Warning: Contains violence and sexual content.
*Chapter Fifty-One: Here she comes
(March 19th, 2018, Monday Morning)
"No, not again," Lucy sighed, kneeling down to inspect the scattered entrails, blood soaking the trampled grass around her trap. She had done the work in capturing the rabbit, but something else had come along to claim her prize.
Frustration couldn't begin describing how Lucy felt as she tugged at the trap, releasing what was left of her catch. Her eyes remained on her task, but her ears noted all the sounds around her, keeping alert to any potential danger.
The neighborhood seemed free of any zombies, but after witnessing walkers roaming into cleared sections, she knew her guard couldn't be dropped.
As soon as she heard rustling in the grass, Lucy whipped around, gripping the handle of her machete but keeping the velcro snap intact. It proved to be wise, Rogue throwing up his hands to show he posed no threat. A small smile crossed his face when Lucy released her breath, hand slipping from her weapon.
"Didn't mean to sneak up on you," Rogue said, peeking over her shoulder to see what she caught. "Darn. Again?"
She nodded, grumbling as she pulled the rabbit from her trap, setting it on the ground for something else to finish. "Something ate it. I can't catch a break."
Immediately following the outbreak, Lucy had been a successful huntress, even nabbing a fawn, but mostly she caught squirrels and rabbits. Now, she hadn't gotten one viable rabbit for food. She was starting to think she lost her touch, but she knew she wasn't to blame.
"If I could check on it every few hours, I know I'd get some." She pulled out the stake, deciding to try her trap on her next house. The likeliness that more rabbits would use that path after finding their dead kin was low. "If I catch something it's eaten by morning. It just sucks."
Rogue nodded, watching her stand before stretching her legs. "That's actually something I wanted to talk to you about."
When Lucy raised a brow, he continued. "I was talking with Beth about what's been happening. You've met her right? Head gardener?"
"Once," Lucy said, remembering the quick introduction before Lucy was shown how to help with the compost pile.
"Well, turns out she's been having a bit of a problem with critters eating the garden."
Lucy brightened in an instant, seeing where he was going. "Yeah?"
His smile widened. "Yes. I asked if she would mind if you set up a few traps around the garden, and she said that would be fine, if you're up for it."
"Of course!"
He chuckled, waiting for her to ebb her excitement before adding, "I would have told you this morning, but it looked like you were busy chatting up a storm with your friends."
A soft blush dusted Lucy's cheeks, recalling how animated she had felt as her, Levy, and Jellal debated the plot and characters from a book he had mentioned reading for a college course. It happened to be one of Lucy's favorites, the three dominating the conversation that morning, but Cana and Erza didn't seem to mind.
Breakfast had flown by, Lucy still wanting to discuss the book after they parted ways. She had a feeling it would be brought up during dinner, Lucy having a few notes she wanted to address.
"I couldn't help it," she said, almost cupping the back of her head, but stopping when she recalled her glove wasn't clean after touching the dead animal. She didn't feel it was infected, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
"No need to be embarrassed," Rogue said, eyes soft as he took a deep breath. "Alright, ready to start your own house today?"
Lucy's eyes widened, a grin tugging at her lips. "Yeah!"
"Shhh," he whispered, causing her shoulders to shake as she suppressed a laugh.
"I forgot," she whispered back, knowing the less sound they made, the better.
"Come on," Rogue said, leading the way to the street before bringing Lucy to her house. "I'm sure you can handle it."
"I got this." Lucy nodded before heading inside, starting at the kitchen because food was the first priority.
Lucy was on her eleventh day as a runner, and she had to admit, she liked it. Having two days off a week instead of one was a major perk, but she understood why. The job was exhausting, both mentally and physically demanding. Exercising had helped. Rogue suggested she do more workouts that would help build muscle.
Pull ups, push ups, deadlifts, and squats had been added to her regimen, the woman getting stronger every day. It had felt good, really good, when she exerted herself. The pride she held for her progress grew with each accomplishment, each set back feeling less terrible than it had in the past.
She was at a point where she felt manageable, regaining some of the control she had lost.
Despite the job being difficult, Lucy showed up to collect her weapon every morning she was scheduled, following the crowd to the gate to prepare their departure. Her first day had been rough, and she got snagged a few times along the way, but she was molding herself into a great runner, one day at a time.
She wasn't nearly where she hoped she would be, but she hadn't given up, and that was something.
As the hours ticked by, Lucy filled cart after cart with essential items, proud of herself for adding to the piles on the trailers. She was earning her keep, even indulging in the extras of being a runner while she was at it.
A stack of manga sat on the kitchen counter, five volumes of some story she had never heard before, but she thought it might make a nice gift for Natsu when he got back.
It had been a month since she had last laid eyes on her roommate, but she couldn't let herself be negative. 'He's coming back,' she told herself, even if her heart ached the longer they remained gone.
She was even starting to miss Gray, something she would have laughed at months ago when the two had nothing but tension between them.
