A/N: Oh brother, am I really starting another fic with two unfinished ones? *sigh* Yes it seems that way. However I've already got the details for each chapter planned out (as well as themed music to get me in the mood for each one) and all that's left is fill in the gaps and add description. The whole story will be 11 chapters in total. Also, if you're curious about my other two stories, A Different Love Story and In Your Dreams, well they are on pause at the moment. If you want details feel free to PM me, I don't want to make this author's note much longer than it already is. So without further ado, enjoy I Will Always Follow You...
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail
I - Love Letters
A warm breeze blew across the grassy field, moving blades like waves in the ocean. In the center of the bright green sea was something out of place. The grass tickled at a darkly clothed body with muscular limbs. The blade tips touched a red guild mark on the body's right shoulder and got stuck in spiky pink hair. His appendages were sprawled out in all directions and the white scarf trailing out from where it wrapped out his neck. Natsu's chest rose and fell steadily with pleasant sleep. His snores disturbing the calming silence of the empty green field. Or perhaps it was so empty because his roaring snores had scared away all other life within a two mile radius. Well, except for one person, who appeared to be approaching the napping dragon slayer.
The blonde had a soft grin painted across her lips as she stared down at the boy. Chocolate brown eyes scanning over his body. One hand on her hip, not understanding how he could fall asleep so easily in any random place. Then again, this field seemed to make her feel just a little bit drowsy. She could probably just curl up beside him, letting the sun bathe them in it's warmth as she dozed off with him. She shook her head. "Natsu. Wake up."
"Hmrg…" he rolled over, either he was deep under the spell of this grassy field or he was just a lazy bum. She figured it was a little bit of both. "Five more minutes, Luce…"
"Not five more minutes, now." She nudged his side with her foot gently, then a little rougher when he still didn't get up. "Natsu."
He chuckled softly in his half-sleep. "Luce, that tickles…" She grit her teeth, her patience was running thin.
"Get up. Now." She nudged his side a little harder. He laughed again.
"Hehe…!"
"That's it!" She kicked his side hard, sending him rolling a little ways across the field. He yelped, sitting up when he stopped rolling.
"What was that for, Luce! I didn't do nothing wrong!" She glared at him, although it wasn't a real glare. She wasn't that mad at him.
"If you had woken up when I said so then I wouldn't have kicked you. Actually, if you'd been at the guild four hours ago like you were supposed to then I wouldn't have come and woken you up." She crossed her arms, tapping her foot impatiently. "Did you forget about our job?"
"Oh, that was today?" He cocked his head to the side cluelessly. She felt a vein bulge in her forehead. Patience, Lucy…
"Yes that was today. We agreed to meet in front of the guild at noon so we could go on this job. I know it's not exactly your cup of tea because it doesn't involve beating up thugs or destroying entire towns, but I need the money to pay my rent and I'm cutting it kind of close this month." It's not like she hadn't been working, but most of the reward money went to repairing the towns they had trashed in the process of their job. She'd barely scraped enough together last month as it was, and that was because she didn't go grocery shopping. Her stomach still hadn't quite forgiven her for it, because she'd refused to take handouts from her guildmates. If making her own meant starving one month in order to pay rent, that's how she was going to do it. No short cuts! Although it didn't always help that Natsu and Happy were constantly raiding her pantry. Funny how they–especially Natsu–seemed to be the root of her financial and living problems.
She truthfully wouldn't have it any other way.
"Oh shit, sorry Lucy, I completely forgot!" He gave an apologetic and goofy grin. The use of her real name and not his nickname for her told her he truly was sorry. He may be a complete dunce but he was an honest dunce. She sighed, her posture loosening up now that she wasn't scolding him.
"It can't be helped. Don't worry about it. It's too late to leave now, unless we want to travel in the dark." She shuddered, that wasn't an ideal plan. "So how about we head out noon tomorrow?"
"Sure thing, Luce! I'll be there this time!" Lucy frowned skeptically.
"You promise?"
"I promise!"
"I'll hold you to that. And if you don't show up I'm leaving without you." that was a lie. While doing jobs alone did mean there was less a chance of leaving destruction and less payment after, it wasn't nearly as fun to go alone. He was a pain to work with but she liked the time she got to spend with him. She'd go anywhere with the rambunctious dragon slayer, following him through rain, snow, burning sun, jungle, you name it. She had a feeling that he wanted to do the same with her, or at least hoped he did. She doubted the thick-skulled Natsu realized how she felt about him, but she knew he did love her. As family that is. Nothing more, nothing less. That was fine. She was fine with that. At least he cared at all.
"You wouldn't! You'd get lost or somethin' without me there!" Actually it was probably the other way around. He would get lost. But she smiled nonetheless, nodding in defeat just to shut him up.
