I'll Save You

Someone Else

    He didn't know who his best friend was anymore.

    She was a shell of her former self and he hated to say it, but it was like they were just mere acquaintances.

    That's why when he saw her walk into the guild that day, he had immediately ran up to her.

    He noticed how she was skinner before, and how her hands shook ever so slightly. It had scared him, because it was obvious she wasn't taking care of herself.

    But what had shocked him the most was her eyes. He had always loved her eyes, he could just get lost in them all day. But these eyes were different. They were not empty like that one day so many months ago, nor did they shine with life like they used to. These eyes were cold; as if she was just waiting to be attacked. Waiting for something horrible to happen.

    And something horrible did happen.

    He didn't know how to react; he was shocked, of course. And he was sad and he could definitely feel anger raging inside of him, but he wasn't particularly close with Yukino. He had never really talked to her unless Lucy invited him in a conversation the two girls were having together.

    Lucy, though, was close to the other celestial mage.

    He didn't know what to expect from her, but it wasn't this. The short hour that she was in the guild before the news was delivered, she had spent somewhere else. Yes, she was talking and laughing with the team, but it was like she wasn't even there. It was like Lucy knew something bad was going to happen.

    So he watched. Watched as she comforted the guild members. Watched as she never shed a single tear, even at her funeral. Natsu watched as she only sunk deeper into the walls she had built around herself. The walls Natsu didn't even know had existed until it was too late.

    What kind of best friend was he?

    He was scared to talk to her about anything too personal. Because every time he did, it seemed she only grew farther away from him.

    His patience was warring thin when she walked into Fairy Tail the fifth day after the news of Yukino's death.

    She looked dead. He could tell that she was close to her breaking point. He knew that Lucy was keeping everything inside, letting it destroy her bit by bit.

    Natsu did the first thing that came to mind.

    He walked up to her, picked her up on his shoulder, and exited the guild.

    When they made it back to Lucy's apartment, she was not happy.

    She had looked at him with such ferocity that it almost scared him. But anything was better than that coldness that had lingered in her eyes for the past week.

    "Why did you do that?!" He could tell that even though she sounded angry at him, she wasn't. It relaxed him, because he knew that at least one thing hasn't changed about his Lucy. That she just couldn't be mad at him (or at least for a long time, he added).

    He grabbed her by her shoulders, there faces mere inches apart. "Whatever you're doing needs to stop. I... I can't keep watching you destroy yourself, Luce." His voice was laced with deep worry, but behind that was a great seriousness.

    He saw Lucy swallow nervously and noticed how her eyes began to shine with unshed tears.

    "I... I don't get it. Why are you so worried about me? It doesn't make any sense. I don't want to bother you. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

    He could see Lucy, the real Lucy for the first time in a long time. He finally got through to her, and if he had to do this again, he would. Again and again and again. As many times as it took.

    Natsu wrapped his arms around her smaller frame and hugged her. He didn't attend to let go for a long time, because this was the first time in six months that he had gotten to hold Lucy.

    "I worry about you because I want to worry about you, Lucy. Don't automatically assume that you would burden me, because no matter how far you push yourself away, I will always be next to you. No matter what." He felt her tears soak his shirt so he had just held her tighter.

    "You promise?" Her voice was bearably above a whisper and it was filled with a loneliness that Natsu never wanted to hear again. It had made his own heart clench with agony.

    "I promise. I will always be by your side no matter what."

    She had nodded, and slowly leaned in closer to him. He had felt her fall limp into his arms and felt the calming sound of her steady breathing. Natsu had picked her up bridal style and carried her to her bed. He had gently laid Lucy down and tucked her in. He slowly crawled in next to her wrapping her in a protective embrace and kissed her forehead which caused a gentle smile to form on Lucy's lips. Natsu choose to embrace this moment because he felt like this won't happen in a long time.

    He choose to ignore the lingering feeling that something bad was going to happen in favor of sleep.

    He wish he didn't.

    Sorry this chapter is so short! I really wanted to do something from Natsu's POV again before moving onto the next big event in the story. The next chapter is going to be one of the longest ones so far, but probably won't be out in a little over a week, so sorry for the delay.

    Quick question: Do you guys like it when I do chapter with Natsu's POV or should I just stick to Lucy's? Please let me know. I want to make this story as enjoyable as I can and don't want do stuff that people don't like.

    Hope everyone has/had a good day!