I'm going to be honest and say that I definitely rewrote this chapter twice? Whoops, sorry-not-sorry. I've been super busy working to earn money again and wanted to make sure I wrote everything properly for this chapter...when things are about to get good (I hope).
Please, please find time to Review, Follow, Favorite or do nothing of the sort and have a wonderful day! I love you guys and I'm so happy to be home and back into writing more often.
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Ride 'em Hard
Chapter Sixteen
Gajeel entered the Phantom Lord bar to find the Totomaru jump in fright with Sue and Boze stirring on the bar's countertop, waking up to Jose tossing his chair behind him when he stood up too quickly and Sol dropping his glass of water. The racer blinked before closing the metal door behind him and walk further into the room, going over to a still sleeping Sue and Boze and putting each hand on their shoulders, carefully waking them up. When Sue opened her eyes and saw Gajeel, tears swelled as she flung her arms around his torso tightly, crying her eyes out while her relative woke with confusion.
Gajeel simply patted the young woman's head to calm her down, all while the grown men began to freak out.
"Gajeel-sama!" Totomaru gasped as he placed down his rag and bottle he was polishing and moved around the counter, grabbing the racer's sleeve urgently. He didn't recognize Gajeel's hoodie, but he paid more attention to the wrapping around his right arm. "Gajeel-sama, where have you been? You've been gone for days, what -!"
"I need you all to pack whatever you can fit in bags," Gajeel informed the waking teenagers and the bartender. "Leave your cell phones and cars here, I want you all to take Jose and Sol's cars to Aria."
"Aria?" Jose raised his brows. "Gajeel, what happened to you, kid? I got a call from Totomaru that you and Juvia didn't come back. Where is she -?"
"I'm giving you guys twenty minutes to get whatever you can together, and that includes whatever money you got stashed here, Jose," Gajeel said seriously to his boss. Looking down to the two younger adults, he patted their backs. "C'mon you two, go pack up as much clothes as possible and ride with Jose."
"Is Juvia-sama okay?" Sue asked quickly. "Is she? Where is Juvia-sama?"
"She's alright, I promise. Just go upstairs and pack with Boze," he instructed, more careful this time as he helped Sue off her seat and nudged Boze to get up as well. "Go on, hurry up as fast as you can. Don't make me kick your butts."
Without another word, Sue bolted up the stairs and Boze took one last look at Gajeel before following, leaving the adults alone. Gajeel went behind the bar counter and knelt down to the till safe hidden beside the icebox, unlocking it with a pin and opening it quickly; taking out counted stacks of cash and tossing them to the counter, ignoring how Totomaru watched him with absolute confusion.
"What's going on, Gajeel-sama?" Totomaru asked once Gajeel emptied the whole safe and turned to a tinted jar of olive and cracking that open, shaking out a rolled up collection of bills in a rubber band. "What are you doing?"
"You need to take as much cash possible to Aria, got it? I don't know how long you guys will be in hiding, but I won't risk anyone breaking into the bar lookin' for money," Gajeel explained simply.
"Why?"
Gajeel placed the jar somewhat hard on the counter, looking to all three men remaining in the room seriously. "Just listen to me and do as I say, got it? I can't explain it all but I need you guys to get out of here incase something happens." The large man began stacking the cash into a duffle bag found under the counter, usually to store stained uniforms quickly and toss it to the washers.
"Does this have to do with the delivery after you two didn't come back?" Jose asked with furrowed brows.
Gajeel froze from tossing a roll of money and shot a hard stare at his boss, who made a face. "When you two didn't come back, Hades called and had someone drop off the case of money. He said that you two never showed up for the payment; saying how impolite it was to be stood up like that."
"Hand me the phone Hades gave you," Gajeel demanded as he held out his gloved hand stiffly, making Jose blink with confusion. However, the gang boss didn't object the behavior as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the black phone Gajeel had given him weeks and weeks prior with no problem.
Once Gajeel reached to grab the phone, he instantly smashed it against the hardtop of the bar counter, making all three men jump in horror at the action at seeing the screen shattered and the phone break into three pieces. Gajeel took the phone's battery and proceeded to try and break it in half as well.
"What are you doing?" Sol panicked.
"Savin' your asses from gettin' killed," Gajeel stated bluntly as he zipped the bag rather harshly and shoved it towards Totomaru.
Totomaru eventually took the bag of cash, eyeing the man worriedly. "What do you mean, Gajeel-sama?"
The racer slid his leather jacket off to reveal his arm, now removed of its bandages and placed with thin, tape-like bandages to keep the deep cuts and jagged wounds closed and less likely to reopen. There were bruises from the juncture of his neck and shoulder and blotches around his arms, yet he was seeming to make himself mobile with it. Totomaru's eyes widened at the sight while Jose gripped on to a chair with both hands.
