*Chapter Thirty-Nine: Leaps and bounds
(February 7th, 2018, Afternoon)
"Yeah, we got a ton of supplies from that store, but I'm hoping we can reach more before it starts snowing," Gray said, keeping up a slow pace with Lucy and Natsu.
They were jogging around the track, wanting to get in a quick workout before dinner. While Lucy and Natsu spent the day off however they wanted, Gray had gone to work as a clearer, and today they had reached a store full of things the base needed. The clearers didn't usually bring back supplies, but exceptions were made when it was in everyone's best interest.
"That's great," Lucy huffed, ignoring the burn in her thighs and lungs. Instead of lounging around all day like Natsu had, she had been exercising off and on throughout the day, and all her lunges were starting to catch up with her. "Did you get everything?"
Gray shook his head as they started curving around the track, doing the short distance before it opened up to the long stretch. "Nope! There's still a fuckton left to get."
Natsu laughed, a grin plastered on his face. He loved working out, feeling his muscles straining as he pushed himself. "Are y'all gonna keep cleaning it out or go back to clearing tomorrow?"
"Laxus wants us to get everything we can before we move on, so we're probably gonna be at that store for the next week, at least. He might even bring the runners up just to get all we can."
While they continued talking, Lucy couldn't help but think their jobs sounded exciting and rewarding while hers felt boring. She knew she played a role at the base, but it didn't fill her with any type of thrill like their jobs did. There was no satisfaction, no sense of accomplishment. She kept quiet though, knowing she was in no position to go beyond the base.
'Yet.'
Gray chuckled at something Natsu said, the two distracted from their conversation, only interrupted when Lucy passed both of them while yelling, "Race ya!"
Natsu's eyes widened, surprised for a moment while Gray smirked, already increasing his speed to catch up to her.
"You're on!"
It took Natsu a few seconds to kick it into high gear, still slightly stunned by Lucy's outburst. It shouldn't have surprised him too much, seeing as Lucy had been steadily getting more outspoken over the past few weeks. Every day she ditched some of her shyness, revealing more about the mysterious Lucy that came into his life four months ago.
He sped up, seeing Gray had claimed first place. Catching up with Lucy hadn't been too much of a problem, but he had noticed her getting faster. She spent a good amount of time each week on the track, but he hadn't questioned her about it, deciding he liked the smile and glow she wore when she finished exercising.
She looked happier, and he would be damned if he did anything to stop that.
"Come on Lucy!" he teased as he passed her, flashing her a grin before he looked ahead, not wanting to veer off course. He figured they were running one loop around the track where the 'race' started, which considering their combined speed, wouldn't take long to finish.
Lucy's foot slammed into the ground as she propelled herself forward, trying to catch up with Natsu. She knew she couldn't beat Gray, the man clearing both of them by half a lap at least. However, Natsu was only a few paces in front of her.
"Catch me if you can!" he shouted, his voice taunting yet playful.
It only encouraged her. Lucy loosening her fists before widening her stride, clearing more ground quicker. She reached out, almost able to grab the back of Natsu's shirt before they passed the imaginary finish line, ending their race.
The two slowed into a brisk walk to avoid shocking their body with a sudden stop. Lucy panted, sweat dripping down her back and forehead, but she didn't care. She couldn't stop herself from smiling.
Pushing her limits had become an addiction over the past six weeks. She kept getting faster, stronger, and her endurance was increasing. Running made her feel unstoppable. She savored every bit of it, even when her legs and lungs cried out afterwards.
It was worth it. Every step taking her in the right direction.
"Ha!" Natsu breathed, winded from the run but thriving from the rush. "I win!"
"Hey doofus!" Gray called, catching Natsu and Lucy's attention. "I think you forgot about me."
"What about you?" Natsu asked, sticking his tongue out at Gray.
Lucy couldn't help but laugh, finding them childish yet endearing. She knew how much they meant to each other, their friendship solid. If she didn't know any better, she would swear they were brothers, the two sharing an unbreakable bond she could only dream of sharing with someone else.
Lucy took a deep breath, the crisp cold air filling her lungs. She felt like she could run another lap, her blood pumping and her head buzzing. She ignored the slight ache, blaming it on their sprint at the end.
'One more lap around, then I'll be done for the day,' she told herself, setting out on the track again while Natsu and Gray bickered with each other.
"Attention everyone!"
Natsu glanced up from his plate, eyes searching until he found Makarov standing on the bleachers, waiting until the arena hushed for him to continue.
"I just wanted to make a short announcement. I think the clearers and runners deserve a round of applause. Their bravery and sacrifices are the reason we'll make it through at least another two months without fear. We have enough canned goods to last us a while, but we also should thank the gardeners for providing fresh vegetables as well."
Before people started clapping, Makarov added, "You know what, everyone deserves a round of applause! Every single one of you makes a difference here, whether you think you do or not. We can't do this alone, no single person can make this whole operation work, so thank you! Thank you for sticking with it and staying strong despite everything. Thank you!"
Natsu cheered as he clapped, feeling the energy from the room. Today was a good day, their plates were full of food, and the base had gone a solid three weeks without anyone dying. Things were looking up, and he thought it could only get better.
