Chapter 8: Addiction
So badly, Lucy wished she could be anywhere else right now.
But Natsu's statement has already been stumbled out, there's no use in trying to take it back despite how much it makes her heart secretly quiver.
"Natsu, do you know exactly what you're getting into?!" Lucy whispered sharply, jabbing at his leg beneath the table.
If Natsu was suffering any pain from her action, he wasn't showing it; grin never leaving his face but she saw the telltale signs of his broad grin slipping the further she stabbed at him. "Of course I do dear. Now please stop poking your fork into my leg."
Oh how miserably were they failing at playing this 'perfect' couple role?
In Jude's eyes they at least seemed calm and collected, demeanor aloof across the table before they sent him flashy smiles at his arch of a brow at their quiet muttering.
In the span of an hour they had gotten into this mess.
All of the jitters Lucy had felt at seeing his presence, truly seeing him and not through the phone or a dream were tossed away at Natsu's comment.
'Of all the things he could've said, why did he…?' She thought tiredly.
She ignores the heat rising to her cheeks as the words play over. 'Boyfriend…'
Jude clears his throat and they send him their undivided attention once more and Lucy knows whatever patience he has left in him has grown thin.
"I know it comes as a surprise for me to visit, but I couldn't stand by after how our last conversation went."
His tone is sharp and directly to the point as she expects and Lucy quickly bites back the remark burning on the tip of her own tongue.
He was treating her like a child, like she was still living with him…
"Jude, you should know I'm not the type of person who likes to make things up. Coming here to try and prove a point won't change things." Lucy emphasized.
There's a flash of hurt in his eyes as she calls him by his real name, not Dad or even Father but it passes so fast that maybe it's just an act.
And his attention turns towards Natsu, masking any remnants of coldness with a smile.
"Well then Lucy, the least you could is introduce me to this boyfriend of yours. You've hardly mentioned him in any prior conversations we've had after all."
Her stomach tightens at the faux casualness of his comment; he's trying to catch her in a lie.
"I'm Natsu Dragneel; I've known your daughter since freshman year when she was moving into the dorms. I'm currently pursuing a degree in Fire Science and I spend a good amount of my free time at the guild Fairy Tail. I'm sure that covers most of the basic conversational points and questions you had for me, right?" Natsu spoke up smoothly.
Lucy blinked in awe, the knots in her stomach loosening somewhat. She feels him squeeze her hand underneath the table, grin bright in the afternoon sun.
Her heart shouldn't be thumping this fast from such a small gesture, but it inevitably does and she flusters as she averts her gaze to the scenery around them.
Jude on the other hand is unimpressed, though she catches the faint spark of concern as the name Dragneel comes out.
"Fire Science? And what might I ask type of job will you pursue by majoring in that?" He pries further.
'No, no, no! He thinks that's a stupid field, that Natsu is just going to end up with some dead end job that pays nothing or isn't a suitable high end 'career' Lucy realizes.
But then, his opinion doesn't matter she reminds herself, after all, he's shut out her ideas and goals before too…
"I don't think it's necessary to ask such a question-"Lucy starts.
"Probably a fire investigator or smoke jumper maybe. I don't know; I haven't picked one set job yet to focus on! I'm sure you didn't become a big old CEO overnight!" Natsu chirped out in interruption and Lucy almost wants to jab him again.
Well, at any rate he was being honest.
It's not the answer Jude expects or even wants to hear probably, Lucy can see it in his eyes. She sucked in a breath, preparing herself mentally for the slew of questions he most likely has in store for her. Why she still brought up her sleeping problems? Why did other people now know about it?
Though none of it ever comes.
"Lucy…can I have a word with you…alone?" Jude questions.
A no immediately springs forth to her lips, but she crushed it with an irritated huff before nodding. This impromptu brunch together can't get any worse anyways.
He leads her to the corner of the café, away from Natsu's sensitive ears and any nearby strangers. The wind picks up as leaves crackle loudly against the pavement and Lucy hugged her jacket closer despite how warm she felt earlier.
It's numbing just being this close to him.
But there's just something strange about her father's stance now, jittery and pacing back and forth to the point he almost suddenly seems…nervous.
