foolproof | NALU - novel ☾

impassive aggression.

chapter 2

=•••=

lucy had tears on the edges of her eyes, a hand clamped to the center of her chest. her heart had shattered, and her throat tightened and burned. a sob slowly risen from her esophagus; aching to be released. however, lucy swallowed it down, and stared into the sharp eyes of her beloved best friend. he hadn't looked like the person she had known all along; he looked different. he looked as if those three words he had spoken directly to her, were completely and horribly true. had natsu hated her all along?

"natsu?" she choked out, a tear dripping from her left eye. it rolled down the milky white skin upon her cheek, and slowly dripped off the edge of her chin. her wide, mocha-colored eyes filled with difficulty and woe. her eyebrows were scrunched together in great confusion, and her soft, pink and plump lips had quivered. her features had shown a look of distress; her expression also hurt.

a scarlet haired woman had stepped into view, and with a tight fist; she swung it downwards and bashed natsu upside the head—earning a visible flinch from both natsu, and lucy. "what did you just say?" the requip mage had snapped, her voice sharp and demanding. natsu hadn't cowered away like he had used to when erza had used this certain tone in particular, countless times in the past. natsu rolled his shoulders, straightened his posture, and with hard eyes; he stood up to the s-class wizard, defiance in his tone and words. "i said; i hated lucy." his posture had shown scarlet that he had not been afraid. she raised her eyebrow, her fingers curling into tight fists. "oh-ho?"

almost immediately, natsu had been struck to the ground, a swollen bump soon to form upon his head. "lucy is your best friend, natsu. i don't know what's gotten into you, but it needs to stop. do you see how hurt you made her?" erza turned her shoulder to look behind her, but found that a certain blonde celestial mage was nowhere to be found. she sighed softly and looked towards the guild doors that had been open just a crack; indicating that lucy indeed must have left. the requip mage turned her attention back to natsu and scowled, disappointment evident upon her features.

"now look what you've done." shaking her head, she walked by; leaving natsu to lay there unmoving upon the wooden floorboards. gray had shown himself moments later and made himself present, and crouched down beside natsu; who's eyes had been clouded and desolated. "i would go after lucy, if i were you, flame-brain."

natsu had stared wordlessly at the guild doors, remembering lucy's presence just moments before. something had shifted slightly in his mind, but he rid himself of the feeling, and pushed himself off the dusty floorboards. "yeah, i guess i should." natsu stated, his voice quiet and uncommon. he turned to look at gray, and with a short, 'thanks', he ran out of the guildhall, leaving his guildmates in utmost surprise at his unnatural words and expressions.

makarov had been seated upon the bartenders counter, a mug of ale held in his left hand. erza had her arms propped upon the very same counter, her eyes narrowed and hard. "this isn't like natsu, master." she stated grimly, and makarov nodded. "indeed. something must have happened to natsu in order for him to act this way towards lucy. they were insufferable together, and nothing could break their bond apart."

erza nodded once again and focused her eyes onto the wooded counter, her expression troubled.

---

natsu walked slowly down the streets of magnolia, the sun beginning to dip below the horizon. his hands were clasped around the backs of his head, his fluffy blue exceed floating just inches above him. "bah!" natsu groaned in boredom. he yawned soon after before turning to his companion; his casual grin spreading onto his face. "lets just go home, 'kay, happy? lucy isn't around anywhere. we're likely to see her tomorrow at the guild. this is getting boring, too!"