When the roar from the crowd died down, Makarov let his smile drop a little. "I also wanted to let you know the flu is going around. Remember not to touch wild animals, especially birds. Use hand sanitizer as well. There's some at the entrance of the arena, as well as some in the office and in Grandeeney's office."
Makarov paused before looking over the room, seeing the many faces he felt responsible for. They were counting on him to be a leader, to keep them safe and orderly, and he used that pressure to do his best every day.
"Three people have the flu, but if we get ahead of this, we should make it out just fine. If you feel sick or think you might be getting sick, see Grandeeney immediately. We can't let this spread, otherwise we'll all feel like shit for a while."
Light laughter filled the room, softening the warning their leader gave. He told them to enjoy their food before hopping off the bleachers, making his way to his own table for dinner.
Natsu looked back at his food, happy with his portions. Some of the food was expired, but that didn't make it inedible. The granola bar for instance still tasted okay, just a little dull. The main difference he noticed was the texture was soft, but food was food, and he was hungry.
Most of his plate was filled with fresh lettuce grown in their garden and canned beans found in a house or store. It was an odd mixture of food, but Natsu wasn't complaining.
"Sounds good," Jellal said, his voice background noise until he added, "Natsu, you in?"
"Hmm?" Natsu looked up, not bothering to close his mouth as he chewed.
"We're going to Gray's after this. You and Lucy in?"
Natsu glanced to his right, catching Lucy's eye. She gave him a shrug before looking Jellal's way, her voice soft but sure. "Sounds fun."
With a nod, Natsu said, "We'll be there."
"Cool."
"Will your siblings be there?" Lucy asked, earning a nod from Gray.
"Ultear will, Leon's been crashing with Meredy for the past few nights."
"Meredy," Lucy whispered, trying to figure out who that was. Luckily she didn't have to wonder long, Cana answering the unspoken question.
"She works with me."
Lucy nodded, knowing Cana was a water gatherer. She wanted to ask how Gray felt about his brother staying with someone else, but decided against it. If it was just her and Natsu with him, she might have asked, but with the whole group there she didn't want to put him on the spot.
Erza on the other hand didn't share Lucy's restraint.
"That's weird. Why's he staying with her? Isn't she like seventeen?"
"Eighteen," Gray corrected, shaking his head. "Barely though. I think her birthday was last month?" He cringed before shivering, but Lucy doubted it was from the cold. According to everyone in the group, Gray never got cold.
"Age isn't important as long as everyone's at least eighteen. Besides, Lyon's only a few years older, right?" Cana asked, earning a nod from Gray.
"Right," he said quickly, clearly wanting the questions about his brother to end. Everyone took the hint, steering the conversation in a more positive direction.
"So... did you wanna play games or just hang out tonight?"
Lucy listened as the group decided what they wanted to do. She didn't care as long as she got to join. While she couldn't say she was as close as the rest of them were, she had started to feel like she found her spot among them, a place carved out especially for her.
It hadn't happened overnight, Lucy gradually building her confidence and friendships with her peers. Out of everyone, she was most comfortable with Natsu, but Gray and Levy were tied for second. Despite her rocky start with Gray, the two had formed an unlikely friendship, mostly Lucy laughing when Gray and Natsu teased each other, but they didn't seem to mind.
Lucy wanted to be closer to Levy, drawn to the woman's intelligence and gentle nature, but there was something keeping her from dropping her guard. She wasn't sure what it was, and the harder she tried figuring it out, the more distance she felt between her and Levy. The best course of action was to take it easy, letting things come naturally. Levy was a fun person to be around, as long as Lucy didn't put too much pressure on herself.
One of the reasons Lucy suspected she might be wary of Levy was because she found out Levy wanted to be a therapist when she grew up. Knowing there was a chance Levy might try figuring Lucy out put her on edge, which was silly considering she had already sought out help for her mental well being.
Lucy took a deep breath before calming herself down, recognizing the signs of her anxiety creeping up. Grandeeney had been working with her, talking and listening to Lucy for the past six weeks. It had started on a whim, Lucy needing someone to talk to, but before she knew it, they had set up appointments for her to seek help in a safe place.
Once a week on Tuesday afternoons, Lucy was free to discuss whatever she needed with Grandeeney. It was an escape, a relief to surrender herself into the care of a professional. Grandeeney was a doctor of the body, but she had proven her abilities to counsel Lucy as well.
Of course, that was a secret kept between Lucy and Grandeeney. She suspected Wendy knew something, considering Grandeeney sent Wendy away whenever Lucy came in for her sessions, but the girl hadn't said anything or treated Lucy any differently, so Lucy didn't worry about it.
The main person she worried about finding out was Natsu, which was why she chose a time when he was busy at work. There was no chance he could find out, and she preferred to keep it that way.
Before Lucy could let the guilt pull her smile away, she heard Natsu's laughter, bringing her mood up. It wasn't that she didn't trust Natsu, she just didn't want to put anymore on him than he had already taken on. She knew him. Not as well as his friends did, but she knew enough to see what would happen if he knew she wanted to open up about some things.
He would listen, and that burden he carried would continue to grow. She saw it, the tenseness in his muscles and the sorrow in his eyes when he learned more about what happened to her. While it felt better for her to lift that off her shoulders, she knew he would try to carry it, and she couldn't do that to him.
