Warning: Chapter contains violence.

*Chapter Forty: Decisions

(February 8th, 2018 Thursday Morning)

It wasn't unusual for Natsu to dream about his life before the outbreak. He had no control over his dreams, and most of the time he enjoyed little snippets of his life before, but there was one type of dream he hated.

Natsu didn't dislike his job at Magnolia Mart, but he definitely didn't like when it popped up in his dream. The only thing worse than working was working without any pay. He would always wake up exhausted, only to go to his new job which required a good deal of energy.

So, Natsu wasn't upset when reality pulled him out of his slumbers, but that relief quickly vanished when he heard Lucy beside him, her sounds being the cause of his disrupted sleep.

It had been so long since Natsu woke up to Lucy's screams, but that wasn't the problem. Instead of sobs or whimpers, the girl was hanging off the bed, one hand clutching the mattress to keep herself upright while the other covered her mouth as she coughed.

Violently.

In the safety of his mind where no one else could hear him, he would describe the sound better as hacking, the roughness in her throat apparent as her body moved with jagged motions.

"Lucy?" he said, his voice thick from sleep, but he grew more alert when she continued coughing, almost like she didn't hear him.

"Hey?" He sat up, blinking the blurriness from his eyes before reaching out to touch Lucy's shoulder. She flinched, head snapping to the side to see who it was before she relaxed, only to be overpowered by a fit of coughs again.

"Damn," Natsu muttered, gritting his teeth when he realized the problem. It didn't take a genius to see Lucy was sick, her coughs sounding identical to the kind his brother had the one time he had the flu.

Seeing that he wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon, Natsu pushed aside the covers before crawling off the bed, resting on the floor in front of Lucy. Her eyes followed him, but instead of having a cautious edge like they did months ago, they were merely curious, almost pleading for him to help.

Natsu reached out slowly, letting her see his hand before he cupped her forehead. Normally a test like that would be useless to a guy like him, but unfortunately for Lucy, she actually felt hot to his touch, meaning she was running a fever.

"Come on," he said, not thinking twice before slipping an arm under hers to help her to her feet. Lucy took his help with gratitude, the two making their way downstairs. Her eyes teared up as she fought off the coughing spell.

"Thank you," she croaked out, only to have him shake his head.

"What are friends for?" he asked, frowning when her reply was another cough. "Let's get ya to the doc."

Natsu knocked on the door to Grandeeney's room when they reached it, which was down the hall from her office. It took a moment before the doctor answered, understanding immediately what they needed.

"Give me a moment," she said, shutting the door so she could get dressed in more suitable clothes.

Natsu held Lucy close to him, feeling the strength seeping from her every minute. Her body was putting all its energy into healing, but without medication and proper rest, it would be a while before she was feeling better.

"Let's head to her office now," Natsu said, wanting to give her a head start so she didn't feel rush.

Lucy leaned against him as they made their way over, taking it step by step.

"You're gonna be okay," he said, managing a smile when Lucy nodded. It wasn't like she was dying, just sick. It wasn't the end of the world, and he figured treating it like it was would only make things worse for her.

Within minutes the two were with Grandeeney in her office, watching as the doctor prepared some medication for Lucy to leave with. They didn't have any antiviral medication, so instead Grandeeney gave Lucy some things to soothe her throat and calm her symptoms. She also gave Natsu a face mask since he immediately rejected her suggestion to sleep in another room until Lucy healed.

After both of them had gone through being isolated while the other was in quarantine, Natsu wasn't leaving her alone again.

"You should be better in about five to seven days. I'll check on you in your room occasionally, but until I give the all clear, you're to refrain from work or any extra activities. That includes exercising."

Natsu looked at Lucy, expecting her to complain, but she simply nodded, her expression defeated as her body seemed to sag in her seat. Everything about her looked worn out, which only made Natsu's heart weigh heavy, wishing she didn't have to go through it in the first place.

"You should make a speedy recovery if you rest and drink plenty of fluids. If you lose your appetite that's normal, but you should try to eat when you can. Natsu, can you bring her breakfast and dinner in the meantime?"

He nodded without hesitation, already planning on helping. "Will do."

"Alright," Grandeeney said, fighting off a yawn. "There's not much more I can do for you right now. I'll let Makarov know you're sick so you won't be counted absent from work. If your symptoms get worse, let me know and I'll try to help, but really all we can do is wait it out."

"We can't get any better medication?" Natsu asked, causing Grandeeney to shake her head.

"The hospital was overrun when I left. I can't imagine how bad it is now. I'm confident we would lose more lives than save if we sent people to gather medication."

