My mute Mate

Apologies

Natsu's P.O.V

I went downstairs of the guild and began looking for Wendy. She was sitting at a table with Charle and Happy, eating some sort of little dessert. I quickly went over to the table, my hands landing on the table with a little bit of force, causing Wendy and the two exceeds to look up at me with a bit of shock. "What is it Natsu-san? I thought you were sitting upstairs with Lucy-san." She looked up at me with curious eyes.

"Luce is awake. She wanted me to come and get you." I told her somewhat breathless. I didn't understand why Luce had asked for her instead of just being happy with me there, but I shook it off as Wendy quickly got up from the table and began rushing upstairs to go check on Lucy.

It's because you ignored her you idiot. The voice inside my head said to me. I growled slightly. This stupid voice needed to shut up. Luce needed me. That isn't very nice. Telling me to shut up. Maybe you should try being nicer and then Luce would talk with you. I shook my head ignoring what it was saying and quickly made my way upstairs with Wendy to check on Luce.

Wendy. had made it into the room before I did. Luce was sitting up letting Wendy examine her to make sure that everything checked out good. "Natsu-san...you should wait outside. I need to examine her upper back." Luce didn't look at me yet and I frowned. I wanted to know why she wasn't talking to me or looking at me. I walked a bit closer to her.

"Luce? Do you want me to stay here with you? You can hold my hand if you'd like." I held out my hand offering it to her. I wanted to stay there with her and make sure that she would be ok. She slowly glanced up at my hand, not enough for me to see her eyes, but enough for her to see my hand. She slowly reached her hand up to mine and put her hand in mine. I smiled. She wanted me to stay. Yes! Her hand gave mine a light squeeze before she took her hand out of mine and pushed it away slightly. I looked at her confused. "D..do you not want me to stay Luce?" She simply shook her head no and I frowned more. I nodded slightly and stepped towards the door. "I'll be right outside if you need me." I looked at her with a slight smile, but she didn't look up to me. I sighed and stepped outside the door and sat down in the hallway.

She's mad at you for ignoring her. You all spent so much time with Lisanna that she stopped talking because she didn't see the point.

I growled. "Will you just shut up? I don't need this right now." I said out loud. Thankfully there was no one around that could hear me talking to myself.

Lucy's P.O.V

I had inadvertently told Natsu to go. I didn't want him to see me in pain. That was the last thing I wanted. Even though I hadn't say anything I still cared for him. I wanted him to be happy. I wanted everyone to be happy in the guild, but all I ever manage to do is cause people pain.

"Lucy-san? Is it ok if I lift your shirt to check the wound? Make sure it's healing properly." Wendy said in a soft voice. She should know that this wasn't her fault. I'm sure that she did perfectly.

I nodded and slowly began to raise my shirt. My stomach being shown first and then the rest of my torso. I crossed my arms over my chest. I felt exposed. She slowly made her way around the bed and began inspecting the wound on my back. I sat there quietly. Focusing on my breathing. In and out. In and out. I kept repeating that in my head.

"It's healing nicely, but I think it's going to leave a scar. You should take it easy. Have someone with you whenever you're traveling anywhere. Even to home and the guild." She came back around to face me and smiled. "You can put your shirt back on. Do you want some help?" I shook my head and began to pull my shirt back on. Wincing and grunting slightly. It was painful to pull this shirt back on. "I'm going to recommend Natsu-san stays with you. He's been by your side ever since we got you back to the guild except whenever Gray-san and Erza-san made him leave to go eat and shower."

I looked at her slightly shocked and she just smiled. "Don't worry Lucy-san. I'm sure Natsu-san wants to be with you anyway, so just let him ok?" I bit my bottom lip softly and nodded telling her that it would be fine. It honestly made my heart beat a little faster from excitement. I had been wanting to spend time with Natsu all this time, but he had been busy catching up with Lisanna.

"I'll go get him and tell him it's ok to come in now if that's ok?" Wendy asked me in a soft voice. I could tell she was still worried. "Plus you're going to need someone who can help you change those bandages. I'm sure Natsu-san can help with that." She looked at me and smiled.

I sighed slightly and nodded. I didn't want to make Wendy upset so I would listen to her for now. I didn't want to give her any reason to worry. I didn't want anyone to worry about me anymore. She smiled at me some more and went out the door to go get Natsu. The door shut with a soft click.

I slowly moved in the bed to put my legs over the side getting ready to get up. I was ready to go home and take a nice long bath. I felt nasty and could definitely use a shower. The door slowly opened and Natsu stepped into the room slowly. I didn't feel ready to get up so I just sat there on the edge of the bed controlling my breathing.

"L..Luce? Do you need some help getting up?" His voice sounded a bit hoarse like he had been crying for days. I slowly looked up to him. My eyes scanning him up and down. He was in his usual attire. His scarf wrapped around his neck neatly. I weakly smiled at him and shook my head. I still didn't feel ready enough to get off the bed.

He walked farther into the room and sat down in the chair next to the bed. Close to where I was sitting on the edge of the bed. He had his arms crossed like he always did. I tilted my head slightly looking at him. He sighed and leaned forward again, his arms resting on his knees. "Listen Luce...I'm sorry. I know we haven't gotten to go on missions together a lot lately, or been able to hang out in the guild like we usually do because I've been spending time catching up with Lisanna, but that's gonna change. I promise you that we're going to spend more time together and not just because Wendy says that I need to so that you have someone to help take care of you, but because I want to spend time with you. You're my partner and I need to start acting like it again. So, I'm sorry...will you forgive me?"

I looked at him a bit shocked. Natsu was telling me he was sorry. I'd never heard him give such a heartfelt apology before. It was nice and it made me smile. He was looking at me waiting for me to give him an answer. I just smiled and nodded telling him that I would forgive him. He quickly got up from his chair and pulled me into a hug. His hand was on the back of my head as he held me close to his chest. "I promise I'm going to protect you Luce." I tensed a bit as he continued to hug me like this. We were so close together and it felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. I felt my cheeks starting to heat up and I just tried to hide my face into his chest. I hoped he wouldn't take it the wrong way.

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Hey guys! So here's the new chapter! Tell me what you guys thought in the comments below!