Authors Note: After thinking about it and reading the ending over a few times, I've come to the realization that I do not like how I ended this chapter. So I have updated the ending and a few wordings Wendy has spoken. Thank you for your patients with the screw up! "Guest" - I wish you had given a name so I could address you more personally – thank you for your suggestions and noticed mix ups and after consideration, I realize you are right about Wendy – I've changed it so she seems a tad more...mature and closer to her age. Please, enjoy the new chapter!
Pulling into a parking spot, Natsu stopped the vehicle. The silence was so sudden, it felt as if cotton balls had been stuffed into her ears. Quickly brushing away the tears, Lucy went to exit – only to be stopped when the door handle came off in her hand! A look of despair on her face, she turned to Natsu who was standing by the back door, helping Wendy down from the high truck.
"N-Natsu? The door handle...?"
When the dragonslayer looked up, he sighed and shook his head, a small growl escaping. Immediately, Lucy felt terrible that she'd broken the door handle. This wasn't even her truck and yet she was stupid enough to break it! Just as she managed to get the handle back into place, the truck rocked and there was a loud bang on her door. Before she could stop it, a scream burst passed her lips and Lucy grabbed the seat as hard as she could, terrified about what was going on outside.
"Lucy! Hey!"
There was a dull thud on the window beside her. When she looked over to the side, Natsu's hands were pressed to the glass, peeking in to get her attention. Reaching down, the celestial mage rolled down the window so he could see in and speak to her.
"Here, gimmie that handle a second...damn thing always breaks – I should've mentioned something, I'm just so used to Levy knowing she has to go through Gajeel's door..."
Trying to hide the sting of his words, Lucy gasped as Natsu stuck his upper body in the window, jimmying the handle on it's screw. With a loud snap and a curse from Natsu, the handle fell to the floor by her feet, busted. Growling, he slammed his palms on the ledge of the door, looking apologetic when Lucy cringed. In desperation, Lucy looked over to the drivers side, her stomach sinking when she realized the roof was to low for her to work her away over the console and out Natsu's door. Some one of Levy's size, it was easy, but if Lucy was to stand, she would get her shoulders and knees stuck – just thinking about it had her in a slight panic! Plain and simple, she was trapped!
"Lucy, I have an idea, but you have to trust me, okay? Wendy, stay close! Watch out for cars!"
Natsu snapping at his little sister for stepping onto the vehicle packed parking lot released Lucy from her anxious panic. Focusing on Natsu, she waited while he scruffed Wendy's hair apologetically but still looking stern. Turning back to her, he tried the door one more time before huffing and reaching up, arms out and waiting. Blinking in confusion, the two mages stared at each other a moment before Lucy understood. Squishing as small as she could, she leaned out the window, mortified at the view she was showing the world.
I really need to wear something other then low – cut tank tops!
Ignoring Natsu's quick peek and both of their blushing faces, she balanced herself half in, half out of the window. His hands gripped her sides tightly and immediately, Lucy felt the spark again like before, followed by pain so intense, it took all of her will to not scream out. It stole her breath a moment...just long enough to throw both of them off balance.
"Luce! Wait!"
Wrapping her arms around Natsu's neck, Lucy held tight as he quickly jerked her out the window, both of them falling onto the hard concrete. Natsu took the brunt of the blow, his head crashing against Lucy's hand as she tried to protect him, her chest smooshing against his face as he tried to protect her. Gasping, she quickly sat up, only to have him wiggle beneath her, lifting her by her hips. Just as she managed to get to her knees, there was a loud cough and a giggle. Mortified, both teens froze and looked up. Lucy gave a small helpless wave as Natsu's grip tightened on her hips, futility, he tried to diffuse the situation – only making it worse!
"Hello - Mister Makarav...it's not what it looks like! Lucy fell on top of me!"
"In a grocers parking lot, Mister Dragneel...?"
Disbelief was clearly written all over the man's face and in his voice was laced with it. Dark eyes stared down his students who were doing seemingly indecent things in the parking lot. In public! And in front of Wendy Marvel, Natsu's kid sister!
"NO! No! See the handle...she was screwing the handle and it got stuck! When I reached down and tried to fix it, it didn't work! So I grabbed her!"
"Natsu! You're not helping! Let me go so we can stand!"
As if she spontaneously combusted, Natsu let the blonde mage go, wiggling out from under her and trying to brush the dirt off. As his hands brushed down over the back of her skirt, he caught her glaring and jerked his hands all to himself, blushing furiously! Lucy smiled shyly at their principle, trying to play the innocent card.
"Natsu's truck door handle broke off and I wasn't able to climb through the seats or over to his door, so he tried to help me through the window...I sort of lost my balance and fell...so it's not what it seems!"
"Mister Makarav?"
When the principle turned to face Wendy, she looked him dead serious in the eye and spoke.
