Rated M
M is for MATURE, people.
If I can pretend to be, then you can too!

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING! *sob* However sometimes I wonder if Mashima-sama used to follow me and my friends around to help him dream up a few of his characters!

At least let a girl dream!

Episode 21

New Love in a
Forsaken World

"Gajeel! Stop!" Levy turned to him holding the spatula as if it was a perfect solution to pesky dragon infestations. "You know we're setting up a tray for them! You already ate breakfast!"

Grumbling, Gajeel backed away, knowing full well what she was capable of with that spatula, "Damnit Shrimp, it's not like Bunny-girl's gonna need alla hers! She eats like a fuckin' mouse."

Wendy laughed, "Funny that you didn't say 'fuckin bunny!' "

Both Gajeel and Levy turned to her with furrowed brows, saying as one: "Don't say fuckin!"

Keeping a glaring gaze on his sister, Gajeel continued, "They prolley ain't even awake yet anyway. Both of'em sleep like the damn dead."

"Not funny." Levy grumbled, piling the rest of the eggs on Natsu's plate. She couldn't believe it, eggs! Real, home grown eggs! Some of the civilians that traveled with FairyTail really knew how to spoil a girl! Apparently there was a boy that made a habit of delivering eggs to nearly all the girls around—it was adorable. If he ever landed a girlfriend, she wondered if the eggs would stop coming. She turned around and leaned her palms against the counter and smiled at Wendy, "So you know what Mira has Gaajie and me doing, what are you going to be doing?"

Wendy frowned, "Well, I was thinking of seeing if anyone knows anything about the last whereabouts of Macao's team."

Levy watched her sadly while trying to appear in high spirits, "Oh... well, once we get the word out that FairyTail is back, I just know others will come."

Gajeel passed by Wendy while munching a pilfered roll of bread and ruffled her hair, "Keep a weathered eye out, Pipsqueak, you'll see them comin round. Nuthin could ever keep those old coots down fer long."

"Gajeel!" Levy hissed, trying not to yell and sprinted up to him reaching for the bread he easily held out of her reach, "you know Natsu's appetite! Put it back!"

"Geheh, not a chance!" However, when the blunette climbed onto his back and stretched her arm as far as she could, he worried that she might actually snag it from him—so he hurriedly stuffed the rest in his mouth.

Levy narrowed her eyes, mounted on his back and pounded it with her fist, "Damnit Gajeel!"

"Geheh! A little to the left, Shrimp."

Wendy smiled at the two of them, "You two seem so happy!"

The both of them froze and looked at her blankly. They were just arguing right? Wendy must be crazy to call them happy all out of the blue like that.

"Yea, anyway, we're outta here, Pipsqueak." the iron dragon grabbed Levy's legs like he'd planned on giving her a piggy back ride and spun around fast enough to make the mage yelp and grab onto his neck.

As they headed out the door, Wendy began walking the the tray loaded with food to Lucy's and Levy's room. Once Gajeel made it to the front door, Levy suddenly slammed her hand against the doorway—confident that he was too stubborn to just let her down; which she was completely correct in that particular line of thinking. Thus, he halted with a grunt (worked great). "Oh Wendy! Make sure they know that they are under strict orders to stay and rest! Erza and Mira both said they would really need it!"

Wendy stopped right at the door and nodded at them, "Okay Levy! I'll let them know! I'll see you soon!"

"Be sure to leave them a note if they're still sleeping!" Levy called out from the hall.

The sky dragon was backing into the room as she replied, "Okaay! Bye!"

The young blunette turned around, looking happily at her sister, Lucy, sitting neatly on the pile of ruffled blankets and her lazy big brother on his back, propping himself up on his elbows—sniffing curiously at the breakfast she was bringing them. "You're awake!" She smiled cheerfully, "I'm so glad!"

It took great restraint for Natsu to ask about something besides the food, "Wait, is Rusty leaving?"

Both Lucy and Wendy turned to him with question marks hovering over their heads about his uncharacteristic question when there was food, FOOD right in front of him.

"Um... yes? Mira said that she would be needing their help for most of the day..."

"Shit!" Natsu scrambled on all fours past his sister and after Levy and Gajeel.

Wendy looked to Lucy, "What's that about?"

