A/N: THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS AND THE FAVS AND THE ALERTS GUYS! It warmed me! VERY!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything, just the plot.
Truth be told, Natsu is not ignorant when it comes towards Lucy's figure. Naïve or no, Natsu is still a man. But his respect towards Lucy is far more important than any lewd thoughts.
Of course, to Natsu, he seems to be the only man known to mankind who has that respect.
Everywhere they go, since they have started this journey, Natsu has spied and glared at every man drooling over Lucy wherever they go.
Lucy doesn't need to know why no man had ever answered her, despite their lingering eyes.
Everyone in their guild knows how much skin Lucy exposed; with her short skirts that threatened to expose the cheeks of her bottom whenever she bents, and leaving the creamy texture of her legs exposed to the cold air. She always wear sleeveless clothes, or either donning shirts that exposed her midriffs. She isn't as toned as Erza, but Natsu has enough experience to know how soft and addicting her skin is.
How many times had he seen Lucy naked after she took her shower? How many times had her towel loosen always when his eyes were lowered? How many times had his hands accidentally brushed her supple and full chest?
Natsu had lost count.
But every touch, Natsu had engraved it in his mind.
When they were rebuilding the guild, Natsu was more than happy to assist. But Gray wasn't blind enough whenever his rival slash bestfriend turn his onyx eyes over to his blonde friend. He arched his brow in amusement, when Natsu would snap his eyes back to anywhere but Lucy, shaking his head as if to scold himself 'No-no!'.
Lucy, opposite to Natsu, was grumbling under her breath; cursing the heat of the sun as sweat rolled down her forehead and coating her pale legs and arms. Her hair was tied up into a side ponytail, but Natsu could still see with his sharp eyes the way the strands stuck to her slender neck in teasing swirls of gold. Her skin shone under the beam of the sun with the thin sheen of sweat, emphasizing the creamy tone of her complexion.
How could sweat be so appealing? How could Lucy pull it off? Whatever the reason, it brought sweet warmth to Natsu's cheeks.
And it brought amusement to Gray's growing smirk.
"You're blushing, Natsu."
Face struck with horror, Natsu stuttered, "W-what the hell!?"
Not bothered with Natsu's outburst, Gray merely wiped his face with a towel, hiding the upward tilt of his lips from Natsu. He was blunt, just as he should be when handling someone like Natsu. He's probably shaking off the growing fondness he had for the celestial mage.
"You know, keep denying it and you'll lose," Gray shot him a serious look. "You'll lose to someone who's faster to get her."
Gray left him like that; a dumbfounded and shock expression crossing his face. Gray supports their bond, one that is hard to break even by the biggest and hardest stone. And one that could bring smiles to their unwavering devotion to each other. But if Natsu's going to wait for forever, and ignore the chemistry between them, then all might be wasted for them. It wasn't as if he's doing the exact same thing as Mira (who's trying to usher them together). No, Gray would let them build their relationship. And they could work it out themselves. What he said was an encouragement.
He'll be damned if Natsu let Lucy wait.
That night, as Natsu had been doing ever since, he went through Lucy's window for access; finding her apartment empty and her door locked as usual.
Happy had stayed with Charle, seemingly happy with their reunion after one year. The blue exceed had been trying to prove how much he'd gotten stronger to the female exceed, in which Wendy stared on gleefully and all the while chuckling in amusement.
Sometimes, Natsu wondered. Happy had openly (and bluntly) embraced and expressed his affections towards Charle. Happy was as clueless as he was, right? Natsu had expected before that romance would come in last for the exceed just as he had thought for himself. But Happy had went on; thinking about Charle instead of just fish. He was happy and proud for his bestfriend, for finding his significant other.
Natsu, however, was different. Before Lucy, the guild was sure that he would be with Lisanna. The youngest Strauss is still and will remain as one of his bestfriends. But that was just it. A friend. Even before Lucy. But now that he has Lucy, the guild saw something in him that they haven't seen when he was with Lisanna.
