A Walk in the Woods

Chapter 9


It had been 20 minutes since Natsu had pulled Lucy out of her chair and into his bed, and out of those minutes, Lucy had used none of them for sleep. Though wanting nothing more than to surrender to her exhaustion, she found the task impossible. The surrounding silence should have been peaceful, but to Lucy, it felt awkward and tense. Her thoughts were racing too frantically, powered by buzzing fantasies all revolving around the dragon slayer lying beside her. She simply couldn't halt the spinning cogwheels of her mind.

She winced at the deafening sound of her hips shifting minutely into a more natural position, hyperaware of her own movements. They seemed amplified in the quiet hospital room.

If she could still her wild mild, perhaps she could squash her restlessness, but that seemed unlikely as her adrenalin fluctuated in response to the feeling of Natsu's body pressed so close. Her sensitive fingertips were padded against Natsu's muscled abdomen, his heart beat audible beneath her ear. Its rhythm was strong and steady, a comfort really, but also a pulsing reminder of their proximity. Which is completely platonic! Lucy thought rolling the inside of her lip between her teeth and wondering if it really wasn't.

Get it together, Lucy! Stop being so nervous!

Natsu sighed shallowly, catching her attention. She scowled at his transparent act, the absence of steady snores usually accompanying his sleep a dead give-away that he was awake as well.

He was a terrible actor.

She matched his shallow sigh with one of her own and turned slightly to face the ceiling, gritting her teeth against the ensuing creaks which seemed to echo and fill the room. A nagging feeling of frustration settled over her. Now that Natsu was back to himself (for the most part, anyway) Lucy wanted so badly to ask him about their shared time in the woods, mainly about Natsu's delirious emotional pronouncement he had seemingly forgotten. She replayed Natsu's slurred confession like a tape recorder in her head.

"You're more than a friend,"

To Lucy's embarrassment, her heart fluttered to life with just the thought of Natsu's voice speaking those words aloud. They'd promised to finish that conversation hadn't they?

She snuck a glance at the fire mage to see if he had given up on playing dead, but his face remained smooth.

She continued to gnaw her lip, wondering if she should break the quiet. She was sure Natsu knew she wasn't sleeping either, especially with his acute senses.

I should just ask him if he remembers anything at all. She thought to herself, gripping the blankets with white knuckles.

Come on Lucy, stop acting like a school girl. It's just Natsu! Be an adult and TALK to the guy! For someone so engaged in sewing words and writing narratives with their spare time, she was at a complete loss on how to even begin. Each time she parted her lips to start, she would scrap the idea, and close her mouth quickly, only managing to look like a gulping fish. She was glad no one was watching her pitiful attempt at starting a conversation. It was shameful.

"Hey, Lucy?" Natsu's voice rumbled beneath her ear and nearly caused her to gasp in surprise. She had been so absorbed in her own thoughts- but this was great! Let him get the ball rolling! She tilted her chin up to see his face, finding his eyes open and staring at the ceiling as he spoke.

"You're not asleep, right?"

"No, I'm not," So he had been awake and creepily listening to her! She blushed at this before realizing she had been doing the exact same thing to him, "What's up?"

"I've been thinking.." He trailed off and pursed his lips as if deep in thought.

"Oh no, sounds dangerous," She joked, automatically slipping into her normal outward persona of casualty. She told herself it was easy, but deep down, she knew her anxious emotions were held back by the thinnest of barriers.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!" Natsu's eyes turned down to Lucy with an indignant flare. The predictable rise made her heart relax slightly. She laughed genuinely."Just kidding! Happy's rubbing off on me!" She pushed a stray strand of hair from her face so she could get a better view of the dragon slayer. "What were you saying?"

"What I was saying," Natsu accented his words to frame the rudeness of her interruption which only made her giggle more, "Was that I wanted to ask you about these past few days. They've been kind of a blur for me...I was a little out of it,"

"A little?" She asked sarcastically, raising an eye brow in his direction.

"Okay, fine, a LOT out of it,"

"That's more like it,"

"Yeah, I don't exactly remember the trip back, and I had some weird dreams when I was really sick.. I can't figure out what actually happened and what didn't"

Lucy's eye's widened in surprise. Not only was Natsu starting the conversation, he was even starting exactly where she'd meant to. He must remember something!

"You can ask me anything, Natsu. What kind of dreams are you talking about?"

"I dreamed that-" He paused and looked away. Is that a blush? Lucy couldn't tell if Natsu's neck and face had become more red, or if it was just the fever. Laying so close to his upper body made his nervous gulp loud in her ear.