Holding her arms out and laughing nervously, the blonde giggled out, "Beats me! You know Natsu!"

As for the fire dragon, he made it to his feet once he swept past his little sister in a determined effort to get to his brother. Sniffing out the front door was easy enough—he slung it open and ran into the hallway, freezing as soon as he stepped through the doorway at the sight of Gajeel trying to reach for something Levy was holding above her head while she was hiked up on his back, "How does it feel to be on the other end huh? I could do this all day!" Levy was giggling as Gajeel looked to be chasing a tail with how he was going around in circles.

The guy was actually smiling!

A smile that faded as soon as he saw Natsu out in the hallway. He growled and grumbled, "Ain't you s'posed to be in there so everyone can keep feelin bad for your sorry ass?" The iron dragon was not amused with the look of complete and utter shock on his brother's face. Levy frowned at his tone and tugged his hair, eliciting a grunt.

The blunette smiled much more pleasantly, resting her head right next to Gajeel's with her arms just poured over his shoulders like it was the most natural thing in the world, "What's the matter, Natsu?"

"I, uh..." Natsu's eye were still large as he began pointing to one of the iron bands on his wrists, "cuffs... off..."

The eldest brother grimaced, "You kiddin, Salamander? You've been wearin them things for over two damn years! I wouldn't bite down on those things fer nuthin!"

Levy rolled her eyes then nuzzled her nose on his cheek, "Come on, Gaajie... pleeeeeeease?"

Gajeel craned his neck a bit to stare at her big dowy eyes. "... ..." He growled through gritted teeth and barked, "No! I ain't doin it." He turned around and stalked off, carrying off a Levy who was not willing to let the subject go.

Natsu just stood there for a while, even after they were out of sight. What the hell was that he'd just witnessed? Gajeel... smiling? Playing? Levy nearly talked him into doing something he didn't want to...?

HEY!

"HEY!" Natsu yelled out, running after them, "I need these things off, damnit!"

He didn't get far before his face was slammed into an invisible wall right at the top of the stairs. "Ugh..." Natsu slid down and looked up at letters appearing on the unseen barrier that could only be Freed's handiwork.

ONLY THOSE WITH THE LETTER E IN THEIR FIRST NAME MAY PASS THROUGH.

GO GET SOME REST THIS INSTANT.

Natsu let out a rumbling, frustrated roar but it did not stop the two going downstairs, for one, they had no idea the barrier was there, and for two, the wall was soundproof. As were Mirajane's explicit instructions.

Oh well, there was food that needed eating.

The hungry dragon made his way back to the smell of deliciousness in the room that he'd woke up in. Wendy was there, contently taking a nibble here and there and smiled up at him when he walked through the doorway.

Natsu looked around with a raised brow, "Where's Lucy?"

Between bites, Wendy said, "You know her. She barely even munched, then said she was taking a bath."

That explained the sound of water running. Natsu sat down on the other side of the tray and stuffed a handful of eggs in his mouth before saying, "Isn't the water cold?"

Wendy nodded, "Yea. I told her it would be..." she frowned, "then she got all weird and said she could manage."

Natsu laughed, "She's so weird!"

He was already going for his fourth handful when a resounding, "ACK," was heard from down the hall. Natsu and Wendy blinked at each other and the flame tamer had to ask, "it's safe here right?"

Wendy nodded.

"Umm... Natsu?" Lucy's voice called out from where she cracked the bathroom door open.

The sky dragon found it funny that that was all that was needed for her brother to grow a hint of red on his face as his eyes widened. She giggled to herself when he hesitantly leaned his head out the door, "Yea Luce?"

"Uh..." the blonde's voice wavered, "can you... come here?"

Swallowing the mouthful he had proved difficult after hearing this particular blonde ask that. Natsu managed of course—there would be no bite left uneaten.

The young girl only smiled up at him before he walked out.

Natsu raised a brow when he saw the Celestial mage peeking from the crack she held the door at. He stopped at the door and scratched his head, "Yea? What is it?"

"The water is reeeeeally cold. I thought it might have been at least room temperature..." She wasn't even looking at him anymore, but staring at her toes.

