Hello again everyone! It has been a long while for various reasons...but without further ado here is the final chapter of Falling. I was basically just wrapping the story up with this one so it's a shorty but I felt like we all needed some closure! Thank you so much for reading my first ever fanfic! And thanks to all my followers and reviewers, you kept me going all this time :) NaLu FOREVA!
Special Thanks to: Xenohawk, Celtica82, monkeywahl, Wacko12, Twishadowhunter, and NurseJade. Thanks for letting me know what you think!
Cabinet doors opened and closed with a bang as the two lovers hunted for food in Lucy's kitchen.
"I know! I'll get us some takeout." Natsu was obviously impressed by his quick thinking. A half smile pulled at the corner of his mouth.
"Sure, but I'm broke." Lucy's shoulders slouched a little.
"No problem, I got plenty of jewels."
"What? Since when?"
"I dunno. I always forget but me and Happy have a safe at home." Natsu was again impressed with himself, maybe the sex got his brain working better, "It's loaded."
"And you didn't think to tell me this when the landlady was threatening to throw me out last month!?"
"Why's your face all red?" He was genuinely curious. Apparently the sex didn't get his brain working that much better.
Lucy sighed, "Never mind." His boyish charm silenced her. She realized that she didn't really want him to leave.
They had a tendency to end up in dangerous situations. A lot. And now she was hesitant to let him out of her sight. His life seemed so much more fragile and precious now. Her apartment felt like a haven from the world outside.
"Okay, well I'll go get the jewels and pick up some food on my way back." Natsu stood in the kitchen doorway. The same feeling was washing over him. He was afraid of leaving Lucy alone. Afraid he might lose her again. And he could tell by the look on her face that she was just as uncertain.
He stepped forward and pulled her into his chest. They couldn't stay in the apartment forever, he would have to get used to being separated from her some of the time.
"I'll be right back." He looked down into her dark eyes and wanted to stay in them forever. He tried to let go and turn toward the door but couldn't.
Lucy stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the corner of his mouth, "You better be."
She pried herself away and watched as he walked out the door. Lucy stood in the kitchen doorway for a while, feeling a little lost. She pulled the blanket loose and buried her face in the fabric. It smelled of sweat and spices.
Natsu made his way through town without running into anyone familiar. He was relieved when he ducked into the woods and found the trail leading to his, and Happy's, cottage.
The door squeaked on its hinges, a familiar sound, and he stepped into the mess of the living room. Making his way to the safe, Natsu stopped in his tracks. Something didn't smell right.
"Happy?" He called out but there was no answer.
He crept toward the stairs and listened hard but all he could hear was the distant thunder of an approaching storm. Natsu continued up the narrow staircase and held his breath as the pushed open the door to Happy's room. It looked undisturbed and Happy's scent was faint, Natsu guessed that his friend had spent the night in the guild hall. He backed into the hallway and started toward his own room when he sensed someone behind the door. He forced it open expecting to knock the intruder off their feet but instead saw an empty room. As he stepped across the threshold a blow to the head knocked him unconscious.
Natsu woke to a throbbing headache as he squinted against a bright light that seemed to bore into his brain. He tried to raise a hand to shield his face but discovered that both hands were bound behind his back. Anger rose up hot in his chest when Mayor Yugure stepped out from behind his hired muscle, grinning with satisfaction.
"What the hell are you so happy about?" Natsu looked up with challenging eyes.
This unsettled the mayor and his voice wavered, "I uh," he cleared his throat and lowered his tone, "I owe you for wrecking my business."
"Screw you, asshole!" Natsu squirmed against the ropes and tried to burn through them only to realize that something was preventing him from using magic.
"Not so tough without your powers, huh?" The mayor chuckled.
"I'm tough enough to beat your ass again."
"I just need you out of the way." Yugure lit a cigar and puffed it a few times before continuing, "Me and the boys are going to have some fun with that little bitch girlfriend of yours. A, shall we say, reward for our efforts."
"You touch Lucy, you're all dead." Natsu felt a desperate panic spread through his body. He had to find a way out and soon.
The mens laughter died down as they looked into the Salamander's blazing eyes. He was a force to be reckoned with, magic power or no. Some looked down at their feet, others looked at the cold metal ceiling, anything to distract them from that deadly glare.
Natsu was beginning to feel quite pleased by the effect he had on them, "What's the matter, losing your nerve?" It was obvious to him that Yugure was just puppet, he definitely wasn't cut out for this mobster shit. But who could be pulling the strings?
Yugure tried to regain control of the situation, "Masato, Ryota, stay here and watch him. The rest of you come with me." He turned toward the door and motioned for the others to follow.
"Hey, wait! Bastard!" Natsu flexed hard against his restraints which groaned in response.
The two men posted at the door watched the struggle and eyed him nervously. "Don't even think about it, pinky." The men shared a laugh at the obnoxious jab.
Natsu didn't hear them though, as his mind was occupied with plans of escape. The thought of Lucy in danger was enough to double his strength and he strained against the ropes again. His slender frame coiled tight as he prepared to unleash his sheer strength upon the knotted bonds. He forced his arms out and straightened his body against the metal chair which contorted to his standing position with an earsplitting screech. This significantly loosened to ropes and he wiggled free of them in seconds, just in time to knock out the two guards before twisting the locked door from it's hinges.
