Chapter Fifty-Eight: Day off
(April 14th, 2018, Saturday Morning)
"Are you done cutting the grass yet?"
Lucy looked up, blinking slowly at the shadowy figure on the porch. She nodded, eyes falling to the oversized scissors in her hand. One cut took out a perfect square of grass, but it didn't seem to work as well when she got towards the fence.
She stood, turning to head back inside the house. She looked to her left, seeing a zombie stuck in someone's yard. For a moment she thought, 'They should do something about that,' but kept her mouth shut. Some people liked keeping them as pets.
Lucy walked through the front door, but once she crossed the threshold, she was in Magnolia High. Her bare feet weren't as soiled as she thought they would be, leaving no marks behind her as she headed towards receiving to drop off the scissors, though by the time she reached the room she wasn't carrying them anymore.
As soon as she entered, her body was being thrown backwards, Lucy feeling like she was floating for a moment.
"Hey there, Blondie," called a woman, Lucy unable to see a face, but she saw the red hair wrapped around her wrists and ankles. It must have been magic, the hair strong enough to keep her body up. She thought she would feel pain from how tightly they coiled around her limbs, but all she felt was lightness, like going down on an elevator.
Next thing Lucy knew, she was being let down, somehow knowing she was being called for an appointment, but she heard no words. Loke escorted her, the man moving his mouth but no words escaped, yet she knew he was bringing her to Grandeeney.
However, as soon as she opened the door to the nurse's office, she was being told to run. Lucy fell forward, landing on the cold ground. She felt no pain but saw her knees get scraped from the rocks and sticks on the ground, Lucy's head foggy as she forced herself up and ran.
She kept running and running, but every time she looked behind her, she saw the lake house. It was on fire, the brilliant flames warming her skin, but she could hear their voices, and she knew she had to keep moving.
Lucy jumped when she had to, twisting around trees and bushes, making her way through the endless forest. She was just about to look behind her again when she fell, her soul feeling like it left her body as she watched herself in slow motion, falling into a deep hole.
She blinked, now in her body as she scrambled to her feet. Her hands grabbed at the dirt walls around her, unable to climb up. Lucy was just about to call for help, but stopped when she saw bodies looking down at her from the surface.
Levy, Virgo, Loke, Rogue, and Natsu stood around the edge of the hole, their faces marred with tears.
Lucy opened her mouth to ask for help, but she couldn't find her voice. She screamed, yelled, but no sound came out. She saw them trying to talk, but only one voice reached her, but he sounded muffled.
"It wasn't safe."
Natsu shook his head before throwing a handful of dirt in the hole, Lucy covering her eyes just in time. She went to yell again, but more dirt fell, the others joining in to fill the hole.
Lucy clawed at the walls, but she couldn't pull herself up. Her legs wouldn't even move, cemented to the ground. She kept yelling and fighting, but it was no use. The only sound she heard was the dirt falling, her vision getting darker and darker until the last of her light was snuffed out.
Lucy jolted awake, struggling to take in a deep breath when it all hit her at once. Her hand came up, touching at her throat before whispering, "I'm okay." She closed her eyes, but quickly opened them again when she recalled parts of her dream, though it was already starting to get fuzzy the more awake she became.
"Just a dream," she said, voice rough from sleep, but she didn't mind. 'As long as I didn't lose it.'
Lucy swallowed, never wanting to feel that helpless again. It had been a while since she had a nightmare, but could she really call it that? What happened wasn't nearly as bad as some of the nightmares she had after finally escaping the lake house, but it wasn't exactly a happy dream either.
'Whatever it was, it's over,' Lucy thought, breathing deeply until she steadied herself.
She turned around, eyes widening for just a moment when she saw that bright pink hair in her face. Lucy softened in an instant, closing her eyes as she inched closer to Natsu's sleeping form, his back facing her.
Lucy breathed him in, still wishing he had his same old smell back, but she still found comfort in his presence. 'He's back. He's safe.'
Natsu was alive and well. She didn't have to worry about him coming back anymore.
A smile surfaced on her face as she closed her eyes. Her dream was already mostly forgotten, one part sticking out in her mind.
'I'll show him how strong I am,' she thought, relishing in the heat under the blankets. 'Natsu will be really surprised, but he'll see I can handle myself.'
She assumed Natsu would worry, but she hoped he took the news well tonight. Lucy almost chuckled at herself as she drifted back to sleep, proud of how far she had come.
Lucy furrowed her brows when she heard something loud in the room. She groaned, protesting the idea of being awake yet. The alarm hadn't gone off, meaning she had time to rest.
'Did I set the alarm?' she questioned, not having a vivid memory of doing so the night before.
'What did I do last night?' Lucy tried thinking back, eyes shooting open when she remembered.
However, her heart fell when she looked at the empty space in the bed beside her. The blankets were cold, even the spot where she thought Natsu had been sleeping was absent his heat. Her hand ran over the spot, lower lip quivered as she curled her fingers against the sheets.
'It's... not fair.' Her eyes pricked, wondering what kind of sick game her mind was playing to make her think Natsu had come back yesterday. Had it all been a dream? Was her imagination that wild it conjured a whole afternoon.
'Is Loke really not here too? Is he dead? Is Natsu okay? Is he even coming back?'
Before a tear could fall, she heard a new sound in the room. Her body stilled, not recognizing that sound as a noise Happy would make. Slowly, she turned her head, eyes widening when she found the desk.
Sitting behind it was none other than Natsu, staring intently at something. Her movement caught his eye, Natsu glancing up before offering her a sheepish smile.
"Sorry if I woke ya. I dropped a book."
Lucy's eyes fell to the ground, needing to prop herself up to see a book beside the desk. She looked back at Natsu, sighing in relief when she confirmed he really was there, and she had nothing to worry about.
