Natsu woke up, a little pink tongue, tickling his cheek.
"Gerroff Happy", Natsu said groggily, the blue cat mewed cheerfully and hopped off the bed.
Natsu looked down at Lucy; she was curled up in a ball, nestled in the red blankets. Her shoulders, lifting gently as she breathed in and out; wisps of blonde hair fluttering around her face.
Natsu watched, mesmerized. He'd been taught all his life to avoid the powerful force that was the Royal Navy of Fiore. He'd learnt first-hand how brutal they could be towards the pirates and vagabonds that roamed the seven seas. But he couldn't help be fascinated by her; she was so young, particularly to be aboard an important Naval ship like the Comet. He'd fought many officers before, but they had all lacked that extraordinary fire that made her different. She fought more like a pirate than your run of the mill, dog of the Royal Navy.
"I can feel you staring at me. Stop! Or I'll kick you out the port hole into the sea."
Natsu got up quickly, tripping over his boots and stumbled to the washroom. Lucy smirked evilly into the pillow and got up to stretch. She felt loads better; surprisingly the bed was really comfortable, she was glad she didn't sleep in the hammock…not that she'd tell Natsu that.
Happy padded over to her purring and sat in her lap. She stroked his head absentmindedly as she began to come to. She estimated that it was around 7:30 from the position of the sun outside the porthole. Placing Happy in the hammock, Lucy got dressed and braided her hair. Natsu reappeared, cracking a big toothy grin.
"Hey Luce you can get your Fairy Tail tattoo today." Lucy's eyes widened as he tapped the red insignia on his shoulder.
"Don't worry it's just so you can never leave," Natsu laughed happily.
Lucy quickly ran in the washroom, panicking. Oh God, now their gonna brand me, like I'm some member of a degenerate gang. Wait! That's exactly what this. How stupid could they be, what happens if they get caught? OH MY GOD what happens if I get caught! I'll be hanged for sure!
They both sat down at a table, with plates piled with salted meat, crackers and an orange each for preventing scurvy. Happy was dragging a slice of salted ham along the rough table top. Natsu once again ate at top speed, finishing before Lucy had eaten a third of her food. A large man with bushy hair and a tri-corn hat walked over to their table.
"Oh Luce, this is Reedus, he'll be doing your tattoo." Natsu smiled even wider as Lucy looked flustered.
"Come on Natsu, do I really have to. It could get infected..." Lucy pleaded flashing a nervous grin
"Uh-uh Lucy there's no getting out of this one; it's Captain's orders."
Lucy grimaced as Reedus led her and Natsu into a small room off the food hall. Lucy sat resolutely in the chair, grinding her teeth together.
"Where would you like the tattoo miss?" Reedus enquired politely.
"I know," Natsu piped up; "You could get it on your ribs, or your chest."
"I'll get it on my right-hand thanks," Lucy replied quickly.
"If you're sure," Reedus said as he pulled out a needle, an ink bottle and a syringe. Reedus placed the needle in a tattoo gun and checked the colour of the ink, before motioning to Natsu, who gripped Lucy's right hand on the table.
After what felt like hours of a hot needle pricking her skin over and over, Natsu was allowed to release her right hand. She lifted it for inspection. The skin around the tattoo was inflamed, but sure enough the Fairy Tail symbol was emblazoned on her skin in a cheery shade of pink. Flexing her hand, she got up thanking Reedus and stomped into the food hall looking for a much needed bottle or rum.
"Come on Luce, can't we do sparring now?" Natsu whined.
"No Natsu I want to test the new pistol and rifle, Erza gave me." Lucy pouted; "We'll do some sparring later, in the meantime, learn the art of patience."
They were currently in the training room; a long dark cabin just below the deck, at the prow of the ship. There were bales of straw lining the room. Swords and rifles were stored on racks along the back wall, while barrels of acrid gunpowder were piled high to the ceiling. At the end of the room was an area for shooting with stuffed dummies.
Lucy loaded one of the shiny black pistols with around five bullets, not wanting to waste the precious ammo on practice. Then she pulled back the latch at the top of the gun, so that it was ready to fire, took stance and aimed.
With three air-splitting cracks the dummy was pierced in the head, the heart and the groin. Natsu winced at the last shot, he didn't want to be on the receiving end of that shot. Shooting with the rifle was just as excellent and the dummies would most definitely be dead if they were alive. Natsu was sitting on the hay bales as he watched Lucy throw knives. She never missed. However, she was getting some kind of audience in the training room. Gray and Gajeel were watching from the corner, where they were supposed to be sparring with each other. Other crew members were also watching. Erza was perched on a gunpowder barrel; no doubt watching for Makarov. The figure in the shadows, took Natsu by surprise. Laxus was watching Lucy too, way too intensely. Natsu frowned; Laxus usually kept to himself and he only sparred with a few, choice crew members. Natsu had a couple of scars, from when he had fought with him last time. But why on earth would he watch Lucy. Natsu scowled at Laxus, who ignored him and continued to watch Lucy.
"Hey Natsu."
He looked over eagerly.
"Do you want to practice sparring now?" asked Lucy, to which he nodded gleefully.
