1: The Downpour
The rain started to fall as Lucy made her way home, a slow drizzle that turned into a downpour fast enough to soak her before she reached the protection of home. Water dripped from her clothes as she rung her hair out, the light in the hallway of her apartment shimmered off her stomach. She grumbled as she dug through her bag looking for her room key, finally entering her home she saw something she had become accustomed to, Natsu sitting on her bed waiting for her.
"Natsu!" she said with agitation, "why are you and Happy always here! Wait, where is Happy?"
"He said he felt sick, so I sent him home with Wendy and Carla," Natsu replied. Natsu shifted his attention out the window, watching the rain. "You look soaked, maybe you should clean yourself up and get warm." Lucy considered the idea of a warm bath, than looked at Natsu. She climbed onto the bed and snuggled her face into his collarbone. Natsu shifted his gaze from the rain to Lucy in surprise. He felt a sudden shiver from her, so he placed his right arm around her to bring her in closer. The two sat there until her shivering seized, Lucy pulled away, however Natsu pulled her in closer, refusing to let go.
"Natsu let go, I need to bathe and get warm," Lucy said.
"Aren't I warm enough?" Natsu replied looking into her eyes.
Lucy met his gaze, and considered his statement, than pulled away again, "I need to clean myself up, and I look dreadful. I wont take long, just a short bath." She removed herself from his resisting grip and made her way to the bathroom.
"You never look bad," Natsu whispered.
"Pardon? I didn't hear you," Lucy questioned, turning around to face him.
"Nothing, go get clean, but don't keep me waiting long."
Lucy continued to the bathroom confused, wondering what he had mumbled as she filled the tub with warm water, and the smell of lilac. She threw her damp clothes into the corner and stepped into the bath. The water adsorbed the cold from her skin as she submerged her body in its warmth. Reaching for her regular shampoo she hesitated; looking all the bottles over until she found the one Natsu enjoyed most. As promised she hurried her bath along to not keep him waiting to long.
The rain started to flood the streets; soon nobody would be able to walk on them. Natsu contemplated trying to go home to Happy, but he couldn't leave Lucy in this kind of storm, what if she needed him? A soft familiar sent began to drift from the bathroom; Natsu inhaled deeply enjoying the smell. He stepped off the bed and moved to a chair near the bathroom, he looked towards the clock to see she had been in there 15 minutes.
"Lucy! Are you almost done? I'm bored out here alone!" Natsu shouted. The bathroom door swung open, Lucy stepped out with a towel around her body, it hardly covered her bottom, and she held the towel around her breasts, pushing them against her body. Natsu gulped louder than expected, a drop of sweat ran down his face.
"I forgot a change of clothes," she said as she dug through her underwear drawer, "I wont take long." Natsu saw her grab a matching red lace covered bra and panties before he looked away. He could feel his face turn hot, so he made his way back to the window over her bed to watch the cold rain.
Her towel fell to the ground as she closed the bathroom door. Then she slipped on her favorite red thong, and strapped her bra on, it was only now that she realized it was matching. With a shrug of her shoulders she got into her yoga capris, and pulled her grey long sleeve, low cut crop top on. She looked in the mirror, the shirt was ratty and baggy but comfy, and she pulled her hair up into a pony as she walked out the door. Natsu was sitting beside her very steamed up bedroom window. The click of her closing the door made Natsu turn his head toward her, Lucy smiled as he looked at her.
"I think I'll have to stay here tonight," Natsu said gesturing to the window.
"It's hard to see with all this fog on the window," Lucy remarked as she wiped a spot on the glass, "why didn't you leave before it go this bad?"
"I couldn't leave when you thought I would be out here waiting for you."
Lucy smiled at his kind thought, "could you start a fire in the fireplace then?" Natsu hoisted himself from the bed and blew a tiny puff of fire into the stone fireplace, the wood caught quickly and the room soon became warm.
"Why weren't you at the guild today?" Natsu asked.
"I was at Levi's helping her with some ancient spell readings. Would you like something to eat?" Lucy said as she stood up.
"Of course I want something to eat, I've been waiting here for a while. I was worried you know."
Lucy smiled hearing him say that, she grabbed some sushi for herself and him, making sure the portions were large. "You don't have to worry about me, I never do anything dangerous unless it's with you or the team." She placed a large amount of food in front of him, "is that enough? If not I have some more rice ready."
"Thif if grh," Natsu mumbled through a mouth full of food, "do hfe drnk?"
"Yes I have 'drnk'," Lucy teased as she stood up to grab something to drink, "ehhh, all I have is saké"
"That's fine!" Natsu yelled nearly choking on his food. Lucy placed a tiny cup in front of Natsu; he gulped it down quickly, "That's strong! Do you drink this by yourself normally?"
"It's the first time I've opened it. It's from Cana, she gave it to me after our first successful mission."
"Well I'll have another please," Natsu stated as he placed the tiny cup in front of Lucy. She gladly poured him another and herself one.
"Don't drink it so quickly, you'll get drunk, and god knows I can't take care of drunk Natsu!" Lucy laughed.
"Then keep up with me," Natsu had a devilish grin on his face.