Natsu grinned, "Is that all? I can fix that!" He pushed the door open to Lucy's squeak and let himself in. "Wow... bathroom is pretty small huh?" If he stretched his arms out, he'd be able to reach both walls. The bathtub was right in front of him, only two steps to reach it. Natsu knelt down and put a hand in the water. "Hey Luce, this water is room temperature!" He looked up to see her still standing awkwardly behind the door, watching him.

Lucy was clinging to the towel she wore, now frowning from what he'd said, "No it's not! That water is freezing!"

"Heh," Natsu laughed through closed teeth, turning back to the water. "You're just too used to warmer waters!"

Lucy scoffed, coming out from behind the door, inevitably closing the door with both of them in it as she did so, "And what is that supposed to mean, Natsu?"

He swished his hand, staring at water Lucy would bathe in, "I guess you're spoiled, heh, pretty sad to be spoiled in the middle of the apocalypse Luce." Natsu finally looked up at her again, and his eyes widened. The towel she had wrapped around her looked much smaller than the ones she'd kept at her house. Sure they'd fit Levy or Wendy with room to spare, but Lucy...?

His hand in the water gripped into a fist when she knelt down with him, hugging her legs. Did it not occur to her that she was about to fall out of that towel? She smiled at him, "Yea, I guess I must have it pretty good huh?" The blonde's head rolled to the side as she thought about it while Natsu's eyes met with his old friend, Bite mark. "Not everyone has their very own fire dragon living with them."

Another hard swallow with nothing but air in his mouth, Natsu looked back to her eyes, "We -uh- we live together?"

Lucy laughed, her bosom heaving with each chuckle, "Knucklehead!" She nudged him with her body, "we have been for a while!"

It felt hot in here. As Natsu stared, he began to blush—and the water began to boil. "Yea, I guess so." He stood up quickly, keeping his face lowered; his effort to hide his embarrassment worked against him though, for Lucy had gotten up at the very moment he did and he bumped right into her.

In his haste, the force of their crash caused Lucy to fall back into the closed door while Natsu fretted about her safety and leaned forward to catch her. With massive awkwardness and a feminine yelp, they ended their struggle with the mage pinned against the door and the wizard with one arm around her waist while the other was over her shoulder finding purchase on the door she leaned on. Their noses were almost touching, and both their eyes were colored with panic.

Both of them were blushing, and Lucy murmured lightly, "Umm... thank you... Na, Natsu."

Golden eyes stared deeply into hers, her breasts gently pressing against his chest. Feeling her heart beat fluttering irregularly in her chest made breathing rather complicated for Natsu. After a moment of locked gazes, he heard her hand searching for the doorknob.

That's right... she was trying to take a bath.

Natsu closed his eyes and leaned his forehead onto hers with a soft smile, "Enjoy your soak... Luce." He caught the doorknob at the same time she did and held her hand firm for a mere second before turning it with her, pulling her back from the door with his other hand. Opening his eyes, he nodded to her and edged out of the bathroom, releasing her hand. With the door clicked shut behind him, he leaned against the door, letting out a long withheld breath.

He smiled to himself when he heard Lucy do the same.

Recalling the amazing taste of her skin served as a reminder that there was something he could eat in his room so he made his way back—stopping abruptly when he saw the dreamy smile on his little sister's face. "Whaaat?"

She smiled slyly, "That sure took you a while..."

Natsu groaned, plopping back on the floor, "Shaddup..."

"K~I~S~S~I~N~G..."

The low growl he let out only egged her on. "Oh come on Natsu!" She punched his shoulder playfully as she stood with a sigh, "I hope I don't act as dumb as you two when I fall in love."

"Oh, come on!" Natsu called out, fuming up, "don't you have anything better to do?"

Wendy grinned, "Yea, sure I do!"

Natsu raised a questioning eyebrow when she just continued standing there. "Soooo...?"

His comment was met with her irritating snicker. Natsu groaned and lifted himself up. "Alright Kitten, just know that you brought this on yourself..."

The sky dragon squealed and booked it out of there, leaving the wizard feeling like he was pretty slick. Time to finish his grub!

o.o;;

It didn't take Lucy long to realize that she was hiding from Natsu, and her stubborn streak didn't let her do that for much longer now that she knew she was doing it. She hummed to herself while drying in an effort to get herself to think about anything but the way his hands had gripped hers, the way his lips felt sweeping over her cheek... the way her whole body responded when they almost...

