#ftch

Hi! I hope the beginning is angsty enough for you! You know I can’t end on a sad note! I guess this is a kind of modern-ish FT City Hero sort of thing. I hope you like it! :)

Nalu: “Don’t Ever do that Again”

           “Lucy!!!!” How long had he been searching? He feltlike it had been hours, maybe even days, but he knew that the explosion hadgone off only minutes before. “LUCY!” The smoke and dust made it hard to see.The firemen had said that most everyone who was in the building probably wereburied under all the rubble. The way they had said it made Natsu nauseous. Theyhad said it without looking into his eyes. They had said it… like there was nochance they’d bring anyone back alive. But I’m not going to think like that!He knew Lucy wasn’t dead. She was fine. She was fine. She has to be…fine.

           Just on the other side of all the destruction, Natsu could make out volunteers andfirefighters carefully removing rubble. He had been searching, for any sign,that Lucy was alright, that there were survivors. Please. He paused,frozen, above a particularly large pile of bricks. There… He reacheddown and plucked out… her new hair clip. It was cracked now. He had just boughtit for her today—for their first anniversary. The design, the pearls and goldroses, were stained with blood.

           Natsu’s hands started shaking. N-no. No. He couldn’t breathe. Not… not Lucy!Not my Lucy! Tears welled up in his eyes. I should have stopped her! Shehad seen the fire from the street.

           “N-Natsu! That’s HQ! Oh my god! Everyone working today…!” She had run before he couldeven stop her. He had tried to go after her—tried to grab her—but the momentshe entered those doors the entire building rocked with an explosion, knockinghim off his feet.

           Seconds later, he was struggling to pull open the doors, blocked from the firstexplosion, when someone screamed. There had been another shuddering BANG, andthe entire building collapsed.

           Now,Natsu couldn’t contain himself, he collapsed to his knees, clutching the hairclip with both his hands. “LUCY!” Involuntary tears spilled over, rolling offhis eyelashes, and down his cheeks. “LUCY!” He was going to find out who didthis, find out who was responsible for this, and make them regret ever beingborn.

           “Natsu!” A familiar voice. Natsu glanced up. Gray was waving at him from the other sideof the site. “Natsu! We found them!”

***

           Natsu stayed with her. When they pulled Lucy’s battered body from the rubble. When theylifted her into the ambulance. When the rushed her out, into the hospital. Hestayed with her. Every breath he took was a prayer that somehow she would beokay, that somehow they would make it out of this together. He stayed with heruntil they took her away, to surgery. And even then, he didn’t dare leave thewaiting room. The whole time, clutching her new—now mangled—hair clip like itwas a good luck charm. A good luck charm. I should have given it to herbefore they took her away.

           What seemedlike hours later, he found himself sitting with her at last, clutching her bruisedhand, tears still stinging the corners of his eyes. “It’s gonna bealright, Lu. It’s gonna be alright.” But he didn’t know if she could hear himor not.

           “Natsu,” Erza was in the doorway. She looked exhausted—still in uniform. How long hadshe been helping the firefighters pull everyone else out?

           “Erza,” he frowned. “You look…”

           “Terrible, I know. So do you,” she paused, her eyes flicking over Lucy, “You should tryand get some rest.”

           “Youknow I can’t.” He shook his head.

           “Justtry and get some sleep, Natsu, okay?”

***

           Natsu woke to a familiar humming. He was sitting, his upper body draped across soft blankets.Someone was playing with his hair. He groaned, sitting up. He was sore all over,from what? Panicking yesterday? Lucy! He jumped, glancing over whereLucy was propped up in bed. She offered him a smile.

           “Goodmorning!”

           “G-goodmorning?!”

           “I’msorry, I woke you, didn’t I?”

           “Youalmost died!” She blinked, and then glanced down at the hairclip in her hand.Did she slip it out of my hand while I was sleeping.

           “I…know. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t leave the others in there…”

           “Whatwould I do without you?” He said, reaching out to touch her hairclip. “Ithought… I thought…”

           “Natsu,”Lucy smiled, leaning forward to clip the gold and pearls in his pink hair. “You’dbe you. Brave.”

           Hefelt his cheeks flush. “You were the one who was brave, Lu, you rushed into theburning building—not me.”

           “Iguess you’re right.” She smiled, poking his cheek. “You look cute.” Natsufrowned, and stood, leaning over to pull her into a tight hug.

           “Ow,careful, Natsu!”

           “Sorry…sorry… I just…” He pulled away, just barely, to look her in the eyes. “Don’tever do that again, okay?”

           Shesmiled a little, “Okay.” Then she burst into laughter, “I can’t take youseriously with that hair clip in your hair!”

           “Awcome on! Take it off. It’s yours not mine!”

           “Alright,alright.” Lucy gently unclipped it from his hair. “Hey, Natsu?”

           “Yeah?”

           “I’msorry I scared you. Do you forgive me?”

           “Youknow I love you too much to stay mad at you,” he grinned.

           Lucylaughed, resting back against her pillows, “I love you too, dragon.”

Thanks for reading!