Chapter Nine
Slinging his scarf around his neck, Natsu sighed through his nose. His eyes dragged over, staring at the part in the bare woods where Lucy usually emerged from when she would visit him and Happy. She hadn't been by for two nights in a row now. Had she finally grown to fear him? Natsu hoped not. Just as he had said the night he'd saved her from freezing to death, he saw her as a friend. If he remembered correctly, Natsu was sure that Lucy had said the same thing about him.
His eyes drifted up to the night sky, it was clear. The stars were glimmering brightly, it was the perfect night to stargaze. So where was Lucy with her lesson on constellations? Natsu had finally memorized Horologium, remembering Lucy had said it was the constellation of the clock. Tucking his chin into his scarf, Natsu narrowed his eyes. Where was that weirdo blonde?
Could she have been so injured and scared that she had locked herself up in her home? No, Natsu remembered hearing Lucy and her friends playing in the clearing. Their snowball fight had been very loud, their laughing and yelling had woken him up from his sleep. He wished he could have been apart of it, but a dragon tramping through the snow wasn't exactly inviting.
If only he weren't a dragon.
"Natsu, why hasn't Lucy come over yet?" Happy glided down onto Natsu's shoulder, tipping his head in confusion, "She promised she would be here last night, but she never showed up. I thought maybe she was still injured, but then she was playing in the snow with her friends earlier today... You don't think she..." The blue cat cut off, not wanting to say what Natsu had been thinking previously.
"No, I don't think she forgot about us, Happy." Natsu shook his head, "Her friends are probably keeping her close because they are afraid of losing her again. How about we go check on her?"
"Aye!"
With a small smile on his face now, Natsu started walking, feet crunching in the snow. He took in his surroundings, finding the snow white woods somewhat pretty. His favorite season was summer, the season he was named after. There were so many things to do in summer, too. Swimming, water balloon fights, picnics, napping in the warm sun, fishing, the list went on and on. Even though he favored summer, Natsu was still able to enjoy the fun and pretty things in winter.
"Whoa, look, a snow fort!" Happy chirped, fluttering his white wings in excitement as he flew over to the wall of snow. "There's snowballs too!"
The snow around was trampled, multiple footsteps and body shaped dents in the snow. Taking in the scent of the area, Natsu recognized Lucy's smell. It was faint, due to the snow dampening it. There other numerous scents, but he didn't recognize them so he didn't bother with them. Turning to look at the clearing, he smirked when he saw a snowman in the middle of the field of snow. Again there were many footprints, evidence of Lucy and her friends' activities earlier that day.
"C'mon, Happy-
A snowball hit him directly in the face when he turned to face the blue cat. The cold substance slid down his face, dropping to the ground with a soft 'plop'. He rose a pink brow at his feline friend, an irritated smile twitching on his lips. Immediately the cat recognized his mistake, his eyes widening and tail lowering. He spread his wings, ready to make a run for it, but just as he jumped in the air a snowball hit him and he plunged into a large mound of snow at the base of the tree behind him.
Natsu cackled, snatching at the left over snowballs and running to hide behind the tree he was standing beside. He peered around, eyes landing on the blue cat that zipped around the trunk of the tree to hide. He drew his arm back, getting ready to throw the snowball when a memory flashed through his mind. A gasp ripped through his lungs, and his grasp on the ball of snow vanished, sending it crashing to the ground.
Clenching his jaw shut, Natsu lowered his chin into his scarf, eyes staring intently at the bark of the tree he was taking cover behind. Sorrow pricked at his heart, rippling throughout his body as the memory played through. His brows furrowed, his fists clenched.
"Aha! Gotcha!" Happy cheered as he dropped down on top of Natsu's head. The cat purred happily, his tail swishing happily against the back of Natsu's neck, but sensing Natsu's change in mood, Happy's purring was cut short. His ears flatted as he leaned over Natsu's head to look into his eyes, "Natsu?" The cat chirped, rolling out of the man's pink hair to flutter in front of his face, "You okay?"