Natsu frowned, hating but accepting Grandeeney's answer. He hadn't personally seen the hospital, but from what he had been told, it was unlike anything he had faced before. "Okay."

While Grandeeney locked her cabinets, Natsu helped Lucy out of the room, keeping a hand around her for support. She leaned against him, whispering, "Thanks," before needing to clear her throat again.

"Don't mention it, really."

When the two made it back to their room, they were met with a surprise, finding a small note taped to the bottom of their door.

Natsu, please come to the office before breakfast. -Makarov

Natsu cocked his head, wondering what their leader could want with him so early. He also wondered when the note was stuck on their door, but he ignored the questions, deciding Lucy was his priority. The girl was practically wheezing, and the sooner she got off her feet and in bed, the sooner she could start to rest.

"Natsu," she mumbled, her frail voice causing him to stop before he could unlock their door.

"Yeah?" he asked, peering down at her.

The low lights made it hard for him to see the colors on her face aside from the redness on her nose, but her cheeks grew a rosy red before she muttered, "I have to go to the bathroom."

Natsu snorted, shaking his head before pocketing his key. "Alright, but I'm not helping ya with that."

She shook her head, a small smile appearing on her flushed face as she let him lead her to the bathroom. "Wouldn't expect, you to." Her voice stayed rough while his had cleared, giving him a better idea of her condition.

Once again, he reminded himself her being sick was just a speed bump in the road, not a dead end. She would get better, they just had to be patient.

Before Natsu knew it, he was helping Lucy back into bed, pulling the covers so they reached her chin. Lucy put one of her many throat lozenges in her mouth before closing her eyes. He watched her for a moment before standing, realizing he was still dressed for bed, meaning he had nothing on but his shorts.

While Lucy sucked on the lozenge, Natsu got dressed, fed Happy, and put a glass of water by Lucy's side of the bed. He grabbed his key again, stretching for a moment before letting out a long sigh.

"I'm gonna go see what Gramps wants, then I'll get us breakfast. Okay?"

"'Kay," Lucy mumbled, her voice muffled by the covers. "Thanks."

Natsu smiled, knowing things could be a lot worse. With that in mind, he left the room, wandering down the hall towards the main office, unsure what to expect.

"You're early," Makarov said when Natsu stepped into his office, the door wide open.

"I was already up," Natsu started, not asking before taking a seat. "Lucy's sick."

The flashlight set up didn't do Makarov any favors when he frowned, the wrinkles on his face appearing deeper than usual. "Oh, that's not good. Has she seen Grandeeney?"

Natsu nodded, leaning back before considering putting his feet on the desk in front of him. He decided against it, instead bringing his legs up to sit crisscross in the chair. "She's seen her. She'll talk to you later so you know why Lucy's not gonna be at work for a few days, but she should be fine. Just needs rest and stuff."

"Very well," Makarov said, face growing oddly serious. "I'm sure you're wondering why I called for you."

"I figured there was a good reason. What's up?"

He assumed it was the same thing Makarov had been asking over the last few weeks, wondering if Natsu had made any progress in finding out where Ivan had been staying. The answer had stayed the same. No, he hadn't, but Makarov wasn't giving up.

"I won't beat around the bush. I want to send some people to Hargeon on a special mission."

Natsu's head tipped back as he listened closer, intrigued by the idea. "Oh yeah?"

Makarov nodded, having prepared his pitch. "I'm sure you know Hargeon's a port town, so there's bound to be ships. It would be helpful if we knew if there were still ships there after everything that happened, or if they're gone already. I also want to know if there's other groups out there like us, so we can pull our resources together."

"It would make us stronger," Natsu said, leaning forward in his seat. "I'm sure you're also wondering what the fuck happened to Gildarts?"

Makarov's expression tightened, but he nodded. "Yes. He's been gone far too long. He was just supposed to go there, check it out, then come back and report his findings."

"Do..." Natsu cringed, gut wrenching at the thought. "Do you think he's still..."

"I hope so," Makarov whispered, weight settling on his chest. He hadn't been the one to come up with the idea to send someone to investigate, but he was the one to ask Gildarts to go, so if he got killed on that mission, it would haunt Makarov, further adding to the burden he carried as their leader.

Natsu didn't say it aloud, but he wondered if Gildarts was alive as well. He had been gone for months, and Hargeon was only one town away. He didn't want to be hopelessly optimistic, but he hoped Gildarts got delayed, though he couldn't imagine what would be so important to keep him away from Fairy Tail, especially since his only daughter was still there.

