3 - Protective – Gratsulu Week 2018 Prompt "PDA"
*Special thanks to MorriganFae for her input on this one!*
Rated T/M.
The sun beat down relentlessly, hot and arid. A touch of humidity mixed in with the salt air, swirling in the light sea breeze. The water osculated against the white sand, froth eddying onto the shore in aquamarine waves. The ocean was crisp and clear, the blue sky meeting blue water seamlessly.
The three of them had been at the beach since after breakfast, leaving their hotel room to take advantage of the warm weather and the cerulean surf. The palm trees dotting the shore swayed in the gentle wind, in sharp contrast to the biting gusts that had haunted the streets of Magnolia only a few weeks prior. Winter was only just beginning to meld into spring in their hometown, while the coast here was already balmy and temperate.
Lucy lay on a teal towel stretched over the sand below a wide umbrella the boys had erected earlier. She lay on her stomach, the straps of her white bikini untied at the neck to prevent unwanted tan lines. The strings hung loosely on her shoulders while she kicked her long creamy legs in the air, crossing them at the ankles as she immersed herself in the book she'd packed.
She was facing the sea, large black sunglasses resting on the bridge of her nose, her hair pulled up in a messy bun – still damp from her soak in the water earlier. The novel was a recommendation from Levy, a classic written a century earlier in Crocus, detailing the life of a huntress who crossed into faerie lands to protect her family. As she came to the end of the chapter, she paused, blinking into the bright rays shining down on her.
Resting her chin on her folded arms, she could see her boyfriends in the water, wrestling each other down beneath the waves, grappling for leverage to see if they could dunk one another under. She smiled at their playfulness, warmth that had nothing to do with the sun toasting her from the inside out.
Last time she'd looked up, they had been racing out to the large volcanic rock past the reef, nothing more than specks on the horizon. Once they stroked back to shore, panting for air, they were already screaming about rematches. Judging by the cocky smirk on Gray's face, she had gathered he was the victor, though Natsu could be heard complaining loudly about how it was cheating for their boyfriend to have frozen him in place.
They'd ambled over to her towel, dripping wet as they demanded she act as judge, jury and executioner. Silently, she'd agreed with the fire mage about the noirette's underhanded tactics, but she refused to be pulled into the argument. It wasn't as if Natsu wasn't equally guilty. When she had been swimming with them earlier, he'd tried boiling Gray like a lobster as a joke, forgetting she was nearby and didn't have the ice mage's ability to cool herself off.
If that wasn't reason enough, her interference almost always led to one of the men pouting childishly in the corner – and both tended towards unwitting destruction when upset, like toddlers throwing a tantrum.
Luckily, she wasn't asked to referee the current wrestling match. She bit her lip, rolling it between her teeth as she snickered at their hi jinks. The dragon slayer had their partner in a headlock as he dunked him below the waves, intermittently pulling him back up by the scruff of his neck. To non-wizards this may have appeared violent, but she knew them – knew the restrained power that hummed just beneath their skin. To them, this might as well have been foreplay.
She raised a slender brow as she saw how close they were tangled and amended the statement in her mind.
It was definitely foreplay, and she estimated there was a high probability they might try to drag her in as well, but knowing they'd respect her decision and go off on their own if she dismissed them in favor of relaxing. She could still feel the slight soreness in her core from their activities the prior night. They'd been running her ragged since they'd arrived at the resort – utterly insatiable balls of energy.
At the same time, Lucy couldn't deny the ache forming there the longer she watched them, rubbing her thighs together to alleviate the rising need between her legs. She worried the inside of her cheek. If she were honest with herself, she had no intention to lay idly by if they wanted to go another round. Who needed rest when you had their silken skin and plush lips?
Back in the water, Gray was sputtering as the pinkette released him, his hand jabbing in the open air as he scolded the dragon slayer. Natsu for his part, seemed entirely unrepentant, slinging around the ice mage's shoulders, and leaning in to nuzzle his neck, his coral locks sticking out in every which direction. The raven head's posture loosened as he allowed the embrace, wrapping his own arm low around the other man's waist, fingers lingering on the top of his red board shorts.
Lucy's toes curled in the sand, the grains rough as they clung to her sweat slicked skin. She sighed, her chest heaving as she breathed, drinking in the sight of them together, oblivious to the people splashing about around them. They were adorable.
She giggled to herself, a wind-chime sound. She knew they would protest if she called them that, but debated doing it anyway to see how they would react. Maybe they'd carry her back to their hotel room and throw her onto the bed and…
She smacked her lips as she traced the broad expanse of their bare chests with amber spiced eyes, their muscles glistening under the light, salt water standing their already messy hair at ends. They were long-limbed – lean, tempered, and dangerous – and yet so so tender when they touched her, their fingers gliding across her naked body. Heat rivaling that of the sun coiled in her gut as wetness pooled at her center, leaving her squirming on the towel beneath her.