She liked when Natsu was happier, when he was smiling, so she kept that darkness away from him, trusting Grandeeney with it so things wouldn't be so strained between her and Natsu.
Which, over the past few weeks, things had been great between them. It had been a while since she last broke down in front of him. When she did want to share things with him, it was only the good memories she carried instead of the ones that haunted her.
He had opened up to her more too, telling her all about his father and the life he had before the outbreak started. He even told her about his time spent at the orphanage, and his brother who had moved to Alvarez years ago.
Without the constant strain of her trauma being brought up, the two had started bonding. Lucy had to admit, she rather liked how close they had grown. It was comforting, and the better they got along, the happier she felt.
Grandeeney and others also played an important role in Lucy's recovery, but she felt she owed a lot of thanks to Natsu. He had been her rock since arriving at Fairy Tail, and if he hadn't been there for her, she didn't think she would have made it that far.
"Is anyone still eating?" Levy asked, causing everyone to finish off their plates before gathering their things.
Lucy almost didn't want to finish every bite, her stomach twisting out of nowhere towards the end of her meal. She blamed it on the amount of food, not used to such a hefty portion. Still, she finished her food.
After finally gaining enough weight to be considered healthy by Grandeeney's standards, Lucy wasn't going to skip any meals in fear of losing all the progress she had made.
"I'll see ya in my room," Gray said before they made their way out of the arena and towards the school, separating when they got closer to their respective rooms.
Lucy rubbed at her temple when she felt a headache come on, making her wonder if she should skip the fun and have an early night. However, the thought of spending time with the group had her ignoring the dull ache, hoping it would go away soon.
'If it's still there tomorrow I can always ask Grandeeney for something. I'm sure she has Ibuprofen.'
After letting Happy use the bathroom outside, Lucy and Natsu made their way to Gray's room. They walked into the middle of a conversation, one neither of them expected to hear.
"Oh no, no no no. Not this again," Cana said, shaking her head. "Just give it a rest. There's no way that's how it happened."
"I don't hear you giving any better ideas," Gray shot back, cupping a hand behind his ear. "I'm listening."
"Just because I don't know doesn't make your theory any more valid. It's ridiculous."
"It's more like a conspiracy theory," Jellal corrected, but he went ignored.
"What's going on?" Natsu asked, taking a seat by Levy and Erza, leaving enough space for Lucy beside him.
"Gray's theory on the outbreak," Erza said, sounding just as exhausted of the topic as the others. "I have to admit Gray, it is a stretch."
Gray's jaw dropped, feigning offense. "Is not! It totally makes sense!"
"How have I never heard this?" Lucy asked, sitting next to Natsu before getting comfortable, her knee resting against his thigh.
"Trust me, Lu, it's in everyone's best interest if we don't encourage him," Levy said, reaching around Natsu to pat Lucy's back.
Lucy couldn't help but laugh when Gray huffed, the man taking a seat before quieting down.
"I'll tell you later when these critics aren't around," he muttered, narrowing his eyes at his friends afterwards.
Lucy stifled a laugh before saying, "Deal."
"Where's Ultear?" Natsu asked, earning a shrug from Gray.
"No clue. Probably with her friends."
"Alright, who wants to play some cards?" Cana asked, grinning as she held up a deck. "What should we start with? Rummy? Blackjack? Strip poker?"
Levy let out a strained chuckle before scratching the back of her head. "Why don't we do something less extreme? Like 'Crazy Eights'?"
"Booooring," Cana drawled, but shuffled the deck anyway. "Pass me the other deck. We'll need to since there's seven of us."
"Everyone know how to play?" Erza asked, knowing where Gray kept his games. She walked over to the trunk in the corner of the room, pulling out a deck before rejoining the group.
Some answered verbally, some nodded. When it was determined everyone knew how to play, Cana dealt the cards, starting the game.
Natsu tried peaking at Lucy and Levy's cards, but both girls kept them hidden from his sights. He knew the game had little to do with strategy and everything to do with luck, but he still felt a blow to his pride every time he had to draw more cards. It wasn't long until he had the most in his hand.
"This game stinks," Natsu mumbled, wondering how it was even possible he had that awful luck. His hand consisted mostly of diamonds, but it seemed like every other suit was being played. Not only that, he couldn't seem to get the numbers to line up. He had plenty of numbers to choose from, but when it came to his turn, somehow the number needed wasn't in his hand.
"I think it's you who stinks," Gray said, plugging his nose before fake gagging.
"Oh fuck you," Natsu fired back, giving him the middle finger before drawing another card. "Ha! And eight! Diamonds fuckers!"
Natsu looked over when he felt Lucy nudging him with her elbow, his eyes catching her gaze before falling to her lips. She was smiling, amused by his behavior despite his childishness.
"Hey, it's just a game."
"You wouldn't be saying that if you had half the deck as a hand too," he whispered, counting his cards to find he had seventeen. "How's this even possible?"
"Beats me," she said, shrugging before reaching out, patting him on the back, her hand lingering for a moment. "Cheer up though. Maybe next round you'll do better."
"Hey, I could still make a comeback."
