Okay so this chapter is a shorty but you can enjoy some young lust ;) No lemons but hey who knows what the future holds... I want to thank XenoHawk and Celtika82 for your continued support! Thanks to Wacko12 and for dropping a line as well! I'm writing this for you guys...okay and partly for the teenage girl who lives inside me! Ps- You guys should check out Celtika82's story s/9544633/1/Once-You-Go-Beyond-Friendship-You-Can-t-Go-Back it is chock full of NaLu awesomeness! I love you guys!
Ch 6- Glow
Natsu woke to a dark and lonely room, drowning in a scent that he wanted to touch so badly it hurt. Is she really alive, he wondered, or am I just going crazy? He didn't move for a long time, he simply didn't have the will. As he lay on Lucy's bed he buried his face in her pillow wishing instead that it was her golden hair. He rolled over and grazed his fingers across his lips reminiscing over the possibility of his first kiss. Does it count if I was dreaming? He stared at the ceiling.
He had never felt this kind of hopelessness before. It was torture not knowing. And to top it all off he was angry with himself for not protecting her. In the end it was Loke who came to her rescue. I'm pathetic...
Natsu didn't have any tears left, only a hollow hole in his heart. He sat up and ignored his rumbling stomach. For once he didn't feel like eating. He didn't feel like doing anything. A knock at the door broke the lonely silence.
Natsu dragged himself to the door and pulled it open to reveal a familiar, intimidating, face.
"Erza."
"We need to talk." She demanded in her usual commanding tone.
Natsu sighed loudly and held out an arm in gesture for her to come inside the apartment. She stepped in and turned to look at him. He felt her scrutinizing eyes but was in no mood for company so he sank down on the couch, ignoring her.
"How are you feeling?" She asked.
"How the fuck do you think!?" He snapped.
Erza held her tongue, she could see he was in agony. She sat down beside him, "It hurts me too. Lucy was a true friend."
Suddenly Natsu could see why Erza was the strongest member of Fairy Tail, she could carry the burden of grief for everyone else. Everyone but me...he thought sarcastically.
"I know that you are angry with yourself. I have to admit I was angry with you too."
Natsu's eyes widened at her confession.
"You nearly killed the girls who were fleeing the castle. Lucky for them Jet got there with just enough time to carry them out of your blast zone." Erza's tone was tinged with disappointment.
"I don't give a shit about the girls." He rebelled.
"Don't give me that crap, Natsu. I know you blame yourself for Lucy's death but you have to deal with it. You can't run from this!"
"LUCY'S NOT DEAD!" Ah, shit.
Erza narrowed her eyes at him, asking sternly, "What did you say?"
Natsu proceeded to recount the whole horrific event. He explained the appearance of Loke and last nights vivid dream, kissing excluded. Erza took a moment to process what she had just heard.
"Do you really think she is alive in the celestial realm?"
"I don't know..." He sighed and looked down at his calloused hands.
"You were closest to Lucy. What does you're heart tell you?" Erza asked in all seriousness.
Natsu closed his eyes and dug around inside himself for and answer. His dark eyes flashed open, "Yeah, she's still alive. She has to be!"
"I believe you," Erza placed a hand on his shoulder, "But I don't think we should tell the others just yet. It sounds like it could be a while before she contacts you again."
Natsu felt his chest tighten at the solemn reminder. He didn't say so but a shadow of doubt still lingered in the back of his mind. This was his most difficult foe yet, despite his bright disposition he couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty. It was unlike Natsu to be doubtful of himself. However, this was the first time he had experienced such a despondent failure. This is gonna suck, he thought about the difficult path ahead of him.
Erza stood up to take her leave but first turned and held out her hand, "I found this at the castle, I think you should hold on to it."
Natsu held out his hand and felt the cold metal of Lucy's celestial spirit keys against his palm. Erza closed her hands around his, "Keep them safe." Her breath hitched as she thought of her fallen friend, "There will be a memorial service for Lucy tomorrow morning. I wont tell anyone about our discussion." With that Erza left and the empty silence filled the apartment once more.
