Hello, everyone !
I'm back with the twenty-third chapter !
I hope you enjoy this one as well :D
Disclaimer: I only own this plot
Natsu thrusted his hand forward and gave it a little push as a hawk flew off from his hand. King Scorpio had confirmed that there would be no sandstorm for the next two hours, so Natsu took his chance with his royal hawk. Besides, even if his hawk got lost or something, he was sure Lisanna would tell his family anyway that he was staying here tonight with Lucy and Gray.
His mood had gotten so much better now, since Lucy didn't push him away like she used to these past few days and asked him to stay instead. It felt so nice and so right.
Natsu pushed open Lucy's door and smiled upon seeing her laugh again.
"You're okay now?" Natsu asked as he closed the door and walked towards her.
Lucy nodded her head. "I'm all better, thank you."
"I'm going to sleep here tonight." Gray announced.
Natsu raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Why not?" Gray asked back as he raised an eyebrow as well. "I have to be as close as possible with my sister."
Natsu gawked. "Your… what?"
"Sister." Gray smirked. "Little sister, to be precise. Lucy agreed to it."
Natsu turned his head to face a smiling Lucy and turned it again to face a smirking Gray. He then turned again to face Lucy. "Why did you agree to it?"
"Why couldn't she?" Gray asked back.
"Lucy, out of all the guys out there, why did you agree to be his sister?" Natsu asked. "Is this legal? Are you adopting her?"
"My parents want to but Lucy said we don't have to." Gray said. "We don't want to force anything on her, so there won't be any adoption papers."
Natsu let out a relief sigh. "I hate to be a family with him."
"Hah! You think I want to be a family with you?" Gray snorted back.
Lucy chuckled slightly. "You two are a family already."
"How so?!" Both Natsu and Gray asked her at the same time.
Lucy let out a little laugh. Her eyes then dropped a bit. "Your quarrel and fighting resembles siblings. Sting never has that."
Gray stared at Natsu for a few more seconds but the latter softly shook his head, signaling Gray not to ask anything about Sting because he was the other child Jude didn't want to admit he had. The same one as Lucy because he was close with the people.
"Why didn't you bring him to visit you?" Gray asked. "Better yet, the Fullbuster can just adopt you two!"
Lucy chuckled. "He's a prince, Gray. You can't just adopt a prince as easy as that."
"I can work on the papers." Gray said. "But like I said, I don't want to force anything on you, Lucy."
"Thank you, Gray." Lucy smiled. "Your thought means everything."
"Right, since everything has been sorted out, let's get you to bed." Natsu said as he helped Lucy to lie down.
"I'm fine, Natsu. Really."
"Ssh. Patients should get plenty of rest." Gray said and lifted the blanket up to her chin. "Now close your eyes and enjoy your trip to the Lalaland."
"Where will the two of you sleep?" Lucy asked.
"Don't worry about that." Natsu and Gray answered at the same time.
"He can sleep on the floor." Gray snorted.
"Go back to your own room, droopy eyes!" Natsu glared.
"Don't wanna, squinty eyes!" Gray retorted.
Lucy chuckled lightly as they started to quarrel once more. "Alright, alright, knock it off. You two should get plenty of rest as well."
"I'll take the sofa." Gray said. "You, the floor."
"Hey, that's not fair!" Natsu protested.
Gray clicked his tongue in annoyance then fished out a coin from his pocket. "I'll take the head."
"Fine, I'll take the tail."
Then Gray flipped the coin and caught it midair. He opened his palm and smirked.
"HA! I WON!"
"Damn it." Natsu cursed. "Alright, alright, take that sofa, you jerk!"
Gray patted Lucy's head. "Just call me if you need anything, okay?"
Lucy nodded her head and Gray made his way to the sofa located at the corner, not too far from Lucy's bed. He lied down on it and closed his eyes.
Gray went into a slumber not too long after that, shown by his steady and calm breathing.