Lucy merely shook her head, giving him all the answer he needed. The current round was a lost cause, and the sooner he accepted it, the sooner he could relax and enjoy the game.
It wasn't until two games later that he found his lucky streak, but by then he had gained so many points from the other rounds that nothing he did could save him. The goal was to have as few points as possible, and no matter what he did he always had the most.
"Maybe we should play a different game?" Erza suggested when they finished, sorting through the decks to separate them. Luckily they had different backs so it wasn't a challenge, just tedious. "Any suggestions?"
"We could go ask Minerva if we can borrow her Ouija boa—?"
"Nope!" Levy shouted, cutting Jellal off. "Not a chance in hell! No way! Count me out!"
"What's gotten into you?" Natsu asked, surprised when Levy shot him a look like he had said something offensive.
"I'm not taking any chances on releasing some demons in this school. I've seen too many horror movies to know you don't mess with the supernatural world. Fuck no!"
Lucy snorted, finding Levy's outburst comical. While she was a reasonable person and preferred using logic, she agreed with Levy. It seemed stupid to try to mess with forces they didn't understand, especially if it was just a way to kill the boredom.
"Alright," Gray started, blinking a few times before looking over his friends. "Any other ideas?"
"Oh!" Cana perked up before throwing a hand in the air. "I know! Sting has that 'Cards Against Humanity' game. That's pretty fun!"
"Yeah, but who wants to go get it this late at night?" Erza asked, not expecting a volunteer.
"I can," Natsu said, standing before stretching his legs. "I've been meaning to ask Rogue about a new tattoo anyways. Two birds."
"How's he going to give you a tattoo?" Lucy asked, cocking her head. To her knowledge, the limited electricity was used on essential things like the kitchen equipment, some lights, and charging rechargeable batteries.
"If I can't convince Gramps to let us hook something up, I'm gonna see if he'll do something like they do in prisons."
A few of his friends cringed, not wanting to imagine how painful a prison tattoo would be. "Are you sure about that?" Lucy asked, causing Natsu to shrug.
"Not really, but it doesn't matter too much. If it turns out good, then awesome, if not, it's just skin. It's not like I gotta be presentable or anything."
Lucy didn't want to agree, but she understood where he was coming from. The society they built wasn't based on looks, instead valuing survival above all else. He didn't have to worry about what his skin looked like, and knowing that made Lucy feel a little better about the skin she was in too.
Her skin was scarred and burned, but it didn't really matter anymore. She had found out people spoke about her injuries when they were discovered by those guard members, but after the dust settled, no one seemed to care. People just wanted something to talk about, something to distract them from their daily lives.
She didn't like it, but now that she wasn't in the spotlight, she could move past it.
"Wanna come with me?" Natsu asked, catching Lucy's attention.
She hummed before shaking her head, feeling her body aching all over. "Kind of tired. You go on without me."
Natsu pouted, sulking as he turned towards the door. "It's not as fun without my partner in crime."
"Such a baby," Gray laughed, causing Natsu to look back.
"How about you try staying out of my conversations?" Natsu said, trying to taunt Gray into a fight. Whether it was verbal or physical, he loved getting Gray riled up. "Do it one more time and I swear I'm gonna kick your ass."
Gray looked down, picking at his pockets before frowning. "Huh, I'm trying to find some fucks to give, but looks like I'm all out."
Before Natsu could say anything, Cana held her hand out towards Gray and said, "Here's one."
"Thanks." Gray pretended to pick up something from Cana's hand before looking at Natsu again, flipping him off. "Here ya go, buddy!"
"You two are idiots," Natsu said, but he couldn't be heard over the laughter. All of his friends seemed amused, even Lucy, who covered her mouth but didn't bother hiding her chuckles. "I'll be right back. Don't have too much fun without me."
"No promises!" Levy called just as Natsu slipped through the door.
"Alright, what should we do while we wait?" Jellal asked, grabbing one of the deck of cards to mindlessly shuffle it.
"How late are we staying up tonight?" Erza asked, blinking in hopes it would make her less tired, the strain in her eyes growing the longer they stayed up.
"I was thinking of heading back to my room in an hour or so," Levy said, looking to Cana to see what she thought.
"Yeah, probably a good idea."
While the others discussed, Lucy took advantage of their distraction, scooting closer to Gray before asking, "So, what's your theory?"
"Oh! Right." His grin was short-lived, his expression turning serious as he lowered his voice. "Okay, so I'm like seventy-five percent sure this is what happened. A little before shit went down, maybe a week or so, my mom got these diet pills."
Lucy raised a brow, but said nothing, letting him continue.
"That's really the only thing I can think of that happened different than normal. We all drank the same water, ate the same food, but none of us got sick except for her."
Gray ran a hand through his messy dark hair before sighing. "Maybe she got it somewhere else, like at a restaurant or something, but if it came from our house it had to be something in those pills. It had to be, there's no other explanation."
"I don't know," Lucy said, trying not to insult him. "That does sound unbelievable."
"I just don't know what else it could be." He frowned, his shoulders falling in defeat. "I guess maybe someone came over that day and did something to infect her, or maybe she was taking something else I didn't know about, but the diet pills makes the most sense."
After a lull of silence, Gray looked up at Lucy. "Maybe I'm wrong. I mean, the pills weren't anything exotic. I've used their brand before for other things."
