dirty secret. No more will I be shunned for something I never had any control over. No more will I be defenceless while someone abuses me.

At my response, Natsu winces. "What is it?" I inquire.

"Let's just say I don't have the best historic nor opinion of guilds in general."

"Why?"

He looks at me as if I should know the answer. "Oh! Because you were raised by a dragon?" He nods. "But aren't there others dragon slayer? And dragon-slaying magic is not evil magic in any way. Why would they be afraid of you?"