WARNING: There is smut in this chapter. Er. Quite a bit of it. If you haven't read our fics before, then look out for the purity marks ####
CHAPTER 19
Batten Down The Hatches
Tie everything down and put stuff away for a coming storm.
They walked away from the bustle of the festival, just the two of them. It was strange to find just the two of them alone with very little going on around them. Aside from their quiet moments in the wee early hours of the morning just before dawn that they often stole, it was rare they had a moment like this.
They took a long path, lush with greenery and overseeing a gorgeous, clear lake. Lucy could see large, golden fish swimming beneath the surface, their scales flashing as the light caught their tails.
A couple of people here and there made down the deserted road, but were largely ignored by the two pirates. Natsu guided her down the road, and Lucy allowed him, correcting his course whenever she thought he was going to go in the wrong direction.
He really could be like an over caffeinated puppy straining against his leash sometimes.
Lucy smothered a laugh as they arrived at the Inn and ordered their food without a wait. Natsu practically salivated over the entire menu, and she was reminded once again that human food was still a rarity to the merman.
He took such simple joy in everything, and not wanting to deprive him of anything, Lucy had their food packed up so they could eat by the lake and watch the colorful kites flying overhead.
It was a nice enough day and the grass was lush and soft. Natsu agreed without complaint and together they picked out an ideal patch to sit down. They dug into their meal together, and despite the lovely day Lucy still hedged in a little closer to Natsu than was necessary to steal his warmth.
"They're real nice!" Natsu gasped, looking at some of the more complex kites floating overhead, "Whoa Luce! That one looks like a dragon!"
Lucy blinked at the casual nickname he threw out, but laughed as she realized it hadn't bothered her. She took a bite of her food and nodded, "It's a competition to show off their craftsmanship. People come from all over just to participate."
"A competition for kites? Do they have other ones?" Natsu asked, a smile broadening his face, "Maybe an eating contest?"
Lucy tsked and leaned over to press his nose before he could get any ideas. Natsu already had crumbs littering his mouth where he had devoured his food and she had to resist the urge to lean in to clean him up.
"No Natsu, not at eating contest. But they do have a dancing competition and singing contest," She grinned at him, her battle against leaning forward crumbling to dust. Her fingers caught under his chin, causing him to still at the sudden touch. Her thumb brushed over his mouth, skimming over his lips to brush away the crumbs. The sensitive skin of her thumb caught light against the sharp edge of one of his fangs, not hurting but giving her a sharp jolt to her gut.
Her thoughts were suddenly awash with the ghostly sensation of those fangs caressing down her throat, catching against her chest, traveling down her stomach to nibble between her thighs. Lucy's breath caught, and telling herself firmly that her imagination was going wild and needed to stop right now, she slowly lowered her hand.
Natsu reached out and gently grasped her wrist before he could stop himself. His heart had started pounding the moment she'd reached out to touch his face. The sensation had been agonizingly familiar, but what had set his blood afire was the look on her face when her thumb had grazed his fang.
There had been a moment of surprise there followed by a darkening on her face that had sent pleasant shivers down his spine, and he'd been unable to resist reaching for her.
Their gazes snapped together the moment he did, and Natsu had to bite back a groan as suddenly he couldn't stop thinking about Lucy and that look on her face. He wanted to see it more. Wanted to see it twist with pleasure that he gave her. The need was an ache so sharp he could almost feel it.
The feel of her soft curves under his hands. The way her body would move as he teased her. The hot scent of her arousal, and even the taste of her essence under his tongue.
He wanted it. He wanted it more than he could ever remember wanting anything else. And she did too. He could see it. He could almost taste it.
His gaze dropped to her lips as her clever tongue flashed out to lick them, and he leaned closer. He could almost taste her kisses on his mouth, but he wanted the real thing. Just the thought made him burn even hotter for her.
"Lucy..." He growled thickly, a distant part of himself a little surprised he hadn't burst into flame yet, but that proved to be a mistake. Because no sooner had he spoken than Lucy blinked and pulled black, a crimson blush staining her cheeks.
"Ahm! Sorry!" She half stammered, though he could still see her pulse fluttering wildly at her neck, and pulled her hand away to start cleaning up the remains of their lunch, "We should probably get going if we're going to see anything else today!"
