She wasn't the innocent anymore. Since that night she is feeling different and happier.
Lucy was on cloud nine..
She thought that because ever since that night with Natsu, she can't stop thinking about the next time they would do it again—and again… and again…
She feel different. She doesn't look different, but something it's definitely not the same as before. The first time she saw her dad after coming home, she freaked the fuck out. Her heart would not stop pounding inside her chest.
But Levy? Knows before Lucy even tell her—which, at first, is freaky as shit. She also takes it a lot better than better than Lucy thought she would.
She knew it was all good in the friendship when Lucy called her the next day and the first thing out of her mouth is—"Oh, my God Lu chan, tell me everything !"
Lucy was shocked at first, wondering what the fuck it is that she's referring to. Then it hit her —duh. She had her first boy/girl sleepover with Natsu last night. What the hell else would she be talking about? She has asked the same damn thing.
Lucy laughed nervously. "Uh, like what?"
She groans, and she can picture her sitting on the edge of her bed in her usual bedtime attire—a slip of a tank top paired with matching boy shorts. She's so predictable that way, always half-naked when she's sure no one is around.
"How about liiiike," she pauses and Lucy hear her move about her room, "oh, I don't know…how was it?" she shouts just before plopping down into her chair in front of her computer desk. Lucy know she does this based on two things: one, it's where she always ends up sitting when she talks on the phone; and two, Lucy heard the chair squeak when she sat her fat ass down.
"Ummm…" Lucy blush. "Amazing!"
She laughs—hard.
"You are such a cute liar!" Levy roars. "No way was it amazing. My first time was upstairs at a party, in someone's little sister's room with Gajeel. It hurt.A lot. No way was it amazing, unless he has a small dic—"
"No!" Lucy shriek over her. "Believe me ," Lucy chuckle secretively, "it is definitely not small Levy chan. Trust me."
She hums. "I didn't think so, but…"
Lucy sigh. "Okay, the first time, it hurt like hell."
"Thank you!" she shouts as if she's just won a debate on CNN.
"But the second time was way better," Lucy told her. "He just…" she bite her lip, bringing up the memory of him beneath her.
"Were you on top?" she wonders aloud.
Lucy nod. Then said, "Yeah. He told me to relax and just look in his eyes. When I did that, it felt…" Lucy shiver. "It was unlike anything…Shit, Levy chan.I can't explain it!"
"Aww, my little Lu chan is falling for her daddy's worst nightmare!" she teases with a small laugh.
Lucy frown. "You don't really think my dad would freak out, do you?"
She's quiet for much too long before she responds. "I'm pretty sure he'd be at least a little concerned. Dragneel's reputation precedes him, honey. I don't say that to be mean; it's just a fact. Your dad's a law man and your boyfriend has frequent flyer miles when it comes to riding in the back of a black and white."
"He's not like that." Lucy run a hand through her hair nervously. "I would know if—"
"Has he told you that he's never been arrested for anything before?" Levy stops her from continuing. "You and I both know your dad looked up his record when he was locked up the night he went all John Cena on Hibiki Mustang."
Shit. Lucy know she's right.
"Don't take away from my moment, Levy chan. Please?" Lucy plead with her. "I just want to pretend right now that I'm regular girl, dating a regular guy, and I just lost my fucking virginity. Okay?"
Levy sighs. "I'm not trying to do that; I just want you prepared. But you're right. So… did you hit the capital O, or did you get the lowercase and pretend?" She snickers because she knows the truth.
"Shut it. My slayer is amazing in bed, it was awesome!" Lucy shout at her through her laughter.
Lucy can almost see Levy smirk as she says, "Uh, huh. I bet it was, you little sllllut!"
"Hey, watch it!" Lucy defend her not-a-virgin-anymoreself.
"Whatever, you know I love you." Levy's words are teasing but true.
"Yeah, yeah…"
Lucy shake her head and think about Natsu and how he looked when he went all spunk ransom up in her. Lucy bite down onto her thumb and wrinkle her nose as she fight back a random giggle attack. Then she think about the cuddling and the kissing and the touching before finally falling asleep…
"I so own that boy's heart now," Lucy say out loud and fall back onto her bed, her head hitting pillows softly as she kicked her feet out excitedly.
Levy gives haughty laugh. "And he so owns your heart, body, mind, breaths.. Everything "
Lucy blush a bit, her cheeks flushing. "Yeah," I agree, "he does."
"Oh, to be young and innocent again." She sounds wistful, and Lucy start to feel guilty for feeling so happy when she's so sad.
"Oh, shit. I'm sor—"
"Lu chan, shut it. I'm happy that you're happy. I feel like we should have a moment of silence for the loss of your little hymen cherry," she quips with a smile in her tone. "Should we say a few words?"
"Ha-ha! Shut up!" Lucy yell. "What did you do after you lost yours?"
Levh snorts. "Uh, nothing? I was wasted, and afterwards all I knew that motherfukin heartless Gajeel was thee with me. We were hot mess that night when he popped my cherry. Next morning he was gone. Since then we keep meeting back and forth and I fell into abyss." she put her hand on her growing belly.
When Lucy hear the front door open and shut downstairs, they both start taking simultaneously.
"Dad's home—"
" here—"
Levy laugh and then she starts first. "Okay, I'm out. Later, Lu chan."
Lucy shake her head with smile. "Later."
-x-
Okay, so now Lucy decided something. Life is good when Natsu Dragneel is your boyfriend. It's only been a little under a week since their epic sleepover and she couldn't be happier.
Also? Ever since losing her innocence how she was doing? She no longer wake up dreading school, because she know that, after game practice, Natsu will be waiting for her in the parking lot. On the days when she was late because of club activities, he's still there when she walk outside of school. His last class of the day is P.E. and he gets to leave whenever he wants. He said it was because he has an "in" with the coach.
