A/N: Hey guys. I know it's been ages since iv updated this, but I've been a bit preoccupied with Year 12 study and my new boyfriend :3 I wrote this entire chapter within the last couple hours and I am so proud of it because it just flower – no more writers block! For this chapter at least… I hope you guys appreciate it and enjoy it as much as I did.
Last Time:
"Lukas shall be allowed to see you within a few more days then, and when he does, he will have to mark you, too, should he want to remain in connection to you and be allowed to see you on a regular basis, though like me he won't resort to anything sexual." Nox looked down at her but her eyes were wandering, glazed over and were already past half mast. This time, a small smile actually lit his features.
"Sleep well, Lucy." And as for her, the last thing she saw this time were the colourful glowing lights from the crystals and the beautiful alcove before she sunk into the dreamland she had craved to escape to.
And Now:
There was darkness. There was light. There was fire and a roar bursting over the hill and forest. The fog of pain hovering over her mind lifted slightly, sunk deeper and thickened. At the next howl, it lifted higher, clinging to the edges of her mind but no longer blanketing it. Lucy lay in a heap on the hill, curled up in an attempt to fend off the pain entombing her body. A loud crack resounded over the hill and her eyes flitted open, squinting at the clouded sky. A burst of heat and she remember. Lukas. Nox. The escape and hunt. They were almost to Magnolia, weren't they? More growling.
Oh no…
Another thundering crack sounded. Natsu… He's here. Natsu's fighting Lukas. No! He'll kill him! Her chest constricted as panic swelled. "Na-" Her throat was so dry, but she forced the words out. "Natsu… Please stop… Don't… Don't hurt him…" It was rasping, barely a whisper. She hoped Natsu heard.
Lights danced before her eyes again, the sky hazing in and out of view. A hard thud beside her was followed by a hot touch on her cheek. She flinched away from it. No touching… please no. she squinted up at the anxious face hovering above her own. Dark eyes centred solely on hers, salmon pink hair spiking out in all directions, a handsome face spattered with blood. Blood… His face blurred as the haze rolled back in. She could feel him lean over her, his hand slipping around the back of her neck, cradling her.
"Luce…" The name slipped past his lips in a reverent sigh.
She couldn't focus on his face anymore. His voice was soft, but deep, and full of a ragged despair she couldn't remember ever being there before. She looked up at his blurred form and felt wet tears gather on her eyelashes before slipping over her cheeks. It was only a few drops, but it was more than she thought she could shed anymore. The numbness of her body made her head float and throb. Hadn't she cried herself out yet?
"Please don't cry Luce, I've got you." He scooped her up into his lap and held her close. She winced and whimpered as pain flared all over her body. Her mating marks tingled uncomfortably, being so close to this man.
More tears fell, and then a rumbling, forlorn mantra finally reached her. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry I couldn't come to you, I'm sorry I couldn't save you, I'm so sorry Luce, I've got you now, I'm so sorry…"Hot droplets fell onto the crown of her dirty head. He's crying… Torrents were running down her numb cheeks. He was so warm. Exhaustion dragged her under.
Lucy woke to the light burbling of a creek and a cool draft from the left, a hushing rustle of leaves above. Soft grass below tickled her mostly bare body. When she opened her eyes, it was to see thick, gnarled branches with large green leaves shifting above her.
"You're awake." A deep voice said. A shadow dropped over her. Fear slammed into her as panic flooded her veins. She jerked up and began scrambling away, whimpering, dirt and grass flicking up and away. She didn't get very far before her spasmodic movements caught up with her tortured body, causing her to collapse onto her fractured left forearm and cry out in a pitiful squeak that cracked halfway through.
"Lucy!" The tall, shadowed form dropped before her and gripped her upper arms, holding her up off her sore side. She was shaking and whining quietly, flinching away from the man before her. "Lucy… Shh it's ok. No one's going to hurt you here." She peeked up through her dirty fringe at him. The pink of his hair seemed to glow in the afternoon twilight filtering through the leaves. Those dark eyes looked upon her anxiously, his brow creased with worry. Her shaking subsided as the rest of his features registered in her eyes, but she couldn't make the lighter trembling stop. The fear still radiated from her, so much so that she could practically see the aura surrounding her own self. It was shameful to think she'd become this whimpering, fearful mess.
He brought her up so she was seated before his kneeling bulk and released his grip on her, though his hands never left her skin. The brands covering her body began tingling uncomfortably again.
