of golden connections
by caandle

The dragon's spiked tail swished up from its place in a lava pool. It started wagging – which reminded Lucy strongly of a little dog, which was a bizarre thought for a dragon – and Lucy shrieked as some lava residue flicked off through the motion.

"Watch it!" She snapped, jumping backwards as it came a little too close for comfort. "Not all of us are immune like you are!"

Natsu tilted his head, tongue lolling to the side, with a large grin. Lucy scowled at him – damn dragon had done that on purpose.

This entire situation was so ridiculous and completely out of one of her mother's stories, so much so that if Lucy were to wake up back in her family home, she wouldn't be that surprised. After at least five minutes of pointlessly arguing with Natsu, the resident friendly fire dragon, she'd resigned herself to be stuck here for the next month or so.

"I'll just keep you until your human friend can get ya," the dragon had said, "Erza'll have my head if I let a human go through here." At least that had been a little reassuring. The dragon hadn't planned on 'keeping her' forever although he didn't seem that happy about it, by his whiny tone. Lucy had also been surprised hearing Erza's name come out of the dragon. Erza Scarlet was one the strongest knights Fiore had, and Lucy was pretty sure that she'd just been promoted to an S class knight right before she left. They'd only met a couple of times, albeit briefly, in the past.

It was reassuring to know that Natsu, a big fire-breathing dragon, was scared of Erza Scarlet like the rest of Fiore. It helped her relax a bit more in the presence of the magical beast, no longer frightened for her life.

Besides, Natsu was a little too silly for her to be scared of him for too long. He reminded her of the dragons from her mother stories which was a stark contrast to the way her father painted the magical creatures as being. While she still had fear curled low around her heart, Lucy had warmed up to him in the short amount of time she'd spent in his company.

"Come, golden Lucy." Natsu beckoned her with a slight head toss behind him. "I have a place ya can stay at while you're mine."

Lucy doubted she'd ever get used to being called 'his' by Natsu but didn't comment, and jogged to keep up with his pace. For someone so large, Natsu was quick. When Natsu turned his head to check up on her, he gave her what could only be labelled as a sheepish smile, and stopped so she could catch up. Lucy swallowed a squeak when he nudged her back with his snout, gently nudging her to walk in front of him.

The cave shuddered at each thud his steps made. The further they got, the larger Natsu's den grew, and the dragon could stretch and stand taller. He stretched out his wings slightly which made Lucy jump, confused by the sudden overcasting shadow. Her eyes widened in awe at the sight of his wings.

The dragon was absolutely breathtaking. The magic seemed to come to life around Natsu. It surrounded him, buzzing and swirling around his body, caressing his tough scales and the soft underbelly of his wings. Magic completely took to Natsu in every way.

It made the dragon look ethereal.

Natsu looked at her curiously and Lucy flushed red, being caught staring. She faked a cough and continued walking forward.

Fire licked the walls and the amount of lava grew, which also meant the temperature rose. Lucy wrinkled her nose at the amount of sweat coating her skin, mixing in with the dirt from her trip in the forest, leaving her with a very uncomfortable sensation. No doubt she smelled absolutely rancid.

Lucy sighed, twirling a lock of her hair with a finger. Her father would have a fit if he saw her like this: ripped clothes, dirty, and with a dangerous dragon in her company.

A lady must be proper, clean and presentable at all times. A lady must be delicate and rely on the help of her husband or father. A lady must surround herself with reasonable company fit to the standards of her social standing.

Lucy snorted humorlessly, letting her hand drop to her side. Natsu, who was swallowing a single flame that he'd gotten, lowered his head to meet her eyes. "Lucy?"

"It's nothing." Lucy sighed, itching at her skin.

Natsu blinked at her, not convinced, but nudged her forward once more. "Through here."

Lucy let him guide her, the rockier terrain making it difficult to walk without stumbling. It was more of a downward slope and there was little to no fire or lava, so she had to strain her eyes to see. Natsu helped a little by releasing little bursts of flames up in the air every once and a while but Lucy was not used to the dark.

