Chapter 32
Now Lucy and Natsu are alone in his bedroom. She remains standing in front of the closed door while he plops onto his bed. He moves his head to look over at her. "What are you doing?" he asks.
She is bracing herself for the worst. "What do you mean?"
He motions for her with a hand. "C'mon over here."
"I'm fine over here though." For extra emphasis, she wraps her arms around herself before she leans against the door.
"But you're too far awayyy," he whines, flailing around his outstretched hand.
"What did you want to talk about?" Lucy asks, getting right to the point.
With caution, he sits up. "Are you okay?"
She blinks. "Huh?"
Natsu stands up and slowly makes his way over to her. "Luce, are you okay? Well, more like how are you holding up with all of this?" He stops in front of her, looking down at her due to their height difference. "From how you were downstairs, I figured that you needed time alone. Err, alone time with just one person. Too many people and too many voices before."
"You didn't want us alone so you could break up with me?" she blurts. He did it because of her well-being. He can really read her well.
He blinks once. Twice. Three times. "Why would I do that?" he asks in shock.
"I'll understand if you want to distance yourself from me–"
"Nope," he interrupts, not meaning to be rude.
She is surprised, her arms dropping to her sides. "Wait, what?"
"You're stuck with me." He cracks a playful grin. "You should know that by now, weirdo."
"But you saw the photos," she starts to babble. "You saw that certain one."
He merely shrugs. "Big deal."
"Natsu, there was an X drawn over you," she stresses, trying to get through his skull. "A red X drawn over just you in a photo of us."
"Better me than you!" he responds, losing his blazé composure slightly.
Taken aback, Lucy's mouth closes. She is not sure how to respond to something like that.
He takes a deep breath before he starts speaking. "Apparently you're in trouble for whatever reason and I can't do a damn thing about it. I guess I could try something, but I have no clue on where to start." He exhales loudly. "It's a pretty shitty situation if you ask me…"
"I'm sorry…" she mumbles.
He tilts his head to one side. "Sorry? You're sorry? For what? It's not like this your fault."
"But–"
"Don't go blaming it on yourself because you're Ashley and a Heartfilia, okay? This isn't your fault. Not one bit." Natsu leans forward and wraps his arms around her for a tight embrace. "Okay?"
She finally gives in, somewhat feeling relieved. "All right."
"Good. That's good…" Then his grip tightens around her and he lifts her right off her feet. He starts cackling as he heads over to his bed. "You've fallen for my trap!"
Lucy has no chance of escaping. Her arms are trapped under his and he is physically too strong compared to her. "Natsu! Put me down!"
Keeping his arms around her so they are together, Natsu falls sideways onto his bed so their legs are hanging over one of the edges. He snuggles into her and sighs. "This is wanted from the start. Snuggling time with my Luce."
"Because I'm such a great snuggler," she scoffs.
"Well, not so much when you doze off and snore…"
She gasps. "I do not! You're the one who does that!"
He chuckles. "Guilty!" Then he smooches her head. "You're the cute one in this relationship. The cute as fuc–"
Without any warning, Lucy's stomach rumbles and completely ruins the moment.
"Wow, did a whale just die?" Natsu asks.
Her face heats up from embarrassment. "Hey!"
"Have you eaten at all today?" he interrogates. "Because I know you skip meals when you're stressed."
"Virgo made me breakfast…" she mumbles, avoiding eye contact with him.
"I dunno who that is, but breakfast happened hours ago. Long hours ago."
She makes no comment.
"Have you eaten since breakfast?"
She has had no appetite. She tried eating a banana for a late lunch, but she could not get around to peeling it open. She ended up putting it back in the fruit bowl and walking away.
"Luce…" he says after a moment of silence from her.
"No," she finally answers.
"We have leftovers in the fridge." Then Natsu goes about taking out his phone from his pocket. A few buttons later, he holds the device up to his ear that is not against the mattress and waits.
Lucy is able to hear Wendy on the other end when she answers.
"Natsu?" she asks.
"Hey, Wendy," he greets warmly. "I have a favor to ask."
"Aren't you and Lucy still upstairs?"
"Yeah, but I'm too lazy to go downstairs and leave Luce up here."
"Okay…" she says with uncertainty.
"Can you bring up a plate of leftovers for Luce? She needs some food. She doesn't eat when she's stressed and her tummy doesn't like that."
"Oh, sure thing!"
"Thanks, Wendy!"
"I'll be up in a little bit then! Bye!"
The call ends after that.
Natsu simply tosses his phone to the side so it is within reach of him. "Remind me to tell Goat Man to watch that you do eat. No more skipping meals for you, got it, Luce?"
"All right, Nanny Natsu," she sasses.