"He's coming back," she said, hoping to speak it into existence. 'And when he comes back, he'll have five volumes of... 'Death Note'.'
The last time Lucy used her perk, she took a grey ribbon to tie in her hair. It was kept in a braided bun when off base, Lucy wanting to reduce the chances of something grabbing her. The less loose items she had on her body, the safer she was when encountering a zombie.
Thankfully she hadn't experienced being grabbed, but Hibiki had, giving her enough details to make goosebumps dot her skin.
It certainly wasn't the weather that would cause a reaction like that, the temperature warming up gradually. Her jacket felt unnecessary, but she kept it on for protection, against zombies and curious eyes.
Speaking of zombies, Lucy jolted when she heard shouting outside, her first thought being the undead.
Her suspicions were correct, Lucy running outside to see three zombies approaching, but one stood out among the rest.
Lucy's heart beat erratically as one ran towards a survivor, snarling as it tried taking a bite out of a large man named Richard. The man didn't seem worried, using the zombie's speed against it as he swayed out of reach, tripping it in the process before delivering a heavy stomp to the skull, killing the undead for good.
She barely processed that as her eyes turned to the other two, watching as Lyon took out one before leading the other down the street, calling out, "You want this one, Newbie?"
"Yeah!" Lucy didn't have time to prepare. It was becoming obvious most survivors didn't get a chance to prepare for something like that. She didn't like killing them, her stomach twisting with every one she put down, but it was necessary.
"Both arms off?" Lyon asked, ready to hack the zombie up.
"Keep them on," Lucy said, but despite her thinking she was ready, her boss knew better.
"Take one off," Rogue called, Lucy glancing over her shoulder to see him preparing his rifle, ready in case things went sideways. He looked at her, a silent conversation held before she nodded, accepting his decision.
She had never faced a zombie with any arms, so it was better to try with one first. They were gradually increasing the danger with every zombie she faced, the one in front of her being her seventh. Some days they didn't see any infected, then others the dead wandered into cleared sections, looking for a bite to eat.
Lucy wasn't on the menu today, releasing her machete as Lyon walked past her, leaving her to finish it off. He hadn't cut through, but he had severely damaged an arm. It barely hung on, useless to the zombie nearing Lucy.
She kept her eyes on it, vision flitting from its extended hand to its head, then around to see what her best course of action would be. Slicing through the air, Lucy managed to take off the zombie's thumb, her grip tightening on the handle before swinging again, miscalculating and allowing the zombie to get too close.
It all seemed to happen so fast, her brain having a hard time keeping up. She felt pressure on her chest before hearing material rip, her shirt tearing as the zombie's fingers clung to the fabric.
"Lucy! DUCK!" Rogue yelled, his gun undoubtedly pointed at her opponent, but she hollered back, determination flaring in her eyes.
"I got this!"
She put distance between herself and the zombie, spinning quickly to show Rogue she was unharmed, pulling at her torn shirt so he could see no blood had been drawn, no scratches etched in her skin.
"You don't have to prove anything to us!" Hibiki yelled, but Lucy had more at stake than that. She wanted to prove to herself that she was capable, that she wouldn't back down from a challenge.
If she could be strong, nothing could hurt her again.
Before the walker could reach her, Lucy swung with all her might, machete lodging itself in the zombie's side after cutting straight through its lame arm. She clenched her teeth when she caught the scent of rotting flesh and bodily fluids, making it easier to separate that creature in front of her from a living human.
Its arm came around to grab her, but she ditched her machete in favor of getting away. It stumbled, Lucy taking a few seconds to regain her breath before charging, yelling as she delivered a hard kick to the zombie's stomach, sending it backwards.
Had it been alive, they probably would have found their balance before falling, but the undead had poor reflexes, tripping over its feet as it fell to the ground.
"Finish it!"
Lucy ran forward, foot grounding its arm before reaching for her machete. She tugged and tugged, groaning when it wouldn't come loose.
A yelp escaped her as the zombie's hand got free, grabbing her ankle before pulling, trying to get her closer to its mouth. She lost her balance, sweat beading on her forehead as she fell. She managed to catch herself on her palms, thankful she had durable gloves on.
"Oh come on!" Lucy yelled at herself, heat burning her ears as she scrambled to her feet, imagining how silly she looked to her comrades. It wasn't supposed to take that long to kill a walker, especially when it only had one working arm.
Deciding she was done with it all, Lucy kicked it in the side of the head, the zombie stunned for a moment. It allowed Lucy time to rip her machete out of its side before putting all her weight into slamming it down against the zombie's head, cutting right between the eyes and nose.
The entire width of the blade entered its skull, the zombie finally giving up the fight. Lucy fell to the ground, panting and sweating as she looked at her defeated opponent, wishing she had some cool water to soothe her dry throat.
