Chapter Seventy-One: Let it be Grand- Part One
(May 29th, 2018, Tuesday Morning)
Light flickered across Lucy's eyelids. She squeezed her eyes tight, trying to block out the pesky sun, but it was no use. She knew she had to get up soon, but it was her day off. Who could blame her for wanting to sleep in?
She wanted to rest, but soon her belly would grumble. The call for food was always too tempting to pass up, even if the bed was beyond comfortable.
Not only was it warm and soft, it was spacious, not that she ever got to take advantage of its size. She rarely got to stretch out, Natsu often sleeping next to her if he wasn't outright cuddling her.
Lucy couldn't blame him. She had started the trend five weeks ago when she had a nightmare. It had been unbearable, and Natsu was kind enough to let her crash in his room. He also let her confide in him, showing her he was not only a great listener, but a good confidant. She knew, felt it in her heart that he wasn't going to go spilling her secrets. If it wasn't for the safety of the base, he never would have told Makarov about Ivan, and she fully understood that now.
That night she bared her soul, telling him about one of the worst days of her life, as well as some other shitty things that had happened in her past. He hadn't judged her for a single thing, hadn't treated her differently after that, and knowing his opinion of her hadn't changed meant more to her than she could express.
Her safety in him only grew, finding inner peace when she was with him.
Natsu let her seek out physical comfort as well. She had cuddled him first, but by the end of that night they were both holding each other as he fell asleep.
Sleep hadn't come easily for her that night, plagued by fear until exhaustion won. While the nightmares had calmed down, only occurring on occasion, Lucy still found herself taking up residence in his bed more often. Twice a week for the past five weeks, always the night before her day off.
It started when Lucy hung out with Natsu in his room that following Friday, talking about 'Game of Thrones' until she got sleepy. He had offered her the bed so she didn't have to walk down the hall to her room. While she knew she needed to go brush her teeth and sleep in her own bed, Lucy accepted his offer.
With him in the bed, of course. She couldn't make him sleep on the floor in his own room after all.
Since then, the excuses grew flimsy until they didn't use any at all. She started pocketing her toothbrush and toothpaste on the nights she wanted to stay over, Natsu taking the hint each time.
It was unspoken, but Lucy felt it. He liked sleeping next to her just as much as she wanted it too. They fit together nicely, whether it was Natsu curled around her or her cuddled against his back.
Currently Natsu was sprawled out over her, one heavy arm across her stomach while his ankle hooked hers. He certainly hadn't started in that position, the two shifting in their sleep to get comfortable.
And Lucy was definitely comfortable. Maybe too much.
She shivered, taking more enjoyment than she should when Natsu breathed against her neck. His messy pink hair tickled her cheek as he gently snored. Apparently the light outside wasn't enough to pull him from his deep slumber.
Lucy smiled as she traced his fingers with her own, knowing how strong and tough he was. But, in moments like those, she felt the softness beneath his power.
His goofiness certainly helped, Lucy humming as she recalled the events of last night. They stayed up too late reading from a joke book she picked up off base, laughing hard enough to make her sides hurt. Or maybe that pain was from running at a walker just before they left for Fairy Tail?
Natsu didn't mention her job much, limiting his questions. She didn't know if it was for her sake or his, but either way she appreciated he hadn't tried swaying her decision again.
Natsu was slowly accepting her role at Fairy Tail, and more importantly, he was showing her respect.
Lucy tensed when Natsu shifted, thinking he was waking up. Instead he moved up until his lips brushed against the sensitive skin of her neck. She swallowed, a newfound heat pulsing between her legs.
Natsu hadn't intentionally touched her throat since she told him not to, but he couldn't control his actions when he slept. It had only happened one other time when Natsu's fingers curled against the crook of her neck, but never had his mouth been so close.
She told him she didn't like her neck being touched, but it was a lie. She wasn't opposed to it. In fact, she enjoyed his warm, shallow breaths against her skin. Ironically they sent goosebumps down her shoulder.
Back in Everlue's house Natsu had asked her if she had any kinks, and Lucy hadn't answered mostly because admitting something so personal was terrifying, but also she worried his question had been more reflex than true curiosity.
The truth was among other things, Lucy loved when her neck was spoiled. Kisses, nibbles, the light pressure of a palm against her throat, it all had her heartbeat accelerating just thinking about it.
She longed to have a man sucking her delicate neck, pulling a bruise to the surface of her skin. It had only happened once, Loke giving her a faint hickey. It had been enough to provoke the wrath of Jude, scolding his future son-in-law for... how did he put it?
Degrading her?
With her primp and proper upbringing, she had craved a little degrading, especially when it came to hickeys. Even if they didn't leave a mark, to have the wet heat of a mouth leaving wet kisses along her neck, it got her hot and bothered.
'But...'
Lucy sighed, eyes hooded as she thought, 'There's always a but.'
She liked her neck being touched, but Null had ruined that by choking her out. It had Lucy scared of anyone touching her neck, the thought of blacking out terrifying her. The fact that he was able to suffocate her enough to lose consciousness, it left her avoiding any reminders of that horrid experience.
However, Lucy found her guard once again dropping around Natsu. He had been the first person in a long time that she opened up to and trusted, and she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he would never intentionally harm her.
Some of his words in the past had been hurtful, but they had come from a place of fear. It didn't excuse what he said or how he acted, but it explained why he was so adamant about her quitting her job as a runner.
"Jashshu," Natsu mumbled against her skin, talking in his sleep.
She gulped, a lump forming in her throat as she laced her fingers with his limp hand. He was so close, his skin burning in the best way.
She wasn't afraid to play with fire, but maybe she should've been?
A throbbing down below called her attention once more, Lucy doing her best to shove down those thoughts. She had been doing so for weeks, ever since seeing Everlue's sex room. Her imagination ran wild with thoughts of Natsu.
She had been so sure her crush on him had vanished, and for a while, it had. When he disrespected her she couldn't find it in herself to be attracted to him, but then he started changing, improving and giving her space and respect.
Fuck, she had been a goner after that.
Little by little, her feelings had returned. There was no denying it. She liked Natsu, as way more than a friend.
The word friend sounded so small for how she felt. Even without any romance or physical aspects to it, Lucy found a companion in him. She was ready to hand over all her trust, which scared the hell out of her, but she knew her past, her present, and her future would be safe with him.
Her trust in him wasn't the only thing growing, Lucy biting back a groan when Natsu's lips tickled her skin. He was going to be the death of her, especially since she knew he didn't know what he was doing to her.
She was going to have to sleep in her own room tonight. There was no way she could ignore the persistent ache between her legs, her fingers twitching at the thought of relieving that annoying pressure.
A reoccurring fantasy of hers flashed through her mind, one where Natsu pushed her up against a wall, his piercing green eyes holding her more than his grip on her hips. Then he leaned down, stealing her breath as a moan caught in the back of her throat. The fantasy always changed after that, Lucy now imagining his hands skimming her sides, bringing her shirt up with him.