"Who's all going?" Natsu asked, suspecting he was one of the chosen ones. Why else would Makarov ask to meet?

"Well," he started, taking a deep breath. "I was hoping I could send some of the best, but I can't send everyone." He looked Natsu in the eye, giving him a tired smile. "I think you would be a great addition to the team."

Natsu chuckled, raking his knuckles against his chest as he feigned smugness. "Can't say I blame ya."

Makarov shook his head, his smile growing. "Laxus and Erik both said you do well beyond the base. They say you're fast, and quick thinking. You clearly know your way around the undead and your knives, and we need strong fighters for such a dangerous mission."

"How many people are going?" Natsu asked, containing his excitement until he learned more details. He didn't have to wonder if he would accept it. He was always down to help his fellow survivors, and the challenge sounded oddly fun, even if he knew it carried great risks as well.

"If they choose to go, I'd like Gray, Kagura, Jet, and Alzach. Laxus already agreed to lead the mission."

"Only six people?" Natsu asked, cocking his head. Even when clearing or going on runs, they sent at least twice that amount.

"I figure it might be easier with a smaller team. Sort of get in and get out undetected. You six should have better luck sneaking past those things if there's less people making noise and moving around. A huge group would cause more danger, at least that's what we think. What do you think?"

Natsu considered it, eyes dipping to the ground before he nodded. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Will we have enough weapons and supplies and stuff?"

"Absolutely. We'll send you guys with plenty of food to last three weeks. There will also be flashlights, batteries, a few medical supplies. And Alzach and Laxus will have their guns and rif—"

Natsu perked up. "Can I—"

"No," Makarov said, cutting him off. "I'm not giving you a gun."

Natsu fell in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest as he pouted. "Why not?"

"Because you're not trained," he said, growing stern. "It would do more harm than good giving you a firearm you're not prepared to use."

Natsu didn't sway, so Makarov let out a long sigh. "How about this? You make it back in one piece, and I'll have someone teach you how to shoot?"

Natsu grinned, a fire burning in his eyes as he pulled his fist in. "Yes! Absolutely!" He jumped up, thrusting his hand out before Makarov would change his mind.

The old man laughed, shaking Natsu's hand. "You have yourself a deal," Makarov said, waving at him to sit down. "Will you be ready to leave tomorrow morning?"

As soon as Natsu sat down, he froze, one person coming to his mind. "Tomorrow? I..."

He ground his teeth, wishing his excitement hadn't left his body so soon. He missed the natural buzz. "I'm honored, really I am, but..."

"You don't think you can do it?" Makarov asked, but Natsu shook his head.

"It's not that. Trust me, I think I can handle it. It's just, Lucy just got sick."

When Makarov didn't say anything, merely stared at him, Natsu frowned. "I can't leave her now, she's gonna need my help."

Makarov sighed, his brows darting in. "I admit, I was hoping the team could leave soon to get it taken care of. Is there anyone else who can look after Lucy?"

Natsu frowned, his stomach rolling. The idea of leaving Lucy so soon didn't sit well with him. He already knew, there was a chance the mission wouldn't be as easy or as quick as Makarov made it seem. There were hundreds of things that could delay them, and there was always the possibility they wouldn't even survive it. One wrong move could mean life or death out there. He had seen it, and he knew every time he stepped off base his life wasn't a guarantee.

"I'm sorry. I really am. I just..." He grimaced, caught between wanting to go and wanting to stay. He couldn't lie to himself, part of him felt obligated to stay, to help nurse Lucy back to health, but a stronger part of him wanted to stay by her side. He didn't want to leave her alone, and part of him felt more comfortable when she was near him.

She had come into his life quickly, but she had grown more important to him over the months. He wanted to stay with her, but he couldn't be two places at once.

"I don't think I can. I'm... I'm sorry. It just feels kinda shitty, leaving her like that." If she wasn't sick he could see if she could stay with Cana and Levy while he was gone. He wasn't sure if Cana and Lucy spoke about what happened on day one with the groping, but they seemed to be on good terms last time he checked. He was sure they would agree, but that didn't change the fact that Lucy was ill.

He just... He just couldn't leave her like that.

Makarov nodded, rubbing his face for a moment as he thought. "What if we gave it a week? Would that work?"

"Hmm?" Natsu took his time, carefully weighing his options, which wasn't something he would have done before meeting Lucy. Before her, he would have jumped on the mission without a second thought, but he couldn't see himself ditching her in her time of need. He didn't even want to imagine her expression if he left her out of nowhere, especially when she was sick.