Whatever that means.
Halloween is just around the corner, and even though it's her absolute favourite holiday, she was dreading it. Why? Well, that's easy. It's because of Levy's stupid costume party that Natsu insists accompany him to. Sting says that Lisaana's parties are legendary, and not something to be missed.
Lucy said she go on one condition. Usually this is where she would have demanded Levy tag along with Eiji, or whomever she was dating at the time. But this time, she can't do that because Gajeel will be there. So, instead, Lucy make Natsu promise not to leave her side unless she has Loke next to her. Lucy refuse to be left alone in that bitch Lisa's territory. She don't even want to go, but Natsu has been so sweet lately, and attentive, and completely not what she had expected.
There's been no drug runs, no meeting up with shady people, or him getting into scary confrontations. They been to the park, long, quiet drives, yummy dinners at places she had no idea existed—hole in the walls are totally boss—and of course… his apartment.
They have only had sex once more since that first night. It was fast and messy, but Lucy didn't care a bit. They were on a time limit after all—he had to report to his community service. She make these little secret grins to herself sometimes when she think about her adorably naughty sexy times with Natsu.
Lucy still can't believe that hot piece of ass is all hers. It makes her giddy as a queen to know that. It also worries her because he was not from her world.
The bell for lunch jolts her back into the present and she slam her locker shut before she turn to Levy. "Any word yet from your folks?" Lucy ask her, just as she has been doing every day since she sent them her email. Which feels like a lifetime, and still…nada.
"No, nothing," Levy replies with a deep sigh. She's disappointed that her parents haven't tried to contact her. Lucy was starting to wonder if they've even read her email yet.
"It'll be okay Levy chan."Lucy wrapped her arms around her shoulders and pull her into the cafeteria with her. "Whatever happens, you know I got your back."
Levy smiles genuinely and nods her head. "Thanks, Lu chan."
Lucy grins and wink. "Of course."
They walk forward toward the lunch line and stop dead.
"What the fuck is this?" Lucy whisper in sheer mystification. "What… the fuck… is this ?" she scream out suddenly and whirl around to search the room for the guilty party.
The entire fucking cafeteria is decorated like a baby shower. Light pink and blue streamers are flung and twirled along the ceiling and hanging down with baby rattles at the ends. Most of the tables have blue or pink table covers, with diaper cakes as centerpieces. But the biggest slap in the face is the face is the poster on the wall that says:
Congratulations, Baby Mama!
Levy's fingers dig into her arm as she struggle to calm the fuck down. "Lu chan," she whispers in a panic.
"It's okay," Lucy lie to her as she look around the room at the many smirking faces that surround them.
When their prying eyes dare to look at Lucy, Lucy feel a sudden urge to scream that she was not the pregnant one—Levy was. But she know she would never actually say that out loud. Lucy feel guilty enough just thinking it and she hadn't even meant to. A flutter of giggles draws her attention over to the far right corner of the room where Minevera, Yuki, and Evergreen sit at a table with a few scattered presents and stuffed animals.
Lucy start for them and get pulled back by Levy. "Lu chan, don't," she warns her. "You'll only make it worse." She was panicking. Lucy knew she was. She's terrified that if Lucy deny this, people will find out the truth.
Lucy grit her teeth and yank her hand from Levy's grip as she make a hasty exit out of the cafeteria. When Lucy get to her locker, it has a cartoon stork taped against it. When she rip it away, Lucy saw that someone has written Slut! across her locker in red lipstick.
"Wonderful," Lucy hiss through gritted teeth. "This is just fucking great!" Lucy shout and slam the paper stork against her locker to scrub away the lipstick. It doesn't come off, though—it just smears everywhere. "Ah!" she scream out into the empty hallway, filled with frustration.
"So," a chuckling voice startles her in its direction, "you and Dragneel, huh? It makes sense now, I guess." Hibiki snickers as he keeps a safe distance away from Levy and her. "Why he beat the shit out of me at that party. Why he decided to remodel my car… Why you broke up with Loke?" He grins. "Have you two decided on any names yet?"
"Fuck you," Lucy snap at him.
He mock gasps and presses a hand to his chest. "Such language! You going to kiss your baby with that mouth?"
"Get lost, Hibiki!" Levy shouts. "Lu chan isn't pregnant, okay? It's not her, it's—"
"Me!" Lucy interrupt her with a shout. "Yes, it's me."
"Lu chan!" Levy's eyes were wide.
Lucy give her a look that says shut the fuck up and then turn back to Hibiki . "Yep. I'm preggo. Got a bun in the oven. Is there a problem? I'd gladly let babe Natsu know if you like…" Lucy give an innocent shrug.
Hibiki scowls and walks away without another word. Lucy wad terrified to look at Levy's locker, for fear that she's getting the same treatment. One look down the aisle and she saw the same paper stork hanging from her locker.Fuck. Someone must have seen them at the Women's Clinic.
"Lu chan," she whimpers.
Lucy grab her hand and pull her down the hall toward the parking lot. "It's fine," Lucy lie again for the like the third time in the last five minutes.
"Hey, wait!" Evergreen shouts as they fly past the cafeteria. "Hey! You're going to miss out on the 'Who's the daddy?'game! We have a great turn out, you guys!"
Lucy whirl around and charge over to stand in front of her. "You are an evil cunt, do you know that?" she growl angrily. "I'm not pregnant. No one is!"
She laughs. "I never cry wolf, Heartfilia . I know you're not knocked up. But it was fun making you think I did." Her eyes dart to Levy . "So, who was it, Levy ? Gajeel? We all know you two were fucking on the sly. You didn't hide it very well," she snorts in disgust. "I had such respect for you until you started hanging out with losers." She eyes Lucy when she says this.
