Warning: Contains violence towards zombies and hunting. Also contains adult situations involving sexual themes. (Not smut)


Chapter Sixty-Six: Take your best shot

(April 24th, 2018 Tuesday Morning)

Despite knowing his belt was secure, Natsu tested it once more, satisfied when it stayed firm around his hips. He looked at Lucy for a moment before his eyes flitted to their surroundings, cautious but not worried.

They were only a block away from Fairy Tail, the area usually clear. Occasionally a walker or two would wander near, but he could handle that with ease.

"I can't get that taste out of my mouth," Lucy mumbled, taking a swig from her foldable water bottle. It was made of a flexible plastic and didn't allow excess air inside, allowing her to walk without it making any swishing noises.

It was something she picked up off base, another reminder to Natsu of her dangerous job. He didn't want to dwell on it, trying to accept the changes over the last few months.

"Eh, I thought it was alright." Since they had been in the breakfast line together, they both got two servings of a meal replacement bar. It had a bunch of fruit in it with an ingredient called chia. Natsu had never heard of it before, but he hadn't found it as unsavory as Lucy had.

Luckily for her, he traded her his portion of his oatmeal for her bars, thus making both of them happy.

However, that happiness faded when it was time to leave base. Lucy asked him to join her to look for a gift for Hibiki, and he wouldn't make her go alone.

He figured they would be gone an hour or two tops. The surrounding houses towards the north hadn't been scavenged nearly as much since that had been in the beginning, meaning there was a higher possibility of her finding something good.

Though, the whole thing seemed a little odd to him.

'Why hasn't she just picked something up while at work?'

Maybe she was worried Hibiki would see?

Natsu saved the questions, instead nodding towards an opening to a neighborhood. "Wanna try there?"

"I think I want to try a little further out," Lucy said, straightening her shoulders. The worn quiver strapped to her back jostled, the seven arrows inside causing a bit of noise, but their steps were about as loud.

In her left hand she held a bow, clearly intended for a child from the neon blue and green paint on it. It was small, Lucy estimating it having a twenty-four draw weight, whatever that meant. She said she could easily take out a rabbit or squirrel, but she hadn't intended on using it today.

Natsu had asked if she would give it a try, eager to see her in action as an archer. He figured since they were sticking close to base it would be a good time for her to test it out. Lucy had agreed, only after telling him not to get his hopes up.

She had blushed in embarrassment, saying, "I don't want to look silly if I miss. I'm a little rusty."

He had taken on a coy smile at that condition, asking, "So you won't be shooting an apple off my head today?"

She had laughed, her eyes bright as she said, "I could in my glory days, but I won't even try now."

He ended up assuring her he wouldn't poke fun, resulting in Lucy checking out the bow along with her machete. Natsu stuck with his two knives. They were reliable and familiar, even if he didn't get much range with the shorter weapons.

"What about that neighborhood?" he asked.

"I'm thinking a little further."

"How far out?" Natsu asked, taking another look around. The coast was clear, his breathing easier when it was just the two of them. They didn't make much noise, and there wasn't a chariot of monsters behind them. He doubted they would run into any zombies today, but it was best to stay alert anyway.

"Maybe... seven and a half miles down this road?" Lucy said, causing Natsu to raise a brow for two reasons.

That was much further than he imagined, and that distance was a bit too specific.

"What?" he asked, looking over at her.

Lucy's eyes remained ahead, the smallest quirk in her lips. "Then maybe a block or two that way," she said, cocking her head to the right.

It was then Natsu stopped, realizing Lucy wasn't telling him everything. "Where are we going?"

That little quirk in her lips turned into a smile as she turned, gesturing for him to follow. He didn't, causing her to take a few steps closer to him.

"What's going on?" he asked, drawing a sigh from Lucy.

"Okay, so there's an area I wanted to check out."

Natsu resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He had figured that based on the directions, though it only raised more questions. "Why?"

"Hibiki says a history professor at Magnolia's university lived around there. His name is Everlue. Apparently he has a big library with tons of rare books."

Natsu wasn't a genius, but even he could connect the dots. "You wanna get a special book for him?"

She nodded, lifting her hand to grip the strap dangling over her chest. "I figure if we check the mailboxes we might find some mail for this Everlue guy." She smiled brightly, clearly loving her idea.

A wave of nausea hit Natsu when light flickered in Lucy's eyes. Normally he liked seeing her so happy, but the reason behind it had him uneasy. "Sounds like a lotta work for Hibiki," Natsu mumbled, unable to hide his displeasure.

"It's not just for him," Lucy said, reaching over to grab Natsu's arm.

He almost stumbled when she pulled him forward, waiting a few steps before releasing him. "I want to check out his library for Levy and me. And I'm sure we can find something you'd like too."

She looked back, flashing him a smile that had his stomach both relaxing and twisting, a bit of heat reaching his face. "I know it's a long ways out, but I bet we can find all kinds of cool stuff."

Natsu grit his teeth before shaking his head, trying to get rid of the weird sensations in his body. It had to be his nerves, worried they were biting off more than they could chew. However, he knew the area hadn't been busy before the outbreak due to construction. That limited their chances of running into the undead.

Even with that reassurance, Natsu felt a little queasy. Still, it sounded like an adventure. He took a deep breath, voice less bitter as he said, "So, it's kinda like a quest?"

Lucy raised a brow before she perked up in recognition. "Exactly!"

They both jolted at her outburst, Natsu's eyes quickly scanning the area. He didn't know how long he had been walking without paying attention, cursing himself for getting distracted.

"Sorry," she whispered, looking up at him after taking in their surroundings too. "Anyways, this is like our side quest, like in your video games you used to play."

"You remember that?" Natsu asked, recalling a time during Lucy's first month at Fairy Tail. He had mentioned once about the types of games he liked playing, mostly open world with main quests and side quests.

Lucy nodded before cocking her head. "Yeah? It sounded fun."

"It is," he said before looking ahead. The further they ventured from Fairy Tail, the less safe they became. "It sounds dangerous too."

"That's why you're here," Lucy said, the lightness of her tone easing the tension building in his shoulders. "We'll have each other's back."

Confliction rose within him, wondering if it was wise to look for some guy's house in the middle of an apocalypse. It was just the two of them with no backup. Was the reward worth the risk?

If the reward was just a present for Hibiki, he would say no.

Somehow he felt better knowing they weren't doing it all for Hibiki, his other friends having a chance to benefit from their adventure. Levy had mentioned a time or two wanting better books. He doubted a history teacher had good books on psychology, but maybe there was something Levy would like. She spoke a few different languages. Maybe there was some history books on some cultures she wanted to learn more about?

'She's taking on a lot by helping me with my issues. It would be nice to thank her with a cool gift.'

"Straight there and back?" Natsu confirmed, watching Lucy's smile turn into a bright grin.

"That's the plan." She tilted her head, brown eyes full of warmth. "What do you say, Natsu? Do you accept this mission?"

It was risky, but what great adventure didn't contain a risk or two?

Natsu took a few deep breaths, nodding as he said, "I'm in."

Lucy opened her mouth to respond, but he raised a finger. "But first, I gotta get some ground rules."

"Ground... rules?" Lucy asked, feet slowly coming to a stop.

Natsu followed her lead, deciding it would be best to stay still while they talked so he could better focus when they got moving again. "You said you don't want me protecting you," he started, seeing the large grin fading from her face. "I know I made you mad doing that before, but you said we would be watching each other's back. So, I need to know how much I can protect ya."

Lucy's smile had disappeared, but it hadn't turned into a frown. Her brows furrowed as she hummed, eyes flitting back and forth as she thought. "I mean, I don't have specific scenarios in mind, but if it looks like I can handle something, let me try, but..." She sighed, shoulders falling as she locked eyes with him. "If you honestly, and I mean honestly think I may not make it, you can step in. I want to work with you, but I don't want you babying me."

Natsu nodded, mulling over that answer. "That makes sense. Okay." He scratched at the back of his head, wondering if his next question would be welcomed. "Speaking of protecting and rules and stuff... How long should I wait before looking for ya?"

"What?" Lucy asked, raising a brow. "I wasn't planning on us splitting up today."

