Hurt so good •Nalu•

13

A month later, I dug myself deep in my work. Clocking in early in the morning and leaving late at night. Even though I was preoccupied with getting my research finished, but I was still getting the odd feeling at times, that someone was watching me..

When I arrived this morning, It began as any other day, I went straight to work, writing on my report. After a while I take a short break to refill my cup with coffee when I hear a loud ringing.

'Wha- the fire alarm!?' The other researchers are all confused, some are questioning if it's a fire in the lab.

"Lucy!" A panting Arietis dashing up. "There you are!"

Arietis, is a young woman with pink hair and is always wearing a white fluffy wool cardigan, she's a new intern to one of the resident scientists Aldebaran Taurus.

"Arietis, is there really a fire!?"

"Y-yes, ma'am! I-it's no drill! Hurry, this way ma'am!"

The normally completely shy girl grabs me by the arm. "Wait! Arietis, where did it start!?"

"Uhh, I-I'm not.. I think I-It was near the east wing of research."

'That's near my office! I have to much riding on this report!' With this thought I shake myself free from Arietis's grasp.

"Ma'am, where are you- I-it's to dangerous!"

Ignoring her shouts I sprint down the hallway. I'm to close to loose it all now. When I near the eastern wing, a pungent black smoke attacks my nose. I feel the temperature rising around me, I can't see the fire, but it's somewhere close for sure. 'I have to hurry!' My thoughts were frantic as it taunted me with the sound of my father's mocking laugh. Unknowingly tears started to pool in my eyes as the reality of my dreams may crumble here..

The moment I go to push the heavy fire door open, somebody snatched my arm.

"It's dangerous!"

The one who stops me is none other than Natsu in his fireman's uniform. "Natsu, what are you-"

"What are you doing! You shouldn't be here!" He yells with plain anger in his voice. "There's a fire Lucy! This isn't a fucking play ground!"

Through the now down pour of tears I see the tongues of fire in the direction I was heading. The acrid smoke gets even denser, and the hallways fills with red flames. 'N-no! I-it can't..'

"See! Now get to safety!"

"No, I can't! I can't let him win!"

"This isn't the time- LUCE!"

Catching him off guard I jerk loose and squeeze through the crack I'd made with the door, darting into my office. I'm scrambling to gather all I can as I hear Natsu's heavy boots enter the room. "The hell! You got a lot of explaining later!" He once again yells in the same angered tone.

He drags me out of my office, as he throws me over his shoulder the flames engulf what was once my corner office. I cling to the folders I was able to gather.

Once outside, Natsu sits me down, "Medic! I need a medic!" Through a blur a girl started questioning me, she gave me her name, "Hi, I'm Laki, ma'am can you-" I answered the medical woman's questions in a monotone, as I watched Natsu in the far distance continuing to work.

'I hope I was able to save enough to finish my report.. to gain my dreams of my own life.. I'm so sorry Natsu..'

I looked around at all my colleagues, all there faces riddled with worry, some with heartbreak. I noticed that Arietis wasn't amongst them. I suddenly jumped up, "Arietis! Arietis? Aries?!" I frantically called out for the young intern, however she didn't reply. Our colleagues looked at one another and shook their heads. 'Oh no! Please please don't-'

At that moment I heard Natsu in the distance, "This is the last one!"

I turned my attention towards him, and there he collapsed along with a young pink haired girl, wearing a now singed wool cardigan.

Thanks to the labs fire prevention equipment and the firefighters prompt actions, the damage caused by the fire was minimal. Luckily, no records or data that hadn't already been previously back up were harmed. As for my research, I managed to gather everything I needed for my report.

As for Arietis, she took the wrong turn while fleeing the building, with a short stay in the hospital she was back to perfect health. Natsu had gotten hurt going in alone, in order to save her life.