Omg! So sorry it took so long to bring this out! I broke my foot a little after the last chapter came out and by the time I was no longer loopy on pain pills- the Nalu Love Fest had started! … As you can see, I let myself get distracted by that. … and then other things that I'd rather not talk about. I'm so very sorry!
I wont keep you waiting any longer! Please Enjoy!
-CGP
Lucy was having a nightmare. It was obvious by the grit of her teeth, the tense atmosphere that surrounded her body and the wounded cries that exited her lips. He had only just finished snuggling up in the furs of his own cot when the golden-haired Romni began to act out. He watched as her legs twitched, irritating the injured leg as it forced her to grimace.
Natsu had seen her sleep plenty of times. The girl had a habit of rushing off to the comforts of his tent as soon as the sun began to set while he preferred to stay awake, sharing stories with the rest of the camp around the bonfires. Tonight had been the same except for the short breaths escaping the girl and signs of distress.
He didn't like it.
Sitting up, he surveyed the gap between his bed and hers and found the distance was not comforting. He was used to being on his own and learning to share his tent with a girl as strange as this one had been difficult, but he had been willing. The weeks that had gone by since he had brought her to the camp had been full of him being confused more times than he cared to admit, but this was something he knew. When another shudder wracked her frame he recognized the emotions coursing through her pained cries easily: loneliness.
"D-don't leave me! Please!" The rush of breath was barely above a whisper, but it was loud enough for the Draconis to hear perfectly. Natsu had seen in her something he hadn't seen in years that night he and the outriders attacked the slavers and now he was seeing it again. Abandoned and desperate for family, he had accepted her into the fold before he even knew her name.
He frowned then, disliking the sight of her near tears even as sleep kept its hold. Natsu rolled from his sleeping furs like a snake and gently moved the girl closer to the walls of the tent. Caging her between himself, Natsu joined her in her own furs and his frown deepened. How did you calm a sleeping person? He wasn't entirely sure.
When a soft croon escaped her, Natsu's body froze and he watched her expression relax in amazement. Lucy curled in on herself, seeking the warmth that naturally radiated from him and stilled when she had pressed herself to his side. He couldn't hold back his amused smirk and didn't even bother to try. She'd yell at him in the morning, he knew that- but he'd consider this a successful mission if anything else.
"That's right, Lucy." He said softly, "you're not alone now, I brought ya' home, remember?" Natsu felt a little silly, talking to someone who couldn't hear him, but with the small smile that spread across her face, he couldn't bring himself to care really. Tucking her against him, he let the cool night air and the sounds of crickets send him off to sleep. It was his responsibility to take care of her after all and if this was the way to calm her then so be it.
The shriek that reverberated through the camp the following morning woke even the deepest sleeper.
"Th-that.. that simple-minded lecher!" Lucy fumed during breakfast, glaring a the eggs Mirajane had set out for her. "I have half a mind to take you up on the offer of finding me someone else, Mira, this is just unacceptable!"
The white-haired Romni hummed in response as she shook her head. "Oh dear, I can't see Natsu doing that with impure thoughts on his mind. He's never had much interest in those sorts of things. Are you sure he didn't have a reason?"
Lucy's ire faltered if only to be replaced by momentary confusion. "Well, I don't know. He never explained himself." She refused to admit that her wrath had sent him dashing out of the tent in nothing but his sleeping breeches before the pink-haired Roma even had a chance to say more than a few words. What girl wouldn't have reacted the same to waking up with a half-naked man in her bed?
What Lucy had expected was perhaps agreement from the Chief's daughter-in-law, what she received instead was giggles and an exasperated shake of Mirajane's head. "If you really think you should have someone new to watch you, I'll still do it, but I think you're over reacting a little."
Lucy blinked, baffled, "Over reacting?"
"I think it's cute how flustered you are over this! He was probably trying to keep you warm or something like that, he can do some odd things when he's just trying to help- which is also quite adorable!" A familiar glassy look was beginning to creep up in the woman's eyes and Lucy quickly realized she had lost. Mirajane only sighed and finished her breakfast with the softest of smiles on her face.
