Reconstruction Checkers!
First Critical Grammar Check: ElementalMiko12
Second Critical Grammar Check: MarSofTheGalaxies
~oooOOOooo~
Are secrets good or bad
A few days and a rainy trip back in Magnolia later, a soft pop echoed into the room as near soundless giggle left the approachee's lips. As they neared the occupied bed in the room soft snores and mumbles rippled through the dimly lit darkness. Seeing a sudden twitching motion beside the bed occupant's head, the dark figure let out a low pitched shh.
"Lushi?" Happy whispered tiredly watching as the blonde mounted a sleeping Natsu with an uncapped marker in hand. His eyes grew big when he saw the marker and a big playful grin stretched over his face, "Oh, me too! Me too!" Happy quickly but carefully hopped off the bed to get the box of paints Lucy bought him.
The moonlight leaking through the window provided them with more than enough light to see their victim of choice. Looking down evilly Lucy got to work on giving Natsu huge caterpillar eyebrows. Happy flow up beside her with a paintbrush dripping with fresh black paint and swiftly splashed on a quick messy mustache. The two snored comfortably as more light shone in revealing their creation. Happy painted a large black circle around Natsu's left eye as Lucy wrote 'I love you' under Natsu's opposing eye.
Happy pulled back to see what Lucy was doing, "Seriously?" was all he said.
Lucy rolled her eyes, "I'm not done," she started then pointed to Natsu's lips, "Make his lips look bigger!" she grinned as she started giving him bushy sideburns and a mole.
Happy paused looking at Natsu's lips thoughtfully, "I have a better idea!" Happy whispered excitedly. Happy's tongue stuck out of his mouth in concentration as he made a sideways three on Natsu's upper lip then just made a simple dark line around the edge of his bottom lip.
Lucy and Happy pulled back and slapped a palm to their faces to keep from laughing, "Here put this away before he wakes up." Lucy told Happy. The young kit chuckled as he flew away with the marker and paint brush while Lucy sat on Natsu keeping him from rolling around. Successfully preventing him from getting the wet ink and paint all over their bedding.
Natsu began making movements like he would wake and Lucy quickly shuffled around so she could lay on top of him with her cheek resting against his stomach. Natsu sat up groggily staring down at Lucy's still form. Without a word, Natsu dropped back down onto the bed as sleep claimed him again. Lucy peeked open an eye as she felt the bed shift slightly under Happy's weight as he tiptoed back up to his spot at the top of the bed with his pawed palms clapped over his mouth so as to not make a sound. Lucy had to force down a chuckle at this.
~oooOOOooo~
Hours later, Natsu shifted after hearing a soft knock on the door. Natsu groaned, 'Go away...' the second round of knocks sounded. Natsu lazily looked over Lucy who was sleeping soundly on his stomach. His eyes locked on the hallway to the front door, 'Ugh, come back later I ain't movin.' Natsu mentally argued as another round of knocks sounded. He could tell the person outside was getting frustrated... 'This person just can't take a hint can th...' he thought to himself only to immediately sit back up a little after a loud bang echoed into his ear. He watched as their door dropped to the floor with a loud crash. Natsu's eyes bulging out of their sockets as the door just creaked and fell off the hinges.
"Erza, I think that was overdoing it!" Levi's voice came from the porch as Erza invaded the house in all her demonic glory.
Natsu's skin noticeably twitched as her gaze shifted to him as his body seemed to shriek in fear as she stepped closer to him. His throat released a gulp under the red eyed demons stare, "What did you do at Cedar?!" she growled cracking her knuckles.
Natsu held up his hands sweating nervously, "C-Cedar?" he inched himself backward as Erza got closer with a murderous look in her eye.
Suddenly; however, her expression shifted drastically as she stared at him. He watched as she swiftly looked away from him clapping her hand over her mouth with shaking shoulders as laughter bubbled up from her throat, "And oh my god what's wrong with your face!" she muttered through her hand.
"M-My face?" Natsu looked at her doused in both surprise and confusion at her words and sudden change in moods. What the hell? Was Erza bipolar? Natsu sweat-dropped, 'Actually, that could explain a few things...' he thought.
Levi stared at him her face having difficulty staying serious as a smile twitched over her face and she tried to force back a round of laughter at Natsu's decorated face. Curious now... Natsu carefully moved Lucy and stood on the cool floor to venture to the bathroom. "Oh ho, she wants to play this game." They heard Natsu say from inside the bathroom as he stared into the mirror at Lucy's handy work. He could tell Happy had a hand in it too just by the shape of the cat-like face painted on him. Oh, he would get them back! Playful payback mode engaged!