There was only one thing Natsu wanted to see at the moment, but he leaned back and plastered a smile on his face, "Sure thing!"
He was even mostly genuine as he helped her clean up. But nothing would shake the image of that look from his mind. Or the fiery ache in his groin.
The air between them was dense. Electric. It was difficult for Natsu to concentrate on the task of cleaning with as worked up as he was. His nerves felt like they were tingling, like the ache of a memory was just hovering out of reach. He wanted to follow after it, just as he wanted to chase after Lucy's rosy lips with his own.
He stood up, tossing their stuff away and adjusting the scarf around his waist. He flashed Lucy a wide smile, taking some of the heat out of what had been charging between them.
"Captain?" He asked, offering her his arm again so they could return to town.
She eyed his elbow, seeming to pause for a moment, and Natsu quickly crushed the flare of injured feelings at her hesitation. He dropped his arm so not to force the issue to make her uncomfortable and pointed on ahead, his smile not wavering. He jumped ahead a few steps, a laugh bursting out of him, "Come on, don't drag yer feet now Cap'n!"
"You're gonna show me your dance moves at that competition, right?" Natsu smirked at her, "Win the crew a nice, fat payload!"
A smile drifted over Lucy's face, grateful that the charged and awkward air seemed to be disappearing.
"Only if ya lend us those siren-like pipes in the singing competition!" Lucy teased back.
Natsu pouted at her, his arms crossing over his chest as he walked backwards, "Ah, I'm not much good at singing."
"Liar," Lucy smirked at him, catching up to the red faced merman and walking side by side with him. There was still a tell-tale tingle between her legs, an itch that absolutely begged to be scratched. But she was able to ignore it for now.
"I hear you sing at night when everyone else is gone and asleep," Lucy smirked at Natsu, who looked startled over being caught, "You have a voice which could enchant sailors and lure them to their doom."
Natsu's blush brightened, "I ain't that good." He mumbled, "I wasn't born a merman ya know. Zeref and Mavis are a lot better."
Lucy chuckled, "That just makes me more grateful I've never run afoul of singing merfolk then!"
"Luuuucy!" Natsu whined and she burst into laughter.
"Well it's true!" She protested as they pushed their way through the crowd to where a large space had been cleared for the various competitions, and smiled at the rather harried looking attendant, "Are there still openings for the dance competition?"
The woman gave her a smile that was meant to be enthusiastic, but came up a few hairs short thanks to the exhaustion lining her face, "Yes ma'am! But you gotta hurry if you wanna sign up. It starts in a few minutes."
Lucy grinned and bent over to scrawl her signature and held the quill out to Natsu with a challenging smirk, "How 'bout it sailor? You wanna see if I'm right or not?"
Natsu narrowed his eyes a bit at the challenge, and he grabbed the quill from her, "Alright! Where do I sign up for the singing?" He demanded.
The woman behind the table twitched like she was repressing a laugh and pushed a different paper at him, "Singing is tonight." She warned him as he scrawled his signature down, "Right before the professional concert."
"Good enough for me." Natsu agreed readily, "Me an' the rest can cheer for the cap'n then!"
Natsu dropped the quill and turned towards the captain, smirking over at her, "I'm ready to see that fancy upbringing of yours cut a rug out there Captain."
Lucy smirked back at him, dropping her finger to his chest where his collar was popped open, her finger tracing against hot skin up to his collarbone.
Natsu's eyes widened at the sensation, his mouth going dry at her saucy smirk.
"There's nothing fancy or proper about the way I dance," She purred, her eyes alight with mischief. She took a step away from him and turned to accept a paper from the woman at the table, not seeing the conflict or desire warring over his face when she turned away.
"Hold onto your fins Sailor, I'll blow you away," She smirked over her shoulder as she swept away to join the other dancers.
Natsu's mouth went dry, his head nodding dumbly after his captain. His fingers clutched at the air, eyes traveling after her as if in slow motion.
"Wow," He breathed out, numbly following the rest of the crowd to take his seat in the audience.
The competition was large enough Natsu recognized several faces in the audience, having been attracted to the contest.
Gray was sitting with Juvia, Cana and Wendy. They talked among themselves and Natsu shoved his way through the crowd to join them.
"Hey flamebrain, you by yourself?" Gray noted when Natsu drew close without Lucy.