"Juvia had it a lot worse than me. They tried to drown her after draggin' her out of the driver's window," he said tightly.
"I thought you said she was okay," Sol whisper shouted, glancing for a moment to the stairs for the younger racers to come down at any minute.
"The magic word was tried, you French bonbon of a doorknob," Gajeel snarled darkly, making the other flinch away and hide behind Jose. "That Hades tried to get us killed for whatever reason, and now I want you guys outta the city and as far away as possible before someone actually does get killed! Now, stop asking questions and get your shit together!"
Jose glanced around Gajeel to the bag of cash, then to Totomaru before shutting his eyes and digging into his coat pocket. "Totomaru, get the money out of the safe in my office," he said as he held out his collection of keys to the bartender. "Code is 0-7-0-4. Be sure to take out the bank records and the black folder inside as well and put it in the bag."
Totomaru simply nodded and took the keys, heading up the stairs while Jose ordered Sol to collect the pile of cash hiding upstairs.
Once the teenagers packed their bags with clothes and some of Totomaru's textbooks, the ex-college professor having his ride piled with cases, boxes and some bottles of very expensive alcohol, Gajeel helped Sue and Boze into Jose's own car. The whole ordeal lasted for only forty-five minutes, giving Gajeel more praise for the two buckling in the backseat while Sol got into the passenger seat.
"You two don't give Aria any trouble while staying at his place, hear me?" Gajeel instructed them carefully. "He may look like a badass, but break one of his plates or damage anything, he's going to cry and I won't hear the end of it."
"We're not kids, Gajeel-sama," Sue pouted and crossed her arms. "You don't need to treat us like we are troubling brats, you know."
"But that's what you two are, troubling brats," Gajeel snickered teasingly once Sue gasped and stuck her tongue out at him. "I'll have Juvia send you two a message, but I want you guys to listen and behave to Totomaru. Do your fuckin' homework."
"Yeah..." Boze and Sue sighed and slumped in their seats.
"And, I'm talkin' to you, Boze."
"I heard you the first time!" Boze whined before Sue told him to quiet down. Gajeel closed the back door once Sol settled himself in the car and head back towards the front door of the bar.
All of the neon lights were shut down, only having the parking lot lamp on the other side provide the most light besides the headlights of the two cars. Gajeel had apparently driven a black Sedan with a bizzare license plate and a blinking accessory on the dashboard; however no one ever questioned where Gajeel's trusty Hellcat went, even with the racer's short attitude keeping anyone from asking to begin with. It was weird to see the Phantom Lord bar to look so deserted and lacking commotion of different people, yet it was for the best.
Jose was left outside by the bar, Totomaru having just entered his car after planting Aria's address into his portable GPS. It was old but still worked dutifully, despite not being used for so long since the last time Totomaru raced…
Gajeel shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned against the brick wall of the bar, not sparing a glance to Jose who watched him throughout the whole time. "You know," Jose said quietly, "the smart thing for me to do is to order you to get Juvia from wherever the hell she is and get you to come with us to Aria's, with whatever is happening."
Gajeel didn't say anything back, and Jose took a deep breath. "But, knowing the both of you too well for my liking, you wouldn't listen to me in the first place about getting out of this city."
"You and Hades were buds, huh?" Gajeel sniffed darkly and Jose closed his eyes.
"It was way back when I was partnered with Makarov and things went to shit," he answered numbly. "I haven't seen him in a long time, but he's not someone to try and get even with, if he tried to have you off the maps. Although, I didn't think he'd ever have the right mind to try and take out someone as you and your sister - he had a soft spot for family members working together as well, even if he never showed it."
"Huh."
"Things were different back then, as it is now. I just hope you know what you're doing by staying here alone, with whoever is helping you out," Jose raised a brow and glanced to the black car. "I do expect you to at least give me a call once in awhile with whatever is happening; let me know if anyone set my bar on fire, or you get stuck in the toilet again like last new years."
Gajeel made a grunting noise, but not at all bothered by him bringing up a rather unpleasant memory of when Gajeel had too much to drink and didn't accept Juvia to watch over him when he said he was going to bed.
"You know, you do remind me a lot of your dad," Jose pointed out. "Which is another reason why I know better than to try and drag you to the car."
"Just spit it out, Jose," Gajeel told him. "You know you can't do the sappy nice-chat to save a life."
The older man scratched his mustache. "I was never a dad to any kids that I know of, and I know I was never the kind of person to set an example for you or your sister growing up. But, if this means that things are going to make it harder for you two to stay with Phantom Lord, I just want to at least let you know that...I would try again, if I ever had the chance, to be more understanding and nicer. I know that I'm kind of a selfish gang man who likes his white sugar and green cash."
