Omake III: Vows

"If I could fly, I would be coming home to you.

I would take your hand and lead you away—don't ask where, I'm still trying to figure that out for myself too. Don't worry though, I promise it will be somewhere fun—with lots of food of course. I vow to do that for you.

I would give up everything—not that you would ask me to anyway. Everything, all for you, to be with you forever. And I know forever is short-lived, but it's enough if it's with you. In memory or beside me, here or over there… whether you're really with me or watching in the shadows, I would give everything up to be with you, and only you. I vow to do that for you.

To let your eyes be the only ones to witness my beating heart. To sprawl myself on a marble counter, raw and real—every inch of me revealed for your eyes only. Bare, vulnerable, but willing to trust you with every move and breath. Not silly putty in your hands, I've been molded to fit only you. I vow to be only yours."

Adjusting her white dress in the wind, she took a deep breath. It was going to be okay, she could definitely keep going. She'd been through worse, right? No pain in spilling your feelings. Especially when—no, she wouldn't remind herself. It'd only make things worst. "Pull yourself together," she whispered to herself only. She let her eyes wander to the sky above her in hopes the water would drain itself back to wherever it came from, the last thing she needed were her emotions to be visible physically. All that mattered right now were her words. To convert her intangible, invigorating, and completely anarchic love into some language others, and he, could understand. Right now, that was her sole purpose: to stand here, exposed and stark on a background of gloom and dread, and manifest her feelings into words. Somehow.

Lucy took one last shaky breath before focusing her eyes before her, she continued without missing a beat.

"The first day, what a whirlwind that was.

I did not expect to wake up to anything but another bland day in Hargeon. It's a small town, you know that, and magic isn't exactly it's main drive of money. Still, for some reason, I had chosen the path to look for a magic store. In fact, I was going to leave that very same day—there isn't much there anyway. And if I had… well, I don't know if I would have ever met you, or anyone.

Salamander.

I still laugh to this day at the thought of Bora pinning himself to be you. I've never underestimated you, I doubt any of us ever have or will, but to see you and carry such a reputation—it is comical. Now, don't take it the wrong way, Natsu. You're an incredible Mage, but you are an incredible ditz.

But that isn't where my story is going. The fact is, you broke the spell Bora put on me. You, with Happy, were the ones to save me from that boat. You were the one who took my hand that night and together the three of us ran for the guild.

Natsu, you are my everything because you gave me it all. You started my story and it's only right to end it with you. I vow to run to any wreckage you choose me to go.

You came in, sharpened the edges of my life, heightened every single prick of sensation, stirred and prodded my imagination. Without any mercy and not a single sense of defiance, you led me to abandon all my defenses. I am a melody that only plays for you. You alone are the one to draw forward the notes, the one who can make my song fly. Slow, gentle, and drawing until I unwind into a colorful crescendo and vibrant staccato. It makes no sense, but love never really does, right? Before any of you, it was all monotone. But Natsu, you and your obnoxious pink hair, were the first hints of color in my black and white world. I vow to be that for you, always.

I vow to surrender to our dreams. To close my eyes and not be afraid, even when you're not here because, in fact, you are. And you always will be. To live with my thoughts flying around, not closed and hidden. To let you in them, explore them, and venture away together—to live as we've never lived before. This I vow to you.

If I could fly, I'd fall to savor the sensation of falling into you. To touch you, and trust you to catch me.

Trust. I vow to you.

To soothe the scars, even the ones not visible. It's hard now, but the thought of you helps."

And it was going to end soon. A few more words now and she'd be done.

"Natsu, I vow to keep you alive in my memory.

A hollow pulse beneath the ground but one who cannot seem to get enough in my thoughts. Stitched, engraved, or burned—it doesn't matter. You are forever in my thoughts.

I vow to keep our promises and to fulfill the ones you couldn't live to complete with us—with me.

Natsu, I love you and I vow to keep loving you."

A wave of wind brushed past her, teasing the end of her papered vows. Lucy closed her eyes, willing herself to fight back—always fight back. This was it, all her words and her peace.

So why was the hole still in her chest? Why did it feel like the growing ache had not seized?