If he wasn't already distracted by their dark-haired boyfriend pressed against him in the ocean, she knew Natsu would have scented her arousal. She shivered as she pictured his expression: jade eyes feral as he smirked at her, fangs visible between his full lips before murmuring to Gray, attracting both their full attentions.
She was pulled from her wicked thoughts when a shadow fell over her blanket. Glancing up through her shades, she saw a stranger towering over her, wearing blue swim shorts and a wife beater. He was trim, face angular with a shock of ginger curls, reminding her a little of a young Reedus or Jet. She craned her neck, curious as to what he wanted, pushing down the flash of irritation – wanting to go back to her study (lecherous ogling) of her boys.
"Hi, can I help you?" She asked politely, offering a small smile... a very small smile. She was anxious to get back to her languid perusal of the perfect male specimens she called her partners.
"Hey yourself babe, what's a pretty little thing like you doing out here on your own?" He grinned back at her, muddy brown eyes tracing her curves.
Her brows twitched, the vein in her temple pulsing. She didn't like the sound of the endearment oozing from his mouth. Only Natsu and Gray could call her babe... and sometimes Cana – because honestly, she didn't know how to make her friend stop... and she was past caring. However, outside the three of them, no one got away with calling her babe.
She sniffed slightly, her skin crawling under his slimy gaze. She supposed the resemblance to Reedus and Jet stopped at looks. At least her friends were gentlemen. She turned back pointedly to her book, flitting it open to look busy, staring at the text without reading it. She knew guys like this, they were sleazy but harmless. She dismissed him with a few choice words, hoping he'd vanish in thin air and leave her be.
"That's none of damn your business." She didn't look up. A beat of silence passed before she heard him chuckle.
"Don't be like that, we were just going to have a nice chat. I can keep you company – maybe even help you put on some more suntan lotion. Looks like you could use some more lubrication on your back." He leered, licking his lips in an exaggerated motion. Her stomach lurched.
Her mouth turned down in a scowl as she reached up behind her to quickly retie the laces of her top before pushing up to her elbows to glower, fire in her eyes.
"Now listen here, buddy –"
A few dozen meters away, among the waves, Natsu had one arm sling around Gray's shoulders, holding him close enough that their arms and part of their chests brushed, his hand tangled at nape of his boyfriend's neck. The ice mage had a loose grip around Natsu's waist, hooking his thumbs into his shorts.
They were both breathing hard as they were wrapped tightly together, trying to get their heart rates under control after grappling in the water. Their skin was slick, shimmering in the heat. Looking into the indigo eyes before him, pupils blown wide, the dragon slayer could feel the anticipation growing in his gut...and lower.
Time in the sun had given the fair man a touch of colour to his ivory complexion, making him that much more irresistible. Natsu felt his throat bob at the thought of running his hands all over the contours of Gray's delectable abdomen, to the coiled strength in his banded arms, and down the dark trail below his navel – vanishing beneath his swimsuit.
Natsu hissed when the hands at his waist slipped to his ass below the water line, pulling him closer so their hips were flush against each other. The pinkette groaned as he felt the hardness pressing into him, his own body reacting as he buried his face in the crook of Gray's neck. He could feel the man smirking against his hair, the bastard.
But he did so enjoy the noirette's kinks.
Skimming his nose against the man's throat, running his canines over his pulse, the fire mage inhaled deeply – purring when he took in the pine and snow scent that made his blood boil. Gray always reminded him of winter, while Lucy was spring. When he'd first told them that, they'd both blushed – trying to play it off. Over the years however, they began wearing it like a badge of honor, finding new ways to manipulate his sense of smell to their advantage.
Lucy was particularly adept at it, wrapping him around her finger with the musky undertone to her perfume when she was aroused.
He'd noticed her attention from the beach earlier, lava shooting straight to his groin as he nuzzled the shell of Gray's ear, jerking his chin in the direction of the blonde on the sand.
The noirette clucked his tongue, eyes flashing as he drank in the image of Lucy stretched out on the blanket, all soft curves and smooth creamy skin. He tightened his grip on the fire mage. He bent down, lips ghosting the dragon slayer's cheek as he spoke.
"Feel like putting on a show?" Gray breathed, tasting the tang of salt on the other man's skin as he lapped at the corner of his jaw – Natsu snarled at that, low and guttural. It was all the answer the raven head received before his lips were seized in a clash of tongue and teeth.
Natsu was lost in sensation as he ravaged his partner's mouth, biting down hard on his lower lip – enough that the ice mage growled back at him. Not to be outdone, Gray brought up one hand to the pinkette's errant locks, raking his fingers through the tangles and digging his blunt nails against the scalp. His other hand stayed on the firm curvature of the dragon slayer's ass, jerking him forward in a deep grind, swallowing his moans.