Gajeel glanced to Jose with a impassive expression. "Just coming to terms now of what you kids go through for each other, no one should ever try to take you out for whatever reason that may be," Jose shrugged. "I'm not a good person, but I'm not stupid enough to know that there is something wrong with the world and you're stuck in the middle of it. You two just grew up too fast."
Gajeel waited a moment to make sure that he was finished, taking a deep breath and leaning further back into the wall. "You're not all that bad, you old fart," Gajeel stated. "You just have your head shoved so far up your ass that you annoy the shit out of me."
Jose held still while Gajeel rest his head to gaze up at the city skyline. "For what it's worth, you knew that I would have been separated from Juvia, if you didn't take us in. You gave us a home when our dad was gone when no one else did. You let us grow up, eat and become part of something that made us worth something in this shitty neighborhood, right? Is that enough to make you at least a decent human being?
"It's like you said to me all those years ago," Gajeel leaned off the wall and smirked at Jose. "My dad ain't a hero, and neither is anyone else. You were no father-figure to any of us, much less of a gang leader either, but you were one hell of a ice breaker when it came to the real world. Props to you for being the poster child for reality."
Jose stared at Gajeel for a moment before giving him a defeated half-grin. "You're something else, you crabby shit. Both you and your little sister are something entirely different."
"We get that a lot."
Jose hummed and took a step towards the waiting vehicles. "And you're still sure…"
Gajeel waved a hand and made an irritated expression. "Get out of here before I ask ya if you do have kids we don't know about."
Jose only nodded as he made his way to his own car before Gajeel called out to call Aria's phone to make sure he is awake by the time they arrive to his home outside of the city. Gajeel Redfox watched while the two cars leave the parking lot and drive out into the streets, waiting a few long minutes before he found it okay to move from his spot.
Looking around the area for any suspicious activity, Gajeel walked over to his borrowed car as the window rolled down to expose the petite mechanic he has been dating for years smiling worriedly to him.
"What did I say? Told ya I didn't need anyone watching over me with Makarov on the phone, see?" Gajeel presented his hands like an announcement to her. "I told you everything was going to be fine with the plan. No need to be fussy."
"Did they ask where you were?" she said, resting her cheek against her palm on the sill of the window, her brows furrowed.
"I made it clear that, as long as they go out to Aria's place, they don't need to worry about anything. No one asked any questions. I'll explain whatever I need to them later, when I know they've made it."
"What about food and stuff?" Levy asked next.
"Totomaru always keeps the fridge and pantry packed. Got canned food, bread, ramen, and some healthy junk the squirt makes Totomaru buy for me to eat - like protein shakes or something," Gajeel tried to list off everything he could think of to ensure that his girlfriend had nothing to worry about. "I know how to do my own laundry, make my own food, brush my own teeth and everything."
"You know I just worry you being alone out here," Levy whispered with a slight pout, looking away from him. "So you can be allowed to worry for Juju-chan, but I can't worry about you?"
"I didn't say that." Gajeel reached with his bandaged arm and held her soft cheek, turning it his way so their eyes could meet. Since they were alone, Gajeel found his own little freedom to be openly affectionate and try to woo his girl by being carefully intimate. "Reason why I worry for the kid is because she's a bit of a daredevil when it comes to being left alone."
"You're the same way, you idiot," Levy added in as well. "Don't even get me started with you, Gajeel, the King of Daredeviling like a maniac."
"It's not like I'm going to be going out lookin' for them fuckers alone, Levy. Jesus, I barely made it out last time I was being chased by them before I got myself arrested." Gajeel lightly bonked his own head on the rim of the window, groaning at the memory of behaving like a crabby teenager with the cops by not talking. "Besides, this bar is tough on taking some damage. No one is going to try to break in with that hunk of metal for a door and thick walls."
"I still would rather have you stay with us right away," Levy said rather flat, her eyes narrowed.
"I know, Shrimp," Gajeel snickered as he pulled Levy's head his way, pressing a firm kiss to her hairline. "But, as I told you and that old man you work for, I gotta clean up this shit in here before I head over. Don't want anyone finding anything they shouldn't to put anyone in my gang in prison."
Levy closed her eyes and gripped the window of the car, nuzzling her head against Gajeel's face. "Just don't puts around while you're at it, too. I'm going to be counting!"
"For every day it takes for me to burn shit, pack stuff into storage for everyone and lock this place up, you can have your way with me in any way you want for those days," Gajeel offered with a smirk, feeling how Levy froze. The woman instantly pulled back to reveal her wide eyes and red cheeks, causing him to snicker. "How does that sound? And I stick to my word."
Levy's brown eyes narrowed into naughty slits, her lips pouting somewhat with irritation, but also to hide her excitement. "I get to pick roleplay, too?"
"Anything you want, baby."
Levy thought it over for a moment before sighing. "Fine, then take all the time you need, then. It's been a while since I got to use my handcuffs last time!"
