Fairy Tail: Falling Towards the Chaos

Chapter 46

The next few days were strange.

Lucy spent most of her time with Happy and editing for Sorcerer Weekly. She had put in her resignation notice because she'd decided to move back to Magnolia anyway after the responses had begun pooling in.

"How are things?" Levy's voice chimed through Lucy's portable lacrima. Lucy sat at her desk, editing a paper while Natsu had gone off somewhere and Happy laid curled in her lap, snoozing quietly.

"Um, I don't know," the blonde answered awkwardly, "I don't know what to do. He leaves every day, barely talks to me."

"Lu," Levy sighed heavily, "he did just kind of pour his feelings out to you. Maybe he's embarrassed."

"Okay, well, be embarrassed here! Don't just leave!" Lucy squeaked out, trying to be quiet, so she didn't disturb Happy.

"You know how boys are, and this is the first time either of you have said anything so... bold?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Lucy! You can't possibly tell me you don't have feelings for him,"

"I don't know,"

"You do know, you're just denying it, at least he finally fessed up, thank Mavis,"

"He only said something after I yelled at him for taking my pills,"

"I told you to stop taking those a long time ago, Lu, they stop to work, and then you just become dependent on them,"

"I haven't taken anymore after they came, maybe four when they chased me down, but I haven't needed to since, when he's here, just close or a simple touch, my body feels like it's riding a high,"

"Yeah, the bond will do that to ya," A deep, raspy voice interjected over the phone. Lucy heard some scuffling on Levy's end before it settled.

"Hi Gajeel," Lucy greeted plainly, knowing he was probably eavesdropping throughout their whole conversation.

"Chaos is a punk, when I see him, I owe him a smackdown," the metal dragon slayer grumbled.

"All I can tell you Lucy is to sort yourself out, if you like Natsu then tell him, he's been honest about how he feels, so you should be honest as well," Levy advised.

"He just came back and everything's moving so fast," Lucy groaned as Happy stirred in her lap, but thankfully, the exceed remained asleep.

"Lu, life moves fast,"

At that moment, Lucy's apartment door opened and in came Natsu who looked a little disgruntled as he stepped inside. Lucy had somehow conjured up a set of clothes for him with the help of Virgo, but even so, he shrugged off his shirt as he moved from the entryway, draping it over the arm of the couch.

"H-hi Natsu," Lucy called out, biting her lip while holding the lacrima to her ear.

His head snapped up at the sound of her voice, but his face was unreadable. He walked towards her casually, turning the corner, stretching and flexing his arms.

"Who's that?" He asked, nodding towards the lacrima.

"Levy and Gajeel,"

"Oi! Give the lacrima to Chaos, I want to talk to him,"  Gajeel's voice bellowed, the connection cackling. Lucy winced, immediately pulling the lacrima away from her ear before hesitantly looking up at Natsu whose brows were furrowed.

"Um," she stuttered, "hold it up to your ear." Lucy explained, extending her arm towards Natsu.

He took the lacrima from her, their fingers brushing, and Lucy didn't know why, but she could feel her face heat up from the slight contact, and she internally chastised herself. He stared at the lacrima for a second incredulously before holding it up to his ear as Lucy mentioned. Even from her seat in front of Natsu, she could hear the loud volume of Gajeel's voice, but his words were too muffled to make out. Natsu's face took on a look of annoyance, and he spun on his heel before walking away from her swiftly.

Well, she blinked, that was odd.

-----

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'll miss having you around here, Lucy," Jason sighed with a sad smile.

Gathered at Crocus' train station, Lucy smiled brightly at her former employer as Natsu and Happy waited behind her.

"I'll miss writing, that's for sure," Lucy teased jokingly, "thank you for everything you have done for me. We'll see each other again, that's for sure."

"Take care, Lucy, I'm always here if you need me, you're the coolest," Jason murmured as he pulled her in for a hug. Shocked, Lucy stood still for a second before she reciprocated. However, it only lasted for a second as a warning growl sounded behind her, causing her to pull away quickly.

Behind her, Natsu held a look of displeasure and Happy had a paw on his pant leg, stopping him from doing anything further.

"I-I'm sorry," Lucy hastily apologized to Jason, but he laughed it off with ease.

"Don't worry about it! Stay cool, Natsu, Happy!" He called out, turning away as he threw a hand over his shoulder as a wave.

She sighed with relief, thankful he didn't take it the wrong way.

"Natsu! You didn't have to growl at him," Lucy chided him gently as she walked over to her companions. Happy graciously jumped into her arms, and Lucy happily accepted the weight.

"Yeah but now you smell weird," the dragon slayer grumbled unhappily.

"He loves you~!" Happy teased cheekily.

Natsu never denied it.

The train ride to Magnolia was around four hours and by the time they made it there, Lucy was excited, but a bit tired from travelling. However, as she walked alongside Natsu towards the site of their former guildhall, Lucy felt her legs start to tremble.

Every step she took towards the rubble caused unease in her chest. What if no one stopped up? What if the ones who said they were coming, never did? What if the three of them were just chasing a hopeless dream? After all, Fairy Tail was just a fantasy at this point. Just because you wanted something doesn't mean it would happen.

Lucy learned that the hard way.

So, she hesitated.

Natsu turned back towards her once he realized she had fallen out of step with him, mouth opening to call her.

An arm was slung over her shoulder quickly, pulling her towards a nimble body. Lucy caught sight of brunette hair and was surprised with who stood next to her.

"Hey Lucy, man, your boobs just keep getting bigger!" Cana laughed, cupping one teasingly, "Hey Happy, looking scary as ever, Natsu."

"Cana," Lucy whispered quietly.

"C'mon, what are you waiting for in the middle of the street? I got your letter, we all did!" Cana questioned, raising a brow, "everyone's waiting already so we have to hurry up." Cana winked at her cheekily, wrapping her hand around the blonde's wrist as she moved forward, pulling her along.

"E-everyone?"

"Yeah, everyone,"

To be continued...