Natsu stared at the keys as he rolled them around in his hand. I wonder... He gritted his teeth and held up the gate key for Leo the Lion. He tried focusing his magic power on it but only managed to blacken the metal with a burst of flames. How the hell do these damn things work!? Frustrated, he stuffed the keys in his pocket.
Natsu decided to spend the rest of the day in Lucy's apartment. He wasn't ready to face everyone at the guild hall just yet and he had to something about being surrounded by her scent was comforting. Have I been taking Lucy for granted all this time?
He still couldn't believe that Lucy had said she loved him. She was practically a princess in his eyes, raised in lavish style as a daughter of the affluent Heartfilia Konzern. Although she did give it all up to become a Fairy Tail wizard. He smiled at the thought of their first meeting in Hargeon, she was so determined to join the guild. Girls were the furthest thing from his mind back then yet he found himself drawn to Lucy's bubbly personality. She had talked way too much but he admired the way she wore her heart so openly on her sleeve.
Natsu on the other hand was raised in the wilderness. The abandoned wild child of the fire dragon, Igneel, his upbringing was far from proper. He was loud, destructive, bluntly rude, and incredibly dense. Not the perfect match for an ex-heiress. But Lucy meant what she had said, he knew that much. Lucy didn't say things unless she meant them.
Happy flew up into the open window breaking Natsu's train of thought. "You okay, Natsu? You didn't come home last night." Happy wore a pitiful frown.
"Sorry Happy," Natsu forced a smile on his friends behalf, "I fell asleep."
Happy sat down on Lucy's bed, petting the comforter with his little blue paws, " I miss Lucy..."
Natsu swallowed a lump that rose up in his throat, "You wanna crash here for awhile?"
A little smile curled one corner of Happy's mouth, "Yeah, I think Lucy would like that."
They decided to go on a walk through Magnolia Park before supper and although they said little the companionship was warm and welcome. It did Natsu good to get out, he hadn't realized how much he needed some fresh air. On the way back they stopped along the river bank and caught a few fish to take back to Lucy's kitchen.
It was a slow, uneventful evening. Full of fish and rice they laid down on the bed and Happy fell asleep almost instantly. Natsu, however, was restless with the knowledge that Lucy would not be able to dream with him again for quite some time. He felt a cold empty feeling creep over him and he closed his eyes, wishing it away.
Natsu found himself dreaming about the awful scene at the castle again, I must have finally fallen asleep. He tried to push the painful memories away but that only seemed to make them worse. I wonder if I can summon a dreamridge or bridge or whatever the hell it was!
He didn't even know how to begin. He summoned his magic energy and focused his thoughts on Lucy. It felt like the right thing to do. He waited...nothing happened. Maybe this means that she is awake, which would be a good thing. He pouted, I need to see her! A flash of light forced him to shield his dreaming eyes.
Natsu stepped out under the starry sky and spotted the glowing tree from the night before. He walked toward it and looked around but there was no sign of Lucy. He decided to lay down in the grass, it was better than the nightmares. He watched the blanket of stars glittering above him as a breeze tossed his hair around his face. Natsu closed his eyes and waited, wishing for just a glimpse of his golden goddess.
He must have drifted off within the dream for he woke to a pressure against his chest. Opening his eyes, Natsu's heart skipped a beat. He looked down to find a halo of golden hair splayed across him, spilling down over his side. Lucy's rich brown eyes looked up at him as her head rested on his chest. She reached forward and sank her hand into his thick hair before sliding it down his cheek.
"How did you find me?" She whispered.
"I dunno. I just thought really hard about it." Natsu pulled his arms out from behind his head and propped himself up on his elbows.
Lucy rolled over to rest her head in his lap, "Must have been tough," she teased.
"How are you feeling? In real life, I mean." She could hear the concern in his voice.
"I think I'm still unconscious," she sighed, "How long have I been gone from Earthland?"
"A couple of days." Natsu absently twirled a lock of her hair.
"So I guess its only been about half a day in the celestial world..." She tried to do the math in her head.
"I haven't used up any magic today, I should be able to keep us here for a while." Natsu sounded hopeful.
He could tell now that Lucy wasn't just a figment of his imagination. The drain on his magic energy was apparent and he felt the strain of keeping the dream world open for them.
"Natsu?"