She fell. Left shaky hand propped on the marble stone and steady right gripping the paper the wind nudged to take.

Lucy cried.

Screams of curses, of hate, of anguish, and of confusion. She heaved and tugged at the ends of her dress, shoving what she could into her mouth. She bit down a suffocated scream. Bit until her mouth filled with the taste of her detergent and then she sat there still. Completely still as the inanimate statues of the graveyard. Her lids pulled tight over her eyes, her shoulders hunched forward over the white sheet of paper, and her hair spilled over her shoulders—leaving her back bare. Warmth, pressed against her shoulder. It was so comforting, so deftly and light.

And it was Natsu, she knew before turning.

He embodied light. "Natsu" she whispered.

Yes, it was him.

The disheveled pink hair cast in a gold light. His sculpted jaw set in a subtle smile. Cheeks barely pushing against his eyes—his eyes. They were sad, longing, and reflecting just how mad she looked. He was knelt down but she still found herself looking up at him. His hand stayed posted on her shoulder and his eyes wouldn't part from hers. Yet somehow, she found herself wanting to pull away. To draw away from him.

Because amidst the yearn to have him back, to hold and be held once again, it hurt to look at him. Loving him hurt.

That didn't mean she wasn't going to lunge herself on him.

And together they fell. His arms wrapped around her back, her hands gently gripping the ends of his long hair. She breathed against his neck, taking in his absent smell—because he wasn't really there, she knew that much. But she silenced those insisting whispers, he was here now and that was all that mattered.

"Natsu, Natsu, Natsu, Natsu, Natsu." she kissed his neck, his cheek, below and behind his ear, his forehead, his nose, and his lips. Lucy lingered on his bottom lip until the smile she expected appeared. There was a rush against her dress and then she was below him, laughing until a pestering pain pricked at her sides. Natsu looked down at her, his eyes no longer longing. The melancholy remained, as it reflected back in hers. This would not last, they both knew.

Slowly, the smile began to taper off his tan skin. So Lucy did what she always did when his brows began to furrow and the creases on his forehead became more prominent: she traced his face. She was no artist, but she was a writer. Within all these years, she had sculpted every feature of his face with words. Her fingers glided against his smooth skin and the light skipped against the tips of her nails as she marked every pane of his face with her touch.

"There," she whispered. "Relaxed."

He smiled now and lowered his head while she raised her chin. They kissed.

In a parallel universe, this would be happening on the outskirts of town. Perhaps after the war and all the death, they would be leaving for their honeymoon and driven away in a white carriage—maybe even a dragon, if she gave into Natsu's begging. In a parallel universe, Lucy had Natsu and Natsu had Lucy.

But in this universe, they kissed in a graveyard. Two tragic lovers immersed in death but fueled with an exhilarating love.

"I love you," he said against her lips and then again, "I love you, Lucy."

She was still beneath him. Her lip quivered and Natsu pulled away with concern. But she was… smiling? A trail kissed with wet tears etched itself against her peach skin and died at the touch of her smile. One managed to fall through and Natsu let it drip down her jaw and fall against her collarbone. "I love you, Natsu."

The wind shrilled between them and raced with their words. Carrying every last vowel and every last wisp of light that was Natsu away on its back.

And Lucy was left against the green grass. Alone, broken, but free.

With an irreversible peace.

Author's Note: Hey, guys! Long time, no post, right? Now, before any of you say I have an obsession with killing off Natsu, hear me out. I actually have been hearing so many rumors that he might be some martyr and die. I don't want that as much as the next person, but then I started listening to these really sad love songs and then welp, this idea kind of hit me of Lucy vowing to Natsu because he couldn't live to see their wedding. I hope you guys feel the emotion as much as I did writing (picturing it hurts a lot more too). My writing is a bit rusty, especially with Natsu and Lucy, but I do plan on TRYING to get back at it with these one shots (they are a great way to get rid of any writer's block). Anyways, thank you so much for coming back after all this time to check on what mayhem I throw Natsu and Lucy in. Any form of feedback would be greatly appreciated (so long as you're not a jerk about it of course!) Till next time! :)