Hi lovely readers!
Happy New Year everyone, although I am a few hours early. I'm super proud that this will be my last published story of 2021!
I cannot stress how nervous I am about this piece, it was requested by the wonderful Kurasame, and I so desperately hope that you like what I've done with your premise. I stuck fairly closely to the notes you gave, simply cause I liked them so much, but I added bits and pieces where I felt it necessary.
If you enjoy darker Fairy Tail stories then I have to highly recommend checking out Kurasame's The Age of Etherion, it is so good, a true must read!
My first ever pure fluff in this book, and I must admit that I felt like I had bathed in syrup when I finished it up, haha!
Requests are temporarily suspended, the next piece I publish will be in a brand new book for Naruto Shippuden characters, set up in the same way as this book with me taking requests from readers :) Feel free to comment with requests now, or wait until the first story goes up. Tempted to spoil the characters that will feature, but maybe it should stay a surprise?
Whilst requests here are suspended, I will not be updating my wait list on chapter 2(other than to remove requests that I finish), but if you do make a FT request I will continue to add it to the spreadsheet that I work with.
I wish every one of you a lovely 2022, let's hope that things can start to get better for all!
So much love my smut lovers ;)
~.~
Why does this always have to happen?
"Ugh…" is all the boy can say, even that is dangerous as his stomach churns and his throat burns like he has swallowed molten rocks. The gentle jostle of the train to him feels as if he is being tossed about like a ragdoll in an endless ocean of demonic waves.
Words are being spoken, if he listens intently they can pass over the nausea that roils through his body. Eyes tight shut, yet he can sense someone leaning in as the shadow of his eyelids darken and the warmth of a body press towards his own and causes another gurgle in his poor belly.
"Dude, seriously. Can you keep the whining down? We are getting so many strange looks and people are gonna start thinking that I am actually with you!" the scathing voice of his friend Sting rings in his ears. He would normally be more than happy to throw words back at him, biting sentiments that he would rather drop dead than be associated with him, but his body won't allow it.
Natsu Dragneel; young, charismatic, full of life and love, and very travel sick. The pink haired male appears as a pale imitation of his normal self, his usually sun-kissed skin ashen and coated in a thin sheen of cold sweat, lips thinned and tipped down in displeasure and his nose scrunched so tightly that it appears painful to look at.
Sting is more than used to this, it isn't often that Natsu can be coaxed on to any form of transportation, preferring to hoof it by foot even if it meant the journey lasting much longer than necessary. Yet the lure of the music festival had proven too great, the risk is deemed worth the reward.
The train is packed and mostly with people heading to the same festival, they were lucky enough to procure the table seats, or else this pitiful performance would have been displayed for all to see in the cramped aisles of the train.
Natsu hangs limply in his seat, his pink hair falling over his face and hiding the tortured expression that is painted across his features. The whimpers, groans, and worst of all, gurgles of his stomach are like a looping track that he and the other two are now so over.
"Ignore him, we'll be there soon and we can walk a decent distance behind him until we get to the campsite," Rogue mutters, his gaze remaining fixedly on the scenes passing in a continuing stream past the window. His long black hair tucked into a half ponytail that Sting desperately wants to yank on, simply to annoy his 'brother', but he holds back, for now.
How can Gray sleep through this?
The other black haired male seated next to the writhing puddle that is Natsu continues to doze peacefully despite the din of his neighbour. His relaxed face tipped back, thick lashes fanned across his cheeks as his chest rises and falls, arms tightly crossed over the expanse.
"Fuck it!" Sting cries, rummaging in the bag by his feet and jostling Natsu enough to make him cry out lowly. Popping the buds in, he picks the loudest music he can find in his library and drowns out the pathetic whimpers in the sweeping crash of drums and guitars.
Natsu truly believes that he will die if this continues much longer.
Why on earth did he ever think that this would be worth the torture he is enduring? His stomach feels like it is desperately trying to flee his body through his mouth, and the sway of the train is only assisting in making the exit quicker.
