Chapter Seventy-Three: Home Sweet Home
(May 29th, 2018, Tuesday Afternoon)
Despite the heat clinging to her face, Lucy worked up the courage to enter the living room. Her breath caught when she realized Natsu wasn't there, a ball of dread forming in her stomach. 'Did he go outside? Is he avoiding me because he saw me naked?'
"Natsu?"
"In here," he called, coming out from the other bedroom with a few items in his hands.
Lucy would have sighed in relief if not for Natsu's brief eye contact, his gaze quickly dropping to his hands as he cleared his throat. "Um, which color do you want?"
"What?" Lucy blinked, realizing he was holding nail polish. There were four different colors, the pink standing out to her. It reminded her of her bedding back in her dorm. "Why do you have those?"
"For you," he said, slowly trailing his eyes up before they dropped again. She resisted slumping her shoulders, understanding it was awkward for him too. Maybe attempting to seduce him was a bad idea? Her chest strained against the material, Lucy thankful it wasn't chilly in the room.
"Am I painting my nails?" she asked, earning a nod from Natsu.
"I'd offer to do it for ya, but I'd probably screw it up," he admitted, a sheepish smile gracing his lips. His cheeks held a soft blush, Lucy taking pity on him as she nodded. Her belief that she went braless too soon solidified. How was she supposed to know if his reactions were caused by her current attire or what happened in the bathroom?
"Fair enough. Um—" She looked at the colors again before making her selection, "I'll use pink."
"Pink it is." He moved to the floor, resting his back against the couch before patting the spot beside him.
'That has to be a good sign,' she thought, wondering if it was in her best interest to stop looking for 'signs'. She didn't want to delude herself, but how was she supposed to know unless she observed? 'I could always just ask him.'
The panicked beat of her heart suggested that was a bad idea, Lucy listening to her body as she took her seat. "Are… you going to paint your nails too?"
He snorted, shaking his head as he set the bottles down in front of him. "No way. Gray'd never let me live it down."
Lucy raised a brow. "Oh? Scared of what he thinks?" She was teasing, but he must have missed that in her voice.
"What?" Natsu's head shot up, determination blazing in his eyes as he growled. "As if!" He snatched the magenta polish, grumbling as he removed the top.
Natsu was seconds away from applying the first swipe to his thumb when Lucy grabbed his bare wrist.
"Wait," she said, pausing when she realized he wasn't wearing the same clothes as before. Instead of a long-sleeved shirt and cargo pants like before, he was sporting a muscle shirt and gym shorts. "You changed?"
Natsu nodded, turning his attention back to the polish in his hand before turning his wrist. She let go, putting a few inches between them as he set the polish down. "We're supposed to be comfy," he said, a smile twitching at his lips.
"Why?" she asked, recalling that was the opposite of what Natsu had told her. He stressed the dangers of being off base, but now he wasn't even wearing shoes in a random house, the windows open and—
Lucy's eyes shot to the windows as she asked, "Why are those open?"
"Are you okay?" Natsu asked, shifting so he could face her. "You seem kinda jumpy."
"I'm not jumpy," she urged before sighing. "I'm… confused."
"Oh." He paused, his smile tilting his lips. "I forgot, this is part two of your surprise."
"Part… two?"
Natsu nodded, looking pleased with himself. "This is a spa day," he cheered, keeping his voice soft despite the excitement in his eyes. "The windows are open so the house isn't as stuffy. Thought you'd still be hot after…" His eyes dipped to her chest before he cleared his throat, averting his gaze.
She swallowed, wanting to avoid that topic in favor of saving herself from the embarrassment. "Yeah, that makes sense. But why are we relaxing here? We can go back to our— Er, your room?"
Natsu shrugged, his back curved as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. "We could, but I thought it'd be cool to hang out here."
Lucy wasn't sure what to make of Natsu's answer. She looked at the window again, losing a battle with her frown. "Is it safe?"
"Yes." Natsu jerked a thumb towards the window. "I put up a string with cans on it around the place. If something comes by, we'll hear it."
Lucy's eyes rounded as that sunk in. "Well… That's good." She took a deep breath, the smell of polish lingering in the air. She looked down just in time to see a drop fall from the brush, landing on the rug. "You don't have to paint your nails. I was kidding."
"I know," he said, shoulders shaking as he suppressed a laugh. "I wasn't really gonna do it."
"You weren't?" She cocked her head, unconvinced.
He shrugged. "I don't care what that stripper thinks, but I know the guys would say shit if they saw." A frown marred his face, but it was replaced with a neutral smile. "Don't really wanna bother with that."
"It shouldn't matter what other people say. Do you want to paint your nails?"
Once again, Natsu shrugged. "I really don't care too much either way."
Lucy thought about that for a moment before grabbing the pink polish. "Are you worried it'll make you seem girly?"
His nose scrunched before he cast her a look. "Maybe?" Natsu started turning his head before taking a deep breath, refocusing his attention on her. He stared, his brows twitching before he closed his eyes. "I like colorful stuff. And I think it'd be neat… to paint my nails once, but…"
Natsu opened his eyes, a tension detected in his voice as he added, "Yes, I… I am worried about what other people would think."
Lucy's eyes widened, surprised he shared that with her. 'Levy's right. He is getting better at communicating.' She nodded, letting his words bounce around in her head before asking, "Do you think Jellal would care?"
That had Natsu humming. "Probably not?" He shook his head, eyes narrowed. "Why?"
Lucy bit her bottom lip, nodding towards the magenta polish before her eyes found his once more. "How about you paint your toes?"
He chuckled before dismissing the idea. "I couldn't do that."
"Why not?" she challenged, earning a perplexed look from Natsu.
"I…" His voice faltered, green eyes falling to his feet.
Lucy smiled when she saw Natsu wiggling his toes through his socks, his lips twisting as he thought it over.
He looked up at her, his tone oddly serious considering his silly request. "How do I do it?"
Instead of making fun of him, Lucy gave him a soft smile. "I'll show you." She shifted into a comfortable position before getting started.
"You'll want to get the excess polish off, otherwise it'll make a mess."
Natsu watched intently, Lucy doing her best to steady her hand as she painted her toenails. Heat filled her cheeks as she felt his gaze on her, but she fought past her urge to squirm.
"I start in the center first, then slowly go outwards each time. It's hard not to get your skin, but it wears off faster there, so it's not a big deal if you paint outside of the lines."
He chuckled, though it sounded more forced than usual. "I think I got the gist of it."
She nodded, moving on to the next toe as Natsu took off his socks. "Where'd you get the nail polish from?"
"One of Everlue's neighbors," Natsu said, dipping the brush into the polish a few times before dragging it against the side. "I'd tell the others about it, but there's not a whole lotta stuff there."
He glanced at her, flashing a small smile before redirecting his attention to his toenails.
Lucy followed his gaze, feeling a trickle of warmth in her lower stomach. She didn't have a foot fetish. She had never thought much about feet, but for some reason, Natsu's feet looked good.