Eventually, the light returned and Lucy gasped at the sight in front of her.

There were mounds upon mounds of pure gold, glittering jewels, priceless objects that shined with the fire's light bouncing off them. Lucy couldn't believe her eyes. She'd been raised in an affluent household but had never witnessed this level of riches.

The entire size of his treasure would be enough to run the entire kingdom of Fiore for at least three months. Lucy didn't know how it all fit into this cave regardless of how large his den was.

When Lucy finally gathered her bearings and turned back to Natsu, the dragon had his chest puffed up smugly. He was standing tall with a proud grin, obviously pleased by her dumbfounded reaction.

"This is my hoard," Natsu gestured to the treasure with a nod. "Ya will stay here."

Lucy raised a brow. "You want me to sleep on gold and jewelled crowns?"

"There's probably some stuff ya can use."

"Is there nowhere else?" Lucy frowned. She didn't want to sound ungrateful (although, this technically could be considered kidnapping, regardless of that she'd accepted it, so she had the right to be a little upset) nor did Lucy want to offend the dragon.

Hoards were precious to dragons. It was one of the first teachings that her mother that made sure she understood. Dragons spent their entire lives building their hoard, made up of pieces that they'd come across or fought to acquire. Their collection was deeply personal, if she remembered correctly, as each one differed from each dragon. Natsu obviously had a penchant for gold and jewels, whilst another dragon might be drawn to completely different items. Building a hoard was a deeply ingrained instinct and dragons were very, very proud beings. Insulting a dragon's hoard was a sure-fire way of ensuring that you would not live to see another glimmer of sunlight.

She was well aware that he could decide to burn her at any time.

Natsu nudged her gently with his nose. "You are golden and are mine. You belong here." Despite his playful actions, his tone was serious and held no room for argument. Lucy rolled her shoulders to release the tension bundled up there and nodded, eyes scanning the area for items she could turn into a makeshift bed. Lucy didn't fancy sleeping on hard metal so hopefully, Natsu was right about having blankets or something more comfortable she could use.

His 'golden' comments were a little odd but Lucy supposed it was a dragon thing. "Guess I'm a part of your hoard now." Lucy joked without thinking, glancing back to Natsu. She wasn't ready to see how close his head was to her face nor the look in his eyes.

It made her nervous, having him so close and looking so serious. Had she just offended him? It had only been a joke, but then again, it was his hoard. Comparing herself as such was undoubtedly rude and extremely tactless.

"Yes," Natsu murmured softly, "You are."

Lucy gaped at him, unsure how to reply. She'd been sure that she'd just committed a cardinal dragon-law sin, and he'd agreed with her? Lucy couldn't believe her ears. So, she moved away instead and started going through a pile of golden objects. "W-Where do you usually put the soft materials?"

Natsu dropped down onto his belly, causing a pile of gold coins to fall with a muted clang. "I dunno. They're here somewhere."

"Helpful," Lucy muttered, holding up a bejewelled necklace. It was an old style that hadn't been in the market for years but it was very beautiful and, despite not being a jewel connoisseur, she knew were made of real gems. She gently put it aside and moved on.

Lucy shifted through multiple piles of gold and pretty gems, panting slightly due to having to climb over the larger sized mounds. It was very unorganized and messy. Lucy was sure that Natsu would find something to add to his hoard and just dump it here. It was a very ineffective method that was now biting her in the ass, but she wouldn't dare say that to him. Lucy had somehow managed to escape his wrath earlier before and she wasn't about to push it.

Lucy couldn't deny that his collection was very, very impressive. If her father – or the King – knew that there was such a grand treasure trove so close to the capital, they'd be clamouring to conquer it. Lucy shuddered at the thought.

