Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima
ACT VI: Reverberation Time – Gathering what's left
Approximately X793
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Chapter 41: Miss awkward
It was hot... too hot actually... Lucy thought to herself, as she slowly woke up the next morning. Laying sprawled out on something huge and warm, she felt how her entire body was drenched in sweat.
Not paying that much attention to anything, her eyes carefully slid open, to stare at her wall that was shimmering and twisting in a weird way.
"Nnngh..." she groaned weakly, her mouth feeling incredibly dry and disgusting as she smacked with her tongue.
Not only did the blonde feel hot, but her entire body felt exhausted and awful! Especially her back seemed to hurt like hell for some bizarre reason... As she laid there staring at nothing in particular, Lucy could feel the muscles in her stomach clench together, in a weird rhythm which could only mean one thing...
Ohh god...
Feeling iron tasting saliva suddenly spawning at a rapid pace in her mouth, she quickly sprinted towards the bathroom and a few seconds later, the bowl was filled with a weird sort of liquid, that tasted truly dreadful.
"Moohh..." the blonde complained as tears gathered in her eyes "... I'm never, ever partying that hard again"
Staggering on her feet, she flushed the toilet and got over to the sink, were she lazily washed her hands, before splashing cold water on her face. The chill made her feel more level headed, before she cleansed her mouth and gulped down some water, to fill her empty stomach.
Still feeling bad Lucy left the bathroom and got back into the living room, where she found a huge bundle of pillows and blankets on the floor.
"Ohh yeah..." she facepalmed, because she had honestly forgotten crashing there, after dragging Natsu all the way back to her apartment.
Lucy you're such an idiot, she moaned loudly, because that explained her excruciating back pain.
The sound of someone giggling made her head snap quickly, to stare at Natsu who was still sprawled out on the floor.
"What's so funny?" Lucy narrowed her eyes in annoyance, because she was not in the mood to be teased.
Crocking his eyebrow teasingly he said nothing but gave her the escalator look, making her feel really uncomfortable.
"What?!" she snapped at him, feeling a sudden headache starting to spawn.
"You puked..." he said in a low voice while wiggling with his nose "... it smells"
"I..." her body completely froze in utter disgust "Stop smelling my puke, that's nasty!"
"Is funny..." the Dragon Slayer laughed in a more audible voice, making the girl literally fume with anger.
"Ohh you think that's funny, huh?" her eyes sparkled with wickedness as she cracked her knuckles "You know what, I think you're smelly too"
"Ehh?" Natsu questioned before he suddenly found himself being all tied up by Lucy's whip, before she started dragging him to the bathroom. Once there she quickly swooped the Dragon Slayer's body underneath the shower, making him sit with huge and confused eyes, his back against the wall before she turned on the water.
Once it hit him, there was a high-pitched squeak that escaped his libs before the blonde adjusted the warmth so it wasn't that cold.
"Now I don't smell either... baka" Lucy smirked playfully as she crouched down and joined him underneath the multiple streams of water.
Not answering Natsu sat completely still his mouth pouting and his eyes closed, making it clear he was utterly insulted by her behaviour.
"Don't be like that, you started by teasing me" she chuckled feeling rather bold and silly because of her hangover.
"Hm!" he snorted in defiance, ignoring the girl as they got soaking wet.
Feeling more refreshed, Lucy let out a sigh as she got on her feet, her back aching the whole time as she turned the water off.
"Come on open your eyes and dry yourself" she encouraged him, but didn't get an answer.
"At least you don't need to change clothes..." Lucy said in a cheerful voice, but it did nothing to improve the grumpy Dragon Slayer's mood.
"Ohh well, suit yourself..." she exhaled loudly before dragging his wet body back into the living room. Leaving him to be moody, Lucy then fetched a clean set of clothes she then quickly went to the bathroom to put it on.
After that was dealt with, Lucy felt a lot better all though still slightly nauseas as she trotted back to find Natsu who was still fuming with anger and completely drenched.
"Isn't it cold being like that" she asked but got no answer, making her walk over to him "I mean you could catch a cold, if you're not careful"
"Mmm..." his lips formed a perfect line as he stared back at her, before he hoisted ever so careful with his head, encouraging her to get closer.
"What is it?" Lucy asked in concern "Does it hurt too much to speak?"
Sitting down next to him she didn't see his playful smirk, nor the stars that suddenly spawned in his eyes before it was too late. She felt it though because the next second she something hard hit her back, making her fall forwards with a squeal before colliding with the wet boy.
"Huh?" feeling utterly confused the blonde felt that something seemed to bounce on her back, making her dry clothes completely wet.