Not sexy like his forearms, or cute like his nose. No, she couldn't place it, but she liked looking at his feet. Hell, she liked looking at all of him, admiring his calves, his knees, his neck.
Lucy took in a slow breath, wondering what kind of noise Natsu would make if she placed a gentle kiss at the crook of his neck. Would he moan? Hum? Would he call her a weirdo because she did something so crazy?
'Maybe he'd like it? Or maybe he'd get grossed out?'
Lucy looked back at her nails, finishing off her foot before working on the next one. "Find anything else interesting while you were that way?" she asked.
"Actually yeah." She didn't have to look up to know he was smiling. "I got a puzzle we can do later. And some crackers for a snack. Also, I found something I think you'll like, but it's in the backyard."
Lucy cocked a brow. "What is it?"
"I'll show you later. After we're done pampering you."
Lucy couldn't hold in her snort. "Pampering me? Who are you and what did you do with Natsu?"
He laughed, the genuine sound music to her ears. "It's still me. Just, I wanted to do this. It's not a big deal."
She rolled her eyes as she leaned against the couch. "Not a big deal he says."
While Natsu continued with his toenails, she shook her head. "This is… I literally have no words."
"Well, maybe you could have some words… here."
Lucy looked at him, her lips twisted. "What does that even mean?"
She saw the gentle blush on his face spread towards his ears. "Just… if you like it here… I dunno, maybe you could bring a book or two? If you read here that'd give you words."
'Maybe Levy was wrong. His communication skills need more work.' Lucy shook her head. "I'm not following."
"Do you know about the plan? To expand Fairy Tail?"
"Kind of?"
"Well, if that happens and people start moving into the houses around here… I just…" Natsu looked away, capping the nail polish despite only having three toenails painted. "Maybe, if you're okay with it… You… We could maybe…" He swallowed as his toes curled.
Lucy's eyes widened, realizing where he was going. She looked around, taking everything in with fresh eyes. There were parts of the walls where the paint looked more vibrant, always in the shape of a rectangle. Her eyes flitted to the front door Natsu had unlocked, the key on his lanyard. She recalled the odd tour where he showed her the two bedrooms before directing her to the bathroom for her surprise. She had thought it was odd he wanted to show her that first room instead of just bringing her straight to the bathroom.
It all clicked seconds before he spoke the words, confirming her theory.
"I was wondering… When that happens, do you wanna, maybe move in… together?" He glanced at her, his voice uncertain as he added, "Here?"
Lucy's body went slack, her lips parting but no words formed. Did she want to move in with him? Absolutely, but in what context?
Was that Natsu's way of taking whatever their friendship was to the next level? Or was he cementing in the fact that the closest they would ever get was roommate status?
Lucy sucked in a breath when her lungs burned, realizing she had stopped breathing. She blinked, head dipping as she processed his offer.
She turned, eyeing the living room as her imagination ran wild, picturing them sprawled out on the floor, playing card games or watching a show on his phone after dinner.
They could find a cat bed for Happy, or make that armchair his spot. Lucy and Natsu could take the couch, cuddled up on winter nights with the fireplace keeping them warm.
She could see the glow of the flames on Natsu's face, the two sharing smiles and laughter as they enjoyed their own little version of happily ever after.
Maybe she was giving herself false hope, filling her head with delusions and ultimately setting herself up for heartbreak, but in that moment, her heart had never felt so full.
Natsu had gone above and beyond so many times for her, and he didn't ask for much. He wanted to spend time with her, wanted to keep her in his future, even if it meant the most they would share was a living space and some happy moments along the way.
Lucy's lower lip wobbled as her eyes watered, but she shed no tears, even when she nodded her head.
"Yes," she whispered, blinking to clear her vision before looking back at him. "That sounds… great."
Relief softened Natsu's features as he smiled, his eyes dipping to his painted toes before taking a deep breath. "Then it's settled." He lifted his head, the smallest chuckle filling the gap between them. "I'll start working on it."
"Working on what?" Lucy asked, her curiosity not enough to chase away the utter bliss in her chest. What exactly was it she was feeling? Cared for? Wanted?
Accepted?
She had felt love from her parents, love from Virgo, but that was vastly different from what she experienced now. Perhaps it was the fact that Natsu wasn't from her family that had her feelings going haywire.
He didn't play games like her old friends did. He didn't make her feel worthless when she was down or 'not fun'. Natsu wasn't a fleeting friend. Whatever they had, it was real.
'He wants me by his side. And he's not afraid to tell me where he stands.'
"I wanna put up a real fence," he said, naming off improvements he could make to the house.
Their house.
"Fairy Tail already grabbed all the essentials, but I can go back to Everlue's neighborhood, get some bedding, more books? I figure I can take out the washer and dryer since we can't use them. I don't wanna brag," he started, a smirk pulling at his lips.
That look had her stomach flipping, but she didn't try fighting it as she smiled.
"But I have some experience with building shit now. I think I can manage some bookcases. We could turn it into a library? Clear out Everlue's and bring 'em all here? You can use the table in the dining room as a desk? Or we could bring the desk from our ro—"
His eyes widened before he cleared his throat. "I mean, my room, that way you could write? Only when it's all safe though. We wouldn't actually live here until a big fence gets put around the area. Makarov was saying, shit, I think a mile out? I dunno how long it'll take to build it, but that should give me time to change this place up a bit?"
Natsu took a breath, chuckling as he stood. Lucy watched as he grabbed a cup of water resting on an end table, taking a swig. "Do you want some?" he asked, nodding behind her. "I have more clean water to drink? It's warm, but it's cooling down."
She almost declined before trying to swallow, realizing her throat was dry. 'Probably from how real this is all becoming.'
Ten minutes ago they were talking about nail polish. Now, they were planning their future together.
Her first thought was things were escalating too quickly, but that wasn't it. Natsu had been planning for over a month and had picked out that house on purpose. She had no doubts he wanted that fireplace, Natsu mentioning at least twice that he wished his apartment from before the outbreak had a fireplace.
He found a house that was small yet spacious enough for them to breathe. It even had a tub prefect for baths. There were two rooms, which probably meant he was offering separate sleeping quarters. She couldn't lie to herself. She wanted things to go back to the way they were when they slept next to each other every night, but they were slowly getting there.
Maybe by the time the gate was built and people started moving out of Fairy Tail, Natsu and her would be closer in their friendship, enough to share a bed on a permanent basis.
'Maybe we'll be closer than that?' she thought, only to plummet back to reality when Natsu waved his hand in her face.
"You in there?"
She jerked her head back, blinking as she said, "What?"
"You spaced out," he laughed, his fanged grin doing her frantic heart no favors. "Do you want water?"
She nodded, voice squeaky as she said, "Yes, please."
Natsu stood, fetching her water as she tried calming herself down. 'I should just tell him how I feel and get it over with, that way he knows where I stand. But…'
But if he didn't have romantic feelings for her, she would be putting way more at risk than their friendship. Natsu was trying to build a future with her. What if she ruined it by rushing things?
'Maybe he has a plan.'
