CHAPTER 4 - COMFORT

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

….

"Yes Lisanna, I like you too," Natsu said a moment later bringing her back to the present. Natsu gave her his toothy grin. With so much happiness she felt inside, she hugs Natsu and felt overwhelming happiness when he hugs her back. When they separated, he let his other arm wrapped around her shoulder while her head leaned at his shoulder. They stayed like that for a moment while watching the sun sets.

"I'll be heading to the guild now or Mira-nee will kill me if I show any later than this."

"I'll walk with you Lis."

"No need Natsu, you can head straight home already. I'll be seeing you tomorrow Natsu," she said but before leaving, she gives Natsu a kiss on the lips.

….

Lisanna skipped happily in the guild, unmindful of the towering demon behind her.

"LISANNA!"

"M-mira-nee," Lisanna said nervously. She rushed inside the bar to avoid the angry demon, but even the said demon cannot affect her happy mood. "Gomen, I'll serve right away," turning her head to her sister, her smile is still plastered on her face.

"Ne?" Mira was left dumbfounded. Her sister is unusually very happy today.

….

"I have nothing to say to both of you," Lucy said to the two slayers not looking at them. She was tightly holding the cup of her tea with two hands as if seeking warmth there.

"Lucy, we know that we are not that best of friends. If anything, we did things to you before and for that we understand if you don't trust us," Laxus paused and looked intently on the blonde girl in front of them. "We're not here to push you to talk to us, we just wanted you to feel that if you ever needed someone, you can seek anyone of us."

"We're not here to interrogate you Bunny Girl, so relax. Just what the thunder freak said here, we'll give you the time that you needed but you don't have to keep your problem all to yourself.

"Are you saying all that out of pity?" Lucy asked them lifting her head to look intently at their eyes. "If you are not the one to found me last night, will you still offer your help to me?"

"No, sorry don't answer that, it's irrelevant." Lucy said immediately regretting her last question.

"It's not pity Bunny girl, it is called concern, baka," Gajeel grunted but teasing her for her choice of word.

Lucy smiled at Gajeel. The metal man surely knows how to lift up her mood. He may be hardheaded as he likes to portray to everyone else but for her, he is always that man with a soft heart. It's a good thing he always hangs out with Levy since somehow he acquired the softness from her best friend. And as for Laxus, she was shocked for the level of concern his showing towards her. She never expected in a thousand years that Laxus would reach out to her offering any assurances he could give. Save for a small hi hello or the occasional smiles they shared, she didn't remember having a real conversation with him.

"And, even if we weren't the one to find you last night Blondie, we'll always know that there is something wrong with you since you are always that loud and annoying blonde in the guild with a very sunny disposition."

"Hey! I thought you're comforting me?! How come you two started to insult me?" she scolded them, faking her anger. The three just laugh at each other.

She reached out her hands to them and held her hand to each. Laxus is seated on her right while Gajeel on her left. She took Laxus left hand and gently held it with her and Gajeel's right to her left.

"Thank you, you two," thanking them while looking at them sincerely. "I promise that I will talk to both of you when I'm ready but for now let me have the time to think about things. I too, cannot fully understand what just happened." The two slayers raised their brow with her last statement.

"I am happy that I can talk to you longer than we used to." She smiled at them. "I am happy just knowing that I can count on you. Actually, I am happy for your presence here as I don't wanna be alone yet. Honestly, I still don't want to think and remember… last night," her smile is slowly fading. She didn't want to wallow in her self-pity yet.

The two tightened their hold on her. "Cheer up Bunny girl, if you like we can go out and eat –"

"Tch. Really Metalhead? We just ate a while ago and you're still drinking tea. I didn't imagine you to be the glutton type," Laxus said annoyingly.

"Giihee, there's not enough metal here. Or we can take Bunny girl to her favorite book café," Gajeel said excitedly for his bright idea, he knows how much the girl enjoys a good book and a coffee at hand.