"Not like that... Like the other day, when you guys were late," Natsu said, seeing her tip her head back in understanding. "I wanted to come after you when you guys didn't show up on time, so I'm wondering how long do you need to be gone before I can look?"

"Hmm..." Lucy looked around before glancing upwards. "I don't really know," she said before her gaze fell to him.

"Well, I... I was worried," Natsu said, fighting his frown as he remembered how uncertain he had been until he saw her safe. "Not saying you can't handle yourself," he added before she could ask. "It's... it's just dangerous at night."

"It's dangerous during the day too," Lucy pointed out, her tone neutral.

Natsu paused, letting out a sigh as he reminded himself she wasn't outside at night. She was right in front of him, safe and protected.

He wouldn't let anything happen to her, not if he could do something about it.

"I was just scared. It... it gets scary out there at night." That was all he could say, thankful they didn't do nightly runs.

It was quiet for a moment, Natsu concerned he had offended Lucy. That wasn't his intent, and she must have realized that when she broke the silence.

"Seven."

Natsu blinked, cocking his head. "What?"

Lucy took a step closer to him, voice soft as she said, "If you don't hear from any of us, and you're worried, you can come after me at seven." Before Natsu could relax, she added, "But, I'd rather you not come because you might get hurt too."

"I'll be fine," Natsu said with a shrug.

Something in Lucy's eyes changed, but he couldn't place it. She closed the distance between them, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. The touch was light, but he swore he couldn't move, his entire focus on her as she whispered, "You're not the only one who worries."

His lips parted, but he couldn't find the words. He got lost in her eyes for a moment, the depth and concern causing his stomach to jerk, but not in a way that made him sick. He couldn't describe it, but before he knew it her touch was gone, along with that weird feeling.

'It must be that chai stuff. It's messing with my stomach.'

Natsu almost reached out towards her, unsure what he would even do, but before he could move a muscle Lucy was turning away from him.

"Let's go," she said, a pep to her step as if nothing just happened.

'Nothing did happen,' he reminded himself, scratching over his chest despite there being no itch. Natsu follow her, deciding there was a good way to make sure she wasn't late again. "How about you get two watches."

Lucy chuckled, glancing over her shoulder. "That way we're not late?"

He nodded, a smile gracing Lucy's lips as she said, "I don't think I'll need it. Everyone said they'll let Rogue know when it's time to wrap up. There were a few guys giving him shit about it."

Natsu found himself smiling, though he still felt something was off. "I bet." He chalked it up to them being off base with potential danger around them.

It was easier to blame it on that instead of looking further into what he felt. "Let's just get to that dude's house so we can get back."

"Aye sir," Lucy said with a wink before facing the front.

Natsu's smile grew, shrugging off the strange feelings from before. There was no reason to look further into whatever did or didn't happen. His attention needed to be on Lucy and his surroundings, though one was taking priority without him realizing it.


Natsu was a fighter. Even from a young age, he didn't back down from a challenge. Despite that, he could admit when he was inexperienced in a particular activity, and he could appreciate someone else's skills when they excelled in their field.

So Natsu wasn't surprised at all when his jaw dropped, watching as Lucy pulled the string of her bow back and aimed for the stuffed bear he set on a car. The set up had been too good to pass up, Natsu asking her if she would try taking down the plush target.

Plush was a bit generous of a term, the thing looking ratty after sitting on the side collecting rain water and dirt.

Lucy closed an eye, focusing on her target. She held steady for a moment, then released the tension as the arrow flew through the air. Natsu missed it, distracted when the tip of Lucy's tongue came out, but it disappeared in a second.

A smile curved her mouth before she moved forward, grabbing the stuffed animal where an arrow jutted from its stomach. "It's easy hitting a target that doesn't move," she said, digging the arrow out to use again.

Natsu didn't know much about archery, but Lucy did. He could tell by the way she held that bow and positioned her body. She used that bow like it was an extension of herself, even with it being made for a kid.

Natsu started towards her, stopping when they both heard a sound from ahead. His eyes snapped up, spotting the zombie that bumped into the side of a car. Just as Natsu reached for his knife, he heard three words that made his heart drop.

"I got 'em."

She glued him to his spot with a fierce stare, as if daring him to challenge her. Despite the tension that made his body rigid, Natsu nodded. He still withdrew his weapon, but he remained in his spot while Lucy advanced towards her target.

Natsu's nails bit into his palm as he watched, sure his skin would bleed had he not been wearing gloves. His eyes were trained on the threat looming their way, refusing to tear his gaze away for even a second. The zombie staggered, something between a hiss and a snarl slipping from its broken jaw when it noticed Lucy approaching.

He had been wrong for stealing her kill last time. He wouldn't make that mistake again, even if every fiber of his being screamed to help.

Natsu couldn't hear her footsteps as she moved, his blood roaring in his ears so loud he thought he might go deaf. Breathing was out of the question, Natsu forcing his entire being to stay put despite everything in him screaming to go protect her.

His heart dropped when he saw the zombie reach out for her, too close for Natsu's comfort. Lucy was quick though, jerking her shoulder back to avoid an attack before striking the zombie's arm, severing it from its body.

The zombie didn't react as its limb fell, instead lurking at her again before using the other arm. Lucy was already slicing upwards to tear into the monster's face. Natsu bit his tongue, wanting to shout for her to get it over with.

She wasn't killing it, she was taunting it, taking her sweet agonizing time. Seconds felt like minutes as she pulled her machete back.

The zombie's hand brushed against her shoulder, breaking Natsu from his frozen state to lunge towards her. He couldn't, wouldn't stand by as she got ripped apart, but before he made it two steps Lucy shot her hand forward.

Her machete stabbed into the zombie's neck at an angle, killing it instantly.

She released her machete as the zombie dropped, the woman taking a few steps back as she panted for breath.

Lucy turned towards Natsu, a victorious smile on her face that was quickly wiped away when she jolted back. By the shock in her eyes, she hadn't expected Natsu's presence, the man now inches away from her.

He couldn't help it, nearly panting alongside her as his heart raced out of control. That had been too close, yet looking back on it now that the threat was gone, he didn't see anything horribly wrong with her technique.

It was sloppy at some points, but she had finished her target without taking any damage.

"That—" Natsu's voice cut out, failing to find the words. He wasn't crazy about the idea of her fighting zombies, but seeing her handle herself was reassuring. He set a heavy hand on her shoulder, the one the zombie had almost gripped before giving her a gentle squeeze. "Good job," he breathed, watching as her eyes lit up from the simple compliment.

The smile crossing her face was giddy as she practically skipped back to her bow, picking it up before joining him in the middle of the street again. "Let's go," she said, nodding ahead, as if nothing had happened.

Natsu almost laughed, but he held steady. With one more glance at her fallen enemy, he put his knife away, sensing the level of danger had dropped.

It wasn't gone, but he felt a moment of peace as they started towards their destination again.

Minutes trickled by, their journey towards the professor's house halfway over. He opened his mouth a few times, never knowing the proper way to initiate the conversation bouncing around in his mind.

Natsu didn't want to insult her. He wanted to treat her as anyone else going off base would be treated, even if it had his pulse rocketing.

It was normal to trade strategies and information, but Natsu sensed it wasn't the time to give her some pointers. He had to remain alert for both of their safety, though without realizing it, Natsu had eased the slightest bit after seeing Lucy take care of that zombie.

Despite hearing it before, he saw proof of her abilities, even if that was a relatively simple situation. Had there been multiple zombies or even a sprinter—

Natsu shuddered at the thought, deciding it would be best to enter the sensitive conversation, even if it risked making Lucy upset.

"I don't wanna offend you," Natsu started, surprised when he saw a little fire behind Lucy's eyes as she looked over at him.

"Then don't," she said, no bite in her tone.

He blinked for a moment, stunned before clearing his throat. "I uh, was just wondering... Would, um..."

Natsu dragged a hand over his face, struggling to navigate in uncharted waters. If it had been anyone else, he wouldn't have any qualms about broaching the subject. Of course, she wasn't anyone.

She was Lucy, one of his best friends and someone he very much needed to stay alive.

If he gave her bad advice— If he overloaded her with tips and tricks and ended up cluttering her head instead of letting her trust her instincts—

Natsu shivered despite the rising temperature, feeling unbearably cold down to his bones.