A void; pitch-black coating the inside of his thundering head and an approaching light. He wants to twist away from it, keep it at bay as his frazzled brain scrambles for context clues, but something is comforting in that light. A warmth that does not make his stomach churn, what witchcraft is this?
Footsteps, light and delicate. Stopping beside him and more whispered words.
The voice of an angel surely?
Soft and lilting, wrapping Natsu instantly in a comforting blanket. The pressure inside his head dulls until he can crack one lid open, no, that was a mistake. His senses flooded with too much light and he groans again in his misery.
A hand is placed on his hair, gentle and he nuzzles into it without thinking. The roiling subsided again until he can think a bit more clearly, the heat seeping into him through his scalp is intense and measured at the same time.
A quiet conversation is taking place, multiple voices drifting back and forth like a game of tennis. He wants to focus on the words, but that almost lyrical voice is lulling him into a peaceful sleep, his moaning ceasing and he slips into a welcoming rest.
~.~
Natsu is ready to use the mallet in his tight grip to pound his friends into the ground like meddlesome moles. Bickering and incessant arguments fill the air, Sting and Rogue squabbling like children over who does what. It'll descend into shoving and pushing soon, and people say that he and Gray are bad…
The dreaded train ride is long forgotten, although he cannot shake the sweet voice that he heard from his memory. Never has he heard something so calming and dare he say, a little alluring at the same time. He wanted to ask his friends about it but refrained, not wanting to look like more of an idiot than he already had.
The men are quickly absorbed in the effort to erect their shabby four-man tent, Gray managing to assert enough dominance over the warring 'siblings' to make quick work of the process.
"The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can crack some cans! Sting, put the fucking poles down, and finish your own damn task. I saw that!" Gray rails at the cocky blonde who had been flipping him off as he turned away.
He loved these guys, not that he would actually tell them that, no way!
Their bonds of friendship and camaraderie ran deep, almost familial in a way, each of them orphans in their own right but this was his family, by choice and destiny. They had met as youngsters in school, and it had taken a few years until egos could be pushed aside and bridges built between the four equally domineering males.
Natsu and Sting were brazen in their confidence, energetic to an almost puppylike level that made them naturals in athletic ventures. Their personal rivalry was merely skin deep, they were the first to offer comfort and condolences in the face of defeat.
Gray and Rogue, the two coolly confident, and almost seemingly indifferent in their own self-assurances. They both excelled in creative pursuits, yet in differing fields that meant no clashing over who was the better person much to everyone else's delight.
Gray could play at least six instruments that the boys were aware of, with his true favourite being the drums of which he played in a band that he had put together. They were good despite the newness of their status, offers of small gigs already flooding in, and rightly so.
Rogue was an artist, he dabbled in various mediums but nothing could beat his charcoal sketches. Each of his friends had a portrait of themselves pinned to their bedroom wall, gifts from their reserved friend that they treasured dearly to this day.
With the tent finally up, sleeping bags and belongings stowed inside, it was time to relax and get a little buzzed before heading into the madness.
Natsu stretched, delighting in the pull on his tight limbs. He was catlike as his back arched, his simple white tee tightening over his muscled chest until there was a light popping that made him grunt, the pressure being relieved in his upper torso.
Four stomachs growled, and not in the way Natsu's had on the train. The boys were hungry, he was quick to jump to his feet, nose tilting up as he scented the air like a predator sniffing out its quarry.
"Food!" Natsu declared, almost like a war cry that the others responded to with cheers and fists raised in the air.
The hunt was on!
~.~
He was lost.
The crowds of unfamiliar faces swarmed around him, pressing in until a slight panic was tingling at his fingers, making his hands flex in and out of fists at his sides. Hadn't he been following the ridiculous ponytail of Rogue?
Frustration pulled to the surface as he stood still for a moment, slowly turning on the spot to look for the familiar heads of his friends. They were taller than most, he should be able to make them out easily, but they were nowhere in sight.
