That Thing About Love

Lucy jumped happily on the living room of her apartment, still not believing she got an A in that difficult exam she'd put so much effort on.

Little things like that always made her so happy.

But after studying weeks for it, she knew she deserved it.

After pouring down the last of the coffee in her beige cup, Lucy sat on her chair and read the last chapter of the book she'd bought long along. She'd promised she'd read it only if she succeeded in the exam.

And heck if she did.

Only a few tears left her eyes as she read, but she finally was able to finish it, along her cup of sweet coffee.

She checked the clock in the kitchen wall. 8:00 pm. He'd already be back on his own apartment, just a floor above her.

She needed to mock him about her note. He always teased her, telling her she was too distracted for him to concentrate in her studies.

She prayed he never found out the truth.

Lucy grabbed the paper and ran out of her little home, took the elevator and ran towards the door she'd got used to go.

Who would have thought a guy like Natsu would become her best friend?

The memories of little things, simples as sharing an elevator trip, the bus to college, burning food together with their cooking skills, going out for lunch, eating cookies together, playing with Happy in the park… little things like that became a routine, something that she realized she couldn't live without.

It was amazing, how one man and his cat came into her life. With an horrible start, but she did her best to walk along his side on this path of becoming a better person. It was like he tried desperately not to be mean to her anymore, carefully thinking his words before saying them.

Of course it didn't work the whole time, since his impulsive personality made him more a man of action than words, which often gave birth to their countless adventures around Magnolia.

And as the elevator took her to the upper floor, music as background, her heart started to long for the sight of him. Of his face and smile, of that little earring in his ear and the scarf carefully wrapped around his neck, covering up his scar.

The doors opened, and unable to restrain a huge smile from spreading over her lips, Lucy jumped towards the door she has gotten used to cross more often than her own.

Her hand knocked against the wooden, her other one grabbing her exam with excitement, ready to brag about it and watch him scowl and cross his arms in an adorable pout.

Today, July 7th, she'd show him her intelligence, and that with a small amount of effort, you could achieve whatever you truly wanted.

No answer came from the other side, which made her frown. Usually, Happy started to meow and scratch the door with his paws, and then Natsu would open the door with a slight blush and a happy grin.

Today was different, and a bad feeling appeared in her chest.

"Natsu?" she asked, loud enough for him to be able to hear.

Maybe this feeling was for nothing, and he was just showering and listening to music after a long day at the coffee shop.

But Natsu didn't like to shower before midnight.

She gulped down and knocked harder, biting her lip. "Natsu! If you're there, open, or at least reply! This isn't funny, y'know?"

No response.

"Natsu!" she cried hysterically.

Maybe she was overreacting, and she had become hysterical, but the sound of silence after her call brought back memories she didn't want to recall.

Finally, Lucy remembered when he told her about the backup key. She grabbed it and put it inside the lock, turning it around with shaking hands. The door finally opened, and she ran inside, closing it with a kick.

But what she found was never in her plans.

There he was, sitting on the floor, his back against the wall and his face thrown back, pink bangs covering his eyes. But even in the distance she could see tears rolling down his face. Around him, a couple of bottles of alcohol surrounding him. The smell was so strong she had to cover her nose.

The lights were off, and only the moonlight leaked through the kitchen window.

Lucy threw her exam as she ran to his side, putting each hand over his cheeks and turning his face to hers. His dark eyes were glassy, unable to focus on her, as if he was looking miles away. Tears kept falling down, and with each drop that fell to the ground, a piece of her heart shattered.

"My God," she whispered, feeling as her own chest tightened with pain.

She always knew about his sadness. As much as he tried to laugh it off, it always was there, between the little spots of different shades on his eyes, in the corner of his lips when he thought no one was watching. It seemed it had become too much without her noticing, and he finally was breaking down.

Unable to speak, she hugged his head against her chest and held him, caressing his pink locks as his body shook along the heartbreaking sobs.

Such a lonely boy in a lonely night.

She hugged him tighter as realization sunk within her bones with a chilling cold. Just how long had he been like that? Why was him like this? Was his drunk, what was his reason? What was he thinking?

"Lu… cy?" his voice cracked, rough, with a dry throat.

"Yes," she said, biting her lip, praying that everything was fine and the situation was not as bad as she was thinking.

"Are you… here?"

"Yes, I'm here. I'm with you, Natsu." she said.

"Why?"

And for a moment she'd forgot about anything else, and words took their time to come out. "Nothing important, but what… what happened to you?"

