Warning: Contains sexual content. (The last 40% of this chapter is smut)
Chapter Sixty-Eight: Awakening- Part One
(April 24th, 2018 Tuesday Afternoon)
Natsu hummed as he cleaned out his ears, using a bobby pin since it was reusable. Erza warned against it, but what harm could it do?
He sat at his desk, skin refreshed after taking his weekly shower. The outdoor showers were coming along, Natsu hoping they would finish by the time summer rolled around.
There was nothing like feeling clean, Natsu working out a plan to give Lucy a similar gift, but it would take a lot of preparation.
He had time, Natsu making a mental note of items he would need.
'Large stones for a campfire. A shopping cart. Charcoal. A house with a chimney would be awesome.'
He would use his next day off to search the nearby neighborhood to set up shop, determined to see his vision come to life.
Natsu could already imagine Lucy's smiling face, chest feeling a little lighter as he leaned back in his chair, relaxing after the wild ride the day had been.
If the rest of the day was boring as hell, he would be happy.
Deciding some light entertainment was what he needed, Natsu reached for the next volume of Death Note in his collection. He was on the fifth page when a knock sounded at his door.
Furrowing his brows, Natsu got up to answer the door, surprised to see Lucy on the other side. "Not tired of me yet?" he teased, a smile tugging at his lips until he saw the frown on hers. "Something wrong?"
Before she could answer, Happy meowed from across the room. The feline scurried across the floor, bumping his head into Lucy's ankle before rubbing his body against her leg.
'Traitor,' Natsu thought, remembering when Happy used to do that only to him. He couldn't stay bitter, especially when Lucy bit back a smile as she picked up the purring cat.
"I missed you too," she cooed, snuggling the cat against her chest.
Natsu noticed Everlue's shirt was gone, Lucy replacing her outfit with a comfier look. A pair of loose capris and a plain shirt adorned her body, her hair damp from her shower.
"So what's up?" Natsu asked, breaking Lucy's attention away.
She kept scratching under Happy's chin as her gaze found his. "Not a lot. Oh—" Her eyes widened before her shoulders fell. "I got scolded."
"Scolded?" The word felt foreign, Natsu associating it with misbehaved children. He frowned, body growing alert as he asked, "Who?" If someone raised their voice to Lucy, Natsu was going to—
"Bisca."
That answer had Natsu faltering, blinking a few times as he said, "Huh?" Surely he heard her wrong. Bisca didn't even scold her own child, always using a gentle and respectful tone when needing to correct Asuka's behavior.
Lucy nodded, taking a step into the room so Natsu could close the door. She walked over to the desk, gently setting Happy down before turning towards him. "She chewed me out for what we did today."
"I'm not following," Natsu said, still stuck on the part where Bisca scolded her. "Why?"
Lucy let out a sigh as she deflated. Wrapping her arms around herself, she leaned against the desk. "I found her after my shower. I wanted to ask her what we could've done better to take down that deer. I told her what happened and she got mad at me."
"She got mad?" That made no sense. Bisca hunted deer. Wouldn't she want more people bringing in meat?
Natsu moved towards the desk, pulling out the chair to sit. Lucy explained, though it only caused him further confusion.
"She said if I wasn't going to respect the animal I had no right trying to hunt it."
Natsu pondered on that for a moment, watching as Lucy ignored the other chair in favor of sitting on top of the desk. She crossed her legs and slouched, no doubt tired from the long day.
"How were you supposed to respect it?" he asked, failing to understand what Bisca meant.
Lucy's eyes fell to the desk, her voice hesitant as she said, "We went in knowing we weren't going to take it down in one shot." A moment passed, Lucy rubbing over her arm. "Bisca said we were irresponsible and reckless, and what we did was plain cruel."
Natsu's stomach sank, feeling the disappointment Bisca had for their actions through Lucy's dull eyes. "I didn't mean to be cruel..."
Lucy swallowed, eyes watery until she blinked the unshed tears away. She took a deep breath, gripping the edge of the desk as if to steady her. "Me either... She said she hopes we never try a stupid stunt like that again."
"I'll go talk to her," Natsu said as he stood. He was ready to find Bisca and explain they had good intentions, but Lucy reached out and placed a hand on his chest.
"Please don't." Her eyes pleaded with him, something in Natsu's chest breaking at the frown marring her face. An urge to comfort her rose, tripling when Lucy whispered, "She's... she's right."
He didn't know when it happened, but Natsu found himself acting before he thought more around Lucy. His arms circled her, the embrace awkward with a few inches of desk between them, but Lucy leaned into his hug.
"I should've known better," Lucy said, her forehead pressed against his chest. She scooted towards the edge of the desk, wrapping her arms around him to return the hug. "It was careless," she said, voice growing timid. "And... it was cruel."
Natsu smoothed his hand against her back, wishing he could absorb her hurt and shoulder it all. He had been in the wrong too, encouraging her to try after she let him know she had been unsure.
"If we hadn't caught it... it would have had a senseless injury and suffered. I..." Lucy swallowed, voice thick as she fought her tears, Natsu holding her tighter as he felt regret for what they did. He was sick of feeling regret, tired of the decisions he had made in the last few months.
"I really should have known better." Lucy took a few shallow breaths. "I let my ambitions cloud my judgment."
"I'm sorry," Natsu said, finding his voice. "I pushed you to try."
He backed off when he felt Lucy shifting, two golden locks framing her reddened face. Based on her torn expression, he thought she would continue beating herself up, but she caught him by surprise when she said, "I guess you're just a bad influence, huh?"
Natsu's shoulders shook as he chuckled, though it felt weak. His stomach was in knots, realizing by the second how messed up their decision had been earlier. He hadn't thought it through, hadn't realized the consequences. It was wrong to go after something if they weren't sure they could end it quickly.
Working in receiving let Natsu see they had a nice stockpile of canned and dry goods, but the more meat and vegetables they brought in from hunting and the garden, the longer they could put off using more of their supplies.
All it would take is a bout of bad luck, and they would be putting themselves at risk. What would happen if the garden got pests? What if they couldn't go off base for a while due to the weather or increased danger? They needed to save some of their food for emergencies, but that didn't excuse Natsu and Lucy's actions today.
"On a serious note," Lucy continued when he hadn't responded, "I won't do that again unless I know I can take it down in one shot."
"How would you know?" Natsu asked, realizing his hands were still on her. His stomach twisted as he pulled back, sitting in the chair once more.
"I've taken down deer before," she said, missing a glint of pride in her eyes he thought she should have. "Granted, they were a lot smaller, probably a year old."
Lucy let out a sigh as she moved to kick her feet out, letting her legs hang over the edge of the desk. "I didn't think today through at all. I don't know how we'd even get it back to Fairy Tail if we had caught it. That thing was huge."
"We coulda—" he started, cutting himself off when Lucy shook her head.
"If I had to guess, I'd say it weighted two hundred pounds easy, probably closer to three though."
Natsu's jaw dropped, unsure if he heard her correctly. "Really?"
She nodded, leaning back as she palmed the desk to keep herself upright. "My dad got some big ones when he used to hunt," she said, a soft frown on her face.
Natsu didn't know the full story about her relationship with her dad. From the way she spoke it was complicated, some memories good while others were bad. He supposed families didn't always see eye-to-eye. While most of his memories with his brother had been dampened by Zeref's apathetic attitude, there were some good ones sprinkled in.