Lucy splashed cold water on her face and bit her lip to keep from groaning. She knew that little lizard would be able to hear anything and everything she did and she had no intention of giving him anymore power over her.

He already has too much.

But that wasn't the point! The point was that he didn't know it... much. Having already been the damsel in distress more times than she could count, the last thing she wanted was to be putty in his hands. But... when she thought of those golden serpentine eyes boring holes in hers...

She splashed more cold water on her face.

Dressed in her normal gear of strong leather pants, boots and tank top, she pulled her hair up into a clamp and looked herself over.

Just a normal day, even got my hair back all messy-like. He'll know I didn't primp myself up for sure.

She gave herself a blank stare.

This is Natsu. He wouldn't notice even if I did make myself up.

Rolling her eyes with a hint of a smile, Lucy stepped out of the bathroom confident that she could win this ridiculous game of cat and mouse.

The first thing she noticed was a scraping sound, like metal on metal. Perplexed about the why, Lucy walked into the main room and saw Natsu sitting criss-crossed on the bar area that led into the kitchen hunched over with his arms moving quickly. Her face grew red when she noticed what it looked like he was doing and she made a step to back away.

Natsu turned around and grinned, "Luce! Great! C'mere and gimmie a hand!"

"Eep!" Lucy stood straight as a board. "G, g, give you... a hand?"

He turned back around and waved her to come forward, "Yea!"

I fucking swear, if he's turned into a big enough pervert to do that here, and shamelessly tell me to help him—I'm going to kick him all the way back to Arawn!

That didn't stop her from investigating though (hmm), and walked over to the other side of the bar... warily. Lucy let out a huge sigh when she discovered that all he was doing was rubbing a metal file over his cuffs. "Natsu! You knucklehead! You're getting metal shavings all over the floor!"

Natsu didn't stop, he just growled, "Serves that jerk right! All it woulda taken was two lousy bites to get these damn things offa me, and he just ran off!" He harrumphed, "he can clean it up."

Shaking her head, Lucy put her hands over his which halted his efforts. "Natsu, it would be faster to dig your way to the next continent than to file those things away."

The dragon pouted, looking at the bracelet he had above the iron cuff wedged above the thing he was filing. "Damnit..."

"Hang on, you asked for my help, remember?" Lucy smiled and turned around, searching the kitchen while Natsu watched her curiously.

"Well yea," he raised a critical brow when she bent over to look in a lower cabinet, "but unless you can find sumthin as strong as Dumbbell's teeth..." He trailed off when she turned around again and he was able to look down her shirt. Quickly looking away and straightening his back, he finished, "the file's all we got."

"Nope! It's not!" Lucy sung out triumphantly, holding up a paper clip.

She pranced back over to him and Natsu looked at her like she was nuts, "Luce, I think maybe you have gone loopy."

The mage placed her hands on her hips and practically growled at him, "Too soon bub!"

Natsu knew that look, that was Lucy kick look. He waved his hands submissively, "Okay, okay, bad joke!"

Glaring at him, she snatched one of his wrists before looking it over. Her hands felt so very soft against his. Once she saw the keyhole, she smiled. "Yea, this one looks easy."

Natsu frowned in puzzlement as she pulled up a stool and set his wrist on his lap. Lucy sat down in front of him and unbent the paper clip. She grinned at her makeshift lockpick and bent over his lap, "Now hold still."

Yea... hold still. Sure! He could do that. Natsu could feel her moving the paperclip around in the lock, but he started to sweat about how close she was to something else. Was she blind? Did she have to hover over his lap so much to do that?

"Wait," He cleared his throat, "Wait a minute... are you trying to er, um... pick that lock?"

"Nope." A rewarding click was heard and the cuff fell free, exposing the raw skin underneath. Lucy looked up as him and gave him a thumb's up, "I'm succeeding!"

Natsu smiled brightly and lifted up an arm that felt light as air, "Woah! How'd you learn to do that!?"

Lucy smirked up at him from where she sat, "Levy and I had to learn a few tricks when we were out on our own."

"Oh yea? That's awesome!"

The mage chuckled and pointed at his other wrist, the one he'd been filing. "You gonna let me do the other one?"

Natsu grinned like a kid with candy and held it out for her. Lucy assumed the same position and began working on the second one.