"How long have you known he was a Dragneel?" He asks.
Lucy pursed her lips before shrugging her shoulders. "I don't know, like a year or so maybe? What, are you like rivals with that family company or going to tell me his priorities aren't straight-?"
"No, nothing like that. You're a grown woman, I can't stop you from making any choices even if you don't see the harm in them." He cut her off.
At seeing her ball up her fists and turn to go he went on quickly.
"There are rumors involving the Dragneel lineage, nasty tales that hide a grisly past. I'm concerned if you're truly serious about this relationship with him."
He was concerned now? She would've laughed if not for the irritating seriousness of his tone.
Lucy clicked her tongue, sending him in an impassive stare before truly turning to head back to Natsu.
"Whatever; I'll take my chances with him over you."
And Jude remains relatively silent for the remainder of their lunch before he takes his leave, not without reminding her he still expects check-ups on her progress in school, not to screw up the family name or her said goals.
'I don't expect you to be at Layla's level yet you know if you had been thinking that, though-'The words fade from her mind, drowning them out with the mundane conversations she hears from passersby's.
Their relationship has gone nowhere; fragmented with distrust and now even more secrecy.
Natsu fills in the long gaps of silence between them with lighthearted jokes and comments that she wishes could make her wholeheartedly smile and giggle in return.
But she can't.
Because damn it Jude has planted a spark of doubt, of fear in her.
-X-
'My pillow is breathing...'
It's probably after midnight Lucy guesses when she realizes her bed has become occupied with another person.
Again.
Schoolwork has kept her up late the past 3 nights with juggling the last shift at the campus bookstore and at first she imagines the familiar earthy scent is maybe Levy playing a joke on her.
Until a muscular arm wraps around her torso.
'If this is Levy's doing, then this is a very cruel joke.' Lucy mused.
"Natsu?" She grumbled into the darkness.
"Shh, just pretend I'm not even hear Luce and keep sleeping." Natsu murmured into her shoulder.
Breaking through her fog of sleepiness, she reacted in turn by pushing him off the bed. It was one thing to barge into her room uninvited during the daytime hours, but he never came around so late in the night.
"Lucy, there's enough space in your bed for the both of us!" Natsu complained and she could see as her vision continued to adjust sitting up he was rubbing a sore spot where his knee had hit the bed's edge.
"More importantly, why the hell are you here at this time of day?! You can't be here, Levy is-"
"Staying at Gajeel's place while I try out my experiment and Lucy, you know I break the rules to get in here to see you all the time!" Natsu finished.
Lucy sighed, clicking on her lamp as a yellow glow bathes her space of the room while Natsu shifted back into her bed. A cold draft enters the room from the window she irritatingly notices she left open her window for him to enter through.
"I'm going to be your sleeping buddy." Natsu announces as he plopped his head against one of her pillows.
"My what?" Lucy questions.
"A sleeping buddy! You know, so you won't have to rely on those pills and stuff anymore. And don't worry, I'm free of charge!" Natsu went on with a wink.
Lucy merely studied him blankly, her head began to dully pound the more she took his answer in and realized how utterly truly serious he was being.
"You…you don't honestly think that's going to work; do you? Considering you just made that term up…" She groaned.
But Natsu nodded and there's a twinkle of mischief in his black eyes that makes goosebumps prick her skin.
"Listen Luce, you don't want to have to rely on those pills every night to sleep and I have a solution for it! Give me a week to see if I can help change your mind." He reasoned.
She watched as he made himself comfortable back within her sheets once more, tossing and turning a few times before he patted the space beside him.
And reluctantly she followed after him.
"I-I don't think this will work, if anything I-"Lucy began only to stop herself. 'If anything I'll get even less sleep with you here…'
His warmth and scent is too distracting after all.
"One week is all I ask, unless you don't think you can handle it…" He trails off with a chuckle.
Oh, is that a challenge?
There's no mistaking the haughtiness of his voice as Lucy turns over to face him, auburn eyes wide and ignited with life.
"Excuse me? You're the one who's only suggesting this just to be closer to me! Don't think my plans are going to change because of this!" Lucy scowled.