By then, they knew.
Except, of course, for the duo itself.
Now, Natsu wasn't sure. When Gray had given him a piece of advise (if it was an advice. Natsu will take it as that), Natsu felt something inside him. It was different. Never before, even as he go charging headfirst at battles did he felt it. No. Getting into fights and fighting for his loved ones and for the guild, it brought him a sense of thrill and excitement, as well as sheer determination and faith to win it. No negativity in it. But what Gray had said, it brought a spark of panic swell in his stomach; forcing a lump in his throat. He felt undeniably cold.
What if, there would come a day when Lucy would no longer want to do missions or jobs with him. What if, someday, Lucy would be sitting next to another man, rather than him? What if, another one would come barging in her apartment that wasn't him? Worse, what if he would come through her window as usual, and see another man with Lucy instead of just Lucy?
These thoughts sent a cold grip his heart in ice. And it wouldn't be Gray's ice.
"Natsu!"
Blinking, Natsu didn't even notice Lucy until she was standing before him, her hands akimbo. How he didn't hear the sound of her jiggling keys and the twisting of her lock, Natsu wanted to slap his head for letting his guard down. That was absurd.
Lucy opened her mouth to lecture the rosette for his usual way of visit, but the words died in her throat the moment she saw the look on his face. Gone was her bubbling irritation replaced with the need to understand and know the reason for her friend's distress. He didn't even greet her with his usual blinding grin. Instead, his eyebrows were softly furrowed, and his lips twisted ever so slightly into a small frown. The look in his eyes were long and thoughtful; serious. Which is unheard for Natsu Dragneel.
"Natsu," she inched closer, kneeling before him. "What's wrong?"
Natsu drop his gaze, mentally kicking himself when his eyes caught sight of the creamy skin from Lucy's low-cut shirt. It was tempting, and his fingers twitched —itching to touch. Fortunately, he was able to fight down the blood rushing to his cheeks. He didn't get it. He had seen plenty of skin from his other guildmates. Erza, tan and toned in all the right places (and the fact they used to bathe together when they were young), didn't cause him any perverse idea. Lisanna and Mirajane, both beautiful and pale sisters, didn't even made him glance twice. Lucy is far by the only female in their guild who exposed too much of their skin. He did appreciate it before. But never to this extent. Each day, he was fighting harder to just keep his eyes away from those exposed milky skin. Now, his battles are getting harder. And more futile.
Sighing, Natsu unconsciously closed his eyes, ridding his thoughts of a battle-riddened Lucy. Because for a man who enjoys a good battle, he finds Lucy —always flawless and proper— incredibly irresistable when she emerges victorious, with all her bruises and cuts.
He didn't notice Lucy straightened herself before him, walking behind the couch on where he sat and stood exactly behind him. He didn't notice her until those slender fingers of her went to his temple. He stiffened, eyes flying wide open when her fingertips rubbed in circular motions.
It was comforting, and relaxing. Those fingers massaging his temples and skimming over his hair brought an intense wave of pleasure that made those tense muscles of his uncoil. He slumped on the couch, leaning his head back towards her touch. Her fingers were warm, and it was soothing. Natsu was left totally under her mercy.
He was wrapped around her fingers.
"Better?" Lucy asked, glancing down to inspect Natsu. A warm smile graced her lips when she saw the content smile on Natsu, smiling like a purring cat as he snuggled comfortably on her couch. How she could never truly get mad at him, she would never find out.
"Yeah," Natsu drawled. "You always make me feel better."
It was a simple statement that made Lucy's heart flutter.
A/N: Thank you guys... two more...
Rainbowpoptartcat — Thank you! I'm glad you think it's adorable. I was a bit doubtful about it.
fawny — hehehe. Natsu is just to sweet for his own good.
Rose Jean Black — Thank you for the review! And yes, her reactions are very important! It's good for you to pick up on that. And I'm glad you like it.
Peace out, guys :D
