Nalu Fluff Week 2016.
Prompt: FESTIVAL
Rating: T (mild swearing)
Word Count: 1,162.
"Natsu! Hey, talk to me!"
My head throbbed as I groaned a little, Lucy's worried voice ripping through me. Her sweet vanilla scent flooded my nose, offering a mere second of relief before the pain pressed harder against my temple.
I could feel her hands on my shoulders, sort of small and tiny, gripping tightly. I wondered if she was resisting the urge to shake me.
Knowing Luce, she would definitely want to.
"Just shut up Gray! What were you thinking? He could have gotten seriously injured! It's a miracle he doesn't have a broken neck." Lucy sounded upset, and with the way she shouted at Gray, I knew that she was passed caring about what she looked like or the threat of Juvia "defending" Gray to the bitter end.
Ugh, that frosty stripper was there?
"Lucy…" I murmured, clenching my eyes closer together as her grip on my shoulders lessened and her voice became softer, a tone that almost lulled me to sleep.
"Natsu? Are you okay?"
My limbs felt heavy, but I managed to lift one of my arms to press against my head, wincing at the goose egg I found there.
"Head hurts and my back, fuck, my back feels like shit."
"Does anywhere else hurt?" She asked, her voice strained for calmness as I tensed my muscles, starting with my calves and going upwards, shaking my head, "A little sore but not hurting."
"Can you open your eyes?"
Ask for much Luce... I thought vaguely with a instinct to whine at her that I pushed away.
I grunted in reply, pulling my hand away from my head as I slowly opened my eyes. The light that flooded my sight made me wince and close them again before taking it one eye at a time, blinking for a few long moments to adjust to the dizzying flashing lights.
I find myself staring into two deep chocolate eyes, wide with worry and uncertainty. Her teeth bit into her full lower lip, hovering over me protectively and her hair fell around her face in long silky strands.
God she's beautiful.
The ends of her lovely blonde hair tickled my bare collarbone, making something warm do a somersault in my stomach as she asked, eyes glistening with a lingering of upset tears, "Do you remember what happened?"
I blinked, before clearing my throat and trying to remember what had happened. From what I could tell, I was on the ground.
The loud music blasted from the speakers around me, only causing my headache to worsen as excited shouts, chatter vibrated through my eardrums and the smell of candy, sweaty humans, deep-fried food and vomit almost overwhelmed my nose.
Where were we?
The answer swam to me swiftly, the Akane Festival. I remembered Erza and Lucy talking about how exciting it was going to be, fighting with Gray over who would eat the most food.
And when we got here… Gray had offered me a challenge I didn't want to resist despite Lucy's worried glance.
But I couldn't remember what.
"I don't know how I ended up on the floor." I told her truthfully as she slouched her shoulders forwards, "Gray took you on the Ferris Wheel. I tried to tell you "no" but you were already gone by the time I turned around. From what he tells me, you guys started a brawl in those tiny pods and then you fell out."
I gawked, "I fell out?"
She nodded with a frown, "Yes, you somehow hit the safety lock and the door opened. Gray tried to grab you but…" She closed her eyes as I slowly closed my mouth, watching her as she stated with a trembling voice, "The Ferris Wheel owner should have known that the pod's safety lock was broken. It's dangerous. The doors shouldn't open when the Ferris Wheel is in motion!"
"Lucy-" I tried to sit up but the sharp pain down my spine halted me as she let go of my shoulders, "And you shouldn't have been fighting with Gray in the first place! You should have stayed with me! Who cares if you beat Gray if you get seriously hurt in the process!"
"Luce…" I winced as she tightened her fists, sitting back on her ass from her crouched position beside me. A pinch of salt filled my senses, mixing with her sweet scent and I swear I felt my heart give a guilty squeeze.
"How stupid do you have to be to fight on a freaking Ferris Wheel, especially one of that age! I honestly wonder what goes through your head sometimes Natsu!" She let out an angry sob as I endured the pain of sitting up, ignoring the eyes staring at us.
"Lucy… Look at me." She shook her head stubbornly, trying to wipe the tears away with white, clenched fists. My heart dropped to my stomach in regret at how distressed I had made her, reaching out to lightly touch her arms.
The next thing she said was a soft whisper, "You fell fifty feet Natsu. You shouldn't even be talking right now."
Fifty feet? I glanced upwards, at the tallest point of the Ferris Wheel and winced, yeah, I was really lucky that I wasn't…
I turned back to Lucy, more guilt and shame ripping through me as she brushed her hands over her arms a few times, biting her lip to stop the sob I could hear in the back of her throat.
"Lucy, I-" My words cut off as she scrambled into my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck as I breathed her beautiful scent in, letting the vanilla and soft hint of lilies surround me. I wrapped my sore arms around her back loosely, my muscles not really feeling up to the challenge of giving her a squeeze.
Which was a shame, since squeezing Lucy was one of my favorite thing to do.
I brushed my lips against her neck as she nuzzled her head into the corner of my shirt, sniffling and probably wiping a mixture of snot and tears into the fabric. I didn't care, much.
"I heard you yell at Gray. Makes me wish I had stayed asleep for longer so I could have heard more." I told her and she laughed pitifully, "Just because you almost died, doesn't mean I won't smack you."
I squeezed a little, groaning softly at the current of pain that echoed down my neck, spine and muscles.
"Lucy… I'm sorry for scaring ya."
She was quiet for a few movements until she sighed, "It's okay... Just don't let it happen again."
"Aye sir."
what even is this.
I swear it said fluff not mild meh.
I struggled with this prompt a fair bit.
See you tomorrow~