She swallowed, wishing that could be her reality, but it would only stay in her imagination. Hell, she would settle for Natsu running his fingers softly through her hair as he held her, much like he had five weeks ago. It had been so intimate, especially with her sharing so much of her past.
He was rowdy and loud, but when he pulled out that gentle side... It did something to her, turned her world upside down and she couldn't find herself hating it.
In fact, she craved it.
Lucy sighed, tempted to sneak away to her room to give herself a quick release before breakfast. However, as soon as she tried to move Natsu's hand, his alarm went off.
Her eyes slammed shut as she went limp, doing her best to pretend she had been sleeping. While they lightly cuddled on their way to sleep, Natsu always seemed embarrassed when they woke up tangled together.
She couldn't understand the embarrassment. They were both clearly okay with holding each other, and he always managed to wedge an arm between them so even if he woke up with morning wood, she never felt it.
Lucy wondered if he woke up embarrassed for her sake or his, but she was too shy to ask. How awkward would that be?
'Then again, fuck it.'
With heat tinging her cheeks, Lucy's eyes fluttered open just as she heard Natsu groan, protesting the alarm.
If Natsu was embarrassed for her sake, she was going to end it right now. Her shaky fingers intertwined with his, feeling him tense for a millisecond before he laced his willingly.
"Morning," she squeaked, wishing she had cleared her throat first.
Natsu mumbled something that sounded like 'morning', burying his head into the pillow before exhaling. "I don't wanna get up."
How was his groggy voice so damn sexy? It was borderline unfair how it made her stomach flop like a fish fresh out of water.
Lucy's heart pounded, waiting to see Natsu's reaction to them cuddling. Or perhaps, he was already reacting? He didn't seem to notice, though the loose grip of his hand suggested he had a clue. She would put money on it that he didn't know his lips had been on her skin moments ago, his head probably swimming after waking up.
"We did stay up pretty late last night," Lucy said in the most nonchalant tone she could muster, yawning before stretching her legs.
That had Natsu stiffening, peeking his head up to look at her before following their bodies covered by the blankets. He had to have felt himself on her now, his expression morphing from confused to surprised in a matter of seconds.
"Sorry," he mumbled, unhooking his ankle, but he made no effort to pull his hand away.
She counted that as a win.
Her throat tightened as she prepared herself, knowing it was the right thing to do. Either she said nothing and he continued to be embarrassed for the wrong reasons, or she told him how she felt and he let her know if he was on the same page.
"Don't be," she whispered, turning her head towards him. "It's... nice." Their eyes locked, all the air around her feeling like static for a second before he blinked, cutting through the tension as a smile twitched on his face.
"Okay then," was all he said, squeezing her hand before pulling away completely.
If it wasn't for him starting to get ready for the day, she would have missed his warmth. Who was she kidding? She missed it anyway, wishing they could spend the whole day in bed, relaxing and giggling and talking.
As she watched Natsu grab his stuff to brush his teeth, Lucy reminisced on their conversations over the past few weeks. Since that night her nightmares came back, she had opened the book that was her life, filling in more details about her family, friends, and school before the outbreak.
Of course, she never revealed too much, wanting to keep her being a Heartfilia a secret. She was ninety-nine percent sure her family had nothing to do with the virus, but, why take that risk? When Ivan found out who she was, he taunted her, calling her a spoiled brat who deserved everything he did to her.
She knew he was wrong, that she never deserved a single thing he did, but the words had hurt. They also stuck. She had been spoiled and along the lines, lost some appreciation for things. When everything was handed on a silver platter, it was hard not taking things for granted.
The outbreak certainly changed that. With even clean drinking water as a luxury, Lucy found herself grateful for everything she had. Especially her friends, and especially Natsu.
He flashed her a smile before disappearing into the hall, after putting on a shirt and shorts of course. She had to bite back a smile of her own, knowing she was the only one who got to see him in his boxers, not that it meant much.
Lucy sighed, stretching out as she found herself circling back to a thought that wouldn't leave her alone. Over the past five weeks they had grown closer than ever before. Every day their talks got easier, the laughs fuller. The tension that had formed when Natsu came back from Hargeon eased away, until Lucy could freely breathe around him.
She had never felt more comfortable with anyone else before, which complicated things for Lucy. The lines between friendship and more blurred, and she wasn't sure Natsu noticed. If he had, he didn't mention it. Then again, she hadn't said anything either, scared she was misreading things.
She had been dropping hints left and right. Hell, weeks ago she offered to massage his front! If that wasn't a big enough clue for Natsu, she wasn't sure what would get his attention. Yesterday's attempt had been plain lame. She told him he had really pretty eyes. He barely blushed, telling her thanks before saying her eyes were 'cool too'.
'Ugh!'
If Natsu was aware of her attempts at flirting, he didn't show it. Either he was as dense as they came, or he was too embarrassed to tell her to stop. Or worse, what if he pitied her and didn't have the heart to tell her he wasn't interested?
But, that didn't make much sense. It was clear something was going on between them, right? 'Is it really all in my head? Has being away from a normal society warped my brain and now I'm mistaking friendliness for something else?'
It wasn't as if she had a lot of guy friends before the outbreak. She was surrounded by girls and the only guys she hung out with usually ended up flirting with her. Was it possible she mistook his platonic friendship as something more?
Lucy frowned, wishing she was brave enough to march up to Natsu and confess that she liked him. That was sure to put an end to her 'what if' game. But, if she had been wrong and there wasn't a shred of romantic chemistry between them—
Lucy's face burned with a blush, mortified by the very thought.
She wanted more with Natsu, but honestly, if they could continue the companionship they had developed, that would be alright too. Lucy liked what they had, and if that was all he could ever offer her, she would take it in a heartbeat.
They were stuck in a weird situation. More than friends but less than lovers. She decided there were worse places she could be.
Lucy slowly pushed herself to a sitting position, body sore as she breathed deeply. It was their day off, and she was curious to see if Natsu would reveal what he had been up to lately. He was supposed to do it last week, but a storm blew in and rain poured over Fairy Tail all day and night.
Judging from a glance towards the window, there wasn't a drop of rain in the sky. She was going to find out what Natsu had been planning, and it filled her with a nervous energy that had her heart buzzing.
"Hey Natsu," Lucy started, causing him to look up from his bowl of dry cereal. She fought a smile, wanting to sound serious. "I used your phone to take a picture of a wheat field yesterday."
A crease formed over his brows, Natsu tilting his head. Before he could ask where she found a wheat field, Lucy added, "I deleted it though. The picture turned out grainy."
It took a second before Natsu's head tipped back, blowing air through his nose as he nodded. "I like that one."
She bit her bottom lip, satisfied with his reaction. It wasn't the same as last night, the two nearly in tears as they laughed, telling jokes and puns back and forth, but it was still nice.
