Lucy Is Warming Up

So, this story is something that wanted to write for a while, please understand that I love Gray as a character, if you do not like the story you do not have to read it, just like I don't have to read the stories you like. This story is a Nalu story, my take on if Gray went crazy after a fight with Lucy, I barely see stories with an evil Gray, so that is why I am writing this story. Please do not hate, and say Gray would never do that, well neither would Natsu. Sorry if this little blurb makes zero sense, hopefully you will understand where I am going with this as the story progresses. So, without further ado, lets begin Chapter 1 of Lucy is Warming Up. By the way this first Chapter is going to be a timeskip, and I will go into more detail about what happens between Gray and Lucy in later chapters. This will be a tear-jerker, so have your tissues ready, but it will have a happy ending.

Chapter 1: Pain and Heartbreak

Warning: Mentions of Abuse, OOC Gray, smut.

Lucy and Gray have been dating ever since the guild reunited, when they had first announced that they had been dating, everyone was of course surprised but happy nonetheless, well everyone except for a fire dragon slayer. Natsu didn't show how hurt he was when he saw them kiss for the first time, his heart was broken, he felt like shit for leaving but he only left, because he wanted to be strong for her. He didn't want her to see his tears of rejection and heartbreak, but if truly loved her, he wasn't going to force her to be with him. The only thing that brought him happiness was that they were still friends, but he still felt like his heart would burst every time he saw the blonde mage and ice wizard together. IT FUCKING SUCKED. He even bought a bed for his own house figuring that since Gray and Lucy were together, he wouldn't ever get to sleep at her place ever again. He should have known that this was what to expect. However, what he didn't expect was for Lucy to show up at his house crying.

"Natsu, please l….let me in….please." her voice sounded broken as sobs raked her body. The dragon slayer stood in the doorway taking in the view of the broken girl in front of him, his eyes glancing over the bruises on her body. Confusion took over his features as she ran into his arms, her body shaking as he held her tightly in his warm embrace.

Natsu just stood there holding the crying celestial mage, his face a mixture of confusion and concern for the girl he loved. All he wanted to do was hold her and kiss her, tell her everything would be ok, but he couldn't and it hurt that he couldn't truly comfort her how he wanted to, but he would still try to comfort her the best he could.

"Lucy." "Hey Luce, look at me?" he said his voice slightly cracking as he fought back his own tears. He couldn't bear it when she cried. He always tried to be strong for her he always loved it when she smiled, she had the most beautiful smile in the world. If he was being honest, no matter what emotion she had on her face, she was beautiful, and nothing would change his opinion or how he felt about her.

"P…Please look at me Lucy." he begged as his own voice broke, he didn't know why but this time, he just wanted to cry with her, comfort her to the best of his ability. Wanting to see her beautiful face again he gently cupped her chin, lifting her to meet his gaze. Once he was able to see her, he only wanted to kill the man responsible for hurting her, his blood boiling as he saw a bruise on her right cheek. The fire mage only winced as he looked at her trying to keep himself from exploding with rage and malice towards the bastard who laid his hands on her. Her beautiful, flawless skin adorned with fresh marks. Not wanting her to be in pain anymore he quickly pressed his lips to her cheek in a gentle, comforting kiss. The blonde slightly blushing at the gesture, she didn't expect a kiss, but she welcomed it a small smile forming across her lips. She did have feelings for Natsu, unbeknownst to the dragon slayer himself. Looking back at the pink haired mage she saw a gentle sad smile on face as tears ran down his cheeks. Lucy couldn't hold back anymore, in a moment of desire and weakness, she leaned into his lips, catching the dragon slayer by surprise. When she felt that he wasn't reciprocating she pulled away embarrassed, and afraid that she had ruined her friendship with him.

"I…I'm sorry Natsu…..I just thought….." she started to say before being cut off by his lips, returning the passionate kiss. He knew what he was doing was wrong, in fact they both knew it was wrong, but why did it feel so right? Every time she kissed Gray it never felt right not to say that he wasn't a good kisser, but Natsu was so much more passionate. They both kissed for a while, before breaking away.

Natsu had led her inside his house, letting her sit on his couch, he had cleaned up a bit. Even though they weren't dating he still felt like he had to impress her he hated this. He didn't hate her; he hated this feeling. He hated it because he knew he would never have her.