It would be a difficult challenge since dragons were renowned for their strength and prowess, but thousands of soldiers against a single dragon didn't have the best odds for Natsu. She'd only known him for less than two hours but she wouldn't wish that on him. If she ended up back in her father's clutches, she wouldn't breathe a word of Natsu's hoard. Although if she did, her father wouldn't even see her to give the opportunity to speak of it. Lucy would immediately be sent off to be married and her father would only likely go to the wedding to ensure she wouldn't 'escape' again or just to keep up appearances. Likely both.

Betraying a dragon by exposing their hoard would be signing off your own death warrant, moral integrity aside. She would never do that to anybody, even a dragon that could very likely decide that scorching her was a viable option.

Now, thinking back on it, her mother had been very detailed with her stories. She made sure Lucy knew almost everything about dragons – as a child she'd been a walking encyclopedia because of it – despite her father's efforts to forbid her from telling Lucy about them. It got bad enough that Layla would sneak in her room to whisper in her ear about courageous dragons and the way they lived.

After her mother had passed, Lucy never spoke about dragons aloud again.

It was almost like her mother knew that she'd eventually meet a dragon but that was ridiculous. Her mother had a way of knowing many things but Lucy doubted she'd be able to know that she'd meet Natsu someday. Layla Heartfilia was just a woman who loved the history of dragons, not some psychic. Lucy smiled to herself, amused by that silly thought.

After another ten minutes of not finding anything worthwhile, Lucy huffed in frustration. She turned to Natsu and placed her hands on her hips, looking down at him from atop of a golden pile. The dragon smiled at her, having been content just watching her.

"Considering this is because of you, can you please help me?" Lucy sighed. Natsu got up onto his legs and effortlessly climbed to her. Lucy was a little jealous of how easily he was able to traipse over.

What she hadn't been expecting, however, was the way he picked her up from the back of her dress with his sharp teeth and started walking. "Natsu!" she shrieked, flailing her limbs around. "Put me down!"

He only rumbled a laugh that sent hot air down the back of her neck, making her shiver and cringe. Natsu dropped her after a couple of seconds, surprisingly delicate, and started sifting through gold with his nose. "It was right here." He said, leaning back with a smug look.

Lucy gaped at what he uncovered. There were silks of many different colours and patterns, thick material that were possibly the softest things she'd ever come into contact with, and fluffy pillows that made her feel tired just looking at them. She no longer worried about being uncomfortable, watching as silk slid through her fingertips, before she quickly dropped it, aware that she was extremely dirty.

Natsu watched her with a proud gleam in his eye, enjoying her reactions. The air around him practically exuded confidence. He was obviously pleased with himself – no doubt a dragon pride thing.

"You found these so quickly..." Lucy murmured before scowling. "You knew where these were all along, didn't you?"

Natsu only grinned wide, showcasing his razor-sharp teeth.

Lucy rolled her eyes and gathered as much material in her arms as she could, hoping that she didn't transfer too much dirt onto the expensive fabrics. "Can you clear out some space so I have room to create a bed?"

Natsu looked more than eager to do so and hurriedly scampered off. He completed his task so quickly that he was already done by the time Lucy had wandered over. "Thank you." She said, surprised by his efficiency, before setting about making her temporary bed for the next month or so.

Natsu watched her as she worked, tail swishing happily behind him, ready to help her if she asked. It was a weird feeling, having a dragon she was certain was going to kill her earlier at her beck and call, but Lucy wasn't complaining.

She'd have to figure out a way to get into contact with Loke to tell her about what was happening and that she was okay. Lucy doubted sending a fire dragon into the capital would be a good idea if Natsu even agreed to that. Lucy, despite the circumstances, was rather glad that Natsu hadn't let her escape the country just yet. Loke and she hadn't ironed out the details of what and how she was going to survive in a brand-new country. Lucy wasn't so close-minded that she didn't know that she was unprepared for the outside world. She had grown up as high-ranking nobles' daughter and had the best of everything. Lucy knew she had to learn a lot before she'd be able to live on her own.

Although being a dragon's pet for the next month or so wasn't exactly ideal, at least Natsu was friendly.