Lucy dropped herself back on the bed, curling the blankets closer to herself as she smothered her grin. Everything was okay, and it wouldn't be long before they could go back to normal.
Though, Lucy's normal was different from Natsu's, the man needing two month's worth of change to catch up on.
Lucy took her time sitting up, her body aching from the day before. She looked at the bed, wishing there was a way to rest more without letting Natsu know she changed jobs.
'Would he believe me if I said I changed my day off?' She considered that for a moment, but dismissed the idea. If she brought it up he would surely have follow up questions, and she didn't want to lie to him.
Hiding the truth felt dishonest, but she still wasn't ready to have that talk with him. She needed to work herself up to it, plan how to approach the topic so Natsu didn't get overwhelmed with the news.
She could nap another day. Today she would find something else to occupy her time before sitting down with Natsu to discuss her being a runner.
'Maybe I'll bring up how strong the other girls are who go off base. Yeah, that'll be good. And maybe I can also—'
Lucy began brainstorming as she went to grab her essentials for the morning, making her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth and take care of business. She thought Natsu would have moved by the time she got back, but he was still firmly in the seat, peering down at the desk.
With a raised brow, Lucy moved closer, realizing what held his attention.
A small smile appeared as she put her things away, not looking his way as she said, "What do you think?"
"It's awesome," Natsu said, the sound of paper shuffling following. "I haven't read any of the new chapters yet though."
"Huh?" Lucy turned, surprised as she asked, "What are you reading then?" She had recognized her notebook, the one she wrote her fanfiction in.
"I wanted a refresher before I started reading the new chapter," Natsu explained, an eagerness shining in his eyes. "But then I noticed some changes to a scene, so I went back a little further and found more changes."
"Oh." Lucy blinked, forgetting for a moment she did that. "Yeah, I reedited a few parts. I thought it would help the story flow better."
Natsu nodded. "I ended up starting over. I'm only on chapter six, but I'm loving the changes so far." To himself, he added, "I can't wait to catch up."
"If..."
Lucy's eyes dropped, lacking the confidence she felt seconds ago. She decided against bringing it up again, even if part of her was excited about her newest piece of writing. She was still unsure of herself in that field, but she wasn't going to give up. She would continue to hone her skills, just like she worked towards her other goals.
"Were you going to say something?" Natsu asked, startling her out of her thoughts.
She turned, biting back a blush when she saw him leaning against the desk, his gaze on her just as intense as it had been on her writing moments ago.
"I... Uh," Lucy started, eyes flitting around the room a few times before settling back on Natsu. She had to keep his eye contact, otherwise he might ask questions about her behavior.
She had to act normally, though Natsu's definition of Lucy was apparently weird, so she really didn't know how she was supposed to act.
"You okay?" Natsu asked, causing Lucy to tense.
'Shoot! I'm already acting differently!'
"I'm good," Lucy said, raising a hand to put on her arm. She let out a strained chuckle as she said, "Just... nervous, about something I'm working on."
"What is it?" Natsu cocked his head, Lucy almost groaning at how cute he looked when curious. It really wasn't fair.
"I kind of mentioned it last night," Lucy said, twisting a bit to grab a notebook off her bookcase. She held it up, letting him see. "I'm a... working on an original story..."
"Oh right!" Natsu perked up, moving to stand.
Lucy took a subtle deep breath through her nose as he made his way to her side, reaching towards the notebook. However, before he could grab it, Lucy pressed it against her chest, keeping it away from his grasp.
"It's not ready yet," she said before he could take offense, her blush fierce on her face as he peered down at her with a questioning gaze.
Slowly, his eyes softened. Natsu grinned, lifting a hand to rest on her shoulder as he said, "Can I be the first to read it?"
Lucy barely swallowed, her throat feeling impossibly dry. Her eyes moved to the pitcher of water on the table, but she couldn't move from her spot even if she wanted to.
Natsu's hand was light on her shoulder, but she felt grounded. She knew it was all platonic, just Natsu being his friendly self, but she couldn't help but think how badly she wished he would touch her in a different way.
"No need to be embarrassed about your writing," Natsu assured, giving her shoulder a squeeze. "I bet it's great!"
Lucy laughed, because what else was she supposed to do? Natsu was standing so close, his smile so bright. He hadn't even read it and he was already confident for her.
'He'll take the news well,' she thought, deciding it wouldn't be so hard telling Natsu she was a runner. He was her friend, someone she trusted and bonded with. He wanted her to succeed and be happy. She was sure he would worry, but he would see she thought it through and made a good decision.
Lucy smiled, shaking her head as she turned to the bookcase to put it away. "I promised Levy I would show her first," she started, looking back to see Natsu's pout.
He chuckled when she rolled her eyes, saying, "Fine. I'll wait." Natsu slowly dropped his hand, trailing it down her arm before making his way back to the desk. He didn't notice how red her cheeks had grown, Lucy needing a moment to calm herself before her face could catch on fire.
'You can get through this,' she thought, grabbing her outfit for the day.
"I should get ready too," Natsu said, folding the corner of the page he was on before closing the notebook. He picked up the book he dropped earlier before getting his morning stuff. "Man, it's gonna be weird getting used to brushing my teeth in the dark again."
"They really had electricity? Everywhere?" Lucy asked, earning a nod.
"Yup! We actually watched TV a few times too! But not too much, since they charge for power there."
Lucy furrowed her brows, finding that odd. "Will we have to pay for power?" she asked, knowing the solar panels would be installed soon. She didn't know how long it would take or how useful it would be, but never had she thought they would have to earn it.
Natsu shrugged. "I don't think so, but I don't know. We don't exactly use money, but I'll find out during the report." A wrinkle formed on his forehead as he scrunched his nose. "There's... some stuff I need to talk to Makarov and the others about..."
