A sudden stir caused Morpheus' embrace to loosen. The feeling of a smooth chest under her face made her lips curl into a tiny smile. She chose not to open her eyes, as she knew the light pashing through the shutters would blind her. The thumping of the heart under her ear steadily rose with each second as her partner stirred awake. Shivering by the feel of his rough fingertips on her back, she pressed a light peck upon his chest. Noting the unsteady exhale of his breath, she moved further over his body while her lips latched firmer on his skin. Every morning she wished she could spend by his side like this.
Reaching his collarbone, she bit him lightly, feeling empowered by the shiver that racked through his body. Next, she found solace upon his neck, over the same places she had bruised yesterday, a reminder of another passion-filled night between them. "Buongiorno." As his arms wound around her middle, pressing her tighter on him, a tiny laugh escaped her. Sleep was still clouding her vision, even when their eyes locked. From above him, she found herself under him. Their lips untied in a scorching game. He could make her feel emotions like no other had ever accomplished before. Even when they were not intimate, she craved his touch. Their relationship had started for the benefit of gathering information. Now, she dreaded when he walked out of the door.
With the last peck, he settled back, weaving his arms around her waist while her chest became his pillow. It was a habit he had developed as they spent more time together. Was it an act of affection or just one fuelled by his passion? Thought like this one had haunted her day after day, upon realising the depth of her feelings for him. One day he would leave to go back to his country. They would be separated. Could she abandon her life to follow him? Would he be willing to stay? Where his face was pressed against her skin, she felt it tense. Was he thinking of staying as much as she wished him to? Did the risk of getting caught, mean more than spending a night on a warm bed? "Don't frown," Blindly she guided her fingers between his eyebrows, easing back the tight muscles. "You will age sooner." Those pink strands of his were always so soft to the touch. She loved playing with his hair, yet for once she could not focus purely on him. Did he know he was the only man she ever craved to hold?
"Luce," His smooth voice echoed in the tiny space between them. Humming she waited for his question. His eyes were beautiful, even if they were the colour of charcoal. She studied him carefully. Today might be the last time she saw him. Passing her fingertips over his features, she tried memorising his face. "Will you be out tonight?"
Lucy's movement faltered for just a fraction of a second hearing the question. Could he know something? "No." As her thumb stroked his cheekbones, he leaned into her touch. Did he understand how intimate his kiss felt upon her palm?
"Then, I'll come to find you at the pub," For a moment, a tiny breeze swept over them. His arm remained around her waist; an anchor for the both of them. He could be an enemy, yet his hands were not that of a killer. Caught in her world she did not catch his next sentence. Playing it indifferent she focused her ministrations upon the scar on his neck. Would he be mad if he learned that she knew who caused it?
His hands were enormous compared to her own. She tightened her grip on his when he started placing kisses all over them. He always showered her with so much affection she felt like her heart would burst. Could he feel it pounding inside her chest? "What for?" She wouldn't be at the pub this evening. Letting out a small giggle to cover her uncertainty, Lucy hoped he did not catch the flutter of her voice.
"Someone told the Commander a group of rebels are formulating an attack." Since they came closer and became all the more intimate, Natsu trusted her more. It was the first time, she dreaded hearing about a mission of his. Today, she would be his enemy. "Nothing too serious, just a safety measure."
"Can't you skip it?" Abusing her bottom lip was a nervous habit she had developed as a child. Concern was evident in her voice as her mind raced a mile to think of a solution to this situation.
"I can't. The commander picked only thirty men for this operation." Screw the commander and all his subordinates! "If it goes well and we uncover them, we will have a week off." A wave of nausea washed over her at the mere thought of that. Execution was what all rebels faced after weeks of torture. "We could go for a picnic in the countryside or stay in bed all day. Whatever you want!" Dreams that won't ever become reality if they were uncovered. "What is it?"
