So Far Yet So Close [Fairy Tail Fanfiction]

Promises

"Wow... that teacher was... unique..." Jason commented as he walked down the hallway with his girlfriend for lunch break.

"Yeah, although he's kinda weird, he gives off this vibe that says: You can depend on me!" Lucy tried to mimic Gildart's gruffy voice but failed and her boyfriend couldn't help but smile at her cuteness.

"How's your latest novel coming?" Jason asked harmlessly but being the shy girl she is, Lucy stuttered embarrassingly.

"What? Huh? No! Don't talk about it in public! You know I'm not good that good yet!" Lucy squealed.

"Um... excuse me." A girl's voice asked.

"Yes?" Lucy replied with regained composure.

"Is it true that you're writing a novel?" The blue haired girl questioned.

And Lucy went berserk with embarrassment once more. Taking her reaction as a yes, the girl proceeded with excitement.

"Can I read it when you're done?!"

"Huh? No! Why? It's really amateurish!" Lucy replied with her red face and Jason could not help but muse at the sight.

"Don't worry! As long as it's a story you pour your heart into, it's worth reading to me!" the girl coaxed.

Lucy couldn't help but feel reassured by her words and just nodded.

"But it really isn't complete so not yet..." Lucy mumbled out; still a little embarrassed.

"Sure! I'll wait! By the way, I'm Levy." Levy finally introduced with a wide smile.

"Oh, I'm Lucy." Lucy reciprocated the smile and thought to herself, Levy... wasn't that the girl Natsu mentioned just now?

"I know, your friend there said your name just now." Levy explained, pointing at Jason along the way. "Oh, and are you by any chance the 'Lucy' that Natsu keeps talking about?"

Okay, definitely the 'Levy' Nastu mentioned just now. "Yeah. And are you the girl Natsu mentioned that joined 2 clubs?" Lucy decided to ask a question she already know the answer to.

"Yeah! Are you planning to do so too?" Levy asked excitedly.

"Well... I'm not really sure on whether I'd be able to cope with it but Natsu suggested that I join FairyTail although I want to join the Literature club." Lucy explained.

"Really?! I'm going to join both FairyTail and the Literature club too! What a coincidence!" Levy squealed.

"Really?!" Lucy asked back with an equal amount of excitement as she felt the connection she had with the bluenette. "You really like stories don't you?" Lucy commented.

"Yep! I do! I can't write stories though, but if it's reading stories, give me anything!" Levy bragged as she winked at Lucy.

Lucy couldn't help but smile at the girls enthusiasm. Half a day into the first day and she already love it. "Sure!" Lucy replied to Levy's prior statement with as much enthusiasm as the girl.

"I know I might be rude but can I call you Lu-chan?" Levy inquired embarrassingly but Lucy just felt warmer.

"Sure! And I'll call you Levy-chan!" Lucy replied.

She couldn't go pass the boundary of adding the suffix of 'chan' due to her family upbringing but anyone who knows her long enough would know that that's a huge leap.

"By the way..." Levy suddenly sound a little timid.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Lucy questioned worriedly, finding the girl's timidness unusual.

"May I know what's your relation with Natsu?" Levy asked. Face tinted in pink.

"Huh?" Lucy had read enough novels to know what her behaviour meant. "Don't tell me... you like Natsu?"

At that moment, Jason lightly 'chopped' her on her head with his hands, "You're too straightforward."

At Lucy's words, Levy's face turned from tainted pink to bright read, "N-no! It's just... well... he talks about you a lot... and he might've saved me a couple of times and..."

Definitely in love. Jason and Lucy thought at the same time.

"Don't worry. We're just friends." Lucy comforted.

"But I heard you two are living together." Levy questioned.

Jason rose an eyebrow and turned to his girlfriend.

"He's the boy that you said you were living with?"

"Well..." Lucy tried to rebut but realise it was all true and just settled with a sheepish, "Yeah..."

"Well, why didn't you tell me?" Jason found it a little disturbing.

"Well, I didn't want to make such a big deal of it. Plus, Natsu's harmless. Childish, but harmless." Lucy tried to explain herself.

Jason could only mumble out a, "I see..."

But Levy did not stand for it, "Natsu's not childish! He just... doesn't know how to express his happiness well..."

Lucy sweat-drop at her comment and just laughed at her teasingly after noticing her red face. Unbeknownst to the girls, Jason was starting to get annoyed at how the boy 'Natsu' have become the main topic. Quietly excusing himself, he left to find the said boy.

"Yes? How may I help you?" A girl with immaculate dressing and blue hair that curled up when they touched her shoulder inquired.

Finding the aura around the girl dangerously cautious, Jason gulped and stated his business.

"I'm looking for a guy named 'Natsu'."

Suddenly, the provocative aura dissipated and the girl turned to call the named boy.

