Alright, this chapter is dedicated to my on-the-side waifu brokenangelwings83. It was her birthday! So I wrote this for her! Everyone say happy birthday~
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There were not many things Natsu feared. In fact, if anyone were to ask him what he was most afraid of, he would have only three answers at the ready. Erza, Vehicles, and the Titania. He was ignoring the fact that two of those were the same because the red headed fairy was frightening enough to merit mention twice. But now, one of those slots had been replaced by something even more frightening.
A certain human.
"Natsu."
No, he wouldn't look.
"Natsu," A soft touch graced the back of his neck, brushing light fingers across the thick scar across his throat. It was sensitive to the touch, and sent sparks racing down his spine. A simple caress. But it was one powerful enough to bring a demon king to his knees. In seconds.
Dipping the tip of a finger down into the collar of his shirt drew a sharp inhale. It was impossible to ignore and his assailant knew it. It was at Lucy's soft giggle did he know he had lost. Sighing, he drew his eyes up to her and faced his fate with no small amount of reluctance. It wasn't like he could say no to her.
Her hand slid across the expanse of his shoulders. The press of fingers sinking into the tense muscles of his back caused him to grind back a low growl. A distracting hip pressed into the hollow of his waist. He was man enough to admit he sucked in a tiny, sharp breath. Praying Lucy didn't hear it, his hopes were dashed when he caught the sound of her giggle fill the room.
No luck at all.
The worst thing about these 'innocent' touches, was that Lucy knew precisely what she was doing to him. Every touch and caress made heat stir in his blood. A slow, ribbon of tension flexed in his belly. Slow burned the flame she coaxed to life.
"What do you want from me devil-woman?" He whined at her, finally turning to look fully at her. But he already knew what her hear craved. The one thing Natsu had no desire to give her.
Lucy's lips were curved into a mischievous smile; proof enough to show how much she was enjoying taunting him. He should have known she would be a tease. In truth he was more surprised at her boldness.
There was something new between him and Lucy. Ever since the day she told him she loved him, they were trapped in a holding pattern. It wasn't even a bad holding pattern though, which was what was most frustrating about it. It was as if their friendship was unchanged. Nothing changed, but at the same time –
—Nothing changed.
Which was more than likely Natsu's fault, since he hadn't told her something important.
He loved her.
Words like that were difficult for him to say. He was a man of action, preferring to show everything he felt. Words were insufficient. They could be manipulated to make the vilest lie sound like the sweetest truth. Even words spoken straight from the heart had messages in them known only to the person speaking them.
But when he had Lucy's lips against his that was when he knew.
Actions spoke to him so plainly. There was nothing anyone could hide, no matter how skilled.
Under his hands he felt the tremble of Lucy's body as they moved together. The prickle of heat under his palm when creamy skin flushed rosy and warm. The trust and love that shone in her eyes when he picked her up. All of them told a story, the longest and most beautiful one he had ever heard.
Without a single word being spoken.
Still, Lucy loved words.
Perhaps she had needed to hear it?
So he gave her his little creation. Perhaps referring to it as Pandora's box was a bit dramatic, but it had seemed to fit at the time. Besides he liked the flair. In truth, it did hold hope. All of Natsu's.
It soothed over the hurt lingering in the back of Lucy's eyes. She seemed to understand him more than before, and he let his mind rest easy. After the date, he had brushed his lips across her forehead, soothing his warm mouth under her bangs before they both collapsed into bed. All was well, and their relationship, while the same, had a new layer over it. It was charged with attraction and gentle touches. Soft caresses that reminded the other they were still there, and the twining of fingers at night under the sheets.
Since their passionate night, they hadn't done anything like that again. Not for lack of interest, especially not on Natsu's part, because he was definitely eager for another go. The timing wasn't right. While he was a demon, that didn't mean he was inclined to jump her bones the instant she batted her eyes at him.
Most of the time.
Lucy had woken up late to work, hindered by a grabby Natsu early that morning, who had not wanted to relinquish his hold on her. He didn't have to 'work' – at least not in the conventional way Lucy did. He was centuries old and had amassed a massive hoard he accessed using similar fairy magic Erza possessed.