"Yeah?"
Lucy hesitated, "I feel like I still might not make it," she held up a hand to silence his response, "I'm not saying this to upset you, it's just that I can sense how weak my body is. Like its barely alive."
Natsu's face was twisted with a frown, "Why aren't the spirits healing you? What the hell are they waiting for!?"
Lucy sat up to meet his angry gaze, "They are doing everything they can, even now I can feel their magic. I'm sorry I said anything, I just...I wanted you to know, in case something happens."
He cupped her heart-shaped face in his hands, "Nothing is going to happen."
She savored the feeling of his rough hands on her soft skin, "Natsu..."
He wasn't quite sure what to do with all the feelings raging around inside him. Lucy was looking up at him with soft, dewy eyes and he wanted more than anything to kiss her again. But when was it appropriate to kiss a girl? He was clueless. And now she was giggling.
Lucy had witnessed his internalization and she knew that he was confused about their relationship. So was she but it was funny that Natsu, Mr. No-Fear-Dragon-Slayer, was so completely helpless in this situation. She covered her mouth to stifle the laughter.
Natsu was even more confused, he cocked his head to the side, "What?"
Lucy stood up and took his hand, "Come on!" She started toward the tree but continued running past it, Natsu in tow.
The field seemed to go on forever and looking back the tree was now a small glowing speck. They crested a hill and a winding stream glistened before them. It stretched as far as the eye could see in either direction. The trickling sound of the moving water grew louder as they approached.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah. I guess so." Natsu wasn't one to admire the beauty of nature, he knew better than most how brutal it could be.
Lucy bent down and traced over the water with her delicate fingers. It glowed and shimmered under her touch creating sparks of color that parted around her hand.
"That's pretty cool." Natsu sat on the bank and stuck his hands in, splashing water everywhere. It looked like fireworks.
"Let's swim in it!" He sounded like an overeager child.
"It's cold!" Lucy shivered at the thought of the icy water, "And besides I'm wearing a dress..."
"Can't you just take it off?"
"What? No!" Ugh, he really is so clueless. Lucy rolled her eyes but a smile curled the corners of her mouth, she actually found his naivete adorable.
Natsu was already shirtless and swimming in the cool water with his scarf tied around his head. Lucy watched the colors burst around him with every movement.
What if I don't survive? She couldn't help but wonder if her time was running out. What if this is the last time I see his stupid face? Lucy held back her tears, he already has too many memories of me crying.
She took a brave breath and checked to make sure she wore underwear in the dream world. Lucy lifted the silky dress over her head and it caught in the breeze like a banner. Natsu was not at all phased and was still splashing around like a goofball.
Lucy jumped into the water and the cold shocked the breath from her lungs. She briefly considered if this was affecting her real body. She swam around to keep her limbs from going numb and found that if she went downstream from Natsu, the water coming from his direction was warmed by his internal fire. She was starting to enjoy this and she poured water from her hands in little rainbow waterfalls.
"Luce, look at your hair! It's glowing!"
It was dripping colors and they stood out against her yellow gold locks like rolling jewels. She squealed in delight, "Wow! I wish there was a place like this in Earthland."
"I'll find one!"
"And what if there isn't one?" Lucy asked smugly.
"I'll make one!" Natsu declared.
"And how are you gonna do that?"
"I'll do anything if it will make you smile." He wasn't trying to be romantic, he was just stating fact.
He's just too good to be true. Being a 19 year old girl, Lucy was swept away. (Well let's face it, you would be too. I don't care how old you are!)
"What's wrong Luce?" Natsu stopped his water play when he noticed Lucy staring at him. He couldn't figure out if her expression was good or bad. Maybe this is one of those moments when girls like to be kissed? Maybe not...
"Nothing. It's cold, I'm going to get out now." Lucy was shaking with cold as she walked up the bank and into the cool breeze. She looked for her thin dress although it probably wouldn't do much to warm her up.
Natsu could see her shivering in the tall grass and instinctively he went to warm her as he had done countless times before. But this was different. The fact that she was in her skivvies didn't hit him until it was too late. He already had her wrapped in his arms and when he looked down into the mysterious chasm that was her cleavage he accidentally sent off a wave of flames.