Why does sitting still have to be so hard.
The top of Lucy's head is shiny.
Oh man... why the hell did she have to growl like that just now?
Her breath is warm...
Holy shit she leaned in closer!

"Damnit Natsu!" Lucy barked at him and tugged his arm hard enough to nearly make him fall, narrowing her eyes. "I told you to hold still!"

"Well," the edgy dragon stuttered, "how long is it gonna take?!"

Grinding her teeth, Lucy started waving his own arm in his face. "It's not my fault that this thing is all messed up! Someone's been using a metal file on it!"

Natsu scratched his head, propping one foot up on the counter (adjusting his... situation), "Yea well... it seemed a good idea at the time." Then an irritated thought came to him, "wait! How the hell was I supposed to know you're suddenly some master thief!"

Lucy groaned up to the ceiling then focused a glare at him again. She harrumphed while grabbing the ankle connected to the leg he still had on the counter and dumped it over the edge with a grunt. "Hey!" He barked indignantly. The blonde ignored him however and turned around and seated herself on the small space of counter between his legs, glared at him from over her shoulder and snatched his arm back.

With his arm locked between her side and arm—forcibly holding it still—Lucy bent back over and started picking the lock again. "Now hold still!"

At first, Natsu looked bewildered, trying to decide if this position was better or worse. He heard Lucy mumbling to herself, so he leaned over her to watch her work. Her shoulder was at the perfect height to set his chin on, and once he rested his free arm around her waist... Natsu found himself rather comfortable. Thus this position was dubbed much better. The closeness was nice, and he felt significantly more in control with her in his arms, than her... hmm... so close to his crotch.

That's a man's weak spot after all...

Lucy began blushing with only a hint of a smile as soon as he melted around her. His warm arm felt natural around her but then again, of course it did! As partners, he'd held her around the waist like that many times. Lots of times—so why did it feel so intimate this time?

Because it is. She admitted to herself, formally sending a request for her heart to slow down a little.

...This lock was getting frustrating. Stupid Natsu had to file right over the dumb hole didn't he? With a twitch of a wrist and an annoyed (and violent) jiggle, she smiled brightly and laughed jubilantly when the merciful click sounded and the restraint fell free. "I did it! Natsu! I did it!" The blonde twisted her waist and neck in the heat of her triumph and planted a kiss on his cheek. Holding his other firmly in her hand.

When Natsu felt her lips on him, his hand that had shifted to her hip gripped tightly as a reflex. This brought Lucy to grasp in full what she'd done. Wasn't she the one trying to avoid scenarios like this...? Yet here she was initiating it...?

The mage slowly began to pull her hand from his cheek, noting with surprise that her other hand had planted itself securely on his chest. She was staring at her trembling hand when she heard Natsu, "...Luce?"

She twitched her head up to him and saw his eyes searching hers, one of his hands lifting up to touch where she'd kissed. Lucy shook her head slowly, so embarrassed she thought she might die and dropped down from the counter muttering, "I'm... I'm sorry, Na...tsu." The blonde stepped backwards a few steps filled with ramblings, "I was just happy is all! That lock was being stubborn, Ahahaha... but I still beat it! Never doubt a FairyTail wizard! Ahahahahaha!"

Natsu remained on the counter with his fingertips on his cheek while she went on down-playing what she'd just done, completely dumb-struck that she would even think to kiss him. Sure it's what he'd wanted—

I think.

And it was what he'd tried to do—

Twice.

But for her to—

Unbelievable.

Natsu lowered his fingers and looked at his hands, then glanced over at the now liberated bracelet he'd gotten her so long ago. There was a reason always looking at this thing calmed him... and he suddenly had this insatiable need to let her know. The dragon's mind raced, thinking of all the other things he needed to tell her. Of how badly he'd missed her, of how even though a part of him had been wiped clean—he'd still felt as though a part of him was missing. He wanted her to know, he needed her to know.

He needed her to know that he hadn't fallen in love with her once... but twice.

The blonde in front of him turned to flee, locked in a battle between her wits and her heart—for when Natsu was concerned—they never agreed. Getting away from the look his eyes were growing seemed the easiest way out. Lucy gasped in her effort to escape, for there were suddenly extremely warm fingers wrapped around her wrist.