When he had mumbled that to Lucy, the human gave him an affronted look, a light peck that woke him up a little, and a claim that she had to go. It wasn't the first time Lucy had denied his money. If it was to buy food and repairs, she didn't seem to mind. But other necessities she liked to provide for herself.
She was an independent force of nature, Natsu knew better than to push the point when there was no chance of victory so he tamely went back to sleep as she rushed around to get ready for work.
Around lunchtime she stumbled back to the apartment She looked distracted, but before Natsu could question her what was wrong, she was running back to work shouting something about not eating the pantry until she came back. An unrealistic demand, so he settled on cleaning out just the refrigerator instead.
When she came back, the request she had for him – the one he was trying so hard to ignore, was burning at her tongue. She was relentless in trying to get his attention though, and Natsu couldn't deny her this for long.
Her hand drifted into his hair, nails scrapingagainst his scalp. Clever fingers stroked cool paths until his traitorous body was sagging in relaxed delight. Why wasn't he doing everything this goddess demanded of him again?
"It's time for you to meet my father."
Oh.
Right.
That was why.
"It's tradition Natsu, c'mon."
Make that four things Natsu was terrified of. Meeting Lucy's father. From what he managed to gather about the man, he was even more imposing than END at the height of his power trip. His gaze lifted to Lucy's, sensing her reasons for wanting to visit the father she rarely mentioned were more complicated than for some silly human tradition.
"Why?" He asked.
Taking a few seconds to relish the sight of her cheeks puffing out, he waited for her to slide into the couch and drop her legs on his lap. It was their designated spot and he tolerated being her footrest with an amused smile. Waiting only long enough for her to get settled, he continued, "Why now all of a sudden?"
Lifting a finger before she could speak, he brushed a stripe across her cheek and pinched her lips together. The furious sound of indignation that escaped the corners of her mouth forced him to choke on a cackle. Otherwise he would have been choking on Lucy's foot lodging itself into the back of his throat.
"The truth, I can smell when you're lying," Natsu drawled.
Lucy's eyes went wide in shock at this new bit of information and she tugged his hand from her mouth.
"Really?" She exclaimed.
"No. But you totally would have believed me," he grinned. Lucy flicked his forehead in retaliation, giving him a sour pout he found too adorable.
Natsu knew he was pushing his luck but he was never the type to give up once he picked up on loose ends that didn't fit right. Lucy was being deliberate in her evasiveness. It wasn't like her to withhold stuff from him, he wasn't sure he liked it. Still, he didn't push her for more information than he had already.
Whenever he liked to hold back, she never forced him to talk. She gave him encouraging nudges until he gathered enough courage to tell her what was on his mind. In this case, he knew the same would happen.
Sure enough after a few stubborn moments passed, she seemed to sag against his shoulder. Happy her hand had not stopped its gentle caress through his hair, he leaned into her touch. Legs twisted into his, distracting him long enough he forgot what he asked her. He simply enjoyed the feel of her pressing against him.
"You know it could pay for you to be a little less observant and just go along with one of my mad ploys," Lucy chided, "I go along with yours."
"I never give you the chance to refuse," He said with an air of smugness. He supported a smirk he knew Lucy wanted to slap off his face. She was so expressive in her murderous thoughts.
His smirk widened.
In one smooth motion he surged forward, hooking his arms around her. He lifted her legs by bouncing up a knee, flipping his prisoner sideways. Her legs kicked out at the side, but he just laughed his victory when it just helped slide her into his arms so she was now laying face down against his chest.
"That, and you just haul me over your shoulder like a brute," Natsu felt Lucy growl around a mouthful of his shirt.
A scoff.
"That's because you run away," Natsu's smile caught fire. He dragged her unresisting body up across him so her chin was curled behind his neck. He leaned forward to press his mouth into her shoulder, "I'm a dragon – I have to hunt you down."
His chest swelled with pride as he felt Lucy's hand connect over his heart.
"Not like I was planning on running very far anyway," her head lifted to give him a positively shining smile.
