Part 2 is finally here! Sorry for your wait(: Thank you for all of your sweet reviews!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything
"Okay, so, obviously in an actual fight nothing is predictable right off the bat, right?"
Lucy nodded, her face set and showing her determination. "Right."
Natsu slipped off his coat and tossed it off to the side, not watching, or caring, where it landed. Lucy rolled her eyes, making a mental note that it fell right at the foot of a large oak tree, so that way she could remind him when he was hunting for it later.
Such a dimwit.
Rolling back his shoulders, the boy lifted one arm and stretched it across his well-defined chest. "I'll teach you the basics, okay? Nothing too crazy." He leveled his gaze on her, and she could tell he still wasn't too thrilled about the whole thing. "Basic self defense, cool?"
She nodded firmly once more, taking what she could get. If this went well then it would make it easier in the future to convince him to really teach her how to do some damage. Maybe.
Probably.
Hopefully?
"So," her heart nearly jumped out of her chest when Natsu's voice came from behind her, but when had he moved? "First thing's first," she did jump when his voice was suddenly right at her ear, and she could feel his alarmingly hot breath on the back of her neck. "Never take your eye off of the enemy."
They were both panting, sweat forming on their brows and slipping down their cheeks. Who knows how long they had been going at that point, but neither was showing any sign of letting up.
Natsu launched a well-aimed fist in the direction of Lucy's head which she swiftly dodged. She swung her own attack towards his chin, which he easily caught and gripped her wrist, twisting her arm behind her back.
"Lucy," he tsked, but she could hear the grin in his voice. "You've tried that move twice already. As the opponent you're getting easier and easier to read. The last thing you want in a fight is to become predictable."
He released her and she took a step back, momentarily rubbing her sore wrist.
A pink brow was raised, however, when her fists went back up.
"You aren't tired yet?"
She smirked, taking a step forward. "Scared?"
He gave her a toothy grin in response, and she was relieved to see he was finally loosening up.
"Trust me," he laughed, raising his own fists, "You don't want me fired up."
Fists were thrown, kicks were aimed, and arms were raised in defense, but no contact was ever made. Natsu was definitely keeping his word on keeping this strictly sparring, Lucy noted.
There were many times he could've laid her out flat if he had put actual force behind his attack, because she was positive just sticking her arms up wasn't gonna do much against another wizard.
However, for the pervs in town, it'd probably work just fine.
Baby steps, Lucy, she kept saying to herself.
Actually, she noted with a sense of pride, there was one time that she was positive she almost laid him out. He hadn't been expecting the first time she took a swipe at his feet.
She wiped at her forehead with her sleeve, rubbing underneath both of her eyes.
He noted this. "Ready for a break yet?"
She breathed deeply, trying to get a steady rhythm going. "Just a little longer, then we'll take a break."
He looked doubtful.
"You really shouldn't push yourself so much on the first day…" He trailed off.
"Natsu."
He looked up at her, brows furrowing.
"Let's go. Come at me."
He chucked, shaking his head. "Fine, but just one more round, okay? I'm starving, Luce." He whined, rubbing his growling stomach.
She laughed while she got into position, so happy that he was finally getting into it and not stressing so much. It was so out of character for him to worry over the little things. They'd finish here and then go back to the guild for dinner, and then she could show him that she was perfectly capable of sparring with him without getting hurt.
She was strong too, dammit. All it took was someone taking the time to show her how to be, and Natsu had been just the one to show her.
She beamed as they began going at it again. She could get stronger for her guild. For Erza, for Gray, for… for…
Lucy frowned.
Why did Natsu's name cause a pause in her head?
However, that one, short pause was all it took.
She locked up for a split second, her arms still blocking her stomach while her partner's fist had already moved on and was coming towards her face.
All it took, was the split second Natsu had put his body on autopilot while he daydreamed of what dinner would compose of that evening.
All it took, was a moments distraction on both their parts.
