Dear Readers,
I want to apologise for the lateness of my updates. Over the past month I've had no internet access, and have struggled with work and preparation for my university courses. As such, my writing for FFNET has had to be put on hold and take a back seat to my education and work life.
I shall continue with all of my stories at some point, I simply ask you to be patient with a busy, stressed out student who's trying to discover where her true literary talents lie.
I would greatly appreciate your support, and any helpful advice and reviews you may leave me shall be taken on bored gratefully.
I truly hope you enjoy the latest installment of Stay With Me, and am truly touched that you have so far found pleasure in my writing, and pray that you continue to do so.
Yours,
Neko xx
Lucy groaned as she stretched beneath her thick pink comforter, slowly opening her eyes and blinking herself awake. Wincing at the light streaming through a small gap in the curtains and hitting her face, she sat up with a yawn.
Beside her from under the covers, a familiar snore permeated the silence, making her smile and shake her head, before she silently climbed out of the bed and entered her bathroom.
Stripping down, she climbed into her shower and stood under the hot spray of water, sighing in satisfaction as the steaming droplets made her body relax.
Lucy and Natsu had stayed up most of the night watching movies, with her falling asleep halfway through an action film Natsu had chosen. She vaguely remembered hot arms carrying her and placing her in bed, before climbing in after her and hugging her close to his chest through most of the night; till she got too hot and shoved him off of her.
Closing her eyes, Lucy stood under the stream of water and allowed her mind to wander.
His lips devoured her mouth in a passionate kiss, before he pulled away and pressed light kisses along her jaw before moving down to her neck, and nibbling on her earlobe. He groaned as her body strained to be closer to his, and moved so his lips and tongue brushed along her collarbone, making her moan as need clouded her mind.
'Mira…'
Lucy's eyes shot wide open and she stepped back suddenly with a gasp, before letting out a little scream as her feet slipped from beneath her and she fell. Her arms tried to grab onto something to stop her fall, and only succeeded in ripping down the shower curtain and turning her body slightly so her cheekbone hit the edge of the bath tub.
'Fuck!' She said, clutching her face in pain as the water continued to run.
'Luce! You okay?' Natsu shouted through the door, before breaking through the locks and bursting into the room. 'Luce?' He knelt down on the floor and gently pulled her hands away from cradling her face. Pulling the shower curtain higher to cover her chest, Lucy whimpered as Natsu's fingers softly pressed against her face.
'How bad?' Lucy said, trying to smile but wincing as pain radiated from the right side of her face. Natsu grimaced and shook his head.
'You're gonna have a shiner in the next five minutes.' Lucy groaned, already feeling her eye starting to swell.
'Damn it.' She said, feeling tears welling up and sniffing to try and hold them back. If she hadn't remembered him she wouldn't have fallen…
'Luce, don't cry, please. You know I hate it when you cry.' Natsu said quietly, standing to turn off the shower, before picking up the pink fluffy towel that hung over the radiator. He held it up, waiting for her to step out of the bath, looking away so she could wrap the towel around herself. As soon as she was covered, he pulled her into a tight hug, resting his chin on the top of her head. 'Come on Luce, it's alright, I've got you.' Lucy trembled as tears escaped her eyes and soaked into his vest, before her arms raised to hug Natsu tighter to her.
'Sorry Natsu, I can't help it…'
'Luce.' He said, his own sadness evident in his tone. He knew that he could do nothing but hold her as she cried.
After what felt like an age, Lucy stopped crying and pulled away from Natsu, smiling her thanks.
'I'm okay. I'll be out in a minute.' Natsu smiled at her, wincing slightly at the black eye that now marred her face.
'Jeez. You better try cover that up or Mira's gonna go crazy on me thinking I did it!' Lucy laughed at his words, before shooing him out so she could get dressed.
Looking in the mirror, Lucy blinked in shock at the bruise that surrounded her right eye, and lifted a hand to prod at it before immediately regretting it as the pain that flared up at the contact was sharp and harsh.
'Well. You only have yourself to blame for this one Lucy.' She said to her reflection with a sigh.
Exiting the bathroom, she smiled when she saw Natsu standing in front of the stove looking clueless with piles of bacon in a pan. Shaking her head, she walked over and shoved him out of the way. Natsu grinned and scratched the back of his head ruefully.
'Sorry Luce…'
'Don't worry Natsu, I've got it. Where's Happy anyway? I thought he'd be here by now.' Natsu laughed, watching as Lucy fried the rashers of bacon.
'I don't know about that, he went to visit the Exceed village with Charle.' Lucy laughed and shook her head, piling the bacon on a plate.
'No need to explain anymore! I think everyone knows what he's like around Charle.' Natsu grinned at her words, pulling out a loaf of bread so he could start buttering the slices and preparing the sandwiches.
For a moment, they continued to work in silence. Then, Lucy took a deep breath and spoke, all the while staring down at the bacon frying in the pan.
'Natsu… I think I'm going to go on a bit of a trip. I don't feel like being in the guild right now, and I just need some space.' Natsu stared at her, trying to figure out why she felt she had to leave.
'Luce. I don't want you to go anywhere. I don't think you should go anywhere. This isn't your problem, it's his. But if that's what you want, I'm not going to stop you. Where are you going and how long for?' Lucy smiled. She knew he'd hate the fact that she wanted to go away for a while, but she also knew he'd be on her side no matter what.
'I don't know. I really just want to go see Mum and Dad. I won't be away for more than a couple of days, but I'll call you if there's any problems. I just… need to be alone for a bit.' Natsu sighed, running a hand through his messy pink hair.