"Payback..." Natsu whispered in her ear, his mouth being so close she could feel his breath on her skin, which sent an involuntary chill down her spine.
"Luuu-cyyy" a voice purred from behind her "You shouldn't take advantage of him, just because he can't move..."
"Ha-Happy!" she stuttered, her face turning completely red, as she awkwardly removed herself from Natsu, who was howling with laughter, until it sent him into a fit of coughs.
"Aye!" the cat cheered with a toothy grin.
"It isn't..." Lucy shook her head denying whatever the cat was thinking.
"Ohh?" Happy sang knowingly, making the blonde gulp loudly "Is that why you're not wearing a bra?"
"How did you...?" she stared down on her wet shirt and quickly hugged her torso, her cheeks burning from embarrassment "... I... I... don't have any clean ones... we... because of the hospital visit I... didn't manage to wash my clothes and... the only one I had that was clean got wet..."
"Mm, hm..." the cat winked towards her, making her flinch before she as fast as lightning sprinted out to get a new shirt, that wouldn't get invisible even if it got wet.
When she got back into the room, Natsu had conveniently used his magic to get dry, making the blonde roll with her eyes.
"Lucy..?" Happy asked and sounded somewhat nervous all of a sudden.
"What?" she narrowed her eyes, feeling suspicious about his sudden mood change.
"We have a problem..."
"Really now?"
"Aye..." the look of panic in the cat's eyes made her sober up the same instant.
"What's wrong?" she asked in a serious tone.
"Natsu needs to go to the bathroom..." Happy said while looking at the two humans in turn.
"He... wait what?!"
"Uh-huh" the cat nodded.
"... this isn't a prank is it..." she narrowed her eyes, but after looking at the pleading look in the Dragon Slayer's eyes, she knew they weren't lying.
"Uhm... okay uhm..." Lucy panicked uncertain what to do at first but after a short moment of hesitation they managed to hoist Natsu up so he was being carried by both Happy and the celestial mage to the bathroom, making the blonde mage moan in pain, because it did nothing good to her already strained back.
After some manoeuvring, they eventually reached their destination and once they stood at the holy toilet bowl they stopped.
"Uhm... what now?" Lucy asked in a bewildered tone, as she quickly eyed the Dragon Slayer up and down "I mean I don't want to..."
"Mmm..." the cat mulled out loud "You pull his pants down and then I'll put him down"
"WHAT?!" she exclaimed, the horror evident in her voice "I can't! I mean I can't..."
Nobody answered that at first but eventually Natsu rolled with his eyes before whispering "You've seen..."
"Don't even say it!" Lucy denied what he was implying while firmly closing her eyes shut.
"Well if you hold him , I'll pull his pants down" Happy suggested "after that just place him on the bowl and we'll take it from there"
"Oh... kay..." she breathed heavily before following the procedure her eyes closed the whole time.
"Awesome!" the Dragon Slayer exclaimed in joy "Now all I gotta..."
"I'm not gonna be here for that!" Lucy screamed, her hands flailing wildly above her head as she quickly ran out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind her with a bang.
After the business was over with and they all found themselves in the living room, there was an awkward sort of silence, hanging in the air. Or well Lucy felt there was as they sat exchanging looks with each other.
Just when Lucy was about to say something they heard someone knocking at the door, making the blonde bounce from her position to greet the visitors. Opening the door she was greeted by Wendy and Poly who stood with opposite emotions on their face. Wendy being happy and Poly being grumpy.
Before the girl got a chance to tell them to come in, Poly rushed past her and made her way to her patient, Wendy following close behind while apologizing for being so rash.
None of them said anything as the healers worked in silence, using their glowing hands to scan Natsu's body and occasionally nod to each other.
"Move your arm!" Poly ordered all of a sudden making the Dragon Slayer somewhat weakly follow that procedure. This was continued with his legs and other muscles until the old healer was satisfied.
"You can move somewhat for now, but it's still restricted until you're fully healed. Your vocal chords should be working somewhat properly too, all though it might have some... mmm... glitches I think is the right term to use" she said while getting up on her feet "And remember to take your medicine, two each day it's important for the process"
"But..." Natsu interrupted in a weak voice earning him an evil glare from the older healer.
"Do as I say or I force it down your throat myself" her eyes flared with anger before she slammed a bottle of pills on the table. After that she spun around on her heels and left the apartment.
"Ahh wait!" Wendy exclaimed out loud, before bowing towards Lucy, Happy and Natsu "I'm sorry I gotta go!"