"Which brand?" Lucy asked, her throat feeling tight as soon as she got the words out. She didn't know why she didn't think of it before, forgetting for a while the line of work her family was in. It hadn't been relevant, so it had slipped her mind.
She hoped Gray would say something else, mention a different company that also happened to come out with a new diet pill about a week before the outbreak, but his next words made her stomach sink.
"That Heartfilia one."
Doubt immediately filled Lucy's mind, her chest heavy as she tried to keep herself calm. She slowly nodded, doing her best to show no reaction. There was no way the Heartfilia company caused the world to end. They were just trying to make the world a better place, solving one problem at a time.
'There's no way, no way they did this.'
"Did you ever take any Heartfilia medication?" Gray asked, snapping Lucy out of her thoughts.
Before she could stop herself, Lucy nodded. She had taken a variety of their medication, but part of her wished she had lied.
"Did you take their diet pills?" Gray asked, eyes wide. Lucy didn't notice, but the others had stopped their conversation to listen in, wanting to see if Gray's theory held up. "Or know anyone else who took them?"
Lucy shook her head, lying as she said, "I've only taken some for colds and headaches, nothing else. I... never saw anyone with them." She swallowed, remembering the pills she had seen her mother with days before they left for their vacation over the summer. Lucy had considered trying to lose a few pounds too, but she didn't try any. She never got the chance.
"They cured one of the most common heart diseases," Levy said, entering their conversation when she saw the chance, wanting to add an informational fact.
Lucy lifted her hand, pausing before she could reach her chest. She wanted to place her hand over her heart, once a damaged organ that recovered thanks to the Heartfilia company. Her mother shared the same disease, but that was a story she didn't wish to tell.
"I'm getting tired," Lucy whispered, not having to try hard to conjure a yawn. She was exhausted, her body sore and her head now throbbing. She thought her headache had gone away, but it resurfaced. If that wasn't bad enough, a wave of sickness hit her, making her stomach churn in the worst way.
"Me too," Cana said, oblivious to Lucy's condition. "I say only one round before bed."
Erza nodded, looking around the room at her friends. "Sounds like a good plan."
"Yeah, good idea." Gray sighed, still rattled after thinking about what might have caused the outbreak. Without concrete proof, he was left just as lost as everyone else.
Lucy debated what she should do, feeling more sick the longer she sat with Gray's theory. She paused a moment longer, waiting until another subject was brought up before standing, ready to excuse herself.
"I... think I'm going to go to bed."
"You don't want to play anymore?" Levy asked, frowning when Lucy shook her head.
"I should get some sleep. I got up too early this morning." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the reason she wanted to escape. "Can you tell Natsu I went to bed? I don't want him worrying."
"Sure thing," Cana said, giving her a thumbs up. "Get some rest."
"Good night, Lucy," Levy added, waving at her as she retreated towards the door.
"You too, thanks for having me over, Gray."
"Anytime."
Lucy nodded once, waved at everyone, then left. She quickly made her way down the hall, limiting her chances of running into Natsu. She didn't want any attention on her, her mind muddled with confusion and worry.
Lucy fumbled with her key before unlocking the door, feeling secure as soon as she was inside the room. It was safe, she was safe, with only Happy and her thoughts accompanying her.
"There's no way," Lucy said, leaning against the door before crossing her arms over her stomach. "That's... that's crazy. He has to be wrong. He... He just has to be."
Lucy didn't believe the Heartfilia brand of medicine had anything to do with the outbreak. She didn't feel a shred of guilt despite her connection to the company in question.
However, despite not feeling at fault, Lucy couldn't shake the uneasy feeling spreading through her body. No matter how much she tried to reason with herself, she didn't get better. If anything, she only got worse.
Lucy took a few deep breaths before standing straight. 'Reason. Logic.' She closed her eyes, willing herself to calm down. 'I'm just rattled, that's all. There's no truth behind Gray's theory. It's just a theory, nothing more. My father wouldn't—'
Lucy's nails dug into her palms as she clenched her fists, her brows furrowing in anger. She was being ridiculous. There was no point in even entertaining that idea.
After a few minutes, Lucy relaxed her body and breathing, doing her best to control herself. She was being emotional, irrational, but knowing that helped her get back on track.
Even after her mind felt settled, her stomach and body still gave her pain, but she figured it was an improvement over panicking. Lucy walked to the desk, plopping herself down before grabbing her notebook and pen. If logic wasn't working, she would find a distraction, using her latest chapter to keep her mind off the real world.
Ten minutes passed, but nothing had changed.
Despite her best efforts, no matter what she wrote down, she couldn't forget what Gray said. Was it true? Was the Heartfilia company responsible for all the chaos going on? She didn't want to believe it, refused to. Lucy took a deep breath, scrubbing her face with her palms to snap her away from her negative thoughts.
Her skin felt hot to the touch, something she wasn't used to, but it went ignored in favor of focusing her mind on the papers in front of her. 'Natsu's looking forward to this chapter... Better give him something great.'
She jolted when Happy meowed by her feet, the feline rubbing his face against her seconds later. A sigh escaped her, followed by a soft laugh.