"Where's the captain?" Cana asked when Natsu flopped down next to his little sister. He grinned in response and opened his mouth but was stopped from saying anything when he caught sight of Sting and Rogue stomping over to him.
"Eh, what's the matter with you two?" He asked, pleased they were joining them for the festival but a little confused by their cross expressions.
"That weird metal dragon is the matter!" Sting burst out, and Natsu had to smother a laugh, "He kicked us off the ship! Said he needed to make repairs and that we needed to keep our grubby paws off!"
"Yes, then he sent us out into the festival to distract us and kill some time while he worked," Rogue muttered.
Natsu grinned at the twins. They didn't know who Gajeel was, but he had no doubt he knew who they were. After all, in Natsu's time Gajeel had carried his guilt over what happened during his time aboard the Phantom Lord. His memory didn't quite recall when the twins were hatched, so he suspected it was close or around the time he had been cursed. Which meant Gajeel wouldn't have known them either.
"And that's all he said to ya?" Natsu asked, although already knowing the answer.
"Yeah," Sting grunted, flopping down beside Natsu and keeping his shoulders hunched, "Why? Should he have said something else?"
Natsu shrugged and leaned back in his chair, looking out at the field, "Guess not."
"Oi!" Cana huffed, flicking him on the shoulder, "So where's the captain?" Her eyes narrowed, "You two didn't go and have a fight didja?"
Natsu shot her a broad smirk, "Not even close. Captain Lucy decided she wanted to participate!"
"She what?" Gray exclaimed in surprise, drawing a curious look from Juvia.
"Is it strange for the captain, Lucy, to dance?"
"Just rare that's all." Cana cackled, "Lucy doesn't act like it most of the time, but she's got a wild side to 'er." She grinned broadly, "If the captain's feelin' saucy enough to dance then she's definitely got some steam to burn off!"
"No kidding." Gray snorted in amusement, "I wonder what got her so rowdy."
"Who cares?" Cana smirked as she got up, "I'm gonna go put a bet on her."
That prompted a clamor of voices asking Cana to get bets for them too as coin pouches were thrown her way. Even a wryly smirking Levy chipped in, much to Natsu's amusement.
"Captain's that good huh?" He asked her, and Levy nodded.
"Oh yeah." She breathed, "Lucy was brought up learning all the regular formal dancing, but when she turned fifteen she started rebelling more openly. I lost count of how many times we got into places we had no business being, and she traded lessons with people her father would've had a heart attack over her even knowing about."
Juvia cocked her head slightly, a new competitive look in her eyes, "Really? Perhaps I should also join this competition."
"Well if you're going to do it you ought to hurry," Gray encouraged her, "They'll be closing registration soon!"
Juvia gave Gray a blushing smile before she got up to do just that. Natsu blinked at the goddess's retreating back, not having much memory of Juvia wanting to show off before. He eyed Gray, who was stubbornly looking out at the dance floor and not at any of his crew mates.
"Hey frostbite, do you happen to like—" Natsu was cut off when an announcer with an odd looking pumpkin head walked into the arena.
Gray gave Natsu a somewhat panicked look before his gaze cast angrily down at the arena. Natsu's eyes narrowed, the announcer's words a distant buzz in his head.
Something worrying and cautious bubbled in Natsu, carrying a sense of dejavu. But usually when it hit him he felt a sense of excitement for a new memory. This time however, Natsu could feel a sense of worry.
"Gray, she's a goddess. You're a mortal," Natsu lowered his voice, gripped in a loop that didn't seem to shake from him, "You need to take care. Mortals weren't meant to mix with the divinity, especially not the gods they follow."
Gray stared at Natsu, startled by the expression on the others face and the deep thought in his eyes.
"Don't worry about it, there's nothing between Juvia and myself," He muttered, "Nothing at all."
Gray glanced at Natsu, his expression torn as he considered his words. A hand raked up through his hair and he found himself speaking before he even realized it, as if opening up to Natsu in a way he hadn't done to anyone before. Not to Juvia in his prayers, and not even to Lucy.
"I know Juvia and I pray to her, but I wouldn't say I'm as devout to her as much as you believe," Gray murmured, his eyes following after the path the goddess had taken, "I'm grateful, but I don't hold her to a pedestal. I don't know why, but somehow I can't."
