Chapter Seventy-Two: Let it be grand- Part Two

(May 29th, 2018, Tuesday Afternoon)

"Just a little further," Natsu said, his hand resting on the belt around his hips.

Lucy dragged her eyes away before glancing around, seeing there were no threats, the area quiet. They had left base a few minutes ago, immediately heading into the neighborhood she had escaped to months back.

It felt like a lifetime ago when Gray came bursting into their room, screaming at her for putting Natsu at risk. Her heart pinched, thankful he hadn't lost his life that day. She would have been hurt by the loss then, but now…

It tore her up even thinking about losing him.

"These are some pretty houses," Lucy said, needing a distraction from her thoughts. It wasn't hard to admire the houses, all cute in their own way.

The one time she had gone through the neighborhood, she hadn't thought to sightsee. She had been more concerned with finding shelter before she figured out what she was going to do.

Lucy wanted to scoff at her past self, wondering how long she could have survived before something took her out. Starvation, a zombie? Hell, a common cold could have done her in with her condition.

'I'm so much stronger now,' Lucy thought, a smile gracing her lips as she felt her power in each step, her hands clenching as her muscles tightened. She had been so frail then, but like a phoenix rising from the ash, Lucy felt reborn.

She was a fighter, a survivor, and she was determined to be the best version of herself, even if some days she felt less confident than others.

Today might have been one of those days.

"We're close?" Lucy asked, her stomach swarming with nerves when Natsu nodded. Weeks of waiting were about to pay off, but was she ready?

She didn't have time to think, Natsu suddenly turning towards one of the houses before making his way to the porch. "It's in here," he said, surprising Lucy when he pulled out his keys.

'What is he— Is he unlocking it? How does he have the keys?'

More shocking than that was the door. Her eyes widened when she realized it wasn't marked up to indicate if it was tapped out of supplies or not. All the other houses were normal, painted with a red 'X'. The door Natsu was opening looked like it had a fresh coat of paint on it, vastly different from the faded paint on the exterior.

"Come on in," he said, disappearing into the house.

Lucy stole a deep breath, summoning her courage as she took a step towards the house. She wasn't afraid of what might be inside, trusting Natsu to keep them safe.

Instead, she was fearful of the surprise. What if it was something she wouldn't like? She appreciated any effort he made, but she hated the idea of him wasting his time if she wouldn't end up using it.

'What if it's something like a couch he found for us to bring back to Fairy Tail? No, that doesn't make sense with the other hints, but what if it's something like that?'

She shook her head as she crossed the threshold, Natsu closing and locking the door behind her. Even with the windows covered by blinds, there was enough natural light seeping in to let Lucy see around the living room.

When Natsu opened the blinds, she could see the space perfectly. The house was cozy, a couch running along a wall with two large windows over it. Across from it stood a fireplace, a few pieces of wood laying at the bottom. A dusty TV was mounted above the mantel, but considering it couldn't be used, there was no point in cleaning it. The majority of the hardwood floor was covered by a rug, an armchair tucked in the corner of the living room next to an end table.

Connected to that room was a small dining room that led into a tiny kitchen, the space looking like two people would crowd it. Nothing stood out about the house, Lucy furrowing her brows as she looked at Natsu.

Before she could question what they were doing there, he gestured towards the wall beside her where another door stood. She assumed it went to a closet, but when she opened it she found a small bedroom. "I don't…"

What was he trying to show her?

Lucy ventured into the room, eyes squinting from the lack of natural light. She went to the window over the bed, drawing the curtains so she could get a better look of the room, only to see it was just a normal room.

'I'm beyond confused. Does he want to take the bed back? I... I don't get it.'

"Is this the surprise?" Lucy asked, almost chuckling at her earlier nerves. Had she known Natsu was going to bring her to a house, she wouldn't have fretted over it all morning.

"Kinda," he said, a sheepish grin resting on his face. "This is the smaller room, and it connects to the only bathroom." He pointed at another door. Next to it was a small closet, Lucy only knowing that because it was missing a door.

'So confused.'

"Okay," she said, following Natsu when he waved for her.

They entered the living room before making their way to the dining room, Lucy admiring the cute table for two pushed against the wall. Another set of windows helped light the room, even with the blinds covering them.

"The kitchen's small, but that's not a big deal," he said, waving it off as he stood in the middle of the dining room. "Through the kitchen is a laundry room, but obviously that's not really useful right now."

Lucy managed a nod when he chuckled, still not understanding their purpose for being there. She knew they weren't there to pick the house for supplies. All the houses had been cleaned out when the outbreak began. She believed it possible that the bed was still there, Natsu telling her how they grabbed from the first few blocks for bedding.