Unsheathing his own sword and taking off his scarf, he walked towards Lucy, who removed her coat and took a sword off the wall. Natsu watched as she unsheathed the sword and whipped it through the air; it was a deadly extension of Lucy's arm. Turning to face him, she motioned for him to begin. He cut across, aiming for her shoulder, but she blocked him with ease and speed, pushing him back. Determined he continued with a flurry of fast blows, which she countered. He watched her movements, she was only defending, not attacking; he could tell she wasn't fully invested in the fight.
When their blades met, he pushed her back into the hay bales. She was taken aback slightly, pausing for half a second, before swiping downwards with her sword. Grinning he blocked her attacks, but missed as he felt a whisper breeze over his forearm, before feeling a searing pain. Blood trickled from the neat, thin cut. In response he swung at her head, but she ducked, spinning her leg and knocking his from under him. Natsu lost his balance, eyes wide and landing with a thump on the hay strewn floor. This earned some cheers from the "audience" while Lucy smiled smugly at him. Oh so she wants to play dirty, well two can play that game Luce. Natsu grinned, a determined fire burning in his eyes. Getting to his feet, Lucy barely gave him any time to recover, before she attacked, making him step backwards and nearly trip. He watched, almost in slow motion as the shining blade swiped over his face, missing him by a centimetre. As he righted himself he saw a tuft of pink hair among the yellow straw.
"Hey Luce, watch it!" She giggled, smiling broadly.
"Are you two gonna do some real damage, or are you just gonna play around." boomed a voice from the shadows.
"What do you mean 'play' Laxus, she cut my hair." Yelled Natsu, his pride clearly hurt.
"Oh come on doofus, why don't I spar with her, then you'll see a real show." Laxus smiled at Lucy as she gawked back.
He wants to fight, Christ this guy is almost double my height.
Lucy gulped before saying; "fine I'll fight you."
"Well I gotta hand it to you you've got guts." Laxus removed a broad sword from its sheath. The blade was decorated with a thin stream of gold, shaped like a lightning bolt.
It looked heavy, very different to her light blade. Lucy braced herself, readying her stance and mind. Laxus circled around and when she didn't take the initiative he moved with surprising speed. The force of their blades meeting jarred and reverberated through Lucy's bones. She knew she couldn't win this match. Leaping forward, she dodged his attacks, whilst trying to land her own, conserving her strength. He appeared mildly amused, but his smirk pissed her off. She settled into defence again, seeing if she could pick any holes in his attack to give her some leverage. Decided she flipped over his head, swinging her blade down. A small cut graced his muscled arm. Smiling widely he jabbed at her stomach, causing her to side step and duck. She slashed at his legs, creating a hole in the bottom of his trousers.
"Come on Blondie, lets up the anty," He chided.
Lucy's concentration broke as she saw Natsu being held back by Gray and Gajeel. She was brought back from her lapse in concentration as the heavy sword flew at her head. She swerved just in time, pushing the heavy blade back towards its owner, sparks flying through the air. She continued her attack, trying to disarm him, but he wasn't letting up. Getting desperate, she stuck her blade into the floor, using the sword as a pole; she swung her legs at his hand, knocking the sword from his grasp. It clattered to the floor, but he grabbed her ankles. Shit now I'm a gonner. She was tossed on the floor like a rag doll.
"Clever move, I didn't see that coming."
He picked her up easily from the floor, pushing her against the wall, her legs dangling far from the safety of the wooden deck.
"Well I'm impressed; we've actually got a decent fighter on the crew." He lifted up his sword hand, revealing the red welt from where her boot had connected with his fist.
Lucy scratched at the hand at her collar, flailing her legs.
"Laxus, let her go. That's enough." Erza stalked towards them.
"Alright, alright."
Lucy slumped down the wall as he left the room.
"LUCY!" Natsu yelled as he raced towards her, trying to help her up.
"I'm fine Natsu, honest," Lucy stood up brushing hay from her trousers.
Gray handed her, the sword, which she safely stowed away in its sheath.
"I've never seen a newbie last that long with Laxus before." said Gray amazed.
"You shouldn't have fought with him Lucy, what were you thinking!" Natsu shook her, grasping her shoulders tightly.
Lucy pushed him away, frowning, "Natsu you don't have to protect me, I'm a big girl, and I can look after myself!"
He still didn't seem satisfied and looked down at her anxiously.
"Look, I won't be fighting Laxus any time soon OK! But seriously, why do you even care!?" Lucy sighed and walked out the room. I need some air.
Natsu watched her go stunned, he went to follow her; but Erza held him back, punching him in the gut for good measure.
Taster of Chapter 8- Coconut milk (I know the chapter names aren't exactly the best, but whatever)
Sorry Luce I just thought, you'd be sad after you lost that fight," He grinned at her, food in his teeth.
Lucy scoffed; "I'm fine honestly, I didn't think I would last five seconds."
"Well I for one thought your effort was admirable." Erza intoned pulling Lucy into a bone crushing hug. "You have the SPIRIT!"
Lucy spluttered for air, massaging her ribs.
"Seriously, it's alright, you can't win fights all the time."
"You are truly a great asset to the crew Lucy." Erza smiled at her.
Lucy felt her pride swell a bit.
"We need your help on deck though Lucy," said Gray, with his mouth full. "You can help me with the sails."
Lucy nodded happily. They may be pirates, but they're the nicest people I've met. She hadn't been familiar with kindness since her mother was alive, it made her feel safe and warm, like she'd found a place where she belonged.