"That's true."
Levy's eyes sparkled with joy. "Can we try out a leather whip, too?"
Gajeel snapped quickly. "One thing at a time, okay? Ya know I'm fine with trying it out at hotels and stuff, since we pay for the room, but I ain't gonna get that crazy inside Fairy Tail's garage. It's a pain in the ass enough to have Makarov sign me out of jail!"
"I'm just teasing you, handsome," Levy winked as she gripped his studded chin, calming him down in a instant.
"Crazy spice shrimp," Gajeel grumbled before sighing. "Let me drive you back, alright? Everyone is going to think I'm holding ya hostage here if I don't hurry."
"I wouldn't mind that so much," Levy smiled sweetly. "It'd be less lonely for you, that's for sure!"
Gajeel gave a agreeing grunt before pressing a kiss on Levy's waiting lips. Once she puckers those cute, pouty lips, he could never resist them when she behaves so openly around him with no one around. Some of the best things of having the whole bar to himself were these little moments, as well as a comforting silence without the annoying drunks and rowdy teenagers that only really listen to his stepsister.
Pulling back, Gajeel pat the top of Levy's head affectionately, loving the way how her eyes narrowed and puffing her cheeks at him. "Let me drive you back, okay? Makarov said something about giving me my own cell phone, as long as I don't lose it or destroy it…"
"That's fine," Levy smiled warmly. She waited as Gajeel rounded over to the driver's side of the black car and opened the door to slip inside. "By the way, Juju-chan got her stitches removed by Porlyusica. She seems to be ready to go out and go to the races."
"I want her to stay at the garage for a while longer," Gajeel said casually. "I don't want her going anywhere near the streets."
Levy tilt her head at him. "You haven't told Ju-chan who tried to kill you two, did you?"
Bonk!
"Are you okay, Gajeel-kun?" Levy gasped as her boyfriend plopped into the seat, holding his head after colliding it with the rim of the car. She reached over to inspect the bump, holding his large forearm in her dainty, yet strong hands.
Gajeel rolled his eyes and groaned. "Of course I didn't tell her," he grumbled. "Especially when she can try to jack a car and drive off on a hit-and-run spree to get back at 'em!"
"You're being dramatic," Levy rolled her eyes next. "Ju-chan can't get ahold of any keys to the cars, even if she pulls her kitten face."
"She knows how to hotwire them, Shrimp." When Levy's eyes went wide with shock, Gajeel groaned and slumped against his seat. "This is the same woman who has a 'hobby' of making explosives, Levy! Who do you think your cousin is?"
"Did you teach her that?" Levy hissed.
"Of course not, she figured it out herself. Just like everything else that is probably illegal in regards to fire, wires and anything that can possibly kill her. She probably gets it from your side of the family..."
"And what's that suppose to mean?" Levy raised a brow at him, making him flinch at the sudden change in her tone.
"I meant that you both like to work on dangerous levels...Miss FBI," Gajeel hummed the last part rather confidently. "When were ya gonna tell me about that, hm?"
"When we're celebrating our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, with a bunch of kids and a ugly dog named after a favorite movie character," Levy flirted back with a wink. "But really, she has been having some trouble with sleeping sometimes, and I think she may be reliving that night. I'm just saying, as your lovely girlfriend and her blood-relative, you should give her that kind of closure. She misses you, too."
"When I see them face-to-face at the race tomorrow night, if they have the balls to show up, and see what they're up to...then I will tell her," Gajeel said stubbornly. "I ain't in the forgiving mood and I want them to see with their sorry eyes that I'm still kicking, and ready to smash their skulls in if they try something again."
"You're not going to try and attack them, are you? You know the rules about the guns, Gajeel. They've been pretty hard on that particular rule since that shootout that happened last year between those two rivaling gangs…"
"I ain't gonna pull a gun on nobody at the races. I may not be smart like you and the kid, but I ain't stupid. Just my famous punches and maybe whacks on the head with a pipe."
"Just don't get yourself hurt again, okay?" Levy wrapped her arms around his right one, still bandaged, and gently stroked her thumbs lovingly as she rest her temple against him starting the car. "As much as I think you're still sexy with scars and all, I don't want you going through that ever again, you hear me?"
"Loud and clear, babe," Gajeel chuckled as he shifted gears to reverse. "Although, if I do act a little naughty, you'll have to arrest me, right?"
"I'm counting today as a makeup day for us, then, since' you're acting so high and mighty," Levy said very casually. "I may not even uncuff you when we're done."
"Then that means no cuddling from me."
Levy lightly smacked her armrest with a pouty face. "God damn it! You always try to get out of the stuff I want to do."
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Lucy smiled as she watched her blue haired friend observe her taser decorated with the stickers her partner had added on before giving it to her as a gift. Juvia eyed the star stickers before looking to her, catching her stare.