"Oh, that reminds me," Natsu said, speaking loud enough so the others could hear, but he kept her gaze. She barely noticed anyone else, not when those green eyes held hers. "You know, I was once a contestant in a bubble gum chewing contest."
Lucy waited, a giddiness spreading through her as he paused. The anticipation built, a few pairs of eyes moving in their direction.
Natsu's lips parted, his sharp canines gleaming as he said, "But then I blew it."
Lucy laughed hard, the skin around her eyes crinkling as she braced herself on the edge of the table, sure she would topple over if she didn't rein it in.
Before she could think about her reaction, Natsu's eyes lit up, a large grin pulling at his lips. He had such a nice smile, so warm, inviting, and full of life.
Lucy was trapped in a perfect moment where everything was pleasant and funny between them, but then Gray burst her bubble by saying, "Geez. It wasn't that funny."
Lucy's laughter cut out seconds before Natsu scowled, shooting him a glare as he yelled, "No one asked you Ice Princess!"
As the two started hurtling insults back and forth, Lucy turned her head towards Gray. Only, she didn't get that far. Her eyes locked on the spot next to Gray, occupied by Levy. She was looking back, eyes wide with her lips parted.
Time stood still when Levy's surprise morphed, a coy smile spreading her lips. The gleam in Levy's eyes sent a shiver down Lucy's spine. She recognized that look. It was the same one she received after she started hanging out with Hibiki.
She gulped, already shaking her head as she mouthed, "Don't."
Levy grabbed her drink, shrugging before resting the rim against her lips. "What?" she asked, voice barely heard over the shouting match happening at the table. "I didn't say a thing." She tipped her drink back, Lucy's stomach falling faster than the liquid down Levy's throat.
'No. Oh no oh no oh no!'
Lucy remembered Levy's teasing when she thought something was going on between her and Hibiki, and that had been pure speculation. Lucy replayed the joke back in her head, recalling her exaggerated reaction. There was no way Levy missed the signs she threw out for anyone to see. She might as well have been holding a neon sign saying, 'My heart belongs to my best friend.'
Her cheeks warmed as she dropped her gaze, focusing on her oatmeal as she tried downplaying the whole thing. 'Levy will drop it. There's no way she'll actually believe I like Natsu. She'll... she'll figure she was mistaken, as long as I don't give her more of a reaction.'
"What'd I miss?" Cana asked as she came over to the table, taking the vacant seat beside Lucy's.
"Well," Levy started, the teasing hard to miss in her tone. "Lucy here was just—"
"Nothing!" Lucy yelled, causing Natsu and Gray to stop bickering.
Fire flooded Lucy's shoulder when Natsu's touch landed on her, concern in his voice as he asked her if she was okay.
If it wasn't for Levy's prying eyes, she would have melted on the spot. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't enjoy the close contact.
'I shouldn't enjoy it anyway. We're just friends!'
For a second she considered whispering the word milkshake to Natsu, unsure if he would understand or even remember their 'safe word'. If he did, he would know she was in distress, but she didn't want to alarm him. The less attention she drew to herself, the better.
At least in that case.
"F-Fine," Lucy mumbled, causing Natsu's mouth to part.
"Are you sure?" he whispered, reminding her of how gentle he was months back, when stumbling over her words was a normal occurrence. He had been so patient with her, so encouraging.
How could he ever think for a second that he didn't help her? If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't have made it that far.
"Yeah," Lucy whispered back, resisting the urge to cup her hand over his. She wanted him to stay, but he pulled away with a nod, a soft smile adorning his face.
"Good." Natsu seemed satisfied with her answer, returning to his meal.
Lucy refused to look over at Levy, scared she was going to give more away. Or maybe she shouldn't avoid her? Would that make it obvious there was something to hide?
She almost groaned at the headache she was giving herself, wishing she hadn't laughed so much at Natsu's joke. She couldn't help it. She thought the joke was hilarious. Or, maybe it was just the person who told it to her that had her cracking up?
The rest of breakfast carried on like normal. Lucy stood with the others, getting in line to turn in her dishes. A new job had opened up at Fairy Tail, the position of dish washer. Natsu had helped with the construction of 'sinks'. They put their dirty dishes in wheelbarrows to be carted off outside to the makeshift sinks. A crew of seven people would wash, rinse, and dry the dishes to be redistributed during the next meal time.
After dinner the dishes would be placed in water to soak overnight, thus making the job easier the following day. They were still working out the kinks, but so far it seemed to boost morale. A suggestion box had been installed outside of the main office weeks ago, and the top complaints had to do with hygiene and health.
They were still weeks away from finishing the outdoor shower stalls. Expanding the greenhouse and chicken coop had taken priority. The chickens were now producing eggs almost every day, Mira using them to cook into their meals.
Just last week Loke was able to make sheet cakes for dessert. Surprisingly it was more talked about than his 'amazing massage skills'. Lucy barely kept herself from rolling her eyes every time a woman called him 'delicious in more ways than one'. Loke had gotten around a few times since being at Fairy Tail, but at least he had kept his word on not trying to make a move on her again. The two were able to talk from time to time and be friendly, though she earned a few glares from his 'conquests'.
Regardless of the innuendos used to describe Loke, they were right about one thing. His creations were always delicious, the sweet and savory treats loved amongst most of the survivors.
Lucy noted that some were grumpier than others. There were a few that would rile each other up about once or twice a week in line, saying the rations they were given were unfair compared to people who worked off base, but if they brought their complaints to Makarov, they didn't mention it.
They always shut up when they got near the front of the line, accepted their food, then went to sit down and eat. Lucy wasn't sure if it was people blowing off steam or a real concern, but if it was the latter, she hoped they at least made the effort to include it in the suggestion box instead of bothering everyone around them with their negativity.
'It sucks that there isn't a lunch for people who work on base, but standing around bitching about it isn't going to solve anything.'
She had seen firsthand that change didn't happen without effort.
"This is way better," Cana said, dropping off her dishes before heading towards the doors, her friends following her lead. "I was getting aches in my jaw from licking that damn plate every day."
Gray nodded, running his hands through his dark hair. "Same."
"I dunno," Natsu said, hanging back until Lucy was done before the two walked side by side. "I miss that plate you gave me. The one with the cool swirls on it."
Lucy smiled as she looked up at him. "It was pretty interesting." She almost said more, only to falter when Levy came up beside Natsu.
"Hey, can I borrow you for a second?"
Natsu cocked his head. "Uh, sure?"
Levy shot Lucy a mischievous grin before grabbing Natsu's arm, pulling him back. Shivers ran down Lucy's spine while she continued walking, heart pounding as she told herself there was nothing to worry about. There was a chance Levy didn't figure out Lucy's feelings for Natsu, and even if she did, there was no way she was betraying her trust by telling him.
Right?
Lucy swallowed while her pace slowed, frowning as she considered the ramifications. If Natsu found out how she felt and he wasn't on the same page, it would make their friendship awkward if not strained. Hell, it could tear it apart.