Shaking himself back into reality, Natsu looked at Happy, "Uh, yeah, I'm fine," He cleared his throat, tugging at the ends of his scarf. "Let's go check up on Lucy," Natsu waved his hand, gesturing for the cat to follow as he turned in the direction of the blonde's apartment.
Letting loose a breath from deep within his chest, Natsu watched the cloud of warmth dissipate into the frigid air. He could feel Happy's worried stare burrowing into the back of his head, but he ignored it. Happy knew why Natsu was upset, and so the man didn't need to tell him why he was acting like he was. He just wanted to make sure Lucy was safe, that Lucy was happy.
Stepping onto the cobblestone road of Magnolia, Natsu's nose crinkled. He wasn't lying when he'd mentioned the city smelled weird with all the people and animals living in it. The sounds were odd as well, his ears twitching with every clicking of doors being locked, or the thumps of people's footsteps, horses trotting as they pulled a carriage through town. It was so different from his cave in the middle of the woods. The smell there was nicer, the sounds more welcoming.
He turned onto Strawberry Street, perking up the slightest bit when he recognized the orange apartment building where Lucy and her friends lived. He looked over his shoulder, smiling at Happy and silently asking the winged cat to give him a lift. Without hesitation, the cat picked Natsu up into the air, flying over to orange brick building.
They flew by Lucy's window, but not seeing her anywhere inside her bedroom, the two drifted down to the first floor, where they saw her standing in the living room, talking with her friends. Being his nosy self, Natus listened in on her conversation.
"The man who saved me... his name is Natsu."
He froze at hearing his name. Lucy was telling them about him?
"What!?"
"Natsu?"
"I thought he was nothing, but a story to keep children from going into the woods!"
All of Lucy's friends shared the same horrified reaction. Natsu gripped the edge of the window sill as he stared into the livingroom. How could Lucy be telling them about him? Then that rose another question. Just how much had she told of him?
His expression was growing more and more grim, his heart sinking deep within his chest.
"What? What do mean by that?" Lucy's voice asked, and his eyes drifted over to the blonde. She was in her nightgown, her hair falling down her back like a golden waterfall. Her brown eyes were zipping around the room, going from one person to the next. "You all know of Natsu?"
"Well, yeah, but we thought he was just a ghost story." A man with long and out of control black hair grunted.
"The story of Natsu... The dragon in the woods."
Natsu cringed. The dragon in the woods. Of course the townspeople knew of him, he already knew this, but to be known as a ghost story? How had that happened? His confusion turned to one of boiling hatred; he knew exactly how that story had come about.
A short woman with blue hair shifted in her seat, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "Some say he was cursed to be a dragon because he killed the last dragon to ever exist. So a witch cast a spell on him, turning him into one."
Natsu snorted, the story was a little accurate. Save for the witch part.
"He flew to the woods, finding a cave to hide in, and there he grew to hate the human race. He would devour any man or woman who would get too close to him and his cave." The small woman kept going.
Lucy and Natsu both paled at that. Eating humans? Natsu would never resort to cannabalism, and he'd never grow to hate everyone just because of the two people who did this to him. He rolled his eyes, people were so dramatic and gullible.
"Um... I think we're talking about a different Natsu here." Lucy bit her lip. "The Natsu that saved me... He, uh, after I talked to him the second time he saved me, he said that he doesn't actually live in Magnolia. He was just visiting his family because it was his mother's birthday."
Whoa, Natsu didn't know Lucy could lie like that. His heart lifted from the dark pit it had fallen into, and he smiled at her. She was covering for him!
"I guess it was just a coincidence with the names," Lucy scratched the back of her neck, laughing nervously, "I didn't mean to scare you all..."
A woman with scarlet hair sighed in relief, "Well, Lucy, we're just glad that you're safe."
Everyone in the room nodded their head in agreement which started a big smile on Lucy's face. Natsu had never seen her smile like that, he narrowed his eyes a bit, how could he get a big smile like that out of her?
"Now that we've got that over and done with, I'm goin' home," The man with crazy black hair stood up, stretching his arms in a way that made his bones crack. "Later, Shrimp!" He laughed in a really odd way that had Natsu furrowing his brow, what kinda people did Lucy hang out with?