He felt something like his heart melting through the spaces in his ribcage in response. Advice from one of the Strauss siblings, Elfman, rang through his head.
Heart melting is manly!
It sure was.
Distantly, he hoped the Strauss siblings were all okay before he directed his attention back fully to Lucy. Her cheeks were flushed and eyes were wide, as if she just realized what she said. Heat filled the air between them, her face almost glowing with embarrassment. There was a shift in the tension between them, his gaze flicking into the honeyed depths of her wide eyes.
"That so cheesy," Natsu grinned at her.
Fascinated, he watched the red flush that only covered rosy cheeks, spread like wildfire over her entire face.
"It was sweet!" She protested hotly.
"Lame."
"It was not—" whatever protests she had, were silenced by Natsu's hand cradling the back of her head. A soft 'oh' escaped her lips the second before he pulled her in. His kissed her, his mouth moving against hers in gentle movements. Smiling when he felt Lucy grow lax against him, her hand drawing around his neck, he took his time.
Before when he kissed her, it had been hurried, tinged with a charged desperation. It was as if he were afraid he couldn't have enough of her – that they would run out of time. But now he had her in his arms and he was not inclined to let her go for any reason.
Now he took his time.
Against his mouth, her lips were soft. They felt like silk against his heated skin, his tongue swiping across her lower lip for a taste. A tremble shuddered along her spine so he smoothed a warm hand across her back to soothe the tremors. His fangs captured across the moist lip, scraping into her flesh. Sharp like a razor's edge, but only grazing contract to keep from nicking her.
She tasted like berries because of her lip balm, with hints of her natural flavor of vanilla buried underneath. It was tinged with something floral and something so light he couldn't put a name to it. Like a thin wafer cookie, crisping in the oven.
As fun as it was to continue down this path though, he couldn't afford to lose himself in Lucy's drugging kisses. And he knew how dangerous those kisses of hers could be. He remembered vividly how a single kiss from Lucy could fire him up.
Literally.
He breathed fire.
Slowly he pulled away, his calloused hand tracing across her cheek to cup the side of her neck.
"Why do you want to see your father now all of a sudden?" He asked again, refusing to be distracted by her sorcery any longer. Sharp eyes watched Lucy's tongue peek between full lips and disappear before Natsu's greedy eyes. A sigh of disappointment puffed out against his cheek, melting Natsu's insides into goo. Really, the amount of power this mortal held over him was truly unfair.
What was he saying about not being distracted by her sorcery?
Lies.
He sat upon a throne of lies.
"Your dad," he prompted, tapping a hand against her hip. The clever, pink tongue made a new appearance to blow a raspberry at him.
Lucy's head dipped back into his neck.
"Can't we just go back to making out? I really liked that?"
He barked out a laugh at the reluctant grumble but otherwise held silent. He would not be distracted or lured in by her sweet words again.
….Although if she kept moving her lips against his collarbone like that…
Down boy.
Failing that, he at least had what was building up to be an unpleasant conversation about her father to distract him. Having only known Igneel as a father figure, Natsu couldn't say he had many issues with the old dragon. Aside from the fact Igneel had secrets – hundreds of them all kept from Natsu, they still had an excellent relationship with one another. As good as one between a dragon and demon could be all things considered.
Lucy's relationship with her old man was shaping up as something a touch more complicated than Natsu was equipped to deal with.
Lucy twisted her body, causing Natsu to wiggle towards the side of the couch. It was enough for her to curl between the backrest and him. Then her head nestled into the crook of his open arm and chest.
"My relationship with my dad has always been a little strained," Lucy started, "Ever since my mom passed away – he became harder to talk to."
Natsu turned his head so his chin slid into golden hair. His attention was captivated, because no matter how openly Lucy wore her heart on her sleeve, finding out new things about her was a fascinating adventure. No matter the consequence.
Twirling tan fingers in a silky lock of hair, Natsu curled it in his hand and released the bouncy strands. His fingers steamed a little as he twisted them around, but not enough to burn her hair. Catching a new lock, he repeated the process, slowly moving warm fingers through her hair.