Before, she never considered Natsu the 'man with a plan', but he had planned so much without her realizing it. 'Maybe he wants to slowly ease us into a relationship… Though, it's going pretty slow as it is.'
They had known each other for almost eight months. Some days it felt like longer, some it felt like just yesterday he was convincing her to join Fairy Tail.
'I should wait it out. See if he has a plan.'
She could ask Levy, but even if the girl would spoil a surprise, part of Lucy liked the mystery. If Natsu had a plan, she hoped it wasn't lengthy. She wasn't sure how long she could wait, the anticipation eating her alive.
"Here ya go," Natsu said, setting the water by her side before reclaiming his spot. "So, now that that's outta the way, let's get our nails done." He flashed her a smile, earning a laugh as she shook her head.
"And you call me weird," she said, grabbing the polish to resume.
Natsu barked out a laugh, his green eyes gleaming as he shrugged. "You caught me. Maybe I'm a little weird too."
Lucy couldn't fight her smile, her heart warming all over again. "Wouldn't have you any other way."
Natsu's eyes widened for a second before returning to normal, the man blowing out a breath through his nose as he shook the magenta polish. "Race ya to see who can finish first!"
"That's not how it works," Lucy laughed, but that didn't stop her from painting, wanting to meet his challenge. Though, she preferred when they worked together.
She had fun with Natsu, the two making a good team. It was a weird team, but good nonetheless.
"You are so freaking reckless," Lucy said, her painted toenails dried as she curled them against the grass. They were in the backyard, Natsu showing her one of the many surprises he lined up. "I can't believe you found this."
"It didn't take too long," he said, grinning when she drew the string back. "I promise I was safe. Didn't see anything undead out there."
"Good," Lucy said, dropping the bow to her side as she gave him a somber look. It was the same children's bow she dropped weeks back when they were spotted by those sprinters. She never thought she would see it again. "If anything happened to you over this stupid bow—"
Natsu's face softened, melting Lucy's heart. She sighed before testing the string again. "At least we can tell Makarov it's not lost anymore."
"It'd probably be fine leaving it out here. You said so yourself. It can't take anything big out."
"Not on the first try," she said, moving to the back porch where Natsu sat. He looked casual, relaxed in his patio chair, sipping on his water. She could imagine more days like today.
'We can build a life here.'
Lucy set the bow on the small patio table, stretching her arms above her head before letting out a soft grunt. She cupped the back of her neck, face twisting as she tried working out a knot on the top of her spine.
"Feeling stiff?" Natsu asked, causing her to nod before dropping her hand. "Well, that makes sense. You got a hard job."
There was no distaste in his voice, Lucy smiling as she tilted her head side to side, trying to relieve her muscles. "Yeah." Her eyes fell to a windchime on the ground. She was about to ask Natsu if he took it down to reduce noise, but when she turned to look at him, she saw his sights set on her stomach where her shirt had ridden up.
His eyes snapped to hers, Lucy biting her inner cheek to keep from reacting. 'Was he checking me out? Looking at a scar? Maybe I have a loose thread?'
While she hoped Natsu had a plan in the works, she wasn't able to stay patient. Weeks of failed flirting and frustrated nights alone had her on edge, wondering if she should throw in the towel. 'Is there any chance of us being more than friends? Could I even handle that after everything that happened?'
There was a surefire way to find out if Natsu had feelings for her, but Lucy wasn't brave enough to ask him outright. However, there was another option, though it was more invasive.
More physical.
'I think this is a good plan,' she thought, going over it a few times as she pretended to inspect the backyard, not wanting Natsu to know she was plotting. 'Not only will it show I want him touching me, it'll let me know if I can even handle something like that.'
Countless sessions with herself and her fingers while thinking about Natsu was one thing, but actually being intimate with him? She was ninety percent sure she could handle it, but in case she was wrong, now was a good time to test her theory.
"Hey Natsu," Lucy started, rotating her shoulder before sparing him a glance.
"Yeah?"
"Could you do me a favor?"
"What's up?" he asked.
"Well..." She put on her best poker face, reminding herself he had offered it once before. There was no reason to worry. Even if he didn't feel the same way about her, her request wasn't outrageous. 'I do it for him sometimes.'
A smile twitched at her lips as she lifted her arm, her shirt riding up with the action. She swore she saw Natsu's eyes veering down before he corrected himself, giving her the extra boost of confidence she needed. "Would you be up for giving me a backrub?"
Lucy was so fixed on his widening eyes she missed his gulp, Natsu's voice surprising her when it came out even. "I've never given one before, but I can try."
Was his cheeks growing red? Was she imagining the beads of sweat on the back of his neck as she followed him inside the house. It was warm outside. Maybe the temperature had him flushing? She wanted to believe it was something else that had him heating up.
"Do..." Natsu's voice trailed off as he glanced over his shoulder, his eyes avoiding hers. "Uh, you wanna sit or lay down?"
Lucy feigned nonchalance, managing a small shrug as she said, "Either. Maybe, you should lean against the couch?"
'Did he just take a quick breath? Am I hearing things? He looks nervous.' Lucy's body hummed in anticipation as she watched him sit in his earlier spot, the nail polish and puzzle they were working on before pushed to the side. It was now late afternoon, but they had time before they needed to be back for dinner.
Lucy wished he spread his legs so she could nestle herself close, but he shifted, resting on his knees before looking up at her. "I'm uh, ready whenever you are?"
"Oh, y-yes." She hesitated before moving forward, realizing it was best she couldn't get too close. Sweat built as she sat in front of him, her mind racing while the seconds ticked by. 'Is he going to be rough? Gentle? Is he going to like it?'
"I'm uh, gonna start."
Lucy did her best to keep still as she drew in a long breath, trying to calm her nerves. "Okay."
A moment passed before she felt pressure, Lucy's throat tightening as large, warm hands settled on her shoulders. Natsu's movements were hesitant, his thumbs rubbing small circles into her shoulder blades before his other fingers curled against her.
He was ten seconds into it and she was already melting. It had nothing to do with skill, Natsu's hands clumsy as he tried working out the knots in her upper back. It was the fact that Natsu had his hands on her that had her blood rushing. Her heart raced from the overwhelming need building within her, that fire burning hotter when he spoke.
"How's this feel?" he asked, voice rough like he had just woken.
'Is this getting to him?' She hoped so, Lucy sighing as she leaned into his touch, relishing in his warmth. If it meant getting closer to Natsu, she could accept the heat.
"It's good," she said, biting her lip when he moved below her shoulder blades. Lucy swallowed, wishing he would go much lower, but she couldn't bring herself to request it.
"Good," Natsu whispered, his breath fanning against her neck. A surge of heat rushed through her body, her core pulsing as everything within her tingled.
'I should not be enjoying this so much.' And yet, she couldn't get enough. Everything about his touch felt right, even if he was doing a mediocre job at working out her tense muscles.