She couldn't help but grin, pride blooming in her chest as she held herself a little higher. Nothing could beat the rush she felt, her body buzzing with satisfaction. She had done well. Even if she didn't like the idea of killing them, she had done her part to better Fairy Tail.
She felt valuable, her smile reaching her eyes.
"Good job," Rogue said when he walked up, his voice betraying his fear. "You had me worried for a second."
"You and me both," Lucy said, resisting the urge to wipe her brow when she noticed the blood on her gloves. She didn't know when she got messy, but thankfully someone was on it, bringing over the bucket of water they would use later to rinse the weapons.
Lucy knew the drill, tearing off her gloves before washing her hands. Hibiki used that as an opportunity to tell her to never scare him like that again while Lyon gave her a pat on the back, congratulating her on her victory.
She finished with some hand sanitizer, showing Rogue and anyone else who wanted to see her hands, easing their worries. There were no scratches, no bites.
She was safe, no need to throw her into quarantine. She couldn't imagine it would be any better the second time around.
Lucy thought she was done, but it turned out her discarded gloves weren't the only clothing she had blood on. A few drops of blood remained on her shirt from where the zombie grabbed her. If it wasn't for her jacket being zipped up, she was sure the zombie would have ripped the whole front of her shirt away.
Rogue allowed her to privately let him inspect around her collarbone, nodding when he found no signs of contamination. "You should definitely change," he said, nodding towards the house she had come from. "Do you have any clothes left?"
She shook her head, unable to hide her smile. "Nope, it's tapped out." Only a few items remained in the house that would be useful to Fairy Tail, the rest were on the trailer in the street or already heading back to base.
"Very well. Go ahead and get inside. I'll bring you another shirt."
Lucy nodded, about to start towards the house before she faltered, remembering the responsibility that came with killing the undead. "I'll take care of him first," Lucy said, rotating her shoulders a few times to prepare before accepting some clean gloves.
Lifting had gotten slightly easier after modifying her workout routine, feeling the familiar burn when she grabbed the zombie from behind, arms hooked under its armpits before dragging it down the street. What remained of its severed arm was stuck in its pocket, preventing her from making two trips.
By the time Lucy reached her house, she was dripping with sweat. It had been particularly warmer today than any other, her clothes clinging to her like a second skin. As soon as the door was closed she unzipped her jacket, shedding it before pulling at the hem of her shirt, letting it fall on the carpet.
A relieved sigh escaped as she pulled at the edges of her tank top, lifting her arms to let the slightly cooler air reach everywhere. She didn't pay attention to her surroundings, thinking she was safe as she headed to the kitchen to finish the bottle of water she had started earlier.
"Took you long enough," Rogue said when Lucy entered the kitchen, the woman jumping as her hand flew over her heart, eyes wide and mouth parting.
"Oh my gosh! You scared me again!" she yelled, causing the man to blink in surprise before holding up a shirt and jacket.
"I thought you'd be expecting me," he said, cocking his head. "Sorry though, I didn't mean to frighten you."
Lucy couldn't help but release a nervous laugh, her heart pounding as heat spread over her neck and chest. A trickle of embarrassment filled her, but she knew she was safe from ridicule around Rogue. He had shown he was an ally, maybe even a friend.
"You're okay, I just— Man, I wasn't expecting that." She laughed for real, a smile easing on her face. "Thanks for the clothes, I—"
She reached forward, the color drained from her face as she caught sight of the thin, pale scar on the inside of her wrist. It wasn't noticeable to someone who didn't know where to look, but it had Lucy's stomach rolling as she jerked her hand away, tucking it against her stomach to protect.
It had been one of the first cuts Ivan made on her, healing better than some of the nastier, deeper scars he left on her body after their countless sessions.
She gulped, coming to the horrifying realization that hiding that one scar wasn't enough, the marks all along her shoulders and upper arms burning, but knowing it was all in her head didn't make the pain any less real.
"I—" Lucy took a step back, unsure what she should do. She couldn't run away, knowing she would have to face Rogue at some point. He was her boss, and one look at him confirmed her fears.
He had noted her scars, eyes swiping over her before a small, sad smile pulled at his lips.
"I understand," he spoke softly, Lucy unable to tell if he had pity or concern in his voice. It was probably both.
"I'd like the shirt," she mumbled, even though that was the last thing she wanted. Her skin was clammy from her drying sweat. She wanted to air out, but she couldn't bring herself to get past the shame of the scars she wore. It hadn't been her fault, Grandeeney had helped her accept that, but she struggled to accept the marks.
Some days were better, but today, when someone new and unexpected had seen them, she wasn't too confident.
"Here," he said, eyes on the counter as he stepped towards her, extending a hand.
She accepted the shirt, pausing before uncurling herself, allowing her lungs to fill with air. A few more deep breaths were needed before she stretched the shirt, thankful it was made of a soft material.
She let her mind focus on that for a moment before Rogue cleared his throat, her eyes snapping towards him in an instant.