Every day Natsu saw the world wasn't black and white, just different shades of grey depending on who looked at it.
"Did he teach you to hunt?" Natsu asked, earning a nod.
"I wasn't a big fan. I liked shooting at targets instead."
"That didn't get boring?"
She smiled, though it was reserved. "Not really. I liked to make it challenging."
That had Natsu perking up, eager to hear anything dealing with a challenge. "Yeah?"
"Yup. I'd try walking by while shooting. Or once I blindfolded myself to see if I could remember the right position to get a bullseye."
"Did it work?"
Lucy snorted as she shook her head. "No, but it was still fun." Her eyes sparkled for a moment, Natsu sensing a fond memory surfacing in her head. He wanted to take a peek in her mind, experience her memories alongside her and gain more knowledge about her upbringing.
She was selective with what she shared, making every detail she told him that much more special, no matter how small.
"Anyways," she said, pushing her bangs from her face. "If I had my bow, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."
"The bow you dropped?" Natsu asked, picturing the neon colors. He didn't see it on their way back to Fairy Tail, not that he was looking. His only goal after leaving Everlue's house for the last time was safety, the two keeping their conversations to a minimum during those hours.
"Not that one," Lucy said, letting out a slow exhale. "My bow." Silence followed as Lucy turned her gaze to her hand, thumb brushing over the tips of her fingers. "It has a draw weight of fifty. It—"
Her brows darted in as her fingers curled into a fist. "It would have taken that deer out in one shot, as long as I hit it in the right spot." She released her fist, along with her breath. "I needed more practice and a better bow before taking on something so big. Bisca was right. It was reckless."
With a half-hearted shrug, Lucy mumbled, "Can't practice anyways. I don't have that stupid bow anymore."
"We can find another bow," Natsu said, hoping to spark some life back into her eyes. They were bound to find a hunter's house or reach a sports and outdoors shop.
"I'll stick to rabbits for now," Lucy said, eyes flitting up to lock with his. "I'll leave the deer to Bisca and Alzach."
He wanted to encourage her, wanted her to push herself, but considering what happened last time, he stayed quiet. Instead of commenting on what she said, he sighed. "Sorry you got scolded."
"It's fine... I deserve it." Something flashed in her eyes, Natsu finding himself focusing on them more than anything else. "You should prepare yourself though. Bisca said she's giving you a talking to too."
Natsu shuddered, his voice holding a note of sarcasm. "Great."
Lucy exhaled through her nose as she gripped her knees, eyes falling to the side. If she was going to reply, she took her time, but he doubted she wanted to continue that conversation. He let his gaze wander, falling on the golden bracelet dangling around her wrist.
She didn't wear it often, similar to Natsu and his scarf.
"Oh!" His outburst caused Lucy to jolt, her brown eyes wide as she watched him scoot away from the desk before pulling out a drawer. "I almost forgot!"
"What's up?"
He grabbed the present, a grin taking over his face as he held it out for her. "I got ya something!"
"You did?" Lucy asked, carefully plucking the small gift from his hand. She looked it over before shaking it, but it made no sound. "Doesn't feel like anything's in there." She smiled, small but coy. "Is this a prank?"
Natsu couldn't help but chuckle. "No weirdo, there's somethin' in there. Open it!" He didn't bother containing himself as he perked up, eyes fixed on her fingers as she popped the single piece of tape from the ball of red construction paper.
The charm almost fell out when she unraveled the paper, saving it before it could meet the floor. "Is that a cat?"
Natsu nodded, eager to see how long it took her to figure out what it was for. Lucy was clever, zeroing in on the little loop above the cat before glancing at her bracelet. "It's for this?" she asked, holding up her wrist.
Natsu nodded, causing her eyes to light up. Something in his chest tightened in a good way as he watched her mess with the charm, turning it over a few times before smiling at him.
"Thank you! This is awesome!"
He chuckled, waving her off. "It was nothing. Just something I picked up in Hargeon."
Lucy met his gaze, a few emotions rotating beyond the brown depth of her eyes before they stopped at what Natsu could only describe as happiness. "That's so sweet of you," she whispered, clasping the charm in her loose fist.
Normally Natsu disliked being called sweet, but for some reason Lucy made it sound good. "Glad you like it."
"I love it!" she gushed, scooting off the desk to give him a hug.
He accepted her embrace, patting her back as he said, "I hope it'll match the other ones. I'm not sure if it's real gold or not."
Lucy didn't seem to care as she pulled back a few inches, their eyes locked before she cupped his cheek. The scar she gave him warmed against her palm, her thumb brushing the skin below his eye before she leaned in to press her lips softly to his other cheek.
Natsu's body grew still as she retreated, his mind suddenly blank as he stared up at her with wide eyes. She was already returning to the desk as if nothing happened, Natsu unable to stop her or say anything for several seconds.
It felt more like minutes before his jaw finally went slack, his voice barely a whisper as he breathed, "What was that for?"
Lucy just smiled that same smile that had his chest feeling funny, opening her hand to let the charm rest on her palm as her eyes dipped to the piece of jewelry. "I really like it."
Natsu wasn't sure that was enough of a reason to kiss him. Was that even what it was? Her lips barely touched him. If anything, it was a peck but lighter.
He had been kissed by his parents on the forehead and cheek when he was younger, Lucy's gesture somehow similar but different. It felt the same against his skin physically, but inside Natsu never reacted that way from a familial kiss.
Before he could let that thought explode in his head, Lucy said, "I can't wait to put it on! Do you know someone with pliers?"
A dumbfounded look took over his features. "Pliers?" He looked at the charm before his brows furrowed. "You can't just... slip it on?"
Lucy's eyes softened as she shook her head. "I need two pairs of chain nose pliers to put it on."
Natsu's jaw went slack. "Oh... They probably have some needle nose pliers?"
"I mean," Lucy started, fighting a cringe. "It could work, but I might damage the jump ring."
"Jump... ring?"
Lucy held up the charm before pointing at the loop attached, the one Natsu thought would just 'slip on' the bracelet. "I need to open that. Needle nose pliers will scratch it..." She went quiet for a moment, her lips twisting a bit as she thought.
Natsu's eyes stayed on her lips, entranced as she lightly bit the bottom one before straightening her back. His gaze snapped to her eyes just as she looked at him, a triumphant smile playing across those lips he had just stared at.
Lips that had been on his cheek moments ago.
"I have an idea. If you can find two needle nose pliers, I can put some tissue around the ring to keep it from getting scratched." She held out her wrist before tapping the charm to a spot by the clasp. "I think I'll put it here. What do you think?"
Lucy gave Natsu no time to think about anything else, the man chuckling as he shrugged. "I dunno if you've noticed, but I'm not exactly experienced in jewelry."
He grinned, an easiness taking over as he reached out to fiddle with the charms circling her wrist. "I guess it'd look good there."
With a smile, he added, "I'll have to hunt down some pliers. There's a ton in the tool room, but I gotta find someone to let me in."
"Tool room?" Lucy cocked her head, causing Natsu to explain they had one room dedicated to various tools.
"Honestly, I didn't know it existed until I started working in receiving."
"You know, it's a little funny," Lucy started, catching his gaze. "You started working on base while I work off."
Tension built in Natsu's shoulders before he let out a muffled grunt. He wanted to respond, but the pain from falling on that book earlier came back. He rotated his arm and shoulder, the soreness subsiding for a moment.