"Ahm no Gajeel, I don't think both of you will enjoy it. Plus I don't really want to go outside right now. I can prepare a dessert for you if you like while we talk anything under the sun here. You know, it's my opportunity to finally have a chat with you two," Lucy said smiling.

"A while ago you're eager to throw us out. Now you badly want our company huh?" Laxus said teasingly.

"Whatever Laxus!"

She immediately prepares a dessert for the three of them. It's a good thing that she stocked up her fridge with foods the other day. At first, they talked what occurred during the day in the guild. Then, talked about the missions that the Raijinshuu Tribe plus Laxus went to, Gajeel's solo missions and with Shadow Gear, and Team Natsu's missions. They bicker on whose team is the least destructive, of course, Lucy can't defend her team as everyone knows that they are the most destructive. They even talked openly the events during the Phantom and Fantasia which she discovered that the two still harbouring a guilty feeling. She admired the two for their strength. Then they talked personal matters, mostly about their childhood and their dreams.

Gajeel is being occasionally hit by Laxus' lightning when he said something to annoy the lightning slayer during their chatter while and he can only curse him since he knows how powerful the other slayer is.

Lucy is smiling and looking at the two with sleepy eyes as they bicker, happy that she was able to get to know them better. She was fighting really hard not to yawn and focus her eyes with the two of them but was startled when she felt a gentle pat on her head. She was not aware that during her fight to stay awake that she slip into unconsciousness and was taken notice by the two slayers. Feeling that she was being carried by someone but so sleepy to protest not to, she then felt the softness of her bed and snuggled deeply in the comfort of her sheets.

"Let's leave Gajeel…. through the door," Laxus immediately said when he saw that Gajeel, after laying the sleeping blonde on her bed, is on the act of leaving her apartment from where he entered earlier.

"Tch. Fine. I was just going to lock her window in case someone minded to offer her a visit."

….

This is the fifth time that he fell from his hammock. He tosses and turns, unable to get some sleep. It's not that he's not used to Happy not being around but felt something bothering him. Last night, waking up in his hammock with a blurry dream, he felt a sense of dread for something unknown to him.

"Geez, I can't sleep. Okay, I'll sleep in Luce bed!" with a determined looked on his face; he stormed out of the house and headed to his partner's apartment. He leapt through her apartment's window, seeing that the lights are already out, he knows that the girl is already sleeping. He raised his brow when he lifted the window and found out that the window is locked. He knows that her partner never locked her window or sleep with her window slightly opened as she much prefer the natural breeze on her skin. He creased his brow in irritation knowing that someone locked it for her; it doesn't help that he can smell a faint trace of two very familiar scents other than the girl's scent.

"Haha, in case of emergency, I always have this. Tada," he gets a platinum looking card and slid it in the space below. "Aha, and it opened!" He said triumphantly. It's an old trick that he learned a while back when he can't also enter Lucy's apartment. Back then, Lucy really gets annoyed with him and Happy that she intentionally locked her apartment away from them. For one week, he thought of things that he can use to unlock Lucy's window. Of course, he can always burn it down but that will make Lucy to get even madder at them.

As he entered through her window, he sat up from the other side of her bed and looked intently at the sleeping girl. Drinking from the sight of her beautiful partner, he gently tucked the strands of hair that falls to her face and caressed her soft hair gently. With a sad smile, he gently laid beside her partner, one arm tucked under his head as the other gently pulled her in a hug. He let himself be drowned in the sweet smell of the girl. He tucked the sheets together at them and closed his eyes.

"Natsu, I like you."

"I like you."

"I like you."

"I like you too, Lisanna."

'Damn!' He opened his eyes and looked again at the sleeping girl beside him. The echo of Lisanna's confession and his response is replaying repeatedly in his mind. 'Luce.' He thinks that it is the right decision at the moment. He likes Lisanna. He likes Lucy too but he realized that Lucy will only look at him as her partner, as her bestfriend. Nothing more. Last night, though it may be blurry, he dreamt of her rejecting him. So he's taken it as a sign that he should not pursue whatever feelings he has for the sleeping girl. Instead, let his feelings grow for his childhood friend. He is happy with his decision. He made Lisanna very happy and that's what important right? He just needs to kill his unwanted feelings toward the blonde girl and focus solely with Lisanna.

