Day 1 of NaLu Week: Longing

Lucy hated this. She understood that they'd agreed to go on solo missions to get stronger, but she still didn't like it. She just wanted to be there with Natsu, not because he needed her or anything, but just because she wanted to make sure he was safe. She cared about him. Lucy stared out the train window as it pulled into Magnolia. She hoped he would be there when she got to the guild hall. If not, she was determined not to take any jobs until he got back. She was tired of this. They were like ships passing in the night, unable to see each other, but knowing the other was there at some point. She missed him by an hour last time, minutes the time before. She wasn't going to miss him again. The train jerked to a stop and Lucy got off and started walking.

"Lucy, you're back!" Mira said with a smile as Lucy walked into the hall.

"And Natsu?" Lucy ventured.

"Just missed flame brain," Gray told her. Lucy sighed and sat down at the bar. Mira placed her usual milkshake in front of her, but Lucy shook her head.

"Got anything stronger?" Lucy asked. The guild gasped and looked at her. Cana made her way over to her and laid a hand on her forehead.

"Are you sick?" Cana asked. She then proceeded to pull Lucy's cheeks and slap them gently back in place.

"No, I'm fine," Lucy said as she pushed Cana's hands away from her face.

"You just ordered alcohol, are you sure you're okay, Love Rival?" Juvia asked as she sat down next to her.

Lisanna motioned them all away and gave her a small glass of strawberry daiquiri. "You miss him," she simply told her. Lucy nodded.

"Have you told him how you feel?" Lisanna gently asked.

"What do you mean?" Lucy asked with her brow furrowed.

"You know, that you love him."

"But I don-"

"Yes, you do. You don't miss Levy when she's away. Or Gray, or anyone else. Yet, when Natsu's gone, you don't really live," Lisanna told her as she rested her hand on Lucy's shoulder.

"If I'm not living, then what am I doing?"

"Going through the motions," Lisanna explained.

"I'm going to go home," Lucy sighed as she made her way out the guildhall.

Lucy walked through her front door, dropping her travel bag on her couch. She shuffled over to her bathroom and started a nice warm bath for herself. While the water was running, she went to get herself a book to read while she soaked. Then, she peeled away her clothes and sunk down into the water, letting it wash away all of her aches and pains. However, the one ache it couldn't seem to get rid of was the one for her best friend. Lucy sighed and put her book down on the floor before sinking all the way down into the water, effectively submerging herself. She didn't emerge again until her lungs burned from the strain of holding her breath. Lucy was gasping for air, but she didn't care. What Lisanna said stuck with her. She needed to see if she was still living. Lucy frowned and unplugged her tub. She felt the water slowly drain around her before getting out.

She dried herself off and put on a nightgown before crawling into bed early. She didn't feel like staying up any longer. She closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep, but instead, she just found herself thinking of him. Tears started to spill from her eyes as sobs wracked her body. She hadn't seen him in months. She was crying so hard that she didn't hear the window open or hear the footsteps racing towards her in the dark. She was alerted of the presence when two strong arms scooped her up and held her against an equally strong chest.

"Shhh, Luce, what's wrong?" Natsu asked as he tried to sooth her. He ran his hand through her hair like she'd do for him when he was sick.

"Natsu," she whispered as she hugged him tightly and buried her face in his chest.

"Luce, what's wrong?"

"I missed you," she murmured against his chest.

"I missed you, too," he told her as he sighed. He held her tighter.

"Please, don't leave," Lucy begged him.

"I don't plan on leavin' again unless it's with you. Luce, look at me," Natsu told her as his hands cupped her face. He used his thumbs to brush away the last of her tears.

"Really?" she asked hopefully.

"Lucy, I learned something through this whole thing. I don't ever want to worry about what you're doing or if you're safe while knowing that if you weren't I wouldn't know. I don't like not knowing. I hate it. I hated that every mission took me further away from you. The biggest thing I learned, is that I love you," Natsu told her. Lucy's eyes widened as she took in what he was saying.

"I love you, too," she told him. Natsu broke into a wide grin before pulling her face towards him and crashing his lips against hers. It was a hungry kiss, full of longing and need. Lucy kissed back with everything she had. She wanted him to know how she felt without him these past few months. Her hands slid into his hair as the kiss deepened. Eventually, they broke apart to catch their breath. Lucy yawned. Natsu chuckled and ruffled her hair before pulling her under the covers with him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against his chest.

"Good night, Luce," he whispered before placing a kiss on the top of her head.

"Good night, Natsu," she told him as she laced her fingers with his.