Natsu grinned widely, displaying his sharp canines among the rest of his pearly teeth. She wondered why his teeth always looked so white, certainly he didn't brush his teeth every day? He barely remembered to bathe more than once a month. That was the only saving grace of him barging in and sleeping over at her home. She could make sure he took a bath. Several times he'd taken a bath at her place though it had ended up in… awkward situations. Actually, she wasn't thinking about his teeth anymore. She was thinking about- "Lucy?"
"E-eh!? O-oh, um…" her face was burning red and she waved it off, as if it would erase her thoughts from her mind. "Say we should probably head back to the guild or something!"
Natsu blinked with confusion, but it was only a few seconds before he was grinning eagerly and nodding his head. "Yeah! I could really go for one of Mira's steaks right now!" He jumped to his feet, grabbing a hold of Lucy's petite wrist, proceeding to drag her along to the edge of the field.
"Natsu! I can walk on my own!" She complained, but she didn't try to pull herself from his grasp. He was holding her wrist too tightly, so she was sure if she tried to wiggle her way out it would tear her skin off. His fingers were warm with fire dragon magic and rough. She wished they were between her fingers instead of cutting off the circulation in her hand.
"Come on, Luce! You're too slow!"
"I'm not slow, you're just too fast!"
Back at the guild, Lucy watched as the dragon slayer who sat across the table from her tore apart a steak with his teeth. Maybe it was just her proper upbringing but she was pretty sure you were supposed to use a fork and knife when eating steak. She sighed, as Natsu swallowed a chunk whole. Or at least it appeared that way, she wasn't sure he was actually using his teeth for chewing. "Honestly…" She sighed.
"Aren'f ya gonna eaf, Rooshe?"
"Don't talk with your mouth full, Natsu, it's gross."
He swallowed loudly, and stared at her. "If you're not gonna eat your steak give it to me!"
"Huh? Oh… right, that's right." She remembered she'd also ordered herself dinner. She stabbed the meat with her utensils and cut off a juicy piece, popping it into her mouth. It practically melted in her mouth, if only she could cook like Mirajane. The former S-class wizard could make anything taste delicious. Natsu exaggerated a pout, he'd really wanted that steak it seemed. Lucy couldn't blame him and that's why she wasn't gonna give it up. "Don't look at me like that, you still have your own dinner to finish."
He grumbled in defeat and chewed absentmindedly on his steak. "Fine…" She giggled.
Glancing around she noticed the guild was rather quiet that evening. It seemed most of the members were out doing jobs, probably scraping together cash to pay rents or pay for groceries, same as her. Mirajane and Kinana stood behind the bar chatting peacefully and straightening up the displays. Happy was trying to woo Carla with a freshly caught fish over in one of the corners, much to the blue Exceed's disappointment she declined just like every time before. Lucy was surprised Lily wasn't with them but then she noticed Gajeel was missing as well. She guessed he was also out on a job. Team Shadow Gear was out and about as well, Levy and her two teammates had left the day before. The Master wasn't anywhere to be seen in the main hall but he was probably somewhere around the guild. Gray and Juvia were missing too. The water mage was probably tailing Gray wherever he was. Erza was sitting at a table enjoying her strawberry cake. The pure enjoyment on her face made the scarlet haired woman just a tad bit less scary. It was strange being in the guild with it this calm. Lucy had grown fond of the noise and the mischief.
"I think I'm gonna head home." She said, pushing her half eaten steak in Natsu's direction and standing. "You can have the rest." He looked overjoyed. He didn't even thank her before he started to chow down on it immediately. She rolled her eyes.
"You're welcome, dummy. I'll see you tomorrow." She waved, making her way towards the exit. She found herself out in the streets of Magnolia. The city was still bustling with life despite the sun beginning to disappear below the horizon. She walked through the small crowds to her apartment. Her heart filled with joy knowing this was her home and always would be her home. There were so many amazing things about this place. She'd already come to know the streets like the back of her hand, remembering where each cobblestone path led. She could probably even find her way home with her eyes closed. It hadn't been a particularly exhausting day, but she couldn't wait to collapse in her bed and sleep. Letting sweet dreams wash over her.
Arriving home several minutes later she unlocked her apartment door, stepping inside. "I'm home!" She announced to no one. Stepping further into the apartment where her bed and other furniture were she noticed something unusual. Or perhaps not that unusual. A giant lump was under her blankets. No way did he get here before I did! She thought. But pulling the covers back the sleeping forms of Natsu and Happy were revealed. She shook her head. "Hopeless. They are hopeless." She decided she could sleep on her floor that night. It wasn't healthy for her to sleep in the same bed with him. Sure he wouldn't see anything wrong with it, but it was the principal of things and Natsu was stupid.
