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She opened her eyes slowly, blinking the bleariness away, her vision slowly clearing as she gazed at the empty spot in the bed next to her. She could still feel the warmth there as she brushed her hand over where Natsu just laid, closing her eyes for a moment, a smile stretching across her lips.
She could smell him all over the sheets, a comforting feeling. He was probably somewhere in their house quietly getting ready for the day, trying not to wake her. He was always extra quiet to let her sleep in when they weren’t going on a job that day. She appreciated the extra sleep, and not having Happy trying to pry her out of bed to eat breakfast way too early.
She laid there for a while, eyes barely open as the warmth from his recent departure slowly faded, leaving her a bit cold, and rather lonely.
She huffed a little, pulling the covers over her head, basking in the warmth under the covers. After a few more minutes, she let the covers fall, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. She stretched her arms above her head, her mouth stretching wide as she yawned. She rolled over towards the window, tugging the curtains open.
The light cascaded inside, brightly illuminating the room with the mid-day sun. She squinted, frowning a bit as she slid off the bed.
“I would say it’s too early but it’s already noon,” she huffed, glaring at the clock, stretching a bit as she thought for a moment on what to do.
She quietly got ready for the day, basking in the warmth of a bath, nearly falling back asleep as it enveloped her. She dried herself slowly, still groggy as she brushed her hair and got dressed for the day. She didn’t really have any plans but she figured she might hit the guildhall with Natsu and Happy for breakfast. Mira’s cooking was always delicious so they frequently ate at the guildhall instead of bothering to cook after a tiring mission.
She came out of the bathroom and paused, looking around. She realized with a bit of surprise that she hadn’t heard Natsu or Happy at all yet. Usually they were still making at least some noise as they tried to quietly shuffle around without waking her.
“Maybe they went out for groceries.” they were getting low, Natsu was pretty good about going shopping after living together for a while. He and Happy used to just go fishing and squander their money on eating out before they moved in and started cooking and eating together as a family thing.
She smiled to herself lightly.
Family.
She quietly padded into the kitchen, rooting around the fridge and pulling out some leftovers from the day before to heat up. She ate in the quiet of the apartment, noticing a small slip of paper on the counter as she washed her dishes. She held the container in her hand as she picked it up with her other.
She squinted a bit, her still slightly blurry vision clearing up, the words becoming clear.
‘We left to train
- Natsu’
Her heart felt like it had stuttered to a halt, the plastic container slipping from her grasp, clattering to the floor as she remained there frozen. She remembered a note just like this from two years ago now.
She remembered reading it and rushing out of the house, forgetting her shoes as she raced across the pavement, cutting her feet on the dirt path as she rushed into the forest, chasing any home that she would be able to catch them before they were gone for good.
She didn’t see them again for a year after that. She tried for that entire year to find them. They were nowhere she could reach, no whispers she could follow as they traveled the wilderness to train.
She felt entirely alone, lost. For as long as she had known him her life tended to revolve around Natsu. Going on missions with him and the team, spending all their time together, snuggling up with him in her bed when he broke in through the window. And then suddenly he was gone, and she realized they weren’t as close as she’d hoped. How could they be if he was okay just leaving like that with barely a few words in a note?
She picked up the container, setting it on the counter, clutching the note tightly in her hands as she tried to resist the urge to sob.
If she had just seen this hours prior when she first woke up, when she knew he had just left from the radiating heat from his spot on the bed slowly fading.
They were long gone by now.
She returned to the bedroom, sitting on the floor leaned back against her bed. She didn’t run out like last time, she didn’t scream his name, calling out as she ran in the forest, hoping against all hope that he was close enough to hear her, that he’d feel bad and come back for her, take her with him.
She sat there like that, a soft hiccup wracking her body as she clutched the note tightly in a trembling hand. Her tears fell, wetting the paper as her shoulders began to shake.
She thought it would be different now that they were dating.
“Why would he do this to me again?” she whispered to the air, burying her face in her knees, a soft sob escaping her. She felt like a kid again in that moment, the little kid waiting and hoping her dad would come back to give her some attention.
It was pathetic.
“Lucy?” her head snapped up, eyes wide as she met Natsu’s worried gaze. He was crouched in front of her, brows furrowed with a soft frown across his lips. Her chest immediately felt lighter, tears flowing freely as she shifted forward, hugging him tightly, the note discarded behind her forgotten.
“I thought you left again.” Her voice was barely audible, Natsu’s eyes widening drastically. He hugged her back tightly, face twisting with guilt.
“I’m so sorry.” He mumbled, “I didn’t think properly when I left you that note. I’m so sorry, I’m sorry I ever left like that.” She sobbed into his shoulder, clutching him tightly, nails digging into his back as she hugged him as tightly as she could. “It’s my fault, I’m sorry.” he ran a gentle hand over her back, rubbing in circles as she slowly calmed down.
They sat like that for a while, Lucy in his arms, basking in the warmth that radiated off him, reassuring herself with his presence. Natsu was here now, he wasn’t going to leave she told herself.
A crack of doubt still nervously knawed at her mind, making her hug him tighter.
After some time Natsu pulled back, Lucy’s arms falling to her side. He cupped her face with his hands, smiling guiltily as her gaze flickered up to meet his.
“I’ll never leave you alone again. I regret that I ever did.” She hesitated for a moment.
“Promise?” her voice cracked lightly, eyes red and puffy as he ran a thumb lightly beneath her eye to wipe away her tears.
“I promise,” he leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. “I’ll never leave you like that again, you have my word.”