"Natsu-san!"

"Whad up Juvia?" Natsu called back with a muffled voice; He was in the middle of stuffing his mouth with the bento Igneel kindly made for him.

"A guy named Jason is looking for you!" She explained.

Did I state my name? Jason thought to himself as he examined himself for any possible evidence that could have gave him away. Right, my name tag...

"Jason?" Natsu's face turned from happy to serious as he made the connection between the names.

The two boys stepped out of the classroom and made their way to a secluded stairwell to have their 'talk' which they both already have a rough idea on where this is going.

Lucy.

"So... you're Lucy's boyfriend?" Natsu asked.

"Yeah." Jason replied possessively and Natsu immediately winced at his tone.

"Do you love her?" Natsu straightforwardly asked. They had their silent acknowledgement where this is the time where a man hands a woman to another man.

"Yes." Jason replied without wavering Natsu winced once more.

"How long have you dated her?" Natsu silently wondered why is he self abusing.

"About half a year." Jason continued to keep his answers short and sweet.

"Do you swear on your life that you'd never make her cry and protect her no matter what?" Natsu was dead serious at this point and shooting Jason with a death glare, making sure that he does not find an ounce of hesitation from the boy.

"I promise I won't be the reason for her tears but rather, the one who dries them." Jason assured without waver which only served a deeper cut within Natsu's chest.

"I see..." Natsu said with a subtle disappointment that Jason caught. "Just... be sure to treat her right..."

"I know." Jason assured. "Now, it's my turn."

Natsu stopped from turning to leave and gave the man his fullest attention, unable to comprehend what he meant.

"Do you like Lucy?" Jason asked, but before Natsu could open his mouth to say the expected 'Of course', he added, "Not in a friendly or brotherly manner, but in a romantic manner."

Natsu closed his mouth and formed a rare mature smile. "I doesn't matter anymore now does it?"

Just as he finished his sentence, a voice boomed from above them.

"Jason! There you are! But... why are you with Natsu?" Natsu's favourite voice sounded.

"We just happened to meet and I wanted to know the famous Natsu a little better." Jason smoked his way through.

"Oh..." Lucy sounded slightly dejected. "Did you... tell him about us?"

"Yeah." Jason replied indifferently.

"I see... Darn it, I wanted to tell him myself!" Lucy playfully punched Jason and Natsu automatically turned away, knowing his poor heart wouldn't be able to take it.

"Oh... can I talk to you for a moment?" Lucy asked.

Natsu turned to find her talking to him and although it hurt like hell, he agreed. Jason kindly excused himself to give the two of them some privacy.

"N-Natsu..." Before Lucy could start, Natsu decided to go ahead and cut himself in.

"Hey."

"? Uh... Hey..." Lucy felt awkward at the abrupt interruption.

"He seems like a reliable guy."

"I... know..."

"Good for you..."

"Yeah..."

There was a momentary silence that followed.

"It seems like my duties have been relieved huh?" Natsu continued to break the silence.

"Huh?" Lucy was a little lost until she recalled the promise they made 9 years ago.

"Okay, now, time for your mother!" Natsu abruptly interrupted their moment of fire bending.

"Huh?"

"We've entertained my parents enough, so, where's yours? We can't possibly leave your mum out of all the fun!" Natsu explained with his favourite big smile.

Lucy smiled back in appreciation of his thoughts and guided him to the big tombstone that even had a huge statue on it. Natsu's mouth was as open as a broken door. Lucy giggled and helped him close it. She then proceeded to kneel before the tombstone.

"Mamma, I'm here."

Following suite, Natsu knelt before the grave as well and Lucy introduced him to her mother.

"This boy is Mashiro Tsuna, soon to be Natsu Dragneel." She paused for a bit, then hesitantly added, "My friend."

Natsu blushed a bit. He hasn't made any friends after the fire and was well appreciative of it. He then turned to the grave and prayed. After he was done, Lucy asked him what did he say. Standing up, he answered.

"Until you get a boyfriend, I'll be the guy to protect you!" He said once more with his toothy grin that Lucy was slowly getting addicted to.

Blushing, she nodded.

"We should head back now." Lucy suggested and Natsu immediately laps into a pout.

"Aw man..."

Lucy froze for a bit after the recollection and somehow felt scared that Natsu isn't going to be the one to protect her anymore. Her brain searched hard for a reason or excuse to prevent that.

"Um... But... But you haven't done your job in 9 years! You owe me!" Lucy argued.

Natsu stared at the blonde with realisation, "Oh yeah... I didn't..."

Sighing in relief, Lucy relaxed and demanded, "So, for the next 9 years, you'll still have to protect me to clear off your debts!"

Sighing in defeat, Natsu just replied, " Yeah yeah." After all, he wasn't really against the idea. However, he had no idea how much pain it'll bring him eventually.