"Still hurts?" Lucy asked before hopping off the desk.
He tensed, wondering if she was coming close to his cheek again. He wasn't sure if he did or didn't want her lips on him again, fighting with the strange feeling taking over. It was unlike anything he felt before, both thrilling and absolutely terrifying.
Natsu told himself he didn't want her to do it again, but somehow he felt disappointed when her hand landed on his shoulder instead of her leaning in again.
She rubbed over the spot he hurt, eyes slowly flitting closed as everything else in his mind faded. The only thing existing was him and Lucy, her hands kneading the pain away.
He was seconds away from letting out a gentle hum when Lucy pulled back, more disappointment filling him until she said, "Come on."
When he didn't react, she grabbed his hand and tugged.
"What?" Natsu asked, standing without putting much thought into it.
"I told you I'd give you a massage," Lucy said, cocking her head as she smiled softly.
"Oh, right." He thought nothing of it. She had given him a few massages in the past, most putting him right to sleep. Her hands were magic, hitting the right spots with the right pressure.
He kept his lips sealed about her talents, not wanting everyone at Fairy Tail knocking on their door for her talented touch.
Only, they wouldn't be knocking on their door anymore, Lucy now living all the way on the other end of the hall. If they both stood outside of their rooms, he wouldn't be able to make out any details other than her silhouette.
His stomach felt hollow at the thought, deciding he didn't want it festering. Lucy decided she didn't want to live with him, and he had no choice but to accept her decision.
Even if he wished she would come back.
"Want me in the chair?" Natsu asked, reaching up to rub over his sore shoulder. It wasn't so bad, just tender.
Lucy shook her head. "After everything you did for me today, I think you earned a full body rub."
"Oh?" Natsu looked at her hands, then thought of her running them over his body. Instantly the blockade he put up to control those deviant thoughts he had earlier broke, a few lewd questions slipping through. "Y-yeah?"
His throat grew dry when she nodded, his heart rate quickening.
"Yeah. Go lay down on the bed."
Natsu's breathing increased as he walked over to his bed, doing his best to keep his steps steady. It was just a massage, so there was no reason for the anticipation building inside him.
His knees sunk into the mattress, both thankful and mortified that he wore thin clothing. He would feel Lucy's touch easier, but he wasn't sure that was a good thing.
Natsu moved to lay on the bed, face sideways as he stared at the wall. He tried distracting himself, but he still ended up focusing on her footfalls as she drew near.
As she straddled his back, Natsu realized Lucy was on his mattress for the first time. He wanted to ask what she thought of it, but the question died in his throat as soon as she shifted on top of him, her legs snug against his lower back.
He tried putting the warmth out of his head, but it was impossible once she got her hands on him.
Like always, she started off slow and gentle. It took a moment for her to find her rhythm, Natsu soon biting back a groan when she dug the heel of her palm into his back, eyes sliding shut as she worked out the tension he carried.
She chased it away.
He wasn't exaggerating when he said she had magic hands, Lucy somehow knowing exactly where to apply pressure before moving to a different spot.
Natsu gulped, fighting the urge to melt against her touch.
It was a useless battle, Natsu putty in her hands within minutes.
"How's this?" Lucy asked after switching to his arms, kneading the left with calculated movements that had his fingers curling. He never meant to do it, his reflexes always reacting that way.
He was glad the bandages from his bicycle accident were gone, the superficial wounds now healed.
Natsu didn't trust his voice, giving her an awkward nod as he rested his cheek against the bed again. She shifted to get closer to his shoulder, her body brushing against his lower back in the process.
Natsu tried keeping his mind out of the gutter, not wanting to dive back into that cesspool. He didn't get it. Hours had passed and they were miles away from Everlue's sex room. Why was he still having strange thoughts?
Relief came when Lucy started talking, providing a distraction.
"So... I was thinking."
"Yeah," Natsu breathed, skin on fire as her fingers roamed his arm before switching to the other.
"I don't want you to think today was a test," she said, earning a raised brow from Natsu.
"Okay?" His focus shifted to her words, even if her touch brought him nothing but pleasure. Natsu's body was reacting, face flushed and heart thrumming, but thankfully all that rushing blood had continued its normal route instead of taking an express pass to his crotch.
In the past when he got hard from Lucy's massages, he had felt embarrassed. He was positive he would be mortified if that happened today.
"I was just thinking... We worked pretty well out there, I think." She paused, hands stalling before she resumed with a delicate touch, fingers brushing against his palm.
There wasn't a single thing sexual about it, but that was all it took for Natsu's blood to rush south.
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to focus on her words. "Uh huh?"
"Well, I talked to Rogue about it a few days ago," Lucy said, not realizing how relieved he was to hear another man's name. He clung to the image of Rogue before his mind bounced to the other runners. Lyon, Droy, Jäger, among others.
He bit back a growl when he thought of Hibiki, briefly wondering if Lucy ever offered him a massage. She was free to do whatever she wanted, but something about her touching that guy had Natsu's blood burning in a bad way.
Anger blanketed his mind until Lucy's voice filled the silence, calming him down. He had never realized how nice her voice sounded. Even when she kept her tone reserved, there was a positive aspect about it.
It made sense. Lucy should be happy, her voice matching.
What was he upset about again?
"Now that you've had some time to get used to the idea... I was wondering— There's no right or wrong answer, and you don't have to make up your mind now, because I know it's a big decision and I know I hate being rushed to make big decisions like this, so I—"
"Lucy," Natsu said, barely keeping the smile out of his voice. He tried turning his head, barely catching a glimpse of her face in his peripherals. "What's on your mind?"
She swallowed, hands retreating from his body as she set them on her thighs. "I just..."
"Just?" Natsu prodded, hoping she would make her point soon.
"Is there a chance you'd want to be a runner again?" she asked, causing Natsu's eyes to round.
"Oh."
He hadn't expected that, convinced she wanted him far away from her when she worked. He didn't know if her asking was too sudden or at the right time. Was there even a way to judge something like that?
Yeah, they worked well together today, but Natsu hadn't gotten over his need to protect her. How could he focus on his own work knowing Lucy was nearby in another house, unguarded.
It was easier when he was still at Fairy Tail. He wasn't sure he could handle it now, terrified of risking their friendship if he wasn't ready yet.
"I know it's sudden," Lucy said, as if reading his mind. "Rogue said if we can get along, he's fine with us partnering up and clearing houses together."
Natsu didn't know what to say to that offer. It sounded too good to be true. Working alongside Lucy meant they could spend more time together, but today could have been a fluke. What if working together would strain their friendship.
It was still recovering, easy to break if they applied too much pressure.
Speaking of pressure, Lucy moved to sit on his upper thighs, the added weight causing Natsu to mutter under his breath. His body ached, but Lucy chased the discomfort away, one section at a time.
It felt good having her on top of him. Not only was it comforting, it had him pressed further into the mattress, dull throbs beckoning his attention, but they went ignored.
"Thought Rogue didn't want people paired up," Natsu said, resisting the urge to readjust as his body reacted. Hardened. It didn't help that Lucy started working at his lower back, fingers slipping under the hem of his shirt.
The direct contact with her skin nearly set his body ablaze, Natsu swallowing past his dry throat.
"There's conditions," she said, rubbing out a tense section on his lower back. "Rogue said we have to clear twice as fast as a single person, otherwise he won't let us work together." He didn't have to look up to know she was smiling, hearing it in her voice. "He thinks we'll end up talking the whole time."