"Say one more word," Lucy say through clenched teeth.
Yuki and Evergreen walk outside the cafeteria with a few other people following them. Lucy saw Hibiki hiding in the back and rolled her eyes. Others students were giving judgement looks.
"So, who was right?" Yuki asks. "Gajeel? Or maybe that college guy you were boning last summer? I got my money on the college guy."
"No way!" Evergreen scoffs. "It's so the foreign exchange student from Dracilla. You know how Levy has a thing for accents." She winks at them. "Time to 'fess up, Levy Mcgarden! Who's the daddy?"
Levy was frozen where she stands and Lucy can see that no one's home. She's shutting down, little by little. Her eyes are glazed over and her hands are fisted at her sides. "I… I…" she stumbles for something to say. "It's none of your business!" she shouts, and Lucy see a flash of the old, fearless Levy.
But Evergreen sees the holes and cracks in Levy's usually solid stone walls. She picks and probes and then kicks a foot straight through. "Aw, Levy. Why aren't you denying any of this?" She juts her lip out in mock sadness.
Lucy start to count inside her head to calm herself down. If she make it to one hundred, she might be able to keep herself from beating the ever-loving shit out of her. As of right now, she can barely make it to ten.
Her eyes light up excitedly. "Oh, hey! Is that how and you and Dragneel got to be an item, Heartfilia? Did you meet through Levy and Gajeel? I mean, you know… you two have been fucking for weeks now. I wonder if Loke knows about you—"
Lucy fly forward to shove her back as hard as she possibly can. She would have fallen on her ass if not for her minions on each side of her. Lucy scowl and ready herself to shove her again, maybe even plow a fist into her wide-eyed face.
"I never cheated on Loke!" Lucy scream at her. "I'm so sick of you, Bitch! What the hell is your problem with me? I've never done anything to you! And why would you attack Levy? To be more popular? News flash, Evergreen ! Everyone secretly hates you!"
"No, actually, they all hate you !" She surges back into Lucy's face. "And anyway, this isn't always about you !This is about Levy drilling our asses into all the rules and punctuality but indeed she is the queen slut!"
Lucy watch in stunned silence as lots of the girls on the college nod their heads in agreement with Evergreen.
"It's one thing to be a hard-ass, but Levy takes it to a whole new level," Yuki speaks up, a newfound bravery washing over her usually timid personality. "I can recounts ever altimes I've been pulled to the side and reprimanded for the stupidest mistakes known to man."
"Not to mention, she fucking stopped my eating junk food telling me I'll get fat!" Yuki shouts. "Who's going to be the fat-ass now, Levy , huh? Oh, that's right—you are."
Lucy pause. Levy was behind her and Lucy squeeze her hand in her.
Evergreen stands behind the Yuki with her arms crossed. Lucy glance over at Tia to see a regretful expression on her face as she nods her head in agreement. Lucy suddenly have a mini-flashback of the time when Levy chewed her out one day for coming to school without getting her uniform pressed. She benched Tia that day and made her go home early to fix the problem.
Levy chan is a perfectionist. No doubt about that. Which is why this slip up with Gajeel is so uncharacteristic for her. But she's still her best friend, and Lucy will still defend her to the end. No matter her guilt, she will always have her back.
"That is so irrelevant!" She shout. "You are publically humiliating her because you couldn't handle the truth? At least she did it privately! She didn't broadcast your shit in front of the entire fucking school!"
Lucy slap her hard across the face. "If you ever insult Levy again, I swear to God, I will end your fucking life," Lucy growl out the warning that she mean with every fiber of her being. She glance at all the girls around them. "Same goes to all of you. Don't believe me?" she scoff. "Well guess who's your new head president, bitches? That's right…me."
Most of the girls pipe down, but Evergreen is furious. Her face has gone a whole new shade of plum. "You fucking bitch!I hate you!"
Lucy rolled her eyes.
"And that still doesn't answer the question. Who's bastard child is that in there, Levy?" Her voice shakes as she speaks, her resolve fading quickly.
"It's mine!"
They all whirl around to see Eiji come up behind Levy and pull her to his side in a comforting hug. "Got a problem with that?" He eyes each and every shocked face around them.
A few guys on the team shake their heads no and Evergreen's face has paled considerably.
Eiji glares at the guys who are still standing around. "What the fuck are you staring at?" he snaps. "Get out of my face or I'll breaks yours. If any of you mess with Lucy or Levy again about this, I will personally make you regret it."
His threat sends everyone away in a mere matter of seconds. Lucy rush over to Levy and pull her away from Eiji and into her arms. She presses her face into Lucy's shoulder and lets out the first of many sobs.
"Come on," Eiji says softly and ushers them to the parking lot . "I'll take you guys wherever you want to go. I don't think Levy is up to staying here for the rest of the day."
Lucy nod and they settle themselves into the back of Eiji's black Lincoln Navigator. He drives them to their house and follows them inside where Lucy set Levy down on the couch and go about making her some hot tea. Lucy can hear Eiji talking to her softly from where she work in the kitchen, and when she starts to cry again, Lucy feel a tug on her heart. She lean forward onto the counter and take a deep breath. She feel tears welling in her eyes, but she know she have to stay strong for Levy chan.
"Hey," Eiji's voice startles her from behind. "Whoa!" He holds his hands up innocently. "Just coming to see if you're okay."
Lucy swallow a ball of sadness and nod her head. "I'm fine. It's Levy chan I'm worried about."
"Yeah, me, too," he replies and scratches behind his ear. "I kinda had a hunch that she might have been… but I wasn't sure." He shakes his head. "I'm sorry I kind of butted in and did what I did. I just couldn't handle watching all of them gang up on her like that, and I don't know, I guess I just—"
Lucy take a step forward and hug him. "Thank you, Eiji," she whisper.