Natsu leaned in close to her, enough that she could catch the tinges of the spices he had ate earlier on his breath. "You don't like it when I'm this near you?"
Her heart went wild in anticipation.
"I, well…I never said that." Her voice lowered.
Natsu trailed a thumb against her lips as she saw the outline of a smile on his face. "I know, let's make this more interesting Lucy. If you can get a full night's sleep with me without waking up during this week then you must tweak those so-called 'rules' of yours to my decision."
Lucy arched a brow, sitting up slightly. While she didn't want to doubt him, she had tried so many options before… "And if I don't get a good night's rest or need my medicine?"
Natsu frowned briefly. "Then…then I'll repay you all the jewels for the times I've broken your window coming in here; with interest."
'Wow, really?!'
Natsu chuckled at her attempt to hide back a grin and she could feel herself blushing. He knew just how to appeal to her…
Though that was fine, she had slept close to Natsu plenty of times before and it hadn't done much to change her insomnia those times.
Why would it be any different now?
"Fine, you're on!"
-X-
"So…I heard you like to sleep at Natsu's place now?" Levy brought up slyly.
Lucy nearly choked on her smoothie.
How on earth had she…?
Out of the corner of her eye she sees Loke watching them and the urge to crush her cup rises. He had given her a meager apology for his behavior a few days ago and now the idea that Natsu put him up to it somehow seems much more likely.
'Rumors, ugh.'
Levy's extra upbeat this morning too, she notes. A light frost still blankets the grass as the sun barely peaks up over the horizon while they enjoy breakfast for once at one of the open benches by the student center.
'Must be from spending all these nights at Gajeel's…'
"Well, you've heard wrong; he sleeps at my place!" Lucy corrected with a huff as she gulped down the last bits of the strawberry/banana blend.
Levy sends her an amused grin and she knows she's going to have to provide better details than just that.
"Okay, okay but don't jump to any conclusions! He came up with this stupid suggestion that I try sleeping next to him to see if that helps me get a better night's sleep. You know how Natsu is." She explained.
If possible, Levy's smile went even wider. "What?! And has it been working?! He's become you're new drug now so to speak, huh?"
'Horribly, yes.' But she refuses to admit such a thing aloud, instead reddening with a small shrug before biting into her croissant sandwich to not face any more questions.
She won't say that it's become more than relying on him to distract her from her stresses, and that his touches are leading too much skin to skin contact that they thread so treacherously close to lovemaking that one of them is going to break soon…
But they are keeping to a bet after all and to admit that the she had gotten a good three nights of rest sounded like she was already conceding.
4 more nights in the week could change things…
Even if she's already become hauntingly dependent on him.
And she keeps that thought running in the back of her mind as she goes from class to class, pushing herself to keep much more focused knowing the stakes at hand.
By nightfall, Natsu returns back to her room. He's later than normal and much to her chagrin, she's texted him more than twice in worry if he's still coming by.
His rosy pink hair is messy and his face and arms hold the telltale scratches and marks of another brawl with somebody.
"Honestly, can't you and Gray come to a stalemate on this fighting?" Lucy murmured, purposely pressing the alcohol swab into his gash for longer than necessary.
Natsu winched, curse escaping as he grabbed her hand to move it away. "Shit, at least warn me when you do that! Geez, it wasn't Gray anyways, I wouldn't be this hurt from him."
Lucy rolled her eyes at the insult before smiling slightly, okay so maybe she shouldn't mess with his injuries even if he deserved it. "Whatever, my point is you get into or start stupid fights for no reason."
Natsu said nothing for a while, averting his gaze. "…It wasn't for 'no reason' like you think."
Lucy paused in wrapping a particularly bad gash on his arm, a chill rose up her back at his cool somberness.
"Heh, what type of fight was this then with? I mean, you've had fights in past over people eating the last bit of your food or waking you from a nap." She attempted lightheartedly to make him laugh.
It doesn't work.
'It was for you, for what he said…' He grunts to himself, not noticing the concern in Lucy's expression.
'I'm only concerned Lucy, there are rumors that swirl about the Dragneel's…' Jude's warning echoed and she bit her lip to shake the thought away.