"Okay, yeah... Um, she should at least be feeling better by then, almost recovered from what Grandeeney said."

Plus, a week would give them both time to get used to the idea of him leaving. He could also make arrangements with his friends to help her out those last few days of her recovery. He didn't have a doubt in his mind Levy would step in for him.

Just like Natsu, she had taken a liking to Lucy. It was hard not to once Lucy started opening up. She was pretty cool, even if she was weird at times.

But to be fair, weird was way better than boring.

"I'll have to find someone to watch Asuka since Lucy'll be sick, and—" Natsu stopped, shaking his head. "Oh, but if Alzach goes then I don't have to worry about that." He only watched their child so they could have time alone, but if he was gone there was no point.

"Take some time to get your affairs in order. You don't have to sort everything out now. I'll tell Laxus and everyone else the plan is to leave next Thursday. One week from now."

"When are you telling everyone else?" Natsu asked, readying himself to leave. He hadn't checked his watch, but judging by the soft light filtering into the small office, it wouldn't be long before breakfast started. He expected his alarm to go off any minute.

"I'll tell the others when they show up. I left notes on their doors as well." Makarov took a deep breath before leaning back in his chair. "Don't tell anyone about the mission yet, except I suppose Lucy to prepare her. There's still bugs to work out, so the less everyone knows, the better."

Natsu nodded before standing, stretching his legs. "I'll keep it hush hush."

"Thanks. Now, get going. You have a long day ahead of you."

'Don't I know it,' Natsu thought, knowing he would be a runner today. The group reaching a store yesterday was probably the cause of his retail dreams, but he didn't need to concern himself with his subconscious. His old life was less important when he was off base. He couldn't afford to get caught in his head out there by silly distractions.

On Natsu's way back to the classroom, he thought about the decision he had just made. It was dangerous, and would demand time and energy, but there wasn't a single doubt in Natsu's mind he was up for the task. The only thing giving him uncertainty was being away from Lucy for that long.

He pressed his lips together in a tight line before taking a deep breath through his nose. Deciding he didn't want to dissect how he was feeling, Natsu did what he did best. He shrugged the subject away, wanting to focus on what came next in the immediate future, which for him, was letting Happy go potty before breakfast.

He had a long day ahead of him, but that was okay. Every day offered a new challenge, and he was ready to face whatever came his way.

Lucy was passed out when Natsu went back to the room to retrieve their dishes. He thought she might wake up when he brought back food, but the girl was out of it, barely moaning under the covers when he announced his presence.

Deciding Lucy needed her sleep, he put her food beside her on the floor, hoping Happy wouldn't nibble on her breakfast. He ate his own food in silence, mindlessly playing a game on his phone while waiting for time to run out.

When he finished, Natsu put his things away, made sure both blankets were covering Lucy, then pet Happy before heading outside. He met up with his group for the day, all of them checking out their weapons before heading off base to do their job.

Instead of going through houses like normal, the runners paired up with the clearers where they raided a store yesterday. All day long they were going back and forth, emptying shelves of supplies for Fairy Tail.

Natsu couldn't help but grin most of the day. Even if it was tedious, he knew the base would benefit from everything they brought back. Even most of the expired food would still be edible, Laxus opening some of the goods to make sure before they loading them onto their trailers.

A few times they had to break away to deal with the walkers that wandered into the area, taking care of them before returning to their tasks. That was what Natsu was currently doing, shoving his knife deep into the skull of the undead, watching as its body went limp before crumbling to the ground.

One of Natsu's weaknesses was his sensitive nose. There were many smells he found offensive, but one that stood out the most had to be stale blood. The bodily fluids didn't help. The zombies reeked, causing his nose to crinkle and his mouth to water, but not in a good way like when he had tasty food in front of him.

No, the smell of the undead made him want to throw up, so Natsu found himself spitting the excess saliva so he wouldn't have to puke on top of everything else.

"You good?" Ultear asked, earning a nod from Natsu.

"Yeah, just grossed out."

She chuckled before attending to her three corpses, dragging their bodies to the side of the road so they wouldn't obstruct the path. Natsu wiped his bloody knife on the pants of a zombie before doing the same, wishing he had his scarf with him to cover his nose. He kept it in his room on purpose, not wanting to add more damage to the precious material.

'I need to find someone to sew it,' he thought, frowning at the idea. He didn't want to place that much trust in someone when it came to his scarf. It was the last thing he got from his father, making it that much harder to willingly hand over to someone else to care for.

