"If you throw up in my car, I'll summon Loke to kick your ass – or Aquarius to drown you – and to help clean the mess!"
A loud groan burst from the mass that was Natsu curled in the passenger seat of Lucy's Pontiac Pursuit. As she went on to explain about the new red paint job – needed because a psycho with grocery cart issues scratched the hell out of the drivers side of her car – he peeked at the speedometer, looking for a way to get her to stop the car so he could yack his guts out. Letting her drive to the store was such a stupid idea – his masks could wait! He could walk the ten miles...or – something! Anything but this! Curling around himself in a tighter ball, he gave her his best puppy dog eyed look and tried to sound sweet.
"Lucy...can't you at least slow down a little? See the sights – or something? I'm new here, you're my tour guide!"
At her worn out sigh and tighter grip in the steering wheel, Natsu knew he'd lost the argument. Her next words left no room for argument.
"I'm going fifty, Natsu...the speed limit is seventy-five!"
As if to prove her point, an older man leaning so far over the steering wheel Natsu couldn't help but wonder for a second how he drove, went speeding by. A loud horn blared behind them, and with a growl, Lucy sped up, the speedometer jumping to sixty – five. Knowing he'd lost the battle and not wanting to face Lucy's spirits – thanks in a huge part to not knowing what her spirits really were like, just what she'd told him vaguely! - he closed his eyes and tried to think about anything but hurling all over Lucy's overly pink and weirdly blue interior of her car. Distracted for a moment, he ran a finger over the dash, taking in the almost sky blue of the plastic. How she'd managed to find a car that looked so...girlie and creepy was beyond him. He had to admit though, at least the dash, gear shift, displays, and back seat were all blue. It was the pink of the seat and steering wheel covers that creeped him out a little bit more.
As Lucy took a turn, Natsu again curled his arms around his waist, sweat dripping down his already sweaty face. Reduced to a quivering lump of sick dragonslayer, he instead focused on the other matter that was weighing him down. His living situation.
"Hey...Lucy?"
"No, Natsu – we're only a few minutes away from the first store we need, I am not pulling over!"
"No – that's not what I wanted to say! Geez..."
Running a hand through his hair, he focused outside the window, thinking he should just forget the whole thing. He was moving in with Lucy, big whoop. It's not like they were going to share a bed or something! Just the thought had Natsu curious...but one look at Lucy's grip on the steering wheel and the key holder at her hip was enough to put that thought on hold – fast! Shoving that problem away only opened others. Mainly, the glaringly obvious. Where would he sleep?
So far he'd made due with the couch, but that couldn't last. Although comfortable to sit on, it was to short for his small frame. A quick second tour of the apartment, Lucy and shown Natsu where her room was – he'd gotten just a peek of rustic wood bed and glass – maybe a desk? Before she'd snapped the door shut and told him to never go in there without her permission – something she didn't have to say twice! The second room was filled with the necessary items for upkeep of the building – power tools, extra light bulbs, mops, brooms, etc, with a few items of Lucy's tossed in. Lucy had asked if he'd had a bed or any furniture and Natsu had to admit he'd needed to burn what little he'd had in the way of furniture. Bed bugs had invaded his old apartment – part of the reason he was now moving in to where Lucy lived. Natsu jerked his head to face her in surprise a moment later. It seemed as if she could read his mind! When she spoke, Lucy kept her eyes firmly on the road in front of her, but her body turned slightly in his direction and – ignoring her keys that seemed to radiate a killing intent at his thoughts! - he couldn't help but appreciate her looks. A simple white tank top with a checkered black and white mini skirt and knee high boots, what wasn't to like?!
"...Did you even hear me, Natsu?!"
When her hand covered her keys, his dark eyes jerked up to meet hers – caught!
"Sorry, Lucy...I'm listening now...what was that?"
With a sigh, the blonde continued, now facing him. The car had stopped and he hadn't even realized it.
"I said we're here...and when we're done here shopping, we're going to meet Gajeel and Levy. There's a place where you can professionally cleaned used mattresses for a very decent price. I'm sure they have bedroom furnishings and such. The other stuff – you...you can borrow my cutlery and plates and that until we manage to get yours. But you break them, you replace them, understood?!"
At his wide eyed nod and slow grin, Lucy continued, flicking the key in the ignition off, the car halting with a slow dull humming.
"As for the storage room, Gajeel, Levy, yourself and I can clean it out in a manner of a few hours, sorted and cleaned than get you set up. You'll have a room by tonight, okay?"
Warmth that wasn't his fire spread through Natsu at Lucy's kindness. The little spitfire of a woman beside him had a fire all her own inside her he could tell...one that he'd need to watch out for! Though...the thought did excite him a little – like a cat with crumpled paper ball, he wanted to bat it around and see her limits. That was for another time though.
"Right! Thank you, Lucy – really."
As the two climbed out of the car, Natsu's stomach made a violent turn and he had to lean against the car heavily while his head swam. Lucy came over quickly and looped her arm around his waist, holding his other arm over her shoulders. Just as they took a step forward, Natsu's stomach lurched and he finally tossed what little lunch he had...Right all over Lucy's boots.
"Natsu Dragneel! You owe me a new pair of boots!"
"Hey! I did those things a favour! They're all scratched and worn – they were ugly any – uaahg!"
The rest of his words were caught by a kick right to the face.
Author's Note: So dear readers, I hope you enjoyed the new chapter! From here on, things are going to get good! Natsu will open his bar and speakeasy for the public. Lucy and Natsu will officially be moved in! So much excitement planned! Its been a slow start, but it will get faster and better...those of you reading / following / favourite – I appreciate it and cannot wait for you all to read the new content! To my new readers – thank you and I hope you've enjoyed it so far! I look forward to seeing what you all think in the later chapters!
~ The Most Beautiful Of Lies
