It first started with a snow fall.
Magnolia town had turned dark in the late afternoon – the sky a rolling, steel colored grey that flushed the air with bitter cold. It was to be somewhat expected; the full of winter had arrived a few weeks ago in its full bitter hearted form, but this was different. Thick with an ice that held an unnerving river of something else. Something that set Natsu's skin crawling and frowning deeply as he trudged through the abandoned city streets.
Being as it housed such a prominent and exuberant magical guild – Magnolia wasn't a stranger to feats of catastrophic events. In fact, one might suggest that the city had built it rather nicely into its routine. The calamitousness was gazed on now, with a slight smiling eye. As a grandparent might look upon rambunctious children.
This storm however, was bizarre. It crept along through the mountains and towards the sea in raw glacial haze, filling Magnolia with swirls of piercing snow and stopping the town in its freezing tracks. Even Gray – artic bastard had declared something strange about the whole thing. About a storm so monstrous and almost malevolent in nature. Gray had frowned deeply, watching the sky as he brooded from a window; growing quiet before heading out early. For once not losing his jacket and scarf in the process, not to mention with Juvia tucked near his side. The guild hall had dwindled quickly – members retreating home, hoping to steam off the bitterness that seeped into their bones. The women that were housed in the dormitories huddled together in a mass, hands wrapped around one another as they left – but Lucy…Lucy was withdrawing all alone.
"Are you sure Lu?" Levy had asked, her brows drawing together in a worried frown. "I'm sure we can find you a place to stay…"
Natsu looked up from his massive lunch, his hand laden with a gyoza halted halfway towards his mouth. What? He wondered with a bellow inside his head. She was leaving in this monstrosity?
"Oh, that's alright," Lucy answered, brushing her hand back and forth. Natsu's gaze narrowed though when her breath released in puffs, wisps of freezing cloud spattering in the hall. "I'll be fine, so don't worry. I'm heading right now to a hot bath and I don't want to miss it." She turned slightly meeting his eyes, the corner of her mouth tugged upwards in a small simple smile. "Natsu? Is it alright if we leave for Crocus tomorrow? I'm sure that bandit job can wait a day - right?"
Natsu blinked a few times, wondering if she was serious – that he would actually make her trudge through this blizzard for work. Maybe if she put on something warmer he would consider it…the light sweater and scarf that seemed more for accessorization, would be threadbare in a normal winter day as it was, let alone this abnormal system.
He grumbled at bit. "Of course not weirdo," he said. "Can't have my partner freezing to death I guess…"
"Aye sir!" Shouted the cat sitting near his elbow as he shoved a fish head into his mouth. Whole. Lucy smiled widely, flushing her face with a laugh. "I didn't think you would – only teasing."
With that she gave a wave to Levy and disappeared through the doors, yanking hard on their handles and fading out into the dark white out. It was pulled back shut with a bang, the force of snow and ice resounding on the hinges.
The afternoon passed with a quietness that had Natsu on a suspicious rim. Those few that had remained stuffed in the guild hall, had whispered voice, narrowed eyes and anxious faces. He had hoped to snag a long nap across one of the benches - especially since his plans for their job had been delayed...but Natsu couldn't find sleep. It remained frustrating elusive and he found that his body wouldn't settle. It was exhausting for no apparent reason and that alone set the Salamander's teeth on edge. It was like they were all waiting for something...something to jump from around the corner, but blind to any thoughts as to what it might be. He groaned and smacked his head against the table.
"I don't like this," Natsu heard Erza mumble out of her mouth. He glanced up to see her standing – staring hard at the closed door with tightly crossed arms. "Where did this blizzard come from? And so forceful too…" she suddenly rounded on him, so quickly that he gave a slight panic. What? He was just eating his third helping! Surely he hadn't done anything wrong…
"Did Gray say anything?" Erza asked and Natsu frowned. Who cared if the prick said things? "Anything about where he thinks this might have come from?"