"So Natsu-san gave you a taser as a gift?" Juvia asked sweetly as she passed the defense tool back to the blonde, who took it willingly with flushed cheeks. "Juvia would have thought Lucy-chan would prefer flowers or a fancy dinner as a present."
"Well, you know," Lucy cleared her throat, "N-Natsu isn't all that traditional…"
"But it's fairly original and he put a lot of thought into it," she countered teasingly, tapping a particular sticker on Lucy's tool. "Juvia thinks that's very sweet for Lucy-chan, for sure."
"Aha…" Lucy rolled her eyes and reached for her glass of water to take a sip through the pink straw Lisanna brought for her.
Juvia's smile grew more brightly as she tilt her head. "He probably thinks seven different things he likes about you whenever you two kiss, huh?"
Lucy spat out her water in a misting spray, not at all paying attention to what she hit as she stood up on her stool and instantly found the familiar redhead carrying a cardboard box of bolts towards her spot. "Erza!" Lucy screamed, catching said woman's attention with a perk. "Erza, did you tell Juvia what happened?"
A visible froze on Erza's body language before scurrying over to her husband. "Erza, don't you dare try to run from me!" Lucy pointed an accusing finger her way. "Erza!"
"Lucy-chan, calm down," Juvia reached with her healed arm and pulled her back down into her spot. "Erza-san didn't tell Juvia about you two kissing...Juvia was only teasing."
Heat filled Lucy's body as she spun her head towards the Phantom Lord woman, a deer in the headlights. They stared at each other for a moment as Lucy began to panic; Juvia, however, remained calm and collected as she patted the top of Lucy's head softly.
"It's okay, Juvia won't tell anyone," she said matter-of-factly. "Although, it seems that majority of Fairy Tail has already figured it out that you two are a thing. Juvia notices a change whenever you and Natsu-san enter the garage with other people inside."
"We're not - I mean, not like that, or you know…"
Juvia's face softened as she shook her head. "Lucy-chan doesn't seem to know what's going on between her and Natsu-san, is that correct?"
When the blonde said nothing, Juvia spun around in her chair a few times before turning back to her small bowl of fruit. She picked at a few grapes before picking out a ripe one and held it to her lips. "It's none of Juvia's business, and she is also not in a romantic relationship like Lucy-chan seems to be, but she recommends that you two discuss about it. You like Natsu-san a lot, right?"
"Yeah," Lucy whispered so faintly, she thought her friend didn't hear it.
"And Natsu-san likes you, I'm guessing," Juvia pressed on.
"I think so," she shrugged and Juvia shook her head.
The blonde woman glanced to the racer eating her grape and picking out another one. "Juvia has known Natsu-san for a long time, and he is not the kind of person to just kiss girls because he just wants to. He has manners and feelings, and Juvia truly believes he deeply cares for you."
Lucy swallowed as Juvia offered a strawberry to her, taking it with delicate fingers before a familiar voice caught their attention.
"Juuuvia-chaaan!" Cana sang out loud as she could, dressed in her work out clothes and with Lisanna in tow with a chirpy smile. The brunette wrapped her arms around Juvia's body and snuggled her cheek against her friend's healed, unwrapped arm. "You ready to try working out with us, cutie? You got the okay from Porlyusica, so let's have some fun in the gym!"
Juvia nodded before being released from Cana's hold, carefully getting up from the stool. Her outer stitches were removed and a scar was left in its wake on her upper left thigh. She still required wrapping around the area of her leg, just incase, but she is managing so much better with her bruises and other wounds healed.
"Would you like to join us, Lucy-chan?" Lisanna asked sweetly to the blonde, tilting her head as the other stared at her given strawberry.
"Lucy-chan is going to work on something else this morning. Isn't Levy-chan also waiting for us?" Juvia casually asked. "Levy-chan came back from driving with Nii-chan last night after checking the bar, so it would be good to relieve some stress for her. Unlike Juvia, Levy-chan tends to worry more about Nii-chan."
"Doesn't your bro eat nuts and bolts for breakfast or something?" Cana gurgled before getting nudged by Lisanna. Juvia smiled politely at her friend's response, shaking her head. "Fine. Let's go get Levy, then. But she'll probably make a fuss if we work out too hard, and I wanna see you tryin' to take out my dad!"
While Lisanna tried to get Cana to behave better about the Phantom Lord members, Juvia glanced to Lucy before leaning her weight against her side. Lucy blinked with bright cheeks and looked to the blue haired woman's sweet smile as she poked her cheeks.
"Please consider what Juvia and Lucy-chan talked about, okay?" she hummed. "Trust Juvia, this isn't as scary as you may think it is. It's not like a gunfight, just remember that: you're both on the same side of the situation."
