Lucy roused from her slumber to find herself wrapped in Laxus's coat and wearing his headphones. Then it dawned on her, 'Oh my god… did he hear?!'.

Memories of yesterday came rushing to her head, making her head throb. She sat on the edge of her bed and read the note on the nightstand, clutching her head during the process.

Blondie,

You can wear my coat and headphones for now until I come back to the guild later today. If you need a shoulder to cry on… I'll be that man with the ruined, tear-stained shirt for ya.

P.S. There's soup on the counter as well.

She giggled at his choice of wording as she stood up and placed the soup in the microwave. What really pricked her interest was that he was… compassionate towards her. Laxus almost never showed much affection towards the guild members except for the Raijinshuu. Even so, Lucy could easily read someone by their eyes, and she could tell that Laxus truly did care for their comrades. The mind-boggler to her was why he was expressing care towards her, maybe even more than the average member.

She shrugged. Who knows?

She sighed when the microwave beeped, signaling that the food was warm. Lucy really did like his large coat on her, it felt nice, especially with the headphones still hugging her ears.

Apparently, Laxus preferred Krewella over Nickelback… Shocker.

Lucy set her empty bowl in the sink and placed Laxus's items on the bed before walking into the shower. She stepped into the bath and trailed off, deep within her thoughts. Can she trust him to help her with the pain? Or should she just act as if this never happened once more? For Lucy, her eyes showed her emotion, it was a trait she had possessed from her mother. If you really focus on her eyes, you're able to know what she's feeling. It was the reason why these past couple of months, Lucy can hold your gaze for only so long until you had to look away. Her eyes were so empty inside, so broken, yet still fending strong. Maybe she can find more strength in Laxus?

No. Yes? No…

It had become a mantra by now, No. Yes? No…

Lucy served as a beacon of light for Fairy Tail, she was their Polaris. Yet she felt selfish for getting others involved. When in reality, it was selfish for not allowing nor getting them involved. She always provided everyone with a bright smile and a pick-me-up whenever needed, when really, she was the one that needed what she provided.

Sometimes the person who tries to keep everyone happy is the loneliest of the bunch.

Lucy was really considering having Laxus support her in bearing the pain. That is, if his offer was genuine and still out there. At the same time, she was fighting off the consideration and making sure that she's not a burden to everyone else. She sighed and exited the bathroom, clad in a rose colored bath towel.

Changing into a white fitted tank-top, black combatant boots, and a dark gray miniskirt, she put on Laxus's gear along with her keys and weapons before heading towards the guild hall.

Entering with a gloomy aura, she sat down on her usual spot at the bar and ordered the usual. "Lucy, are you okay? Why are you wearing Laxus's stuff?" Mirajane asked, devoid of her usual matchmaker mood due to her concern for the celestial mage.

"Yeah, just wanna be alone today. Oh, and Laxus lent me this stuff 'till he gets back." Lucy replied, earning a few shocked glances towards her way as she simply sipped on her strawberry milkshake, avoiding eye contact with her fellow guild members.

"That's it! Cut the crap Bunny-girl!" Gajeel yelled, as everyone turned their shocked attention towards the iron dragon slayer. "For the past few months something's been wrong, so spill. Now."

Lucy sighed, knowing there's no avoiding his concern. "Okay, you got me." She said, drawlingly. "Here, this'll explain."

The blonde-haired mage went ahead and settled her gaze into his eyes, looking directly into his crimson, slitted pupils. Saying that Gajeel and the guild were shocked was an understatement. His eyes widened as he and the guild saw her gray irises. The thing was, since he was looking directly into her eyes, only Gajeel was able to see the pain nestled deep within those alluring orbs. A pain he knew all too well, despite the loss of Metalicana, his Iron Dragon foster parent. Emptiness, loneliness, sadness, and… fear? We're swimming amongst the depths of her irises.

While the guild was frozen in shock, Laxus came in through the doors, searching for Lucy within the guild hall. Their comrades took a step back from Lucy as Gajeel said these words in shock and fear, an emotion they thought would never cross the rugged metal mage, "Oh my god..."