"Maybe you should ask him later. When we're not busy packing that is."
Wait, what? The confusion must have shown on Lucy's face like a beacon as Mirajane picked up on it instantly. "Oh! You must not have heard yet. We're leaving camp in the evening. With the season's changing, we always go back to our home in the Magnolia Forest for the winter."
For reasons she couldn't quite explain, Lucy felt her chest tighten as it became hard to swallow. "Oh, I.. thought you were all just nomads..."
"Oh we are, it's just easier to survive winter together than it is separated and alone in small camps like these." She smiled softly, as something cross her thoughts before she tapped the wooden plate Lucy had barely touched. "Finish eating, dear, you need your strength most of all!"
Lucy wordlessly nodded, wondering about the news. If they were leaving, was she coming with them still? She had been told she could stay as long as she would like in order to prove herself, but was this the time to make that decision? The fear that trailed down her spine shocked her to the core. She wasn't ready to leave them, not just yet... she.. wanted to stay. Quietly finishing her meal, Lucy kept her thoughts to herself as Mirajane told her of the chores they would do before setting out.
There wasn't much to do. The laundry had been finished -or tucked away for later days- and most of the camp had already begun to seamlessly work together to set up the wagons. It was quick, methodological work. By the time it was high noon, camp had been replaced by a wooded clearing. Lucy helped where she could, packing fabrics, tent poles as well as just observing the rest. They moved quickly and tirelessly, but the air was infused with a cheerful mood. It seemed, even this work could not lower the spirits of the camp and it warmed the Roma's heart.
As the train of Wagons was finally ready to leave the clearing, Makarov approached her. His Wagon was in the back of a long line, but his own horse was at the front of the entire band. Lucy had been tucking some blankets onto a mule when he surprised her by appearing at her side.
"I see you're doing well." It sounded like a statement, but a question was interlaced in his tone.
Smiling, Lucy bowed her head vigorously. "Ye-yes! It's been wonderful here."
The old man's shoulders grew lax as he replied. "Excellent. Everyone else is quite taken with you, I've heard. Are you ready to come home with us for the winter?"
She grew quiet then, wondering if his question had a deeper point to it. Noticing the change in mood, the Romani Chieftan waved his hands. "Don't make such a face. I said you could stay as long as you needed to, remember? I just wanted to make sure you knew that once we're back in our home woods, you'll be stuck there for awhile. The snows are ferocious."
"I'm fine with that." A part of her was surprised that she spoke with no lie. The rest of her, was determined. "I'm starting to really like it here, sir."
"Good, good."The old man turned to walk away, but gave her a side long glance that spoke volumes, "And just call me, Makarov."
Like that, most of her anxiety dropped and Lucy worked with a spring in her step and a hum singing from her throat. When the train began its trek through the forest, she walked alongside many, talking with Cana and assuring Wendy that her leg was more than fine. Many watched her, worried that she may tire and Mirajane often came along to speak with her.
It brought back memories of a different Wagon train she had followed. With fellow golden-haired Roma's walking alongside her as they made their way to warmer climates. She recalled the laughter of her parents and the way they locked themselves up together in their wagon during the evenings to everyone's embarrassment. They had truly been in love, she remembered...
-but she also remembered the smoke and the pain and suddenly, the trek through the woods wasn't so relaxing anymore. Fallen quiet, she listened to the hustle and bustle and felt a paranoia that made her stomach sick.
How would this group fair, she wondered, if they were attacked by the same group that had killed her family? The fear struck her like a hot knife and it made it hard to swallow.
"-doing okay, there?" She was pulled from her thoughts by a voice she hadn't heard often. Glancing up into dark eyes, one of the Roma's she'd seen competing with Natsu watched her in mild concern. Struggling to remember the dark haired boy's name, Lucy shook her head.
"Yes, I'm fine." She lied, still pulling for his name from the depths of her mind. "... you're Gray, right?"