Today they walked about half a mile away from base before reaching their destination, but the house would still be missing stuff like food, water, clothes, and toiletries. What purpose could they have being at a cleared house?

"Check out this room though," Natsu said, leading her into a room connected to the dining room. He opened the door wide, letting her see the room was slightly bigger than the first one. He opened the blinds, more light entering the room.

Against the wall was a bed, probably full judging by the size. It was on a frame with a headboard but no footboard. Lucy blinked, still not understanding why Natsu looked happy.

'Why the tour of a random house?'

She wanted to be grateful for her surprise, but it didn't make any sense. 'Maybe he's been bored and he wanted to look around? People do that when they're bored?'

That didn't seem like Natsu's style though. He stressed the dangers that came with being off base. Why kill time in a place that could risk their lives?

"Okay, now time for your surprise," Natsu said as he smothered his grin. Even in the dim light she could see the flickering in his eyes, the barely contained mirth.

She nodded, heart beating a little faster as he grabbed the knob of another door. Judging by the size of the house and the layout, she guessed the bathroom was on the other side.

She was right, Natsu confirming her theory when he said, "Check out the bathroom! I think you'll like it."

'I'm not sure I will,' she thought. Unless it had running plumbing, she doubted it would pique her interest.

However, as soon as Lucy stepped inside, she froze. It was ironic considering the heat surrounding her.

Steam filled the air, some escaping through the opening. Lucy's lips parting, eyes landing on the source of the heat.

Under the textured glass window sat a clawfoot tub, full of clear water. She could see the heat coming from the tub, like a faint smoke drifting upwards.

She stared, unable to process what was happening until she felt pressure on her shoulder. Looking up, Lucy saw Natsu next to her, a giddy grin taking over his face.

"I take it you're surprised?"

Her jaw dropped, eyes flitting back and forth before she whispered, "Is that a… a—"

"Yup," he said, not needing her to finish.

Her mind tried blanking again, but she fought it. "You… drew a bath? For me?"

"All for you." Natsu grabbed something off the back of the toilet before handing it to her. "I'm not sure which kind this is. The one I tried on myself was lavender, but this one smells good too."

"You took a bath?" she asked, causing him to nod. "That's why you smelled like that a few weeks ago?"

Natsu chuckled, his grin turning sheepish. "Yeah. I wanted to test it out before doing it for you. Work out the kinks." He cupped the back of his neck, eyes dodging hers for a moment as he started explaining the process.

Over the last few weeks, Natsu had been gathering water on his own, hauling it in a shopping cart to the house, then boiling it little by little before pouring it into more plastic bins to store until he was ready to use it. He performed his first trial run two weeks ago, reheating all the water before using a purple bath bomb for his own bath.

"I timed how long the water stays hot. I know I don't feel heat like others do, but I'm hoping it's not too hot? It's..." He slid by her to grab a meat thermometer off the sink before dipping it into the water. Fifteen seconds later, he pulled it up and read it. He showed her the result. It was a degree or two above what a normal bath should run.

Lucy swallowed, fingers curling around the bath bomb in her hand before stepping closer to the tub, Natsu moving out of the way in the process. She gently ran her fingers over the surface of the water, goosebumps forming on her arm as heat licked at her skin.

"It feels amazing," she whispered, dipping her hand into the water. Her body soaked in that warmth, an overwhelming emotion flooding her chest. She turned around, eyes growing watery as she approached Natsu.

It took two steps, the bathroom, like the rest of the house, was small. She wrapped her arms around him, Natsu eagerly hugging her back before she could give him a squeeze.

"Thank you!" She wanted to say so much more, but the words caught in her throat. Had he really pulled off something so grand? For her?

Natsu chuckled, rubbed at her lower back as he mumbled in her ear, "You don't gotta thank me. This is kinda an apology."

"An apology?" Lucy asked, yanking back as she furrowed her brows. "For what?"

The expression he wore was hard to decipher. The dim light didn't help, but she heard the hesitance in his voice.

The uncertainty.

"I was a real jerk to you when I got back. From Hargeon, with the whole runner thing."

Lucy gaped at him before shaking her head. "We've basically gotten past it?"

He shrugged, eyes falling to the side for a second as his voice lowered. "I still feel bad. I... I didn't realize how much it hurt... when I tried to take your choice away. I'm... I'm sorry."

Lucy's heart pinched, her body reacting before her mind could process. She cupped his cheek, the drops of water from her hand sliding down his face as she turned him. Their eyes met, the determination in her brown meeting the pain in his green.

"Even without this bath," Lucy started, her thumb brushing against his skin, dangerously close to the corner of his lip. "I would still forgive you."