"I'm not sure you want to hear this, and if you don't, tell me and I'll stop." He paused, eyes flitting to her for a second before falling back to the counter. "There's nothing wrong with having scars."
When he saw her flinch, he groaned. "What I mean by that, is you shouldn't be ashamed. I'm not sure what happened, and I doubt you want to talk about it. I just want you to know you have no reason to feel shame. We all have scars. Some you can see, some you can't."
"I..." Lucy ground her teeth, refusing to let herself shut down. She had to be strong, especially off base. There was a time and place to process what she went through, but now wasn't it.
She looked up, ready to tell him she appreciated what he was trying to do, but he couldn't possibly understand her pain. That was until she realized it, her eyes rounding as they settled on the long, thin line over the bridge of his nose.
A choked sound left her throat as she ate her words, pink dusting her cheeks in a new type of embarrassment. Who was she to question Rogue's words when he couldn't hide his scar behind clothing? If anyone knew what she was going through, it was him, but his words made no sense to her?
How could he live with no shame, no embarrassment when he had such a large scar over his face?
'Are you serious?' Lucy scolded herself. Why should he be ashamed of his scar? It didn't define him. She barely noticed it when she first saw him.
In fact, when she thought about it, a lot of people at Fairy Tail had visible scars. Laxus had one over his eye, Gray had one on his forehead, though she only saw it when he ran his fingers through his hair. Sting had one running through his eyebrow, and then of course there was Natsu, wearing five scars where everyone could see. Three were on his arms, the others on his neck and cheek, though she did notice that one considering she had given it to him.
He had forgiven her, but that didn't make it any less visible.
All of their scars didn't make them look horrifying. So why, why did Lucy think her scars were any different?
'It might be how I got them... or because there's just so damn many.'
"I'm sorry if I'm overstepping," Rogue said, quiet until Lucy shook her head. "I used to be ashamed of my scars too."
Lucy's brows furrowed, eyes fixing on his nose. He saw her confusion, nodding as a small sigh escaped him. "I'm not proud of that time in my life, but I used to be troubled."
Rogue held out his right arm. Then slowly, he pushed his sleeve up. Lucy felt her jaw dropping, eyes captivated by the black and gray ink tattooed into his skin. It began with a few shadows from the leaves around his wrist but continued upwards, Lucy taking it all in.
The details of the flowers and tree frogs left her breathless, especially when she focused on a drop of water on one of the leaves. It looked so real, Lucy having a hard time believing it was a tattoo.
Rogue turned his arm so she could see the inside, the art continuing. While it did well to cover, Lucy realized what he was showing her. The skin beneath the tattoo appeared wrinkled, countless thin scars running sideways along his forearm, layered upon each other. His other hand smoothed over them, his voice calling her attention to his face.
"I wasn't kind to myself in high school. I let myself be convinced that my heart was stained with darkness."
"I had no idea," she whispered, causing him to smile despite the old pain on his arm.
"It's not something I like advertising."
Lucy wanted to ask what happened in his life to lead him down that path, but she remained silent. He didn't want to talk about it, and she could respect that more than most.
"I only wanted to show you that it seems hard, but it is possible to accept yourself."
Lucy almost rolled her eyes, hand coming up to her stomach, feeling the raised scar beneath her tank top. It was by far her angriest one, and she knew it would never fade like the smaller ones might. "I can't exactly get my whole body tattooed," she said, barely keeping the bite out of her tone.
Rogue shook his head, taking no offense. "I wouldn't expect you to. I didn't get my sleeve done to hide my scars. I only got it done years after I had come to accept myself. I just also wanted to be tattooed, so it seemed fitting."
He gave a gentle snort. "It hadn't been on my own either, the accepting myself part. I relied on friends, family, and a therapist." Rogue pulled his sleeve down, eyes lingering on the shadows for a second before directing his gaze at her.
"I don't think I ever would have gotten better if I didn't lean on others until I was ready to stand on my own."
"And you do?" Lucy asked, earning a raised brow from Rogue. "You're standing, fine?"
"If you're asking if the urge to cut is gone? It is. I learned to address and deal with my anxiety in healthier ways. I still have bad days, but I'm better at managing than I was. And I know you can be better too when you learn to accept yourself."
"I want to," Lucy said, but the weight of her past wouldn't let go. It lessened along the way, but she wasn't there yet. She wasn't free from what she endured. "I just, I'm scared to let people see, which is really going to be hard since it's getting warmer."
Rogue leaned against the counter, nodding to her body. "I don't think you have to worry so much. People might stare a bit, but we all get used to people's appearances. I bet if you walked around Fairy Tail like that, it'd be only a few days before people got over it."
"Why do you still cover yourself then?" Lucy asked, resisting the urge to put a hand over the scar on her shoulder, the thing completely exposed.
"I'm cold?" Rogue said as if it were obvious. "When it gets warmer I'll wear shorter sleeves around base, but even during the summer I suggest everyone wears sleeves to protect their arms from the undead. I do need to get some sunscreen though. The UV light fades tattoos quicker."