Natsu grunted as he dropped his last body, brushing the back of his arm against his forehead to collect the dripping sweat. Despite it being cold outside, he found himself overheating, probably due to running around killing walkers.

'At least there's no sprinters. That'd be awful.'

Natsu returned to the store just as they called for a break, making him smile. He collected his lunch from the person handing them out before sitting towards the entrance of the store, finding a spot next to Gray within the circle.

"You know," Gray started, slowly opening his bag of chips that expired months ago. "I kinda miss our old jobs."

Natsu raised a brow, prompting him to explain.

"Like, if I was feeling this tired there, I could just make up some bullshit excuse and go home. Here," he said, looking around. "We're just stuck 'til the day's over."

"True." Natsu nodded, opening a bag of chocolate chip 'thins', which looked like flat cookies in square shapes. He ate a handful, surprised they didn't taste the least bit expired despite the best by date being in August of last year. "Are you hurting or anything? Or just tired?"

Gray shook his head, letting out a sigh before leaning back on one hand. "Nah, just tired. I just, sometimes wish I had one of the easy jobs. Ya know?"

Before Natsu could answer, someone else spoke, stealing their attention.

"I know exactly what you mean," Macbeth, one of the runners said. Him being awake during lunch was an odd spectacle, seeing as the man always chose to take a nap during. "We bust our asses all day long and get the same shit as everyone else. I'd like one of those comfy jobs on base, but nooo, stuck out here risking my life every damn day."

"You get two days off," Natsu pointed out, reminding them of the changes made over a month ago. All clearers and runners had Saturdays and Tuesdays off now, giving them a much needed break seeing as their jobs held the biggest risks.

It was pure coincidence those were the days Natsu had watch, otherwise he would have to switch his day off, and he didn't want that. "Plus we get first picks on pretty much everything we bring in. Sounds pretty fair to me."

Macbeth grumbled something Natsu couldn't hear, but to be honest, he didn't care much. He turned to Gray, offering a smile. "I know it gets old, but this job is crucial for Fairy Tail. Think how fucked we'd be if we didn't have a steady supply of... well, supplies!"

"Yeah, you're right about that." Gray yawned before stretching, his body seeming stiff. "Still tired though."

As Gray started eating, Natsu thought about asking Lucy if she would be willing to help out his friend like she helped him out. In total, Natsu had received three massages from Lucy, the last one being a few days ago. He hadn't told anyone else about her special skill in fear some might try to exploit it or badger her into helping them, but her and Gray seemed to be good friends now.

He wondered if she would at least consider it, but...

The more he thought about it, the more it made his stomach churn. He couldn't pinpoint what about it made him nauseous, but he couldn't shake the feeling, even after forcing himself to think about other things.

'Maybe it's this food. It did expire half a year ago!' Natsu nodded to himself, deciding that was the cause for his upset stomach. Despite that, he finished his food, all while sipping on his bottled water between bites. He knew better than to chug it, otherwise his stomach would be sloshing all day long.

The rest of the day went by quickly for Natsu, especially after him and Ultear started racing to see who could fill up their shopping carts the fastest and bring them outside to be collected. The groups piled into vehicles before moving out, heading back to Fairy Tail with their gains.

Natsu happened to end up in the bed of a truck with Laxus, both men holding their stomachs as they tried not to vomit. Despite the store having motion sickness medication, neither prepared, needing a bit before their pills would kick in.

He thought it would be a silent trip back, but after driving for a few miles, the older man started to speak.

Well, it was more like a pained muffle, but Natsu heard him well enough.

"Gramps said... you're going?"

Natsu's brows scrunched together as he tried figuring out what Laxus was referring too, only to hum when he remembered the conversation he had that morning. "Yeah."

"Good." Laxus swallowed, his teeth clenching when the truck hit a pothole, causing both of them to groan. "I remember, you said you were... camping, when shit went down?"

Natsu nodded, his face paling as the truck sped up. While he didn't like the motion, he was happy knowing it wouldn't last as long if they kept up the pace. "Yup. Why?"

"We'll be, camping a lot." Laxus took a few deep breaths, eyes glancing around to make sure no one was listening. It didn't appear so, all the other passengers engaged in their own conversations, no one looking their direction.

"Makes sense," Natsu mumbled, picturing solid ground to help him through the motion. "We should... do like in, in the TV shows."

"What's that?"

"Strings, with empty... cans and shit tied to—" Natsu couldn't hold out any longer, turning his head to puke. That only set Laxus off, the man pushing someone aside so he could vomit off the other side of the vehicle.