"Are you okay?" Lucy asked, turning her focus to him. "You look pale." She tilted her head an inch as concern grew in her brown eyes.

They pulled him in for a second, Natsu wondering if they had always been so deep and stunning. The color was nice and rich, but what really captured his attention was the flickers of emotion he could see, trapped in the depths that had his mind blanking for a second.

'What was I talking about?'

It took him an embarrassingly long time to jog his memory, a hint of heat surfacing on his cheeks when he realized he had been staring at her with a dumbfounded look on his face.

Natsu looked around to make sure they weren't in immediate danger before sighing. "Would you um— I just—"

He cursed himself, realizing he sounded similar to Lucy when she first arrived at Fairy Tail.

'No,' he thought, recalling how broken she had been when he found her in that basement, barely able to string together a sentence. 'She was way worse.'

Thinking about her like that versus seeing her now, armed with weapons and dressed to kill, it had him forming a small smile as pride set in.

She had come so far.

'If only I hadn't missed it.'

Regret threatened to poison his mind. Before he could let his absence spoil his mood, Natsu said, "Do you want some pointers?"

Lucy's eyes widened a bit, Natsu's stomach dropping when he thought he offended her anyway. It was common for runners and clearers to share their knowledge, but he knew the subject of her job and abilities was a touchy subject. He didn't want to insult her, Natsu worried he had done just that.

His fear was short-lived, Lucy beaming at him as she nodded. "Yeah, definitely."

Natsu nearly gaped, almost sure she would have said no. He wouldn't use the word 'stubborn' to describe her, but she had been adamant that she could handle herself. He thought offering tips would set them back, but it made him happy to see she was eager to learn.

"C-cool," Natsu said, needing a moment to collect his thoughts. He hadn't expected her to take him up on his offer.

"I've probably already told you this, but I use a few tricks to distract zombies if I need them to move or break apart. Sometimes there's a few of them and I can take 'em all on at once, so I make 'em scatter."

"Like your doorbell?" Lucy asked, earning a nod.

"I also sometimes use anything I can find, like—" Natsu looked around before moving towards the sidewalk. He picked up a car's mirror, clearly torn off from an accident if the jagged edges had anything to say about it. "I'd chunk this away from me so they could leave or separate."

Lucy raised a brow as she reached into a side pocket on her cargo pants. She pulled out a pebble, holding it between two fingers. "Like this?"

Natsu tightened his jaw before it could go slack, both surprised and excited to see she had something up her sleeve.

Well, in her pocket, but it still had him smiling.

"Yeah, like that."

Lucy put the pebble away before patting at her thigh. "I have a rock in each pocket. I don't want them in the same in case they make too much noise."

Natsu didn't think he could smile more, but he was proven wrong. Hearing the precautions she took, even small ones like those, had him relaxing.

Not too much though, Natsu mindful of their surroundings. However, his scans of the area grew further apart as they started trading tips, sharing their knowledge to improve their individual skills as they moved closer to their destination.


"Found it," Lucy called from the other side of the street.

Natsu closed the mailbox he had been searching, heading towards her. She held an envelope in her hand before pointing backwards. "So this is where the professor lives?" Natsu asked, taking in the sizable house.

It had two stories, a trickle of worry seeping in before Natsu took a deep breath. More rooms meant more places for zombies to hide, and they were currently in uncleared territory.

The only thing keeping him from sweating was the fact that they had only come across a few stray zombies.

Two miles back was a black line, signifying Fairy Tail hadn't made it past that point. They were heading towards newer houses, some without occupants and some plots without any development save for the concrete slabs or utility lines put in. Past that, there were just open fields, more than likely containing overgrown grass.

Fairy Tail stood a better chance at getting supplies by going towards the busier parts of town.

Natsu headed to the porch, frowning when he saw the door ajar. He took the lead, one knife ready as he slowly opened the door all the way before peeking inside.

It was dark, Natsu holding off on using his headlamp yet. He didn't want to attract attention if they had some undead hosts.

"You take downstairs, I take up?" Lucy suggested, causing Natsu to shake his head.

"We shouldn't separate," he whispered, eyes slowly adjusting as he moved into the house.

Lucy didn't protest, following after with her machete in hand. She put the bow on the ground by the door, a wise decision in his opinion. It would only hinder her if she had to make a snap decision or sudden move.

Natsu focused on any sounds coming from the house. He heard none, the two entering a large living room before he walked over to the wall.

"Get ready," Natsu whispered, waiting until Lucy nodded and took a defensive stance before opening the curtains.

Light poured in, but nothing stirred. Even after opening the other curtains, they didn't hear a peep. "It may be empty," Natsu said, remembering he hadn't seen a car in the driveway. Of course, there was a chance it was in the garage, but he felt his tension slipping the longer they went without a threat.

"Should we just make noise?" Lucy asked.

"With this much space, better not." Who knew how many zombies could fit in the large house. "We're better off moving room by room to make sure it's clear."

"Are you sure?" Lucy nodded to the door as she said, "We could try making noise then hiding behind a car. If something comes out, we at least know what we're dealing with."

Natsu frowned as he considered her idea. It wasn't terrible, but it had some flaws. "What if we just end up riling them up, but they're trapped in a room? Then they know we're coming."

"So we should try sneaking up on them?" Lucy asked, earning a nod.

"Get 'em when they're not expecting it." Natsu waited, relieved when she agreed with his plan.

"Alright, but next time we try it my way?"

A week ago, he would have said there wouldn't be a next time, but he found it oddly comforting being off base with Lucy. She wasn't as careless as he thought. She had a ways to go, needed to hone her skills and get more attentive, but she wasn't a terrible runner.

She was actually pretty good, but he wanted her to be better. She needed to live.

'I need her to live.'

Instead of dismissing her compromise, Natsu let out a soft snort. "Yeah, that's fine. Now come on."

They searched downstairs, finding no threats. That brought them to the second story, Natsu jutting out his arm when they were almost at the top of the stairs, stopping Lucy from moving past him.

In a low whisper, Natsu said, "Something's here."

He slowly lowered his arm, nodding ahead to the left. His body tensed for a moment when he felt something on his shoulder, eyes wide as he looked back to see Lucy's hand as she braced herself, staring off into the distance.

Natsu took a few calming breaths, his heartbeat skittering out of control at the prospect of danger. He welcomed Lucy's touch. It reminded him she was staying strong by his side.

Hearing about how far she had come and witnessing it firsthand, without him trying to interrupt or baby her, was incredible. He got lost in her eyes once more. Even in the dim natural light coming from the window at the end of the hall, Natsu could see a burning within her.

She was gearing up for a fight, Natsu's lip twitching as he suppressed a grin. He knew he shouldn't get excited about facing an enemy, but he couldn't help it. Something told him to trust in her abilities, Natsu reaching up to place his hand over hers, giving it a squeeze before he whispered, "Ready?"

Lucy nodded, hand slipping from his shoulder to grab her machete. She took a deep breath, eyes turning to the room where a shadow disrupted the light flowing from under the door.

Something was in there, and it was moving.

With cautious steps, Natsu and Lucy approached the door. He placed an ear against it, but he couldn't hear anything. He stole a glance at Lucy, making sure she was prepared before reaching for the door knob.

Time seemed to stand still as he turned the knob, hearing something snarl on the other side when the door creaked open.

They reacted fast, Lucy taking a defensive stance while Natsu threw the door open, figuring whatever was on the other side would be charging for them at any second.

However, nothing came but growls and moans, the two tense with anticipation as they waited for something to strike.

Natsu furrowed his brows before nearly gagging, the putrid smell hitting his nose. Whatever was in there had been there for months, if not the entire duration of the outbreak. He flipped on his headlamp, eyes squinting as he tried to find the source of the vile smell.

"Oh wow," Lucy said, Natsu sensing a smile in her voice.

He risked a quick peek, surprised to see what looked to be a cringe mixed with a smile. Before he could ask, Lucy said, "Well, that's awkward."

Natsu looked back into the room, startled when Lucy walked right past him through the door. He rushed behind her, worried whatever was on the other side would attack, but his fears had been for nothing.

It took a moment for Natsu's watery eyes to adjust, the smell still strong but he fought through it. His eyes landed on something squirming in the center of the room. The sound and smell came from it, Natsu's eyes widening when he realized what they stumbled in on.