While Natsu loved talking to her, he could focus on his job. He snorted as the words tumbled out. "That's silly."
But was it?
He had gotten plenty distracted today with Lucy, whether they were talking or he was stealing glimpses at her. His thoughts had been his biggest downfall, tuning out everything around him while he let his mind wander.
Natsu tried thinking about the pros and cons of being a runner again, but all logic went out the door when Lucy's finger brushed the waistband of his shorts.
It was most likely on accident since she didn't linger, but damn, it had his body scorching.
He wouldn't be surprised if he started sweating with all that heat flooding his system.
"Can I think on it?" Natsu asked, brows furrowed as he closed his eyes. He couldn't produce rational thoughts with her hands on him like that.
"Absolutely." Lucy shifted again, nudging his thighs with her hands to spread them. "There's something else I wanted to mention..."
"Hmm?"
She settled between his knees as she started on his left thigh, pulling a shaky exhale from Natsu. "Are you okay?" she asked, causing him to nod.
"Yup!" he answered too quickly, cursing himself for yelling. At least his voice didn't crack, Natsu feeling parched despite drinking a full glass of water less than an hour ago. "You uh, wanted to... mention something?"
Ignoring his question, Lucy said, "You're always so sensitive on your thighs."
Natsu's stomach sank as his eyes snapped open. He didn't say anything, too stunned to form a single word. He didn't know she noticed, worried she would know how her touch always affected him.
It was a natural reaction from receiving stimulation. Nothing more, nothing less. That was what he always told himself, and before today, he believed it.
Now, he wasn't so sure.
"I have sensitive spots too," Lucy said, rubbing his thigh with her hands, fists, fingers, he wasn't sure. Whatever she was doing though, it sent him to a blissful place where nothing wrong ever happened. "My arms especially."
Natsu failed to comment, storing the bit of information away.
"And..." Her voice trailed off before she dug in a little deeper, Natsu's body practically boneless aside from the hardness in his shorts.
"Fuck," he muttered under his breath. He couldn't help it. Something about Lucy's touches today sent liquid fire through his veins. Every brush of her fingers was a reminder of the weird thoughts he had earlier that day, and they only increased as he lost the battle in his head.
Natsu swallowed as his imagination took off, wondering once again what put a fire in Lucy's belly. Did she like toys? Roleplaying? Did she like dirty talk? Was she shy in bed? Or did she take the lead?
His cock twitched at the thought of him on his back, Lucy straddling his waist as her hands traveled up and down his chest before she curled her fingers around his length and—
Natsu jerked, Lucy nearly stumbling before she gripped his shorts to keep from falling. "Are you okay?" she asked, hands still as she waited.
"Yes," Natsu said, keeping his voice as neutral as possible. "Just... Uh— You said you wanted to mention something?"
"Oh, right." Lucy resumed the massage, switching to his other thigh.
She was right. He was sensitive there. Any touches close to his dick had a strong effect on him. His train of thought ventured just like her hands. For a few seconds he let his imagination run wild, picturing Lucy's hand around his shaft before giving him a few tentative pumps.
He swore he was about to finish by her massage alone, but then everything in his body went still when he heard the crack in her voice.
"I just— Earlier..."
Despite the rapid beating of his heart and the painful throbs begging his attention, Natsu forced himself in the here and now. "What's wrong?" He wouldn't accept her denying it. Her tone was enough to know she was uneasy about the decision.
He swore he heard her swallow before she whispered, "After what happened today..." Her fingers splayed against his thigh, sending tingles over his skin where she teased the bottom of his shorts. Whether she meant to or not, he didn't comment.
Filling her lungs with air, Lucy said, "I don't want to do it, because I feel like a failure admitting it, but..."
Natsu bit his tongue to keep from rushing her. He wanted to roll over and meet her gaze, but there were two problems with that. She still had her hands on him, fingers delicate as they traced random patterns over the back of his thigh where his shorts had ridden up.
That alone wasn't too bad, but the more obvious reason he couldn't turn over was the large bulge in his shorts. There was no way he was hiding it, especially given the thin material.
"I don't want to talk about it, but I thought I'd mention it to you since... Well, you know me better than anyone here."
Natsu swallowed hard at that statement, letting it seep into his bones. He knew her the best? Yet there was so much he didn't know, so much he wanted to know. She kept her guard up, more often than needed.
He wanted more, but pushing wouldn't help. He never wanted her to feel pressured, to feel anything but happiness.
A few seconds passed before Lucy added pressure to her touches, resuming the massage as she dropped a bomb he wasn't expecting. "I'm going back into training."
"What?" Natsu asked, brows pinched as he tried looking at her over his shoulder. It was difficult, barely making out the edge of her face.
"You heard me," she whispered, her tone soft despite the stern words. "I... I wanted to prove how strong I am. I wanted to help Fairy Tail as much as I could. I wanted... to prove how far I've come..."
Seeing as he couldn't meet her gaze, Natsu's eyes fell to the mattress. "Why is that important to you?" He kept his voice to her level, hoping she wouldn't think he was scrutinizing her. He wanted to know since first finding out she was a runner.
Only now, he was ready to listen.
Lucy's hands stilled on him for a moment. "If I'm strong... then no one can... can hurt me again."
As if sensing he was going to move, Lucy pressed her knee on the back of his calf, keeping him grounded. He narrowed his eyes, wishing he could take the doubt from her voice. She wasn't alone. She didn't need to live in fear of someone hurting her.
Because the way she said it, she wasn't afraid of a zombie getting a hold of her. She was afraid of someone like Ivan.
Natsu didn't think there was anyone at Fairy Tail capable of such horrors, but he understood Lucy's reluctance to trust blindly.
"Lucy," Natsu started, trying to keep the conviction from his voice, but it was no use. He didn't want to smother her, just show her she wouldn't be left defenseless. "I promise you that as long as I can help it, no one will ever hurt you again."
Her breath splintered as her fingers dug into his skin. She was trying to focus on other things, but after a moment, Lucy came back to him. "I can't rely on you forever."
There was so much doubt in her voice, so much uncertainty. He wanted to chase it away, but he didn't know how. "Not forever," Natsu said, hesitantly reaching behind him.
One of his hands caught hers, Lucy jolting between his legs before she accepted his hand. Seconds later, her fingers intertwined with his.
Natsu ignored the frantic pace his heartbeat picked up, voice shaky as he repeated, "Not forever... Just, as long as we live."
Lucy either took a sharp breath or sighed, he wasn't sure. She squeezed his hand, grasp firm as she whispered, "I don't want to take a step back... from being a runner."
"What do you want to do?" Natsu asked, his arm tingling as one of her fingers broke loose from the hold to lightly run against the inside of his wrist. The sensation was beyond weird, Natsu thankful for the distraction when Lucy spoke up.
"I want to feel confident again, but..." She pulled her hand from his, Natsu unable to ignore the way his stomach dipped at the small gesture. "Today made me realize I'm not as prepared as I thought I was. I felt safe off base with everyone else, but what if I run into sprinters again?"
Natsu could easily blame the tightness in his stomach on that horrid hypothetical. He hoped she never saw another one of those monsters.
"I'm not where I thought I was. I... I was relying too much on the protection of the group. And honestly..."
Despite the doubt in her voice, Natsu closed his eyes and finally breathed easy when she said, "I'm not as alert as I need to be off base."