"Natsu!" She tried, once more, to pull his hands away from where they were pressed against his face. He wouldn't look at her, or her swelling eye.
His back was pressed up against the large oak tree from before, and he was still shirtless, she noted.
Resting back on her heels, she sighed.
"I told you," she says gently, resting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm not upset. It was my fault."
"You cried." He removed his hands, but a dark shadow was cast across his features. The boy stared down at his hands, avoiding her eyes. "I hit you, and made you cry."
She blushed, embarrassed when he brings up the couple tears she initially shed. "It was reflex!" She argued, grumbling, "Everyone's eyes water when they get hit in the eye."
He ignores her.
"Natsu," she frowned. "I get that you don't want to hurt anyone in the guild, the team especially…" she moves to sit indian style directly in front of him, ducking her head to try and catch his gaze. "But in our line of work? We're wizards, Natsu," she was hoping that repeatedly using his name would bring him back to his senses, if only a little bit. "It's stupid, really, to expect that no one is ever gonna get hurt."
"That's the point, people do get hurt, Luce… all the time." When he finally allows himself to look up at her, he can't help but wince at the blackening bruise forming underneath her large doe-like eye. She can't help but notice how broken he looked. "You especially, considering you're basically defenseless if you drop those amazing, day-saving keys of yours."
She regarded his expression and tone carefully. "You've thought about this before."
It wasn't a question.
He shrugged. "Fairy Tail is my only family, besides Igneel, of course, and well," the boy's cheeks tinge pink, "Igneel's not exactly around right now. So, yeah I worry about all of my friends in the guild. But," he frowns, and Lucy notes the furrow forming between his brows. "For some reason I usually worry about you more than the others."
She waits for the follow up "Natsu-like" comment to take the initial charm away from the comment, but when there isn't one, she feels touched.
"Natsu-"
"That's why I didn't want to fight you." He says, picking up a fallen leaf and setting the tip of it on fire. "I don't like being on different sides with you, cause we're a team, you know? You were the first person to really put up with Happy and I for more than one mission in the beginning. Plus, you're going to get hurt enough on missions without me contributing."
She subtly slides herself beside him against the tree, her hurt eye facing away from him so hopefully the 'out of sight, out of mind' way of thinking might take place.
He pinches the burning leaf once it gets the stem, extinguishing the flame completely and watching as the smoke sways in the wind.
"Besides," he shrugs, still not looking at her, "why would I want to hurt my best friend?"
The girl stiffens.
He's caught off guard by Lucy suddenly throwing her arms around him.
"You idiot," she sniffs, though she would fervently deny any sound of tears in her voice. She never thought the day would come that she would be touched by words coming from Natsu's mouth.
It was obvious that she couldn't really say anything to make him feel any better right now, but despite Lucy not being known for being the most patient member of Fairy Tail, she was pretty sure she could make an exception this time.
Her words may not be able to provide much comfort, but as she wrapped her arms tighter around the boy's built frame, she grinned into his shoulder as he brought a hand up to rest on the back of her head.
He was her partner, her team mate, her best friend. She would be strong for him, and this was the kind of strength that she had no trouble coming by.
"Come on," she coaxed gently, standing slowly and holding her hand out for his own, her guild tattoo showing. "Happy will be worried if we don't get back soon, and you know you promised him a fish for dinner." She smiled brightly at him, gripping his hand tightly in her own after he finally accepted it. "Besides, even that infamous fire in your stomach could use some fuel."
She pulled him back along the dirt path that would lead them back to the guild hall.
Though he couldn't help but wince whenever he caught sight of the side of her face, the talk of food was the boost needed to get him back to his more-so animated self. He wondered aloud as he tried to decide which method would be easier, actual fishing or just buying from one of the vendors in town.
Lucy listened the entire way back, nodding occasionally and adding her two cents every now and then, and blushing something fierce whenever she realized they were still holding hands.
Which was quite, quite often.
I hope you all enjoyed Part 2!
