"This is the worst idea you've ever had," Natsu groaned, following Lucy across the gravel of the old train yard. Natsu's teeth were chattering as he rubbed his arms to keep warm. Embers danced across his fingers, briefly warming his skin.

"Do you have a better idea?" Lucy snapped, "It's freezing! It's pouring down snow. Where else do you think we're going to sleep? There's nothing else for miles! Thanks to a certain someone who insisted that we had to walk."

Lucy made her way to a rusty old boxcar. The wind was blowing snow hard against her skin. She was shaking, and her knees buckled. She was about ready to collapse. The old metal doors on the boxcar looked heavy, but Lucy summoned enough will to yank them open a few feet. They squealed on rusting wheels, and Lucy was relieved to find the boxcar empty.

"Come on," she gestured, "Natsu! It'll be safe in here for the night!" Natsu grumbled again, and followed her as she pulled herself up onto the metal floor of the train car. Natsu followed suit slowly. "Hurry up! It's freezing!"

"Alright, alright!" Natsu rolled his eyes, climbing into the boxcar, slamming the metal doors shut behind him. It was still freezing in the car, but it felt a little warmer for lack of wind and falling snow. Lucy was cowered in the center of the old train car. Natsu could see her trembling. She was hugging her knees and rocking back and forth.

"Why don't you just summon Horologium, Lu?" Natsu frowned, sitting cross-legged in front of her. He was cold, but she looked like she was going numb. Her lips were turning a faint purple. He could see it, even in the dim lighting of the old metal car. She glanced up at him at the sound of his voice, and seemed to avoid the question, her eyes roaming over his form in the darkness.

"Aren't you cold, Natsu?" She whispered, her teeth chattering. He saw some strange emotion in Lucy's eyes, and he had an idea.

"Come here," he whispered, holding out his hand. Lucy complied, and with trembling fingers she rested her hand in his. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms tightly around her, and channeled warmth through his body to her. She let out a shudder of surprise, and maybe pleasure at the sudden temperature change, and then she wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his shoulder, and pressing her forehead against his neck.

"Mm…" she breathed, sighing contentedly. "See, this is better?"

"It's a train," Natsu huffed, trying to ignore the way her lips moved against his skin when she spoke.

"Aw, Natsu… it's not even moving, you big baby!" Lucy laughed, looking up at him with her wide, brown eyes. He could drown in those eyes.

"What if it does start moving? Then what'll you do?"

"Have you seen this place? No one had moved these trains in hundreds of years. Probably."

"Very convincing, Lu," Natsu groaned.

"Come onnn," Lucy said, nuzzling against him, "It's freezing. This'll be a little warmer. And we can keep each other warm. Right?" Natsu could feel heat rising to his cheeks, and it wasn't from the warmth he was channeling through the rest of his body.

"What in the world are you going to do when we have to keep going tomorrow morning?" He grinned. Her lips twisted into a grimace.

"Suffer, I guess," and then she laughed, resting her head against his chest. "Lets try and get some sleep." Natsu nodded in agreement. They separated to prepare a quick bed. Natsu pulled the bedroom out from his pack, and the one small blanket he had. They shared a quick of dried bread, and then Natsu lay down on the mat, beckoning for Lucy to join him under the blanket. She hesitated for half a second, before joining him for warmth. Natsu had imagines a million things happening on this job. This was definitely not one of them. The celestial wizard sat up, leaning over him with a smile,

"Natsu? Thanks for doing this." Natsu thought for a moment, and was about to respond, when the unexpected happened. In the next half a second, Lucy's lips were on his, and his world was exploding with emotion, sensation, and color. His thoughts were completely jumbled, his whole body felt hot and cold all at once and his heart pounded between confused and starstruck. In a matter of milliseconds, he decided he liked it, and he pulled her closer, craving more. She tasted like stardust, cinnamon, and that bubbling feeling he got whenever she smiled. She was impossible and perfect all at once, and Natsu wanted to kiss her to oblivion or eternity.

When she finally pulled away, Natsu, for a moment, felt like he was suffocating, before he realized he was forgetting to breathe. Lucy was smiling, and for some reason, now more than ever, he was melting under her gaze.

"Thank you," she whispered again, before laying back down, and leaning against his chest, and then everything was quiet. The only thing Natsu could hear was the wind roaring outside, and Lucy breathing in and out—slower and slower, until it evened out and he knew she was asleep. He still felt like he had been shot towards the moon, and he could still taste her lips on his. How come I've never done that before?! He stared up at the dark ceiling of the temporary shelter, unable to fall asleep. I'll kiss her again tomorrow. He thought, holding her close in his warmth. The emotions that pulled at his heart had no name yet, but they were wild and untamed, and he was ready, so ready, to act on them.