Natsu was never good with indecision, he liked to act and not think too deeply before setting forth. Now was no different as he stopped, looking over the heads of the people before him and pushing himself amongst the throng. He stumbled as someone bumped into his side, knocking him off balance and straight into someone else.
"Shit!" he managed out, trying to catch at the person who he had bashed into so unceremoniously. Twisting as his own butt hit the dirt, he heard the shriek of cussing and froze.
Ignoring the sharp sting of pain that travelled up his tail bone, he was instantly hypnotised by the girl that wore a matching expression of wonder on her face.
Natsu had never in all his life seen a more beautiful sight.
The girl was unreasonably pretty; a cute heart face that was currently flushed a delicate pink, large almond-shaped eyes the colour of warm melted chocolate, and thick black lashes that swept over her rosy cheeks as he continued to stare like a moron.
His eyes slowly trailed to her mouth, the plush pink flesh glossed with some kind of lip balm or clear gloss and the peek of her pink tongue clenched between her teeth. Her hair was like spun gold, swept into a high side ponytail that was adorably messy and when she opened her mouth and the first word reached his ear, he almost groaned out loud.
The angel, she did exist!
"Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going. I hope you're ok?" she asked, her tone sweet like dripping honey, and Natsu could listen to her talk forever and be a truly happy man.
She frowned, and only then did he realise that he hadn't replied.
His automatic reactions fired up, his mouth splitting into his trademark toothy grin and a hand lifting to rub at the back of his neck, normally it didn't feel so hot…
"Train angel…" he mumbled, and the girl's eyebrows disappeared into her hairline, the blush intensifying as recognition shone in her eyes.
Her laugh is rich and floats through the boy's brain short-circuiting the few remaining working parts, he'll surely become brain dead at this rate.
They are still on the ground, people drifting past and looking at them curiously, but they don't seem to care. Wrapped in their own little bubble, unseeing to the distractions all around, the incessant noise dying down to a mere dull buzz.
"Lucy." the blonde says, offering her hand to the boy, a slight wiggle to her brows as she watches him drag his gaze from her face to the outstretched hand. She has to suppress the laughter, he is like no one else she has ever met, and the attraction that flows between them like the hum of electricity is pleasantly tingly on her skin.
Finally, he takes the hand, soft fingers cradled in his far larger and rougher embrace. A whisper of a gasp twitches at his ear, and he cannot stop the spread of his grin, it stretches until his cheeks ache.
"Natsu." he drawls in reply, his brain engaging at long last to pull him from the stupor he had been floundering in. Only now can he feel the intense searing heat of his cheeks, his face matching his vividly pink hair until he resembles a stick of sugary sweet candyfloss.
He finds his feet, wiping absently at his butt which still hurts from the impact, and reaches down to take a tight hold of both of Lucy's hands to tug her upwards. She wobbles from the sudden movement, marvelling in his strength, one hand steadying herself on his chest until she can find her own balance and taking a step back to create a little needed distance.
The angel gnaws on her lower lip, "where are your friends? They didn't seem to care much about your sorry condition on the train," she states, a small 'v' forming above her nose as she remembers the brief conversation with the blonde boy.
"Ah don't pay him any mind, pinkie'll be fine when we get off this damn train." the blonde waves a dismissive hand, already replacing the earbud that he had removed when she gave him a sharp tap on the shoulder.
"He looks real sick, does he need a doctor?" she continued before he was able to ignore her fully with the heavy music she could hear from the dropped bud.
The pink haired male had looked like he was one second away from puking his guts up when she had first noticed him. Looking down now, she hadn't realised that her hand had fallen to his pink locks, fingers sinking into the soft bristles and moving in slow circular motions.
He was asleep, the rise and fall of his chest was gentle and the pained expression that was mostly obscured from view had smoothed out. Had she done this to him?
The blonde had watched with an arched brow, taking in the way that she stared down at his friend. "See, he's fine now. Satisfied?" he smirked up at her.
She could tell it was bluster, Lucy knew instinctively that this foursome was tightly bound together. Clearly, this was not a new event for them, or they would not have allowed for his misery to continue without seeking a solution.