Lucy almost asked if he wanted to talk about whatever seemed to bother him, but before she could get the words out, Natsu broke out into a grin.
"I hope we get electricity soon! I'm totally gonna get a gaming system if I can!"
Lucy jolted when his eyes landed on her, something between fierce and excitement lighting his eyes. "Do you play video games?"
Lucy released her breath, shaking her head. "Not really. The most games I played were on my phone." Her eyes widened, remembering Natsu's phone. She looked around for it, trying to remember where she put it last night.
"Whatcha lookin' for?" Natsu asked, leaning against the desk.
"Do you know where your phone is?" She hadn't thought about it until then, but in Natsu's picture app was her statement about working off base. She didn't want him finding out that way, wanting to wait until later to bring up the topic.
"I have it," Natsu said, patting his pocket. "I'm gonna listen to music today when I relax."
Lucy nodded, her heartbeat picking up. "Yeah, sounds like a good idea."
She wasn't sure if he would find the picture or not, but she wasn't about to make him suspicious of his phone if she asked more questions. If he found out by seeing the picture, she would just deal with the consequences. It wouldn't be ideal, but it was a risk she was willing to take.
"See you in a minute," he said, leaving the room to get ready for the day.
Lucy nodded, slipping behind the curtain they had hung up for changing. She took in a deep breath, telling herself to relax. 'It'll be fine. He'll be happy for me, excited even. We'll get to see each other more when he's a runner, so that'll be nice... Natsu will understand. He goes off base all the time and he's fine. He'll get it.'
With her pep talk raising her spirits, Lucy shuffled out of her night clothes, putting on a fresh pair of underwear and bra. She wouldn't be taking a shower again until Monday evening, but luckily she had friends who gave her pointers to stay cleaner after building a sweat as a runner.
Every day after work she would strip down and dampen a small towel with her pitcher of water and run it over her body, collecting the excess sweat and dirt. It wasn't the best, but it got the job done. Lucy felt a lot fresher after starting that routine.
'And they're planning on building more showers!' Lucy grinned as she tugged on her jeans, surprised by how snug they felt. They weren't impossibly tight, the girl able to do a squat without the seams busting, but she remembered that particular pair was slightly loose on her the last time she wore it, two weeks ago.
"I guess I've been filling out," she said, running her hands over her thighs. Her exercising had made her stronger, and being a runner helped her get more than enough nutrients to keep herself in top shape.
As a runner, she got to eat more than people who worked on base, and she did her best to eat things that would be the most beneficial to her body. Not only did it make her feel better, it made her look better... in her opinion.
She knew people had different preferences, and before the outbreak she had wanted to maintain her slim figure, but now she loved her curves. She worked hard for her body, and she loved herself, even with her various marks.
Lucy's fingers trailed down her largest scar on her stomach, the one that looked like she had been ripped open. The cuts were never deep, but Ivan continued to slice that same path over and over again, giving it a more grotesque look.
"It doesn't define me," she whispered before grabbing her tank top. It was a bit tight, but she liked the color so she kept it despite the few holes in it. She only wore it on her day off anyways, so it didn't get dirty.
Lucy stretched a little before grabbing something special, a beige sweater.
She hummed at the soft material, giving herself a hug after she put it on. Lucy had been looking forward to wearing the sweater since Wednesday when she got it on a run. It was brand new, still had the tags on it when she found it in someone's closet.
It was a bit oversized, but Lucy didn't care that it swallowed her. The only skin showing below her neck was her fingers and toes, but soon those were covered as she put on her socks and boots.
She had three pairs of boots now. Two were for work, rotated so they wouldn't be overused. The third was her absolute favorite, made more for style but still somewhat comfortable. She only wore them on her days off, coming up to just below her knees.
Lucy wore a satisfied smile as she discarded her dirty laundry in a hamper. Laundry detail would be starting up soon now that it was warming up outside, meaning Lucy would get to keep some of her clothing instead of throwing it away when it got too dirty.
Before Lucy could think too much on that, she heard the door opening, spinning to see Natsu enter. She raised a brow, wondering why he wasn't dressed for comfort if he was planning on relaxing today.
He wore a ripped tank top and cargo pants, the ends tucked into his boots. If she didn't know any better, she would say he was planning on going off base to work, but she dismissed the idea. 'Maybe he's going to get the bed he was talking about,' Lucy wondered, but she didn't ask.
"You ready for breakfa— That's weird?" Natsu furrowed his brows as his eyes ran up and down her form, but Lucy didn't feel creeped out. She knew he wasn't checking her out, not a hint of lust or even appreciation for what he was seeing.
"What?" Lucy asked, holding her arms out. Even stretching, the sweater came down to her thighs, making it impossible to see her true figure.
"Just... thought it's weird," he started, vaguely gesturing at her before moving to put his things away. "Yesterday you were showin' off your arms, but today you're all covered."
"I have a tank top underneath if it gets warm," she offered, brushing a sleeve against her cheek. "It's just so cozy!"
Natsu seemed to like that answer, grinning as he nodded. She watched as he grabbed his scarf, wrapping it around his neck before getting his dishes for breakfast. However, as soon as he turned, he frowned.
"Macao lets you wear stuff like that to work?"
Lucy paled, wondering if she had been caught. "I... Well—" She fumbled with her words before nodding to herself, speaking slowly and carefully. "I can honestly say Macao doesn't care what I wear to work." She almost smiled at herself for avoiding the truth.
She definitely wasn't lying. Macao wouldn't care what she wore because he wasn't her boss.
Natsu raised a brow before saying, "You're being weird."
"What?!" Lucy panicked, but Natsu's grin had her sighing.
"But that's okay, 'cause you're always weird!"