He watched another man stand up, Natsu immediately decided he did not like this particular man anymore than the other. "Yeah, I'm leaving too. See ya later, everyone."
Seeing them walk out of the living room, Natsu realized almost too late that they were coming out through the front door. He grabbed Happy by the tail and ran into the alleyway beside the apartment. The cat, startled by Natsu grabbing his tail out of the blue, flew them up onto the roof just as the two raven haired men passed by. It was perfectly timed too, because both men paused and stared down the alleyway with narrowed eyes.
One of them, either brave or stupid, stomped into the darkness. "If anyone's there ya better show yerself. I ain't about to let some stranger pass by here after what happened to Bunny Girl." Grunted the man with the out of control hair and- as Natsu stared more intently, piercings all over his face. He was seriously going to ask Lucy what was with her choice in friends.
"C'mon, Gajeel, there's nobody there," The other dark haired man sighed, obviously annoyed.
"I can see that for myself, Snowflake. 'Sides you were worried too."
"Yeah, well, that's because Lucy is my friend too. I don't want her suddenly disappearing again." Snowflake, Natsu decided he liked that name, replied.
Watching them walk down the street, Natsu turned around, crawling over the roof top to get over to Lucy's window. He wondered if she was in her room yet; he wanted to talk to her. He wanted to thank her for covering up about know him.
Leaning over the side of the roof, Natsu looked in through Lucy's window his eyes able to see clearly into the dark room. He flinched when the blonde walked into the room and closed the door behind her, pressing her back against the wood. Her chest heaved with a sigh of relief, her hand pressing against her chest.
She looked like she was about to say something to herself, but then her eyes locked onto his. Her jaw dropped, and she looked she was about to scream until she realized who exactly was at her window. She snapped her mouth shut and stormed over to the window, crawling up onto her bed she slammed her it wide open. Natsu barely had the time to yank upright to avoid being smack in the forehead by the shuttered window.
"What are you doing here!?" Lucy hissed, leaning over the windowsill to peer up at him. "And stop stalking me. You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
"We're not stalking you," Natsu stuck his tongue out at her, Happy nodded once in agreement, "Just checking to see if you're safe. How's your arm?"
"Oh, my arm is fine," Lucy replied, but narrowed her eyes, "but don't change the subject-
"Lucyyy!" Happy interrupted her and jumped down, landing on the blonde's face, "I was worried about you! You didn't visit for two nights in a row and you didn't show up tonight!" The blue cat whimpered, rubbing his cheek against Lucy's.
"I'm sorry," Lucy cringed, "My friends were worried sick about me and-
"It's okay, Luce," Natsu shook his head, "We understand."
"Aye," Happy purred, he grabbed hold of Lucy and flew up to set her on the roof beside Natsu.
The blonde flinched when Happy picked her up without any warning, but when he dropped her next to Natsu she decided to just send the blue cat a glare. "Warn me next time," She huffed. She looked up at the night sky, brown eyes reflecting the stars.
Natsu followed her gaze, recognizing Horologium plastered in dark winter sky. He pointed up at the particular constellation, a shock of warmth pricking his heart when Lucy smiled happily at the fact he could find it on his own. She started pointing in different directions, turning her head this way and that as she rambled on about stars and constellations. She told a few memories of her and her mother watching the stars together. Her father popped up a few times even.
Natsu enjoyed listening to Lucy go on and on about the stars. His favorite thing was when she slowly trailed off, growing silent in her own world of glimmering specks in the sky. Her eyes would dart back and forth, up and down, as she mumbled soft words to herself. With his strengthened hearing, Natsu picked up a few words.
He had no idea what she was muttering about, but when he heard the familiar words of, "Once upon a time," He knew she was speaking fairy tales. What he didn't know, was why. Why on earth was she droning on about fairy tales? Was that something she shared with her mother?