Natsu raised an eyebrow at the sudden burst of information, lowly spoken to him where the others couldn't hear over the announcer. Still, he got the impression that he was being told something in confidence, so he remained silent and crushed the urge to mock Gray. Sensing the others sincerity, he just leaned in closer.
"If not for Juvia, I wouldn't be here. I get that, but my true devotion has always been to the captain of Fairy Tail," Gray glanced at Natsu, and for a moment it felt like something was passing between them.
Something tickled at the back of Gray's mind as he looked at Natsu's familiar eyes and the set of his jaw. The reassuring look on the dragons face said something which put him at peace, "I just want to know who she is."
Natsu smiled at him and leaned forward on his elbows, "You'll like what you find out snowflake."
Natsu wasn't sure he believed Gray's intentions for Juvia were entirely pure, but he let it go as the weird little announcer excitedly introduced the first contestant. It wasn't his business and there wasn't anything he could do about it anyway. Weird deja vu or not he couldn't exactly stop Gray from breaking his own heart if he was too stubborn to be careful.
He watched the various dancers flow across the stage with a hint of boredom. Some of them weren't bad, but though he could appreciate the dances the one he was really waiting for was Lucy.
"And now, we are down to our final two contestants!" The announcer called, "But don't think we haven't saved the best for last!" He held his hands up, "Some of you may recall our next performer. The debutante that defied all the rules and made her fame and fortune on the open sea has returned! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Captain Lucy Heartfilia!"
Natsu sat forward as the crowd erupted into thunderous applause. It died down as the first notes of the music started and Lucy strutted onto the stage like she owned it.
His jaw dropped at the new outfit she was wearing, wondering just where she'd gotten that costume, and couldn't resist trailing his eyes over the miles of skin she normally covered with her captain uniform. It was decent in the sense it covered all the important parts, but the way it did teased and taunted. It invited the looker to see just what was underneath and find out how far that tanned skin went.
She smirked at the crowd as the music changed, and with it her movements. The strut vanished and Lucy's movements changed from challenging to sensual in the space of a moment. She curled her fingers, inviting her audience to join her dance as she moved and twirled across the stage. Her every movement spoke of a wildness that could not be tamed, of a strength beyond normal perception, of a gentleness that couldn't be matched.
And Natsu's blood burned anew at the sight of it.
He watched, utterly enraptured by the pulse and best of Lucy's body singing to her own rhythm. It felt like there was a fog taking over his mind, a sense of familiarity so powerful when he watched her move that he couldn't look away. He couldn't breathe or think. There was a pull on him that wouldn't budge. Lucy moved and twisted, her body shifting through steps only she knew.
But he knew them too. Natsu could feel it in his bones. There was a yearning to join her, the vague thought of a starry sky bright overhead and a roaring fire at his feet sprang to his mind.
There was something sacred about the dance that spoke of every small joy in life. The ferocity in her steps caused a thrum of desire to burn in Natsu, tearing him apart as it heated through his stomach. It was a desire for life, adventure, exploration, and most of all it was a desire for her.
"Lucy," He breathed out, completely awestruck by her. There was a tremor that ran up his arms, and her wild movements beat to a drum in his heart. This was a dance meant to be done with a partner.
No one else seemed as affected at Natsu, although he couldn't bear to look away. In the forgotten part of his mind, he knew it was a piece of home. And as the dance came to an end, with Lucy panting, golden hair spilling out in a long wave behind her and chest heaving from her exertion, Natsu's breaths came just as hard.
He got up quickly, ignoring the sounds of his crew mates calling him back, and he confusedly marched out of the seating to stalk out around the arena. There was too much energy to burn in him, a pulse that was too powerful for him to sit and linger.
He paused as he passed the entrance Lucy had vanished into to get ready, part of him wanting to march in there and show her just how much he'd liked her performance, but the rest of him resisted.
As much as he wanted to he knew he didn't have the liberty to. He was not her lover, and she'd made it clear earlier that she was reluctant to bridge that gap. At least for now.
His blood was burning though, and he needed to work it off.
He thought vaguely of the place they'd had their picnic. It had been quiet and alone there. With everyone at the festival it was a safe bet it would still be alone as long as he kept to himself.