He felt her slightly move and snuggled closely to him, seeking for his warmth. He noticed that her exposed arm is chilly to his touch. He caressed her arm up and down with his hand to warm her chilled arm. Feeling that her skin's temperature return to normal, he hugged her closely once again and try to find some sleep.

….

"KYAHHH!" She woke up with someone pinning her in her bed, so in her panic she stumbled backwards, fell out of her bed and hit her head with the nearby table. She instantly grabbed her keys and ready to summon one of her spirits when she heard a familiar voice.

"Ouch, not so loud Luce," Natsu instantly sat up when he heard that the said girl is screaming in panic. He held his two hands at his ears to block off the sound that she created.

He noticed that Lucy didn't move in her current position and looked at him fearfully while her hand holding out her keys.

"You're so weird Luce. I can't sleep again tonight. And I didn't see you today in the guild so I decided to sleep here. Last night –," he said, not expecting the kind of reactions from her.

"L-last night?" she said interrupting him.

"After waking up last night, I felt a sense of foreboding. I felt dreadful, can't even understand why I am too bothered when I wake up last night at my house. And this night too, that's why I went to sleep here, knowing how comfortable your bed is." 'Plus smelling your scent makes me calm my nerves.' He added mentally.

"W-what happened last night?" she said.

"Huh? Well I remember drinking at some bar. Hmm I think I saw Bacchus along the way and drag me at some bar. Then I remembered waking up at my house and that's when the weird feeling starts," he said confused at her. "Why Luce?" He stretched out his hand to switch on her light lacrima to get a better look at her.

Lucy looked at him for a minute as if studying him and shakes her head from side to side. She relaxed her position, stood up and took a seat in the nearby couch.

Natsu did the same, studied her for a moment. It feels like his partner is not telling him anything. He creased his brows at the thought of something might be bothering her but didn't want to tell him about it. "Are you okay, Luce?" recalling the scent of the two slayers earlier. "Someone's bothering you? Just tell me Luce, I will punch the living daylight out of them," he said turning protective of his partner, clenching his right fist while punching his left hand.

She just looked at him with wide eyes then shook her head no. She can't bear it to say to him.

He intently gazed at her but just shrugged his shoulder in defeat. He knew that he can't push her to talk if she doesn't like to but knowing her she will spill it eventually. His frown was immediately replaced with his wide grin upon remembering something.

"Luce I remembered, since your my partner and my bestfriend, I want you to be the first one to hear the news," he said smiling widely at her.

"What is it Natsu?"

"Lisanna is my girlfriend now. I just said yes to her," Natsu said shyly while scratching the back of his head.

'Lisanna is my girlfriend now. I just said yes to her.'

'Lisanna is my girlfriend now.'

'Lisanna.'

'My girlfriend'

'My girl.'

She gasped clenching her fist near her chest. His words are echoing through her mind like a piercing blade through her heart. 'What is this pain?'

"Ahm," she cleared her throat and looked at him wide-eyed. "C-congratulations Natsu. I'm happy for you," she said shifting her look to the coffee table in front of her. She stood up to find some distraction and move a little over the light.

"You're weird Lucy. That isn't the kind of look of someone who is happy," Natsu raised his brow up and looked intently at her face.

"No. No." She shook her hand at her front repeatedly. "I was just shocked. Didn't see that you have it in you," she said faking her laugh. "I am happy to both of you," she smiled, secretly scolding herself for her reaction.

Seeing her smile, Natsu get off the bed and stand closely to her. She was taken aback by his closeness and stumbled a little farther from him. 'Happy is right. Lucy is acting really weird now.'

"Geez Luce, what do you mean by that? I am the best dragon slayer of all time!" he said while slamming his fist on his chest.