Lucy just stared for a moment, not wanting to accept his reasons. She found herself questioning why she was so unhappy with what he said about accepting oneself. Part of her knew it was wrong to be angry that he was happy with how he looked while she was ashamed, but she also had to remind herself they were in different stages of the same journey.
Instead of being resentful, she found a small sliver of hope. If he could overcome his pain and marks, why couldn't she? Plus, it was good Rogue wasn't hurting anymore. He was a nice person. He deserved happiness.
"I'm still worried what people will think," she admitted, wishing she could dress how she used to. Short skirts and tank tops were normal for her when she attended college, but now she feared ridicule.
'I wonder if anyone else has body issues... even during the apocalypse?' That kind of thing seemed insignificant, but Lucy still couldn't bring herself to dress how she deemed herself comfortable.
"This may be out of line, but you're not ugly, Lucy." Rogue paused, looking unsure if he should say it before deciding to go with it. "You're actually really pretty, scars included."
They both blushed, but Lucy knew he wasn't hitting on her. He sounded genuine, the weight of her past shifting a bit. It was still just as heavy, but it felt like she had a better grip.
"But," Rogue started, causing her a second of dread, wondering what he was going to tack on. "We both know it doesn't matter how beautiful a person is, that doesn't automatically fix the scars on the inside. It'll take time, but let's be honest, time is all we really have now. Might as well do our best."
Lucy found a small smile, managing a nod before shrugging. "Yeah, I guess you're right about that."
"Good. I'm glad we had this talk."
"Me too," Lucy said, ready to put on her new shirt. It wasn't because she wanted to hide, her skin finally cooled off. "Thanks."
He dipped his head into a bow, nodding before taking a step back. "Anytime. I should probably get going. It looks like you have things handled here?"
"I do." She smiled brighter, her earlier pride blooming in her chest once more. Despite her physical appearance, she was slowly growing more happy with the person she was striving to be. Rogue was right, she had plenty of time to improve.
And maybe when she was more comfortable with her inner self, she would be more accepting of her outer self.
Rogue was just about to leave the kitchen before Lucy's eyes fell to the counter, remembering her gift to Natsu. "Oh! Wait!"
Rogue peered over his shoulder, seeing her grab some books. "Yes?"
"Do you think Freed will let me keep these? I know it's a lot. Maybe just one or two?"
Turning, Rogue stifled a laugh. "As something as non-essential as that? Yeah, you could bring a whole box full of books back and Freed wouldn't bat an eye." He held up a hand, counting off on his fingers as he named valuable items. "Food, clothes, cigarettes, stuff like that, that's when they start caring."
Lucy grinned, hugging the manga to her chest. "Thanks!"
"No problem. Really, it's no trouble at all." He let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. "Now one thing I wish we had more of though, was fresh gas."
Lucy's excitement faltered, remembering what Erza had said. "I heard it won't be long until it's useless."
He nodded. "We've put as many additives as we can in what's left of our supply. I estimate we have a week, maybe two before it's worthless. Then we're gonna have to start walking every day. Makarov's talking about maybe even bringing sleeping bags so we can camp out in houses overnight when we start getting further away."
"Is that necessary?" Lucy asked, brows dipping inward, not liking the idea of spending the night away from base. It made her uncomfortable knowing Natsu was doing the same. Returning to Fairy Tail each day was reassuring.
"It's not like we have many options," Rogue said, frowning. "We don't have any electric cars, and even if we did and the solar panels produced enough electricity, we don't have any hookups for those kinds of cars on base. There's golf carts in that course by the school that we could use, but..."
"That'd probably drain all the electricity in the arena?" Lucy asked, earning a nod. "Darn."
"The people in the office are trying to figure out something to do, but it's looking pretty hopeless."
Lucy swallowed, mind wrapping around the possibility of walking everywhere until it hit her. "Natsu," she said, her heart aching as his name rolled off her tongue, but she couldn't dwell on it. "He... he had a plan. It's umm, kind of unorthodox."
"That could describe everything we're doing now," Rogue pointed out, causing her to snort.
"True, but his plan is a little crazy." She took a deep breath, preparing herself for Rogue's reaction. It may have been unnecessary. Natsu said he was going to tell Makarov, but he never brought it up again, so she was unsure if others had heard before. "Okay, so it's basically a zombie chariot."
Lucy heard the little sound that came when Rogue suppressed his snort, but he didn't bother stopping her as she continued. "Instead of killing, the clearers would capture some zombies, duct tape their mouths and hands, then find a way to harness them all together so they can pull the trailers. You'd probably have to modify the front so there was a wheel on it, and you'll need a braking system because you don't want them to wander off, and— Don't give me that look!"
Rogue's lips were pulled back into a wild grin as his teeth clenched together, trying not to laugh at the ridiculous plan. "I didn't say anything," he muttered through his teeth, Lucy shaking her head.