Lucy forced herself to laugh, following his lead by grabbing her dishes. She opted to only bring her plate, spoon, and cup, letting her carry all in one hand. "Ready when you are," she said, hoping Natsu's questions would end, but as soon as they were in the halls, he started up again.
"Aren't you worried?" he asked, causing her to cock her head.
"About?" There were plenty of things to be worried about. Zombies, starvation, wild animals, infections. He needed to be more specific.
"Getting your clothes dirty?" Natsu looked at her outfit again, his gaze lingering a little longer than normal.
'Thank goodness for the dark halls,' she thought, glad he couldn't see her blush forming.
"I—"
"They look nice," Natsu said, cutting her off.
Lucy almost patted her cheeks to calm herself, knowing he didn't mean it like that. He would say the same thing if one of his other friends were dressed like that for work.
'Okay, think,' Lucy started, wondering how she was going to answer without lying. She looked up at him, shrugging. "If they get dirty, they get dirty."
Natsu accepted that answer with a nod. "Fair enough." He looked ahead as they made their way down the stairs, entering the main hall that would take them towards the arena. "I can't wait to read more of your story. I'm gonna pay more attention to those bow and arrow scenes. You know, since apparently you're some badass archer."
Lucy bit her bottom lip, finding she liked what he was saying. He was acknowledging her skills as an archer despite never seeing her in action. 'Yeah, he's going to take it well when I tell him I'm a runner. He'll see I can handle it.'
Sure, she didn't use a bow and arrow off base, mostly because she didn't have one acceptable for her. She was still using her machete Rogue gave her, getting more skilled with it every time she had to use it.
Lucy wanted to ask if Natsu would be in the room all day, reading or relaxing, but she didn't. She would find something to do until night, doubting Natsu would go to places like the library or the football field. She couldn't see him wanting to exercise on his day off, and her writing would be the only reading material the man consumed today.
Lucy was just about to sigh, but before she could, she felt a pressure on her right hand. She looked up just as Natsu lifted her hand, inspecting it.
"I still can't believe you got a tattoo." He rubbed his thumb over the pink mark, not noticing the way Lucy shivered at his touch.
Though, it was odd, since she felt fire blazing through her body. 'Get a hold of yourself Lucy! He's just a friend. No need to complicate things with these feelings. We're good just the way we are.'
Which, was mostly true. They did make good friends. The only problem she saw was Natsu telling her secret and treating her like she was fragile, but she was hopeful those would change.
She had forgiven Natsu for sharing her secret, so long as he didn't do it again without her permission, and after he saw how she handled herself off base, there would be no questions on whether she was fragile or not.
Lucy almost grinned, wondering how long it would take before she impressed him as a runner. She could already imagine his surprised yet proud look. 'I need to work more on what to say to him tonight, that way I'm fully prepared.'
"Never woulda pegged you for the type to get tattoos," he said.
Lucy smiled at what she had up her sleeve. "Maybe I can surprise you."
Natsu nodded before dropping her hand, but he didn't let go. "I do like surprises," he whispered, but Lucy barely heard him.
Her mind was preoccupied wondering what the heck he was doing, his warm hand still holding hers. After a few paces, she cleared her throat and asked, "Wh-what are you doing?"
As if he wouldn't get it, she squeezed his hand, leaving no room for doubts on what she meant.
"Oh, I..."
Lucy looked at him through the corner of her eye, trying to seem nonchalant about the whole thing. She would be lying if she said she didn't like it, enjoying the simple yet intimate act.
'Maybe my feelings aren't so one-sided...' She didn't want to get her hopes up, but they seemed to soar when she saw the cute, confused look on his face.
"I don't know..." Natsu's pace slowed until they both stopped, a few feet away from the exit. "I just—" He grew quiet, his grip on her hand loosening.
"I don't mind," Lucy said, fearful of his retreat. She wanted his touch, wanted his comfort. He clearly wanted to be close to her too, not letting go of her hand yet.
"You sure?" he asked, waiting until she nodded before firming his grip once more.
"Yeah."
Natsu smiled softly. "Okay. It just, it feels kinda nice..."
Lucy did her best to keep the giddiness out of her voice. "Yeah. It is kind of nice."
"Come on," Natsu said, tugging on her hand. He didn't release it even after they went through the doors. The early morning sun cast down on them, but Lucy thought nothing of it, until Natsu looked back at her.
His eyes widened, the words flying out of his mouth as he dropped her hand. "Are you okay? You look feverish."
She didn't get a chance to answer before he was checking her temperature, pressing the back of his hand to her forehead. "You don't feel warm..."
"Your skin's naturally hotter," Lucy reminded him, wishing she was wearing a scarf. She could really use one to dip her nose into, wanting to conceal her flush. "I think I'm just hungry..."
"I dunno," Natsu started, a coy grin surfacing on his face. "Maybe you should just skip work. Call in sick."
Lucy shook her head, a nervous chuckle following. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you just want me to hang out with you since you don't work today."
Natsu barked out a laugh, cupping the back of his neck with his free hand. "Guilty." He looked down at her, a softness in his voice as he asked, "Are you alright though?"
Lucy's heart melted a little. She was torn between wanting him to treat her like the strong woman she had become, but also loving how tender he could be with her. 'Is there a way to get both?' she wondered, but decided against asking out loud.
"I'm good," she said honestly, giving him a soft nod. "Very good."
Natsu perked up in an instant. "Great! Then let's go eat!"
She bit her cheek when he grabbed her again, hand circling her wrist to pull her forward. Despite knowing it was dangerous, Lucy allowed herself to enjoy his touch. It was meant for her, after all.
But apparently, Natsu wasn't satisfied with just that touch.
"Hey later, do you think you could give me a massage?" Natsu asked, rolling his shoulders. "I'm feelin' a little stiff."
