Epilogue
Lucy awoke late. Really late. So late in the day, that if she got up and went about her daily ritual, it would be time for her to go to bed when she finished.
Sitting up slowly, she growled. She was on the floor. Again. Fifth time this week...
The fifth time this week that she didn't have money for food, or rent, or anything. Except a sore body, and a very sexy dragon slayer by her side.
Alright, so it wasn't terrible, but there were somethings that needed priority over others!
Kneeling beside the bed, she glared at Natsu, his legs and arms spread over the sheets like a flesh-colored octopus.
'What a jerk, shoving me out of my own bed...' With an evil glint in her eye, Lucy stood up slowly, a dark aura surrounding her.
With little effort, she pounced on the bed,Natsu's eyes snapping open, his sense on high alert.
"Lucy! What are you doing?!" Holding his hands above his head, she looked down at him, a sneer pulled at her lips.
"You are such a jerk, you know? I give you everything, and what do I get? Kicked out of bed!" Taking a finger, Lucy rammed it into Natsu's chest with every word. "We need to go out and find work. We are going on..." She paused, her choice of words needed had to be correct. "We're going on … and adventure... today, and we're going to make some money. I wont be able to pay rent or get food..."
She continued her exuberant hand motions and she delivered her speech. But Natsu wasn't paying attention. It's not that he didn't know the situation, it's just every time she brings it up, things happen, and then after, he's ready to go, but all she has the energy to do is sleep.
'Women really are confusing creatures...'
His thoughts were interrupted when he felt Lucy sit back, her body weighing down on his hips.
"-and further more, Natsu, when we are financially secure enough to not have to worry about anything," she paused, her eyes locking with his. "THEN we can have sex. But not before, and certainly not when we're in the red. You understand?"
Looking at her from this angle sent goosebumps along his spine. She was really amazing. Not only did she look like a goddess, but her attitude really rubbed him the right way.
"Natsu!" Pouncing on her, Lucy found herself laying on the bed, Natsu above her, a hungry look in his eye.
He did, after all, love a good challenge.
"You know, Lucy. I was thinking..." Nuzzling his nose against her neck, Lucy felt the shiver flow through her body. "If you moved in with me,"His breath was heavy as he cooed into her ear, his hands roaming down her neck. "Then you wouldn't have to worry about rent, or food, or..." Groping her sharply, she let out a loud gasp, her hand shooting up quickly and covering her mouth. "Being to loud."
Lucy did eventually pay her rent, much to Natsu's annoyance("Seriously! Move in with me!" "No! You just want my bed at your house all the time!" "Luc~cy..." ) and she and Natsu eventually told the guild the news.
They knew however. Just looking at how Natsu behaved around Lucy afterwords. He was still loud, in your face and wild, but now and then Natsu would reach out to Lucy, sometimes touching the hem of her skirt, or her shirt. Some times she would get enveloped in a tight hug, other times he would place a kiss on her, much to her annoyance. He seemed to know what she wanted before she asked, and on one particular sunny day, about a month later, Lucy reviled just what it was to be "a dragon's mate".
One Month Later;
Lucy was sunning with Levy the conversation they were having revolving around the subject of a certain dragon.
"-I just, these dreams are starting to happen more and more...the last one..." Her face turned red and she had to bury it in her hands, the squeal rising from her made Lucy laugh.
"Pretty graphic huh?" Looking up, Levy nodded in agreement. "Ahh yes, it starts off like that. Just a simple dream and then pow!" Punching a fist into the other for effect, she looked at her blue haired friend. "The most amazing dream of your life right?" Levy nodded her head vigorously.
"Yes! Yes! How do I make it stop?" Leaning forward Lucy closed her eyes and breathed in deep.
"You say that it's Gajeel every time?" Her face turned bright red, but she nodded her head.
"Yes, the last two weeks have been just dreams of him. They maybe started a little before that, but they have reoccurd every night." Crying, Levy flopped on her beach chair. "Lu-chan... what am I going to do..."
"Well, I don't understand how this has progressed so quickly. I mean, having dreams every night? How often do you spend time with him?" Pressing her fingers together, Levy blushed slightly.
"Well, he usually walks me home from the guild when it gets late. And we'll run into each other around town..."
"Around town? Like on the street and you'll say hello?" Lucy watched as Levy turned into a mini Levy, her face bright red, her voice stammering the words out.
"He...he'll find me in the library... and he'll just walk around with me... and get me books... and he'll sit with me till I'm done...and then..." Her voice trailed off.
"Then he walks you home, right?"
"KYAAHH! Lucy-sama! What do I do? He's not like Natsu though, he's so mean to me all the time. I usually try to ignore him, but these dreams are making it impossible for me to not just..." Pulling her face in close, Levy whispered into her ear.
"The other day, I was trying to decipher these runes for a client, and Gajeel came with me. So we're sitting there, and I looked for just a second, but I saw him looking outside, and I just couldn't help myself. He was just sitting there, and I... I..."
Lucy waited, her breath locked in her chest.
With a light whisper, Levy finished her sentence.
"I kissed him."
Lucy pulled away, her hazel eyes wide.
"You... kissed him? Where?" Covering her face, Levy squeaked.
"On his cheek."
"What happened after?"
"I don't know. I ran away after I came to my senses. I left and he was still sitting."
"That's why he came over that night..." Looking at her, Levy tilted her head.
"What do you mean?" Crossing her legs, Lucy started her story.