At that moment, Natsu would have chosen to sacrifice all the air in the room if that was what it took to keep her from leaving. With a low growl, he pulled her back between his legs and wrapped his arms around her chest, placing his chin over her shoulder and murmured lowly, "Didn't I tell ya to stay with me?"

Lucy breathed in rasps, her eyes frantic as she sought out a fresh way to avoid her feelings. None came to her so she began to mumble in a shaky voice, "Natsu, I..."

Shaking his head, Natsu spoke with a renewed confidence, "Geez Luce, you talk too much."

"Yea..." the blonde sighed, leaning her head against his, "but you eat too much."

Natsu chuckled, "Hey!" He turned his head slightly to speak into her ear, "you don't gotta get personal."

Her eyes widened at the feel of his warm breath right against all the sensitive nerves of her ear, causing her to fidget. She managed to breath out raggedly, "Na, Natsu! Leggo!"

She felt his chest rumble as he laughed again, "No way Luce!"

At the sound of a low whine coming from her, the dragon lowered his arms to her waist and pulled off the bracelet he'd worn for so long and held it up for her to see. Speaking in her ear, he said, "This thing has haunted me that whole time I didn't know where I came from. When I was mad, it helped cool me off, when I was sad, it helped fire me up. Now that I remember what it was meant for, it finally makes sense."

Lucy stared at it, shaking her head. "Those are, they're zodiac symbols."

"Yea. When Gramps told you and Levy that he needed you to head to Sabertooth, Erza already had us lined up to go on a mission, remember?"

Her hands lowered to rest against the arm he still had around her, growing much more comfortable in his smoldering embrace with the help of deep, soothing breaths. "I remember, Natsu."

"You told me to bring you something back."

Lucy let out a laugh, "And you actually remembered?"

That brought a growl to come out of him and he spun her around so that he could look at her face, "Of course I remembered!"

The blonde smiled at him and held a flat palm out between the small space between their chests. "Alright, gimmie it."

Natsu slipped it back on his wrist behind her back and smirked mischievously. "...No."

Lucy frowned, "No? Natsu! You said you got it for me!"

He snickered between his teeth, "Yea well... it's grown on me. Can't do it."

Narrowing her eyes, Lucy moved her hands to his at the small of her back in an effort to liberate it from his hold. Natsu grinned at her attempt and scooted off the counter so that he could easily grab hold of her wrists without falling on top of her. His treasure was firmly pinned in his arms now. The blonde wriggled a bit, contemplating the position she'd put herself in. Lucy looked to Natsu with the challenge in her eyes, not at all matching the words she spoke, "Fine." Then she did her best to turn away and get away for a second time.

It was more than futile though. Natsu chuckled, "I told you to stay." A bump to her side with his arm was all that was needed to wrangle her chest back to his where he quickly moved his lips to brush against her ear, shooting so many sparks up her spine that it was a wonder her back didn't give way. "You're not going anywhere, not this time." Adjusting his hold so that both her wrists were held with but one of his, the other was free to trail up her back and scoop up her head from behind so that he could hold his skittish prey steady as once again he traced warm lips past her cheek.

He could feel her heart begin to thump quicker, and the simple fact that she backed away again had his blood boiling. Natsu growled lowly, stepping forward to match her step back as he finally reached her lips—hushing the woman before him as she began to whimper.

He felt sure that—for the moment—no more words needed to be said, the rest could be shown through action. With her head held firm, her hair came loose and golden strands fell between strong fingers much like rays of sunshine would pour through a blinded window as he tilted his head with their lips' union. Both their mouths already open, Natsu's hunger for her taste had his tongue reaching out to explore hers with fervor. His instincts had him growling his want as he trembled at the sound of her consensual purr; he couldn't resist twitching both their heads in an effort to delve deeper into her tantalizingly sweet mouth. Half a step closer captured her against the opposite counter of the small kitchen and Natsu found that thrilling.

The dragon had his delicious prize trapped in his clutches.