When they both regained their bearings, they silently agreed to discuss plans later. Talking proved to be too much of a chore for them. Instead, they focused on their sensitive stomachs for the duration of the ride.

Once on base, things went like normal. They were escorted in groups by armed guards to turn in their weapons, then brought to processing where they stripped down and inspected. Natsu dressed in a hurry, finding Laxus and Gray right outside of the locker room where they were waiting for him.

"All done?" Gray asked, earning a nod. "Cool, let's go somewhere private."

Gramps didn't want people knowing about the mission, so they kept it quiet. However, before they could wander off, Natsu caught a glimpse of Kagura leaving the locker room, reminding him she was chosen as well.

"Should we invite her too?" Natsu asked, receiving a nod without hesitation from Laxus.

"Yeah, this pertains to her too."

After getting the woman's attention, the four made their way to the bleachers away from everyone else.

"Now, what were you saying about strings?" Laxus asked, picking up their earlier conversation.

Natsu perked up. "Right, so in the shows they put string with empty cans around trees where they're camping so if anything comes for them, they get a warning."

Gray and Laxus nodded while Kagura spoke up. "That's a good idea, but maybe we should also have someone do watch? Like, they sleep during the day when we're driving, then stay up at night to look after us?"

"Can't be me," Natsu said, frowning. "I've never been able to sleep in a moving vehicle. Even with medication."

"I can, but I need to be awake during the day to lead the mission." Laxus crossed his large arms over his chest. "Maybe we could bring an extra person just for that? Since everyone else is gonna be needed for the actual mission."

"They'd have to be someone skilled with a weapon," Kagura said, while the others nodded.

One weak link could get them all killed, so they had to choose wisely.

"Maybe we can bring Lyon or Ultear?" Natsu asked, looking to Gray.

"They're both capable of holding their own," Laxus started, only to sigh. "But I can't see either of them being happy about being just a watchdog."

"Well if you call it that," Kagura said, shaking her head. "Maybe we could bring Millianna. She's not the best fighter, but she's used to being off base and all she really has to do is warn us when danger comes."

"Do you think she can do it?" Laxus asked, causing Kagura to nod.

"I've been with her since day one. She's not scared of those things. The only reason she's on water duty and not out as a runner is because I told her I didn't want that for her, but she's been bugging me to change jobs. Maybe, maybe this is a chance for her to prove herself."

"I'll be honest," Laxus started, his face growing stern. "I don't like all those maybes. What if she gets hurt. Are you gonna be able to live with yourself?"

Kagura took a deep breath as her hands tightened into fists. Slowly, she released her breath and her fingers, letting herself relax. "I wouldn't have suggested her if I didn't think she could do it. I'm not saying she'll be spectacular, but she can do that basic job. All she'll be expected to do is stay up at night and yell if the undead come for us. She can handle that."

After a few seconds of silence, Laxus nodded. "I'll talk to Gramps about it. Let him make a decision before bringing it up to her. I don't want you getting her hopes up if he decides to veto it."

"Okay, sounds fair."

"Now," Laxus said, looking over the small group. "Any other suggestions?"

It was much later than Natsu intended when he got back to his room. He only had thirty minutes before dinner started, but he felt more confident about the mission to Hargeon next week after they shared their ideas.

Natsu slipped into the classroom, scooping up Happy immediately before bringing him outside. The cat dawdled for a while before using the bathroom, as if the cold didn't bother him either. Natsu knew that wasn't true when he saw Happy sprint for the school's door, seeking warmth.

Natsu let him in before they made their way upstairs, back to the room. He was ready to apologize to Lucy for being gone so long, but he was surprised to see her still sleeping, right where he left her. Her food was untouched, causing his stomach to twist in worry.

He started making his way to the bed before remembering to put on his mask, molding it to fit his nose and over his chin. Quietly, he sat beside her, pulling on the blankets to see her face.

A frown tugged at his lips when he saw how flushed she was, her bangs clinging to her forehead from sweat. "Darn," he whispered, giving her a pout. He knew she had to be feeling awful. Breaking a fever could be hard on a body. Still, she wasn't doing herself any favors by skipping her meals, especially since she had weight issues not too long ago.

"Hey, Lucy," he started, finding her shoulder over the blankets before nudging her. "Hey, you gotta wake up and eat. Okay?"

Lucy groaned, her eyes scrunching as she tried burying her head under the covers, but Natsu wouldn't let her escape.

"Come on, just eat a little bit. Please?"

She made another dissatisfied sound before blinking her eyes open, her unfocused gaze falling on Natsu. "Mmnnnm," she grunted, looking defeated. "So tired."