"He must be tired." Lucy mumbled.
"Yeah. Especially since he had to deal with Lisanna as well." Natsu muttered. "Well, I'm going to sleep too then. Wake me up if you need anything."
Natsu was about to lie down on the floor beside Lucy's bed when she grabbed his hand softly. Natsu turned his head to face her and his racing heart went twice faster when he saw her slightly blushing face.
"W—what is it?" Natsu asked.
Lucy didn't say anything but she scooted a bit, providing a space on her big bed. Natsu froze in position, didn't dare to say anything. He just stared at the empty space, secretly hoping that Lucy was thinking what he was thinking but also scolding himself for thinking something like that.
"I—it'll be cold on the floor." Lucy whispered out of embarrassment. "I don't want you to get sick too… Y—you c—can sleep w—w—w—with me."
Lucy squeaked her last two words and Natsu had to hold himself so hard not to hug her right then.
"Are you sure?" Natsu asked. "Well, we'll get to this eventually once we're married."
Lucy blushed so badly, her face turned as red as a boiled lobster. "Y—yeah."
Natsu smiled and climbed onto Lucy's bed. "Come here."
"W—what?" Lucy didn't dare to look at Natsu.
"I'll warm you up." Natsu said.
"W—wha—wha—ah!"
Lucy yelped a bit as Natsu pulled her hand and brought her lying down with him. Then Natsu put an arm around her neck and another around her waist. With one firm but gentle pull, he brought Lucy into his embrace.
Lucy's heart hammered in her chest, but it ran even faster when she could feel Natsu's own racing heart which was beating against her palm as she put it in front of his chest. Natsu breathed in Lucy's scent as he nuzzled his nose into her hair.
"Good night, Lucy."
Natsu then closed his eyes and went into a slumber. His racing heart went back into its normal tempo, showing that he was sleeping already. Lucy smiled as she placed a hand behind Natsu's back and basked herself in his warmth and smoky smell.
I love you, Natsu.
"Good night, Natsu." Lucy whispered back and went into her own dream world. She knew she wouldn't have any nightmare anymore tonight.
How could she when Natsu was there to protect her?
Unbeknownst to them, Gray cracked an eye open and smiled upon seeing how comfortable they were towards each other.
"Finally, flame-head." Gray whispered under his breath. "You got your princess."
Four years ago…
An 18 years old Gray Fullbuster kicked the door in front of him open, startling Natsu who was dozing off on his bed.
"The hell is your problem?" Natsu glared. "That's my room's door, by the way!"
Gray said nothing and closed the door behind him—a little softer but nevertheless still rough—and sat down on the sofa.
Natsu sat on his bed and raised an eyebrow upon seeing just how ugly Gray's face was.
"What's wrong with you? You look uglier than the usual." Natsu scoffed.
"Don't start, flame-head." Gray glared.
"You owe me an explanation for kicking my door open, droopy-eyes." Natsu glared back.
Gray let out an upset sigh. "I'm getting married."
"An arranged one?"
"Duh."
"Why aren't I surprised." Natsu sighed. Now that they have reached 18, it is time for them to deal with proposes here and there to find the most suitable consort. Who says being a prince or a noble is fun?
If they were lucky, they get to pick their own bride. But most of the time, they had to say yes to arranged marriages.
"With whom?" Natsu asked.
"Juvia Lockser."
"Oh, the new noble family." Natsu nodded his head lightly. "How did it go?"
"I hate it of course." Gray rolled his eyes. "And she showed the same response. Man, I wish I could get the same chance as Jellal."
"But maybe she isn't so bad." Natsu shrugged. "Take a look at Levy. She even agreed to get married out of love with Gajeel. Just five months after their parents arranged it."
"She's one of the luckiest, dumbass." Gray snorted. "Me? Not so much. I don't want to have an arranged marriage!"