Literally swinging in front of them was a zombie, clad in only a pair of soiled boxers. Natsu didn't have to stare long to realize what happened. Sometimes his imagination got the better of him, but there was no denying what the zombie went through.

A man, probably Everlue, was stuck in a sex swing. His partner probably ditched when he turned, leaving him to rot in peace.

Natsu looked up, light shining on the ceiling to see the swing attached to hooks. His first thought was, 'Damn, that's a sturdy ceiling,' while his second was, 'What the everloving hell was he trying to do?'

While he debated that, Lucy took care of the threat. She held a strap to keep him from swaying before taking care of the problem. The zombie went limp in the swing, Lucy inching back before taking her machete to the straps, letting him down on the ground.

Natsu didn't ask, figuring it was a kind gesture. Instead of thinking about that, he moved to the window. Opening it allowed some fresh air in, Natsu greedily sucking in a deep breath before looking around the room. Since they hadn't come across the library yet he assumed they were in it, only to blanch when he saw all the 'toys' hanging on the wall.

"Definitely not a library," he mumbled, eyes squinting as he wondered what some of the items were. His eyes caught on paddle, gulping at the studs on the wood. "Sheesh, what the fuck?"

"What?" Lucy asked, appearing out of thin air.

Natsu nearly jumped as he looked over, shocked to see Lucy by his side. He must have been zoned out, not hearing her approach. His eyes fixed on her as she looked over at the wall, mouth forming a small 'o' before her shoulders shook from a laugh.

"Wow... That's uh... Wow."

Natsu followed her line of vision before spying a dresser in front of him. He risked peeking in the top drawer, nearly gaping at the different brands of condoms and lube.

"Well, I know some people who will be happy about that," Lucy said before looking around. "We should find a bag to bring these back."

Natsu barely heard her, putting his focus into pushing that drawer closed before looking in the second, his morbid curiosity spurring him on. Light reflected off the silver and gold, but there was no jewelry to be seen. Instead it was chains, cuffs, collars, and other devices Natsu couldn't name.

He slammed the drawer shut with a cringe. "What kind of sick fuck has all these things?"

Lucy's laugh beckoned his attention, Natsu looking over to find her smiling at him. "What? They're just toys." She walked over, opening the bottom drawer before gasping. "Oh..."

"Like that," Natsu said, pointing at the object because there was no way in hell he was touching it. "What is that for?"

"It's um, for..." Lucy hesitated, her voice growing strained. "Clamping... things."

"Clamping what?" Natsu's eyes widened as he waited for an answer, but he didn't give Lucy a chance to respond. "You know what, I don't want to know."

He was quiet for a moment as his eyes raked over the miscellaneous objects. Then, he realized what she said. With brows darting inward, Natsu asked, "How do you know what they're for?"

"Uh..." Lucy paused, causing Natsu's jaw to go slack.

"Have... you ever—"

"No!" Lucy shouted, Natsu's body tensing in a second. He thought she would get angry judging by her outburst, but instead she started laughing. It wasn't as light as normal, sounding more forced than anything. "No, I just... People talk— Cana especially. Like, oh my goodness. That girl— No filter on her."

Natsu couldn't help but nod in agreement, though he did notice Lucy's voice grew higher the longer she rambled. "I usually tune her out when she says weird shit like that." He gestured towards the drawer before lingering near the wall. "Guess if I paid attention I'd know more about this... stuff."

Natsu's cheeks warmed as he glanced around, finding the other walls more or less the same. He could only assume it was a sex dungeon, though, could it be considered a dungeon if it was on the second floor?

"Everlue was into some freaky shit," Natsu said, eyes fixed on what looked like a metal pinwheel. It didn't look sharp enough to cut, but it still freaked him out as he wondered how it was used.

"Never thought you'd be the type to kinkshame,"

"I'm not—" Natsu started, whirling around to find Lucy on the other side of the room in the closet. She pulled out a maid costume before looking for other things.

"Everyone's got their kinks," she said, but he wasn't convinced.

"Not everyone," he muttered, surprised when Lucy responded. He hadn't thought she heard him.

"You don't have any kinks?" she asked, not bothering to look at him as she dug through the closet, pulling out more random outfits. It looked like Everlue had a very extensive sense of fashion, spying outfits from leather to furry and everything in between.

Natsu thought about the question for a moment, deciding he didn't have one. How could he when he was inexperienced?

"I've never..." Natsu paused, scratching the back of his head. "You know, done anything like that."

Lucy's movements stilled before she stood, looking back at him with her head cocked. "You never get... um," her gaze fell to the side, "urges?"

Natsu's eyes went wide, but he doubted she could tell with his bright light shining in her face. He walked over to the curtain on the other window. Using more strength than needed, Natsu ripped the material down as he struggled to comprehend Lucy's question.

Did he have urges?

Well, yeah. It was rare, but it happened. He did well to suppress things of that nature, even if sometimes he slipped.

There was a reason he had a stash of porn on his phone, hidden within a locked app. When he couldn't control his urges, he indulged in those videos, but it never went further than that.

Natsu was convinced stuff dealing with intimacy and romance only led to heartbreak and trouble. He wanted no part in it, refusing to humor those thoughts for long.

He saw how torn up his dad had been when his wife passed. If Igneel, who was the toughest man he knew, could crumble from something like that, Natsu didn't stand a chance.

"I, well..." Natsu frowned, something stirring in his belly as he hesitated to answer. It would be easy to lie and say no, but something in him wanted to share, but he couldn't do it. Something about being that vulnerable with another person rubbed him the wrong way.

The irony was not lost on him.

"Never mind," Lucy rushed out, pulling a relieved sigh from Natsu's chest. "Um, just... You can be a virgin and still have kinks."

"You can?" Natsu asked, surprised when Lucy nodded.

"Even before I started..." Her voice trailed off, the thumping in Natsu's heart speeding up.

He hadn't realized when his pulse started racing.

"You had kinks?" Natsu asked, watching as Lucy squirmed a bit in place. Her eyes remained glued to the side as she gave a tense shrug. "Well, yeah... Not everyone has kinks, but I don't know. I guess we just have things that we like."

"What do you like?"

The question tumbled from Natsu's lips before he could stop it, eyes growing impossibly wide as he saw it register with Lucy.

She let out a sound he had never heard before, couldn't even describe it to save his life. The best he could do was say she sounded like an injured animal gasping out its last breath of air, but she recovered quickly.

"I'm not telling you that!"

Natsu jolted at her outburst before the reality of what he asked her set in. His face burned as he closed his eyes, knowing he crossed a line. "Sorry," he said, wishing he could take it back. "I... I don't know why I asked."

It was true. He didn't even get a chance to think about the question before it popped out of his mouth.

Luckily for him, Lucy didn't seem to hold a grudge. Instead, she gave him a nervous chuckle. "It's fine... Just, kind of personal." She cleared her throat, turning back to the closet as she said, "We should probably check the other rooms."

Natsu's jaw dropped, realizing she was right. They hadn't swept through the top floor, leaving them in a dangerous situation.

Though, with as much noise as Lucy made, he doubted anything was around. They would have heard it by now.

"I'll check," Natsu said, needing some space from not only the foul stench of that zombie, but from the awkwardness that came from that room.

'Who has a whole room dedicated for sex?'

It baffled Natsu, but after looking through the rest of the top floor, he saw Everlue was a diverse collector. There were three rooms upstairs if he didn't count the bathroom. One room was for sex, the other for pictures, plaques, and awards, and the last for books.

Natsu was happy to report there were no other zombies in the house. Lucy joined him when he reached the last room, both stunned by the personal library.

"This is great!" Lucy called, Natsu not bothering to flinch at her outburst. They could speak freely with the house cleared.

Lucy pulled back the curtains, allowing light in. He glanced over the many bookcases filling the space, three of the four walls covered in books from floor to ceiling. He gawked at the amount, wondering how someone found the time to read so much.

He looked over at Lucy to ask, only to be rendered silent.

Her eyes were brighter than the natural light pouring in as she moved from case to case, plucking books before piling them in her arms. His breath was stolen for a moment, a sense of calm washing over him as a smile graced her face. After having her throw him some disdainful looks last week when they were fighting, it was a relief to see the softness of her features.