Lucy didn't know if Natsu was trying to make her face catch on fire, but he was succeeding. The thought of running her hands all over Natsu's body with the goal of making him feel good and relaxed, it had her breath hitching and palms sweat. "Um—"
"I could try returnin' the favor, if you want." Natsu squeezed her wrist before chuckling, "I don't have any experience, but think I can figure it out."
Lucy nearly choked on nothing, her body tingling at the thought of Natsu's hands roaming her body. She let out a little squeak, wondering how much pressure he would apply.
Natsu must have mistaken her noise. She was nervous, but not in the way he guessed. "Or not. I don't wanna make ya uncomfortable." He looked down at her, a seriousness in his eyes. "I won't do anything you don't want."
Lucy swallowed, unable to make his eye contact as she nodded. "We'll... see."
It was the best she could do, considering her throat had tightened up at the mere thought of their potential touches.
Lucy stared at the faces of her friends, all eyes on her as they waited for an explanation. Everyone aside from Loke knew she had the day off, used to her schedule by then. However, it was obvious her roommate didn't know as he said goodbye to her, wishing her a good day at work before taking off with Gray.
She sank a little in her seat, wishing they wouldn't ask, but of course, Erza did.
"Why does Natsu think you work today?"
Lucy took a deep breath before releasing it as a sigh. Luckily for her, Levy chose to answer.
"Lucy is waiting to tell Natsu about her job change. She thinks he won't be happy about it."
"Ah." The redhead nodded. "I see."
"Why wouldn't he be happy?" Loke asked, but Lucy didn't feel like going through it all once more.
"He can be a bit..." Lucy searched for the right word.
"Overprotective?" Loke asked, causing Lucy to shake her head.
"I wouldn't say that."
Loke snorted, raising a brow. "You sure? Yesterday he couldn't take his eyes off ya." With a snicker, he added, "If it's not overprotective, then he's definitely cautious."
Instead of commenting on that, Lucy sighed. "I'm going to tell him tonight." Her voice grew small, much like her confidence. "I just need time to prepare. It's just... It might turn into a discussion... He'll probably be okay with it, but there's a chance he'll try to talk me out of it, and... I'd rather just, have more time."
She hoped that was enough of an explanation, and thankfully for her, they eased up.
"Alright," Erza said with a nod. "That's understandable."
Lucy nodded, reminding herself it was for the best. Besides, Natsu needed to rest. He just got back. She couldn't throw everything at him at once.
'Natsu will understand. He will,' she told herself, hoping she was right.
The rest of breakfast passed like normal. Lucy said bye to her friends before heading towards the school. She didn't worry about Natsu finding her in the room to drop off her dishes, since that was what she normally did. However, when she entered, the only one she found was Happy, eagerly meowing for attention.
"I'm sure Natsu already let you out this morning, but you can go again," she said, wondering how long it would be until Natsu got back. 'Where is he anyways?' Lucy questioned, putting the thought on hold to let Happy outside.
Before she knew it, she was locking the cat back in the room, heading towards the first floor. She doubted Natsu would end up in Grandeeney's office, though knowing how careless he was at times, he may very well need some medical attention.
However, Lucy was willing to chance it as she knocked on the door, entering when Grandeeney gave her permission.
"Good morning, Lucy," the doctor said, nodding towards the beds. "Are you here for another talk?"
"If you have time?"
"Of course. Come have a seat." Grandeeney noticed Lucy looking around, a soft smile on her face as she said, "Wendy will be out for a while. Her and Sherria are clearing those trailers out back."
When Lucy raised a brow, Grandeeney explained, "Receiving needs more room for supplies." She paused, lightly snorting. "Never thought I'd say that. Fairy Tail is really coming together."
"It is," Lucy agreed, happy she contributed.
Lucy took off her boots before getting into a comfortable position, thankful Grandeeney agreed to help her sort out her thoughts and feelings. She wasn't a therapist, but she was wise and had some similar life experiences.
Grandeeney had also been pushed to succeed by her parents, driven towards the medical field. That had turned out well, seeing as Grandeeney had a knack for it.
She also had some unfortunate things happen in her life. While Grandeeney had no experience dealing with victims of torture, the doctor had been date raped by one of her coworkers twenty years ago.
Of course, their situations were wildly different, but there was enough common ground that Lucy felt safe talking about what happened with Jose and Nullpudding, though she called the latter Null for short.
She wasn't convinced Nullpudding was a real name, but that was what they called him. Everyone in that group who kept her prisoner seemed out of touch with reality.
Lucy shivered, remembering once when Null used the last of her blue and red eyeshadow to rub over his face, making his skin look like a blotchy purple.
It wasn't much, but Lucy was relieved she was unconscious both times those vile men took her against her will. Though, sometimes she wondered if that was worse, not knowing exactly what they did.
'It's better not knowing,' Lucy decided, breathing out a long sigh before looking at Grandeeney. She didn't want to get into anything too heavy today. She would already be putting herself into an emotional spot later when she talked with Natsu. No need to overexert her mental stability.
"I had a dream last night," Lucy started, shaking her head slightly. "I don't remember much, but I didn't wake up as bad as I used to." A smile found its way on her face, pride heard in her voice. "I didn't even sweat."
"That's good. Anything stand out?"
Lucy nodded, describing the parts she remembered, though they were fuzzy after being awake for a while. "It kind of worries me, but I think with him coming back and then last night we talked about... Ivan, my brain was probably just throwing all that randomness together."
"I wouldn't take your dreams seriously. Sometimes it's your subconscious trying to tell you something, but others it's just random, like you said." Grandeeney paused before asking, "So, Natsu warned you to stay on base?"
Lucy shook her head, brows furrowed as she tried recalling his exact words. "He said something about it not being safe. I was in a hole and dirt was thrown in, so I think I was at my funeral?"