She felt and saw Natsu relaxing upon hearing those words, Lucy doing one better by admitting her part in their fight. "I don't have a fancy surprise for you, but I am sorry for how I handled things too. I… I should have told you I wanted to be a runner, a long time ago. I…"

She dropped her hand, thankful he didn't move his head away from her. "You had a right to be worried, and I brushed that off. I wish I had just told you from the beginning instead of hiding it. You're my best friend, Natsu. I should have told you."

She watched his Adam's apple bob as he nodded. "And I should've listened to you instead of thinking I knew best."

A small smile twitched at Lucy's lips, her fingers tightening around the circular bomb in her hand. "So, we're good?"

"We're good," Natsu said, Lucy loving the newfound confidence in his voice.

Something flickered in Natsu's eyes as he glanced behind her, a smile playing at his lips. "Well," he started, a hint of teasing slipping into his tone. "I guess if all's forgiven, we can forget the bath."

He pretended to reach for the tub to drain it, only to have Lucy grab him and yank him back. "No way! I still want the bath!"

He laughed, causing her to laugh, the two caught in yet another moment of bliss. There was no one to ruin it, shared smiles warming Lucy's heart. Everything felt perfect.

"This is really incredible," she said, referring to more than the bath.

"Glad you like it." Natsu took a step back, occupying the threshold. "You should probably start before it gets cold. You have," he looked at his watch, "an hour before I think it gets too cold, so probably less time than that? Levy said a bath is supposed to be thirty minutes? I dunno. I always took showers."

Lucy's eyes widened, the words flying out of her mouth before she could stop herself. "This was Levy's idea?"

Natsu's head jerked back an inch before shaking his head. "No? Why would it be her idea?"

"You talked to her about it?" she reasoned, but he chuckled at that.

"To get her opinion. You can actually thank Cana for the idea."

"She told you to do it?"

Natsu's shoulders shook before he leaned against the doorframe. "Go ahead and put that bath bomb in the water. It takes forever for it to dissolve."

She did as she was told, somewhat liking when he gave her directions. It didn't apply to everything, but there were a few instances she wouldn't mind letting him be the boss of her.

Lucy flushed as Natsu started explaining, her mind wanting to dive into the gutter.

"Okay, so Cana mentioned y'all talked while I was gone, like girl talk and stuff, and she said you all wished you had baths. Then the whole fight thing happened, then we started talking again, but I still felt bad and wanted to make it up to you."

When Lucy opened her mouth, he shook his head. "I didn't feel like I had to. I wanted to, so don't go feeling bad or anything. I want you to enjoy this." He shrugged, his voice playful. "I gotta admit, it was kinda relaxing taking a bath. Oh, and I told you to shower first because I didn't, and the water was pretty dirty when I finished. I think you'll like your bath better than mind since you're not dirty."

'My mind is dirty,' Lucy thought, forcing her eyes on the dissolving bath bomb while he continued. She watched, the bomb spinning a few times as foam shot out from it in different directions. It was white at first, slowly taking on a cream color.

"Anyways, I needed to find a house first. This one was perfect. It has a fireplace so I could boil more water. There's three fire pits outside too, and a grill for boiling. After I decided on this house, I went to Everlue's and got some things. One of them was a lock with a key. I changed the locks out and painted the door while I boiled the water, then stored it in plastic bins. I tried it out two weeks ago, it went well, so I wanted to do this last week—"

"But then it rained," Lucy said, looking up at him again, catching the end of his nod.

"Yup. But, I think it worked out well enough. Gave me time to go over my notes and make it perfect."

"Notes?" Lucy asked, cocking her head.

He snickered before pulling out a small notepad from his back pocket. He showed her his notes, Lucy seeing he calculated how long the water stayed at certain temperatures.

"That's…" She had no words. Even after seeing it with her own eyes, Lucy couldn't believe he would go through all that effort, all that risk for her. He spent countless hours on a project that would result in thirty minutes of relaxation, all because he felt guilty about something they had started getting over?

She hugged him again, unable to convey her gratitude. "You're amazing."

Lucy felt him tense for a second before he eased into the hug, his warm arms squeezing her against him. "You're the amazing one," he breathed against her ear, shivers racing down her spine while heat swarmed her body.

If there was ever a time to make a move, it was now. However, before she could tip her head upwards to lean in for a kiss, Natsu released her, backing away out of reach.

"I'll come check on you in thirty minutes? Levy said you might wanna sit in there longer, but either way I'm gonna reheat two more buckets."

"Two?" she asked, still in a daze over everything. 'Was I really thinking of kissing him?' Her thoughts and feelings were overwhelming, chaotic in an oddly good way. 'Maybe I shouldn't make a decision right now.'

She wanted to have a clear head if she was going to try to kiss him. She didn't want to get swept up in the heat of the moment, only to regret it if Natsu didn't feel the same about her.

