Author's Notes: This is going to be a fun little story. There's gender-bending involved so if you're not down with that, don't read. Also Natsu and Lucy's POV will switch back and forth, I will start with Lucy. And yeah I know Inside Out just came out but to be fair I was working on this first. I've had amazing suggestions from ObeliskX! Enjoy! The song is El Dorado by Exo
The title Inside Out and Fairy Tail belong to their creative directors, all rights are theirs.
The guild was the same disarrayed nonsense it usually was, with Natsu and Gray yelling loud insults at each other, Cana downing a barrel, and Mira wiping glasses behind the bar. Most of us just pretending not to notice the destroyed furniture, and going about relaxing, just a normal everyday in Fairy Tail.
I was perched at the bar, a cup of steaming green tea in front of me, ever so often pausing an animated chat with Levy to take casual sips. Catching me off guard, the entire counter shook with the force of Natsu suddenly leaping into the adjacent seat. His inertia making my mug shake, with the threat of it scalding the first participant. Quickly saving my mug before it went all over Levy, the hot liquid splashing over the sides, leaving me burned and causing me to frustratedly glance into his newly acquired position.
"Hey Luce, wanna do a mission?" He said dismissively as if nothing had transpired.
Sighing defeatedly, choosing to ignore his blunder, because explaining his error would take too much effort, I breathed, "Sure. Let's pick one."
Moving from my seat to grab aloe from Mira, after stealing a few more sips of my drink, I joined Natsu over by the giant cork mission board.
Natsu noticed my presence when I approached his elbow. Turning his head slightly to the left, addressing me over his shoulder, "Hey, what about this one?" Before answering I watched his shoulder extend as his long sinewy arms stretched to point at a long forgotten piece of paper wedged between the top borders. Mildewy and yellow, the printed words were fairly smudged, making it hard to read.
He reached up to gently tug at the fragile parchment, with ease that I'd never noticed. When had he gotten so tall? He easily passed my short stature by a head. His new height could easily tuck my head under his chin.
"Awe, that's cute" I thought internally at the mental image. "No, bad Lucy! No thoughts like that about your partner…"
Blushing furiously, I turned to hide my reaction at my internal monologue. Noticing my strange behavior, Natsu asked, "Why's your face all red?" indifferently, as he attempted to decipher the mysterious text decorating the mission notice.
"Oh.. no reason." I muttered dumbly, raising my arms defensively and flying into a small panic.
Laughing he offhandedly called me a weirdo, which I am NOT by the way to turn his attentions on the paper once again.
"What does it say?" I asked.
"It just asks for mages willing to solve a village's issue with something, it's kinda smudged." He answered, still looking at the parchment.
"What about this weird writing bordering the outline?" I said while calling attention to the swirled script outlining the frame of the sheet by pointing.
Clearing his throat, he spoke in a deeper than usual voice, stuttering over the words brokenly trying to decipher the unfamiliar tongue:
"Šī misija prasa daudz takts jums ir jāzina, kā rīkoties. Šajā misijā, jums vajadzēs atvērtu sirdi. Lūk sākums:"
As he spoke, the letters glowed a faint gold color, slightly rising off the page, and the dust that had gathered on the document blew away gently. Too much for it to be a simple coincidence, Natsu and I glanced at each other in wonder.
"What does that mean?" Wondering aloud, "I've never heard of that language before, plus that writing glowed. Do you think Levy would know?"
"Na. It'll be fine; the townspeople can just explain it to us when we get there." Natsu shrugged off.
Ignoring my better judgement, we made plans to meet each other at the station the next morning, despite the weird mission and his gripping about the train ride. Letting him take the lead, we left the guild to pack for tomorrows trip.
Alone in my apartment, packing for our trip, I became increasingly more distracted as weird thoughts of recurring themes involving Natsu's long chiseled arms, and his strong physique…..wait, what was I doing? Oh right. I'm folding clothes for going on the mission with… Natsu.
These stupid perverted themes keep weaving their way into my brain. How can I go on the mission with him with thoughts like these? Maybe I could pretend to be sick and not go? No, then he'd want to stay and take care of me. Sighing, I decide to muster up courage and face him. At least I'll have Happy as a buffer for sexual tension.
"Do we have to take the train?" He groaned, as we stood side by side waiting for the train to pull into the station.
"Yeah Lucyy. Why can't we fly?" Happy whined.
"It's going to take us about three days to get there. Of course we're taking the train." I huffed indignantly.
"Where are we going again?" Natsu asked.
"An island of the coast of Enca. I think it's called the Genus Curvatura Insula."
Lots of whining and moaning later, we were on the train heading to Joya. Natsu's groans from the bench across my own, created a soft white noise perfect for reading. Sarcasm of course, as his loud grumbling was disturbing several other passengers in other cars.
Closing my hardback book with a snap, I cried, "Natsu quit whining, just come over here if you want to grumble."
Looking over with glazed eyes in recognition that he heard me, he started moving slowly to get to his feet. Inching cautiously to me in a shamble that may have resembled a walk, finally made his way to me. At that moment the train bumped over the rails sending his body the last few feet into my arms, forcing me to lock onto his torso. My cheeks dusted pink, I moved my body into the corner of the seat, by the window, guiding his frame to lay on my lap.
His body somewhat stretched out in the cramped space, my hands threading through his spiky tresses. They're a lot softer than I had drea…..anticipated. Alright Lucy, that wasn't the goal, no matter how soft Natsu's hair is, you wanted peace so you could read the dirty novel Erza leant you. Growing warm at the thought I leaned to retrieve my book, burdened by the now slumbering head on my lap. Giving up my mission for the greater good of quiet Natsu; I could read later.