"I think Natsu is catching what Lucy has. She was at our house earlier today – she was sick – and Natsu was in bed with her, petting her head like mom does when I'm sick – it always makes me feel better to..."
"Is there a point, Wendy?"
Makarov smiled kindly to her, patiently waiting while she said her piece. When she tugged the man's sleeve, he bent down a little so he could hear what she had to whisper.
"I think they're dating, but it's a secret okay?"
...And there goes the clean get away...thanks, kid!
Stone dead silence was the only thing after Wendy's comment. The three knew it was said in innocence of a kid trying to help out, but still the fire that flashed in the principles eyes was enough to scare Natsu senseless! Chills ran down Lucy's spine and quickly she grabbed the first cart she saw, racing towards the store. Natsu had scooped up his sister, racing after and calling a goodbye over his shoulder, getting out of there as fast as he could!
Once in the store, Lucy couldn't believe her eyes. Shelves upon shelves of food stuffs! Her staff always went shopping so she'd never really set foot in a store like this before! Farmers markets, for sure, Chef or one of his staff always took her to pick out the veggies and herbs all fresh – she'd even been to a fishmongers, but this was...amazing! Looking around in wonder, Lucy was slightly surprised when Natsu flopped his arm around her shoulders, head in his hand.
"You little rich kid...tell me you've been to a supermarket before?!"
At the blank look on her face, another sigh escaped him and he grinned, happy to know something Lucy didn't. A little of that childhood rivalry came back as she set her hands on her hips, glaring.
"Okay, smarty pants! You know this place so well, answer me a few questions!"
Corralling an innocent cashier, Lucy grinned to Natsu as she thought about what to ask first. The two ignored Wendy – so caught up in her game and with a loud huff she went to look at the On Sale! displays.
"Where's the fresh fruits?!"
Quick as a gunshot, he answered, face serious but eyes alight with enjoyment and pleasure at their little game.
"Produce isle...isle seven and half of eight."
Looking for confirmation, the cashier nodded, a little surprised and a curious at the game these two played.
"To easy! Um...cereal!"
He tossed her a look before looking pointedly to his little sister, already looking over a display of surgery cereal close by. Lucy knew without consulting the cashier, Natsu would be right...
"Isle one for sugar, isle ten for organic and isle five for special dietary."
Arms slumped at her sides, Lucy was about to concede defeat when an idea struck her that she was one hundred percent sure Natsu wouldn't get! He had no business down this isle, so he wouldn't know it! Wendy was to young and she doubted Natsu had ever been with – no, she'd rather not think of that...
"What isle are the...intimate stuff in, Natsu?"
"You mean co -"
Before he could get the word out, Lucy slapped her hand over his mouth, looking to Wendy to see if she'd heard. Luckily she was looking at the selection of cereals, trying to decide what one she wanted next, totally focused on the task. Natsu remained silent when Lucy removed her hand, just looking into her eyes, totally focused in that way his whole family seemed to have with people...Lucy felt so warm and so safe under his gaze...so protected...it felt like as long as she was with him, here and now, no harm would come to her...
"Isle seventeen right hand side for males, left for females...Gajeel and I used to dare each other to walk down that isle as kids..."
And then he opens his mouth and says something like that! Disbelief flooded Lucy as she heard Natsu's answer.
"What?! How the hell – heck! - are you so specific?!"
"Dude...do you work here on weekends or something? You got all of em' right!"
Grinning in pride, Natsu set Wendy on his shoulders and put the cereal box back, ignoring her demands to be put down, her argument that she was to old for this. Turning to the cashier, he shook his head and thanked him before moving on.
"First on the list...milk!"
As the little rag tag group walked through the list, Natsu seemed to know exactly where to go for every item they needed, not once getting the isle or location wrong. Finally at the end of their list, he fearlessly lead the way to the feminine isle. Isle seventeen just as he'd said. Embarrassed to be in this isle with Natsu, Lucy went to grab herself the item she needed when a sharp pain in her hip had her gasping and cringing away. Natsu stood there, his finger still poised as if to poke again...anger flashed in his eyes so great, Lucy instantly felt herself trying to make herself smaller. For a moment, it wasn't Natsu she saw, but her father just before he struck her.
"So Carla was right...Lucy – He's at it again isn't he...hell, I doubt he even ever stopped. Just found new places to hide them."
At the anger and venom in his voice, Lucy couldn't meet his eyes...what her gaze landed on however had her bursting out in surprised laughter! She knew it wasn't funny in this situation, but anything to get away from his question...!
"Natsu...did you seriously try and act tough and macho while standing there holding a pink pack of pads?!"
"You're avoiding the question, Lucy..."
At the tone of his voice, Lucy knew that even if she managed to escape his line of questioning now – he'd only bring it up later. Hugging herself tight, she looked down and off to the side, knowing her next words would not be the ones Natsu was looking for...