He had been thinking that since the day he went with the runners. She had been careless, and later he worried he was just picking at her to justify his rude behavior, but to hear her admit she wasn't alert, it was the best news he received all day.
Admitting a problem was the first step to correcting it, and Lucy's tone suggested she wanted to do better.
"Anyways, I'm going to talk to Rogue about it tomorrow before work. Or maybe tonight after dinner if he's free. I just... I don't want to—" A shocking laugh escaped her as she put her hands on his thigh again. "I don't want to die, and getting stuck in my head while at work would be an awfully dumb way to go."
Natsu managed an uneasy chuckle, the tension in his stomach twisting into something strange when she resumed her massage. He wanted to ask if she was done with that thigh yet, but she kept working it over, his body turning into mush when she applied more pressure.
"I'm not meeting my expectations. I'm... I'm not as good as I thought I was."
"You're really good," Natsu said, voice almost breathless. He took a deep inhale, regaining control over his body. "You just need more practice. We all do." As soon as someone thought they could handle anything, they were doomed to overlook something.
Cockiness got people killed.
Natsu's eyes squeezed shut when Lucy's hand went a little too high up, the woman playing with fire as her fingers brushed the inside of his thigh. He thought his dick had finally calmed down, but there Lucy was, stoking that fire with her touches.
He almost told her to stop, but her voice cut him off. "Do you want me to massage your front?"
Natsu bit the inside of his cheek so hard he swore he might bleed. In a hoarse whisper, Natsu choked out, "What?"
"The front of your thighs. They seem super tense."
He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't stop the onslaught of vivid images he had in his head of Lucy's hands all over his thighs, trailing higher and higher until her fingers reached his cock.
Just imagining her hand wrapping around him had him swallowing a moan, shaking his head as he muttered, "N-no, I'm uh, actually pretty tired!"
"What?" Lucy stopped for a moment, as if processing his words. "Well after everything we did today, I bet."
Natsu resisted the urge to groan when she resumed her touches. The heat was too much, his cock pulsing painfully against the confines of his shorts.
"I think I'm ready for bed," Natsu ground out, needing her to stop.
"Now?" Lucy asked, hands resting on either thigh. She was so close, her body pressing against his, the heat of their skin bleeding into the fabric that separated them. It drove him mad, but Lucy was oblivious to the chaos in his head. "Dinner's soon."
"A nap," he said, needing an excuse to be alone. Natsu nearly sighed in relief when she took the hint, moving off his body before leaving the bed.
"A nap sounds pretty good," Lucy said as she stretched.
Natsu grabbed the edge of his blanket before pulling it over his body, making sure he was covered before sitting up.
"I'll see you at dinner," he said, hoping his tone sounded casual and didn't betray him. He had a fire raging in his belly, worked up over his thoughts and Lucy's touches. "Sorry for—Uh." He couldn't say sorry for kicking her out. It felt like the best solution for his growing problem.
Growing, burning, throbbing. He swore it had never felt that strong before.
"You're good," she said, flashing him a soft smile.
Natsu could barely look her in the eye as fantasies spread out before him. Most were tame, not that he knew how to judge something like that. Images of Lucy raking her nails against his chest as she straddled his lap surfaced. His member twitched as her voice rang clear as day in his head. "How's that feel?"
The real Lucy offered him a nod before heading towards the door. She paused, throwing him a confused look over her shoulder. "Are you going to lock your door?"
Natsu paled, biting his inner cheek to keep from giving away the rush of fear that took over him. There was no way in hell he was standing up with his current situation. He wouldn't be able to hide the evidence, jutting out against the fabric of his shorts.
"Check the center drawer, on the desk," he said, nodding towards it. "There's a spare key."
As Lucy furrowed her brows, Natsu added, "Take it."
That had her eyes widening, mouth parting as his words sunk in. A few beats passed before she said, "I'll give it back at dinner."
"Keep it," Natsu said, no hesitation to be found, because there was none. It was an impulse decision, but he didn't regret it. He could trust Lucy with a key to his room.
"Oh... Um, okay." Lucy slowly moved to the desk, Natsu's gaze dipping towards her backside for longer than appropriate before his eyes shot up to her face.
He swallowed, tongue thick in his mouth as his fingers twitched. 'Are her curves soft? Or firm? Fuck, I wanna know.'
He closed his eyes, but it didn't help. Lucy was burned into his mind.
"Sorry Happy," Lucy said when the feline ran towards her. "I'll see you another time."
"You can take him with you," Natsu said, knowing it would be better to get Happy out of the room. Not only would it be good for Lucy to hang out with him, Natsu didn't want any interruptions.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Oh, well... Cool." She scooped up the cat, Natsu swearing he could hear the purrs from across the room. "Have a good nap," Lucy called, Natsu feeling an ounce of guilt as he gave her a nonchalant wave.
"Thanks for the er— massage," he said, body tingling as he recalled the places she touched.
The places she didn't touch, they throbbed with need.
She only massaged in the back, never in the front. It was for the best. No telling how he would react if her hands dragged over his chest and... other areas. Even her suggesting such a thing had him strung out, confused, hot, and definitely bothered.
"See ya," Natsu said before dipping under the covers, hoping Lucy wouldn't think his behavior was odd. He usually took a nap after her massages. He had always been relaxed before, but now he felt wound up.
Natsu waited, holding his breath as he listened for the door to open and close. The seconds ticked by slow until he heard the undeniable click, the door locked to give him all the privacy he needed.
"Fucking hell," he muttered as he kicked off the blanket and pulled his shirt over his head to get the material off his feverish skin, body burning for more of her touches.
He knew what he was about to do was wrong, but he had to get those thoughts out of his head. He followed the impulse that consumed him, convinced it was the best solution.
Natsu made the right call sending her away, even if his dick had other ideas. If he let it control him, he would have Lucy under him right now, hand splaying against her stomach before asking if he could return the favor.
He had offered to massage her once before, but she had reacted badly, timid as she avoided a direct answer. It was all he needed to know she wasn't interested in his hands on her, and while he hadn't thought much of it then, knowing it had his chest panging now.
He wasn't an expert or anything, but he was pretty sure he could give a decent massage.
But, that wasn't what his cock had in mind. Indecent thoughts flooded his head as Natsu swallowed, imagining different paths he could follow if she let him touch her back.
There was the friendly one, where he rubbed her back and she let out gentle hums as he worked out her tight muscles.
There was the riskier one, where his fingers edged a little too close to her more intimate areas.
Natsu palmed his erection as it gave a painful throb, wondering if Lucy's breasts were as heavy as they looked. He hadn't thought anything inappropriate when he was cleaning her up earlier, his only concern being to pull Lucy out of whatever panic attack she was having.
However, he had seen the stretch in her bra to contain her above average chest. His breathing slowed as he imagined cupping one, wondering what it would feel like and what kind of face Lucy might make if he was granted permission to touch her in such a way.
Which led him to thinking about the last path, where the most depraved thoughts lurked. Instead of his cock under his hand, Natsu imagined him rubbing his fingers against her sex, slick with arousal as he coated his finger with her fluid.
He had seen women in porn push a finger in before pulling out a drenched digit, Natsu's heart racing as he wondered how much effort it took to get Lucy that worked up.
Natsu's eyes shut as he rested his head against his pillow, slipping his hand into his shorts. He already knew it was wrong, but he had made up his mind the second he sent Lucy away.
