Off Screen Romance Part 2
[After Chapter 294]
This takes place after the Tag-team battle between Fairy Tail and Sabertooth
A/N: I needed some cute fluff lol and I've been itching for something like this to happen. It's alright though. Maybe I should go through older chapters and do some off screen drabbles :P
Fairy Tail won the fierce battle against Fiore's number one guild. Even though, in the end, the first generation dragon slayers schooled the third generation twin dragon slayers. It wasn't so much of out-performed or out-skilled that led to their defeat but it was lack of experience. Fairy Tail was at its prime seven years prior to the Grand Magic Games. Even before the disappearance of Fairy Tail's core, the members of this guild had been through enough. They had dealt with attacks from another guild—Phantom Lord, they defeated Jellal—an ex-Great Wizard Saint—at the Tower of Heaven, they also took on the likes of Oracion Seis and Nirvana, and no one could forget that they were the ones to take down Grimoire Heart.
All in all, seven years cannot erase the Fairy Tail's history, and this battle had proved it.
Natsu weakly stood on the ground next to Gajeel. They looked at the unconscious bodies of Sting and Rogue. Apparently, Gajeel could still go another round but it was Natsu who seemed a little less enthusiastic for another battle. They both looked up towards the crowd and heard cheers echoing throughout the stadium, and maybe even throughout the capital. People were thrilled to see Fairy Tail back and they had just witnessed their comeback. Of course Fairy Tail never failed to surprise and impress.
Gajeel then stared at his partner.
"You okay?" He asked in his non-chalant tone. "Salamander, I have iron scales. There was no need for you to shield me from that attack." He glared.
"Heh. This way, I could go straight to Lucy." He smiled his signature grin.
"Tck. Idiot. You can always visit her." He scoffed.
"Yeah but if she sees me crawled next to her, she'll kick me out. But if I'm injured, she'll just leave it be." His smile only grew bigger.
"Pervert."
Then Wendy flew over to check their wounds. She looked at Natsu first seeing that he was leaning against the iron dragon slayer for balance. She shook her head and began healing his upper body so that he could stand on his own. The medics arrived just as soon as Wendy finished her emergency aid. Gajeel tossed the rosy-haired mage onto the stretcher—ever so gently.
Natsu grimaced in pain as he hit the surface of the stretcher. He chuckled lightly.
"What's so funny Salamander?" He was puzzled.
"Thanks man. We should fight against each other once the games are done to find out which dragon slayer is the best." His toothy grin never seemed to disappear.
"I'll win hands down but I'll entertain you to make you feel better." Gajeel shook his hand before letting the medics and Wendy take him to the sick bay.
Wendy walked beside him now and he had his eyes closed but his stupid goofy grin was still plastered on his face. The young girl thought that he was truly strange and peculiar.
"Natsu-san, you should be in worse shape after taking that attack head on. Twin dragons in Dragon Force Mode, their unison attack should have killed you." She sighed. Everyone wondered why he didn't dodge it, he instead stood in front of it shielding Gajeel. Almost everyone's jaw dropped at his self-sacrifice—Erza slammed her hand against her forehead mumbling idiot, gray stayed wide-eyed in shock, and everyone else was just wondering why.
"Aww, Wendy I'm alright really. Like I said before, I get to be next to Lucy for a bit." He continued his smile.
"I mean, you aren't that hurt Natsu-san. It's like you're faking being hurt. When I healed you, the medics really don't need to carry you." She whispered. "You know you can walk on your own." She shook her head again.
Natsu just winked at her while the medics brought him to the room. They placed him on the bed next to Lucy and he just stared at her with endearing eyes. He forgot that Wendy had walked him here.
"Why don't you just tell her already, Natsu-san?" She was trying to hide her giggling.
"Tell her what?" He questioned.
Wendy found herself slapping her forehead too at the denseness of this man. He couldn't be serious right? How could he not acknowledge his feelings for her yet? Even when he just wants to be next to her at all times, does he reallynot get it?
"Hopeless." She sighed inwardly.
"Wendy want me to walk you back?" Natsu offered.
She shook her head unwillingly because she knew how much he wanted to be beside Lucy.
"It's okay, the exceeds are on their way here to pick me up." She smiled.
As soon as she said it, Lily, Charle, and Happy were at the door. Happy instinctively flew to Natsu and he caught him with his arms.
"THAT WAS AWESOME NATSU!" Happy cheered. "We showed them right!" He flew around.
