Light My Fire [Nalu] {The FT Love Chronicles; Book 3}

Chapter Twenty--FINAL

~Natsu~

Natsu sighed loudly, his boredom beginning to get the better of him. It had been three days since the whole incident with Eliana trying to kill Lucy and then sacrificing herself. Natsu hadn't seen Lucy since they had returned to Magnolia and parted ways at the train station to go home and rest. Although he wanted to make sure she was alright, he also wanted to giver her some space. She's grieving right now, so I should leave her alone until she's ready for visitors—whenever that will be. He hoped it would be soon.

She hadn't been to the guild since their return, so he figured she had been at her apartment. The thought of her all alone in her big apartment made him want to rush straight over there, but he forced himself to remain where he was seated at the bar. He had been having the same battle with himself since he had arrived at the guildhall three hours earlier, but had succeeded so far in making himself stay put.

“What's wrong with you, Salamander?” Gajeel asked, sitting next to him at the bar and ordering a plate full of iron from Mira.

“I haven't seen Lucy in three days,” Natsu complained, laying his head on the bar with a bored sigh. “I want to take a job with her, but I don't want to bug her. With everything that happened, I think she probably wants her space.”

“Maybe she's waiting on you to go see her,” Lily suggested. “I was a little surprised when you told us all about Eliana, and it's really tragic what happened to her. Lucy cared about her a lot, and is probably still upset about it, so you should go comfort her.”

“You know what, you may be right,” Natsu said, jumping down from his bar stool with a smile. “That's one smart cat you got there, Gajeel.”

“He is my cat,” Gajeel scoffed, stuffing his face with iron.

“Come on, Happy! See ya later, Metal Head!” Natsu laughed, running from the guildhall. The thought of seeing Lucy for the first time in so long instantly brightened his mood. I'll stop by for only a second—just to make sure she's doing alright. If she wants me to leave, then I'll leave.

“Lucy!” Natsu called, opening her bedroom window and going inside. She complains about me breaking in all the time, but she never locks her window, he chuckled to himself.

“Lucy! Are you in here?” Happy flew around her apartment, shouting.

“Would you two keep it down!” Lucy snapped, coming out of the bathroom. She wrapped a robe around herself, and had a towel holding up her hair. “And learn how to knock!”

“Ah, don't be like that,” Natsu grinned, “we just came to check on you.”

“Yep, she's still alive!” Happy nodded, examining Lucy.

She sighed, but I saw a smile tug at her lips. “You guys are ridiculous.” She grabbed some clothes out of her dresser, and disappeared into the bathroom again. She was only gone for about ten minutes, and returned fully clothed. She wore a black skirt, a plain blue tank top, and a pair of black flats. Natsu thought it suited her, and smiled when she put half of her hair into a small ponytail on the side of her head.

“Why haven't you come to the guild, Lucy?” Happy asked, sadly. “It's been three days since we got back, and you haven't even come to eat with us!”

“Sorry,” she said, “I've been resting. Having my magic drained took a lot out of me. Not to mention the strain my body went through when Eliana's contract was forcibly broken.”

“What do you mean?” Natsu asked, sitting on her bed.

“When a celestial wizard and a spirit break their contract, it's usually by the agreement of both parties. It becomes null and void, and the key is then given to another person, or is given to a magic shop—something along those lines. But, because our contract was broken by Eliana snapping her key in half, it put a bit of strain on my body, since my magic summons her. I stayed home to regain my strength, and to heal a little emotionally after...” she trailed off, looking down at her feet with a sad expression on her face.