"No. Ice queen just ran home with his tail between his legs."
He heard Erza huff in quiet disappointment.
"It's just a bad snow storm," Lisanna interjected with a small smile from behind the bar. "Nothing too dangerous I'm sure. You shouldn't worry so much."
"A real man isn't afraid of a little blizzard!" Elfman hollered from where he sat aside his sister. "Lisanna's right – what's got you so jumpy?"
Erza didn't answer. She merely stared out the great windows, watching the sky fade darker – the roll of hanging clouds tumbling with snow. Natsu couldn't blame her…he could feel it as well and it set his teeth together. Jaw tight and the food before him suddenly bland and sour. Normally he would brush it off – the carefree nature of his personality more aligned towards movement than thinking, but not for this. This was a cold that bled into his bones and he couldn't help but wonder if there was something behind it. Something other than just the fall of snow on Magnolia in winter. He slammed his palms on the table before standing with a jolt. Happy yelped out in tumbled surprise.
"I'm going to check on Lucy," he said voice firm. "Just make sure she got home okay."
He didn't understand the look that Erza gave him, or that one that Lisanna flashed from near her brother's side.
"I think that's a good idea," Erza supported with a gentle voice. "I think its best we all settle for the night anyway. I will see you tomorrow for the Crocus job."
Natsu nodded after draining the last of his fire whiskey. The pool of warmth in his stomach spread deliciously up to his chest. Not that he needed the stuff, but it made for a nice prep before he trudged out the guild hall. Snow and ice. Bleh – he didn't understand Gray's stupid love for the stuff. Too wet and fucking cold.
He gave a parting wave to the others and hollered at Happy to hurry up. The Exceed shouted his own goodbyes and followed Natsu out into the frozen streets of Magnolia, marveling at the pile of flakes that covered the city and turned the world white.
He ran down the streets, Happy uncharacteristically curled up at Natsu's back, hiding in the shelter of his scarf and warmth. His teeth chattered loudly next to the mage's ear.
"Let's hurry and get to Lucy's soon! It's freezing out here!"
"No worries little buddy, it's just right…"
But he stopped with a suck of breath when he neared Lucy's apartment.
It wasn't right at all. None of it. The chill that crawled up Natsu's spine had nothing to do with the outside weather. It sunk into his skin and made his stomach drop. It felt like a sickness was trying to swallow him. A press of something very wrong against his warm magic power…It was coming from the building, dripping from the cracks like a mist. It poured out into the street – ramming against him like a wall. The whole fucking thing was frosted! Layered with the power of ice, plastered with a thick showering of bitter cold. What the hell?
Lucy.
He didn't bother with the stupid door. He didn't bother to think – but hurled himself up the wall of her apartment, Happy hot on his heels. Natsu pulled back the window, feeling the stiffness and crack of iced panes. It spattered and thread across like the veins of a spider web. If he wasn't concerned so consuming as to what lay within – Natsu might have thought it somewhat beautiful, feathered out as it was. Not that he would ever let the ice princess now such a mortifying fact, that he sometimes appreciated the structure and form of snow and cold. Instead, he passed it without pause, shutting the window snap right behind him.
Happy clung to the edges of his scarf, the side of his small body shivering against Natsu's cheek as he pressed closer. Lucy's room was steeped in cold – the air was covered with a raw, bitter feeling that cut straight into him. Natsu's hiss turned into a low, rumbling growl. Damn! Where in the hell was her heat? Had she lost power? Had Magnolia…
No. No. That wasn't it. He had passed through the heart of town on his way here…snow had blanketed everything, covering the creases of every cobble street from the moment he'd stepped from the guild hall. The storm dropped mounds of fluffy wide flakes on top of his head, but Natsu had also passed homes, businesses and windows turned gold from inner warmth. Those inside may have been shrugging off the cold, but their cheeks had been flush with heat – scarves and jackets taken off in comfort.
So it wasn't that. No. Something was very different here. It was wrong. Was it just…?"