'He drew me a freaking bath though. That's not something platonic friends just do?! At least not like this!' Had there been running water and electricity, the bath would have been a nice gesture, but knowing how much he went through to make it happen in the apocalypse…

It was nothing short of grand.

Natsu deserved a damn medal. He single-handedly put all other romantic gestures to shame. 'Nothing else could top this,' she thought, still shocked by it all.

Natsu's voice snapped her out of her head, telling her the buckets would be used to either make the bath hotter if she wanted to stay longer, or she could use them to rinse off when she was done.

"There's a curtain above the tub. Whenever I knock, just pull it around and I'll come in with the buckets. You can decide if you're done or not." He grabbed the knob on the door before jolting. "Oh! And one more thing!"

Natsu grabbed a lone candle on the back of the toilet, pulling out a lighter. He lit the candle before setting it on the edge of the sink, the flame flickering as it settled.

"Levy said something about it would make a nice ambiance or something? I dunno. I figure she knows more about baths than me, so hope you like it."

Lucy's throat tightened as she nodded, forcing out, "This is all… Wow." For a writer, she lacked the proper words to express how she felt.

Natsu's gentle smile told her he received the message, his eyes softening as he went to close the door. "Enjoy your bath, Lucy."

She took in a deep breath, smelling vanilla from the candle and something fruity from the bath bomb. "Thank you."

"My pleasure," he said, those words lingering even after he shut the door.

Lucy stared for a moment before turning her attention to the tub, anticipation crawling up her limbs at the thought of a hot bath. She took a closer look at the bath bomb, surprised when it started making a fizzing noise.

"Did Everlue have the bath bombs?" She didn't remember looking in depth at his bathroom, more concerned with the library.

She swallowed, hesitating before grabbing the hem of her shirt. 'This is really happening.'

Piece by piece, Lucy stripped her clothes off until she stood in that bathroom naked. Her heart was thrumming like crazy, knowing Natsu was in the other room.

He wouldn't come into the bathroom unannounced. Even if she had fantasies of being intimate with him, she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he would never do something without her consent.

Despite knowing that, being naked in a random bathroom was odd, especially when she was off base. She felt vulnerable, her protection laying on the tile floor. 'Natsu will keep me safe.'

Lucy had been adamant she didn't need his protection, but maybe it wasn't so bad letting him defend her if needed. She didn't think they would run into trouble. They were close to base and the area was quiet. Aside from squirrels and birds, there were no signs of life in the neighborhood.

More importantly, there were no signs of the undead.

As Lucy took a deep breath, she noted it was warm in the room. They were a month away from summer, but the heat was increasing every few days with small breaks in between. Today had been rather warm, and the heat from the water made the room nice and toasty.

Lucy slowly lifted her left leg, resting it on the edge of the tub for a few seconds as she saw the bath bomb disappear into the colorful water. A few suds floated above the cream-colored water, glitter sprinkled throughout.

'I wonder if that's going to stay on my skin?'

Deciding she was wasting the precious gift Natsu gave her, Lucy submerged her foot in the water until she reached the bottom, letting that heat encase her calf.

She exhaled, hesitantly putting her weight on that foot before stepping fully into the tub. Lucy adjusted little by little, supporting herself by gripping the edges as she moved to sit in the water.

She felt silly, forgetting the sensation of taking a bath until it hit her. With careful movements, she curved her back against the rest, now understanding why Levy told her to keep her hair up.

When she was situated, she stretched her legs out, the excess water flowing into the drain located beneath the faucet. Her legs floated for a second, Lucy giggling as she thought, 'That hasn't happened in so long.'

She regained control, wiggling as she adjusted. Sinking lower, Lucy's shoulders dipped into the water. She grew more comfortable as she let her arms fall under the water.

The heat on her chest was unexplainable, both comforting and thrilling. The water covered most of her breasts unless she bent her knees, allowing her to sink deeper.

There were so many things she forgot about taking a bath, heat rushing her core when she spread her legs. "Oh wow," she laughed, toes curling in the water before she made some small splashes.

'This is so crazy,' Lucy thought, still shocked she was in a hot bath. 'He put in so much effort to make this happen. Natsu is so…'

Words couldn't cover how she was feeling, so she let the emotions rush through her chest as she tipped her head back, sighing in pleasure.

'This is the life.'

It took a moment for the excess water to drain, listening to it until it settled down. Her hand ran over her thighs, an area where she had minimal scars. Her eyes fell to her body, the bath bomb lacking suds like her usual baths held.

She used to take bubble baths, but Natsu's gift was appreciated regardless.

Lucy's eyes settled on her various scars, no longer feeling that twist in her gut upon seeing them. It had taken a lot of time and work, but she was overcoming the pain they held little by little.