She looked his way, eyes hooded but still full of life.

Suddenly he felt overwhelmed, but he couldn't place why.

'Help her,' he thought, deciding that was the problem. He was just standing around while she collected the reward for their effort.

The loot from their side quest.

Natsu held out his arms, letting her transfer the books before she went back for more. He was ready to assist when she gathered another round, but then Lucy started fanning herself.

"It's a little stuffy," she said, tugging at the long-sleeve shirt tucked into her pants. "Hope the books didn't get too humid up here."

"Is that bad... for... them?" Natsu asked, his concentration broken as Lucy pulled her shirt up, revealing the tank top underneath. If she answered, he didn't catch it, eyes fixed on the tattoo on her hand as she leaned over to remove her outer shirt.

His trance was broken at the first sight of skin. It was just a sliver of her stomach, but it was enough to get Natsu's heartbeat galloping.

It had him breathing a little heavier, worried the air in that sex dungeon messed with his lungs. It couldn't be safe inhaling that musty smell, right? It was probably messing with his system.

He opened the window for Lucy's sake before heading towards the door. "I'll go see if there's a hand truck or something in a nearby house," he said, needing a break from the house. "You're staying in here?"

Lucy smiled as she nodded. "Yeah. I won't leave." Her expression told him she would be happy staying in a library all day. It shouldn't surprise him, Lucy fond of books and the adventures they contained.

He hid his sigh of relief, clutching the books before heading downstairs. Some distance from the house was good, Natsu feeling a little strange and more oddly, a little warm from being inside. It shouldn't have surprised him. Lucy did say it was stuffy.

Natsu secured the door before making his way through the neighborhood, finding a good chunk of the houses on the street empty.

Literally.

Some didn't even have a single piece of furniture. That was the problem with housing developments. There were so few supplies, so why waste time searching them? Fairy Tail had the right idea not venturing out that far.

After a block and a half, Natsu found a dolly with a sturdy platform. It would do nicely for transporting the books, gliding along the new paved road. He parked it in front of the house, not the least bit surprised to find Lucy had made a large pile of books in the upstairs hall.

A smile quirked his lips when he thought, 'Little greedy.' Despite the words, he couldn't find a single thing wrong with it. After everything she had endured since the outbreak, she deserved to be greedy.

She deserved a lot more than she received.

Natsu's eyes fell over her as she reached for a book, admiring how far she had come. Her arms and shoulders were nicely toned from hard work, muscles flexing as she stretched. She had been skin and boned when he found her in that basement, but now...

His mouth went dry as he looked over her body, seeing she had filled out over the months. She lifted a particularly heavy book before turning towards him, his eyes falling a little south to the curve of her tank top's neckline.

His fingers twitched as the word greedy surfaced in his mind again, but he wasn't referring to her.

"This book is super rare," she said, bringing him back to the present.

He cleared his throat as his eyes snapped to her face, thankful to see she had been staring at the book as she spoke.

"It's over a hundred years old, but it's in great condition. It's a collection of entries from Magnolia's historian about what was going on when the town was founded. I think this'll be Hibiki's gift," she said, looking up to offer Natsu a soft smile. "See anything you like?"

"What?" Natsu asked, biting his cheek as he did his best to suppress the weirdest urge to glance down.

They were just boobs. He had seen cleavage throughout his whole life. It wasn't like Lucy had something other people didn't. So why was he struggling to keep from stealing another peek?

It was like his mind wanted to drift towards the gutter, which was odd since he was great at suppressing stuff like that. What changed?

He frowned when he realized the problem.

'It's that fucking room's fault,' Natsu internally sneered before correcting himself. 'More like a room for fucking.'

The amount of toys was still mind-blowing. Sure, he had seen his fair share of dildos and such while packing up houses as a runner, but that was nothing compared to Everlue's perversions.

Natsu swallowed as he pretended to look at the books, his actions appeasing Lucy for the moment as she went to gather more for the pile.

He couldn't focus on the books, instead thinking about his secret stash of porn and the toys that had been featured in there.

His selected videos were more run-of-the-mill than anything. There were five total, all the same concept. Solo masturbation with all the focus on the woman's body instead of her face. It was simple and got the job done without Natsu feeling weird about seeing someone's face. Maybe it was disrespectful? He wasn't sure, but something about looking them in the eye, even through a video, felt too personal.

It didn't matter most of the time, Natsu usually listening instead of watching, stimulated more by their breathy moans than anything.

As if on cue, Lucy let out a soft hum, causing Natsu to gulp.

He could already feel the thought forming, trying to stop it, but he was unsuccessful. Clear as day, he wondered, 'How vocal is Lucy when she—'

That stirring in his belly started again, Natsu tugging at the collar of his shirt to get some relief. He moved to stand by the open window, needing a breather. It didn't help, heat rushing his face as more thoughts crossed his mind.

'Would Lucy ever use a swing like that?'

His fingers twitched thinking about her skin against those straps.

'What's her kink? Is it something strange, or more normal stuff?'

Natsu frowned, his inexperience amplified after witnessing that room.

'What even is normal when it comes to sex?'

Thankfully his thoughts ventured away from Lucy for a moment as he thought about the few videos he watched featuring couples. They hadn't interested him as much, mostly because he felt the desire to do more than watch.

He didn't want to catch feelings and end up surrendering control of his emotions to someone else. That didn't sound fun, healthy, or sane.

Relationships seemed too messy, and casual sex sounded too complicated.

Natsu picked up a book, flipping through the pages as he wondered when his strange thoughts would end. Usually when they took root, he could cast them aside quickly. Years of suppression had helped keep down his urges, but something had him feeling weird.

His eyes widened in realization, convinced he figured it out. 'It's because Lucy's here.' That had to be it. Usually when he found a toy as a runner, he was by himself and could shrug the thoughts away.

His weird curiosity about Lucy was just that she was around, nothing more. He almost nodded, thankful he ended the mystery, but it wasn't that simple. As if fate wanted to tempt him, he started challenging his logic. He tried imagining other people in that room with him, but it didn't produce the same results.

When he pictured Erza and what she might be interested in sexually, he cringed. With Cana and Levy, he could easily brush it aside without wondering what they liked. Kagura, Ultear, Mira, Lisanna, Millianna, even Sherry -who had hit on him multiple times. The list went on, but he didn't have that nagging voice in the back of his head wondering if they had a kink and what it might be.

Instead, that voice kept circling back to Lucy.

'What does she like?'

"Natsu?"

He jumped, stumbling before finding his balance. He didn't let her ask whatever was on her mind, refusing to look at her as he shouted, "I need some fresh air!"

Natsu flinched, knowing his voice was too loud. He didn't fear any zombies hearing them, more worried about hurting Lucy's ears. He wanted to look at her, but he couldn't risk it. His face was too hot, positive he was blushing as more lewd thoughts about his best friend surfaced.

It started with wondering if Lucy had used any of the toys they saw in the other room and didn't end until she asked, "Are you okay?"

He nodded too hard, nearly hurting his neck as he rushed out of the room and down the stairs. "I'll go see if there's some food! It's probably close to lunch!"

"Don't you need fresh air?" she called after him, but he was already on the first floor, struggling to fill his lungs with air.

"What the fuck?" he whispered, pulling at his hair until it hurt.

It should have distracted him, but all he could think about was how it would feel having Lucy pull his hair. He swallowed hard, groaning as he stormed towards the kitchen.

He put all the blame on that stupid sex room, wondering what kind of deviant Everlue was to even have a room dedicated to that.

"Get a fucking grip," he told himself, purposely taking a deep breath when he opened the fridge. He was positive rotten food was the best way to get those absurd thoughts out of his head, but his mind cycled through a few more before finally giving him a rest.

It helped that his last thought was the most vile, snapping him back to reality. It started when he remembered those chains in Everlue's dresser. He had the audacity to wonder if Lucy was the type of person who liked to be cuffed, only to recoil when he realized she had been a prisoner to Ivan and his goons.

Natsu couldn't help but be repulsed by himself for ever entertaining such an idea, knowing it wasn't likely she would ever want to be captured again, under any circumstances.

'But... It would be different,' he thought, frowning as he imagined Lucy's arms strung above her head, fastened to a headboard as she gazed up at him without a trace of fear in her eyes. He wanted her to trust him. He never wanted to hurt her.