"You already know, eh? Figured you would, Mirajane's pretty good at covering her bases. " Smirking, he hefted a bag over his shoulder and looked to the head of the train. "I was heading up to speak with the old man, but you were getting pretty quiet, thought I'd at least check on ya."
"Oh...well thanks." She wasn't entirely sure how to respond, but found herself smiling nonetheless. He seemed nice enough at least. "...aren't you cold? You seem to be missing your shirt." Her cheeks heated briefly at the sight of his broad chest, but the look of shock that crossed his features was enough to dismiss her embarrassment.
"What? Again?" Surprised on a level that Lucy would not understand, the Roma glanced around the area, hoping to spot his missing articles, but shrugged when they didn't present themselves. … how does someone not notice they're missing a tunic? "Well..could be worse. I could have taken my pants off and flashed you."
"Eh?!" Stunned, the walking stick wobbled under her and she strained to keep herself upright. Gray moved to steady her but she waved him off with a shake of her head. "I'm fine, I'm fine!" She assured him, wincing briefly. "A..anyway, you're Natsu's friend right?"
A disgusted look covered the man's face so quickly she marveled at the differences if caused in his eyes. "With that flaming, moron? No way. I just like beating him at everything...though waking up to you shrieking at him every morning is a little annoying."
Flushing, Lucy tried not to feel guilty. "Err... sorry, he's just a bit of a handful and-"
"Save it, I hear enough in the mornings to figure out it's just him being stupid."
Something about the way he said that annoyed her, ,but she decided not to comment. Instead, they fell into silence, sometimes speaking and asking questions. It was comfortable in that he was friendly enough and Lucy realized that she hadn't spoken to many of the men in the group yet. It was startling to think about, but she truly had just been speaking with the women during her time there.
Had she really grown that wary?
Just as Gray was starting to head up the train again, Lucy's legs wobbled once more as her knee gave out. The constant walking was finally taking it's toll on her. With a squeak, she dropped her cane and fell to the dirt. Gray's startled shout was all she heard before hands gripped her waist, stopping her fall seconds before impact. The smell of wintery grass filled her nostrils even as she felt a wave of Vertigo when her body was yanked back to stand once more.
Gray was in front of her, his bag on the ground and a few of the others were staring as well. "Lucy- are you all right?"
.
"Y-yes, I'm fine- I..." Confused, she glanced to the hands at her hips and belatedly realized they did not belong to the man in front of her, Glancing behind, brown eyes met onyx and her face flared a shade of pink that matched the hair of her savior. "Oh.. Natsu- you were here?"
At first, her face looked similar to the night he had saved her from the slavers, stone hard and intense, but the second passed and his lips crinkled into a relieved smile. "Nah, I was just coming over to check on ya- good thing, right?" He placed her cane in her hands before she could realize he had grabbed it and turned his attention to Gray. "No thanks to you, snowflake. Can you move any slower?"
"Do you want me to punch you?" Gray replied, glowering at Natsu. "Because I will, but put Lucy down first so she doesn't fall over again you blazing idiot!"
Feeling him tense behind her, Lucy tried to step away, but her leg was still stinging and his grip tight around her. The two began spouting off insults and threats faster than she could keep up. In seconds, her body sagged once more when her knee throbbed causing both men to pause in their argument to look at her.
"Gray, go get Wendy." Natsu ordered, lifting the girl and hooking his arm under her leg. "I'm gonna get her something to sit on."
"Don't tell me what to do." Gray replied even as he spun around to do as asked. Natsu's body seemed to increase in heat, much like a blanket as he moved them towards one of the horses. Irritated at her own weakness and flustered by his actions, Lucy tried struggled for him to release her.
"Put me down! I can walk- I'm just a little tired is all!"She argued halfheartedly, realizing that her leg truly wasn't ready for such a long trek.
"Sheesh, you're loud." The Draconis grumbled, ignoring her complaints. "Your leg'sstill acting up, isn't it? I can smell your tears, but you're not crying. It must hurt a lot." She fell silent, surprised that he could tell and mildly perturbed at his senses. With careful movements, far unlike him the Roma situated her on a horse and gripped the reigns in his fingers. "Rest your legs for a bit and then walk some more, kay?"
