nalu development: natsu comforts lucy
I always grin madly when Natsu shows up to save Lucy, but I melt into a gooey puddle when he’s there for her in her sadness.
And that aspect of their relationship, like so many of the others, has changed over time.
The first time Natsu sees Lucy seriously upset is in PL. He just saved her from splatting on the ground, and while they’re at the enemy guildhall, he might as well break a few heads, right?
But Lucy starts crying when she hears how many of her friends were injured and feels it’s all her fault. Natsu has no clue what the situation is and no idea how to handle her tears. Happy tells him to take Lucy home and Natsu does so, with a puzzled “I guess so.”
Later on in the guild, when he hears the whole story, Natsu gives her the pep talk about belonging to Fairy Tail. (All the while pointing to himself, lol, causing Nalu shippers worldwide to squeal. Be careful where you’re pointing that thumb, Natsu!)
But this is early days in their relationship. And while Lucy’s shown enormous trust in Natsu, and he’s shown a lot of loyalty to her as his team mate, it gets so much better.
While Natsu attempts to cheer Lucy up, he doesn’t hold her hand or hug her. He could have given that pep talk to anyone.
Later, in the Coca-cola omake, when Lucy’s feelings are hurt by his and Happy’s deception, Natsu’s response is, “Please hit me! You’ll feel better!” He feels for her—he and Happy are crying as much as Lucy is—but he doesn’t know how to handle her emotions.
After Tenrou is when you really start to see growth in this area.
Natsu is with Lucy when she finds out her father died. He’s with her when she visits Jude’s grave, but he stands away from her. On the walk home, he’s several paces behind. When Happy starts to talk to Lucy, Natsu shakes his head for him to stop.
He’s giving her space and silence so she can deal with her grief and shock.
And he and Happy try to shut up the two girls complaining about their dads when they see how much the conversation is hurting Lucy.
Natsu lets Lucy be the first one to speak. But when she wonders if she doesn’t love her father because she can’t cry about his death, he says:
I don’t know why, but it took me until this post to realize that Natsu’s speaking from experience. He’s had loss in his life, too: Igneel’s disappearance and Lisanna’s death. What he says to Lucy is true for him as well.
Natsu and Happy are torn up over what Lucy’s going through. They can’t leave her alone, so they bring work, to help take her mind off her situation. Having had her cry, Lucy accepts. She’s going to look to her future… and that means having adventures with Natsu and Happy.
At the GMG, after Lucy lost to Flare, Natsu is the only one from Fairy Tail to come out to the arena to get her.
I love that Natsu acknowledged that Lucy had just fought one of her best battles. He recognized her skills, and thanked her for showing the way.
And he holds her hand to help her up.
The physical touch is a new development. Off-panel, Natsu sees Lucy to the locker room before returning to watch the Games.
Later on that evening, when FT is celebrating their crushing defeat, Natsu has his arm around Lucy’s shoulder while she smiles and claps. She’s ready to face the next day of the Games, and Natsu’s helped her get to that point.
Later on, Natsu comforts a sad, doubting f!Lucy with a forehead touch and a hand on her head.
This time, we’re in the middle of an emergency scenario: ten thousand dragons are going to show up any moment. But Natsu takes the time to consider f!Lucy’s feelings.
It’s a very tender, gentle gesture and a surprisingly restful moment, considering the situation.
In the movie, Natsu consoles Lucy with his words and an embrace. She nestles into him, while he puts a protective hand on her head.
She’s an emotional wreck, and he’s her solid rock at this moment.
There’s also this progression from the handhold to the forehead touch to the hug.
And this smaller moment from the current arc: Lucy is emotionally and physically exhausted from losing Aquarius and battling Tartaros. Natsu’s acknowledgment of her effort (again) and his reassurance that her friends will take care of things help ease her pain.
Lucy’s expression in response is very soft and slightly smiling. His words matter to her.
And Lucy herself relies on Natsu’s strength and resilience.
In Edolas, it looked like Lucy not only held Natsu back at the lacrima, but leaned against him for comfort.
During the fight with Hades, Natsu exhausts himself completely, to the point of collapse. Hades gets up unharmed, to everyone’s shock. Both Gray and Erza are also there, not as depleted as Natsu. But the one Lucy turns to, begging him to get up? Natsu.
When Hades creates fear-inducing demons, Lucy clings to Natsu. When she thinks, “I’m scared… someone give us courage”, he’s the one who responds.
In the movie, after Eclair died, Lucy was surrounded by other friends from the guild. But it’s Natsu she approaches with her question about magic being good or evil, and Natsu’s shoulder she cries on.
Whether Lucy realizes it or not, she depends on Natsu for a lot more than physical protection.
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