{Natsu POV}
We got the job over with because I wanted to hurry back and see Lucy.
When I opened the guild doors, I immediately looked around.
"Huh. Where'd she go?"
"Oh! You guys are back! How'd it go?" Mira-chan waved. I smiled, waving back.
"It went pretty fast. Where's Lucy?" Gray asked, looking around.
"She went on a job not too long ago." Mira-chan said, wiping her hands.
"What?" I asked. "A job? On her own?"
"Yeah! Something about reorganizing books or something?"
"Oh..." I said, kind of disappointed.
"I'm sure she'll be back today!" Mira-chan said. "Do you guys want anything to eat?"
(Time skip, when Lucy comes home)
"I'm back." Lucy said, opening the guild doors. It was evening.
"Lucy!" I ran up to her and slung my arm over her shoulders. She tensed.
"Oh, you guys are back?" She asked, slowly releasing herself.
"Why did you go on a job on your own?" Erza asked. "I thought you said you didn't want to go on one."
"I felt out of it." Lucy said, looking away. "Keeping myself occupied helped a bit. Sorry, I'll go with you guys next time."
She walked over to Mira-chan. "I'll be leaving now. Have a nice day."
Mira-chan waved. "See you tomorrow!"
"Lucy, wait up!" I ran after her. We started to walk towards her house. I rested my head on my hands, glancing over at her from time to time. Lucy continued to stare sadly at the floor, her hands tightly gripping her bag strap.
"Hey, how are you feeling these days?" I asked, trying to make conversation.
"I'm okay." She said, in almost a monotone. I stopped, but she continued to walk.
"You suck at lying. I know you're not." I responded, before staying silent. She turned around.
"Of course I'm not." She said suddenly. "Would you be okay?"
"Huh?"
"Would you be okay if your pride was burned away?" She asked. I blinked in surprise, swallowing a huge amount of saliva. "Everything I loved was burned away at that moment because I was too weak to protect it." She turned around, clenching her fists. "Of course you wouldn't understand. You're a reckless idiot who's too strong for his own good."
Surprised at the venom that she couldn't hold in, I watched as she turned a corner and disappeared.
{Lucy POV}
As soon as I closed the door behind me, I slid down, covering my face.
"I'm an idiot..." I muttered to myself, shame and guilt eating at me slowly. "I shouldn't have said that..."
I stayed like that for a very long time. I wasn't sure when, but I fell asleep.
(Time skip)
"Lucy!"
I opened my eyes slowly, still pretty drowsy. I groaned, and tried to adjust my eyes to the bright lighting.
"Hng..." I groaned, sitting up.
"Lucy! Are you ok?"
I opened my eyes and saw Natsu's salmon hair. I made eye contact with him.
"What's...Why are you here?"
"I came here this morning to check if you were okay, and you were asleep right in front of your door!" He said. "I thought you passed out!"
My body slowly started to wake up. I started to remember all the words I said to Natsu last night, and it made me feel terrible.
I stood up, and Natsu stood up with me. "You feeling good? Should I do something? Make you some food? Wait, I can't do that. Should I catch a LARGE fish for you?"
I ignored him and walked into the bathroom. I looked in the mirror, looking at my shameful face.
I took a quick shower, and came out, changing. I thought Natsu had left by now, but there he was, lazily laying down on my couch.
I quickly grabbed my keys, putting the gloves on. Natsu walked over and grabbed the other pair. He grabbed my hand and started to put it on for me.
"Why are you avoiding me?" He asked, stretching the Velcro. I watched silently. "Huh? It's making me feel lonely."
As soon as he strapped it on, I aggressively pulled my wrist away from his grip. I opened the door, but was stopped.
His warm arms wrapped around me, securing me against him. I struggled against him, trying to move.
"Let me go." I said, as I felt his chin rest on my shoulders.
"You told me you weren't okay yesterday, so I got super worried." He said, making me stop. "Why won't you talk to us?"
I clenched my fists.
"And you're not weak. She just...She was just using outside help." Natsu said. I could hear the anger in his voice, lacing in his words. "And yeah, I'm an idiot who's too strong for his own good, but YOU are, too. That's why we're friends."
"Let me go." I repeated.
"Talk to us. Talk to ME." He said. "I'm your friend, right?"
I elbowed his torso, and he flinched back.
"You are my friend, but sometimes friends should give each other space when they need it." I said. "And I need space right now."
I grabbed my keys and left the house.
{Natsu POV}
I sighed. "It didn't work..."
Mira-Chan told me that hugs always comforted someone.
"Should I hug her more?" I asked myself, jumping out the window.
I ran to the guild and opened the doors. Lucy sat at a table, crossing her legs. I waved and greeted everyone, sitting down next to my team.
"Any luck?" Erza asked.
"She said she needed space." I said. "She needs some time to think."
Wendy worriedly looked at her. "She'll be okay, right?"
"She's Lucy, she's going to overcome it eventually." Gray said.
"Just because she's all smiles doesn't mean she can overcome every problem that comes her way." Carla said, crossing her tiny arms.
"At least have a bit of faith..." Wendy said.
"Hmph."
"We'll help any way we can but for now..." Erza turned slightly to look at her. "Let's just leave her be."
"Um...what if she misunderstands and thinks we just don't care?" Wendy asked shyly.
Just as she said that, Lucy stood up and walked towards the request board. We watched as she took a paper and went to Mira-Chan.
She left the guild, making we wonder if leaving her alone was a good idea.