Mind made up, he headed back in that direction. He wasn't sure what he would do exactly when he got there, but just having the destination helped.
Unfortunately, by the time he got there he'd managed to go from wound up and tense to a near frenzy. The whole way he hadn't been able to stop replaying Lucy's dance in his mind, and he was practically vibrating with need. He growled softly and extended his senses, not eager for an audience, and itching to punch something. Even if it was just a rock or tree.
However, his own actions once he had assured himself he was alone surprised even him.
Instead of punching the nearest object he flung himself into a dance. A dance he knew instinctively went with Lucy's. The partner she'd lacked.
####
He moaned softly as he twisted and turned to the rhythm he could still hear pounding his eardrums, his mind's eye able to supply clearly just what the dance should be like.
His eyes slipped closed as he lost himself to the image. The pounding of his heart, the crackle of the fire, and the scorching in his veins as he moved with an invisible figure. It was her song for him. Their song. The one that spoke of their love and vibrated down to his bones. Written by the goddess herself.
He groaned as he could feel her against him, her skin in contact with his as they demonstrated to everyone just what they were to each other. A strangled cry tore from his lips as he felt her brush against his aching need and wrap herself around him.
"Does my Champion need something?" She breathed sultrily into his ear, her fingers snaking between them to caress the hard ridge.
"Lucy!" He groaned thickly, pulling her into a heated kiss that tasted of starlight and honey and only made him burn hotter.
She responded in kind and in moments the dance had devolved into one far older and more primal than them as hands slid across flesh and clothes were pulled away to make room for hungry tongues and hungrier mouths.
He could feel her heat as she stroked him and he buried his fingers sinfully into her the way no other had ever done, or was permitted to do. And the feel of her as he slid into her was beyond description. All heat, and wet, and incandescent pleasure as they moved against each other in a frenzy heightened to the breaking point by the dance they'd shared.
He could feel her pressing into him, her legs tangling over his hips and her arms wrapping against his shoulders. A guttural moan ripped from his throat, knees coming into contact with the lush grass beneath him. He ravaged her mouth, her clever and perfect lips melting against his.
They came together in that moment, joining together in such a way Natsu saw the heavens themselves. She was all there was, all there ever would be. And she had picked him out of all others.
Together they chased their pleasure, their dance more feral and primal in nature than before. Her hands fisted in his hair, demanding in her kisses as she drank him in. He was powerless to stop her, unable to deny her anything as her hips found his, their love burning between their hearts.
"You are mine, my love. Now and forever, I cannot give you up." She whispered in his ear, her blunt teeth biting into his flesh and drawing a hungry groan from him.
Her possessive decree left him aching and full of heat, the tremble in her voice as she came near her peak enough to make him unravel. Natsu's fingers dug into the grass, his thighs trembling as he was completely taken over by the emotions driving him and the invisible force consuming him.
"Yours my Lady. Forever, I swear it." He promised, the vow shaking from his lips. His back arched at the feeling of nails clawing erotically across his belly and down his spine, a hungry snarl ripping from his throat.
She came undone in his arms, her body tightening around his like a vice, her warm, crushing heat choking him from the inside out and dragging him to heights never experienced before.
Natsu came, shaking and with a hoarse shout. His breathing came out ragged as he was forced to endure the mind taking pleasure that robbed him of all sense.
His chest heaved, his body emblazoned and spent. Sluggishly, Natsu blinked, his mouth gasping for breath.
"What—..." He panted, sense slowly returning to him. Natsu's eyes travelled down his chest, seeing where his shirt had been ripped open, red lines that were already beginning to fade drifted over his abdomen and down below his waistband.
His pants were also open, his softening member hanging out and beading from his last act. Natsu looked at his shaking hands, panting as he saw how deep he had dug them into the grass.
"What happened," Natsu gasped, not sure what had taken over him so powerfully. That had been more than just a fantasy. It was like a memory. But this one was... different. It was as if he had lived it again. For the first time since all this began, he felt a flicker of uncertainty, panic and a bit of fear for the unknown. He had never felt more out of control of himself than he had in that moment.
He glanced at the fading claw marks across his chest.
It wasn't just his mind, but now his body seemed to remembering.
There was an itch to his body though, as if he could tell he hadn't been entirely satisfied by the extremely hot undertaking. It had been a memory after all... but he just wished he knew what it meant.
