29 - Natsu

I look at Lucy's ex in confusion. What is he even talking about? As much as my brother tries to sugarcoat it, I can tell that he's withholding something important. "Bullshit! I know it was you. You're the one who invited us to your party, and when Lucy couldn't make it you took the opportunity to spike my drink, so that your brother could end up with my girl," Grey spat furiously. "You must be mistaking me for somebody else mate," he plays it cool. "Yeah now I remember, Zeref wasn't it or am I still confused?" My back stiffens.

This new information makes me sick to my stomach. Through the corner of my eye I notice that Lucy's having a hard time putting the pieces together. Like she's mentally struggling to fit the parts. "What the fuck is going on here? Brother, do you care to explain yourself?" I question him as I too try to make sense of all of this. "Brother?" Lucy asks bewildered. She looks like a dear that's been caught in a wildfire. Frightened and bemused. "His your brother. You're related to Z- Z- Zeref and Mavis?" I shut my eyes at the tone and slight stuttering to her voice, it's tearing me apart.

Zeref has always been the sly type of person, but this is a new low even for him. "Okay, hold up guys; there must be an explanation. Right Zeref, tell me that this is all just some kind of misunderstanding?" I plead, still hoping for a brighter outcome. I move in closer as I'm trying to comfort Luce, but she shies away from my touch. This entire ordeal is going to change everything and yet the strangest thing is that I know that he meant no harm by his actions. It's just the approach that he had taken had not been his best method. If only he had informed me about this, we could have handled it appropriately. Don't get me wrong I'm not taking sides here, because there's no other way as to look at this; as to see him in the wrong. The worst thing is that his actions inflicts poorly on me.

 

Lucy:

 

I can't seem to comprehend any of this. It's like my brain had stopped working. Brother? Zeref? The gears in my mind starts working overtime. "You took both of them away from me?" I say in little more then a whisper as a tear rolls down my cheek. Zeref snugs in a visible breath that didn't go unnoticed by the others and apparently neither did my statement. "Please Luce don't say that? You haven't lost me yet," Natsu's sad tone reach my ears. I shift my attention from his brother to him. "How can you even stand there saying that? How can I love someone who's family took away six years of my life? How am I too keep my promise now, knowing that you're related to scum like him?"

My questions piles up, forming a very unstable foundation. "That's not fair Luce, you can't be lumping us up together. Sure I have trouble with jealousy and anger issues, and I'm quick to throw punches but I'm nothing like Zeref. Please, don't do this to me?" His pleading rips my heart to shreds. I want to wrap my arms around him and tell that everything will be fine, but I can't. It feels like I've stepped into a puddle of quickly drying concrete, unable to move an inch. "Lucy please, please don't punish him for my actions. I will burn in hell therefore, but don't penalize him for my wrongdoing," Zeref begs off me. My paralyzed body can't seem to find reason in his request, seeing how my logical side is paralytic. 

 

Grey:

 

The thing that hurts me the most is not the fact that the truth surfaced or the fact that they are related (in all actuality that angers me). The way that Lucy is taking it pains me the most. I don't know what I'm to do either, as much as I would like to comfort her; it's not something that comes lightly. Indirectly it's my fault too, if I had stayed home with her and her family, it would have never happened. If I had never gone to that party, then Natsu would've never been transferred to FTH and Juvia and I would've been merely friends. Unfortunately I can't turn back time.

I had about enough of their pleads. "Stop bombarding her, can't you see that she's clearly in an emotional state. This is your doing after all. How did you even find us?" I ask, but as Zeref open his mouth to answer, I shushed him. "Rhetorical question so please don't answer. I really don't want to hear it." I say practically fuming with annoyance. I inch closer to Lucy in a reassuring manner but she shies away from me too. I'm not sure what hurts more her reaction to finding out the truth or her pulling away from my touch. I let my arms hang limply at my sides. Juvia noticed and wraps me in a firm embrace, which only makes me long for Lu's touch even more. 

 

At a slow pace she moves forward, like she's an android that just gained a new battery. Having a battle with herself, forcing the emotions back and keeping it from bottling out. Sentimentally her pace quickens before rocketing down the street. "Lucy…!" Natsu bellows her name before falling to his knees, most likely ruining his tux in the process. Internally I'm having a mental meltdown myself. By the way Zeref's snaking his fingers through his hair, I can tell that this wasn't the outcome that he'd been hoping for. Save to say that his plan has failed miserably.