"Look, I know it sounds silly—"
"And dangerous," he added.
"Yes, it's dangerous too, but come on. It's at least something to consider?"
Rogue closed his mouth, taking a moment before shrugging. "Hey, I can run it up to the office, see what Mavis and them think?"
"Thank you," Lucy said, though she imagined he wouldn't hold back his chuckles when she wasn't around. She couldn't blame him. The idea sounded far-fetched, and there were so many things that could go wrong.
Lives would be at stake, but until Fairy Tail was self-sustainable and self-sufficient, they needed to gather supplies. The risk increased if they had to stay off base overnight, where anything could happen. If there was even a chance a zombie chariot could work, she had to at least mention it.
"When Natsu comes back I'm gonna have to pick his brain for more ideas," Rogue hollered as he walked towards the exit, not bothering to hide his amusement.
Lucy couldn't help but smile despite the doubt Rogue had for Natsu's plan. Rogue had said 'when', not 'if', hope still alive that they would return.
Lucy took a few deep breaths, switching gears. She didn't want to focus on anything else but emptying the house of essential items, proving to everyone, and especially herself, that she was a valuable member of the team.
'So clean!'
Lucy smiled the whole way back to her room, reveling in the scent of her body wash clinging to her skin. Work was over, her weapon was turned in, and after being processed and checking on Happy, Lucy had enjoyed a nice shower to wash away the last week.
It had been enjoyable, Lucy taking her time to scrub every inch of her skin despite knowing others were just behind the makeshift walls made from a tarp. Even the dim light coming from a lantern hung on the ceiling hadn't ruined her mood, Lucy joyful and ready to start her day off, even though it was technically tomorrow.
"Time to relax," she said, entering the room before locking it. After a few good stretches, Lucy stripped down into nothing but her tank top and panties, even ditching her bra to add to her comfort.
"Hi Happy," she said to the feline on the desk, giving himself a bath as well. Lucy put her shower caddy on the ledge by the window, wanting what remained of the sunlight to dry her toiletries.
"What should I do first?" Lucy asked, knowing she had time to kill before dinner. "Should I watch something? Or maybe take a nap?"
Her muscles urged her towards the bed, but Lucy planted herself at the desk, energy buzzing through her body, wanting to do something instead of relaxing. She didn't need to get set up, her notebook out with a pencil beside it, ready for her to pick up where she left off in her fanfiction for Natsu.
Lucy bit her bottom lip as she started writing, leg bobbing beneath the desk, her skin feeling warm despite barely being dressed. Her toes played with each other as she failed to concentrate, finding herself overly describing her character's muscles before a blush worked itself on her cheeks.
'Stop it,' Lucy scolded, not wanting to address those feelings.
It had started about a week ago, Lucy unable to wind down after a long day. Her heart would pump quickly, her fingers and breath would shake, and for the life of her, she couldn't get comfortable.
Lucy did her best to ignore it, brows scrunching as she rewrote her last paragraph, figuring Natsu didn't want to hear about how the sweat dripped down a man's neck, disappearing into his shirt.
With a heavy swallow, Lucy blinked, feeling flushed. She couldn't take off any more clothes, practically naked as it was. Though, the material did feel uncomfortable despite being soft, clinging to her skin.
Her fresh, clean skin.
Lucy's eyes widened when she realized the hand she wasn't writing with had somehow landed on her bare thigh, rubbing circles on her flesh. A frustrated groan tore from her throat as she placed her hand on the desk, palm down so she could monitor herself.
'Just, get a grip,' she thought, though no matter how hard she tried ignoring the slowly growing pulses, they kept coming.
Lucy had to take a few deep breaths, adjusting in her seat but failing to get comfortable. It didn't matter if she squeezed her thighs together or spread them, they both led to her fingers twitching, wanting to relieve the dull ache under her panties.
A whine slipped from her throat as she pressed her thighs together again, eyes falling to see the new underwear she had been given after her shower. It was cute, a bronze color with little pink hearts near the waistband.
Lucy's pencil drew short zigzags as her hand shook, eyes noting the peaks from beneath her tank top. She sucked in precious air, not wanting to indulge. There was no way going down that path would lead to any good. She might trigger herself, end up in tears because of what had happened.
But...
Lucy's eyes found her page, erasing the random scribbles before trying to write again, her frustration building the longer she denied herself. It made her clumsy, misspelling words as her mind pulled elsewhere, wondering how soft the material would feel against her—
"I should read!" Lucy announced, chair almost falling as she scrambled to her feet. She needed a distraction, something to take her mind off herself. Exercising was out of the question. Not only did she not want to sweat, she wanted her heart to calm down, not get worked up further.
Lucy's eyes flitted over her bookcase, searching for a book that would best combat her mood. When she found none, she looked over at Natsu's bookcase before smiling. She found the book of dragons, knowing that wouldn't spark any desire...
Or so she thought.