"Hey, Natsu?" Lucy spoke up curiously, breaking him from his thoughts.
"Yeah?" He asked and her breathing went unsteady at the longing look in his features. All traces of fatigue in his appearance were gone as he studied her fixedly.
"Ah no, err never mind." She whispered quickly to his confusion.
'Now isn't the right time to ask anyways…'
Lips descended on the curve her of neck and she sighed, the idea he was in danger or involved in any risky behavior pushed to the back of her mind.
This was how he was winning their bet, lulling her with sweet kisses and touches until their bodies were spent.
"Luce, you know you can tell me anything, right?" He questioned, licking the sore spot of an old hickey.
"Hmm." She dizzily replied, shutting her eyes as they tumbled into the depths of her sheets.
Natsu moved away from her neck, smirking. "It's almost 1:30 am, you weren't getting sleepy waiting on me for so long?"
Lucy shook her head, grinning lightly. "I'm used to nights like this, remember?"
But they both knew in unspoken words she hadn't been able to properly sleep without his presence here.
Natsu entwined their hands, smirk growing apologetic. "Sorry I kept you waiting. I saw the texts, though I…"
"It's okay; the important thing is you're here now." Lucy interrupted.
And before Natsu could say anything more, she pressed closer to him, matching his heated touches.
"Lucy we don't have to keep doing this. If you're not comfortable I mean, I started this whole thing." He murmured slowly.
Their nights always started like this, hesitancy to kiss each other for too long or get too intimate and by then the same age old question is asked.
Did she really want this?
"Yes, I mean-I'm fine Natsu. You ask me this every night now." She whispered back.
Natsu never seems uncertain about anything, even when she knows he's wrong he still exudes a confidence matched with a boisterous attitude.
So it's odd and maybe a just a little reassuring knowing he's flustered and inexperienced too when it comes to things like this.
He fixed her with a rogue grin, confidence returning as hands traced the outline of her curves. "That was your last warning you know."
Her nerves are a jittery mess at his implication, but she licks her lips and nods. "Yeah, I know."
And then she feels him start to tug away at their clothes and it's hard to restrain averting her gaze to ignore his blatant staring.
"Do you…do you want the lights off?" Natsu suggests at Lucy's fidgeting.
Lucy hurriedly shook her head, cheeks a dark crimson. "Yes! Err well no; I want to see your face…" She reached out cup his face, lightly kissing him in reassurance.
His mouth is hot as his tongue leaves a trail around her nipples to her stomach and she reaches for his still clothed erection burrowing into her thigh between gasps for air.
"Natsu, please I'm-ah!" She moaned, her fingers swirl tighter into his hair as his mouth teases and sucks at her core.
She's going to burst.
"Be patient Luce." Natsu grunts, wincing as he felt her rid him off his boxers. He carefully maneuvered them and pulled her legs apart, positioning himself.
'It will hurt. It will hurt. It will hurt.' Lucy chants to herself forebodingly and when he thrusts in the pain is enough tears blur her eyes.
"Are you okay, Lucy?! Say something!" Natsu calls out to her fuzzily and she weakly squeezes his hand that she's fine.
Blearily opening her eyes though she can see his eyes have taken on an inhuman glow in the light, pleasure bringing a whole new side out of him.
'Did his eyes always do that?'
"You're tight." He growls bringing another wave of sensations over her, voice dark and animalistic. Her hips roll to meet his thrusts as her brain shuts down once more. Nails dig into flesh as he warms her with his release over and over again.
"Natsu, are you alright?" Lucy asks as she comes down from her high.
It's hard to focus, body aching for a good shower or sleep to take her away but she looms off the desires to make sure she wasn't seeing things.
Gone is the gleam in his eyes.
'I wasn't imagining that, was I?' She gulps, her stomach constricts and subconsciously she grips at it.
"I'm okay, but are you? I hurt you…" Natsu mentions and Lucy tracks his gaze to the unsightly blue and purple marks starting to stain her skin.
Lucy waved off his concern, searching his expression carefully for anything out of the ordinary.
And before she can properly question him on what it is she's looking for, Natsu reaches over and turns off the lamp light.