"Hey, careful! I'm not that cold!" Steam swirled from her hair.
"S...sorry." He was having difficulty forming words, all the blood was draining from his brain. Something about a dripping wet woman in her underwear was distracting. This had never been a problem before. He tried to focus on drying her out without scorching her again.
Lucy watched his face contort in concentration, scarf still tied around his head. "You're acting like more of a spazz than usual. Also, I'm already dry." She reached up and tugged at the scarf, setting it free. She wrapped it around her shoulders to sheild her bare skin from the wind.
(*Queue Music* Radio by Lana Del Rey)
He couldn't bring himself to let her loose just yet, this has to be the right time! "Lucy?"
She was nervously playing with the ends of the scarf, "Hmm?"
He reached under her chin and tipped her head back, the stars reflected off her big dark eyes. He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss before backing off to gauge her reaction. She grabbed the back of his head and forcefully pulled his mouth back to hers. She let her self-control blow away with the night air and shoved Natsu down into the reedy grass. She settled onto his lap and pushed him down until his back rested against the ground. Lucy followed him down, kissing any and every part of him she could get to. Natsu was lost in all the new sensations. He was being pulled under, heat was building inside him, and he found that no matter how close Lucy pressed against him it wasn't close enough. He wanted to consume her. But something wasn't right. This wasn't real. He had to stop and it took all his strength and will to do so.
Lucy looked to him questioningly as he gently pushed her away and sat up.
"This is a dream," He answered, "I want the real you."
Too good to be true...she sighed.
Lucy felt a little embarrassed at her lack of self control. They sat in uncomfortable silence for a moment, catching their breath.
Lucy stood up and tried to regain her composure, "You're right. I'm sorry."
"Oh, don't be." Natsu gave her a devilish grin. He was enjoying the after-buzz. It felt like he was still drowning in Lucy.
She punched him in the arm, "You're awful!" He couldn't feel pain right now if he tried.
"You started it." He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Shut up! I did not!" Lucy was relieved that he was trying to break the awkward tension.
She knew that if she did make it back to Earthland things would be weird between them. She tried to scold herself but she was too high to care.
"So, what now?" Natsu was as blunt as ever.
"Aren't you running out of energy?" Lucy knew how difficult it was to keep the dreambridge open.
"Hell no! I got plenty."
Well she had to admit, energy was the one thing that Natsu was never short of.
"So...are you going to go on any jobs soon?" She steered the conversation in a more normal direction.
"I dunno, haven't really thought about it." He laid back propping his head on his arms.
"Well, someones going to have to pay my rent." Lucy smirked.
"Yeah, yeah."
"You better stay out of my stuff while I'm gone!" Lucy heard his sharp intake of breath.
"You've been staying in my apartment, haven't you!?" She leaned over him, pointing an accusatory finger at his face.
"NO! Maybe..." he replied sheepishly.
"You miss me that much, huh?" Lucy was just teasing him but his response was serious.
"Yeah. I'm kinda lost without you." He closed his eyes. He wanted to tell her that he loved her but he'd never told anyone that before. He had never even heard the words until Lucy said them. Love was a very uncomfortable expression for the orphaned son of a dragon and the timing just wasn't right. He let out a long sigh. I can't believe I've been falling for her this whole time...
Lucy watched him, wondering if she had ruined their friendship for good. Of all the people to fall for it had to be her partner, her best friend. She reached over to ruffle his pink hair when a shadow swept over her. Lucy grabbed at her chest, something was clutching her heart. She gasped for air and Natsu jumped up to find her shrouded in a black mist.
"What the fuck!?" He clawed at the shadow to no avail. It's non-corporeal form was immune to his attacks.
Lucy felt like it was squeezing the life out of her. The dream had turned into a nightmare in the matter of seconds. Natsu could only think of one thing to do.
"You have to wake up!" Natsu was shaking her dream body, "Wake up and find Loke! Lucy WAAAKE UP!"
He pulled his magic energy back inside himself and focused on a way to close the bridge. I hope this works...
A/N: I hope this chapter answered some of the questions from chapter 5! Also, sorry to be evil and leave you all hanging again...it's my way of getting you to come back ;D