He was going to do something despicable, but the logic behind it was sound. Natsu needed to get it out of his system.
Needed to get Lucy out of his system, otherwise he was going to remain a pervy nervous wreck around her. She was under his skin, but not for long.
He pulled his hand from his shorts, the cool air brushing against the tip of his cock as it stuck out from the waistband. Natsu reconsidered his options, wondering if he could ignore the strange thoughts and feelings that plagued him recently. There was a chance, but he feared they would just come back.
Hungrier next time, refusing to be ignored.
He wanted things to go back to normal, convinced if he indulged in the dirty thoughts— some of which were downright filthy —he could rid himself of the cesspool his mind had become.
"Just this once," Natsu said, fingers brushing against his chest before reaching his belly button where the tip of his cock rested. He pushed down his shorts before kicking them off his legs, his length raising a few inches from his body as it curved upwards slightly.
Exhaling a choppy breath, Natsu wrapped his fingers around his cock. It was heavy and warm, thick in his hand. From the few porn videos he watched featuring couples, he knew he was above average, but not freakishly so.
The rushing blood had him incredibly hard, thoughts of Lucy at the forefront of his mind. He stalled for a moment, staring at his erection as he debated if he should go through with it. The urges were strong, demanding he alleviate the discomfort.
Gritting his teeth, he gave in, hand flexing around his cock before giving it a languid pump.
He groaned, heat flaring through his body from the simple touch. It had been so long.
Too damn long.
Pre-cum already collected at the tip, a physical testament of how much Lucy got his fire burning.
Thinking about her should not be affecting him like that, but fuck, he couldn't deny what he saw with his own eyes.
'Just a quick jerk off, then I can be done with these ridiculous thoughts.'
He spit on his hand before dragging it along his length, hesitating before swiping the pad of his thumb over the crown of his cock, barely suppressing a shudder as pleasure swarmed his veins, followed by another wave of heat.
At that rate, he would be sweating before he got started.
'This is the responsible thing to do. Just get it over with so things can go back to normal.'
That was what he told himself, but his fist loosened as it traveled a languid pace, drawing out a moan as he let his imagination run wild.
As Natsu took pleasure in his hand, he noted the veins running along the velvet steel. He swore the thing had a heartbeat of its own, pulses still insistent despite getting the attention it craved.
"Fuck," Natsu moaned, stroking in an uneven rhythm as thoughts consumed him.
Lucy's eyes flashed in his head, full of life and determination before she took down the zombie from that morning. His heart slammed against his ribs as his thumb swiped over the tip, smearing his arousal down his shaft before coming back for more.
She had been so fierce, so sure of herself. He groaned, loving the hint of rebellion in her. Lucy had wanted something, and she wasn't letting anyone stop her from reaching her goals.
"Nggh— Shit, that's fucking good." He tried keeping his volume down, knowing he could get carried away. Before the outbreak, he always had to make sure he was home alone when he touched himself, otherwise he might alert his dad of his activities.
Natsu couldn't help being vocal, pleasure thrumming through his veins.
Thoughts of that sex dungeon surfaced in his head, Natsu pretending he was right back in it. However, instead of a lifeless zombie, the only two people in that room were him and Lucy.
She hadn't shied away from the toys in those drawers, Natsu wondering if she had ever used a toy on herself. He groaned, wondering if she felt as good as he did when touching herself.
Did she even touch herself?
He let out a shaky breath at the idea, finding a thought that had him gasping for breath. What if Lucy was on top of him like before, but as she ran a hand over his back, her other hand disappeared into her panties.
His cock jumped, liking that thought more than he should. "God damn," he grunted, wondering if she was vocal too. He hoped so, already hearing her voice in his ear, moaning how good it felt to have her hands on her.
Did she like teasing herself? Or did she get straight to the point? Natsu's mouth felt dry as he debated that, exploring both options as his heels dug into the mattress, wishing he had the guts to ask her such a question.
But that wish had his brows pinching, knowing deep down she wouldn't appreciate the intrusion. She would surely be disgusted by him, never wanting to speak to him again.
His hand stilled at the base of his cock, frowning as he slowly opened his eyes. "What am I doing?" he asked, staring up at the ceiling.
He was getting off to the thought of his best friend, someone who had placed their trust in him. If she saw him now, knew the vile thoughts swarming in his head.
She'd be pissed.
Despite knowing that should have been the end to whatever he was doing, Natsu started rubbing himself again, fist tightening as his eyes slammed shut. He hated when she was hurt, but damn, did she look sexy as hell when she was fired up and passionate about something.
Her narrowed eyes sent a shiver through him, Natsu proud of her for standing up for herself.
He hadn't understood her desire to be a runner, couldn't fathom why she would choose to do something so dangerous, but she had set her mind to it and got it done.
And she was pretty damn good at it. She surprised him a few times today, and he wished he had listened to her sooner instead of berating her decision like he had any say in the matter.
At least she acknowledged her own limits instead of letting pride get in the way.
Somehow that made her even sexier.
"Ooooh, fuck!" Natsu moaned, focusing on the tip for a few seconds before traveling his length again, imaging Lucy's face before diving into his memory of her body. He hadn't paid too much attention before, more worried about her gaining her weight back than ogling her.
But damn, she had filled out since that first day, standing strong and confident, but still having that thing that made her Lucy.
She was still sweet, still caring, and still funny.
His hand slowed its pace as he thought about how often they used to talk, especially when going to bed. Heat flooded his body as he remembered how many times they shared a bed and how he had never once thought of her like he was now.
He had known she was pretty. He would have to be blind not to notice, but he hadn't thought anything of it. Her body hadn't driven him up the wall, wanting to touch her in ways a friend shouldn't touch another friend.
Before he could get discouraged, Natsu recalled a time he had come back from watch to find her sprawled out on the bed. Her hair was a riot against the pillow, limbs all over the place as she took up their twin bed.
The memory turned into a fantasy, Lucy's eyes opened as she gazed up at him through hooded lids, hand fisting his shirt to pull him closer.
Natsu could imagine the lead ups all day long, but when it came to the specifics, he was lost. He knew the general stuff. Women liked getting fingered, eaten out, and fucked. He knew there was a thing called a G spot and a clit, and he knew the clit was towards the top of a woman's intimate area.
Pokémon and Gray had taught him that, his friend pointing out that Cloyster resembled a vagina, the horn on its head placed where the clit was. After that explanation, he paid special attention to it when he watched porn.
It was a powerful button, but Gray had warned not to rely so much on it, to touch other parts of a woman to drive them wild.
Of course, Natsu had ended up punching Gray in the face for saying that, not wanting to hear it at the time. Now he wished he had paid more attention, that way his fantasies could have some solid details in them.
"Damn," Natsu muttered, wanting to touch Lucy so bad it hurt. Literally, the persistent throbs threatened to break his sanity. He puffed out ragged breaths, groaning as his hand slid up and down his dripping cock.
He didn't want to stop, but he tore himself away from the task as he stood, marching over to his desk to grab his phone. He tapped at the screen, his porn stash unlocked before he hit the bed again.
He loaded the first video, eyes glazing over as the moans filled the air. His hand found purchase on himself again, groaning as he watched the brunette touch herself in front of the camera.
She was the center of his attention for all of ten seconds before his mind pictured Lucy in that role, his hips bucking as his fist tightened around him.