He blinks down at her for a moment. "Uh, no problem." His mumble is soft and barely above a whisper.
Lucy step back and lean against the counter to run a shaky hand through her hair. "No, really," she sigh and stare back at him genuinely grateful. "What you did…" Lucy open her mouth and pause; I have no idea what to say. "It's… it's above and beyond, Eiji. You're like a freaking saint—our saint."
A slight blush tints his cheeks and he looks away. "I don't know about that…" He looks at Lucy again and takes a deep breath. "But it's Levy , you know? How could I not?"
Lucy feel a tightness in her chest, an unknown surge of something inside of her, that makes her so, so grateful to have Eiji on their side. To know someone as awesome and thoughtful as him is so hard to come by these days.
"Anyway," he clears his throat and steps back, "I gotta go. Football practice and shit, so… I'll call you later, okay? To check in on Levy."
She nod.
"If you need anything ," he enunciates, "all you gotta do is ask, Lucy. Ask and it's yours. Cool?"
Lucy has to bite her lip to stop it from trembling. She nod again and whisper, "Cool."
She was alone in the kitchen as tea was boiling in kettle. She rested her head against the cool counter.
" If only you was here Natsu. I'm really missing your warmth and embrace."
-x-
Lucy wad seconds away from dozing off, stuck inside that moment just before you give over to sleep—it's fuzzy and disorienting, but you know it will all be fine as soon as you close your eyes and exhale. Levy is out cold with her head on a pillow over her lap. Her fingers run through Levy's blue strands soothingly, the way she know she likes to be petted. Her movement slows as she near unconsciousness and her head hits the back of the couch just as her fingers slide to a stop over her brow.
And her phone starts to ring that annoying iPhone default jungle tone that makes her want to break it every time she hear it. Levy's eyes fly open and she gasp softly just before her hand darts out to grab her phone off the coffee table in front of her. Levy groans and she quickly—but gently—slip out from under her and set her back down onto the couch. She stirs but doesn't wake. Thank God.
"Yeah?" Lucy answer her phone without looking at the caller ID. She was so tired from all the drama she had faced today.
"Where the fuck are you, Luce?" Natsu roars into her ear.
She inhale sharply and look down at her phone to see the time. It's way past school being let out, and practice would've been over twenty minutes ago had they gone. She bite down on her lip and clenched her eyes shut tight. He wasn't there when she needed him. She was angry with him.
"Answer me, goddamn it!" he snaps a second time. "Your car is still in the parking lot, but Gray told me you haven't been at school all day. What thefuck, Lucy ?" He doesn't sound like himself. He's not just mad; he's…worried. Scared?
Her heart fluttered.
Lucy gulp. "I can explain—"
"Do you have any idea what the hell has been going through my mind? I called your phone fifteen fucking times and got your voicemail every time!" he shouts, and Lucy can hear his car engine roar in the background.
Lucy shakes her head, confused—and also a little pissed off. "Natsu , this is the first time I've heard my phone ring."
"Bullshit!" he barks out. "Don't fucking lie to me, Lucy Heartfilia!"
Lucy shiver when he says her name. "Natsu, calm down. Come to my house. I'm here with Levy chan. Something happened earlier and…" Lucy sigh and comb a hand through her hair. "I'm sorry I forgot to call you. Don't be mad. I'm sorry, okay?"
Why do I keep apologizing?
Lucy thought that she didn't do anything wrong. She pull the phone down to check her missed calls and realize instantly that she has Levy's phone in her hand. "Wait a second," she gasp. "You called Levy's phone!"
"Damn right I did, you weren't answering yours!" he scolds her like a child.
Lucy don't have to ask where he got the number. Her guess is Gajeel gave it to him.
"Who drove you home?" he growls. "I saw both of your cars in the parking lot. Are you fucking around with some chummy guy behind my back?"
Lucy cannot believe he just said that. "No, I'm not fucking around behind your back! I can't believe you just asked me that!" There is a pressure against her chest all of the sudden.
"Well, what am I supposed to think, huh?" He attempts to defend his actions.
"Eiji drove us to my house, is that okay? Or am I supposed to check in with you every five minutes?" Lucy angrily throw his own words back at him and walk into the kitchen as she struggle to keep her voice down. "I needed to get out of there quickly. You know, since my best friend had her situation blasted out in front of the entire school. I'm sorry I forgot to call and ask for your fucking permission to get my friend out of there."
"Don't you turn this shit around on me." He's upset and bordering on the point of no return—Lucy can hear it in his tone. She need to reassure him before he does something stupid.
"All I needed was a call to know where you were, so I don't go out my fucking mind wondering where the fuck you are. Is that too hard to ask? Even a text message would have been enough!" He sounded helpless but angry.
"Why are you yelling at me?" Lucy clenched her free hand into a fist at her side. "I didn't do anything wrong. I wasn't thinking about anything but Levy chan at the time. I just barely got her to calm down and get some rest. Damn it, Natsu! Don't make me feel bad for being there for my friend, okay? I said I was sorry."
Lucy hear him breathe. In. Out. Slowly and deeply. "I'm outside come quickly," he grumbles and then hangs up.
Lucy check on Levy one more time, and when she was sure she's still asleep, she head outside to meet Natsu on the porch. His car comes to an abrupt stop in front of her house, and when he kills the engine, she watch him sit inside his car and stare at the steering wheel. Lucy know he's trying to calm down. Probably counting like he was told to do in his anger management classes. It doesn't always work, but Lucy hope today it does.
He lights up a cigarette and pushes his door open.Lucy take one small step forward, and when she see his face,
She lose her breath and propel herself toward him. Her feet cannot move fast enough as Lucy run across the lawn to get to him.