Was it weird that his inexperience turned her on? As he ran his hands over her upper back, she couldn't help but let her imagination run wild. If he let her, she could teach him so many ways to bring them both pleasure. Was it selfish? Greedy? She wanted to bring him to the nearest bed and give him a detailed lesson on how good touch could feel. She could show him exactly how to get her off, and together they could learn what he liked.
'What does he like?' Lucy thought as his hands ventured lower by a few inches before returning to her shoulders.
She nearly groaned, wanting him to explore, but she had to remind herself she was being silly. Maybe Natsu was just as unsure? Maybe he wasn't pushing because he didn't know how she felt about him?
Or maybe he didn't have feelings for her. That thought vanished when she heard him slowly exhaling, the hairs on the back of her neck standing when his breath hit her skin.
A blush burned her face and chest as she cleared her throat, feeling his hands still on her shoulder blades. "Um, can you," she swallowed, "go harder."
'Did his breath hitch?' Reading Natsu was nearly impossible from her position, her ears straining for any subtle clues.
"Yeah," he said, his tone hard to decipher.
Was it airy? Calm? She wasn't sure, her thoughts stunted when he applied more pressure, a moan almost slipping from her throat when he found a good rhythm.
"Like this?" Natsu asked, causing her to nod, barely suppressing a shiver.
'Does Natsu feel this way when I touch him? Or is it all friendly to him?' She debated upping the risks to figure out how he felt about massaging her, but Natsu ended up breaking the silence with an odd question.
"Looking forward to the play?"
Lucy's brows rose before furrowing, wondering where that came from. 'Maybe this isn't affecting him like it is me? Maybe I'm the only one enjoying this?' She hummed, trying to focus on the question as she regained her composure. "Um, kind of."
The first show was in a few days. Those who volunteered to entertain the base were allowed shorter shifts so they could rehearse. Lucy hadn't heard it from the man herself, but Laxus wanted to get the electricity up and running before that first show. A month and some change had passed since the electrician left, and while Laxus was determined to give the school power, every day the building continued with its darkness.
To avoid making too much noise, they would perform the play indoors, the auditorium's stage lit up with candles and flashlights.
"I think it'll be interesting," Natsu said, Lucy ready to give up on her quest to figure out how Natsu felt. If he could carry on a normal conversation while touching her more than he ever had before, he probably wasn't interested.
"Me... too." She closed her eyes just as Natsu's thumbs ran downwards. He applied more pressure when he reached her mid-back, rubbing deep circles that had her clenching her fists in a desperate attempt to hide her moan. It didn't work, the sound escaping from the unexpected sensation.
Lucy froze when Natsu's hands paused, hearing him shift behind her. "Did that hurt?"
She released her breath, terrified her voice would betray her secret as she whispered, "No, it felt..." She nearly choked on the last word, her face burning while her mind plummeted into the gutter. "Good."
"Oh, okay," he said, resuming his massage, movements more confident as he really rubbed at her back.
As his hands moved, Lucy's imagination ran wild. Would he be like that in bed? Aimlessly wandering around trying to figure out what felt good? Or would he be more vocal? Asking for direction?
A shiver ran down her spine at the thought of him letting her take the lead. While she preferred to be spoiled in bed, she couldn't deny the surge of adrenaline hitting her at the thought of dominating Natsu. He was strong, but imagining herself on top of him had her nerves sizzling.
"Should I close the windows?" Natsu asked, hands resting on her shoulders as his breath danced on her neck.
Were goosebumps appearing? Or was she imagining her skin tingling?
"Maybe later," Lucy said, not ready to part with the delicious sensation of his touch. She felt an odd burst of confidence as his hands traveled down her back, fingers pressing as he tried making her feel good. Knowing she had his full attention had her body humming, and despite having that much, she grew greedy.
Wasn't half the point of asking for a backrub to gauge his reaction? To see if he was interested?
Her throat dried as she opened her mouth, heart pounding out of control from the words in her head. She repeated them three times, wanting to get them right the first time. She couldn't afford to stumble.
"Can you go lower?" Lucy asked, voice more sultry than she intended. She shifted her legs before leaning forward, arching her back in the process. "Please?"
"Y-yeah," Natsu said, the shyness in his tone making her smile.
'Is he getting flustered?' He didn't sound uncomfortable, merely nervous. Whether she succeeded in showing Natsu how she felt or not, she would find out where he stood. She hoped her feelings weren't one-sided, and judging by the way his hands moved along her lower back, taking his time to explore every inch, she wasn't delusional.
Fire followed his fingers as he pressed into her, Lucy stifling more moans by digging her nails into her palms. Natsu tried filling the silence with small talk, mentioning something about a group starting a 'Dungeons and Dragons' game, but all she could focus on was his voice. It was rough, distracted as he strung his words together, as if having a hard time staying on subject.
'Is he getting just as worked up as I am?'
Lucy felt the heat between her legs, the rush of energy through her chest and heart. Natsu's hands wandered again, touching her shoulders, her lower back, her arms, teasing the skin right below her shirt's sleeve.
The best was when his fingers dipped low, touching the part of her back not covered with a shirt. He never lingered there, instead brushing against her bare skin before returning to her mid-back, his voice growing raspy the longer he explored.
'He is into this,' Lucy thought, letting out a heavy sigh as his thumbs rubbed small circles by her shoulder blades. He wouldn't impress the teacher of her couples massage class, but he was blowing her mind. Hell, just a pat on the back had her nerves tingling. His current touches had her seeing stars.
"And I uh, think it'll be... good... for Romeo. He's been down lately, since his parents split up, and from what I... I hear, Lyon's a good um, dungeon master, or whatever. He—" Natsu's hand ventured too close to her side, Lucy jerking on reflex. "Shit, I'm sorry."
Natsu pulled his hands away from her as if he got burned, which wouldn't be a stretch. Aside from that bath earlier, Lucy couldn't remember another time she ran that hot. She couldn't face him, eyes squeezed tight as she shook her head.
"You're fine. Just..." Letting out a defeated chuckle, Lucy admitted, "You... tickled me."
"Oh," Natsu sighed, hands settling on her back again, close to her sides. "Well, I'll try not to tickle ya."
She heard the smile in his voice, her lips quirking as she relaxed. While she loved his hands on her, she wasn't in the mood for a fit of giggles. Though, she did enjoy when they laughed together.
Before that thought could take root, Natsu was applying pressure again, more firm than before. 'Does he like touching me? He seems more eager now.' Her mind went blank as she allowed herself to reveal in his ministrations. Her breathing slowed, her hums increasing as he skimmed the bottom of her shirt once more.
He was respectful, so she knew it would never happen without her outright asking for it, but she wished he would wrap his arms around her and explore her stomach and chest.
Just thinking about Natsu slipping his hand into the front of her shirt and giving her chest a squeeze had her clenching, hoping one day that could be a reality.
Lucy swallowed, realizing Natsu answered one of the questions that had plagued her mind since her feelings for him made themselves known.
'Can I handle physical touches if something develops with Natsu?'
She was sure of it now, body aching to have his hands wander. Her core begged her attention at the thought of his hands traveling up and down her thighs.