Natsu's pace increased when the clip changed to the girl facing away, riding a dildo suctioned to the floor. He watched her ass bounce, imagining it was Lucy impaling herself on his cock.
Every nerve in his body came alive as he cursed, the groan sounding almost painful as he watched, transfixed as he let his imagination carry him into unknown territory.
Despite telling himself he was going to get it over with quickly, Natsu drew it out, keeping his strokes at a pace that allowed him to hold out while also experiencing bliss like he never knew before.
He had masturbated to those videos before, but never had he felt so alive, so captivated.
"So fucking sexy," he rasped out, teetering the edge of sanity.
He moaned to the whimpering cries, mind replacing her voice with Lucy's. Natsu popped the phone up against his thigh as he bent his knee. His free hand reached up to grip his pillow overhead, groaning as he thought, 'Fuck, I wanna be inside her. So fucking bad!'
He had never wanted to have sex, but then again, he had never masturbated to thoughts of a friend either.
Before he could get caught up thinking about that, the video ended. He switched to the next, seeing a girl laying on her side, her ass facing the camera.
A thong separated him from seeing her holes, Natsu immediately wondering what type of panties Lucy wore before the outbreak. He knew she had little control over her outfits now, but what did she prefer before? Regular underwear? Thongs? Lace or cotton? Soft and practical or silky and sexy?
More pre-cum leaked from his cock when the woman started her muffled cries, not realizing she had already pushed her panties aside to assault her slit. He had been too caught up thinking about Lucy's clothing choice, the thought not leaving his mind for a moment. He was still curious.
Natsu watched the video play out, replacing that woman with Lucy, and her hands with his. For a minute he took his hand from his cock, ignoring the ache as he rubbed his fingers against his thigh, trying to mimic what the woman was doing.
She was going fast, much too fast for what Natsu wanted. He swallowed, finding the thought of teasing Lucy beyond satisfying. If he could get her moaning, begging for more—
"Fuck!"
It would be all over.
He already knew that wouldn't happen. Nothing could happen. Natsu wasn't going to cross that line, destroy their friendship over his sick fantasies. Lucy deserved more respect than that, and he hoped he was able to expel all those dirty thoughts when he finished, but he was taking his time getting to the end.
He switched to the next video, finding a girl with her hands above her head. He figured she was tied up, but the camera cut off around her neck. Situated below her was a vibrating toy, the woman slowly rubbing herself against it without grabbing it with her hands.
Natsu's fantasy of Lucy with her hands tied up came back, imagining her big brown eyes looking up at him with so much trust and adoration. He didn't dig deeper into that, instead imagining how her tits would jiggle if he was the one between her spread thighs, thrusting upwards instead of that stupid vibrator.
The woman in the video trembled as she moaned, Natsu wondering what Lucy did when she was coming undone. Would she like someone holding her hands above her head, or would she find it uncomfortable.
Natsu gnashed his teeth when he thought of what Ivan put her through, the fire in his belly disappearing for a moment as a sickness spread. 'I shouldn't be thinking of Lucy like that. They fucking held her against her will.'
He shouldn't be thinking of her like that at all, bondage or not.
Still, he watched the video, telling himself he was done thinking about Lucy. It didn't take long for him to slip, fascinated as the woman ground herself on that vibrator, causing Natsu to lick his lips.
Would Lucy be dripping like that? Overflowing until her juices ran on the bed, soaking into the sheets.
He swallowed, wondering what she tasted like. Her thighs, her sex, her lips. Fuck, he recalled how her lips moved against that sucker weeks ago. He hadn't realized it then, but it was a sight to behold.
He gripped his cock and stroked as he imagined her tongue running along that sucker in her mouth, knowing it had to have been sweet on her tongue.
Natsu imagined being on top of her, letting go of her hands so he could settle them on her breasts as his mouth sought out her collarbone. There was a large scar peeking over her left shoulder, Natsu imagining tracing it with his lips until he reached her neck.
His jaw tightened as an urge to bite crossed his mind. He had never wanted to sink his teeth into anything more in his life, but when he thought of cupping her neck to keep her steady before biting her, he frowned.
With his eyes cloudy, Natsu withdrew his hand, stomach twisting as he remembered her words from earlier. She had been crystal clear with her boundaries.
"I... just don't like my neck being touched."
Everything else he imagined were things she might have been okay with, but she had explicitly told Natsu she didn't like her neck touched, and his fucked up head wanted to touch, lick, and bite her throat until he left his mark.
He decided to stop touching himself, disgusted with how far he let the fantasies go.
Was it a betrayal to her trust to think of her like that? To want to do things to her when he knew those thoughts would never become a reality.
It felt harmless in his head, but his chest ached, something telling him his actions were wrong.
But fuck, they felt so good.
Better than he had ever felt before.
Thinking of her as he touched himself felt second nature despite it being the first—and only —time. Was it really that wrong? People had fantasies all the time. Was it okay to picture Lucy in certain scenarios as long as he kept them tasteful?
Was there a manual on the dos and don'ts of masturbating, because if so he would love a copy.
Lucy didn't need to know. No one would ever know how depraved he was, how fucked up his head had been all day.
'I just wanted to get it out of my system,' he told himself, confliction beating at his head. If the shoe was on the other foot, would Natsu be mad?
His blood rushed at the idea of Lucy touching herself while thinking of him. He knew it wouldn't happen, but it still got his heart soaring as a weirdly thrilling yet also vulnerable sensation traveled through his limbs. He swore he was floating for a second, not understanding why that made him so happy.
'Because it takes away my guilt,' he reasoned, letting out a shaky breath as he debated what to do.
It was just him and his thoughts. He would never in a million years act on them. He wasn't doing any of those things to Lucy, just having her fill a role in his head. Yeah, that wasn't so bad. He was using her as inspiration if anything.
He wasn't sure if he was trying to convince the imaginary Lucy in his head or himself. Either way, he felt he had a flimsy defense.
A high-pitched squeal stole his attention, Natsu looking at his phone as the woman met her end with a gushing orgasm. He knew it was wrong, knew he had to stop, but he was one twisted fuck because all he could think of in that moment was what it would take to get Lucy to come for him like that.
What did he have to do to make her cry out in pleasure, because he would do it in a heartbeat.
"Fucking damn it," Natsu muttered, dick coming to life as blood roared in his veins. The sickness in his stomach turned into need, wanting to both get it over with and make it last forever.
Natsu switched to his last video, breath faltering when he saw a pair of nice breasts peeking out from long blonde hair. It was paler than Lucy's, and the girl had a tattoo of an infinity sign on her arm, but Natsu's mind changed the image without much effort.
Natsu imagined he was there with the girl, her spread out before him with her legs overlapping his thighs as his cock rested inches from her core. He stroked himself while the woman's fingers played her body like an instrument, a chorus of moans soon following.
As Natsu lost himself in the pleasure, the woman's hair darkened to that rich gold Lucy wore so well. The tattoo on her arm vanished, a pink brand showing up on her right hand. The pink tattoo moved as her fingers rubbed her clit, engorged from stimulation.
"Oh fuck, rub that pussy," Natsu moaned, pumping his cock to the rhythm of her fingers as they disappeared into her soaked core.
She looked like Lucy in his head except for one thing, but his mind quickly added the necessary details. Every scar and burn he knew about formed on her body, but instead of the usual jerk in his stomach he felt when seeing the destruction Ivan caused, Natsu only rubbed his cock harder, pre-cum leaking to mix with his saliva.