"I know," he said, pushing some loose hair out of her face. "I know it sucks, but can you eat some? It'd mean a lot to me."

Lucy grumbled, which only causing Natsu to chuckle. "Stop," she moaned, trying but failing to swat at him. Her hand barely poked out of the blanket before falling limp. "Fuck," she whispered, her breathing coming in shorter spurts now. "I don't feel good."

"You don't look too good either," he said, earning a glare. "What? It's not an insult. You look really sick." He relaxed when her face softened, seeing she wasn't offended. "I'm guessing it'd be really stupid to ask if you're feeling any better?"

Lucy nodded, closing her eyes. "I feel worse. I—" She coughed before groaning, her hand patting the ground beside her to look for a throat lozenge.

Natsu helped, moving one to her fingertips so she could use it. "Do you think you can eat?"

"Do I hav'ta?"

Natsu snorted. It wasn't often Lucy used improper grammar like him. "Gotta at least try. Doctor's orders, remember?"

"Honestly? Not really." Lucy popped the small lozenge in her mouth before swishing it around with her tongue, letting the juices soothe her throat. "When do you go to work?"

Natsu's eyes widened before his mouth opened. "You... Lucy, the day's almost over. I already went to work."

Surprisingly to Natsu, Lucy didn't look fazed. "Oh? Huh." She opened her eyes a bit, her eyelids hooded. "Didn't feel like that long."

"Have you been asleep this whole time?" he asked, causing her to nod. "Damn. Wish you were feeling better."

"Me too." Lucy whimpered as she tried sitting up, leaning against Natsu when he offered her help. "Thanks."

"No problem," he said, assisting her so she could rest her back against the wall. Her head swayed a bit, the woman having difficulties holding it up. He quickly grabbed her breakfast, hoping it wasn't too stale as he put the plate on her lap. "Just eat as much as you can. I'm not even gonna bother getting you dinner if you can't finish this."

"I won't be able to," Lucy said, looking almost disgusted at the idea of putting food in her mouth. Still, she grabbed her fork with a loose grip, trying to appease Natsu by shoveling in half a mouthful.

After ten minutes of Lucy nibbling, she set the fork down, letting him know she was done. Considering the circumstances, she ate quite a bit, but he wanted her to finish it. "Want me to save it for later?"

Lucy shook her head before resting it against the wall behind her. "No, you can have it. Or trash it. I don't really care."

He frowned but listened, setting the plate aside. If she wasn't sick he would finish the rest, but he didn't want to risk getting what she had. 'Which brings me to my next concern...'

"Should I sleep in the same bed as you?" Natsu asked, wondering what would work best for them. He wanted her to be warm, but he also didn't want to get sick.

Lucy didn't move her head, her eyes slowly finding him. "Probably shouldn't."

Natsu stopped his shoulders from sagging, unsure why he felt so... well, he didn't know what he was feeling, but he knew he didn't like that answer. "Yeah," he mumbled, giving her a small nod. "Probably right."

Lucy closed her eyes again. He didn't know if she was going to fall asleep sitting up, but if she was as tired as she looked, he wouldn't be surprised.

'Should I tell her about the mission?' Natsu wondered, deciding against it when Lucy jolted awake immediately after nodding off.

"'M goin', to lie down."

Natsu nodded, helping her back into bed. She pulled the covers up to her chin, shifting to her side so she faced him. "This sucks."

He couldn't help but agree. "Yeah, it really does." Natsu sighed, leaning back on both hands while keeping her gaze. "But, not much you can do. Sickness just sorta happens."

Lucy tried shaking her head, a few loose strands making their way back into her face. Neither tried messing with them, letting them get that small victory. "I don't get it," she started, eyes unfocused. "I got the flu shot."

Natsu snorted, wondering if she didn't know how they worked. "Those things last like a year I think, and they don't work for every strand."

Ignoring the second part of what he said, Lucy mumbled, "But, I got it in June, of last year. So it shhhh..." She took a long breath. "Should still be... be good."

Natsu furrowed his brows, trying but failing to make sense of that. "Why would anyone get it in June? I thought that was a September, October kinda thing?"

Before he was finished talking, he saw Lucy's drowsiness growing, her eyes struggling to stay open. "People, got sick." She took a deep breath before letting out a cross between a whimper and a groan. "Five... five people died." She closed her eyes, her voice dimming. "Bad flu, at dad's... work."

Natsu didn't interrupt, puzzled but intrigued. He leaned forward, trying to hear every soft whisper coming from her. She was losing consciousness by the second.

"He... he made everyone get... the shot. Manda... mandator... tory."