He burst into a long hallway and turned left, barreling through the stark white tunnel and knocking several more guards off their feet. He tried to ignite his hands but still had no firepower. "Damn."
A staircase led him up to the ground level and he made his way out a backdoor. Natsu breathed in a lung full of fresh air and gained his bearings. Wasting little time he rushed back in the direction of Magnolia. Hang on Luce.
Meanwhile...
Lucy paced the floor of her apartment. He should have been back hours ago. She chewed on a thumbnail as an eerie cold crept into the pit of her stomach. Contemplating the best course of action she decided on going to Erza for help. Throwing on some jeans and a t-shirt she fled the apartment while pulling her hair back into low ponytail. She was barely off the front steps when a large, dirty hand clamped over her mouth and pulled her into the alleyway.
Now she was sure that Natsu was in trouble and she bit down on the filthy hand which promptly let her go. "I don't have time for this crap!" Lucy whirled around and gave the owner of said hand her infamous Lucy-kick right to the jewels.
She took off toward the guildhall without looking back but something in her gut told her to veer right, towards the forest. She hesitated for a moment before turning off into the treeline. Branches clawed at her clothes and hair but she continued on, trusting her instincts to lead her where she needed to be. Lucy felt her stomach drop as images of her lover, broken and bloodied, poured into her thoughts. No, he can handle himself. Hang on Natsu, I will find you.
A rustling behind her alerted Lucy that she was not alone. Looking back she caught sight of the man from the alley closing in fast. Shit. She tried to run faster but tripped over her own feet and landed face first in the leaves. Spitting dirt from her mouth she scrambled to stand but was tackled by her pursuer.
They wrestled on the ground and Lucy flailed her arms and legs hoping to hit something vulnerable but the man soon overwhelmed her and had her pinned to the ground. His ugly face came close to hers as he sniffed her hair and neck. A wave of nausea washed over her as dark memories clouded her mind. This can't be happening, not again...
She squeezed her eyes shut, anticipating the worst. A wave of heat rushed over her and the man was knocked away. She opened her eyes and found him rolling on the ground trying to put out the fire that was consuming his clothes. Lucy scrambled off the ground and swung around. Natsu was sprinting towards them.
He waved, "Lucy, you okay?"
She cried tears of relief, "Yeah."
"Hang on a sec."
Natsu proceeded to blast the creep to the other side of Fiore. "There. I don't think those bastards will mess with us again."
Lucy collided with his back, wrapping her arms around him. "One of these days I'm going to save you."
He turned in her arms and pulled her into a kiss. It was slow and sweet and when their lips parted he whispered, "You already have."
Lost in each other they failed to notice the growing crowd of their guild mates who had come searching for the source of the flaming man-rocket that had just passed over the town.
"Woo, check it out! Salamander's got some smooth moves!"
Natsu rested his head against Lucy's and she turned a bright shade of pink.
"I think we've been found out." He combed his fingers through her hair, "But I don't care."
Gajeel continued making cat calls at them as the others started joining in.
"Now we know what they've been up to all this time!" Shouted Wakaba.
"I knew it!" Happy gave them a smug smile. And a speechless Erza wept with joy.
Natsu took Lucy's hand and together they turned to face their friends. Makarov stepped through the crowd, "Pipe down everyone!"
When he reached the young couple he turned to face the others. "Behind me are two of the finest mages in Earthland. They are strong and courageous, kind and selfless. At some point these two have risked their lives for you all. As one of the greatest teams to ever call Fairy Tail home, it is no surprise that Natsu and Lucy were meant to be. So, if any of you have something to say about it, KEEP YOUR MOUTHS SHUT...because it's time for a party!"
Everyone could agree to that and the crowd cheered, rushing forward to sweep the couple back to the guildhall. They partied into the night but all Lucy could think of was being alone with her partner. She watched him from across the room, arguing with Grey as usual.
"You okay, Lucy?" Levy poked at her friend.
"What? Oh, yeah. I'm just tired."
"Well by the looks of it this party will be an all-niter, you don't have to stay through the whole thing. Go get some sleep."
"Thanks Levy, I think I will. Besides, it'll give you a chance to go talk to Gajeel." Lucy gave her a wink.
"What? What are you talking about!?" Levy stammered.
"Oh, please! Everyone knows you like each other, its written all over you both." She nudged Levy with her elbow, "Now, go talk to him!"
Levy blushed and gave Lucy a look of helplessness as she shyly made her way to Gajeel and Lily's table.
Lucy yawned and got up, she really was tired. She tried to slip out unnoticed and shut the door as quietly as possible. Walking along the stone streets she watched as lights started to flicker out. The town was going to sleep. It was quiet and peaceful and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"BOO!"
Lucy screamed and whirled around to find out who had poked her in the rear. "Natsu! Geez you scared me to death!"
"You left without telling me." She had never seen him pout before and it was irresistibly adorable.
"You looked like you were having fun."
"I was just passing the time. Hoping you would invite me over." He grabbed her by the waist.
"You've never needed and invitation before." She teased.
"Good point." He scooped her up and carried her the rest of the way only setting her down once they entered her apartment.
The force between them was magnetic and neither could resist being apart a second longer. They collided and melted together in a hot mess of hands and lips.
Lucy broke away long enough to whisper, "Stay with me."
She looked up and saw deep into his dragon soul and for once it wasn't just a raging fire but a calm stillness, old and wise.
Natsu cradled her face in his warm hands and looked back into her dark eyes, "Always."