Natsu rolled his eyes. "Don't be too dramatic. We all know this is what we're going to face when we're 18."
"How come you don't have any arranged marriage?!" Gray pointed in annoyance. "You're the prince, damn it, not me!"
"Because I made it clear that I don't want to follow Zeref-nii's footsteps." Natsu smirked. "Besides, I'm the prince, so I don't have to be bound by this ridiculous sense of getting married at 18."
Gray let out an exasperated sigh. "I wonder what kind of girl would want to marry a jerk like you."
"I want a princess."
Gray snorted. "Obviously, moron. Do you think Igneel jii-chan would let you marry an shady woman? You're a prince!"
"I don't mean that, dumbass." Natsu snorted back. "I mean not princess by status, but princess by heart."
"What the hell you mean?" Gray raised an eyebrow.
Natsu smirked. "It means, I don't want an arranged marriage, stupid."
"I'm so gonna kill you." Gray glared at his best friend—but don't tell him that.
Lucy groggily opened her eyes as she could feel the warm sunlight on her back. A hand caressed her cheek softly.
"Morning."
Lucy snapped her eyes open and her breath hitched upon hearing that warm and low voice. Lucy blinked her eyes as she processed whose chest she was seeing right now.
"Did you have a good night sleep?"
Wait a minute. That voice… This smoky smell…
Don't tell me…
Lucy yelped and pushed Natsu away, sending him toppling over from the bed and fell flat onto the ground.
"Ouch! What the hell?!"
Lucy's consciousness kicked in as she quickly scooted to the bed side and looked at Natsu apologetically. "I'm sorry, Natsu! Are—are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Natsu rubbed his butt and stood up. "Did I do something wrong just now?"
"No!" Lucy shook her head vigorously. "I—I'm sorry… I… I was just surprised."
Natsu raised an eyebrow and lowered his body to level their eyes. He let out a small smirk. "But you have to get used to it. Once we're married, we'll be sharing the bed every day."
Lucy blushed instantly and tried to stir the topic elsewhere. "Do—do you have a good sleep?"
"'Course. I'm with you, after all." Natsu was still smirking. "And hugging you for the rest of—"
Uh-oh. Wrong move.
"Oh look, the sun's up so high already!" Lucy smiled awkwardly and got up from bed. "We have to go to the mine and start supervising—"
"No, you won't." Natsu took a firm grip on Lucy's hand. "You'll be resting for today."
"But Natsu—"
"No buts." Natsu said. "I'll take turns with Gray today in supervising so either one of us could always stay here and take care of you."
Just then, Gray yawned and sat on the sofa. It turned out he was awake already as well. "Yeah. So, you better rest today, dear sister."
"But, I—"
"No buts." Gray repeated and stood up. "You passed out yesterday and I don't want the same thing happened again today."
"But this is my duty—"
"You're unwell, so you have to get plenty of rest." Natsu cut. "And this is also my duty, Lucy. Leave it up to me."
"I'll take the morning shift." Gray yawned as he walked towards the door. "I bet Lisanna is on her way here as well, so it's better if I face her first."
But before Gray could open the door, it was slammed open suddenly. Gray jolted out of surprise, and both Lucy and Natsu turned their heads to see who was standing at the door.
It was Mavis.
"Lucy!" Mavis ran to Lucy and gave Natsu a hard shove. "Are you okay? Natsu told us that you fainted yesterday!" She then placed her forehead on Lucy's own. "Oh, thank god you don't have any fever!"
"I—I'm fine, Mavis-nee." Lucy said, touched by Mavis's genuine concern.
"You scared the hell out of me." Gray rubbed his chest.
"Why did you come here, Mavis-nee?" Natsu asked. "My hawk isn't lost, huh?"
"No, it's not. Even Gray's hawk reached Juvia safely. But she was preoccupied yesterday so she told us after we got your hawk, Natsu." Mavis answered. "We actually wanted to come here yesterday but Zeref told us to let you rest for the night. Mother was so worried and she wanted to come here early in the morning, but I told her I'll go instead."