Dread clawed at Lucy's chest as she exited the arena, stopping herself a few times from looking back to see if Levy and Natsu were still talking. She yelped when she felt something on her back, jolting as she glanced over her shoulder to see Natsu grinning at her once more.
Considering he didn't look upset or infatuated with her, she guessed Levy kept her mouth shut about her suspicions. Just to be safe, Lucy asked, "So, what was that about?"
"Oh," Natsu started, a devious glint flashing in his eyes. Lucy was two seconds away from asking why everyone looked so amused with keeping secrets from her, only to pale when he added, "She just had a suggestion for today. That's all."
She bit her inner cheek to hide her reaction, giving a careful nod as she said, "I see."
They entered the school, Lucy grabbing the door first to let Natsu through. He let go of her back, saying, "I guess it's not so bad giving our dishes up. At least we save time."
"And there's more jobs on base now," Lucy said, wishing she could have washed dishes instead of digging graves when she started working. It would have been less depressing, but she supposed working in maintenance helped give her some strength and confidence by working with her hands.
Deciding she wanted to ease back into the friendly atmosphere they were in earlier, Lucy nudged Natsu's shoulder with hers. "Maybe you should think about joining the dish washers?"
He chuckled, shaking his head as he glanced at her. "Nah. Think I like my new schedule."
Natsu worked in receiving three days and construction for three days. He kept his day off as Tuesday, giving them a chance to hang out.
Only, he hadn't been available for the past four Tuesdays.
"So," she started, fighting a smile. "When are you going to show me what you've been up to?"
Natsu took his eyes off her just as they neared the stairs, his voice nonchalant as he shrugged. "Later."
She groaned, grabbing his arm to give him a light shake before they climbed the stairs. "Oh come on! Why can't we just go now?"
He laughed, hand sliding over hers before giving it a squeeze. "When'd you get so impatient?" The teasing tone kept her from worrying, liking when he joked with her.
"I've been waiting over a month," she pointed out, letting go just as Natsu fished for his keys. "Can you at least give me a hint?"
"Absolutely not," he chuckled, but she wasn't having it.
"Pleeeeeease!"
The twitch in his cheek let her know she had him. She moved in front of Natsu's door, batting her eyes as she softened her voice. "Natsuuu," she whined, loving the faint blush surfacing on his face.
Or maybe it was a full-blown blush. The dim light in the halls was a pain sometimes.
"So weird," Natsu mumbled, easily moving her when he put a hand on her arm to gently push her aside. In her defense, her body turned to putty when he touched her. He cast her a look, Lucy taking the opportunity to pout.
Natsu shook his head as he laughed, unlocking the door before saying, "Alright, fine. I'll give you one hint."
Lucy lit up, following him inside the room. "Awesome!" She strolled to the window, letting some air flow into the room. She already knew what she wanted to ask, though the reason left more of a bitterness in her stomach than butterflies like she hoped.
Jealousy was a nasty bitch, and she hadn't tangoed with the feeling in quite some time.
"Why'd you smell like lavender a few weeks ago?"
Natsu made a buzzer sound. She almost forgot what it meant, recalling in game shows it was the sound used to signal an incorrect answer. Furrowing her brows, she tilted her head in his direction.
"It wasn't lavender?"
Natsu shook his head. "That's not the hint I'm giving you," he said, keeping his back towards her as he messed with the various items on his bookcase.
Lucy had to take a deep breath to keep her emotions from stirring. She had asked him two weeks ago why he smelled so… nice, especially after arriving from off base. Natsu wasn't one to put on perfume or cologne. His sensitive nose didn't allow it, so when she caught a whiff of the fragrance it raised questions.
Questions he still wasn't willing to answer.
Her stomach churned as she fiddled with her hands, moving to lean against the desk. "Oh," she whispered, failing to ignore the way her heart fell.
'This is stupid. There's no reason for you to get jealous. You're letting your imagination get the better of you.'
But, was she?
It wasn't ludicrous to think he had found someone off base and was spending his days off with them. Maybe he found someone better suited for him? Someone wild and carefree, who didn't have baggage for days. Why else would he leave every week for the whole day, only to return with sealed lips. He never said where he went, what he did, or why he felt compelled to disappear.
Every time she asked, he gave her the same answer. "It's a secret."
'Seriously, I need to get a grip.'
Staying in her head wasn't helping. With a forced shrug, Lucy asked, "Okay, then what's the hint?"
Natsu turned his head, showing the faint smile playing on his lips. His emerald eyes found hers, both freezing and melting her on the spot. She swore the air around her sizzled as a certain darkness lingered in his gaze, but she held no fear. If anything, it made her want to venture closer, stick her hand near that fire and risk a burn.
But then he blinked, and within a second Natsu wore a goofy grin. Had she imagined the intense look before?
"I'll tell ya, but you gotta promise you won't get mad!"
He laughed, causing Lucy's chest to tighten. The more she accepted her growing feelings for Natsu, the worse she felt when she was trapped in her head.
Was her mind playing tricks on her? Was she feeling a mutual connection? Or was it all one-sided?
Was she wasting her time fawning over a guy who saw her as nothing but a friend?
"I won't get mad," Lucy said, more out of habit than anything. She barely registered his words, only snapping fully into reality when he neared her.
She swallowed, tipping her head upwards when he stopped a foot away from her. For a brief second she imagined him taking her chin between two fingers before leaning in.
Lucy's throat felt suddenly dry, a dull pulse making itself known as she watched his lips part.
'Why didn't I stop myself before I got this infatuated with him?'
If she thought she could get away with it, she would have sighed. Unfortunately, Natsu's eyes were locked on her as he leaned in, but she knew without a doubt he wasn't going to do what she hoped for.
'Because I'm deluding myself. He's never going to want me like I want him.'
As that cold hard truth set in, Natsu whispered in her ear as if they had dozens of people around them. "I was very careful," he started, his warm breath doing nothing to calm the heat between her thighs.
'Seriously! Cut it out!'
"Like, super careful," Natsu said, pulling back as he bit his bottom lip.
She nearly groaned. 'Yeah. I'm definitely making shit up in my head. When did I start obsessing over every little thing he does?' Lucy knew she had a problem when she started feeling jealousy. There was nothing to be jealous of, and yet, she couldn't shake the feeling. She couldn't shake any of her feelings, she—
"I went back to Everlue's house."
Lucy's eyes widened, all thoughts of romance or more vanishing as warning bells went off in her head.
Everlue. Zombies. Blood.
So much blood.
Lucy was far from having a panic attack for herself. Instead she looked over Natsu's body, as if he had been hiding some injuries over the last few weeks. Aside from the scar left after getting road rash in Hargeon, Natsu hadn't had any wounds in a long time. Even the minor scars on the outer part of his left arm wasn't that bad, but it still had her wincing when he showed her his bicycle accident left a mark.