She did not want to face him on the battlefield. "I don't want you to go." If she could not persuade him sweetly, she would demand his compliance. Dying was a better option than possibly watching him perish at the hands of one of her comrades.
"Why?" Turning to escape his hold, she cared not for her nudeness as she searched for her robe. Being the daughter of a major businessman, who also tried to aid his nation, she was far better financially than any other civilian in this town.
"Don't question me. Just trust me." Disappearing into the bathroom to freshen up, she wanted to put some distance between them. Hearing the bed creak, she bit her lip trying to decide between revealing the truth or not.
"Trust you in what? Are you suggesting that you're withholding information from me?" His irritation was clear in his voice. Lucy knew he disliked being bossed around. Natsu stepped in front of her right as she tried to leave the bathroom. His accusation fuelled something inside her. If it was a burn from how close he reached to the truth or betrayal that he could not trust her, she did not know.
"Drop the interrogating tone with me." Pushing him away from the doorframe, she went to her drawers. His eyes were watching her closely, even when she was merely searching for clothes. Was he thinking she would pull out a gun and shoot him? The scrapping of his belt on the floor, alerted her to him grabbing his pants.
"Well, if you don't give me a reason to, then I can't." Trapped between the low dresser and his body felt not like an interrogation. Turning around, she stared at his thin lips and the intensity hiding in his eyes. In his presence, it was difficult for her heart not to disfunction.
"What are you fighting for, Natsu?" From hours of talking, she had realised Natsu was a man fighting with no cause. At least, she was fighting to free her country.
"That is not the point. I asked you a question." Crossing her arms under her chest, she leaned calmly on the drawer. If he wanted to play with fire, then she will teach him how much it could burn. She was not a woman to be dismissed.
"As I did just now." Natsu was not unfamiliar with her sarcastic side. It was just the first time she used it against him.
"I'm fighting for my country." His answer was short, nothing else motivating him. She was a patient woman, yet even she could not stand that.
"And you're happy with that?" Lucy's eyebrow raised in question, yet she did not cease. "Have you thought what your country did to mine? We were living in peace, not bothering anyone," Jabbing him on the chest, her actions were fuelled by all injustices she had witnessed since the beginning of the war. "Lives are lost for nothing, only because yours declared war!" For the ones staying back, the death of a loved one could never heal. "You say you fight for your country, yet my compatriots lost their lives to defend theirs!" Using as much strength as she could muster, she pushed him back, but he did not move. "You have nothing to fight! Not a single cause! What are you defending? Your family? Your home? Your friends? How many of them have you lost in this meaningless war?"
Seeing his eyebrows loosen, gave her the chance she needed to push him back. If her words could make him falter then he at least recognised something was right. It took great effort not to help him as he fell on his butt. "I'm fighting for my country!" A sentence she would have never expected to infuriate her. It was the cause she was fighting for. Liberation of her country. To be able to run on the streets again. To not be afraid to laugh and enjoy life. To not have to see her friends humiliated and tortured. To not have to bury another one in secret. To love freely and unconditionally.
"What a lovely country it is! I'm sure you're proud to know people are suffering." She was rushing around the house, putting article after article of clothing on. At that moment, she felt disgusted to have ever bear herself in front of him. "Our cities here are plagued in famine and poverty, just because yours decided it would be fun to create an empire!" Struggling to zip her skirt up, yet her voice was unwavering. Each second that passed her nerves were more grated. "Those ideals are long dead Natsu! Study some history! You'll see that an empire never lasts!" Spotting his shirt and jacket by her feet, she threw them at him, eager to throw him too out of the house. Yesterday, she had filled his flask with whiskey, today she wanted to break his skull with it.
"You can't accuse me of trying to care for you when in the eyes of everyone, even mine, I'm just a whore sleeping with a killer!" She regretted ever shouting that. The silence was deafening. Her eyes stung with unshed tears and her lungs hurt from lack of oxygen.