"I'm all better now, Mavis-nee." Lucy smiled.
"Thank goodness. What did the doctor say?" Mavis asked.
"Exhaustion." Natsu replied. "Moreover, Lucy's still adapting to this country's climate. The doctor gave her a vitamin as well. Which reminds me, you gotta drink it every morning."
"Where's the vitamin?" Mavis asked. Natsu fished out the vial from his pocket and gave it to his sister-in-law. "Okay, I'll take care of it. Natsu and Gray, you can go to the mine now. I'll take care of Lucy for the rest of the day."
"No, Mavis-nee, you don't have to!" Lucy said. "I really am fine."
"Sssh. Just listen to me." Mavis let out a small smile. "I have to make sure you're okay or Father will not let you come back to supervise anymore."
"Igneel jii-chan wants Lucy to come back to the Dragon Country?" Gray asked.
"If she keeps being sick." Mavis answered. "That's why I came here to make sure that she's okay."
"Mavis-nee, please don't worry." Lucy smiled. "I'm really okay."
"She's not going to supervise the project today, right?" Mavis looked at Natsu.
"Yeah. She's staying on the bed." Natsu nodded his head.
"By the way, Mavis-nee… I'm not thinking of jinxing anything, but… Where's Lisanna?" Gray asked.
"She's staying at the Dragon Country starting from today." Mavis replied with a smile. "We've discussed it with the Strauss, and they decided to start teaching Lisanna her responsibilities as a member of the Strauss family. And they also decided to let Lisanna spend more time with Bickslow."
"I hope the Justines don't hate her." Natsu said.
"Don't worry. Bickslow knew Lisanna couldn't take the idea of an arranged marriage and he understands it. Although we hope that the two of them could get along better if they spend more time together." Mavis answered.
"She… Didn't throw a tantrum, did she?" Natsu asked.
"I don't think she would even dare to do that in front of Mirajane." Mavis said.
"Well, you're right. Mirajane can be as scary as Erza if she wants to." Gray let out a soft chuckle.
"Now then, off you go, you two!" Mavis shooed them with a smile.
"Alright, alright." Natsu said. "I'll see you later, Lucy."
Lucy nodded back with a smile.
"I didn't know you're such a sweet person."
"What?"
Gray smirked then his smirk broke into a cheeky grin. "I saw everything, you know."
"Saw what?"
"How you kept stroking her hair and breathed her scent. Oh, and how you use that voice of yours to say good morning to her and—"
Gray's rambled was cut off when Natsu punched his cheek.
"OUCH! The hell, flame-head?!"
"Shut up."
Gray punched Natsu's cheek back. "I won't let that slip just because you're madly in love!"
"That hurts, bastard!" Natsu glared back at Gray and was about to punch Gray once more when a voice stopped him.
"Good morning, Prince Natsu, Lord Gray."
Both Gray and Natsu who were grabbing each other's collar stopped glaring and looked at Loke who was bowing down to them from the end of stairs.
Natsu let his grab go and placed his eyes on Loke. "Go ahead first, Gray. I'll meet you at the mine."
Gray also let go and nodded his head. He then walked past Loke without saying anything, only sparing him a small glance.
"I heard from Gray you were there with Lucy when he found her." Natsu said in a low voice.
Loke kept his head low. "It was merely a coincidence, Your Highness."
Natsu said nothing and made his way down. Judging from Lucy's actions, it seemed like Loke was telling the truth. But Natsu wouldn't take any chances, knowing how his eyes glinted when he saw Lucy.
Natsu stopped beside a bowing Loke, placing his firm grip on Loke's shoulder. "Like I said, stay away from her."
Loke smirked quietly in the shadows. "As you wish, Your Highness."
Done !
What do you think ?
Don't forget to leave your reviews :D