Grabbing the spare bedding she set herself up a temporary sleeping arrangement, then wandered into her bathroom to change into her pajamas and brush her teeth. The snoring coming from her bed was probably loud enough to wake the whole building. She wondered how she hadn't gotten any complaints about it yet. Toothbrush sticking out of her mouth she peaked out into her room, having a perfect view of her bed from there. Natsu's rear stuck straight up into the air and Happy was curled up on top of it. She thought of how unpleasant that was going to be for the poor cat if Natsu passed gas in his sleep. She chuckled to herself, imagining it already.
Spitting into the sink and rinsing out her mouth she sighed, mouth feeling clean and refreshed. She removed her hair from it's pigtails, running her fingers through it to even it out. Not like it was going to make all that much difference in the morning. Her hair was going to stick every which way when she woke up. She had one last thing to do before she went to sleep. Sitting down in her desk chair she pulled her journal from a hidden spot in one of the desk drawers. She opened it to a blank page, grabbing her favorite swan feather pen. Dipping it into the fresh ink then touching the tip to the page she began to write.
Dear Mom,
Just another ordinary day in Magnolia and in Fairy Tail. Natsu and I were supposed to go on a job but the idiot ended up falling asleep in a field instead. The nerve right? I'm sure you would have loved to meet him mom. I always say so. He's got the worst manners, worse than I did! And that's quite the feat since I never could be as ladylike as dad wanted, or as ladylike as you. But what do you expect from someone raised by a dragon.
What was it like when you fell in love with dad? How did you know you loved him? Did you ever love someone who you knew would probably never have the capacity to love you back? I'm pretty sure I love Natsu. And it's not just a family kind of love like I feel for everyone else in the guild. I never want to hold Gray's hand when we walk side by side. Seeing Gajeel grin doesn't make my heart skip beats. I most definitely don't want to kiss the other guys in the guild. I can tell he doesn't feel the same way though, and he's too dense to see how I feel. It's really a testament to his idiocy when most of the other guild members have already figured it out, despite my constant denial.
But… I'm okay with the way things are. I would be so happy if he reciprocated my feelings, but I'm happy knowing he's my friend. I don't want to screw that up, you know? Hey, maybe someday I'll fall in love with someone else and they'll love me too and we'll get married and have a couple kids and live happily ever after. Wouldn't that be something? Right, Mom? I'm glad Natsu is my friend, it's better than nothing. Although I suppose I wouldn't have fallen for him if I'd never met him in the first place, or if he wasn't always coming to my rescue and being so nice to me.
This is good enough, isn't it Mom?
Love, Lucy
Lucy sighed, looking at the clock. It wasn't too late yet fortunately. She closed her journal and stuck it back into it's secret compartment, sliding out of her chair and making her way over to her bedding. She laid down on her back, tugging the blanket over her and shivering a little. It was colder on the floor. Her eyes drifted up to the bed where Natsu and Happy still slept soundly. The bed was so much more comfortable and with Natsu in it it would be ten times warmer than the floor. Would it really hurt if she slept in the same bed as him? It's not like she hadn't woken up with him curled up at her feet before. But she hadn't done that willingly, he'd gotten into the bed with her while she was asleep. He didn't know that wasn't an acceptable thing to do. She did, especially with her feelings. She rolled over onto her side so she couldn't see him, closing her eyes like an invitation for sleep to come and take her away.
"Good night…" She whispered to herself, slowly dozing off.
At some point in the middle of the night Natsu woke up, snorting loudly as his snoring was interrupted. He blinked and stared through hazy vision at the moonlit room. He'd slept here so many times that it just felt natural to be waking up in Lucy's room. Hang on, where was Lucy?
He sniffed, catching her scent first. Then his ears heard her soft, gentle breathing. Pushing Happy off his stomach he peered over the side of the bed and saw her curled up tightly on a makeshift bed. Even in the dim light he could see she was shivering just a bit. Something clicked and he quietly climbed out of the bed, leaning down and scooping her up in his arms. She immediately pressed herself against his chest in her sleep, soaking in his body heat. Her shivering stopped.
"Natsu…" She murmured. For a second he thought she'd woken up but her eyes didn't open and her sleepy breathing stayed the same. He gently laid her down in her bed next to Happy, pulling the covers over her. She hummed in her sleep. He sprawled himself on top of the blankets, yawning now.
"Good night, Luce." he said, before immediately falling back to sleep.
A/N: So? I hope you like it so far. I wasn't too sure about adding that Natsu bit at the end but I was given the go for it by one of my best friends. This chapter was somewhat inspired by Paper Route's song Love Letters, hence the chapter's title.
I'll hopefully have the next chapter done before next Friday. Hard to say considering I've got a test and a project for my ASL2 class next week AND I have to work on a thing for a science expo. Oh college you give me so much free time. I even took fewer classes this semester but alas it does not help. One saving grace is by the time this is uploaded I've already got 1/3 of the second chapter done and pending review from my best friend.
Please leave a review telling me what you think, it's greatly appreciated! Until next time.