He went ahead and answered that as a yes, but he wouldn't know for sure unless he asked her. But... as he looked at her again, he didn't dare bother her. She looked so at home, so comfortable that he didn't want to ruin it for her. He sighed, his hand dragging up to play with his scarf.
He frowned as certain memories came to mind, memories of he and his father. He looked up at the sky, wide eyes taking in the beautiful view that Lucy's rooftop provided. He could feel the scenery around him shifting, fading, morphing into the surroundings that were achingly familiar to him.
Laughter could be heard from the garden as two children raced around. Two little boys, brothers, were playing a game of chase. The youngest appeared to be around five or six years old and the oldest seemed no older than eleven. Their laughs rang out and echoed as their fun went on.
The youngest ran past the rose bushes, looking over his shoulder to see if his brother was following him, he wasn't watching where he was going and the next thing he knew he was slamming right into someone. He fell backwards, roughly landing on his rump. He blinked away his shock, lifting his head up to stare at the man towering over him.
Spiky hair, just like his, the only difference was the color; while the man's hair was a ruby red, his was a light pink. Bright, kind, green eyes stared down at him, as a big grin split his lips. "Natsu, you're going to ruin your scarf again if you're not careful," The man tutted, bending down to scoop the boy up in his arms. Natsu let out a stream of happy giggle as the man spun him around in a quick circle before hugging him to his chest.
"But you'll just fix it again. Won't you, Dad?" Natsu poked his father's cheek, eyes screwing shut with the big smile he wore.
His father sighed, "Yes, but that doesn't mean you can damage it all you want, I do want you to be careful with it! It was very difficult for me to make."
Tearing himself back to reality, Natsu let out a heavy sigh. Slouching a bit, Natsu held the end of his scarf, rubbing the fabric with his fingers. His eyes blurred and he startled when he realized he was close to crying. Going rigid, he shook his head and quickly passed it off as a huge yawn.
Why had that memory suddenly resurfaced? Why was he thinking about it? Thinking about him? It had happened so many years ago... so why did it still bother him. He felt frustration building up from it, anger as well. Though none of it was directed at himself, or his father. It was directed at two particular people.
"Hey, Natsu? Can I ask you something?" Lucy turned her head towards him. There was something about her expression that he didn't like. Was that fear he saw? Fear... fear and concern. He had to hold back the sigh that was rising in his throat, he knew exactly what she was going to talk to him about. "My friends they told me this story that was about you and-
"If you're scared of me and don't want to be friends anymore, I understand," Natsu interrupted her and stood up. He waved for Happy to follow him, but he wasn't even able to walk away. Feeling Lucy tug on the end of his scarf, he looked at her over his shoulder, "Some of that story is true, y'know," He whispered.
"How do you even know what I am talking about," Lucy pursed her lips.
"Because I heard. I came here before you went to your room, I heard you tell your friends about me... or try anyway. I knew the towns people knew about me, but... as a ghost story. That's kinda funny," Natsu laughed coldly. "I guess in some ways I am a ghost," He clenched his fists, not noticing how Lucy's frown of worry grew. "Actually, now that think about that, the story they told isn't very accurate at all. I never killed a dragon. I only fought one."
"...You fought a dragon."
"Oh, and the me being cursed part is true as well."
"I kinda pieced that together, but you fought a dragon?" Lucy repeated herself, still shocked in what she had heard.
"Yeah, I failed though... and... because of that..." He sucked in a painful breath, one hand snatching at his scarf. He didn't like talking about that. Didn't like thinking about it either. He wanted to leave it alone, leave it behind. He just wanted to forget about what his failure caused.
"Because of that you were cursed..." Lucy nodded.
Natsu flinched. Yes, that had been why he was cursed, but there was something else his failure caused. Only a few other people knew about it, but he didn't speak to them or speak of them anymore. He looked down at his scarf, heart aching in his chest.
He slowly nodded his head, turning back around to sit.
"Natsu, just because I've learned more about you doesn't mean I'm afraid or that I don't want to be your friend anymore. I'm worried about what's wrong, why you're acting like this," Lucy slowly stood up, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I don't know why you fought a dragon, I don't know your entire story, but I have learned more about you... that's what friends do. They learn about one another, they're supposed to tell each other things. Friends are there for each other, if you need to unload something from your chest... I'm your friend, you can tell me. I may not understand, but I'll listen."