Lucy didn't seem to mind, relaxing into his warm touches. It seemed like whatever was holding her back seemed to be loosening its hold on her under his gentle curling. Fingers bunched into the fabric of his shirt and tugged.
"He's helped me out some financially, since we've gone through a few burning buildings as of late," She hoked, "I guess he's trying to make up for how he treated me when I was younger."
Her eyes lost some of that sparkle he was so fond of, and a touch of anger clouded his emotions on behalf of her. He said nothing though, keeping his face neutral. Families were a tricky subject for everyone, and he really had no room to talk on the matters of fathers. Lucy still loved hers quite dearly too – that was why the memory of his apparent abuse stung so deep. He said nothing and waited for her to continue.
"I've been paying him back, or rather – " her gaze snuck up to Natsu's face, " – You have."
An unrepentant smirk decorated his face.
"I don't like being indebted to him," Lucy sighed, "I left that house to gain my independence – not be trapped in the confines of a life I never wanted."
A bolt of shock ran through Natsu at her words.
"You ran away?" Natsu asked, fitting the pieces together. Had her home life been so bad, Lucy reached the point of desperation to make a move like that? She was normally so calculated in her risk taking. He frowned. She must have been pushed too far.
At Lucy's confirming nod, Natsu felt a swell of emotion build in his chest. Pride that Lucy would take control of her life, Awe she succeeded in building a happy home for herself –
and sadness she had to do it alone.
"So you're right," Lucy groaned and hid her face in her hands, "I don't really care what my dad has to say about you Natsu. Our relationship is better than it has been in the past, but sometimes he still forgets I'm not a piece in his chess game any longer."
Natsu looked at Lucy, a smile curling over his face.
"I doubt anyone could ever even think about using you," He laughed. Proud at the small giggle he heard escape Lucy, Natsu allowed himself to relax.
"That brings me to why we're going to see my dad though," Lucy sighed, "We've had so many new things happen to us, but we still have no idea how to really control my magic or where it comes from!"
Apprehension ran down Natsu's spine, his eyes sharpening on the woman pressed against him.
"If I have to, I want to be able to fight with you," Lucy answered his unspoken question. He didn't know how she knew what he was planning on asking, but it seemed she had gotten better at reading his expressions – much to his amusement, and eternal frustration.
This time her hand snuck up to pinch his lips together when she saw he was getting ready to open his mouth. More frustration, especially as he wasn't sure what he was going to say.
Lucy wasn't a fighter. She had no combat training at all. But if there was one thing that had become apparent over the time they had spent together, it was that Lucy was a member of Fairy Tail through and through. Despite the lack of an emblem, he was sure she was one of them. Not Lucy Heartfilia, but Lucy of Fairy Tail.
He couldn't help but smile.
Even though Lucy was pinching his lips together in an aggravating show of revenge on her part. She was even smirking.
"One step at a time Natsu," Lucy chided, a superior grin on her face. Natsu rolled his eyes at her showboating, "The first step in understanding my magic is knowing where it came from. As much as I hate asking my dad for help, he's the only one who owns a full record of my family's genealogy."
Geneal— wha—
Natsu blinked, shifting them both so they were sitting upright on the couch now. It sorta made sense, and proved Lucy had given this a considerable amount of thought. Of course she did, Natsu was the impulsive one. He tugged at her wrist to relinquish his lips. She did so without question.
"How long have you been planning this?" Natsu asked, twisting them so they were sitting across from one another.
"Since Levy's mom sprang the Lumen Histoire thing on her," She admitted. Her thoughts had been running in circles for a long time, Natsu could tell. But other issues had risen to the surface and distracted them. Their own tumultuous relationship being one of the many distracting factors.
"I was thinking maybe we could find something about me in my family records," Lucy smiled.
But Natsu raked a hand through his hair, looking both pleased but confused. It was a good idea in theory, but from what he gathered about the humans in this time, their idea of record keeping was spotty at best. Photo albums and weird family trees drawn by three year olds with 'mommy' and 'daddy' written at the top in crayon.