"Baka, having a girlfriend is not even related with you being the best dragon slayer."

"Whatever Luce!"

"Ahmm, Natsu!" she said afterwards, carefully selecting her words. Maybe, Natsu being in a relationship, is a good alibi to restrict him in her house. "Since you already have a girlfriend, please refrain in going to my house or sleeping here. Lisanna might not take it kindly –."

His grin was immediately replaced by a slight irritation on his face. "Why Luce? But you're my bestfriend. Even before it, I and Happy used to sneak here and sleep here all the time. Lisanna wouldn't mind," he said cutting her speech earlier.

"Of course, she would. Think of it like this, what would you feel when Lisanna goes to Gray's house to sleep over and just the two of them?"

"I'll kill Ice Prick for it," he shouted, getting angrier at the thought of Lisanna and Gray sleeping together.

"See that's what I'm saying. Lisanna will not like it." She explained.

"No, she will not. Because you're my bestfriend and Gray is not her bestfriend so it's different."

"No Natsu, it's the same."

"No, it's not. What are you implying? You don't want to be my bestfriend and partner anymore?" Natsu rebutted.

"No Natsu. Geez! Why are you making this complicated? I'm talking about privacy."

"So that is what it is. Why didn't you tell me and Happy before that you really don't like us here?" Natsu said angrily.

"That's not about it," she said clutching both of her hands in her hair, frustrated at her partner, tired on where their conversation is heading. "Just go away Natsu. We'll talk when you can hear reasons clearly," Lucy pushed him away back at her bed to walk away through her window. Eventhough, she told her a million times to use the door he always used her window.

Natsu gripped both of her wrists dangerously and looked at her intently, observing her form. She gasped at the sudden contact. Fear evident in her eyes. She saw how Natsu scanned her form dangerously and flinched when his hold on her is getting tighter. "N-natsu, let go," she said pleading. He didn't do as she says, and tightened his hold once more. "Please Natsu, you're hurting me." Realizing what he is doing, Natsu loosen his hold but did not let go. He saw her eyes brightening and looking at him fearfully.

"Where did you get it?" he said dangerously. 'Why didn't he notice it earlier?' He saw purple marks around her arms, neck and collarbone. And hickeys? He just restraint himself not to look at her legs since she was wearing a pajama, bet there are a lot of it down there. He is not as dense as they suppose he is, not to know what that marks mean. 'But who?' "I don't know you have a boyfriend Luce."

Her eyes widen at his question, realizing why he was scanning her earlier. He grabbed her arm from his hold and pushed him away from her. "Get out Natsu!" she commanded firmly.

"No!" Natsu stood his ground. "But you don't have a boyfriend. So someone – Luce," his eyes widened as something must have happened without him knowing. His body's temperature is getting hotter and hotter by the second from the thought of it.

"Please Natsu get out," she said pleadingly.

"No Luce. Not until you tell me what's happening to you," Natsu's voice softened. Attempting to hold the girl in front of her but stood still when he saw the girl step back, afraid of him.

"You're not making it easier for me," she said as she sat down once again in the couch and hold her knees in front of her hugging them.

"There's no easy way out Luce. Just make me understand."

"There's no point to it. Even I, don't understand." She said silently crying. Silently begging for him to go and leave her in peace.

Natsu stood there for a moment longer, looking at the state her bestfriend was in. Even if she hides it, he can smell the tears. He's afraid to touch her as she might run away from him again. Finally giving up, he took a step closer to the window. If she wants him to leave her alone, then fine, he will leave. But she will not expect him to stay away for a long time.

"I'll be back, Luce. You can't push me away the next time. If you don't show yourself at the guild tomorrow, I'll come looking for you."

She went back to her bed after her bestfriend is nowhere in sight. So much of getting her peace today when everyone shows in her doorstep every time she wanted an alone time. This is a really long day, with a shock of her bestfriend hooking up with his childhood friend, and their not so good parting tonight.

She fell asleep with the last thought on her mind. 'How can I understand when you don't remember it yourself?'