"Oh, my God, Natsu! What happened?" Lucy ask as she reach up to touch his bruised and bloodstained face. She cringe when he winces and pulls away from her hands emotionlessy.
"Stop," he grumbles with his cigarette between his lips.
Lucy pull it from his mouth and stomp on it. "Come inside with me." she reply and slam his car door shut. "I'm not going to say it again," she warn him with a look. He complies and curls a finger around a belt loop on the back of her jeans to follow her.
Lucy don't know why, but that small roughly gesture of his makes her feel calmer than before. She reach behind her for his hand and bring it up to her lips. They pause just outside of her front door, and as she reach for the handle, he jerks her backward until her back hits against the front of his chest.
"I'm sorry baby. Sorry Luce," he whispers in her ear and then kisses behind her neck. "Don't be mad at me. I was worried, love."
Lucy clenched her eyes shut and nod her head. "Are you going to tell me what happened to your face?" she ask softly. She already know the answer, but she still hold out hope.
"It doesn't matter," he says and pulls jer around to face him. His mouth dips down to hers and Lucy allowed him to kiss her. It tastes of copper.
Lucy push him away. "Tell. Me." she demand him.
He curses under his breath. "There was a situation I had to handle. A fight I had to break apart. It's over now." He swoops down and dominates her mouth before she can comment.
Kissing Natsu Dragneel is unlike any kiss Lucy has ever felt before. When he kisses her—hell, even when he looks at her or touches her—it feels like there are hundreds of butterfly wings fluttering around inside of her. He makes her skin tingle with the expectation of his touch. Her heart always beats two times faster when his eyes are on her. She burn like the heart of a flame on a match when he's wrapped around her.
It scares the living hell out of her.
To feel this strongly about someone is new and so far from exciting that it makes her knees tremble and want to give out. The only thing scarier is not having Natsu in her life as hers.
Mine.
Yes people, she has become possessive and even jealous at times. It's not something she is proud of.she just can't help it.
"Come inside," she whisper and pull away from their kiss. He groans and tries to move forward to kiss her again, but she laugh softly and pull back to prevent him from getting what he wants. Her hands lift up to cradle his face. "Because you look like shit." she smirk at him and then lean forward and kiss his lips. She was so glad they seemed to have survived whatever attacked his face.
"Is…" He gulps and his eyes search behind Lucy inside the house. "Is she…" He lifts his chin in the direction of the living room.
"She's asleep," Lucy answer with a sigh. "I don't know how they found out, but now everyone knows. They put decorations all over the cafeteria and on both of our lockers." Lucy frown at the memory and buried her into Natsu's hard chiselled chest when he pulls her into his arms. "I feel terrible for her. I wish I could help her, but I don't know how."
His hands rub up and down her back in a way that makes her want to curl up into a ball and snuggle in his lap like a kitten. Lucy shiver and nuzzle his chin with her nose and scratch the side of her face against his slight stubble. Sometimes it scares her how much her body reacts to him—like it needs him more than wants him.
Lucy never thought that admitting to her feelings would mean to lose what little sanity she had left in her.
"Maybe I should go," he sighs and runs a hand through his unruly pink disheveled hair. "I got shit I need to do, and I really should go home and change first." He starts to back away, and before he can fathom what she wad doing, Lucy's hand darts out to fist his jacket lapels.
"NATSU," Her eyes bore deeply into his, "stay."
He lets out a shoddy breath of air and leans his forehead to her.
"Stay with me," Lucy whisper.
Lucy licked her lips and bring her mouth upward to collide with his.
She doesn't want to face the rest of today alone. Lucy had no idea how to handle Levy's situation, and she just feel like having Natsu with herself would be the calm she need to take hold of things. If having him here makes her upset, then she'll ask him to leave. But she doesn't think that will be the case—she doesn't seem to mind him too much. When she talk about him with her, she smiles and listens and adds her own comments.
She wouldn't do that if she didn't like him, right?
-x-
There are several things about Natsu that Lucy has come to know. The more time they spend together, the more she learn about him. She should be more specific: the more she learn about his mannerisms . He's very polite when his guard is down and he's fully relaxed. He never really tells her anything too personal about himself outside of the present. She know no history of his childhood, other than the fact that it must not have been all that great for him afterafter his parents death and Mira and Makarov helped him. .
"Pass me that carton of eggs, will you?" he utters distractedly while chopping potatoes into small cubes.
He looks so focused and driven on the task at hand that Lucy find herself enthralled and unable to move. She would have never thought of hunk of junk Natsu as a cook, not that he'd call himself one either, but he knows more than she does because she nearly burnt the whole house just while warming milk. He's making chorizo, potato, and egg burritos. Lucy has no idea what the hell that means. All she know is that he looks super hot doing it.
She wants to get into a hot mess with him right now.
His hair is pushed back to stay out of his face by a band. his arm sleeves are pushed up to his elbows, and a small dish rag hangs over his left shoulder. Lucy watch as he cups both his hands together full of chopped potatoes and drops them into a large glass bowl beside him. The sound of crackling oil on a skillet breaks her out of her daydream and Lucy finally do as he asked.
"Crack a few of those for me?" he says over his shoulder right before he starts to scoops the potatoes onto the pan.
Lucy stand there staring down at the bowl and the eggs while twiddling her thumbs. Exactly how many does "a few" constitute as? Five? Six? Eleven?
"Umm…" Lucy bite down her lip and lift an egg up into her hand. "How many do you want me to crack? Oh, and how do I crack this thing without making a huge mess? The last time I tried this, bad things happened."
He turns slightly to look at her with an amused smirk on his face. "You know, when you said you're not much a cook, I never expected that you wouldn't know a damn thing about being in the kitchen." Then he laughs. Hel aughs!