Natsu had no experience when it came to sex, but somehow he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he would be gentle with her, easing her into the situation before— Before he—

Okay, so maybe Natsu didn't know what would come next. He assumed foreplay? He knew the gist of it from videos and conversations heard from Gray and Cana. Did Lucy like foreplay? Once when he couldn't tune her out, Cana had mentioned hating when a guy skipped it and went to the main deed.

Was there a chance Lucy's kink involved abnormal things? Or was being cuffed considered normal?

'Why the fuck am I even thinking this?' Natsu dragged a hand over his face, cursing himself for getting lost in those retched thoughts again.

Only, they didn't feel so bad.

Deep down, Natsu felt something good from those thoughts, and that scared him far more than anything else in that creepy sex dungeon ever could.

Doing his best to keep his mind clear, Natsu moved on, scraping together something edible for their lunch. It would help refuel them for their walk back, especially with how many books they were bringing with them.

"What'd you find?" Lucy asked when he entered the room, her back towards him as she flipped through a book.

"Umm, some dehydrated fruit... and some rice cakes." He had noticed Everlue's kitchen and pantry consisted of healthy food or snacks with low calories. Judging by the pictures in one of Everlue's rooms, he had been a short and stocky man. He wasn't too large, but his food selection suggested he had been watching his weight.

'Or maybe he filled his pantry with food for his lover?'

He didn't dwell on it, Lucy's voice gaining his attention.

"Sweet," she said, putting the book back on the shelf before making her way over.

After the scolding he gave himself about his vulgar thoughts, Natsu found it easier to look at Lucy. So what if her tank top was a little tight? So what if her hips swayed a bit as she walked? So what if—

Natsu blinked, wondering if her hips always moved like that. Had he just not noticed?

Before he could venture back into that disgraceful territory, Natsu set all the snacks he gathered on the ground before taking a seat, watching as Lucy mimicked him.

Though the first few minutes were tense, Natsu found himself relaxing as Lucy started talking. It was all about the books she saw and who she thought would like them. By the time she got to a book she thought Erza would benefit from, Natsu felt back to normal.

It was just them, hanging out without any weirdness between them. Though, he was the only one with those weird thoughts. He was positive Lucy would never, ever in a million years think something like that about him.

He cracked a smile when she told him more about the book, but it felt forced, like he was trying to make up for the sudden loss he felt in his chest. It made no sense. Nothing had happened, so why did he feel empty all of a sudden?

Natsu grabbed another snack, using food to fill that new void. He convinced himself it worked, deciding once more it was better to suppress any strange feelings. He didn't want the trouble.

Or, maybe he didn't think he could handle it?

After all, he wasn't the best when it came to complex emotions, especially ones that left him confused or unhappy.

"I found one you might like," Lucy said, standing before dusting her pants off. "Only problem is I can't reach it."

She walked over to where a ladder rested, grabbing it before trying to pull. "It's stuck."

Natsu stood, walking over to inspect the thing. It was attached to a rail on the floor, meant to sway side to side to get any book in the library on that wall. He tried giving it a tug, the thing rattling but not budging.

"Huh." Natsu let go before asking, "Do you want me to go grab a chair?"

"Actually, I was wondering if you could give me a boost?"

"Sure."

Natsu didn't think anything of it, following her towards the center of the wall before lacing his fingers together. He turned his back to the bookcases as Lucy settled a hand on his shoulder. Seconds later, she put her foot in his hands before letting Natsu lift her upwards.

A trickle of trepidation made itself known as her leg pressed against his cheek. Her other foot rested on the edge of a shelf, most of her weight leaning on Natsu's grip.

His body stiffened as devious thoughts pushed against the barricade he set up in his mind. He needed to stop, telling himself there was no reason to read more into what was happening.

Natsu was just helping his friend. It didn't matter that all he had to do was turn his head to be met with a face full of her thigh. He berated himself again, but that all came to a halt when Lucy reached for the book, her foot slipping off the shelf.

Natsu didn't think, letting go of his interlocked fingers to grab Lucy around the legs, refusing to let her fall.

It was silly. She was a few feet above the ground. It wasn't like she would hurt herself too much if she fell, but he did his best to keep her up.

With one hand under her boot, he used the other to grip the back of her upper thighs to keep her steady.

She thanked him, chuckling as she stretched again for the book.

Even through the material of her pants, Natsu could feel the firm yet squeezable legs hidden underneath. His face began flushing again as he fought with the urge to test how pliable her thigh was, feeling the warmth from her skin through her pants.

Lucy wiggled in his grip as she tried reaching the top shelf, Natsu struggled with the fire building in his belly. Loke asked him once if he was a breast or ass man, and while he could appreciate those aspects of a woman when in the right mindset, they didn't get his heart racing quite as fast as another part of the body did.

It had his pulse jumping, which was why he made it a point to keep his eyes off up and away from the danger zone.

Thighs, specifically full ones with curvy hips to match.

His mouth grew impossibly dry as his hand gripped her a little harder, his breathing nearly doubling as he wondered how it would feel if he could freely roam her curves.

Natsu thought about their first confrontation over her new job, eyes closing as he pictured her on that football field. She had worn a tight pair of jeans and an even tighter tank top. It left little to the imagination, his fingers twitching before his eyes snapped open, realizing he was letting his disturbing thoughts become reality.

His grip slipped just as Lucy said, "Almost got it." She let out a yelp when he fumbled, Natsu's fingers digging into her before she could fall.

"Careful," she laughed, oblivious to the battle in his head. "Don't drop me."

"Wasn't planning on it," he mumbled, wishing he could stop thinking all together.

'Seriously! Cut this shit out! This is Lucy! LUCY! What the fuck is wrong with you!?'

Once again, he blamed Everlue's perversions, but he figured that wasn't the only cause. It had been a while since he got some self-relief.

Actually it had been over half a year now. Something about fighting for survival took precedence over jerking off to porn.

'Yeah, that's it. It's just pent up energy, nothing more.'

That was what he told himself, clinging to the lie.

"Got it yet?" Natsu asked, nearly squirming as heat began flooding his body. He wouldn't allow himself to lose control, refusing to let the stupid urges win. He had done well to suppress it all. He just had to keep it up a little longer until they were free and clear of that house and sex room.

Because clearly, that was the problem.

"YES!" Lucy cheered as Natsu let out a breath, thankful it was over.

He tried adjusting his grip so he could let her down, not realizing she was doing the same. His hand slipped, Lucy gasping as gravity pulled her down. She fell, bringing Natsu with her as they tumbled to the ground.

He winced as pain shot through his shoulder, landing hard on the edge of a misplaced book. His slight injury kept his mind occupied, not realizing Lucy's hands were braced on his thighs as she worked on her balance after falling.

If he had noticed, he wouldn't have been able to get that image out of his head.

"Sorry," she said, though her tone was anything but apologetic. Instead, she sounded amused.

Lucy stood, looking around before finding the book that caused so much trouble. "Here it is." She handed it to him, Natsu now sitting up while his arm rubbed at his shoulder.

"What's it about?" he asked, taking the book before looking over the cover.

"It's a book I read as a kid," she said, causing Natsu to raise a brow.

'She thinks I need a kids' book?' He wanted to be offended, but he knew there was another reason she was giving it to him. Lucy was too kind to insult him.

"It's about mythological creatures and how their lore affected certain parts of history. I don't know if you'll like all of it, but there's a few chapters dedicated to dragons."

"Really?" Natsu asked, a grin surfacing on his face as he cracked the book open, propping it up against the cease of his knee. It didn't take him long to find the section in the table of contents, reading the words Yinglong, Firedrake, and Wyvern.

His heart raced as anticipation built, wanting to dive into the book now. However, he held himself back. He looked up at Lucy, confident she had the same idea.

His grin softened, imagining them spending an afternoon hold up in the library, reading alongside each other as the day trickled by.

Natsu didn't consider himself much of a reader, but he liked the idea of hanging out with Lucy like that. Honestly, he doubted it mattered much what they were doing. He enjoyed spending time with her, thankful their friendship was healing.

He hated when they fought, and while he was still concerned, he felt better about her decision to work off base.