"Aye sir." Natsu replied cheekily.
After their brief reunion, more of Fairy Tail popped up. Natsu really just wanted to rest next to Lucy but it seemed to never happen because Erza scolded him for being careless, Gray insulted him, Gajeel laughed at him, and Laxus just nodded? There was also Mirajane still cheering, Levy still explaining the rules, Makarov was telling everyone how proud he was of his children, and everyone else was just loud. Now Natsu understood the feeling of wanting some peace and quiet. Has Lucy always felt like this during their brawls back home? Or perhaps during one of his fights with Gray? It was as if the bar was now the sick bay and they all just chilled inside the small space—very crowded and still very loud.
Natsu looked over at Lucy who was still asleep even after all that commotion. He wondered what drugs she had to be on in order to not wake up. But then he saw her stir. His eyes widened in fear that she would wake up so he belted from his bed.
"LUCY NEEDS REST!" Natsu was faking his injury so Erza wouldn't drag him back to their hotel room. Only Wendy knew this though and she grinned happily keeping his secret. He placed his hand over his bandage—which was on his stomach for his fake injury.
"A man needs rest too…" Elfman said shyly. It was like they all forgot about him being there still in a horrible state.
"Elfman? You're still here? It's been days." Macao laughed.
"Okay-okay everyone who isn't injured, go to the bar across from the Honey Bee Inn. We shall celebrate our victory there." Erza commanded.
More people shouted and whistled as they left the room.
"What a noisy bunch. I'll be back in the morning." Poluchka said. She left as well.
Finally they were all alone without the noise. Natsu grinned at his partner even though she was still sleeping. Then his ears picked up her even breathing. She had a slight grin on her lips as she mumbled Natsu. Natsu stared at her in shock not knowing if he was imagining it or not. Maybe he was out of it a little after getting hit by their attack.
"Mm… Natsu…" She mumbled once again and this time Natsu couldn't hold himself back.
He took it as an invitation as he crawled into her bed and held her close to him. Careful not to hurt her, he placed his arm around her so she could lean into his chest. Her clothes were like the hospital clothes so they were quite thin. He took this as making him her blanket spiking up the temperature just a bit to make her feel comfortable. Almost instantly she leaned more into his chest—willingly he might add.
Suddenly, Lucy jolted upwards. Natsu held onto her as she gasped for air. He quickly found a glass of water for her to drink and she gulped it down. He climbed back into bed and gently lay her back down. His eyes never left hers and it finally hit her.
"NATSU?! What are you doing here?" Her eyes were widened.
"Sssshhh…" They heard someone say but ignored it anyway.
After a couple of seconds Lucy started to think about of all the plausible reasons for him being here in her bed. Well, she usually found him in her bed but it has been a while since it happened. So maybe she shouldn't be so surprised in the first place. It was somewhat normal to their unorthodox relationship.
"Are you hurt? Where are you hurt? You need to rest…" She muttered out.
Natsu just smiled at her. Anyone with a pair of eyes could see that he was perfectly fine, the only person who really needs rest is her.
"You need rest." He said simply.
As if all thoughts were the same, Lucy leaned against Natsu. She wasn't going to fight it, not tonight. Her body was way too injured anyway.
"But Natsu, why are you here?"
"You need rest." He said again—this time thoughtfully.
"You knew I needed you?" She blushed red and she was grateful that it had been night time or else he would be able to see her whole face.
"No, I needed you..." He admitted. He pulled her in tighter and she melted into his arms. "I'll be here when you wake up. Go back to sleep." He felt her head nod and he quietly lolled her back to sleep.
To Natsu, this had been a triumphant day. He had avenged Lucy, beat Sabertooth, and now he got to sleep next to Lucy. It had ended better than expected. He smiled once more before his eyes drifted to sleep.
In the other corner of the room, Elfman lay on his bed uncomfortably. Did he just really witness Natsu crawling into bed with a helpless Lucy? Did everyone really forget he was here? He sighed because he too felt the need to be with his person. A tear trickled down his face.
Elfman was clearly touched and also very proud of Natsu. He nodded his head in appreciation even though no one could see.
"He's becoming a man."
A/N: Btw this is a separate one-shot from the previous one I wrote. Since you know the first chapter, Natsu acknowledges his feelings for her and kisses her but in this one-shot he just does sweet things for her because of her :P
Maybe I'll make this into a habit. Drabble drabble drabble :D