Lucy's face scrunched with absolute embarrassment when Juvia giggled and stood up, following the two women calling for her to hurry. Lucy watched them leave through the garage and turned back to the counter, finding Juvia's abandoned bowl with the remaining fruit pieces.
Mirajane came out from behind the curtain of the kitchen, cleaning a beer mug with a rag, and noticed the young woman's concentrated expression. "Lucy? Honey, is everything okay?" Mirajane asked softly, a sweet smile on her face.
Popping the strawberry into her mouth, Lucy closed her eyes as she chewed the fruit and swallowed. A smile blossomed on her lips as she looked up to Mirajane and tucked a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear.
"Yeah," she nodded with a lot of enthusiasm, "everything is great, actually!"
"Are you sure?"
Lucy's brown eyes softened as she picked out another piece of fruit from Juvia's bowl and ate it. "I'm sure, Mira. I just needed someone to tell me that I can take chances now," she winked to the platinum blonde with joy. "I'm not the little girl who is stuck in her house anymore, right?"
Mirajane blinked, holding still with her dish and rag. "Um...yes? I do believe so."
Lucy giggled brightly and got up from her spot. "Thanks Mira," she said sweetly, reaching over the counter to hug Mira, who blinked with absolute confusion. "I gotta go and take care of something. Sorry Juvia-chan and I didn't finish eating the fruit you gave us!"
When the young woman took off, Mirajane blinked again as she watched Lucy hurry to the elevator with a huge grin plastered on her face. The platinum blonde glanced to the bowl of fruit and set down her chore, picking the bowl up and inspecting it.
"Did I add too much sugar in the fruit?" she asked herself.
=xxx=
Lucy entered the apartment just in time to hear the shower turn off. Closing the door, she went over to the bathroom door and knocked on it lightly.
"Natsu!" she called out as calmly as she could.
"Yeah, Luce?" Natsu responded with absolute confusion in his voice. Of course he would, considering Lucy was knocking on the door while he was showering.
"I need to talk to you about something!" she told him through the door, pressing her ear against it when she vaguely heard the curtain opening. "When you're done in there, can we -?"
A breeze of damp air hit her cheek, prompting her to stop talking and look. Natsu stood with his hand gripping the bathroom door tightly, his face expressing nervous concern while trying to hold up a towel around his waist.
Okay.
Sure, Lucy has seen him without a shirt, and a couple times in his underwear, but it was never with the best lighting or in daytime. Especially after he gets out of the shower, considering that both Lucy and Natsu dressed before leaving the bathroom after cleaning up. Yeah, those times were okay for Lucy, for sure, since it wasn't serious for her and her mind going to million different things at once.
She also hasn't seen a man as ripped as Natsu with his body wet from the shower with a towel slipping on one hip while his hand tries to hold the other up in real life either.
Okay.
'It's not like a gunfight,' Lucy told herself, feeling her whole body tense and heat up when Natsu looked her over with a raised brow, his eyes written with confusion. 'I can take chances now; I'm not trapped in my own home and controlled by Dad anymore, no more controlling Lucy Heartfilia.'
"Lucy?" Natsu tilt his head in confusion, and she felt her face go red. "You okay..?"
A tight swallow and a deep take of breath, Lucy stood straight and stared Natsu in the eyes with determination.
"What are we?" she asked.
Natsu blinked a couple times. "Uuh...what?"
Lucy huffed lightly and hugged herself for better support for this confrontation. "What I'm trying to ask you...I mean, Natsu, are we..?" she sighed and swallowed nervously. "Do you...like me? And - shit, this sounds so childish! I'm asking if you like me romance-wise! Like a girlfriend, or something!"
There was a second of silence between them, with Lucy waiting expectantly and Natsu staring at her with a unreadable expression. She could practically hear and feel both of their heartbeats pounding against their ribs…
"GimmeasecondLucyIneedtoputpantson," Natsu squealed in such a high-pitched voice Lucy had ever heard and slammed the door shut, causing the blonde to jump at the noise.
"What? Hey - Natsu! Open the door, I was talking to you!" Lucy got herself together quickly and pounded on the door with both hands. She couldn't grasp exactly what he was talking about, especially the blabbing behind the bathroom door and rummaging. "Natsu! Answer me, you dork!"
The door opened again at her childish behavior with Natsu, with jeans on, and grasped her wrists from impacting him by accident. Lucy peeped at the surprise and began flustering.
"I'm sorry, Natsu! I-I wasn't trying t-to hit you, but you don't go sl-slamming -!"
"I like you lots."
A beat of silence. Lucy froze and gaped at him and Natsu blew a raspberry.
"No, wait. That's not proper, shit!" Natsu cursed at himself, looking away from her, eyes wide and cheeks turning bright red. "That sounded like a two year-old. No, I would have said that I like you a lot, or something, right? 'Cause, you know, not only are you pretty and super nice all the time, but you also like insanely strong and always surprising me.