Lucy looked down at the floorboards in shame. She knew this was bound to happen anyways, so she walked past the stunned guild members and bumped into the person she was expecting that day, Laxus.

Laxus looked at the fragile girl in front of him, and straight into her eyes and saw what Gajeel froze at. Her hands curled into fists as she pounded his chest in anguish, "Laxus," She sobbed. "It's all gone! We sacrificed s-seven y-years of our l-life for what?! Tell me, Laxus. Tell me!" Lucy cried into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. "The-they're dead! A-and Fairy T-Tail's been mourning y-yet awaiting o-our return! Why did my parents have to die?" She whispered towards the end. "Michelle had to go away too!"

"Shh, shh. I told, you I'd be your ruined, tear-stained shirt for you. Didn't I?" He felt her head nod in response as they fell to their knees, snapping the guild out of their stupefied trance.

He had found out why Lucy had been so broken, the guild had family to go back to while she didn't because her parents died. He had heard the back-story of Lucy before, how her father only used her as a mere tool, and how her mother left her side at the age of 7. Laxus knew what it was like, but to have your father finally realize his mistakes then be taken away from you before you even had a chance to have a shot at a better relationship. Saying it's rough is an understatement, it's a slight taste of hell, really. Especially when you feel as if you're alone when you've been alone all of your life.

The guild was wondering why Laxus was acting this way towards Lucy, and why she had gone to him in order to let out the pain. Makarov, Gildarts, Gajeel, and the exceeds were the only one's who had noticed her change in demeanor, but never knew her situation was consuming her from the inside out.

Lucy slowly took his coat and headphones off and placed them on him before running away, scared of the rest of the guild's reactions. Too bad Team Natsu were on a mission with Elfman and Lissana, and too bad Lucy was sick that day to avoid this.

She ran and ran and ran, her heart pounding violently in her chest, heaving for air. She heard Laxus open the door she came through and run toward her. This was it, she had succumbed to the guilt and emotions she's kept bottled up all this entire time. Lucy unhooked her keys and whispered to them, "I'm so sorry I let you down, I love you all so, so much." Then she lightly dropped them onto the tree stump she just passed. She stopped when she reached the small cliff, and saw the riverbed below.

"Whoa, Blondie…" Laxus said as he stopped near her. "You gotta rethink this, it's not worth it!" He took one step forwards, as she took one step back.

"You're right, it's not worth it. You know, even the stars they burn, some even fall to Earthland." Lucy said as she fell backwards and into the river underneath.

"LUCYYYY!" Laxus yelled. He lightning teleported himself to the side of the river and lifted her out of the water. He took her keys that he picked up and reattached them to her belt. "You stupid, stupid, blonde…"

Lucy woke and found herself in an unfamiliar bedroom and a hand clutching hers. "Oh thank god you're okay." Laxus sighed in relief. "You stupid, stupid, stupid, blonde-haired mage…" He trailed off. "Don't you ever do that again!" Laxus grasped her shoulders and shook her.

"Don't you dare, ever think about doing something so stupid again!" Tears came from both of their eyes as she wrapped her arms around his torso.

"I promise." Was all she whispered, and celestial mages never break their promises.

"Thank god." Laxus sighed in content once again.

And Lucy's eyes became hickory-brown and warm once again, as their embrace was yet undisturbed.

❁ ❁ ❁ ❁ • ❀◕ ‿ ◕❀ • ❁ ❁ ❁ ❁

DONE!

So yeah! I hope you enjoyed this FanFic, if not... whatever, you know?!

If you want me to make a one or two shot for a certain pairing you

like then either review or PM me and it will be done and out into

the open within a week! Anyways, thanks for following,

favoriting, reading, and/or reviewing!

Thanks Again! ~ Light

Oh! By the way, if you want me to create a FanFic

for a pairing of your choice, I do prefer one with

Lucy in it... So yeah! Also, sorry about the cliff

part, I didn't have much inspiration so...