'Okay. I don't like it, but okay. You call me as soon as there's a hint of trouble, or else. You got it Lucy?' That Natsu had used her full name showed just how serious he was.
'Of course I will Natsu, now let's eat lunch quickly, I need to pack and get the train.'
Laxus stared at the empty bottle of whisky on his desk, listing everyone who might have placed it in his desk, but only coming up with the names of those he'd already eliminated.
Yanking open the drawer, he found it was still empty, so whoever had been replacing it hadn't noticed it was empty.
Giving up on even thinking about who the mystery booze supplier was, he instead turned his mind to thinking about Natsu's reaction to him last night.
He'd known Natsu since he was a little brat, and never before had the fire dragon slayer looked at him in the way that he did the night before. Laxus knew that it had something to do with Lucy. Natsu was overly protective of the blonde, and had been since he'd first dragged her into the guild.
"You know fuck all Dreyar… She doesn't want to see you…"
Laxus swore, and slammed his fists on his desk, making the empty bottle shudder before settling to a stand-still.
'Damned blondie…' He said, glaring at his white knuckled fists, before relaxing them with a sigh and leaning back in his chair to stare at the ceiling.
Trying to navigate the inner workings of a woman's mind was near impossible for him.
It was then that he heard a familiar voice shouting downstairs. Laxus sat straight and glared at the door, before standing and striding over to the balcony to watch Natsu shove past Gray and begin the first fight of the day.
Laxus watched Natsu's every move, his eyes not leaving the flash of pink hair that occasionally emerged from the tangle of limbs as more and more guild members got dragged into the ruckus.
Finally upon Erza's arrival, the fight was broken up, and Gray and Natsu sported two large bumps on the tops of their heads for the next few hours.
Laxus's gaze followed Natsu as he walked over to blondies usual seat at the bar, before he collapsed on it with a sigh.
'Where is she flamebrain?' Laxus said quietly, knowing Natsu had heard him when he heard his own muttered reply.
'None of your damn business lightning prick. Leave her alone.'
'You don't tell me, I tell Mira you're cheating on Lisanna.' At his words, Natsu jerked upright and glared towards Laxus, his fists clenched tightly against the bar making the wood smoke slightly.
'As I said Dreyar, you know fuck all.' It was then that Lisanna herself bounced up to Natsu and threw her arms around his neck, giggling as she nuzzled into his neck. Natsu sent a final glare towards Laxus, before grinning and turning to pull the small Strauss into his lap, before lifting her and carrying her across the guild away from Laxus.
Laxus frowned as he watched the pair, confused at Natsu's behaviour. It was obvious from looking at him with Lisanna that he adored the girl. So why was he with Lucy at the same time?
'Oi, Sparky.' Laxus turned at the gruff voice and saw Gajeel standing a few feet away, his pierced arms crossed and his emotionless gaze fixed on Laxus.
'What d'you want scrap metal?' Laxus stared him down, waiting for Gajeel to speak.
'I dunno what happened between you and bunny, but don't you fucking hurt her. Got it?'
'I don't know what you're talking about.'
'Don't play dumb with my Dreyar. I heard your little conversation with flamebrain just then. Natsu don't talk to anyone like that unless they hurt bunny. So whatever you did, you find her and apologise, before I have to step in.' Gajeel started to walk past him towards the staircase, but Laxus grabbed his arm as he reached him, making him tense and stop in his tracks.
'Is that a threat metal head?' Gajeel turned his head slowly to stare straight into Laxus's enraged eyes, not even flinching as small sparks of lightning shot across the blonde's skin.
'No. That's a promise.'
'Why do you even care?' Gajeel sneered at his words.
'Bunny has always been good to me. I owe her one. So if you're gonna hurt her just back the fuck off now. You might have beaten me at Fantasia, but I swear to Mavis right now, I will not lose should you hurt Lucy.' Gajeel shook Laxus's grip from his wrist and retreated to his dark corner of the guild.
Laxus frowned, confused at what was going on. As far as he was concerned, he hadn't done a thing to upset the damned woman, so why was everyone acting as though he'd fucked her over?
Turning to face Mira, Laxus ordered a double scotch on the rocks, and swigged at the burning liquid as molten fire slowly slid down his throat. It was as he was drinking that he heard Erza talking to Natsu.
'Natsu, where is Lucy? I wished for her to accompany me to inspect a new cake shop opening in town today.' Natsu gulped at Erza's glare, before replying.
'She's gone out of town for a few days-'
'Where? And why the sudden decision to leave without informing me?' Erza's aura darkened to a malevolent level of darkness as she closed in on Natsu, whose face was pale with a tinge of grey to it.
'She… she went to visit her Dad's grave in Acalypha. She wanted to be alone, took the train an hour ago.' Erza blinked before stepping back with a frown.
'Unusual. Have you upset her in some manner, Natsu?' Erza's glare was overpowering in its degree of hatred, making Natsu quake slightly as he shook his head erratically.
'Hmm. Very well. Inform me immediately upon her return.' Erza commanded, her mind wandering to the cake shop she'd mentioned before.
However, Laxus didn't care any more about listening to her describe the luscious combination of strawberry and caramel in a cake.
Downing the remnants of his scotch, he stood and exited the guildhall, after Natsu became preoccupied with insulting Gray and throwing a chair at the ice mage.
He was going to find out what he'd done to upset the blonde, whether he had to drag it out of her or not. Mira was worried about her, and he had a feeling deep in his gut that it was his fault.