A horn blurring cut the silence. Lucy identified it as Gajeel, Natsu's cousin. As the cook of the camp, he was responsible for restocking. It was their means of sneaking Natsu inside the camp when he spent the night with her. "Leave." He knew where the door was, she did not need to show him. Hardening her expression into an unreadable one, she forced her eyes to focus on the wall next to her. Watching him would only make her run in his hands. Her whole soul waited for him to run and hug her. To fuss their lips together in an act not only fuelled by lust and passion but with love and care.
"Goodbye," The click of the door closing and a sob echoed throughout the apartment. Lucy managed to last only a minute before moving to her shutters, watching the military car waiting outside. Her hand moved to the handle, ready to stop him, yet she held back. She saw him pause right by the door. His head moved to the old ladies watching him closely but never to her.
As the car sped off, she let gravity pull her down. Sobs escaped from her lips. Awful, wet and choking. Uncaring if her gossiping neighbours heard her or if they would come to the wrong conclusions. She did not know how many hours she spent curled by the window crying. When her eyes had dried and her throat had burned from her wails. Her whole house remained her of the times they spent together. Of all the intimate moments they had shared. Of all the sweet words they had exchanged. Of all the kisses he had scorched on her skin. Everything was feeling her both with fondness and with dread.
Meeting him on that fateful day one year ago had turned her whole world upside down. He had entered the bar along with his companions, eager to celebrate their victory. She had been the one to pour him his whiskey. Then he had come back, again and again. At first, she saw it as an opportunity to gather information. As part of the Resistance, she had to help her comrades. Natsu was talkative, energetic; he couldn't stand still one minute. He had opened up easily. All of his traits though had slowly engraved into her heart. As the months had passed, piece by piece he took hold of her heart; a heart, torn between devotion to her cause and love for her enemy.
Long tongues spoke and since their relationship had been established, mouths began talking. The old ladies of the neighbourhood had been the first to comment on her more unsavoury behaviours. Among her comrades, she was celebrated as a woman dedicated to their effort of eradicating the enemy. They praised her for the information she gathered and her willingness to sacrifice her virtue and reputation for the resistance. It was a small price to pay in front of the liberation of their country. Who was she at the end of all this? Was she a whore sleeping with an enemy? Was she a tragic heroine? Was she a woman in love?
"Lucy?" A voice echoed through the empty apartment, yet it did not register to the crying woman. "What happened?" Grabbing her by the shoulders, he checked her over for injuries. When nothing became apparent, he hugged her tightly. "Is everything alright?"
"I…" Lucy's voice came out hoarse. The warmth her friend provided her, disappeared for only a minute before he was by her side.
"Drink some water." Gulping down the offered glass, she was given a chance to breathe. Her limbs ached from staying in the same position that long. "Tell me what happened?" Sparring a glance around the room nothing conveyed a fight. Everything was in its place as usual.
Only she had seen his tender sight. Witnessed him vulnerable while he slept. When she could have taken the chance to rid the world of another enemy, she had instead pushed further into his inviting arms. "We fought." Gulping down some water, she tried to put her thoughts into order. What time was it? She had to leave for the mountains soon. "He will be there today."
"Natsu?" Everyone knew of her relationship with the pink-haired man. He was one of the few that disagreed with letting them get so close, but Lucy had been determined to help. Then, he had sat back watching her fall more and more in love with him. When her words registered, his brows furrowed understanding how difficult it would be for her.
"Yes…" Tightening her grip around his waist, she hid away from his eyes. What would he think of her now that she confessed? Would he hate her for lying all this time? "I don't want to see him die."
"Lucy…" What could he say to reassure her? How would things be if he was in her position? Would she be the one finding him in such a state? He was a man in love, yet with no chance at ever seeing his beloved again. Juvia was captured, tortured and executed. He regretted never being able to show her how deep his affections lay; how much he craved her laugh and dreaded her tears. "Get ready… You can still save him." If she was happy then who was he to take her happiness away.