'They're not… so bad,' she thought, the thickest one running down her torso. Her finger traced the edge near her belly button, sighing as she did her best to block the madness that occurred in that lake house.

With Grandeeney's help, Lucy was accepting her body for where it was in the present. Sure, it was marked up, but her legs carried her from place to place. Her arms allowed her to lift and move things.

Her body was hers, no matter what happened in the past.

She wished she could erase the marks, but as long as they were carved into her skin, she needed to learn to live with them.

'At least I have no open wounds anymore.'

Escaping from that lake house was the best thing that could have happened, allowing her a new chance at a life worth living. She had friends, choices, a purpose. She felt needed by her community and loved by the people in her inner circle.

She wasn't alone, and even if she didn't like her scars, it wasn't the end of the world.

"I'm… beautiful," she whispered, something she did every morning and every night in privacy, whether it was spoken aloud or in her mind. "I'm strong. I'm brave. And I will overcome whatever life throws at me."

Every day presented new challenges, some physical, some mental, but she would stick it out. She had reasons to fight, reasons to survive besides self-preservation.

Lucy closed her eyes as she submerged her shoulders and chest into the water again, humming as the heat surrounded her. "Nothing beats a nice, hot bath."

Her skin and muscles practically sang, enjoying the water as her mind was put at ease.

The minutes trickled by, eighteen passing before Lucy realized she was sweating. The sun blared on the window, the textured glass not allowing any peepers to get a look while still allowing light to shine through.

It was warm, and while she liked it, she wished there was a way to run an air conditioner so she didn't feel like she was about to be in a sauna.

She loved the gift Natsu gave her, and her body was relaxed all the way down to her bones, but she wasn't sure she could make it to the thirty minute mark. She had no idea how long she had been in the bath, her watch in the pile of clothes on the floor.

She could have stood, but she was comfortable despite the heat. 'Shouldn't the water be getting colder?' She remembered taking long baths before, but she was ready to tap out and Natsu hadn't even come back to tell her thirty minutes had passed.

Could she even last that long?

As a drop of sweat rolled down her forehead, Lucy made up her mind. She cleared her throat, hoping he heard her as she called out, "Natsu?!"

It took a few seconds before she heard footsteps, the hardwood creaking just as he reached the door. He knocked as he asked, "You okay in there?"

"Yes, um… I don't know how much water you have—"

"Do you want more hot water? Is it already cold?"

"I uh—" Lucy frowned, stomach dropping at the idea of extending her bath. She didn't know how to tell him she was ready to finish. 'He worked so hard. I can wait a little longer.'

"I'm… very warm, actually. I… How long have I been in here?"

"Uh, let me check?" Natsu paused before saying, "About twenty minutes. Why? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she rushed out, not wanting to alarm him. "Is it… At the thirty minute mark can you bring in some cold water?"

"Cold?"

"Yeah…"

"I… I guess? Are you sure? I got two buckets of hot water. They should be warm in ten minutes."

She swore more beads of sweat dotted her skin at the thought of making her water hotter. Deciding to tell the truth was difficult, her stomach jerking as she said, "I'm… already sweating."

"Damn! I'm sorry," Natsu said, causing her to shake her head.

"Please don't be sorry." Water sloshed as she sat up, but she rested seconds later. Movement made her a little dizzy. "It's not your fault. It's just… a little warm in the house. I can hold out for ten minutes. Just, if you bring some cold water for me to rinse off with after, that would be awesome? If you can?"

"Y-yeah, absolutely. Uh, I can get it now, if you don't wanna wait the ten minutes?"

"I want to wait," Lucy said, her tone firm despite her doubts. She needed to get the most out of his efforts, otherwise she was wasting his gift. 'I can hold out. It's just ten minutes.'

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I really do like the warmth, and this is amazing. Promise."

She heard the smile in his voice as he said, "You got it. See ya in ten minutes."

Lucy swallowed, biting her lower lip as she heard his footsteps take him further away. She submerged her shoulders in the water again, taking a deep breath. Despite sweating, she liked the heat on her collarbone. That was a sensation she never thought she would feel again.

There was so much she thought she would never experience again, but Natsu had a way of surprising her.

The next five minutes Lucy spent playing in the water, wiggling side to side, lightly kicking her feet, watching as the water sloshed around the tub.

By the time eight minutes passed, she realized her neck was beading with sweat as well, her face just as warm as her body.

'Has it been ten minutes yet?'

She loved his gesture, but she was ready to get out. 'I can start draining the water now. It's probably going to take a while anyway.'

As Lucy sat up, she swayed, the heat rushing her. "I'm burning up," she mumbled, brows knitting together as she fumbled with the drain plug, sweat dripping down her face. It took two attempts before she realized she had to twist it a little before it would loosen.