"Natsu!"
He whirled around at the panic in Happy's voice, moving forward quickly to where the cat was perched on the bed. He was pawing frantically at the great lump underneath him, at the mounds of blankets and pillows.
Lucy.
With a shout Natsu dug through the bed, finding the mass of gold hair that signaled Lucy. She was bundled tightly in every blanket she owned, but it hadn't been enough. Her body was trembling – wracking back and forth with convulsing shivers. Her skin was a deathly pale and her lips were a ridged rim blue.
"Shit!" Natsu cried as he hands wrapped around her shoulders, eyes wide and horror struck. The tips of his fingers burned against her skin, because damn it to hell! She seemed dead. Silent – surging of ice and cold, closed lashed dusted with frost.
Her bottom lip quivered and she seemed to be mumbling something. Slurred and sluggish, it would have been missed if not for his hearing. His name.
There was suddenly a rushing in his ears. His skin flushing hot and angry. Why was this happening to her? Whose face could he punch in for hurting his best friend so sadistically? This whole place reeked of magical power. It tasted like acid in his mouth.
"Lucy!" he yelled pulling her up. "Hey, Lucy! Wake up!"
But she didn't. She shuddered and groaned; limbs reaching outwards even though they were stiff and rigid. Numb hands weakly digging into the folds of his clothes. Pulling at his scarf. Natsu blinked in surprise.
"Natsu?" Happy quaked, his voice breaking at bit. "She's so…she's so cold…What do we do? How can we help…?"
"I-I don't know," he fumbled, searching her over as Lucy continued to try and search for something…near him? On him? He didn't understand. "We've got to get her warm!" He shouted. "She's almost frozen and I can't…!"
But Natsu stopped at once because he got it. His stupid brain had finally caught up. Her fingers were pulling at him because he was warm!
"Happy!" He whipped around at his partner as he pulled Lucy fully into his arms. "Can you set the logs so I can light the fire? We're gonna warm her up! I'm going…I'm going to…well…"
If Happy noticed the bright flush of Natsu's face, he didn't mention it. Thank Mavis.
"Aye sir!" The cat barreled into the air, understanding at once. He flew to Lucy's fireplace across the small room – fumbling with the massive planks of wood. Grunting with the effort as it kept slipping through his paws; even the firewood iridescent with glitters of ice.
Meanwhile, Natsu wrapped Lucy into the cage of his chest and began moving to pull them both back underneath the pool of blankets she had futily tried to use.
"Okay Natsu!" Happy shouted, leaving the hearth and making back towards the bed. "Fire it up!"
The blaze of orange light immediately filled the dark parts of the room, sparkling with mesmerizing warmth in the cradle of Natsu's fingers. It sped like a bot straight at the logs and without a moment's waiting sprang to life with a flush of red gold. The shadows grew long and vivid, contrasting with the flickers of Natsu's magic. Happy made a cocoon for himself in the mound of Lucy's pillows, near the headboard – but the Dragon slayer pulled the comforter over his head and tucked the folds into Lucy's side.
His hot palms pressed flat against the bare of her back and felt her head move to settle in the crook of his neck. She was so cold, skin prickled with goosebumps and her breathing seemed ragged and tight. Natsu pulled her closer, his magic spiking a bit to try and further her warming. The furrow between his brows grew deep and a growl ripped through his chest. He wanted to punch something – set something on fire; to make someone pay for what they tried to do to Lucy! But who could possibly be responsible for this? The magic seeped into Lucy's room…it wasn't anything he recognized, it wasn't anything he'd come into contact before. None of it made any sense.
What the fucking hell. This was only supposed to be a snow fall, right? Only a blizzard typical for the oncoming of winter…
"Is she going to be okay?" whispered Happy with a quivered voice. Natsu ground his teeth – still wishing he could direct his anger at something more tangible than the flurry of flakes outside, but pulled Lucy closer instead. He had to focus on her. Focus on keeping her safe. Finding someone to bash in would have to come later.