Lucy's imagination had her feeling his fingers skimming the waistband of her shorts before hooking his fingers under so he could pull them down. If it felt that good having him touch her back, how good would it feel having his hands between her—
"You okay?" Natsu asked, causing Lucy's eyes to snap open.
When had she closed them?
"Y-yeah?"
"Oh," he started, hands paused before resuming his massage over her shoulders. "You were squirming. Thought I was hurting you."
Lucy's throat dried out, mortified that he almost caught her. "N-nope. Nothing like that."
"Good," he breathed, once again sending her nerves into overdrive. Would her heart ever return to a normal pace? "I thought I, I dunno, pinched a nerve or something?"
His concern for her safety had been a challenge the more independent she became, but maybe she didn't have to resist it all. Before he thought she was weak, treated her like she was fragile. The concern felt different now, like he wasn't scared of breaking her, just worried in general.
She wasn't sure that made sense, her thoughts and feelings complicated. There was no black and white, layers and layers of grey in her head. She wanted his concern but only if he didn't think she was weak, and she didn't want his protection but she understood asking Natsu to stand down completely wasn't in his nature. She hadn't seen it with others, but he was a protective person towards her.
'Maybe I'm worried he still sees me as a project? As that pathetic person he found barely clinging to life?'
Before her mood could sour, Lucy jerked, a choked moan resounding in her throat as his thumbs pushed into her lower back.
"Shit," Natsu hissed, pulling away. "Sorry. I don't wanna hurt you."
"You didn't," she managed to say, struggling to keep her tone even.
"But you—"
"I liked it." Lucy stared at the fireplace in front of them, focused on the rug beneath her, anything to stop her wild thoughts. All of his touches felt good, but that last one, it had her ready to turn around and proposition him.
She wouldn't, still worried he didn't feel the same way. The massage didn't answer her other question, wondering if he liked her back. Either way, she didn't want him to stop. While he wasn't skilled, his backrub was helping soothe her aches, even if it created more between her legs.
"K-keep going?" Lucy asked, hesitant before she leaned forward, giving him more access to her lower back. She felt air against her skin, knowing part of her back was exposed. She counted the seconds, reaching thirteen before he put his hands on her again, gripping her sides.
She closed her eyes, imagining him pulling her back to press himself against her. He didn't, but the thought alone had her mouth watering.
Natsu slightly squeezed her sides, but she didn't know if he noticed. "Okay. I uh," he started, his nervous tone giving her hope before he added, "was thinking about joining the runners again."
Lucy's thoughts outweighed the sensation of Natsu's hands working at her lower back, wondering why he brought that up now. "You are?"
"Yeah. Not full time. Um, I uh, I'm still working with Levy on some stuff, and I like construction too, even if it's hard work."
Lucy suppressed a grunt when he went too hard on one of her muscles, but he smoothed over it with light touches that reignited the fire within. She made a conscious effort not to squirm. Not only did she want to avoid giving away her reactions, she wanted to focus on Natsu's thoughts. It had been weeks since she said she wanted him to be a runner with her.
Not just a runner though. She wanted him to be her partner, the two having each other's backs off base, working as a team.
They hadn't spoken about it since. She thought his non-answer was his answer, but maybe he had been considering it all along?
"I was thinking of going on Wednesdays and Sundays."
Natsu's fingers dipped over her shoulder as his thumbs focused on the base of her neck. All rational thoughts stopped for a moment, Lucy not trusting her voice. She gave the slightest nod, letting him know she heard him as her mind wandered.
She wished she was in a tank top, wondering if he would act differently. Would he touch her scars or avoid them? Would she want him touching those marks?
The more she thought about it, the more she realized she wanted it, yearning for him to run his fingers over the scars on her body.
What did that mean? Was that how she would feel accepted? Desired? Loved?
Her muscles constricted in an instant, Natsu pressing harder in response.
"I think I found a knot," he said, Lucy's eyes widening when he pulled at her shoulders. "Can you get closer?"
'You have no idea how close I want to get.' Lucy once again gave a nod, hands on the ground as she leaned back. Even when she reached her original spot, Natsu kept tugging. Lucy swallowed as she leaned more, her lower back resting against his knees. Blood roared in her ears as her heart pounded, positive her face was bright red as Natsu resumed the massage.
"How's this?" he asked, his thumbs digging in a circular motion.
Her eye twitched as a twinge made itself known. She worried about her voice betraying her feelings, but she couldn't let him continue. Getting hurt wouldn't be worth it.
She looked over her shoulder without thinking. As soon as she saw his face, she realized her mistake. His eyes snapped to hers, movements paused but he kept his large hands on her shoulders.
"H-how's it feel?" he asked, Lucy noticing the blush staining his cheeks, the dazed look in his eyes.
'Is he affected by this too?' Her eyes dropped to his parted mouth, seeing him take shallow breaths. Just as she redirected her gaze to his eyes, she noticed him doing the same. 'Was he looking at my lips? Does he want to...'
It was then she realized she was taking quick breaths too. There was no way Natsu didn't notice, her shoulders moving with every inhale.
"It's... good," she said, summoning her courage. All the pieces were falling into place, the moment perfect. There was no way Natsu didn't know how she felt. Just to be sure, she turned, Natsu's hands sliding down her back instead of retreating from her completely.
'He wants this too.'
Lucy swallowed, her face warm as she decided to go for it. Maybe Natsu had a plan, maybe he didn't. Either way, she was tired of waiting. She settled a hand on his knee as she faced him, her body sideways but that hardly mattered.
Nothing mattered, so long as Natsu looked at her like that, like everything around them was irrelevant.
Lucy kept her eyes on his, even when his lips parted. Seconds of silence passed between them, her heart rate speeding out of control as she leaned in an inch. She stopped when she heard his voice. It surprised her, but his tone was nothing but soothing.
"Are... you done?" he asked softly, Lucy realizing he had a hand on her when his fingers twitched against the skin of her lower back.
Lucy spoke, but judging by the haziness in his eyes, he wasn't listening. She couldn't blame him. Everything around her felt fuzzy too. Her focus was on Natsu's face, Lucy drawn like a moth to a flame.
She braced herself on his knee as she prepared to lean in, inches away from the answers she sought. It was no longer a matter of if he wanted it or not. The expression on his face, the chemistry she felt between them, there was no doubt. Her feelings weren't one-sided.
All her questions would be answered, including some new ones. 'Are Natsu's lips soft? Rough?' Time stood still as she tilted her head up, pure happiness rushing her when she saw Natsu lean in.
'Is he a gentle kisser? Will he use too much tongue?' She was seconds away from finding out. Natsu's cheek twitched, but she didn't notice as she started closing the gap. 'Will he be a naturally good kisser? Or will he be clumsy? Or maybe he'll be—'
"HAVE YOU EVER HAD FUNGUS UNDER YOUR NAILS?!" Natsu shouted in her face, causing Lucy to recoil
"Wh-what?" She blinked, jaw slack yet body tense. They weren't touching anymore, Lucy watching as Natsu looked at his hands, avoiding her eyes.