Hearing that water drain was magical, but it wasn't enough to chase away the heat. She took heavy breaths, nearly sighing in relief when she heard a knock on the door.

'I made it.'

She started standing, not hearing anything but the water draining. Another knock sounded, Lucy barely catching it as she gripped the windowsill for stability. "Yeah?" she asked, expecting Natsu to ask if she was ready for the water.

It turned out he had already asked that very question, assuming her answer meant it was safe to come inside.

Lucy's eyes widened when the door opened, Natsu's eyes catching hers before his gaze dropped to her very wet and very naked body.

"Fuck shit! I—" Natsu whirled around, failing to sound convincing as he sputtered, "I-I didn't see anything!"

Lucy didn't hear him over her shriek, turning her body just as he faced away from her. "Oh my gosh!"

"I'm so sorry!"

Lucy grabbed the curtain, pulling it so it blocked his view of the tub. Her mind was racing, mortified he saw her naked. "Why'd you come in?!"

"I thought you said 'yeah'!"

"I did, but—" She squeezed her eyes shut as she wrapped a hand around her breasts, though she realized that was useless. The damage was done. There was no way he didn't get a good look at her body.

The two had been like deer caught in the headlights for a solid five seconds before they snapped out of it.

"I meant 'yeah' as in I heard you knocking," she groaned, wishing the floor would swallow her up and save her from the embarrassment. Her body was warm before, but now it was on fire. How was she supposed to ever face him again?

"Oh god! I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry!" he chanted, repeating that a few more times. Lucy heard the sincerity in his voice, causing her heart to sink. She didn't want him to feel bad. It wasn't like he was trying to get a glimpse at her. It was an honest mistake. Unfortunate, yes, but not the end of the world.

"No, it's fine," she said, ending his senseless apology. "I'm… covered now," she said, blinking when the heat demanded her attention.

She wasn't sure what contributed to her flush more. The embarrassment or temperature. Even with the water drained, the room was unbearably hot. If she didn't cool down soon she was sure to pass out.

"Are you sure?" Natsu asked, causing Lucy to blow out a breath.

"Yes, Natsu. I'm sure I'm covered." She panted, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, only to stumble when she let go of the windowsill.

She gripped it again, fighting between their current predicament and the heat. "I'm so embarrassed."

"You're embarrassed?" Natsu asked, a hint of a scoff in his voice. "My face is like a tomato."

Lucy wasn't sure what to make of that. She shook her head, eyes sliding shut as she breathed deeply. The guy she liked saw her naked and she had no idea what he thought of it aside from embarrassment.

Did he like what he saw? Or did he want to cast the image out of his head and never speak of the incident again?

Natsu continued, filling the silence with his rambles. "You shouldn't be embarrassed. I'm so sorry, really. You… I tried to plan around this so you wouldn't feel uncomfortable and I fucked it up. And I—"

"I don't feel uncomfortable," she said, squeezing her eyes as more sweat dripped down her face. Her head was starting to feel light. "I mean, I'm embarrassed it happened. I'm not… embarrassed of my body or anything—"

Her eyes shot open, wondering why the heck she said that? She couldn't stop, tipping her head back so she couldn't look at herself, her eyes trained on the vent above her. "I mean, I kind of am, but—"

"You shouldn't be," Natsu cut her off, a heavy silence following.

Neither said anything, Lucy's head slowly dropping until her eyes were fixed on the curtain, imagining Natsu in that doorway.

Lucy dug the nail of her thumb into the side of her pointer finger, doing her best to keep her voice even as she asked, "What?"

"Y-you shouldn't… be embarrassed," Natsu mumbled, Lucy straining her ears to catch his words. "It's uh… You have a n-nice…" He exhaled slowly. "A nice body."

Lucy was positive she was ready to pass out, that last comment nearly setting her face ablaze. She didn't know what to say, part of her worried Natsu was just saying it so she didn't get upset. It was the polite thing to do. It wasn't like he said she was hot or anything.

Just, nice.

'What should I say back? He—'

Lucy's knees almost gave out, making her realize she needed to change her priorities or Natsu was going to see her naked twice in one day. She was sure to tear down the curtain when she fell.

"I feel really bad right now," she panted, her stomach in knots and her legs wobbly.

"Lucy, please don't feel that way. You look really—"

"It's too hot," she cried, fighting just to stay up. "I need that cold water or I'm going to pass out. I-I stayed in too long!"

"What? Oh fuck! H-here!"

Natsu pulled back the curtain just enough to push the bucket of water into her space, Lucy grabbing the handle before struggling to lift it to her chest.

The first cold splash of water had her yelping, but as more water ran over her skin, she felt the heat leaving her body.