"Well, you see, I was in the middle of a bath. Natsu has taken it on himself to bath with me, however, he always gets... excited during these times and well..."
"Come on Luce, just a quick one?"
"No Natsu, I really need to take a bath. That training you're making me do just covers me in filth."
"Oh, it's not so bad."
"Bare hand fighting in mud isn't that bad?"
"Well, that's how you learn how to control fire without burning everything."
"That's what I told you, you idiot."
His lips found hers and she smiled against it.
"Fine, but then I get a free grope!" Taking each breast in his hands, Lucy cried out as he began squeezing her.
"Nat-su..."
"Mmm...Lucy-sama..."
"NATSU!" Looking towards the door, the pair saw Gajeel in the entry way. He too, saw them, and the position they were in. His face turning bright red, his words fell from his mouth in awkward structure.
"I...you...talk...boobs..." A fiery punch landed square in his stunned face, and standing above him, Natsu sneered at him.
"What are you doing here, you metal loving freak."
Sitting up, Gajeel regained his senses. Crossing his legs, he looked at Natsu.
"I'm not here for the show. I'm here because we need to talk. About... this change..." Blinking, Natsu suddenly understood.
"Ohh... you're starting to get really horny too?"
Gajeel and Lucy felt their faces slam into the floor, the bluntness of his question stupefying.
"Natsu, you can't just say those things..." Lucy threw a bathrobe at the pink haired man, her reappearance in a robe less embarrassing from before. "Listen, Gajeel. I've talked with Mama Baba about this. It's unavoidable. You're going to have to face it head on."
Growling, he glared down at the floor. Natsu, changing quickly into his normal clothes, walked over to Gajeel. Holding down a hand, Gajeel looked up at him, confusion evident on his face.
"Come on, Iron Dragon. We've got some things to talk about..."
"After that, they left. It was only later that I found out Gajeel had gone off on a mission with Lily. The one just past Oak Town. He'll probably be gone for a week." Levy rocked back and forth.
"Lucy... what's it like, you know. Being with Natsu?" Lucy gave a half-smile.
"Well, it really is hard to cover up we're together..." Looking down at her body, she sighed. Her legs we're covered in marks and scratches, her shoulders, neck and chest covered in love bites. "But, I've become strong, more quickly. I can already grapple with Natsu just as long as Gray can. I've also tossed him a couple times too." Striking a pose, Lucy's victory was short-lived as a voice tickled her ear.
"Only on the bed, you know..."
"Natsu!" Crying out, Lucy fell off her seat, the pink haired dragon slayer laughing as she did so. Pointing up at him, she glared hard at him. "What do you think you're doing?! Don't you know better than sneaking up on people?"
"Aw, but Lucy... I'm hungry... and Mira wont feed me." Huffing her cheeks out, Lucy sighed.
"Alright. Better go get it..." Holding her hand out, a small flame erupted in her palm. Tossing it across the sandy beach, Natsu easily caught it in his mouth, to the joy of the two women.
"How can you do that Lu-chan? What is it?" Smiling down at her hand, Lucy created another flame.
"I was told, by Mama Baba, that being the mate of a dragon held a heavy responsibility. A dragon is strong, fast, powerful and formidable. However, as we've seen, they have a limited amount of power, and are more then willing to throw their lives away for a single person. It's the responsibility of the dragon's mate to keep the dragon alive." Throwing the flame again, Natsu laughed as he chased it down.
"So... the fire is..." Smiling at her, Levy gasped as Lucy was suddenly covered in flames.
"This fire is my own. It's fueled by my love for Natsu and his love for me. The strong the love, the larger the flame." With a small 'poof' the flame was gone, and Levy felt her eyes grow wide.
"But, if me and Gajeel... I can't do that! I'd turn to steel! I don't want Gajeel to eat me..."
"Not in that way at least..."
"Lu-chan!" Smacking her friend, Lucy laughed happily.
"I'm sorry, it was a good opportunity... but you can feed him Levy. You've already done it."
Blushing furiously, Levy sat back, the words slowly sinking in.
"Tell ya what," Tossing another flame slightly further away from them, Lucy took her friend's hands in hers. "What don't we speed things up? Make him realize he likes you."
"How?" Pleeding eyes locked with Lucy's hazel ones. "I can't take it any more, Lu-chan, I just can't take it. Please, help me through this..." Pulling her close Lucy agreed.
"Don't worry, by the time Gajeel gets back from his trip with Lily, he wont be able to resist."
Natsu took this moment to charge Lucy, tackling her to the ground.
Lecy watched the two grapple and wrestle in the sand, joy filling her heart for her two friends. If only Gajeel was less cold to her...
Sighing, she stood quickly, stretching while she watched the fight between the two lovers. Unknown to her, a figure stood near by, a bag hanging over his shoulder, a black Exceed by his foot.
Tugging at his pant leg, Lily called up to his partner.
"Gajeel, we need to go. We're already late for the train..."
"I know, Lily." Iritation lingered in his voice as he gazed at the bluenette, the light breeze lifting her hair from her face, and Gajeel felt a grin cross his lips.
'See ya in a week shrimp.'
"Alright, let's go." Turning, Gajeel and Lily walked off towards the train station, his thoughts still lingering on Levy.
End
(w/n: Woh, well that was fun. Looping all the stories all the time, aw yeah. Comments, critiques amd concerns are all welcome. Thanks for reading!)