Star-Crossed (A NatsuXLucy Fanfiction)

Chapter 14

Lucy's P.O.V.

A month passed by in the blink of an eye- just like time had been since Natsu told me I was his mate. I hadn't gotten the chance to take another solo since our date, either. Every time I try to get one and go on my own, Natsu and Happy just show up to accompany. I'm not really complaining about it. However, I did want to complain for one thing- I hardly got to do ANY of the fighting. With every job I took and Natsu accompanied, I was pushed back into my old position: Standing by while he saves the day and does most of the work. I felt the feelings of uselessness start returning. To push them aside, I decided something: I'd sneak and do a job that neither of the guys knew about. I have something else to confess, another reason for me needing to run. Last week, Natsu had sprung the third biggest question in any relationship. He'd asked me to move in with him. Now, I know this probably sounds like great news. To me, it sounded like an end. I wouldn't be doing my own jobs. I wouldn't be paying my own rent. I wouldn't have my own house. I wouldn't have my own life outside of Natsu. And yes, of course I loved him with everything inside of me, but the simple truth of it is that we haven't really been going out for that long. I understood we were mates, and I understood the fact that we'd been best friends since I was seventeen- and now, I was twenty-five (despite looking eighteen). Eight years together. I felt a sense of dread at the thought of already moving in together, though. I'd had a plan for myself: take it slow, make sure this is what I really wanted. Not go any further than kissing until after we were married- which I hoped would be at least a year into the future- ease into everything. Him already asking me to move in was like starting a book from the middle- you had no clue what the first half was about, so the second wouldn't make any sense. That's why I had been avoiding him. It sounds easy enough, in theory, but you try steering clear of someone who has super hearing, scent, and eyesight. I felt like I was being watched constantly, I stayed paranoid. I was the prey. I didn't like it. Keeping all of that in mind, I walked into the guild, keeping my eyes peeled for my pink-haired boyfriend or flying blue exceed. When I didn't spot them, I darted over to the board and examined it. I almost let out a shriek of happiness when I saw the reward for one: 300,000 jewel and a celestial gate key- silver- for Nikola. I had Plue, but I loved the little guys. It's like that old saying, "the more the merrier". I plucked it off the board and walked up to Master.

"Can I go on this?"

"Of course," He said sighing. "Run off and leave me here alone."

"You've got me, Master." Mira reminded. He waved her off.

"Not the same. I want this brat too." I giggled.

"Well, I'll be back soon enough- which reminds me, I gotta bolt before Natsu shows up and tries to tag along." Cana, who was sitting at the bar, laughed at this.

"Lover boy following you around like a lost puppy is pretty cute, though." I just shook my head, mournfully.

"If I don't get to fight something soon, I'm gonna explode."

"Ah, tags along and does it all, huh?"

"Couldn't have said it better myself. Bye," I waved bye to everyone, and then left, glad to have already brought my stuff along. I didn't stop at the train station- Natsu would be expecting that. Instead, I went on foot. Acalypha. That was where I was headed. That town was full of memories for me, bittersweet now. That was the last place I'd seen my father alive. The last time I'd spoken to him. I pushed it out of my mind and continued walking. It would help to clear my mind of everything, and let me have time to think for myself. I thought about the job I was facing. Another dark guild- one made of former rogue wizards kicked out of their guilds- was terrorizing the people of Acalypha in order to catch the magic council's eye, to show them they had the power. I guess I zoned out while I was walking, because a second later I stopped in my tracks. Someone was behind me.

"Where do you think you're going?"