"You likkkeeee himmmm." Happy teased sardonically
"Shut up you shitty cat." I replied with equal measure of teasing attitude. Did I like Natsu? No. He's just my best friend.
He is kinda cute when he's snoring... threading my fingers through his salmon pink locks again, I thought inquisitively. Lulling Natsu into a deeper sleep, myself quickly following.
"Miss… Miss." Jolting suddenly awake, shocking myself and staring wide eyed at a train attendant. "It's the last stop Miss."
Quickly grabbing our luggage, and a still sleeping Natsu and Happy, with extreme difficulty, we hopped off the train.
Dark having fallen, we needed a place to sleep. With Happy helping me, we found a hotel close by I returned to where I laid, well threw, Natsu on the ground of the train station. I could have done that more gracefully but whatever, he was heavy. Shaking the still slumbering man awake, we made our trek towards the only still lit building in town.
The hotel was plain but still decorated in a modest manner, nothing too fancy. Perfect. Walking into the small lobby, I approached the concierge's' desk.
"Can we have two rooms for the night please?" I asked politely
"Sure darlin'." The older woman responded in a mainland accent. "Oh wait, I'm sorry my dear but we've only got one room tonight."
About to disgruntledly respond that was fine, we could share right? Natsu cut in with, "What? No we have to have separate rooms!"
"It's fine, right Natsu?" I questioned him with a hurt look. Am I that bad?
"Hey Lushee and Natsu, you figure this out. I'm going to scout out this town for fish!" He cried before flying off on his mini quest.
After the desk lady made it clear there was only one room, he begrudgingly accepted. Walking with longer strides than my own, he pulled ahead making it clear that he wanted to reach the room first, and before me. Slowing down considerably to let him beat I was lost to my thoughts. "What had I done?" "Does he know I'm attracted to him?" "Please don't let me embarrass myself!" I prayed to no one in particular. "This is your best friend Luce.! "Yeah but he's acting weird…."
Arriving at the quaint room I listened to the shower water turn on, Natsu obviously taking one. Huh, he'd never been that worried about hygiene before? Ignoring that I turned my attentions to the simply furnished room, I walked in surveying the area. It was a small room with only a bed and a bathroom on the other side of the queen sized bed. "No couch to take refuge on? And no sexual tension buffer? This is going to be harder than I thought," I mentally worried, gulping to myself.
With nothing else to do, a TV had being omitted from the design plan, I got ready for bed, changing into a simple tank top and cotton shorts. Nothing else to do, I plopped onto the bed, facing the wall my back towards the doors, pulling out my novel and getting absorbed into the tale.
Ustandra placed her soft hands over Yculhe's clavicle, tracing their outline with her fingers. Gently caressing him with only the pads of her fingers, making him shiver. Yculhe desperately wanting to touch her, arched forward.
"Ah, no moving remember? You don't want me to start over right? Maybe next time I'll bind more than your hands." She smirked as he whimpered into submission
Placing a chaste kiss on each collarbone, she moved her lips to his neck, blowing warm air behind his ear, and sucking hard. Satisfied with her attentions there, she turned her eyes towards his nipples, tracing a line to them with her finger, squeezing a nipple between her thumb and middle f
Without warning, the bathroom door squeaked open, shocking me into shutting my book quickly, the smack echoing in the tiny room. Turning around to face the intruder, meeting a half naked Natsu, with only a white towel gracing his hips.
Dazed at the expansive exposed skin new to me, silently staring at his body. Natsu spoke first, oblivious to my expression, speaking with a guilty tone. Wait is he talking to me?
"I'm sorry I freaked out, I was just really wanting a shower." He apologized avoiding eye contact.
"It's fine!" I squeaked out. Clearing my throat I responded normally, "It's fine I was just confused."
Both of us laughing awkwardly he broke the tension by asking if I wanted a shower. Agreeing that I did, I retreated to the bathroom. Wanting the hot water to wash away today's imperfections.
Moaning out loud at the hot stream of liquid cascading down my back and shoulders, sighing and washing my body was heavenly. New found shower confidence was the best.
Obsequiously getting out of the shower I changed back into my pjs, fixed my bandages from my burn this morning, and began checking my appearance in the mirror. Turning around for a full affect. Wait? Had these shorts always not completely covered my ass? Shit. Hopefully Natsu hadn't noticed, because these are all I brought. I'll just quickly run for the bed I steeled, taking a deep breath for courage, I ran through the door, jumping onto the bed on the left side, right on top of Natsu.
"Ughmp." He grunted at my sudden force hitting his solid chest. "Oh my god." I thought internally. "I'm so sorry!" I said quickly trying to roll over him to the other side.
Laughing at my frazzled state he said, "It's fine, payback right?" Both delving into a fit of giggles, our earlier tensions disappearing.
"I was so shocked! You just threw me over your shoulder. Next thing I knew I was lying on the ground at the station's platform." He said laughing, retelling of my less than graceful train exit, I countered with, "You were so heavy I didn't know what to do. As soon as we made it to the station I just threw you down."
Our laughter, apparently "too loud", was so interrupted by a loud knock on the wall followed by a cranky "Shut up!" caused even more giggles, but quieter this time, until we both nodded off to sleep.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please review :) Sorry for any errors, please let me know if I made any.