His hand loosened his grip on hers and she took the opportunity to dig her hands into his hair. Lucy tugged at it fitfully and groaned into his mouth, displaying that her want for him might possibly reach far enough to match his own. She began to press her mouth against his as well and forced Natsu's hands to gain a mind of their own. Both hands capable of wielding the hottest of flames reached down below her backside and easily lifted her up to seat her on the counter she was against, bringing a muffled squeal to life within the best kiss she could have ever hoped for. Dishes clattered and fell but their long awaited passion could not be bothered with such trifles. Magically warmed hands gripped her hips and wound their way up her ribs to hold her steady just below her breasts. Long legs that had only been admired from afar curled around Natsu's torso and they both smiled into their kiss as he took the opportunity to nip at her lower lip before delving back in for more.

Lucy cooed at the feel of his increasing warmth and tightened her legs around him, bringing a surprised grunt from the dragon she now had in her clutches. That is, until said dragon growled past her lips and lifted her off the counter he'd just put her on. Her mind was racing over the feel of his hands cupping her bottom as she felt him taking them elsewhere. She had become so disoriented that she didn't care, so long as she could keep hold of him.

Before she knew it, a sensation of sinking hit her and she felt a mess of blankets all around her. Natsu had lowered her onto the 'nest' they had woke on and was pressing his lips deeply onto hers, sucking in every breath she let out and curling his tongue around hers feverishly. She had never felt his hunger first hand before, and the heat expelling from her own body was crying out for something she couldn't get a grip on. Lucy brought her hands to caress his cheeks in an attempt to calm the beast above her and felt him sigh, slow and eventually lift up from her, allowing them both to regain their breaths. The mage dropped her hands onto the blanket near her head and smiled at the wizard above her, "Natsu Dragneel. Just what do you think you're doing?"

His already flushed face increased a bit and he searched her expression, not sure if she was teasing or chastising. Unable to figure it out (like so many other times he'd tried to read her), he sighed and tumbled to his side right next to her and leaned his head in his hand, tracing fingertips around her torso. "I dunno, just thought you might be better off here than in the kitchen." He smiled to himself, watching his fingers ghosting her rib cage.

Lucy chuckled, staring at the ceiling "Better off here for what?"

His fingers froze and the blush returned while his mind went south. How was he supposed to word the things he was hoping to do to her...?

The blonde turned her head to face him, displaying her red cheeks and soft smile, "Is... is that the first time you've ever kissed anyone?"

A pink eyebrow rose as he listened to her question, his blood heating back up just thinking of it, "Like that...? Yea," he shook his head, "I've never wanted to do it with anyone else."

His partner looked so beautiful with that smile directed at him. She looked happy, real happy, and that pleased his dragon pride greatly. He decided to dare say something he never would have a mere moment ago with a mischievous twinkle, "You looked really great in that towel this morning."

Lucy shook her head with a bright smile and brought a gentle hand to his jaw line, "Shut up, you weirdo." That merciful hand of hers began guiding his lips back to hers.

Natsu chuckled, finally feeling that despite everything that had happened, the thing hovering between him and the funny little mage he met in Hargeon had been sorted for the better.

So much better.

At the grace of her lead, he leaned in contently to grant her another kiss, this time expressing more love than passion. They smiled together and the wizard whispered, "Aye sir," and delved deeper past her lips.

I struggled reeeeeeally hard on this chappie, deleted and rewrote a... LOT. Gah. LOVE YOU!

tkitty23: No strangle! These things take time. o.o;;
Phiafairy: Juicy is good! I like juicy. Hehe
My Luv: Wendy's great yea? I just love her. BREATH Luv!
KawaiiNeko with the sugoi name: *pinches fingers together* maybe a lil!
KawaiiNeko with the sugoi name: Tytytytytyty for introducing me to Melanie Martinez! I think I'm in love! Arawn will be around more, cannot ditch the Arawn. AND... Best. Compliment. Ever. Thank you, I love you, I lick you. LOTS.
EddingsFan: Gajeel's pretty fun to write, we saw glimpses of a different side of him this time! And, I think we should all know that: Mira is our friend. Hazuh for the She-demon!
Moon Stone Tiger Lily: OMG, can you imagine? Soo much worse that the ton of tiny Natsus littering the ground from his fight with Gildarts!
PeoniesandPoppies: I'm glad you enjoy—now gimmie somemore of URE zombie FT! Moar!
Scarlet Arrow: Again. *deadpans* Best. Compliment. EVER. TY!
Stormie: I hope this appeases the mistress. Or maybe at least... tides you over.

Just for you
my lovlies
Seriphia aka Lick

*~.💘.~*