Awww! My baby is most adorable when he laughs truly happily. She thinks.
Her cheeks color in embarrassment and she cross her arms over her chest defensively. "My mom went to heaven at early age. Dad was all bsuy and I went through a feminist phase, okay? I thought thought cooking was degrading," she explain to him. "So, we ate out…a lot. Then we will eat whatever dad can prepare for both of us. And he will eat whatever I'll cook. That's life for both of us now.but trust me I'm into learning process and have been learning to boil water past few weeks."
He chuckles and moves back to the skillet to stir the potatoes around. "Wow." He shakes his head. "What about your grandmother?"
"She was OK in kitchen." Lucy replied.
"My grandfather was a great cook, or so I've heard, but he was gone before I was born. My dad lives off fast food and fish. He did show me, however, how to make one hell of a 'mandwich.'" Lucy laugh softly and push his hip with the toe of her Converse.
He grabs her foot and she yelp as he jerks her to the end of the counter and moves so that he stands between her legs. He slides his hands up her thighs and grins triumphantly when she tremble beneath his touch. "I love how responsive you are to my touch, Luce. Turns me right the fuck on."
She tremble again and lean over to curl into him so that he'll wrap his arms around her. His skin is warm, his chin is rough, his breath is cinnamon, and his heart pounds heavily within his chest. Lucy love the sound it makes.Thump. Thump. Thump.It makes her feel like she control it. If she touch him a certain way, it speeds up, and if of she comfort him, it slows down. She press her palm over his chest where his heart is, much like the night they officially met, and its beat is thunderous. A small storm brewing from within. It scares her sometimes—all the time. How connected she feel to him, and him to her.
Natsu touches her cheek with the backs of his fingers, trails them over her lips and down her neck. He likes to trace her face a lot—he says he does it to remind himself that she is real. That moment was real, and living in the moment, together. Three months ago, if he'd said that to her, she would have laughed in his face and told him to get lost. But now, it's the most passionate expression of feelings ever made.
They stand there staring into each other's eyes, not speaking, not blinking—Lucy was not sure if they were even breathing. She take a deep breath and instantly inhale a suspicious smell that sends warning bells to her head, but the rest of her refuses to listen.
It's Lucy , and it's Natsu, and it's them.
She pull him toward her and their mouths collide. They lose themselves in each other and the bells are ringing louder than ever, and just when she start to think she is going crazy, she realize that it's not in her head.
It's fucking smoke detector.
"Shit!" Natsu curses and quickly removes the pan of burning potatoes into the empty sink.
Smoke fills the air and Lucy cringe and cough from it. She jump down from the counter and turn the fan on over the stove then move about the kitchen to open windows. When she look at Natsu again, she cover her mouth with her hands to keep from laughing. His lips twitch and she know he wants to laugh, too. Lucy drop her hands down at her sides and start to giggle. His eyes turn mischievous and he whips the towel off his shoulder and twists it up to smack her with as he charges her way.
"Don't even,"Lucy warn him in a playful but serious tone.
He charges and she end up squealing at him to stop just as the first whip hits her right on her left arse. It stings and she want to shout, but she does not want to wake Levy so Lucy whisper-curse him out. For some odd reason, this seems to turn Mr. Stud on, because he darts forward and yanks her up in the air so that her legs wrap around his waist. His lips are on hers.
Warm, soft, and welcome. His kiss is urgent and dominant against her own submissive mouth. How could she has ever thought that she could live without this? Natsu can be so domineering most of the time, and Lucy yet find herself susceptible to him. It's crazy-weird, and unexplainable, but she is becoming addicted to it, dependent on it even. To him. To this . To their. She worked so hard to try and avoid this. She doesn't want to be one of those girls who lose themselves in a relationship.
But every second she spend with Natsu , she feels herself falling deep down into an indefinite abyss. There is no end, because she keep falling and she hasn't hit the bottom yet. Is there even a bottom to this feeling she has when she is with him? Does he feel it, too? The way he kisses her and holds her and touches her makes her think that he does. She feels like they're on the same page, but she can never be sure. Because despite their connection, and their sudden devotion, and caution thrown to the wind… He still won't open up. He doesn't talk about anything too personal in his life but is all ears when it comes to hers.
Lucy feel his hand travel up the back of her shirt to press his open palm against the small of her back and then upward to just below her bra. His hand is rough and warm and causes her nerves to spasm and her skin to tingle wherever it goes. She shiver in his arms and break their kiss to stare down into his hungry gaze.
"What the hell is this?" she ask him.
His head shakes slowly. "I don't know," he answers honestly, in a breathless tone, "but I can't fucking stop when I'm with you." His lips are on hers once again.
"Don't stop," she pant as she tilt her head back. "Never stop."
"Never stop," he whispers across her throat.
-x-
It's no surprise to her when they ended up ordering pizza. Lucy told that it's okay, because in this house, pizza is at the top of the Heartfilia Family food group. They wait in the kitchen even though she want to go up to her room. He's never seen her room before. It's done purposely, of course. She refuse to allow him into her room until he allows her all the way into his head.
His response is to say he's not ready for that yet. So she remain unmoving on her decision to keep him away from the one part of her he can't have: her room. Which everyone knows is an important place to any human being. It's a very personal spot—a sanctuary you go to for comfort and honesty. There are no lies told inside one's room, because it's just you and the four walls that surround you. You cannot lie to yourself, no matter how hard you try.
"She's been asleep for a long time," Nastu says as he absently runs the back of his finger down the side of her cheek. "You sure she's okay?"
Lucy nuzzle into his hand and pull it to her lips. She love his warm big rough hands. If she could, she'd have them on her at all times of the day, no matter where they were. "She's just exhausted is all." Lucy and lean her cheek into his open palm. Her body is turned toward him, one leg bent over his knee to help pull her closer when she feels like she is too far away. The pizza box sits in the middle of the table, half-eaten and forgotten. It's just the two of them now.