Erza collected herself and stepped in front of the open bathrooms door snorting as Natsu struggled to get the designs off his face, "This came into the Guild today." she notified him trying to keep the best serious face she could muster. But looking like that... She realized she was fighting a losing battle.
Levi shhed Erza who's tone had been way more than above a whisper, "Keep the volume down Erza..." she knocked her head in Lucy's direction. As Natsu snatched the parchment from Erza giving it a quick read over...
Dear Mrs. Lucky Lucy Heartfilia Dragneel,
I hope you enjoyed that trip to Cedar because as of this moment. I will turn your lovely life into a living nightmare! Don't worry the threat is not towards you; however, you WILL lose the one thing you hold most dear in this world. Tell that husband of yours... I'm coming for my payback!
Sincerely,
Mister Truthful
It was... a threat?
'Cedar... Not towards you... Payback... Mister Truthful.' Natsu thought his eyebrows scrunching up in confusion.
Natsu's ears twitched, "Damn look at that she's got the top and bottom! Lucky bastard..." he heard someone mutter under their breaths.
"Don't be too impressed an amazing night between the sheets is probably all she's good for." Natsu heard another reply.
Natsu gave off a friendly grin as he stuffed a tightly fisted hand into the pocket of his swim shorts while the other hand was raised limply to head level as he gave off a lighthearted wave, "Hey buddy, let's talk!" he said jogging over to the two men. It took a really trained eye to notice but she could vaguely identify the intent within his eyes.
Natsu looked at his target with a concentrated stare... A fake smile plastered to his face as he stepped closer to the two men. Armed with a readied fist and the satisfaction that he was about to knock this asshole out. He'd knock his teeth down his throat... as a friendly warning to watch what he says about his girl.
"The hell do you want?" his target voiced his tone laced with irritation as he turned to face Natsu with an uncaring expression.
Natsu clamped his lips shut losing his patience quickly with the attitude the older man was displaying. Natsu gave off an almost crazed half laugh as he reached his arm back behind his head as he stopped in front of the two and rubbed at his neck. "I don't appreciate what you said about my wife," Natsu replied keeping his poker-face in check.
The older man pulled his cigarette out of his mouth letting it drop to the soft sandy beach. The man fixed a superior glare on Natsu and took a heavy stomp forward as he too stuffed his hands into his pockets. The man's stare didn't falter as he blows out a thick stream of smog into Natsu's face, "Being truthful; if you don't like my opinion too bad!" he shot back.
Natsu scanned the fairly muscular man before him with analistic eyes, "My days with my wife are priceless," Natsu started feeling his anger rise to new heights within him when he noted the man's wedding ring. The guy had been here since before they'd gotten here! And since they'd gotten to the beach Natsu had noticed there hadn't been even one moment where his eyes hadn't wandered to one of the many teenage girls running around the beach, "unlike yours, since you come here to the beach with those shifty ogling eyes that should be kept on your wife rather than on all these girls at least twenty if not thirty years too young for you. Guess you don't value that wife of yours at all do yo...?" Natsu continued pressing until a fist smashed into his fist.
Natsu's eyes shifted from the fist still connected to his face to the older perverted man. Natsu pulled back his fist clocking him in the jaw, "Gah!" was all that left his mouth. Before his body could fall to the ground Natsu caught him by the hair.
"I suggest you keep those opinions and eyes to yourself." he told the barely conscious man within his hold. Natsu brought the man closer, "If I see you again and you say another word about my wife." Natsu grinned sinisterly. The pinkette leaned close to the man's ear, "I'll find you...and I'll end you." he gave a brief pause before looking at the beaten man's friend with a threatening dark stare, "Both of you!" he promised.
"Natsu!" He heard Lucy shout at him. He could hear her light stomps rushing towards him as the targeted man's friend dropped to the ground and Natsu let the man in his hold drop to the ground.
Natsu turned towards her and stared at her confused, "What you said if he hit me first it was fair game." he said. The pinkette looked from Lucy for a moment back to his target... he had to resist the boiling blood within his veins begging him to do more.
'Could it be them?' he couldn't help but wonder. Natsu ran a hand through his short pink spiky locks with a sigh, "Erza, how many people know of this letter's existence?" he interrogated.
The two girls looked between themselves, "Just us three... Wait! You're not planning to not tell her are you?!" Levi argued in a low tone with narrowed angered eyes.