"Spit it out-"

"I dreamed you took your shirt off and put it on my face!" Natsu blurted.

"Really? That's what's bugging you?" She sighed in frustration. The blush painting her face was definitely authentic. "That wasn't a dream Natsu, that actually happened."

"It happened? For real? Cool!"

"You are SO immature, I had no other choice at the time! You had a fever and I was trying to cool you down- you know what? Forget it. I'm out of here," Why did I think this would go the way I wanted? Stupid Lucy! She made a serious attempt to wriggle to the bed's edge, but Natsu somehow caught her before she could flea.

"No wait, Lucy, that wasn't the only thing I wanted to ask about! I...had another dream, or at least I thought it was a dream, but if that other part wasn't then maybe-" He rambled.

"What happened in your dream Natsu? I'm getting impatient," She said, exasperated and flustered. Natsu was being very indirect, and quite frankly, the conversation wasn't going where she wanted it to anyhow. She had all but abandoned the thought of asking Natsu about his true feelings. He was probably going to bring up the accidental glimpse he had caught of her completely naked next.

"The last night we spent out there, after the bandits, I..I told you that, Ilikeyou," Natsu said the last few words in a mumbled rush, his face becoming flushed for real this time. Lucy took a subtle but sharp intake of breath as she processed his words. Did he just say-?

"What?" She didn't dare to believe her assumption correct. Could it be that he hadn't forgotten that critical moment? Their scattered chore of a conversation had suddenly done a 180 in Lucy's favor. Her heart rate quickened in her chest and her stomach filled with butterflies.

"I dreamed I told you that I..I like you more than a friend," He said more clearly, taking a shaky breath. She could feel his muscles tensing as the emotional friction increased. Lucy's mouth and throat went dry. She licked her lips, unable to respond just yet.

"Lucy?"

"In the dream..what did I say when you told me that?" Natsu looked down, surprised by her calm response.

"You said it wasn't the right time, and that you wanted to wait to talk about it. But..."

"But what?" The room was so silent in his pause.

"You said I was special to you too,"

With that Lucy knew he truly remembered. "Oh Natsu, that wasn't a dream,"

"Crap! Are you serious!? That really happened?"

"It happened, Natsu," The bed creaked loudly as she shifted excitedly, moving up onto an elbow so she could face him fully, showing him her encouraging grin and rose tinted cheeks.

He looked down upon her face in shock. "Even the part where I told you about booting Happy out of the mission so we could be alone together!?"

"Even that part,"

He swallowed loudly and continued, fidgeting uncomfortably beneath her gaze. "What about the part where I told you, you were brave and smart and..and pretty," His flush deepened, very un-Natsu-like.

"Especially that part!"

Natsu tossed his head back into the pillow and grimaced dramatically. "Oh man, that's so embarrassing!"

"Did you mean it?"

"Well...yeah," He said, turning those clear onyx eyes to her. She couldn't find any confusion in them, but Lucy felt a protective barrier spring into place as she doubted his words. It was just too good to be true. Her blissful smile faded into a more serious expression.

"Natsu, tell me, what's the year? Where are we? What's the name of our first guild master?"

He gave her a strange look, "Its x791, and we're in the Fairy Tail Infirmary, and Master Mavis-" He cut his phrase sharply as Lucy's cool hand moved to cover his brow, brushing the pink bangs back neatly.

"Hmm your fever is still pretty high, I don't know.."

"Lucy, why're we playing 20 questions?"

"I want to make sure you're not delirious! I have to be positive you're really you!"

"I mean it, Lucy! And I'm me! I like you..A lot!" She turned a skeptical eye on him, scrutinizing every feature. Natsu quickly picked up on her doubt so he continued with conviction. "I like you more than a friend, Lucy! I knew you were different the minute I met you, I just didn't understand it until recently. I tried to tell you that in the woods but I chickened out..."

"Really?" She said a hopeful feeling inflating like a balloon in her chest.

"Really!"

His final confirmation was the needle she needed for the pop. An explosion of emotions filled her to the brim with joy and happiness. "I believe you!" Lucy said, finally deserting her mistrustful gaze and replacing it with a soft glow. She cuddled back into his body and placed a gentle hand over his bandaged chest, smiling to herself now, euphoric. So this is what it's like falling in love with your best friend.

She blanched slightly. Falling in love?!

"Few! I'm glad that's off my chest!" Natsu sighed in relief, but then stiffened and looked down at Lucy in sudden fear, "Wait, now you have to tell me how you feel! You said you'd tell me when we got back to the guild! No going back on your promise!"