Natsu could feel the smile she was giving him, the fact that she was willing to do so much for him made him feel something he hadn't felt in a long time. He couldn't place his finger on it, but it made him feel warmer. It made a small smile lift the corner of his lips. He turned his head, eyes locking with Lucy's, and his smile grew.
Turning around, he sat back down on the edge of the roof, swinging his feet back and forth carelessly. Lucy sat down next to him, Happy curled up in between them.
Silence fell between the three of them, Natsu and Lucy quietly gazing at the starry night sky, Happy sleeping soundly between them. Lucy pointed out constellations to him, and he goofed off by making up his own. He thought she would have sighed about it, called him ridiculous, but then he remembered she had mentioned that she and her mother would make up their own together. Soon she gave up telling him about real constellations and made up some of her own as well.
"While we're on the topic of friends, just who were those people in your living room?" Natsu snorted, "Metal Porcupine, and Snowflake. Who were those two, just what kinda people are you friends with?"
He heard the intake of breath and had to shush her when Lucy roared with laughter. She quieted herself, but she had to take numerous gasps of air to calm down. Natsu smiled with her, proud that he had veered the conversation from getting too personal about him.
"Their names are Gajeel and Gray," Lucy corrected with a giggle, "The others were Juvia, Erza, and Levy." With that she began to explain how she met everyone.
She decided to first start off with Erza, explaining how intimidating the woman is, but once someone gets to know her they realize how kind the red head could be. She described the woman's love for sweets, and how she was shocked that Erza hadn't joined her to work in the bakery yet. The woman was faithful to her job as a blacksmith, her love for weapons being somewhat greater for her love of cakes.
Next was Levy, the bookworm who was also her personal cheerleader. The petite bluenette had a love for books just as big as Lucy, and when she had moved into the apartment the number of books and bookshelves had doubled. She smiled about how the two of them would recommend books to one another, sometimes even have reading sessions whenever they were both free.
When she mentioned Gray, she rose a brow at how Natsu sneered at the name. He hadn't even met the sculptor and he had taken a disliking to him already. She rolled her eyes when Natsu corrected her, calling her friend "Snowflake" was much better. She thought it a good idea to leave out how the man had a habit of randomly losing his shirt and sometimes his pants, knowing Natsu would react in some fashion.
When she spoke of Gajeel and Juvia, Natsu only reacted oddly to Gajeel. First he muttered on about "What kinda name is Gajeel, anyway?" before hushing and deciding to listen. He had felt the glare Lucy was giving him and wished he had kept his mouth shut. For being a weird blonde, she had her moments where she definitely intimidated him.
As he listened, part of him was happy that she was telling him about her friends, but another part of him was upset. Jealous at the fact that she probably cared about these people more. Then he began to worry. What if one day she forgot about him, because she was so busy with her other friends? What if she treasured those friends so much that she thought she didn't want to be his friend?
He didn't want that to happen, he wanted Lucy to continue to visit him at night. He wanted to sit at the entrance of his cave, excitedly staring at the woods around him as he waited for Lucy to emerge from the bush branches and tall grass. He liked being friends with Lucy, she made him smile, made him feel something he hadn't in a long time.
She made him feel important, as if someone really did care about him, he realized.
"Your friends sound really nice," He muttered, staring down at his lap with an unreadable expression. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lucy stiffen.
"Yeah, they are, but you and Happy are, too. No matter how weird you guys call me for talking to the stars you listen to me ramble about and to them," She said, "Erza, Juvia, Gray, Levy, Gajeel... none of them really understand how important stargazing is to me. Erza, Levy, and Gray sort of know, but they don't fully comprehend. I've argued with them countless times to let me go to the clearing and sit there just to talk to the sky. I still go, though, because it makes me happy. It feels like I'm with my mother again. Sitting in her lap, talking about the stars..." She trailed off.