When she was done, she stood with her hands on her hips, admiring her handiwork. In the midst of glittering piles of gold, was an assortment of silk and other fabrics paired with the multiple different sizes of pillows Natsu had found. She turned to Natsu, opening her mouth to speak, before choking on her words at the expression on his face.

A dragon was surprisingly expressive – or, at least Natsu was. His eyes were half-lidded, watching her every move, with an intense look. He looked so content and satisfied even though all she had been doing was creating a place for her to sleep. A deep rumble that Lucy could only describe as a happy purr came from the dragon which surprised her.

She'd only just made a bed for herself. Lucy smiled nervously, unsure if she should say something. Natsu soon snapped out of it and sent her a sheepish smile but didn't explain himself.

Lucy faked a cough. "Is there any way I could have a bath?"

"There's some pools of water ya can use. I'll take ya there."

"Thanks," Lucy smiled at him. "You wouldn't have any women's clothes in here, would you?" She wasn't expecting a yes to this question, since he had claimed that he wasn't fond of kidnapping women, but was pleasantly (albeit very confused) by his answer.

Natsu shrugged. "Yeah, I do."

"You don't take women but you take their clothes?" Lucy raised a brow. Was this dragon a pervert?

"They're usually shiny and nice. Gotta have 'em. Don't care much for the humans in 'em since they don't shine like jewels but their clothes do. Well, besides you, golden Lucy."

Lucy swallowed thickly. "Uh, thanks?"

"No problem! I'll take ya to the place where ya can clean yourself and then I can grab something for ya if ya want."

Lucy nodded before letting out a startled scream as the dragon picked her up again. "NATSU!"

Lucy peeled off her dress, wrinkling her nose. It was even worse for wear than she had initially assumed. The entire bottom half of the skirt was in tatters and the bodice was filthy. Grateful to have the garment off, Lucy tossed it aside to deal with later.

Lucy dipped her big toe in the pool, wincing at the temperature. It was just short of boiling. She wasn't surprised – Natsu was a fire dragon so it made sense – but only disappointed. How was she going to wash herself if her body couldn't handle the temperature?

With a frown tugging at her lips, Lucy stepped back to think of a solution to her problem.

"What's wrong, golden Lucy?" Natsu's voice came from behind her.

Lucy turned with a frown, "It's too hot for me – ACK!"

There was a man half-naked in front of her. Lucy screamed, wrapping her arms around her breasts, grateful that she hadn't taken off her underwear. "PERVERT!" She screeched, "NATSU! THERE'S A PERVERT!"

The man in front of her only titled his head in confusion. "Whatcha talkin' about Lucy? There's nobody here but me and you."

Lucy gaped at him. "N-Natsu?"

"Yeah?"

"B-But... you're a dragon."

"I am," humanoid Natsu grinned. His teeth were razor sharp. "Some of us are able to switch."

"Switch?" Lucy hugged her torso tighter, mind whirring with the sudden fact that Natsu looked human. Although now that she got a closer look, he did look different. His eyes resembled half-slits and his teeth were sharper than any humans could ever be. Not to mention the red-tinted scales covering a part of his cheeks, neck, and the rest of his body. His hair was also pink – er, salmon - which Lucy assumed was why his dragon form was also the same shade.

"There's different types. First generation – like me – can switch to my human form at will. Others take a little more effort if they're able to at all." Natsu shrugged, putting his hands behind his head. "Haven't used this form in years."

"Why have you, er, used it now?"

"Well, that's obvious Lucy!" Natsu grinned, "It's easier to talk to ya like this."

"C...Can you put on some clothes?" Lucy squeaked, trying to keep her eyes firmly glued to his face. His lack of clothes was distracting. Natsu's white knee-length trousers slung low on his hips, and his chest was proudly showcasing the muscles he was sporting.

Humanoid Natsu was hot.

Lucy flushed red and turned her face to the side, nervous that he'd realise what she'd just thought if his eyes met hers.

"Huh? Ah, forgot that ya humans need your clothes. Never understood why," he shrugged a shoulder, "It's just skin."