Lucy opened her mouth to argue again and considered sliding off the brown mare's saddle, but her fingers grasped the horn like a lifeline and her leg truly was not in a good state for walking. She had worn it out through the day and though it annoyed her, she begrudgingly had to admit that Natsu was correct.
"..Just.. just until Wendy checks on it."She amended, finding herself incapable to arguing when Natsu smiled widely at her.
It didn't take long for Gray to return, wearing a shirt finally and alongside a worried Wendy. She examined the knee as they continued onward, with Natsu leading the reigns of the horse and verbally butting heads with Gray. As the healer worked, Lucy noticed the rings of ice surrounding Gray's finger as he argued and realized he must have had an affinity towards the ice element much as Natsu had for fire. It amused her.
It explained why they were arguing even as they scrutinized Wendy's work.
"It's swollen again." Wendy sighed after a time, removing her hands from Lucy's flesh. She looked tired, but the magic within her fingertips had eased the pain. "Walking is good for it, but I think you did it too much today, Lucy. I suggest you don't walk on it for the rest of the day."
"but-..." her pleading eyes caught the words in Lucy's throat and she whined instead. Just sitting on a horse all day? "I haven't ridden a horse in over a year..." She said instead.
"Well... that's going to get uncomfortable."Gray said, amused, but obviously pitying her plight. "I feel sorry for you. Anyway, I still haven't talked with the old man, I'll be back sometime later."
"Good riddance," Natsu muttered under his breath, itching to follow after and finish their discussion. Instead, he looked to the Roma he was leading and tried to assure her. "I'll keep you company, it'll be fun, right?"
"Yes... fun." She wasn't sure if she felt quiet the same as he did over the matter.
Time passed slowly after that. Wendy stayed near by as they moved and soon the entire train was traveling under the moonlight. Some of them had hidden away in their covered wagons to sleep while the rest continued to lead and Lucy briefly wondered if they would ever stop for the night or continue like this with groups of them sleeping in shifts. Instead of asking, she watched Natsu instead, still leading the horse, but sometimes gripping the reigns too tightly or seeming to grow tense every few minutes or so.
After awhile, she realized it was him getting anxious. She had seen him running about the camp, constantly in motion, always doing something. Now, he was stuck in one place, watching her. It made her chest tighten .
"I'm sorry... this must be annoying for you." She had said after a time, but he brushed her words off with another bright grin.
"Don't be! If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't be."For some reason, his words warmed her more than they should have.
It was easier to talk with him after that, despite her misgivings to waking up with him in the mornings. Off and on he'd say something that made her laugh and other times he'd ask her questions with a tilt of his head that reminded her of a curious dog. As her head finally started to nod to sleep and her legs stiffened from the ride, Lucy had realized one thing... The Draconis Roma really wasn't all that bad and Cana was right to tell her to give him a chance.
She had no time to voice this as the drowsiness over took her with loud yawns and she contemplated, instead, if resting while sitting up was safe or not. A wave of warmth hit her as she was considering this and firm arms wrapped around her to grasp the reigns. Being pulled back against a firm chest, she struggled to open her weary eyes and was startled by Natsu's close proximity once more.
"Shh... get some sleep." He whispered to her, now sitting upon the horse as well. "I wont let ya' fall so you can shriek at me in the morning, 'kay?"
She shouldn't accept this. Something told her she should yell at him now and ask to be put up in one of the wagons instead. But his arms were secure and her head lolled comfortably against his neck and shoulders. She would be stiff come morning, but the heat that seeped off him was as alluring as any lullaby. So she slept. Everything could be settled in the morning, just like he said.
There we go! Once again, I apologize for the late update. The next chapter should come up sooner. I have a few requests to do as well, but I want to continue Flame's Desire. This chapter was a little hard for me. I lost a lot of my work at one point and I was trying to transition to the rest of the story that I have planned.
Well, hopefully you enjoyed the "Nalu" all the same. I'm hoping to have the next chapter a little longer. Just for you guys!