"Ah – I think I've lost them in the crowd," he admits glossing over his travel sickness, not wanting to relive his biggest weakness in front of her. His gaze lifted from Lucy for the first time since their meeting to look for his friends.
Before he knew it, the blonde angel had hooked her arm through his own and swung him around, back into the writhing mass of bodies. He was in no way bothered by crowds normally, but with Lucy on his arm, he became hyper-aware of the packed masses. She took the lead, pulling him forward, yet he would adjust their trajectory as people uncaring and unaware of their own surroundings stumbled into their path time and again. It was almost like a dance, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the food trucks.
Natsu's stomach made a monstrous growling sound, the aroma of so many different cuisines filling his nose until he was like a cartoon character floating along in the air, following the visible trail of the smell of delicious food.
He turned sheepishly to Lucy, offering a small apology for the noises of his stomach, but she raised a hand to cut him off. She found his eagerness for food adorable and very amusing, it definitely seemed as if his earlier misery was well and truly behind him.
"What do you fancy?" she asked innocently, looking over the varying options before them.
He had almost opened his mouth to say "you," but he caught himself in the nick of time. Natsu cleared his throat, watching intently as Lucy swayed ever so gently to the beat of distant music, one foot tapping out the rhythm.
"You choose, I'm sure I'll love whatever you decide on," he offered, and he was not lying. Natsu could and would eat practically anything set before him, much to the continued amusement of his friends.
Lucy's eyes shone at that small challenge, a little skitter of tingles flowing up her spine at his assurance that he would love whatever she chose. With a catlike smile, she dragged him off towards a truck tucked away at the back.
~.~
With his belly now pleasantly full, Natsu stretched out on the grass and watched as Lucy finished her own bowl with a groan. "I think I might pop!" she whined, rubbing her stomach dramatically.
The ramen she had selected was possibly the best he had ever tasted, and he really wished he had asked for two bowls rather than only the one, but he hadn't wished to seem greedy in front of his newfound angel.
"It was delicious, I'll have to remember the name so I can visit their store. Wouldn't mind trying the Tonkotsu ramen next time," he chattered happily. Lucy groaned again at the mention of more food, and he chuckled at her overreaction.
"Don't talk about food, not unless you want me to give you a knuckle sandwich!" she moaned, shaking her fist playfully and delighting in the laughter that sprung from her companion. He nudged her gently, offering her the bottle of water that had rolled into his hip.
They had spent the last thirty minutes conversing over their steaming bowls, and it was strange how natural it felt to chat so openly when they had only just met. Natsu hung on her every word, still affected by the beauty of her voice.
He hadn't noticed the way he had slowly edged closer to her, but she certainly had. He reminded her of a cat searching out the warmth of a fire, creeping ever closer until their fur was toasty and warm, purring contentedly. Pair that with the sharpness of his canines that she had glimpsed with each easy smile he offered, Natsu was most definitely a cat in her eyes.
Loving house cat or predator big cat? That was the real question, or maybe it was a bit of both…
The time passed much too quickly; the pair shared more and more of their lives as they wandered through the excitement of the festival. Stopping at booths to admire trinkets, sweet treats being sampled and shared with sticky fingers as the flustered boy fell deeper and deeper under Lucy's spell and the joy of simply being with someone that brought on such warm feelings.
At a row of carnival games, they had spent a fun time trying to knock over cans, tossing rings over bottles, and squirting water into balloons until they popped. Lucy squealed with delight as Natsu won one of his games, letting her select the cuddly prize; a beautiful blue mermaid with long flowing hair made from plaited wool. She had hugged it so tightly, eyes squeezed shut and Natsu was on cloud nine. His chest may have puffed just a little at having been able to give Lucy something clearly so precious.
He had felt her annoyance before she visibly reacted. Natsu's brow tugged down into a frown, watching as Lucy stopped mid-step to pull a small phone from her pocket. She grimaced but answered it whilst he tried not to look like he wanted to know who she was speaking to.