Lucy had settled down in the bed, pillow propped up behind her as she spread her legs, relieved by the cool air. She flipped to the first page, eyes tracing over the words, but her mind only picked up a little bit.
She was on her third page when she thought she had gotten a hold of herself, only to bite her lower lip when she looked at the red dragon in the corner of the page. Its ruby scales reminded Lucy of the tattoo adorning Natsu's ribs, her breathing slowing as she imagined dragging her fingers over the artwork on his body.
Would it feel like scales? Or would his skin be smooth beneath her touch? Perhaps a little rough, Natsu having small nicks and scars on his torso, not blending as well with his deep tan skin.
Her eyes remained on the page, but she absorbed nothing she saw, imagining how proud Natsu would have been of her today. She was proud of herself, so she knew her roommate would be excited.
'Maybe he'd give me a hug,' she thought, throat dry as she imagined those strong arms wrapping around her, Lucy's wandering hand landing on her thigh again as her other moved to hold the book against her stomach. Her arms tightened together, pressing her breasts up to block the bottom part of the pages.
Lucy breathed out, remembering the heat radiating off his skin, her hand drifting inwards. Natsu would probably give her one of his toothy grins, the kind that now made her heart flip.
Lucy's fingers gripped the book tight as she imagined the roughness of Natsu's fingers if he accidentally slipped his hand under her shirt as he was hugging her. It would never happen, but if it did...
Lucy took a shaky breath, heel of her foot digging into the mattress as her fingers toyed with the hem of her panties. Her skin burned with a blush, but she didn't bother fighting it anymore.
It had been so long, probably a year since she felt that kind of heat between her legs, that desire building in her stomach. She rocked her hips gently, feeling her panties sliding against her core, Lucy's eyes slipping shut as the book was forgotten.
Everything around her forgotten.
Lucy had tried curbing the urges for the past few nights by tucking her pillow between her thighs before gently rocking, trying to silence the ache, but after getting a taste, her ache wouldn't be ignored.
Peeking towards the door, Lucy swallowed, getting up to make sure it was really locked. She returned to the bed without any notions of trying to stop herself.
Rogue wasn't lying. She was pretty, Lucy recalling how her beauty had gained a lot of attention in her days. She had liked the looks, the flirting sent her way, but tonight, it was just her, and she held all her attention.
Before returning to the bed, Lucy swiped Natsu's phone, remembering he said he had a porn stash in an app called 'Audio Manager'. She had never looked up porn, but she thought it might help ease any apprehension she had about what she planned on doing.
However, after several attempts at cracking Natsu's code with no luck, she gave up. With a groan, Lucy pulled the covers over her head, wanting some type of privacy even in the locked room. Unsure what to do, Lucy set a hand on her stomach before lifting her shirt, settling her hand against her skin.
She felt the bump from her scar, but she didn't let it ruin her mood. If anything, she used it, finger sliding up the mark to where it ended, right below the valley of her breasts.
Lucy clenched her teeth, unsure if she would even like touching herself as her fingers skimmed up her breast, hesitating before circling around her areola. It had been so long. What if she wouldn't like it again? What if it made her feel disgusted?
She swallowed, body tense as the pulsing inside her increased. She was delicate, touch light as she pet her nipple.
Finding it enjoyable, Lucy applied more pressure, finger moving up and down as her core ached for the same attention. A moan trapped itself in her throat, Lucy letting out a shaky exhale as her heart beat wildly.
It had been too long since she felt pleasure, Lucy feeling like a stranger with her own body. But, it had felt good, and the ache wasn't ebbing. She sat up, pulling off her shirt before returning to the darkness, ready to try again.
As Lucy grew familiar with her breasts and the pleasure she could create, her other hand found her panties again, pushing past the material. Soft blonde curls met her fingers, Lucy flushing at the thought of how unruly it looked down there. She used to shave herself bare, but under the circumstances she had gone natural.
She wondered if she could start shaving. Razors were one of the items runners gathered, meaning it was possible for her to get one at the commissary if she asked. She hadn't considered shaving again, but part of her wanted to indulge in those activities, primping for her own satisfaction.
It hadn't taken long for Lucy to get comfortable with the idea of playing with herself, feeling insatiable as she explored further. She felt like a teenager who had discovered their body for the first time, getting familiar with herself.
"Mmnnnn," Lucy moaned when her fingers ran over her slit, finding herself dripping past her lower lips. She was practically panting from the ministrations on her chest, eyes sliding shut as her head tipped back, feeling her drenched folds.
She whined, hips rocking to chase her fingers, almost teasing herself by avoiding the one place she knew would bring instant pleasure. Her other hand focused on pinching a nipple, made wet after Lucy sucked on her fingers, allowing her saliva to dribble over her chest in the process.
She didn't give a single fuck how unladylike she looked, no one needing to know what she did with her own body, a salacious moan tumbling from her parted lips.