"I know I'm a pain in the ass sometimes, and you kick me whenever I do something stupid," Natsu began blabbing, letting go of her wrists and running his hands through his salmon-colored hair. "And I haven't felt like this for anyone before, and I've been around lots of chicks in my life."
"Natsu!"
"Shit, no I didn't mean it like that, Luce! I meant that I've been around them, but I have never been close to them like you and me, if that makes sense," he corrected himself quickly, stomping his bare foot. "God, I'm such a dumbass!"
"Natsu?"
"But, yeah, back to your question," Natsu smacked his own cheeks with his palms. "I never had a girlfriend before, so I kinda figured with what's been happening lately and how we've had kisses and stuff that it was official? I saw it happen in movies - you know, 'cause Lisanna and all the other girls make me watch those romance and chick flicks. I mean, I guess I would have asked someone for some help or whatever, but who could I go to? Gray can't get that pole out of his ass with Juvia…"
"Natsu."
"Cana would probably tell me stupid advice and Lisanna is too much like a baby sister for me to even consider going to for advice on girls - but Elfman could have worked? Him and Evergreen seem to have things together!"
"Naaatsu."
"Erza would probably give me the talk about condoms again. I've had that enough in my life, man! Jellal couldn't give me a straight face about that, you know. He's old-school, I guess. And, lemme tell ya, I ain't gonna go to Laxus, of all people!"
"Nat-su!"
"Although Gildarts could probably help a bit...but he's always busy."
"Can't I just -?"
"Gramps would tell me to figure it out -!"
Lucy grabbed his face with both hands and pressed her thumbs against his puckered lips to silence him. He obeyed well enough, whimpering in confusion as he blinked to Lucy in question. Her eyes were strong yet sparkled with a firm line of her glossed lips; her breathing calm and stance steady as she waited for him to relax in her delicate touch.
When Natsu caught on on what she wanted, his eyes softened and shoulders slouched slowly and her hands slipped from his strong cheekbones to his angular jaw. Her thumbs brushed his skin gently as the tiniest smile emerged on her lips.
"Better now?" she asked him in a soft voice. When he nodded with no verbal answer, her soft hands slid down his thick, strong neck and gripped his shoulders. "Good. Now, let's talk like adults, okay?"
"Yeah," he agreed, his cheeks burning a bit brighter. "Like adults."
"So, what do you think we are, Natsu?"
He closed his eyes and rocked his head from side to side. "We were partners from day one. That's what I've always thought, since we make the perfect team there is on the face of this planet," he confessed. "We ain't from the same cribs or anything, but you're not like anyone I have ever met before in my life."
"I can agree with that, for sure," Lucy took a step closer, her fingertips touching his hairline.
"You're different and you make my life a lot more better for the greater good, down to the smallest things like making some bombass eggs and scolding me whenever I take things too far with fighting," he went on.
"Uh-huh?"
"You're special and I don't want to hurt you. I don't want anything to hurt you," he mumbled. "If I have been confusing you these past few days with what we have been doing with kissing, I'm really sorry. I ain't too good with all this stuff."
Lucy rest her head against his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his naked torso. He felt warm, and his scent was not only freshly clean and soapy, but all of the wonderful little things that made her feel so fuzzy and content with just being around him. Being surrounded with happy memories.
Lucy smiling as she ran to her mother with an aced test or a paper she got recognition for from a higher ranked professional back in high school. Winter time of cozy blankets and watching old movies in the middle of a snowy night for the holidays. Thunderstorms where she would read her favorite novel and writing her notes of inspiration…
Lucy riding in the daytime with her and Natsu wearing sunglasses and windows down; music blaring as they took their morning jobs of secretive shipments with bugged goods and cracking into buildings in search of evidence, breathing risk and adventure. Lucy showing Natsu how she added spice peppers to his eggs and telling him not to use too much pepper and sauce with it in general.
Natsu's mouth against her own with absolute gentleness and inexperience, yet still managing to get her heart fluttering with a million butterflies and firecrackers. His even breathing while he's passed out right next to her after a blood-rushing race and curled up against him.
"If you're up to it, I would like to consider us as partners but with something more," Natsu mumbled. "I dunno how you feel about calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend, but I can manage with whatever it is you want to call us."
Lucy smiled when his strong arms wrapped around her curved frame. Being held with care and a protective shield that she hadn't felt while living in the huge, empty house before packing her backpack and leaving. She hasn't felt like this since her mother's passing.
"I think I can handle being Natsu's girlfriend, if I get to call you my boyfriend," she giggled. "I'm not against it."