"Why?" was all Lucy could say, or maybe she mouthed it. Her hearing cut out for a moment as she replayed the events surrounding Everlue's house. That area was dangerous, infested with the undead. She knew the sprinters were just as fast as the day they encountered them, Gray filling the group in on some information he came across while at Hargeon.
Lucy didn't have the complete details, but Natsu let her know some of the stuff going on at Hargeon. While Lucy was against the experiments, a fraction of her understood why Gray would go along with it.
The information given was useful, and the chance of a cure? It was almost too good to be true.
While she doubted they would be privy to a cure if it became available, they gained valuable knowledge.
Even if some of it wasn't good news.
All zombies started as sprinters when they were first turned, but their blood type determined whether they stayed at that speed or if they slowed down and became what they considered 'walkers'.
So, even if someone was turned on day one, they could still be just as fast almost a year later.
"I needed some things," Natsu said, causing Lucy to ponder what he would possibly need there.
More books? Food? They had left a lot of items back there, but she didn't think Everlue's house had anything they couldn't get from the commissary.
"Okay?" Lucy cocked her head as her eyes narrowed. "Is that really my hint?"
He grinned, disarming her for a second as he nodded. "Yup! You'll find out more later!"
Natsu turned, going back to his bookcase before grabbing some items. She saw him put his wireless doorbell in his pocket, making her wonder if he was going to a dangerous area off base.
Then again, there wasn't exactly a safe place off base.
"So I am going to find out what you've been up to today?" she asked, earning a nod. "Okay. Do you have a time in mind?"
Natsu stuffed the last of his distracting items in his pockets before facing her again. He pulled on his gloves, looking ready for work despite it being their day off.
"Yeah. Meet me at the gate at two."
Lucy was about to nod before he added, "Remember to grab your weapon. Oh! And make sure you shower first."
That had Lucy reeling back. "What? You want me to shower first?" That made no sense. "Shouldn't I wait until after I get back before showering?"
With one shower a week, she didn't want to risk getting dirty off base after getting nice and clean. What if she ran into trouble? Even running away from a zombie would work up a sweat. She wanted at least one night fully cleaned before she had to start taking makeshift showers with a cloth and water.
Natsu shook his head, adamant as he said, "Nope. Shower before we leave."
She was two seconds away from protesting before Natsu said, "Trust me."
Lucy didn't bother smothering her groan, frustrated at the unknown. However, she did trust him. Not only with her safety, but with most of her secrets. There were some things she kept tucked away, even from herself.
Some of the things she had to do to survive… Some of the things she was forced to do… It was humiliating, degrading, and just vile.
Acid burned her throat just thinking about it, but Grandeeney's voice entered her head, reminding her that she shouldn't blame herself for the things she couldn't control.
She wanted to share everything with Natsu, but she couldn't. 'What if he looks at me differently?' Lucy wasn't willing to risk it. She would take some secrets to the grave, even if it ate away at her piece by piece.
"You okay?" Natsu asked, his voice registering seconds before she realized his hand was on her shoulder.
Her eyes fell to his hand, wondering when she became okay with his touches. She used to flinch from contact like that, but now…
Now she craved his hands on her, whether it was a hug, a pat on the back, or something more.
Lucy stole a deep breath before nodding, knowing she would be okay in the end. Her father had called her stubborn throughout her lifetime, and she was starting to agree.
She was going to vanquish the demons lurking in her mind, conquer her fears and enjoy what little life they all had left.
She didn't survive hell just to wallow in her dark thoughts and memories. Lucy knew there were no guarantees, no promise of tomorrow.
So, she cupped her hand over his, smiling at Natsu as she soaked in the comfort of his presence. "Yeah. Everything's great."
Scratch scratch scratch.
Lucy's pencil moved against the paper as her imagination was brought to life. She had to keep busy, worry trickling in until it seized her chest.
'What is Natsu planning?'
She took a shaky breath, needing to stretch her legs. Needed to move. It helped, her train of thought derailed as she moved to the center of her room.
A set of push ups helped take her mind off her thoughts, but just to be safe, she started doing 'mountain climbers' afterwards. Her heartbeat picked up, as well as her shortness of breath.
Twenty minutes later, Lucy found herself back at her desk, that pencil scratching once more.
Her curiosity couldn't be tamed, Lucy wondering once more what Natsu was up to. When he first mentioned Everlue's house, she thought of the dangers surrounding it. How could she not? She had her worst panic attack in that area, thankful Natsu was there to help her when she had lost it.
'He's always there for me.'
Lucy took a deep breath before tapping her pencil against the desk, unable to figure out what Natsu would have gotten from Everlue's place.
It wasn't until she had left Natsu's room that she realized there was something else Natsu could have grabbed from that house. Everlue was a collector of many things, and some of those items were on the more deviant side.
Lucy swallowed, her chest rising and falling faster as she recalled all the toys hanging from the walls and hiding within drawers. There was no way Natsu grabbed any of the sex toys. It was insane even entertaining that idea, but…
'What if?'
She shook her head, firm in her mind. Natsu wasn't going to do something like that, right? For a brief moment, she wondered what he might have grabbed if he had sought out something in that room.
What would she even grab?
Lucy thought about the toys. Some were a bit much for her, but others looked… fun. She had been using her fingers, and while they got the job done, she wished she had something to get her off without much work.
After a long day she was often too exhausted to go through the motions, but then her thoughts would wander to Natsu and that fanged grin he wore so well. It would be nice to have something to get her off without much effort, but she wasn't a fan of using someone else's vibrator.
'Natsu would sterilize it if he planned on using one. He'd definitely make sure it was nice and clean before using it on m—'
Lucy let out a yelp as she shut her eyes, her skin flushed as she realized where her train of thoughts had gone.
'No no no! You can't think like that! What the heck?!'
More alarming than the direction her thoughts were headed was the lack of reluctance she felt. Was she actually considering going along with a hypothetical like that?
"This is crazy," she whined, almost covering her face with her hands before stopping herself. "It's Natsu! He's not going to do something like that! Ever!"
Her heart fell just as her hands went to the desk, lips pulling into a frown. Lucy's eyes flitted to her papers, a sigh escaping as she slumped in her chair.
Lucy moved her pencil to the corner of her page, doodling a little flame as she indulged in the topic that wouldn't leave her alone.
'I'd be interested in seeing how it could go between us, but I don't know if he feels the same way.' Of course Natsu was nice to her, but it wasn't wise to assume that just because he was friendly meant he felt something for her too.
'He's friendly to a lot of people, but I've never seen him protective of them like he is with me…'
That thought died as soon as she realized the only close friends he had that worked off base could handle themselves.
'I never see him holding their hands… Or hugging them… Well, as much as he hugs me. He hugged Cana for her birthday a few weeks back, but it hadn't lasted as long as when he hugs me. But... I'm not with him all the time. Maybe there's a more affectionate side of him he shares with others?'
Lucy's eyes dimmed from the discouragement. 'Maybe he does hug other people a lot. I just don't see it?'