Lucy's tongue swiped over those lips as she pulled her hand from her panties, deciding to see how it would feel if she rubbed herself over the soft material. "Nghh," Lucy whimpered, hips bucking to ride her fingers as she tweaked a nipple. She switched between them, giving them equal care.
"Oh god!"
She couldn't stop herself from moaning, feet digging into the bed. Lucy's panties were no longer clean as she soaked through them, letting go of any embarrassment she might have felt.
Lucy gasped for air when she pushed her panties aside, not bothering to tease as she plunged a finger deep inside, shocked when she felt her body spasm. All it took was a few strokes of her fingers before she was unraveling, relishing in the pure pleasure crashing over her body.
Never before had she come so quickly, but Lucy wasn't nearly done. She rode out her orgasm as her finger continued to pump in and out of her wet heat, moan after moan spilling from her throat as she squeezed her breast, pert nipple pressing against her palm.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Lucy flushed when she realized someone might hear her, only adding to her pleasure when she had to muffle her cries of pleasure. She almost screamed when she pushed a second finger into her core, her juices dripping onto the sheets, soaking into the bed.
'I'll switch the beds later,' Lucy thought, gasping in short, rapid bursts as she struggled to catch her breath.
Pressure built in her body in all the best ways, because she knew it was leading to another blissful release. She rolled her nipple between two fingers, a choked sob escaping as she felt herself tipping over the edge once more, body quivering hard.
"Fuck," she muttered between clenched teeth, feeling herself climbing again. "Holy shi— Oh god!"
She whimpered as she came again, thighs clamping shut from sensitivity, but that didn't stop her from pulling on a swollen nipple.
She had been rough with herself, but she enjoyed it, loving what she did to her own body.
Her hand left her nipple in favor of reaching between her legs, dragging a finger over her clit before settling two there. She didn't bother holding back as she rubbed, her other fingers still pumping into her core, soaked from her juices.
By the time Lucy had her fourth orgasm, she was beat, legs tingling from the sensation working through her body. She kicked the cover off, sweat dripping from her forehead and down the nape of her neck.
She slowly extracted her fingers from her pussy, loving how delicious the stretch had been. She didn't think as she sunk her fingers into her mouth, knowing she had to clean them some way.
She hummed at the taste, finding it sweet. Her entrance was sopping, a mess left on the bed that she would have trouble explaining to Natsu if he came home then.
She smiled when she thought of him. Honestly, she wouldn't care if he found her in such a compromising position. Hell, if he was down for it, she would ask him to join her, but Lucy wasn't thinking straight, her blood rushing too quickly to form proper thoughts.
Despite thinking she was finished, Lucy felt her body aching again before she had a chance to calm her racing heart. She didn't ignore it, indulging in herself because she knew how good it felt.
Her hips jerked when she touched her core again, body sensitive and responsive. She rubbed her clit slowly, drawing out the pleasure. Brown eyes glanced down to her chest, seeing the pink buds that yearned for attention.
She granted it, one hand cupping her breast before gently kneading the flesh, not minding the various scars in her vision before she closed her eyes, preparing for another ride.
She was in complete control, and she was never giving that up again.
.
.
.
Happy Lucy day! (June 4th, 2020)
Lucy had some fun of her own, and about time I might add. I feel like it's better that she reawaken the sexuality within herself instead of when she gets in a relationship with Natsu, because then it might seem like she's being pushed into it too fast, or that she hasn't recovered enough. I think Lucy's ready to explore herself at her own pace and just have some fun. The girl's certainly earned it. Let me know what you thought of this chapter! Whether it's Lucy's alone time, her as a runner, her talk with Rogue, or just the chapter in general! Natsu's part is up next, so I hope you're looking forward to it. One step closer to their reunion. :)
Up next, Chapter Fifty-Two: Breadwinner
Thank you for all your support! Thank you for every single favorite, follow, and review! Shout out to the incredible people who gave me feedback/commented last time: Kayytrray, Guest, Wolfcry77, lovelyleveret, Doginshoe, FoxDragon1029, sakshishetty3003, stranger1999, Lilly Cassandra, Screeney, fairytaillif3, Tabasco-Devil, dareaderreads, Chibi-Umaru, Unicorn20023, Lodemai04, Wolf957, CodenameMise, valerioux, FlameDragonHime, danielk4440, MatchaTeaPot, Xfangirl123X, Jellal Frenandes, Mandapandaa, shootingstarssel, Sam(x2), samurai of sunflowers, ElementalMiko12, Lovetoreadff(x2), Yaknova, PikaKiKi94, ReynaSofy997, Animeforlifeee, Ryu of Konoha, Stavroula99, SistershoOk, ghostini, Missb, Marinamohsin, Lady Otaku bish, Poprock2363, HellsAngel0816, car213, Duchixx, Dr. MicK, and positive vibes only!
Also! I commissioned Fainttwinkling on tumblr to draw Natsu from CHDH if you wanna check it out! Her work is amazing! She made him look badass and awesome!