Lucy's eyes never left Natsu's face, listening to the words in her ear, and the indecision warring in her warmly fuzzy brain. Yet in all honesty, she had made the decision already, knowing deep down that she did not want to be parted from him. Lucy knew his name and the names of his friends, but that was all, what if she couldn't find him again? The dread of that outcome felt heavy in her stomach, she could not allow it to come to pass.
"Five minutes," she spoke clearly, watching the scrunch of his nose at her words into the phone. She wanted to smooth it away, but instead, she ended the call and gripped his hand that was hanging limply by his side. It was warm and welcoming, his fingers entwining with her own as if this was how they were meant to be.
Once again Natsu found himself being directed by Lucy, they twisted and turned through the crowds. He had no idea where they were headed this time, the music of the main stage rose as they neared, and all of a sudden they were moving straight for an area that was obviously for staff.
His fingers stiffened around hers, swinging her around to a stop as he looked for a reason they would be heading this way. "Do you trust me?" she asked so sweetly, her lips splitting into a glorious smile, and Natsu nodded without a second's hesitation.
This angel is going to get me in soooo much trouble!
He gulped audibly as she resumed their determined march towards the restricted areas. They were momentarily blocked by two heavily muscled men, they looked down at Lucy through their black tinted sunglasses, and he could feel himself straighten, ready to defend her if needed.
It hadn't been needed; Lucy jigged on the spot looking antsy to get to wherever they were going, "he's with me," puffing past her lips in a rush, and they had swept aside immediately.
What is going on here?!
Rows and rows of makeshift dressing rooms pass on both sides, most doors firmly closed but from the few glimpses he managed to spy as he was sped down the corridor made him more and more sure that he should not be here!
Natsu felt drunk; his brain was refusing to engage with him anymore, and his confusion only grew when Lucy threw them into an empty room. It was a stark white, the small dressing table tucked into the corner before a large round mirror. He could see the utter bafflement on his own face as he continued to gaze around, taking in the large TV mounted to the opposite wall that displayed a livestream of the main stage, the volume muted.
Lucy reluctantly released his hand, missing the warmth instantly. She lovingly places the blue mermaid on the dressing table, giving it a final tender stroke.
A cacophony of knocks rattled the door making Natsu jump and spin back around in panic. His heart racing as he fears they are about to be violently ejected from an area that they should not be trespassing in. Yet, Lucy merely groans, throwing open the door in irritation as three girls practically fall into the room.
All eyes are on Natsu, "oh my god, who is the boy?" the petite blue haired girl coos quietly. Taking a step back, Natsu suddenly feels very on display, the stares of four girls squarely on him, weighing him down.
"None of your damn business Levy, leave him alone!" Lucy hisses, stepping in front of the nervous pink haired boy, protecting him from her seemingly bloodthirsty friends.
A short girl with blue hair, soft hazel eyes, and a kind smile, a brunette with a wicked smirk on her tanned face, and a giggling white haired girl with crystal blue eyes. They are definitely pretty, but they dull in comparison to his angel, Lucy.
"We gotta go Lu!" the brunette cries, throwing her hands up and striding for the door again.
Lucy nods, turning back to Natsu, "I'll be back real soon, try to relax yeah?" she reaches out her hand, resting it on his tense shoulder, and can feel him immediately relax into the light touch. He really is adorable, oh and the blush is back too, perfect!
~.~
Natsu has been alone for around fifteen minutes now, and his brain is slowly coming back online. He has paced around the room more times than he can count, pausing every time someone passes loudly past the closed door.
How did I end up here? Have I been so mesmerised by Lucy that I willingly followed her back here for god knows what?!
He wants to be angry, but it's not possible. He regrets nothing. Lucy has been nothing but kind, funny, and open with him. Natsu would place his trust in her once again and wait here as she asked. Sitting slumped in the only chair in the room, his eyes trail over the TV, the stage is being set for the next act.