"It's improper." Lucy coughed, avoiding making eye contact. "Even if you're a dragon."

Natsu was staring at her, she could tell. Lucy's fingers twitched, wanting to grab her destroyed dress and put it back on. She was practically naked in front of Natsu. Regardless of whether he was a dragon or not, he still looked like a man.

A lady must never show skin unless it is with her husband. A lady must remain pure. Oh, how her etiquette tutor would react if she saw her now. Her beloved cane would probably break and Lucy would have red hands for weeks.

"Clothes will just get in the way."

"What?" Lucy's eyes snapped over to meet his. "What are you talking about?"

Natsu took a step forward. "Ya wanted a bath, didn't ya? I can't make the heat go away – only make it hotter – but I can help you adjust to it."

Lucy stared at him, eyes wide. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Humans are too delicate. I'll use my magic to help ya resist the heat so ya can get clean."

"How... do you do that?" Lucy eyed him. "It's not going to hurt, is it?"

Natsu barked out a short laugh. "Nah. Probably feel pretty good." He walked up to her with a smile. "Can I touch ya?"

Lucy's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Why?"

"Easiest way to get the magic to work." Natsu's eyes glinted with a playful edge. "So, can I?"

"L-Let me put on some clothes first!" Her voice came out squeaky and high-pitched, betraying how nervous she felt.

"I told ya, clothes just get in the way. It'll be better just like ya are."

"But -"

"Lucy." Natsu tilted his head down to look at her, expression serious. "I won't do anything that will make you uncomfortable. I'm just making sure you can handle the heat. Promise."

Lucy's mouth went dry and all words were lost on her, so she just nodded mutely. Natsu grinned, reaching to gently pull her hands away from her breasts.

"Just relax," he murmured, placing his hands on her shoulders. His skin was rough, calloused, but warm. The tension seeped out of her muscles despite how awkward she felt.

He slowly rubbed her shoulders for a few seconds, hands growing warmer as the seconds passed, before sliding down her arms. "See," Natsu hummed, "feels good, doesn't it?"

Lucy only watched him with awe, forgetting about how she was practically naked in front of a man – dragon or not. Little sparkles of visible magic surrounded them, swirling and glittering, reacting to the effect of Natsu's power. It was as beautiful, if not more, as the first time she had been witness to it.

He warmed up the skin of her arms for another thirty seconds before moving down to her waist. Lucy stifled a giggle at the feel of his hands on her sides. The area had always been a little ticklish. Natsu's smile told her that she hadn't been that effective.

He dragged his palms against her the area under her breast, her ribcage, and her stomach before grabbing hold of her hips. Their bodies were so close together that they were almost flush with one another. Lucy looked up to look Natsu in the eye and was surprised to see the soft, caring look he was sporting.

"Natsu?" She murmured.

Natsu only blinked once, twice, and then gave a small smile. "Nearly done."

His fingers trailed up the skin of her spine, sending shivers throughout her body at his touch. The strains of magic completely enveloped them, bright and alive. Despite the beautiful view, Lucy could only look at Natsu.

"There." Natsu took a step back, eye's half-lidded. "All done." His breath was a little ragged as he put more distance between them.

"Are you okay, Natsu? Was it too much magic?" Lucy asked, concerned the way his chest heaved with each breath and how his cheeks were flushed as red as the scales on his skin.

"What - Nah. That was nothin'. I just –" He cleared his throat. "I'll let ya get clean now. Call me if ya need me." With that, he turned his back and hurried out of sight, shaking his head.

"What was that about?" Lucy muttered to herself, reaching to unclasp her bra.

A/N:

Hi everybody! I was excited to post this because from here on, the story really starts. Next chapter will be posted 1-2 week/s. What did you think of this chapter? Let me know!

also, if you liked this, you can check out my other work on Tumblr. I'm the most active on here and I've got a bunch of NALU stuff that I haven't posted here yet! Or, if you'd just like to chat, I'm online 24/7! It's caandleworks.

Thanks for reading!