She watched as he blinked in confusion, his eyes wandering around the room in search of answers. He frowned, still wondering. Lucy could smell the alcohol coming out from his mouth every time he opened it to talk.

"Oh…" he said, chuckling lifelessly. "Nothing important."

She sucked in a breath. Even in his lowest moment, where he needed to look for help, he refused to share about him with her. She'd thought that after months, he'd open up and trust her, even if only a little. But it wasn't like that, he didn't trust her at all.

"Natsu." she said firmly, holding him by the shoulders. She leaned in and touched his foreheads with hers, as silent tears came out of the eyes of the two of them. She didn't remember crying. "Please-"

"It's the anniversary of my dad's death," he said, monotone. "Funny, uh?"

"Natsu?" she asked, just now understanding the meaning of half of it. Did he buy the alcohol to dull the pain, or was it already too much he couldn't feel anything?

"He wasn't even my real father to be honest," he chuckled, "he just found me on his doorstep and took me in."

"That man…" she said, gulping down. "Was he nice?"

A ghost smile appeared on his lips, as if recalling good memories. It calmed her down, knowing he felt loved long ago. "Igneel was the best, y'know, he always bought those candy apples to me when no one else wanted to. He also hugged me and ruffled my hair, even if other kids said it was weird."

Lucy cried silently, listening to the stories he told her for the first time. And she cried too, because how could a sweet kid be bullied because hair? The world was cruel, she knew, and yet there was a blessing called love.

"Igneel taught me how to write and read, because I never listened to the teacher," Natsu said. It was quite surprising how he still didn't pull her away, considering the whole history that was their friendship.

Maybe, just maybe, deep down he also considered her a close friend.

"Do you… want to tell me more?" she asked quietly.

"You want to know more?" he asked, his eyes widen open.

For a moment she was about to slap him, until she remembered his condition and the whole moment. She sighed in exasperation, "Of course I want to, silly. Come here, I'll listen."

She sat against the wall, motioning him to sit by her side. Like a little kid, he stared for a moment, his eyes watery as he considered what to do. Finally, he laid down on the floor and put his head over her lap, his eyes closed. Lucy's face blushed furiously. It was not a thing he'd do without alcohol, that was for sure.

"Igneel… he died in a fire," he explained. "I don't know how it really happened, since I was seven and I was not home in the moment. Some said it was on purpose, others said it was an accident… I don't know what I should believe, to be honest."

He put an arm over his eyes, but she still saw another tear roll down. She wanted to make him better, to show a brighter side, but was there one? She knew very well the feel of losing important people and not being able to see them ever again.

"And then… I don't even remember, but Makarov took me in. I think it was because I kicked him in the guts at some bar," he said.

Lucy stared, shocked. Makarov, as in, the principal of the college? Makarov Dreyar?

"He took me in, even if his grandson hated me… He's a good man,"

So much hate in his life.

Without wanting it, Lucy put her palms against her face and cried out loud. Because it hurt, when someone close to you suffered. It was as if the both of them got hurt.

"Lucy…?" Natsu asked. He had sobered up at the sound of her sobs.

"Sorry…" she murmured, her throat hurting as she tried to stop and failing.

"You don't have to cry-"

"But it's so sad!"

"..."

Silence filled the room as she continued, with him unable to argue with her. He'd watched all along her golden heart and how easy it was to get her emotional. Maybe he shouldn't have said all that at once, but he didn't regret it. If it was possible, perhaps he felt better now… lighter.

"I'm sorry… I should be helping now," Natsu watched with sadness as Lucy furiously wiped tears off her face with her arms.

He found no words to console her.

And in silence he sat up, swallowing hard as he fuzzy mind tried to analyze what he was going to do. He'd promised himself days ago, and to Makarov, that he wouldn't disappear for days without reason in this date ever again. And instead of that he got the stupid idea to get drunk to forget about the pain. Why were all his ideas so reckless, he wasn't sure.

He sat next to her and hugged her.

"I don't like to see you crying for my fault,"

"It's just that… I didn't know anything and-"

He kissed her.

A soft touch that lasted less than five seconds, but woke up a new, reborn feeling that they'd forgot between all the hard rocks thrown at them that day.

"Let's just forget about it all and take a nap, okay?"

Word Count= 1932. Long time, right? So sorry about it, I had writer's block and I kinda lost inspiration for this story, but I'll do my best since it's so close to its end! As always, your reviews made me the happiest girl in the world 3 you're all precious! Also, please check out my new fics/one-shots! It'll make me even happier if possible!

5 more chapters until the end~