Her eyes flitted around the clearing. She didn't recognize it. "Wher-" Her voice cracked and she coughed haggardly into one hard. A disgustingly yet sweetly metallic taste filled her mouth and when she pulled her hand away, it was covered with blood. She could feel the red substanceit slither over her lip and down her chin, reflecting how the red splattered over her hand slid down her wrist. When she looked up, the man's eyes had narrowed on her bloodied hand. His eyes moved to her lips then. Dazedly she thought, not again...
"Luce." Her eyes jerked back to his familiar face. His blazing eyes stared into her dead and frightened ones. The more she looked, the calmer she became. Breathe Lucy, its Natsu. Natsu… Tears filled her eyes as she continued to gaze at him and a sob wracked her aching chest. His features relaxed and slowly, so slowly, he shifted to sit beside her. He was so close his side touched hers even as his muscled arm wrapped around her shaky, frail shoulders. He's so warm. Slowly, cautiously, she leaned into him, cradling her fractured forearm to her chest.
"I couldn't tell you where this place is, Luce. All I know is that it is somewhere in the forests east of Magnolia, where no one will find us. No one can hurt you here Lucy." They sat there for a short while, him silently letting her become accustomed to him and her numbly disbelieving that there was no more abuse to come for the time being. "We don't have to leave until you're ready to, either."
After a short while he stood, lifting her with him. He was practically holding her up, as her own legs were so weak they collapsed under her when she tried standing by herself. "I can't stand scenting them on you." She just looked at him, dead eyes wide like a dear caught in headlights. "There's a small pond just around the bend where you can wash." He whispered carefully. Her mind went blank. A memory of deep, murky depths and cold, hard hands brought terror crashing into her.
She convulsed and whimpered. "No! No no no no!" A rasping whisper she could barely fathom was her own voice.
"Shh, it's ok Luce. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you." She wasn't listening, just kept flailing around to get out of his grip. Everything about her body was screaming painfully. Then there was one strong arm pinning her body to his, front to front, her arms stuck at her sides as the other hand came up and gripped her chin firmly, forcing her to look at him.
"Luce, its Natsu." He stopped there. It seemed almost painful for him to think that she wouldn't remember him, so when she nodded, her breathing still erratic, he relaxed a little. "Why are you so afraid of the water?" His eyes were studying her so intensely. She tried turning away, but his arms held her steadily.
"You-" She took a deep, shaky breath. Then, "Please don't make me talk about it. I can't handle it right now." She closed her eyes and cried silently. His frame seemed to droop helplessly and he pulled her gently into his arms, embracing her where she could bury her face in his chest.
"Come." He soundlessly began leading her down the creeks pebbly beach, and around a large tree with protruding root that stuck out and into the creek, lifting and carrying her over and around objects she couldn't traverse. Large stones created a kind of round cul-de-sac where a small whirl pool signalled the end of the creek, before the water levelled off and trickled between the rocks and down the other side, off into the next creek or perhaps into a small valley or cavern. Fireflies, glowing all shades of yellows, oranges and pinks buzzed mystically around the area. There were even little flashes of light below the water. Fish? Or perhaps they were like the crystals of that little alcove…
Natsu stepped in front of her and held her upper arms again, careful of her fractured arm, cuts and bruises. At some point he'd removed his vest and waste coat, revealing a broad, well-toned chest with rope after rope of muscle lining his stomach as abs. He stood before her now in only his pants. "Luce, keep your eyes on me, ok?" She looked into his dark eyes. He took a step back into the water, coaxing her gently to move with him. When the water first lapped over her toes she froze in place. Before she could panic again, though, Natsu stopped, and growled deeply in his chest. Her attention snapped back to him. "Good. Focus on me Lucy, only me." He pulled her out further. This process made her think of Nox, and how he had taken care of her. Her stomach lurched at the thought that he might have gotten hurt during the escape.
They reached the centre of the slow whirl pool. It was the deepest part of the cul-de-sac and the water only reached to just below her breasts. She breathed raggedly, still staring into Natsu's burning eyes. "Are you ok here?" She nodded hesitantly. "Do you wish me to leave?"
She gripped at his chest with frightened alarm. Her fractured arm pulsed painfully. "No! Please don't leave me here." He held her closer.
"I won't leave you Luce, not unless you want me to." Once she'd calmed herself, Natsu pulled back again. "May I survey your wounds?" It took a moment for her to grasp what he'd asked. That would require removing her clothes, his hands on her body… Her frame stiffened. "I promise I won't do anything you don't want me to do, Luce." His hands and eyes slid down her arms, her throat, her sides, over her hips and reaching down her legs to feel for tender skin and cuts. His hands washed dirt and blood gently from her skin, eyes checking even the smallest cuts and bruises, cleaning them so they wouldn't become infected later. He never once tried to pull her clothing from her. Every time his hands brushed a Mark, though, she couldn't help but flinch away from his touch. Why do I keep thinking he'd be like the Clan? This is Natsu, not one of them.