"I haven't, but Erza got a bad case back in high school. Don't tell her I told ya though, she'd kill me. She had to take this medication that coulda messed with her liver, so they kept testing her to make sure she was healthy and shit, but—"
Without taking a breath, Natsu stood, quickly facing away from her as he busied himself with the windows. "—Erza got through it fine. No incidents. She's real careful now about that sorta stuff. She—"
He continued his nonsensical rambling, Lucy staring with wide eyes as he moved to the fireplace, picking up the box their puzzle came in.
"—And then I was gonna try to help Loke make some bread. I think I remember everything he taught me, but just to be sure I'll have him watch me so I don't screw it up, and then I also gotta talk to Makarov about letting me use a gun because I made that whole agreement with him to go to Hargeon for shooting lessons, and—" Natsu flipped the puzzle box over a few times before setting it down, heading to the front door.
Natsu never made eye contact, never stopped talking as he slipped on his shoes. He didn't even bother putting socks on.
He opened the front door, giving her a pathetic wave as he said, "I'mma check the area and make sure it's still clear. We should probably get ready to leave. It's gonna get dark soon."
And then he closed the door, leaving Lucy alone with her scattered thoughts. Her mind failed to work, still trying to wrap her head around what happened. They had been so close, she had been so sure it was going to happen.
"Am..." The back of Lucy's eyes pricked, her vision blurring as she sucked in a shaky breath. "I... really that... d-delusional?"
'Did I make the whole thing up?' Lucy's stomach and chest felt hollow, those pieces she thought fit perfectly now crashing around her. There was no moment, no spark between them.
Her lower lip wobbled as she rubbed at her eyes, refusing to let the tears form. 'No. I'm not going to cry. I won't.' Lucy clenched her teeth, barely suppressing the start of a whimper.
Natsu... didn't have feelings for her.
It made no sense, went against what she had observed, but clearly she was seeing signs that weren't there.
A frustrated noise filled her ears as she tipped her head back, glaring at the ceiling. Knowing Natsu didn't like her ripped at her heart, but she couldn't let that get to her.
She certainly wouldn't try flirting with him again. She had learned her lesson.
'He knows what I was trying to do, right?' He wouldn't make eye contact with her, kept rambling and moving to avoid her. She didn't like that, the thought of Natsu continuing with that behavior hurting her heart far more than anything else.
If she couldn't have a relationship with him, fine, but she couldn't stomach the thought of losing him as a friend.
'I have to stop flirting. I... I must have read all the signs wrong. He wasn't blushing because he liked it. He was embarrassed and uncomfortable, and if I don't stop... I'm going to lose him. But... maybe—'
"Maybe... he was just... nervous?" Lucy clung to the thought for a moment, relishing in the spark of hope that dulled the pain in her chest. 'Maybe he still wants to kiss me, but he got scared. It would've been his first kiss after all. Yeah, that's it. If I tried again he'd—'
"No," Lucy muttered, her voice foreign in her ears. "I... have to stop."
It wasn't healthy, and it wasn't fair to Natsu. She couldn't keep pretending there was more going on between them just because she wanted a relationship with him. He made his position clear.
'He wants to be my friend, and... I'll take that. I'll choose friendship every time over being nothing to him.' She would put an end to her feelings.
She had no other choice.
Lucy gripped the couch cushion, her body limp as she managed to stand. She looked around the living room, her heart aching at the future they could have together.
'I wish we could be more,' she thought, letting out a heavy breath. "I want to be with him, but... I'll back off."
No more flirting.
No more teasing touches.
No... more intimacy.
While Lucy wanted to continue being close to Natsu, how could she snuff out her feelings if they were cuddling in their sleep and hanging out alone every chance they got?
How could she mend the crack in her heart if she didn't set some healthy boundaries?
With a deep breath and a clenched fist, Lucy nodded to herself. It would be difficult, but she had faced far worse and survived. She wasn't going to let a little heartache do her in. Though, it felt far from little.
'If the saying about whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger is true, then this is going to make me invincible.'
She blew out a breath, shaking her head as she sat on the couch. 'I'm being dramatic. It's not like it was serious anyways... Just... a crush. A... a strong crush, but nothing I can't shake off.'
Despite repeating that in her head, Lucy's frown didn't fade. It wasn't just a crush, but what could she do? It was easier telling herself it wasn't a big deal, because the alternative was making Natsu uncomfortable.
She wanted to spend time with him, and for him to enjoy their time together too. If that meant suppressing her feelings and pretending like everything was fine, then she would do it.
She couldn't lose Natsu.
She wouldn't, even if it hurt knowing they couldn't be together.
"What the fuck? What the ever loving fuck was that?!"
Natsu gripped at his hair, pulling hard enough to make him wince. "What the hell?"
He tried making sense of it all, but nothing about what just happened was normal. His heart pounded, threatening to break his rib cage as he paced the abandoned house two doors down. He couldn't go back, couldn't face Lucy after...
"What the fuck even was that?"
Was he really about to—
Natsu shook his head, eyes squeezed shut as he stopped. His breathing came out choppy, reliving that moment again and again, wondering how he had gotten there.
Staring down at Lucy, hand on her back, her body twisted towards him, both of them leaning in to—
"No. No no no. No." Natsu dragged his hand over his face, refusing to admit the truth. He was not about to kiss her. She wasn't trying to kiss him either. It was... a misunderstanding. 'That's it. Just a weird misunderstanding. That happens, right?'
Despite telling himself that, he couldn't dispel the concoction of feelings swirling in his chest. Most were unrecognizable, but some he could pinpoint.
Lust was among them, Natsu recalling the raging hard on in his shorts as his hands smoothed over Lucy's back. Having her so close, breathing her in, feeling every inch of her back with a thin shirt separating him from her skin, knowing she didn't have a bra on under that shirt.
'Damn.'
It had his heart flipping as his fingers twitched, wanting, no, craving more touches like that. However, he couldn't do that again. He had almost kissed her. Kissed Lucy?! She was his friend! Friend, nothing more, nothing less.
The logic was there, but he hadn't been thinking in that moment, drawn to her like a magnet. The pull was powerful, but he snapped out of it at the last second.
"I sounded like a fucking moron!" Natsu kicked a closet door, cringing when his foot got stuck. "Motherfucking— Stupid ass flimsy wood!"
He had to remove his foot from his shoe before prying it out of the splintered wood. 'At least there's no zombies closing in on me right now,' he thought, but it wasn't enough of a distraction to erase what happened back at the house. 'The house I wanna share with Lucy. Fuck...'
Was that still possible? He could have sworn Lucy looked like she was going to kiss him too. Would she even want that? Enjoy it?
Natsu swallowed thickly, his face impossibly hot as he shook his head. 'She was probably caught up in whatever moment that was too. She likes guys like Loke. Smart, smooth, charming. Not...'
A frown weighed on his face, his shoulders slumping as he leaned against the door. He stared at a painting across from him, but it wasn't long before the colors blurred together, his mind deciding his predicament couldn't be ignored.