"It's insane," she whispered, finding a way to smile through everything. "Ridiculous, there's no way."
Lucy scooted her chair back before picking up Happy, setting him in her lap to enjoy to gentle vibrations from his purr. "Isn't it?" she asked, knowing the cat had no idea what she meant.
She looked up, glancing over the classroom, seeing the life she now led. It was wildly different from when the world wasn't overrun with the undead, but to be fair, everyone's life had changed.
With another deep breath, Lucy returned to her pages, muttering the truth she felt deep inside her damaged heart.
"There's no way my family is responsible for this mess."
Natsu pocketed his key while pushing the door open, surprised to find a candle burning on the desk. He assumed Lucy would be asleep, but she was in the corner by the closet, lifting the two dumbbells he had brought her a few weeks back. They were eight pounds each, something she could handle.
"What're you still doing up?" he asked, locking the door behind him.
"Couldn't sleep," Lucy huffed, beads of sweat dotting her forehead.
Natsu frowned, looking at her flushed skin. "Sure you're not pushing yourself too hard? You've been exercising like... all day." He got tired just watching her. "Aren't you worn out yet?"
"Little sore," she mumbled between lifts. "But manageable."
"Well, it's time for bed," he said, aware it was past midnight. "Come on."
"I'm not tired."
Natsu raised a brow, not believing her for a second. "Psssh, of course you are. Come on."
"Later."
She continued her workout, ignoring the strain she put on her body. Natsu could see it, her face growing more red every second. She had to be burning up. Lucy had been pushing her body to the limits nonstop lately, and it was going to catch up to her sooner or later.
"Lucy," Natsu warned, his voice turning stern.
She brushed him off, merely saying, "In a little bit."
Natsu huffed before putting his hands on his hips, biting back a smile. "Fine. You leave me no choice."
Lucy caught the hint of amusement in his voice, her eyes flickering back to him just in time to see him approaching. "What do you mean?"
He held his arms out as if he was going to grab her, the man not saying anything as he stepped closer.
"Natsu? What are you—" When his fingers twitched, she realized what he was up to. She quickly set down the weights, knowing it would be dangerous if they were in the air. "What? No! Don't you dare!"
Lucy smiled as she stepped backwards, keeping her eyes locked with his. "Natsu!" she yelled before laughing, allowing him to wrap his arms around her before he tossed her over his shoulder.
"Up you go!"
Natsu whirled her around to make his way towards the bed, unaware of the things piled on the desk. While Lucy shook from laughter in his arms, he moved forward, accidentally letting her foot sweep over the desk, knocking everything on the corner off.
Both Natsu and Lucy froze when they heard something hit the ground. He looked down, all traces of joy drained when he saw what landed. "Oh fuck!"
"What is it?" Lucy asked, bracing herself as Natsu let her down. She turned, covering her mouth when she saw him picking up his phone. It wasn't until Natsu clicked the home button that she realized what was wrong, a spiderweb of cracks littering the screen.
"Oh my gosh," she rushed out without thinking. "I'm so sorry!"
Natsu shook his head, giving her a quick glance before looking back at his phone. "Don't apologize, you didn't do anything." He inspected the screen before swiping at it, seeing it still worked. "It's not even that bad, just a few cracks."
Lucy watched as he tested the device, making sure it still played movies and music, which was mostly what he used it for. "See, still works just fine."
He chuckled, setting the phone back on the desk before turning towards her. "It's not like this is the first phone I've ever damaged. I'm surprised it even lasted this long all things considered."
"You're not mad?" Lucy asked, her voice meek, something he hadn't heard in a while.
He gave her a soft smile, hoping his words reassured her. "Of course not. I promise." Natsu didn't think twice as he reached out, holding a hand towards her as an invitation.
Lucy felt no hesitation as she stepped closer to him, letting him wrap her in a hug as she set her forehead on his chest. She reveled in his embrace, feeling safe and secure. Natsu had a temper like a firecracker, easily set off and explosive, but he was also gentle when he wanted to be.
"Thanks," she whispered, but he shook his head.
"No thanks needed. You didn't do anything wrong. It was really my fault anyways."
When Lucy began pulling away, he let her go, giving her a grin. "Accidents are always gonna happen. Can't let 'em bring ya down."
She nodded, relieved his phone still worked despite the cracks. She figured they would both be upset if they couldn't use the device at all.
"Now, are you ready for bed yet?"
She couldn't stop herself from sighing dramatically, crossing her arms over her stomach. "I guess..." Lucy pouted, not ready to let the day end. "I still have to brush my teeth though."
"Damn, me too." Natsu turned towards the bookcases, ready to grab his things. "Okay, let's get this over with, then bed. Oh, and I need to take Happy out."
"I already did," Lucy said, joining him so she could get her stuff.
"Sweet."
The two made their way to the bathrooms, one with a candle and the other with a flashlight. While Natsu brushed his teeth, he couldn't help but itch for a cigarette. He used to smoke one before bed, but he had been without a smoke for almost two weeks.
He had access to more, the runners finding more since he quit. He didn't ask for any, ready to give up the nasty addiction, even if it left him feeling jittery and agitated sometimes. He could get over it. He just needed time.