Shrugging, Lucy added, "I don't plan on dying, but when I do I assume it'll be off base."
"They weren't a patient of mine, but once someone came into the emergency room because they slipped and hit their head on a coffee table." Grandeeney must have noticed the tilt in Lucy's head, getting to the point. "You can be injured anywhere. Sure, your risk is higher off base, but there are still risks on base."
Lucy nodded, remembering her close encounter with death when Warcry turned on base. "Yeah, guess you're right." That felt like a lifetime ago, a different Lucy ago. She had been so frail back then, but despite her strength, Lucy knew deep down she still held onto some fear.
She grew stronger, but that didn't mean she was invincible.
"I haven't told him yet," Lucy said, rubbing at her arm. Her eyes widened, remembering the injury she sustained yesterday. As she removed her sweater to show Grandeeney her wound, she told the doctor about her plans to tell Natsu tonight and how she needed to find the right way to approach the topic so he wouldn't be upset.
"Why would he be upset?" Grandeeney asked, not needing to be asked before she moved to the bed to remove the bandage from Lucy's arm for inspection.
"I'm keeping something from him," Lucy started before sighing. "But it's not like it's life or death... Well, I guess it kind of is. He..." Lucy paused, not caring to repeat what he said last night. He had hurt her feelings with his comment, implying she wasn't fit to go off base. He just hadn't seen what she could do. Once he heard about how well she had been doing as a runner, he could come around.
"He'll understand. I'm... I'm sure of it." She hoped he would hear her out. He would see she was making the best decision for herself and be okay with it.
He had to be, considering there was no other option but to accept Lucy's new job.
'What if he doesn't accept?' Lucy quickly dismissed the thought, knowing that was ridiculous. Natsu was cautious, and yes, protective, but he was reasonable. He would see. 'He will.'
"This doesn't look bad," Grandeeney said, moving to grab some ointment before wrapping it up again. "Sorry I can't offer you a fresh bandage. With my stock, I have to be more conservative. Hopefully they raid another store soon."
Lucy's smile faltered a bit, wondering how low Grandeeney's supply was. Fairy Tail seemed to have lots of food, drinks, and clothing, as well as common household items.
She knew the best place to get medical supplies would be a pharmacy or the hospital, but the latter was out of the question. It was overrun. The risk wasn't worth the potential reward, not if it was anything like it had been when Lucy fled the hospital almost a year ago.
"And I wouldn't worry if I were you," Grandeeney said, pulling Lucy out of her thoughts. "Natsu's a little thick-headed, but he's got a good heart. He'll see it's what you want."
Lucy nodded, thankful when that was the end of it.
"Are you still keeping a good exercise routine?"
With a grin, Lucy said, "Yup. I'm going to try to get a workout in before dinner." She would casually go into the room, letting Natsu think she had just gotten off work. He was sure to accept her invitation to exercise, then she could show him how strong she had become.
"I'm up to thirty-two push ups in a row before I have to switch to modified ones. And, I can do seven pull ups!"
Grandeeney smiled, sharing in Lucy's happiness. "Good for you." She looked down at Lucy while her sweater was still off. "And you look like you've built some more muscle since the last time you were weighed?"
"I think so. My jeans are a little snug." She chuckled, satisfied with her growth. She wasn't too muscular, not that there was anything wrong with girls with muscles. Erza pulled them off, the woman commanding respect without saying a word. Lucy preferred a more toned look for herself. She put her hands on her thighs, knowing they were her biggest improvement, as well as her ass.
Lucy flushed, remembering how she used to strive to be thin, but she had to admit, she enjoyed her curves. Not only did she like how she was shaping her body, she knew there was power behind it.
Her legs were strong, her kick damaging when she practiced on the punching bag right outside of the football field, in the equipment shed.
Her punches weren't quite there, but Lucy would work on getting a proper form later. A small smile appeared, wondering if Natsu could help her with her punches. He told her a few too many times about the fist fights he got into with Gray. Surely he could give her some pointers?
Lucy grabbed her sweater, letting it engulf her once more. If only she had gotten it during winter. It was certainly warm and cozy.
Lucy stayed for another thirty minutes, the two catching up more than anything. Some sessions Lucy was rendered to tears as she let herself be vulnerable, but others it was more lighthearted. Grandeeney did ask if Lucy was working on being assertive instead of passive, which led Lucy to telling Grandeeney about what Natsu said last night.
After talking through that and changing the subject a few more times, Lucy felt content with their talk. "I'll see you Tuesday?"
Grandeeney nodded, the two saying their goodbyes before Lucy left.
She wasn't willing to risk running into Natsu, so she headed down the hall of the first floor, a specific room in mind as she hummed to herself. So far her day off hadn't been bad. Sure, she would love to relax and take a nap, but she supposed it could be worse.
'Maybe I should swing by receiving and see if Levy will let me borrow her bed for an hour or so?'
Lucy dismissed the idea as soon as she reached her destination, knocking three times before taking a step back. The door opened, Lucy greeted with a raised brow before he smiled.
"Hey."
Lucy offered a meek wave, remembering blowing him off yesterday. "Sorry about running out," she said, but Hibiki shook his head.
"I get it." His soft expression had her at ease, thankful he wasn't upset she ditched him once she saw the truck with Gildart's name on it. "Your friend's back. That's pretty amazing."
Lucy nodded, still in shock Natsu was back. They survived nearly two months away from Fairy Tail, and Lucy was sure they could have lasted longer, but she was happy they were home.
They shared a moment of silence, Lucy kicking her foot back a few inches before tapping the toe of her boot against the tile. "So, still up to hang out?"