Was there a chance Lucy wanted to kiss him? Or was his stupid hormones messing with his head. Did he even want to kiss her?
'Yes... I do, but—'
Was it for the right reasons? While it was true he found her physically attractive, that didn't mean he should indulge in the lewd thoughts that had plagued him for weeks.
Seeing her naked today hadn't helped one bit, his pulse speeding up as he pictured her in his head. Every curve, every mark, every bit of water that glistened off her skin.
He felt the blood rush south, a groan tearing from his throat.
'Fucking hell.'
He let out a long breath, but it didn't calm his nerves. He wasn't sure he would ever get a hold of himself. Even a few more sessions alone to help relieve the frustration hadn't been enough to get Lucy out of his system. It didn't help that they were practically spooning every time she stayed the night, but he wasn't willing to give that up.
Despite knowing it was only adding fuel to the fire, he loved sleeping next to her. He couldn't describe it, but when they were that close, everything felt okay in the world.
It felt right being with her.
He didn't want to kiss her for the wrong reasons, but the right reason was out of the question.
He couldn't harbor romantic feelings for her or anybody. He couldn't. Romance would only lead to love, which would lead to heartbreak. Before the outbreak he had been against dating, but now that life was so fragile, he couldn't take the risk.
Lucy's job was all the more reason to stand by his decision. He hoped with every fiber of his being that she would return every day she went to work, but her life wasn't guaranteed when she left Fairy Tail.
If he allowed himself to get closer to her, to open his heart and get that vulnerable with her, and something happened—
Natsu's chest felt hollow, everything around him coming to a screeching halt. He stared with wide eyes, but he saw nothing as a void ripped through his heart. The thought of Lucy not coming back to Fairy Tail alive had him at a loss. Physical pain was something he could handle, could tolerate and manipulate into raw power, but what he felt now...
He was numb, unable to feel a shred of emotion, and it only intensified the longer he thought about losing Lucy.
His watch beeped, signaling it was time to get ready to head back to Fairy Tail. The sound had Natsu jolting, blinking as he came back to reality. He looked at his shaky hands, his breathing slowed despite the rapid pace of his heart. 'What was that? It felt so empty. So dark and cold.'
Swallowing, Natsu made his way to the dining room table, ignoring the blood stains on the wood. He didn't know what to think, feel, anything. His world had been turned upside down in a matter of minutes.
In a perfect world where people didn't die and love could last forever, then yeah, maybe Natsu would entertain the idea of being involved with Lucy in a romantic sense.
'Does that mean I like her?'
His father's words echoed in his head once again, reminding him love wasn't worth the heartache. He had watched his dad fall into depression after losing his wife, part of him dying with her.
'It doesn't matter if I like her,' he decided, knowing the more he thought about it, the worse he would feel. 'We live in the real world, and today could be our last day alive.'
Was that all the more reason to take chances? No. Natsu had been reckless back when the world was normal and the consequences were small, but he couldn't afford any big risks.
And... falling for Lucy was the biggest risk of all. He doubted she even liked him in that way, and asking was pointless. He needed to bury whatever happened back there.
Pretend that moment never existed.
Natsu sighed, dragging his hand down his face as he prepared himself. He had to face Lucy again. The longer he put it off, the worse it would be. He had to summon every ounce of courage he had to stand, the pit in his stomach feeling heavier as he took his first step towards the front door.
He needed to act like everything was normal, even if his head and heart were a jumbled mess.
Lucy sucked in a sharp breath when she heard the door opening. She finished tying her boots, leaning against the bed in the second room Natsu had shown her. The comfortable clothes she wore were lying on the bed, her regular clothes now adorning her clean body.
The scent from the bath bomb lingered in the room, the bathroom door wide open after Lucy gathered her clothes. As much as she feared facing Natsu, she had to do it. The only way to get back to normal was to fake it until she made it, Lucy nodding to herself before she left the room.
She found Natsu in the living room, his body stiff as he inspected the mantle over the fireplace. 'Is he actually interested in the dust up there? Or is he trying to avoid me?'
Her heart pinched, but she knew that was her new normal. It would take a while to get over a guy like Natsu, especially after the grand gesture he pulled off with a hot bath, but it had to be done.
He was her friend, and she had to show him she wouldn't put any pressure on him to fill a role he had no interest in. So, regardless of how badly it had her stomach twisting, Lucy forced a smile as she said, "Ready to head out?"
Natsu's head turned towards her, his eyes flitting over her face before the tension in his shoulders faded. "Y-yeah, um..." He cleared his throat, Lucy thankful for the slight smile tilting his lips.
'Things will return to normal. It's... it's for the better.'
Despite the ache in her heart, Lucy felt the truth behind her words as she said, "Thanks for this. I had fun."
Natsu spared her another glance, his smile not enough to soften the blade that went through her heart when he said, "Yeah. What're friends for."
Her throat tightened, stomach dropping as he retreated to the other bedroom. When he was gone she didn't bother with the fake smile, her face falling as she blew out a breath. 'No one said this would be easy.'
Lucy took another look around the house, wondering if they still had a future together. She had to rein in her feelings. She had told herself she would be fine being Natsu's companion, and she meant it. She wished for more, but Lucy had learned time and time again that wishing didn't get her far in life.
Being Natsu's friend was something she treasured all on its own, and if friendship was all they would have, she would hold onto it. Protect it. Cherish it.
Until her very last breath.
The walk back to Fairy Tail helped lessen the tension between them. It took a block before Natsu spoke up, asking her if she wanted to finish their puzzle sometime soon. Considering he was willing to hang out with her alone again, she decided he was getting over the awkwardness from before.
Had he even noticed the situation?
Lucy mentally shook her head, deciding to stop guessing Natsu's thoughts and motives. He was a straightforward guy. What she saw was what she got, and trying to read between the lines would lead to no good.
So, she gave herself permission to simply be.
By the time they reached the processing station, they were laughing, telling Elfman some of their favorite jokes from the night before until they parted ways. Lucy gave Natsu a nod before greeting Yukino, the sound of dripping water echoing throughout the locker room.
She smiled at the feel of her skin as she stripped her clothes. Despite the scars, she felt softer than normal. 'That bath bomb was great. All of it was more than I could've ever asked for.'
"Looks like someone had a nice time off base?" Yukino teased.
Lucy didn't miss the implication. It stung, her pride taking a blow as she corrected her friend. "Whatever you're thinking, it's not like that."
"Sure," Yukino said, twirling her finger.
Lucy spun, arms up and body on display. When she was deemed safe, Lucy pulled her clothes back on, wondering if she would find Natsu outside. 'Surely he wouldn't ditch me the first chance he got.'
She was on autopilot as she listened to Yukino, the woman telling her about a necklace Sting gave her from off base.
It had Lucy thinking about the charm Natsu brought back from Hargeon, but she quickly shut down her thoughts when she wondered what he was thinking when he got it.
'I can't think like that anymore. He saw it, thought I'd like it, and got it. End of story. No reason to torture myself with 'what ifs'.'