She could use some improvements, but who didn't? He was still learning on the job. If he took anything away from today, it was the fact that Lucy wasn't as reckless as he made her out to be in his head.

"Thanks," he said, holding the book to his chest before moving to stand, only to wince again.

"What happened?" she asked, watching as he looked at his shoulder with a cringe. "Did you land on it?"

"Landed on a book," he muttered, jolting when she set a gentle hand on the sore spot. Lucy's movements were slow but deliberate, easing the discomfort with her skilled hands.

"How's that?" she asked as she applied just the right amount of pressure, Natsu melting under her touch.

Natsu's eyes fluttered closed as she rubbed over his shoulder, chasing away the pain for a moment. "That feels good," he whispered, letting out a long breath.

Her hands moved away, Natsu almost leaning towards her retreat until she said, "I'll give you a proper massage when we get back, if you're up for it."

"Definitely not gonna turn that down," Natsu said with a laugh. He would be a fool to pass that up.

Lucy smiled as she nodded, getting up to look for more books. At least, that was her goal before she turned towards the window, letting out a surprised gasp.

"No way."

"What?" Natsu moved towards her, peeking out the window before furrowing his brows. He didn't see it immediately, Lucy pointing in the distance before he recognized the creature grazing the overgrown grass. "A deer?"

"Yeah." She got closer to the window, resting her palms on the sill as she gazed at the animal. "It's been a while since I've seen one."

"You got that bow," Natsu said, eyes fixed on the prize. "Wanna try to get it?"

"I don't think it'd do enough damage," Lucy said, slowly pulling away before looking his way. "I'd only injure it." She snorted. "That's if I even managed to hit it."

"You hit that stuffed animal earlier."

She rolled her eyes. "It wasn't moving, and we were pretty close."

"You don't wanna try?" he asked, causing her to shrug.

"It would be nice to have more meat," Lucy said, crossing her arms over her chest. Natsu averted his eyes, refusing to let any ill thoughts pass through his mind again when he caught a hint of cleavage.

"I think you should go for it."

"Really?"

He nodded. "Why not? It looks clear out there, and even if you don't take it down on the first try, we can just follow the blood trail like in video games."

Lucy let out a small laugh. "I guess I could try." She pointed a finger at him, puffing out her cheeks. "But if I miss you can't make fun of me!"

That had Natsu grinning, anxious to see her in action. "Come on," he said, circling her wrist before pulling her towards the door.

"Hold on!"

Natsu stopped, watching as Lucy broke free from his grasp. He almost pouted before realizing she needed to gather the bow and arrows. The urge to grab her wrist again surfaced, but Lucy was too quick. She rushed past him as she shouted, "Hurry up slowpoke!"

He chuckled as he raced after her, the two slowing when they left the house. The deer had been spotted down the street, both quiet as they approached the target.

Natsu followed Lucy's lead when she lowered into a crouching position, steps cautious and calculated. She stopped before standing, removing a single arrow before lining up her shot.

A shot she wasn't able to make.

Before she could try, the deer's head snapped up. Within seconds it took off. Lucy cursed, saying it must have smelled them before she raced after it.

Natsu didn't think as he chased after Lucy, following her a block over before she slowed her pace. The deer continued on, turning right down the street into a deeper part of the neighborhood.

"He's a fast fucker," Natsu said, grinning when Lucy snorted.

"It's probably for the best. He was a little scrawny."

Natsu pressed his lips into a thin line as he suppressed a laugh, wondering if Lucy was making excuses. Deciding he didn't want her to feel bad about letting it get away, he reached over and gripped her shoulder, not thinking about it as he shook her a little. "You'll get 'em next time."

She gave him a smile as she went to put the arrow back, only to freeze. Natsu tensed as he looked over, preparing for a threat. Instead of seeing a zombie like he thought, he found a squirrel in front of one of the houses.

It didn't seem to notice them, Lucy sucking in a deep breath before drawing her bow again.

Natsu watched, eyes fixed on Lucy as she let out a slow exhale before holding. She released the arrow, but he couldn't be bothered to see if she hit her mark or not. Instead his focus stayed on the determination in her eyes, the furrow of her brows and the way she moved.

He hadn't realized he was smiling, eyes hooded as a sense of calm washed over him. Natsu wasn't snapped out of his daze until Lucy made eye contact, a pout forming on her lips.

Natsu swallowed when she bit her bottom lip, throat feeling tight as he struggled to make out her words.

"I missed."

Natsu forced his eyes towards the squirrel, finding it nowhere in sight. His attention wasn't on that empty spot long, both of them jolting when a dog barked in the distance, sounding a block or two away.

"I need more practice," Lucy said, walking past him to retrieve her arrow.

Natsu looked around, making sure their surroundings were clear before following her. "Can you practice back home?" he asked, the tension in his shoulders building when the dog's barking ended.

'Did it stop on its own? Or was it forced to stop?'

The area looked deserted. Natsu didn't feel that impending danger he felt when he worked as a clearer. Then again, when he was on that job, they sought out the threat.

"Not really," Lucy said as she came back, running a finger over the dulled arrowhead. "Since this is considered a weapon someone would have to watch me, and I doubt they'd let a guard do that instead of watch the base." She sighed as she put the arrow back in the quiver. "I guess I could practice more on my days off. Right outside the gate."

A week ago, that thought would have terrified Natsu. Now, he only felt mild concern. Lucy didn't have to prove anything to him, but he was glad he could watch her in action, easing his worry.

He hoped to hell she never thought of being a clearer, but the job of runner seemed to suit her, especially with others around.

"That reminds me," Natsu started, thinking back to the deal he made with Makarov. "I'm supposed to get to learn how to shoot a gun soon."

"Sounds intense," Lucy said, Natsu shrugging in response.

"I'm not as excited as I thought I'd be." If he had to guess, it was because he didn't feel like they achieved anything going to Hargeon. The mission had been a failure all around. Millianna was injured, the solar panels were useless to them now that the electrician had gone, and Gildarts—

Natsu wondered if Cana had been better off never finding out he was still alive. It might have been easier to cope with than reality.

Before Natsu could let his thoughts venture to his own missing dad, he straightened his shoulders. "Wanna practice now?"

The corner of Lucy's lip twitched before she nodded. "Sure."

Their arrangement was unspoken. Lucy would practice while Natsu kept watch over her and their surroundings. He did well at first, scanning the area every minute or so.

However, after Lucy went to collect the arrows that survived being shot, Natsu found his gaze lingering on her. He couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as she carried herself with a confidence he never thought possible, at least from her.

She was not that broken, timid person from half a year ago.

Lucy was a fighter, a survivor, and a thriving member of Fairy Tail.

She wore the mark on her hand like a badge of honor, the pink tattoo a nice addition on her body.

Somewhere along the lines Natsu had stopped looking around, instead talking with Lucy as she aimed at a wooden fence, trying to get her shots in a straight line. The conversation started with her training in the field of archery before moving on to various competitions she had won.

"Sounds like you had a fun life before all this," Natsu said, raising a brow when he saw Lucy's movements still.

"Yeah," she murmured, but her voice betrayed her.

Natsu frowned as he debated what to do. He wanted to know more about Lucy, whether it was her past or her present, or even what she wanted from the future. However, he knew their friendship was in a rocky place. A few good conversations wouldn't erase the hurt that had been caused, so he decided not to press for answers.

If Lucy wanted to tell him, she would open up.

But then again, she hadn't opened up about wanting to be a runner while he was still at Fairy Tail. His behavior told Lucy it wasn't a good idea to broach the subject, causing her to hold back.

He wondered what he had to do to earn Lucy's trust back, then take it a step further and let her feel safe enough to share more with him. He didn't know, but he knew pushing was the solution.

"You look pretty badass," Natsu said, smiling when Lucy fumbled with her arrow.

She shot him a surprised look before quickly turning away. "What time is it," she asked, throwing Natsu off.

He figured she wasn't expecting the compliment, but that only had him narrowing his eyes as he thought back to previous conversations. Had he complimented her before? He was sure he had, but now that he thought about it, it wasn't nearly as much as she deserved.

Looking at his watch, Natsu rattled off the time, but his focus wasn't there long.