Hibiki's eyes seemed to light up at the offer. He nodded, turning to grab something from his room. Lucy had never been inside, her curiosity getting the better of her as she peeked in. There were three beds, Hibiki's roommates being Ren and Eve.
Lucy hadn't talked to either of them much, only greeting the two on occasion when Hibiki and them were near her in line for food. She leaned against the doorframe, watching as Hibiki put on his shoes.
"Would you want to read?" Hibiki asked, grabbing his key off a table. "Or just chill?"
Lucy smirked, placing a hand on her hip. "Too chicken for a rematch at chess?"
Hibiki chuckled before shaking his head. "Maybe later. My ego's still recovering."
Lucy beamed with pride. Aside from her father when he was alive, no one had beaten her at chess after she got the hang of it. She had learned from the best strategist she knew.
A dull ache settled into her chest, but she resisted a sigh. There was so much left unsaid between her and her father, and she doubted she would ever get the closure she so desperately needed.
He hadn't been the best dad, but she still missed him. If they had more time, she was sure they would have mended the broken relationship between them, but she would never know for sure.
"Let's go read," Lucy said, wanting to take her mind off the past and focus on the present. Hibiki had become a good friend of hers, and she enjoyed his company much like she enjoyed spending time with Levy.
They were both soft-spoken yet challenged her mentally a few times, keeping her mind sharp.
She thought about starting a book club with the three of them, but she had to finalize the details. Never being in a book club before, Lucy was unfamiliar with the norms and etiquettes. Perhaps there was a book in the library to help her?
'Maybe a 'Book club for Dummies'?'
The two left Hibiki's room to head to the library, taking a moment to decide what book they would read. While they browsed, they discussed where they could go to read. Hibiki suggested the picnic tables right outside of the school, but Lucy felt it was too risky. She needed some distance from the school, in case Natsu wandered around the building.
With little convincing, it was decided they would go to the football field. It was spacious but would give them some privacy. After that was figured out, Lucy threw herself into the decision over what book to read.
They settled on a suspense novel, Lucy hearing it was good back in the day, but she hadn't gotten the chance to read it herself.
Hibiki grabbed two copies before they moved back to the first floor, the two walking in silence as they descended the stairs to make it to the main hall. However, seconds after Hibiki entered the hall, Lucy heard her name being called.
She stilled, looking around the corner before moving to get a better look. Her heart nearly jumped in her chest when she laid eyes on Natsu. She could make out the excitement on his face with the slight natural light coming from a window.
"O-oh, hey? I uh, thought you'd be resting?"
There was nothing she could do to stop the shakiness of her voice aside from talk slower, but that would surely look strange. She swallowed when she saw Hibiki walking towards her, barely catching what Natsu said.
Hibiki stopped next to her, casting a glance Natsu's way before looking at Lucy. The woman was sweating, her comfortable sweater now too hot for her flushed skin, but she couldn't take it off.
She could barely move, stunned still.
"What're you doing? Shouldn't you be at work?"
'Oh fuck!' Lucy's stomach dropped. She had to think quick, scrambling to find a justification for being in the halls. "Oh, umm..."
Lucy managed to move her hands a bit, but her feet were rooted to the ground. "I'm heading outside." It wasn't a lie, but her stomach still jerked in protest. She smiled, though it felt fake.
Only when she caught sight of someone else in the hall did she gain control of her legs, a little relieved to see Gray there too. He could act as a buffer.
She almost laughed at herself, remembering how fearful she had been of Gray in the beginning. Of course, him scaring her half to death didn't help. It took a while until she dropped some of her guard around him, but she didn't consider him a threat anymore.
His problem with her had been her lack of working, but he would probably be ecstatic to hear she was a runner.
While Gray grabbed a cart, Lucy swore she saw Natsu say something, but it was too quiet for her to hear. She didn't get a chance to ask, Gray saying something to Natsu before the two moved towards her, Lucy's heart picking up its pace with every step they moved closer.
The next few minutes were awkward, to say the least.
Lucy held her breath every time Natsu spoke, worried she was going to slip up. She jolted when Natsu asked about Hibiki, failing to come up with a good excuse.
"He was going outside too," she said, cautious of every word.
Natsu only said, "Oh," and for some reason his expression changed.
Lucy didn't know what to think of it, worried he knew she was avoiding the truth. She didn't get a chance to find out, Gray speaking up when they walked past the entrance to the school. "Dude, we gotta go return this."
Lucy stopped seconds after Natsu stopped, unsure if she should stay or go. The longer she was around him, the more chances she had at slipping up. She wanted him to know she was a runner, but on her schedule. She had some good points to speak up about when it was time, but for the most part she felt unprepared.
"You coming Lucy?" Hibiki asked, still heading towards the exit.
"Y-yeah." Despite her words, she felt a tear in her chest, wishing there was a way she could hang out with both Natsu and Hibiki without revealing her new job. Would that even be possible?
'I doubt it.'
Lucy looked at Natsu, her heart heavy as she said, "I'll uh... see you later?"
He didn't say anything, just staring at her like he wanted her to do something. Lucy bit back a frown when she realized Natsu wasn't going to respond.
She turned, hurrying to catch up with Hibiki. Lucy reached his side before they exited the building, Hibiki waiting until the door was shut before casting Lucy a look.
"Do I wanna know what that was about?"
Lucy grit her teeth, knowing that exchange was borderline painful. Was it obvious to Natsu something was up? She figured the less she said, the better. She couldn't afford any slip ups, but it seemed Natsu was tense before she left.
'Why didn't he say anything back?' Lucy didn't have the answer, sighing as she grabbed the front of her sweater, pulling it away to allow some air to enter the shirt. Everything felt too stuffy, even after leaving that awkwardness behind.
"He doesn't know," she said, thinking it was obvious what she meant.
Apparently Hibiki didn't think so, asking, "About?"