"That's better," she whispered, slowly pouring it over every inch of skin, trying to rinse away the bath water.

"It's so freaking cold though," she laughed, causing Natsu to chuckle too, though his laugh had a nervous tone to it.

"Are you okay?" he asked after a moment, Lucy thankful the panic wasn't as present in his voice.

"Yeah." She let out a deep breath, shoulders falling as she set the bucket in the tub. "I'm very flushed, but other than that I'm good."

"Good." Natsu sighed, the sound of shuffling coming from beyond the curtain. "I'm pretty flushed too."

'I imagine.'

She snorted, shaking her head at how ridiculous things turned out. "This was… fun, all things considered."

Natsu laughed harder, the sound bringing her more relief. "If you say so! Shit! I almost gave you heatstroke!"

"It's… fine." Lucy ran her hands over her arms and legs, trying to wipe away the drops of water clinging to her skin. "This'll be a funny story we can tell later."

Her eyes widened before she added, "But let's not tell… anyone, for a while. I mean, about this part. Where I almost passed out in some stranger's bathtub."

"Actually," Natsu said, his laughter gone. "About that…"

"What?"

"Nothing. I'll tell you later. Just— Are you okay?"

She nodded despite him not seeing. "Yeah. I think I'm good now. I wouldn't mind— You said you had two buckets of water?"

"Well, I have warm water. I only had one of room temperature water."

'Room temperature? It felt like ice on my skin.' That had to say something about how heated she was moments before.

"That's fine. Um… Phew." She shook her head. "Is there a towel or something?"

"Yes! I just set it on the sink. It's uh… soft. I also brought some comfy clothes if you wanted… No pressure. Dunno what you wanted to wear after."

Lucy almost told him it made no difference, but she bit her tongue at the thought of him bringing her an outfit. That was oddly sweet of him. Actually, everything he did today was sweet.

She flushed again, knowing that couldn't be good for her.

"Um, so you're good to go. I'mma step out. Is it— Do you want me to leave the door open so the air kinda flows out?"

"Yes please." She didn't have to think on that.

"Okay. I'll be in the living room when you're done. No chance of me seeing you. Um, if you do need me… Uh, um, you can…. I don't… Er—"

"I'll holler 'milkshake'," she said, ending his ramble.

"Yes! Yes. Holler 'milkshake' if you need me."

Lucy smiled, happy he remembered their safe word, even if it had been a while since they came up with it.

"Thank you… for this."

She heard him release his breath. "No problem. Sorry it didn't turn out the way I planned."

"No, it was very sweet, Natsu." She wanted to pull back the curtain to look him in the eye, but maybe it was easier talking with a barrier between them. He couldn't see how much he affected her. "I really appreciate all the hard work you went through."

"Well," Natsu started, pausing before he whispered, "You're worth it."

Lucy's eyes widened, wondering if he meant for her to hear. Before she could reply, he said, "Okay. I'll be in the other room." She heard his footsteps retreating, leaving her with her thoughts.

Now that the situation was handled, Lucy realized her heart had been pounding. She rubbed over her chest, taking a few deep breaths before reaching for her towel to dry off.

Minutes later, she was standing in the bedroom adjacent to the bathroom, wrapped in a towel as she let the cooler air wash over her.

When Lucy was nice and dry, she entered the bathroom again. Her eyes flitted from her clothes to the clothes Natsu brought, debating what she wanted to do.

With a tight throat, Lucy made her decision, even if it meant taking a risk. She put on her panties before grabbing the new clothes, finding they were comfy when she slipped them on. The pink shorts were soft, ending right above her knees.

The white shirt had a blue design on the back, Lucy pulling it over her head before adjusting her breasts underneath. She took a deep breath when she looked at her reflection, needing to wipe away the fog to get a good look.

The thin material stretched over her chest, the shirt cutting off at her belly button. She wasn't sure if Natsu knew the shirt was too small or if he did it intentionally, but either way, she was going to use it to her advantage.

'He already saw me naked. What's a little tease going to hurt?'

Even if he hadn't seen her uncovered, the tight shirt left little to the imagination, especially with her bra missing. Thankfully the shirt wasn't transparent, otherwise she would abandon her plan.

She was tired of her failed attempts at flirting. If the problem was that Natsu was dense, she was going to awaken whatever sexual appetite he had laying dormant. If it turned out he just wasn't interested in her, well, at least she would know to stop barking up that tree.

Lucy took a reassuring breath, telling herself it would be okay as long as she didn't get cold or flustered. It would be impossible not to make out her nipples if they hardened, the shirt snug against her skin.

Maybe it was better if she let Natsu see the impact he had on her, even if it had the potential of embarrassment.

