Title: Should've Known

Summary: He should've known that'd be the final straw to break her.

(a.k.a., where Cookie proves that she's just as sadistic as Mashima)

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

Warning: Vaguely referenced suicide.

AN: If you have no read chapter 416, go read it now. Not tons of spoilers in this but definitely enough. And, after you read that and hopefully then read this, pm me if you need someone to freak out with. I don't normally post something I've just written but chapter 416 drove me nuts. Not sure if it's a good insane or not yet.

It was red and blue and yellow and black and why was the world spiralling like this? All of his guildmates and their accusing stares were swirling and mixing together like water going down a drain, falling and crashing like his own world above him. The hard wooden floor below him should've grounded him, just like Happy's paw on his forehead but all of it was swirling-mixing-clashing-crashing around him and he can't quite remember to breath. He's going numb and shaky and there's ice stabbing his stomach and heart, painfully seeping away any happiness and warmth he had a little while ago.

This is all your fault.

The sharp tang of blood flooded his tongue, mixing with bile as he tried to choke down his panic. It was wrong, wrong, wrongwrongwrong and he needed to wake from this nightmare now.

Your fault, your fault, your fault.

His ears were ringing, picking up on some roar. It was faint, barely pricking his sensitive senses but the guilt and anger and pain were so similar and panged his heart in painfully familiar ways. He tried to focus on the roar, something that wasn't his and it wasn't until he coughed up more blood when he realized the cry of grief and anguish was his and there was no escaping this hell.

Your fault, your fault, your fault.

His skin was burning but his heart frozen. He thought he heard someone trying to talk to him but he doesn't care because this can't be happening.

Lucy can't be dead.

Your fault, your fault, your fault.

He had written a letter, promised her he was coming back. She was going to watch over everyone for him when he couldn't because she was strong and sweet and wonderful and-and everything. Lucy was going to be there, sparkling and smiling and probably smack him on the head for being an idiot and leaving for a year.

Your fault, your fault, yourfault.

How was he supposed to know she had lost Aquarius? How was he supposed to know she would be lonely without him, even when surrounded by her guildmates? How was he supposed to know looking after them wouldn't keep her alive? How was he supposed to know she would kill herself?

But then again, he never thought she'd need someone to look after her.

Yourfaultyourfaultyourfault...