And with that they were alone again as the blue haired mage, sprinted out of the apartment.
"This is neat" the Dragon Slayer exclaimed with happiness as he stretched his arms above his head.
"... wish they would have come sooner though..." Lucy whispered to herself, still feeling mentally traumatised from the toilet episode earlier.
"You better take that medicine right away..." Happy said in a serious voice "... imagine if she comes back"
"Ohhh!" looking a bit more pale the Dragon Slayer quickly snatched the bottle of pills and made two pills drop into the palm of his hand, which he then downed.
"I'm hungry..." the cat said, his stomach grumbling loudly.
"Me too" Lucy said, feeling the urge to eat something disgusting ...like a cheeseburger with fries.
"Let's go get some then" Natsu said in an enthusiastic tone earning sceptic looks from the two others.
"You sure that's a good idea?" the blonde asked.
"Why not? I mean the both of you can easily carry me if something goes wrong" he smirked mockingly, making Lucy shake her head.
"Naa-aww, my back is already killing me! But if something happens I can always fetch Elfman and get him to carry you" she said while getting up on her feet "Ohh well it suits me fine, I don't really feel like cooking anyway"
"Let's go!" Happy cheered as he flew out of the window.
"Yes..." Natsu said, his voice cracking slightly as he tried to get up on his feet. His legs was so wobbly though, making it extremely hard to even stand up.
"Need help?"
"No?"
"Idiot..." Lucy smiled as she placed herself beside him, so he could place his arm around her shoulder, before they both got up on their feet.
Once up on his feet he tried to take a step forwards, but the movement made the legs in his muscles stagger and shake, for not being used for that long, even if they had been healed a bit.
"Just hang on to me, I'll get us there" Lucy smiled warmly towards him.
"You sure? I mean your back..."
"It's okay, as long as I don't have to carry all your weight" she answered honestly, because it was surprisingly not straining her back too much.
"Neat" he smiled back at her and with that settled they found themselves getting out of her apartment and down to a place where they could fill their empty stomachs.
We'll get some food into you... Lucy thought to herself, when her hands accidentally brushed against his ribcage, reminding her that he had lost a lot of weight during his coma … I solemnly swear that I'll take care of you no matter what... my stupid idiotic Dragon Slayer...
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Food is good and a lot of it paid by Lucy was even better! Heck it didn't matter that his muscles felt extremely weak, making it take a bit more time than it usually did, for him to consume food, because it was all just great! Absolutely fantastic! Yes sir!
Well the fact that he was feeling a tiny bit light headed because of the medicine, only seemed to make it more fun as he enjoyed his meal with his two best buddies.
After a while they eventually managed to finish their meal and left the restaurant. Once outside Happy said something about needing to be somewhere, before he flew off by himself. Which left the two humans standing outside, Natsu once more resting his arm over Lucy's shoulder for support.
Standing there they just looked at the sky with a sense of melancholia hanging in the air, which caused the Dragon slayer to narrow his eyes as he watched some clouds moving.
The war and all stuff that happened there, seemed like it had been yesterday to him. Which made sense because he had been in a coma, ever since the dreadful events finished.
Natsu was lucky to be alive, he knew that which couldn't be said for the comrades they had lost. He got to learn about that the previous day, which had sent him into a fit of anger but after gaining control of his emotions. Alcohol did a lot to suppress his emotions and as time passed by, he managed to push his negative feelings aside and enjoy the evening. The anger and outrage was still there though, roaming in the back of his mind.
Which made sense, because it was way too much for any sane person to just accept and get over with.
"Luce?" he finally managed to find his voice after a moment of silence.
"Mm?" she blinked and turned her head to look at him.
"Can I ask you a favour?"
"As long as it isn't to get seconds, then sure"
"Take me to the graveyard" his voice was low and serious "I need to see it"
"If you're sure... then yes, I'll do that" Lucy sounding extremely sad.
"Thanks" he gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze with his arm, to show her he appreciated that.
"You're welcome" she faked a smile before they started walking towards their destination.
Surely a graveyard was the perfect location after a great meal, because surely nothing could definitely go wrong if they went there.
Right?
A/N: I don't know how many chapters of this I'll make, but there's a few more before I tie the knot and make a precious "The End" flower on the story. There are a few things that needs answered, I typed about ages ago.
You'll see :D
Bonus info: when I was trying to graveyard, I ended up with the word "graveyward". Don't no what that is, but I like gravey XD
To guest reviewer Amy: Thank you! I'm glad you like it :D
Have a nice one! See ya soon :)
/Hejmdal