Natsu had been spending a lot of time with Levy recently, but now there was no way she could ask if Natsu had been hugging other people without it looking suspicious. Then again, she doubted that question would ever sound casual, even without that morning's incident.
Lucy groaned as she dropped her head to the desk. "Why did I laugh so hard? Gray's right. It wasn't that funny."
Had it been before the outbreak, maybe Lucy would have taken a chance and asked Natsu out on a date. The possible rejection was scary, but if it didn't work out, oh well. She doubted they could remain friends without it being awkward, but that would have been a risk she could take.
Now… Well, if things became awkward or strained between them—
Lucy shook her head. That wasn't an option. Before the outbreak, Lucy could afford to lose a friend or two. It would hurt, but she could survive. However, she couldn't take any risks now. Unless she knew Natsu liked her back, she wasn't going to outright tell him how she felt.
Flirt with him, fine. Purposely wear tighter tops and shorts to bed when she slept over, yeah. But confess she had feelings for him? Not unless she was without doubts.
And damn, was she full of doubts.
Lucy picked herself up, setting both hands on the desk before taking a calming breath. "It's fine," she whispered, finding her strength.
Despite wishing for more, she had to remind herself that being Natsu's companion was good enough. Sure, she wondered what kind of dirty things they could do. It was hard not to let her imagination run wild when she looked at him.
There were so many aspects about him that she liked. He had a great smile that warmed her heart. His hair was unique and wild, but it had grown on her at some point. She admired his forearms, especially when he sat across from her and they played cards. Oh, and there was the way he laughed that had her insides buzzing.
'I bet he could hold me up against the wall.'
She had no doubts he could support her weight, especially after he started exercising with her three nights a week. She had seen his endurance, seen how much he could lift at a time. She could picture his hands sinking against her thighs as he held her up. Her fingers would twist in his hair as her legs wrapped around his hips. Would he be gentle? Rough?
'I bet he wouldn't hold back when he pushed into me and—"
Lucy blew out a long breath before fanning herself, deciding it was time for a better distraction. She drank half her glass of water before grabbing her shower things.
While she trusted Natsu, her gut told her to hold off on her shower until after being off base. She ignored it, heading to the arena where she found Yukino outside of processing.
After a conversation about the different constellations Yukino spotted last night, Lucy dipped into the locker room for her shower.
Even the cold water wasn't enough to combat against her flushed skin when her mind wandered again. Despite knowing for a fact nothing intimate was happening with Natsu, Lucy still shaved her legs and armpits. She even tidied her bikini line, even if she felt silly afterwards.
'Nothing's going to happen.'
She could tell herself that a million times, but the daydreams didn't stop.
Rinsing herself off, Lucy wrapped her body in a towel before brushing her hair, deciding to put it in a ponytail when it was dry. When she went off base she liked keeping it in a braided bun, but Natsu seemed adamant she wouldn't get dirty.
The area around Fairy Tail hadn't seen a stray zombie in over a month, maybe more. Well, if they didn't count the chariot. The surrounding neighborhoods seemed safe, but she would still be vigilant.
Lucy had been much better about staying alert, finding her drive to life growing every day. She wasn't trying to just survive the day anymore, now looking forward to the future and what it had to offer.
Like Natsu said, what was the point in surviving if they weren't living?
With a fresh change of clothes adorning her body, Lucy made her way back to her room. She didn't stay long. Writing had proven to be a bad distraction, and she wasn't up to exercise again. Instead, she headed towards one of her friend's rooms, knocking on the door since she knew he had the same day off as her.
Lucy stepped back, prepared to be met with silence or Hibiki answering the door. Neither of those happened, her eyes widening when the door opened to reveal a woman.
Karen looked Lucy up and down, a furrow to her brows as she asked, "Yes?"
"Uh…" Lucy glanced at the room number, confirming she had the right one. "Is Hibiki here?"
Karen's eyes narrowed for a second before she smiled, voice a bit on the obnoxious side as she said, "Sorry, he's a little… tied up at the moment."
The smile Karen wore wasn't unfamiliar. She had seen it many times before the outbreak when women would mark their territory, though that idea was ridiculous to Lucy. There was nothing going on between Hibiki and her, which she thought was obvious. They were just friends.
'Like... me and Natsu are just friends.'
Before her thoughts could bring her down, Karen winked, pulling at Lucy's attention. "I'll tell him you stopped by Lexi."
"It's actually—"
The door shut in her face before Karen locked it.
"—Lucy."
Resisting the urge to groan was a struggle, but she pulled through. Lucy shook her head, turning to make her way towards receiving. Hibiki had been done with Karen for how long?
She couldn't keep track of their dysfunctional relationship. Every time they broke up, Hibiki swore he was never going back, but he always slipped into bad habits.
'Can I really blame him?' Lucy thought, knowing they had limited options. 'He's probably just lonely. I… I can understand that.'
Friends were amazing to have, but part of her wanted a deeper companionship. And while she wished Natsu would fill that role, she knew it might not be a possibility.
Which was why she wanted to go talk to Levy, one of the most logical people she knew. She wanted a healthy dose of reality, and she knew no better person to visit.
"Freed, I'm taking my break," Levy called as soon as Lucy made eye contact with her at receiving's door.
Swallowing, Lucy walked over to Levy, only to be escorted out the side of the building to stay away from the supplies. Either that, or Levy was trying to separate her from prying eyes.
With an arm slung around Lucy's back, Levy directed her to a makeshift fire pit in the middle of a gravel path between two parts of the school. Natsu had told her it was the place to hang out during breaks.
"I've been so focused on you and Hibiki that I never thought about you and Natsu," Levy said, shaking her head.
"You still thought something was going on with Hibiki?" Lucy asked, but Levy merely pulled away without answering.
"Spill," Levy said before taking a seat in a camping chair, pulling her legs up as she leaned forward. "I want to know everything. Spare no details. When did this happened? What's happened? Why Natsu?"
As Levy raised her brow, Lucy groaned. She shook her head, ready to tell Levy she had the wrong idea. "We're just friends."
"Bull." Levy grinned while wiggling in her seat. "I have eyes, and ears. Gray was right, that joke wasn't that funny."
If Lucy's face wasn't already warmed up, she would have flushed. Her eyes fell to the cluster of burnt wood surrounded by large rocks. "I don't…" Sighing, Lucy slumped in her seat. "It doesn't matter anyways. He doesn't feel that way about me."
Instead of arguing with Lucy, Levy simply asked, "Why do you think that?"
Lucy spared Levy a glance before shrugging, but when she didn't get a response, she realized she needed more. "Just, I don't know."
She twisted the end of her damp hair, fidgeting as she tried placing her thoughts. "I don't want to sound conceited."
"I'm listening," Levy said, urging her to continue.