Funny enough, the reason he finally decided to quit had to do with Lucy. The more she ran, the faster she became, and he had a feeling if he didn't give up the cancer sticks, she was going to beat him. He couldn't let that happen, not without a fight. So, he ditched the cigarettes in favor of cleaning his lungs, wanting to give the woman as much of a challenge as he could.
She seemed to like the competition, and that only fired him up.
When Natsu returned to the room, Lucy was organizing the desk. She looked over just as he put his stuff away. He stretched before heading towards the bed, grabbing his journal to jot down the events of the day.
Lucy glanced beside him, seeing her mattress bare while Natsu's had two blankets and two pillows resting on it.
She flushed as she turned away, thinking back to a month prior when their sleeping arrangements changed.
Lucy shivered in her bed, wrapping her blanket as tightly around her body as she could. It was no use, nothing she did stopped the cold from reaching her. A whimper escaped her as she squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could shut out the temperature.
She wore two jackets and shorts under her sweatpants, but it wasn't good enough. Lucy was freezing, and no amount of distracting herself helped. It had been getting colder every night, and the thin windows only made it worse.
"Cold?" Natsu's voice had come out of nowhere, startling Lucy. She thought he had been fast asleep. He didn't have near as much trouble sleeping as she usually did.
"Always," she muttered, curling into a small ball, hoping that might help.
It was silent for a moment, Lucy thinking Natsu had drifted back to sleep. However, she heard his blankets shifting before he cleared his throat.
"I... may—"
Lucy furrowed her brows, but made no attempt to pull down her covers to see what Natsu was doing. "What?"
"Do you wanna..." His voice trailed off again, leaving the room silent for a moment. "I have an idea, but it might sound weird."
Lucy wanted to point out that weird had become everyone's new normal, but she resisted, waiting until he revealed his idea.
"It's warm... over here," Natsu started, his voice hesitant, sounding unsure of himself. "If... if you want, I dunno, you can use some of it?"
Lucy's cheeks flushed as she thought, 'Use some of his warmth?' Her mind went back to the day she ended up under his covers, bathing in his natural heat. 'Surely that's not what he's talking about.' She had to be mistaken.
She held her breath, waiting for him to clarify, but he remained just as silent. "Um," she whispered, grasping the blanket before tugging it down. The chill bit at her nose and ears, but the heat in her cheeks kept her from retreating. "Huh?"
Lucy wanted to smack herself in the face, but she didn't. She didn't know what else to say, unwilling to believe Natsu was offering... that.
The moonlight let her see his face, but his features were hard to read. She couldn't figure out what was going on in his head, but his voice gave it away.
He was nervous, and his words only caused her to feel the same.
"I just think it might help... I'm uh, I've been told I'm kinda hot."
His eyes widened before he shook his head against his pillow. "That came out wrong! I just mean I got hot skin is all. I promise I'm not trying any funny business or anything. I swear. I—"
"I know," Lucy said without thinking, the words coming straight from her heart. She knew he had no ill intentions. He was a straightforward person for the most part. 'What you see is what you get.'
"Good," he breathed, relaxing onto his bed once again. "You can say no if you want. I just think it might help, seeing as you're always cold."
Lucy looked down between them, seeing their mattresses still pressed together, but it was mainly so they could whisper to each other at night instead of having to raise their voices. Plus, it helped Happy. He was now able to go from bed to bed without interruption, oftentimes laying on the edges between them.
"You... wouldn't mind?" Lucy asked, already knowing what her answer would be despite not thinking about it. The only real reason she felt bad about being that close to him the last time was because she was worried he would be upset at her.
She hadn't once thought he would bring harm to her. She trusted him, despite all the chaos she had been through, she could honestly say she trusted Natsu. He had earned it, little by little.
Natsu smiled, ignoring Happy as the cat sniffed at his hair before laying against his pillow. "Nah, it wouldn't bother me. I've uh, I've thought about bringing it up before, I just didn't wanna make you uncomfortable."
"You don't," Lucy whispered, biting at her lower lip before she shivered again. "You're really sure?"
To show his offer was sincere, Natsu slid away, leaving enough room for her on his mattress. "Come on in, the sheets are warm."
Lucy stifled a laugh before smiling, liking how light he made the situation feel. She swallowed when she realized she would need to move, but before she could do anything, Natsu turned around in his bed until he was facing away from her.
"Here, I'll sleep like this if it'll make you feel better."
Lucy wanted to tell him he didn't have to do that, but her voice caught in her throat. She slowly sat up, letting her covers pool around her waist.
"Should I bring my blanket?" she asked, straightening it out. "Would it make it warmer?"
"It might. You can try."
Lucy nodded, tossing it over Natsu. He helped bring it all the way over until it covered his own while Lucy lifted his, slipping onto his bed and under his blanket. She wasn't sure if it was because she had just been exposed to the cold air or if Natsu's body was hotter than she remembered, but she eased up as soon as she felt his heat.
His back was still towards her, but his voice came through clear when he asked, "How's that?"
Lucy had to stop herself from sinking into his bed, needing her pillow first. She tucked her hands between her thighs since they were still cold, but she was adjusting quickly. "So warm," she moaned, eyes falling shut as she took everything in.
Natsu chuckled to himself. "Good." He shifted once more before sighing. "G'night Lucy."