And just like that, Lucy was out, her breath coming out more even than before. Though, he wished it didn't sound raspy.

Natsu stared at her sleeping form for a moment, trying to piece together what she said. 'That's weird,' he thought, almost chuckling. 'Then again, Lucy's a weird person. But...'

What she said had him curious. Her dad made everyone get the shot. Did that mean he was a manager or something? Maybe he was a supervisor, or maybe worked in human resources? His old bosses encouraged everyone to get a flu shot, but it wasn't mandatory.

'Weird,' he thought again, letting out a long yawn. 'And what's with people dying from the flu? It's not like modern medicine couldn't help people from that very fucking thing. Really freakin' weird... If it's true.'

He didn't think Lucy was a liar, but there was a good chance the flu was making her delirious.

Without sparing it too much thought, Natsu stood, allowing himself a few stretches. "Well, guess I'll get dinner before bed."

Natsu gave Lucy one last glance before taking off his face mask and leaving the room, heading towards the arena to join his friends for some grub.

Natsu's brows darted together as he rolled over once more, unable to get comfortable despite laying in bed for the past thirty minutes. Exhaustion wore down on his body, but that wasn't enough to get him to sleep quickly.

He kept reaching out, but everywhere his hand went, he found nothing. Deep down he knew what the problem was, but admitting it to himself just felt strange. He wanted to blame it on the fact he was sleeping in Lucy's old bed since she had coughed in his bed already. He wanted to blame it on that, but he knew deep down that wasn't the problem.

He had gone his whole life sleeping in a bed by himself, but now he couldn't relax.

'This doesn't make sense. I don't have any trouble sleeping when Lucy's not here.'

But that was the thing. She was there, sleeping a few feet away from him. He frowned, wondering why he felt lonely.

After debating it for a few minutes, Natsu finally gave up, letting himself have what he craved, even if it didn't make sense to him. He wasn't the type to be codependent, but for some reason, Natsu couldn't find peace without having another person by his side.

'No,' he thought, knowing that wasn't true. It wasn't anyone he wanted by him, it was that weird, secretive yet creative and kind person now inches away from him as he slipped out of one bed into another.

Lucy squirmed a bit when the covers were moved, but instead of panicking that someone was crawling into her bed, Lucy merely whispered, "Natsu?"

He swallowed, wondering if it was even okay he joined her. "Yeah?"

Silence surrounded them for a few seconds before Lucy's soft voice filtered through the air. "Aren't you, afraid you'll get sick?"

Natsu let out a breath, thankful she didn't seem upset he was in the bed with her. She was concerned about his health, nothing else. "Nah," he whispered, scooting closer to her. There was a sliver of an inch between them before Lucy leaned back, pressing her back against his arm before sighing in contentment.

A smile twitched its way onto Natsu's lips as his chest warmed, his eyes slowly sliding shut. He felt his muscles relaxing, his mind finally slowing down. "If I get sick, I get sick." Natsu chuckled a bit. "Just don't cough on me."

Lucy nodded under the covers before whispering, "I'll try my best."

He found himself grinning, feeling better every second he spent beside her. He liked having her as a friend, liked having her close. She was someone he looked forward to hanging out with, and he hoped they continued to build their friendship.

"G'night Lucy."

She hummed back, already passing out again. "Night... Nat...su."

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Thank you for every favorite, follow, and review! This is my favorite story I've written, so seeing so much support really warms my heart! Shout out to those beautiful souls who reviewed last time: SistershoOk, Doginshoe, shootingstarssel, stranger1999, deboome, Kitty9453, Stellar, n. kukurichan, Emoelmo41212, Nalu-Nerd13, CrazyZaika, Mrs I don't care(x2), Perfect Memories, aly2. 0, Meow Orbit, valerioux, Raquenzel, cOokIe-MOnzTa, ElementalMiko12, Guest, Guest, DragonTamago13, Unicorn20023, Duchixx, Xfangirl123X, ReynaSofy997, Sashiee27, Yashagirl89, Bunerin, Guest, Herbnerdtrek, Animeforlife1412, TheUniqueFangirl, HellsAngel0816, Nalulovers, TheSevenFairyDeadlyTailSins(x10), nalu20, uwu, Guest, fairytailfanatic0703, Guest, MarcyRave, and BlazingFringe!

I can't believe we're at 40 chapters! I had a lot of fun writing this chapter! Please, let me know what you thought! I love hearing from you! Did anyone like the decisions Natsu had to make today?

Up next, Chapter Forty-One: Valentine's Day