{Natsu POV}
Three words:
It. Didn't. Work.
We thought giving her space would help her open up to us a bit, but nope. It seemed she drifted farther away.
She barely talked to anyone, and no one saw her at the guild that much. She still came to try and heal her burn, but that was it.
I couldn't just sit back and let this progress.
As soon as I opened the guild doors, I was punched in the face. I flew back, landing outside the guild.
"Ow! What the hell?!"
"Why, flamebrain? Can't fight back?" Gray asked. I glared at him.
"You little—!"
"Boys!" Erza walked up to Gray and crossed her arms. "Try not to spoil her good mood, ok?"
Gray sighed. "Fine."
"'Her'? Who the hell is 'her'?"
Erza smirked. "Guess who decided to start talking to us again?"
I blinked for a few seconds, still confused.
"You can't just ask him that and expect him to—"
I snapped my fingers, hoping I was right. "Luce?!"
"Oh wow, he got it." Gray said, his face full of mock surprise. Then he smiled. "Yep, she's talking again."
Excitedly, I ran into the guild, looking around. Lucy was sitting in front of Mira-Chan, having a shake. When she heard the guild doors burst open, she turned and saw me.
"Natsu!"
"Luce!"
I stopped and sat next to her. She smiled, showing all over her bright teeth. "What's up?"
"You're talking! You're smiling!" I said, patting her shoulder. She nervously laughed.
"Yeah, I guess always being under the clouds isn't the best experience." She said. "I'm all better now!"
I smiled. "This is great! We need to go on a job together. Now!"
She flinched as I grabbed her wrist. "W-Wait. Now?!"
"Yeah!"
We ran to the request board. Lucy laughed.
"Fine, fine."
I smiled as I quickly chose a job. "Decipher this paper for J300,000!"
"Yeah! That's a good one!" Lucy said, smiling.
"Happy! Erza! Gray! Wendy! Carla! Let's go on a job!"
"Alright! Our first job with Lucy in a while!" Happy said. Everyone laughed. I turned back at Lucy, who's face was red. She was smiling.
(After job...) {Lucy POV}
I went straight home after the job, too tired to move. It was a hard job. My brain was working the entire day, and Natsu's reckless behavior just made it worse.
I laughed, smiled, joked...
But something didn't feel right. I silently took a shower and dressed. They were normal things I did everyday and yet...
I sat on my bed, my legs slowly bending towards my knees.
"Why isn't it working...?" I asked, practically to no one.
I thought if I acted like I was better, like I was finally HAPPY again, I would eventually be happy...
Tears welled up in my eyes before falling in big, fat drops. I clenched my fists, my entire body shaking.
Before I could start turning into a sobbing mess, I sniffed, and wiped my tears.
"You can do this, Lucy." I told myself. "It's only the first day! You will get it."
I nodded. I tried smiling again, and it made me a bit better.
No more tears fell that night.
{Natsu POV}
The next morning, I ran to Lucy's house, opening her window and jumping in. I landed next to her bed, and found her still sleeping.
"She must've been tired." I said to myself, walking over and sitting next to the bed. I rested my chin in my hands and watched as she peacefully slept.
I noticed her right hand: it was uncovered.
My entire good mood changed as Raven Tail's mark covered her old guildmark. Rage ran through my veins.
"Look, Natsu! I got the guildmark!"
She was so happy to get that mark...So happy to have finally joined the guild of her dreams...
And it was all ruined in an instant.
I sighed. Lucy flinched, and opened her eyes. As soon as she saw me, she flinched up.
"Oh! Hi..." She said, putting her hand up to her chest. "You scared me!"
"Sorry." I said, sighing.
"Is something wrong?"
"Huh?"
"You seem down." She said, shifting in her bed. "Did something happen?"
"No. I was just looking at your hand, and I got angry..." I said, looking away. At the corner of my eye, I saw her clench her right fist. She nervously laughed.
"Oh...I see..."
Then she sniffed, stretching her arms. "Well, I'll just get ready. Did you eat?"
"Huh? No."
"I'll make you some food after I take a shower. Maybe we can eat together!"
I smiled. "Yeah, sure!"
She made us some ramen and eggs after she took a shower.
"Sorry, I don't have anything else..." She said. I smiled.
"It tastes good, don't worry."
We ate. Lucy told me all the jobs she went on her own.
"One time, this old lady got in the way of the battle, so I thought the monster was going to kill her! But then he just waited patiently for her to pass, and attacked me again." Lucy said, laughing. "He said that it was manners, or something!"
I laughed. It was so fun talking to her like this.
I stared at her as she continued to eat her ramen. I smiled fondly as she closed one eye, the soup splashing on her face.
"Oh..." She looked around for a napkin. I reached over, and wiped it off her face with my sleeve. She flinched.
"Uh...Thanks." She said.
I studied her again, slowly chewing on my food. She looked up at me, confused.
"This is probably the first time I've seen you eat this slow." She said, smiling. "Why the sudden change?"
"You're not REALLY okay, right?"
