Time Changes Everything

Not Yet

   Cobra watched as Lucy fell to the ground, her eyes landing on him before they slid closed. Letting out a loud groan of annoyance, he kicked himself off the tree he was leaning on and marched over to where she laid. Looking down at her fallen form, he could feel the way his chest tightened uncomfortably, it only growing the longer he stayed there. Hoisting her onto his back, Cobra made sure that Lucy was in place before marching back to her apartment, dead set on leaving her there for her spirits to take care of. 

   Dropping her off at her house, he tucked her into bed, leaving a few painkillers beside her bed and a cup of water for when she woke up. Giving her a final glance, he left her apartment, eager to head back on the road and away from the problem at hand.

   'I guess everyone was right, I do run away from my problems.' 

   Sighing, Cobra ignored the dull ache in his chest, refusing to turn back around and accept defeat by crawling back to the blonde he was sure he would be back to within a week. Maybe a week apart was a good thing, it would give him time to think over everything that was happening, figuring out how to approach something as important as mating. Cobra was clueless about an actual relationship, most of his being one night stands and a few flings when he found a particular girl he liked, never once settling down for more than a few weeks at a time. Finding a girl wasn't hard when he looked how he did, burly and muscular had girls flocking to him like a moth to a flame. 

   Shaking his head to rid himself of his thoughts, he placed a hand over his chest, feeling the slow beat of his heart. He could feel the pain spiking the further he got from Lucy, but he was in no way ready to head back that way, give him a few days and maybe, just maybe he'd be willing to try, but now all he thought of back that way was fear. It was something Cobra had never thought to do, get with someone to spend his life with, although it did sound appealing, he didn't think he was ready. He'd have to have major life changes before he was even close to having a relationship, especially with someone like Lucy. 

   Sparing a final glance back at the town that seemed no bigger than an ant, he marched up and over a hill, Magnolia sliding out of view as he slipped off into the trees.

   When Lucy woke up, her head was pounding and her back was stiff. She couldn't remember how she had gotten home, but the painkillers and a glass of water by her bed was a miracle sent from heaven. Taking the pills and swallowing them down with water, she sighed, relaxing back into bed to wait for the medicine to kick in. About ten minutes later, the headache and body pains she felt faded into the back of her mind. Worrying about her hygiene, she jumped out of bed, grabbing a pair of torn skinny jeans and a purple off the shoulder shirt. Slipping into the bathroom, Lucy showered and dried off, throwing the clothes on before wrapping her belt which held her whip around her waist, ready to head back out to the guild hall. 

   Not the least bit sorry about what she did to Natsu, she strolled inside, an ache in her chest that she woke up with still lingering as she took a seat at the bar. Kinana walked over to her, placing a small smoothie in front of her for her to drink before her normal pancakes were finished. Giving the girl a grateful smile, she went about drinking from her smoothie, watching as a few guild members avoided her at all costs. Enjoying the peace and quiet that came with early mornings, she ate her pancakes in peace before jumping up to look at the request board. 

   Craving a bit of action to let lose some pent up frustration she picked up a relatively easy one, take out a small group of bandits trying to steal from a bank. Getting the stamp from Mira, she was out of the hall within thirty minutes. 

   Making her way to the train station, she managed to catch one heading to Oak Town, where the request was sent from. She was excited to head back that way, finally being able to enjoy the place without being kidnapped by the former Phantom Lord guild. A large smile on her face the entire way there, the corners of her lips wavering as the pain in her chest grew.