Chewing on her bottom lip, Lucy mumbled, "I've had guys like me before. I knew it was happening then... It was obvious, but with Natsu…" She stole a deep breath. "I just can't figure him out. Sometimes it seems like he likes me. Maybe even really likes me, but—"
Levy shook her head. "Before you finish that, I need details. What does he do? Say?"
Lucy almost rolled her eyes at her thoughts. She didn't want to sound conceited, but there was no way around it. "Like, a few weeks ago I think I saw him checking out my butt."
Levy's face split with a grin as she propped her elbow on the armrest, holding up her chin as she said, "Go on."
Lucy couldn't help but laugh, feeling ridiculous but oddly comfortable confessing it to Levy. Maybe it was all in her head, but maybe it wasn't? Getting an outside opinion seemed wise. "Don't laugh."
Levy sat up straight, the smile wiped from her face. "I won't."
With a hesitant nod, Lucy sighed. "Well, we were working out like normal. I was doing squats, and when I looked back to ask Natsu to turn the music up…" She swallowed, feeling a dull heat travel through her arms. "I thought... It looked liked maybe... I saw his eyes on my… my butt."
Just as Levy's lips twitched, Lucy quickly rushed out, "I'm not sure though! Maybe he was looking at the ground, or maybe I had dirt on my shorts? I don't… He looked up right away, so maybe he was looking at the ground and on his way up? I... I don't know."
"Hmm." Levy tapped a finger to her lips. "Hard to say based on that alone. Any other incidents?"
"I wouldn't count it as an incident…" She remembered that red band around Natsu's wrist and how it drove her insane with questions for the whole week he wore it. "Do you remember when Natsu had that rubber band on his wrist?"
Levy shook her head. "No?"
'Maybe I am making nothing into something.' As she absentmindedly braided part of her hair, Lucy explained the mystery behind the rubber band.
Natsu had started wearing it about a month ago. He only wore it for a week, maybe a week and a half at most, but it still had Lucy curious. "He snapped it against his wrist at really random times. Every time I asked him about it, he said something like, 'Just reminding myself so I don't forget'? Like, it was really weird."
"What happened when he snapped it?" Levy asked.
Lucy shrugged. "Some of the times it was really just random. Like, he did it once when we were walking the track. Or once when I told him about a time I spilled juice on my shirt and ended up changing into a tank top and how my professor got mad that I distracted the class."
Levy waggled her brows. "Was he thinking about you undressing?"
Heat licked at Lucy's chest and neck as she sputtered, "I-I don't know!" She covered her face with her hand before pulling it away. She had to fight daily to keep acne away. There was no reason to make it worse.
"On a serious note though," Lucy started, shaking her head. "I think I'm imagining half of it. And it… it doesn't even matter that much anyways. He's not my type."
"Your type is guys like Loke?" Levy asked, raising a brow.
Lucy could only shrug. Once upon a time that had been her type, but she had also been told to look for a man like him. Smart, confident, successful, good family, going places.
Her dad would have had a heart attack if she brought Natsu home. While he wasn't dumb, he wasn't a scholar either. Natsu told her he had average grades throughout high school and didn't take a lot of his classes seriously.
There was also his career path. While Lucy thought it was admirable that he wanted to serve his community by fighting fires, her father would have shut that down without a second thought. There was no real money to be made, which translated to Natsu not being successful.
He also had a confusing family life. She had pieces of the story. She knew he was put up for adoption, something about addiction, though he never mentioned which parent had the substance abuse or what they misused. He had a biological brother, though he mentioned they weren't close. She also knew he had an adoptive mother for about a year before she passed, but she didn't know more than that. She backed off from that conversation when he gave her signs it made him uncomfortable.
Igneel though, Natsu could talk about his adoptive father all day and night. There was a brightness in his smile when he spoke of his dad, about how they would go camping, fishing, hiking, or just hang out at the house. Apparently they also went to the movies once a month and always got lots of popcorn and snacks.
Lucy smiled, her eyes soft as she thought about how happy Natsu seemed when he reminisced about his dad. She wished she could have met him. If she had, Lucy would have told him he raised a fine man.
'Which wouldn't matter to my dad,' Lucy realized, her smile spoiled. Her father used to be friendly, loving, and warm. Money had tainted their family, and she wasn't innocent either. She had been entitled at times, often unsatisfied despite getting whatever she wanted.
"What's on your mind?" Levy asked, causing Lucy to blink rapidly before she looked at her friend. .
"Oh, nothing. Just…" She blew out a breath. "Just thinking about my dad…" Despite the frustration over her mixed thoughts, Lucy couldn't help but chuckle. "He uh, he wouldn't have approved of Natsu."
Levy's shoulders shook as she suppressed a laugh. "He is pretty wild." With a smile, Levy asked, "Do you think that might be a reason you like Natsu?"
"Huh?"
"Sometimes people rebel against their parents and find partners they think they wouldn't approve of?"
Lucy shook her head. "No, I know that's not it." Her feelings for Natsu would be cheapened if that were the case, but what she felt for him was on another level.
She hadn't felt so strongly about another person in her life, and she had many crushes, many likes, a few boyfriends, and a freaking fiancé.
She was upset when she found out Loke cheated on her, but Lucy already knew if it had been Natsu in that position with how she felt now… It would have destroyed her. She wasn't even his and she felt a bitter jealousy at the idea of him liking someone else, but… he hadn't shown any signs of being attracted to anyone.
There was a slim chance he had shown signs of being attracted to her, but like she said, she couldn't be sure.
"Fair enough." Levy paused, cocking her head. "So, nothing concrete has happened between the two of you?"
"Correct." Lucy's chest constricted at the thought. "I've… flirted with him, but he doesn't seem to take the hint."
"Well, I'm not surprised."
Lucy cocked her head, brows furrowed as she asked, "Why's that?"
"I always assumed he was either ace or extremely dense."
"Ace?" Lucy asked, causing Levy to nod.
"I wish I had done more research on it when we still had the internet. There's not any books in the library about it, but it's basically not feeling… Um, like, you don't feel sexually attracted towards people, or maybe just not romantically attracted? It can be either or both, or kinda like that, but since Natsu never showed any interest in dating I just assumed that could've been a reason."
Before Lucy could respond, Levy said, "But he is very protective of you. He loves hanging out with you."
Lucy couldn't deny either one of those things.
"And he's trying really hard to better himself because he feels bad about what happened. Like, he's actually doing exercises with me."
Lucy's eyes widened. "You two work out?"
Levy laughed as she shook her head. "No way. I mean exercises like setting boundaries, working on how to have a discussion without it escalating into a fight. How to express what he's feeling without shifting blame. He has a thick head at times, but he's getting there."
With a smile, Levy leaned in. "He really cares about you."
"He's a good friend," Lucy countered, her voice sounding more dull than she intended.
"True, but maybe there's more to it?"
As much as Lucy wished that were the case, she needed to keep her head level. "I don't want to get my hopes up. I've… I've been getting a lot of mixed signals, so I really don't know what to think."
