Nalu- Lasting Love Ch.8

Lucy was midway from reaching the request board lost in thought. She was starting to wonder if she made the right decision on turning down Gray and Erza's offer. "So, what was that about?"

She turned around to find Levy,'Right, Levy-chan was with me before Natsu came!' "I'm so sorry Levy-chan, I got distracted. By the way when did you even leave?"

"When Natsu said something about him being worried, but when I was leaving I heard that you guys aren't teammates. I mean, I thought it was weird that you would go alone on mission, and that they would leave without you."

"Yeah, I'm not in team Natsu anymore. I guess you can say I got replaced."

She hadn't noticed before, but now that she was paying close attention, Lucy's eyes were lifeless when ever she talked about her old team. "Lu-chan, we're going to library okay. You have some explaining to do." Oddly enough the blonde mage complied without hesitation.

As they left, Erza and Gray sat at their usual table watching them. Something was definitely wrong with Lucy. Her movements resembled one of a zombie. She usually walked with her head held high, and had a bit of a skip in her step, but what they saw now wasn't her. She dragged her legs instead, and her head was lowered a bit as it lightly swung from side to side with each step. "Erza, why did you make us back down on our offer? We both knew she was going to say no at first, and that was why we were going to persuade her into it. You were about to say something until all of a sudden you agreed with her."

"Gray, we both know Lucy, she doesn't do something unless she has a reason. I stopped because I want to find out that reason, and something has also been bothering me."

"You've noticed too huh? She hasn't been herself in awhile, but more today than any other day."

"That is true, and I'm going to find out why she is in pain. It seems to grow worse almost every time I see her."

"But how do you plan to do that, she isn't going to tell us you know? We aren't exactly on the best terms right now to ask something like that."

"I already thought about that, so we're going to follow her on her next couple of jobs. We're going to see if she says or does anything that can help us. Maybe then we can help her feel better."

"I hate seeing her like this, knowing I can't do anything to help her." It pained him whenever he saw his beloved friend look so...limp. Erza could hardly contain herself from demanding an answer out of the stellar mage, and destroying the thing causing her so much anguish.

~ To Lucy and Levy ~

They had finally reached the library after a silent walk there. Making their way inside, Levy grabbed Lucy's hand and brought her to a table. "Lu-chan I know that something is wrong, so there's no point in not telling me. Did something happen between you, Natsu, Erza, and Gray?"

She couldn't hold it back anymore. The wall she had built between her and her torment had crumbled releasing all of her emotions. She burst in to tears,"Levy-chan, it hurts so bad! I want it to stop, but it won't!"

The blue haired mage got up from her chair, and hugged her friend. "It's okay Lucy everything will be fine just tell me what happened."

"I-I love N-Natsu. I want to s-stop, b-but I can't. N-Now he is with L-Lisanna, and i-it hurts. I can't g-get over h-him." She continued the best that she could as tears streamed down her face. She felt a squeezing sensation around her heart, pumping agony through her body.

When she was through, Levy was shocked at how much she didn't know. She wanted to completely destroy Natsu, and kill Lisanna for making her best friend go through so much grief. She was also in shock that Natsu hadn't noticed as well. She had her suspicions that he liked, or maybe even loved Lucy, but they all left when Lisanna started to date him. "Oh Lucy. Everything is going to be fine." She kept saying soothing words to her friend until she calmed back down.

They made their way back to guild, and were welcomed by Gajeel. "Bunny girl where were you?! I've been waiting!"

"I'm sorry Gajeel, I went to the library with Levy-chan." Lucy was better, but she was as vulnerable as ever now that she had nothing to hold her ache back.

"So I'm guessing you know too, bookworm."

"Yes, She told me everything."

"Woah woah, wait a second E-EVERY THING!" He looked at Lucy hoping she didn't tell about his secret crush. She shook her head no slightly, so Levy wouldn't notice.

He felt relieved, and quickly sighed. "So how you feelin' bunny girl?"

She was a bit shaky,"I've been better, but I've also been worse. Welcome back." She quickly hugged him, and left to the request board.

"She may be holding on, but she's broken on the inside." Gajeel told Levy while Lucy grabbed at a request sheet.

"I know, but at least we can try to help."

Lucy was going to leave once again in the morning to go on her mission, but that night she couldn't sleep. Tears kept coming, until Loki came. "Lucy, I'm so sorry I haven't came in while. I've been busy trying to get you this." Loki reached in to his pocket, and got out a ring that resembled his. "Here, I made it myself. It's a ring with some of my magic in it and as long as you wear it, you're never going to be alone." It was hard to notice in the dark, but there was a small blush tinted on his cheeks. Lucy studied the ring, and noticed it had a lion standing on its hind legs, front legs clawing the air, and roaring. It was smaller so it could fit her finger, and glowed a bit proving Loki's magic inside it.

"Thank you Loki, I love it." He smiled at her, and sat next to her. They talked for a bit before she slept leaning on his shoulder. He got under the covers, and wrapped his arms around her. Her cries turned into whimpers, and Loki fell asleep happy that she loved his gift.