The door swings open again and in walks his angel, the beating of his heart intensifying as he happily eyes the change of outfit. Lucy stands confidently in a beautiful white silk shirt, the dip of the neckline allowing for the barest peek of her cleavage, and the shirttails tied in a knot that rests below her belly button. Her hips and upper thighs are wrapped in tight light blue denim shorts, the edges frayed in a distressed style.
His mouth waters. Her skin looks like the softest honey butter and he has to quickly pull himself together to stop him from drooling on her shoes. Her smile is knowing, humour dancing in her twinkling brown eyes, and her hand cups his cheek without thought.
The sizzle of shared attraction singes her skin, how can someone be as handsome as he is?
The dark onyx of his eyes that stare at her as if he can see right down into the depths of her soul, the tanned skin so warm under her touch, the sharp jawline that gives way to the most dazzling smiles imaginable. In truth, it's not only his looks, for they are more than plentiful, but he is good in a way that few people truly are. With a heart prominently on his sleeve, his courage to be so open with his thoughts and feelings is inspiring. A genuine warmth, compassion, and just the tiniest bit of insecurity if you look deeply enough; quite the package!
She could spend hours staring at him, discovering new things with each passing minute, but she does not have the time, not right now.
His eyes have fallen to the hallway behind her, her three friends waiting impatiently for her to join them once more. He must have noticed the slightly matching of the four outfits by now, yep, there it is, the tip of his head and the furrow of his brow.
Lucy grasps the remote resting on the dressing table, raising the volume on the TV whilst Natsu looks on with a completely puzzled expression. She can't resist the very quick peck on his cheek, the soft gasp by her ear as she straightens.
"Try to enjoy the show!" she whispers, exiting the room like a whirlwind of golden blonde hair and giggles, leaving Natsu to stumble through his confusion.
~.~
Show? What show?
It's as if his mind is trudging through knee-deep mud, pieces struggling to click into place. Natsu feels like he has been tasked with completing a jigsaw puzzle without being able to see the picture on the box. The struggle is real, teeth grinding at the frustration of not knowing all the facts, and then he heard it.
That voice.
Her voice.
Whiplash was a real concern with how fast his head snapped around to the large TV, and his jaw dropped. Lucy and her friends excitedly moved on to the stage, instruments being lifted, a microphone being approached.
She is one of the acts?!
The voice of an angel, calling to him through the screen. If he were an animal he would roll over and let her rub his belly with abandon and the thought is not a bad one. His limbs feel like they are trailing through thick syrup as he stands, it's not enough.
His feet are moving, ears pricked up as the sound of her voice becomes clearer, crisper as he moves forward. Natsu sees no one on his path to the side of the stage, either that or he simply did not notice anyone's presence, so focused on the sweet voice that nothing else mattered.
A thundering heart, palms slick with sweat as he watches from the wings. The music is beautifully lyrical, all the girls lost in their songs, but he has eyes for no one but his angel. He stood as still as a statute, so enraptured by Lucy and her performance, his mouth felt as dry as a desert, and he had to casually wipe his palms on his jeans.
The way she skips around the stage, her bubbly personality on full display as she engages with her friends and the audience. There is nothing lewd about the act, simply pure, innocent fun, and harmonious music that lilts like a calming influence over his entire being.
Time is no longer something that Natsu is aware of.
One song slips into another, then another, and finally the set is over. The girls bow to the captivated audience, smiling happily as they group hug and turn to the wings. Four sets of eyes fall on Natsu, and he blinks much too quickly as knowing smiles tug on to three pairs of lips.
They leave Lucy, hands grasping until fingers finally pull apart and she is walking towards him.
What do I do? What the fuck can I even say? Is that a flicker of self-doubt in her eyes?
"Date. You. Would like. Very much. Free?" falls from his mouth before his brain can string the sentence together properly, he could choke himself with how idiotic he sounded.
Luckily Lucy is amused, a radiant smile lighting up her entire face as she winds her arms around his stomach and hugs him quickly. His hands have barely lifted to circle her own body when she steps back with a chuckle, "I'd love to go on a date with you Natsu, I'm free anytime, for you."
I couldn't have fucked it up too much then!