"That's Boyfriend Nanny Natsu to you," he sasses back without missing a note.
She smiles a little.
He gasps. "Hey, what's that?"
"What's what?"
He moves a hand to poke her cheek. "That? I'm pretty sure that it was a smile…"
She smiles a little more because of his behavior.
"There it is! A smile!"
"Oh, stop it."
"Never." Then he gives her a quick kiss on the lips. "Never ever."
"Why not?"
"I love you"-he quickly kisses her forehead-"with the power of a thousand suns"-he pecks her right cheek-"exploding into a supernova"-he smooches her nose-"of kittens and rainbows." Natsu seals the deal by sinking his lips into hers.
Lucy completely melts into him. He knows just how to get to her. He always knows what to say. Now she feels warm. Now she feels safe.
x-X-x
By now, Lucy has a full belly and she is sitting cross-legged on Natsu's bed. Likewise, he is casually lying on his side with an arm propping his head up. The duo has been talking about anything that comes to their mind. Of course, they are avoiding taking about Natsu and his family going to Paris soon. It will be the longest time the couple has been apart since they met.
"All right, but what do you think–" Looking past Natsu, Lucy notices a particular book for the first time. It is the first book to series and has a bookmark sticking out towards the back of it. "Are you reading Harry Potter… ?" she asks.
He cranes his neck around to look at it. "Oh, yeah. You have an interest in it so why not?"
She smiles at his thoughtfulness. "You're sweet."
He winks at her. "Not as sweet as you."
She playfully rolls her eyes before becoming excited. "Annnd? What do you think about it so far?"
"Not bad. Not sure why I didn't read before now." Then he chuckles. "Oh, wait, that's because I don't read much."
Lucy points over to the books he does have on his bookshelf, noticing some copies that she has written. Most of them are about dragons judging from the titles. His tiara that she gave him yesterday is on display as well. "That says otherwise."
"Wendy has way more. She'll need to get rid of books soon or get a bigger shelf."
She can understand that situation. "Or she can get a second one."
"Ooo, good point. I'll make sure to mention that idea to her."
Wanting to lie down, Lucy grabs the empty plate and sets it down on the other nightstand. She looks at the nearby photo of the two of them and remembers to ask Natsu about it. "Hey, why do you have this?" She leans forward to grab it so she can hold it. "I meant to ask you about it sooner since I saw it yesterday when I changed in here."
"I'm not supposed to show people it since it deals with the add that isn't released yet," he explains. "Buuut Jason gave me a print they won't be using. He remembered I liked it since I could see you."
Lucy makes a face before putting the frame back. "I think I look weird in it."
"I mean, you are a weirdo," he teases.
She playfully sticks her tongue out at him and lies down on her back, her feet on the end with his feet.
"But you're my weirdo," Natsu adds, booping the end of her nose.
Just so she can face him, she rolls onto her side. "How did you get stuck with a weirdo like me?"
"I'm pretty sure it happened because of a pizza craving you were having…" he muses.
She thinks about her favorite kind. "Mmm, pizza does sound good…"
"Maybe next time."
Lucy scooches closer to her boyfriend so they can snuggle. His natural body heat is great, and he is like her personal furnace. She has no doubt he will be a great cuddle buddy in the winter. "Next time for sure."
A/N: Today's a good since it's my birthday and I updated this work :D And as the bday girl, I decided to go with fluff amongst what's happening in this arc! I had a chance to update today before I leave for my mini bday vacation! Woo~ Anyways, as if I could have Natsu break up with Lucy :P I'll see y'all in the next update!
Phoenix: Heck yeah, Natsu is dragged in XD He shoulda been mentioned in Ch 30, but I forgot. So I had to add it in Ch 31 XD Still figuring out who is behind the images… I know that'll work itself it as I think and go along. (Omg, thanks! XD)
Tiara the manx: Ayyyy, got around to that update :P
taebabe: You're welcome! Aww, thank you so much! And I'm totally looking forward to my lil' break for sure :D
Guest: Canada ain't so bad… minus winter time…
Guest: Ayyy, I'm Blue, too! Since friends were that and it's my fave color :D
fangirerl99: Aye, sir! Will do :D And thank you!
Anon: I want that tiara, tooooo XD If you get it, post a photo on Tumblr and tag me in it haha Nanny Capricorn will be a thing for sure since I like it! And thanks for the bday wish! Just "another Tuesday" indeeeeeeed, lolz.
kuraudia-chan13: By now, I hope you know I like cliffhangers XD Byeeeee!
Katie1043: Aye, sir! I do like me some cliffhangers XD And thank you :D
Fairy Tail Lover: Gah, thank you so much :D That makes me happy to know you think that about CAF!