"Luce, I don't want to burst your bubble or nothin' – but humans don't exactly have giant ancestry lines documented over volumes," Natsu blinked, "I don't think we're going to find anything in your Great Aunt Sally's cookbook."
A nervous smile flitted across her face.
A beat.
Another one.
It was then, in the silence that Natsu realized there was something else about Lucy Heartfilia he didn't know about. Natsu's suspicion deepened, but a question died on his lips as he watched his nervously shifting girlfriend.
"Well, about that," she tried unsuccessfully for a flippant air, "My family is a little strange."
-::-
'Strange' for Lucy turned out to be mind-blowing for Natsu.
They stood out on the edge of the Heartfilia estate, looking out at rolling mountain and expansive property lines. Land stretched out further than Natsu's impressive vision could detect, and he had an idea that it all belonged to Lucy's family.
"Everything the light touches is your kingdom," He quoted in awe. Lucy choked on a snort of laughter.
"Who let you into the Disney movies Mufasa?" Lucy asked, a shrewd smile on her face.
"That movie really messed me up, I can't believe mortals show that to their children," Natsu shuddered in horror. His eyes narrowed. Having seen his own father killed, Natsu reacted very strongly to the little lion cub. Strongly being, he set one of Lucy's prized throws on fire and ate a metric ton of ice cream straight from the tub, "What is this 'Disney' guy's fascination with killing parents?"
Lucy shrugged.
Humans were terrifying.
Still, he shrugged, a little embarrassed to admit he burned one of the fluffy afghan things to ashes on accident. Lucy still hadn't noticed its disappearance.
"It was either Disney or Family Feud, and I can't watch game shows anymore without wanting to punch a hole through the screen," Natsu grumbled.
Day time television was awful.
Although most of the time he was out in the park training. Most people thought he was a street performer, which was fine by him. Especially when Gajeel accompanied him for training, although his lack of presence was notably marked since he was still at Ultear's shop with Levy.
"Fa-family Feud?" Lucy giggled at him.
Natsu pouted but when Lucy's hand slipped into his and gave a gentle squeeze, his ire drained away. Her fingers laced with his and the rest of his grumbles died down.
"Yeah well, it's boring when you're not around," He muttered, walking towards the property lines and trying to ignore the flush on his cheeks.
"By the way," He asked sharply, his head turning towards the smiling human, "Why didn't tell me you were basically human royalty?"
Lucy's eyes widened in surprise and she actually laughed. Natsu grumbled anew, lower lip jutting out in a pout. But Lucy was actually doubled over in such laughter he couldn't help but gawk at her instead. A reluctant smile drew over his face and he endured her giggles.
Lucy had been very nervous about this trip after all.
If she smiled, it was worth it.
"I'm sorry," She laughed, tears stinging at her eyes, "Sometimes I forget you're not from around these parts! The name Heartfilia is usually a dead give away, which is why I don't use it very often!"
She tugged him forward, looking a bit braver than she had before now that laughter had loosened the tension that had been settling over her face.
"I didn't mean to hide that fact about myself from you," She admitted, "It just wasn't important."
Natsu frowned and he walked stride with stride with her. His hand tugged hers as he walked into what had once been Lucy's childhood home.
"Don't say that Luce," He glanced at her, "Everything about you is important."
He flashed her a wide smile and turned back, planting his feet into the ground and letting loose an excited roar. He missed the surprised look on the human's face as he took in a deep breath of air.
"Alright! Get ready Jude Heartfilia! We're coming to say hi!" Natsu bellowed, snagging Lucy's hand. He flashed her a wide grin and raced down the first of many hills.
"Lets go find out who you are Lucy!"
-::-
Alright we're getting to the end of the fic. Stay tuned guys, we're almost there! Also you should know after this chapter is posted, I'm changing my penname on from ShotsofSunshine to match my tumblr name 'Mslead.'
I don't typically write much in the authors notes, but I would like to show my appreciation to everyone who shows an interest in this story. You guys are incredible and I couldn't write this without you. Thank you so much for your support.