It wasn't the scars that turned him on. He would be terrified if that was the case. It was the fact that it was part of Lucy that got him fired up. Every single freckle, hair, scratch, scar, burn, everything. It was all Lucy, and he couldn't find it in himself to be disgusted by a single mark.
He felt for her, mourned what she went through, but knowing it hadn't kept her down had his pulse skittering out of control.
Natsu wouldn't be surprised if he popped a blood vessel, the veins in his cock pulsing as he neared his end.
She was gorgeous, inside and out. No mark could ever take away from her beauty.
Natsu watched as Lucy withdrew her fingers before sticking them in her mouth. He caught a glimpse of the blue eyes the woman sported, but he quickly changed them to brown in his head.
She had gorgeous eyes with a depth to them that left him in awe. Imagining her looking up at him as she tasted herself was almost enough to push him over the edge.
He had never been that hard before, sweating, panting, and burning with desire to spread her wide and plunge inside her sopping core.
"Holy shit! Gaah!"
He wondered what her breasts would feel like against his mouth, wanting to wrap his lips around her pert nipples. "I bet you taste so fucking good. Fu— God damn I want you on my tongue!"
Thoughts of Lucy swarmed his head. He imagined kissing up and down her body, touching her, her touching him, thrusting against his body, he wanted all of her.
'Fuck!'
Natsu grit his teeth. He wanted something he couldn't have, one moment with Lucy where his depraved thoughts could become a reality. He had never wanted someone like that, but the thought pulsed against his temples. He wanted her so bad it hurt.
He couldn't understand why. He had never had those urges before so why now? Why his friend? Why Lucy?
Despite how much it confused him, he couldn't stop fucking his hand, moans spilling out as pressure built within him. It coiled, hot and tight and ready to snap at any second.
"Fuck, it's so wet." He couldn't tear his eyes away from that glistening skin as her fingers staked their claim. He wanted to reach into that phone and grab her, to drag his tongue over every sopping inch of her core and hear her cry out in pleasure. "Bet it feels so fucking good. Shit!"
Natsu swallowed, a moan trapped in his throat as he struggled to breathe. He wanted to be strong and fight, to stop the lewd thoughts that plagued his mind about his best friend, but he couldn't stop. He just couldn't. He needed to get it out of his system.
He spit on his palm again before his hand glided over his cock, gripping it tighter as he imagined pushing into her body like a sheath. He didn't know how, but he knew she would be the perfect fit. She had to be, Natsu's mind warping reality to match his twisted fantasy.
He was too weak, surrendering to the pleasure. It was almost over anyway. Then he could move on with his life without being plagued by those strange thoughts and desires.
"I'm sorry," he groaned, guilt mixing with the pleasure, but it wasn't enough to make him stop. He wasn't sure anything could make him stop. "I'm weak, Lucy."
Her name felt good rolling off his tongue. "Does it feel good, Lucy?" He tipped his head back, pressing against his pillow as he neared his end. "Oh god! Lu—"
He cut himself off with a groan, remembering the doors weren't that thick. He didn't want anyone hearing him when they walked by. What if they told Lucy what he was doing? Or worse? What if someone thought Lucy was in the room with him actually doing stuff together?
"Damn!" Natsu ground out, wishing it were true. If just for a moment. Having the real Lucy with him? He didn't know what he'd do. His breathing grew unsteady, needing to finish before he got too carried away. "Fuck, Lucy."
He wanted her writhing beneath him, or on top of him. Hell, she could be on her side. As long as he got to watch pleasure straining her features, whether it was by his hand or hers. Or both? Natsu groaned thinking about both of their hands on her body, squeezing and gripping and rubbing.
So much rubbing.
Natsu had never been that much in the moment and so out of touch with reality at the same time. He could barely remember anything else in the world, all thoughts swirling around Lucy and the things they could do together under the sheets.
If only she would let him reach down and stroke her core, Natsu's cock pulsing at the thought of pushing his fingers into her squirming body as she moaned his name.
The Lucy in his head squeezed her eyes shut as she came unglued, Natsu gritting his teeth and groaning as he followed her into oblivion.
"Oh fu-fucking nggh!"
Cum shot out in spurts, the liquid warmth landing on his stomach before the rest dribbled down his shaft. His fingers were soaked as he milked every last drop, head so light he swore he was high again.
Natsu moved his sticky hand to his thigh, jolting from the stimulation. Every inch of his skin buzzed, nerves ultra sensitive as he panted for breath.
The next few minutes were spent in a daze, Natsu's unfocused eyes staring at the ceiling as reality slowly etched its way through the pleasure tingling over his body. He blinked through the haze, a lazy smile surfacing on his face.
His cock twitched as it went limp, all energy zapped. He was sure he had gotten it all out, satisfied his plan worked, until an image of Lucy's plush lips entered his mind. The urge to cover her mouth with his rose, his pulse not having a chance to calm down.
As he furrowed his brows, he imagined her sweat-soaked body snuggling up to him, bathing in the aftermath of their session as she trailed languid kisses on his chest, right over his frantic heart.
Natsu struggled to breathe, as if bricks were piled high on his chest as the weight of his actions set in. His eyes went wide, body numb as a single thought pierced his mind.
'What the hell have I done?'
.
.
.
Okay, so I want to say thank you so much to everyone who guessed who was coming soon in the story. I should have mentioned my mind lives in the gutter, because Natsu was the one who came. XD But seriously, we are going to get some new characters introduced in like... Hmm, 5 chapters from now? It's so hard to guess who many chapters a part of the story will take.
So, there was an awakening in this chapter (kinda just continuing the realization that Natsu's attracted to Lucy) and next chapter will be a different type of awakening.
Anyone happy with Lucy deciding for herself she needs more training? Some lessons cost more than others, but I think it was best for Lucy to come to the conclusion on her own. I don't think she would have listened if anyone else tried to tell her she should get more help.
So, thoughts on Natsu's session with himself? It can be anything from the word choice, the actions, the thoughts, or the afterthoughts? Is it okay to masturbate while thinking of a friend? I know I've done it, so I think it's normal? As long as you don't dwell on it? I dunno. If only Natsu knew he wasn't the only one with dirty thoughts. Lucy's had her fair share (which you'll see in chapter 70, lol. Do you think Natsu was being too hard on himself? (I love puns and bad jokes. They will occasionally slip into the stories :P)
Up next, Chapter Sixty-Nine: Awakening- Part Two
We have two more chapters before a time skip. Hope y'all are enjoying the ride! Let me know your thoughts!
Thank you for reading! And shout out to those amazing people who left me feedback last time: XxCelestialAssassinxX(x2), sakshishetty3003, Doginshoe, theunicorn22, SheWhoLeavesCrappyReviews, dareaderreads, ipromiseimnotatotaldweeb, aiyannaliszkap, Lovesmutbabe, stranger1999, SmutonCh69pls, Missb, AJ, SwordBlaze221, Guest, ElementalMiko12, guest, valerioux, fairyglitter101(x3), Duchixx, shootingstarssel, Mhilano, Copperreign12, car213, Evah33, positive vibes only, MycatLucario(x2), Sam, CathJorda(x2), SistershoOk, justyourtypicalbookworm, Shugo Charaa, Somer ej, and Patpat!
PS: Please don't use a bobby pin to clean your ears. Does not feel good and can cause damage!