"I should probably go before she wakes up," Natsu sighs as he cups her chin in his hand and slides his thumb over her bottom lip. But then he yanks it back quickly when she look like she is going to bite it. Which they both know she so would have. She is a fucking biter, man. Especially when it comes to him. She has never in her entire life felt so insanely possessive of someone.
What the hell is wrong with me? Her mind echoed.
She laughed softly and take his hand between her so that she can stare down at it and trace every knuckle and scar with her fingertips. "You fight too much." sje frown at his scars.
He pulls his hand away and uses it to support the back of her head as he draws her to his face. Lucy closes her eyes and wait for his lips to touch hers…
"What?" she peek open an eye when he doesn't kiss her right away.
He's silent, and suddenly Lucy feel the hairs on the back of her neck rise. His gaze is fixed over her shoulder and Lucy know that Levy is awake behind her. Her hands slide from around his neck to his shoulders, then down his chest. It's an involuntary move on her part—she just need to feel every inch of him when she can. Because when he leaves, she will need it to help get her through the night.
"Hey you," Lucy says when she untangle herself from Natsu and stare up at Levy innocently. "We saved you some pizza, sleepyhead."
Her eyes are trained on them, analyzing where their hands are at—hers, pulling her blonde hair back into a ponytail, and one of his is resting over her thigh—, how their bodies are angled—her is forward, and his slightly still facing her—, and the looks on their faces—hers, overly trying to be normal, and his, blank in anticipation of her reaction to seeing him.
"Thanks," she utters softly and lifts the top off the pizza box to look inside. Her shoulders are tense, but her stomach growls and Lucy know she's hungry.
"You feeling better?" Lucy ask her more seriously than before and reach over to link their pinkies together.
She nods and squeezes her pinky with hers before she pulls away to grab a paper plate. Lucy feel better than she did before. She's okay. Possibly slightly uncomfortable right now, but okay nonetheless. Yeah, they telepathic like that. Lucy get up to grab Levy a bottle of water, and as she lift it from the fridge, she wiggle it in the air to ask Natsu if he'd like one, too. He tilts his chin down then up and she grab two more for both of them along with Levy's.
"So, I'm guessing she told you about earlier," Levy says to Natsu just before she takes a giant bite of pizza. Lucy guess her comfort zone is branching out a bit; this makes her extremely happy. Lucy almost skip back to her seat.
"Yeah," he answers her and twists the cap from his water to take a sip. "Pretty fucked up friends you got there."
She snorts. "Yeah, I guess."
"Screw them!" Lucy scowl and smack her hand onto the table angrily. Natsu's hand immediately goes to squeeze the spot just above her knee. Lucy closes her eyes and take a deep breath to calm herself "They're assholes." she speak softer this time.
"I should call Eiji and thank him later," Levy says into her food. "If he still wants to be my friend after this."
Lucy shakes her head at her incredulously. "Levy chan, you're crazy! He's totally on your side. I'm shocked that you would even question that right now. He threatened everyone at school if they even dared to bother you or me again." Lucy feel Natsu's grip on her leg tighten and she reach down to slide her hand over his as she continue. "All Eiji cared about when we got here was how you were doing."
Levy drops her pizza down on her plate and glares over at her. "Why are you doing this right now, Lu chan?" she chews her out. "In front of him of all people?"
"Don't yell at her." Natsu uses as calm a voice as he can. Lucy immediately tense up and rip Natsu's hand from her leg to clutch it between her.
Levy scowls at him, but says nothing.
"Natsu , stop," Lucy warn him.
"I'll leave if you want me to," he continues softly to Levy , "but don't fucking yell at her. Not in front of me." He somehow manages to add the last part without sounding like a total asshole.
"Wow," she mocks him. "Seriously, Dragneel? You wanna go there? 'Cause I don't think I have enough fingers to count the number of times you've yelled at her."
The fire in his eyes ignites and Lucy grow insanely nervous. "I asked you as politely as I'm able to." His tone is a warning.
"You don't fucking know me," Levy spits venomously, "so you don't get to tell me what to do." Her eyes roam to Lucy's "And you're supposed to be my best friend—"
"I am your best friend Levy chan!" Lucy cry out in exasperation. "Levy chan, don't be mad. I thought you'd be cool with Natsu because you said he was okay."
"Yeah, I said that, but it doesn't mean I want to be chummy with him!" she shouts across the table. "Whatever I say he can take right back to Gajeel."
"He would never do that!" Lucy quickly defend him. "Would you?" she turn to ask him.
"No." He shakes his head.
"See?" Lucy says to Levy in satisfaction.
Then Natsu opens his mouth again. "But if I heard something that I think he should know, then I'm not going to lie to his face about it."
Lucy cringe. What the hell was she thinking when she thought it was okay to include him in her talk with Levy?
"Levy is right." Natsu stands. "I shouldn't be here right now. I don't want to get in the middle of things. I'm sorry."
She rolls her eyes. "Whatever," her tone is flat and dismissive, "you can leave now."
"Levy chan!" Lucy gasp.
Natsu stops Lucy from getting up. "It's cool. I get it," he says to Levy and then leans over Lucy and kisses her lips in goodbye. But he doesn't leave yet. "Yeah, Gajeel has done everything wrong so far," he admits to Levy in confidence. "But then again, so have you."
Levy's eyes widen just as her do. The fuck?
Explain yourself,Natsu. .
"I'll go, and if you don't want me around you, then I won't be." His words are directed at Levy . "But please don't take your shit with Gajeel out on Luce just because she's with me now. 'Cause that's fucked up and you know it."
Levy's cheeks flush. "Why are you still standing in this kitchen?" her voice is filled with irritation.