"I can?" Pushing back, their eyes locked. Hers was pleading not to be filled with false hope, while his spoke of sorrow.
"I promise." Getting up, he held her tight in his hands. He may not have any blood relatives alive, but he was holding a sister in his arms. "Go get ready." They had to join their comrades in the mountains. To set up the ambush. They had leaked the information to lead them to the trail where only the locals knew how to hide.
Among the trees and behind huge boulders. Perched upon the branches with guns held tightly in their arms. They were waiting for the sign. On the trail, a little further front, they could make out the passing vehicles going to the city. Lucy clutched her gun closer. She was both ready and not for the first grenade to fall. Around her, men and women readied their weapons. Their battle cry woke the whole forest up, as the first explosion echoed. Adjusting her position, she waited for the enemy soldiers to abandon their cars before shooting. They had lives to live, all of them, it was not her place to take them away. Her fingers faltered as she witnessed some of them being sent off the trail along with their vehicle. The fall would secure their demise.
Her ears rung from the next explosion. Another vehicle was sent tumbling off the hill, exposing the position of more enemy soldiers. Her eyes swept over them, searching for a target as they run over the fallen. A shout from her leader caused a wave of her comrades to escape the tree line, chasing after the enemy. They had not counted the grenade sent their way. It shook the earth to its core and she had to hold tight on the branch she was perched upon to stay put. Soon smoke rose as some trees caught fire. It worked against them since they now had a limited view of the enemy. It did not stop them though. Sitting upright she focused her attention back on the enemy. One was left standing in the open. She shot without a second thought, as bellow her Gray screamed for her to hurry. They had accomplished most of the mission and now they had to scout the place for ammo.
As she got down from the tree, her eyes strayed to the one she shot last. On the tree, with all the smoke, she had not noticed the white scarf around his neck. "Gray!" Said man turned immediately at the cry of his name. "It's Natsu!" A look of confusion passed over his face until her words sunk in. It made his eyes dart to the now fallen soldier.
"Let's go!" Grabbing her hand, he led her out of the tree line, among all the chaos. "We need cover!" Two of their comrades followed, firing bullets towards the last remaining enemies.
Lucy could not contain her tears as they reached him. The sight was similar to that of her nightmares. To witness the one, she loved covered in blood. Falling to her knees she ignored the blood now drenching her clothes. "Natsu!" He was almost, unconscious, barely registering her presence. As Gray shouted for help, she held him close, kissing his cheeks, trying to full herself into believing everything was going to be fine. When she saw his hand extend towards her loose hair, she grabbed it, holding it like an anchor. Gray kneeled by her side, along with another of their comrades, ready to carry the wounded man back to their base.
"I love you." How long had she longed to hear those words from him? Her heart cried, her lips pulled into a bitter smile, as she whispered it back to him.
"I love you." again and again. "I love you." Was she a coward for not managing to say it before? Her comrades lifted him, making their way once again inside the greenery. Lucy stayed by his side, never releasing his hand. Gray tried to reassure her everything was going to be alright, yet with how pale Natsu looked how could he lie to her? When the man's eyes closed, Lucy's heart-wrenching sobs made him rush to the doctors. He would go to Hell and back to bring the man back if it meant not seeing his friend in such a state.
Two days she had waited by his side. Helping with the change of his bandages, ensuring his injuries did not catch an infection, trying to force his fever down. Day and night she watched him, never taking her eyes off him. Upon Makarov's order, they dragged her the second morning to her home to change and eat.
It was the third evening when Natsu showed signs of waking up. Lucy had been changing his bandages along with Gray when his eyebrows scrunched up and a hiss left his mouth. "Natsu?" Lucy watched as he tried to push himself up, yet both she and Gray held him down. His eyes focused on hers, both unable to form any words.