'If there's any chance to see if we could be more, it feels like today is that day.'

Lucy smoothed her hands over her sides before stepping out of the bathroom, determined to find out how Natsu felt about her.

.

.

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So, what do you think of this chapter? Is Natsu the sweetest guy or what? He had this idea in chapter 65, right before he realized he found Lucy attractive, so this wasn't a scheme to see her naked. Which, I think would have happened in their world. How many times has the real Natsu seen Lucy naked on accident in canon? It was bound to happen, but at least they were both good sports about it, though it might make things a little awkward next chapter.

Especially with Lucy taking a big risk with her outfit. Any guesses on how Natsu will react?

Thank you reading and for all the support and feedback! Shout out to those awesome peeps who left me reviews last time: Lodemai04, shootingstarssel, Skibblez, BloodySabbath44, valerioux, XxCelestialAssassinxX, SistershoOk, Dezez, Tohka123, Guest, ElementalMiko12, Stellar Spirit Mage, theunicorn22, fairyglitter101, Guest, Copperreign12, sakshishetty3003, anneryoko, catchastar101, elisabethsama, Xfangirl123X, Nastu Dragoneel, Lovesmutbabe, aiyannaliszkap, CrazyZaika, TerraBell, lovelyleveret, FyreFalcon, XxxNaxxxx, stranger1999, dareaderreads, SwordBlaze221, Duchixx, beefcakebarbierenewed, guest, and Densolator!

Let me know what you thought! I enjoy reading your feedback, comments, constructive criticism, or you just saying hi. Thank you again!

Oh! And so many people guessed correctly, but I wanted to give 'Phim' (on AO3) a special shout out! They were the first to guess bath. :)

Up next, Chapter 73: (Title left blank because I don't want to ruin the next surprise just yet :P)

Oh, and I have no clue what's going on, but I hear this site isn't doing so well and might be obsolete in the next few years? (I have not done research into this, this is just what I've seen other people talking about) Regardless, I also post this story on AO3 and Tumblr. My username is the same on those sites, mushi9. I dunno, but if years later this site fails, you can find me on the others. I hope it stays up and running though. This site is my favorite for posting. (I have a Wattpad too but I am inactive on that site, so the current stories there won't be updated)

Below is the references I used for this chapter:

I based the house they're in off my house (except I don't have a fireplace, but the layout/lighting is the same). I turned off all the lights and even without opening the blinds could see in the living room/dining room/kitchen perfectly. I could also see in the bedrooms okay, but it was much better when I opened the blinds (could only test one room though since my room I have blankets stapled over the window because I like it dark at night, haha).

I'll be attaching a photo to show how easy it is to see in my house without lights during the day. It'll be available on tumblr for this chapter, or on AO3 for this chapter. I'll also be posting Lucy's outfit for this chapter.

Also, I took a bath for this chapter and let me say, it sucked. (I hate baths) I also turned off the AC and it got very warm very quickly, and I ended up sweating by the time my 30 minute bath was over. (I killed time watching 'The Good Doctor' on my phone. It was resting in a plastic container above the water) I also used a meat thermometer to monitor the water/temperature at various times. For example:

3:40PM the water was 118°F/47.7°C

3:55PM the water was 115°F/46.1°C

4:10PM the water was 113°F/45°C

4:25PM the water was 111°F/43.8° (This is when the water was safe enough to get into)

4:40PM the water was 109°F/42.7°C

5:00PM the water was 107°F/41.6°C

5:20PM the water was 103°F/39°C

I did not test it with boiling water and pouring it in, but considering how long it takes for large bodies of water to cool off, I believe Natsu could have spent his morning boiling water, pouring it into the tub, then repeating that process until it was time to get Lucy. The boiling water would have cooled a bit over time, but he kept adding more to the mix, warming it back up. I did an experiment with a big sink and a bucket of water first to see how long the water stayed at certain temperatures. The bucket lost heat faster than the sink, which means the more water, the longer it stays hot. Also, the boiling point for water is 212°F/100°C, so I feel it's possible Natsu could have pulled this off, especially since I started my hot water at 118°F/47.7°C, which is way lower.

Also, I hope I did the conversions correctly. I used my phone's calculator, but it looks weird to me to see so many decimal points in a temperature. Wait, I just looked it up and apparently I'm supposed to round the decimal points to the nearest 1/2... Do I round up or down? Anyone who knows how to use Celsius temperatures want to give me a lesson, because google made me more confused. (Wish the US would've just gone with what everyone else did so there wasn't this confusion.)

Oh! And the clothes Lucy is wearing is what she slept in during episode 11 of Fairy Tail when they were at Galuna Island.

Anyways, I think that's all the references for this chapter. Once again, let me know what you thought! I love hearing from you!