"Natsu, seriously." Lucy shakes her head at him. "Stop it."
"I'm leaving." He takes a step away from the table. "But come on, Levy . You don't have to like him, but you can at least treat him with some respect , all right? That's his kid in there, too." He points at her stomach. "He's just as messed up about this as you are. Even if he doesn't show it, or act like it, okay?"
His tone is civil, but Lucy still feel like she want to tell him to shut the fuck up. "Just as messed up?" Lucy sneer at him in complete disbelief. This time she do stand up. "I highly doubt that, Natsu . Does he have a baby growing in his fucking uterus? Does he have to tell his stick-up-their-ass parents? Are people at school hanging baby shit from his locker and laughing in his face about this?Tell me!" Lucy shout at him.
Natsu glares at Lucy and holds his hands up at his sides. "I don't want to turn this into a fight, okay?"
"Well, you should have thought of that before you opened your mouth," Levy 's mouth sets into a very thin line.
Lucy placed her hand onto Levy's shoulder and scowl at Natsu. "You and I will talk about this later. But right now? I really want you to leave."
He sighs, irritated. "Luce babe, I—"
"Get out, Dragneel!" she scream.
Lucy watch his jaw set and clench. He's pissed. Well, so was she.
"Fine." He scowls and storms out the house.
Lucy flinch when the front door slams shut and she sit back down at the table. She bridge her hands together to lean her forehead against them as she rest her elbows on the tabletop. His car roars to life and he peels out angrily down the street.
Fuck.
Lucy feel a sting inside of her in regards to the way Natsu left, but she know they will deal with it later. It's nothing he's said or done, she just know . Just like she knows Levy and Natsu will butt heads harder than two bucks in a dense forest.
When she finally raised her head, she saw that Levy had been watching her. Her eyes are calculating and her mouth is set into a firm, blank expression. Lucy cannot read a single thought across her face and she know she's purposely hiding from her. Lucy set her hands down onto the table and straighten up to stare directly at her.
"Is this going to be a problem?" Lucy ask her point-blank.
"He'll be fine," Levy exhales a breath and sets her phone down after checking it for messages. "Dragneel," she clarifies herself after seeing her blank look. "He'll get over it."
Lucy rolled her eyes at her. "I know he will. I need to know if you can handle this, Levy chan?"
Her eyes close as she inhales a deep breath through her nose. "I think now is a good time to set down some ground rules, Lu chan." Her hands clasp together on top of the table and her gaze moves to Lucy.
Lucy mirror her posture and wait for her to continue. Well, this is going to be fun.
"Here are my terms," she starts.
"Terms?" She's unbelievable. "What the hell, Levy chan? Are we writing up a contract now? Am I going to be in the middle of a custody battle?"
Her gaze narrows at Lucy . "My terms go as follows..."
Lucy roll her eyes and lean back.
"If you want to have your cake and to eat it, too? You better damn well pay attention to what I have to say right now, Lucy Heartfilia," she means business.
Whoa. Lucy sit upright again. Yes,ma'am.
She nods once she knows Lucy is in agreement. "Number one, no talking about Eiji, Gajeel , or my personal business in front of Dragneel." Her eyes bore into hers to show her seriousness. "I mean it."
Lucy nod. "Got it."
"Number two, if I tell you a secret, you are not allowed to go back to Dragneel and share it with him. I don't care if you trust him. I don't even care if he actually is trustable . Just…no, Lu chan." She frowns.
Lucy nod again. "Okay."
Lucy watch Levy sigh and relax in her chair a bit. "I know I can't take over all of your free time," her frown deepens, "but I'm scared that, at some point, I'm going to really need you." Her shoulders shrug slightly. "And so will he ,and you'll have to choose…" She pauses to look down at her hands. "And I'm just really worried that… that you'll choose…him…" Her eyes start to water.
"LEVY CHAN! !" Lucy shout and jump up from her seat to get to her.
She cringes. "I know I sound like a total selfish bitch, but I promised not to lie to you anymore. This is how I feel…"
"You big dork." Lucy roll her eyes and sit in the chair beside her as she grab her hands. "I would never leave you behind for anyone ." Lucy can't believe she would ever question her. "Hoes over bros, bestie." Lucy lift a fist up for her to bump.
She laughs very soft and nods her head.
"Well, don't leave me hanging!" Lucy scold her teasingly with her fist still held up in wait.
She lifts her hand into a fist.
"Say it, out loud," Lucy prompt her playfully.
Her beautiful blue eyes roll as she fights to hold back a smile. "Hoes over bros."
Lucy grin. "Chicks before dicks."
They bump fists.
She starts to pick at her pizza and lifts a pepperoni piece to her lips with a smirk. Lucy raised her brow in question and she snickers. "It's just…" She covers her mouth to hide her laugh.
"What?" Lucy pinch her to tell her.
Levy smacks Lucy's hand away from her. "It's just that, now that you've actually had the dick, I highly doubt it's going to be as easy as you think to turn him away when it's time to go home and he says he can't sleep unless you get him off."
Her eyes widen at her and then they both burst out laughing until their sides hurt. Lucy is happy they can laugh like this again. She was relieved that she's willing to compromise with Natsu after their little showdown a few minutes ago.
"Oh, my little Lu chan," she cups the side of her face, "all grown up now."
Lucy stick her tongue out at her and grab her phone to text Natsu.
No sex until you apologize.
His response is not immediate, in fact, it takes him well over an hour to text her back. When he does, Lucy know they going to be fine.
I'll apologize while we have wild hot ravishing sex babe.
X_X
A/n: It's been like more than a month since I updated this story. Now off you go who were waiting for this update. Enjoy this long ass chapter of mine. Read and review if you enjoyed. xoxo