"There is no way for me to be alive." Lucy choked back a sob hearing that. She was so happy to see him alive, to hear him speak. His eyes were so uncertain, searching the room and taking everything in. It did not concern her the least what he thought at the moment about her, only that he was alive.
"I'm here." She could feel the tears roll down her cheeks, yet her lips were pulled into the biggest smile. Wiping them off, she realised how awful her appearance must have been.
"You are with them?" His voice was hoarse, lack of water and the fever he had gone through, must have drained him. The question hung between them unanswered for a few moments and Lucy could feel Gray's eyes on her as he continued fixing Natsu's bandages. Her silence must have been a fair enough answer for him. His eyebrow furrowed like they always did when he was in thought. "Ok." An answer she was not sure how to take. Was it acceptance? Was it we will talk about it later? Was it mere indifference? Watching him wince, when he shrugged his shoulders, caused her expression to melt in worry.
Motioning for Gray to leave them alone, she took over his job of dressing his leg. "Don't push yourself. I will take care of you." She was concerned for his side. The wound will trouble him for quite some time and his leg was not in the best shape. She was not the only one landing a good shot on him that day.
When she didn't feel his eyes anymore on her, she raised her head. He looked so troubled studying everyone around him. Their base was not big, the infirmary separated by the rest of the space with just a curtain, which Gray left open. "How long was I out?"
"Two days." Cutting with a blade the extra fabric, she tied it tightly. "You lost quite some blood." Moving to help him pull his pants up, she noted how his wounded leg tensed as she assisted him. "The bullet went right through your leg. We just closed it and bandaged it." Inspecting the bandages around his middle, she frowned seeing some blood on them. With how he constantly moved, he must have irritated it. "This one is not out. They just stitched you up. It will probably leave a scar." None of his injuries was that fatal. He would live on his life as he did, maybe with a slight limp, but at least he will be alright.
"What will happen from now on?" Lucy considered lying to him. Making up a story of how they would torture him until they drained him from all that he knew, yet her heart wouldn't take it. It was true, some of their prisoners died of their injuries, some others joined them, while others took it as a chance to escape the war and flee to other countries. They were rebels, not executioners.
Lucy dabbed some alcohol on a small scratch on his shoulder, making him flinch. A small giggle escaped her when he rolled his eyes. It was not the first time she had treated a wound of his. Every single time he would have the same irritated expression. "Well, it depends on what you want to do." Getting on with her task, she could feel his eyes on her, as she probed his skin and grabbed an ointment from the table behind her.
"Me?" It was like he had been given a choice for the first time. At least, that was how Lucy perceived it. She wanted badly to tell him to not leave her side, yet the choice was his to make. His confession was still fresh on her mind, those three words that filled her with so much joy. "I want to stay with you." Her movements halted quicker than a bullet fired.
"You do?" Her eyes went to his, searching for any sign of hesitation. Seeing him lay back down, she realised how tired he must be.
"Why wouldn't I?" Upon hearing his question, her eyes widened slightly, remembering who was the cause of his injury. Turning her back on him, she put everything back in place. It earned her some time to think of how to tell him.
"I was the one to shot you." She admitted it rather quickly and upon turning around and seeing his questioning face, she realised he must not have heard her. Repeating it did not help either, as she was too reluctant to speak normally.
"You shot me?" It must have been the seventh time she repeated it that he caught all of her words.
"Only because I didn't identify you at first!" That was the only truth. All the dust, the adrenaline, the explosions. How could she be focused on whether or not someone was wearing a white scarf? Choosing to avoid his eyes, she found interest in a stray lock of her hair.
"I could have died!" It was disbelief that coloured his expression, as he returned to leaning on his elbows.
Offering a smile, she knew it would be fruitless. "But you did not!" Rocking back and forth on her feet, she let her gaze sweep over her comrades. Some were quite interested in their not so private conversation, which was gaining more and more attention.