She pulled herself from her reprieve and looked up at Natsu, confused for a moment. The cacophony of emotions overwhelmed her senses so much, she nearly forgot they were not being broadcast for all to hear. She searched Natsu's eyes, which were determined, but wide with uncertainty. It was rare to see the dragon slayer so unsure. His features were drawn, prepared for a blow. She smiled preemptively, knowing she would disperse the tension, finally able to right one of Natsu's wrongs.

"Natsu, I like you too! I think I always have,"

"Really?" His face lit with childish disbelief.

"Really!"

"Are- are you serious?" She nodded twice and beamed up at him.

"WOO HOO! My game plan worked! Ha ha!" He took his good arm and pumped a righteous fist in the air, jostling Lucy who was still nestled in the crook of his elbow. "Hey! Cool it, hot head! How do you have all this energy?! You need to keep it down or you're going to attract attention,"

"Sorry Luce! I can't help it!" He was grinning idiotically. The kind of smile that took over his entire face. He looked adorable. With impulsive infatuation, Lucy leaned forward and kissed his smile, pulling herself closer into the groves of his body. She fit like a puzzle piece.

Natsu's body went rigid with surprise, an instantaneous reaction. Lucy could hear his breath catch in his lungs. She only hoped she wasn't being too bold. She hadn't stopped to consult her brain before placing her lips on his, only listened to the overwhelming drum of her heart. It roared in her ears like the ocean and blocked out all other sounds. After only a moment, Lucy felt Natsu's face relax, and his lips mould over hers. His able arm wrapped around her tightly in an embrace. It felt so much like their normal hugs, but she leaned into it with a new passion, and memorized the way he moved to accommodate her smaller frame. His grip slowly loosened to a comfortable squeeze and Lucy finally pulled back, allowing her eyes which had fallen closed in content, to open once more.

He smiled down at her in a quirky way, cheeks painted brilliantly red. She again was overcome with a giddy swell and couldn't help but dive back in, letting her lips crush back onto his.

He was more prepared this time and kissed her back, albeit a little sloppily, but to Lucy, it was perfect. His warmth enveloped the entire bed as his constant burning flame of magic lit with excitement. She felt the heat rise with Natsu's transient magical flare and let it wash over her entire being, finally melting back the fear, worry, and doubt that had plagued her during their recent adventure.

She gathered him into her arms and held on tight, so thankful to have him. Perhaps it was the overwhelming situation, or her crushing exhaustion, but Lucy pulled away with tears brimming her eyes, this time spilling like an over filled tub.

"Hey," Natsu said, looking flustered, but also like he was trying his best to hide it. "Why are you crying? I don't really have a lot of experience but I didn't think I was that bad at kissing!" She laugh-sobbed at that and let him brush a few of her tears away, which he gingerly recruited his bandaged arm for.

"It's not that! I'm not sad, or upset, just-" She didn't know. She felt dumb for crying but it was all too much, "I'm just h-happy," She stuttered on her last word and wanted to die of embarrassment, but Natsu just smiled and swiped a few more of her tears away.

"Well you've got it kind of backwards, Lucy, you're supposed to smile when you're happy. You really do need some sleep,"

Again with the laugh-sob. She blinked at the tears that wouldn't stop and laid her head back on his chest, smiling through the waterworks. "Yeah, you're right,"

Their conversation paused with that, both mages falling into their individual thoughts. Natsu absently stroked Lucy's hair, combing through the golden locks and pausing to twirl the ends between his calloused fingers. The gentle touch sent her nerve endings tingling with pleasure and slowly caused every one of her tense muscles to relax. Her eyes were finally able to dry and a blanket of fatigue settled over her.

"Just so you know, I'm really happy too, Luce.." Natsu's voice sounded sleep mussed. She heard him stifle a yawn and couldn't suppress the one that built on her own lips in response. She smiled tiredly as she heard a soft snore from the pink haired wizard, signifying he had finally fallen asleep.

"I'm so glad," She really was. She followed his suit and also drifted to sleep, still clutching him close.

When Polyurisca returned with Natsu's second injection of antibiotic, she couldn't bring herself to wake the sleeping pair. Lucy and Natsu were peacefully curled in one another's arms, both wearing blissful expressions, as if whatever joy they had found before falling asleep had continued into their dreams. The old healer smiled and ducked back out of the room, knowingly. She wasn't one for mush, but she could respect young love when she saw it.