She looked behind them, seeing Natsu and Gray hadn't followed them outside. "Me being a runner."
"Ah." Hibiki nodded, filling in the blanks. "So that's why he thinks you're working."
"Yup."
With a chuckle, Hibiki asked, "You're supposed to be working maintenance, dressed like that?"
She shrugged. "Natsu believed it."
"Well then he must be a—"
A quick glare from Lucy told Hibiki he better be careful finishing that sentence. His tone suggested she wasn't going to like his train of thought. The man stumbled over his words, flushing at Lucy's intensity.
"—A... Uh, tr-trusting guy. Yup! Super trusting!"
Lucy kept her eyes locked on him for a few more seconds before relaxing. She wouldn't tolerate anyone insulting her friends, even if it was coming from another friend.
Well, Gray and Natsu were the exception, often bickering back and forth like children.
"I haven't given him a reason to doubt me," Lucy said, guilt setting in once more. "I'm going to tell him tonight."
She almost sighed. How many times had she said that today?
"I'd love to hear that conversation," Hibiki said when they were halfway through the parking lot. Lucy saw Laxus and a few others moving what looked to be a solar panel towards a cluster of them. She smiled, happy they were working towards getting the base power.
It would be a life-changing amenity.
Lucy didn't comment on Hibiki's remark, instead tugging at the hem of her sweater to pull it off. The back of her neck and underarms were damp, Lucy cringing as she tied the sweater around her waist.
"You look good, by the way," Hibiki said, causing Lucy to look at him again. "Those jeans really suit you."
Lucy rolled her eyes, not taking him seriously as she said, "Always a flirt."
Still, the compliment was nice. Direct but not creepy. Lucy felt a flush spreading over her face, wondering if her roommate would think the same thing. She already knew Natsu thought the clothes themselves looked nice, but did he think she looked good in them?
Did he even think of her as attractive? He hadn't shown any interest in her physical appearance, aside from being cautious around the subject of her scars.
Lucy dropped her gaze, realizing she was letting her feelings run wild again. She had to reel them in, otherwise she would only hurt herself. Natsu didn't like her as more than a friend.
But, he certainly didn't treat Lucy like a normal friend. She never saw Natsu holding Levy's hand, or squeezing Cana's shoulder. Lucy almost barked out a laugh imaging Natsu draping an arm around Erza's shoulders.
She would probably scold him for being too casual.
"Why all the way out here?" Hibiki asked when they reached the field, nodding when Lucy told him it was unlikely Natsu would venture that far from the school.
"It's better if he thinks I'm working right now," she said, though she failed to convince herself.
Hibiki didn't seem to buy it either, snorting as he said, "Whatever you say."
He handed her the spare book when they reached the track, the two walking at a leisure pace until they reached the halfway point in the field.
They debated where to sit, their options being the turf, the track, or the bleachers. After some pros and cons, it was decided they would sit on the turf, the artificial grass tickling her hands as she made herself comfortable.
They opened their books, sharing a grin before diving into the first chapter. The air was warm and fresh, the company was welcomed, and Lucy would finally get the chance to relax on her day off.
Things seemed to fall into place, but it was only a matter of time before it all came crashing down.
"No way! I disagree for sure!" Lucy shook her head, looking over to her side where Hibiki was sitting crisscross. She laid on the track, deciding after a while that she wanted a firm surface to lay on instead of the turf. Her sweatshirt was balled up, acting as a pillow as she read.
The two took breaks after each chapter to discuss their thoughts. Luckily for them, they read at about the same pace, and even more luckily for them, they had some debates. Lucy enjoyed the challenge, the two picking apart each other's theories.
"Are you even reading the same book as me?" Hibiki chuckled when Lucy huffed at him. "What? I don't think the author was going for that at all!"
Lucy held his stare for a few seconds before breaking away, sighing as she said, "Another reason I hate the apocalypse. If phones worked we could just look it up to put an end to this debate.
"I'm clearly right."
Lucy ignored him in favor of adding, "I took for granted how easily accessible information was back then."
Hibiki let out a sigh. "Me too. But seriously, I think when it says— Oh shit."
Lucy furrowed her brows, failing to remember a single curse word in the last chapter they read. "Where did you—"
Her voice faltered when she looked at Hibiki, seeing his eyes wide and... fearful? He only had that expression when a zombie was coming their way, Lucy jolting up in preparation. She didn't have a weapon, but she would be damned if she let a zombie get her without a fight.
She would whip it with her sweatshirt if it came down to it.
Lucy turned, her heart sinking when she found what Hibiki had seen. At the bottom of the stairs leading to the field was a familiar man, marching towards them. Even from half a field away, she could make out that pink hair.
"He looks pissed," Hibiki finally said, causing Lucy to shudder.
"It's probably nothing," she mumbled, having a hard time believing herself. Her heart was already picking up speed, her grip tightening on her book as if that would help.
"Do you think he found out?"
Lucy swallowed before shaking her head. "I doubt it. He probably just—"
"A RUNNER?!" Natsu shouted, causing Lucy's face to drain of color.
"Yeah," Hibiki started, bracing himself. "I'd say he knows."
.
.
Up next, Chapter Fifty-Nine: Our spot
*This website is messing up and not showing the next chapter, but it is appearing on the app. I will periodically try to repost the new chapter, but until it works you can view it through the fanfiction app.
Any guesses on how the conversation is going to go? Any thoughts on this chapter? Anyone like the nalu fluff towards the beginning? Which was a worse cliffhanger, last chapter or this one? Let me know! :D
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PS: Stay safe out there! My mom tested positive for COVID-19 and just finished her quarantine today. I got tested a day after her and it came back negative, but I'm getting tested again tomorrow to make sure I didn't catch it since then. Just, stay safe!