Natsu heard her sigh and could smell the tears that were silently rolling down her cheeks. He went rigid, whirling around to look at her with wide eyes. Why was she crying? He didn't know what to do, so he just stared. Watched as her eyes glimmered in the moonlight and reflected the pretty stars above.
Her eyes flicked over to him, and she startled. "Ah, sorry... I just can't help it sometimes... I still miss her," Her brow lowered, eyes narrowing slightly.
Natsu could understand that, and he hated how he did. He pursed his lips, hand twiddling with the end of his scarf. "Don't apologize for crying, it's an emotion... everyone has 'em," He grunted awkwardly.
Silence fell between them. It was comfortable and oddly relaxing. Natsu exhaled through his nose, leaning back until he was laying against the shingles of the roof. He folded his arms behind his head and closed his eyes, he swung his legs that hung over the edge of the housetop. He peeked one eye open to check on Lucy, secretly hoping her tears had stopped.
"You really think Happy and I are nice friends" Natsu thought aloud. He couldn't stop thinking of what she said about him and Happy.
"Well, duh," Lucy looked at him thoroughly confused, "Why would I visit every night if I didn't?"
Natsu clicked his tongue, darting his eyes away. He answered with a simple shrug as he face turned red from being embarrassed. He had never thought of it like that, looking down at the cat sleeping in between them he scoffed when he realized Happy wasn't sleeping at all. The damned cat was giving him a smug look, his tail flicking back and forth in a teasing manner.
"Oh, don't mind him, Lucy," Happy purred, "He can be dumb like that."
"How rude! Natsu is not dumb, I can't believe you would say such a thing. Isn't he your friend?" Lucy crossed her arms, glaring at the blue feline. Happy flattened his ears, and looked up at Natsu with pleading eyes not realizing he had be mean. Natsu gave Lucy an odd look as he rubbed the top of Happy's head, accepting his silent apology.
He was about to ask the blonde how she had done that when she sat up straight. "What time is it!?" She nearly shrieked but thankfully remembered to stay quiet. "Ohh, no," She groaned when she realized the moon was in the middle of the sky. "Tomorrow is not going to go well," She whined. "I need to get some rest Natsu, I'll see you guys tomorrow night," Lucy sighed, patting his hand softly, she looked down at Happy and asked, "Can you help me back to my bedroom?"
"Aye, sir!" He replied, picking her by her shoulders.
"Night, Luce," Natsu waved.
He stood up when he heard her window shut and smiled at Happy when the cat glided back up to him. Just as he had done with Lucy, Happy carried Natsu by the shoulders as they headed home to their cave.
"Lucy is really nice," Happy muttered off distractedly, "She may be weird, talking to the stars an all, but I like her. I wonder if she'll bring us a snack tomorrow night, like she did some nights ago!"
"In it for the food, huh?" Natsu snorted. He cackled when Happy started naming off other things he liked about Lucy, proving the fact he didn't only like her because of the snack she had brought. He fell silent, calmly watching the buildings pass by beneath them. He agreed that Lucy was nice.
Natsu enjoyed the feeling of having another friend to smile with. Even though he had already admitted to Lucy being his friend, he still dwelled on how it filled him with warmth.
I'M BACK~ Again... I apologize for taking so long to update! I won't be super duper busy anymore. Marching band season is pretty much over, we're only marching at games now. I'm really sad to see it end, though. I loved the show that we performed this year! It was so much fun... but waking up at 5AM every morning was not fun at all. We didn't win any contests, but we did make it to finals a couple of times which I'm excited about. PSSH Who cares if we didn't win anything, everyone had fun and that's what counts!
AND OMG GUUUUYS! THANK YOU SO MUUCH~! The Dragon Prince has reached 100 reviews and that means so much to me T^T thank you ;A;
I love it when you guys write comments, because I get to know what you enjoyed about the chapter and it really helps me feel better about my writing.
Thanks for being so super patient with me and my ridiculously slow updates! Please leave a review, because they really do make smile and brighten my day. I come back to read the comments you guys leave whenever I need motivation or something to cheer me up.
