Beholden | NaLu |

• S E V E N T E E N •

•••

Lucy frowned, watching him silently tend to her wounds, as he very carefully and tenderly wrapped the bandages around them.

"Oh look how the tables have turned!" She chuckled, remembering about the time when she was the one bandaging him instead.

However, he just gave her a small glare and wordlessly continued on with his work.

Lucy sighed, bored, until she noticed his injured side which was smartly hidden by his scarf and T-Shirt. She jumped up, which was a mistake for she hissed in pain, and pulled up his scarf and shirt sleeve, examining the wound.

"How?"

He jerked his arm away, and hissed in pain, annoyed. Lucy huffed in annoyance herself, crossing her arms.

"Okay, stop right there. Don't go on giving me that attitude. You're hurt! You need treatment as much as I do-!"

"STOP!" He bellowed. Lucy, shocked, quieted down instantly, looking at him in disbelief. His eyes softened after it met hers and he looked at her beseechingly. "Please stop. Stop acting like I'm more important than you. Please. I made this happen to you."

She smiled slightly, moving over to him and pulling him down to sit back on the couch.

"Do you really want to argue with me about who's more important to whom right before parting?" She chuckled. "I think we both might already know about the difference in opinions."

She opened up the box, pulling out fresh bandages. Swiftly and tenderly, she tended to his injuries, putting medicine on and wrapping it up securely. A light gasp escaped her and she slightly winced from the pain in her throbbing hand.

"Hurts that bad, huh?"

"You have no idea how bad." She replied, laughing lightly, but knowing deep down in her heart that it wasn't just true for the injuries.

"I don't want to go Lushie." Happy whined, still teary-eyed. The blonde woman smiled sadly and caressed his face.

"I don't want you to either but.."

"Happy can stay here if that's what he wants." Natsu suddenly announced, still looking away.

"WHAT?"

"But Natsu, we're partners and best fr-"

"It's not like you're bound to go with me, Happy. Also I think it'll be best if you stay here. I don't really think I deserve your friendship if I'm too weak to even protect somebody I love. It'll be better if you stayed here.."

"Hey." Lucy whispered, turning his face so that he could directly face her. "That's not true. You are strong. You can save your friends. Don't you dare say anything else."

"But I couldn't even protect y-"

"You did protect me." She continued, cutting him off. "You did save me. And.."

She tried to move her hand away, but Natsu swiftly put his own hand over hers to keep it in place.

Lucy pretended that her heart didn't skip a beat.