Her head hurt.
Her body felt tired as she lifted a hand to her forehead, even though she'd been in bed the whole day. The skin there was only slightly warmer than her hand. That was a good thing. It meant that hopefully the fever had burned itself out.
Relieved, she turned her head to see if anyone was in the room to share this change with. Next to her, sitting on the bed with his back to her, she found Natsu. He was hunched over, his elbows digging into his thighs and his face pressed against his fisted hands. Everything about him seemed tense and tight.
She reached over, pausing over his shirt. He didn't want her to see his lapses of strength. She knew he wanted her to believe that he didn't doubt at all. That he wanted to be her emotional strength at all times.
But, Natsu was human after all. Despite being so reserved and keeping such a tight handle on his darker emotions…they still existed and held him like any other person.
And, Natsu was crying. Lucy felt tears of her own building up, her lip twitching with the urge to cry as well. This hurt more than her head – than any of the sickness – seeing him in pain like this.
Deciding, she lowered her hand and pulled at the bottom of his shirt. His shoulders lowered some and he rubbed his eyes against his sleeve before turning to face her.
"The fever is down," she said, softly.
He tested this with his own hand, resting his hot palm there for a few moments. How strange it was when heat was a bad thing. Heat meant a nice summer day, with the sun warming your skin. Heat meant someone standing close to you, letting their shoulder press against yours. Heat meant the tingling feeling in your stomach when you were kissed. Heat meant Natsu.
But, in this, it was good that her forehead was cool against his hand.
"Good," he said, his voice rasping slightly. How late was it? He looked about ready to drop from exhaustion.
She pulled the blanket down at her side, "Come here."
He climbed into the bed next to her, leaning over and covering the top part of her body with his. She wrapped her arms around him, sighing at the weight and warmth of him. At his good heat.
One of her hands slid up his back, tracing along his spine lightly, and over his neck until it reached his hair. She'd slept most of the day away, waking only for short spurts to beg for water or to force soup down. She hadn't thought it as particularly serious; just some of the symptoms bubbling up through Wendy's healing magic. But, Natsu had been at her side every time she woke.
She threaded her fingers in his hair, looking up at his handsome and tired face. He was looking back down at her, too, his eyes dark and focused on her.
"You're feeling better?" he asked.
She nodded, "You need to take care of yourself too, you know?"
He nodded, "I know. Do you want me to get you some water?"
She shook her head, "I want you to stay."
His gaze seemed to sharpen, "I will stay."
And, she knew he meant for more than just right now. As if she ever doubted that.
"I will stay, too," she said. She would try.
His face softened in a sad way and he leaned down to kiss her. The kiss was soft and tender, with a heat that seemed ready to melt her from the inside.
#61 Heat