She smiled, relishing the warmth as she relaxed, not once worried about how close she was to another person. "Good night."
Lucy removed her jacket before taking off her socks, wanting to feel the warmth directly on her skin. The sweatpants were the next to go, leaving Lucy in just a pair of shorts and her shirt. She made sure the door was locked before walking over towards the bed, not saying anything as she lifted the covers.
Natsu had his back against the wall as he finished his writing, his lower half under the blankets. It would take a moment before the bed warmed up, but Lucy could be patient. She curled slightly on her side, mindful of the lack of space. They were on a twin sized bed, and two adults with a cat made it feel cramped at times, but no one seemed to mind the close proximities.
Natsu closed his journal before tossing it to the end of the bed, letting it fall to the floor. He slid down under the blankets, jolting when his leg brushed against Lucy's toes.
"Holy fuck that's cold."
Lucy snorted before pushing her feet closer to him, feeling his shins. "They're not that cold." She was lying. The heat from his skin was a dead giveaway.
Natsu gave her a coy grin before reaching down, wrapping a hand around her foot. He didn't hesitate to tickle her, making the woman squirm as a fit of laughter escaped her.
"Natsuuu!"
He chuckled before letting go, his hand slowly trailing up her leg before retreating closer to his body. "Fine, I won't tickle ya."
"You're a jerk sometimes," she muttered, but the smile on her face gave her away. She wasn't upset, finding him amusing.
"I can't help it," he said, scooting closer so they were inches apart. "You're fun to mess with."
"That's what you say about everyone."
Natsu rolled on his back, tucking an arm under his head. "Not true. I only like teasing my friends." He cast her a sideways glance before beaming. "And you're one of 'em."
"Aren't I a lucky girl," she said as she rolled her eyes, causing him to bark out a laugh.
"Go to sleep, weirdo," Natsu muttered, resisting the urge to reach over and ruffle her hair. He could mess with her tomorrow. Tonight they needed to sleep. It was late, and he was going off base tomorrow, meaning he needed to be rested.
Lucy yawned before closing her eyes, humming to herself. The bed felt nice and cozy, just the right amount of heat. She figured they had an unspoken agreement to continue sleeping that way until the temperature warmed up outside. She liked Natsu's heat, but she couldn't imagine how it would feel laying next to him in the summer. She swore she felt herself sweating just thinking about it.
Out of nowhere, Lucy sniffled, realizing her nose was running. She wiped at it with the neckline of her shirt, satisfied when she got it under control.
'That's weird,' she thought, but her mind switched gears when she felt weight on her legs. Happy crawled over Lucy before settling between her and Natsu, making himself comfortable.
"G'night," Natsu mumbled, sounding half-asleep.
Lucy hoped she would join him soon, feeling her own exhaustion pulling at her. "Good night, Natsu."
She got comfortable, but instead of drifting peacefully to sleep, she couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty creeping up on her. Natsu had provided a nice distraction, but now that it was silent around her, all she could think about was what Gray said earlier.
Was her family responsible for the outbreak? There was no way to know. Lucy frowned as her thoughts slowly consumed her, leaving her awake without answers.
Her father wasn't the most admirable man, but he wouldn't allow such a dangerous product to be released to the public. He wasn't even capable of creating such a virus.
'But... he wasn't the only one overseeing production...'
Lucy swallowed before shaking her head, feeling silly for even thinking it. The man in charge of the pharmaceuticals was sick and strange, but he wasn't that deranged.
'Was he?'
Lucy's nose scrunched as she forced herself to think about other things, not wanting her mind to dwell on that awful person. Her work with Grandeeney had allowed her to grow for the better. She knew without the doctor's help, she would have easily cried just thinking about him.
She wasn't healed, but she was getting there, one step at a time until she was making leaps and bounds.
Lucy cringed as a headache set in, throbbing at her temple. She almost groaned, wanting the pain to end.
'I need to see Grandeeney tomorrow. This fucking sucks.'
.
.
.
Hello! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Lucy has been making amazing progress over the past six weeks, and she's building her friendships with the others, as well as seeking help from Grandeeney.
How many think Gray's on to something and how many think he's grasping at straws? We won't know until much later in the story. It's fun to think about the theories the survivors may have though.
Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you thought! I love hearing from you! Reading your comments makes me grin! You're spectacular! Thank you for every favorite, follow, review, and message! Shout out to those amazing people who commented last time: Doginshoe, stranger1999, naluloverr, MeteorWars, Crystal Kitty842, Screeney, itsxoi, DragonTamago13, Talia D'vile, SistershoOk, shootingstarssel, maru84, ElementalMiko12, undercover nyomi, valerioux, cOokIe-MOnzTa, ReynaSofy997, Duchixx, CathJorda, TerraBell, Sam, aislyn98, Guest, Stellar, Kitty9453, Guest, Bella-Cedeno47, reindeerpoop11, monkeyd. celia, Guest, XxxNaxxxx, sthokat, Firefly9917, car213, TurboWolf, Animeforlife1412, SadVibezz, beckstheunicorn, CrazyZaika, and call me tomo!
PS: Anyone see where the title comes from now?
Up next, Chapter Forty: Decisions