It was a push and pull, ebbing and flowing like the ocean around them – a fervent need overtaking them as their hands wandered, ignoring the world that grew more distant with each passing moment. Gray's mind was growing fuzzy, his thumbs digging into the V-indentation of Natsu's hips, following the carved lines south when the pinkette froze, his lips stiff. Furrowing his brow, the ice mage pulled back reluctantly, withdrawing his hands and placing then safely on the man's spine. He glanced around to see if anyone was staring, wondering if his boyfriend had grown self-conscious.
It wasn't likely, but there was a first time for everything.
He worried the inside of his cheek with more force than necessary, tasting copper. Clearing his throat, the raven-haired man canted his head to the side to try and read Natsu's expression, but his jade eyes were shadowed – blank. The demon slayer's frown became more pronounced, unsure why they had stopped. It was true that the pinkette was more affectionate with Lucy in public, but that was purposeful. Gray tended to shy away from physical displays with either of them, preferring intimacy in private moments.
Still, the perceived rejection didn't sit well with him, anxiety bubbling in his chest. Not because he was angry, but because he was afraid he might have crossed some invisible line with his boyfriend without meaning to. No matter how long they had been together, he put his partners' comfort first.
He was about to ask what was wrong when Natsu's head snapped up.
A shiver bolted down his spine at the glare on the man's face – drawn eyebrows, narrowed gaze, jaw clenched – a leashed ferocity radiating from him. Gray followed his line of sight. The fire wizard was staring in the direction of their girlfriend – but she wasn't alone.
A tall man was hovering over her frame, but even if Gray's eyesight wasn't as sharp as the dragon slayer's, he could see the tension in her shoulders. She'd pushed herself up into a partial recline, one arm raised to point her index in the air in jagged movements. That too, wasn't the issue… the problem was that the stranger had reached out, encircling her forearm to try and pull her closer as he spoke.
Gray was too far away to understand what was being said, but Natsu had no such problem.
"That fucker."
The dragon slayer gritted his teeth, searing heat piercing through him – his aura darkening. They shared a look, eyes blazing.
In the space of a second they were both moving, instinct leading them to the woman they both loved.
"Get your bloody fingers off me before I break them." Lucy hissed, her lips contorted in a snarl – words dripping like venom. Her muscles contracted in his grip, ready to yank away from him. The man snickered, his grin lazy as his eyes fell to half mast.
"Look at you, so cute with your lips all red like that. We can put that mouth to good use." He simpered, his fingers tightening like a vice.
They had been arguing for a few minutes now, and it had taken an ugly turn. When she'd suggested he shove a stick up his ass, his face had fallen in shock before gathering himself. He'd sneered at her then, the playful attitude giving way to something sinister as he'd taunted her – believing her weak – wanting to intimidate her.
A glance to her right proved that her key pouch was lying as far away from her as possible, anchoring the bottom edge of her towel. She set her jaw. It didn't matter, she didn't need them to deal with this slimeball.
Flexing her fingers and balling them in a fist, she gave him one final warning – laced with contempt. "Last chance or you'll be sorry."
He guffawed, his body vibrating exaggeratedly as he threw his head back. The laughter flat and false.
"Big words for a little lady like y –"
"You don't listen that well do you, shithead? The lady gave you another shot and you wasted it." The voice was deep, threatening, as it captured their attention. Gray approached from less than a yard away, his arms crossed over his bare chest, muscles bulging with tension. "Damn stupid if you ask me."
The stranger faltered visibly as he took in the ice mage who stood half a head taller, shoulders broader. The stranger relaxed his grip on Lucy's arm, and she wrenched it away from him, sliding to her knees. She rubbed at the spot, trying to erase the feel of his touch against her skin. She scowled, hoping he hadn't left a bruise. The man didn't notice, focusing instead on the noirette in front of him.
"Look man, I didn't know she had a boyfriend or anything." He started, perspiration dripping from his forehead to stain his white tank with greasy spots. He held his hands in front of him, placating. Gray wasn't having it, the muscle in his jaw lurching as he widened his stance – eyes arctic.
"Oh. Well, if you didn't know she was my girlfriend, then it's no problem." Gray lashed out, voice clipped with sarcasm– taking a step forward as his arms fell to the sides and frost gathered at his fingertips.
"I didn't mean anything by it, I'll just get out of your hair –" He cut off immediately when he felt heat blazing behind him – the air muggy and thick.
"You're not going anywhere until you fucking apologize."
The oaf spun on his heel, his neck cracking when he took in the incensed fire mage before him. Natsu didn't bother putting a damper on his magic, flames licking up his arms freely. His pupils were constricted to thin slits, obsidian kindled garnet. Lucy choked back a snicker, poorly disguising it as a cough.