"I have freaking pink hair!" Which would have been a very strong argument, if his hair was not covered. It wasn't like many men praised around sporting a head of pink hair. Freed had green and Bixlow blue, but pink was more uncommon.
"You were wearing a helmet!"
"I had my scarf!" Not all soldiers choose to wear a white scaly scarf on the battlefield, that was sure. Both of their voices had gone a bit up at this point, as irritation gathered on both battling sides.
"And I was on a tree!" Lucy crossed her arms over her chest, stomping her leg on the ground to highlight her point. She could hear her comrades translating the conversation the two were having in fiorian, yet she did not care. Dealing with Natsu was more concerning.
"Try being on the ground next time!" Sarcasm dripped from his voice and she was getting more irritated by his dismissal of a very good argument. If it was so easy for him, then they could compete to see who could shoot better.
"You are much suited for that!" Lucy knew her answer made no sense. All the exhaustion was starting to slow her ability to come up with plausible retorts.
"I can't believe I love you!" Under more civil and calm circumstances, those words would have settled in and not went almost ignored. Lucy was tired though and seeing as he chose to lay back and dismiss her, she would do the same. Sitting down next to him, she probed his side just to spite him.
"Well, neither do I!" The content of their conversation started to settle in on both sides, yet their voices did not lose their volume. From an onlooker's view, the two were having a very argumentative confession.
"Now, I refuse to propose!" Watching him stretching to catch his shirt, which they had disposed of on a chair, had her a bit concerned. If he irritated his side more, there was a chance his stitches could reopen. The content of his sentence registered after she saw the ring hanging next to his tag.
"And I refuse to accept!" Even if her tone was still quite irritated, her expression was full of confusion. Lucy was not an idiot and definitely perception was not something she lacked. The ring had caught her attention many times, yet she never acknowledged it.
After failing to remove it from the chain alone, Lucy came to his rescue. "Then, I won't be staying here with you!" She passed it to him as soon as his words settled.
"Fine! The rest of my life will be peaceful!" Crossing her arms over her chest, she turned her head the other way. All this time she was worrying over whether or not he loved her and now her tiredness had forced her into a complete state of irritation.
"Oh please! You wouldn't stand a day without me!" Of course, she wouldn't. She had fallen so helplessly in love with him that every day without him would be torture.
Feeling a constant tugging caused an outburst like no other. "Neither would you!" Upon turning around to tear him apart, she saw the ring clutched between his fingers, presented there in front of her. To say she was shocked would have been an understatement.
"Should we stop shouting?" The smile that graced his lips, warmed her heart. If it was a rushed decision to accept such a proposal so soon, she did not know. Her heart screamed to accept. To give this man herself fully and stay by his side for the rest of eternity.
"I don't know!" Tears welled up in her eyes when he took her hand in his. Natsu with all the tenderness he possessed, placed the ring on her finger and she did not dare move. If his proposal was the weirdest of them all, Lucy did not care. Between the two of them, it was as normal as it could be.
"Kiss me?" Momentarily, she forgot he could not sit up. The loving peck he placed on her knuckles, brought a smile on her face, as she leaned towards him. Their lips found each other in a sweet dance. It was not rushed nor hungry. It was the union of two lover's scared to lose the other. Passionate and full of love, the two relished at the moment.
Both were smiling when they parted, touching their foreheads together and breathing the same air. Their hearts beat in a frenzied tempo as their eyes locked.
"Don't shoot me, again, please." Touching his cheek, she caressed with her thump his cheekbone. She adored his eyes, so alive and sincere. For the rest of her life, she hoped to see them shining.
"I promise."
A/N I definitely don't know how this chapter came into existence. I was re-reading the first chapter from Natsu's perspective and then inspiration hit me and this one was born. I must admit seeing the story from both of their views makes it more complete.
I would love to see your reviews, both from those who already commented on the first chapter, as well as those who now stumbled upon it. Constructive criticism is very appreciated since English is not my native language.
Love, BeingShortRocks.