"Just remember that you are your own person, Luce," he told her, resting his head atop of hers. She felt herself becoming a pleasant numbness wherever his body touched her. "If anything becomes too much between us, or I do anything that makes you uncomfortable, please tell me."
Her cheeks hurt from smiling so big, nodding against him.
"If us sharing the bed is too much for you, tell me. I can go back to being a burrito on the couch...you'll just have to help me get out."
"No, it's all okay, Natsu," she told him, glancing up to see his red cheeks. Lucy was definitely sure her own face wasn't any better than his, but it surely made her heart soar seeing him acting as childish and shy as she was about it all.
Lucy didn't feel alone anymore with him alongside with her. They were, after all, partners. Being with Natsu, it surely felt like she was with someone who was much more than a person in a body; to Lucy, in all honesty, felt like home she hasn't felt in years.
"So, there's nothing wrong with anything at all?" Natsu asked in a somewhat easy voice.
Lucy cracked her eyes open and peeked up with a raised brow. "What did you do now?"
Natsu nervously laughed as she leaned away from their hug, staring at him seriously that it could cut through stone until he fell weak. "I sorta ruined those jeans we bought last week at the mall. Remember those ones you picked out to wear specifically for racing and not mechanics?"
"You didn't." Lucy facepalmed as he nodded and took a step back into the restroom. "Natsu, you have so many pairs of pants to wear while you work on the car!"
She watched him pick up the discarded jeans on the tiled floor, showing the oil stain dripping down both legs and the beginning evidence of holes. Lucy blew a raspberry and shook her head at him. "You remember how much those cost, Natsu…"
"I know," he pouted and puffed his cheeks. "They're just so comfortable to wear and don't make my underwear ride up my -!"
"I get it," Lucy chuckled and shook her head again. She went into the bathroom and carefully took the pants to inspect them closer. "This shouldn't be too hard to remove, but I may have to bleach them. I'm not too sure."
"What's the payment for the repairs?" Natsu tilt his head, looking at the pants with a frown of defeat. "Give it to me straight, doc."
"To be fair, I'm not the biggest fan for removing stains from clothes, but I think I can manage them for the specific price. It's kinda big though," Lucy shrugged with a soft sigh.
"Name it!" Natsu perked. "If Levy can charge me over thousands for a new door, you can charge me whatever you want. Add as many zeros after the one as you want!"
Lucy smiled sweetly to him. "Oh, I don't want money from you, Natsu. We get that enough from working together, so it doesn't count with me."
Natsu blinked. "Does this mean I gotta take you out shopping whenever you want?" When Lucy shook her head again, he scratched his neck with confusion. "Well, dang it, Luce, what am I suppose to do to pay you back?"
"I know how you can pay me back," she said matter-of-factly.
"Tell me so I can sleep at night!"
Lucy pressed her finger to his lips, silencing him cutely as she winked. "Just pay me back in a hundred kisses," she instructed him.
His mouth still puckered against Lucy's finger, Natsu froze completely still as his cheekbones began to bleed to a deep blush. A feeling emerged in the back of his throat, a mixture of something sticky yet not unpleasant as he held still; a noise mixing between a purr and groan of some sort, making them both feel warmer than usual.
Lucy swallowed thickly. "Pay me in a hundred kisses, then you had officially paid me back equally," she stated again in a softer voice.
"That's a lot of kisses, Lucy," Natsu said with a more firm tone, making her shoulders slouch in disappointment.
Feeling his hands on her hips, Lucy jumped the littlest bit in surprise at the hot touch on the tiniest sliver of skin between her shirt and pants that ride below her hip bones. A little, sweet shiver shot up her spine and she could only hope that he didn't notice it at all.
"I guess I gotta starting paying up, I guess, huh?"
"Err…" Her heart was pounding so hard against her chest, she nearly forgot her own name. "What?"
Natsu grinned his dorky smile, his trademark look that Lucy both loves and wants to also smack. "I ain't have any late fees, you know. Gotta pay the bills accordingly or you're going to get mad at me and probably charge me for the delay."
Lucy exhaled a laugh and wrapped her arms around his thick neck. "For a dork like you, you sure know how to keep up with the game, don't you?"
"I can also give you a tip, if you do a good job, too," Natsu waggled his brows and Lucy bursted out laughing. "Ahh, come on! You know that was a good one! I can come up with some more on the way, the more we go!"
"How about you make a direct deposit for the first ten, just for some motivation to get me going tomorrow," she suggested instead of his silly flirting.
Natsu was definitely more than willing to go with her idea, bending down to press a long, happy kiss to his partner and pretty, pretty girlfriend.
.
.
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=xxx=
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE - I would consider this a filler chapter? I needed some NaLu floofness before I wreck some more characters and get dirty -lays down on floor-
Please, please Review, Follow, Favorite or do something to make you smile! I love you lots and will see you in the next chapter!