"Luce?" "Look, I won't force you to tell me what wrong until you're absolutely comfortable, but I want you to know that I'm here for you ok?" he said squeezing her thigh in a comforting manner. Lucy just looked at him with love in her eyes, the type of love that you feel for the one you truly love, Natsu was the one she truly loved not Gray, especially after what happened between them, not after the fight they had. She could still remember, how they fought at her place, it was stupid, there was no reason for him to be acting out the way he did, not when it was his fault in the first place. She really wanted to tell Natsu what happened, but she couldn't tell him knowing how angry he would get. He would be so infuriated that not even Erza or Laxus would be able to stop him from ripping the ice mage apart limb from limb, she didn't want that, not because of Gray, but she didn't want to hurt him.

"I….I really w…want to t…ell you, but I'm not ready y…yet." She whispered her head looking down at the floor, her tears still flowing down her face as she clutched her skirt. Natsu scooted closer to her, wrapping his arm around her waist, bringing her in for another embrace, and let her cry. He didn't say anything, he just let her cry. He knew she was hurting. There was one thing confusing him though, why go to him first, why not go to Gray? He didn't care, but if she came to him first that must have meant something happened between them, he would let it go for the time being.

"Hey, Lucy?" he asked causing the blonde to look at him, her tears stopping, but sadness still showing. "You should get some sleep, if you want you can take my bed?" "It's getting late and I would hate to for you to be by yourself."

Lucy looked at him with confusion. 'He bought a bed?' she thought to herself surprised that he would do such a thing.

"Y…Your bed?" she asked as she looked in the corner to see a large bed in his living room. "When did you get this Natsu?" she asked looking at the dragon slayer.

Natsu sheepishly chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Well, I figured since you and Gray were dating I…I wouldn't be allowed to sleep at your place anymore." He said a hint of sadness and pain in his voice as a single tear ran down his cheek.

Lucy felt her eyes tear up again. He had gotten this because he thought he would never be allowed at her place again.

"Natsu?" "You're always allowed at my place, sure I get upset when you and Happy break in, but that's what makes you guys you. "I've gotten used to it, and I secretly enjoy when you guys show up unannounced."

"You do?" he asked.

"Yea, it just shows that you guys are concerned for my safety." "It's honestly really sweet of you." She said as blush formed across her face.

Lucy lifted her hand to wipe the stray tear from his face. She had never seen him this vulnerable before. He was always tough, and goofy, but that's what she loved about Natsu.

"Natsu?" she said as she leaned into his embrace wrapping her arm around his waist

"Yeah?" he said returning the embrace.

"T..Thank you, for always being there for me."

A small smile formed across his face. "I'll always help you Lucy, no matter what."

"Come on you should get some sleep." He said helping her up.

Lucy didn't want to sleep alone, even though she was near Natsu, it wasn't the same as being held by him.

"Natsu?" she asked as another blush formed across her cheeks.

"Yeah." He replied taking in how cute she was.

"I…."I'm still a little bit on edge from tonight, do you mind sleeping next to me. It would make me feel better if you were next to me." She said her thumbs twiddling as she looked down at the floor.

Natsu only smiled as he walked over to her, kissing her forehead.

"Of course I will." He said as they both got into the bed. Lucy lay next to him as she snuggled into his naked chest wrapping her arms around him, she had only taken her shoes off, not bothering to change her clothes. She had immediately ran to Natsu's after her fight with Gray.

Silence filled the room as Lucy snuggled in closer to the dragon slayer, a smile creeping across her face as sleep overtook her. 'Thank you, Natsu….I love you' she said to herself as sleep graced her features, with Natsu falling close behind a smile of his own spreading across his features.

The next morning they would talk, but they just wanted to enjoy the moment. There was still one thing running through Natsu's mind. What did that kiss mean?

Here is Chapter 1 of Lucy Is Warming Up, I hope that you guys enjoy this story, I already started tearing up while writing this chapter, I hope you this makes y'all cry too. MUHAHAHAHAHAHA, sorry. Seriously though I hope you enjoy reading this story, and I love you all. I hope you guys don't think I hate Gray, I love Gray, but I just hate that part of the fandom that makes Gray seem like he can do no wrong. BTW GrayLu is one of my BROTPS, they are like siblings to me. That is why I don't ship them in the anime, but I can see why some people ship it. I will NEVER support it, but I will acknowledge the fact that they have a cute relationship. Anyways see you in the next chapter. Please feel free to drop a review, and let me know what I can improve on.

Your friend,

Naraku Dragneel