"And it reminds me of the stone on my mom's broach."
"What happened to your mom?" Lucy asked, sensing it wasn't a touchy topic given Yukino's tone.
"I'm not sure," she said, the distant look in her eyes pulling at Lucy's heartstrings. Sometimes she was thankful she knew what happened to her family. It hurt knowing they weren't alive anymore, but the unknown would eat away at her. She wasn't sure how Natsu could stand it, unsure if his dad was alive or not.
"She was in our hometown when things went down," Yukino added. "My sister too. I dropped my phone when it all happened, and, well," she shrugged, "I never bothered to memorize their numbers."
"I'm sorry," Lucy said, causing Yukino to nod.
"Me too. But, it's fine." A hint of a smile appeared on her face. "I like to think they made it. That they're like us, hunkered down somewhere until help arrives."
Lucy's cheek twitched as she managed a small smile. "I hope that's the case."
With a gentle hand on Lucy's shoulder, Yukino escorted her out of the processing station. Lucy expected to see Elfman waiting to hear if she was cleared, but Laxus stood in his place, the man's massive arms crossed over his chest while a frown marred his face.
Lucy's first instinct was to jolt, but she stood her ground by biting her inner cheek. She straightened her shoulders, feigning confidence as Yukino announced Lucy was in the clear.
"Good," he said, nodding behind him. "Come on, I gotta talk to ya."
Lucy's fake confidence shattered as confusion twisted her features. "About what?"
Laxus didn't answer, instead turning to head towards an empty set of bleachers.
Scratch that, it wasn't empty.
Natsu sat on the bottom row, looking just as lost as she felt. He stood when they approached, Laxus turning so he faced both of them with narrowed eyes.
"I'm not getting the solar panels to work."
Lucy's eyes widened, her lips parting. She didn't have time to question why he was telling them, Laxus grunting as he shook his head.
"They're set up, hooked up, but they just don't work. I don't know what I did wrong, and the more I mess with it, the more frustrating that shit gets."
Lucy's nails bit into her palm as she kept from reacting, wanting nothing more than to shrink down when Laxus directed that angry look at her and Natsu. She didn't fear for her safety, but damn. Laxus was a scary man.
"I'm scraping the idea for now."
"Oh," Natsu said, stealing a glance at Lucy before redirecting his gaze at Laxus. "Why..." The hesitance in his voice didn't go unnoticed. "Why're you telling us this?"
"Because." Laxus dropped his arms, but somehow that made his demeanor worse. He looked ready for a fight, and he confirmed that theory. "There's no reason to delay anymore."
'Delay?'
Before Lucy or Natsu could ask, Laxus said, "Go pack a light bag. We're leaving tomorrow morning."
Natsu's jaw dropped as he looked at Lucy, but she had no answers to offer. She kept her eyes on Laxus, dread filling her chest as the seconds ticked by.
Laxus didn't make them wait long, but Lucy wished he had given her a warning before saying, "We're going to that lake house." His nostrils flared, anger flashing through his eyes as he looked at Lucy. "We're gonna find Ivan, and put him down."
.
.
.
Okay, so I get some of y'all might be peeved? Maybe? I dunno. It would be too easy if they just kissed and lived (relatively) happily ever. This is a fanfiction, and things tend to get dramatic even if I do try to make the feelings/actions of the characters realistic.
We're closing off this arc to enter another, and there's going to be some twists and turns along the way. (I've left some foreshadowing for ya, and I'll continue to drop hints, but some of it might feel unexpected, but that's life. Someone I know just died from a motorcycle accident a few days ago and that came literally out of nowhere. (There was stuff happening in the background that I wasn't aware of, and had I paid more attention I might've seen the foreshadowing) But like, he's just gone, and it felt really unexpected. (I'm personally fine. I wasn't close to this individual but it does hurt to see my friends who were close with him suffering from the loss.)
I guess this would be a good time to put in a PSA about driving and drinking. Please don't do it, especially on a motorcycle, but don't even do it in a car. If you can't get a designated driver, just sleep it off or call a taxi/uber/lift/friend/family member. There are so many lessons in life, and some cost more than others. Please make smart and safe decisions for yourself. Please.
I just started playing DnD recently. I'm the DM of my small group (literally just three of us), but so far it's been very fun. We laugh a lot and it's fun seeing the different scenarios the characters get in, and I get to use funny voices for the NPCs and monsters. CHDH won't go into detail about DnD, but it seems like something some of the survivors would play. It can distract them from the world outside and help develop friendships. Has anyone else played? I'm playing the campaign that comes with the starter kit, "Lost Mine of Phandelver". So far it's fun and easy to play.
Thank you so much for your support and patience! Shout out to those amazing people who left me feedback last time: finabat, Ryu of Konoha(x2), Skibblez, MissVarta, xXxMysticBeastxXx, sonikastalker, Copperreign12, sakshishetty3003, VasensusWinter, XxCelestialAssassinxX, SistershoOk, Celestial-Aphrodite, SheWhoLeavesCrappyReviews, Tohka123, SwordBlaze221, theunicorn22, anneryoko, aiyannaliszkap, valerioux, Densolator, Nastu Dragoneel, YOURAMAZING, ElementalMiko12, Shugo charaa, Guest, Guest, lovelyleveret, Patpat(x3), elisabethsama, Dezez, Yoko Takara, shootingstarssel, Guest(x7), dareaderreads, Ylmorel, Lovesmutbabe, Guest, ILOVEYOUSOMUCH, Guest, CathJorda, guest, ILOVEYOUBBY, fairyglitter101, Duchixx, FyreFalcon, Sam, CrazyZaika, Bookwork129, stranger1999, PAKSOO, Guest, Smarty, darlingdaisies, and Guest!
Up next, Chapter Seventy-Four: The Outbreak
(This is going to be a chapter about that first day of the outbreak from Natsu's perspective. I've hinted around here and there, but I really want to actually write his experience, especially since he thought he really killed a human being. After that chapter, we'll go back to the main story. It'll probably be a short chapter, but who knows 'til I start writing it. :)
So, just gonna mention this because I recently started watching it again (watched it when there were only like 5 episodes available and now there's two seasons out), but has anyone else watched Fire Force? UGH! It's consuming half my thoughts. I actually wrote a short one-shot for it. If you're interested, you can find it in my stories. It's called, 'A hero's fists'. I love this show so much, and it makes sense. I gravitate towards the characters in shows that use fire, and this show is all about fire-users. Plus, Shinra is so precious. He must be protected. (I'm going to eventually get him tattooed on my leg next to a Natsu tattoo that I'll hopefully get later this year)
Anyways, thank you so much for reading this chapter! Please let me know what you thought of it! I gotta go now. Getting ready to go skydiving for the first time! Hope that goes well. XD Would definitely hate to die, especially since I haven't finished these fics yet. How unfortunate would that be? Wish me luck! If I get a good video I'll post it on my tumblr, but we'll see. :) Have a great day/night, and remember to share your thoughts on this story/chapter!