Chapter 2: Nurse

Chapter 2

Natsu woke up feeling exhausted, weary and confused. When did he go to sleep? He didn't remember going to bed. Rubbing his eyes groggily he realized he was hunched over something soft and warm. Sitting up he heard his back pop and winced ever so slightly and froze.

His eyes landed on the beautiful blonde sleeping peacefully before him and in that moment it all came rushing back. The man in black assaulting her. Natsus rage taking over as he nearly killed the man. Luckily, Gray Fullbuster, Natsus best friend, found him and pulled him off in time to take care of the rest. Natsu had then carried the young woman to his cottage so she could get some rest and recover. Natsu had been watching over her ever since, only leaving her side to get water, painkillers or go to the bathroom.

Natsu rubbed his hands over his face in an attempt to wake himself up. It was then he realized he was in desperate need of a shower. It'd been four days since the incident and she should be waking up soon. He didn't need to welcome her by smelling like a sewer. Natsu ran his hand through his hair, wondering what the chances of her waking up while he was gone were. After a moments deliberation, he opted for the shower after leaving a glass of water and some Advil on the side table just in case.

After ten minutes of washing off his stink Natsu got changed into some casual combat pants and a black tank top. He was always warm and usually had a warmer body temperature than most, so the fact that it was late in the winter didn't bother him or his fashion sense. Natsu dried his bright pink hair with a towel while making some toast and a coffee. The moment the butter melted he scarfed down his food, grabbed his black coffee and with his towel wraped around his neck he went to check on the blonde woman in his room.

He just about choked on his coffee at the sight of the young woman sitting upright in his bed, looking out the window. It was a particularily sunny day today, and right now those very rays of sunlight were caressing her face like a halo. Her hair was a stunning golden shade and her eyes were like their own sources of sunlight and happiness.

Swallowing hard on the same coffee he almost choked on, Natsu did his best to act natural. So she was attractive. Most women were, but it didn't mean anything. With that in mind he strolled forward, coffee in hand and sat down in the chair he had been inhabitating beside her bed for the past four days.

The blonde must have heard him come in as she looked his way and watched him sit down. After a brief pause, she gave him a shy smile and Natsu almost forgot to breathe.

"Hello. Um, is this your place?" She looked around his room curiously. Unable to speak for some unknown reason, Natsu just nodded.

"I see. Were you the one who... Who found me?" At this he saw the faintest hint of pink touch her cheeks and he did his absolute best not to stare. Then what she asked hit him hard, and all the memories of that night came flooding back to him and he could feel himself harden with rage. Trying to keep it down, he simply nodded again, not trusting himself to speak in a calmly manner.

"I see. Thank you. I'm sorry to have bothered you. I will be out of your way right-" She had been fiddling with his blanket when he cut her off and grabbed her chin so she was facing him. Her eyes flashed with something, fear? Natsu felt his hold soften and cursed his idiocy.

"W-what do you think you're doing?!" This time it was clear determination in her eyes. Even a hint of rebellion. That's good, he thought to himself. Suddenly aware he was still holding her by the chin, he let go and held up some bandages and alcohol swabs as if it were obvious what he was trying to do.

"Oh!" Startled and embaressed, Lucy blushed and went to touch her head but felt a large, firm hand stop her. His hand... Was so warm, was all she could think. Flustered, she let him set her hand back down onto the bed before reaching to unwrap the bandage currently on her head.

Lucy watched him from under her lashes. Had he been taking care of her the entire time? How long had she been asleep for? And who was this man who had saved her? Why woudn't he speak to her? Questions flooded her mind as she watched his look of concentration. He was... Very attractive. His current serious expression made him look, well, kind of adorable. Like the result of the world depended on his performance. Lucy barely managed to stifle a giggle. She let her eyes wander and realized he was a very muscular and well toned man. She swallowed hard and could only pray he didn't hear it. His tank top was tight fitted and his pants hung low on his hips. Cheeks burning , Lucy tore her gaze away and determinedly stared at the comforter.

She had just been attacked by some strange man and now she was ogling a new strange man she never met. What was wrong with her? Looking for any kind of distraction she asked him the first question that came to mind.

"What is your name?"

She could feel his hands pause briefly before continuing to remove and fold the old bandage.

"Natsu."

Natsu, she thought. She never heard that name before, yet she felt it was a strong name. As far as she could tell, it suited him.

"Natsu. My name is Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia."

"Lucy," he murmured softly. So softly, she almost didn't catch it. Lucy had been about to ask something else when he spoke first.

"This may sting a bit." Lucy went to say something but quickly hissed in pain as he started cleaning something she couldn't see. Her eyes were burning and watering slightly, yet his touch though efficient, remained gentle. She thought she heard a muffled "sorry" but couldn't tell as she wiped the tears from her eyes, determined not to show any weakness in front of him. Besides, he was trying to help her, it wouldn't do if he saw her crying from it.

After a few minutes of cleaning and rewrapping with a fresh bandage, Natsu finally sat up and looked at her.

"You shouldn't need the bandage after today, but it'd be good to start a habit of cleaning the cut a few times a day till it's completely closed." He rubbed the back of his neck, not used to taking care of someone other than himself, and even that was full of half assed attempts where he usually just ignored the problem.

"Can you sit up on your own?" he asked tentatively.

Lucy gave him a questioning look. His question and the concern in it confused her. Why wouldn't she be able to sit up on her own? Lucy moved to do just that and was immediately hit with a sharp and intense pain that ran all the way up her spine. Before she knew it, Natsu was there, supporting her in a way that took most of the pressure off her and propped her against the wall with a pillow for comfort. She saw concern etched on his handsome face as he gently helped her find an upright position that was most comfortable.

"Thank you Natsu, I'm okay now." She gave him a reasurring smile, or at least she hoped she did. She was still in pain, though it wasn't as bad as before, but she didn't want to burden him any more than she already had.

Natsu looked at her with a look so focused and intense Lucy wasn't completely sure what it meant. Natsu brought his hand up to her cheek and gently brushed away a tear that managed to escape. His next words shocked her.

"Don't lie to me. Never brush off your own pain for someone else's sake, no matter who they are. Your pain and your happiness matters, just like everyone else. So don't hide the way you really feel." And with that Natsu cleared his throat awkwardly and gestured to her stomach. "I need to, uh, check your ribs... Please.." Running his hands awkwardly through his hair, Natsu tried looking almost anywhere else as he felt his face flush.

"Oh," Still surprised by his words, Lucy obeyed without thinking and lifted her shirt just enough for him to access her ribs. Natsu, grateful for the distraction, immediately went to work taking off the old bandage. However, the closer he got, the better a look he got at how bruised they really were. By the time Natsu had fully removed the bandage he was met by a swarm of yellow, purple and blue bruises. Teeth clenched, he did everything he could to keep his touch gentle when all he wanted to do was punch someone. Or something. He no longer cared about the specifics.

After applying some cream and wrapping a fresh bandage he stood up abruptly, nearly sending the chair flying, grabbed his coffee mug, the old bandages, Lucys empty glass and stormed out of the room without a word. Leaving a dumbstruck and guilt ridden Lucy behind.