Laxus and Lucy

Chapter 5: Aftermath

"Quite a korean drama." Laxus said, he was sitting and leaning against a chimney. He had observed the entire match from the roof of the guild.

Lucy sat down next to him. "Do you remember when we first made this?" Lucy motioned to...seemingly nothing.

"Made what?" He looked at her, but when he looked at her, he did a double take. She was crying, but she wasn't wiping her tears, just letting them fall. He held out his arms, and she fell into them, her head leaning into his chest.

"This place." She mumbled into his shirt, her old scent filled his nose, and he relaxed as he looked around their space. Three years ago they had created a pocket dimension on top of the roof of Fairy Tail, a mirror dimension. It replicated the real world exactly, and they could see people from the real world walking. But if they ever reached out to touch anyone who came onto the roof, they would simply phase through them. Since this dimension was only accessible to Laxus and Lucy, it was a completely private and sacred place, just for them.

3 Years Ago

"A pocket dimension?" Laxus scoffed, his arms crossed, "You think you could create one? You could barely craft that new health potion I showed you the other day."

"Come on!!! That health potion was an ancient recipe, no one uses those anymore." Lucy whined, her hands on her hips.

Laxus eyed Lucy. Her hair was short, she cut it soon after they began training together. Half of her hair was tied up behind her head, and she...she looked adorable. He could feel her determination emanating from her form.

"Well, where would you even want to make it? Do you even know what they are?" Laxus studied Lucy, monitoring her expressions.

"Yes! As a matter of fact, Laxus, I studied up on this topic with any book in the guild library that had 'pocket or mirror dimension' in it, so I am very well informed." Her nose was upturned; she was proud.

"I want it to be the roof of the guild!" She exclaimed, excited. Laxus cocked an eyebrow.

"Why the roof? Wanting to see something from there?"

"I want to...be able to see them when they come." She drifted off, opening her heart a little.

"They wouldn't be able to see you in the mirror dimension, Bunny..." He scooted closer to her. They were situated on the railing of the second floor of the guild; their legs dangling off the edge. The guild was dark, and only illuminated by the skylight from the roof. It was long past the evening, but well before dawn, and they had been talking for hours. Hours and hours of...nothing really, but it felt right.

"I know...I don't know if I want them to see me." She sighed, shifting even closer to the dark mage.

Laxus looked up through the skylight, "Lucy..." He turned to look at her on his left. She had snuggled close to him against his black sweater, swaddled by the blankets she had brought and his warmth. Her eyes were gleaming.

"Let's go make that pocket dimension, okay? Not for them, but for us."

"Okay..." Her lips turned up into a slight smile, "For us."

***

"You're going to have to go out eventually, talk to press maybe?" Laxus grinned a little, trying to make her smile despite her free flowing tears.

"I'm not sad Laxus! I'm glad I did it!" She brushed her tears to the side. "I'm happy that I let it out."

"Why don't we go grab some pizza and go home?" Laxus suggested.

"Yes!!!" Lucy exclaimed, her eyes dazzling, "But first let me do something. Do you have it?"

Laxus reached into his pocket, and procured a shimmering box. "Are you sure? He's still at the arena I think."

She took the container, and began walking towards the edge of the roof, "I've got this babe." She smiled at Laxus.

After the battle, Fairy Tail had become open to Magnolia, and a party in Lucy's honor was held. However, Team Natsu had stayed in the arena, watching over a distraught Natsu. Lucy floated from her mirror dimension, landing gracefully on the fence bordering the arena. It was dark, and a mist hanged over the empty space, a gloom in the atmosphere.

"What do you want Heartfilia?" Erza was the first to notice her. Lucy noted Erza's menacing tone.

Lucy walked closer, "I need the rest of you to stand down, I'm only here for Dragneel." She lifted her arm and with a single wave, she teleported the rest of the team back into the guild, leaving the form of Natsu on the ground with her. He was sitting on the grass, looking absentmindedly at nothing.

"Natsu?" Lucy asked softly, sitting next to him, her hand clutching the box. Natsu looked at her.

"How are you?" His brow furrowed, focusing on her facial features.

Lucy was taken aback, she wasn't expecting that, "I'm doing well Natsu...I really am."

"What do you have in your hand?" He motioned towards the box.

"You don't recognize it? This used to be yours. But..." She opened the box. Inside, she revealed a bright metal ring. It was thin, and little inscriptions were engraved onto the inside. She closed it and put the box in Natsu's hands, "I can't wear this anymore Natsu." Her voice was tinged with sadness.

Natsu didn't say anything, and he stared at the shimmering box. Lucy placed a comforting hand on Natsu for a while, before she walked away.

When she left, Natsu opened the box and gingerly pulled the ring out of the box.

He read the engraving again, for the first time in five years: I love you.