"We should really get some sleep now." He asserts, lazily tugging her under the sheets into him.
Lucy let out a whine of protest, but Natsu's even breathing tells her he's already falling asleep.
Jerk couldn't wait until she finished asking him a question.
But then again, maybe she was being foolish. Her vision had gotten blurry after all, perhaps she had envisioned a change in his eye color due to the lamp's lighting or in her ecstasy.
That was easier to accept.
-X-
"Can we make this real Luce? Can we stop pretending now?" Natsu repeats.
Lucy stirs for a moment and his chest tenses in surprise, but she soon turns in her sleep, away from the sunlight creeping in through the blinds.
Good, she hadn't heard him…yet.
He sat up a bit more from her, moving fallen blonde locks from her face. She was finally getting the peaceful sleep she had so craved for who knows how long.
A part of him wondered if they would truly make this another habit between them, it was the middle of the week and Lucy hadn't yet awoken in the middle of the night as far as he knew.
Would she be compelled for him to keep coming back every night now?
His phone abruptly rang from his tossed away pants and he grimaced, hurriedly reaching for it before Lucy woke up.
"What do you want ice pick?" Natsu grunted.
He could practically see Gray roll his eyes on the other end.
"That's the best you could come up with? I know it's early, but I expect better." Gray mused.
Natsu simply yawned in response, gazing at the scratches littering his body and back. He would have to come up with some excuse later for all this.
'I should get Lucy to cut her nails next time.' He chuckled at the thought, startling Gray.
"You never came back to the apartment last night, did you pass out in the middle of a field somewhere?" Gray asks.
Natsu snorted, adjusting his phone by his ear as he halfheartedly put on his remaining clothes. "No moron! Geez, I'm at Lucy's place."
He waited for his biting retort, frowning at his long pause. "…Are you still there Gray?"
"You two official then?"
"Ah, maybe by the end of this week. I'll ask her to make sure." Natsu concluded.
That was the best way he could put it without revealing too much.
Or maybe sounding so hopelessly lovesick...
But he can tell Gray is beaming, laughter gently reverberating. "About damn time! Though I guess this means I owe Gajeel those jewels unfortunately."
"What the hell are you talking about?!" Natsu hissed, eyes narrowing.
"Don't worry about it pyro! Anyways…" He trailed off and Natsu arched a brow at his abrupt change to seriousness.
"Lucy's shared her secrets with you, don't you think it's time to return the favor? I've held back on bringing up, but now that things are changing." Gray mentioned lowly.
His breath quickened, a small ache resounds through him as his grip on his phone tightens.
'It's not the same…'
"Natsu, who are you talking to?" Lucy asks and he nearly jumps, inadvertently hanging up on Gray in the process.
Lucy giggled, stretching out her arms and flustering when she realizes the show she's giving him.
"It was just Gray, nobody important compared to this sight…" Natsu hummed.
'Not your finest moment Lucy.' She scolds herself, sinking back into her covers. In truth, she's picked up on the last bits of their conversation and anxiety builds again in the pits of her stomach to ask him what it all means.
"Is this okay Lucy?" Natsu starts and she looks up at him again, traces of red tint his cheeks and her eyes widen as she picks up on what he means.
She's broken her own rules.
But there's no guilt or frustration like she expects, just a ball of nerves left in the wake of their passionate night.
Because there's still so much left to be said and she just can't work up the nerves yet. Not like this, when there too much under the haze of lust still.
"I-I well if we take it slow I suppose." She ventured out softly, she isn't sure if he even heard her.
A wide grin breaks out though on Natsu's face, taking a step forward to her. "Luce, you know what this means right?"
Lucy wrinkled her nose, despite probably not wanting to know the answer, curiosity will get the better of her.
"No, what?"
He leaned closer then, voice airy and downright devilish.
"You're going to lose our bet…"
-x-
Happy New Year, hope everyone is having a safe and fun holidays. It's your feedback that helps me to improve so please don't hesitate to share your thoughts with me! Thanks to Naru, Soul-of-glass, Matt427, StellaHeartfilia, and ThatOneFriend-3 for their responses last chapter and as always, thanks for reading!