"Of course," he replied with more bravado than he felt. "She's tough remember?"
Happy gave a grin that was a juxtaposition with the tears trapped in the corner of his eyes. "Yeah, you're right – she'll probably end up yelling at us for breaking into her apartment."
Natsu gave a weak chuckle and looked back down at his companion. Her shivering had stopped and the rim of pale blue had disappeared from her lips, but she was still cold. He watched as her mouth hummed into the folds of scarf and her fingers began to weakly clutch against the planes of his chest. Her hand had found the open edges of his black robe, seeking the heat of his bare skin. His name tumbled out of her lips; slurred and rolled from her tongue and suddenly Natsu felt his face flush. Cheeks turning red and warm that had nothing to do with the heat.
She was his best friend. Since that moment three years ago (ten if you counted those spent in slumbering hiatus) when he had literally come crashing into her life – that's how it had been. Partners. Comrades. Teammates. Friends. He hadn't thought it wouldn't be any different from all the other times he'd held onto her. Touched her.
Carrying her from battle, shielding her from any harm or wrapping his calloused fingers around her own smooth ones when she needed that little extra encouragement. Lucy had always been special to him…in so many ways he didn't understand and now with this? With her pressed so closely and intertwined so intimately…
His brain hurt.
Lucy sighed and Natsu blinked from his thoughts. It was a beautiful sound. She was growing still, rolling back into a peaceful slumber and his anxious chest was beginning to calm down. His fingers threaded through her long gold hair, tangling at her temples as he watched his fire highlight the strands.
"I'm glad we checked on Lucy," Natsu suddenly whispered to his sleepy Exceed. "We almost lost her…"
The cat mumbled a bit as he nodded. "What happened to her though? And why was her place the only one affected? I don't like it Natsu…it's like it's cursed."
Natsu didn't answer, but the deep frown remained hard on his face. He shifted his long legs and felt Lucy's fall into the empty space between them. He was worried about what had started this whole thing, of course – but now that she was safe…now that he knew she was safe, enclosed with him, Natsu felt the sag of drowsiness settle over the small room.
His anxiousness and worry retreated leaving only an exhaustion behind. The softness that shelled them in Lucy's bed was much too comfortable to ignore. He wasn't going to leave her, not a smoking chance in hell was she getting out of his arms tonight. He wouldn't risk her getting cold again…so with sleep pulling at him it was an easy decision. Natsu would just stay right here. Tucked away in this bed with the two beings who mattered the most in his world.
"Don't tell her this, cause it's just too much fun to pick on her," Happy started with a drowsy, half lidded grin. "But she really is very pretty ya know? Especially when she's sleeping because she's not yelling or something…"
He didn't know what to say to that. Natsu's hands played again with the ends of Lucy's hair sprayed down her back. He hadn't realized how long it had gotten – as long as Erza's. He liked it. He liked the way his fire made the gold smolder in color – he liked the way it felt in his fingers. Her palms were still pressed against his skin, her even breath ghosting over his shoulder and he liked this too. When had he started to notice these things…?
He had to be sick. Food poisoning from the guild hall? Gotten a cold from the snow? Yes – that one. He agreed with that one. He seized upon that thought (completely unlikely) and held tightly to that theory. It was the only logical explanation for the fact that he agreed with Happy. And not just when she was sleeping either.
Natsu resolved to ignore it. He was too tired anyway. Lucy sighed again and he settled with her – falling hard into sleep. Tangled together in her bed.
The cold didn't return again.
It doesn't end there! Just the beginning my friends...only the beginning! ;)
I don't own anything even remotely related to Fairy Tail. Sadly. Sigh.
A new story that's been filling my head for some time now. Hopefully I can find time for regular updates - that's the goal...especially if I'm bribed with lovely reviews and feedback! Or I could bribe you for reviews! I'm not too proud to do so, haha!
As always, thank you so much for reading from the bottom of my heart.
- Aulani