His frown deepened as he sank into his thoughts, leaning against a parked car as Lucy retrieved her arrows once more, discarding the ones that broke. He didn't know why his lack of compliments towards Lucy bothered him, his chest feeling itchy as he scratched over his shirt. It wasn't the stiff material's fault, the strange feeling coming from beneath his skin.

He would have to talk to Levy about it tomorrow, figure out what the hell was going on with his thoughts.

Of course, he wouldn't dare mention the inappropriate stuff taking residence in his mind. Not only did he doubt Levy wanted to hear it, he knew it was all in the heat of the moment. The longer they were away from that stupid house, the better Natsu felt. His mind was clear.

At least, that was what he told himself.

"Natsu," Lucy whispered, calling his attention towards her crouched form.

He blinked, wondering how long he had been zoned out before glancing up. His eyes went round, spotting three deer in the distance. He moved down before waddling beside her, both taking cover behind an SUV while peeking out from the side.

"I bet there's a ton of 'em out here," he whispered, eyeing the biggest one.

"You said there weren't a lot of people in this area before, so you're probably right," she whispered back, resting a hand on his knee to keep herself up as she leaned further over.

Natsu's breathing picked up a bit, excited at the idea of getting a deer for Fairy Tail, though he wouldn't be much help. There was no way he was getting close enough, his knives only allowing short-ranged attacks.

But Lucy, she had a way of cutting through the distance.

"Think you can get one?" he asked, feeling Lucy squeeze his knee before moving back behind the SUV.

"Maybe, but they'll smell us before I can get too close."

Natsu watched as she mulled over her options, bottom lip trapped between her lips for a moment before she chewed. It was something he had seen her do a hundred times before, usually when she poured over the desk to write her stories. However, seeing it now had his heart thrumming, the unsteady pulses causing him to sweat.

Which was wild, seeing as he only sweat when exerting himself.

His tongue swiped over his bottom lip, feeling the chapped texture. He swallowed, unable to take his eyes off Lucy's mouth as the formed a plan.

'I wonder how soft her lips are.'

Before he could ponder on that thought, Lucy started standing. His trance was broken, everything else forgotten as he saw a fire dance in her eyes.

"Here's the plan."

Natsu listened, nodding along to her ideas. If all went well, she would aim for the biggest one to injure it, then they would run like hell to get to it before it could get too far away. Then, she would shoot it again before Natsu went in for the kill.

He had one knife that hadn't tasted zombie blood today, and he would use it to end the deer's life so Fairy Tail could feast.

It was a solid plan, but luck wasn't on their side.

They crept closer, their movements quiet as Lucy readied her weapon. They were a few houses away before the deer looked alert, Lucy not wasting a second to stand up and fire her shot. The arrow was sent through the air, slicing into the deer's neck.

"NOW!"

They ran, watching as the three deer scattered in all directions. Lucy already had another arrow pulled from her quiver as they rounded the block, following the injured deer towards the right.

Lucy stopped for a moment, drawing her bow before focusing on her target. She took her best shot, hitting the deer's body, but it didn't stop it.

She had been right. The bow wasn't strong enough.

That didn't stop them, both chasing after it down the street through another neighborhood. Natsu's eyes stayed on the deer, but he knew they had a chance of finding it if they lost sight. It was bleeding, trickles of crimson littering the street until it formed into a pool of blood behind a truck.

'Wait.'

Natsu stumbled when they passed the truck, unable to stop his eyes from rounding when he saw a deer torn to shreds on the ground, a lone zombie chewing on what remained of its carcass.

The blood that littered the street was too fresh and that damage to the deer couldn't have been done by one zombie in such a short amount of time.

Their movement caught the zombie's attention, it slowly standing before staggering towards them. It was slow, a mere walker by the look of it.

Natsu was prepared to keep running in favor of catching the deer, but he ended up hitting something solid when he turned to face the front. Lucy fell with him, Natsu knocking her off her feet and to the ground. He tried asking why she stopped, only for his blood to freeze when he heard a horrid snarl from ahead.

Looking up, Natsu saw five zombies gathered, three of them already ripping into the poor deer they had chased, pulling a strangled grunt from the animal before it went limp from their destruction.

The other two zombies had their eyes locked on Natsu and Lucy, both scrambling to their feet while the walker moved towards them from behind.

For a second Natsu thought it wasn't that bad. Six walkers would be tough, but with three distracted they stood a decent chance.

However, the blood-soaked zombies moved away from the deer when one of the others let out a hiss, all eyes locking on the survivors.

Natsu's confidence dropped a bit, but he still gripped the handle of his knife hanging from his belt, ready for a fight. That changed when all five zombies rushed towards them, clearing the distance of two cars in seconds.

"Shit!" Natsu yelled, heart plummeting as he took a step back. "Sprinters!"

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It's about to go down! Literally!

So, just a little personal note in case anyone's wondering. I'm doing so so so much better than I was a few years ago. I'm happy with myself and my life and I'm optimistic about my future and how I want to shape it. There were times when I thought it was hopeless, but I'm so glad I pushed through. I'm so happy with how things turned out. It was definitely for the better. :) Okay, now back to the story notes.

Did anyone catch the irony in this chapter when Natsu was wondering what Lucy liked? Kudos to anyone who guesses right!

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Awakening

There was a time I went to a housing development frequently, and it was weird seeing some plots of land empty, some with just concrete slabs, some with empty houses, and some with houses fully stocked and decorated. Fairy Tail stands a better chance focusing on neighborhoods that are actually full instead of picking through new houses. Plus, they want to get towards the stores for more supplies, and they're not going to achieve that goal if they focus on houses towards the country.

Thank you so much for reading! Shout out to those awesome peeps who left feedback last time: XxCelestialAssassinxX(x2), sakshishetty3003, Ryu of Konoha, Wadeparker, SamSlaya, Xfangirl123X, valerioux, Miffy-T, kkurtenbach5, shootingstarssel, SistershoOk, ElementalMiko12, Brooke0315, Guest12, stranger1999, Patpat, Guest, Sydneste, Doginshoe, sthokat, CrazyZaika, FlameDragonHime, Duchixx, annegirl13, dareaderreads, Karina, Swarnika shresth, Guest, and Good Job Author!

*I have a question for the quest reviewer 'Karina'. You mentioned in your review, "In fact, I'm going to kill myself after a while, but while I'm here," I hope I misunderstood that and you meant you were going to exhaust yourself? I'm pretty sure I misunderstood, but in case you meant literally, I hope you (or anyone else here having thoughts like that) can get help if needed. As you can see by this story, I'm very pro-therapy/pro-counseling (I still don't 100% understand the difference. I know I've been to several counselors throughout my life but they were never specified as 'therapy', just 'counseling'. I dunno, anyways...) There's no shame in seeking mental help. Okay, back to the story notes...

Let me know what you thought of this chapter! Natsu's realizing some stuff, but he's also denying himself to fully explore those thoughts because come on, it's Lucy, and Lucy's just his friend. Right? :P Also, Natsu likes thicc thighs, and thanks to Lucy's squats, lunges, etc, she's got some full ones. Lucy also got to show off her archery skills, though she needs more practice (and a much better bow). Thoughts on using Everlue in this chapter? We already know he loves to collect books and is full of himself, lol.

Please share your thoughts, theories, constructive criticism, any of that! I love hearing from you! Once again, we're not even halfway through this story, so I hope you can continue practicing patience with me!

The regular author's notes end here, but if you wish to be spoiled read the next section below, but skip it if you don't like spoilers!

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*Contains slight spoilers: I feel really bad every time someone mentions them possibly meeting Gajeel and Juvia because I can see y'all are excited to get them in the story but I have a very specific part I'm bringing them in and I don't want to bring them in sooner because I really, really love where I'm going to bring them in. I just feel like I'm stringing y'all along, but I promise they're coming. Anyways, the spoiler I feel comfortable sharing is Gajeel and Juvia definitely won't be coming until after the hospital arc. They won't be coming immediately afterwards, but it is after that, so until we get past the hospital, there's no chance of them showing up sooner. Sorry if that's a disappointment. I've just had their entrance planned for literally years and I've built it up in my head and I would hate to bring them in sooner just for the sake of them being there. Thank you so much for understanding and being so patient! They're coming, slowly but surely.

Someone else is coming next chapter. ;) Any guesses who?