A small part of her, the darkest part of her, couldn't help reminding her that he was still a Dragon-Slayer.
Her attention was jerked back to him when he tugged at the bottom of what was left of her shirt. "May I?" She stopped breathing. "Turn around." She looked into his eyes. There was nothing lustful there, just anger and despair that sat in the back of his eyes. She turned around. A single tear slid down her cheek.
His hands slid up her back, before ripping her shirt and skirt gradually from her battered body. Lucy wrapped her arms around herself. His hands slid up and massaged her shoulders. Natsu eventually pulled her back into his chest, his hands weighing on her hips as he buried his face into her neck, inhaling her scent. He was so warm; she didn't want to move. He kissed her neck then, at the spot where shoulder met neck, hands moving to brush the underside of her breasts, causing her nipples to harden. How could my body still react like this? His arms then slid down to wrap around her stomach, holding her more tightly against him. His skin was calloused but so much softer, kinder than the abrading touches the other Slayers had given, lips firm but gentler, so much sweeter than the kisses she had been given by the clan.
"How could I have let this happen to you, Luce?" He whispered into her neck. She could feel how tight his body was, sense how strained he felt. She could even feel how he clenched his jaw against the side of her throat. That's when she felt the hot tears trail down her skin and over her shoulder. He was crying for her?
"Why?" She said, as her own tears tipped over. He pulled back and turned her around to face him. "Why would you cry for me?"
"Because I couldn't stop this from happening to you. I should have been with you, on that mission, Lucy."
She shook her head. That's right. She had been on a mission before everything had happened, hadn't she? That seemed to have been so long ago...
"Why…" She couldn't think of how else to say anything.
"Because I love you, Luce." She stared at him, watched his face, searching for anything that could indicate he was lying.
"No…" She shook her head. "You don't. If you had, you wouldn't have left me before this."
"I never left you, Lucy. I was always with you, and if I wasn't, I was always checking up on you when you were out on your solo missions. This one time, I hadn't gone because it was only supposed to be a few days…" He zoned out for a moment. His head tilted so his eyes were in shadows and he shook his head sadly. A firefly with an orange tail buzzed overhead, touching down on the water between them before zipping away. "I should have been there…"
A spike of anger shot through her, the first strong feeling other than fear she had experienced since this nightmare had started. How could he still care so much? He had to know how ruined she was… She knew he could smell the others scents on her, those who had marked her. "I am no longer pure of body! How can you still want me? How can you stand me at all?" With chin trembling and tears in her eyes, her chocolate gaze met his, pain pinching her once expressive features.
His expression softened, warmth replacing the saddened mien. "Because you're Lucy. You're my Luce, my partner, my best friend, my nakama. You're my everything, Luce, and I don't want to live without you in my life. I love you Lucy."
She stood in a stunned silence, staring down the man who had just professed his love for her. The tears fell then, blurring her vision of him. She let them fall, wanted this depression to leave her and wishing that those watery rivulets could cleanse her of this incessant fear. Her head dropped, the fat tears dripping to the water with a light 'plop'.
"Lucy…" His warm hands cupped her face, lifting it back up, his thumbs wiping the liquid sorrow from her cheeks. "Please be mine." His forehead fell against hers and his warm breath panned across her cheeks, practically evaporating the salty tracks on them before more tears fell to replace their lost brethren. "I can't bear to have you apart from me again." He looked into her eyes. "Will you be mine?"
Her heart skipped a beat as the earnestness in his deep voice tore it right out of her chest. Instead of answering, large, body wracking sobs erupted then and his strong arms wound around her frail form, pulling her into his strong body. She wasn't sure how long he held her like that, but when her knees finally gave out he continued to hold her to him.
When Natsu eventually pulled her out of the cul-de-sac pond, his internal temperature increased, drying them off so that he wouldn't have to let go of her. Natsu carried her nude form back to where she'd first awakened and sat, cradling her shuddering body in his lap as he leaned back against the ancient tree with the calming hush rustle of leaves. He continued telling her how much he loved her until they'd both cried themselves out, and until they both slept, cradled together against the ancient tree that shielded them from the world.
A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed this. I myself almost cried when writing it… Please R&R :3
