*spoilers, takes place after alvarez arc!*
[lucy's pov]
i folded the clothes that i just grabbed out of the dryer, placing them into our temporary drawers for the next few days.
"hahh, it feels so nice to be in the calm for a bit.." i stretched my arms and laid back onto the bed closing my eyes for a few seconds before they immediately opened when footsteps approached.
"it is, isn't it? let's get some rest before we make it to magia dragon, yeah?" erza brushed her fingers through her hair right before requiping into her heart kreuz pajama set.
she sighed and sat down on the edge of her bed, brushing her hair some more.
i grinned, "it's nice to be back on a job together. it feels like it's just been chaos ever since tartaros, and then the guild disappeared.." i trailed off as i remembered the loneliness i felt for a year.
"it must have been hard. i should have stayed-" i cut her off.
"no! don't say that, everybody needed to grow. it was so long ago, we've come so far. especially since alvarez.. we need to focus on the future!" i sat up and faced her.
she gave a small smile, "we'll always be together as a team, and we'll get through this mission together!"
i nodded and smiled, "ah, i'm gonna take a quick walk to get some sleep back in my eyes!" i shot up off the bed and stretched my arms behind my head.
she nodded as she turned and brought a blanket over her. i grabbed a jacket off the bed and left the room, walking down the halls of the small hotel we were staying in. i found a few doors that led to the balcony we walked by earlier and exited through them, taking in the fresh air.
"we'll always be together as a team.." i repeated erza's words, almost as if it was to reassure myself.
I leaned over the railing, taking in the views of guiltina.
"cause we'll always be together, right?"
natsu's words rang through my head and i sighed. i couldn't help but wonder what he was going to tell me.
"yo!" a voice from behind me made me jump, and i turned to see the very boy before me.
"natsu! don't sneak up on me like that!" i furrowed my brows at him and he gave me a sheepish smile.
"aye! natsu's face is very scary." happy flew over and cozied himself into my arms.
"i never said that! you just startled me, not all of us have super hearing like you." i poked his chest as he approached me and leaned on the railing.
"don't worry luce, no offense taken." he chuckled and looked at the town below us.
we stood in a comforting silence as i scratched happy's head, that is until natsu broke the silence.
"luce, i overheard you talking with erza."
"hm?"
"i'm sorry for leaving you the way i did. after tartaros, i shouldn't have done that. i'm really, really-"
"natsu! i already told you, everyone had their reasons to leave. you don't have to apologize." i reached out and turned him to face me, giving a small genuine smile.
he studied my face, "you're still sad."
i tilted my head, "how would you know?"
"i think you forget that i can always tell when something is bothering you." he took a step closer to me and i looked off to the side.