She wasn't overly upset this asshole was getting what was coming to him.
"Wh-what? I - who are you?" The stranger floundered at the arrival of another male, this one raging with hellfire, his body as lethally toned as the noirette behind him. His throat was dry as he backed up slightly until he had both men in his vision.
"Her boyfriend." Natsu's voice was flat but his eyes flashed, the colours rippling with the force of his emotions.
"Wait, y-you too?" The man babbled, gaping as he looked between them again and back to the busty blonde he'd been trying to pick up earlier. His knees buckled before he righted himself, his shirt damp from sweat.
"Yeah, what of it?" Gray scowled, his forehead ticking the longer the idiot who'd insulted Lucy stood before them. This was seemingly beyond the level of this nitwit's comprehension, and the ice mage grew bored of watching him try to compute what they were telling him.
"Both of you are dating her?" His tone brimming with disbelief.
"What of it –"
"–You gotta problem with that?"
The replies were instant, stinging with rebuff, as Gray and Natsu both walked forward – crowding him as the jerk began to creep behind Lucy. A glint flickered in the interloper's eyes as if he'd gained a measure of newfound respect for the two men. His guard began to drop and he whistled – long and low.
"Damn, you guys are into that stuff? I mean she's a hot piece of ass but –" He didn't get to finish his sentence because a fist came crashing into his face, his molars cracking at the force – blood pooling from his split gums and lip. He folded in on himself, his hands cradling his jaw at the impact. He released a pathetic whimper, brown eyes wide as he took in his assailant.
Lucy was on her feet, one hand cocked on her hip while the other was fisted at her side – the amber in her irises crackling with starlight.
He gawked at her again, wincing at the heated glare she gave before turning to the blonde's boyfriends. They stood smirking at him, positively gleeful.
"I told you, you fatuous ingrate." She seethed, marching up to him until their faces were inches apart. Somehow, even with her smaller stature, she seemed to be looking down her nose, as if he were vermin. "You had one last chance and you fucking blew it! Hot piece of ass? Seriously? Did your mother teach you any manners, or were you just born dumb and senseless?" She shrieked, emphasizing each word with a sharp jab to his ribs, her long manicured nails pricking his skin.
She railed at him, gathering the amused attention of the other beach goers as her voice echoed along the shore – insulting his intelligence, his ancestors, and the size of his dick.
Gray and Natsu just sat on the beach towel, settling in to get a front row seat as their girlfriend demolished the man into tatters. Natsu made a casual remark about wanting popcorn.
"Always thinking with your stomach. Do you know how loud you chew? I'd be missing all of this!" The ice wizard teased.
"Pfft...not my fault if you have the hearing of an old man." But he shut up when they heard the strange man start blubbering.
Gray reclined with his legs splayed out, holding himself up on his elbows as Natsu placed his head on the noirette's lap. The dragon slayer folded his arms on his stomach and hummed contently as the ice mage combed his coral hair, tugging lightly in a way that made the pinkette's toes curl as they watched the scene play out.
They couldn't help but be protective of their partner – their hackles rising whenever they perceived a threat – even if she didn't need them to come to her defense. She had chastised them for it before, insisting she was capable of dealing with danger on her own. It was a fact they knew well, having seen her in action more times than they could count.
After all, Lucy Heartfilia was a force unto herself and she never let them forget it.
Hell, they didn't want to – it was one of the reasons they fell for her in the first place.
So they were happy to take a back seat for now, content to let her handle the situation on her own. Grins stretched across both their faces, pride tingling through them as they continued to observe her – all hellbent with righteous fury as her flaxen locks swirled around her, taut muscles gleaming in the drenching sunlight.
It was a balancing act. They weren't always perfect, but it was the way they worked and they wouldn't change a thing.
Hey y'all,
Somehow each chapter is getting longer, apparently I have zero self control... anyway, I hope you enjoyed this! Huge thanks to MorriganFae for helping me out as I was rushing to publish. This one takes place about a month or so after chapter 2 on their anniversary vacation.
Also, thank you sooo much to those of you who reviewed, followed, favourited or PMed me! I really appreciate your support.
General Gratsulu Note: Thanks to those of you joining me on this little Gratsulu side adventure! Don't worry, I still adore Nalu, and have fics in the works for them, but I like this ship as well. "Sugar, Spice and All Things Ice" is a collection of interconnected one-shots in an alternate version of the canon-verse. They vary in theme and length, but most are short and sweet. I will be publishing one for every day of Gratsulu Week 2018.
If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know! I love feedback, and always make a point to respond. However, please remember to be polite. I am happy to accept constructive criticism, but if you just don't like the pairing, please just feel free to skip it and I won't be offended. I have a couple other Nalu stories in the works if you prefer those.
Cheers,
Satyrykal