-::-
On the other side of Crocus Lucy wasn't thinking about anything except the wild need tearing through her.
After her performance she'd twitched impatiently through Juvia's sea dance, unable to focus on anything except the raging heat within her and Natsu. She'd been watching him as she danced. She wasn't sure how she'd picked him out of the crowd, but she had. And the moment she'd locked eyes with him everything else had fallen away.
The dance had taken on a quality that she'd never felt before as she moved and twirled tauntingly. It hadn't taken her long to realize she was dancing for him and she couldn't stop herself.
The realization alone had sparked a fire and a passion in her she hadn't known existed. She'd wanted him. Wanted to see those dark, hungry, eyes up close. Ached to feel his body against hers, moving in time as the partner she'd never realized she needed.
It hadn't diminished as her dance ended either and he'd leapt to his feet, his expression one of wild desperation barely held in check, and all but sprinted from the square. For a moment she'd thought maybe he was going to rush up to join her, but he hadn't, and she hadn't been able to decide if that was a good thing or not.
As it was, it had been all she could do to keep herself relatively still while they ended the show and announced the winners. By the time she'd congratulated Juvia on the win, for the goddess had truly outperformed her by incorporating her water magic into her dance, she was fairly vibrating with excess energy.
She'd given a quick excuse for needing to rush back to the ship and put her costume away before Natsu's competition to get away. She'd needed the space to breathe and gather herself.
Except such had proven impossible as Natsu's hungry gaze danced before her, and before she'd quite realized what was happening she'd begun dancing again, immersed in that gaze as this time... oh this time it was perfect.
She'd moaned raggedly as the dance devolved into something much more primal, something she'd been aching for since she'd first set eyes in the merman. At the same time Natsu had lost himself to the wild need thrumming in him, she'd felt his hands over her skin, his teeth nipping playfully at shoulder before he'd descended further to suck on her breasts.
And now... now she clung tightly, wild pleasured cries tearing from her throat, as she rode her lover in a frenzy.
"You are mine, my love. Now and forever, I cannot give you up." She whispered in his ear, her blunt teeth biting into his flesh and drawing a hungry groan from him.
His burning hands gripped her body, fumbling with pulling more of her clothing off. His mouth was hot against her, teeth toying with her bottom lip and taking her from the inside out.
He filled her up, stretching her in a delightful way, his heavy body framing hers. Lucy scraped her nails down his back and across his chest, loving the sensation of him there with her.
She would tear apart the world if anyone took her Champion from her. There was no other love more strong or pure than she had for him. There could be no one to ever replace his bright smile, his sense of justice. Or his love.
"Yours my lady. Forever, I swear it." Natsu growled back, a snarl of pleasure darkening his face and making his body tremble. Powerful thrusts drove into Lucy as she soon toppled off her edge.
The heat broke, leaving Lucy panting as she sagged against her mattress, exhausted by the thorough lovemaking she had just experienced. It affected her in such a physical way her body throbbed in lingering pleasure.
Slickness between her legs was proof enough of what she had just felt, and Lucy gasped, utterly surprised she had such a vivid fantasy of her crewmate.
But the hunger still bubbled within her, unsatisfied. She craved him, his touch, his heat, that smiling mouth whispering kisses into her skin or his perfect body pressing into hers as if trying to become one.
####
She groaned a little in annoyance. Damn the man to the tenth hell! Why did he have to be so attractive? And why was she so weak to it? Hadn't she promised herself she wasn't going to do this? Wasn't that why she'd pulled away when they'd almost kissed earlier?
And now he was invading her fantasies with his perfect body and sultry smiles exactly the same way he'd invaded her life.
Not wanting to think about it anymore she pulled herself out of bed with a swear. Her body still tingled and twitched from the vivid fantasy. To the point it really felt like she'd just had the best sex of her life. And she was still hungry for more. For the real thing.
She shook her head a little as she got dressed again, knowing her crew would be wondering just what had taken so long, and hoped she would at least be able to look him in the eye for his singing competition.
Ahem. WE WARNED YOU ALRIGHT? So you guys didn't make your cut off this chapter for the sneak peek, but we hope you enjoyed the chapter anyway! Drop us a line to let us know what you though! See you guys Wednesday!