"Want me to ask?"
Lucy shook her head so fast she thought her neck might snap. "Please no." Her skin swarmed just thinking about that type of humiliation. She wasn't in middle school needing her friend to go ask a guy out for her, not that she even had that experience.
Sighing, Lucy said, "I think this is something I have to figure out on my own.
Levy nodded before standing, dusting off her jeans. Taking the clue, Lucy stood as well. Her break was probably over. "I hope whatever happens, it turns out for the best."
"Me too."
Levy put her hand on Lucy's shoulder before giving her a light squeeze. It was the same action Natsu had done many times before. 'Is it all in my head? Is it all just friendly gestures?'
"I'm here whenever you need to talk."
Lucy managed a smile. "Thanks." While she was hesitant to open up to Levy, she was glad she did. Levy had turned out to be one of her best friends at Fairy tail.
As they walked back to the school, a thought occurred to Lucy. "Oh, about the whole ace thing."
"Yeah?" Levy asked, reaching for the door.
"I know he's not asexual."
Just as a wiry grin surfaced on Levy's face, Lucy shook her hands in front of her.
"It's not what you think! I don't know from personal experience or anything!"
"Are you sure?" Levy leaned in. "You're awfully red."
Lucy shut her eyes, too mortified to face her. She wanted to blab about Natsu's porn stash on his phone, but she didn't want to violate his trust. He had told her that in confidence. "I can't tell you how I know, but just trust me, he… he has a-a sex drive."
She was positive her skin was seconds away from combusting. Maybe Natsu would get a chance to put out a fire after all? She could use a cold splash of water on her face.
"Well, then I think you should tell him how you feel."
"What?!" Lucy's eyes flew open. "Why?"
"Because life's too short." The sly smile fell from Levy's face. "Really short now. We both know he cares about you. I think you should just tell him."
"Easier said than done." Lucy looked down, dragging the toe of her shoe against the ground. "I… I think he might like me back, but I'm so unsure."
"There's a way to find out," Levy said in a singsong voice.
Lucy chuckled, shaking her head. "Relentless, aren't you?"
"I have my moments."
With a sigh, Lucy said, "It may all be in my head. I… I need to be sure. There's just… There's too much at risk. What if he doesn't..." She let that thought linger between them for a moment.
"If you're worried about ruining your friendship, you don't have to," Levy said. "You're good."
Lucy expected some comforting words to follow, but what Levy said only had her heart falling.
"Natsu turned down lots of girls in high school, and he was still friendly with them afterwards."
"… Lots?"
If Natsu said no to lots of girls in the past, what made her think she stood a chance? She shouldn't be surprised. He was funny, nice, and good looking. Of course he received attention before the outbreak. He probably had his pick of the litter, and still turned them down.
"Hey," Levy tapped on Lucy's shoulder, "don't go there." She caught Lucy's gaze, waiting a few seconds before saying, "That was then, this is now. He was never really close to those girls. They were more like acquaintances than anything. What you and Natsu have," she shrugged, "I thought it was just a really close friendship, but maybe that's what Natsu liking someone looks like? I don't know, but you can't even begin comparing yourself to people who are probably gone now."
"Sherry liked him," Lucy mumbled, but Levy shook her head.
"And he was adamant that he didn't like her. Besides, she's back with Ren again. I think this time for good."
While that should have eased the stress in her chest, it didn't. Lucy didn't want Natsu to like her because she was the only option available. Somehow knowing he had such a limited selection made her feel like even if he did want her, it wouldn't be as genuine.
'Do I only like Natsu because there's so few options? No. It's true I wouldn't have fallen for him before the outbreak, but that's simply because we wouldn't have hung out. Had I known him back then, things could have turned out so differently.'
Just thinking about that stung her heart.
Sucking in a sharp breath, Lucy shook her head. "It's fine. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Levy asked, frowning when Lucy swallowed. "Here."
She held her arms open, Lucy welcoming the hug. It was cut short when the phone in her pocket started chirping, an alarm going off to remind her to get ready.
It was almost time to meet Natsu at the gate and find out what the hell he had been up to for the past five weeks.
'Speaking of which…'
Lucy pulled away from the hug, brows pinched as she asked Levy, "Do you know what Natsu's planning off base?"
Levy couldn't conceal her smile. "I think it's best if you let him surprise you." She grabbed the messy braid in Lucy's hair before adding, "But I think a high bun would be best before you go. It doesn't have to be tight, but definitely high enough to keep off your neck."
"What?"
As if she coordinated it with Natsu, Levy winked. "That's the only hint I'm giving you."
Lucy wanted to groan in frustration. "Am I at least going to like the surprise?" she asked, nearly holding her breath as she waited for an answer.
Levy nodded, her smile soft as she let her hand fall to her side. "Absolutely. I'm actually jealous of you."
That only confused her more. "What?"
"Better get moving," Levy said, waving at her before yanking open the door, disappearing within seconds.
Lucy stood there, perplexed and worried. 'Well, clearly it's not a romantic surprise if Levy's jealous of it. But, why do I need my hair up? And what could he have possibly grabbed at Everlue's house?'
Lucy shook her head, deciding there was only one way to find out. She turned around, heading back towards her room so she could finish getting ready.
She had a surprise in store for her, and her stomach was swarming with nerves at the possibilities.
.
.
.
Hello! Hope you liked this chapter! There's a lot to unpack. Lucy is no longer trying to deny her feelings for Natsu. In fact, she'd be ready to start something if he showed her clear interest, but she keeps seeing mixed signals. Next chapter is in her POV again.
So, anyone surprised Hibiki's back with Karen? Can't tell you how many bad on again off again relationships I've seen in the past, but hey, they're lonely and the options are limited. It's better to stay away from toxic relationships, but life doesn't always work out like that.
Okay, last chance to guess at what Natsu's planning for his grand gesture! I know Lucy's gonna love it based on her character in canon. :P
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you have a great day/night! And shout out to those awesome people who gave me feedback last time: SistershoOk, stranger1999, dareaderreads, Wadeparker, elisabethsama, Guest, Guest, Tabasco-Devil, theunicorn22, aiyannaliszkap, Dezez, shootingstarssel, Jazzy-Mae WolfQueen, anneryoko, Skibblez, CathJorda, Ryu of Konoha, Lulu521, ElementalMiko12, sakshishetty3003, Xfangirl123X, Lovesmutbabe, guest, Copperreign12, aly2. 0, Bookwork129, valerioux, CrazyZaika, Tohka123, Lodemai04, BloodySabbath44, AbsentAngel, FyreFalcon, Etherious X, Animeforlife1412, Duchixx, fairyglitter101, helloimsandy, and Nastu Dragoneel! Y'all are awesome!
Up next, Chapter Seventy-Two: Let it be grand- Part Two
Thanks again, and please let me know what you thought of this chapter or any theories you have for what's coming next! :D Also, I have 30/70 chapters reedited so far.