Unedited Tumblr Prompts: Touch Prompts
Prompt: Hiding Face In Neck (Nalu)

Everything was loud.

Too loud.

For Natsu Dragneel, this was a strange complaint to have. One that not many knew he could feel. He knew the reputation he held around the Guild. The most disruptive, the loudest, the one who over does it the most. Most days, he reveled in it. After all, why deny the truth?

Today wasn't one of those days. Everything was irritating: stressful. Gray's voice felt like nails on a chalkboard to him, Gajeel's laughter and song made his body tense and even Erza's excited exclamations towards her newly acquired slice of cake, burned him out. He was tired, over worked, desperately in need of a recharge. Generally, starting a fight or a loud-mouth party full of drinking and joking around, could re-energize him, but the rare occurrence was coupled with indifference.

"Are you okay, Natsu?" It was a well-aimed question, and he slouched against the Guild Hall table with a grown, barely tilting his head to face Happy's curious stare. "You're not yourself today."

"eh, m'fine," He drawled, barely separating the words before further slumping into his own arms. Was he getting sick? No, couldn't be. All things considered, he felt fine. He was just... he couldn't put a word to it asides from tired, but that didn't fit quite right.

Oh well, he wasn't good with words, why worry about it?

"I know!" Happy prodded his cheek, voice cheerful as he tried to pull Natsu from the funk he'd settled into, "We should go fishing! Since we're taking some time off after all those big jobs we did. Yeah! You can catch a big fish and I can eat it!"

"... what if I wanna eat it?"

"You have to catch one for me first," Happy insisted.

"Pfft." A small chuckle rumbled through him and he gave Happy a tired grin, one fang poking out from over his scarf. "Maybe later, buddy. When I'm more awake."

The small silence that rose between them was both a welcome and strange one. Happy considered his options, more than willing to accept the promise of a Fishing Trip for later, but it was too strange. How could Natsu deny fish? It was food! With a worried paw, he tapped Natsu's shoulder. "You sure you're okay? Do you want me to bring Gray over so you can fight him? Or, or, I can get Lisanna to make you something hot to drink! Or maybe I should ask Mira..."

Natsu considered telling Happy that he was starting to sound like Lucy, what with her penchant for rambling, but before the words could tumblr from his mouth, the Guild Doors opened and Happy's brainstorming of ideas came to an end. Lucy came strolling in with one hand in the air, waving to everyone she could. Natsu visibly stiffened, catching her scent immediately. He didn't bother to move, but his attention turned to her approaching steps as Happy took to the air.

A few more hello's and she was finally upon them, wide awake and very excited. "Hey guys! I had the best morning today. I finished another chapter in my book and I slept in for once and... what's wrong with Natsu?"

"Lucy!" Happy cried, flying into her arms. Natsu twitched again, but continued his attempts to hide his face into the table. "Natsu's acting weird today! He's all tired and wont do anything he usually does. Not even go and catch me fish!"

"Well that doesn't sound right." She pursed her lips together, looking from the exceed in her arms and back to her best friend at the table. His broad back was all she could see, but the slump reminded her of the few times he'd lacked energy after their larger jobs. (The time he'd ate Etherion came to mind...) Was he burned out from their constant adventures lately? Did he not sleep it off yet? Lucy sat down beside him, smoothly opening her arms for Happy to hop back onto the table.

"Do you need anything?" She asked, the tones of her voice slid into his ears and suddenly, Natsu had a good idea what he wanted. Happy's ideas had all been stellar, right on the mark on any given day, but that moment gave him a new urge. One he listened to without further though.

He sat up, eyes meeting hers for a second before he completely leaned against her. Her blonde hair was in the way, but he didn't care. her shoulder provided the perfect place to rest and he unceremoniously nuzzled his face into her neck without a single consideration to her own reaction.

Judging by the way she turned to stone and her body temperature increased, Natsu decided she was blushing. A perfectly normal reaction for Lucy to have.

"Uhm, excuse me?" Lucy asked, voice a little shaky. Her fingers wavered between shoving him off and patting his back, uncertain what action to take. "Natsu, what are you-"

"Just-" Natsu interjected, voice low and quiet, never-minding the way his breath across her skin made her squirm in her seat. It was a slight movement, and he used it as an opportunity to get more comfortable, nose nuzzling against her as he took in a deep breath.

"Natsu I am five seconds away from shoving you to the floor if you don't tell me what you think you're doing."

"Give me a few minutes, please?" The please did it. Her hand landed on his back instead as Lucy sighed, accepting his weight against her finally.

"All right, just a few."

Happy, took this as an opportunity.

"Kehe, he likes you!"

"Oh, shut it!"

Natsu didn't both denying it. His eyes closed and his body slowly began to recharge. That's better.