Natsu nodded, "Relax, this guy's a real pushover." he tried to reassure them the threat wasn't as bad as they were making it out to be. He crumbled up the paper in his hands before lighting it on fire making it vanish in a cloud of smoke.
Erza growled grabbing a fist full of his hair dragging him to the door, "You idiot! Whoever sent that means business! At least act like you care about how Lucy will feel if something really happens to you!" she told him pointing at the sleeping blonde. Natsu opened his mouth to argue, but Erza stopped him... Erza's eyebrow twitched in annoyance at this and she cut him off before even a word could leave his lips, "Regardless of how much weaker you think this person is... because he's openly threatened you and made a claim on your life you should treat it as seriously as any other!" she ordered.
Levi touched Natsu's shoulder, "We have to be careful with this remember what Lucy did the last time your life was threatened?" she reminded fearfully. She hadn't been there when it had happened... but she was sure those few terrifying emotional moments would forever be burned into Natsu's memory. At the mention of it, his expression visibly changed.
Natsu stared at Lucy's peaceful form...
"Natsu!" Lucy yelled rushing forward quickly breaking Natsu's arm contact with Gilbert before diving them both down to the ground. *KA-BOOM* a huge explosion that could have easily blown Natsu to pieces exploded above them. Lucy flinched as its explosive strength pierced through the barrier her clothes provided. It felt like her skin was boiling…
Natsu's anger simmered down as he looked up at the explosion that could have easily killed him. "Lucy." He whispered lightly putting a hand on her back. The simple touch caused her to yelp in pain! Natsu pulled his hand away quickly his eyes widening when he pulled his hand away, 'B-Blood… Lucy's blood. She's hurt?!' he thought.
'Lucy... you wouldn't try that again... would you?' he thought a twisted look of worry and fear evident on his face.
Erza frowned, "Natsu, Lucy is strong... stronger than most or even she herself gives herself credit for." she spoke truthfully. Lucy was strong... Strong not just in magical power, but in strength of will as well. Erza closed her eyes biting her bottom lip at the memory of Lucy's near death experience recently, "However, she can die... What if you continue treating this like it's nothing and this person comes after you with Lucy around? Do you think she'll just stand idly by as you're being attacked?" she questioned.
Erza released Natsu from her hold. She could see it in those glossy eyes... He remembered... He remembered how close they'd been to losing her that day. How close he'd come to losing her that day. Knuckles snapping caught her attention as Natsu tightly wound his fists at his sides, "I believe you learned from the last time she's willing to wager her life to protect yours every bit as much as you're willing to do for hers."
A great silence took over the room. They all knew the answer... Levi rested an open palm over Natsu's shoulder, "Natsu, Erza's right regardless of how weak the person is or may seem... this is dangerous!" she told him. Levi pulled Natsu into a hug hoping it would help to clear that fearful look from his face that she'd never witnessed before, 'So, this was the face you must have shown that day...' she thought. She'd never seen such a fearful and hopeless expression cross her friend's face before.
He'd never realized till now... but his actions more than on that day are now more connected to Lucy than ever before! He was her friend, her lover, and most importantly her husband! If she reacted by throwing herself in front of a blast for him when they were just lovers... What things would she do now if he were in danger being her husband...? Would her reaction be any different?
His mind began clicking through millions upon millions of what if scenarios and each one he liked less than the last. They were right... if he didn't start playing his cards right he could lose the best thing that had ever happened to him. And worst of all... was knowing it would be all his fault. This guy had a beef with him because of that day... 'If I'm so strong that this man can't hurt me directly who's to say he won't try to hurt me indirectly?' he thought his gaze resting on the tired twosome.
Lucy rolled onto her side her forehead coming into contact with Happy's back. Happy's ears twitched and his eyes cracked open a little. Standing up on all fours with a light stretch Happy sleepily made his way to the unoccupied space under Lucy's neck. Laying back down he curled up resting his chin over her exposed throat tiredly.
Levi gave his shoulder a light squeeze to command his attention, "Please, for everyone's sake because none of us can imagine a life without you three in it! Let's take on this threat with the utmost seriousness and work on a countermeasure together!" she said. She loved them... They loved them... They were family after all!
Erza nodded in agreement but said nothing more feeling Levi had already said everything that's needed to be said. She smiled at her two lazy family members that were snuggled against each other fast asleep, 'Seems those two are getting along quite well.' Erza thought.
"I understand..." Natsu told them seriously, "Thanks guys, I'll wait till she wakes and then we'll head down to the Guild to talk about it with everyone when she wakes up." he promised.